Tribulation
Christians in the Roman Empire suffered this kind torture by not accepting a…
The origin of the word ‘tribulation’ comes from the Latin ‘tribulation.onis’, with synonyms including: aperture, martyrdom, torture, affliction, agony, anguish, torment, tribulation and pain.
Tribulation was a form of torture in medieval years. The person was laid on the floor on his back and weights were placed on his chest, one after another, until the person could no longer breathe and ended up being crushed alive.
Christians who lived during the era of the Roman Empire, experienced this type of torture for not accepting idolatry of the emperors and governors in power. They only had two options: to deny faith and be free of the tribulation or to assume faith and be crushed alive.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians about this torture, calling it a light and momentary tribulation.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
The torture was not momentary, nor was it light. In addition to being constant, it caused immense suffering, but those who were born of God saw the torture as light and momentary; after all, the power inside them generated by the Holy Spirit was much greater than the shortness of breath caused by the weights or the pain of their ribs breaking after the weights were added.
While the tribulation (torture) caused wounds, pain and physical weakness, the inner man – that is, those who were spiritual – rejoiced because they knew what waited for them in the Kingdom of Heaven. For this reason, they did not deny faith even though they knew they would be tortured, sometimes to death. The only way to be free of the tribulation was by denying faith, but that is IMPOSSIBLE for a person who is born of God!
Whoever is of God knows what awaits them after death. The weights of affliction will produce a much greater and lasting weight, eternal salvation!
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…” (verse 17)
Have you ever asked yourself: why didn’t the Lord Jesus do something to remove those weights? Because taking them away would be like removing the cross from the Lord Jesus. Do you understand? Without a cross, there is no sacrifice and without sacrifice, there is no salvation!
“While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…” (Verse 18)
Those who are born of God don’t pay attention to afflictions, injustices and persecutions, because they know what awaits them after tribulations or even after death! This is too deep for the natural man to understand. It is complete madness! The difference between the true Christian and the “pirate” copy was evident at the time of tribulation, since the one who was born of the flesh denied faith and fled.
Thus, it is at the moment of tribulation that we know who we really are. It was like that in the past and will continue to be so until the coming of our Lord!
That is why we strive for everyone to receive the Holy Spirit, because only He is able to sustain us during hardships.
The tribulation you are facing right now will show you whether you are born of God or of the flesh.
God bless you!