How will we know if the Tribulation has started? There will be several signs. Recently I read a book by Michael Snyder called the 7yr Apocalypse. In his book he wrote about 3 signs to watch for, I believe there will be more. The first is God’s confirmation with Israel that we read about in Daniel. Scholars have always believed that this is the 7yr Peace Treaty with Israel. This entire theory comes from a single verse in the Bible. When you examine the original language that it is written in, this theory quickly falls apart. This theory could lead many believers into misunderstanding where we are on God’s timeline. I myself had always been looking for this Treaty to be the first sign that the Tribulation has started.  

Daniel 9:27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. 

Scholars have always taught that the ‘he” in this scripture is the Anti-Christ (Anti-Messiah). The problem is that in the original Hebrew, ‘he” is nowhere to be found. 

The first section of verse 27 is made up of five Hebrew words. The first is “gabar”, and it means to “confirm” or strengthen”. You can only confirm or strengthen something that all ready exists. The 7yr Peace Treaty theory is something new. 

The next Hebrew word is “beriyth”, meaning covenant, in the vast majority of the cases “beriyth” refers to the covenant that God has with Israel. The same Hebrew word is used in Daniel 9:4, also referring to God’s covenant with the Israelites. 

The third word is “rab”, translated as “many”. The fourth word is “echad”, which means “one”, fifth word is “shabua”, translated as “period of 7 days” or “week”.  So let’s put this all together. A correct translation should look like this:


“The Covenant will be confirmed (or strengthened) with many for one week”


Translators inserted the word “he” into Daniel 9:27 in 3 different areas, because they thought it made better sense. There is no “he” in the original Hebrew though. And that changes everything!

Michael Snyder believes that this will have something to do with the Ark of the Covenant and I agree. 

The Ark of the Covenant has always been a symbol of God’s covenant with Israel. The commandments were given to Israel on Mt. Sinai and are still inside the Ark of the Covenant. Some believe that the Ark is missing, but I believe it is being hidden until God’s timing will bring it out. The Temple institute website claims they know the location of the Ark. Also there is a video of how the Archeologist Ron Wyatt found the Ark of the Covenant. 

I believe there will also be a Red Heifer sacrificed and the 3rd Temple being built, that will also be going on at the same time the Ark is revealed.  The Red Heifer being sacrificed is a MUST, they need to mix the ashes with water to purify the Kohen and sanctify the vessels in the Third Temple. Will the Red Heifer come before the Temple being built and the Ark being revealed? I honestly don’t know what order these 3 signs will happen in. But I believe they have to all happen in the first half of the Tribulation. Daniel 9, the scripture we read at the beginning of this blog talks about the Anti-Messiah preforming the Abomination of Desolation at the Middle of tribulation. Which means the Third Temple MUST exist, and that daily sacrificing has been taking place. That all can’t be done without the Red Heifer.  

Another thing that disproves the 7yr Peace Treaty theory is that the Anti-Messiah won’t even be on the scene until the middle of the Tribulation.  

Revelation 11:1-7  I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them

The Two Witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, that is about 3.5 years. AFTER they are done prophesying The Beast A.K.A. the Anti-Christ, will ascend from the abyss and kill them. If the Anti-Messiah was on the scene at the beginning of the 1st half of the Tribulation, then why would he wait 3.5 years to kill them? This scripture also shows us another sign of the Tribulation starting. This was a smack to my forehead for me. DUH I told myself. How long have you studied Revelation 11? God had me study this chapter, cross referencing the meaning of the two olive trees, and lampstands, etc, etc, over and over and over again. It was right in front of me the whole time, the Holy Spirit just hadn’t opened my eyes to the fact that the 2 witnesses will be prophecy for the FIRST HALF of Tribulation. 

So lets recap, what should we be looking for?

Signs the tribulation has started:

Ark of Covenant or Covenant confirmed with Israel
Red Heifer
Third Temple
Sacrificing & offerings begin
Two Witnesses

Mid-Tribulation signs:

Anti-Christ (Anti-Messiah) arrives on the scene
Two Witnesses are killed by Anti-Messiah
End to sacrifices and offerings
Abomination of Desolation

Obviously there will be other signs that will happen, after all the 7 seals will be opened during this time period. I will discuss what the 1st hall of the Tribulation looks like in another blog. 

If you have not read Michael Snyder’s book, 7 Year Apocalypse, I recommend that you do. It will open your eyes, it will help you understand the timeline of events to take place during the 7yr Tribulation, & it takes an in depth look into the end times scriptures. A Must read for any end times watcher or watchman, it is also excellent for those that are just beginning to study the end times.