Signs of Christ’s Return

24 (A)Jesus (B)left the temple area and was going on His way [a]when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, (C)not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

And as He was sitting on (D)the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of (E)Your coming, and of the [b]end of the age?”

And Jesus answered and said to them, (F)See to it that no one [c]misleads you. For (G)many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the [d]Christ,’ and they will [e]mislead many people. And you will be hearing of (H)wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For (I)nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be (J)famines and earthquakes in various places. (K)But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

(L)Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and (M)you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 And at that time many will [f](N)fall away, and they will [g]betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many (O)false prophets will rise up and [h]mislead many people. 12 And because lawlessness is increased, [i]most people’s love will become cold. 13 (P)But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. 14 This (Q)gospel of the kingdom (R)shall be preached in the whole [j](S)world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Perilous Times

15 “Therefore when you see the (T)abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in (U)the holy place—[k](V)let the [l]reader understand— 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 [m]Whoever is on (W)the [n]housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. 18 And [o]whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But (X)woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 Moreover, pray that [p]when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a (Y)great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no [q]life would have been saved; but for (Z)the sake of the [r]elect those days will be cut short. 23 (AA)Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the [s]Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him. 24 For false christs and (AB)false prophets will arise and will provide great [t](AC)signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even (AD)the [u]elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. 27 (AE)For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the (AF)coming of the (AG)Son of Man [v]be. 28 (AH)Wherever the corpse is, there the [w]vultures will gather.

The Glorious Return

29 “But immediately after the (AI)tribulation of those days (AJ)the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and (AK)the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then (AL)the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see (AM)the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And (AN)He will send forth His angels with (AO)a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His [x](AP)elect from (AQ)the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

Parable of the Fig Tree

32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so you too, when you see all these things, [y]recognize that [z]He is near, right (AR)at the [aa]door. 34 Truly I say to you, (AS)this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 (AT)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

36 “But (AU)about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For [ab]the (AV)coming of the Son of Man will be (AW)just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, (AX)marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that (AY)Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not [ac]understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the (AZ)coming of the Son of Man be. 40 At that time there will be two men in the field; one [ad]will be taken and one [ae]will be left. 41 (BA)Two women will be grinding at the [af](BB)mill; one [ag]will be taken and one [ah]will be left.

Be Ready for His Coming

42 “Therefore (BC)be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But [ai]be sure of this, that (BD)if the head of the house had known (BE)at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this reason (BF)you must be ready as well; for (BG)the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

45 (BH)Who then is the (BI)faithful and (BJ)sensible slave whom his [aj]master (BK)put in charge of his household slaves, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his [ak]master finds so doing when he comes. 47 Truly I say to you that (BL)he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My [al]master [am]is not coming for a long time,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and he eats and drinks with those habitually drunk; 50 then the [an]master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, 51 and he will [ao]cut him in two and assign [ap]him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be (BM)weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:1 Lit and
  2. Matthew 24:3 Or consummation
  3. Matthew 24:4 Or deceives
  4. Matthew 24:5 I.e., Messiah
  5. Matthew 24:5 Or deceive
  6. Matthew 24:10 I.e., from the faith
  7. Matthew 24:10 Or hand over
  8. Matthew 24:11 Or deceive
  9. Matthew 24:12 Lit the love of the many
  10. Matthew 24:14 Lit inhabited earth
  11. Matthew 24:15 Or the reader is to understand
  12. Matthew 24:15 I.e., the reader of Daniel
  13. Matthew 24:17 Lit The one who
  14. Matthew 24:17 Housetops were flat living areas
  15. Matthew 24:18 Lit the one who
  16. Matthew 24:20 Lit your flight will not be
  17. Matthew 24:22 Lit flesh
  18. Matthew 24:22 Or chosen ones
  19. Matthew 24:23 I.e., Messiah
  20. Matthew 24:24 I.e., confirming miracles
  21. Matthew 24:24 Or chosen ones
  22. Matthew 24:27 I.e., be visible everywhere
  23. Matthew 24:28 Or eagles
  24. Matthew 24:31 Or chosen ones
  25. Matthew 24:33 Or know
  26. Matthew 24:33 Or it
  27. Matthew 24:33 Lit doors
  28. Matthew 24:37 Lit just like the days...so will be
  29. Matthew 24:39 Lit know
  30. Matthew 24:40 Lit is
  31. Matthew 24:40 Lit is
  32. Matthew 24:41 I.e., handmill
  33. Matthew 24:41 Lit is
  34. Matthew 24:41 Lit is
  35. Matthew 24:43 Lit know that
  36. Matthew 24:45 Or lord
  37. Matthew 24:46 Or lord
  38. Matthew 24:48 Or lord
  39. Matthew 24:48 Lit lingers
  40. Matthew 24:50 Or lord
  41. Matthew 24:51 Possibly referring to other extreme punishment
  42. Matthew 24:51 Lit his portion with

Things to Come

13 (A)As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, look! [a]What wonderful stones and [b]what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? (B)Not one stone will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

As He was sitting on (C)the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, (D)Peter, [c]James, John, and Andrew were questioning Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things come about, and what will be the [d]sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘(E)I am He!’ and they will mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are only the beginning of birth pains.

“But [e]be on your guard; for they will (F)hand you over to the [f]courts, and you will be flogged (G)in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. 10 (H)And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 (I)And when they [g]arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time; for you are not the ones speaking, but it is the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and [h]have them put to death. 13 And (J)you will be hated by everyone because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

14 “Now (K)when you see the (L)abomination of desolation standing where it should not be—[i]let the [j]reader understand—then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 15 [k](M)Whoever is on the [l]housetop must not go down, nor go in to get anything out of his house. 16 And [m]whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 17 But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 Moreover, pray that it will not happen in winter. 19 For those days will be such a time of tribulation as has not occurred (N)since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again. 20 And if the Lord had not shortened those days, no [n]life would have been saved; but for the sake of the [o]elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the [p]Christ’; or, ‘Look, there He is’; do not believe it; 22 for false christs and (O)false prophets will arise, and will provide (P)signs and (Q)wonders, in order to mislead, if possible, the elect. 23 But beware; I have told you everything in advance.

The Return of Christ

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, (R)the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, 25 (S)and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see (T)the Son of Man (U)coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send forth the angels, and (V)will gather together His [q]elect from the four winds, (W)from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.

28 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you too, when you see these things happening, [r]recognize that [s]He is near, right at the [t]door. 30 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 32 (X)But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

33 “Watch out, (Y)stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is. 34 (Z)It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and [u]putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. 35 Therefore, (AA)stay alert—for you do not know when the [v]master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or (AB)when the rooster crows, or (AC)in the morning— 36 so that he does not come suddenly and find you (AD)asleep. 37 What I say to you I say to all: ‘(AE)Stay alert!’”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 13:1 Or How great the
  2. Mark 13:1 Or How great the
  3. Mark 13:3 Or Jacob
  4. Mark 13:4 I.e., confirming miracle
  5. Mark 13:9 Lit look to yourselves
  6. Mark 13:9 Or Sanhedrin; or Council
  7. Mark 13:11 Lit lead
  8. Mark 13:12 Lit put them to death
  9. Mark 13:14 Or the reader is to understand
  10. Mark 13:14 I.e., of the book of Daniel
  11. Mark 13:15 Lit The one who
  12. Mark 13:15 Housetops were flat living areas
  13. Mark 13:16 Lit The one who
  14. Mark 13:20 Lit flesh
  15. Mark 13:20 Or chosen ones
  16. Mark 13:21 I.e., Messiah
  17. Mark 13:27 Or chosen ones
  18. Mark 13:29 Or know
  19. Mark 13:29 Or it
  20. Mark 13:29 Lit doors
  21. Mark 13:34 Lit giving the authority to
  22. Mark 13:35 Or lord

The Widow’s Gift

21 (A)Now He looked up and saw the wealthy putting their gifts into the temple treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting [a]in (B)two [b]lepta coins. And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all [c]contributed to the [d]offering from their [e]surplus; but she, from her poverty, put in all [f]that she had (C)to live on.”

(D)And while some were talking about the temple, that it was decorated with beautiful stones and [g]vowed gifts, He said, As for these things which you are observing, the days will come when (E)there will not be left one stone upon [h]another, which will not be torn down.”

They asked Him questions, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the [i]sign when these things are about to take place?” And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘(F)I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ (G)Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and revolts, do not be alarmed; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”

Things to Come

10 Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, 11 and there will be [j]massive earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrible sights and great [k]signs from heaven.

12 “But before all these things, (H)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, [l]bringing you before kings and governors on account of My name. 13 (I)It will lead to [m]an opportunity for your testimony. 14 (J)So [n]make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15 for (K)I will provide you [o]eloquence and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to oppose or refute. 16 But you will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, other relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all people because of My name. 18 And yet (L)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 (M)By your endurance you will gain your [p]lives.

20 “But when you see Jerusalem (N)surrounded by armies, then [q]recognize that her desolation is near. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside [r]the city must leave, and (O)those who are in the country must not enter [s]the city; 22 because these are (P)days of punishment, so that all things which have been written will be fulfilled. 23 Woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for (Q)there will be great distress upon the [t]land, and wrath to this people; 24 and they will fall by (R)the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and (S)Jerusalem will be (T)trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until (U)the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Return of Christ

25 “There will be [u]signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting from fear and the expectation of the things that are coming upon the [v]world; for the powers of [w]the heavens will be shaken. 27 And (V)then they will see (W)the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because (X)your redemption is drawing near.”

29 And He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees: 30 as soon as they put forth leaves, you see for yourselves and (Y)know that summer is now near. 31 So you too, when you see these things happening, [x]recognize that (Z)the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. 33 (AA)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

34 “But (AB)be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that [y]this day will not come on you suddenly, like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth. 36 But (AC)stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to (AD)stand before the Son of Man.”

37 Now [z]during the day He was (AE)teaching in the temple, but [aa](AF)at evening He would go out and spend the night on (AG)the [ab]mountain that is called [ac]Olivet. 38 And all the people would get up (AH)very early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 21:2 Lit there
  2. Luke 21:2 The smallest Greek copper coin, about 1/128 of a laborer’s daily wage
  3. Luke 21:4 Lit put into
  4. Luke 21:4 Lit gifts
  5. Luke 21:4 Lit abundance
  6. Luke 21:4 Lit the living that she had
  7. Luke 21:5 I.e., gifts promised by vows
  8. Luke 21:6 Lit a stone
  9. Luke 21:7 I.e., confirming miracle
  10. Luke 21:11 Lit great
  11. Luke 21:11 I.e., confirming miracles
  12. Luke 21:12 Lit being brought
  13. Luke 21:13 Lit a testimony for you
  14. Luke 21:14 Lit put in your hearts
  15. Luke 21:15 Lit a mouth
  16. Luke 21:19 Lit souls
  17. Luke 21:20 Lit know
  18. Luke 21:21 Lit her
  19. Luke 21:21 Lit her
  20. Luke 21:23 Or earth
  21. Luke 21:25 I.e., confirming miracles
  22. Luke 21:26 Lit inhabited earth
  23. Luke 21:26 Or heaven
  24. Luke 21:31 Lit know
  25. Luke 21:34 Lit that day
  26. Luke 21:37 Lit days
  27. Luke 21:37 Lit nights
  28. Luke 21:37 Or hill
  29. Luke 21:37 Or Olive Grove

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