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No, the Tribulation Has Not Yet Begun, Period
The problem is that there are too many people who are wrongly stating things like we are IN the Tribulation, the Tribulation has begun, or they’re busy exclaiming that this seal, that trumpet, or that bowl judgment just now opened! They are ALL wrong and I say that with conviction because I know for a FACT that the Tribulation has not begun. Why? Because the Bible tells me so.
One recent article states the following:
“At the same time the first crater opened in Russia was the same time ISIS began their killing spring in Iraq. Since June of 2014 until now, ISIS has literally destroyed large swaths of land through Iran and Syria taking over cities, towns, and villages and a literal genocide on Christians…and killing any Muslims who refuse to surrender to Sharia Law. But during the exact same time that ISIS has been on this torturous terror, demonic terror, craters have been opening up in Russia and now the seventh crater has just opened. And so one woe is passed, or one woe has been acknowledged..one woe is in play…one woe…behold there comes two more woes thereafter.” —Paul Begley
The title of the article in question is “A Massive Pit Has Opened, and the Death Angel Has Come Forth! The First Woe Has Begun and End Times Demons Are On the Loose!” Scary, right? The author of the article then goes on to connect the above quote from Paul Begley with Revelation 9, which speaks of the 5th Trumpet Judgment when God allows the release of a demon horde of “locusts” to infest the earth. According to the Bible, they come from the pit itself.
Here’s the problem though. In order for that particular judgment to occur, of in fact, any of the 21 judgments listed in Revelation to take place (7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls), the Tribulation would have to have already started. In other words, we would be inside the Tribulation itself. I am dismayed to learn of more and more people who apparently believe we are inside the Tribulation, that it already began and they tick off the specific judgments as they happen. They are simply convinced that the Tribulation began and it is moving along toward its conclusion.
Are we? Are we inside the Tribulation period that the Bible speaks of? Is there any way to know for certain or are we left to guess? We can and should know. Guessing is not allowed and serves no purpose except to misunderstand God’s Word.
I believe God’s Word, while requiring study, is very clear in most things. I believe the Bible reveals to us the exact event that starts the Tribulation and we will know it when we see it, if we are looking for it and aware of what is going on in the world. The answer to when the Tribulation begins is found in Daniel 9:27 specifically. That verse describes an event that will start the Tribulation and it is the event where Antichrist (the “he” in that verse; cf. also 2 Thessalonians 2) will confirm a covenant with the many for one “week” (or one group of sevens).
![maxresdefault[1]](http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/maxresdefault1-620x349.jpg)
The short answer is that NO, the Tribulation has not begun yet. The event that will kick it off has not yet occurred. We are not inside the Tribulation. Clearly, if we are not inside the Tribulation, then none of the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, or 7 bowl judgments have taken place yet. If you’d care to read on, I’ll explain how we will get to that event and why it is still in the future.
Daniel 9 speaks of events that deal with Israel. You’ll recall that Daniel 9 opens with Daniel the prophet discovering that the 70 year captivity spoken of by Jeremiah was nearly over. Naturally, he was very excited and immediately set out to pray and praise God for His marvelous works and purposes (cf. Daniel 9:1-3). He took time to humble himself before the Lord.
As he prayed and even before he had concluded his prayer, the angelic messenger Gabriel came to him to explain some things to Daniel (cf. Daniel 9:20-23). Gabriel essentially told Daniel that yes, the 70 year captivity was nearly over and the Jewish people would be released from that captivity and allowed to return to Jerusalem. However – and Gabriel made this clear – that another form of captivity would affect the Jewish people, the state of Israel, and the Temple Mount for not 70 years, but 70 “sevens,” (that is the English word of the original word that was used in the text, though most translators translated the word not to “sevens” but to “weeks.”)
What Gabriel was saying was that there would be 70 sevens (or 70 groupings of seven) in which the Temple Mount would be trod underfoot and controlled by Gentiles. This became known as the “times of the Gentiles” and began with the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar.
![Green-Horse-Islam[1]](http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Green-Horse-Islam1-620x462.jpg)
The question to ask then is 70 groupings of seven what? What did the “sevens” refer to? Clearly, the entirety of Daniel 9 is dealing with years (not weeks). There was the 70 years of captivity that was soon to be over. Gabriel arrives and says yes, but there will be 70 “sevens” of…years that will continue until those years are expended.
We call them “weeks” of years or 70 weeks. In reality, they should be called 70 sevens of years or 490 years in total. Most commentators who do not allegorize Scripture (and even some who do) would agree that the 70 “weeks” in Daniel 9 ultimately refers to 490 years in its entirety.
We will delve more deeply into this in our next article, but let me leave something with you to ponder. Would you agree with me that every pro basketball game breaks down in the following way:
- each game has four quarters
- each quarter is 12 minutes long
- all four quarters totals 48 minutes
Is the above information accurate? Is that the way games are played in the pro basketball league? Okay, if the above information is true, then how is it that each and every basketball game can actually last 2 1/2 to 3 hours?
Give that some thought and we’ll be back next time with more.
Charles Page
Ended by 70 ad
Varnel Watson
Mary Ellen Nissley Actually John was over at Pathmos in Greece when he saw them. He is not directing us if they came over the geographical direction of Israel in any way. Also, their judgment is over the whole world and that makes it hard to include the US which is unknown to the writer at that time. But are you saying the Tribulation has already Begun? Ricky Grimsley
Charles Page
Then in either 3 1/2 or 7 years T. L. Lowery wii return to reign? ?
Ricky Grimsley
I haven seen any evidence that the trib has started but its possible it could begin in secret.
Mary Ellen Nissley
Okay, what is it that signifies the Tribulation has begun?
Varnel Watson
That the rapture has happened? Ricky Grimsley #leftBEHIND
Ricky Grimsley
The rapture doesnt begin the tribulation the “covenant”does. There could be many years of gap while conditions ripen for the antichrist. Probably not but no scripture prohibits that if you are pre-trib.
Varnel Watson
The rapture begins the tribulation. The “covenant” is everlasting. There could be no time gap between rapture and tribulation Alan N Carla Smith http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/come-up-here-in-the-rapture/
Ricky Grimsley
Show me any scriptures that prove the rapture starts the the tribulation. Daniel is clear that the 70thweek is started by the “confirming” the covenant not beginning it.
Ricky Grimsley
Most people see a 7 year period called the tribulation as the 70th week of daniel.
Daniel 9:27 KJVS
[27] And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Mary Ellen Nissley
So then, the signal that the Tribulation has begun, would be “that wicked one” being revealed, and making a peace treaty with Israel?
Varnel Watson
MANY have ASKED even TODAY Ricky Grimsley Gary Micheal Epping
Jared H. Richey
Troy Day
I’ve always assumed the Tribulation begins at the rapture of the church. The 7 years start ticking then. I think this is the common belief of most protestant churches. I’m church of God
Elaine Johnson
Troy Day These are the final birth pangs before the start of the Tribulation very soon. Global economic collapse and the breakdown of law and order and society as we know it ,will all happen on the back of this virus.
Varnel Watson
They are the ones who know enough about the Word not to take the Mark of the Beast. The younger generations [say], ‘Oh cool, put it in my hand. It’ll open a door. Wow.’ They’re going to take it. The older people in America in the Southeast are the conservative people, and this is attacking them to get that group out. If you get rid of all of those people who resist the Beast, and resist the Antichrist, and resist the system, then you have a whole other pro-socialist, pro-communist, give-me-your-money-and-I’ll-do-what-I-want-with-it group coming up. You see them. They’re out there, 35 percent of America is into it. And they have no respect for those older people who have made this country great. http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/perry-stone-slammed-for-saying-coronavirus-is-satanic-plot-to-bring-socialism-to-the-u-s/
Gary Micheal Epping
Troy Day you would not like it one bit if it was the start of the Tribulation. Why? You know. Another theological position bites the dust.
Varnel Watson
good luck with proving that you know with the BIBLE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc-bZKTSXN4
Gary Micheal Epping
No need for me to prove anything. The OP was about. has the Tribulation actually begun. If that is true, then that event proves there is no pre-trib.
Varnel Watson
Gary Micheal Epping They are the ones who know enough about the Word not to take the Mark of the Beast. The younger generations [say], ‘Oh cool, put it in my hand. It’ll open a door. Wow.’ They’re going to take it. The older people in America in the Southeast are the conservative people, and this is attacking them to get that group out. If you get rid of all of those people who resist the Beast, and resist the Antichrist, and resist the system, then you have a whole other pro-socialist, pro-communist, give-me-your-money-and-I’ll-do-what-I-want-with-it group coming up. You see them. They’re out there, 35 percent of America is into it. And they have no respect for those older people who have made this country great. http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/perry-stone-slammed-for-saying-coronavirus-is-satanic-plot-to-bring-socialism-to-the-u-s/