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Three And a Half Years

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In Biblical prophecy the concept of the three and a half years of the great tribulation is given to us in a riddle. There are several passages in the book of Daniel and Revelation that describe the same concept in slightly different ways. The same period of three and a half years is described as “time, times and half a time”, “42 months” and “1260 days”. During this time of seal, trumpet and bowl judgements there will be great upheaval and suffering. The antichrist will rise to power, he will set up abomination of desolation, introduce the mark of the beast and persecute the saints. The battle of Armageddon will happen at the end of this period, as will the return of Jesus Christ and the rapture of the Church. All these event will happen just before the millennial reign of Christ on earth. So let us take a look at what happens during this period to better understand the prophecies, put them in context and see how they relate to us today, what “time” it is.

Three and a Half Years in the Book of Daniel

Daniel 7:23-27

  • The fourth beast is the fourth kingdom

  • It will devour the whole earth, trample it and crush it

  • 10 kings will rise from this kingdom

  • Another king will rise and subdue 3 kings

  • He will speak against God intending to change His laws

  • The saints will be given into his hand for 3,5 years

  • God's kingdom will be established

23…‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24 And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings. 25 He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time. 26 But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

Daniel 12:7

  • The power of the saints will be shattered for 3,5 years

7 And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time when the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”

 

 

Three and a Half Years in the Book of Revelation

Revelation 11:1-3

  • Gentiles will trample the holy city for 3,5 years

  • 2 witnesses will prophesy for 3,5 years

1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there. 2 But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Revelation 12:5-6

  • The woman (Israel) will be nourished in the wilderness for 3,5 years

5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her to be nourished for 1,260 days.

 

Revelation 12:13-14

13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

Revelation 13:3-8

  • The whole world will follow the beast and worship the dragon

  • The beast will speak against God

  • The beast will have authority for 3,5 years

  • The beast will wage war against the saints and conquer them

  • The beast will have authority over the whole earth

3 One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?” 5 The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. 6 And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven. 7 Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

What else do we know about this time based on context? 

Daniel 7:19-22

  • Three horns fall before the little horn (the first beast) comes up

  • This period of time is right before the Ancient of Days (Jesus) arrives

19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom. 

Daniel 12:1-2

  • Michael the great prince of Israel will rise up

  • Time of the greatest distress of all time

1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 

Woman flying into the wildernes
dragon chaising the woman
dragon in the wilderness
The two witnesses going up into heaven

 

Revelation 11:1-15

  • The temple is operating

  • The temple courtyard is given over to gentiles to be trampled

  • The two witnesses can kill their enemies with fire, stop the rain, turn water into blood and cause plagues

  • The witnesses are killed and raised up to heaven

  • The great earthquake, 1/10th of Jerusalem collapsed, 7000 killed, the rest gave glory to God

  • This period of time is right before God’s kingdom is established on earth

1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there. 2 But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”4 These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed. 6 These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish. 7 When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified. 9 For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them, and will celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them. 11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them. 12 And the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched them. 13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming shortly. 15 Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” 

Revelation 12:13-17

  • The dragon (Devil) pursues the woman (Israel) who gave birth to the male child (Jesus)

  • The woman is given place in the wilderness and nourishment for 3.5 years

  • The dragon goes to war with woman’s children the followers of Jesus

 

13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 Then from the mouth of the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that had poured from the dragon’s mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 13:1-8

  • The beast out of the sea with 10 crowned horns and 7 heads with blasphemous names, like a leopard, with feet of a bear and mouth of a lion

  • The dragon gave power and authority to this beast for 3.5 years

  • One of the heads appears mortally wounded by the sword (Rev.13:14) and then healed impressing the world

  • The whole world follows the beast and worships the dragon

  • The beast speaks against God

  • The beast wars with the saints and conquers them

1 Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?” 5 The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. 6 And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven. 7 Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

 

Revelation 13:11-18

  • The beast out of the earth has 2 horns like a lamb, but speaks like the dragon

  • This beast has the same authority as the first beast

  • The beast causes the earth to worship the first beast

  • The beast performs great signs, deceives the earth, tells the people to make an image to the first beast

  • The beast gives breath to the image so it can speak

  • The beast kills the ones who refuse to worship the image

  • The beast requires all people to receive a mark on their right hand or their forehead

  • No one can buy or sell without the mark, the name of the beast or he number of it’s name which is 666

11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. 12 And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13 And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. 15 The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed. 16 And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.

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