Dan 12.1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
Why are the 3.5 years at the end of the age identified as "the Great Tribulation?" I believe there is a basic confusion over how God looks at the people of Israel. He sees them, I think, as generally a lost people, and yet a people who are to be restored and who are currently represented by those pursuing this spiritual restoration.
The "Great Tribulation" is therefore a time when Israel appears to be lost and under judgment, in exile. But at the very end of this NT era, during the 3.5 years of Antichristian reign, this history will be resolved. It will be the final days of Israel's lost history, in which the faithful ultimately anticipate a coming deliverance for Israel as a people.
In his Olivet Discourse, Jesus used the term "great distress," or "great tribulation," to describe this Jewish history in which the people generally would appear lost and under judgment, while only a relative few remain true to God. It would be a time when the people lose their spirituality, persecuting or rejecting Christianity, while only a relative few choose to follow Jesus and anticipate a return of Israel to true spirituality and fidelity to God.
The "Great Tribulation," then, is actually the long period of time in the NT era when Israel is in Diaspora. But this period of Jewish Punishment will ultimately be resolved in a final 3.5 year period under the Man of Sin, when believers succeed in testifying to the coming salvation of Christ at the end of this period.
And so, this final period of 3.5 years is often called "the Great Tribulation," as well. Israel will continue to appear as lost, but will also be represented by believers who anticipate Israel's restoration to God as a nation.
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
Why are the 3.5 years at the end of the age identified as "the Great Tribulation?" I believe there is a basic confusion over how God looks at the people of Israel. He sees them, I think, as generally a lost people, and yet a people who are to be restored and who are currently represented by those pursuing this spiritual restoration.
The "Great Tribulation" is therefore a time when Israel appears to be lost and under judgment, in exile. But at the very end of this NT era, during the 3.5 years of Antichristian reign, this history will be resolved. It will be the final days of Israel's lost history, in which the faithful ultimately anticipate a coming deliverance for Israel as a people.
In his Olivet Discourse, Jesus used the term "great distress," or "great tribulation," to describe this Jewish history in which the people generally would appear lost and under judgment, while only a relative few remain true to God. It would be a time when the people lose their spirituality, persecuting or rejecting Christianity, while only a relative few choose to follow Jesus and anticipate a return of Israel to true spirituality and fidelity to God.
The "Great Tribulation," then, is actually the long period of time in the NT era when Israel is in Diaspora. But this period of Jewish Punishment will ultimately be resolved in a final 3.5 year period under the Man of Sin, when believers succeed in testifying to the coming salvation of Christ at the end of this period.
And so, this final period of 3.5 years is often called "the Great Tribulation," as well. Israel will continue to appear as lost, but will also be represented by believers who anticipate Israel's restoration to God as a nation.
Last edited:
