It is a fool’s errand to try and predict what will happen in 2026. Human beings do not know what will happen in the future, but God does (cf. Is 46:9-11). In the Bible, God has revealed much about the future. Believers can know that which God has revealed about the end times. At FaithEquip, we believe the rapture of the Church could happen anytime (maybe even today), but we do not believe the 7-year Tribulation period can commence in 2026.
Regarding the future, the Best is yet to come! At some stage, perhaps today, the Bridegroom will come in the air to fetch his bride (1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Thess 4:13-18). The world is (going to become) such a dark place, that the snatching away of the bride will be like a rescue mission (cf. 2 Pet 1:19). The Lord Jesus is the Church’s blessed hope: “[L]ooking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13).
After the rapture of the Church—immediately thereafter or perhaps some time thereafter—the 7-year Tribulation Period will start when the antichrist confirms (or enforces) a covenant with “the many”, which is Israel (Dan 9:27a). This will start the 70th “seven” of Daniel 9:24-27, a period of seven years when the “ruler who is to come” (Dan 9:26), i.e. the antichrist, will be on the scene. The Messiah will return at the end of this 7-year period when a believing remnant of Israel will say: “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!” (Matt 23:39). Then the Lord will return to the earth to establish the Messianic kingdom, first ruling for a thousand years, and then continuing on the new earth forever.
Why will the 7-year Tribulation Period not commence in 2026? There are many Bible prophecies about this “hour of trial” that is to come upon the whole world (cf. Rev 3:10), this “Day of the wrath of the Lamb” (Rev 6:16), a day of destruction and desolation (Zeph 1:15). According to the Bible, the world must be set up in a certain way, otherwise the Tribulation period cannot start. We highlight some of these prophecies to indicate why the Tribulation Period cannot commence immediately:
- Babylon must be a world city of renown as it will be the capitol city of the antichrist. By “Babylon” we mean literal Babylon in modern-day Iraq (Is 13-14; Jer 50-51; Rev 17-18). Unbeknownst to many, this city is being rebuilt today (and quickly too, one may add). The Tribulation Period cannot start until Babylon is an influential world city.
- During the first half (i.e. 3,5 years) of the Tribulation Period, a false religious system from the city of Babylon will have sway over the world, capturing the hearts of the “earth dwellers” (Rev 17). We do not yet see such a Babylonian world religion in place today.
- During the Tribulation Period, ten kings will be on the scene who will be part of the fourth kingdom, the kingdom of the beast (Dan 7:20, 24; Rev 17:12, 16). These ten kings appear to be not on the scene yet, having not yet been revealed.
- During the Tribulation Period, all the nations will be against Israel and its capitol city Jerusalem (Zech 12:2-3; 14:2). Today, a few nations still support Israel, but by the end of the Tribulation Period, all nations will be against her.
- When the Messiah returns, He will judge all the nations (Joel 3; Matt 25:31-46). The nations will be judged because it divided Israel’s land, i.e. the Messiah’s land, possibly motivated by man-made promises of “peace and security” (Joel 3:2; cf. 1 Thess 5:1-3). Today, unrelenting and unbearable pressure is being put on Israel to further divide its current land for a so-called “two-state solution”. In my view, this division of Israel’s current land has not yet happened. Still, the Bible says some time in the future the land of Israel will be divided—and at the end of the Tribulation Period, the Lord will judge the nations for it.
- Some argue the Gog and Magog war will happen prior to the Tribulation Period, whereas others say it will more likely form part of events during the Tribulation Period (cf. Ezek 38-39). Regardless of when this war will happen, it cannot happen unless certain conditions are in place. For example, Israel must dwell securely in her land (Ezek 38:8, 11) and she must possess wealth in the form of silver and gold (Ezek 38:13). Israel is not living securely in her land today. Israel is not known for riches in the form of silver and gold. Moreover, since Persia (i.e. Iran) will not be leading this war, but rather play a subservient role to both Gog of the land of Magog and Turkey, this condition has also not yet been fulfilled.
- During the last days, doctrines of demons will be preached (1 Tim 4:1-5). False teachers will forbid marriage and the eating of certain foods (such as meat). It appears we are not already there, no, not yet.
If the Tribulation Period cannot start in 2026, what prophecies are currently being fulfilled to set the world scene for this terrible period of time? We note seven on-going processes that are of prophetic significance:
- Since the days of king David (if not earlier), there has always been Jewish people in the land of Israel (even if sometimes only a few in number). But since 1948, with the rebirth of the state of Israel, God is bringing more and more Jews back to their land in fulfilment of covenant (e.g. the Abrahamic covenant) and other prophetic promises (e.g. Ezek 36:22-25; 37). The regathering of Jews to their land is on-going and will continue in 2026 (if not speed up).
- Satan does not want Jews to be regathered to their land. If Satan can prevent a believing remnant of Jews to ask the Jewish Messiah to return (cf. Hos 5:15-6:3; Matt 23:39), then Satan’s career will be extended. Consequently, a fallen and unbelieving world, under the sway of the wicked one, irrationally hates the Jewish people. Antisemitism (or more specifically: anti-Jewishness) will continue in 2026. It is good to remember that Yeshua, in his humanity, will always be a Jew.
- During the middle of the Tribulation Period, the antichrist will sit in the temple, displaying himself as God (2 Thess 2:4; cf. Matt 24:15). This implies a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. We do not know when exactly this temple will be rebuilt, but it must be functioning by the middle of the Tribulation period (Dan 9:27). It is no speculation to say that efforts to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem will continue.
- Bloodshed and violence filled the earth during the days of Noah, but the same conditions will prevail during the Tribulation Period (cf. Is 26:21; Rev 6:9-11). God will judge the “earth-dwellers” (or “inhabitants of the earth”) during the Tribulation Period just as He judged the earth during the time of the flood. I hope my speculation is wrong: unless there are repentance and revival, violence will apparently not abate until the Lord returns to the earth.
- The influence of the kingdom of darkness under the antichrist will be global (Rev 13:7). During the Tribulation Period, there will be a global religion, a global economy and a global political world order (cf. Dan 7:23-25). This requires integrated technological control such as the world has never seen—and efforts towards this goal will continue in 2026, if not speed up even further.
- Flowing from the above, advancing a global agenda for a global world order seems to imply that the sovereignty of nations will increasingly come under attack. Power trumps rights (unless rights can be enforced by power).
- According to Revelation 18:13, slavery will occur in/from Babylon during the Tribulation Period, perhaps on a global scale. The slave trade has never really stopped. May it not continue or speed up in 2026.
What did you expect the end of the world to be like? Granted, some may view the above developments en route to the Tribulation Period as quite negative. But until the Lord returns in the air to snatch away his bride, believers are called to be salt of the earth and a light to the world (Matt 5:13-16). Continue to walk in the light. Do what the Lord has enabled you to do. Jesus Christ is still saving people—in fact, the “Lord is not slow about His promise [to return], as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). Thinking ahead, in 2026 let us continue to glorify God, grow in Christ, and spread the good news of salvation in Him—and in Him alone.
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