When Jesus is speaking of the end times, He qualifies the tribulation that will occur. The persecution of one's faith will
be violent and lethal:
"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the
world until now, nor ever will." (Matt 24:21)
"For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the
creation which God created until now, and never will. Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved;
but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days." (Mark 13:19-20)
"Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be
great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive
into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
(Luke 21:23-24)
This Great Tribulation will occur when "the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet" is
standing in the holy place which locates this event in the middle of Daniel's 70th week. Unlike tribulation in general, the
Great Tribulation is a time to flee:
"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet,
standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains."
(Matt 24:15-16)
"But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader
understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains." (Mark 13:14)
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then
those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in
the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled."
(Luke 21:20-22)