The Tribulation
The end will come [like] a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end. The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings.
(Daniel 9:26b-27, NLT)
My interpretation of the above passage is that once the end starts, it will not stop until all is accomplished (26b); the ruler is Gog, or antichrist ; the treaty happens at a conference table (11:27); one set of seven is 7 literal, consecutive years; (26b); putting an end to the sacrifices and offerings can only happen when they have resumed commencement at the temple.
Half of 7 is 3½. The Tribulation is referred to in these two halves, with the second half being of greater anguish than the first, though the first is no picnic. The last half is called the Great Tribulation.
The Bible counts the Tribulation in days, months, and years. There are 1,260 days per half (Rev. 11:3, 12:6) for a total of 2,520 days of tribulation, 42 months (Rev. 11:2), and years (“time, times, and half a time”) (Dan. 7:25, 12:7; Rev. 12:14)
Where these times are mentioned, the Bible is talking about the same period—the Tribulation.
All of this means that the Tribulation is a 7-year period of time that is divided into two consecutive halves. Once it starts, it won’t stop until the Lord comes back. (Matthew 24:29-31)
What is the Tribulation?
Simply put, the whole seven years of tribulation is Satan’s wrath. We know this from Revelation 12. The chapter describes Satan and his allies being finally kicked out of heaven forever. This is what kicks the Great Tribulation into hi-gear. That last 3½ years will be pure hell on earth—especially for Jews and believers in Jesus.
Antichrist is a man, from the Caucasus (the region between the Black and Caspian Seas). This means that he could be of the peoples of 5 countries in that region: Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, or Armenia. He will not be famous until he is in power (Dan. 11:21-45). (See also Ezekiel 38 & 39.)
Antichrist is Satan’s world leader. Both God and Satan ensure his success (although Jesus will utterly wipe him and his forces out upon His return).
Do not call the Tribulation “God’s Wrath”. It is not God’s wrath; it is Satan’s temper tantrum for being kicked out of the Spirit Realm for good and knowing that his time is about up.
According to Jesus, His own wrath begins immediately following the tribulation. (Matthew 24:29-31).
Another term to know is “the Day of the Lord”. This term is used several times in the Bible to refer to Jesus’ return, wrath, judgment, and rule over Earth. It includes the entire 1,000-year millennium.
But these events precede all of that. These events are nothing but the same kind of warfare and satanic activity that we’ve seen all along on planet Earth. The difference is that this is the final push of Satan to ruin mankind forever. This is Ezekiel’s War. World War III. Apocalypse!
The Great Tribulation
The second half of the Tribulation is called “the Great Tribulation”.
“The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecrationstanding in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.”
~ Jesus (Matthew 24:15-22, NLT)
No events in history will have the magnitude and scope of the horrors that we will see in the Great Tribulation.
Of the 8 Billion or so people on planet Earth today, a mere fraction will survive the apocalypse that is nearly upon us.
The invading force that dies in Israel alone will number 200 million men! That will be at the battle of Armageddon—the final battle of Ezekiel’s War (Ch. 38-39)—the final battle before Jesus’ rule begins. In another event, ⅓ of humanity is killed.
And then there’s this:
“Two-thirds of the people in the land
(Zechariah 13:8, NLT)
will be cut off and die,” says the Lord.
“But one-third will be left in the land.”
That doesn’t mean that ⅔ of all humanity will die. It will be a lot worse than that worldwide! These numbers are only during Satan’s wrath, and probably just in Israel. God’s wrath will bring even more death and destruction to all, all around the world.
However, if the destruction and carnage of these days were not cut short, no one would survive on Earth but the angelic demons. Satan and his mob would definitely destroy all mankind (or make up his own version through science and or magic—think Nephilim or DNA manipulation).
The Great Falling Away
Maybe the saddest aspect to the Great Tribulation is the way that Jesus’ followers will desert Him en masse. There’s a belief in American Evangelicalism that people cannot forsake Jesus once they’ve said a few words of commitment to Him or been dunked in water, formally and publicly.
But Jesus doesn’t want just a few words of feigned commitment. He wants all out devotion in the face of utter devastation otherwise. He wants people who would rather die than take the Mark of the Beast.
Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”
(Revelation 14:9-11, NLT)
The warning is for “anyone”. I think that many who say they follow Jesus will turn-in their family and friends to the authorities to avoid their own execution, for being a follower of Jesus or a Jew. Persecution will reach a feverish pitch in the last days of the Tribulation. The Mark will be placed on those who deny Jesus or the Torah. This is apparently unforgiveable to Jesus.
“And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” ~ Jesus
(Mt 24:10-13, NLT)
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