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For one thing, he has put the rebels in his party on notice that if they back the measure to prevent a no-deal Brexit, they will be purged from the party and accused — along with the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn — of undermining negotiations with the European Union.

In a general election, Mr. Johnson could then try to seek a mandate as the champion of the people against a Parliament intent on frustrating the 2016 referendum decision to leave the union. That, however, would place in the firing line some prominent politicians — several of whom, like the former chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, were senior cabinet ministers just weeks ago.

In political jargon, Mr. Johnson is treating this week’s Brexit votes as an “issue of confidence,” suggesting that the result of a defeat for the government would be a general election.

The stakes are high.

Mr. Johnson acknowledges that there could be economic and social disruption from a no-deal Brexit but argues that it would be manageable.

His critics point to warnings that it might leave ports gridlocked, and lead to shortages of fuel, medicines and some kinds of food. Moreover, they argue, it would leave Britain in a worse negotiating position to secure a deal with its biggest trading partner, the European Union.

With time running out for lawmakers to constrain Mr. Johnson, the maneuvers in Parliament on Tuesday could prove to be a decisive moment in a three-year battle over Britain’s departure from the European Union.