Bible Strands
Matthew 24:21
For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples on the Mount of Olives, warning them to pray for their flight during a coming period of extreme distress. He frames this crisis as a future event that will demand urgent physical and spiritual readiness.
The words — θλῖψις (thlipsis) = tribulation or distress; οὐ γέγονεν (ou gegonen) = has not been or was never seen. These terms establish that the coming crisis will exceed all prior human experience in intensity.
The thread — The description of a unique time of distress connects to Daniel 12:1, which records a time of distress for God's people, and Joel 2:2, which depicts a day of darkness and gloom. Malachi 4:1 is also noted for announcing a coming day of divine judgment.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge the absolute severity of the coming tribulation and the necessity of God cutting short the days to preserve the elect. It demands immediate prayer and vigilance rather than passive observation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Cross-references
- Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
- Joel 2:2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.
- Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”
- Zechariah 14:2 For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.
- Isaiah 66:15 For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire.
- Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
- Luke 19:43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side.
- Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
- Isaiah 65:12 I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”
- Daniel 9:26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed.