Chapter 10

Post-Rapture Bible Prophecy: The Tribulation

We make the distinction between the two 42 month periods as the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation because of the stark contrast between both periods. In the first period, The Tribulation will be marked by rebuilding, global peace and harmony, and the Anti-Christ’s building up of his world system. (Excerpt from below) By Dave White.

The Bible refers to the period of time you are experiencing now as the Tribulation. According to scripture, this period will last 42 months or 3½ years proceeded by “The Great Tribulation” ` which will also last 3 ½ years. This seven-year period is what is referred to as the “missing week” in Daniel’s 9:26 prophecy. The crucial point for us to consider is this: According to prophecy, we have 7 years until the visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ to this earth in power and Glory. That’s all we have to make a decision. History as we have known it is coming to an end.

The second period, The Great Tribulation, will be marked by the world system of governance falling apart and deteriorating into an all-out nuclear war.

The events of the “Tribulation”

The first 42 months (3 ½ years)

The Tribulation is revealed as a series of events or parts when taken as a whole create an incredibly clear picture. The difficulty is trying various books of the bible together (Daniel, Revelation, Ezekiel, Matthew) and their relevant prophecies in a clear and concise manner. Many have tried to dismiss the book of Revelation and other prophetic books of the bible as allegories, insisting that the books are symbolic and not to be taken literally. This argument can not be taken seriously. Any reasonable study of the relevant scriptures will show that the so-called symbols are either easily understood or defined for us in a concordant passage of scripture. For instance, the red dragon of Revelation 12:3 (Satan) is said to have given anti-christ his power and authority in Revelation 13:2. The beasts are clearly persons based on Revelation 13: 3,4,5). You’ll recall in Daniel 9:23 the 10 horns are defined as 10 kings, etc. As we will show, these prophecies were sealed up by Daniel the prophet (Daniel 12:4) for the end of time. At the proper time, knowledge and understanding would increase as events unfold. Just after The Rapture, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of the “end times”, with many of the signs of the end having come to pass yet God’s final “passion play” directly before us.

The major acts of the drama are as follows:

The Revealing of anti-Christ,

The Peace Treaty involving Jerusalem

The Rebuilding of the temple

The Rebuilding of the world economy

The World Government,

The World Religion

The False Prophet

The 144,000

The Tribulation Saints or converts to Christ

The Two Witnesses

It’s important to remember that these events are not necessarily chronological; many events overlap, such as the revealing of antichrist and the false prophet, or the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists. In some instances we do not know exactly when these events will occur, so we give a general idea as to the timetable. What we’ve tried to do is describe these events in a way that will help you plan as you witness the reality of these events experientially. We’ve tried to stay away from too many specifics in exchange for a clearer and understandable pattern. Our hope is that as these events unfold, you’ll believe that the substance of this message is true and was prepared for you from the one true God, and that you’ll choose to believe in and trust Him in these trying times. It’s not too late.

Immediately after the rapture, all “hell” will be breaking loose throughout the world. We’ve mentioned the American people’s unwillingness to go along with world government already, but you will begin to see the European Union and the American Government in alliance with the United Nations, begin to assert control through agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and similar European organizations. This much is clear: America will clearly have lost its leadership role. The new Europe will emerge as the world superpower and political power base of the world. However, no matter what they can do in rebuilding the basic economic infrastructure, they will not be able to calm the fears and the insanity that is overwhelming the world.

Enter the prince.

Do not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that “The day of the Lord has come.”

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called God or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to end by the appearance of His coming;

that is, the one that is coming in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,

and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false,

in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2:2-4,6-12)

So we see the “Lawless one revealed in 2^nd Thessalonians. In this passage, The Apostle Paul was answering questions relating to his first letter to the Thessalonians, written just a short time earlier. Apparently, some in the church were spreading rumors to the effect that Jesus had already returned, and that The Rapture had already (circa AD 50) taken place. You will recall in First Thessalonians 4:16 That “Blessed hope”, the rapture was revealed. The passage we are dealing with right now (2 Thessalonians 2) was written in response to the reaction of 1 Thessalonians. Paul goes on to clarify his earlier writing and then expounds upon it, disclosing even more details. It is obvious that Paul has met the Thessalonians previously, and initially had preached these and many other sermons, only later did Paul write to them and thus leave a recorded message.

In verses 2 and 3 Paul is telling the Thessalonians not to be concerned about “the day of the Lord,” as if this event had somehow happened already. Apparently, there was quite a panic, with many believing they were left behind. Paul is reiterating in verse 3, don’t be deceived, many other events must take place before this can happen. In essence, he is saying, “remember what I told you when I was with you.” But what is important to grasp here is the timing of the rapture and the revealing of the anti-christ, that is, the “man of lawlessness.” In verse 6 we read, “and you know what restrains so that in his time he will be revealed,” and in verse 7, “he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way”.

This pinpoints the rapture as THE event that directly leads to the revelation of Anti-Christ. The Holy Spirit is He who restrains evil in this world. The Holy Spirit resides in each and every believer. When all believers are “taken out of the way” (verse 7), then the lawless one will be revealed (verse 8). So, we’ve established the lawless one as being revealed after the rapture of the church.

Note: From Amos37… The person of the Anti-Christ will be revealed, but the beginning of the Tribulation does not start on the day of the Rapture. There may be a space of consolidating power by scrambling power grabs. Ultimately ending up in the 10 horns/toes. There will be a season of peace, but the Tribulation begins at the “enforcing/strengthening of a covenant with Israel. The lawless one will be revealed but it may not be apparent until the covenant is made.