And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to
him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful
buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great
buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that
will not be thrown down.”
And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter
and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when
will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these
things are about to be accomplished?” And Jesus began to say to
them, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name,
saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you
hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take
place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various
places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the
birth pains.
“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to
councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand
before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before
them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And
when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be
anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given
you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his
child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to
death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one
who endures to the end will be saved.
“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he
ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are
in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop
not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the
one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas
for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in
those days! Pray that it may not happen in winter. For in those
days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the
beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never
will be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being
would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he
shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is
the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false
christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and
wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I
have told you all things beforehand.
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be
darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will
be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be
shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with
great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and
gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to
the ends of heaven.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch
becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is
near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know
that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this
generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the
angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard,
keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like
a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants
in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay
awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of
the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the
rooster crows, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you
asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
