Does The 7-Year Tribulation Begin When Satan Appears?

Name: Linda
Question: Where exactly is it written that Satan is cast from Heaven at the beginning of the last 7 years, and that it would start a 7 year tribulation with him here?

Answer: Linda, thank you for the question.

In Daniel 9:24-27, we’re told “70 weeks” would pass before the return of Jesus. 69 weeks have already transpired, with one final week remaining. That’s the “one week,” the 70th week we’re going to read about. I will make it clear, this “one week” is the original 7 year Tribulation.

We’re going to learn, the “he” spoken of in Daniel 9:27 is Satan who is on earth for this “one week.” It is Satan — Antichrist — who will “confirm” a “covenant” for “one week.” I’ll use the words of Jesus to help guide us, and link together unnamed individuals with named ones, tracing their actions to tie them together.

Let’s begin.

Note: The highlighter will guide you, connecting the character with his actions.

The Abomination

Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Note: “he” is the “prince of the covenant,” (Daniel 9:26, 11:22)

Who is “he,” and when does “he” appear?

That’s what we have to find out.

We have to identify who will “confirm” a “covenant” for “one week.”

Now, we were provided with some very important puzzle pieces.

Daniel 9:27 said,

  • “He” spreads “abominations.”
  • “He” confirms a “covenant with many for one week.”
  • “He” causes “desolation” at “the midst of the week.”

That’s critically important information.

How important?

Let me show you by reading the words of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 24:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Did you catch that?

Jesus just connected “the abomination of desolation” with the “he” of Daniel.

That locks the timing and events of Daniel’s 70th week, and “he,” to the beginning of the Tribulation.

How am I tying the “abomination of desolation” to the Tribulation?

Once again, through the words of Jesus Christ…

The Tribulation

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,” flea Judea, “for then shall be great tribulation.”

Matthew 24:15-16, 21

Jesus said, when you see the “he” of Daniel, then there will “be great tribulation.”

That’s “the” Tribulation.

The “one week,” the 70th week, the original 7 year Tribulation.

There’s only one Tribulation, and there’s only one final week.

So we know, once “he” appears, the Tribulation begins, and “he” will “confirm a covenant with many for one week.” That tells us, “he” is present on earth for the 7 year Tribulation. You cannot confirm a covenant with “many,” unless you are present.

That answers a part of your question.

Now, all we need to do is find out who “he” is.

Great Signs And Wonders

Matthew 24 is about the Tribulation of the Antichrist, that’s why the verses we just covered are so critical to the conversation. In Matthew 24, Jesus told us about “false Christs, and false prophets” that will “shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

So during the Tribulation, we’re going to see “great signs and wonders.”

Who will perform these “great signs and wonders?”

This is important, it’s going to help us identify the “he” Daniel was referring to.

Revelation 13:13
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

Do you see that?

“Great signs and wonders” during the Tribulation, just like Jesus explained. So Daniel, Matthew, and Revelation are all talking about the same individual and the same event.

Notice, we have another “he” in Scripture, but in this verse, we know who “he” is.

We just need to read a few verses prior.

The Dragon

Revelation 13:11
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Who is the “dragon?”

Scripture answers…

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The Dragon is the Devil and Satan, the same individual.

Now, let’s put this puzzle together so I can answer your question…

The “he” from Daniel that confirms a covenant for “one week,” is the same “abomination of desolation” that Jesus told us about. Jesus also stated, we’re going to see signs and miracles during the Tribulation. That ties us to the Dragon in Revelation who performs the same actions.

So all of these verses tie together a single individual — “he” — to the same actions — “signs and wonders.” That fixes the time of the “one week” to the beginning of the Tribulation. We’re going to see an entity perform “great signs and wonders” as Matthew and Revelation revealed.

The one who performs those miracles is “he,” the Dragon, who is Satan.

Therefore, Satan will be on earth at the beginning of the final “one week,” the beginning of the — original — seven year Tribulation. Don’t lose sight of this fact, Satan and his 200 million wicked angels are the Tribulation.

But wait, Scripture reveals even more…

The Dragon “Continues”

In Revelation 13:4, we’re told the Dragon healed a Deadly Wound that occurred on earth. The world is so enamored by this healed wound, they worship the Dragon who is Satan. So that means, Satan must be on earth in order for mankind to know and understand who healed the wound.

Now look what happens…

Revelation 13:5
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

We have a bit to unpack here…

This is a critical event to understand…

What’s this 42-month business?

42 months equal 3.5 years:

  • 42 months equal half of the 7 year Tribulation.
  • 42 months equal half of the “one week.”
  • 42 months mark “the midst of the week.”

We’re being told, the Dragon — Satan — was given power to “continue” for 42 months. Look, when you “continue” to do something, it means you were already doing it. You didn’t just start something, you were already in the process of it.

So that also tells us, Satan is on earth far before “the midst of the week.”

Now, let’s add some general logic with our Scriptural knowledge.

Daniel 9:27 says, “he” confirms a “covenant” for “one week.”

What’s a “covenant?”

It’s a deal.

You have to be at the negotiating table to make a deal.

So we have numerous witnesses that — “he” — Satan is on earth at the beginning of the Tribulation to “confirm” a “covenant” for “one week.” That week being, the beginning of the original seven year Tribulation.

But woe to us.

Summary

As we learned, when it comes to prophecy, we have to carefully study Scripture. We have to identify unnamed individuals by linking them to similar actions to put all the prophetic pieces together.

Jesus provided the keys here.

Christ explained, when we see “the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,” flea Judea, “For then shall be great tribulation.” That easily tied together the “he,” “covenant,” and “one week” of Daniel 9:27, to the beginning of the Tribulation for us.

From there, the words of Jesus continued to guide us by explaining we will witness “great signs and wonders” during the Tribulation. That tied in the Book of Revelation. That’s where we learned it’s the Dragon — Satan — who performs these supernatural miracles.

Together, the prophetic puzzle is solved…

The “he” of Daniel is Satan, who is on earth for “one week.”

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