Hello Scribe
The bible does not specify how long the tribulation will be and Jesus said that it will be actually shortened for the elect’s sake (Matthew 24:19-20). So I am not sure where the 7 years of tribulation comes from.
Greetings Godcares!
The word of God does indeed specify how long the tribulation will be.
In Daniel 9:24-27, there is a decree of seventy seven year periods pronounced upon Israel and Jerusalem.
=============================================================
Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah,
g the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.
=============================================================
7 sevens (49 years) = Restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem
62 sevens (434 years) = 7 sevens + 62 sevens = 483 years, at the end of which, the Messiah was cut of (Christ crucified)
Then the last seven years is described:
==============================================================
"He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple
he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." - (Dan.9:27)
In Matthew 24:15-22, Jesus quotes Daniel 9:27 with the following:
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘
the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),
16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house.
18And let no one in the field return for his cloak.
19How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!
20Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath.
21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.
22If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.
==============================================================
So, the time period of the tribulation is establish as being seven years in length, which is divided into two 3 1/2 year periods, with the setting up of the abomination being the middle point and which begins the great tribulation. That last seven years will be initiated by that prince, who is the antichrist, when he confirms his strong covenant for one seven with Israel, which will allow them to build their temple and begin once again to sacrifice according to the law.
This seven year period is also referred to in Revelation, as demonstrated below:
=============================================================
"But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city
for 42 months. And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy
for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
"And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her to be nourished for
1,260 days.
"But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for
a time, and times, and half a time.
"The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for
42 months."
============================================================
42 months, 1260 days and a time, times and half a time, each equal 3 1/2 years in 30 day monthly increments and is referring to the first and last 3 1/2 years of that seven year period.
So the seven years begins with the prince/antichrist establishing his seven year covenant, with the great tribulation beginning when that abomination is set up in the holy place in the temple in the middle of the seven years.
"If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short."
The verse above is misunderstood by many. Jesus is not saying that the seven years or the last 3 1/2 years is going to be shortened, for that would make God out to be a liar since seven years has already been established. What the verse is saying is that, if that seven year period and specifically that last 3 1/2 years was allowed go go on any longer than that specified time, then no one would be left alive. In other words, the seven years with its last 3 1/2 years being the great tribulation, is the shortened version. If it was allowed to go on any longer than that, no one would be saved.
God's wrath via the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments, will be carried out during the entire seven years, with the last 3 1/2 years being the worst, ergo, the great tribulation. This will be in addition to the plagues that the two witnesses bring upon the earth, which I believe will take place during the first 3 1/2 years.
Now regarding that seven year period, there is additional time mentioned in Daniel 12:11-12, not for God's wrath, but I believe will be for pre-millennial business:
"And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
1290 days would be 30 days past the 3 1/2 year mark
1,335 days would be 45 days past the 1290 days and 75 days beyond the 3 1/2 year mark
I believe that during those extra 75 days, pre-millennial business will be taking place by the Lord, such as the judgment of the sheep and the goats and when the Lord settles disputes between the nations who will enter into the millennial kingdom and any other issues that will need to be taken care of.
We also know that Jesus will not return to the earth until God's wrath has been completed, which is after the seventh bowl has been poured out.
And regarding the abomination that causes the desolation of Jerusalem and all of Judea, I believe that it is also mentioned in the book of Revelation, not by name, but by description:
"Because of the signs he was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed."
I believe that the image mentioned above, is that abomination that will be set up in the holy place within the temple.
... so I do not fault ppl when they refer to it in "noun"-terms)]
