Why Is the Last Three and a Half Years of the Tribulation Considered Worse Than Any Other Period?

Direct Answer

Yes — the final three and a half years are worse because they are the period of God's wrath that begins at the midpoint.

Les Feldick teaches that the first half of the seven-year Tribulation is only 'the beginning of sorrows,' not yet the outpouring of God's wrath. At the midpoint, marked by a great earthquake, the wrath of God begins, and the last half is described by Jesus as a time of tribulation such as never was before nor ever shall be.

Key Scriptures

Matthew 24:21 — Jesus explicitly says this tribulation is worse than anything before it or after it.

Revelation 6:12 — The sixth seal at the midpoint shows the transition to the final half with a great earthquake and cosmic signs.

Revelation 11:13 — A great earthquake at the exact midpoint marks the pivot into the last three and a half years.

What Does the Bible Say About This Period?

The Bible measures the Tribulation in three-and-a-half-year increments. Revelation 11:2 says the holy city will be trodden under foot 'forty and two months,' and Revelation 11:3 says the two witnesses will prophesy 'a thousand two hundred and threescore days.' At the sixth seal, Revelation 6:12 describes a great earthquake: 'And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.' In Revelation 11:13 an earthquake strikes Jerusalem: 'And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.' Jesus Himself warns in 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.' Earlier, Matthew 24:8 calls the initial signs 'the beginning of sorrows.'

What Does Les Feldick Teach About the Last Three and a Half Years?

Les Feldick explains that the seven-year Tribulation — Daniel's 70th week — is always divided into two equal halves of three and a half years, or forty-two months each. The first three and a half years are 'the beginning of sorrows' (Matthew 24:8): terrible, but not yet the outpouring of God's wrath. The exact midpoint is marked by a great earthquake, the opening of the sixth seal, and a darkened sun and blood-red moon (Revelation 6:12). At that same point, the Antichrist defiles the Temple and turns on the Jewish people. From then on, the last three and a half years are the wrath of God and the wrath of Satan — a period beyond human comprehension. Les points to Jesus' words in Matthew 24 that these days will be such as never were before, nor ever could be again. As the end approaches, the Antichrist, ruling from the Jerusalem Temple, summons the world's armies to the Middle East in a final attempt to rid the world of Israel. Christ returns at the end of this period to deliver His people.

What Event Marks the Beginning of the Last Three and a Half Years?

Les teaches that the exact midpoint of the Tribulation is marked by a tremendous earthquake. Revelation 6:12 places this at the opening of the sixth seal, when the sun becomes black and the moon becomes as blood. At the same midpoint, Revelation 11 records another great earthquake in Jerusalem. Les says this great earthquake triggers or sets in motion the final events of the last three and a half years.

Why Does Les Feldick Call the First Half 'the Beginning of Sorrows' Rather Than Wrath?

Les says all the things Jesus describes in Matthew 24 — the Antichrist, the invasion, famine, and death — are 'the beginning of sorrows,' not yet the wrath of God. The first three and a half years will be bad enough, but the Scripture does not refer to them as the outpouring of God's wrath. That begins at the midpoint.

What Does Jesus Say About the Severity of This Final Period?

In Matthew 24, Jesus says these are days of great tribulation such as never were before, nor ever could be again. Les comments that no horror in human history, including the Holocaust, comes close to the final three and a half years.

How Is the Last Half Described in Revelation?

The last half is measured as forty-two months in Revelation 11:2 and as 1,260 days in Revelation 11:3. Les emphasizes that throughout Scripture the seven years are always divided three and a half and three and a half, or forty-two months and forty-two months.

From the Teaching

The Sixth Seal at the Midpoint

Les teaches that the sixth seal, with its great earthquake and darkened sun and moon, is opened at the midpoint of the Tribulation.

First Half: Beginning of Sorrows

Les teaches the first three and a half years, while terrible, are not called the outpouring of God's wrath; the last three and a half are beyond human comprehension.

Final Days of Plagues and Armies

Les describes the end of the last half as a time of awful plagues and cosmic disturbances, with the Antichrist ruling from the Jerusalem Temple and calling the nations' armies against Israel.

Jesus' Words: Never Such Tribulation

Les teaches Jesus' statement in Matthew 24 means the final three and a half years will be worse than every catastrophe in human history combined.

Seven Years Divided 3½ + 3½

Les emphasizes the seven-year Tribulation is consistently divided into two equal halves of 42 months each.

Antichrist Defiles the Temple

Les teaches the midpoint is when the Antichrist defiles the Temple and turns against Israel, introducing a horrible final half when both God and Satan pour out wrath.

Midpoint Earthquake Triggers Final Events

Les teaches that the great earthquake at the midpoint triggers or sets in motion the final events of the last three and a half years.

Forty-Two Months and 1,260 Days

Les connects Revelation 11's forty-two months and 1,260 days to the three-and-a-half-year halves and notes the midpoint's great earthquake in Jerusalem.

Bible Verses

Matthew 24:8: All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Jesus uses this phrase to describe the earlier events of the Tribulation, showing they are not yet the full wrath.

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.

This is Jesus' direct statement that the final period will be uniquely severe.

Revelation 6:12: And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

John describes the midpoint sixth seal with a great earthquake and cosmic signs.

Revelation 11:2: But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

This verse measures the period of Gentile domination as forty-two months, or three and a half years.

Revelation 11:3: And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

The two witnesses minister for 1,260 days, matching the three-and-a-half-year length.

Revelation 11:13: And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

This earthquake occurs at the exact midpoint, marking the transition into the final period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the last three and a half years considered worse than the first half?

Les teaches the first half is 'the beginning of sorrows,' while the last half is the actual outpouring of God's wrath. The midpoint, marked by a great earthquake, begins a period of tribulation that Jesus said had no equal in history.

What event marks the midpoint of the Tribulation?

At the exact midpoint there is a great earthquake, the sixth seal is opened, the sun darkens, and the moon becomes as blood. Les also connects this to the Antichrist defiling the Temple and turning on the Jewish people.

Does the Bible give a specific length for the last three and a half years?

Revelation 11:2 speaks of forty-two months, and Revelation 11:3 speaks of 1,260 days — both equal three and a half years.

What did Jesus say about this time?

In Matthew 24:21 Jesus said there would be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world, no, nor ever shall be.

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