It is sometimes missed but there are actually several periods of extreme trouble in the Christian Age. This is the way Paul describes the issues.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
2Tim 3:1 KJV

It is not just a single perilous or difficult or harsh time, but perilous timeS, plural.

Russia, China, and Eastern Europe had an anti-Christian
blood baths in the 20th century,
France in late 18th century.

There have been multiple attempts to bull-doze away Christianity and prepare the way for the worship of Satan and his special seed. Rome and the caesars were so used, until Christianity outright conquered Rome, as in Dan 2:44, and other passages. Islam was used in this way. The French Revolution was another attempt, and was intended to spread from nation to nation, but didn’t have the impact desired. The Communists also attempted world revolution, and did conquer one-third of the world before imploding. Communism still shows some lingering signs of life even in the United States in the early 21st century, and many of the old Communist organizations now seem to want to carry a banner of environmental emergencies to drive the destruction of any who might oppose them.

It seems from Scripture that two special times of tribulation/stress will come.

One is the times of stress in when the Jews turn
to Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth in faith.

And yes, Jesus is called “Rabbi” some thirteen times in the gospels, but it is sometimes translated as “Master” of “Teacher.”

It is clearly prophesied in the Old Testament that this will happen, and is verified in the New Testament, but many gloss over the texts. Moses, after denouncing the stubbornness and sins of Israel, is the first to announce it.

“When you are in distress, and all these things are come on you, in the latter days you shall return to Yahweh your God, and listen to his voice:”
Deut 4:30 nf

This will be an extreme period stress for many nations. It appears to begin with a world-wide persecution of Christians. It is dealt with in detail in Ezekiel 37 and 38, and Zechariah, and also in my forthcoming book, Jewish Chronicles. It will be so severe that is seems it will become yet another “type,” symbolic of the end of this present universe.

The greatest tribulation will be right at the end.

It is literally called “the great, the tribulation” in Greek.

… “These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb’s blood.”
Rev 7:14 WEB

This time Christianity will be “overcome”/conquered.

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. ”
Rev 13:7 WEB

The Greek word is nikao, to conquer, to overcome, to have the victory.

Never yet has any one government had authority over every nation. Never yet has Christianity been “overcome” world-wide. But it will happen, for a short while … just before Jesus intervenes.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

nf is my own translation based on the WEB.