Luke 21:23-24

21:23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress ¹  on the earth and wrath against this people. 21:24 They ²  will fall by the edge ³  of the sword and be led away as captives ⁴  among all nations. Jerusalem ⁵  will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. ⁶ 

Matthew 24:19

24:19 Woe ⁷  to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days!

Mark 13:17-19

13:17 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! 13:18 Pray that it may not be in winter. 13:19 For in those days there will be suffering ⁸  unlike anything that has happened ⁹  from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen.

¹ sn Great distress means that this is a period of great judgment.

² tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

³ tn Grk “by the mouth of the sword” (an idiom for the edge of a sword).

⁴ sn Here is the predicted judgment against the nation until the time of Gentile rule has passed: Its people will be led away as captives.

⁵ tn Grk “And Jerusalem.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁶ sn Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled implies a time when Israel again has a central role in God’s plan.

⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

⁸ tn Traditionally, “tribulation.”

⁹ sn Suffering unlike anything that has happened. Some refer this event to the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. While the events of a.d. 70 may reflect somewhat the comments Jesus makes here, the reference to the scope and severity of this judgment strongly suggest that much more is in view. Most likely Jesus is referring to the great end-time judgment on Jerusalem in the great tribulation.