Information Related to "How Long is the Great Tribulation?"
| Audio/Video |
How Long Is the Great Tribulation?
The "great tribulation" refers to the time of crisis at the close of the age of man. Jesus spoke of "great tribulation" in Matthew 24:21 and told John to write of it in Revelation 7:14.
Several events are prophesied to occur during the crucial last days:
An unparalleled "time of great trouble" will come on the people of Israel, affecting also "the holy people" (Daniel 12:1,7).
Notice that a common time-period is mentioned in conjunction with these events:
These are variations of the same period-31/2 years (not seven years, as commonly suggested by many rapture-believers for the time of the great tribulation).
Note Wycliffe Commentary's notes on Daniel 12:7:
"The consummation is to take place when the three and one-half times (31/2 years; 1,260 days; 42 months) so frequently mentioned in Daniel's previous prophecies and in the Revelation are run out."
Rapture theorists base their idea of a seven-year tribulation on a single reference, Daniel 9:27, which tells of a covenant made "for a week" by a "prince who is to come." This prince will cut off sacrifices "in the midst of the week," an act that will herald the beginning of the crisis at the end. A week in prophecy, goes the reasoning, represents a year and hence refers to a seven-year period.
(Some believe the prince to be the Antichrist, while others believe it is Christ. The Messiah was cut off in the midst of a week, or after 31/2 years of His earthly ministry, as well as on a Wednesday, the middle of a literal week.)
If this is a prophecy of the Antichrist, the crisis begins "in the middle," or after 31/2 years, leaving another 31/2 years remaining for the fulfillment of the close-of-the-age events mentioned above. Note as well that the period would also be the same as prophesied in the above references to the main events of the end.
Clearly the Bible does not support the idea of a seven-year tribulation.
© 2000-2022 United Church of God, an International Association
Related Information:
Table of Contents that includes "How Long is the Great Tribulation?"
Origin of article "How Long is the Great Tribulation?"
Keywords: tribulation great tribulation
Tribulation: