What Is the Great Tribulation—and How Can We Overcome It?
The Great Tribulation, as prophesied in the Holy Bible (Matthew 24:21), is a time of unparalleled trials and challenges.
This text offers reflections on its significance in our daily lives and explores the spiritual guidance that can strengthen us in times of adversity, trusting in Divine support and the promise of better days.
In the most difficult moments of both individual and collective history, people often turn to biblical prophecies for comfort and answers to their fears and anxieties. Recognizing the events of life within the Scriptures provides immediate reassurance that Someone is in control.
This sense deepens when we understand that “God is Love” and does not wish for the destruction of His children and that Jesus promised to be with us “always, to the very end of the age” (Holy Gospel according to Matthew 28:20).
It is undeniable that turning to the Holy Scriptures—combined with sincere prayer and meditation—helps cultivate a refined spiritual harmony with the Invisible Government of Earth, which originates in Heaven, as revealed by the President-Preacher of the Divine Religion, Brother Paiva Netto.
However, for this search for Divine support to truly bring about a safer future for humanity, we must go beyond simply studying the prophecies. We are called to act upon the inspiration they provide, preparing ourselves for the fulfillment of these prophetic events.
As the late Proclaimer of the Divine Religion, Alziro Zarur, used to say: “Foreseeing to provide, and providing to foresee.”
By studying Jesus’ Gospel and Apocalypse in Spirit and Truth—in light of His New Commandment, “Love one another, as I have loved you. Only by this shall all of you be recognized as my disciples” (John 13:34-35), as it is done in the Divine Religion—we can infer that the control over the events foreseen in prophecy follows the Divine Law, which grants “to each one according to their deeds” (Apocalypse 2:23, 14:13, 20:13, 22:12).
The late radio broadcaster, philosopher, and Gospel-Apocalypse preacher Alziro Zarur referred to this as the Law of the Apocalypse. As recorded by writer, journalist, and radio broadcaster Paiva Netto in his book As Profecias Sem Mistério [The Prophecies Without Mystery], Zarur explained:
“The Divine Law, by judging the past of individuals, peoples, and nations, determines their future.”
From this, we can conclude that the events described in Jesus’ Sermon on the End of the Age (Matthew 24–26) serve as an early warning from the Divine Prophet. They reveal the accumulated consequences of human actions—either bringing about the Great Tribulation through destructive choices or hastening Jesus’ Triumphant Return through good deeds (2 Peter 3:12). Jesus does not return to destroy humanity for the benefit of a select few; rather, He comes to offer guidance in troubled times and to reward “each one according to their deeds” (Apocalypse 22:12).
One of the most enlightening texts I have read on the Great Tribulation was published by Brother Paiva Netto on his blog and in JESUS IS ARRIVING! magazine, issue 2. His teachings will serve as the foundation for our study. For decades, Brother Paiva has preached about the Great Tribulation, preparing hearts for the return of Jesus to Earth.
In the article “The End of Times and Those Who Persevere in Jesus,” Brother Paiva Netto shares a spiritual message from Brother Flexa Dourada, in the World Revolution of the Spirits of Light in the Fourth Revelation. After citing Jesus’ Gospel according to Matthew 24 in full and referencing the Seven Seals in Apocalypse 6, he offers this insight:
“On February 8, 2003, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Brother Flexa Dourada emphasized to us that Armageddon—mentioned in Jesus’ Apocalypse (16:16) as part of the Sixth Plague, which so many people fear—is actually a much smaller tragedy compared to the Great Tribulation foretold by Jesus in His Gospel according to Matthew 24:21-22:
‘For then there will be great tribulation, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. And if the Lord God had not shortened those days, no one would be saved, but He will do so for the sake of the elect, giving to each one according to their deeds.’”
This comparison made by Brother Flexa Dourada helps us understand that the Great Tribulation announced by Jesus in the Gospel is not limited to the tragic event of Armageddon. As the late Brother Alziro Zarur revealed, Armageddon is “the Total and Final War on two planes,” prophesied as the Sixth Plague in the Book of Revelation (16:12-16). It is a war involving “the kings of the whole world” and unfolds both in the physical realm and the Spiritual World.
Humanity has already endured two world wars, and many fear the outbreak of a third—possibly even more devastating due to the advancement of nuclear, biological, and other destructive weaponry. No rational person wishes for such a catastrophe. Yet, as Brother Paiva Netto teaches in his article “End of Times, Peace, and the Triumphal Return of Jesus,” we must remain prepared, yet calm and steadfast in our faith in Jesus:
“The Return of the Prince of Peace must be greatly emphasized at all times, even more so when human beings unleash their roars of war. Jesus among us once again is truly the immortal certainty of better days!
“Therefore, let us always be ready, attentive to the Second Visit of Christ and, in this way, grow, not anxious, tense, but happy, because this is about the proximity of a magnificent event: Jesus is arriving! The Sublime Friend concluded His Luminous Apocalypse, which closes the Holy Bible, precisely asserting this unparalleled Return, a new dawn for humanity, in unforgettable and comforting verses.”
The stronger our collective sense of brotherhood and solidarity, the more we open ourselves to Divine inspiration, allowing us to find solutions that can prevent or mitigate the impacts of any tribulations.
In truth, Armageddon is already unfolding—not only through powerful military weapons, some of which are actively deployed in various regions, where millions suffer due to the decisions of a few driven by greed. In the Middle East alone, through which the Euphrates River flows, tens of thousands of adults and children have lost their lives, and over two million have been displaced. Our prayers extend to all victims of conflicts across the world.
However, the events described in the Valley of Megiddo, in the Apocalypse, also manifest spiritually in many forms everywhere. Since the 1980s, the author of Somos Todos Profetas [We Are All Prophets], Paiva Netto, has warned about this reality. In his work, under the subtitle “Armageddon Is Already Here,” he writes (also available on Blog Paiva Netto.com):
“Many believe that Armageddon (Apocalypse 16:16) refers only to the threat of nuclear, chemical, biological, or cyber warfare. May God spare us from that! But the disregard for human life, even before it can defend itself in the maternal womb, is an Armageddon. Organized crime is an Armageddon. Spiritual and material illiteracy is an Armageddon. The breakdown of families is an Armageddon. Technological advancement without the Spirit of Social Solidarity is an Armageddon. Religious fanaticism is an Armageddon. Unbridled materialism is an Armageddon. Hunger is an Armageddon. Armageddon is at our table: vegetables filled with pesticides, meats loaded with antibiotics and hormones. Armageddon is seen in the polluted waters of oceans, lakes, rivers, and even springs. The drought-stricken face an Armageddon. Leaving home for work, study, or leisure without the certainty of a safe return due to the violence and insecurity present everywhere today—what is this, if not an Armageddon? The lack of Love in people’s hearts is an Armageddon. People keep waiting for Armageddon, yet it is already here . . .”
All these elements shape the scenario of Armageddon and are also integral to the Great Tribulation—a period of suffering beyond anything humanity has ever witnessed.
Exacerbated by climate change and the consequences of humanity’s negligence toward Nature, the Great Tribulation could bring devastating outcomes unless we act swiftly to ensure that Jesus and His strategic ideals of Ecumenical Fraternity, Justice, and Charity reach people’s hearts.
Paiva Netto further explains in his article “The End of Times and Those Who Persevere in Jesus”:
“In the same spiritual message, our friend Flexa Dourada, always aligned with the teachings of the Religion of God, of the Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, sought to illustrate the catastrophe of the Great Tribulation by referencing the words of the Prophet Isaiah 24:20: ‘The earth reels like a drunkard and sways like a hammock; its transgression weighs heavily upon it; it will fall and never rise again.’ He also warned that this astronomical event could be triggered by the use of military weapons, potentially shifting the Earth’s axis, disrupting its gravitational balance.”
One of the announcements concerning the Great Tribulation is precisely the signs in the skies, the moon, and the stars, as a consequence of this possible verticalization:
“Immediately after the great tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29).
We see that such events are not impossible in a geological sense.
Yet, another crucial aspect of the Great Tribulation must be emphasized. Just as Armageddon takes place on two planes—the material and the spiritual—the Great Tribulation also unfolds, first and foremost, within Souls.
Beyond the consequences of a poorly managed multidimensional relationship, it is essential to acknowledge the intimate aspect of the Great Tribulation—not only as an outcome, but also as the origin of social or political-military events, to use the language of the Trumpets of the Apocalypse.
In We Are All Prophets, educator Paiva Netto clarifies the Sixth Seal of the Apocalypse, which presents a prophecy similar to the Prophetic Sermon we have just examined:
“‘I watched as the Lamb of God opened the Sixth Seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, and the whole moon became like blood.’ (Christ’s Apocalypse 6:12)
“We carry the Universe within ourselves. The Seals primarily represent the inner turmoil of human beings. Indeed, we have both heaven and, until we evolve, hell within us. Everything happens first in the inner world of each one of us. As Jesus opens the Seals of the Book, the Prophecies unfold, resulting from human and spiritual thoughts and actions. After all, we are what we think, speak, and do. The nations on Earth and in the Spiritual World are the consequences of our righteous actions and our madness.”
Earlier, in the same book, he explains the political and social ramifications of this inner upheaval:
“The Sixth Seal announces a great earthquake. I am not referring solely to a geological one. It also means the shaking of traditions, institutions, situations, and paradigms once thought to be unshakable. Where is the power of the powerful? One day, all humanity will cry out this question, for that power will have vanished: ‘The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, and the whole moon became like blood. . .’ (Apocalypse 6:12). This means that what is now bright and influential will fade into dust, for the light source of a selfish civilization will be extinguished.
“When Love fails to fulfill its mission, Mistress Pain takes over. History offers countless examples proving that, in the realm of forms, nothing is immovable. Consider the Roman, Babylonian, Assyrian, Spanish, Portuguese, and English Empires, among many others that have disappeared. The Sun fades, the Moon turns into bloodshed. The stars that fall from the sky to the Earth are not those massive celestial bodies orbiting the Universe; rather, they represent powers that collapse.”
This message is clear, requiring no further elaboration. However, one aspect of this prophetic reality deserves closer attention: The darkening of the sun and the dimming of the moon also translate into the obscuring of the intelligences of the brain and the heart. In this state, we lose our sense of direction. The ground beneath us and the stars above vanish. The repercussion of this? Anguish, mental suffering.
This sorrowful condition is the full manifestation of the Great Tribulation within the Soul. That is why it is essential to seek and provide access to Higher assistance—through God, Christ, the Sacred Ideals of humanity, mutual support, friendship, and companionship. This is exemplified by John the Evangelist in the Book of Revelation:
“I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation, in the kingdom and the perseverance in Jesus . . .” (Apocalypse 1:9)
. . . so that we may shield ourselves from situations like these, whose consequences are outlined by Brother Paiva in the continuation of his article “The End of Times and Those Who Persevere in Jesus”:
“As I have constantly demonstrated, everything is described in the Holy Bible. See, for example, what Zechariah states in his book, chapter 13, verses 8 and 9, also in the Old Testament:
“8 In all the land, declares the Lord, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but the third will be left in it.
“9 I will put this third into the fire and refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God!’”
This is one of the sorrowful consequences of the Great Tribulation. Yet, no one is lost forever. Those who will perish in the tribulation will be granted another opportunity—after enduring much suffering on planets less advanced than Earth, which will be elevated to the status of a Planet of Regeneration with the Return of Jesus—to resume their journey of atonement and spiritual evolution, seeking to reclaim the “lost paradise.”
And what will Planet Earth become, if not that very paradise, with Jesus visibly among us, for those who persevere in Goodness?
Through the divine words conveyed by Zechariah, we can grasp the revelation shared by the President-Preacher of the Divine Religion: “The secret to personal safety at the end of times is precisely being integrated into the Divine Law, expressed on Earth by Christ Jesus, who is God within us.”
As the author of this thought teaches, calling upon the name of God is not merely reciting one of the countless words humanity has devised to refer to the Higher Power. It is, above all, the act of fully integrating oneself into His sublime Meaning—revealed to us through Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God, and emphasized by John the Evangelist in his First Epistle 4:8: “God is Love.”
This is the force that enables us to endure all the tribulations of life: Divine Solidary Love. When practiced through Charity, it transforms lives, strengthens families, improves society, and shields entire peoples from prejudice, violence, and war—rendering them immune to the destructive power of hatred. As Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, this Love feeds the hungry and educates them, building, as exemplified by the Legion of Good Will, “a better world and a happier humanity.”
For this reason, we find solace in the words of Jesus’ Apocalypse, highlighted by Brother Paiva Netto in the article we are reflecting upon:
“It is worth noting that Jesus, in the most turbulent moment of human history, nourishes the Soul of those who persevere in Goodness with Hope. And we see the fulfillment of His promise in the Apocalypse 7:14-15, where those dressed in white robes before the Lamb of God are identified:
“14 ‘These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of Christ Jesus.
“15 ‘Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them and dwell among them.’”
And we ask the author’s permission to add here the following verses of this same passage, which he transcribed in Jesus, o Profeta Divino [Jesus, the Divine Prophet], as a prayer:
“16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat,
“17 for the Lamb of God at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
There is also this invitation from Brother Paiva in We Are All Prophets, which fills us with courage to confront the tribulations of existence:
And it is with this spirit that drives us that we will “handle” Armageddon “with ease,” as they say! That is why I care for you all. I want you in the flesh, so that you can face the Great Tribulation and the terrible Armageddon with me! And triumph with Jesus! Triumph, triumph, and triumph!
Furthermore, in the “Ave, Maria!” song which I dedicated to the people of Minas Gerais, I offer you this heartfelt invitation:
Mary and the LGW, your Sacred Mantle*
Holy Mary,
With your mantle, you will cover
With much Peace,
With much Love,
Minas Gerais!Sacred Mantle,
Which is the LGW:
Divine Love,
That Zarur came to bring us!You will spread your Light everywhere.
Then, we will have your Peace in our hearts:
You will free us from all tribulations!
And, for Jesus, we will overcome Armageddon!. . . .
And with Jesus, we will overcome Armageddon!
With Jesus! With Jesus! With Jesus!
After this brief study, we gain a deeper understanding of the Great Tribulation. Let us continue to trust in the Lord, doing our part from this moment forward to fortify our souls and safeguard our families.
May the Peace of God be with you now and always, dear reader who has accompanied us in this enriching study.
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*Translators’ Note: This song was translated into English literally, setting aside the rhyme to preserve the message.
