7-Year Tribulation is NOT in the Bible!

Bible scholar Dr. Michael Heiser explains that the 7-year tribulation is NOT found anywhere in the Bible.

There is no specific verse in the Bible that states that the tribulation will last for exactly 7 years. The concept of a 7-year tribulation comes from a belief held by some Christians that certain events described in the book of Revelation are meant to be taken symbolically, and that these symbols correspond to specific lengths of time.

For example, the number 7 is often seen as a symbol of completeness or perfection in the Bible, and so some people believe that the 7-year tribulation represents a complete period of tribulation that will precede the second coming of Jesus Christ. However, it is important to note that this is just one interpretation of the events described in the book of Revelation, and there are many other ways that these passages can be understood.

[baronreed]

What we may or may not believe concerning the tribulation period is not even relevant. One thing is for sure: hindsight is 20/20
Thank you Dr. Heiser for all your insights!

[DarrellCalhoun]

you got me at the title! not even click-bait, just the facts

[ghostgate]

The real question is does there need to be a verse that has “7 year tribulation” in it to surmise that that tribulation is 7 years?

No.

[barbarafriedenberger]

I'd be careful who you listen to,
The Bible is God's word and don't let anyone change that. God tells us that many will twist the scriptures,

[barbarafriedenberger]

Throughout scripture the tribulation is referred to by other names such as Day of the Lord
Isaiah 2:12, 13:6-9, Joel 1:15,
2:1-31, 3:14, 1Thessalonians 5:2, Trouble or Tribulation, Det 4:30, Zephaniah 1:1, The great tribulation is referred to as more intense second half of the 7 yr period, Matthew 24:21 time of day of trouble, Daniel12:1
Zephaniah 1:15 time of Jacob's
Trouble.

[kimberleabene]

I always thought scripturally that it says 3 1/2 years different ways. Now we only have a time frame of when you see the devastated Jerusalem, for the start of it. I think they are saying 7 years for the seventh week of Daniel. But Jesus, the Messiah preached for 3 1/2 years, so the beginning of the week is already fulfilled. Is that correct or am I wrong? I love correction. Thank you. Maranatha!

[itisitisirish]

Is ignorance bliss? Jethro how much is one knot plus one knot?

And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”

And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.


And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

[Ady-gjvh]

Throughout Scripture, the tribulation is associated with the day of the Lord, that time during which God personally intervenes in history to accomplish His plan (see Isaiah 2:12; 13:6–9; Joel 1:15; 2:1–31; 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). It is referred to as “tribulation . . . in the latter days” (Deuteronomy 4:30, ESV); the great tribulation, which refers to the more intense second half of the seven-year period (Matthew 24:21); “a time of distress” (Daniel 12:1); and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7, NKJV). And we have this description of the tribulation that attends the day of the Lord: In Daniel 9:25 -26 the Messiah will be cut off after “seven sevens and sixty-two sevens” (69 total sevens), beginning with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. In other words, 69 sevens (483 years) after the decree to rebuild is issued, the Messiah will die. Biblical historians confirm that 483 years passed from the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the time when Jesus was crucified. Most Christian scholars, regardless of their view of eschatology, have the above understanding of Daniel’s 70 sevens. God said that 70 weeks had been determined (490 years), but with the death of the Messiah, we only have 69 weeks accounted for (483 years). This leaves one seven-year period to be fulfilled “to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy” ( Daniel 9:24). This final seven-year period is what we call the tribulation—the time when God finishes judging Israel and brings them back to Himself.

[somemorefire]

It's 1260 days which is half of seven years.
it's 42 months which is half of seven years.
It's time times and a dividing of time which is half of a seven year agreement
it's a three and a half year great tribulation which is half of seven year agreement

It's half of the Seven Year agreement, that is great tribulation

[RNLWW]

Gees, don’t make it so hard. The passage in Daniel did a perfect job predicting the arrival of Messiah. Keeping with that math, makes it 7 years. Why does Christianity always seek to confuse??

[Bobbgeane]

People should know that by the word and in Matthew 24:29

[teresajohnson]

We just finished the seventh year of preparation which ends on September 23, 2024. There’s seven years of preparation then seven years of tribulation the six trumpet sounds and there’s 42 months then the seventh trumpet sounds and there’s 42 months that adds up to the seven years of tribulation, so we’re just ending the preparation. The tribulation is about to begin.

[ecoffey]

Its cause words around today werent around then.it doesnt say anything bout the rapture either but it describes it perfectly...

[James-dqdl]

So how does if God hadn’t shortened the days there’d be no man left alive fit into all this?

[tigerjin]

Funny. The Catholic Church says the same thing.

[HomeisJax]

The word Trinity isn’t found in the Bible either, along with several other “words” but it’s not pulled from no-where or just inferred; without the OT, the NT isn’t likely to make since in many places, but the prophets are one of the places the OT gives us much information prophetically speaking. Gabriel explains to Daniel what’s to come & why; Daniel 12 gives us actual lengths, as well as Ezekiel or one of the other Prophets (Bible’s not in front of me at this moment), and if you fit the “End Times, ” “Latter Days, ” etc pieces together, you have enough information for a sound timeframe. You can’t pickup the Bible for the first time and read John and know about the Exodus.

It’s all how you interpret the Bible; is it literal or is it allegorical? I’m dispensational. There are time patterns and I see the Bible as literal, if we can’t take the Word of God to mean what He is saying, then Genesis chapter 1 and Jesus’s going to the Cross mean nothing. When God says the earth was spoken into existence in 6d and on the 7th day He rested, I have faith right out of the gate to believe Him. When you doubt that from Bk 1, ch 1, bc we’re thinking about through human abilities, you’re getting off on a very shaky and even possibly dangerous foot for how you understand what you read throughout the whole Bible, if you even read it completely, most don’t & trust others to tell them instead of letting God reveal to them what He protected for thousands of years so that even today, we can know the past, present and future. Not all books are easy to get through, but are necessary bc they’re each one a piece of the bigger puzzle/pattern. And they ALL point to Jesus. I didn’t see Jesus much in the OT the first go-round, maybe even the second, but there after I see Him EVERYWHERE!

Dr. Heiser and many other intellectuals approach the Bible differently bc they’re are dissecting it by grammar, philosophical & the time periods written and what the writers were pulling fm as to how they described things, remember~it had to make sense to the readers of that day, and the authors had no concept of future technologies or cultures. So the way they break it down is very important for us, apologetically speaking, but they’re reasoning of everything is very scholastic. The avg reader throughout the Centuries isn’t educated like that and couldn’t grammatically breakdown one sentence in the Bible. I have just childlike belief, if He said it, it must be how He meant it, but I also see the patterns and the puzzle it is and how the pieces fit together. And you aren’t going to know how the 70th wk of Daniel is 7y. The clues are throughout. The Scholastics and un-schooled can be helpful to each other. But the most important part is~I will no doubt see Dr. Mike again soon. Our approach to the Bible may have been different, but how we receive Salvation wasn’t. I know I will see him again; I can’t say this about all Biblical Scholars, sadly enough. Mike was solid; I learned much from his work & him before he went Home and will continue to as his teachings & interviews will live on via the internet!♥️

[teresajohnson]

Genesis 41:28-30. A pattern for our day. On September 23, 2017 the lady in the sky appears that begins the seven years of preparation. We have seen constant pop quizzes to get us ready for the final. He’s not doing this to scare us. He’s helping the righteous prepared, and if you are prepared, you will not fear, Joseph gathered and prepared himself and we shall

[SpotterVideo]

Based on Hebrews 9:15 and Hebrews 12:22-24, the Messiah’s death in Daniel 9:26 cannot be separated from the New Covenant fulfilled by His blood at Calvary.

Are we supposed to believe the angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel to reveal the timeline of the Messiah who would fulfill the New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34, and then the angel failed to even mention the New Covenant. Or, is the covenant with the many in Daniel 9:27 the same covenant with the many in Matthew 26:28? The 1599 Geneva Bible is the Bible the Pilgrims brought to America, before John Darby showed up on our shores about the time of the Civil War. What was the earlier understanding of Daniel 9:27 found below in the notes of the 1599 Geneva Bible?

Dan 9:27 And he shal confirme the couenant with many for one weeke: and in the middes of the weeke he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the ouerspreading of the abominations, he shall make it desolate, euen vntill the consummation determined shalbe powred vpon the desolate.

Daniel 9:27
And he (a) 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 (b) cease, (c) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

(a) By the preaching of the Gospel he affirmed his promise, first to the Jews, and after to the Gentiles. (See Rom. 1:16, Matt. 10:5-7, Acts 10:36-38)

(b) Christ accomplished this by his death and resurrection. (See Heb. 9:15)

(c) Meaning that Jerusalem and the sanctuary would be utterly destroyed because of their rebellion against God, and their idolatry: or as some read, that the plague will be so great, that they will all be astonished at them.
(See Matt. 23:38, Matt. 24:1-2, Luke 19:41-44)


During recent years many New Covenant scholars have examined Daniel chapter 9 from a New Covenant perspective. Did Christ fulfill the summary found in Daniel 9:24? Is it about the New Covenant fulfilled by the blood of Christ at Calvary?

Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (These two verses are quoted from Jeremiah 31:31-34.)
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Act 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Act 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

The death of the Messiah is found in Daniel 9:26, and there are only two possible singular antecedents for the word “he” in the next verse. Those antecedents are either Christ or Titus, who was the prince of the people that destroyed the temple during 70 AD.

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 And 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.

Is the “he” in Daniel 9:27 the “Messiah”, or “the prince” of the people that destroyed the city and the sanctuary in verse 26? If we used “the people of the prince” it would not be a singular “he”.

Does the author of the Book of Hebrews connect the New Covenant with the Messiah’s death found in Daniel 9:26, in the verse below?

Heb 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (NKJV)

Verse 26 also says the Messiah would be cut off “after” the 69 weeks. If I agree to paint your house “after” 69 weeks, it will not be painted until the 70th week, or after. Is there a “gap” of almost 2, 000 years between the 69th week and the 70th week, or was it fulfilled during the first century when the Gospel was preached “first” to the Jews?

We know there is a time period when the Gospel was taken “first” to the Jews, as the Apostle Paul said in the verse below.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Can we find a time period of about seven years when the Gospel was taken “first” to Daniel’s people during the first century? If we can, we have good evidence that the 70th week of Daniel has already been fulfilled.

Did Christ command His disciples to take the Gospel only to Israel in the passage below?

Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Is the time period when the Gospel was preached “first” (Rom. 1:16) to the Jews in the passage above, confirmed in the passage below?

Act 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Act 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

In the passage above Luke confirms the fact that the Gospel of Christ was preached throughout the land of Israel after the baptism which John preached. Here again, we have a text which reveals a time period when the Gospel was taken “first” to the Jews, as Paul said in Romans 1:16.

Bible scholars have looked at the number of Passover celebrations in the Gospels and have estimated Christ’s earthly ministry to have lasted about three and one half years. Was the Gospel taken “first” (Rom. 1:16) to the Jews for a period of about three and one half years during the period of time revealed in the Gospels?

In Galatians 1:14-18 Paul reveals he did not go up to see Peter until about 3 years after his conversion. During that time the Gospel continued to be taken almost exclusively to Daniel's people, before Paul took the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Watch the YouTube video on Daniel 9 by Dr. Kelly Varner.

[EndTimesDeceptions]

The concept of a 7-year tribulation is based on a futuristic 70th week of Daniel, but that is a false narrative to fool the end times saints. The 70th week of Daniel 9 prophecy foretold when Messiah would appear to carry out His ministry, and when (in the middle of the 70th week) He would confirm the everlasting covenant (that was referred to in Daniel 9:4) with His blood as the Passover Lamb, to atone for our sins. It's not about the end times or the antichrist.

[teresajohnson]

Type in 42 months instead and you’ll get the 42 months for the six trumpet the 42 months for the seventh trumpet. The six trumpet is Satan‘s full power. The seventh trumpet is the great earthquake. The trumpet is a collapse of this world the trumpet stops the destruction of Satan for the Lord will not allow Satan to destroy what he has created. So Satan will fall short and that’s why the children of light look forward to the day of the great earthquake, but it clearly says there’s 42 months after that so if you take 42 months 42 months you get your seven years that’s where it’s coming from