Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

(Matthew 24:1-2; Luke 21:5-6)

1As Jesusa was leaving the Temple, one of his disciples told him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what beautiful buildings!”

2“Do you see these large buildings?” Jesus responded. “Not one stone here will be left on another that will not be torn down.”

Cults, Revolutions, Famines, and Earthquakes

(Matthew 24:3-14; Luke 21:7-19)

3As Jesusb was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were asking him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when these things will be put into effect?”

5Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one deceives you. 6Many will come in my name and say, ‘I AM,’ and they will deceive many people.c 7But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, stop being alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn’t come yet, 8because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains.”

Future Persecution and Evangelism

(Matthew 10:16-25; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 21:12-19)

9“As for yourselves, be on your guard! Peopled will hand you over to local councils, and you will be beaten in their synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings to testify to them because of me. 10But first, the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations.e 11When they take you away and hand you over for trial, don’t worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that time, because it won’t be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.”

Signs of the End

(Matthew 24:15-28; Luke 21:20-24)

14“So when you see the destructive desecration standing where it should not be (let the reader take note),f then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 15The one who is on his housetop must not come down and go into his house to take anything out of it, 16and the one who’s in the field must not turn back to get his coat.

17“How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days! 18Pray that it may not be in winter, 19because those days will be a time of suffering,g a kind that has not happened from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and certainly will never happen again. 20If the Lord had not shortened those days, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect whom he has chosen, he has shortened those days.

21“At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’,h or, ‘Look! There he is!’ don’t believe it, 22because false messiahsi and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens to deceive, if possible, the elect. 23So be on your guard! I’ve told you everything before it happens.”

The Coming of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:25-28)

24“But after the suffering of those days,

‘The sun will be darkened,

the moon will not give its light,

25the stars will fall from the sky,

and the powers of heaven will be shaken loose.’j

26Then peoplek will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’l with great power and glory. 27He’ll send out his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”

The Lesson from the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32-35; Luke 21:29-33)

28“Now learn a lessonm from the fig tree. When its branches become tender and it produces leaves, you know that summer is near. 29In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the Son of Mann is near, right at the door. 30I tell all of youo with certainty, this generation will not disappear until all these things take place. 31Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”

The Unknown Day and Hour of the Messiah’s Return

(Matthew 24:36-44)

32“No one knows when that day or hour will comep —not the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father. 33Be careful! Watch out! Because you don’t know when the time will come. 34It’s like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge, each with his own work, and he ordered the doorkeeper to be alert. 35So keep on watching, because you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening, at three o’clock in the morning,q or at dawn. 36Otherwise, he may come suddenly and find you asleep. 37I’m telling you what I’m telling everyone: Be alert!”