Michael, The battle of armageddon is not the seven year tribulation. They are two different things, entirely altogether. The battle is at the end and does not last seven years, the tribulation does. The tribulation is a time of judgement and God's rate upon the inhabitants of the earth. At this time, the new world order-the ONE world government will be established. He, the anti-christ will make a covenant w/Israel for 3.5 years. This is mid-trib. In the middle of the seven, he will break the covenant w/Israel. This is where he, the anti-christ will stand in the temple of God and profess to be God. This is when the abomination makes desolate-this signals the last three and a half years of the tribulation. This will be when all hell really breaks loose.