Destruction of the Temple Predicted

13 As^(A) he was going out of the temple,^(B) one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher,^(C) look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!” ^(D)

² Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?^(E) Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

³ While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives^(F) across from the temple,^(G) Peter,^(H) James,^(I) John,^(J) and Andrew^(K) 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?”

⁵ Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in my name,^(L) saying, ‘I am he,’^(M) and they will deceive^(N) many. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars,^(O) don’t be alarmed;^(P) these things must take place,^(Q) but it is not yet the end. ⁸ For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^(R) There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.^[a] These are the beginning^(S) of birth pains.^(T)

Persecutions Predicted

⁹ “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts,^[b](U) and you will be flogged^(V) in the synagogues.^(W) You will stand before governors and kings^(X) because of me,^(Y) as a witness^(Z) to them.^{(AA) 10} And it is necessary that the gospel^(AB) be preached to all nations. ¹¹ So 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^(AC) brother to death,^(AD) and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. ¹³ You will be hated by everyone because of my name,^(AE) but the one who endures to the end will be saved.^(AF)

The Great Tribulation

¹⁴ “When you see the abomination of desolation^[c](AG) standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea^(AH) must flee to the mountains. ¹⁵ A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house,^{(AI) 16} and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat.^{(AJ) 17} Woe ^(AK) to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!

¹⁸ “Pray^(AL) it^[d] won’t happen in winter. ¹⁹ For those will be days of tribulation,^(AM) the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning^(AN) of creation^(AO) until now and never will be again. ²⁰ If the Lord^(AP) had not cut those days short,^(AQ) no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect,^(AR) whom he chose.^(AS)

²¹ “Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah!^(AT) See, there!’ do not believe it. ²² For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders^(AU) to lead astray, if possible, the elect. ²³ And 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:^(AV) The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; ²⁵ the stars^(AW) will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.^{(AX) 26} Then they will see the Son of Man^(AY) coming^(AZ) in clouds^(BA) with great power^(BB) and glory.^{(BC) 27} He will send out the angels^(BD) and gather his elect^(BE) from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.^(BF)

The Parable of the Fig Tree

²⁸ “Learn^(BG) this lesson^(BH) from the fig^(BI) tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.^{(BJ) 29} In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize^[e] that he^[f] is near—at the door.

³⁰ “Truly I tell you,^(BK) this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. ³¹ Heaven and earth^(BL) will pass away,^(BM) but my words will never pass away.^(BN)

No One Knows the Day or Hour

³² “Now concerning that day^(BO) or hour no one knows—neither the angels^(BP) in heaven nor the Son^(BQ) —but only the Father.^(BR)

³³ “Watch! Be alert!^[g] For you don’t know when the time^(BS) is coming.^(BT)

³⁴ “It is like^(BU) a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants,^(BV) gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. ³⁵ Therefore be alert,^(BW) since you don’t know when the master^(BX) of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. ³⁶ Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping.^{(BY) 37} And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

⁵ As^(A) some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, ⁶ “These things that you see—the days will come^(B) when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”^(C)

Signs of the End of the Age

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” ^(D)

⁸ Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived.^(E) For many will come in my name,^(F) saying, ‘I am he,’^(G) and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.^{(H) 9} When you hear of wars and rebellions,^[a] don’t be alarmed. Indeed, it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”

¹⁰ Then he told them, “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^{(I) 11} There will be violent earthquakes,^(J) and famines and plagues^(K) in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.^{(L) 12} But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you^(M) and persecute^(N) you. They will hand you over to the synagogues^(O) and prisons,^(P) and you will be brought before kings and governors^(Q) because of my name. ¹³ This will give you an opportunity to bear witness.^{(R) 14} Therefore make up your minds^[b] not to prepare your defense ahead of time,^{(S) 15} for I will give you such words^(T) and a wisdom^(U) that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.^{(V) 16} You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.^(W) They will kill some of you. ¹⁷ You will be hated by everyone because of my name,^{(X) 18} but not a hair of your head will be lost.^{(Y) 19} By your endurance, gain^[c] your lives.^(Z)

The Destruction of Jerusalem

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,^(AA) then recognize that its desolation^(AB) has come near. ²¹ Then those in Judea must flee^(AC) to the mountains.^(AD) Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, ²² because these are days of vengeance^(AE) to fulfill all the things that are written. ²³ Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,^(AF) for there will be great distress in the land^[d] and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will be killed by the sword^[e](AG) and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles^[f](AH) until the times of the Gentiles^(AI) are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵ “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; ^(AJ) and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves.^{(AK) 26} People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.^{(AL) 27} Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud^(AM) with power and great glory.^{(AN) 28} But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.”^(AO)

The Parable of the Fig Tree

²⁹ Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰ As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. ³¹ In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize^[g] that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place.^{(AP) 33} Heaven and earth will pass away,^(AQ) but my words will never pass away.^(AR)

The Need for Watchfulness

³⁴ “Be on your guard,^(AS) so that your minds are not dulled^[h] from carousing,^[i] drunkenness,^(AT) and worries of life,^(AU) or that day will come on you unexpectedly^{(AV) 35} like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ But be alert at all times,^(AW) praying that you may have strength^[j] to escape^(AX) all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”