Chastisement

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."
John 15:1-2

Jesus Christ is the vine and Christians are branches in the vine. When we are fruitful as Christians, God prunes us, so that we will bear more fruit. Sometimes the pruning takes place in the form of tribulation. The pruning is for our good and not our harm because God loves us.

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."
2 Cor 4:8-11

All the tribulations we experience in life are meant to make us to be more like Jesus, to be obedient to the will of God. Tribulations help us to set the right priorities in life, to live for God and not for this world, to plan for a future in heaven and not in this world.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Cor 4:17-18

The tribulation of this life are for a short period of time, but the glory of heaven will last for eternity. Tribulations teach us to live for our future in heaven and not for a future on this earth.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor 12:9-10

When we experience tribulations we learn how helpless we are and how much we need the Lord's help. The tribulations we endure teach us to rely upon Christ for His strength. We learn as Paul did, when we are weak, then we are strong.

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:2-4

The tribulations we experience teach us to continue to trust in God; they teach us to look to Him to meet our needs and to help us. They teach us to hope in Him and trust in Him. As we learn to patiently look to God for help, our faith becomes stronger; and in the end, we become mature in Christ.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:35-39

Because we believe in Jesus Christ, God loves us and always will. There is no one and there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ; the love He has for us is unconditional and eternal. All the powers of the universe cannot separate us from the love of God, which is ours in Christ Jesus. God loved us and He will always love us, He saved us and He will keep us saved forever.

We must always remember that when we experience tribulations God still loves us. God never stops loving us and the tribulations we experience will always work out for our good. We may not understand why we are going through the various trials we experience, but God always knows what He is doing and He is always in control. Christians sometimes think that God has stopped loving them because He allows trials in their lives, but that is not true; He never stops loving us.

"Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word." Ps 119:7. 1 "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." Ps 119:75. "I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me." Ps 119:67

When we are afflicted, when we experience tribulations, it is because God is at work in us to teach us to be obedient to His word, to be doers of His word. It is because the Lord is faithful and righteous that He afflicts us. We can be sure that the Lord will always do that which is right and that He will always remain faithful in His love for us.

Those who cause tribulation for the Christian will receive tribulation.

"4) So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5) Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6) Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9) Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe in that day." II Th 1:4-10

As Christians we suffer persecutions and tribulations at the hand of unbelievers; because the world hates Jesus, the world hates those who love Jesus. Those who hate Jesus inflect persecution upon us in an effort to destroy us. The day is soon coming when God will inflect tribulation upon those who are now causing tribulation for us. 6) Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; It is only right for God to give tribulation to those who cause us tribulation, and that will happen during the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation is not for Christians, but for unbelievers, for those who are now causing tribulation for the Christian.

While the unbelievers are experiencing the Great Tribulation, we will be at rest, in the presence of the Lord; we will be freed from all trials and tribulations. 7) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, When the Lord comes back to this earth to bring judgment upon all unbelievers, we will be at rest from all tribulations, we will be with Him.

During the Great tribulation God will take vengeance upon all those who reject Jesus Christ. 8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: One of the purposes of the Great Tribulation is to cause tribulation for unbelievers. 9) Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; The great Tribulation is only the beginning of God's vengeance upon those who hate Him. In the end all unbelievers will be punished with everlasting destruction.

"But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:" Rom 2:8-10

During the Great Tribulation, God will demonstrate His great anger towards those who reject Jesus Christ. He will torment unbelievers while at the same time He will give glory, honor, and peace to all those who believe in Jesus Christ.

The Great Tribulation will be a time of great wrath toward all those who reject Jesus Christ.

"Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted." Ps 107:17

God will afflict unbelievers because of their evildoing, immorality, wickedness, and injustice. Those who refuse to turn from their evil ways and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will experience the anger of God, during the Great Tribulation.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them." Rom 1:18-19

Everyone knows that there is a God in heaven, but many reject Him because they do not want to give up their ungodliness and unrighteousness. Therefore, God will make His anger known towards those who refuse to acknowledge Him and believe in Jesus Christ.

"And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Rev 6:16-17

There will be no place to hide, there will be no place to escape the anger of God, during the Great Tribulation. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God that was slain for the sins of the world and He will demonstrate His great anger towards all those who reject Him.

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Rev 14:9-11

Those who receive the mark of the beast, those who worship the beast and his image during the Great Tribulation, will be tormented for all eternity; their torment will only begin during the Great Tribulation.

In Conclusion:

The Great Tribulation is a time in which God will give rest to His Church, which is made up of all those who now believe in Jesus Christ. It is also a time when He will demonstrate His great anger toward all those who now reject Jesus Christ.