Your comments and questions are always welcome. To send comments and questions please click here to go to our main page.
September 16th, 2001
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (II Timothy 3:1)
I have had a number of emails and letters from readers who are convinced that we are currently living in the tribulation period. Some believe that the peace accord signed between Palestinian and Israeli leaders in 1993 marked the beginning of the tribulation. Well, if that’s the case, it’s over now, and we can all breath easier because the peace agreement marks the start of the seven-year time of tribulation.
There are many Biblical flaws to this interpretation. One is that the seven-year time period is up and according to that logic, the tribulation period should be over. In fact, the peace agreement was not a peace agreement at all. It involved negotiations that were conducted to help guide members of the PLO and the Israeli government to a mutual recognition that each country has a right to exist. There also was no time limit set for this plan. The Bible makes it clear that the peace plan the antichrist will present will be limited to seven years. Further, who was the antichrist? It couldn’t have been Former President Bill Clinton because he’s not even in the picture anymore. Several years ago however, he was a likely suspect due to his major role in the agreement/negotiations. Another reason the tribulation period has not started yet is that the Jerusalem temple hasn’t been built yet. According to Revelation 11, the temple must be built before or at least during the tribulation period. Moreover, the Bible describes the 144,000 Jews and the two witnesses that will possess great powers from God. Where are they? They should have been leading a great revival at some point in the last seven years. From my perspective, the last seven years have been the most godless years this country has every encountered. If we’ve had revival I missed it.
What will mark the beginning of the tribulation period? The Bible says that the first day of the tribulation period will be when the antichrist signs a peace agreement with Israel for seven years. He will break it midway through the accord. The Bible also states that the tribulation period will be comprised of two time sections of 1,260 days each (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:21). All Bible believing scholars and ministers believe that time frame to be literal days opposed to figurative. The tribulation period will end, to the day 2,520 days later.
In conclusion, the tribulation period has not begun and won’t start until the man of sin (antichrist) is revealed (II Thessalonians 2:3). One other thing; most assume that the rapture marks the beginning of the tribulation period. Not necessarily! There is a very interesting scenario in Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins book Are We Living In The End Times? They state in their book (as a possible scenario) that in the middle of the peace process, Russia and its Arab allies could stage their attack on Israel (Ezekiel 38 -39). Of course, they will be miraculously defeated. Here’s an excerpt from their book regarding this future battle.
It could happen prior to God’s last soul harvest just before the rapture. Or it could come after the rapture and before the tribulation. Keep in mind, there could be a period of days to several years between the rapture and the beginning of the tribulation. Since the Jews will burn the remains of the war described in Ezekiel 38-39 for seven winters (39:9) and because they will be driven out of the Holy Land by the antichrist during the last three and a half years of the tribulation (Revelation 12:6, 14), it would seem logical that the destruction of Russia and her allies will occur at least three and half years prior to the Tribulation. If that deduction is correct, there will be ample time for the Jews to rebuild their temple. In one moment God will have broken the back of the Muslim hordes who hate Israel so intensely, freeing Israel to rebuild her temple. This would be a drawing card to Jews around the world to return to the Holy Land to worship in their third temple.
This scenario doesn’t mean that the tribulation period will not begin for at least another three and one-half years following the war. But it does open up the possibility that the rapture could occur at any moment. Every prophetic detail need not be in place before the rapture can transpire. Actually, I wouldn’t rule out the prospect of a lapse in time between the rapture and the signing of the final peace accord. It could be a matter of months or even years after the rapture takes place before the antichrist comes on the scene with his deceptive plans.
Pastor Malone