THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE PERIOD OF TRIBULATION

The Chronology of the Period of Tribulation

It is logical at this point to discuss the chronological order and duration of this coming period. Having established its existence, location, and identification, it is reasonable to expect that the Bible throws some light on its order and length.
1. There is a progressive program of events set forth in the Scriptures. Writing to the Thessalonian believers Paul declared, "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you" (1 Thess, 5:1). The reason it was unnecessary for him to write on this point grew out of the fact that they knew per­fectly or accurately these facts (1 Thess. 5:2). This does not mean that they knew the dates, but it did mean that they knew the order of the times and seasons. The order in the unfolding of the movements of God made them realize that "the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" (1 Thess. 5:2), The prolonged period known as the day of man would be terminated by the coming of Christ for the Church, which event would usher in the day of the Lord. But the coming of the day of the Lord would arrive like a thief, without sign or signal as to the immediate moment of arrival. And this would usher in the period of tribulation.

 2. The presentation of this program was announced by James at the great Jerusalem council. This was his conclusion from the study of the Old Testament prophets and God's revelation through Peter (Acts 15:14-17). At least four periods in the movement of God are evident. There was an extended period in which God was seeking to build the tabernacle of David (16). But due to the fact that the nation of Israel turned its back on the Lord Jesus, God turned to the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name (14). This is the purpose of God during the present age of grace. Once He has completed this ministry, He will turn back to His people Israel to "build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up" (16). This future move in the direction of Israel is in order to that larger purpose which God intended to accomplish through His chosen people originally, namely, "that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things" (17). This last will be initiated during the tribulation but will be carried to completion during the millennial kingdom.

 3. One portion of this program covers the period of the tribulation. This is that period immediately following the completion of the Church during the age of grace. After Christ raptures the Church He will turn again to rebuild the tabernacle of David (Acts 15:16). In order to resolve a theological problem that had developed in the early Church, James appealed to the prophets of the Old Testament to demonstrate the progressive move­ment of God in the prosecution of His plan (Acts 15:15), and to show that for the present God had turned to the Gentiles for the building of His Church (Acts 15:14). This confirmed the ministry of Peter among the Gentiles. It also gave new hope for the nation of Israel. At the outset of the tribulation, we do not know how soon, though it appears as though this will immediately follow the rapture, the Lord moves again to repossess His people. This is displayed by the measuring of the temple and the people who worship therein (Rev. 11:1-2). As a major move in converting the nation of Israel, two specially selected witnesses minister God's message (Rev. 11:3-6). They are so successful in their three and one half year mission, that this touches off the great persecution beginning with their death (Rev, 11:2, 7-13). This drives the people of Israel even closer to the Lord.

 4. The measurement of this period is more precisely described than almost any other period in the Bible. Its identification with the seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy makes it fairly clear that it is seven years in length, the prophetic week being a week of years (Dan. 9:27), This period of seven years is divided into two smaller periods of three and one half years each (Dan. 9:27), referred to as "a time, and times, and half a time" (Rev. 12:14; Dan. 7:27; 12:7). The length of each period is also declared to be forty two months, (Rev. 11:2; 13:5), and 1260 days (Rev. 11:3; 12:6).

 Though there is strong reason to believe that the tribulation period is seven years in length, the Scripture nowhere says in so many words that this is the duration of the period. But seven years is God's measurement for the seventieth week. Since Anti­christ holds sway during this period, it is very likely that it is his purpose to prolong this period beyond seven years, and his breaking of the covenant is his first move "to change times and laws" (Dan. 7:25). But because of God's concern for His people "those days shall be shortened" (Matt. 24:22).

 5. The trump of God ushers in the period of tribulation. The trump of God is known to Israel. It was sounded for the first time at Mount Sinai at the giving of the law (Exod. 19:13-19). The trump of God will sound again when God renews His dealings with the nation on the basis of the O. T. law (Isa. 27:13; Matt. 24:31; Zeph. 1:16; Zech. 9:14). This well-known trump of God (1 Thess. 4:16), the last trump (1 Cor. 15:52), will be the signal that God is finished with His work during the age of grace and is now ready to resume His work with the chosen nation, Israel.

 It is this last trump of God that announces the regathering of the people of Israel to their own land. Michael, the archangel, the special custodian of the people of Israel (Dan. 12:1), will superintend the ministry of angels in helping to regather the people back to the land (Isa. 27:13; Matt. 24:31). At the same moment this trump announces the renewal of dealings with the nation of Israel, the Church will also be assembled into that meeting of the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

 6. The return of Christ in glory will terminate the tribula­tion period. Though there may be some doubt whether the rapture of the Church initiates the tribulation period, there is little doubt that the coming of Christ in glory will bring it to an end. It is after the tribulation that Christ comes to put an end to all the distress created by the Antichrist (Matt. 24:29, 30). It is then that His fury is poured out upon "the beast, and the Kings of the earth" (Rev. 19:19-21). The indignation of the Lord will be felt by all he Gentile nations (Isa. 34:1-3). When the nations are raging, and the people imagining a vain thing; when the kings of the earth have set themselves, and the rulers have taken counsel against the Lord and against His Christ, saying, "Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us. ….then will he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore dis­pleasure", and will set His king upon the holy hill in Zion (Psa. 2:1-6 ASV).