Matthew 24:21, Revelation 7:14, Daniel 12:1
The Words of Jesus
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. — Matthew 24:21
In the Olivet Discourse — Jesus' extended teaching about the future — He described a period of intense, unprecedented suffering. This is what is commonly called the Great Tribulation.
Understanding what Jesus meant requires careful attention to the context, the original audience, and the other biblical passages that shed light on this period.
Already or Not Yet?
One of the central interpretive questions about the Great Tribulation is whether it refers to:
The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Many scholars — particularly those with a preterist or partial-preterist perspective — argue that Matthew 24:21 was fulfilled when Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. The devastation was indeed catastrophic — Josephus records horrific suffering within the city. Jesus told His disciples to flee when they saw the "abomination of desolation" — and early Christians reportedly did flee to Pella before the siege began.
A future worldwide period of suffering. Many other scholars — particularly premillennialists and dispensationalists — argue that while AD 70 was a partial fulfilment, the ultimate fulfilment lies in a future period described in detail in Revelation 6-19: seven years (or the second half of seven years) of God's judgment poured out on the earth.
The Book of Revelation
The book of Revelation describes a period of intense judgment through seals, trumpets, and bowls — affecting the whole earth, involving figures like the Antichrist and the False Prophet, culminating in the battle of Armageddon and the return of Christ.
How literally or symbolically to interpret these visions is one of the central debates in Revelation scholarship. The four main interpretive frameworks — preterist, historicist, futurist, and idealist — each read the tribulation material differently.
What the Church Has Always Agreed On
Whatever the interpretive framework:
- History is moving toward an end appointed by God
- The people of God will face suffering and persecution (John 16:33, 2 Timothy 3:12)
- God's judgment on evil is real and will be complete
- Christ's return will end all tribulation and establish God's kingdom
The call in every tribulation, past or future, is the same: "Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints." (Revelation 13:10)