In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ -Yeshua] was in the beginning with God.

THE TRIBULATION

The seven-year tribulation period will begin after the rapture of the church when a charismatic leader, not yet revealed as the Antichrist, rises to power and establishes a [false] peace treaty with Israel. This will be the beginning of sorrows for Israel. The Jews will be hated and persecuted by all nations. The 'revised' Roman Empire [the seventh kingdom] and the harlot, the apostate church, will manifest this hatred. The harlot will have great influence over the 'revised' Roman Empire. The Antichrist will initially provide protection for Israel during the first three and one-half years of the lesser tribulation period.

Midway through the tribulation period, the Antichrist, the son of perdition [destruction], will be revealed in his fullness. God will allow Satan to give him supernatural powers. He will be assassinated and then miraculously healed from a fatal head wound. Because of the powers given to him and the False Prophet, he will be considered a god rather than the anti-Christ. To achieve total domination, he will become ruthless as he breaks the peace treaty and turns against Israel and the harlot. He will consolidate his power in a one-world system of religious, political and economic policies. The last three and one-half years will be the period of the greater tribulation known as the time of Jacob's trouble. Israel’s persecution will be more severe than any time in history as the Antichrist tries to destroy the Jews.

The tribulation period will be a time of judgment against Israel for disobedience to God and against the Gentile nations for their attempt to destroy Israel and their rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s wrath is described by three sets of judgments: the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the seven bowls. The judgments will crescendo in supernatural intensity throughout the tribulation period. The seal judgments will occur in the first half of the tribulation while the trumpet and bowl judgments will occur in the last half (see Revelation). The persecution of the Jews will be nearly to the point of extermination. Israel will come to repentance and believe on Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Christ will return to earth the second time at the final battle of Armageddon to redeem Israel, judge the nations, and rule the world in righteousness, peace, and prosperity.