A reader noted that the first three and a half years of the seventieth week of Daniel (the seven year period that people most people refer to as the “tribulation”) is going to be relatively “calm” compared to the time period following the midway point of the seventieth week of Daniel. The reader asked me if I had any ideas about why the “the FIRST 3 1/2 years seem relatively calm compared to the final 3 1/2 years?”
My response to the reader’s question is quite long so I might as well share my response with everyone just in case others might have a similar question or might want to read about this topic from my perspective…
Before I address the question directly, I want to first make clear that any time historical time period up until the midway point of the seventieth week of Daniel (i.e. World War 2, World War 1, now, tomorrow, yesterday, 1000 B.C. etc.) is going to be a relatively “calmer” time period than the second half of the seventieth week of Daniel. Christ suggested that the great tribulation will be the most trying time in history (Mat 24:21) and will begin when the abomination that causes desolation mentioned by Daniel is established (Mat 24:15-21), which is at the midway point of the seventieth week of Daniel (Dan 9:27).
- Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
- Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
- Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
- Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
- Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
- Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
- Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
- Dan 9:27 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.
Therefore, the second half of the seventieth week of Daniel will include the most trying time in history, so any trying time period before it or after it cannot match it. However, before I continue it’s important to note that Christ said that He will cut the great tribulation short for the sake of the elect because there would be no one left to save if it is not cut short.
- Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Therefore, it’s possible (and I think probable) that the period of great tribulation that Christ referred to in Matthew 24:21 may not last the entire remaining three and half years of the seventieth week of Daniel. It's cut short for the sake of the elect.
Nevertheless, while it is true that the first three and half years of the seventieth week of Daniel are going to be relatively “calm” compared to the second half of the seventieth week of Daniel, it does not mean that the first three and half years of the seventieth week of Daniel are going to be a pleasant time on Earth.
In fact, I believe it’s highly unlikely that the first three and half years of the seventieth week of Daniel will be a good time to live on Earth. One reason is that I believe the concept of birth pangs is likely applicable to the End Times as well as it is before the End Times begin. Therefore, I believe it’s likely that wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilence, earthquakes, etc. will be prevalent during this three and a half year period but at much greater frequency and intensity than today.
- War definitely is going to be something that will exist during that time period. Revelation 6:4 mentions that peace will be removed from the earth.
Although the first three and half years of the seventieth week of Daniel are probably not going to be a good time to live on Earth, there is a window of opportunity for people on Earth at that time to prepare themselves for the great tribulation. The Antichrist is unlikely going to openly persecute a lot of people who oppose him on religious grounds during these first three and half years because he will be busy building his kingdom. In addition, the punitive Mark of the Beast system won’t be instituted yet since Antichrist won’t yet have the control over the planet to implement and enforce it.
- In other words, probably the main reason why the first three and half years of the seventieth week of Daniel is a relatively more “calm” period of time than the second half is that the Antichrist is going to be focused on accumulating power rather than wielding his power to make life miserable for everyone on Earth who opposes him. Once Antichrist gains control of the world he will then persecute and seek to eliminate those who oppose him with the full force of the power he's acquired.
Again, there will be an opportunity to prepare even after the seventieth week of Daniel begins. However, once that window of opportunity is shut it’ll probably be very difficult for many opponents of Antichrist to do much else besides try to survive…
