Is it truth, a myth, or plainly mis-taught?
The answer is simple, it is a very mis-taught subject.
The tribulation is a subject that has captivated many people in recent years, and has even become the subject of many
sermons and bible discussions and even movies and television shows. Even so, probably the biggest question on most people's mind is when is it and how will this "great" event take place?
Most people who teach on this subject have taught that it is a seven year event that will take place in the future, possibly near future, and
will last for seven years. They teach that a seven year contract of peace will be made between Israel and other nations and that
half way through it the Antichrist will break it and cause war with the Christians. Unfortunately, the numbers and time figures being taught don't match
bible information, making this a very mistaught subject.
History
To begin with, the basic understanding comes from the book of Daniel where he is being shown a time frame of which things will occur that involve Jesus. This is found in the ninth chapter of the book of Daniel and goes like this:
These of course, are the verses most people use to create the seven year tribulation theory and make a claim that an "antichrist" person will come along and
make a peace treaty with Israel, only to break it half way through in order to bring on the dreadful Mark of the Beast that so many fear will come upon them. Which by the way, there are some cults and religious groups
out there today teaching the Mark of the Beast is already here and in our system. This is not so as the bible is self explained on that subject as well.
Because of history documentation, it has been discovered after the fact of when the prophecies were written, that the seventy weeks mean seventy years. We find that by going backwards in time from Jesus back to Daniel, 69 weeks have been fulfilled. That leaves the seventieth week before the restoration is completed.
The restoration is what this prophecy is all about. It is not about bringing an end to the world, but rather about bringing an end to the domain of Satan on earth, both in a physical sense and knowledgeable spirit sense.
That verse says all that is necessary to understand what the prophecy is all about. It is to bring back faith in God as God brings on the plan to save mankind from death. It tells how long it will be and how many weeks are determined before it will happen. Unfortunately,
like so many other bible verses, this one is also left unfinished and unexplained, particularly the seventieth week. Which adds more reason to why I need to explain the wrong about what has been taught about it by the majority of people.
Look close at this verse in Dan 9:26.
Notice that I have underlined the word "after." This is very important in trying to see the time line of the 70th week. What this verse says is that after the 62 weeks, 60+2, that comes after the first seven, (69 weeks total) the "anointed one" shall be cut off. The anointed one is of course Jesus.
Here it states that he is to be cut off after the 62 weeks mentioned. What has happened over the years is this, people stop their time line here and do not count the rest of what Daniel had to say. Because this verse says after the combined 69 week total Jesus would be cut off, they
have interpreted it as meaning when Jesus was to be crucified, the 69 weeks will be over, which leaves one whole week for the rest of this prophecy before fulfillment. And that is where the theory of a seven year tribulation comes from.
Now it's time to learn what Daniel was really talkng about. One thing to understand about this verse is that the subject of the verse is about two things: Jesus and the people who follow Satan. The first part of this verse talks about Jesus, while the second talks about the followers of Satan.
Through the history of what is written in the bible, we know that Jesus was placed on the cross by the children of Satan, whom Daniel referred to as the "prince that shall come."
This explains what Daniel was talking about in verse 26. The anointed one would be cut off, by the people of another prince who is to come. This means that both Jesus and the prince to come have the same value placed on them. Both are princes, therefore both come from the same place and have the same power. Since Jesus came from heaven, we know that the prince who is to come will also be from heaven. That prince is Satan, where sometime later after Daniel was given this prophecy Jesus came. Like Jesus, Satan was also in heaven, but was thrown out instead of coming voluntarily. His angels which we often now call demons or evil spirits were expelled as well.
Now that you see there are two different Prince's referred to in Dan 9:26, lets's continue and stay on the subject of the time line of the 70th week and see where we are at today.
In Dan 9:27, we can see something will happen that was not expected. The people back then thought Jesus was here to save them at that time, and did not count on the unusual events of the 70th week that would follow.
The question here is who is the "he" this verse starts off with? This is where most people have been preaching that it is the Antichrist or Man of Sin whom this is referring to. They teach that he will bring in a peace treaty to the nation of Israel and then "he" will confirm a covenant with them. While that sounds like a good argument, it's not. Notice the
nation of Israel isn't even mentioned. It's because this verse has nothing to do with Israel. It does however, have plenty to do with the populace as that is who the covenant is made with. So, now we can take Israel out of the picture concerning this covenant.
Like the previous verse, Dan 9:27 is also talking about two distinct subjects. One is the one who will make a covenant, and the other is one will bring on the abomination until the time of the end of this prophecy. Take note that I said "this prophecy," because as a prophecy, it has an end of its own.
Now that you can see there are two distinct events discussed here, one about the "he" that will be cut off, and one about the "one" who makes desolate. But by no means are they referred to as the same person or entity. The covenant is not a treaty with a nation, It is a covenant between God and the people of this world. One of which was prophesied long before Daniel's time to happen. Daniel was just shown specific details. This next verse sums up what the covenant is that Daniel was talking about is.
The covenant, is the death and resurrection of Jesus, and so the covenant that is to be confirmed by a "he" is the one Jesus performed. Therefore, we can deduce that Daniel was talking about Jesus when he said: "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;"
As stated, Jesus shed his blood for the remission of sins for "many."
Now that we know that, we can determine something else about Dan 9:27.
The "He" is Jesus, of which Jesus brought an end to sacrifices and offerings when he started his ministry. He no longer said that sacrifices were the way to gain favor from God or eternal life. Thus, sacrifice and offerings were abolished.
Since Daniel said that Jesus would be cut off in the middle of the week, and we know that 69 weeks happened before Jesus came, we can figure out that Dan 9:27 is referring to the 70th week, and not the 69th week.
Jesus started his preaching at the beginning of the 70th week, which was after the 69 week period because Daniel said "until" the Messiah the prince there would be 69 weeks, not the end of Messiah. Jesus preached for just over three years and was crucified. That crucifixion was the confirming of the new covenant because after the third day after he rose from the grave to eternal life.
He remained on earth for awhile longer afterwards and then ascended up to heaven and is no longer present on earth. Thus "he" is cut off.
Therefore, since the bible says Jesus was to be cut off during the middle of the week, and 69 weeks had already transpired before he began preaching, we know that half of the 70th week is over and only the second half remains to be finished. We also know this for two other reasons:
In the book of Revelation there is a verse that many people cannot explain, the reason of course, is they do not understand there is no seven year tribulation period.
Forty two months is half of seven years. Thus, between what Daniel said and what John said we can determine that there will be a 42 month period of which Jesus will still not be present because he was cut off, and where the "one" who makes desolate will rise up.
But, does this mean the tribulation is really 3 1/2 years long? No, it doesn't, it only means what it says, Jesus will have been cut for the last part of the week and will not return until it is over.
When it's over, the 70th week will be complete and the phrophecy is fulfilled, but not the mission of Jesus. When Jesus returns he will reign for 1000 years while Satan is locked up in the bottomless pit, and afterwards when Satan is released another tribulation period will follow. Therefore, try to
understand this is not a tribulation prophecy, it is a prophecy explaining the events of the two princes from heaven.
The tribulation has been long thought to be seven years, and now I have shown you it is not. However, there is more to the Tribulation than anything Daniel had to say. The Tribulation is actually going on right now and started when Jesus left.
Daniel also said this when he talked about the abomination or that which makes desolate, but it seems very few people understand its meaning.
This of course is the Abomination of Desolation, where even Jesus talks about it.
The Abomination of Desolation is the final event before Jesus returns. It is not built as of yet, and so the world has nothing to fear in that regard until it is. What the Abomination of Desolation is, will be an image made as explained in the book of Revelation.
When this will take place is still an unanswered question and the Bible doesn't give us many clues. It could be built before the 42 month period, or it could be during it as Satan rises into power claiming to be God. To answer when that happens is where we find the answer to the end of the Tribulation.
Jesus stated and fully recognized the Tribulation would be over before the powers of heaven are shaken. Therefore, when you combine this with the 42 month period, we know the reign of Satan is at the end of the Tribulation, and that the Tribulation will soon be over. It also means, the 70th week is completed and the prophecy is done.
The combination of all this tells us the tribulation must have started long ago and before these events take place, and therefore, cannot mean that Daniel was by any means talking about limited seven year period of which could be translated into a seven year Tribulation period.
His explanation of the weeks is in reference to Jesus and his timing and battle against Satan. It is verse 27 that explains how long the tribulation is so let's look at that again.
The full end? When is that? The end of Satan's domain doesn't end when Jesus returns. It stops for awhile, but it doesn't end. When Jesus returns there will be a time on earth where Satan is not around. This will be the first time in the history of the earth people will not be influenced by him because he will be locked away.
Since Satan will be released again after the 1000 years to go out and once again deceive the nations, we know that Daniel was talking about a very long time period of "one that maketh desolate" much larger and longer than seven years, or even the three and a half years that are left. Notice the phrase "and even unto the full end," is a statement of itself. Meaning, that after the seven year period when Jesus has returned, the desolation will continue during the time period after the millennium.
As you can tell, Daniel was talking about a time frame a lot longer than seven years and so was John when he wrote the Book of Revelation. Which again, takes away from the theory of a seven year tribulation. In the meantime, Satan will maintain himself as God even after the heavens and earth are shaken to take his people through the first segment of wrath, until the return of Jesus in Revelation 14:1.
/ Jesus is taken up in Acts 1:11 / the tribulation begins / the 42 month period begins / the tribulation ends when the 42 months are up / the rapture takes place / the wrath follows / Jesus returns in Rev 14:1 / then the mark of the beast, Rev 14:9, 14:13 /
Now, with all that said, it doesn't mean there will be no tribulation for mankind. Jesus said there will be tribulation, but keep in mind he said the tribulation of those days will be over when he returns. Thus indicating, more tribulation will follow, but the worst is over.
What Jesus is talking about is not a seven year tribulation, but rather the wrath of God mentioned in the book of Revelation. This wrath, along with the domain of Satan and the shaking of the powers of heaven only occurs once and will take place before Jesus returns.
We don't know what will happen to the earth when the heavens are shaken, or how long it will last. We just know things on planet earth will not be the same anymore. It is then the Mark of the Beast will begin to take place or be in the stages ready to take place.
Since the world will be in trouble physically, food, shelter, and other issues will become a problem. Buying and selling will become a controlled event to where no one can buy or sell without a Mark. Basically, the world will be starting over after such a disaster and since there is now a modern way of tracking purchases, taxing purposes, identifying property ownership and so forth, that would the perfect time to bring in a new order to the world and a God to show up and claim victory.
The falling away will take place when Satan proclaims himself to be God. After all, if GOD is here on earth, then there will be no need of churches or places of worship or any religion that worships other gods.
Common sense will also prevail when it comes to buying and selling as every person needs all those things to survive. It will also become a time for the people to bring an end to violence and wars since buying will be monitored, which means what you buy can be controlled. Thus, such a Mark will eliminate who buys destructive devices that are used to keep people free now and will bring everyone under the control and domain of Satan once and for all. And who will be able to prove otherwise, even with a bible?
No one today can prove there is a God or even a devil without the use of a bible. How then, will a person be able to prove Satan is not God when no other God will be around to speak up against him? The populace will have no choice but to follow Satan and believe GOD has come to earth. I would assume, those who would doubt this will be accused of being unfaithful and be put to death to rid the earth of any person who is defiant to the new GOD.
The only good side to all this is that the Mark of the Beast doesn't take place until Jesus returns. This is because of the way it is explained in the book of Revelation and the time line discussed.
Jesus is back on earth when this takes place as the world prepares to do battle against him. So, while chapter 13 in Revelation explains what the Mark of the Beast is, chapter 14 gives us the time line, which is during the time Jesus returns. Again, this will be after the 42 month reign of Satan as God.
Therefore, those who are teaching the Mark of the Beast is taking place now should do more research. There are some who teach the Social Security system or the Banking systems are the Mark of the Beast, and if you desire to make money you are receiving an invisible Mark as you live now.
I think not.
And so, this should explain the "great tribulation" Jesus said was going to be happenning when he starts his return. Taking everything I have explained here and putting it in simple terms; there is no such thing as a seven year Tribulation, as it is happening now and has been on going since Jesus was here and left for 2000 years. However, it does get worse towards his return, but each person born since Jesus is going through it.
There will be another tribulation period after the millennium and it will last "even unto the full end" just as Daniel has said it would be.
In essence, the tribulation is exposure to the desire of Satan to be God. Were as such, many people have actually fallen into worshipping him instead of Jesus, even by seemingly faithful Christian religions who unknowingly worship the Antichrist. By worship, it simply means they follow his spirit and will power.
Since Satan was the accuser in heaven and has since been thrown down to earth. A close look at our society will show how it has become a wigwam full of accusations against one another, violence, hates of various kinds, theives, abusive behaviors, murderers, drug users and pushers, and so forth, with an end result that unfortunatley makes us all both victim and perpetrator as we simply seek to live and survive.
In the meantime, the seven year Great Tribulation is not true and has become one of the many deceptions taught by people. The false teachings are brought on by the spirit of the false prophet, Satan, and of course the Spirit of the Antichrist that teaches many false things.