What Will Happen During the Tribulation? Understanding Matthew 24 and God's Plan for Israel
Matthew 24 is one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible. When read without proper context, it can be confusing or misapplied. But when you trace it through Scripture, connecting the Old Testament to the New, a clear and powerful picture emerges of God's sovereign plan for Israel, and the end of the age.
Why Context Matters When Reading Matthew 24
Jesus is answering three specific questions His disciples asked Him. When will the temple be destroyed? What will be the sign of His coming? And what marks the end of the age? (Matthew 24:3). These were questions asked by Jewish men, from a Jewish perspective, about the nation of Israel.
Understanding that context changes everything about how you read this passage.
What Is the Abomination of Desolation?
In Matthew 24:15, Jesus references the "abomination of desolation." This is the moment when the Antichrist walks into a rebuilt temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and declares Himself to be God. This event happens at the midpoint of the seven-year tribulation period.
When this happens, Jesus gives urgent, practical instructions to those who are alive and witness it. Leave immediately. Do not go back for belongings. Do not delay. The urgency is unmistakable.
How Bad Will the Tribulation Really Be?
Jesus says in Matthew 24:21: "For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again."
That includes Noah's flood. That includes every earthquake, famine, and war in human history. The tribulation begins with seal judgments, which lead to wars, famine, disease, and death. Then come trumpet judgments and bowl judgments, each intensifying like birth pains that grow closer and more severe.
This is not symbolic language. It is a literal, future period of judgment unlike anything the world has ever seen (Daniel 9:27; Zechariah 13:8-9; Revelation 6-18).
Who Is Jesus Talking To in These Verses?
This is a critical question. Jesus is not speaking to the church in Matthew 24:16-21. The church has already been given its own promises throughout the New Testament letters about what the future holds.
Jesus is speaking to tribulation believers, both Jewish and Gentile, who come to faith during this period through:
144,000 Jewish evangelists (Revelation 7 and 14)
Two witnesses in Jerusalem (Revelation 11)
An angel proclaiming the gospel across the earth (Revelation 14:6-7)
These are not church-age believers. They are a distinct group of people saved during a distinct time in God's prophetic plan (Revelation 7:9-17).
Where Will People Flee When the Antichrist Rises?
Jesus tells those in Judea to flee to the hills. Many biblical scholars point to Petra, an ancient city carved into rock located about 250 miles southeast of Jerusalem in modern-day Jordan. It is a vast, hidden place with countless areas for shelter. Whether Petra is the exact location or not, the point Jesus is making is clear: flee immediately and do not look back.
Why Has Satan Always Targeted the Jewish People?
Since God made His covenant with Abraham, Satan has sought to destroy the Jewish people. The reason is rooted in redemption itself.
As Jesus said in John 4:22, "…salvation comes through the Jews." The line of promise runs from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob, through David, to Jesus Himself. To destroy the Jews before Christ came would have been to break the redemptive line entirely.
This is why Herod massacred young boys from infant to 2 years old after Jesus was born. It was a Satan-inspired attempt to destroy the Messianic line. It failed. The resurrection of Jesus Christ proved that nothing can stop God's plan.
What Does the Bible Say About the Fate of Israel During the Tribulation?
The prophet Zechariah gives a sobering picture. In Zechariah 13:8-9, God says: "Two thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die, says the Lord. But one third will be left in the land. I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, these are my people, and they will say, the Lord is our God."
The surviving third will be the ones who believe in Christ. They will mourn deeply over what their nation did to their Messiah, just as Zechariah 12:10 describes: "They will look on me whom they have pierced, and mourn for him as for an only son."
This is the fulfillment of God's mercy toward the Jewish people who trust in Him. It is a spiritual awakening that comes through the most severe judgment the earth has ever known.
What Does "All Israel Will Be Saved" Mean in Romans 11?
Paul writes in Romans 11:26: "And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, the one who rescues will come from Jerusalem and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness."
This is not referring to a spiritual remnant within the church age. In context, Paul is speaking about the Jewish people who survive the tribulation, believe in Christ, and enter the millennial kingdom. God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. What He promises, He fulfills.
What Is the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31 and Who Is It For?
Jeremiah 31:31 says: "The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah."
This covenant is specifically for the Jewish people. It is not speaking of the church. It is a future promise to the remnant of Israel who come through the tribulation and enter a restored relationship with God. One of the most striking signs that this is a future fulfillment is found in verse 34: "They will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, you should know the Lord, for everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already."
That has not happened yet. We still have a mission to share Christ with the world. That verse describes a future reality, not the present age.
What Does God's Judgment Tell Us About His Character?
It is easy to look at the tribulation and question whether God's judgment is fair. But the honest answer is that none of us want God's justice or His judgment. We want His mercy. And that is exactly what He offers through Christ.
The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are the same God. Hebrews tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The one who executed judgment in the Old Testament is the same one who died on the cross in the New Testament. His judgments are righteous and true, even when they are difficult to understand from a human perspective.
We can always know what God intends by growing in our knowledge of what He has written. The more you are in the Word, the more you understand His heart and His purposes.
Which Jesus Are You Trusting In?
This is the most personal question that comes out of all of this. Is the Jesus you follow exist to give you comfort and prosperity? Is He a works-based Jesus you try to appease through religious duty? Or have you placed your faith in the Jesus who looks at a broken, sinful person and says, "Your sins, though they are many, are forgiven"?
That same compassionate Christ is the one who will return to judge the earth. He has every right to judge sin. And He is worthy of our complete trust and surrender.
Colossians 3:1-4 puts it plainly: "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven and not the things of earth."
Life Application
God's plan is moving forward. His word has always been true, and it will continue to be true. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are part of a unique group of people placed on this earth for a reason, and that reason is to make Christ known.
This week, challenge yourself to remove one distraction that keeps your eyes down and your focus inward, and replace that time with intentional awareness of the people around you who need to hear about Jesus. It does not have to be a grand gesture. A word of encouragement, a moment of genuine care, a conversation you have been putting off. Christ in you is the hope of glory, not just for us who believe in Him by faith, but also for someone else who needs to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Ask yourself these questions as you go into the week:
Which version of Jesus am I actually trusting in, and does my daily life reflect the real Christ of Scripture?
Am I growing in my knowledge of God's Word so that I can better understand His intentions and share them with others?
Who in my life needs to know the Lord, and what is one step I can take this week to point them toward Him?
