What is the tribulation?

How the judgments unfold

Revelation describes the tribulation in three waves of judgment, each worse than the last. Seven seals (Revelation 6): war, famine, death and disasters. Seven trumpets (Revelation 8–11): judgments on the land, sea, waters and sky, then demonic torment. Seven bowls (Revelation 16): the final, full pouring out of God’s wrath, ending at Armageddon.

Through all of it, ordinary life keeps going in many ways: the sun still rises and sets, it still rains, people still work and eat. Jesus said it would be like the days of Noah, when people were eating and drinking right up until the flood came (Matthew 24:37–39). Same days, same weather, but with chaos breaking out across the world.

Can people die during the tribulation?

Yes, many will. Revelation describes a quarter of the earth dying through war, famine and plague (Revelation 6:8), and later a third of mankind (Revelation 9:15). Many who come to faith will be killed for it, including by beheading (Revelation 20:4).

There is also a specific season when people will not be able to die. At the fifth trumpet, the fifth of those seven trumpet judgments, John sees the abyss, the prison of demonic spirits, opened. Smoke pours out, and out of it come creatures like locusts with stings like scorpions. They are not allowed to harm the grass or trees, and they cannot touch anyone who has God’s seal. They can only torment people who don’t belong to God, for five months, and the pain is so severe that “in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them” (Revelation 9:1–6). In plain words: for five months, people will want to die and won’t be able to. That is likely the passage you’ve heard about.

Can people still be saved?

Yes. A great multitude from every nation will come to faith during the tribulation: “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 7:14). It will cost them dearly, but the door is still open.

How it ends

Jesus returns on a white horse with the armies of heaven, defeats the beast and his armies, and begins His thousand-year reign (Revelation 19:11–20:6).

What the Bible says

1. 01

   Great tribulation.

   “For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.”

   Matthew 24:21–22
2. 02

   One seven.

   “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 seals.

   “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. And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed. And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?””

   Revelation 6:1–17
4. 04

   Seeking death, not finding it.

   “In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them.”

   Revelation 9:6
5. 05

   A great multitude 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

   Jesus returns.

   “Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

   Revelation 19:11–16

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.