The end times tribulation refers to a period of intense suffering and upheaval described in the Bible that precedes the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is often associated with God’s judgment on the earth, the rise of the Antichrist, widespread persecution of believers, and significant natural and supernatural disasters. The length of the tribulation is often interpreted as seven years, based on biblical prophecies, though views on its nature and timing vary among Christian traditions.
Biblical References to the Tribulation
1. The Prophecy of Daniel
The tribulation is linked to Daniel’s prophecy of the “seventy weeks,” which outlines a timeline of events leading to the end times.
- Daniel 9:27 (NIV):
“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.”- The “seven” refers to a week of years (seven years), with the midpoint marked by significant events, such as the “abomination of desolation.”
2. Jesus’ Description of the Tribulation
Jesus describes the tribulation in His Olivet Discourse, warning of wars, natural disasters, and persecution.
- Matthew 24:21-22 (NIV):
“For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” - Matthew 24:15 (NIV):
“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand.”
3. The Book of Revelation
Revelation provides the most detailed account of the tribulation, describing it as a time of divine judgment through seals, trumpets, and bowls.
- Revelation 6:15-17 (NIV):
“Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?'” - Revelation 13:7 (NIV):
“It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.”
4. The Role of the Antichrist
The Antichrist, also called the “man of lawlessness,” plays a central role during the tribulation, deceiving many and demanding worship.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (NIV):
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
Key Events During the Tribulation
- The Beginning of Sorrows
- Wars, famines, pestilences, and natural disasters intensify.
- Matthew 24:7-8 (NIV):
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
- The Abomination of Desolation
- The Antichrist desecrates the temple, demanding worship.
- Daniel 11:31 (NIV):
“His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.”
- The Mark of the Beast
- People are forced to receive the mark of the beast to buy or sell, signifying allegiance to the Antichrist.
- Revelation 13:16-17 (NIV):
“It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.”
- Persecution of Believers
- Christians face severe persecution for their faith.
- Revelation 6:9-11 (NIV):
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.”
- The Outpouring of God’s Wrath
- A series of judgments (seals, trumpets, and bowls) bring devastation to the earth.
- Revelation 16:1 (NIV):
“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.’”
- The Second Coming of Christ
- Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist, judge the nations, and establish His millennial reign.
- Revelation 19:11-16 (NIV):
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.”
Length of the Tribulation
The tribulation is often understood to last seven years, divided into two periods of 3.5 years each:
- First Half: The rise of the Antichrist, false peace, and increasing calamities.
- Daniel 9:27 (NIV):
“In the middle of the ‘seven,’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.”
- Daniel 9:27 (NIV):
- Second Half (Great Tribulation): The worst period of suffering and the reign of the Antichrist.
- Matthew 24:21 (NIV):
“For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.”
- Matthew 24:21 (NIV):
Different Views on the Tribulation
- Pretribulation View
- Believers are “raptured” before the tribulation, escaping God’s judgment.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV):
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
- Midtribulation View
- Believers are raptured midway through the tribulation, before the Great Tribulation begins.
- Posttribulation View
- Believers endure the entire tribulation and are raptured at Christ’s second coming.
Purpose of the Tribulation
- Judgment on the Earth
- The tribulation is a time of God’s righteous judgment on sin.
- Isaiah 13:11 (NIV):
“I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins.”
- Testing and Refining Believers
- The tribulation reveals true faith and purifies the church.
- Daniel 12:10 (NIV):
“Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.”
- Preparing for Christ’s Kingdom
- The tribulation paves the way for Jesus’ return and His millennial reign.
- Revelation 20:4 (NIV):
“They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
Conclusion
The tribulation is a pivotal period in biblical prophecy, characterized by intense suffering, divine judgment, and the reign of the Antichrist. However, it also leads to the ultimate victory of Christ, the redemption of His people, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. Believers are called to remain vigilant and faithful, trusting in God’s sovereignty and promises.
- Matthew 24:42 (NIV):
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”