Why is the first half of the Tribulation hard for the world?
The first half of the Tribulation is hard for the world because it brings widespread war, famine, pestilence, and turmoil. Though the Jews experience a semblance of religious freedom during those first three and a half years, the world itself endures severe hardships before the midpoint. This period is not a Sunday school picnic for the world.
Les explains that Revelation 12 falls at the midpoint of the Tribulation, when the Antichrist defiles the Temple and turns on the Jews who had enjoyed a semblance of religious freedom during the first three and a half years. Even so, Les cautions that the first half is not a Sunday school picnic for the world, because there will be a lot of war, famine, pestilence, and turmoil. At the midpoint, the last half is triggered, which is beyond human description—the wrath and vexation of God referred to in Psalms 2.