In the Throes of the Great Tribulation

1. Prayer for help (Psalm 55:1-3)

2. Longings to escape (Psalm 55:4-8)

3. The great tribulation (Psalm 55:9-21)

4. The comfort of hope (Psalm 55:22-23)

The man of sin, the Antichrist, stands out prominently in this Psalm. Because of him and his oppression, the godly remnant calls for help. They are overwhelmed with horror and beholding the abomination, they wish for wings like a dove and escape from the storm and the tempest of the great tribulation. This is in accordance with Matthew 24:15-16, which refers to the same time. They will actually flee to the mountain and will be away from Jerusalem as we learned in Psalm 42:1-11. The great tribulation has begun and of Jerusalem it will be true “wickedness is in the midst thereof, deceit and guile depart not from her streets.” And this wicked one, the Antichrist, is one of the nation, not a stranger, the man with a flattering tongue, who even walked in the house of God. And now his character and the character of his followers is exposed as they turn against the godly. Hence the imprecatory prayer (Psalm 55:15). Here is the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy, the last seven years, divided into half. In the first half the Antichrist is the man who claims friendship, with words smooth as butter, but in the middle of the week he breaks the covenant and puts his hands against such as are at peace with him (Psalm 55:20). Psalm 56:1-13; Psalm 57:1-11; Psalm 58:1-11; Psalm 59:1-17; Psalm 60:1-12