Notes on the Tribulation Week

Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024

The Tribulation is a period of seven years of God’s wrath being poured out on the forces of evil upon the earth.

God has given man centuries to turn to Him in repentance.  When the Tribulation begins, the Rapture has already taken place and all believers in Jesus Christ have been removed from the planet.  Is there still hope for more to be redeemed?  Yes, however they will have to endure the unimaginable in the process.

Revelation Chapters 6-11 focus on this seven-year period. 

Note: There is a companion document called “Tribulation Timeline” that will help with understanding the information included in this document.

START POINT of TRIBULATION WEEK

This seven-year period is the Seventieth Week of the 70 weeks outlined in Daniel Chapter 9.  It begins at the point in history when the Antichrist will make a seven-year covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27).

The Revelation seen by the Apostle John details “seals” that will span the entire seven years of the Tribulation. These seals unleash catastrophic events on planet earth.  Six of the seals will occur during the first 3 ½ years while the covenant made by Anti-christ remains in effect.

Man has thought himself in control for millennia.  He now will find God showing man who has control. It has been said that the first four seals are similar to what mankind has been inflicting upon one another. These four will be used by God and get man out of his comfort zone prior to God’s total wrath to come at the end.

Revelation Chapter 6 begins the description of the Seven SEALS. 

First 6 of 7 seals – (Chapter 6)

Seal 1 – White Horse: conquering diplomatically

Seal 2 – Red Horse: political upheaval, no peace, people killing people

Seal 3 – Black Horse: cost of “bread”, famine

Seal 4 – Pale Horse: ¼ population killed by beasts, swords, hunger

Seal 5 – Martyrdom for Faith: death for Word of God receive white robes

Seal 6 – Earthquake, stars fall, sun black, physical world gone berserk

The Seventh Seal also contains the Seven Trumpets.  The Seven Trumpets are covered from Revelation Chapter 8 through Revelation Chapter 11.  Many people find this makes it confusing.  The study of this requires understanding that the Seals are inclusive of the TRUMPETS and the WOES all the way through Revelation Chapter 11.

Seal 7 – (Chapter 8) consists of 7 Trumpets (Chapters 8-11)

The opening of this seal causes silence in Heaven over what has now been unleashed:  the starting of 7 trumpets and thunderings and 3 Woes - Revelation 8.

Trumpet 1 (8:7) – hail and fire mixed with blood

Trumpet 2 (8:8) – mountain burning with fire

Trumpet 3 (8:10) – star falls from Heaven

Trumpet 4 (8:12) – darkness

Trumpet 5 (9:1-12)  FIRST WOE:  star falls, bottomless pit opened

Trumpet 5 with the First Woe includes a Locust plague. It will last five months tormenting man.  Men will seek to commit suicide but will be prevented from it. (Revelation 9)

MIDDLE of TRIBULATION WEEK

At the midpoint of this period, the Antichrist will break his deal with Israel (Daniel 8:10-12; 9:27). This will initiate the midpoint of the Tribulation.  It will continue an additional 3.5 years from that point (Daniel 8:13-14; 12:11).

Gentiles (Anti-christ) are in control of Jerusalem.  (Revelation 11:2; Zechariah Chapter 4)

Desolation of the Jewish Temple – Daniel chapters 11-12, Revelation 12:6

The children of Israel will need to flee from the Antichrist after he breaks his covenant. They flee to Edom and Moab which have also escaped the hand of Anti-christ. (Daniel 11:41 and Isaiah 16:3-5)

During the last three and a half years the Jews will remain hiding from the Antichrist and will be protected and fed by God – Revelation 12:14-17; Isaiah 26:20-21.

Daniel 12:7 indicates that it will take those years to “…scatter the power of the holy people…”.

Trumpet 6 and the Second Woe will last the entire last 3.5 years of the Tribulation Week. This is covered by John in Revelation 9:14-11:14.

Trumpet 6 (9:13-21)  SECOND WOE:  4 angels kill 1/3 of men

7 Thunders uttered - described in Chap 10

1/3 of men killed by 200 million horsemen with Fire, smoke brimstone

144,000 Jews are sealed and witnessing. Revelation 7

The Two Witnesses arrive on scene and witness for God for 1260 days. Revelation 11:3

1260 days later the two Witnesses are allowed to be killed.

The witnesses will rise from the dead 3.5 days later and ascend to heaven while in view of the planet.

In that same hour a massive earthquake will occur and a tenth of Jerusalem falls. This quake will kill 7000 – (Revelation 11:13)

A REVIVAL IN JERUSALEM will result with a “remnant” turning to God.

THIS WILL END the SECOND WOE.

END OF TRIBULATION WEEK

The killing and resurrection of the two witnesses ending the Second WOE is the end of the Week.

Man has now received all the WARNING he is going to get.

The END OF TIME begins:

God’s wrath is poured out with the blowing of the Seventh Trumpet.

Third Woe – signaling the END – (Revelation 10-11)

Trumpet 7 (11:15-19)  THIRD WOE: WRATH OF GOD

Temple of God opens in Heaven (11:15)

Seven Vials / Bowls / Plaques (Chapters 15-16)

First 4 on Men – last 3 on kingdom of Anti-christ

Vial 1 – Sores on wearers of mark required by Beast

Vial 2 – Sea turned to Blood

Vial 3 – Rivers and Water Sources turned to Blood

Vial 4 – Sun given power to scorch the Earth

Vial 5 – Seat of the Beast attacked with darkness, pain and sores

Vial 6 – Euphrates River is dried up for Kings of the East

Vial 7 – It is Done!

Note: There is a companion document called “Tribulation Timeline” that will help with understanding the information included in this document.

OTHER EVENTS OCCURING

DURING THE TRIBULATION WEEK

Death and resurrection of Anti-christ. A mockery of Christ’s death and resurrection Revelation 13:3.

Beast / False Prophet – sole role is to focus worship on the Anti-christ.

Will perform miracles and signs.

Creates image of Anti-christ for worship – Revelation 13

Creates the mark of submission – Revelation 13:16

Additional Reading:

Read the books written by the Prophets. They all discuss facts regarding this period known as the Tribulation and also provide details regarding the Anti-christ.  The Anti-christ is referred to by many names but he is the man of sin working for the purpose of Satan.  Many of the Prophets, specifically Daniel chapter 12, will discuss this time period and the events that follow it.