24. Tribulation (Matthew 24)
The golden age is ahead, not behind us: one day Jesus will return and set everything right. But in Matthew 24, Jesus foretells that before His return there will be a period of worldwide distress called "the tribulation." God will use this span of seven years to pave the way for Christ's return and to fulfill His promises to the Jewish people, who the Bible predicts will receive their Messiah at last.
Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Ezekiel 36:24, 34-35; John 1:11; Romans 11:26, 28; Matthew 23:37-24:35; Daniel 9:24-27; Nehemiah 2:5-6; Luke 19:42; 21:5-36; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Revelation 12:14; 13:1-18; and Zechariah 12:10; 13:1-2.