THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION FALLACY

Many have been taught that the tribulation will be a future seven year period, despite the fact that not one single scripture backs up this fallacy. It may seem a minor detail to some, but those who teach a seven year tribulation have blatantly misinterpreted the scriptures. It is vital that God's Word is not tampered with in any way. (Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18). The scriptures tell us repeatedly, in no uncertain terms, that the great tribulation will last for 3.5 years:

Daniel 7:25 He (the Antichrist) shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (3.5 years).
Revelation 11:2 ..but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
Revelation 13:5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
Revelation 12:5-6 ..and the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. This period coincides with what is also known as "Jacob's Trouble". (Daniel 12:1, Jeremiah 30:7). 
Matthew 24:15-21 ..when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
Daniel 9:27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” The abomination of desolation will occur halfway through the final seven year period, often referred to as Daniel’s 70th week.

In light of such clear and specific information we may reasonably ask why various teachers refer to a seven year tribulation. We know from the scriptures that every word of God is true. (Proverbs 30:5-6 cf. Psalm 12:6, 119:160). If every word of God is true, when something is emphasised two or three times then it is particularly weighty. The 3.5 year tribulation period is emphasised unequivocally a number of times, and yet many teachers either insist, or loosely refer to it, as a seven year period. The misrepresentation of the tribulation period is inexcusable!

There will of course be "tribulation" in general terms throughout the Church Age. (John 16:33; Matthew 13:21). However, the "great tribulation" referred to by Jesus Christ in the Olivet Discourse will be off the scale.. hence "great tribulation". There has never been anything like it in the past, and there never will be again. (Matthew 24:21).

Jesus Christ warned about deception four times in Matthew 24:

See that no one leads you astray. (Matthew 24:4)
..many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  (Matthew 24:11)
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)
So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. (Matthew 24:26).

Jesus Christ was concerned that his hearers should "understand". 

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand).. (Matthew 24:15).

With such emphasis as this, we must conclude that the subject of Jesus' return is extremely critical, and also that false teachers/prophets will have a field day with it. It is in the interests of the enemy to obscure the details surrounding Jesus' return with various false teachings. Satan does not want Christians to understand eschatology!

The point at which the Antichrist "takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God", is a pivotal marker in time; it signals the onset of 3.5 period of "great tribulation". (2 Thessalonians 2:4). This event will occur precisely half way through the 70th week of Daniel. The 70th Week of Daniel begins with the agreement between the prince who is to come (the Antichrist), a descendant of the Roman Empire, and "many" (including Israel), probably endorsing the construction Jewish Temple. (Daniel 9:27). The first four seals of Revelation describe the entrance of the Antichrist, followed by war, famine and death, culminating in the annihilation of one quarter of the world's population. (Revelation 6:1-8). These catastrophes apply to the general population of the world, not specifically to Christians. (Matthew 24:7). The great tribulation i.e. the mass martyrdom of Christians, is not mentioned at all until the fifth seal of Revelation (Revelation 6:9-11), following what Jesus described as "the beginning of the birth pains".

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. (Matthew 24:7-9).

Why do false teachers misinterpret the length of the tribulation?

Among those who misinterpret the length of the tribulation are false pre tribulation rapture teachers. Principally they are the "Left Behind $$$$" crowd whose main influence in the US comes under Thomas Ice (Pre-Trib Research Center), and in the UK, Colin Le Noury (Prophetic Witness Movement International). These false teachers add to the scriptures, teaching that God will rapture the church and that believers will escape the alleged "seven year tribulation". This is in compete opposition to the explicit teaching of the scriptures. Not only is pre-trib utter nonsense, it is extremely dangerous, since in renders believers oblivious and unprepared for the powerful delusion of 2 Thessalonians 2:11, and the coming unmatched persecution. (Matthew 24:21; Mark 13:19). The Book of Revelation is of no particular consequence to pre-trib believers since they have been taught that it does not apply to them. As a result of this deception "many" will fall away from the faith:

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.. (2 Thessalonians 2:3) 
And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. (Matthew 24:10).

Those who have escaped the false pre-trib teachers are at risk of more subtle tactics and are not yet out of the woods. Jacob Prasch (Moriel Ministries) teaches a warped combination between a pre-trib and pre-wrath rapture and emphasises a seven year tribulation.{1} Much of what Prasch teaches is accurate which makes him as dangerous as gunpowder. Prasch has put a spanner in the works and has muddied the waters with his deeply flawed Intra-Seal Rapture theory. (Ezekiel 34:18-19).{2}

New Apostolic Reformation Dominionism is outright heresy and is unconscionable! Dominionism in its various forms disregards the tribulation and the rapture. For the most part, bible prophecy is either interpreted as having already been fulfilled (preterism), or allegorized. NAR ecumenicals claim to be in the process of setting up the Kingdom of God now. This position is at complete odds with the words of Jesus Christ: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36). 

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4).

{1} https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/jacob-prasch-say-again-tribulation-is.html

{2} https://www.amazon.co.uk/INTRA-SEAL-RAPTURE-DECEPTION-EXPOSED-devised-ebook/dp/B06X6N2JJT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510217268&sr=8-1&keywords=intraseal+rapture