Mark 13 19

Mark 13:19 kjv

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.

Mark 13:19 nkjv

For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.

Mark 13:19 niv

because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now?and never to be equaled again.

Mark 13:19 esv

For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be.

Mark 13:19 nlt

For there will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world. And it will never be so great again.

Mark 13 verses

Mark 13 19 Meaning

Mark 13:19 describes an era of unparalleled suffering and distress, so extreme that nothing comparable has ever occurred since the very beginning of creation, nor will ever happen again. This profound declaration underscores the severity and uniqueness of the impending tribulation, highlighting it as the ultimate period of intense hardship.

Mark 13 19 Context

Mark 13, often referred to as the "Olivet Discourse" or the "Little Apocalypse," records Jesus' extensive prophecy concerning the end times. This discourse was prompted by the disciples' admiration for the grandeur of the Jerusalem Temple (Mk 13:1-2) and their subsequent question about when these things would be and what would be the sign of their fulfillment and of the end of the age (Mk 13:3-4). Jesus warns them against deception, speaks of impending persecutions, the preaching of the Gospel, and the rise of the "abomination of desolation" (Mk 13:14), which would signal a time for immediate flight from Jerusalem. Mark 13:19 specifies the intensity and nature of the tribulation following these events, marking it as utterly unprecedented and beyond human experience. Historically, parts of this prophecy found initial fulfillment in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, leading to immense suffering and the leveling of the Temple, yet its language points to an even greater future tribulation that will affect all creation.

Mark 13 19 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): This causal conjunction connects the severity of the coming tribulation to the necessity of the previously advised actions, such as flight from Judea (Mk 13:14) and warnings about dangers in those specific days (Mk 13:15-18). It indicates a reason for the intensity of the tribulation described.
• in those days (ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις - en ekeinais tais hēmerais): Refers specifically to the time period following the "abomination of desolation" (Mk 13:14). This phrase ties the unparalleled suffering to the signs that would precipitate it, denoting a defined eschatological period.
• there will be (ἔσονται - esontai): A future indicative verb, affirming the certain and inevitable occurrence of this tribulation. It emphasizes divine decree and foreknowledge.
• such tribulation (θλῖψις - thlipsis): The Greek term literally means "pressure," "distress," "affliction," or "oppression." In the New Testament, thlipsis often describes general hardships, persecution, or divine judgment. Here, it is intensely qualified as being of a unique nature, signifying unprecedented anguish, physical hardship, and moral suffering.
• as has not been (οἵα οὐ γέγονεν - hoia ou gegonen): This strong negation emphasizes the absolute uniqueness of this period of suffering compared to anything experienced in the past. It parallels Old Testament prophetic language (e.g., Dan 12:1).
• from the beginning (ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς - ap' archēs): Denotes the starting point of time and existence. It signifies the commencement of the universe as understood biblically, highlighting the cosmic scope of this unprecedented event – an event unequaled in the entirety of created history.
• of the creation (κτίσεως - ktiseōs): The Greek word means "the act of creating" or "the thing created," i.e., the created universe or the world. Its inclusion emphasizes that no event since the cosmos began has brought such profound distress, lending universal and cosmic scale to the tribulation.
• which God created (ἣν ἔκτισεν ὁ Θεὸς - hēn ektisen ho Theos): This clause explicitly names God as the ultimate Creator, the Sovereign Lord over all existence and all time. By referencing God as Creator, the verse underscores His knowledge and divine ordination of this period, and subtly reinforces His ultimate control even amidst the chaos. It also elevates the scope of suffering to include everything brought into being by God, not just humanity.
• until now (ἕως τοῦ νῦν - heōs tou nyn): Completes the historical continuum from "the beginning of creation" up to the point of Jesus' utterance and beyond into the historical future of the immediate audience, confirming no previous historical event, no matter how severe, can compare.
• and never will be (καὶ οὐ μὴ γένηται πάλιν - kai ou mē genētai palin): This uses a powerful double negative (οὐ μὴ) in Greek, making the assertion extremely emphatic: absolutely nothing of its kind will ever happen again in the future. This guarantees its unparalleled nature for all time to come, setting it apart as a singular, ultimate climactic event in human history.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For in those days there will be such tribulation": This establishes the severe and unique nature of the coming "pressure" or "distress" specifically associated with a particular future time. It signals the initiation of unprecedented trials for humanity.
• "as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God created until now": This phrase spans all of prior history. By rooting the comparison in the very act of God's creation, it implies the universal and cosmic nature of this tribulation. It posits that all past suffering, destruction, and calamities, no matter how horrific, fall short in comparison to what is to come. It affirms God's omniscience, as He is the Creator and knows all past events.
• "and never will be": This definitive statement locks in the unparalleled nature of the tribulation not just historically, but perpetually into the future. It sets the coming tribulation as a climactic, unrepeatable event, highlighting its ultimate and final character in redemptive history, thereby intensifying the urgency of Jesus' warnings.

Mark 13 19 Bonus section

The nature of the "Great Tribulation" in Mark 13:19 is understood in Christian theology through several interpretative lenses:

• Preterist view: Largely fulfilled in the events of AD 70. The hyperbolic language describes the unprecedented destruction of Jerusalem.
• Futurist view: Points to a still future, global tribulation preceding the return of Christ, distinct from historical events, though it may contain typological foreshadows.
• Historicist view: Sees the tribulation as an ongoing process of church history, with various periods of intense persecution or apostasy acting as fulfillments.
• Idealist view: Interprets the tribulation primarily as symbolic, representing the spiritual struggle and trials the church faces throughout history.

However, the definitive language ("never has been...never will be") leans towards an unparalleled event that transcends mere historical cycles, whether in the AD 70 context or in a final, climactic future. Mark 13:19, therefore, provides both a warning about a specific future trial (or trials) and a call to enduring faith for all generations of believers facing suffering, reminding them of Christ's foreknowledge and ultimate triumph. It is a potent reminder of the need for spiritual readiness and steadfastness amidst world events.

Mark 13 19 Commentary

Mark 13:19 describes the supreme and most severe period of distress humanity will ever witness, underscoring its unprecedented intensity both in the past and future. While aspects of Mark 13, including this verse, had a partial fulfillment in the Roman-Jewish War and the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70—a time of immense suffering for the Jewish people—the language employed reaches far beyond that specific event. Terms like "beginning of creation" and "never will be" speak to a universal, global, and eschatological climax of tribulation, as prophesied elsewhere in the Bible, notably in Daniel 12:1 and Matthew 24:21.

This "great tribulation" involves suffering of a kind that tests humanity to its limits. The reference to God as Creator reminds us of His sovereignty over all time and circumstance. Even in the midst of the most unimaginable suffering, God remains fully aware and ultimately in control, even limiting its duration for the sake of His elect (Mk 13:20). This warning serves to prepare believers for enduring immense trials, prompting vigilance and perseverance, knowing that God is not only foretelling these events but is also working His sovereign plan. The unparalleled nature of this tribulation signals a definitive turning point in redemptive history, paving the way for the cosmic signs and the glorious return of the Son of Man.