What is the Great Tribulation? 

Bible Meaning and Contextual Examination

Written by Nab B. 

August 2022

Updated Oct 2, 2026

Jesus said, 

"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." Matthew 24:21-22

The Bible mentions the “great tribulation” in the teachings of Jesus and in the book of Revelation. But what does the expression actually mean?

I believe the Great Tribulation should not be understood as a single future worldwide catastrophe reserved for one final generation. 

In the Bible, it is an event, a condition of suffering, affliction, and distress, first experienced by Jesus Christ, and later by all genuine believers, in imitation of his suffering and death, which is central to my argument.

What is the "Great Tribulation"? 

The Greek word commonly translated as 'tribulation' is thlipsis, which conveys pressure, affliction, distress, or persecution. It is an eventual condition of continual dying to self rather than a worldwide catastrophic event. It is the ordained way of life for true believers: a special blend of joyful life mixed with afflictions, troubles, and tribulations in this world. Such inevitable life is shown in the passages below:

“In the world, you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33)

“Through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

“It has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake.” (Phil 1:29) 

“But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings.” (1 Peter 4:13)

“We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance.” (Rom 5:3) 

“No one should be shaken by these afflictions [tribulation]; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.” (1 Thess 3:3)

Tribulation, then, should not surprise a serious believer. It is predetermined due to the conflict between Christ's light and darkness, both in the world and in our old nature. 

"Who delivered us from the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son." (Col 1:13) BLB 

"What fellowship has light with darkness?" (2 Cor 6:14) BLB

The Beginning of Christ's Great Tribulation

Since everything centres on one event, the death of Jesus, you will clearly see from his words that the great tribulation centres on and begins with him.

Tribulation at Gethsemane: 

"Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.' He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:36-39)

Tribulation at the cross: 

“About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying...“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)

Christ's Tribulation in Isaiah: 

“He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief...Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter...He was cut off from the land of the living. Yet, it pleased the LORD to bruise [crush] him. He put him to grief...He poured out His soul unto death. He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isa 53:3-12)

Christ's tribulation in the Psalms: 

“I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.” (Psalm 22:14-18; see also Hebrews 5:7-8)

The Great Tribulation and the Death of Christ! 

Succinctly, the Great Tribulation is the death of Christ in the flesh. To prove this, we will examine the context in Matthew 24:15-22 carefully.

v. 15: The religious leaders conspired to finally kill Jesus as prophesied in Daniel.

vv. 16-20: Jesus warned his followers that a great change was coming to them! 

v. 21: A ‘great tribulation’ (pressure, affliction) is coming that has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, nor ever shall be.

v. 22: Unless those days were shortened (come hastily), no flesh would be saved. The days will be shortened for the elect’s sake.

Clearly, Jesus was not referring to a worldwide cataclysmic event at the end of history! He was referring to the event of his own death in submission to the will of his Father to save humanity.

You may see differently, but the scriptural context seems to me to present Jesus' death (the greatest of all events) as the only reasonable conclusion!

As his time approached, to appreciate the severity of his journey into the great tribulation, his death, consider this: 

• Jesus was convicted as a criminal, although fully innocent. 

• He was whipped, spit on, beaten, publicly humiliated, and left hanging on a cross for six hours while the crowds laughed and mocked him.

• He was not offered any relief from his physical and emotional pain at the cross.

• The burden of "the sins of the whole world" weighed heavily upon him alone!

From God's point of view, Christ's death is greater in importance and magnitude than any event on earth. Nothing could be likened to it before, and none will ever be after. It changed the course of history forever, no matter what people believe!

What does Matthew 24:22 Mean, 

'If Those Days had Not Been Cut Short, Nobody Would Be Saved'?

Keep in mind that this passage speaks primarily of Christ’s own ‘great tribulation’ ending with his one-of-a-kind death!

How crucial is Christ’s death—his great tribulation—to humans? Nothing was, is, or will ever be like it! The fate of all humans, throughout all ages, will be determined by Christ's death, which is "The power of God for salvation" (1 Cor 1:18). This is so whether mankind seeks to know it or not, or chooses to accept it or not!

If Christ's death (his great tribulation) had not occurred at God's appointed time and plan, “Nobody would be saved”! Nothing else can save us except Christ's life, which was given on our behalf.

Let me rephrase what Jesus said in Matthew 24:22 for clarity:

“Unless my great tribulation of suffering and dying comes without delay, as appointed, no person (all flesh) could be saved. Unless I die willingly as a sin offering, redemption will not be possible for humans. But, for the sake of those who are chosen, and will be chosen, God has determined that My hour of dying, my great tribulation, has now come.”

Initially, Jesus' disciples were clueless of his death (Matt 20:17-20), although it was only moments away—a moment heaven and earth anxiously had long awaited since Genesis 3:15 was spoken. Finally, he managed to tell them of the imminence of “the abominable” plot to kill Him, causing the greatest tribulation for Him and, later, for his followers. (See Matthew 24:15)

What is the Meaning of Revelation 7:14, 

“These Are They Who Came Out of the Great Tribulation”

Revelation 7:14 is especially important to this article. A "great multitude" was seen coming out of the great tribulation, similar to the tribulation that Jesus faced. 

The apostle John was asked, 

"Where did they (the great multitude) come from?" “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14) 

This demonstrates that the great tribulation is not a future event but rather a spiritual condition—a death to self—that every genuine believer will experience. This surrender is essential to the life of faith, but redemption and salvation come through Jesus Christ. No genuine believer is exempt from this process.

Another important question is: Which generation of believers must “come out of the great tribulation” and “wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb”? Does this refer to believers in the past, the present, or the future? The answer is all believers. If the great tribulation were limited to a single end-time event, then only one generation would be redeemed and saved.

Why the Real Meaning of the Great Tribulation Matters? 

The Great Tribulation sets the course of life for true believers. Because Christ suffered, we suffer; because he died, we figuratively die by burying the body of sin with Him while being made alive in the spirit.

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him." (Rom 6:8) BLB

Don't look for a cataclysmic event. Don't wait for what will never come. Don't be trapped by unfounded fear, which can easily rob you of joy in the Lord in the here and now. 

Be sure to go through your great tribulation, which Jesus began, to come out “washed...and made white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)

Related Studies: 

• What was the War in Heaven?

• Who are the 24 Elders in Revelation?

• What is the Abomination of Desolation?

• The Seventy Weeks of Daniel Ended in AD 34

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