Originally Posted by Douggg

The great tribulation begins when the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel (Daniel 12) is setup to be worshiped (Matthew 24:15-21). It is going to be 1335 days long - to the day.

Doug

Revelation covers a time period much greater than 7 years, this is evident from two things.
1. Revelation tells us the events would take place soon. (Rev 1:1-3, 4:1, 22:10)
2. We can see the events unfolding through history.

The term we call "the Great Tribulation" is simply misused and confused with the 7 year "end time". The word "tribulation" is used 45 times in the new testament, according to strict literal translation it means pressure or pressed together. Unfortuately, that word is translated in various other ways, such as "suffering" "affliction" or "persection" or "distress". The context explains the meaning better than changing the word around. It is helpful to know where else the word is used when searching for context.

* The word is translated as "tribulation" only 1 time in the NIV (Rev 7:14)
* 1 time in the New Living Translation (Rev 7:14)
* 14 times as tribulation in the Amplified
* 16 times by the ESV
* 17 times by the NASB
* 19 by KJV
* 24 by NKJV
* 26 by Darby's
* 35 by Young's

How can we know whether the Great Tribulation is being refered to as a specific 7-year time period or simply as some general time of trial?

Jesus tells things in order, but in Matthew 24 he does not give a prophetic timeline. Jesus refers to Daniel for the timeline in verse 15, a time which Jesus referes to as "the end". The word "end" is also found quite a few times in Daniel (Read Dan ch 8-10). The time of 7-year tribulation is therefore referenced more properly as the "latter-end" or "the time of the end".

The term "great tribulation" appears to be more formalized in Revelation 7:14. Is this the same "great tribulation" as Matthew 24:21? It appears so. Rev 7:14 is not mentioning a 7 year time frame as Daniel does. "Great" can mean noble, or it can mean "huge" or it can mean "very long, or large - extensive". I believe Rev 7:14 matches the earlier tribulation mentioned by Jesus in Matt 24:9 at the beginng of the Olivet Discourse. It is referenced as "great" because of the length of time (apostle john to present day) it has been ongoing.


To Summarize:
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what exactly is it?
>. The Great Tribulation is a time period of increased suffering. Great means "big" Tribulaiton means "suffering". Do not confuse trubulation with judgement and wrath of the 7 year "time of the end".
>. Jesus explains the "what" of the whole Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:4-14.
>. John describes the effects of the Great Tribulation beginning in Revelation Chapter 6.
>. See this link for the effects described through history.
http://www.christianforums.com/t7663864

When is it?
>. Jesus then adds the "when" at Matt 24:21 as after the desolation of the temple at Jerusalem. (The temple was destroed in 70 A.D.)
>. Jesus gives the Apostle John the Revelation prophecy at about the time of 70 A.D.
>. John is told that the events will take place soon after he receives the Revelation(Rev 1:1 and 4:1)

Are all the plagues and trumpets etc a part of it?
>. See the link above for the first Seal 'plagues' described.
>. The 7 trumpets are destructive plagues which cannot occur until after all seven seals have been broken and the scroll is opened by the Lamb.
>. The 7 bowls of wrath are 7 judgements upon the wicked that occur at the very end of the 7 years.

How should Christians handle tribulation according to Revelation?
>. Christians should be watchful, sober, remain pure, and behave as Jesus told them:

Matt 24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,[c] whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

Further discussion of Matthew 24:
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With the possibility in mind that there is a long/big tribulation (Rev 7;14) and (Matt 24:21), I offer the following commentary of Matthew 24.

Matthew 24 (v4-22 with commentary by Aijalon)

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
(this has happened throughout church history and is ongoing since the early church and the spread of the Gospel and the expansion of the Roman Empire - First Seal, deception and empire of the antichrist rises in oposition to the true gospel)
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
(Increase in warfare, ongoing since the collapse of the Roman Empire - 2nd Seal)
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes [or storms], in divers places.
(Neatly describes the 3rd, and 4th, and possibly 6th seals.)
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
(This verse indicates that the Great Tribulation is not a short period of time.)
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
(The literal is "delivered up to tribulation". Some translations say "persecuted" -- So, this is intensified religious persecution - prophecied by 5th + 6th Seal (Rev 6:11 + 7:14) or it may involve the beginning of the 7 years which cannot begin until all the seals have been opened - Rev 5:2.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
(7th Seal events begin. Sinfulness of man allowed to increase unchecked, as in the days of Noah)
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
(the strong delusion, the appearance of the false prophet and the beast)
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
(The falling away and worship of the antichrist)
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
(Hope and protection for the Saints - Rev ch 13, 14:12)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
(Revelation 14:6, the final warning, prelude to the bowls of wrath)

*Jesus now begins a new dialogue with further details and warnings, retelling the most significant things*

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand [established] in the holy place,
(the abomination of desolation is the the desecration of the temple by foreigners)
(whoso readeth, let him understand. )
(this special note seems to say "if you are familiar with the book of Daniel, you will understand when this happens. It is always important to remember that Jesus was sent "only to the lost sheep of Israel")
16 then those in Judea -- let them flee to the mounts;
17 he on the house-top -- let him not come down to take up any thing out of his house;
18 and he in the field -- let him not turn back to take his garments.
19 `And wo to those with child, and to those giving suck in those days;
20 and pray ye that your flight may not be in winter, nor on a sabbath;
21for there shall be then great tribulation [or affliction], such as was not from the beginning of the world till now, no, nor may be.
(This still seems to be the same tribulation from verse 9. It is hard to determine if Jesus means a long or short tribulation, but it seems that since he points to the beginning of the world as a starting point, he is referencing an extended time period)
22 And if those days were not shortened, no flesh would have been saved;
(There is still no time frame, this verse does not mean a short period of time, but a period that will be shortened. If the time was short (3.5 yers) why would such a short period of time need to be further shortened?)
but because of the chosen, shall those days be shortened.
(It no longer seems to me that this means the time is a "short time" but that after a long time, it will finally be ended.

It is important to note that Jesus does not mention wrath or judgement or the Day of the Lord in this passage, only that there is an "end". It is my conclusion that Jesus was warning us and encouraging us to endure throughout a long period of time.)

Thanks for reading! This has been edited a few times as I get a better understanding of the verse. Comments very welcome!