T and T

 Is Tribulation necessary for a Testimony?

The Greek word for tribulation is “thlipsis,” also translated as “affliction, anguish, distress, persecution.”  In present-day Christianity, it is often used in relationship to the prevalent subject of Yeshua’s return.  But one must admit, this term signifies a scary experience, especially as described in the following: “for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall” (Matthew 24:21).  A portrayal of the “tribulation” overcomers is found in Revelation 7:14-15: "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of Elohim; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them” (emphasis added). Not a bad deal after enduring such inconceivable hardship during the most horrendous time on earth! But who wants to stick around for the occasion?  Wouldn’t it be better if we could avoid or skip it, and still end up with the reward? "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and Elohim shall wipe every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:16-17).

Is washing the robes (from the above quote) “in the blood of the Lamb” the same as the action of those who “overcame him [the accuser of the brethren] because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death” (Revelation 12:11)?  The Greek word for testimony is “marturia”, from which the English “martyr” is derived. Scripture points to a linkage between tribulation and testimony/martyrdom.  How else is our faith tested and matured in the knowledge of the One who gave up His life for us? Yes, we are supposed to ‘image’ Yeshua. Still, if that means giving up our life for others, as He did, often our natural tendency is to do the opposite, unlike the definition of, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  Some will protect the old self life even unto death. We certainly don’t like it when others take advantage of us or disagree with our beliefs, ideas, or opinions. Examining the emotions that arise when someone or something challenges our “self-life” very soon reveals our inner heart’s motivation and beliefs. 

But, as we know, the only way to have a true testimony of the life of Yeshua is to “pick up the cross” and let the dying of Yeshua be worked into us every day through light afflictions or heavy-duty trials. In this world, we cannot escape suffering, nor can we escape the sentence of death - the “cross” - which is a principal principle in the life of a believer.  It is the only way to the rewards above.

The truth of the finished redemptive work of the Messiah must be experienced in real-life situations. To bring out a testimony of “not I but Messiah,” Elohim uses “tribulation.” And so, the power of the Holy Spirit works in us to transform us from what we were in Adam into who we are (supposed to be) now in Messiah. Through daily experiential pressure we are being convinced to believe Elohim’s truth. The process would be much easier if we were to believe in our hearts that “it is no longer I who lives, but Messiah lives in me” (Galatians 2:20) or “that I have died and my life is hidden in Messiah” (Colossians 3:3). This reality may take our entire lifetime until the day we see Him “face to face”. “We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2).  “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).