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Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to happen?”
5 Jesus said to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in My name and say, ‘I am He!’ and they will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are beginning of birth pains.
9 “But you must be on your guard. They will hand you over to tribunals, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for My sake, as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 But when you are arrested and put on trial, do not be anxious beforehand what you will say. Only say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who is speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 “Then brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name. But those who endure to the end will be saved.
14 “But when you see the ‘abomination that causes desolation’, standing where it should not be,” (let the reader understand), “then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 15 Anyone who is on the roof of his house must not go inside the house to take anything out. 16 And anyone who is in the field must not go back to get his cloak. 17 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter. 19 For they will be days of tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning when God created the world, until now, and never will be again. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the number of those days, no one would survive. But the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened the number of days.
21 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’, or, ‘Look, there!’, do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and miracles to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation:
‘The sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give it is light;
25 the stars will fall from the heavens,
and the celestial powers will be shaken’.
26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And He will send out His angels, and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things taking place, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on your guard, watch, and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, who leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house will come—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 Otherwise He may come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”