Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple
1 Thenas He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildingsarehere!”
2 And Jesus answered and said to him,“Do you see these great buildings?Notonestone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple,Peter,James,John, andAndrew asked Him privately,
4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And whatwillbethe sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say:“Take heed that no one deceives you.
6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I amHe,’ and will deceive many.
7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; forsuch thingsmust happen, but the endisnot yet.
8 For nation will rise against nation, andkingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be faminesand troubles.Thesearethe beginnings ofsorrows.
9 “Butwatch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You willbe broughtbefore rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
10 Andthe gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
11 But when they arrestyouand deliver you up, do not worry beforehand,or premeditatewhat you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak,but the Holy Spirit.
12 Nowbrother will betray brother to death, and a fatherhischild; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. Buthe whoendures to the end shall be saved.
The Great Tribulation
14 “So when you see the‘abomination of desolation,’spoken of by Daniel the prophet,standing where it ought not”(let the reader understand),“thenlet those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house.
16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter.
19 Forinthose days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.
20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
21 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, hereisthe Christ!’ or, ‘Look,He isthere!’ do not believe it.
22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs andwonders to deceive, if possible, even theelect.
23 Buttake heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
The Coming of the Son of Man
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will beshaken.
26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together Hiselect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
28 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know thatitis near—at the doors!
30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, butMy words will by no means pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour
32 “But of that day and hourno one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only theFather.
33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
34 It islike a man going to a far country, who left his house and gaveauthority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—
36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”