The Abomination of Desolation

He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. Daniel 9:27, NIV

So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand--... Matthew 24:15, NIV

There is talk today that we are in the great tribulation. In my church, about forty years ago, a man announced from the pulpit that we were in it as evidenced by "the persecution of teenagers". I have never seen a scripture that uses such a persecution as a sign of anything. But the man was a music director, and he gained quite a following from young people with his statement.

Before we can prove when the great tribulation begins, a sequence of events must occur. One is the rebuilding of the temple. Next, Antichrist will make a covenant with many in Israel. It will be for seven years. In the middle of this seven year covenant period, he will break it. He will put something in the temple that will cause the great tribulation.

Have any of the above events occurred? If they have not all occurred we are not in the great tribulation. Simple as that. We will not ever be, for that matter. Revelation 3:10 has a promise that we will not be.

Revelation is the book of the tribulation, the one with the greatest details. See any mention of the church there during this terrible period? There is none. We will be in heaven then.

The rebuilding of the temple may be in the first half of the covenant period. It is not said. But we need three things to happen before the tribulation begins--a temple, a seven year treaty, and the placing of the "abominable" thing in the temple.

Paul speaks of what will happen.

He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself as God.2 Thessalonians 2:4, NIV

The abominable thing is Antichrist himself, whether in person or in the form of an image. Storms, earth quakes and wars are important, but much more must happen before the great tribulation comes.