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tribulation
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So he called his son Tobiah; and when he came, he said to him: "My son, when I die, give me a decent burial. Honor your mother, and do not abandon her as long as she lives. Do whatever pleases her, and do not grieve her spirit in any way. Remember, my son, that she went through many trials for your sake while you were in her womb."
[Taken from TOBIT 4:3-4]
This was his dream. There was noise and tumult, thunder and earthquake-confusion upon the earth. Two great dragons came on, both poised for combat. They uttered a mighty cry, and at their cry every nation prepared for war, to fight against the race of the just. It was a dark and gloomy day. Tribulation and distress, evil and great confusion, lay upon the earth. The whole race of the just were dismayed with fear of the evils to come upon them, and were at the point of destruction. Then they cried out to God, and as they cried, there appeared to come forth a great river, a flood of water from a little spring. The light of the sun broke forth; the lowly were exalted and they devoured the nobles. Having seen this dream and what God intended to do, Mordecai awoke. He kept it in mind, and tried in every way, until night, to understand its meaning.
[ESTH A:4-11]
Was not Abraham found faithful in trial, and it
was reputed to him as uprightness? [1MACC 2:52]
There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow, for he knew he was going to die. So he called in all his Friends and said to them: "Sleep has departed from my eyes, for my heart is sinking with anxiety. I said to myself: 'Into what tribulation have I come, and in what floods of sorrow am I now! Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.' But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem, when I carried away all the vessels of gold and silver that were in it, and for no cause gave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed. I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me; and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land." Then he summoned Philip, one of his Friends, and put him in charge of his whole kingdom. He gave him his crown, his robe, and his signet ring, so that he might guide the king's son Antiochus and bring him up to be king. King Antiochus died in Persia in the year one hundred and forty-nine.
[1MACC 6:9-16]
For he forewarns no man of his time to come
before God in judgment. Without a trial he breaks the
mighty, and sets others in their stead, Because they turned
away from him and heeded none of his ways, But caused the
cries of the poor to reach him, so that he heard the plea of
the afflicted. [JOB 34:23-24,27-28]
Let the just strike me; that is kindness; let
them rebuke me; that is oil for my head. All this I shall not
refuse, but will pray despite these trials. [PS 141:5]
For those who forsook Wisdom first were bereft of knowledge of the right,
And then they left mankind a memorial of their folly -
so that they could not even be hidden in their fall. But Wisdom delivered from tribulations those who served her. [WISDOM 10:9]
But the trial of death touched at one time even
the just, and in the desert a plague struck the multitude; Yet not
for long did the anger last. [WISDOM 18:20]
For on his full-length robe was the whole world,
and the glories of the fathers were carved in four rows upon the stones,
and your grandeur was on the crown upon his head. To these names the destroyer yielded, and these he feared;
for the mere trial of anger was enough. [WISDOM 18:24-25]
My son, when you come to serve the
LORD, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and
steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity. Cling to him,
forsake him not; thus will your future be great. Accept
whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient; For
in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of
humiliation. Trust God and he will help you; make straight
your ways and hope in him. [SIRACH 2:1-6]
For kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
it will serve as a sin offering - it will take lasting root. In time of tribulation it will be recalled to your advantage,
like warmth upon frost it will melt away your sins. A blasphemer is he who despises his father;
accursed of his Creator, he who angers his mother. [SIRACH 3:14-16]
There are three things at which my heart quakes,
a fourth before which I quail: Though false charges in public,
trial before all the people, and lying testimony are harder to
bear than death [Taken from SIRACH 26:5]
No evil can harm the man who fears the LORD;
through trials, again and again he is safe. [SIRACH 33:1]
It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake,
your offenses; your sins I remember no more. Would you have
me remember, have us come to trial? Speak up, prove your
innocence! [ISA 43:25-26]
Hear, then, what the LORD says: Arise,
present your plea before the mountains, and let the hills
hear your voice! Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD, pay
attention, O foundations of the earth! For the LORD has a
plea against his people, and he enters into trial with
Israel. [MICAH 6:1-2]
"Hear then the parable of the sower. The
seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom
without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the
one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he
has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or
persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then
worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears
no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the
word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a
hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."
[MT 13:18-23]
As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the
disciples approached him privately and said, "Tell us, when
will this happen, and what sign will there be of your coming, and
of the end of the age?" Jesus said to them in reply,
"See that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name,
saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many. You will
hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not alarmed,
for these things must happen, but it will not yet be the end.
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
there will be famines and earthquakes from place to place. All
these are the beginning of the labor pains. Then they will hand
you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated
by all nations because of my name. And then many will be led into
sin; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets
will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of
evildoing, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who
perseveres to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all
nations, and then the end will come." [MT 24:3-14]
"When you see the desolating abomination
spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place
(let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the
mountains, a person on the housetop must not go down to get things
out of his house, a person in the field must not return to get his
cloak. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days.
Pray that your flight not be in winter or on the sabbath, for at
that time there will be great tribulation, such as has not been
since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be. And
if those days had not been shortened, no one would be saved; but
for the sake of the elect they will be shortened. If anyone says
to you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do
not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise, and
they will perform signs and wonders so great as to deceive, if
that were possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told it to you
beforehand. So if they say to you, 'He is in the desert,' do not
go out there; if they say, 'He is in the inner rooms,' do not
believe it. For just as lightning comes from the east and is
seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man
be." [MT 24:15-27]
"Immediately after the tribulation of those
days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not
give its light, and the stars will fall from the
sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then
the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the
tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man
coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And
he will send out his angels with a trumpet blast, and they will
gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens
to the other. Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch
becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see all these things, know that he is
near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not
pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and
earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that
day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the
Son, but the Father alone. For as it was in the days of Noah, so
it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In (those) days before
the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not
know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be
(also) at the coming of the Son of Man [that is, some will be
taken to the kingdom, the others will be left to perish]. Two men
will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one
will be left Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on
which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of
the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not
expect, the Son of Man will come." [Taken from MT 24:29-44]
Jesus' Trial: Now Jesus stood before the
governor, and he questioned him, "Are you the king of the
Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." And when he was
accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then
Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they are
testifying against you?" But he did not answer him one word,
so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now on the occasion of
the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one
prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious
prisoner called (Jesus) Barabbas. So when they had assembled,
Pilate said to them, "Which one do you want me to release to
you, (Jesus) Barabbas, or Jesus called Messiah?" For he knew
that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. While he
was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message,
"Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much
in a dream today because of him." The chief priests and the
elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy
Jesus. The governor said to them in reply, "Which of the two
do you want me to release to you?" They answered,
"Barabbas!" Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I
do with Jesus called Messiah?" They all said, "Let him
be crucified!" But he said, "Why? What evil has he
done?" They only shouted the louder, "Let him be
crucified!" When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at
all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and
washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, "I am
innocent of this man's blood. Look to it yourselves." And the
whole people said in reply, "His blood be upon us and upon
our children." Then he released Barabbas to them, but after
he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
[MT 27:11-26]
Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand
this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?
The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the
word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes
away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky
ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.
But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when
tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly
fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the
people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches,
and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and
it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who
hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a
hundredfold."
[MK 4:13-20]
As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives
opposite the temple area, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him
privately, "Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign
will there be when all these things are about to come to an
end?" Jesus began to say to them, "See that no one
deceives you. Many will come in my name saying, 'I am he,' and
they will deceive many. When you hear of wars and reports of wars
do not be alarmed; such things must happen, but it will not yet be
the end. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against
kingdom. There will be earthquakes from place to place and there
will be famines. These are the beginnings of the labor pains.
Watch out for yourselves. They will hand you over to the courts.
You will be beaten in synagogues. You will be arraigned before
governors and kings because of me, as a witness before them. But
the gospel must first be preached to all nations. When they
lead you away and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about
what you are to say. But say whatever will be given to you at that
hour. For it will not be you who are speaking but the Holy Spirit.
Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who
perseveres to the end will be saved." [MK 13:3-13]
"When you see the desolating abomination
standing where he should not (let the reader understand), then
those in Judea must flee to the mountains, (and) a person on a
housetop must not go down or enter to get anything out of his
house, and a person in a field must not return to get his cloak.
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days. Pray that
this does not happen in winter. For those times will have
tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of God's
creation until now, nor ever will be. If the Lord had not
shortened those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of
the elect whom he chose, he did shorten the days. If anyone says
to you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah! Look, there he is!' do
not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise and
will perform signs and wonders in order to mislead, if that were
possible, the elect. Be watchful! I have told it all to you
beforehand."
[MK 13:14-23]
"But in those days after that
tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not
give its light, and the stars will be falling from the
sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then
they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great
power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather
(his) elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the
end of the sky. Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch
becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he
is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will
not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and
earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that
day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the
Son, but only the Father. Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know
when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He
leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in
the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you,
I say to all: 'Watch!'" [MK 13:24-37]
Jesus' Trial: As soon as morning came,
the chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the
whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away,
and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, "Are
you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You
say so." The chief priests accused him of many things. Again
Pilate questioned him, "Have you no answer? See how many
things they accuse you of." Jesus gave him no further answer,
so that Pilate was amazed. Now on the occasion of the feast he
used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested. A man
called Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had
committed murder in a rebellion. The crowd came forward and began
to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed. Pilate answered,
"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?"
For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had
handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to
have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate again said to
them in reply, "Then what (do you want) me to do with (the
man you call) the king of the Jews?" They shouted again,
"Crucify him." Pilate said to them, "Why? What evil
has he done?" They only shouted the louder, "Crucify
him." So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released
Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over
to be crucified.
[MK 15:1-15]
"This is the meaning of the parable. The
seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have
heard, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their
hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky
ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with
joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall
away in time of trial. As for the seed that fell among thorns,
they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are
choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they
fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on
rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word,
embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through
perseverance."
[LK 8:11-15]
"The law and the prophets lasted until John; but from then on the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone who enters does so with
violence." [LK 16:16]
Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will
this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are
about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be
deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and
'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and
insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen
first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said
to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and
plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs
will come from the sky. Before all this happens, however, they
will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the
synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings
and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving
testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense
beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that
all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You
will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and
friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated
by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be
destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives. When
you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation
is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let
those within the city escape from it, and let those in the
countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of
punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. Woe to pregnant
women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity
will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives
to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by
the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. There
will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth
nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and
the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is
coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be
shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud
with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at
hand." He taught them a lesson. "Consider the fig tree
and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for
yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when
you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is
near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until
all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass
away, but my words will not pass away. Beware that your hearts do
not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties
of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For
that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to
escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the
Son of Man." [LK 21:7-36]
Then an argument broke out among them about
which of them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them,
"The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in
authority over them are addressed as 'Benefactors'; but among you
it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the
youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater: the
one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one
seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves. It is you
who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you,
just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and
drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel." [LK 22:24-30]
Jesus' Trial: Then the whole assembly of
them arose and brought him before Pilate. They brought charges
against him, saying, "We found this man misleading our
people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains
that he is the Messiah, a king." Pilate asked him, "Are
you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You
say so." Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the
crowds, "I find this man not guilty." But they were
adamant and said, "He is inciting the people with his
teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to
here." On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a
Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod's
jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that
time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see
him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been
hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length,
but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes,
meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. (Even) Herod and his
soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after
clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate.
Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they
had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned the chief priests,
the rulers, and the people and said to them, "You brought
this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I
have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not
found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him,
nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has
been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then
release him." But all together they shouted out, "Away
with this man! Release Barabbas to us." (Now Barabbas had
been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city
and for murder.) Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to
release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, "Crucify
him! Crucify him!" Pilate addressed them a third time,
"What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no
capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release
him." With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling
for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of
Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the
man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom
they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they
wished. [LK 23:1-25]
As they led him away they took hold of a certain
Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after
laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A
large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who
mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said,
"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for
yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming
when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that
never bore and the breasts that never nursed.' At that time people
will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills,
'Cover us!' for if these things are done when the wood is green
what will happen when it is dry?" [LK 23:26-31]
"If the world hates you, realize that it
hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love
its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have
chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the
word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If
they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my
word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things
to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who
sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no
sin; but as it is they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates
me also hates my Father. If I had not done works among them that
no one else ever did, they would not have sin; but as it is, they
have seen and hated both me and my Father. But in order that the
word written in their law might be fulfilled, 'They hated me
without cause.' When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from
the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he
will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been
with me from the beginning. I have told you this so that you may
not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact,
the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is
offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not
known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when
their hour comes you may remember that I told you. I did not tell
you this from the beginning, because I was with you." [JN
15:18-27, 16:1-4]
Jesus' Trial: Then they brought Jesus from
Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves
did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that
they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said,
"What charge do you bring (against) this man?" They
answered and said to him, "If he were not a criminal, we
would not have handed him over to you." At this, Pilate said
to them, "Take him yourselves, and judge him according to
your law." The Jews answered him, "We do not have the
right to execute anyone," in order that the word of Jesus
might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he
would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned
Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others
told you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am
I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does
not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants (would) be fighting to keep me from being handed
over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." So
Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" Jesus
answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for
this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who
belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to
him, "What is truth?" When he had said this, he again
went out to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in
him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at
Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the
Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this one but
Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. Then Pilate took
Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of
thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple
cloak, and they came to him and said, "Hail, King of the
Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went
out and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you, so
that you may know that I find no guilt in him." So Jesus came
out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said
to them, "Behold, the man!" When the chief priests and
the guards saw him they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify
him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and
crucify him. I find no guilt in him." The Jews answered,
"We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die,
because he made himself the Son of God." Now when Pilate
heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back
into the praetorium and said to Jesus, "Where are you
from?" Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him,
"Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to
release you and I have power to crucify you?" Jesus answered
(him), "You would have no power over me if it had not been
given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me
over to you has the greater sin." Consequently, Pilate tried
to release him; but the Jews cried out, "If you release him,
you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king
opposes Caesar." When Pilate heard these words he brought
Jesus out and seated him on the judge's bench in the place called
Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for
Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews,
"Behold, your king!" They cried out, "Take him
away, take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them,
"Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered,
"We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to
them to be crucified. [Taken from JN 18:28-40, 19:1-16]
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, "Get up quickly." The chains fell from his wrists.
[ACTS 12:6-7]
When they came to him, he addressed them,
"You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I
first came to the province of Asia. I served the Lord with all
humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of
the plots of the Jews, and I did not at all shrink from telling
you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or
in your homes. I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks
to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now,
compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen
to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another
the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and
hardships await me. Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if
only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from
the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God's
grace."
[ACTS 20:18-24]
Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; (I) am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead." When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided.
[ACTS 23:6-7]
In defending himself Paul said, "I have
committed no crime either against the Jewish law or against the
temple or against Caesar." Then Festus, wishing to ingratiate
himself with the Jews, said to Paul in reply, "Are you
willing to go up to Jerusalem and there stand trial before me on
these charges?" Paul answered, "I am standing before the
tribunal of Caesar; this is where I should be tried. I have
committed no crime against the Jews, as you very well know. If I
have committed a crime or done anything deserving death, I do not
seek to escape the death penalty; but if there is no substance to
the charges they are bringing against me, then no one has the
right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar."
[ACTS 25:8-11]
But now I am standing trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors. Our twelve tribes hope to attain to that promise as they fervently worship God day and night; and on account of this hope I am accused by Jews, O king.
[ACTS 26:6-7]
No trial has come to you but what is human. God
is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength;
but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may
be able to bear it. [1COR 10:13]
I implore you, brothers, be as I am, because I
have also become as you are. You did me no wrong; you know that it
was because of a physical illness that I originally preached the
gospel to you, and you did not show disdain or contempt because of
the trial caused you by my physical condition, but rather you
received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. Where now is that
blessedness of yours? Indeed, I can testify to you that, if it had
been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to
me. So now have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? [GAL
4:12-16]
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin
that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies
before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and
perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he
endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at
the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such
opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and
lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted
to the point of shedding blood. You have also forgotten the
exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do
not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when
reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he
scourges every son he acknowledges." Endure your trials as
"discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what
"son" is there whom his father does not discipline? If
you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not
sons but bastards. Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers
to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not (then)
submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live? They
disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he
does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.
At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for
pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to
those who are trained by it. So strengthen your drooping hands and
your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is
lame may not be dislocated but healed.
[HEB 12:1-13]
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various
trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
[JMS 1:2-4]
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an
inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through
faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final
time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may
have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of
your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though
tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at
the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[1PT 1:3-7]
Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by
fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were
happening to you. But rejoice to the extent that you share in the
sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may
also rejoice exultantly. If you are insulted for the name of
Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests
upon you. But let no one among you be made to suffer as a
murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer. But whoever is
made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify
God because of the name. For it is time for the judgment to begin
with the household of God; if it begins with us, how will it end
for those who fail to obey the gospel of God? "And if the
righteous one is barely saved, where will the godless and the
sinner appear?" As a result, those who suffer in accord with
God's will hand their souls over to a faithful creator as they do
good. [1PT 4:12-19]
For if God did not spare the angels when they
sinned, but condemned them to the chains of Tartarus and handed
them over to be kept for judgment; and if he did not spare the
ancient world, even though he preserved Noah, a herald of
righteousness, together with seven others, when he brought a flood
upon the godless world; and if he condemned the cities of Sodom
and Gomorrah (to destruction), reducing them to ashes, making them
an example for the godless (people) of what is coming; and if he
rescued Lot, a righteous man oppressed by the licentious conduct
of unprincipled people (for day after day that righteous man
living among them was tormented in his righteous soul at the
lawless deeds that he saw and heard), then the Lord knows how to
rescue the devout from trial and to keep the unrighteous under
punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who
follow the flesh with its depraved desire and show contempt for
lordship. [2PT 2:4-10]
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna,
write this: 'The first and the last, who once died but came to
life, says this: "I know your tribulation and poverty, but
you are rich. I know the slander of those who claim to be Jews and
are not, but rather are members of the assembly of Satan. Do not
be afraid of anything that you are going to suffer. Indeed, the
devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested,
and you will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful until
death, and I will give you the crown of life."'"
[RV 2:8-10]
"To the angel of the church in
Philadelphia, write this: 'The holy one, the
true, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one
shall close, who closes and no one shall open, says
this: "I know your works (behold, I have left an open door
before you, which no one can close). You have limited strength,
and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold,
I will make those of the assembly of Satan who claim to be Jews
and are not, but are lying, behold I will make them come and fall
prostrate at your feet, and they will realize that I love you.
Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you
safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world
to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming quickly. Hold
fast to what you have, so that no one may take your
crown."'"
[RV 3:7-11]
Then I watched while he broke open the sixth
seal, and there was a great earthquake; the sun turned as black as
dark sackcloth and the whole moon became like blood. The stars in
the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs shaken loose from the
tree in a strong wind. Then the sky was divided like a torn scroll
curling up, and every mountain and island was moved from its
place. The kings of the earth, the nobles, the military officers,
the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid
themselves in caves and among mountain crags. They cried out to
the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the
face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the
Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come and who can
withstand it?" [RV 6:12-17]
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,
"Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come
from?" I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who
knows." He said to me, "These are the ones who have
survived the time of great distress; they have washed their
robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this
reason they stand before God's throne and worship him day and
night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter
them. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or
any heat strike them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the
throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving
water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
[RV 7:13-17]
When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, a third
of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were
struck, so that a third of them became dark. The day lost its
light for a third of the time, as did the night. Then I looked
again and heard an eagle flying high overhead cry out in a loud
voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth from
the rest of the trumpet blasts that the three angels are about to
blow!" [RV 8:12-13]
Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw
a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. It was given the
key for the passage to the abyss. It opened the passage to the
abyss, and smoke came up out of the passage like smoke from a huge
furnace. The sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the
passage. Locusts came out of the smoke onto the land, and they
were given the same power as scorpions of the earth. They were
told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or any tree,
but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their
foreheads. They were not allowed to kill them but only to torment
them for five months; the torment they inflicted was like that of
a scorpion when it stings a person. During that time these people
will seek death but will not find it, and they will long to die
but death will escape them. [RV 9:1-6]
Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his
angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels
fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any
place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,
who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world,
was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have
salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and
the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our
brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and
night. They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them
from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who
dwell in them. But woe to you, earth and sea, for the
Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has
but a short time." When the dragon saw that it had been
thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth
to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the
great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert,
where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two
years, and a half-year. The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of
water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the
current. But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and
swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth. Then
the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war
against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God's
commandments and bear witness to Jesus. [RV 12:7-17]
Then I saw a beast come out of the sea with ten
horns and seven heads; on its horns were ten diadems, and on its
heads blasphemous name(s). The beast I saw was like a leopard,
but it had feet like a bear's, and its mouth was like the mouth of
a lion. To it the dragon gave its own power and throne, along with
great authority. I saw that one of its heads seemed to have been
mortally wounded, but this mortal wound was healed. Fascinated,
the whole world followed after the beast. They worshiped the
dragon because it gave its authority to the beast; they also
worshiped the beast and said, "Who can compare with the beast
or who can fight against it?" The beast was given a mouth
uttering proud boasts and blasphemies, and it was given authority
to act for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter
blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling and
those who dwell in heaven. It was also allowed to wage war against
the holy ones and conquer them, and it was granted authority over
every tribe, people, tongue, and nation. All the inhabitants of
the earth will worship it, all whose names were not written from
the foundation of the world in the book of life, which belongs to
the Lamb who was slain.
[RV 13:1-8]
Then I saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring: seven angels with the seven last plagues, for through them God's fury is accomplished.
[RV 15:1]
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the
first resurrection. The second death has no power over these; they
will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him
for (the) thousand years. When the thousand years are completed,
Satan will be released from his prison. He will go out to deceive
the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to
gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.
They invaded the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of
the holy ones and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven
and consumed them. The Devil who had led them astray was thrown
into the pool of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false
prophet were. There they will be tormented day and night forever
and ever. [RV 20:6-10]
Also try:
afflict
/ afflicted / affliction [A1]
suffer
/ suffered / suffering [S30]
trouble
/ troubled / troubling [T11]
persecute
/ persecutor [P6]
wrath
[W13a]
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