³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives^(A) opposite the temple, Peter, James, John^(B) and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”

⁵ Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.^{(C) 6} Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁸ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues.^(D) On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. ¹¹ Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.^(E)

¹² “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.^{(F) 13} Everyone will hate you because of me,^(G) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.^(H)

¹⁴ “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’^[a](I) standing where it^[b] does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁵ Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. ¹⁶ Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. ¹⁷ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!^{(J) 18} Pray that this will not take place in winter, ¹⁹ because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world,^(K) until now—and never to be equaled again.^(L)

²⁰ “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. ²¹ At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.^{(M) 22} For false messiahs and false prophets^(N) will appear and perform signs and wonders^(O) to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²³ So be on your guard;^(P) I have told you everything ahead of time.

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.^{(A) 9} When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^{(B) 11} There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.^(C)

¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me.^{(D) 14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.^{(E) 15} For I will give you^(F) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,^(G) and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me.^{(H) 18} But not a hair of your head will perish.^{(I) 19} Stand firm, and you will win life.^(J)

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,^(K) you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.^{(L) 22} For this is the time of punishment^(M) in fulfillment^(N) of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled^(O) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.