From the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ passed on rapidly to the greater event, the last link in the chain of this earth's history,--the coming of the Son of God in majesty and glory. Between these two events, there lay open to Christ's view long centuries of darkness, centuries for His 631 church marked with blood and tears and agony. Upon these scenes His disciples could not then endure to look, and Jesus passed them by with a brief mention. "Then shall be great tribulation," He said, "such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." For more than a thousand years such persecution as the world had never before known was to come upon Christ's followers. Millions upon millions of His faithful witnesses were to be slain. Had not God's hand been stretched out to preserve His people, all would have perished. "But for the elect's sake," He said, "those days shall be shortened."

Fra Jerusalems ødelæggelse gik Jesus hurtigt over til den større begivenhed, det sidste led i denne verdens histories kæde: Guds Søns genkomst i majestæt og herlighed. Mellem disse to begivenheder viste der sig tydeligt for Kristus lange århundreder med mørke tider, århundreder, der for hans menighed var mærkede med blod og tårer og kval. Disciplene kunne ikke engang tåle at se disse syner, og Jesus forbigik dem ved kun ganske kortfattet at nævne dem. Han sagde: "Thi da skal der komme en stor trængsel, hvis lige ikke har været fra verdens begyndelse indtil nu og heller ikke senere skal komme. Og dersom de dage ikke blev afkortet, da blev intet menneske frelst, men for de udvalgtes skyld skal disse dage afkortes " Gennem mere end tusinde år skulle en forfølgelse, som verden aldrig havde set mage til, komme over Kristi efterfølgere. Millioner og atter millioner af hans trofaste vidner skulle dræbes. Hvis ikke Guds hånd havde været udrakt for at bevare hans folk, ville de alle være omkommet. "Men for de udvalgtes skyld skal disse dage afkortes!" sagde han.