The temple will be destroyed

1Then as He was going out from the temple, one of His disciples said to Him: “Teacher, just look! Such stones, such buildings!”

2In answer Jesus said to him: “Do you see these great buildings? Here not a single stone will be left upon another; each one will be thrown down.” ²⁵⁸

The Olivet Discourse

The end of the age

3Then as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, ²⁵⁹Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him privately:

4“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign whenever all these things are about to be fulfilled?” ²⁶⁰

5So by way of an answer to them Jesus began by saying: “Take care that no one deceives you.

6Because many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.

7But whenever you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not let it distress you; because happen they must, but the end is not yet.

8Because nation will be raised against nation, ²⁶¹and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and tumults. ²⁶²These things are the beginning of birth pains. ²⁶³

9“But watch out for yourselves, because they will deliver you up to councils and flog you in synagogues, and you will be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them.

10Also, the Gospel must first be proclaimed to all the ethnic nations. ²⁶⁴

11Now whenever they lead you away and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand nor premeditate what you will say; ²⁶⁵rather, whatever is given to you in that hour, speak that, because it will not be you doing the speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12“Further, brother will betray brother to death and a father his child, and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

13And you will be hated by all for my name's sake, ²⁶⁶yet he who endures to the end, he will be saved. ²⁶⁷

The Great Tribulation

14“Now whenever you see the ‘abomination of desolation’, the one spoken of by Daniel the prophet, ²⁶⁸standing where he should not”—let the reader understand—“then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

15Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. ²⁶⁹

16Let him who is in the field not return to his things to get his cloak.

17But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

18And pray that your flight not take place in winter, ²⁷⁰

19because those will be days of affliction such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, ²⁷¹and never again shall be. ²⁷²

20If the Lord did not cut those days short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He did shorten the days. ²⁷³

21“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ ‘Look, there!’ do not believe it;

22because false christs and false prophets will be raised up, ²⁷⁴and they will show signs and wonders so as to even mislead the elect, if that were possible.

23So you watch out! See, I have told you everything in advance.

The return of Christ

24“But in those days, after that tribulation, ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;

25the stars of heaven will be falling, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.’ ²⁷⁵

26And then they will see the Son of the Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷⁶

27And then He will send His angels and gather together His elect from the four winds, from earth's extreme point to heaven's extreme point. ²⁷⁷

Example of the fig tree

28“Now learn this example from the fig tree: whenever its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, one knows that the summer is near.

29Even so you also, whenever you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors!

30Assuredly I tell you that this generation ²⁷⁸will certainly not pass away until all these things happen.

31The heaven and the earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away. ²⁷⁹

Watch!

32“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels who are in heaven, not the Son, ²⁸⁰but only the Father.

33Watch! Keep alert! Pray! ²⁸¹Because you do not know when that time will be.

34It is like a man off on a journey, having left his house and given the authority to his slaves, and to each his work; and he commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.

35Therefore be watchful, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming—at evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or early morning—

36lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37The things I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” ²⁸²