It's called wrath, not tribulation. Understanding the difference between tribulation and wrath is important, because referring to the seven bowls of wrath (which we read about in Revelation 16:19) as “the great tribulation”, results in faulty theology and faulty eschatology. Tribulation is the experience of the saints, whereas wrath is a judgement upon a tribe or tribes, or a nation, or nations.The Great Trib Will Be Upon The Antichrist And Wicked, The Church Is Protected, Dont Be Deceived
There's Going To Be An End Times Persecution, The Beast And His Kingdom Are The Target Of God's Empowered (Two Witnesses)
Tribulation is merely a word which describes the experience of humans, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, believers or unbelievers; and there is no "once-off" experience of tribulation.
A period of tribulation being experienced by any people may or may not be what they are experiencing as a result of God's wrath, for example, the tribulation that Christians experienced under the hand of Nero was not as a result of God's wrath coming upon them. The tribulation Israel experienced under the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt was not a result of God's wrath coming upon Israel. The plagues were being experienced by the Egyptians, in much the same way as the seven last plagues will be experienced by those "who had the mark of the beast, and on those who worshiped his image". (Revelation 16:1-2)
The word tribulation (thlîpsis) is used in Matthew 13:21:
"But he has no root in himself, and is temporary. For when tribulation (thlîpsis) or persecution arises on account of the word, he immediately stumbles."
Also in Matthew 24:9:
"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation (thlîpsis) and will kill you. And you will be hated of all nations for My name's sake."
It's also found in many other verses where it's referring to something that either would become, or had become the experience saints, for example in this verse:
John 16:33
"I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation (thlîpsis), but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
There is no "once-off" experience of tribulation. Any period in which Christians have experienced persecution (whether under Nero, or Christians in the former Byzantine Empire during periods of invasion by Islamic armies, etc), is a time of tribulation.
The same goes for any period during which unbelievers have experienced persecution at any time, for example the Jews since and following 70 A.D (pogroms, being expelled from countries, having their goods plundered, and of course, the worst of all - the one that took place during WWII).
However, with the exception of Romans 2:9 and 2 Thessalonians 1:6, every single reference to tribulation in the New Testament is talking about the tribulation of saints, those who believe in Christ (unless Matthew 24:21, which talks about great tribulation, is a third exception to the rule).
GREAT TRIBULATION
In the New Testament, there are periods in which the tribulation experienced by a particular group of people is so intense as to be called a great (mégas) tribulation (thlîpsis).
There are three times (only three times) in the New Testament where the Greek word mégas (great) is used as an adjective to describe the intensity of the thlîpsis (tribulation): Matthew 24:21; Revelation 2:22; and Revelation 7:14.
Revelation 7:14
"These are the ones who came out of great (mégas) tribulation (thlîpsis) and have washed their robes, and have whitened them in the blood of the Lamb."
Revelation 2:22
"Behold, I am throwing her (the false prophetess Jezebel) into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great (mégas) tribulation (thlîpsis), unless they repent of their deeds."
Matthew 24:21
"for then shall be great (mégas) tribulation (thlîpsis), such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be."
The persecution of Christians under Nero would most certainly have been a time of great tribulation for Christians, but the New Testament is silent on that period of persecution.
Likewise, in the case of the Jews, A.D 70 would most certainly have been a period of great tribulation for the Jews (as was the tribulation Jews experienced during WWII), but only three times does the New Testament prophesy a coming great (mégas) tribulation (thlîpsis); and the two mentions of great tribulation in the Revelation are unambiguously and beyond dispute talking about a great tribulation as the experience of Christians.[/b]