Chapter 2 – THE TRIBULATION
Duration: 7 years
Timing: Unknown/Imminent (During Ezekiel’s War)
Key Scriptures: Daniel 9:26-27; 8:13-14; 12:11-13; Matthew 24:3-8; Revelation 6:1-2
This event is a seven-year period of terrible trouble that comes upon the earth at the hands of Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. It is the alarm clock that signals the beginning of the end. The end of what, you may ask? We could say the end of Satan’s and mankind’s 6,000-year rule over the earth*. Certainly, it’s the end of the age referred to by the apostles on the Mount of Olives in their question to the Master about His return and the “end of the age” (Mt 24:3). But the Tribulation is not the end; it’s the signal of the beginning of the end.
* If you aren’t onboard the Young Earth Creationist train yet, check out This Broken Planet [Earth’s beginning and end, and its unseen Water Layer].
The 7-year tribulation is broken into two contiguous halves, or 3½-year periods, the second of which being called the Great Tribulation. Because of this division, and much reference to the Great Tribulation, some believe that the Great Tribulation is the entire tribulation. This will be shown below to be a false view.
Many teachers say that the entire 7-year tribulation is God’s Wrath. This, too, will be shown to be false in the course of this study (see the chapters on the GREAT TRIBULATION and GOD’S WRATH for more on this). The first half is a time of tribulation but is not nearly as bad as the second half. The whole thing may be more akin to a world war or other calamity caused by man and demons.
First Half of the Tribulation
As just stated, it is best to view the first half of the tribulation (Early Tribulation) as a time of war. It will be terrible, widespread war, possibly World War III, but it will not be as bad as what happens three-and-a-half years into it. And although it will be a world war, it begins with an attack on Israel from the north (see EZEKIEL’S WAR).
Daniel confirms how we’ll know that the tribulation has started – there will be a new temple built in Jerusalem.
Daniel 9:26b “And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its [or his] end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many [the people] for one week [or seven], and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
Verse 26b begins with foretelling the destruction of the sanctuary, the Temple of God in Jerusalem. If there were no temple built, he couldn’t say this. Although this occurred to the second temple in 70 AD, the one who destroyed it then was not the antichrist who will be destroyed by the second coming of Christ (see 2 Thessalonians 2:8). We know that this “prince who is to come” is the antichrist when we study other sections below that describe who he is and what he does. The temple mentioned, therefore, must be the 3rd temple, not the second temple destroyed in 70 AD. This 3rd temple will probably only stand a few years. It is interesting to note that the 1st temple, the one Daniel knew, was not in use when he penned his prophecy about the temple. Is it significant? Probably not; but it is interesting. See chapter 7 – THE MILLENNIUM for discussion on the millennial temple.
The next line in 26b tells that war will persist during this time until the very end.
Verse 27 shows us that there will be a covenant (a treaty, a pact, a contract) between this “prince” and “many” (some versions say “the people”). Since Daniel’s prophecy has been centered on the Jews, it is likely that the Jews are included in this treaty (as The People) – also see chapter 1. This prince may be of Semitic heritage or not. He may have Islamic ties or not. This is only mentioned because the Muslims desire to rid the earth of Jews more than anyone else does. Daniel 11:21-45 has more information about these two leaders, as we touched on in chapter 1. We’ll look at this more in chapter 6 – ARMAGEDDON.
The mention of this pact lasting one “seven” (years), which is divided into halves, gives us our timeline for this period. And because the sacrifices are put to an end at the halfway point into these seven years, I am convinced that this treaty includes provision for the construction of a new temple. We can come back to this in the section on the temple (Chapter 3, TEMPLE BUILT).
Harmony of Matthew 24 and Revelation 6 & 8
Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are known as the Olivet Discourse. They recount a time when Jesus taught His four closest disciples – Peter, James, John and Andrew – on the Mount of Olives. His teaching was in response to their question in Matthew 24:3, Mark 13:4, and Luke 21:7.
Matthew 24 and Revelation 6 & 8 are actually parallel passages that discuss the same events (to a great extent) with some differences. These differences give us a more complete picture of this time. (See Figure 2 – Harmony of the Olivet Discourse and Revelation’s Seals.) They each have Jesus giving us a broad overview of the end times, from the Tribulation to God’s Wrath (in Revelation) and His return (in the Olivet Discourse). Let’s look at this parallel now.
These verses in the Olivet Discourse and the account of the seals are where we can build our timeline for these end times events. Everything else that we read about this time can be understood better as we plug them into the timeline we get here. This teaching provides the bones of our study, upon which all other things can be fleshed out. If the student of eschatology does not use these passages as the basis for the timeline, the student will be left without a frame of reference, and will be tossed about by all kinds of speculation and confusion. So, at the very least, use Matthew 24 as a guideline in determining the sequence of End Times events. I cannot stress this enough with the reader. THIS is what makes understanding the End Times “easy”! So pay attention to the Matthew 24 timeline.
Matthew 24:3 As he [Jesus] sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.”
Matthew 24:3-5 suggests to me that the Tribulation begins with much deception and many false christs. When we read the account of the seals, however, Jesus begins with the four riders of the apocalypse. At first, these may not seem like parallel passages, but as we get deeper into them, it becomes more apparent.
Revelation 6:1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
We could say that one way to conquer is through deception. This first rider could be the antichrist, or it could just be a symbolic figure. Certainly, antichrist uses much deception.
Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
Here we know that the tribulation starts with war and uprisings – probably on a huge scale (see chapter 1). Remember, too, that Jesus is talking to His closest disciples – and through them, to you. He is telling you to not be afraid (alarmed). It is because of this parallel that I do not take the preterist view that verse 6 (and following) is merely describing events beginning in 70 AD and continuing up to now.
Revelation 6:3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
For me, this rider illustrates that the warfare will continue to escalate more and more. At this time, famines, pestilences (Lk 21:11), and earthquakes will take ahold of the people.
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
Revelation 6:5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart [choinix] of wheat for a denarius, [a day’s wage for a laborer] and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”
The third rider seems to illustrate how all the world will be in economic ruin. And how could it not be, with all of the war, rebellion, famine, disease and earthquakes? Does the prediction of earthquakes, famine and disease make this a part of God’s Wrath? I don’t think so, because we have those things occurring today – and I don’t believe we are currently experiencing God’s Wrath. Do you?
Could any of these things be direct acts of God? Sure. Could all of these things be ordinary, non-miraculous events? Absolutely. Are these indications of God’s Wrath? I don’t think so. When we get into GOD’S WRATH later, you’ll see that there are some very specific things that must happen. For now, I’ll just point out that the only two things these have in common with God’s Wrath would be the earthquakes and widespread warfare (Rev. 8:16). However, the earthquake in God’s Wrath is the second largest ever in the history of the world (completely in a league of its own—after only Noah’s Flood) and the armies in God’s Wrath are both demonically and angelically driven.
At the risk of muddying the waters, I should point out that the lines of these events are not quite as clear-cut as we would like. For example, in the Tribulation we will see a mighty army waging war on much of the world, but especially Israel. This war continues on into God’s Wrath and terminates with the arrival of Christ and His millennial reign. In fact, this war is partly driven by Satan and his demons and partly driven by God and His holy angels. But this does not alter the fact that the Tribulation is one thing and God’s Wrath is another. They should not be confused.
I have heard it said many times that these tribulation events are all just the normal events we’ve seen throughout history (Preterism). We have always had these things occurring in the world and they will continue to occur until the very end. While this is true, I still believe that Jesus begins His discourse with the tribulation and goes forward from there. I do not think that he is giving us a broad, sweeping history lesson from His time on. I hold this view partly because of the context of their question to Him, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” – not, “What will happen when you’re gone?” Sure, He could have answered however he wished, but this is why I believe what I believe. This, plus the parallel with the seals, which are definitely (or at least largely undisputedly) from the beginning of the tribulation.
So, I believe that Matthew 24:3 begins His account of the Tribulation, as does Revelation 6:2.
If this is true, then the tribulation begins with deception and conquest. And if these verses are in concert with Daniel chapter 9, then we are seeing that the antichrist will deceive the people of Israel with a pact that will have a seven-year duration. We also see that he will be given the power to conquer. The deception is also mentioned in Daniel 11:21-24 (He will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue.)
Again, it is my belief that this pact will allow for the construction of the 3rd temple, which will be violated after 3-½ years from the date of the agreement. This is assumed, based on the Daniel 9:27 prophecy of putting an end to sacrifice and offering. Without a temple, there would not be any sacrifices or offerings by the Jews. And don’t forget 2nd Thessalonians, 2:3-4, where Paul is talking about an actual, physical temple that a real person (the antichrist) enters.
2nd Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Questions to Ponder
- Is the 7-year tribulation God’s wrath or Satan’s wrath? (More will be seen in the chapter on GOD’S WRATH.)
- What is the key passage of scripture for understanding the End Times and making it easier to put it all together?
- Are Matthew chapter 24 and Revelation chapters 6 and 8 (about the 7 Seals) parallel verses?
Answers
- Satan’s Wrath (see Revelation 12). According to Jesus in Mt 24, God’s wrath comes after.
- Matthew chapter 24 (along with the other Olivet Discourse verses – Mk 13, and Lk 21 – and the 7 Seals in Revelation 6 & 8).
- It would seem so. They are both harmonious accounts of the End Times in a synoptical format from the same source – Jesus. Together, they form the basis for understanding the End Times more easily.
Preface/Introduction
Ch 1: Ezekiel’s War
Ch 2: The Tribulation
Ch 3: 3rd Temple Built
Ch 4: The Great Tribulation
Ch 5: The Wrath of God
Ch 6: The Return of Christ
Ch 7: The Resurrection of the Dead in Christ
Ch 8: The Rapture
Ch 9: Armageddon
Ch 10: The Millennium
Ch 11: The Judgment
Ch 12: The New Creation
Ch 13: Conclusion
Ch 14: Summary
Glossary
