The Great Tribulation
TRANSLATION
(15) “So when you see the abomination of desolation, foretold by the prophet, Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), (16) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (17) Let not the one who is on the rooftop go down to take with him those things that are in his house. (18) And let not the one who is in the field turn back to take his cloak. (19) Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing (infants) in those days! (20) And pray that your flight is not in winter nor on a Sabbath, (21) for then there will be great tribulation like nothing (that has ever happened) from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. (22) And unless those days had been cut short, no one would have survived, but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (23) Then, if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There (he is),’ do not believe it. (24) For there will arise false messiahs and false prophets who will perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the very elect. (25) Behold, I have told you beforehand. (26) If, therefore, they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go there. Or ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. (27) For as lightning streaks (suddenly) from east to west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. (28) Wherever the corpse lies, there will the vultures gather.
(29) “Immediately following 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 heavenly bodies will be shaken. (30) Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other
(32) “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its branch becomes tender and it sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. (33) Even so, when you see all these things (take place), you know that (his coming) is near, even at the doors. (34) Truly I tell you this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (35) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
OBSERVATIONS
Jesus’ vivid account of the “tribulation” (a word used twice in vss. 21 & 29), a seven-year period of unprecedented turmoil which will overwhelm the earth just before Messiah returns, contained several repetitions for emphasis. The verb, “let,” conveying a sense of urgency, was used four times in the first four verses (vss. 15-18). The following terms are each found twice: “cut short” (both in vs. 22), “elect” (vss. 22 & 31), “Messiah(s)” (vss. 23 & 24), “look” (both in vs. 26), “the Son of Man” (vss. 27 & 30), “near” (vss. 32 & 33), and “pass away” (both in vs. 35). Finally, “heaven(ly)” occurred six times (vss. 29, 30, 31, & 35).
OUTLINE
I. Catastrophic events will occur just before the coming of the Son of Man. (15-28)
II. Catastrophic events will occur when the Son of Man returns in power and glory. (29-31)
III. These catastrophic events should serve as warnings to those living through them. (32-35)
IDEA STATEMENT
Being aware of the catastrophic events that will immediately precede the return of Christ should prepare us to welcome him with joy when he appears.
APPLICATION
When Jesus spoke of “this generation” (vs. 34), to whom was he referring? Clearly, he could not have been pointing to the generation of those disciples who were currently listening to his message. In view of his warnings regarding the “abomination of desolation” and the world-wide opposition to the work of God at the Second Coming, Jesus was clearly referring to the future generation alive at that time when the events he was describing would come to pass.
Jesus had already assured his listeners that the time of great tribulation would be mercifully “cut short” (vs. 22). The Book of Revelation specified that this “Great Tribulation,” the second half of the seven-year period described in Revelation 6-19, would last for forty-two months or three and half years (Rev. 13:5). This unprecedented time of judgment and suffering will climax with the coming of the Son of Man (vs. 30) and serve to prepare the world for his thousand-year reign (Rev. 20:1-3). While believers have never been given specifics concerning the precise moment when Christ will return, we are to be ready to welcome him whenever he might come. This means that we are to live continually with the expectation that today could be the day.