“depression” [or] “great depression” =
A term used to describe one’s depressed condition
~ vs. ~
“The Depression” [or] “The Great Depression” =
A period of time, recognized in world history [1929-1939]
“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” ~ Proverbs 30:6
“great tribulation”
– vs. –
“The Great Tribulation”
Many have suffered from depression, even from great depression, at some point in their lives. This is a common occurrence for most human beings. Yet, the majority of those alive today never lived through something called, “The Great Depression”— a period of economic depression that devastated thousands, and lasted for about ten years. The results from which came the “New Deal”, the U.S. Social Security system, and more government control. To suffer from depression, even from great depression, is not quite the same thing as having lived through that specific period of time, called, “The Great Depression”.
As alluded to in Chapter Two of the book, “Which One is Right?”, a period of time called, “The Tribulation Period” is never indicated in Scripture—it is only imagined in the minds and writings of Pre-Trib teachers. And, to the surprise of many “Bible-believers”, the phrase, “The Great Tribulation” appears NO where in the King James Bible, either. Yet, almost everyone has heard their favorite Bible-prophecy teacher reference this phrase— as if it could be found throughout the Bible’s prophetical books. Yet, never once in the KJV is the article “the” used in front of “great tribulation”. So, why do they insist on adding a “The” ? Because it turns a simple two-word phrase which means, “a condition of great tribulation”, into a “Period of Time”—that can then be inserted into time, as an historical (or future) event. By simply adding the word “the”, onto “great tribulation”, one has immediately invented a period of time—much like, “The Great Depression”. By adding the word, “The”, and capitalizing the words “Great” and “Tribulation”, they have subtly changed the simple meaning of the phrase. As a result, thousands of sincere KJV Bible-believers have been led astray— and, in some cases, by their trusted, and supposedly, “KJV-only” defenders!
So, where did the phrase, “The Great Tribulation” come from?
Certainly, C.I. Scofield was one of the first to introduce “The Great Tribulation” to the churches. His insertion
directly into Matthew 24, between verses 14-15 (page 1033, of the SRB – 1917) reveals his own invented subtitle, “the great tribulation”, and his notes below it, read— “This introduces the great tribulation (Psa. 2.5; Rev. 7.14, note), which runs its awful course of three and a half years, culminating in the battle of Rev. 19.19-21…” And, although Revelation 7:14 does NOT include a “The” before “great tribulation”, Scofield added, “The” into his notes, underneath that text, also (see: Rev. 7:14, page 1337, SRB – 1917)— “The great tribulation is the period of unexampled trouble predicted in the passages cited… The great tribulation will be… The great tribulation is immediately followed by the return of Christ in glory, and the events associated therewith (Mt. 24:29,30)… ”
And, not only did Scofield successfully add the articular word, “the”, into the minds of millions of his Bible readers—now, today this phrase, “The Great Tribulation” is oft repeated by countless Pre-Trib Rapture gurus— including the so-called, “KJV-only” eschatology authors & experts— several IFB, “KJV-only” authors, such as—David Cloud, Peter Ruckman, Henry Morris, Paul Chappell, J.Vernon. McGee, Thomas Strouse, James Knox, John R. Rice, Oliver B. Greene, as well as, Bible college professors, and local church pastors from across the country. Since “the great tribulation” never appears even once in the KJV, where did these men get it from???
Maybe these men would be more comfortable using a Modern Version??? Compare the KJV with these…
Revelation 7:14 (King James Version) “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
(John Darby’s Translation) “…come out of the great tribulation…”
(New King James Version) “…come out of the great tribulation…”
(King James 2000) “…came out of the great tribulation…”
(English Standard Version) “…coming out of the great tribulation…”
(New International Version) “…come out of the great tribulation…”
(New American Standard 95) “…come out of the great tribulation…”
(New American Standard Bible) “… out of the great tribulation…”
(Revised Standard Version) “…come out of the great tribulation…”
(American Standard Version) “…come of the great tribulation…”
(World English Bible) “…out of the great tribulation…
(Young’s Literal Translation) “…out of the great tribulation…”
(New World Translation) “…who come out of the great tribulation…”
(Catholic Bible-RSV – Oxford-2004) “…out of the great tribulation…”
Will Christians go through “The Great Tribulation” ?
*Before answering this misleading question, challenge the inquirer to show from the Bible, where It ever says— “The Great Tribulation”
