How long is the end times "tribulation" period that is talked about in the Bible?
A lot of people think / teach that it last 7 years.
But I don't see that in scripture.
Most teachers of a 7 year tribulation use a mis-interpretation of the passage in Daniel chapter 9,
where a period of 70 weeks is revealed ( reference 9:24-27 ).
A subject worthy of it's own post.
For now, I'd like to share the clear verses we find in the Bible that make reference to periods of "time" and the end time events.
Starting with Daniel,
In Chapter 12 and verse 6, Daniels specifically asks
"How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?"
Verse 7 references "a time, times and a half time" ( which is commonly believed to represent 3 1/2 years ).
Continuing in Daniel we read in chapter 12 verses 8 through 13,
"...Then I said, O my lord, what shall be the end of these things?
And He said, Go, Daniel! For the words are closed up and sealed until the end-time.
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried. But the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the desolating abomination set up, a thousand two hundred and ninety days shall occur.
Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
But you go on to the end, for you shall rest and stand in your lot at the end of the days."
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried. But the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the desolating abomination set up, a thousand two hundred and ninety days shall occur.
Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
But you go on to the end, for you shall rest and stand in your lot at the end of the days."
* Note --
Daniel tells us 1,290 days ( 12:11 )
Daniel tells us 1,290 days ( 12:11 )
Now lets take a look at some passages in the book of Revelation.
Starting with chapter 11 and verse 2, we are told
"and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months"
Also,
In Revelation 13:5 referencing the "beast",
we learn that
"he was given authority to continue for forty two months".
Continuing in Chapter 11 of Revelation
verses 3 - 7
tells us the TWO Witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days,
which is 42 months averaging 30 days each.
AND
That they are killed by the beast
with 30 days left of the 1,290 days foretold in Daniel.
We should also NOTE that the "end"
when the "wrath of God" is pour out upon the whole world
starts soon after the 1,260 days of the TWO Witnesses has been completed.
Revelation chapter 11 verses 8 - 12
We learn that
The Witnesses lay dead in Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days,
and the world celebrates,
and exchanges gifts.
They believe the beast has rid them of their problems,
since those "two prophets tormented those who dwell upon the earth."
Then in Verse 13
there is "A Great Earthquake",
and
that will put an end to the "party" they were having in Jerusalem.
Verse 14
we are told that the 2nd woe has past
and the 3rd woe comes quickly
( which is the 7th and Last Trumpet ).
Verse 15 And the seventh angel sounded.
And there were great voices in Heaven, saying,
The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ.
And He will reign forever and ever.
My current "theory" is that
Everything in the 3rd woe
which is the 7 vials/plagues/bowls full of the wrath of God
we read about in Revelation Chapters 15 and 16,
all occur in less than 30 days.
And thus completing the 1,290 days foretold in Daniel.
In Revelation chapter 16 verse 1 we read,
"...Go and pour on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God."
The events of the last trumpet ( 7 bowls of wrath )
will destroy much of the earth and kills most of the life on this planet.
And as Jesus said in Matthew 24:22
"Unless those days had been cut short,
no life would have been saved:
but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short."
So, I conclude that the tribulation period of the end times is only going to last appromiately 3 1/2 years.
With the beginning and end times possibly around the times of the feast of Passover and the feast of Tabernacles.
I will try to elaborate more on how the feasts times are important in a another post.
For now....
just be ready - watch - be alert,
as you might find yourself in the tribulation period,
and then you can start counting down the days when you see all these things are occurring.
As Jesus said in Luke 21:28
"But when these things begin to take place,
straighten up
and lift up your heads,
because your redemption is drawing near."
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