The Rapture - Help for Those Who Are Left Behind

The Middle of the Tribulation

After the sixth trumpet and before the seventh, comes the middle of the Tribulation Period or the end of the first 3 1/2 years, at which time several events will happen. In Revelation 11:1-2, an angel commands John to measure the temple of God, and the angel remarks that the holy city, or Jerusalem, will be tread under foot 42 months (or 3 1/2 years). It is at this time that the Antichrist breaks his treaty with Israel and comes into Jerusalem to set up his throne in the temple.

"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)," Jesus admonished us, "then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains; let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house; neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.....for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Matthew 24:15-18,21). This "abomination of desolation" spoken of here refers to the Antichrist exalting himself above God and setting up his throne in the temple.

It is a scary thought, when we see the terrible judgments issued upon the earth already during the first half of the Tribulation Period, to hear Jesus speak that when the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place and brings to a halt the daily sacrifice, then there will be great tribulation such as the world has never seen! The fact that the middle of Seven Year Tribulation Period is marked by the Antichrist breaking his treaty with Israel and setting up his throne in the temple, is confirmed by Daniel in his prophecy in Daniel 9:27, "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."

There is no temple in Jerusalem right now and no daily sacrifice be offered. However, it is exciting to hear that there are plans drawn up for a temple to be built, that ornaments and elements are being constructed for use in the temple, and that plans are underway for sacrifices to once again be offered unto God.

Also, at the midway point, the two witnesses shall be revealed who shall prophesy for 1,260 day (or 3 1/2 years). They will have power to shut up heaven that it will not rain during the time of their prophecy, to turn waters into blood, and to smite the earth with plagues as often as they will. Just a few days before the close of the Tribulation Period, they will be killed and their bodies left in the streets for 3 1/2 days. There will be great rejoicing among the people and they will exchange gifts in celebration because they received much torment at the hands of the two witnesses. Then after 3 1/2 days, the two witnesses will rise, and stand to their feet, and will ascend to heaven in a cloud as the people look on in much fear. It is believed that these two witnesses will be Elijah and Enoch, two heroes of the Old Testament. "It is appointed unto men once to die," Paul wrote to the Hebrews, "but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27). Elijah was carried up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Likewise, Enoch was also translated into heaven. Since neither of these men have ever tasted death, it is believed that they will be the two witnesses.

When the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, John heard great voices in heaven, and they were saying, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear the name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." (Revelation 11:15-18).

Also marking the middle of the Tribulation Period is a war in heaven, Michael and his angels defeating the dragon (Satan) and his angels, and casting them down to the earth. "Rejoice ye heavens," is the cry because Satan can no longer enter in as he goes to and fro. But, "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Revelation 12:12).

Revelation chapter 13 opens with John seeing a beast rising out of the sea having seven heads, ten horns and ten crowns. The beast, as John describes it, is like a leopard, has the feet of a bear, and the mouth of a lion, and the dragon gave him his power. The beast rises out of the sea, representing the rise of the kingdom, the ten heads and crown representing the ten kingdoms of which the Antichrist rules.

The beast as a whole represents the Antichrist. The people of the earth, as John saw it, worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast, and they worshipped the beast. "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue 42 months (3 1/2 years). And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." (Revelation 13:5-6). Daniel says in his prophecy, "The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished." (Daniel 11:36). Then John saw a second beast, this one rising from the earth, having two horns like a lamb and speaking as a dragon. This beast has all of the power of the first beast, and causes the people of the earth to worship the first beast.

This beast from the earth does great wonders, even making fire come down from heaven, and deceives all the people because of the miracles which he has power to do. He commands the people of the earth to make an image of the beast, then he gives life to the image so that it can speak. He then commands everyone to worship the image, and kills those who refuse. He also causes everyone, rich and poor, small and great, to receive a mark in their foreheads or in their right hand without which they cannot buy nor sell. This mark is the number of a man, six hundred threescore and six, or 666. This completes the unholy trinity, the dragon (Satan), the first beast (Antichrist), and the second beast (the False Prophet; see Revelation 16:13-14).

It is interesting to read of certain technological developments in existence today. In California, a company has experimented with new technology to help identify and locate pets. They have developed a microchip which contains information about the pet such as the address and phone number of its owner, and its vaccination records. The little chip, which can be read by a scanner similar to those found in grocery and retail stores, is placed just under the skin of the animal. This could definitely be the forerunner of the mark of the beast mentioned in Revelation 13:16-18 (this chip is being implanted in sled dogs at the 2002 Iditarod Race in Alaska).

Soft drink and vending machine manufacturers have experimented with debit cards for purchasing drinks and food from vending machines. With increasing dependence on credit cards, and now debit cards which deduct funds directly from your bank account, all the technological elements are in place for a system wherein no one can buy or sell without a mark. Perhaps a microchip containing all vital information about a person will be placed in their forehead or hand. This chip, read by a scanner, will enable someone to buy or sell goods, and will sound an alarm when someone enters a store who does not have the chip under their skin. It will no doubt be a terrible time for people who are saved during the Tribulation Period, as now they have to go into hiding because of their faith. They cannot buy nor sell, nor can they worship openly. Many will become martyrs for Christ, for refusing to take the mark will cause certain death.

The second half of the Tribulation Period begins with the Antichrist in control, ruling and dominating the earth and forcing everyone to worship his image and to take his mark, without which they can neither buy nor sell. The Antichrist has desolated the temple in Jerusalem, and is sitting on the throne in the temple proclaiming and magnifying himself above God and above all gods. Israel has fleed in fear to Petra for protection. At the point, Jesus said that, "Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Matthew 24:21). The great earthquakes, fire and hailstorms, the slaughter of one-third of mankind, the destruction of one-third of the grass and trees, the darkening of one-third of the sun and stars, the release of a horde of scorpion-like locusts, will not be comparable to what is coming through the seven vial judgements.