Was The Tribulation Really Shortened To Five Months?

Foreword: While I already have a work on the five month Tribulation. This email exchange will provide additional and deeper thoughts on this topic.

Name: Jennifer
Question: I have always believed that the tribulation will last 5 months according to Revelation Ch 9. It always made sense to me that Jesus said the Lord has shortened those days and that we find that time period in the description of the Locust Army in Revelation.

But the other night for some reason when I was going to bed I thought about how right after that period of 5 months is given in Ch 9, in Ch 11 it states that the 2 witnesses will be here 1,260 days and the holy city will be tread under foot forty and two months. And in Ch 12 we have the 1,260 days and time, times, and half a time. And then again in Ch 13 it says 42 months. I know you have said the reason for that is to maintain consistency of the timing as it was prophesied in Daniel. But the two things that started to make me question whether the tribulation will actually be 5 months are:

  1. The time periods here are all from the same book (Revelation) and author – why would that one chapter describe the timing so differently than every other place it is found in Revelation? I have a hard time thinking that this information would be so “hidden” as to only be found in that one place.
  2. Also, after the fifth trump sounds in Ch 9 it says “one woe is past.” Then the 6th angel sounded, which is the second woe trump, and it doesn’t state that the second woe has passed until Ch 11 after the 2 witnesses have prophesied 1,260 days and are killed. It just seems to me that maybe the 5 month period from 5th trump may somehow occur before or at the beginning of the tribulation, and the 6th trump events do not conclude until after an actual 1,260 days/42 months.

Is there anything you can point out to me that would help me settle this in my mind as to whether it is in fact only 5 months, or if it is possible it could still be the 3.5 years? (And even then, where do the FIRST 3.5 years come into play in Revelation?? What is going on during that time?)

Answer: Jennifer,

You are a thinker, I love it. Let’s talk about it.

Just step back, and pretend like you forgot everything you knew about this topic for a moment.

Nearly everyone would agree, the Tribulation will be seven years. It’s tied to the 70 weeks of Daniel. Outside of that, the only time markers we really have for the Tribulation are in Revelation as you mentioned. The book of Daniel mentions “a time and times and the dividing of time” as well, (Daniel 7:25). That would correlate to the last half of the Tribulation.

Now we have…

Matthew 24:22
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Mark 13:20
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

“Those days will be shortened,” and “those days” are the Tribulation.

So we have a Tribulation of seven years mentioned in the Old Testament. Jesus comes along and tells us the Tribulation was shortened. Years later, John explains the Tribulation in detail, and provides a time sequence that aligns with the Old Testament.

So what are we to do with this information then?

The only thing we know for 100% certain, is the Tribulation was shortened from 7 years. Beyond that, we cannot be 100% certain. Yet, we know the Tribulation is not 7 years then.

So what is it?

Except for Jesus, no one ever mentioned anything about “days shortened” during the Tribulation, and the only clue about the 5 months in the Bible comes from Revelation 9, which mentions “five months” twice.

I feel that is key.

I also think it’s appropriate to tie in Noah’s Day and the flood prevailing for 5 months. Jesus said, the end will be like the Days of Noah, (Luke 17:26). That’s not solid proof of a five month Tribulation either, but I do think it’s very relevant to consider when discussing prophecy. Jesus did tie the two events together.

Your take away, the Tribulation is not 7 years long, so it must be some other period of time shorter than 7 years.

From there, I could walk you through lots of my opinion. That’s not going to help though, we need Biblical facts. I want you to think more about what Jesus said in the cited verses here.

  • His concern was what?
  • Why did Jesus say the Tribulation was shortened?

He told us the Tribulation was shortened, otherwise “no flesh be saved.”

Why would no flesh be saved?

Due to the rising of “false Christs” and “false prophets” who “shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect,” (Matthew 24:24). Also, see Matthew 24:15. These are, of course, the Antichrist being Satan and his angels from Revelation 12:9. In Revelation 13, we know the beast with two horns performs miracles and wonders, and he poses as God.

‘If it were even possible’, and if the Tribulation was not shortened, then the whole world would be deceived. No flesh would be saved due to the supernatural miracles Satan and his angels will perform.

Wouldn’t you say that is a fair statement?

So then, what is a reasonable amount of time to shorten the Tribulation to which would prevent everyone from worshiping the Antichrist?

I want to add something else here for you to consider.

You know how I feel about COVID. How many months did it take for just about the whole world to buy into that? The world flipped its lid over an invisible bug they cannot see with their naked eye.

Jennifer, what will the world do when they see Satan make a miraculous appearance on earth with 200 million angels who claim to be God and His Kingdom?

How long will it take for the world to become convinced of that?

Really think about all of that for me.

Now to address your two item numbers.

  1. I don’t think the five months is hidden. However, you have a valid point about Revelation and the author. Why would the time be listed both ways? Other than consistency with the 1260 days, etc, there is no other explanation in my mind. You are correct, the five months is only listed here. However, Christ saying the Tribulation is shortened is only listed in Matthew and Mark, books that both mimic one another.
  2. I would have to disagree with the 5th Trumpet starting the Tribulation. I do believe the 6th Trumpet begins the Tribulation. I know what you are missing here. When you read the events of the 5th Trumpet, you assign all of those events to the 5th Trumpet. It seems logical, but it’s not correct. In actuality, read the events of the 5th Trumpet, and you will notice they overlap with the events of the 6th Trumpet. I talked about this in the past, you can jump to it here; The Fifth And Sixth Trumpet.

I do not think it’s possible or logical to conclude the Tribulation consists of two unequal parts. Nowhere do we find that in Scripture. It was 7 years, and there is a great divide right in the center known as “the midst of the week.” So it’s two equal parts, and that entire time was shortened. Don’t read over that. “Midst of the week”, that is the middle, which has equal amounts of time on either side.

Read Revelation 9:6, that verse perfectly aligns with Revelation 6:16, and Luke 23:30, and we know that happens right before Jesus appears. So it seems more than likely, the 5 months span the entire Tribulation — beginning to end.

In all honesty Jennifer, I say Satan will have everyone suckered in about 5 minutes. 🙂

I commend you for thinking and asking questions. It’s how we all learn.

What are your thoughts/questions/concerns?

By the way, and not that it really matters, but when I met my wife. She told me she already knew about the 5 month Tribulation. She recalls her pastor telling the congregation about it. I always thought that was interesting.

Jennifer: Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed response, Brandon. You have truly been blessed by God in your knowledge of His Word and being able to document so much for even one person/one question. It means a lot to me that you would take the time to help me, and everyone else that comes to you with questions.

Everything you have documented makes sense, and I cannot think of another explanation for the scripture saying “5 months” (twice). You are right that there’s no way it can be the first part of the tribulation as it is clearly divided into equal parts. I had also wondered if maybe the 5 months was only a portion of any part of the tribulation (like just the first 5 months of the entire 3.5 years). But for that to be the case, the locusts’ torment would have to conclude way before the tribulation is over. When I prayed about this, I felt like God was leading me to read Joel, to expand on the locust part. And I noticed in Joel 2:20, God says He will remove far off from you the northern army (being the time of the end and His return), and then in 2:25 – “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten,” referring to them as His great army – all indicating to me that the locust description of Revelation 9 is the same and only army during the tribulation and that it will continue until it is removed by God at the time of Christ’s return. Does that sound right to you?

I also think the mention of “horsemen” in Revelation 9:16 (after the 6th trump sounds) would have to be referring to the description in v. 7 of the locusts, since there is no other prior mention of “horsemen” – which would make the 5th and 6th trumpet events overlap like you said.

Brandon: You are very welcome.

What you pointed out in Joel is spot on. I was going to point out the locusts of Revelation 9, how it would not make sense that they only harm men for a portion of the Tribulation. I am glad I did not mention it, you got to thinking, and came to that conclusion on your own. Perfect!

I also agree about the horsemen. I remember thinking that one over years ago, while trying to consolidate it all in my mind. It’s one and the same.

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