By: Gordon King
The Tribulation Period is a 7 year span of time just before the second coming of Christ. Some Christians believe that the rapture of the church (Christians) will be just before this period begins. Others believe that the rapture will occur in the middle of this period, while others believe it will happen at the end. I believe that the church will be taken out before the tribulation (pre-trib). It only makes sense to me. If the church remains, then they will know who the anti-christ is and what he is up to. I don’t know for sure. I hope this to be the case. I also believe that the rapture will need to take place before the second coming of Jesus. He needs time to prepare his bride (the church) for marriage and the marriage supper in heaven. The following Bible verse takes place just prior to the return of Christ to earth.
Mystic Marriage
Revelation 19:6-9
“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure’ for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
I have heard that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit. I have also heard that the restrainer is an angel. I don’t know if it matters or really makes a difference. If the restrainer is the Holy Spirit then it makes sense that he would be taken out of the way via the rapture of the church. If he is not the restrainer that still does not mean the church will not be raptured pre-trib. Food for thought and prayer. The following verse is speaking about removing the restrainer so that the lawless one (anti-christ) can begin his evil work.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-12
“And you know what is retraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
“Peace and Security”
The beginning of the “Tribulation period” denotes the time that the anti-christ will sign a 7 year “Peace-Treaty” between the Israelis and Palestinians. Once signed the anti-christ will be revealed. Christians who believe in the pre-tribulation rapture, think that God will take them out of the way before this happens. If this is true then whoever is left upon the earth will be greatly deceived.
When the church is raptured to heaven with Christ, there will be calamity, perplexity and unrest as there never was before on earth. The leaders of the nations as well as scientists and atheists will tell everyone a great lie. They will be seduced by demonic forces. They may say that aliens have abducted the missing people. Seems like this is what the world has been gearing up for over the past 60 or so years. Look at all the reports of UFOs, alien abductions, movies and sitcoms written about aliens.
The anti-christ will tell everyone that he will make the world peaceful and secure. Don’t we already hear that now? Peace and safety! Peace and security! The anti-christ will form a New World Order! Or a One World Government. Also a One World Religion. Don’t buy into it! During this period you will still be able to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. However, it will be much more difficult and you will have to endure the tribulation period. Christians will be persecuted severely during this time. They will be crucified, beheaded, tortured and imprisoned.
Jewish Temple rebuilt at this time and animal sacrifices reinstated
Half way through the tribulation (3 and 1/2 years) will mark the middle of this period referred to as “The Great Tribulation”. At this time the anti-christ will have those who were deceived to make an image of himself and place it in the Holy place within the Jewish temple. This image will be given breath, be able to speak, and will have those not worshiping it to be killed. This is known as the “Abomination of Desolation”. He will cause everyone to worship him and take the “Mark of the Beast”.
Matthew 24:15-22
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in the winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”
The mark of the beast is the name, mark or number of his name (666). The beast is anti-christ influenced by Satan. Nobody will be able to buy, sell or trade without the mark. If you receive the mark then you are selling your soul to Satan! You will not enter heaven, but sit before the Judgement seat of God. In the following verse “it” refers to the false prophet of the One World Religion. He shall rule with the anti-christ.
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Revelation 13:16-18
“Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”
Revelation 14:9-11
“And another angel, a third, followed them saying with a loud voice, ‘if anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshippers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of his name’.”
Just before the end of this period all the nations of the world will attack Israel (Armageddon). Israel will suffer much pain. Jesus Christ will intervene by coming back to earth with legions of angels and all of his saints who are with him in heaven. They shall ride down to earth from heaven on white horses. Jesus will stand on the Mount of Olives and destroy the enemies of Israel. There will be a great earthquake, greater than the world has ever known.
May God Bless You! Remember Jesus Saves! His gift is free 🙂
End Time Bible Prophecy 
I personally believe we will go through the tribulation Matthew 24 :29 so this site helps for preparation. Thanks!
I’ve asked many pretrib believers concerning their belief that makes sense to them how they make sense of their multiple “thief in the night doctrine” and never have a got an answer of substance. The pretrib believer knows that after a rapture declared in 1 Thess. 4:17 through 5:3 that the second coming would be declared and no longer carry an element of surprise. If that is the case it would attempt to make God a liar when he states that His nature of return is “like a thief…” 2pet3:10, and Rev. 16:15, because the second coming would be exactly 7 years after the rapture. When Jesus comes at the rapture 1 thess. 5:3 He cannot come later as a thief 2pet3:10, Rev.16;15. How does that make sense? The event of coming as a thief must be singular in nature, any other second would be declared. If that is the case Jesus should have said, “like a politician in the daylight” or something to that nature.
It is so unfortunate, that you do not have any idea of what the 6 6 6 represents. Take some time and read Matthew 24, and notice that Jesus talks about things happening, and says ” THEN ” shall : and he repeats this several times, saying AFTER the days of tribulation, and THEN shall: If you take the time to stop and THINK about what Jesus said, you will find that Christians will be here in the tribulation, and will be tested. Many shall give in rather than be beheaded for Christ, and many will give their live for their faith, a witness for Jesus.. You are rather misleading people, and you do not understand what will happen, which you admit. Find out first, before you mislead.
Coming as a thief in the night simply refers to ” coming when you least expect him “. Learn to understand the Scriptures.
The Rapture will take place before the Tribulation period and only the Elect will be raptured, which will be 144000 believers.
Revelation 7:4
And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.
The Christians/Jews who remain on Earth will still have a chance of Salvation during the 7 year Tribulation, before the 2nd coming of Christ. During the Trib period, people will have a choice – To take the mark of the beast or to believe in Jesus Christ, which might result in death, but will be better to live in Heaven for Eternity than to live a few more years on earth holding onto the life left in you and burn in hell for eternity.
Revelation 14:6
And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having [an] everlasting gospel to declare to those who live upon the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;
Revelation 14:7
Saying in voice great “Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come and give worship to Him who has made the heavens and the Earth and the sea and the fountains of waters.
Revelation 14:9
And another angel, a third one, followed saying in a great voice: “If anyone worships the wild beast and its image and receives a mark upon his forehead or upon his hand,
Revelation 14:10
He shall also drink the wine of the anger of God having been mixed undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”
Revelation 14:11
And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. And day and night they have no rest those who worship the wild beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.
Everyone will interpret scriptures differently to their understanding, however we must understand that God gave us freedom of choice and that we need to choose Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. It doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong with the times and what’s supposed to happen before or after, what’s important is believing and when it all happens, we know we are ready.
God Bless you all
Someone said: The Rapture will take place before the Tribulation period and only the Elect will be raptured, which will be 144000 believers.
The 144,000 are sealed as servants to serve on earth and preach to the people (jew) who flees to the wilderness and thus regrafting in the natural vine… these are sealed against from the angels destruction coming during Gods wrath… same as when the door post were sealed during the pass over by the death angel….. when the city is surrounded flee to the wilderness and as daniel 11:41 tells us that he (antichrist) wont be able to enter that wilderness which is edom moab ammon….. this is where God swallows up the flood of the AC armys in Rev 14:14-16……
The elect are ALL believers who are gathered together to meet christ in the air….
the elect cant be fooled but many believers who think jesus is going to swoop down pre trip or that were gonna have a revival and bring christ return will become 5 of the unwise virgins who become unwise when the pre trib master is delayed and like lukes good and faithful/less servant they give up and go back as they were before… so it is important to know about the rapture and when it takes place….
this is why it is said: know this first (1st) scoffers shall come in the last days saying
where is the PROMISE of his coming? The last days means the pre trib jesus didnt show when the church promised and now that the trib has started jesus cant be pre trib…(2peter 3:3-4)
Even 2 thess paul tells you not to be decieved into believing the gathering together (2:1)happens before the falling away comes first…. the virgins and the unwise servant IS the falling away.. when christians who believed the pre trib rapture find themselves in a tribulation world….. there is no secret rapture just those who wonder why the master is delayed
and then tribulation jesus comes and catches the virgins off guard and they are left and lukes servant is cut to pieces and now with the unbelievers.
The thief in the night as bill said also refers to either you are ready for jesus to come or you are not… this is what is meant by watching for his return aka doing Gods will till he returns or you die…. being a faithful servant
Armageddon isnt the world attacking israel it is God gathering them together to plead with them in the valley of decision joel 3:14
Jesus has come just before Armageddon is to start as daniel 11:41 shows the fleeing jew to be safe in wilderness
42 antichrist going thru holy land and egypt
43 with some of gogs army (islam) after him
44 china out of the east and russia out of the north trouble him
45 he plants his tent in the valley of decision
1 and at this time before Armageddon gets started and everyone found in book of life
2 are awaken to either life or shame and this is when every eye sees christ coming to gather
even those who pierced him….
I am thirteen years old and a Christian all of you just confused the heck out of me so thanks for you confusing words of wisdom…not
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I agree my head is spinning also:) the first thing I thought of is the fruits of the spirit and also God telling us to love our brothers as our selves. It is important that even if we disagree on what or when tribulation is that we still believe in Jesus Christ. We can have different opinions but we must love one another and that means speaking kindly to one another!:)
I will tell you why I believe in pre-mid tribulation. In Matthew 24:37-42 it says “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. THAT is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in a field one taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” It also says this same thing in Luke.
I don’t know about you but if God was hurling giant balls of ice down from heaven, burning the earth with scorching heat, putting out the sun, sending crazy demon locus to bite people.. Etc. but would you be kicking it with your neighbor raking your fields or chillin in the kitchen grinding flour when all the world around you is falling apart? I know I sure wouldn’t be I would be freaking out! Hiding! And I couldn’t eat or drink because the water will be blood and the food will have all died in famine. So think on that! And if you know Lot well God waited after Lot left the city until he poured out his wrath on the city destroying it. I think he will do that for us because Lot is only one example of many where God delivered his people before he destroyed everything around him.
All of us adults can’t be one hundred percent positive because we all view things different. But we all love God and we love you and no matter how things work out on earth we would have each other’s backs! Pre-Post trib thinkers are all Gods children. I recommend that we are prepared at all times for God to come back. If he comes before things start gettin all wacko then we will be partying up in heaven together but if he doesn’t come pick us up before the end just don’t ever be fooled into getting the mark of the beast. Never let anyone out a Mark on you! I hope my humble writing helps you unclear your head. God Bless You, you are already looking for signs of his return!!
Rebecca
The dead(in Christ) shall arise first and we that are alive shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Even so Come Lord Jesus come. WE will not go through the tribulation.Am glad I am a sinner saved by grace. The world is getting madder every day. I would hate to be on earth to see what it is going to be like
Thank you for your comment Margaret. I am in agreement with you! God bless
I am accepting Jesus Christ as My lord and Savior for the 3rd or 4th time, I am a Sinner, and always have been, but I always had love for God and Jesus Christ even though I did not walk like Christ, I certainly Hope that I will not be left behind. I pray to God and Jesus to forgive me and save me because someone woke me up recently, and I have been on fire since, seeking for absolute truth and HOPING I will not be left behind. Oh God Have mercy on my soul!
Rose, we are all sinners, each and every one of us! If you have truly believe that Jesus Christ is God, have repented of your sins, and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, then you are saved, period! You do not loose your salvation, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit.
As Christians we can walk away from the Lord, as the prodigal son did. This does not mean that we are not still saved. By the way you are speaking, it sounds to me like you have the Holy Spirit within you Rose! We cannot truly love God or seek His ways without Him in us.
God bless my friend. And may the Spirit of the Lord impart His wisdom upon you! Amen
Thank You Gordon! I love my God! I love him Fiercely and want nothing more than to be with him! With God all things are possible! and I’m trying to encourage my family to walk IN Christ and not just say it. its challenging because even I fall short. But I pray and speak to him daily that he continue to bless me and my Family and Friends, God Bless you Gordon! God Bless you All!
I know how you feel Rose. None of us are perfect, we all need to be more “Christ-like” in words and in action. God bless!
I am worried for my family. One daughter is Jehova Witness, what does God do with them that do not believe that Jesus is God? I have tried to show her why Jesus is God but she will not believe it so I fear for her eternity and her children’s. My grandchildren are all taught the JW beliefs and will not listen to me either. My daughter has become very mad at me at times, even hung up on me on the phone discussing this. How does God judge those who believe in Him, believe Jesus is His Son, but do not believe in The Holy Trinity?
Thanks for your comment Diane.
I feel your pain sister! I also have many family members who are not believers in Jesus Christ, yes even one of my own children.
I don’t mean to sound harsh or uncaring, but I need to tell you the truth.
To answer your question how will God judge those who believe in Him but not His Son as God also? Well, to tell you the truth, you must believe that Jesus is God! Plain and simple. Jesus tells us in scripture that He is God, that the Word is God, that He is the Word, and the Word became flesh and dwelt with us. What happens to the unsaved when they die? They are cast into the lake of fire!
Believing that Jesus is merely God’s son, and not God Himself is a lie and an untruth. Jesus says “Believe in Me and you will be saved”, this means believing that He is God! So Jehovah’s Witnesses have it wrong! Their religion is false.
I am also concerned about my family not going to heaven and living in hell forever! What can I do? If I talk to them about Jesus as God, then they turn away. The only thing that I can really do is to let the light of Christ shine through me and pray! Pray, pray, pray. Pray for them to see the truth, for their hearts to be softened, and for them to repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ, God, our Lord and Savior. Trust in God, give it over to Him. Live a holy life, walk with God, talk with God, and pray to God. Stay in His word and be obedient to Him. This is the best advice that I could give.
I know it’s frustrating, and you want to worry about it all of the time, but don’t. Worry is actually a sin. Hand all of your troubles over to God, give them to Him to handle for you. Walk in faith, and know that God is with you!
Life is very frustrating at times, people that we love seem to turn away from us. They don’t want to listen to what we know as the truth. We all have a free will and choices to make in life. Every single one of us has to make our own decision about God. Often times if we try to convince someone that they need to believe that Jesus Christ is God and the only way to heaven, then they will further harden their hearts and turn away. Let God soften their hearts, you have planted the seed, you have done what you need to, just love them and let God take over.
I pray for God Almighty to open the eyes and soften the hearts of your daughter and her children. Lord God hear my prayer for Diane, give her the courage, the strength, and the faith she needs to overcome. Father in heaven, send your ministering angels to show her family that Jesus Christ is God and not merely Your son. Convict them of their false beliefs, and fill their hearts with the truth! In Jesus name I pray, Amen
God bless sister! Maranatha!