The 1260 Year Great Tribulation

Many Christians talk about the "Great Tribulation". Many believe that this time has not yet occurred and that the Anti-christ power has not yet been revealed. You will be surprised to find out that the Anti-christ power has already been identified!

The father of the Protestant Movement, Martin Luther named this power and thrust the whole Christian church into a time of great reformation. Had Luther not identified this Anti-christ "seat" and "authority" Satan would have kept the church in the dark.

You may also be surprised to find out that the "great tribulation" of the church has already happened! This period lasted for 1260 years just as the Bible fortold. At the end of this time the Anti-christ power was "wounded in the head" so to speak just as the Bible fortold.

The infliction of the wound began with Martin Luther and climaxed when the Pope's power was stopped in 1798 by Berthier. In 1798, Berthier, general to Napoleon, marched into Italy and captured the pope. The general imprisoned the pope, who later died in prison.

We note that there has never been a tribulation so great and one that has lasted so long, for 1260 years. From 538 AD all the way until 1798 AD. Early protestants understood the historical application of this prophetic fulfillement. Many Christians today think this to be strange because they didn't live during the time of such atrocities.

Most Christians today do not fully appreciate their right to even own a Bible. Jesus warned of this tribulation with the saints: "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." Matthew 24:15,16,21,22

Had the papacy not been stopped, all true believers would have been killed off but "those days were shortened". Notice that Jesus tells us that we can "understand" this prophecy and He identifies it as the prophecy mentioned by Daniel.

Many Chirstians today say things like; "Nobody understands the Great Tribulation time. It hasen't happened yet." The fact is Jesus has not left His church in the dark regarding this and other prophecies.

The apostle Paul also mentioned this "tribulation" time. Paul identified it as the "great apostacy". Paul wrote in II Thessalonians 2: "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in the mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away (apostasy) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called god or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

Apostle Paul gives us the same information found in the book of Daniel. The fact that the "man of sin" was to be revealed or identified before the second coming of Christ, not after. Paul also talks about the "apostacy", the falling away which lasted 1260 years as fortold by the prophet Daniel.

Daniel spoke in symbolic apocalyptic language about the rise of a kingdom and power that would persecute the "saints". Let us look at some prophecies found in Scripture from a systematic point of view which help us to understand the "Great Tribulation" and it's fulfillment:

At what time was Rome divided into ten parts? Between the years 351 and 483 A.D.
After the ten horns had arisen, what was seen coming up among them?"I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things." Daniel 7:8.

After speaking of the subjugation of the three powers by the "little horn," what comparison does he draw between the subduing power and the others?" And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings." Daniel 7:24.

How was this power to use its authority?" 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." Daniel 7:25.

NOTE. - The pope calls himself "the vicar of Christ." Leo X blasphemously styled himself "The lion of the tribe of Judah." Leo XII allowed himself to be called "The Lord our God." Pope Martin V called himself "The most holy and most happy, who is the arbiter of heaven and the lord of the earth, the successor of St. Peter, the anointed of the Lord, the master of the universe, the father of kings, the light of the world."

How has the papacy worn out the saints? By its relentless persecutions of Christians, having put to death more than fifty million during the period of its supremacy.

NOTE. - No computation can reach the numbers who have been put to death, in different ways, on account of their maintaining the profession of the gospel, and opposing the corruptions of the Church of Rome. A million of poor Waldenses perished in France; nine hundred thousand orthodox Christians were slain in less than thirty years after the institution of the order of the Jesuits. The Duke of Alva boasted of having put to death in the Netherlands thirty-six thousand by the hand of the common executioner during the space of a few years.

The Inquisition destroyed, by various tortures, one hundred and fifty thousand within thirty years. These are a few specimens, and but a few, of those which history has recorded. But the total amount will never be known till the earth shall disclose her blood, and no more cover her slain." Scott's Church History.

What change has the papacy sought to make in the law of God? It has expunged the greater part of the second commandment, in order to establish the adoration of images, dividing the tenth to complete the number ten. It has also abolished the fourth commandment (as far as its power extends) by substituting the first day of the week for the seventh. See Catholic Catechisms; also "Plain Talk about the Protestantism of Today," page 213; "The Catholic Christian Instructed," chapt. 23; "A Sure Way to Find out the True Religion," pages 95, 96.

How long was the papacy to have power over the saints, times, and laws?" 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." Daniel 7:25.

Where is this expression of time found in the New Testament?" And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." Revelation 12:14.

How is this same period again represented?"And 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 threescore days." Revelation 12:6. (These days, being in symbolic prophecy, are themselves symbolic.)

What is the rule for reckoning symbolic days?" Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel. Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year." Ezekiel 4:3-6. (See also Numbers 14:34).

NOTE. - "So Ezekiel 4:6, 'I have appointed thee each day for a year: where the prophet was symbolically to bear the iniquity of Israel as many days as they had sinned years. In this usage we find authority for interpreting days in prophecy as denoting years." George Bush, Prof: of Hebrew and Oriental Literature in New York City University, Notes on Numbers 14:34.

What event marked the close of this period? In February, 1798, Berthier entered Rome at the head of the French army, and taking Pope Pius VI prisoner, established a republic in Rome. The pope died in exile the following year. For over two years there was no pope. See Chambers's Cyclopedia, art. Pius.

What was to take place before the dominion should be entirely taken away?" But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end." Daniel 7:26.

Where in this chapter is this judgment first spoken of?"A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Daniel 7:10.

How soon after this did the pope lose his temporal dominion? In September, 1870, when Rome, no longer supported by the French, who had been defeated by the Germans, surrendered to Victor Emmanuel. Possession of the pope's dominion was formally taken Oct. 2, 1870. -See Chambers's Cyclopedia, art. Italy.

By what means is the beast to be destroyed?" I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame." Daniel 7:11.

What is the "burning flame" that is to destroy the papacy?" And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." 2 Thessalonians 2:8.

[Taken from "Bible Readings for the Home"]

Wow! Are these prophecies not accurate! Another thing you may find interesting is the signs that were to follow the "Great Tribulation". The following is documented on the website, Bible Prophecy Truth and their page regarding, Dark Day.

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"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened." Matthew 24:29

Twenty-five years after the Great Earthquake [for historical information regarding "the great earthquake", click here] appeared the next sign mentioned in Revelation 6:12,--the darkening of the sun and moon. What rendered this more striking was the fact that the time of its fulfillment had been definitely pointed out.

In the Saviour's conversation with his disciples upon Olivet, after describing the long period of trial for the church--the 1260 years of papal persecution, concerning which he had promised that the tribulation should be shortened--he thus mentioned certain events to precede his coming, and fixed the time when the first of these should be witnessed: "In those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light." Mark 13:24.

The 1260 days, or years, terminated in 1798. A quarter of a century earlier, persecution had almost wholly ceased. Between these two dates, according to the words of Christ, the sun was to be darkened.On the 19th of May, 1780, this prophecy was fulfilled. It was not an eclipse. Timothy Dwight says, "The 19th of May, 1780, was a remarkable dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses; the birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost. ... A very general opinion prevailed, that the day of judgment was at hand." Quoted in Connecticut Historical Collections, compiled by John Warner Barber (2nd ed.; New Haven: Durrie & Peck and J.W. Barber, 1836) p. 403.

For further commentary on this event please continue reading.The Dark Day"Almost if not altogether alone as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind, . . . stands the dark day of May 19, 1780,--a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England." That the darkness was not due to an eclipse is evident from the fact that the moon was then nearly full.

It was not caused by clouds, or the thickness of the atmosphere, for in some localities where the darkness extended, the sky was so clear that the stars could be seen. Concerning the inability of science to assign a satisfactory cause for this manifestation, Herschel the astronomer declares: "The dark day in North America was one of those wonderful phenomena of nature which philosophy is at a loss to explain." "The extent of the darkness was also very remarkable. It was observed at the most easterly regions of New England; westward, to the farthest part of Connecticut, and at Albany, N. Y.; to the southward, it was observed all along the sea coast; and to the north, as far as the American settlements extended.

It probably far exceeded those boundaries, but the exact limits were never positively known. With regard to its duration, it continued in the neighborhood of Boston for at least fourteen or fifteen hours." "The morning was clear and pleasant, but about eight o'clock there was observed an uncommon appearance in the sun. There were no clouds, but the air was thick, having a smoky appearance, and the sun shone with a pale, yellowish hue, but kept growing darker and darker, until it was hid from sight."

There was "midnight darkness at noonday." "The occurrence brought intense alarm and distress to multitudes of minds, as well as dismay to the whole brute creation, the fowls fleeing bewildered to their roosts, and the birds to their nests, and the cattle returning to their stalls." Frogs and night hawks began their notes. The cocks crew as at daybreak. Farmers were forced to leave their work in the fields. Business was generally suspended, and candles were lighted in the dwellings. "The Legislature of Connecticut was in session at Hartford, but being unable to transact business adjourned. Everything bore the appearance and gloom of night."

The intense darkness of the day was succeeded, an hour or two before evening, by a partially clear sky, and the sun appeared, though it was still obscured by the black, heavy mist. But "this interval was followed by a return of the obscuration with greater density, that rendered the first half of the night hideously dark beyond all former experience of the probable million of people who saw it. From soon after sunset until midnight, no ray of light from moon or star penetrated the vault above. It was pronounced 'the blackness of darkness!'"

Said an eye-witness of the scene: "I could not help conceiving, at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable darkness, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete." Though the moon that night rose to the full, "it had not the least effect to dispel the death-like shadows." After midnight the darkness disappeared, and the moon, when first visible, had the appearance of blood. The poet Whittier thus speaks of this memorable day:--"'Twas on a May-day of the far old year Seventeen hundred eighty, that there fell Over the bloom and sweet life of the spring, Over the fresh earth, and the heaven of noon, A horror of great darkness." "Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp To hear the doom-blast of the trumpet shatter The black sky."

May 19, 1780, stands in history as "The Dark Day." Since the time of Moses, no period of darkness of equal density, extent, and duration has ever been recorded. The description of this event, as given by the poet and the historian, is but an echo of the words of the Lord, recorded by the prophet Joel, twenty-five hundred years previous to their fulfillment: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." Joel 2:31.
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You can see how these prophecies have been fulfilled! So what will people be doing before the 7 last plagues are let loose on this earth? Since the "Great Tribulation" has been fulfilled what are people doing before the Great and Dreadful day of the Lord? Are they in a "tribulation" right before this happens? NO!

They will be saying things like: "Relax dude, we have long to go before the Great Tribulation." or "Things have to get really bad first." But Jesus says:

"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot–they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all– so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”(Luke 17:26-35 ESV)

So when they think it's time to relax, because of the Churches Laodicean condition, then shall sudden distruction over take them. As social fabric is torn apart, there is increasingly discord in homes, society, and between nations. And, as in Biblical times, a voice cries out: “Peace, peace: and there is no peace.”

"They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace." Jeremiah 8:11

Are you ready? The time is at hand!

Written by Eric W. King [December 7,2007]

They are eating a drinking! Saying; "Peace! Peace!"

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