The Tribulation

Introduction

It is no surprise that the future appears to be heading increasingly deeper into confusion and difficulty. Although there are sparks of hope, and potential, the overall trajectory of human history demonstrates a downward trend towards trouble.

For the Christian, this makes sense because of the reality of God’s displeasure with the behavior of men and women of all ages. This is particularly true of His own people, whom He delivered out of Egypt in 1446 BC, the sons of Jacob-Israel. Their own history demonstrates a kind of advance-and-retreat approach to righteous behavior. They advanced towards their God under one leader, and drastically retreated from Him under another leader. Their conditional covenant, which states that when they listen to their God, He would bless them, and when they disobey their God, He would curse them, is an everlasting covenant that has endured throughout history and will to the end of time. In the end, the fact is that even when they would advance towards doing what was right in the eyes of God, they often were still operating from an unrighteous standpoint. The Gentile nations, even though they had no such covenant, were also living in unrighteousness even more than Israel. The net effect of both Israel and the nations of the world is summed up by the Apostle Paul in this statement:

Romans 3:9 (LSB)

What then? Are we better? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

And…

Romans 11:32 (LSB)

For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Therefore, we now understand that the world is, indeed, moving towards a fateful end, a culminating “trouble.” It will be an end that, unless one repents and believes in Jesus Christ, he will not survive without eternal wounds. 

The future “trouble” is called The Tribulation. It is a time frame, specifically seven years, when God will fully carry out His wrath both on the nation of Israel, as well as the nations of the world. He will be right in doing so, and He will demonstrate that He is just to judge the world, both Jews and Greeks, for their sins. 

This essay will examine in overview fashion this period known as The Tribulation from the viewpoint of statements in the Old Testament and the New Testament which inform us of exactly what the Tribulation is, when it will happen, and how long it will last. Finally, we will consider exactly what part the Tribulation plays in the eternal plan of God, a factor often overlooked by Christians. 

What Is The Tribulation?

The word “tribulation” is a term that comes from a variety of Old Testament and New Testament words, all synonymous with one another. The gist of the term is “trouble,” “distress,” “pressure,” and although it is usually associated with punishment, it can also refer to general hardship of life as well. For example, Israel was distressed by war.2 Jeremiah the prophet was overwhelmed with distress while witnessing the destruction of his beloved Jerusalem.3 The Hebrews were oppressed by the Egyptians.4

All of these descriptions have the same sense of some external pressure, or difficulty. Tribulation can also refer to internal pressure, or anxiety. But, the overall use of the term is some distress on the outside, although it might cause internal anxiety.

There is a particular time when the whole world will uniformly be in distress. It is a time characterized by worldwide suffering, trauma, demonic activity, and geologic upheaval the world has never seen before. There are many descriptions labeling that time period. It is spoken of as“trouble,” “desolation,” “confusion,” and “panic.”5 These descriptions indicate a pervasive intensity that sweeps over the entire earth. These terms also indicate absolute disruption of normal human life on the planet as we know it, as well as a level of increasing severity that man cannot control, or reduce. It is a fever-pitch of activity that hurts mankind on a worldwide scale. It is relentless, devastating, and pervasive. Man cannot stop it, and God will not stop it, except for His own purpose.6

The timing of this particular event will be discussed later in this essay. However, it needs to be said here that the time frame of this period of distress is specifically stated in Scripture, and, although it will be horrific and terrifying, the end result for those who repent, will be glorious. 

Key Passages About The Tribulation

The Old Testament contains many references to the Tribulation period of history. The term “tribulation” may not be directly used in each case, but the event is described and understood by the context very easily. Furthermore, the record of the New Testament is built upon passages such as the following. 

One of the earliest references to a time of “distress” is found in Deuteronomy 4:30. In that passage, Moses tells the reader that the nation of Israel, the descendants of the very people he delivered from Egypt, will be scattered all over the nations of the earth, and will squander all the privileges God has given them. They will worship idols and willingly participate in the nation’s wickedness. The key phrase that we see there is the phrase, “in the last days.” Moses says that over time, Israel will be scattered, idolatrous, and in duress. However, at the end of that time, which culminates in the final Tribulation period, they will experience the compassion of God and He will restore them.  

This reference gives us key information that is fundamental to the character of the Tribulation spoken of throughout all of Scripture. Even with greater revelation of the Tribulation through the rest of Scripture, the basic components mentioned here are maintained. The Tribulation is essentially a time of great distress as a result of the disobedience of Israel to their covenant with God through Moses. Because of that disobedience, Israel will be dispersed, participate in terrible idolatry, and then restored to YHWH. 

We continue to see these things repeated throughout the prophecies of the Old Testament. The pronounced blessings and cursing upon Israel for their obedience and disobedience to God7 respectively, demonstrate that the covenant carried with it pervasive distress for disobedience (as well as pervasive happiness for obedience). Furthermore, when the Israelites are scattered and increasing in disobedience, the covenantal curses upon them will affect the very nations into which they emigrated. This will increase the judgment God places upon those nations as well. 

The clearest passage concerning the Tribulation is the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27. 

24 “Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Holy of Holies. 

25 “So you are to know and have insight that from the going out of a word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be restored and rebuilt, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 

26 “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are decreed. 

27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will make sacrifice and grain offering cease; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

In this passage, the timing of the Tribulation is explicitly recorded, as well as the general aspects of the Tribulation which are further explained in the New Testament. Again, the undercurrent of these themes will be the distress upon Israel, the assault of the nations on the saints of Israel,8 and the resultant rescue of Israel from the same. With this framework, we can further develop the full understanding of the Tribulation. 

When Is The Tribulation and How Long Will It Last?

As mentioned, the Tribulation period is explicitly recorded in Daniel 9:24-27, although it does not specify the inaugural date of the Tribulation. The volume of information needed to completely explain this passage is much beyond this essay. However, there are a few very direct statements by the Prophet Daniel that make it much easier for us to understand the timing, and length of time, of the Tribulation Period. It is important to note that the gospel writer Matthew told His readers that it is critical to understand Daniel’s prophecy about the future Tribulation.9

Verse 24 begins with the statement: 

“Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and for your holy city.”

In vv. 25-26 we see most of those seventy weeks broken up into two segments: one for seven weeks, and the other sixty-two weeks. These are summed up to a total of sixty-nine weeks. A “week” is a statement referring to a period of seven years. It does not refer to a period of days, or months. That leaves one final week, a period of seven years, to account for the timing of the completion of God’s purpose for Israel. 

Verse 27 tells us about that final week which, when added to the other sixty-nine weeks, equals the seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety years, determined by God for Israel. Daniel writes that at the beginning of that seventieth week, the “prince who is to come” will desolate the city and the people of the city. He will also destroy the sanctuary. That period of time, one week, will be filled with war, and further desolations. According to the angel speaking to Daniel, all of these desolations, wars, and the destruction of the sanctuary and city are “decreed.” 

However, at the end of that final week, the true Prince, the Messiah Who was “cut off and [had] nothing,” will destroy the prince of the people (of the nations) and make a complete destruction of the one who makes the sanctuary and the city desolate. It is also at that time that the Messiah will cause Israel to repent, and be restored to her God. 

Now, as we try to figure all of this out, we come to a few basic conclusions. First of all, this period of time, the seventy weeks, begins with the decree to “restore and rebuild” Jerusalem. The best date for that decree is Spring 445 B.C. It was at this point that Nehemiah, the king’s cupbearer and the author of the book Nehemiah in the Bible, asked for permission to return to Jerusalem and restore the city. Ezra the Scribe, and Zerubbabel the priest, had already been there for many years attempting to restore the Temple, but now it is time to fix the city, and its walls. From that decree, wrote Daniel, would be seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety years, for YHWH’s plan for Daniel’s people and Daniel’s city, Jerusalem.  

All but one of those periods of seven years have been accomplished, according to Daniel 9:26, the Messiah having arrived and His life ended at the end of the sixty-ninth week. Therefore, the only period of seven years that remains is still yet future. It is during that time that wars, desolations, and the reign of the prince of the people, also known as the “Antichrist,” will occur.

We know that the final week of this prophecy has not occurred to date since the death of the Messiah ends the sixty-nine weeks. His death, appearing unexpected, stopped the Kingdom promised to Israel from occurring. As was mentioned, the point of commencement of the seventieth week is unknown, and, given the descriptions of that time period, as well as the fact that at the end of that period will be the Second Coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, we know for sure it has not occurred. It is still yet future. 

What Other Passages?

That time period, being yet future to Israel, and future to the church, is referred to often in both the Old Testament and New Testament. There is no shortage of clarity concerning the Tribulation.

The Old and New Testaments record the Tribulation period most often as the “Day of the Lord.”10 It is written as a time when the proud will be humbled, and the sins of the nations will be judged. The description of that time is really horrific, but it consistently includes the following:

-It will be a unique, and unrepeatable period of worldwide trauma.11

-It will come to all nations because of their wicked behavior against Israel, particularly Jerusalem.12

-It will include tremendous geographical upheaval.13

-It will be a final judgment leading to eternal punishment, generally referred to as “fire.”14

-It will include the violent annihilation of all that the world has depended upon for comfort, safety, and livelihood.15

Overall, just as the Lord said, the Tribulation period will be a time of fury and wrath that has never occurred on the earth, and will never again occur in the future. 

Conclusion

In God’s eternal plan, the Tribulation is a very important component. It is during the Tribulation that Israel is justly punished for her covenantal disobedience, but afterwards is restored. It is during the Tribulation that the nations of the world are justly punished, but out of them come many, many new converts to Jesus Christ. It is during the Tribulation that God fulfills His Word before the watching world, and afterwards will fulfill His Word by sending His Son to the world a second time. 

The Tribulation, as difficult, and horrific as it will be, is right. It is right because, as mentioned, the world is guilty before God.16 The Day of the Lord is the time when all the cumulated sins and transgressions against God from all nations will be punished and the promised wrath will be poured out on the earth like water from a pitcher.

 —

1 Deuteronomy 28

2 Judges 10:9

3 Lamentations 1:20

4 Exodus 3:9

5 See Isaiah 22:5; Zephaniah 1:15

6 Jesus is recorded as having said that the days of the Tribulation will not be shortened except for the sake of the elect (Matthew 24:22).

7 See Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26

8 It is important to understand that the term “saints” can also have reference to the elect of the nations as well, and not only the saints of Israel.

9 Matthew 24:15

10 Isaiah 13:9; Zephaniah 1:14-16; Joel 2:30-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2

11 Joel 1:1; 2:2; Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 12;1; Matthew 24:21

12 Jeremiah 25:29; 50:17-19; Ezekiel 38; Joel 3:2-3

13 Ezekiel 38:20; Isaiah 13;10; 24:23; Joel 2:10, 31; Amos 5:20; Zephaniah 1:15; Matthew 24:29-35; Revelation 6:12-17; 8:12.

14 Isaiah 66:15-16; cf. Daniel 7:11; Revelation 14:10

15 Revelation 18:11-19

16 Romans 3:19