Mark 13:14-37

Contemporary English Version

The Horrible Thing

(Matthew 24.15-21; Luke 21.20-24)

^14 (A) Someday you will see that “Horrible Thing” where it should not be.^[a] Everyone who reads this must try to understand! If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains. ^15 (B) If you are on the roof^[b] of your house, don't go inside to get anything. ¹⁶ If you are out in the field, don't go back for your coat. ¹⁷ It will be an awful time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children. ¹⁸ Pray that it won't happen in winter.^{[c] 19 (C)} This will be the worst time of suffering since God created the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again. ²⁰ If the Lord doesn't make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of his chosen and special ones, he will make the time shorter.

²¹ If someone should say, “Here is the Messiah!” or “There he is!” don't believe it. ²² False messiahs and false prophets will come and work miracles and signs. They will even try to fool God's chosen ones. ²³ But be on your guard! That's why I am telling you these things now.

When the Son of Man Appears

(Matthew 24.29-31; Luke 21.25-28)

^24 (D) In those days, right after this time of suffering,

^26 (F) Then the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.

A Lesson from a Fig Tree

(Matthew 24.32-35; Luke 21.29-33)

²⁸ Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know summer is near. ²⁹ So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come.^{[e] 30} You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens. ³¹ The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.

No One Knows the Day or Time

(Matthew 24.36-44)

^32 (G) No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don't know, and the Son himself doesn't know. Only the Father knows. ³³ So watch out and be ready! You don't know when the time will come. ^34 (H) It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything. He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert. ³⁵ So be alert! You don't know when the master of the house will come back. It could be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or in the morning. ³⁶ But if he comes suddenly, don't let him find you asleep. ³⁷ I tell everyone just what I have told you. Be alert!