Many Christians avoid the topic of the Great Tribulation either because they don’t understand it, or because they think they won’t be here for it. Their thinking is that if they aren’t going to have to endure it, there’s no reason to concern themselves with it. FIRST, you CAN understand it, and God described it in His Word, so He wants you to understand it. SECOND, the Church WILL be here for it. (I’ll just leave this right here for an upcoming post.)
WHAT IS IT?
The Tribulation is a time period which will lead up to the Battle of Armageddon, and the return of Jesus Christ to gather His Saints/Elect/Church. It will be a time of severe persecution of the Jewish people, and yes, even the Church. To get an idea of the scope of persecution, research the Holocaust, and know that Jesus said it would be worse.
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)
WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE?
In Daniel chapter 9, the prophet is given revelation concerning 70 weeks of years (a 490 year period whereby God determined to accomplish some things. He tells us what those things are in verse 24:
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.“ (Daniel 9:24)
- To finish the transgression
- To make an end of sins
- To make reconciliation for iniquity
- To bring in everlasting righteousness
- To seal up the vision and prophecy
- To anoint the most Holy
One week of the seventy has yet to be fulfilled. That is a week of years, or a seven year period. The Church is waiting for this seven year period to begin. It is during this last seven years that the above things will be accomplished. This time period is going to wrap everything up that needs to be completed before Jesus is anointed King of kings and Lord of lords, and sets up His earthly 1,000 year millennial kingdom.
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
If asked, most people would say that the Great Tribulation will last for seven years. This, however, is not backed by scripture. While there will be a seven year period of time that leads up to the Battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus to gather His Church, the Tribulation will only be during the second half of the “week of years,” or the final 3 and 1/2 years.
It is in the middle of the week (of years) that the antichrist will cause the daily sacrifices to stop, and will commit the abomination of desolation by standing in the newly built Jewish Temple, and claiming to be God. (their long-awaited Messiah) This incident is what will trigger the Great Tribulation. Up until this point there will have been pseudo peace for the first 3 and 1/2 years.
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.“ (Daniel 9:27)
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.“ (Matthew 24: 15-21)
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
As we have seen, the Tribulation begins in the middle of the final seven years. We can verify the length of the Tribulation by comparing the variations of wording to describe the last half of the week.
Time, and Times, and Half a Time
“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” (Revelation 12:14)
Time is one year. Times is two years, and half a time is half a year. We see the same description of a 3 and 1/2 year Tribulation period. *NOTE* The woman in this scripture is the collective Jewish West Bank settlers who are mentioned as “them which be in Judaea” above in Matthew 24:15-21.
42 Months
”But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.“ (Revelation 11:2)
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.“ (Revelation 13:5)
1,260 Days
“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3)
IN CONCLUSION
Whether the Tribulation is described as Time, and Times, and Half a Time, or Forty-Two Months, or 1,260 days, it is obvious that it is referring to a three and one-half year period of time. As we also saw, this period of time begins in the middle of the week when the antichrist steps into the newly built Jewish Temple, declaring himself to be God, or their Messiah.
At this point, the seven year Jewish/Muslim peace agreement that was instituted by the world government, will be broken, and terrible persecution will break out upon the Jewish people.
This three and one-half year Tribulation period is just ahead. If you are reading this, there is every reason to believe that you will live to see it. Still, you might be thinking that you’re not Jewish, so why should you be concerned? I will cover this question in detail in an upcoming post, but I’ll leave you with this one scripture:
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.“ (Revelation 12:17)
After the antichrist, possessed by satan, sends his initial onslaught against the Jewish people, in his rage, he will then send tribulation out into the rest of the world to persecute Christians in whatever nations he can. It remains to be seen how much authority he will have over the United States of America. (And that is for a future post;) One thing is for certain. It is time to trust God, more than we ever have before.
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I welcome you to leave comments. When talking about endtime prophecy and events, there is a lot to unpack, and I realize we won’t all agree. Don’t let that hinder you from leaving feedback.
Warm Regards,
-Pat