A prominent prophecy teacher says biblical patterns, astronomical signs and the Jewish calendar may point to a possible tribulation window beginning within the next few years.
Pastor Mark Biltz, founder of El Shaddai Ministries, recently outlined a timeline he believes could indicate when the tribulation described in the Book of Revelation might begin.
Biltz argues that a combination of biblical prophecy, Jewish calendar cycles and astronomical events suggests the early 2030s may be a critical period.
“God said the sun and the moon were for signs,” Biltz said, pointing to Genesis 1:14. “What I am explaining is the signs for the times and the seasons of the Lord.”
Signs in the heavens
Biltz teaches that the sun and moon were created as prophetic markers tied to God’s appointed times. He believes eclipses can signal major events when they occur on or near biblical feast days.
“A solar eclipse means war coming for a nation, a Gentile nation,” Biltz said. “A lunar eclipse means war coming to Israel.”
He points to several historical events he says align with eclipse activity, including the destruction of the Second Temple in A.D. 70, the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, the rebirth of Israel in 1948 and the Six-Day War in 1967.
Seven-year cycles and prophecy
A major part of Biltz’s interpretation centers on the biblical Shemitah cycle, a seven-year pattern described in the Torah.
He believes this structure is key to understanding Daniel’s prophecy of “70 weeks,” which he interprets as 70 cycles of seven years. According to Biltz, the final seven-year cycle corresponds to the tribulation described in Revelation.
He argues that the tribulation must begin on Rosh Hashanah at the start of a Shemitah cycle.
“Daniel was Jewish,” Biltz said. “The tribulation cannot start on some random day.”
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How the tribulation would unfold
Biltz says the seven-year tribulation would be divided into two three-and-a-half-year periods.
He believes the first half will feature the ministry of the two witnesses described in Revelation 11, whom he associates with Moses and Elijah. According to the biblical account, the witnesses will stop rain, turn water to blood and strike the earth with plagues.
At the midpoint, Biltz says the Antichrist and false prophet will kill the two witnesses. He believes this event would occur on Passover, with the witnesses rising from the dead three and a half days later.
The second half of the tribulation would then be dominated by the Antichrist’s rule.
Why Biltz points to the early 2030s
Biltz says several prophetic markers converge in the early 2030s.
He points to 2030 as a possible starting point for the tribulation because it falls near the 2,000-year mark after the death and resurrection of Jesus.
He also notes that the recapture of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War could mark the beginning of the final generation. Adding 70 years to that event points to 2037, which he believes could mark the end of that prophetic window.
Under that framework, a tribulation beginning around Rosh Hashanah 2030 would conclude around 2037.
A call to watch the times
Biltz stressed that he is not setting a date for the rapture or the return of Christ.
“I am not setting dates for the rapture,” he said. “I am not setting dates for the Lord’s return.”
Instead, he says believers should recognize the biblical signs that point to the times and remain spiritually prepared.
“We need to understand the times and the seasons,” Biltz said. “The wise will understand.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
