Destruction of the Temple Predicted
1As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”
2Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another — all will be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
3While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
5Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed; these things must take place, but it is not yet the end. 8For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Persecutions Predicted
9“But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. 10And it is necessary that the gospel be preached to all nations. 11So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The Great Tribulation
14“When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 15A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house, 16and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. 17Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!
18“Pray it won’t happen in winter. 19For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of creation, which God created, until now and never will be again. 20If the Lord had not cut those days short, no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect, whom he chose.
21“Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah! See, there! ’ do not believe it. 22For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.
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 shed its light; 25the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27He will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
28“Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 29In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near — at the door.
30“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour
32“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows — neither the angels in heaven nor the Son — but only the Father.
33“Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.
34“It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming — whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping. 37And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”