What Will Happen Before the Great Tribulation?

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God reveals an exact sequence of end-time events in several places in the Bible. If you carefully compare these passages—with the right attitude, asking God to give you understanding—you can get a clear understanding of the order of events at the end of the age.

Here are the primary passages that give a sequence of events that will occur at the end of the age:

• The Olivet Prophecy (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21)
• The book of Revelation
• The end of the book of Daniel
• The blessings and curses in Leviticus 26

Let’s begin in Matthew 24:

Then Jesus went out, going on from the temple. And His disciples approached Him to call attention to the temple construction projects. And Jesus told them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Certainly I tell you, not one stone on another stone will be left here that won’t be torn down.” (Matthew 24:1-2)

Jesus predicted that the Jewish temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed. This happened about 40 years later, in 70 AD, when the Romans captured Jerusalem and completely destroyed the temple, exactly as Jesus had predicted.

Jesus’s disciples were surprised by this prediction, and they asked Him when these things would happen:

And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what is the sign of Your arrival, and of the end of the age?” (verse 3)

The prophecy that follows is dual. First it was a warning to Christ’s followers of events that would happen in their lifetime. Some of the events Christ foretold were fulfilled in the first century AD. However, these are also signs of Christ’s arrival and the end of the age (verse 3). The primary fulfillment will be at the end of the age.

So here is the sequence that Jesus Christ revealed:

Sign 1: A European Leader Promotes a False Christianity

And Jesus answered, saying to them, “Watch out so that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray.” (verses 4, 5)

Jesus warned that many people would come in His name. They will use the name of Jesus Christ to mislead people. These false ministers will say that Jesus is the Christ. They will claim to be “Christians.” But they will mislead people with false teachings that don’t match the Bible.

This first sign of the end is a recognizable turning point for religion. A false “Christianity” will suddenly become a powerful and influential force in the world and will mislead many people. This is not something that will happen slowly over the course of hundreds of years.

How do we know?

1. This is a sign that the return of Christ and the end of the age is near. A sign is something that can be seen and recognized.
2. Jesus said that all the events described in Matthew 24:3-31 would happen in a short period of time.

Notice Matthew 24:32-34:

“Now learn this riddle from the fig tree. When its branch has already become tender, and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. In this way you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.”

Jesus said “when you see all these things”—which includes the first sign that He gave, then the end and His return is “near—at the doors.” He also said that the generation that will be alive when these things begin will be the same generation that will see Him return (Matthew 24:34). Once you see a false version of Christianity suddenly rise in power and influence, the remaining events will happen quickly.

It is important for you to recognize the first sign when it happens. When this turning point occurs, many will be led astray. You must be on guard, so you won’t be deceived. You need to be familiar with the Bible, so you can recognize the difference between real Christianity and a Christianity that looks real, but isn’t.

More Details About the First Sign

As you study this sequence of events, it is important to check the same event described in Mark 13, Luke 21, and the book of Revelation.

Luke 21:8 reveals that these false Christian teachers will say, “the time has drawn near.” These teachers will claim prophecy is being fulfilled.

Now take a moment to think. Here I am, teaching in the name of Christ, telling you that Jesus is the Christ, telling you that the time of Christ’s return is near. Should you believe me? No! Don’t believe anyone who teaches in the name of Christ, unless what they say matches the Bible. Check everything you hear in your Bible and ask God for understanding so you won’t be deceived!

Now look at this first sign of the end of the age in the book of Revelation. Remember, Revelation also gives a sequence of events that will happen at the end of the age. The events in Revelation match up with the sequence of events that Jesus described in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

Revelation 6:1-2:

And I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” And I looked and look! A white horse! And he who sat on it had a bow. And a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.”

Who is the rider on this white horse?

At the end of the book of Revelation we read how Jesus Christ will come down from heaven, riding a white horse, coming to conquer the nations that will fight against Him (Revelation 19:11, 15).

Is the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6:1-2 also Jesus Christ?

No! It is a false Christ!

Remember that in Revelation 6 Jesus is explaining the same end-time sequence of events that He described in Matthew 24. The first sign in Matthew 24 was religious deception by a false Christianity. This first rider is not Jesus Christ—it is the Antichrist.

1 John 2:18 says “…the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen…”

One meaning of the word “antichrist” is someone who is against Christ. There have been many antichrists, and there will be many more. But the Bible also mentions a specific person called the Antichrist who is coming. The Bible does not give many details about this person, but another meaning of the word antichrist is someone who is in place of Christ.

Remember that in Matthew 24:5 Jesus warned about many who would come in the name of Christ and deceive many. Here, in Revelation 6:2, we see a description of one specific person who will eventually claim to be the Christ.

Here are the symbols used to describe this Antichrist in Revelation 6:2:

1. He will sit on “a white horse.” As Jesus Christ will come on a white horse to save the world, people will think this person has come from God to save the world.

2. “And he who sat on it had a bow.” This person will be able to fight wars.

3. “And a crown was given to him.” This person will become the leader of nation or nations.

4. “and he came out conquering, and to conquer.” This person will use his military to conquer.

In Revelation 13 we learn that this political leader, who is called “the Beast,” will work together with the leader of false Christianity, who is called “the false prophet.” The Beast will use his military to expand the influence of false Christianity. In return, the false prophet will eventually teach people to worship this man as a god (Revelation 13:4, 15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Ezekiel 28:2; Daniel 11:36-39).

This Antichrist has many names in the Bible. He is called “the Beast” (Revelation 13:4-8, etc.), “the man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4), “the king of the North” (Daniel 11:40), a little horn (Daniel 7:8, 24-25), “the prince who is to come” (Daniel 9:26), “the prince of Tyre” (Ezekiel 28:2-10), “the king of Babylon” (Isaiah 14:3-11), and “Nebuchadnezzar” (Jeremiah 50:17-18).

If you don’t know which country this leader will come from, see Lesson 1.

Watch for a European leader who partners with an influential Church, who goes out to conquer and “save” the world. This is the first sign Jesus gave that the end of the age is near.

You will learn about the Antichrist and the false prophet in later lessons.

Sign 2: Wars and Reports of Wars

And you will be hearing of wars and reports of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, because all these things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom… (Matthew 24:6-7)

Notice that Jesus said that when these wars occur, “the end is not yet.” These signs will happen a short time before the period that the Bible calls “the end.”

Here is the same sign, described in Revelation 6:3-4:

And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” And another horse came out, fire-red. And it was given to him who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that they would butcher one another. And a large sword was given to him.

This is not talking about wars in general. This sign will be a clear turning point. There will be major wars throughout the world, which will lead to the next two signs.

Sign 3: Famine

The next sign listed in Matthew 24:7 is “there will be famines.”

These famines are described in Revelation 6:5-6:

And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” And look! A black horse! And he who sat on it had a balance in his hand. I heard a voice in between the four living creatures saying, “A liter of wheat for a denarius, and three liters of barley for a denarius! But don’t damage the oil and the wine!”

When John saw this vision, a denarius was the wage for about one day of work (Matthew 20:2). The major wars of the second seal will quickly lead to widespread inflation, famine, and many people starving.

Sign 4: Disease and Death

The next items mentioned in Matthew 24:7 are “plagues, and earthquakes in various places.”

Revelation 6:7-8 says:

And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” And I looked and look! A sickly-green horse! And the one who sat on it, his name is Death, and the grave follows with him. And authority was given to him over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild animals of the earth.

War and famine will lead to widespread disease. Packs of wild animals, including former pets, will roam the streets looking for food (this is also mentioned in Leviticus 26:22). Earthquakes will add to the death toll.

The compounding effects of the first four signs will cause one-quarter of humanity to die. When you see 25% of the world population die, you will know that the fourth sign has been fulfilled.

Matthew 24:8 says, “But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.”

Sign 5: The True Gospel Will Be Preached and Suppressed

Next, Jesus explained what would happen to His followers:

At that time they will hand you over to oppression, and will kill you. And you will be hated by all the nations because of My name. (Matthew 24:9)

This sign will actually occur in parallel with the first four signs. This is explained in Luke 21:12:

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.

This happened to the early followers of Christ, and it will happen again at the end of the age. As a false Christianity rises in power, it will seek to suppress true Christianity. True Christians will be thrown in prison and brought before leaders to be judged. This will be an opportunity for them to preach to world leaders as a witness (Luke 21:13-15).

This will be a time of sifting among the followers of Christ. Some will hold on to their beliefs and boldly proclaim the truth. Others will abandon their faith and betray their friends and relatives (Matthew 24:10-13).

During this time, the true followers of Jesus Christ will finish preaching the true Gospel to the whole world. Jesus told His followers, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to all the creation” (Mark 16:15). Matthew 24:14 says, “And this good news of the Kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

So look for those who preach the real Good News to the whole world. Look for those who are “hated by all nations” when they do not follow the false Christianity that will be popular at the end of the age. Those will be the real followers of Christ—a group you might want to be a part of.

That brings us right up to the time period that the Bible calls “the end.” You will learn about that in the next lesson.

Next Lesson: A Timeline of End-Time Events

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