"Be Vigilant" -"The Great Tribulation"

The end of this wicked system of things will come in what is called "the great tribulation." (Revelation 7:14)  The Bible does not tell us how long that will last, but Jesus said: "There will be great tribulation such as not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." (Matthew 24:21)  When we consider the tribulation that this world has already experienced, such as World War II when we estimated 50 to 60 million lives were lost, the coming great tribulation will be very severe indeed. It will reach its climax in the battle of Armageddon.  That is when Jehovah will unleash his executional forces to destroy ever vestige of Satan's earthly system. - REVELATION 16:14. 

Bible prophecy does not give a date for the first phase of the great tribulation to begin, though it does tell us what extraordinary event will signal its start. That event is the destruction of all false religion by political powers. In Bible prophecies found in Revelation chapter 17 and 18, false religion is likened to a harlot who has had immoral intercourse with the political systems of the earth. Revelation 17:16 shows that the time will soon come when these political elements "will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat her fleshly parts and will completely burn her with fire." 

When the time comes for that to happen, God will "put it into their  (the political rulers') hearts to carry out his thought" to destroy all false religion.  (Revelation 17:17) So this destruction can be said to come from God. It is his judgment against hypocritical religion that for so long has taught doctrines contrary to God's will and that has persecuted his servants. The world in general does not anticipate this coming destruction of false religion.  But Jehovah's faithful servants do. And throughout these last days, they have been telling people about it.

Next time: "Be Vigilant" - Conclusion of "The Great Tribulation"

From the jw.org publications