Matthew 24:21-22
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)
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This verse doesn't just describe an unprecedented catastrophe, it emphasizes the uniqueness of this tribulation by stacking negative comparisons: "not from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be." This isn't just hyperbole; it points to a specific, unique historical event so devastating it defies comparison, both past and future.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' questions about the destruction of the temple and the end of the age, describing signs and events that would precede his return. He warns them about deceivers, wars, famines, and pestilences, but emphasizes that these are just the beginning of sorrows, not the immediate end. This verse speaks of the unparalleled suffering that will mark a specific, intense period before the final culmination.
Jesus describes a future tribulation so intense it dwarfs all suffering ever known. How can we grasp the scale of this unparalleled anguish?
Jesus uses strong language to emphasize the unique severity of the tribulation that will come upon Jerusalem and Judea. He states it will be "such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be."
This isn't just hyperbole; the historical accounts, particularly Josephus's detailed record of the siege of Jerusalem, bear out this description.
A Storm of Suffering
This unparalleled suffering wasn't random. It was a direct consequence of the nation's rejection of God's offered salvation in Jesus Christ, a "day of vengeance" fulfilling ancient prophecies.
Amidst talk of utter destruction, Jesus mentions a surprising reason for hope: the "elect." What does this reveal about God's plan even in judgment?
Jesus states that "unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened."
This points to a crucial theological truth: even in judgment, God's sovereign hand is at work, preserving a remnant for His purposes.
God's Sovereign Mercy
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.
Jesus' prophecy of unparalleled tribulation points directly to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70, an event so catastrophic it dwarfed all previous historical calamities.
c. 167-164 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes' Persecution
The Seleucid king Antiochus IV desecrated the Jerusalem Temple, a pivotal event Daniel foretold as the 'abomination of desolation,' setting a precedent for future temple defilement and destruction.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Olivet Discourse
Jesus predicts the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and the profound suffering to come, linking it to the 'abomination of desolation' and prophesying immense tribulation.
AD 66-70
First Jewish-Roman War
The Roman army, led by Titus, besieged Jerusalem, resulting in widespread death, famine, destruction of the Temple, and enslavement of the Jewish population.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Roman forces razed Jerusalem and its Temple, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy and bringing unparalleled devastation and loss to the Jewish people.
This passage from Daniel is directly alluded to by Jesus, describing a time of unprecedented distress for his people, setting the stage for the unparalleled tribulation mentioned in Matthew.
Luke 21:20-24Luke's parallel account details the specific desolation of Jerusalem and the scattering of its people, providing a clearer picture of the 'great tribulation' Jesus describes as 'days of vengeance'.
Deuteronomy 28:53-57This Old Testament passage prophesies the extreme scarcity and desperation that would befall Israel if they were disobedient, a foreshadowing of the unimaginable suffering during the siege of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 30:7This prophetic declaration speaks of a future 'time of Jacob's trouble,' directly aligning with the concept of a unique and severe tribulation that is spoken of in Matthew 24.
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…
This verse doesn't just describe an unprecedented catastrophe, it emphasizes the uniqueness of this tribulation by stacking negative comparisons: "not from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be." This isn't just hyperbole; it points to a specific, unique historical event so devastating it defies comparison, both past and future.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' questions about the destruction of the temple and the end of the age, describing signs and events that would precede his return. He warns them about deceivers, wars, famines, and pestilences, but emphasizes that these are just the beginning of sorrows, not the immediate end. This verse speaks of the unparalleled suffering that will mark a specific, intense period before the final culmination.
Jesus is responding to his disciples' questions about the destruction of the temple and the end of the age, describing signs and events that would precede his return. He warns them about deceivers, wars, famines, and pestilences, but emphasizes that these are just the beginning of sorrows, not the immediate end. This verse speaks of the unparalleled suffering that will mark a specific, intense period before the final culmination.
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This concept highlights that even the most terrifying judgments are contained within God's redemptive history, demonstrating His ultimate control and His commitment to His 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…" — This verse doesn't just describe an unprecedented catastrophe, it emphasizes the uniqueness of this tribulation by stacking negative comparisons: "not from the beginning of the world until now, no,…
