Does the Bible Teach of a 7-Year Tribulation Period?

 Does the Bible actually describe a period of 7 years when there will be great tribulation on the earth. I want to share with you exactly what the Bible teaches about those seven years, so that you won’t be deceived when the time comes. Let’s examine the scriptures… 

First of all, let me qualify myself by saying that I have been a Christian for 42 years and my gifting in the Body of Christ has been for many years to study and teach the Word of God. And I have been deeply interested in studying the scriptures regarding end times prophecy for many years. Having said this, I want to also say that there are several points in what I hear from many teachers on this subject that I find totally unbiblical. One of them is the theology that teaches of a coming “7-Year Tribulation Period”. Let me explain…

In the 9^th chapter of the book of Daniel, in verse 27, the prophet wrote:

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

But in the middle of the week

He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,

Even until the consummation, which is determined,

Is poured out on the desolate.” 

From all accounts I have heard, this is the scripture that leads many to teach that there is a period of 7 years that will be a time of tribulation. But that is NOT what the scripture says. The scripture says that there will be a covenant or treaty that is supposed to bring peace in the middle east. And then there will arise a world leader that will even confirm that covenant for a period of 7 years. So Israel will be living in relative peace and security for the first half of this covenant. 

But remember that in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 the apostle Paul warned the Church that this safety will be short lived because just as Daniel also warns, "For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape." 

What many “scholars” teach is that the whole time of the covenant is a time of tribulation, but as we clearly read in scripture, that is not the case. In fact, Paul wrote of a perceived “peace and safety”. This will be the conditions in the middle east during the first half of the treaty. 

But we see in Daniel and in 1 Thessalonians that this peace is a farce, and it is during the last part of the treaty when Israel will be betrayed and literally all hell will break loose in Jerusalem! 

Let’s look at what Jesus says about that time… 

In Matthew 24:15-22, Jesus describes what will take place on the day that the covenant is broken…He said, “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. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 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.” 

So Jesus Himself describes this time when the covenant is broken and immense destruction is brought upon Israel as a time of “GREAT TRIBULATION”! So…while the Bible does not talk about a “7-year tribulation period”, Jesus DID warn about a time of GREAT TRIBULATION, which will come AFTER the covenant is broken! 

In reality, when speaking of a time of tribulation that was coming, Jesus warned His Disciples in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” And we know that immediately after the Day of Pentecost when the Church was born, His Followers began to experience persecution… beginning with the martyr of Stephen as recorded in Acts chapter 7. 

So what we need to understand is that, all over the world, from the time Jesus was crucified until this very day and right on until He returns, Christians have always been experiencing tribulation. Just because we have not experienced it to the degree that many people in other countries do, does not mean that it does not now and has not always existed. 

So in reality, what we need to understand and what is Biblical is that the time of tribulation began on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came and filled all those in the upper room that day and the Church began, and it has continued for 2000 year, right up until now. Somewhere in the world, there have always been Christians who were being persecuted for their faith. 

But, there is a time of Great Tribulation such as this world has never known and never will know again that will begin on the day that the 7-year covenant is broken, and Israel will experience betrayal and terror like they have never experienced before. That is why Jesus told those who were in Judea to flee to the mountains and He told them not even to go back to the city to get their clothes. Because THIS will be the time of GREAT TRIBULATION that He warned them of!!  

So there are two signs that Israel needs to watch for as we approach the end of the age…the first one we have read about in Matthew 24 when He warned them about the “Abomination of Desolation”. Then Luke gives us another sign to watch for. 

In Luke 21:20-24 we read: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” THIS is the time Jesus refers to as GREAT TRIBULATION! 

So the two signs that will mark the time of “GREAT TRIBULATION” to begin will be #1, the abomination of desolation will stand in the Holy Place declaring that he is God. And #2, a huge military force will surround Jerusalem. That is when we know that the Great Tribulation that Jesus talked about has begun. 

Friends, let me encourage you to read and study your Bible for yourself…both Old and New Testaments, because God has given you His True Word and He wants you to know what it says. He loves you and He wants you to know and act on the Truth which can only be found in His Word.