The doctrine of the great tribulation is well known and believed by many. The problem is that most people's idea of this doctrine is a pre-millenial one that they have never taken the time to research for themselves. First of all, let's notice the fact that this doctrine is based on the seventy weeks of Daniel Chapter 9. The first thing we should notice is that these weeks are not literal weeks, and thus have been interpreted so, as years, or seventy weeks of years. The absolute literal translation of these weeks is simply sevens, so the original reads seventy sevens. Any way that one looks at it, the number is symbolic. Even though one may count literally from the 20th year of King Artaxerxes, sixty-nine weeks of years, leaving one week, or seven left over, the very idea that these weeks must be interpreted as years forces the fact that this number is symbolic, as all numbers, even those that are taken literally, have in their very essense a symbolic meaning. The main error in most teaching of this doctrine is that this last week, or seven is still future. Thus, the last seven years left out of Daniel's prophecy is taken to mean the seven years of The Great Tribulation. However, if you notice in verse 24 of Daniel chapter 9, the angel tells Daniel of the things that will be accomplished in this seven.
1. To finish, or put an end to transgression. 2. To make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity. 3. To bring in everlasting righteousness. 4. To seal up the vision and prophecy. 5. To anoint the most Holy. Now the question arises, Did not Jesus Christ fulfill every single one of these things when He came to earth the first time? Which has been left undone? None of them! Every one of them has been fullfilled by our Lord and Savior already! So if we must, and yes we must, interpret the seventy weeks symbolically to begin with, let us not force the idea that the remaining week is yet future. Instead, in light of all the overwhelming scriptural evidence, let us consider the following:
The ministry of Jesus was three and one-half years, and then in the Apocalyse, (Revelation), the gospel age is clearly implied to the Church as three and one-half years i.e. 1260 days;a time, times and half a time; etc.... So, Christ's life becomes our life, His victory and inheritance becomes ours, His sufferings become our sufferings, and His 3 and 1/2 years become our 3 and 1/2 years. So we believe that this seven year span is symbolic, and spans from the first coming of Christ until the second coming, or to the end of the gospel age. Notice that it is in the midst of this seven, (Christ's 3 1/2 years, plus the Church's 3 and 1/2 years), that Messiah is cut off, or crucified. At any rate, there is no basis for any other Great Tribulation. Many of the apostles said in their writings that they themselves were in tribulation. Read especially - Romans 12:12, 2 Cor. 1:4, Acts 14:22, Rev. 1:9. Also notice that in the Apocalypse, (Revelation), to the false professors, Christ condemns them to enter great tribulation, (Rev 2:22),(which is most certainly NOT the description that Daniel gave of this seven!) To the true believers we see the Church who has come out of great tribulation (Rev 7:14). For the true Church, tribulation purifies Her like a refiner's fire. For the institution of religion, or false believers, they are condemned to suffer God's judgements. However,this is not a set period in history or the future, but a recurring act throughout the ages. These tribulations throughout the Gospel Age are the birth pangs that Jesus described. In fact, that is what tribulation is. It is what a woman goes through to give birth. She travails. She has pains. In this same way, Christ will again appear the second time. As the end of the world draws nearer, the pangs also grow greater until such time as it is so great as described by Christ in Matthew 24. So at the same time the Church is experiencing great tribulation, that is, persecution for not denying the name and holiness of Jesus Christ, the followers ofJezebelor false doctrine, (Revelation 2:24), experience tribulation in the form of God's judgements upon the wicked, pictured by the vials or bowls in chapters 15 and 16 of Revelation. Christ has a much worse judgement for the sinner and the ungodly. Thus the Church is ultimately delivered from Her tribulations and persecutions, while the world is just beginning to realize the true tribulation, that is the judgement of God upon the wicked which ultimately ends in the lake of fire.

So then, we should view the seventieth week of Daniel as a messianic promise of Christ that brings us great joy instead of fear!