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Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About The Great Tribulation And The Last Days

Early Christian writings taught that the last days would include a time of great tribulation, deception, persecution, and signs in the heavens before Christ’s return. Hermas, Hippolytus, Irenaeus, Tatian, Cyprian, and Lactantius all connect this final trouble with Matthew 24, Daniel 12, and the rise of Antichrist. The teaching is broad and repeated across the second and third centuries, not just in one author, and it often includes the idea that the faithful must endure suffering with patience.

Some writers also tied the end-time trouble to the church’s testing and to a final judgment, but a few nearby passages are only general talk about suffering and are weaker for this topic.

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Key Passages

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How to Study The Great Tribulation And The Last Days

A tighter path from the primary text into context and application.

Start with the clearest command or anchor text Read the primary passage in context before building doctrine from supporting references.
Trace the apostolic pattern Compare how the apostles preached, practiced, warned, and applied this topic in the churches.
Connect to witness and formation Use early Christian sources, courses, lessons, and discussion questions only after the Bible map is clear.
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Scripture Map

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32 references

Foundation Texts

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

Core Matthew 24:21 passage.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Matthew 24:29 with signs in sun, moon, and stars.

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.

Daniel 12:1 about a time of trouble.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 Timothy 3:1 about last days difficulty.

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1 John 2:18 about the last time and antichrists.

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:9 about tribulation, kingdom, endurance.

Supporting Passages

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 parallel to Matthew 24:21.

Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Wrath of the great day

But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

Luke 21:23 parallel warning about great distress.

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

Matthew 24:19 warning about pregnant and nursing women.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Beast making war on witnesses fits the same end-times cluster

Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Wars and beginnings of sorrows

But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

Wars and the end not yet

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Matthew 24:6 parallel

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation 2:10 about testing and tribulation.

There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Last of all the woman died also.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And last of all the woman died also.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

World passing away theme

Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Generation not passing away

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

Luke 21:22 about days of vengeance.

And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.