The Tribulation Period
The
Tribulation Period is the last 7 years on earth before Jesus returns at His
Second Coming. Daniel gaves us a "prophetic clock" which predicts the
first and second comings of the Messiah (Dan. 9:24-27).
Daniel's 70 Weeks Prophecy
This
prophetic clock is split up into three sections:
- The first 69 weeks (of years), or 483 years. The Jews not only had a week of days,
but also a week of years. (See Gen. 29:27-30, Lev. 25:4,8). This prophecy clearly refers to the
week of years. The clock will tick
for 483 years, then the Messiah will be revealed.
- The clock stops, creating a gap in time of many centuries. We are currently living in this time
gap, waiting for the clock to start ticking again.
- The clock starts ticking again sometime in the future when the
Antichrist confirms a covenant with Israel for 7 years. At the end of the 7 years, the Messiah
will be revealed a second time.
The
clock began ticking when the Artaxerses signed a decree to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem in 445 B.C. (Dan. 9:25, Neh. 2:1-8).
The first 69 weeks was fulfilled when Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the
Messiah on Palm Sunday (Luke 19: 37-44).
The clock stopped ticking on that day.
After
the clock stopped, two things were to happen before the clock could start
ticking again: The Messiah was "cut off" (crucifixion) and
Jerusalem was destroyed, which happened in 70 A.D. (Dan. 9:26).
The
clock will start ticking again for the last week of years when the Antichrist
confirms a covenant with Israel for 7 years (Dan. 9:27). In the middle of the 7 years, he will stop
the sacrifices in the temple, thus splitting the Tribulation Period into two
halves.
For
further study, I highly recommend Daniel's Prophecy of the 70 Weeks, by
Alva J. McClain, Zondervan Books, 1974.
The Abomination of Desolation
Daniel
informs us that the Antichrist will stop the sacrifices in the Jewish temple
"in the middle of the week," splitting the 7 years into two sections
of 3 1/2 years. This act is referred to
as the "abomination of desolation" (Dan. 9:27). Paul also speaks of the abomination when he
informs us the Antichrist will take his seat in the Jewish Temple and declare
himself to be God (2 Thess. 2:3-4).
Jesus said, "Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation
which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place
[Jewish rebuilt temple] (let the reader understand), then let those who
are in Judea flee to the mountains" (Matt. 24:15-16).
“Let
the reader understand." What is
the reader (someone reading his or her Bible) supposed to understand? That when they see the Antichrist go into
the temple, there are only 3 1/2 years left until the Second Coming! The Antichrist will be destroyed on the same
day Jesus returns to earth. (2 Thess. 2:8, Rev. 19:20).
It's
clear that the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation are talking about the
same things. Daniel gives us
generalities, Revelation gives us the details.
Most of the book of Revelation deals with the last 3 1/2 years on earth.
The chart below depicts the scripture verses that pertain to each half of the
Tribulation.
7 years of Tribulation
|
3 1/2 years
|
3 1/2 years
|
|
1,260 days (Rev. 11:3)
|
42 months (Rev. 11:2, 13:5)
|
|
Two witnesses prophesy
|
1,260 days (Rev. 12:6)
|
|
|
Time,
times, and a 1/2 time
(Rev.
12:14, Dan 7:25, 12:7)
|
On the 1,260th day, these things
will happen...
It
is amazing that Daniel, Paul, John, and Jesus all warn us about the 1,260th
day, the exact middle of the 7 years.
On that day:
- The Antichrist will stop the sacrifices in the rebuilt Jewish
Temple (Dan. 9:27).
- He will take his seat in the Temple, displaying himself as being
God (2 Thess. 2:4).
- He will kill the two witnesses (Rev. 11:7).
- He will set up the "abomination of desolation" (Matt.
24:15, Dan. 9:27, 12:11).
- The Jews will flee to the mountains (Matt. 24:15).
