Matthew 24:21, commentary and pictures

For then shall be great tribulation of distress greater than any before it or afterward. It belongs to Christ's discourse in Matthew 24 and 25 about His second coming, which joins the destruction of Jerusalem and the final judgment in one prophecy extending to the last scenes of earth's history. It received only a partial fulfilment in the destruction of Jerusalem about forty years after Christ's ascension, and in the long centuries of pagan and papal persecution when millions of faithful witnesses were slain as never before known. Beyond Jerusalem it points more directly to a coming worldwide time of trouble such as the world has never witnessed, standing immediately before Jesus' coming in the clouds which will speedily bring it to a close. That near crisis demands watchfulness, study of the prophecy, and entire consecration and readiness, for each must stand individually before God and holy angels alone will preserve the righteous.

Prophetic Setting and Scope

Matthew 24:21 belongs to Christ's discourse in Matthew 24 and 25 about His second coming, in which He joined the destruction of Jerusalem and the final judgment in one prophecy. Its meaning extends beyond the first disciples to those living in the last scenes of earth's history. The destruction of Jerusalem serves as a type and symbol of the world's final destruction by fire and of the final ruin that shall overwhelm the world, so the tribulation foretold stands connected with both events. It received only a partial fulfillment in the overthrow of Jerusalem and has a more direct application to the last days, pointing beyond that ruin to a coming crisis such as the world has never witnessed. Believers now stand on the threshold of those great and solemn events, yet even in that crisis God's kingdom rules over all, the program of coming events is in the Maker's hands, and He has the destiny of nations as well as the concerns of His church in His own charge.

The verse is among the prophetic waymarks and signs of the times foretelling events leading to Christ's revelation in the clouds of heaven. These prophecies of a great tribulation unlike any earlier or later time are sure to come to pass and serve as signs for the world. They form a connected chain whose fulfillment in history and in the signs of the times makes faith more definite. They were given to instruct those who should afterward believe and to help them prepare for the great conflict. At this age of the world those signs are to be discerned, calling for a higher standard, for ignoring the warning of His coming is sinful while believers are to remain watchful.

Matthew 24 presents Christ's great prophecy and outline concerning the church's warfare and sufferings as it passes through the present dispensation toward its promised redemption, and of what will come upon the world. It points to the severe tribulations and perils of the last days. Its warnings call people to prepare and to proclaim the final message of mercy. The chapter belongs with the description of Christ's second coming to the world given in Matthew 24 and 25, standing with the call to watch because no one knows the day or hour, to be ready at an unexpected hour, and to be a faithful and wise servant. It portrays the condition of the church at Christ's coming and should arouse earnest zeal in the heart of the true believer.

Past Fulfillment in History

The verse describes the severe tribulation that accompanied the destruction of Jerusalem, which came about forty years after Christ's ascension, greater than any tribulation before it or afterward. The warning was given about forty years before the event.

The prayer that flight should not be in winter or on the Sabbath shows the Sabbath remained sacred to be remembered and honored after Christ's death and resurrection. In keeping with that instruction the disciples were able to leave the besieged city and escape to the mountains for the mountains without fleeing on the Sabbath.

The verse also means long centuries of darkness for Christ's church in the long period between the destruction of Jerusalem and the second coming of the Son of man in majesty and glory, a period marked with blood and tears and agony. For more than a thousand years persecution such as the world had never before known was to come upon Christ's followers, and millions upon millions of faithful witnesses were to be slain. Had God's hand not been stretched out to preserve His people, all flesh would have perished.

That great tribulation is the church's suffering under pagan and papal persecutions, among the major events between Christ's first and second advents. It was a period of suffering without parallel in the world's history. Jesus thus foretold that after He was taken from them and before His return in power and glory to deliver them, His followers would suffer fierce persecution through the ages of darkness. That tribulation would come from the rulers of the world as an unparalleled storm of suffering, including humiliation, reproach, and suffering like the path He Himself endured.

The prediction was fulfilled beginning with the early church, when pagan powers sought to destroy Christianity. Christians of every social class and level of learning were dispossessed and stripped of possessions, driven from their homes, hunted into hiding, imprisoned, tortured, and killed for their faith.

Future Time of Trouble

Beyond Jerusalem the verse points to the last days and to a coming crisis such as the world has never witnessed, with believers now standing on the threshold of those great and solemn events. The ruin of Jerusalem was only a symbol of the final ruin that shall overwhelm the world, receiving only a partial fulfillment there and having a more direct application to the last days. Even in that crisis God's kingdom rules over all, the program of coming events is in the Maker's hands, and He has the destiny of nations as well as the concerns of His church in His own charge.

The coming ordeal surpasses the destruction that came upon Jerusalem and involves the whole world in a time of trouble unlike any before it. Its magnitude is so great that even the most vivid description cannot convey it fully, making urgent preparation now while atonement is being made through learning meekness and lowliness and becoming perfect. After people reject mercy and trample upon the law, protection is withdrawn and Satan's power to deceive and destroy reaches its culmination as the forces of strife are no longer restrained.

Before that trial opens angels restrain the four winds until God's servants are sealed, and when the winds are released great strife will follow. In that trial each person must stand individually before God, for even the righteousness of Noah, Daniel, or Job cannot deliver another person. The unprecedented trouble stands immediately before the coming of Jesus in the clouds of heaven, brought about by what the whole world is becoming, and that coming will speedily bring it to a close.

Because that trouble must come before His coming and has not yet come, setting dates for His return is wrong, and failed dates weaken faith. In that time holy angels will preserve the lives of the righteous, but those neglecting a known duty or an express command have no assurance of protection from the wrath of enemies. Preparation is therefore demanded for that great day now at hand.

In the last days temptations and tribulation will be more severe than in any earlier age, as skill and power to allure increase while human power to resist declines. Satan's great wrath in this unlike-anything-yet-seen tribulation is driven by his knowledge that his time is short, but God sets limits he cannot pass. Faith is a barrier against his attacks, so that those built up in the faith are kept safe.

The language of unprecedented trouble is applied to a future crisis in which trades unions and trade unions will be one of the agencies bringing trouble upon the earth. Those who now embrace the Third Angel's Message will enter that coming time of trouble such as never was, which is very near and about to be entered. Truths learned over years must now be learned in a few months with fast growth, by hearing all the straight truths of the Word and enduring the strong meat of the straightness of the way. Truth must work like leaven to purify and purge the passions of the natural heart, with breaking up and rending of heart and not the garment, for it is too late to feed with milk.

The uniquely severe tribulation ahead will test every soul to the utmost, so all must face it and be ready. In the perils of the last days many little children will be swept off before the time is over.

Deception and False Christs

The warning of great tribulation is a command to be on guard that no one deceive them, and not to accept everything that claims to be revelation from God. Supposed prophets are not to be encouraged without great certainty that God has chosen them as His mouthpiece to the people. Christ told these things beforehand to enforce the warning, so ministers must preach the Word and must not call people to rest faith on uncertain things or to place confidence in the human agent. That great tribulation brings Satan working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to personate Jesus Christ with a counterfeit so close to the genuine that, if possible, the very elect would be deceived.

The crisis falls in the last days, when people will claim to be Christ. In that time deceptive workers will lead some into false claims of holiness and sinlessness, so believers must cling to the truth and discern the spirit behind such claims. The warning given concerning Jerusalem also teaches that cities may face judgment and great calamity when their inhabitants reject reproof and refuse to repent.

Call to Watch and Prepare

The prophecies of Matthew 24 must be studied and brought to the attention of all, both believers and unbelievers. Ministers and teachers must present them, leaving matters of lesser consequence aside, as truth that decides the eternal destiny of souls. Their prediction is being fulfilled today, and unmistakable fulfilment shows that Christ's coming is at hand and calls the church to arouse. The great tribulation without parallel in the world's past or future warns of judgments about to fall upon the earth that must be earnestly made known, calling people to remain watchful and actively working as they await Christ's coming. To ignore the signs warning of His coming is sinful.

The signs of the times foretold to the disciples were given to instruct those who should afterward believe and to help them prepare for the great conflict. At this age of the world those signs are fulfilling and are to be discerned. Knowledge of them should rouse people from lethargy, awaken responsibility for God's work, and lead to a higher standard as a people. The outline of what will come upon the world points to the severe tribulations of the last days, and the chapter's warnings call people to prepare and to proclaim the final message of mercy. The time of trouble still ahead must be faced by all, and is reason to warn people and seek their salvation so they may live through eternity.

A coming crisis greater than any since the world began and without equal in all past history is near. It will demand the entire consecration of every faculty of the mind and every power of being from everyone who has named the name of Christ. They are required to come up higher into the mount into God's direct presence, with divine illumination and wisdom, so that no human impress is seen on the great enterprises before them. Its ordeal is so great that even the most vivid description cannot convey its full magnitude. Therefore preparation is urgent now, while Christ is making atonement, by learning meekness and lowliness through God's providence and becoming perfect in Christ.