tribulation

n. trial, suffering, something that causes great suffering catastrophic event

The Tribulation (or "Great Tribulation") is an event referred to in the New Testament of the Bible at ("For then shall be great tribulation..." - King James Version) and other passages. In the futurist view of Christian eschatology, the Tribulation is a relatively short period of time where believers will experience worldwide persecution and be purified and strengthened by it. This view was introduced to the modern church by John Nelson Darby, the father of dispensationalism, became widely accepted through the notes in the Scofield Reference Bible of 1909, and was recently popularized through the novels in the Left Behind series.
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Noun
1. an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event; "his mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him"; "life is full of tribulations"; "a visitation of the plague"
(synonym) trial, visitation
(hypernym) affliction
(hyponym) fire
(derivation) tribulate

n. tribulation, trial, suffering

(n.)
That which occasions distress, trouble, or vexation; severe affliction.