Peace, Peace, When There Is No Peace

In 1 Thessalonians 5:3 Paul states that when they say peace and safety then sudden destruction will come. Is this referring to the beginning of the Tribulation, or the middle of the 7 years? And if it is in the beginning wouldn’t the fighting have to stop for a while before a surprise attack?

Q. In 1 Thessalonians 5:3 Paul states that when they say peace and safety then sudden destruction will come. Is this referring to the beginning of the Tribulation, or the middle of the 7 years? And if it is in the beginning wouldn’t the fighting have to stop for a while before a surprise attack?

A. There’ll be several periods of peace followed by sudden plunges into war before the End comes. At the end of the current fighting, there’ll be a time of peace. Perhaps it’s the one that will preceed the Battle of Ezekiel 38. Then after that battle there’ll be a time of peace, probably negotiated by the anti-Christ. It’s the one that kicks off Daniels’ 70th week and is visualized in the first horseman of Rev. 6:1-2. Shortly after that, Paul’s prophecy will be fulfilled with the coming of the red horse of Rev. 6:3-4.