The great tribulation is the final three and a half years of the seven-year tribulation, an unprecedented time when God's wrath, along with Satan's wrath, is poured out on Christ-rejecting mankind.
Jesus said it will be great tribulation such as never was since the beginning of the world, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:21). Les explains that the first half is merely the beginning of sorrows; the last half is the actual outpouring of God's wrath. Even the rich, powerful rulers and every free man will hide in mountain rocks, pleading for death to escape the wrath of the Lamb.
Matthew 24:21 — Jesus explicitly calls it 'great tribulation' and says nothing in all of history matches it—this is the clearest answer to what the great tribulation will be.
Revelation 6:15-16 — This passage depicts the universal terror and the failed attempt to hide from the wrath of the Lamb, showing what people will actually experience.
In Matthew 24:21, Jesus says: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." This directly answers the severity of the great tribulation. Revelation 6:15-16 shows every kind of person—kings of the earth, great men, rich men, chief captains, mighty men, bondmen, and free men—hiding themselves in the dens and rocks of the mountains. They say, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb." Psalm 2:5 also connects the nations' rebellion with God speaking to them in His wrath. Scripture presents the great tribulation as a time of unprecedented suffering from which no one will be able to escape.
Les Feldick teaches that God's wrath has never yet been poured out on the world. Even the flood was disciplinary, not God's wrath. He explains that the seven-year Tribulation will be tribulation from the start, but the first three and a half years are only the beginning of sorrows. It is in the last three and a half years that God's wrath is actually poured out, and it will be beyond human comprehension. Jesus said in Matthew 24:21 that this last half would be the worst time in all of history. Les stresses that during the final half, the wrath of a righteous God and the wrath of Satan will both fall on the planet. Revelation 6 shows even the most powerful people trying to hide and pleading for death. Les also points out that God has every right to do this because the vast majority of Christ-rejecting people will be living at that time, and the final outpouring will culminate in terrible plagues, cosmic disturbances, and widespread death until Christ appears.
Les says the whole seven years is tribulation, but the first three and a half years are only the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:8). It is not until the midpoint that Scripture refers to the outpouring of God's wrath. The terror increases dramatically from that point.
Revelation 6:15-16 lists kings of the earth, great men, rich men, chief captains, mighty men, and every bondman and free man hiding in dens and rocks. They call for mountains to fall on them to hide them from the face of the One sitting on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. No social class is exempt.
Les teaches that God is fully justified because the vast majority of Christ-rejecting people will be living then. God's wrath has never actually been poured out before, so the final half of the tribulation is the first time the world will experience it. This is why the great tribulation will be so unmatched in human history.
God's Wrath Never Yet Poured Out
Les explains that the world has never seen God's actual wrath; even the flood was disciplinary, which sets up the great tribulation as the first true outpouring of God's wrath.
No Escape from the Wrath of the Lamb
Les points to Revelation 6, where even rulers and rich men hide in rocks and plead for death because of the wrath of the Lamb, showing that no one escapes the terror of that time.
Beginning of Sorrows Versus Wrath
Les clarifies that the first three and a half years are only the beginning of sorrows, while the final three and a half years are the outpouring of God's wrath and beyond human comprehension.
Terrifying Final Three and a Half Years
Les teaches that the whole seven years are tribulation, but the last half brings both Satan's wrath and God's wrath on the planet, making life unbearable.
God Is Justified in Pouring Out His Wrath
Les shows why God's wrath is justified: the vast majority of Christ-rejecting people will be living at that time, so God's judgment is righteous.
Wrath of God and Satan in the Last Half
Les says the final three and a half years will combine the wrath of a righteous God and the wrath of Satan, and no past horror compares to it.
Worst Time in All of Human History
Les emphasizes that the great tribulation begins at the midpoint and is unlike anything since the beginning of the world, as Jesus declared in Matthew 24:21.
Plagues, Cosmic Disturbances, and Christ's Appearing
Les describes how the last days before Christ appears will be marked by horrific plagues and cosmic disturbances, with death rampant until Christ returns.
Matthew 24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Jesus directly defines the great tribulation as the most severe time in all of history.
Matthew 24:8: All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Jesus describes the earlier events as only the beginning, not yet the full outpouring of wrath.
Revelation 6:15: And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Every level of society tries to hide from the terror of God's wrath.
Revelation 6:16: And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
People plead for death rather than face the wrath of the Lamb.
Psalm 2:5: Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Psalm 2 shows God's response to the nations' rebellion, introducing the concept of His wrath.
The great tribulation specifically refers to the final three and a half years of the seven-year tribulation period. Les teaches that the first three and a half years are the beginning of sorrows, while the last three and a half years are the actual outpouring of God's wrath.
No. Revelation 6:15 says kings, great men, rich men, chief captains, mighty men, bondmen, and free men all hide themselves in dens and rocks. They plead for death because even they cannot escape the wrath of the Lamb.
Les teaches that the vast majority of Christ-rejecting people will be living at that time, so God has every right to pour out His wrath. The great tribulation is the first time God's actual wrath is experienced by the world.
No. Scripture shows people hiding in mountain dens and rocks, but they still face the One on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb. Hiding, wealth, and status provide no safety.
Watch the Teaching: Why God "Gave Them Up" — Romans 1 & the Wrath to Come