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The Great Tribulation

Though there are passages in the gospels and in Daniel that predict
and describe the time known as the Great Tribulation, the book of
Revelation has the most complete description of this future time
period. There are actually two Tribulation times that comprise a time
of seven years. The first time period (three and a half years) is known
as the time of Tribulation. The second three and half years is known
as the Great Tribulation, when the Antichrist is revealed and the wrath
of God and troubles greatly intensify upon the earth (see Daniel 9 for
additional information and reference). The length of the overall
Tribulation time period is seven years.

In Matthew 24:15 Jesus describes the revealing of the abomination of
desolation (the Antichrist). Then, in Matthew 24:21 Christ states, "For
then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since
the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." Next, Matthew
24:29-30 says, “Immediately aŽer the tribulation of those days . . . the
Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth
will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
of the sky with power and great glory." Jesus is showing that the

Great Tribulation begins with the revealing of the Antichrist and ends
with the second coming of Christ.

Though people will blame God for the disasters and terrible events
described in this book, and many will think Satan is in control, they
will be greatly mistaken. God will accomplish at least two things
during this tumultuous time. One, He will complete His disciplining
of Israel (Jeremiah 30:7 “the time of Jacob’s distress”) and He will also
allow the Jews to finally see Jesus as the promised Savior. Secondly,
God will judge the godless inhabitants of the earth (Revelation
chapters 6-18).

There is no need to fear. As the book continually shows us, behind
the curtain of what we think are catastrophic world events - God is in
control.