The beginning of the Tribulation period is marked by the Antichrist confirming a covenant for seven years of peace in the Middle East(Dan. 9: 27).
The end of the Tribulation period is marked by the Second Coming of Jesus (II Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19:11-21).
But did you know that the Bible says more about what happens at the middle of the Tribulation period and most of it will probably start on the same day.
This article shows how many Mid-Tribulation period events are connected, how consistent the books of Daniel, Matthew, II Thessalonians and Revelation are and how many different individuals (Daniel, Gabriel, Jesus, Paul and John) talked about them.
Daniel chapter 7 records Daniel’s vision of Four Great Beasts. Most prophecy writers agree that the fourth Great Beast is the beast of Revelation that is called the Antichrist (Dan. 7:7-10; Rev. 13:1). He is also called the little horn (Dan. 7:8).
During the Tribulation period, the Ancient of Days (God) will sit in judgment and determine that the Antichrist should be destroyed by fire (Dan. 7:11), and it will happen (Rev. 19:20). Then, one like the Son of Man (Jesus) will replace the rule of Antichrist with the rule of Jesus (Dan. 7:13-14) and He will rule on earth for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-4).
Daniel asked for an interpretation of the vision (Dan. 7:16) and among other things he was told that the saints would be given into the hands of the Antichrist for a time (one year) and times (two years) and the dividing of times (half a year; Dan. 7:25).
This means that there will be severe persecution of believers during the Tribulation period and it will last for three and one-half years. We will soon learn that it will start at the middle of the Tribulation period and last until the Second Coming of Jesus.
Daniel chapter 9 reveals that the angel Gabriel told Daniel the Antichrist will confirm a covenant for one week of years (seven years), but in the middle of that week of years (after three and one-half years) he will cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease (Dan. 9:27). Stopping the sacrifice and oblation at the Temple will mark the middle of the Tribulation period.
Moving from the book of Daniel to the book of Matthew it is recorded that the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of His coming and the end of the age (Matt. 24:3).
Jesus referred back to the book of Daniel and said when the abomination of desolation (the Antichrist or an image of the Antichrist) stands in the Holy Place (at the Temple) the people of Judea should flee into the mountains (Matt. 24:15-16).
He said, “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world. And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved” (Matt. 24:21-22). Further down in this article it will be shown that the Jews in Judea will flee at the middle of the Tribulation period.
Moving from the book of Matthew to the book of II Thessalonians it is recorded that apostle Paul said that the Antichrist will exalt “himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (II Thess. 2:4).
It is speculation, but it looks like the Antichrist will visit Israel at the middle of the Tribulation period, enter the Temple, stand in the Holy Place (Holy of Holies), sit in the Temple and declare that he is God, order the Jews to stop the animal sacrifices and start severe persecution of believers all on the same day at the middle of the Tribulation period.
Moving from the book of II Thessalonians to the book of Revelation, the apostle John was told that the outer court of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem will be trodden down by Gentiles for forty-two months (Rev. 11:1-2). That is three and one-half years.
Gabriel said the Temple will be desolate for the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation period (Dan. 9:27). Starting at the middle of the Tribulation period, Gentiles will impact what goes on in Jerusalem and at the Temple.
Earlier we read that Jesus told the Jews to flee into the mountains when all of this happens because there will be severe persecution (Matt. 24:14-15, 21-22).
Moving on in the book of Revelation, the apostle John said the sun-clothed woman (Israel) will flee into the wilderness for a thousand two hundred and threescore days (Rev. 12:6). That is 1260 days which is 42 months, and it is also three and one-half years. The fleeing of Judea and the desolation of the Temple will start on the same day at the middle of the Tribulation period.
John revealed an ominous reason for this. He said Satan and his angels will be cast down to the earth and intensify the persecution of Israel (Rev. 12:7-9, 13).
He added that God will protect Israel for a time, and times, and half a time (Rev. 12:14-15). This means 1260 days which is 42 months, and it is three and one-half years. God’s miraculous protection of the fleeing Jews will start at the middle of the Tribulation period.
All of these passages refer to events that appear to happen or start on the same day. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit, but written by several different people over a period of slightly more than 600 years.
They are complimentary. They don’t contradict each other. And they show why the Bible is so amazing.
They also show that the book of Revelation is more than a book of symbols. It is also Holy Spirit inspired Scripture that links to other Scriptures.