I don't see from context how the GT can be over nearly 2000 years when Jesus himself said the days of the GT were to be shortened:
(Mat 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.)
(Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.)
(Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.)
(Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?)
I've also recently subscribed to the Historicist view, and without trying to push that view (as I already caught a lot of flak for it a few months ago in another thread) I hope to show you from the context that the Great Tribulation
could possibly span nearly 2000 years from a point of view while still reasonably being considered "short".
1) There's the time conversion factor...
2 Peter 3:8
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Psalm 90:4
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
2) Christ tells his servants that he is coming quickly. But we've been waiting for nearly 2000 human years for his return.
Revelation 3:11
I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Revelation 22:12-14
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
3) A prophecy for Israel & Judah says the two houses would be revived in three "days", which still hasn't been fully realized yet in 2000 years.
Hosea 6:1-2
Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.
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So Father God doesn't measure time by man's standard. From the perspective of heaven, humanity has only been here for 6 days. That's pretty short from the Almighty's perspective. Now the implication of the Hosea passage above is that the "wounding" on the houses would be for 2 days, while the healing (i.e. binding up of said wounds) would be on the following day; the 3rd day.
So if we put it all together, the two houses would be
punished (i.e. wounded) for 2000 years, and in the very next millennium (following punishment) the restoration would happen and they will live in His presence...which sounds very similar to the resurrection of the dead and the millennium reign.
4) Then I come to the following passage and it seems to indicate this exact punishment beginning...
Luke 21:20-24 [brackets mine]
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it depart out, and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written [like in Hosea??] may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
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This is why I believe:
The Great Tribulation (of the Jews) = The Time of the Gentiles = Nearly 2000 years of the so-called Church Age
...where the kingdom of God was "
taken from [them] and given to a people who will produce its fruits" (
Matthew 21:43).
5) Romans 11:1, 5, 7, 11-12, 15, 25, 28 [brackets mine]
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace ["for the sake of the elect..." - Matt 24:22]
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the elect(ion) hath obtained it ["for the sake of the elect..." - Matt 24:22], and the rest were blinded.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall ["the falling away" - 2 Thess 2:3] salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them ["the falling away" - 2 Thess 2:3] be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead ["gathering together unto Him" - 2 Thess 2:1]?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles come in.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the elect(ion), ["for the sake of the elect..." - Matt 24:22] they are beloved for the father's sakes.
