Matthew 24:
How long will the great tribulation last?
I don't know exactly but it is counted in days and not years.
If you were in the early stages of tribulation, would you know it?
Only with hindsight:
More detail of the 2nd coming is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:
Christians will experience the great tribulation.21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
How long will the great tribulation last?
I don't know exactly but it is counted in days and not years.
If you were in the early stages of tribulation, would you know it?
Only with hindsight:
One can even include possible redeemable people on other planets.29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
More detail of the 2nd coming is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:
John 6:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Revelation 1:40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
John 5:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.
2 Peter 3:28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
The following seems to be the chronological order of events:12b the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
- The great tribulation
- 2nd coming of Christ on the clouds in the last day
- The dead in Christ resurrected
- Live believers caught up (rapture).
- The wicked resurrected for judgment
- End of physical days, space-time dimensions changed
- New heavens and new earth established.