Matthew 24:21-22
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Jesus isn't just describing future suffering; he's emphasizing its unparalleled intensity by using a triple negative ("not... no, nor ever"). This emphatic phrasing signals that this specific tribulation will be so extreme, it surpasses all past and future calamities combined, highlighting the profound judgment and consequences of rejecting God's Son.
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is describing the signs that will precede the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. He warns his disciples about deceivers and describes future wars and natural disasters, but these are only the beginning of sorrows. He then tells them that when they see the "abomination of desolation" in the holy place, those in Judea must flee immediately, as this event will signal unparalleled suffering and destruction for the Jewish people.
Jesus describes a future event so horrific that it defies comparison. What makes this 'great tribulation' so uniquely terrible?
Jesus uses the phrase 'great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.' This isn't just a bad day; it's a catastrophic event of unparalleled suffering.
A Calamity Beyond Measure
Why would God allow such intense suffering? This tribulation wasn't random; it served profound purposes.
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Jesus doesn't just describe the what of the great tribulation, but hints at the why. The context of Matthew 24 reveals that this period of intense suffering is deeply connected to God's judgment and His sovereign plan for salvation.
Days of Vengeance and Election
Understand the original words
thlipsis · Greek Noun
A period of intense and unprecedented distress, suffering, or testing, often associated with divine judgment or eschatological events preceding the return of Christ.
eklektos · Greek Adjective/Noun
Those whom God has chosen by His sovereign grace for salvation, eternal life, and participation in the kingdom of God, based solely on His purpose and not human merit.
The intense suffering described in Matthew 24:21 is directly linked to the brutal Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, a catastrophe unparalleled in its scale and horror for the Jewish people.
c. 49 BC
Roman Civil War Begins
The Roman Republic plunges into civil war, creating widespread instability and troop movements across the empire, including Judea.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem, and his followers proclaim his resurrection, an event that deeply impacts the religious and political landscape of Judea.
c. AD 66
First Jewish-Roman War Erupts
Jewish rebels revolt against Roman rule in Judea, sparking a brutal conflict that will lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
c. AD 68-69— this verse
Roman Legions Lay Siege to Jerusalem
After initial setbacks, Roman legions under Vespasian and Titus systematically conquer Judea, eventually encircling Jerusalem for a devastating siege.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Roman forces breach Jerusalem's walls, leading to widespread slaughter, famine, destruction, and the burning of the Second Temple, fulfilling Jesus' prophecies.
c. AD 70-73
Fall of Masada
The last Jewish holdouts at the fortress of Masada are defeated by Roman forces, marking the final end of the First Jewish-Roman War.
This passage in Daniel is directly alluded to by Jesus, describing a time of unprecedented distress that will precede the end times and divine intervention.
Luke 21:20-24Luke's parallel account emphasizes the 'days of vengeance' and the specific details of Jerusalem's destruction and subjugation by Gentiles, mirroring the severity described in Matthew.
Jeremiah 30:7This prophetic word speaks of a 'time of distress for Jacob' that is unparalleled, resonating with Jesus' description of a tribulation like no other.
Revelation 9:1-21This chapter describes a plague of locusts and torment inflicted upon humanity, representing a specific manifestation of divine judgment and suffering that echoes the intensity of the tribulation mentioned.
Deuteronomy 28:53-57This passage in the Old Testament contains dire curses and prophecies of extreme suffering, including cannibalism in times of siege, which foreshadows the horrific conditions Jesus describes as unparalleled.
barnesMatthew 24:21: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
There shall be great tribulation - The word "tribulation" means calamity or "suffering." Luke Luk 21:24 has specified in what this tribulation would consist: "They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled." That…
calvinMatthew 24:15-28: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)"
- When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which is described by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (let him that readeth understand,) 16. Then let them who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17. Let not him who is on the housetop go down to carry anything out of his house; 18. And let not…
Jesus isn't just describing future suffering; he's emphasizing its unparalleled intensity by using a triple negative ("not... no, nor ever"). This emphatic phrasing signals that this specific tribulation will be so extreme, it surpasses all past and future calamities combined, highlighting the profound judgment and consequences of rejecting God's Son.
Jesus is describing the signs that will precede the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. He warns his disciples about deceivers and describes future wars and natural disasters, but these are only the beginning of sorrows. He then tells them that when they see the "abomination of desolation" in the holy place, those in Judea must flee immediately, as this event will signal unparalleled suffering and destruction for the Jewish people.
Jesus is describing the signs that will precede the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. He warns his disciples about deceivers and describes future wars and natural disasters, but these are only the beginning of sorrows. He then tells them that when they see the "abomination of desolation" in the holy place, those in Judea must flee immediately, as this event will signal unparalleled suffering and destruction for the Jewish people.
"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those d…" — Jesus isn't just describing future suffering; he's emphasizing its unparalleled intensity by using a triple negative ("not... no, nor ever"). This emphatic phrasing signals that this specific tribula…
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Last reviewed October 2026
