Cults, Revolutions, Famines, and Earthquakes^(A)

³ Now while Jesus^[a] was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

⁴ In reply, Jesus told them, “See to it that no one deceives you, ⁵ because many will come in my name, proclaiming, ‘I’m the Messiah,’^[b] and they will deceive many people. ⁶ You’ll begin to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you don’t panic. These things must take place, but the end won’t have come yet, ⁷ because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ But all these things are only a beginning of agonies.”

Future Persecution, Apostasy, and Evangelism^(B)

⁹ “Then they’ll hand you over to suffer^[c] and will kill you, and you’ll be hated by all the nations^[d] on account of my name. ¹⁰ Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another. ¹¹ Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, ¹² and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold. ¹³ But the person who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the inhabited world as a testimony to all nations,^[e] and then the end will come.”

The Coming Wars and Revolutions^(A)

⁷ Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen, and what is to be the sign when these things are about to take place?”

⁸ He said, “See to it that you aren’t deceived, because many will come in my name, proclaiming, ‘I AM,’ and, ‘The time has come.’ Don’t follow them. ⁹ But when you hear of wars and revolutions, don’t ever be terrified, because these sorts of things must take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”

¹⁰ Then he went on to say to them, “Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ In addition there will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places, as well as terrifying events, including significant signs from heaven.”

Future Persecutions^(B)

¹² “But before all these things, people^[a] will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake, ¹³ in order to give you an opportunity to testify. ¹⁴ So purpose in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time, ¹⁵ because I will give you the ability to speak, along with wisdom, that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated continuously by everyone on account of my name. ¹⁸ And yet not a hair on your head will be lost. ¹⁹ But the person who endures to the end will be saved.”