How Long is The Great Tribulation?
Ok, lots of error on this topic. How do I know? I read the bible. Below I listed the scriptures regarding this time period that come straight from the book. As you can see scripture is very clear on the topic, though, unfortunately many leading ministers have added their view which has been popularized in books and even movies.
The Great Tribulation is a time of, well…tribulation. Trouble for those who don’t know what the word means. This time of trouble is commonly thought of as a period of 7 years. This comes from the passage in Daniel chapter 9:
Daniel 9:27
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
For a quick background, Daniel prayed to God concerning a prophecy by Jeremiah regarding a 70-year punishment upon Israel for rebelling against Him. After Daniel prayed, the angel Gabriel came in response and then told Daniel of a complete time of punishment that will last 490 years (70 weeks (a week being a period of 7 years)).
Verse 27, above, is what happens in the last 7 years of this period (the 70th week). It is commonly understood from earlier in the chapter that the 490 year period was suspended after Jesus was cut off (killed).
The beginning of the last week starts with this “He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven.” It is also commonly understood that the “he” is the coming world leader known as the Anti-Christ. The one who will oppose and exalt himself above all gods and stand in the holy place (the temple in Jerusalem) and declare himself to be God. This event is the Abomination of Desolation.
Matthew 24:15-21
15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—
16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house.
18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.
19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
The last week has obviously not started as this covenant or agreement has not happened yet. This last 7 years, is also commonly and erroneously believed to be the 7 - year Great Tribulation.
It is not.
You will notice in the passage above that this “he” is going to do this Abomination of Desolation in the MIDDLE of the 7 years.
That is 3 and a half years into it. As Jesus in Matthew 24:15-20 states that AFTER this Abomination event is when things get ugly.
Nowhere in scripture is the Great Tribulation listed as 7 years.
Below, I have listed all the scriptures that give a time frame for this period. You will notice that they all always add up to 3 and a half years. This is listed as 42 months, a time (year) times (2 years) and half a time (half a year) or 1260 days (360 x3.5)
Daniel 7:25
He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.
Daniel 12:7
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[a] When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
Revelation 12:14
The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach
Revelation 11:2
But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
Revelation 11:3 [Full Chapter]
And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
So, the bible says the time of trouble, or the Great Tribulation will last only 3 and a half years.
My question then, is do you just ignore what I am saying here because I don’t have a TV show or investigate this for yourself so you can also tell everyone who listens the truth?
Right now, I am a voice calling from the wilderness (outside), but no one is listening…