What event starts the seven-year Tribulation?
The seven-year Tribulation begins when the Antichrist signs a seven-year treaty with Israel. This event, described in Daniel chapter 9, marks the start of Daniel's 70th week, the time of wrath and vexation, and initiates the opening of the seal judgments.
Les teaches that this seven-year period is called Daniel's 70th week, the time of wrath and vexation, or primarily the Tribulation. It opens when the Antichrist signs that seven-year treaty with Israel, as shown in Daniel chapter 9. That signing is the beginning of the opening of the seals. The first three and a half years will be bad enough, but they are not as severe as the last three and a half. All through Scripture this seven years is divided into two halves of forty-two months each.