Mark 13:19

For [in] those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

For {G1063} in those {G1565} days {G2250} shall be {G2071} affliction {G2347}, such {G5108} as {G3634} was {G1096} not {G3756} from {G575} the beginning {G746} of the creation {G2937} which {G3739} God {G2316} created {G2936} unto {G2193} this time {G3568}, neither {G2532}{G3364} shall be {G1096}.

For there will be worse trouble at that time than there has ever been from the very beginning, when God created the universe, until now; and there will be nothing like it again.

For those will be days of tribulation unmatched from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again.

For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be.

Mark 13:19 is a solemn and vivid declaration by Jesus Christ, part of His famous "Olivet Discourse" given to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. This verse highlights the extreme severity of a future period of distress, describing it as an unparalleled time of suffering unlike any before or after it in human history.

Context

This verse is found within a larger prophetic discourse (Mark 13:1-37, also paralleled in Matthew 24 and Luke 21). Jesus had just predicted the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, prompting His disciples to ask about the timing of these events and the signs of His coming and the end of the age. In response, Jesus describes a sequence of escalating global troubles, including false prophets, wars, earthquakes, famines, and severe persecution of believers, all leading up to this uniquely intense "affliction."

Key Themes

  • Unprecedented Suffering: The most striking aspect of this verse is its emphatic description of the tribulation's intensity. Jesus uses superlative language ("such as was not from the beginning of the creation... neither shall be") to underscore that this period will be uniquely agonizing, a time of distress unmatched in human experience. This foreshadows a time of great tribulation.
  • Divine Prophecy and Warning: This verse serves as a crucial warning from Jesus about future events, emphasizing the reality of hardship before the ultimate deliverance. It highlights His omniscience and divine authority to foretell such significant historical and eschatological occurrences.
  • Call to Endurance: While depicting extreme difficulty, the broader context of the Olivet Discourse also calls believers to watchfulness, perseverance, and faithfulness amidst these trials, promising ultimate salvation for those who endure (Mark 13:13).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "affliction" is thlipsis (θλῖψις). This term implies intense pressure, distress, tribulation, or anguish. It's often used in the New Testament to describe the hardships and persecutions faced by believers (John 16:33). The phrase "such as was not from the beginning of the creation... neither shall be" is a powerful hyperbole, not necessarily meaning absolutely no suffering will ever compare again, but rather that this specific period is of an unparalleled, concentrated severity in the context of divine judgment and the culmination of history.

Practical Application

For believers today, Mark 13:19 offers several insights:

  • Spiritual Preparedness: It underscores the importance of being spiritually ready for challenging times, understanding that suffering can be part of God's sovereign plan.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even in the face of such dire prophecies, the Christian hope rests on the understanding that God remains in control, and these events ultimately lead to His ultimate triumph and the establishment of His kingdom.
  • Perspective on Present Troubles: While we face difficulties in life, this verse reminds us that there is a future period of extreme global distress. This perspective can encourage endurance and a focus on eternal hope rather than being overwhelmed by current trials.
  • Urgency of the Gospel: The foretelling of such intense future affliction should motivate believers to share the good news of salvation, offering hope and deliverance to a world facing tribulation (Mark 13:10).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 12:1

    ¶ And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

  • Joel 2:2

    A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, [even] to the years of many generations.

  • Matthew 24:21

    For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

  • Daniel 9:26

    And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

  • Mark 10:6

    But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

  • Daniel 9:12

    And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

  • Luke 21:22

    For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

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