Chapter Thirteen
And as he was going out of the temple one of his disciples says to him,
“Teacher, look! What stones and what buildings!”
And Jesus answering, said to him,
“Do you see these great buildings? There definitely won’t be left one stone on another which won’t be thrown down!”
And as he was sitting on the mount of Olives, opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things are going to be completed?”
And Jesus answering them began to say,
“Watch out in case anyone misleads you. For many will come in my name saying that it’s me and they’ll mislead many. And when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, don’t be troubled, for it must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there’ll be earthquakes in various places and there’ll be famines and disturbances. These are the beginnings of sufferings.
“But you watch out for yourselves for they’ll hand you over to councils and assemblies. You’ll be beaten and you’ll be brought before governors and kings on account of me, for a testimony to them, and the joyful news must first be proclaimed to all the nations. But whenever they lead you off, handing you over, don’t worry before, what you should say, nor think it over, but whatever is given to you at the time: say that! For you aren’t doing the speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
“And brother will hand over brother to death, and the father the child, and children will rise up against parents and will put them to death. And you’ll be hated by everyone on account of my name, but he who endures to the end: he will be saved.
“But when you see the abomination of the desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not - let he who is reading understand - then let those in Judaea flee to the mountains. And let not the man on the house-top come down into the house, nor go inside to take anything out of his house, and let not he who is in the field return to the things behind him to fetch his garment. And woe to those who are expecting and to those suckling children in those days! And pray that your flight doesn’t occur in winter. For in those days there’ll be affliction the like of which hasn’t been seen since the beginning of the creation which God created, until now, and neither will be.
“And unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved, but because of the chosen ones whom he selected, he has shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is Christ!” or ‘Look there!’ don’t believe it, for there’ll arise false Christs and false prophets and they’ll display signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even the chosen ones. But you: watch out! Look, I’ve foretold you everything!
“But in those days, after that affliction, the sun will be darkened, and the moon won’t give her light, and the stars of heaven will be falling and the powers which are in heaven will be shaken. And then they’ll see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he’ll send his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the extremity of earth to the extremity of heaven.
“And from the fig tree learn the parable: as soon as its branch has become tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer’s near. So too you, when you see these things happening, know that it’s near - at the doors. Truly I’m telling you that this generation will definitely not have passed away until all these things have happened. The heaven and the earth will pass away but my words will definitely not pass away. But about that day, and the hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.
“Look out, stay awake and pray, for you don’t know when the time is. It’s like a man going out of the country, leaving his house and giving authority to his servants and to each one his work, and he commanded the door-keeper that he should watch. So keep awake! For you don’t know when the master of the house is coming: in the evening, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or in the morning, in case coming suddenly he should find you sleeping.
“And what I’m telling you, I’m saying to everyone: ‘Stay awake!!’”
