The Bible teaches that the Great Tribulation lasts for three and onehalf years although popular teaching says it will be seven years. While it is true that Daniel’s 70th week lasts for seven years, the scripture teaches that only half of that period is what we know as the Great Tribulation. It says that the woman will be persecuted for a time, times, and half a time which equals three and one-half years. How do we know?
In Daniel 7:25 it describes the Great Tribulation as time, times and half a time: And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Revelation 13:5 approaches it from another angle. It says, And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Daniel 7:25 describes the Great Tribulation as lasting for time, times and half a time. In Revelation 13:5, it says power was given unto him to continue forty and two months, which is also exactly three and one half years. Then, Revelation 12:6 says, the woman fled into the wilderness where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand, two hundred and three score days.
One thousand, two hundred and sixty days also equal forty-two months or three and half years. Each description in scripture of the duration of the Great Tribulation states that it is three and half years. It is stated in several different ways. The war in heaven and the Abomination of Desolation will occur three and one half years before the Battle of Armageddon.
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/ Hi Bro. Irvin. What a wonderful blog! Here’s an intriguing something I found on the web. Enjoy. /
(This article reveals some research that is No. 1 on the “hate list” of many “fundy” Christians because it shows that their idolized “rapture” belief – the inspiration behind Lindsey’s and LaHaye’s all-time bestsellers – is only a 19th century invention and that credit long given to John Darby for it should go to a long unknown 15-year-old girl in Scotland!)
Margaret Macdonald’s Rapture Chart !
“church” RAPTURE “church”
(present age) (tribulation)
In early 1830 Margaret was the very first one to see a pre-Antichrist (pretribulation) rapture in the Bible – and John Walvoord and Hal Lindsey lend support for this claim!
Walvoord’s “Rapture Question” (1979) says her view resembles the “partial-rapture view” and Lindsey’s “The Rapture” (1983) admits that “she definitely teaches a partial rapture.”
But there’s more. Lindsey (p. 26) says that partial rapturists see only “spiritual” Christians in the rapture and “unspiritual” ones left behind to endure Antichrist’s trial. And Walvoord (p. 97) calls partial rapturists “pretribulationists”!
Margaret’s pretrib view was a partial rapture form of it since only those “filled with the Spirit” would be raptured before the revealing of the Antichrist. A few critics, who’ve been repeating more than researching, have noted “Church” in the tribulation section of her account. Since they haven’t known that all partial rapturists see “Church” on earth after their pretrib rapture (see the “church-splitting” chart above), they’ve wrongly assumed that Margaret was a posttrib!
In Sep. 1830 Edward Irving’s journal “The Morning Watch” (hereafter: TMW) was the first to publicly reflect her novel view when it saw spiritual “Philadelphia” raptured before “the great tribulation” and unspiritual “Laodicea” left on earth.
In Dec. 1830 John Darby (the so-called “father of dispensationalism” even though he wasn’t first on any crucial aspect of it!) was still defending the historic posttrib rapture view in the “Christian Herald.”
Pretrib didn’t spring from a “church/Israel” dichotomy, as many have assumed, but sprang from a “church/church” one, as we’ve seen, and was based only on symbols!
But innate anti-Jewishness soon appeared. (As noted, TMW in Sep. 1830 saw only less worthy church members left behind.) In Sep. 1832 TMW said that less worthy church members and “Jews” would be left behind. But by Mar. 1833 TMW was sure that only “Jews” would face the Antichrist!
As late as 1837 the non-dichotomous Darby saw the church “going in with Him to the marriage, to wit, with Jerusalem and the Jews.” And he didn’t clearly teach pretrib until 1839. His basis then was the Rev. 12:5 “man child…caught up” symbol he’d “borrowed” (without giving credit) from Irving who had been the first to use it for the same purpose in 1831!
For related articles Google “X-Raying Margaret,” “Edward Irving is Unnerving,” “Pretrib Rapture’s Missing Lines,” “The Unoriginal John Darby,” “Open Letter to Todd Strandberg,” “Deceiving and Being Deceived” by D.M., “Pretrib Rapture Pride,” “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty” and “Scholars Weigh My Research.” The most documented and accurate book on pretrib rapture history is “The Rapture Plot” (see Armageddon Books online) – a 300-pager that has hundreds of disarming facts (like the ones above) not found in any other source.
the bible said the anti christ will be here on earth 5 months , because he could decive the very elect. is that right.
I believe you are talking about after he is released from his prison after the 1,000 year reign. The Bible never gives us a time, it just says a short season.
God showed me in the exact same way several years ago that the so-called “rapture” would not occur until after the tribulation. He took me first to Matthew 24 and then to 2 Thessalonians. Since God himself showed me, I could not argue with it, and it made perfect sense. Then I had to go searching on the internet to see if anyone else believed that way. That’s when I found Endtime Ministries and others who believed as God had shown me. When I try to explain this to other believers that I know, though, they get very upset with me even though I show them the scriptures. It is as though their minds are blinded by the false teaching that they have received for so many years. I can only pray that they will be shown by God himself as I was before the tribulation is upon them and they are at a loss for what to do and living in great fear. The same God who showed me we were going through the great tribulation also gave me many scriptures of assurance to comfort me and show me what my part will be and how He will provide for me. But if a believer doesn’t believe Christians go through the tribulation, then they won’t be seeking God for comfort and assurance before it happens. I pray that God will open the eyes of believers everywhere and prepare their hearts for what is coming upon this earth. That is where hope will be found, in Christ and His word. As I read in a devotional this morning, we must “invest our faith in the character of God.” He will not leave us or forsake us no matter what is happening in the world.
I agree so much.I was beyond troubled in wanting to know the truth, and so many well meaning ”spiritual giants” on TV believe otherwise. So I asked God to show me the truth Himself and I was surprised that I found scriptures that PLAINLY and CLEARLY stated that we will be caught up almost simultaneously with His second coming. Why don’t Christians see that? I feel like Irvin Baxter and some of us are the minority on this thinking. Glad to see I’m not crazy haha
Lord Bless you
I’ve read the bible and left behind books a dozen times. I am always intersted in what any one has to say about this.
how can theanti christ rule w/us and, the HOL:Y SPIRIT here?
The Bible does not say that this cannot happen. We know that the Holy Spirit will still be on the earth during the reign of the Antichrist because the two witnesses will be ministering during that time. They will be operating by the power of the Holy Spirit. Daniel 11:32-33 also speaks of people who will undoubtably be working through the power of the Holy Spirit.
What about world famine and food shortage?
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Kindest thanks.
Bob,
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Thank you sir!
-Vince
I believe like you that the catching away which people call the rapture does not occur till after the tribulation..it happens after the 7th trump….
This comment is to address Paul’s question. As we know Iran is under economic sanctions by the US and UN. They cannot use the normal international banking systems to trade. China, India and other countries have made agreements with Iran to purchase Iran’s oil with gold thereby circumventing the national economic trade sanctions against Iran. The mark of the beast is Satan’s individual economic sanction. The Spirit revealed to me one way to trade will be with gold and silver coins. The Elitist currency is gold and silver. There is a movement starting with Utah to make US government gold and silver legal tender. You can contact me at eagleeuropeancapital.com for information on gold and silver as well as Strategies to Prepare.
This is my main question, how can we survive without food for 3 1/2 years? I am more worried about my grandchildren than myself. I suppose from these answers that I need to be more in prayer than I am right now and that Jesus will be the answer. However, are Christians not going to be persecuted in the last days? Perhaps I am showing my ignorance.
Revelation 13:7 shows us that the Antichrist will war against the saints. So we know that we are going to face persecution. Many people have suggested storing food and supplies for the coming tribulation which could be a wise thing to do. However be sure that you are ready spiritually first. Make sure you are Biblically born again and that you keep your mind on the right things. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 that if we would seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness that He would take care of all of the necessities. So above all keep your trust in the Lord and obey His word. If you would still like to store up supplies you have the right to do so.
God can feed his people with Manna, again if need be.Let’s don’t be like those who seen so many miracles yet still did not believe. You know why the older people of Israel could not eneter the promised land? They never got passed the slave Mentality. ( For the Brother who was wondering about food!)
Preterism is an easy thing to hope for, but the scripture as presented by Rev. Baxter is clear so I am forced to believe the Bible. And as the fowls of the air and lillies of the field… I will trust God for guidance and sustenance.
Paul,
I used to struggle with this also, and the Lord convicted me through His Word one day when I read Luke 12 where Jesus rebukes the rich man about storing up food and goods, and also instructs the disciples not be to anxious or worry about what they will eat or wear. Jesus talks about the ravens/birds of the fields, how they do not sow, reap, or have any storehouses YET God still feeds them, then goes on to say that we are worth much more than those birds.
Also, check out Matthew 6:31 (AMP)
Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?
When I stopped spending time, money, and mental energy on saving/preparing food, etc, for the days to come, the Lord did a COMPLETE change in my heart and is helping me seek His Kingdom first, focusing on all the people who are spiritual prisoners (see Psalm 79:11), condemned to die unless someone takes the time to pray, fast, and stand in the gap.
I give you my word this change of heart is the absolute work of God, because I was previously consumed with preparing for the Tribulation, etc, in an earthly way.
Thats so good…what great wisdom and scripture to rely upon
I felt the same way too being that I have always been a planner trying to prevent failure. Now that I have Christ and have placed my full trust in Him alone, I don’t worry.
Irvin, I have a question that has bothered me about believing in the post trib rapture. If we can neither buy or sell during the tribulation, how is it that the Church,( Christ’s Bride), will be able to eat and live by refusing the mark? Thanks. Paul.