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The Second Half of the Tribulation is called the Great Tribulation, part of the Day of the Lord. It is, as we know, the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation, the second half of the 70th week of the Seventy Weeks prophecy in Daniel 9.

Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place … For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will (Matt 24)

Jesus was describing the midpoint of the Tribulation, describing its extreme nature. It’s like nothing anyone has ever seen. No war in history could compare, and the nature and consequences of the judgements will become more extreme as time progresses. (Birth Pangs)

Revelation: The Pauses in the timeline for Details

As shown in the timeline above, the Trumpet and Bowl judgements continue to provide a timeline for the final 3.5 years, as they are revealed sequentially. However, while John is writing what he sees for the second Half of the 7-year Tribulation, there are more chapters that are meant to give expanded details. Those details can’t be placed into a specific point in the timeline other than to say that they are part of the last 3.5 years. (Chapters 7, 10-15, 17-18) This is not a problem if we don’t try to force the whole book to be an unbroken timeline. The first 3.5 years of the Tribulation works fine as a sequential timeline, but the second half does not.

Let me tell you a story:

This story will progress over 3.5 years, so clearly there is a timeline.

TIMELINE

• The first seal is broken – judgement
• The second seal is broken – judgement
• The sixth seal is broken – judgement

By the way John, let me tell you about the 144,000 specially sealed Jewish believers from the 12 Tribes of Israel. (back to the timeline)

• The first Trumpet is sounded – judgement
• The second Trumpet is sounded – judgement
• The sixth Trumpet is sounded – judgement

By the way John, let me tell you about the Two Witnesses

By the way John, let me tell you about the Women – Israel, and let me tell you about the Dragon, and war in heaven

…back to the timeline

 

The Timeline graphic above shows this by displaying those chapters with Details on the top and the 3.5 Year Timeline on the Bottom. So, we don’t have any need then to try to fit the details of these chapters into the timeline too specifically unless they give us an indication to do so. As shown, some of those detailed pauses say that they are active for 42 months. In that case they are on the bottom Timeline.

Revelation 6-7: The Sixth Seal

Seal Six – Initiates the second 3.5 years of the Tribulation

Around the end of the first 3.5 years, Jesus breaks the sixth seal, and supernatural judgements are executed from God focused on the earth (earthquakes, astronomical cataclysmic events). These things kick off the Great Tribulation. Tricky to understand, but the events still leave people alive and gathering in caves to avoid the cataclysmic events. Possibly the cataclysm is worldwide earthquakes, and the signs in the stars are meteor showers. Smoke from the devastating earthquakes turn the skies black and the moon red.

We know this is not the end, but the midpoint of the Tribulation.

I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; … every mountain and island were moved out of their places

Revelation 7 – Interlude for the Remnants

We are in an actual pause now (Rev 7:1-3) to seal believing (alive) remnant Jews in the Tribulation. The Angels are holding back their judgement while this happens.

144 Thousand Jews are Sealed 

And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

Twelve-thousand Jews from each tribe are sealed for service during the final 3.5 years.

Remnants from the Nations

A multitude of people from the Nations of the world are seen in heaven, with white robes, having come outof the Great Tribulation – killed. (Redeemed believers)

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands

These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 8-9:  The Pause is over – The Trumpet Judgements Begin

The timeline of the Tribulation continues. 

Incense and the Alter

As the Great Tribulation, part of the Day of the Lord, the Time of Jacobs Trouble, God is once again focused on Israel, among other things. We will see this in Revelation 12. It is interesting to note how much terminology the book of Revelation has associated with Israel and their worship. (Incense, Holy of Holies, Bowls, the Temple in Jerusalem, Alter in heaven, sacrificial system.etc) – The Church is in heaven.

Seal Seven – Trumpets

The Seventh Seal, rather than bringing anything to an end, just reveals the next set of judgements – The Trumpet judgements.

It begins with another massive earthquake. 

Revelation 10-11: Pause to describe John’s heavenly vision and the Two Witnesses

Chapter Ten describes an experience that John has in heaven. He is given additional special revelation in the Little Book.

The Two Witnesses

God gives John a look at two special characters, and his purpose for them in the Endtimes. He tells us:

• The Gentiles are given control of the court outside the Jewish Temple for 42 months.
• The Two Witnesses will prophecy for 1260 days. (42 months) They have great power from God.
• Once their mission is complete, the Antichrist will kill them, and their bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem.
• The People of the city will not remove their bodies
• After three and a half days, they will come back to life.
• The Two Witnesses are taken to heaven in the clouds, and a great earthquake kills 7000 people in the city.

Revelation 11b – a Glimpse

At the seventh Trumpet, this Glimpse looks forward to the Reign of Christ after the second coming.

Revelation 12-15: Pause for details

Revelation 16 – the Bowl Judgements

Revelation 17-18 Babylon

…more to come