What Is the Great Tribulation?

 

Jesus said there would be a period of great tribulation before His second coming. What is the Great Tribulation? Why this unprecedented time of troubles?

The Olivet Discourse, Jesus’ prophecy found in Matthew 24, is one of His most extensive explanations of what will occur during the end times prior to His return to earth.

First Jesus explained that there would be religious deception, wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes before His second coming (verses 4-7; see our article “What Are the Seven Seals of Revelation?” for a fuller explanation). Then Jesus said, “They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (verse 9, emphasis added throughout).

Tribulation definition

The word tribulation is translated from the Greek word thlipsis, which means “metaphorically oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits” (Thayer’s Greek Definitions).

The oppression of God’s people has ebbed and flowed for centuries following Jesus’ death. And the Bible explains that there will also be a future period of tribulation before Christ’s return (Matthew 24:29-30).

Abomination of desolation

Just before this end-time Great Tribulation, Jesus warned, “‘Therefore when you see the “abomination of desolation,” spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), ‘then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains’” (verses 15-16).

This prophecy has had two previous fulfillments, at the time Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the temple in 167 B.C. and when the Romans destroyed the temple in A.D. 70. But Jesus’ prophecy clearly places this final fulfillment in the time just before His second coming.

For more on this, see our article “What Is the Abomination of Desolation?”

Luke adds, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near” (Luke 21:20). Again the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 is a foreshadowing of the end-time events.

The Great Tribulation

Speaking of this time before His return to earth, Jesus said: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (verses 21-22).

This time of suffering and death is called the Great Tribulation because its severity will surpass all previous periods of suffering experienced throughout human history (verse 21).

The time of Jacob’s trouble

This time of travail and misery is also called “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), because this great travail will first come to Jacob, also called Israel, meaning the modern descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel in the last days.

The prophet Daniel described this same period of time saying, “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation” (Daniel 12:1).

Who will be affected by the Great Tribulation?

Through several prophets, God identified the peoples who would primarily be affected by this coming crisis. God explained to Jeremiah that this terrible time would come upon Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 30:4).

The modern-day descendants of these people include the predominantly English-speaking Christian-professing nations and the Jewish peoples today. See the “12 Tribes of Israel Today” section of this website for additional articles explaining this historical connection and its significance.

And as we have already noted, Jesus Christ warned His faithful followers that this coming period of tribulation would be a dangerous time for true Christians as well. Jesus’ instruction—“then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9)—will be fulfilled at the end of this age in the fifth seal of the book of Revelation (Revelation 6:9-11). 

“No flesh would be saved”

But this unprecedented time of trouble will not just affect the descendants of Israel and the Church. The Great Tribulation will threaten the existence of human life on the earth! Today, a number of weapons of mass destruction and other existential threats could bring human extinction.

In Mark’s parallel account, Jesus says, “For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened those days” (Mark 13:19-20).

God calls people into His Church today to be those elect—those who help pray fervently for God’s Kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10), who promote the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom of God around the world (24:14), those who are faithful and wise servants, preparing and watching for Christ’s return (verses 45-47).

Jesus promised to intervene to cut short the Great Tribulation and save humanity from itself.

How long is the Great Tribulation?

The Great Tribulation is prophesied to last 42 months (Revelation 11:2; Revelation 13:5), 1,260 days (Revelation 11:3) and “a time, and times, and half a time” (Revelation 12:14; Daniel 12:7).

Space does not permit a detailed explanation of why the prophetic term “time” usually means a year and the plural “times” in this setting means two years; but here we see in a number of passages several different ways to express the length of time of the same event. Therefore, when we see the time spans given as 42 months, 1,260 days and “a time, times and half a time,” we can conclude that they all refer to the same 3½ years.

The end of this time of trouble will include the Day of the Lord and the return of Jesus Christ.

Why will the Great Tribulation occur?

Why will God allow this Great Tribulation? This is perhaps the most essential question of all. God is a long-suffering and merciful God. But just as a loving father corrects his wayward son, so God will bring this severe punishment if warnings are not heeded and widespread sins are not repented of.

The focus of this 42-month period of judgment will come first upon the nations that have historically had a Judeo-Christian heritage.

God declares that before the end of the age, if the modern descendants of ancient Israel don’t make a real return to Him, He will chastise them for their sins. The peoples of these nations largely represent those to whom He previously gave His laws and statutes, and God wanted them to be beacons of godly behavior to the rest of the world.

The peoples of these nations are the ones God has historically called His people. Because they have forgotten their God, He will send a series of natural plagues and disasters to get their attention. If this doesn’t work, these curses will intensify over a period of time.

If these people refuse to repent, God warns that He will send harsh foreign invaders to bring His judgments against them. God warned through Jeremiah, “I will correct you in justice. … With the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased” (Jeremiah 30:11, Jeremiah 30:14).

God is fair and just. God’s warnings help us to understand why He singles out the modern Israelite nations to be corrected first and then afterward the other nations.

Warning to Jerusalem of the Great Tribulation

The prophet Ezekiel spoke of this future time of Great Tribulation as it pertains to residents of Jerusalem before Christ’s return. This city—the former capital city of the 12 tribes of Israel—is representative of the nations and peoples who have been given the blessing of having the 10 Commandments as the foundation for their national constitutions and codes of conduct.

God speaks to these people who should know better, saying: “Because you have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you, have not walked in My statutes nor kept My judgments, nor even done according to the judgments of the nations that are all around you. …

“Indeed I, even I, am against you and will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations. And I will do among you what I have never done, and the like of which I will never do again, because of all your abominations. Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments among you, and all of you who remain I will scatter to all the winds” (Ezekiel 5:7-10).

God will reach a point where His forbearance with wickedness will run out. He explains what will be the fate of His unrepentant people:

“Surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you; My eye will not spare, nor will I have any pity. One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them” (Ezekiel 5:11-12).

Scripture explains that God has great long-suffering with humanity before His anger reaches such a critical point (2 Peter 3:9; Romans 2:4-11). The Great Tribulation represents a time when this point will have been reached with nations that have no excuse because they have been amply warned.

What will happen to the nations that harm Israel?

One purpose for God allowing the Great Tribulation to occur will be to humble the physical nations that have descended from biblical Israel and lead them to repentance.At the end of this 3½-year period, indications are that God will see a change of heart among the survivors of His people Israel. He will then retaliate on those cruel nations in measure for their heartless treatment toward His people.

God warns the other nations in advance: “Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall become plunder, and all who prey upon you I will make a prey” (Jeremiah 30:16).

After Israel is disciplined, God will avenge His people. This is described in numerous other prophecies in the Bible, including Deuteronomy 32:43; Isaiah 35:3-4; Isaiah 47:5-15; Joel 3:12-15; Jeremiah 25:29-33; and Ezekiel 25-28.

What is God’s purpose for sending the Great Tribulation?

One purpose for God allowing the Great Tribulation to occur will be to humble the physical nations that have descended from biblical Israel and lead them to repentance.

After this period of correction, Christ will return to earth and the survivors of these Israelite nations will undergo a complete transformation. They will become a holy people and an example to all the other nations on earth (Zephaniah 3:11-13).

At the end of the 42 months of tribulation God says of these people: “But one-third shall be left in [the land]: I will bring the one-third through the fire [by deportation into captivity by foreign nations], will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God’” (Zechariah 13:8-9).

Those who come out of the Great Tribulation

There are very encouraging words in the Bible for those who desire to obey God. The apostle John received a vision from God showing that from among these greatly oppressed people, a great multitude will be spiritually purified through the coming trial upon all lands and peoples—the nations of Israel first and then the rest of the nations.

The book of Revelation describes those who turn to God from the modern nations of Israel and from other nations as “ones who [have] come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).

For more on this subject, see our articles “Jacob’s Trouble: What Is It?” and “Why Is God Angry With America?”

How might the Great Tribulation affect you?

Jesus Christ gave a warning to be sure we are heeding His life-transforming message of repentance, faith and righteousness. In Luke’s Gospel Christ told His followers, “So you also, when you see these things happening [the signs He described], know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31).

Jesus also said, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (verse 36).

To help you be able to stand, we encourage you to read our free booklet Change Your Life, which summarizes the process of conversion in the Bible.

What Are the Seven Seals of Revelation?

 

Revelation speaks of seven seals on a prophetic scroll being opened before the return of Christ. What are the meanings of the seven seals of Revelation?

Revelation chapter 5 shows a scroll being presented to Jesus Christ in heaven. This scroll is closed by seven seals that are opened one by one to indicate events that will occur before and during Christ’s second coming.

Seven seals of Revelation opened by Jesus Christ

This section of Scripture pictures Jesus being honored as the One worthy to open these seven seals  of Revelation. While this event clearly occurs prior to the opening of the seals, other events in this chapter seem to be more of an overview of events, including things that will happen later.

For example, Revelation 5:9-10 speaks of redeemed humans, who will be kings and priests on earth; and verse 13 speaks of “every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea” praising God the Father and the Lamb (another name for Jesus Christ).

Instead of indicating a rapture of the saints prior to the opening of the seals, these verses show what will happen after the seals have been opened and the plan of God fulfilled.

After giving this overview, Revelation chapter 6 and successive chapters explain with greater detail how this will occur—how there will eventually be only righteous people remaining, people who will certainly praise God.

Reflecting the end result of God’s plan, we note that when the “new heaven” and “new earth” are presented (Revelation 21:1), only faithful overcomers will remain.

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (verses 7-8).

Following this is the time when “every creature,” as spoken of in Revelation 5:13, will praise God the Father and Jesus. For more information on the saints at Christ’s return, see “Rapture: Will There Be a Secret Rapture?”

The Olivet Discourse (Prophecy): key to understanding the seven seals of Revelation

Many times our understanding of a particular passage of Scripture is enhanced when we consider additional accounts of the event or explanation in other parts of the Bible. This is the case with understanding the seven seals of Revelation.

Since the book of Revelation focuses on end-time events, we can gain additional clarity on these events by noting what Jesus Christ said about these same events to His disciples when He was on earth. Jesus’ most comprehensive explanation of what will occur in the end times is found in His Olivet Discourse (also called the Olivet Prophecy) found in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.

By comparing what Jesus said in His Olivet Discourse to the book of Revelation, we find order and greater understanding of the seven seals of Revelation.The setting for Jesus’ teaching to His disciples is found in Matthew 24:3: “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’”

By comparing what Jesus said in His Olivet Discourse to the book of Revelation, we find order and greater understanding of the seven seals of Revelation.

For additional study of this teaching by Christ, see our articles “Understanding the Olivet Prophecy” and “Surprising Truths From the Olivet Prophecy.”

First four seals are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse

Because the first four of the seals of Revelation and their meaning for earth’s inhabitants are presented metaphorically as messengers riding different-colored horses, they are commonly referred to as the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. The word apocalypse comes from the Greek word apokálypsis, meaning “disclosure” or “revelation.” So the phrase “the four horsemen of the Apocalypse” means the four horsemen of the book of Revelation.

Since the meanings of the first four seals are the basis of the article “What Are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?” we will just briefly cover these first four seals before focusing more extensively on the latter three.

First seal: a white horse

As the first seal was opened, the apostle John wrote: “And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2).

Comparing the seals to the events Jesus Christ said would happen in His famous Olivet Discourse or Prophecy, this seal represents religious deception (see Matthew 24:5).

Note how our understanding of this seal is aided by comparing it to Jesus’ earlier teaching. Without this comparison, one might wrongly assume that this horseman was Christ, since He is also pictured in Revelation 19:11 as returning on “a white horse.”

Religious deception has been around for a long time. It began in the first century (Galatians 1:6; Jude 1:3-4) and will intensify prior to Christ’s return via the efforts of a man identified in Scripture as “the man of sin,” “the Antichrist” and “a beast” (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 13:11).

For further study of this person, see our articles “The Antichrist” and “Will You Recognize the Antichrist?”

Second seal: a red horse

When the second seal opened, John noted: “Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword” (Revelation 6:4).

This parallels Christ’s explanation that people would “hear of wars and rumors of wars” and that “nation will rise against nation” (Matthew 24:6-7).

Third seal: a black horse

As for the third seal, John said, “So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine’” (Revelation 6:5-6).

This was a graphic depiction of Christ’s teaching that “there will be famines” prior to His return (Matthew 24:7).

Fourth seal: a pale horse

Describing the fourth horse, John penned: “So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:8).

This description pictures the “pestilences” or disease epidemics Jesus said would come to earth’s inhabitants prior to His return (Matthew 24:7).

The events pictured by the first four seals—religious deception, war, famine and pestilences—have already been occurring. Listed as signs of Christ’s second coming and “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8), these frightening events will intensify at the time of the end.

Fifth seal: tribulation

“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed” (Revelation 6:9-11).

• Context of the fifth seal

Before focusing on the meaning of this seal, let’s consider the context of this vision.

Because John is seeing faithful martyrs down through the ages and asking God how long it will be before their wrongful deaths are avenged, some have mistakenly assumed that this means these saints are alive in heaven waiting for God to judge those who killed them. We have to remember that this is a vision—not necessarily reality—to illustrate what is going to happen.

Sometimes the Bible uses metaphors to symbolize events past, present or future. These metaphors are not to be understood literally. A familiar use of a metaphor is found in the book of Genesis where after Cain killed his brother, Abel, God said to Cain, “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10). The blood was figuratively crying out.

The vision of the fifth seal, in which faithful martyrs through the ages are waiting for God to judge the world, symbolizes God’s purpose for this present earth and humanity, which is to bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10).

Paul metaphorically described this process saying, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now” (Romans 8:22). We need to remember that the purpose of the book of Revelation and its seals is to show what will happen in the future and that God’s plan of salvation will be fulfilled.

• Meaning of the fifth seal

The vision John was seeing to represent the fifth seal was that of the Great Tribulation that will be directed against the physical descendants of Jacob and God’s faithful people before Christ returns.The vision John was seeing to represent the fifth seal was that of the Great Tribulation that will be directed against the physical descendants of Jacob and God’s faithful people before Christ returns.

Describing this time, Jesus said, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another” (Matthew 24:9-10, emphasis added throughout).

Continuing to describe this time of unprecedented trial, Jesus said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved [alive]; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (verses 21-22).

The fifth seal represents Satan’s anger, which will be directed against mankind and especially against God’s people.

Warning people of these end-time actions by Satan, Revelation 12:12 says, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Sixth seal: cosmic disturbances

Describing what he saw when the sixth seal opened, John wrote: “And behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place” (Revelation 6:12-14).

These supernatural events had long before been foretold as signs of the day of the Lord, the time of Christ’s return to earth.

The prophet Joel had described this as “a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness” and a time when “the sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. … The heavens and earth will shake” (Joel 2:2; Joel 3:15-16).

As these awesome events transpire, mankind will realize that God will soon bring punishment upon earth’s inhabitants because of disobedience to His laws.

“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” (Revelation 6:15-17).

The seventh seal: the wrath and mercy of God

The seventh seal, which includes seven trumpets, begins in Revelation 8. This seal, which is also called the Day of the Lord, is the predominant theme of the book of Revelation.

It represents both “the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16), which Christ will bring upon mankind because of disobedience to God’s laws, and the mercy of God, which will eventually come through the return of Jesus Christ to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God.

Prior to the beginning of the seventh seal, God is going to seal a group of 144,000 people (representing the 12 tribes of Israel) and a great multitude (Revelation 7:3-4, 9).

Descendants from 12 of the tribes of the ancient Israelites will be included in the 144,000—not just Jews, who are primarily of the tribe of Judah. It is also important to note that another very large group of people—“a great multitude which no one could number”—from all nations will also be sealed (verse 9).

The Greek word sphragizo, translated “sealed,” has the meaning of stamping or marking for security. This same word is used by Paul in Ephesians 1:13 to describe Christians who were “sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” and in Ephesians 4:30 to describe Christians who were “sealed for the day of redemption.”

God’s faithful people are thus going to be protected from the punishments soon to come upon the rest of mankind, people who are in rebellion against God.

As the seventh seal begins, seven trumpets, representing a series of punishments, prepare to sound (Revelation 8:6). By the time of the fifth trumpet, the punishment will be so severe that “men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them [temporarily]” (Revelation 9:6). During the sixth trumpet, a third of mankind will be killed (verse 18).

For a more detailed explanation of why God is angry with humans, see the article “Wrath of God.”

The mercy of God soon follows when the seventh trumpet sounds to announce that “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15).

Although there will still be “seven last plagues,” also called “bowls full of the wrath of God,” until “the wrath of God is complete” (Revelation15:1 and 7), events on earth are now destined to improve. When Christ returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Kingdom of God will be established and 1,000 years of peace and prosperity will begin.