So it is the earth that is punished by the Great Tribulation to make propitiation for the earth's sin. And just how did the earth sin?
Wrong it is unregenerate men who pay the price in the Great Tribulation in order that the curse is removed. The Tribulation begins with all unregenerate humans. A multitude will be saved by the witness of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses as well as the 2 witness in the last half of the Tribulation. We see those who are beheaded for Christ during the O.T. and N.T. periods in Revelation 6:9-11 asking when those who took their blood will be judged and avenged,
9 "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."
They must wait this little season that is the 7years of the Tribulation until all the Tribulation Saints who will be martyred have be fulfilled.
We see them avenged in Revelation 19:2 "For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand."
God seals the 144,000 so that they will not died during this time, He raises up the two witnesses and those in the Tribulation have the witness of the church prior to her removal that will lead people to Salvation.
God knows exactly how many and who will trust Christ in this dispensation of Grace and in the Tribulation. Just as He knew who would trust Christ in the O.T. and those born during the Kingdom age. Since God foreknew who would be saved He predestinated them to be adopted.
The Kingdom comes to a restored earth with all creation back to Pre-Fall state. The Tribulation accomplishes the Redwmption or Restoration of the Earth. The terms of Redemption in the seven sealed book being opened by the Kinsman redeemer and God the Father is satisfied with the meeting (payment) of the terms of Redemption of the Lost Possession.
Prior to the Kingdom and at Christ second coming unbelievers are slain as seen in Revelation 19:21 "And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."
We see where they are for the 1000 year reign, Revelation 20:5 "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." They were in hell until the 1000 years is over.
During the Kingdom we see this fulfilled:
Isaiah 11:1-10,
1 "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."
Who is the stem of Jesse none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.He will be on the throne in Jerusalem, all creation is restored and the Tribulation was the payment of the redemption price, just as the Kinsman redeemer laws of Israel required payment. Just as God required payment for our sins so too must the terms of redemption for the possession be met. Then the Kingdom as Described by Isaiah comes into fruition. With Christ reigning as the root or stem of Jesse.