"'These in white robes; who are they, and where did they come from?' … 'These are they who have come [Greek "are coming" present tense] out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb … they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night … he will shelter them with his presence … the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd … and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes'" (Rev. 7:13-17).

Some believe the second coming will occur after the great tribulation and therefore believers will have to endure through it. Others believe that it will occur between a two-phase second coming; the first phase to remove all true believers so they will not have to endure it and the second phase to return to earth with them after it. (This view appears in popular Christian films with true believers suddenly disappearing.) Personally I can find no evidence in the Bible to support a two-phased Second Coming. Still others (including I think the majority of Newfrontiers' leaders) do not believe in a literal great tribulation occurring at the end of time.

I think the first question we need to ask is: how would the 7 churches have understood this? The language used here surely applies to all the redeemed regardless of any great tribulation? Jesus warned us that in this world we would face tribulation (John 16:33) and James tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of any and every kind because they produce perseverance, maturity and stronger faith (1:2-8). Peter wrote: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Pet. 4:12).

The church in Philadelphia had already been promised: "Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world" (Rev. 3:7). All I think we can say is that times of great tribulation for pockets of believers have and will occur throughout the world's history and will probably increase more widely as we approach the second coming.

According to Open Doors, every day 8 Christians worldwide are killed because of their faith; every week 182 churches or Christian buildings are attacked; every month 309 Christians are imprisoned unjustly. In the top 50 countries where Christians are the most persecuted for their faith, 260 million Christians are suffering high to severe levels of persecution. The top ten are North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen, Iran and India. Theirs is an on-going great tribulation. We should certainly pray for them. “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow-prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Heb. 13:3). To my shame, I so easily forget to do this.