Judah’s King Azariah

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Azariah^[a](A) son of Amaziah became king of Judah.^{(B) 2} He was 16 years old when he became king and reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah, who was from Jerusalem. ³ Azariah did what was right in the Lord’s sight^(C) just as his father Amaziah had done. ⁴ Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.^(D)

⁵ The Lord afflicted the king, and he had a serious skin disease until the day of his death.^(E) He lived in a separate house,^[b](F) while Jotham,^(G) the king’s son, was over the household governing the people of the land.^(H)

⁶ The rest of the events of Azariah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(I) 7} Azariah rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His son Jotham became king in his place.^(J)

Israel’s King Zechariah

⁸ In the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Zechariah^(K) son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria for six months. ⁹ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight as his fathers had done.^(L) He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(M)

¹⁰ Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He struck him down publicly,^[c] killed him, and became king in his place.^{(N) 11} As for the rest of the events of Zechariah’s reign, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(O) 12} The word of the Lord that He spoke to Jehu was, “Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel,”^(P) and it was so.

Israel’s King Shallum

¹³ In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Uzziah, Shallum son of Jabesh became king; he reigned in Samaria^(Q) a full month. ¹⁴ Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah^(R) to Samaria and struck down Shallum son of Jabesh there. He killed him and became king in his place. ¹⁵ As for the rest of the events of Shallum’s reign, along with the conspiracy that he formed, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Israel’s King Menahem

¹⁶ At that time, starting from Tirzah, Menahem attacked Tiphsah,^(S) all who were in it, and its territory. Because they wouldn’t surrender,^(T) he attacked it and ripped open all the pregnant women.^(U)

¹⁷ In the thirty-ninth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel and reigned 10 years in Samaria. ¹⁸ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. Throughout his reign, he did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(V)

¹⁹ Pul^[d](W) king of Assyria invaded the land, so Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds^[e] of silver so that Pul would support him to strengthen his grip on the kingdom.^{(X) 20} Then Menahem exacted 20 ounces^[f] of silver from each of the wealthy men of Israel to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew and did not stay there in the land.^(Y)

²¹ The rest of the events of Menahem’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. ²² Menahem rested with his fathers, and his son Pekahiah became king in his place.^(Z)

Israel’s King Pekahiah

²³ In the fiftieth year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned two years. ²⁴ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(AA)

²⁵ Then his officer, Pekah^(AB) son of Remaliah, conspired against him^(AC) and struck him down in Samaria at the citadel of the king’s palace^(AD) —as well as Argob and Arieh.^[g] There were 50 Gileadite men with Pekah. He killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.

²⁶ As for the rest of the events of Pekahiah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Israel’s King Pekah

²⁷ In the fifty-second year of Judah’s King Azariah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria and reigned 20 years. ²⁸ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

²⁹ In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser^(AE) king of Assyria came and captured Ijon,^(AF) Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee—all the land of Naphtali^(AG)—and deported the people to Assyria.^(AH)

³⁰ Then Hoshea^(AI) son of Elah organized a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him, killed him,^(AJ) and became king in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

³¹ As for the rest of the events of Pekah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.

Judah’s King Jotham

³² In the second year of Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah, Jotham^(AK) son of Uzziah became king of Judah. ³³ He was 25 years old when he became king^(AL) and reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. ³⁴ He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Uzziah had done.^{(AM) 35} Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord’s temple.^{(AN) 36} The rest^(AO) of the events of Jotham’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, they are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(AP) 37} In those days the Lord began sending Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.^{(AQ) 38} Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his ancestor David.^(AR) His son Ahaz became king in his place.

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

13 As^(A) He was going out of the temple complex,^(B) one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher,^(C) look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”^(D)

² Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?^(E) Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!”

Signs of the End of the Age

³ While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives^(F) across from the temple complex,^(G) Peter,^(H) James,^(I) John,^(J) and Andrew^(K) asked Him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to take place?”

⁵ Then Jesus began by telling them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in My name,^(L) saying, ‘I am He,’^(M) and they will deceive^(N) many. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars,^(O) don’t be alarmed;^(P) these things must take place,^(Q) but the end is not yet. ⁸ For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^(R) There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.^[a] These are the beginning^(S) of birth pains.^(T)

Persecutions Predicted

⁹ “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to sanhedrins,^[b](U) and you will be flogged^(V) in the synagogues.^(W) You will stand before governors and kings^(X) because of Me,^(Y) as a witness^(Z) to them.^{(AA) 10} And the good news^[c](AB) must first be proclaimed to all nations. ¹¹ So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say. On the contrary, whatever is given to you in that hour—say it. For it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² Then brother will betray^(AC) brother to death,^(AD) and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and put them to death. ¹³ And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.^(AE) But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.^[d](AF)

The Great Tribulation

¹⁴ “When you see the abomination that causes desolation^(AG)[e] standing where it should not” (let the reader understand^[f]), “then those in Judea^(AH) must flee to the mountains! ¹⁵ A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house.^{(AI) 16} And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes.^{(AJ) 17} Woe^(AK) to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! ¹⁸ Pray^(AL) it^[g] won’t happen in winter. ¹⁹ For those will be days of tribulation,^(AM) the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning^(AN) of the world,^[h](AO) which God created, until now and never will be again! ²⁰ Unless the Lord^(AP) limited those days,^(AQ) no one would survive.^[i] But He limited those days because of the elect,^(AR) whom He chose.^(AS)

²¹ “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!^(AT) Look—there!’ do not believe it! ²² For false messiahs^[j] and false prophets will rise up and will perform signs and wonders^(AU) to lead astray, if possible, the elect. ²³ And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁴ “But in those days, after that tribulation:^(AV)

²⁶ Then they will see the Son of Man^(AY) coming^(AZ) in clouds^(BA) with great power^(BB) and glory.^{(BC) 27} He will send out the angels^(BD) and gather His elect^(BE) from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.^(BF)

The Parable of the Fig Tree

²⁸ “Learn^(BG) this parable^(BH) from the fig^(BI) tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.^{(BJ) 29} In the same way, when you see these things happening, know^[k] that He^[l] is near—at the door! ³⁰ I assure you:^(BK) This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. ³¹ Heaven and earth^(BL) will pass away,^(BM) but My words will never pass away.^(BN)

No One Knows the Day or Hour

³² “Now concerning that day^(BO) or hour no one knows—neither the angels^(BP) in heaven nor the Son^(BQ)—except the Father.^{(BR) 33} Watch! Be alert!^[m] For you don’t know when the time^(BS) is coming.^{(BT) 34} It is like^(BU) a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves,^(BV) gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. ³⁵ Therefore be alert,^(BW) since you don’t know when the master^(BX) of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. ³⁶ Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping.^{(BY) 37} And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”