The Time of Great Tribulation

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This topic of great tribulation is a central time to understand if you are going to grasp Bible prophecy. Many people have many interpretations, some focusing on a seven year tribulation period or even focusing on all the fire and brimstone and plagues that will befall the earth as the tribulation.

What I’ve found the Bible to be saying is that the great tribulation is not defined by God’s wrath, it is defined by the dragon’s wrath. Revelation 12:13 It is marked by a beginning, defined by Daniel and referred to by Christ, called the abomination of desolation, and a length of time that revolves around the antichrist’s reign for 42 months, Revelation 13:5. It is the dragon’s wrath against God’s chosen people, Jew first, then anyone with the testimony of Christ. Since the time of great tribulation starts as the result of the dragon’s wrath, we can also see that it must end at Armageddon when Christ ends the rule of the antichrist, throws him and the false prophet in the lake of fire and chains the dragon for 1,000 years. Revelation 19:20-20:3

| Abomination of Desolation & Jacob’s Trouble | 30days | Shift of Focus Global and to the Church | 1230days | End of Great Tribulation |
Where does this fit in the prophetic timeline?

How Long is the time of Great Tribulation?

The time of great tribulation is a 1260 day (3½ year x 360 days) period of time. Here I will present the scriptures that define this time period. For more detail on the kingdoms defined in history in the following passage, see Daniel 7. What this tells us is that this time period is in the end-times yet future.

Daniel 7:23-25
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; [antichrist] and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, <-[abomination of desolation] and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they [saints/chosen people] shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

A time and times and the dividing of time is another way of saying 3½ years, time (1) + times (2) + dividing of time (½) = 3½. This passage is speaking of the time of the fourth kingdom and it’s master, the antichrist. At the abomination of desolation the man of sin is allowed to reveal himself speaking great words against the Most High and blaspheming the True God. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 At this point, the saints are given over to him for 3½ years. This is the same time that the beast is given his power by the dragon.

Revelation 13:1-5
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

So the whole time the dragon gives the beast power, the beast will be going after the saintsH6922. I would like to point out that a saint is one who is appointed, consecrated, undefiled, and purified. All these are only possible through Christ. We should keep in mind that we are limited by not knowing men’s hearts and not seeing beyond our own time. So there are many “saints” who may not act it now, but will come to Christ and be saved. In God’s mind outside of time, they are already His. Ephesians 1:4-10 We should also keep in mind that the Lord used this same word many times for individuals in Israel and Israel will be saved. Romans 11:26  I believe “saint” is referring to anyone, Jew or Gentile, that belongs to Christ during the time period mentioned. Furthermore when Paul wrote in Romans 11:25-26 that all Israel shall be saved, it is in regards to those written in the book, who have accepted Yeshua as the Messiah that took away their sins. Natural Israel that was broken off the root, which is Christ, is no longer spiritual Israel and it is the combined Jew and Gentile spiritual reborn Israel who have accepted Christ that is the true Israel. It is imperative that Gentile Christians begin to think in a more Hebrew context when looking at Bible prophecy, understanding that we are grafted onto that root and joined with Christ along with natural Israel. Much of prophecy is about Christ's plan for Israel and the earth when they are unblinded and see Him.

My point is that Israel is not precluded from this group. Many Christians leave the Old Testament alone and focus on the New Testament only. However, when you do this, you lose much understanding because to understand the big picture, you must realize that, as Chuck Missler says, “The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, and the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.”

This 3½ years contains both the initial “time of Jacob’s trouble” and the remainder of the beast’s rule when his focus isn’t just those in Judea. As we will see in this study, we must also look at the term “saints” in light of the promise to escape the time of God’s wrath. Not all “saints” will be on the earth during God’s wrath. Those saints that are the bride of Christ will be at the marriage of the Lamb during that time. However, I believe there will be saints on the earth for the duration of Satan’s reign over the kingdoms of the earth as well. Matthew 25:1-13 It's all a matter of understanding we are in space-time, locked to a sequential order of fulfillment and prophecy is talking about those points in time.

Now that we have an overview of the time frame of the time of great tribulation, we need to further dig into the Word of God to understand the details and what that means to our understanding of Bible prophecy. First and foremost, we must define which aspect of “great tribulation” we’re talking about. There are three verses in the New Testament which use this exact term, they are labeled “Great tribulation” below, but they are not all focused on the same time frame. To whom is this “great tribulation” happening? There are two perspectives we need to take into account, Israel and the church. They are both contained within the 3½ year “great tribulation” period, but they show the two distinct perspectives of that 3½ year period. The distinction in time frames comes from Revelation 12. Here’s a quick scripture layout for reference:

Great Tribulation 1260 days/42 months/3½ years

• Israel First ~30 days (The Time of Jacob’s Trouble)
  • Revelation 12:13-16 - Defines the focus of the dragon on Israel and Israel being protected from the dragon for 3½ years.
  • Matthew 24:15-22 - Connects the abomination of desolation to the start of the time of great tribulation specifically focused on those in Judea. (Unparalleled in history)
  • Mark 13:14-20 - Connects the abomination of desolation to the start of the time of great tribulation specifically focused on those in Judea. (Unparalleled hin history)
  • Jeremiah 30:4-7 - Where the term “time of Jacob’s trouble” originates specifically concerning Israel and Judah. (Unparalleled in history)
  • Daniel 12:1 - Marks the time where Michael the archangel, who stands for the children of Israel, makes his stand. (Unparalleled in history) [Note that I believe this directly ties to Revelation 12:7-17 such that the revealing of the man of sin coincides with Satan being cast to the earth and beginning the time of great tribulation. I believe Michael the archangel is the restrainer.]
  • Revelation 6:9-11 - Before the sixth seal and before the catching away that happens after the abomination of desolation, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, this defines “...under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held...”
• The Church & Unprotected Israel Remnant Last ~1230 days (Continuation of great tribulation with focus of dragon turning world-wide)
  • Revelation 12:17 - Defines the focus of the dragon changing once Israel is out of his grasp.
  • Revelation 7:14 - “Great tribulation” After the harpazo, a view of those who came out of great tribulation.
  • Revelation 2:22 - “Great tribulation” Warns of the fate of those in the church who don’t repent before the harpazo and the day of the Lord. I believe this also describes those who don’t have oil in their lamps. Matthew 25:1-13
  • Revelation 20:1-6 - First resurrection after Christ's return, defeat of the beast and false prophet and locking away of the dragon for 1,000 years. Those resurrected are a specifically defined group that can only happen during the great tribulation. “...the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands...”

Notice that all three scriptures which state a time unparalleled in history all directly refer to Israel/Judah/Judea. This is a very specific people and place called out in the focus of this time initially.

Israel & The Start of the Great Tribulation - The “Time of Jacob’s Trouble”

This study is focused on defining the details of the time of great tribulation. In that regard, I will follow the flow of time in referencing the scriptures. In other words, I will start at the beginning and end at the end, showing how the different perspectives come into play. This all revolves around the events of the abomination of desolation. If you haven’t read that study, it will help you understand the pivotal nature of this event. Much changes in heaven and earth at this point in history. What we must understand about it for this part of the study is that the abomination of desolation is when Lucifer is cast out of heaven by Michael after the war in heaven. Revelation 12:7-12

Revelation 12:13-16
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, [abomination of desolation] he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. [Israel] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

What we see from this scripture is that Israel, the woman of Revelation 12, is the primary focus of the dragon’s wrath. She’s the first one he goes after when he’s cast out of heaven. Since the dragon gives the beast his power for 42 months, Revelation 13:4,5, the beast is his puppet so seeing the dragon go after Israel is the same as seeing the antichrist go after her. This all revolves around the time of the abomination of desolation I mentioned earlier. Notice how clearly this defines Israel as the focus of this time. We will see that mirrored in what Daniel, Jeremiah and Christ all said about this time. God does delineate between Gentile believers and His chosen people, Israel. Romans 11:16-27 speaks of natural and wild branches grafted onto the root, which is Christ. That distinction is regardless of time in history. Israel is always the natural branches and the Gentiles are always the wild branches. In Christ they are grafted to the same root (Christ), but there is still a distinction. As Christians, our spiritual head is Christ, so what did Christ have to say about this time after the abomination of desolation?

Matthew 24:15-22
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

This time of “great tribulation” in this passage is describing this particular time that is unparalleled. It is imperative that we keep in mind the distinction of Revelation 12:13-16 and Revelation 12:17. The first group the dragon goes after are Israel, and Christ even made it clear by only specifying that those in Judea run to the mountains. This unparalleled time is clearly localized in Israel initially.

Applying logic, we also know that if a particular time is described “such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” then any other claim of a time being similar would have to equate to the same period of time. You can’t have two different times both claiming they’re the worst in history. Now again, look at who these verses are focused on. Who’s going to have the worst time in history at some future point?

Jeremiah 30:4-10
And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

Christ was referring to the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” Israel was Jacob’s God-given name and passed down through Jacob’s seed becoming the name of their nation as scripture states. Genesis 28:13-14 | Genesis 48:4 Here’s another Old Testament prophecy about this same unparalleled time in all of history. Notice again who the subject of this time is.

Daniel 12:1-4
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy [Daniel’s] people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy [Daniel’s] people shall be delivered, [“great tribulation” or “time of Jacob’s trouble”] every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

What “people” did Daniel belong to? I don’t think there’s any argument that he was from the tribe of Judah of Israel. Daniel 1:1-6 Also note that not all of Daniel’s people will be delivered, just those found written in the book. Notice the similarities of these three verses:

• Matthew 24:15-22
  Time of trouble unparalleled in history Elect (Israel Isaiah 45:4) saved out of it through shortening of days.
• Jeremiah 30:4-7
  Time of trouble unparalleled in history Jacob (Israel Genesis 32:28) saved out of it
• Daniel 12:1
  Time of trouble unparalleled in history At that time all of Daniel’s people (Israel) who are written in the book are delivered.

Why is this time so unparalleled?

Zechariah 13:8,9
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; [time of Jacob’s trouble] but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

And now we see from scripture, just why this time is unparalleled in all of history. At no point in history has 2/3 of Israel been killed suddenly in attempted genocide perpetrated by the dragon’s hatred for the the woman who delivered the Meshiach Nagid (Messiah the King). Revelation 12 Hitler tried, many of the nations want nothing more, but God is still with Israel for His namesake.

It may also be that this 2/3 that are cut off is not about the mass murder of Jews in Judea, but rather harkens back to Romans 11 and Paul’s comparison between Jew and Gentile and the final cutting off of the natural branch from the root, the point in time of history with no return for those of Israel who reject Yeshua and accept the man of sin. I still believe anyone who doesn’t accept the antichrist in Judea at this time will be killed as that trend is a major piece of his reign, but the 2/3 may not be killed right away, just lost for eternity and perhaps even participants in the murder of those who do not accept the antichrist at that time.

Either way, there is also a promise that 1/3 of Israel will be brought through the fire and refined. God’s wrath is described as an all-consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:24-29
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. <-[Day of the Lord beginning with God’s wrath - Isaiah 13:13] And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.

Deuteronomy 9 talks about Israel’s crossing over Jordan into the promised land. God says, “Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.” Israel is taken to the wilderness 3½ years before the end of the 70th week of Daniel to be protected from the dragon. Revelation 12:14 That means they will be taken to the wilderness and the wrath of God will start, beginning the day of the Lord. Another potentially linked study is the sealing of the 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel prior to the wrath of God.

This all reveals some very important things from the Bible.

1. The “great tribulation” is for Israel (Jeremiah 30:5-10 | Daniel 12:1-4 | Matthew 24:16 [Only those in Judea told to flee to the mountains] According to the Central Bureau of Statistics December 2021, 73.9 percent of Israelis - 6,982,000 - are Jewish and 21.1 percent - 1,995,000 - are Arab.)
2. The “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:1-11) is shortened (Matthew 24:22) Israel is also called the elect. (Isaiah 45:4)
3. The remnant of Israel which goes through this time after 2/3 are cut off, Zechariah 13:8,9, is the same Israel who is protected from the face of the dragon for 3½ years. (Revelation 12:14)

Using logic, we can deduce several things. The time of Jacob’s trouble is an Israel-specific prophecy that is centered not only on the people of Israel, but also the physical land since only those in Judea are told to flee. This all takes place immediately after the abomination of desolation and this is 1,290 days before the end of the 70th week of Daniel. Daniel 12:11 If you examine the chart I put together from the specific day prophecies in Daniel and Revelation, you see how this looks in a timeline. God gave us exact day prophecies for this time period and if we lay those days out, we are given a detailed account of this time period.

How Long is the Time of Jacob’s Trouble?

Does scripture tell us when this time of Jacob’s trouble is over? Some facts to re-iterate, The time of Jacob’s trouble is Satan’s wrath focused on the nation of Israel living in the land of Judea. It is the dragon, Lucifer, that gives the beast his power for 42 months. Revelation 13:2-5 It starts with the beast’s persecution of the Jews after the abomination of desolation. Christ connects for us the abomination of desolation to the beginning of a time of great tribulation which focuses first on the people in Judea, the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” If that is what starts this time as spoken by Christ, then it’s end will be when the beast is no longer able to persecute Israel or those holding the testimony of Christ.

Revelation 12 shows us that the 3½ year time of Satan’s wrath is split into two focuses. First Satan’s wrath is on Israel in Judea, which is the time of Jacob’s trouble. Then once they’re protected from him, the remnant of Israel in the world as well as those holding faith in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile. When the abomination of desolation happens you know the time of Jacob’s trouble, beginning the great tribulation, has started. This is where the Bible study of Daniel’s 70 weeks comes into play. It tells us when in the big picture this will take place. As we will see, Christ refers to an Old Testament prophet, Daniel, to teach us what the abomination of desolation is. What this also does is place the event on the timeline of prophetic events because that’s when we’re told the great tribulation starts. Matthew 24:15-22 You can read that study for more of the scriptures, I’ll just share the two related to the timing.

Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [7 years]: and in the midst of the week [3½ years] he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Daniel 12:11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

The context of Daniel 12 is in the 70th week, starting with the abomination of desolation. So we know that from the time of the abomination of desolation, there will be 1,290 more days before the end of the 70th week of Daniel. We also know the beast has his power from the abomination of desolation for 1,260 days. Revelation 19:20 tells us when the beast’s reign ends, at Armageddon, when Christ returns in glory and throws him into the lake of fire with the false prophet. This leaves a 30 day period of time after Christ returns in glory before the 70th week ends.

The End of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble

Revelation 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

The dragon has no power to reach the woman any longer once she is taken into the wilderness. This brings us back to Revelation 12:13-16 that we started out with in this study. The woman is protected from the dragon for 1,260 days. That’s the same time the beast has his power. How is this possible? The answer lies in the combination of Daniel 12:11 and Revelation 12:14. Since we know the dragon goes after Israel first and it starts at the abomination of desolation, The 3½ years Israel is protected from the dragon must start 30 days after the abomination of desolation started.

Let me clarify. The great tribulation Yeshua speaks of in Matthew 24:15-22 is specifically that time in which Israel is persecuted by the beast after the abomination of desolation, the time of Jacob’s trouble. We define “great tribulation” by what causes it to begin from scripture, Satan’s wrath against God’s people, Israel and Christians. Revelation 12:13-17 Both will exist on the earth when the beast has his power, so not all Jews are going to be living in Judea to be taken to the wilderness. So that is why the remnant of the seed is still under persecution. However, that isn’t what Christ was referring to as the time of great tribulation in Matthew 24:15-22. It was specifically tied to the time of Jacob’s trouble with the language of a singularly horrible and unparalleled time from which they will be saved out of. This is the time when 2/3 of Israel is cut off just after the abomination of desolation. That time is over once they’re protected from the dragon. Since that is for 1,260 days that they’re protected Revelation 12:14 and that’s exactly how long the antichrist has influence Revelation 13:5, it’s only resolved with the above chart as laid out in scripture. That means that when “the tribulation of those days” is said later in Matthew 24, it’s referring to the end of those specific days from Matthew 24:15-28 in which Israel is the focus of Satan’s wrath, the time of Jacob’s trouble.

Please read this study on Matthew 24:29-31 if you have not yet. It very much affects the timing of the sixth seal and is directly connected to that time between the abomination of desolation and the sixth seal called the time of Jacob’s trouble.

The Church & The Shift of the Antichrist’s Focus

We saw with Revelation 12:13-16, how the beast, given power by the dragon, goes after Israel (those in Judea) when he is first cast to the earth. As we will see, several shifts take place now that he can no longer get her. This is still the great tribulation, but the time of Jacob’s trouble is over. The 1/3 remnant that were taken to the wilderness were already saved out of that time.

Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, [Israel] and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Taken literally it would be Messianic Jews. However, since the antichrist is going after anyone holding the testimony of Christ, then it could be Gentiles too because they are also given the gift of salvation through Christ. But another event plays into this time of transition.

The Harpazo

Christ will be coming for His bride, the church in the catching away to the clouds, the harpazo. From scripture, we know that the harpazo must come before God’s wrath does. The day of the Lord is the beginning of God’s wrath. Several scriptures connect the day of the Lord with sudden destruction from the Almighty.

The Bible also tells us that we will not be in darkness about this time if we’re watching, that’s why it’s so important to watch.

Revelation 7:9-17
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

I think this next scripture really sums it up. That “multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,” who are standing before the Son of man, the Lamb of God that was slain for the redemption of man are those which came out of great tribulation, the time of Jacob’s trouble. They are also the resurrected saints from all of history, believers who have died, but will be resurrected before we’re all caught up in the harpazo, or rapture.

Luke 21:34-36
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The placement in time and in scripture of this passage is after the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12-17. Matthew 24:29 states that the sixth seal is “Immediately after the tribulation of those days,” referring to Matthew 24:15-28, which is directly connected to the nation of Israel and called the time of Jacob’s trouble. Jeremiah 30:4-7 & Daniel 12:1

Revelation 7:1-8 is the sealing of the 144,000 of the 12 tribes of Israel. Notice that before they are sealed and protected, an angel comes and tells the four angels to whom power was given to hurt the earth and sea not do do anything until these are sealed with the seal of God. The seventh seal is only ½ hour long and then the day of the Lord begins, which is after the sixth seal according to Joel 2:31, where the wrath of God starts with the first trumpet in Revelation 8. This sequence of events, I believe, shows the harpazo as happening around the sixth seal. We don’t know the day or hour of Christ’s coming to take us, but we know it’s before God’s wrath. When the world is hiding in the rocks from the face of Him who sits on the throne, the bride of Christ should be looking up because their redemption is at hand. Luke 21:25-28

But what great tribulation is being spoken of in Revelation 7:14 above? It can’t be the first one we looked at because that covers the final 3½ years which would place this, and the sixth seal, at the end of the 70th week of Daniel. Now post-trib harpazo proponents look at this and accept it on a surface level, but there is too much in the post-trib belief that counters scripture, so there is a deeper truth here because there is a True answer. The answer lies in the next scripture which defines the great tribulation according to what Christ said.

The reason I bring this up is because a part of the church is promised to be kept from the time of temptation (putting to proof). Revelation 3:10 What does this time of temptation mean? I had always just taken the hour of temptation we're kept from as being the wrath of God, but I was recently led into thinking about this and put my thoughts in the hour of temptation page.

It was after His baptism that Yeshua went into the wilderness to fast for 40 days prior to starting His ministry.

Matthew 4:1-11
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said,
If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Here we see 3 temptations after 40 days.

• He was hungry and was offered bread, but He responded that we live by the Word of God. Yeshua called Himself the bread of life. John 6:31-71 It’s interesting that this passage reveals it was hard for many to hear and some stopped following Him at this point. The temptation was temporary sustenance of the physical body in place of eternal sustenance of the soul.
• He was tempted to use His status as the Son of God to essentially prevent any harm from coming to Him, but He responded not to tempt the Lord your God. Yeshua knew His role as He mentioned in the above passage. He came from heaven to do the will of His Father, who gave His only begotten Son that whoever believed in Him, though they were dead, would live. His whole mission coming to earth was the opposite of what the devil was offering Him. The temptation was the salvation from death.
• He was shown the kingdoms of the world and offered by the devil to be given them if He bowed down and worshipped him, but He responded that it’s written we shall worship the Lord God and only serve Him. This is of course the goal of the devil where he will give his power to the antichrist and persecute the believers while expecting worship from all those on the earth.

So the three temptations seem to have to do with temporary reprieve from the physical suffering, like Esau giving his portion to Jacob for stew, or worshipping the beast to be able to buy and sell and participate in society and eat. It’s also about rejecting God in the midst of this to worship the antichrist, about giving up your eternal inheritance for your temporal comfort.

If my thoughts are correct that the abomination of desolation and the exact days framework places an approximate 30 day window before the 6th seal and our gathering to the Lord. Matthew 24:15-31 and Revelation 12:9-17 really does speak to an initial focus on Israel and Judea for the dragon’s wrath, only to be spread globally after the woman is protected from the dragon for the remainder of the 70th week of Daniel, then that might shine a whole new light on Revelation 3:10 and our promise to be kept from the hour of temptation.

Perhaps it isn’t equating temptation to God’s wrath, but temptation to capitulate to Satan’s wrath and save our own skin, worshipping the man of sin and rejecting God. Because the 5 wise virgins are already prepared, “keeping the word of my patience,” they are caught up before the time of the devil’s temptation spreads globally and saved from that hour of temptation while the 5 foolish virgins have the door to the wedding shut on them. Matthew 25:1-13.

So while we are still promised to escape the wrath of God, we will also not be tempted because we will be going to the wedding as the bride while the earth is both tempted to reject God for temporal things and the wrath of God is poured out on the children of disobedience. Ephesians 5:1-16 | Colosians 3:1-17 

A part of the church is also promised to be cast into great tribulation. I would recommend reading Chuck Missler’s study on the seven letters to the seven churches.

Revelation 2:18-29
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

We can see the similarities in the kingdom parable of the 10 virgins. Matthew 25:1-13 In this parable, there are 10 virgins waiting for their bridegroom. However, when He comes, only 5 have oil in their lamps and the other 5 are left behind and the door to the marriage closed on them. Matthew 7:13-23 This parable is about the harpazo of the bride, which is the church, to the marriage of the Lamb. We see that not all of those who consider themselves to be the bride actually participate in the marriage. Instead, they are left behind to go through this time of great tribulation. However, this great tribulation is from the perspective of those left behind. They will be under the hand of the antichrist while God’s wrath is also being poured out. It will indeed be a time of great tribulation.

The End of the Great Tribulation

Daniel 7:23-25
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; [antichrist] and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, <-[abomination of desolation] and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they [saints/chosen people] shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Revelation 13:1-5
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

By defining the “great tribulation” as Satan’s wrath against God’s chosen people, Jew and Gentile believer, we know that the end is marked with the antichrist’s end. We know that to be when Christ returns in glory to take the kingdoms and defeat the armies gathered at Armageddon.

Revelation 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

By this we also know that Christ returns in glory 42 months, or 1260 days, after the abomination of desolation. For those concerned with not knowing the day or hour of His coming, I am speaking of His return at the end of the week not when He comes for His bride before God’s wrath is poured out. I believe scripture lays out a pre-wrath harpazo. The one passage in Matthew 25:13 stating we won’t know the day or hour when the Son of man comes, is directly related to Him coming to gather his bride, not His return in glory to take the kingdoms of the earth.

Further Discussions:

Is the great tribulation God’s wrath?

From what I’ve read in scripture, the great tribulation is the direct result of the man of sin being given power by the dragon and the dragon going after the woman, Israel. Revelation 12,13

Understanding that, the great tribulation has nothing to do with God’s wrath, but rather it is the dragon’s wrath. The “great tribulation” starts when the dragon’s wrath is expressed against Israel, and in Revelation 12:17 that wrath is turned from Judea specifically to worldwide persecution by Satan of Jews and anyone holding the testimony of Christ. It is this scattering of the holy people by Satan and his minions that results in the great tribulation starting. Christ directly links the start of this great tribulation with the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet who placed this event in the midst of a 7-year period of time appointed to the nation of Israel. The 70th week is God’s plan, the covenant with many is the dragon’s plan.

The days of Noah was God’s wrath against the evil in the world. That same type of the days of Noah would then associate with the day of the Lord beginning rather than the dragon’s wrath against Israel and then all of God’s people.

Recognizing this difference, we know God’s wrath won’t come before the abomination of desolation because Joel 2:31 says the day of the Lord comes after the sixth seal.

Joel 2:31
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And Matthew 24:29 places the sixth seal “immediately after the tribulation of those days” referring back to Matthew 24:15-28. That is the same unparalleled time prophesied specifically for Israel as mirrored in Jeremiah 30:4-7 and Daniel 12:1. This is the time of Jacob’s trouble, which is cut short so that the 1/3 remnant of Israel will remain as promised. Zechariah 13:8-9