How would someone know they are living in the tribulation?

The signs, in order

1. Believers disappear: suddenly, worldwide, body and all.

2. A world leader rises and makes a seven-year covenant involving Israel (Daniel 9:27).

3. Wars, famine, disease and disasters spread (Revelation 6:1–8).

4. Two witnesses preach in Jerusalem with miraculous power (Revelation 11:3–6).

5. Halfway through, that leader breaks the agreement, sets himself up to be worshiped, and demands a mark to buy or sell (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; Revelation 13).

If you are reading this during the tribulation

It is not too late. God still saves people during the tribulation: a great multitude from every nation (Revelation 7:9–14). Turn to Jesus now. Confess your sin, believe that He died and rose for you, and give Him your life. Refuse the mark of the beast, whatever it costs (Revelation 14:9–11). Read the book of Revelation; it was written for you. And find others who believe.

What the Bible says

1. 01

   Believers taken.

   “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.”

   1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
2. 02

   The seven-year covenant.

   “And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him. ””

   Daniel 9:27
3. 03

   The midpoint.

   “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. And let no one in the field return for his cloak. How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath. For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.”

   Matthew 24:15–21
4. 04

   The first judgments.

   “Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” So I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider held a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer. And when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword. And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.” And when the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.”

   Revelation 6:1–8
5. 05

   Still saved.

   “After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?” “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

   Revelation 7:9–14
6. 06

   Refuse the mark.

   “And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”

   Revelation 14:9–12

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.