Mark 13.19 is not a verse to be taken lightly. It could not be any clearer that the tribulation that is to come will be one for the ages—thus the sobriquet "The Great Tribulation." I am aware that there is a segment of Christianity that says we do not have to worry about this because the Church will be raptured. It is not a view with which Christ seems to be aware in the gospel.
I suppose the wisest thing would be to prepare as if one was going to endure the Great Tribulation. To my mind this means to apply oneself to growth in grace. Certainly a tribulation such as Christ describes will tend to separate the dross from the gold—as it were. One's deepest beliefs are only truly tested in the fires of persecution or difficulty. Those who have given themselves over to following Christ will endure—will endure! Those who have only followed by lip service will not.
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