shilohsfoal
This thread is titled The Great Tribulation. However, you are one of the few that seems to have studied this earnestly. The great tribulation is only mentioned twice in the bible. Tribulation however, comes on everyone sometime during our life. Tribulation and the great tribulation should never be used in the same teaching accept to show the difference between them.
There will be tribulation in the US and in Canada and in South America and also the rest of the world at different times and with different measures, but the great tribulation is only after the abomination is set up as you have said. It may last as long as a year but could be shorter or longer. It is not written.
The great tribulation is caused because the King of the North of Daniel 11 is angry because of the 7 year covenant made between many nations. (I am convinced this is the EPNI that was signed in Jan 1 of 2007) He has knowledge that Israel is doing animal sacrifices and he squeals to the EU and the prince who made that covenant gives the order to the little horn of Daniel 8 who then surrounds Israel and takes away the daily sacrifice and oblation and sets up an idol (not himself) on the temple mount.
To accomplish this Jews, (not the Christians) all Jews will be forced out of Israel to Greece and many other nations. (Joel 3) This little horn is Muslim. He is out of one of the 4 areas that Alexander the Great’s 4 generals ruled. (My money is on Jordan for reasons I will not say at this time) Can you not imagine the great tribulation that this will bring upon the Jews whom Islam has sworn in the last few years to eradicate?
How long will this take. Maybe about a year. When this is over they(the gentiles including Islam) will cry peace and safety at last. Then AFTER the tribulation sudden destruction will come upon them. The asteroid of Isaiah 13, Joel 2, Matthew 24, Mark, Luke and Revelation 8 will come crashing down. The moon will be turned to blood and the sun will be darkened. Then, (when?) then they shall see the son of man coming on the clouds with power and great glory, and he will send his angels to gather the elect…
Jesus will go away at this time and allow Armageddon. Then he will return and stop the war and set up his kingdom.
There is much missing in the understanding that still must be brought to light before all of this makes sense. Be patient. It is coming, one piece at a time. The beast will not sit in the temple until just before the Lord comes to gather his elect and you will not know who he is until that time unless God chooses. He is not the little horn.
There are 4 who are taught by most to be one and the beast. But that is a different topic.
There are those who will come out of great tribulation. These will survive the attack that is poured out against Israel after the abomination is set up.
Sure there will be a civil war in the US soon, but it is nothing compared to the tribulation that the Jews will suffer at the hands of Islam when every nation joins together to remove them from their land. But they will have the last laugh when they realize that Jesus is their Messiah and every one of them will cry out in love for their creator.