How Long is the Tribulation period?

[B-A-C]

In Revelation 8:6; we see the 7 angels are getting ready to sound the trumpets given to them back in Revelation 8:2;

Revelation 8:7 the 1st trumpet sounds.
It says that hail and fire "mixed with blood" will be thrown to the earth, and a third of the earth, trees and
"green" grass will be burned up.

Revelation 8:8; the 2nd trumpet sounds.
Something like a great mountain covered with fire will be thrown into the sea. A third of the sea will become blood.
Many think this will be a great meteor that crashes into the ocean. A third of the creatures in the sea will die
and a third of the ships will be destroyed.

Revelation 8:10; the 3rd trumpet sounds.
A great burning star falls on a third of the rivers and water springs. In the next verse we see this makes the
waters bitter and many men will die from from the waters.

Revelation 8:12; the 4th trumpet sounds.
A third of the sun, moon and stars were darkened, It says both the day and night will be affected. It says that
for a third of the day the sun will not shine, and a third of the night the moon and stars will not shine.
In verse 13 we get a warning from a flying eagle. He says the last 3 trumpets are also called the three "woes".

Revelation 9:1; the 5th trumpet sounds. (woe #1)
A star which fell from heaven is given the key to the bottomless pit and it is opened. The sun and air are
darkened by the smoke from the pit. Locusts come up out of this smoke. These locusts do not hurt the grass
or trees or anything green. However they do hurt men who do not have the mark of God on their foreheads.
(Is this only the 144,000 Jews, or anyone who is saved during the tibulation?) These locust have the power
to sting like a scorpion and the sting hurts for 5 months. The sting does not kill, but the pain lasts
for 5 months. Verse 6 says men will seek ater death, but will not find it. The thinking here is that the
pain will be unbearable.

Revelation 9:13; the 6th trumpet sounds. (woe #2)
Some angels who are bound "in the river Euphrates" will be released and they will kill a third of mankind.
** a side note here ** I am thinking that every time a third of mankind is killed, it's progressively making
the population smaller. A third minus a third minus a third, etc...
200 million horsemen are released. Are these physical armies? Are they spiritual armies? A lot of
speculation has been made both ways. Either way it appears they come from God. It appears fire (brimstone)
comes out of their mouths to kill people. Yet even after all this much of mankind will not repent. ( Rev 9:20-21; )

We still have the 7th trumpet to go. But a lot of stuff happens next before that trumpet sounds so I will stop here for now.

 

[B-A-C]

In Revelation 10 and 11, we take a short break between the sounding of the 6th and 7th trumpets.

It appears the 7 peals of thunder spoke out in a voice that John could hear, but he is prevented
from writing down whatever it was that they said. There is also some symbolic language here
where John takes a small book from an angel and eats it. It tastes sweet but is bitter in his
stomach. Much has been made about what all this means.

In Revelation 11 there is more prophecy. I wonder if there is a more debated chapter in the Bible?
It speaks of the temple which the nations will "trample under foot" for 42 months. (3 1/2 years).
Is this the Temple mount in Jerusalem? (Daniel says 2,300 days, so that's over 6 years, but there
are some explanations why they might be different). After this, the two witnesses will prophecy for
1,260 days or again 3 1/2 years. There is much speculation about who these two witnesses might be.
Some say Moses and Elijah, other think possibly Enoch and Elijah because they never died a natural death.
I've heard a few other possibilities tossed around. It appears they have the power to make it not rain,
or turn water into blood (or perhaps many other plagues that happened to Egypt in the time of Moses).
After this 3 1/2 year time. The two witnesses will be killed by the beast. ( Rev 11:7; )
It says there bodies will lie in the streets of the great city (also called Sodom or Egypt). Which city
is this? Rev 11:8; says it is where the Lord was crucified. So this must be Jerusalem.
It says that the people of the earth will rejoice and have a great party for 3 days because the two witnesses
are dead. After 3 days they will come back to life ( Rev 11:11; ) and then they will go up to heaven
"while their enemies watch".

There will be a great earthquake, a 10th of the city will fall. About 7,000 people will be killed.
Some people are terrified, and some even give God glory.
Now of course if the Gentiles trample the temple for 3 1/2 years, and the two witnesses prophesy for 3 1/2 years
there must be some overlap between those events and the time frames of the seals and trumpets and woes.

Finally we are done with the 2nd woe. Time for the 7th trumpet. ( Rev 11:14; )

Revelation 11:15; the 7th trumpet finally sounds. ( woe #3 )

The kingdom of the earth becomes the kingdom of Jesus. This appears to be the start of the millennial reign.
Some people will be judged here. The temple of God is opened and the ark of the covenant appears.
There is lightning, thunder, and great earthquake, and a hailstorm.

Revelation 12 continues with the events of the times. In Revelation 15 we get to the seven bowls.
Perhaps I will try to say something about them next.

 

[B-A-C]

I will jump from Rev 12 to Rev 15 here and talk about the 7 bowl judgments. Some Bibles say the 7 plagues, some Bibles mix the two.
Many scholars believe the 7 seals and 7 trumpets are the time frame of the tribulation, but the 7 bowls are the time frame of the "great" tribulation.
In any case, here it is.

Rev 16:2; the first bowl is malignant sores on anyone who receives the mark of the beast. or worshiped his image.
Rev 16:3; the second bowl - the entire sea turns to blood and everything in it dies.
Rev 16:4; the third bowl - all rivers and springs turn to blood. The next two verses say this is the blood of the saints.
Rev 16:8; the fourth bowl - the sun gives off intense heat, enough to burn men. Yet many still will not repent.
Rev 16:10; the fifth bowl - the throne of the beast and his kingdom become darkened. People will still have sores and still be in pain during this time.
Amazingly, they still will not repent.
Rev 16:12; the sixth bowl - the Euphrates river is dried up to "prepare the way for the kings of the east". The language gets very symbolic here.
Out of the mouth of the dragon (Satan) and the mouth of the beast come three unclean spirits "like frogs". These are demons that perform signs
and gather up the kings an kingdoms of the earth for war. This is Armageddon (Some Bibles say Har-Magedon).
Rev 16:17; the seventh bowl - lightning, thunder and the greatest earthquake of all time. It says the earthquake is so great the city will be split
into 3 parts. Many cities of the world will totally fall. Every island and mountain was moved (some Bibles say "removed").
Huge hailstones about 100 pounds each will fall, and still many men will not repent. It says the this plague will be severe (I guess the others weren't?)

After this, in Revelation 17 comes the judgment of the Harlot.

 

[norapture]

In there is more prophecy. I wonder if there is a more debated chapter in the Bible?
It speaks of the temple which the nations will "trample under foot" for 42 months. (3 1/2 years).
Is this the Temple mount in Jerusalem? (Daniel says 2,300 days, so that's over 6 years, but there
are some explanations why they might be different).

Daniel gives 2300 days for the daily sacrifice and the abomination this is two different things . That why the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination is set up.

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 1290 days.(3 1/2 years)

So you see here the abomination is only 1290 days . So where dose the rest of 2300 days come in.
The rest of the days are the daily sacrifice, at the beginning of the tribulation, then the abomination set up which will cause the desolate.

When the Antichrist sets up the abomination this is the time he will trodden under foot the city.Revelation 11:2 .
He makes a covenant for one week ( 7 years) this will be a time of peace, a time for the sacrifice's and in the middle of it he cause's the sacrifice's to cease , (and this will end the peace,) for he can set up the abomination. Daniel 9:27 ( when they say peace and safety then sudden destruction) the Antichrist will ravish the city.

Oh this is about the city (Jerusalem) to be trodden under foot not just the temple mount. Jesus referred to this as the times of the Gentiles. Luke 21:24

Zechariah 14:1-5 also Revelation 17:16-18 but to see this you have to know who the woman in Revelation is, but if you look in Zechariah 14 1-5 God says he would gather all nations against Jerusalem, then after they have had their way with her , he would fight against those nations. Also in Revelation 17:17 God put it in their hearts to fulfill, his will.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

Dispensational theology seems to be the main viewpoint regarding the book of Revelation and the end times in the 'Western' church. Besides Dispensationalism, there is also Covenant Theology and some other alternatives like New Covenant Theology. Within all the categories, there are also different views of the end times, and the meaning of the prophesies we have concerning it. But, to the point.

Many people believe that there is a 7 year time period waiting to happen which will usher in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. This is known as the Tribulation, or even the Great Tribulation, though some would distringuish between the two.

Is there a given time period that is assigned for the future, where things like the prophesies of the book of Revelation will be played out? If so, how long will this time period be? Where can we find information about how long it will be?

The issue I have found with all those doctrines is that each one seems to have merit but leaves questions that other doctrines answer.
But those doctrines leave questions that the first doctrine answered.So in the end I could debate for or against any one of them.
There are questions though that none of them can seem to answer.

There is an option that you did not mention though and that is "something we have not yet considered".

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

There is a blessing in reading and hearing the words that is apart from any actual event described.
The way it has been interpreted seems to have brought anxiety more than blessing.
The way it has been interpreted makes it difficult or impossible to heed because it has been interpreted as a future event so I'm not sure how
that would have blessed a reader 1500 years ago or even 100 years ago.
I can't figure how to heed the words even if it started to take place.
There is really no actionable information to tell us how to act during the unfolding of the events(that's 1 point for pretrib and the already happened doctrines).

The biggest issue I have is that we don't understand enough about the way God sees time.
Example:

John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Jesus said the time is coming but here also says that it is now.
So until we can answer "now is" I don't think we can properly interpret the book.

Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

The beast is not and yet is does not make sense the way we understand time the beast that was shown the profit was,is not and shall ascend.
And those who's name was not written in the book see a beast that is not,but is..
I'm not really sure if this beast even exists except in the minds of those not written in the book of life.

There are many more such questions but if we can't answer those I don't see any reason to believe any interpretation I have heard so far.

 

[norapture]

The issue I have found with all those doctrines is that each one seems to have merit but leaves questions that other doctrines answer.
But those doctrines leave questions that the first doctrine answered.So in the end I could debate for or against any one of them.
There are questions though that none of them can seem to answer.

There is an option that you did not mention though and that is "something we have not yet considered".

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

There is a blessing in reading and hearing the words that is apart from any actual event described.
The way it has been interpreted seems to have brought anxiety more than blessing.
The way it has been interpreted makes it difficult or impossible to heed because it has been interpreted as a future event so I'm not sure how
that would have blessed a reader 1500 years ago or even 100 years ago.

((((((((Well to understand Gods word you need the Holy Ghost , and that a blessing all by itself.
Cause no man understand's the things of God except by his Spirit.)))))))

I can't figure how to heed the words even if it started to take place.
There is really no actionable information to tell us how to act during the unfolding of the events(that's 1 point for pretrib and the already happened doctrines).

(((((((Endure down to the end, keep the faith)))))))

The biggest issue I have is that we don't understand enough about the way God sees time.
Example:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Jesus said the time is coming but here also says that it is now.
So until we can answer "now is" I don't think we can properly interpret the book.

((((((((((St John 5:25 --- we are dead in our sins, without Jesus but once we hear his call to repentance, then we are made alive.
Verse 26 this life is the Spirit of God, that makes us alive when we believe.))))))))))

[QUOTEThe beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

The beast is not and yet is does not make sense the way we understand time the beast that was shown the profit was,is not and shall ascend.
And those who's name was not written in the book see a beast that is not,but is..
I'm not really sure if this beast even exists except in the minds of those not written in the book of life.

((((((((Daniel had a vision about 4 beast (kingdoms) the 4th had ten horns then another little horn which subdue three .so 10+ the one little horn = 11, but three was subdued 11-3= 8

Now what does Revelation 17:10-11 say ---- They are seven kings five is fallen, and one is and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.(11) And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven; and goeth into prediction.
John was referring to Daniels about ten horns of the 4th beast , in John's time 5 had falling number 6 was , and when number 7 comes he only continue a short time , then the 8th When the Antichrist comes he shall be
the 8th.))))))))))

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

((((((((Well to understand Gods word you need the Holy Ghost , and that a blessing all by itself.
Cause no man understand's the things of God except by his Spirit.)))))))

Ok,that is the path to the answer but sometimes the Holy Spirit asks a question that I can't answer and many times it turns out that my original question was not even valid because it was based on a flawed understanding of reality.We live under many layers of illusion and God's reality is the only real reality.
There is no lack,sin or death in reality so if I am experiencing those things then I'm not in reality.

What if the revelation is about breaking out of my concept of reality and understanding God's reality.
Then the revelation would coming and here at the same time and the hearers could be blessed to heed the understanding that it would impart.
Maybe it shows patterns and cycles that we go through or endure to break out of the illusion and like the prodigal son make our way home to Dad's reality.

(((((((Endure down to the end, keep the faith)))))))

I agree,but what iif the book of revelation is about a battle between a Holy mindset and a carnal or beastly mindset (reality or illusion).
Then It might describe something I'm going through now.It might just turn out that the way I see things is my only real enemy.

.

((((((((((St John 5:25 --- we are dead in our sins, without Jesus but once we hear his call to repentance, then we are made alive.
Verse 26 this life is the Spirit of God, that makes us alive when we believe.))))))))))

Ok,I agree completely,but that makes the resurrection and transformation an event that depends on hearing Jesus, not waiting for an event that will happen sometime in the future.
Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

((((((((Daniel had a vision about 4 beast (kingdoms) the 4th had ten horns then another little horn which subdue three .so 10+ the one little horn = 11, but three was subdued 11-3= 8

Now what does Revelation 17:10-11say ---- They are seven kings five is fallen, and one is and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.(11) And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven; and goeth into prediction.
John was referring to Daniels about ten horns of the 4th beast , in John's time 5 had falling number 6 was , and when number 7 comes he only continue a short time , then the 8th When the Antichrist comes he shall be
the 8th.))))))))))

Cool,but how does knowing this bless me?
How would it bless a someone who read it 500 years ago.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

A time
times
1/2 time

maybe this is an algorithm.

Take a number any number,lets say 3
Run 3 through this algorithm and it does this:
time=3
times=6
1/2 time=3

We end up where we started.
Is it possible that's what Jesus meant when he said "a time is coming and now is".

It takes time if you believe in that sort of thing,but once you step out of time it's always "now".
The beast exists in time so if you believe in that sort of thing then "he is".
However one you stop letting time be your master "he is not".

That would be actionable information if there was any indication that time is not as solid as we think it is.

If the book is about "now" then we are wasting time,but only if you believe in that sort of thing.
Peace,now