“it is well understood that there will never be a time on earth so troublesome as the Great Tribulation.”
Something to consider:
Exodus 11:6: There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—WORSE THAN THERE HAS EVER BEEN OR EVER WILL BE AGAIN.
Joel 2:2: a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness.
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
a large and mighty army comes,
SUCH AS NEVER WAS OF OLD
NOR EVER WILL BE IN AGES TO COME.
Daniel 9:12: Under the whole heaven NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN DONE LIKE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO JERUSALEM.
Also, as I think Hanegraaff made a great point, that the Great Flood left only 8 survivors on the whole Earth. It’s hard to believe the future “Great Tribulation” could be worse than that.
That’s what, I believe, is apocalyptic hyperbole that Christ used, using Old Testatment language (language which He often did reference).
I suspect the builders when speaking to our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, also thought He was speaking in hyperbole when He commented He would raise His temple back up in three days.
I don’t think I want to be around when the time in question rolls around.
It’s hard to believe the future “Great Tribulation” could be worse than that.
= = =
All we can do is lead the horse to Scriptural waters . . .
we have no power to make them drink understandingly.
Lots of people, including a host of archeologists and anthropologists of the last century or so have said similar things about hyperbole and Scripturaly literal interpretations.
And they have been REPEATEDLY PROVEN WRONG FOR A HUNDRED YEARS OR SO.