INTRODUCTION
« Woe to those who yearn for the day of Jehovah! What, then, will the day of Jehovah mean for you? It will be darkness, and not light » (Amos 5:18)
« Woe to those who yearn for the day of Jehovah! What, then, will the day of Jehovah mean for you? It will be darkness, and not light » (Amos 5:18). The article below, about the great tribulation is written in the same mind of Amos 5:18, seriousness and sadness. When a meteorologist or a team of engineers, analyze the terrifying satellite images of a category 5 cyclone, with winds exceeding 300 km / h (160 knot/h), their feelings could be very mixed. They are between the need to warn the populations concerned, without triggering a general panic, which could worsen the situation. It is the same with regard to the great tribulation: There is a biblical duty to warn, without panicking people. It is necessary to show that the great tribulation is a very close event, which will really happen, while showing as clearly as possible, what it is necessary to do to survive. Jesus Christ himself announced this great tribulation, with a particular reference to the prophecy of Daniel:
« During that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who is standing in behalf of your people. And there will occur a time of distress such as has not occurred since there came to be a nation until that time » (Daniel 12:1).
« For then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again » (Matthew 24:21).
The prophecy of Daniel, and also, the prophecy of the Revelation, announce that there will be a great crowd of survivors:
« And during that time your people will escape, everyone who is found written down in the book » (Daniel 12:1).
« After this I saw, and look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. (…) In response one of the elders said to me: “These who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” So right away I said to him: “My lord, you are the one who knows.” And he said to me: “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb » (Revelation 7:9,13,14).
It is the prophecy of Zechariah which gives the most precise information about the great tribulation, regarding this « great crowd », which will come out of the great tribulation: « And in all the land,” declares Jehovah, “Two parts in it will be cut off and perish; And the third part will be left remaining in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire; And I will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people,’ And they will say, ‘Jehovah is our God » (Zechariah 13:8,9). God divides mankind into three « parts » (H6310 Strong’s Concordance: « פֶּה » (peh) « part »). At first, one might think that it would be « three parts » equal, or three « thirds » (H7992 Strong’s Concordance « שְׁלִישִׁי » (sheliyshiy) « a third »). In the Hebrew text, it is a question of the first two parts (peh) and the third (sheliyshiy), according to the context of this sentence, third « part ». So, these three parts of humanity are not necessarily the same number of humans (That is « Three Third »). To know what represent these three « parts » of mankind regarding the biblical context, we must take attention to the dramatic celebration of the Day of Atonement, Ethanim,10 (Tishri).
Many biblical prophecies designate the great tribulation as the « Day of Jehovah ». While referring to it, this article will primarily rely on the prophecy Zechariah, to know what is the great tribulation and when it will happen.
(Jesus Christ described the signs that would announce the proximity of the great tribulation)
What is the Great Tribulation?
The Great Tribulation is the time when Jehovah God, through his Son King Jesus Christ, will end to this system of things
To put it very simply, this is the time when Jehovah God, through his Son King Jesus Christ, will end to this system of things (Revelation 14:15-20; 19:11-21 ). Other biblical prophecies refer to the Great Tribulation as the « Day of Jehovah »: « Blow a horn in Zion! Shout a war cry in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of Jehovah is coming! It is near! It is a day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick gloom, Like light of dawn spreading out on the mountains » (Joel 1:15; 2:1,2; see also Amos 5:18-21; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah chapter 1 and 2:1-4; Zechariah chapters 12, 13, 14).
The biblical Hebrew lunisolar calendar
First month: Nisan or Abib(in the Bible) (March-April)(30 days)
Second month: Iyyar or Ziv(in the Bible) (April-May)(29 days)
Third month: Sivan(May-June)(30 days)
Fourth month: Tammuz(June-July)(29 days)
Fifth month: Ab(July-August)(30 days)
Sixth month: Eloul(August-September)(29 days)
Seventh month: Tishri or Ethanim(in the Bible)(September-October) (30 days)
Eighth month: Hesvan or Bul(in the Bible) (October-November)(29 or 30 days)
Ninth month: Chislev(November-December)(29 or 30 days)
Tenth month: Tebeth(December-January)(29 days)
Eleventh month: Shebat(January-February)(30 days)
Twelfth month: Adar(February-March)(29 or 30 days)
Thirteenth month: Adar II or Veadar (29 days)
How long will the Great Tribulation last?
After careful reading of all the prophetic texts mentioning the « Day of Jehovah » or the « Great Tribulation », it can be said, without a shadow of a doubt, that this day will last only ONE DAY.
The clearest prophetic text over its duration is that of Zechariah and the Book of Revelation, both of which describe the Day of Jehovah as one day, or the only date of one day:
« And it will become one day that is known as belonging to Jehovah. It will not be day, nor will it be night; and at evening time there will be light » (Zechariah 14:7).
This text alone shows that it is a 24-hour day, and not a period of few days, because it is written that at the time of day, it will be neither day nor night, and that at the time of evening there will be light. However, the most explicit text is that of the book of Revelation, where this Day is connected with a date on the Jewish calendar. In Revelation 11:18, it is written: « But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time came for the dead to be judged and to reward your slaves the prophets and the holy ones and those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth » (Revelation 11:18). This text refers to the time of the Great Tribulation, when God « will bring ruin to those who ruin the earth ». However, what is even more interesting, is that verse 19 repeats this time in enigmatic way, connecting the Day of Jehovah withe the vision of the ark of his covenant: « And the temple sanctuary of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple sanctuary. And there were flashes of lightning and voices and thunders and an earthquake and a great hail » (Revelation 11:19).
This verse has two main parts: The first is the vision of the « ark of his covenant », the date of only one day. Indeed, Jehovah God did not allow to see the ark of his covenant (by the high priest), any day other than Ethanim (Tishri), 10 (Leviticus 16:2,29). The second part of the verse 19, is the symbolic description of the Great Tribulation. The Ethanim, 10 (Tishri), corresponds to the dramatic celebration of the Day of Atonement. The process of celebration is described in Leviticus chapter 16. It is a dramatic moment, because it describes symbolically, what will happen during the Day of Jehovah, the Great Tribulation. It will be a day of sadness, because Jehovah had given this instruction regarding this day: « It is a sabbath of complete rest for you, and you should afflict yourselves. It is a lasting statute » (Leviticus 16:31) (The vision of the Ark of the Covenant, is the date of the one Day of Jehovah: the Ethanim, 10 (Tishri)).
The third part of humanity will survive the great tribulation
“And in all the land,” declares Jehovah, “Two parts in it will be cut off and perish; And the third part will be left remaining in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire; And I will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people,’ And they will say, ‘Jehovah is our God’”
(Zechariah 13:8,9)
The word translated from Hebrew « haarèts », translated as « land », depending on the context can take the meaning of « earth » or planet earth, and this is the case in the context of this prophecy of the great world tribulation ( Zechariah 1:10,11; 5:3; 6:7; 12:3; 14:9,17). In this statement, God divides mankind into three « parts » (H6310 Strong’s Concordance: « פֶּה » (peh) « part »). At first, one might think that it would be « three parts » equal, or three « thirds » (H7992 Strong’s Concordance « שְׁלִישִׁי » (sheliyshiy) « a third »). In the Hebrew text, it is a question of the first two parts (peh) and the third (sheliyshiy), according to the context of this sentence, third « part ». So, these three parts of humanity are not necessarily the same number of humans (That is « Three Third »). To know what represent these three « parts » of mankind regarding the biblical context, we must take attention to the dramatic celebration of the Day of Atonement, Ethanim,10 (Tishri).
Even though Zechariah’s prophecy does not directly make the connection between the « Day of Jehovah » and the « Day of Atonement », it does so in an enigmatic or cryptic way. The prophecy of the Sprout shows that Jehovah will take out the sin of the land in one day (Zechariah 3:8,9; 14:7). When did Jehovah remove the fault in the land of Israel? In the Day of Atonement, Ethanim (Tishri), 10 (Leviticus 16). That day was a celebration of Jehovah’s Holiness: « In that day the words ‘Holiness belongs to Jehovah!’ will be written on the bells of the horses. And the cooking pots in the house of Jehovah will be like the bowls before the altar’ » (Zechariah 14:20 compare with Exodus 28:36,37 and Leviticus 16:4 « The turban » it was written « Holiness belongs to Jehovah »). Therefore, the « three parts » are the three animals used in the first phase of the atonement sacrifices in this Day, which are to the three « parts of mankind ».
Regarding the atonement sacrifices (and not the burnt offerings), there were three animals: a bull and two young goats (Read Leviticus 16). Two among the three animals were to be sacrificed, in an atonement way (the bull and the first young goat), while the third was spared (the goat for Azazel). Now it is important to know who these three animals correspond to (two sacrificed and one spared):
The bull that died made atonement for Aaron and his house, or for the priesthood (Leviticus 16:6,11). The priesthood class that will die, to be instantly resurrected in heaven, just before the great tribulation, is the death of the 7000, mentioned in Revelation: « In that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and 7,000 persons were killed by the earthquake, and the rest became frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven » (Revelation 11:13). The falling of the “tenth of the city”, represents the group of 144,000 kings and priests, supplemented by the instantaneous death and resurrection, of the 7,000 Heavenly Holy Ones, at the beginning of Jehovah’s Day, the great tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
The second animal, the young goat sacrificed on the day of atonement, represents the second part of mankind who will die during the great tribulation (Leviticus 16:5,15). The sacrifice of this second animal is represented in a rather terrifying way in Revelation 14:18-20 and 19:11-21 (in this biblical passage glorified Jesus Christ is represented as a king and high priest, as the « Sprout » (Zechariah 6:11-13)).
The third animal, the goat designated by lot for A·zaʹzel should be brought alive to stand before Jehovah in order to perform the atonement upon it, so that it may be sent away for A·zaʹzel into the wilderness » (Leviticus 16:8-10). Obviously, this « goat for Azazel » represents the great crowd that will survive the great tribulation, or the « rest » of the « city » which gives glory to God after the death of the 7000 heavenly holy ones: « And the rest became frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven » (Revelation 7:9-17; 11:13). This understanding, gives a glimpse of the joyful possibility that more than a « third part » of humanity could survive the great tribulation, probably several billions of people who would represent the « great crowd », only God and Jesus Christ know for sure because it is written that it cannot be counted (Zechariah 14:10,11).
For such many people to survive the great tribulation, it seems obvious, that a significant number of non-Christian people will survive the great tribulation, is this observation consistent with the context of Zechariah’s prophecy (as well as Ezekiel’s prophecy)? Yes it is.
« Everyone who is left remaining out of all the nations that come against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to bow down to the King, Jehovah of armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Booths »
(Zechariah 14:16)
This text shows without a shadow of a doubt that Jehovah will have spared an important part of humanity who symbolically « come against Jerusalem » or would not be part of this holy city (at first time), coming out of the great tribulation. On the other hand in the prophecy of Ezekiel chapters 40 to 48, here is what is written about the Jehovah’s reproach against the Levites, a significant part of the great crowd, who will have survived the great tribulation: « But the Levites who strayed far from me when Israel strayed from me to follow their disgusting idols will bear the consequences of their error. And they will become ministers in my sanctuary to oversee the gates of the temple and to minister at the temple. They will slaughter the whole burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they will stand before the people to minister to them. Because they ministered to them before their disgusting idols and became a stumbling block causing the house of Israel to sin, that is why I have raised my hand against them in an oath,’ declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, ‘and they will bear the consequences of their error. They will not approach me to serve as my priests or approach any of my holy or most holy things, and they will bear their shame because of the detestable things that they did. But I will make them caretakers of the responsibilities of the temple, to take care of its service and all the things that should be done in it’ » (Ezekiel 44:10-14).
There is, it seems, a convergence between this text and Zechariah 14:16, which mentions people who will have survived the great tribulation as they came « against Jerusalem » and the Levites who followed their « disgusting idols » (Ezekiel 44:10). Jesus Christ made an important statement which shows that sin in error does not always incur spiritual death: “Jesus said to them: “If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, ‘We see.’ Your sin remains »” (John 9:41). Jesus Christ speaks of unintentional spiritual blindness, the sin of which is not counted. Many people today are in involuntary spiritual blindness, according to this text, many of them could benefit from the mercy of God on the day of the great tribulation.
It is interesting to note, according to this same prophecy of Ezekiel, how the Sons of Zadok are described, in contrast with the non-priestly Levites: « As for the Levitical priests, the sons of Zaʹdok, who took care of the responsibilities of my sanctuary when the Israelites strayed from me, they will approach me to minister to me, and they will stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood,’ declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. ‘They are the ones who will enter my sanctuary, and they will approach my table to minister to me, and they will take care of their responsibilities to me’ » (Ezekiel 44:15,16). Obviously, the Sons of Zadok who will approach Jehovah as priests, in the spiritual sanctuary, will be faithful and discreet Christians who will have well performed in their Christian ministry in the old system of things, « when the Israelites strayed from God », and will have survived the great tribulation (Matthew 24:45,46; 25:21,22).
This understanding, at first glance, seems at odds with the vision of the great crowd which survived the great tribulation and whole, manifesting their faith in the atonement value of Christ’s sacrifice (Revelation 7:9,14). This difference is biblically easily resolved by an important information given in the prophecy of Zechariah, regarding this spared third part of humanity. It is written: « And I will bring the third part through the fire; And I will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people,’ And they will say, ‘Jehovah is our God’” (Zechariah 13: 9; Malachi 3:2-4). When should this essential refinement take place in order to continue living in paradise? According to Zechariah’s prophecy and Revelation (11:19), Jehovah’s Day will be on Ethanim (Tishri) 10. According to Ezekiel’s prophecy 39:12-14, there will be a seven months cleansing of the earth, from Tishri (Ethanim), 10, to Nisan, 10 (with the intercalary month of Veadar). It seems obvious that it is in this time, that Jehovah will « refine his people », in order to prepare it for the coming to earth, of the New Jerusalem on Nisan, 10, following the great tribulation.
In Ezekiel 40:1,2, the vision of the temple city on earth, is on the date of Nisan, 10, which is the beginning of the earthly administration of the Kingdom of God. It corresponds to the description of the descent of New Jerusalem to Earth, in Nisan, 10 (Revelation 21:1-4). The vision of Revelation 7:9,14, of the great crowd which survived the great tribulation, is in Nisan, 10, by comparison with the text of John 12:12-16: « The next day the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, and they began to shout: “Save, we pray you! Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name, the King of Israel!” ». If we compare this text with Revelation 7:9, it is a striking resemblance. What is the evidence that in John 12:12-16, Jesus Christ did indeed come as king into Jerusalem on Nisan, 10? A text that describes the same event informs us that immediately after, Jesus Christ drove out the merchants from the temple who were selling animals for the Passover (Matthew 21:10,11). When the Israelites had to buy the Passover lamb? In Nisan, 10: « Speak to the entire assembly of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month, they should each take for themselves a sheep for their father’s house, a sheep to a house » (Exodus 12:3).
The description of the judgment by the King Jesus Christ, in Matthew 7: 21-23 and 25: 31-46, is mainly directed at the Christian congregation, because in the two quotes indicated, the people who have a judgment of condemnation seem to know Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:22; 25:44). The framework criteria for judging all of humanity, Christian and non-Christian, seem summarized in Jehovah’s words in Ezekiel 9:4: « Jehovah said to him: “Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who are sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done in the city” » (Compare with James 4:4). Nevertheless, this destruction and selective preservation of the whole of humanity is also described by Jesus Christ: « Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken along and the other abandoned » (Matthew 24:40,41) (Either one in two, will survive (repeated twice by Jesus Christ)).
Let Us Rejoice In Jehovah’s Great Mercy
« I will favor the one whom I favor, and I will show mercy to the one to whom I show mercy »
(Exodus 33:19)
Thus, will be fulfilled Jehovah’s declaration of mercy upon the very many people, who will come out of the great tribulation: “I will make all my goodness pass before your face, and I will declare before you the name of Jehovah; and I will favor the one whom I favor, and I will show mercy to the one to whom I show mercy” (Exodus 33:19). The situation will be like the mercy of God toward the unrighteous resurrected ones, who did not fully know the will of God in the old system of things (Acts 24:15).
Jesus Christ gave an image of the mercy of God, in the illustration of the « prodigal son », of a Father with the gaze strained towards the return of his son, always ready to forgive and to facilitate the repentance of the sinner in sight of everlasting salvation: « While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was moved with pity, and he ran and embraced him and tenderly kissed him » (Luke 15:11-32). Jesus Christ showed that his Father would accept the practical wisdom of humans in order to give them mercy: « And his master commended the steward, though unrighteous, because he acted with practical wisdom; for the sons of this system of things are wiser in a practical way toward their own generation than the sons of the light are » (Luke 16:1-8). Jesus Christ showed that His Father would show His mercy at the very last moment, by illustrating the eleventh hour workers (Matthew 20:1-16).
In two of the illustrations, The Prodigal Son and the Eleventh Hour Workers, Jesus Christ showed that some humans would lament God’s mercy toward humans saved at the last moment. Some would think that they have « won » by « works », over many years, a reward far greater than that given to those sinners repented at the last moment: « When the 11th-hour men came, they each received a de·narʹi·us. So when the first came, they assumed that they would receive more, but they too were paid at the rate of a de·narʹi·us. On receiving it, they began to complain against the master of the house and said, ‘These last men put in one hour’s work; still you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!’ But he said in reply to one of them, ‘Fellow, I do you no wrong. You agreed with me for a de·narʹi·us, did you not? Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last one the same as to you. Do I not have the right to do what I want with my own things? Or is your eye envious because I am good?’ In this way, the last ones will be first, and the first ones last”” (Luke 15:25-31; Matthew 20:9-16).
In Zechariah chapters 7 and 8, Jehovah encourages his servants to serve Him with love and without spiritual formality, without of feelings such as love for God and for mankind: “Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, ‘When you fasted and wailed in the fifth month and in the seventh month for 70 years, did you really fast for me? 6 And when you would eat and drink, were you not eating for yourselves and drinking for yourselves? 7 Should you not obey the words that Jehovah proclaimed through the former prophets, while Jerusalem and her surrounding cities were inhabited and at peace, and while the Negʹeb and the She·pheʹlah were inhabited?’” (Zechariah chapter 7; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8). Jehovah God asks for sincerity and love for Him and His principles contained in His Word, the Bible: « The word of Jehovah of armies again came to me, saying: “This is what Jehovah of armies says, ‘The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth month, the fast of the seventh month, and the fast of the tenth month will be occasions for exultation and joy for the house of Judah—festivals of rejoicing. So love truth and peace’ » (Zechariah 8:18,19).
As the judgment draws near for each of us who will decide our everlasting future, shortly before the great tribulation, Jesus Christ recommended humility, modesty, and a righteous appreciation of ourselves. Jesus Christ used several illustrations such as that of the repentant tax collector and boastful Pharisee, or the wedding feast guest seeking the first place, to show the importance of not having too high an opinion. of ourselves, especially when we pray. Regarding this last illustration, here is what it is written: « He then told the invited men an illustration when he noticed how they were choosing the most prominent places for themselves. He said to them: “When you are invited by someone to a marriage feast, do not recline in the most prominent place. Perhaps someone more distinguished than you may also have been invited. Then the one who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Let this man have your place.’ Then you will proceed with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the man who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, go on up higher.’ Then you will have honor in front of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” »(Luke 14:7-11; Romans 12:3).
Therefore, let us rejoice in the mercy of God to « the prodigal sons », « the repentant tax collectors », « the eleventh hour workers », who will survive the great tribulation, while considering us personally and sincerely , as the last of humans worthy of this mercy of God and of Christ (Luke 18:9-14).
***
The Fulfillment of the Planetary Jubilee (Hebrews 10:1)
The Jubilee is a liberation from a slavery, which is that of sin and death (Romans 5:12)…
Is it so important? It is a matter of insight (Hebrews 5:14)…
The book of Ezekiel mentions that the year in which the Great Tribulation will occur should be lunisolar, with 13 months, according to the Jewish calendar…
This period of 2300 evenings and mornings refers to a period of time lasting several years, which describes a behavior that goes directly against the sacred service rendered to God, in the holy place of the Spiritual Temple Sanctuary…
This study will focus primarily on the 1335 days related to Ethanim (Tishri), 10, beginning the calculation with the latter date and working backward to the original date of the Hebrew biblical calendar…
The Great Tribulation Will Take Place In Only One Day (Zechariah 14:16)
According to Zechariah’s prophecy, the Day of Jehovah, the Great Tribulation, will last only one day…
How To Be Prepared Before The Great Tribulation
This is a simple spiritual preparation of the heart before the Great Tribulation…
***
Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles (Please click on the link above to view it)…
Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
***