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12 The person who looked like a human continued, “At that time Michael, the great commander, will stand up on behalf of the descendants of your people. It will be a time of trouble unlike any that has existed from the time there have been nations until that time. But at that time your people, everyone written in the book, will be rescued. Many sleeping in the ground will wake up. Some will wake up to live forever, but others will wake up to be ashamed and disgraced forever. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness on the horizon. Those who lead many people to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

“But you, Daniel, keep these words secret, and seal the book until the end times. Many will travel everywhere, and knowledge will grow.”

The Words Are Sealed Up

When I, Daniel, looked up, I saw two men standing there. One man stood on one side of the river, and the other one stood on the other side. One of them asked the man dressed in linen clothes who was above the river, “How long will it be until these miracles are over?” I heard the man dressed in linen clothes who was above the river. He raised his right hand and left hand to heaven and swore an oath by the one who lives forever. He said, “It will be for a time, times, and half of a time. When the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, then all these things will be finished.”

I heard him, but I did not understand. So I asked him, “Sir, how will these things end?”

He replied, “Go, Daniel. These words are to be kept secret and sealed until the end times. 10 Many will be purified, made white, and refined. But wicked people will do wicked things, and none of them will understand. Only wise people will understand. 11 From the time the daily burnt offering is taken away and the disgusting thing that causes destruction is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed are those who wait until they reach 1,335 days. 13 But go on until the end. You will rest, and you will rise for your inheritance at the end of time.”

The Day of the Lord

Blow the ram’s horn in Zion.
    Sound the alarm on my holy mountain.
    Everyone who lives in the land should tremble,
        because the day of Yahweh is coming.
    Certainly, it is near.
It is a day of darkness and gloom,
    a day of clouds and overcast skies.
        A large and mighty army
            will spread over the mountains like the dawn.[a]
    Nothing like this has ever happened.
    Nothing like this will ever happen again.

In front of this army a fire burns.
    Behind it flames are blazing.
    In front of it the land is like the garden of Eden.
    Behind it the land is like a barren desert.
        Nothing escapes it!

The soldiers look like horses.
    They run like war horses.
As they leap on mountaintops,
    they sound like rattling chariots,
        like crackling fire burning up straw,
            and like a mighty army prepared for battle.

People are terrified in their presence.
    Every face turns pale.

They run like warriors.
    They climb walls like soldiers.
    They march straight ahead.
    They do not leave their places.
They do not crowd one another.
    They keep in their own lines.
        Even when they break through the defenses,
            they do not break their ranks.
They rush into the city.
    They run along the wall.
        They climb into houses.
            They enter through windows like thieves.

10 The earth quakes in their presence,
    and the sky shakes.
        The sun and the moon turn dark,
            and the stars no longer shine.
11 Yahweh shouts out orders to his army.
    His forces are very large.
        The troops that carry out his commands are mighty.
    The day of Yahweh is extremely terrifying.
    Who can endure it?

The Lord Invites the People to Return to Him

12 “But even now,” declares Yahweh,
    “return to me with all your heart—
        with fasting, crying, and mourning.”

13 Tear your hearts, not your clothes.
    Return to Yahweh your Elohim.
        He is merciful and compassionate,
            patient, and always ready to forgive
                and to change his plans about disaster.
14 Who knows?
    He may reconsider and change his plan
        and leave a blessing for you.
    Then you could give grain offerings and wine offerings
        to Yahweh your Elohim.

15 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion.
    Schedule a time to fast.
    Call for an assembly.
16 Gather the people.
    Prepare them for a holy meeting.
        Assemble the leaders.
        Gather the children, even the nursing infants.

Grooms leave their rooms.
    Brides leave their chambers.
17 The priests who serve Yahweh cry
    between the altar and the entrance to the temple.
    They say,
    “Spare your people, O Yahweh.
        Don’t let the people who belong to you become a disgrace.
        Don’t let the nations ridicule them.
    Why should people ask, ‘Where is their Elohim?’”

The Lord Will Give Earthly Blessings to His People

18 Then Yahweh became concerned about his land,
    and he had pity on his people.
19 Yahweh said to his people,
    “I am going to send grain, new wine, and olive oil to you.
        You will be satisfied with them.
            I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations.

20 “I will keep the northern army far from you,
    and I will force it into a dry and barren land.
        The soldiers in front will be forced into the eastern sea.
        The soldiers in back will be forced into the western sea.
            A foul odor will rise from the dead bodies.
                They will stink.”

He has done great things!
21 Land, do not be afraid.
    Be glad and rejoice.
    Yahweh has done great things!
22 Wild animals, do not be afraid.
    The pastures in the wilderness have turned green.
        The trees have produced their fruit.
            There are plenty of figs and grapes.
23 People of Zion, be glad and find joy in Yahweh your Elohim.
    Yahweh has given you the Teacher of Righteousness.[b]
        He has sent the autumn rain and the spring rain as before.
24 The threshing floors[c] will be filled with grain.
    The vats will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

25 “Then I will repay you for the years
    that the mature locusts, the adult locusts,
        the grasshoppers, and the young locusts ate your crops.
            (They are the large army that I sent against you.)
26 You will have plenty to eat, and you will be full.
    You will praise the name of Yahweh your Elohim,
        who has performed miracles for you.
            My people will never be ashamed again.
27 You will know that I am in Israel.
    I am Yahweh your Elohim, and there is no other.
        My people will never be ashamed again.[d]

The Lord Will Pour His Spirit on All People

28 “After this, I will pour my Ruach on everyone.
    Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your old men will dream dreams.
    Your young men will see visions.
29 In those days I will pour my Ruach on servants,
    on both men and women.
30 I will work miracles in the sky and on the earth:
    blood, fire, and clouds of smoke.
31 The sun will become dark,
    and the moon will become as red as blood
    before the terrifying day of Yahweh comes.”

32 Then whoever calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved.
    Those who escape will be on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem.
    Among the survivors will be those whom Yahweh calls,
        as Yahweh has promised.

Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:2 Or “like darkness.”
  2. Joel 2:23 Or “Yahweh has given you plenty of autumn rain.”
  3. Joel 2:24 A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.
  4. Joel 2:27 Joel 2:28–32 in English Bibles is Joel 3:1–5 in the Hebrew Bible.

The Pharisees Ask for a Sign from Heaven(A)

16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Yeshua. So they asked him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven.

He responded to them, “In the evening you say that the weather will be fine because the sky is red. And in the morning you say that there will be a storm today because the sky is red and overcast. You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

“Evil and unfaithful people look for a miraculous sign. But the only sign they will be given is that of Jonah.”

Then he left them standing there and went away.

The Yeast of the Pharisees(B)

The disciples had forgotten to take any bread along when they went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

Yeshua said to them, “Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”

The disciples had been discussing among themselves that they had not taken any bread along.

Yeshua knew about their conversation and asked, “Why are you discussing among yourselves that you don’t have any bread? You have so little faith! Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you filled? 10 Don’t you remember the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many large baskets you filled? 11 Why don’t you understand that I wasn’t talking to you about bread? Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”

12 Then they understood that he didn’t say to watch out for the yeast in bread, but to watch out for the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Peter Declares His Belief about Jesus(C)

13 When Yeshua came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”

17 Yeshua replied, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven revealed it to you. 18 You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock[a] I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.”

20 Then he strictly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life(D)

21 From that time on Yeshua began to inform his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem. There he would have to suffer a lot because of the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be brought back to life.

22 Peter took him aside and objected to this. He said, “Heaven forbid, Lord! This must never happen to you!”

23 But Yeshua turned and said to Peter, “Get out of my way, Satan! You are tempting me to sin. You aren’t thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think.”

What It Means to Follow Jesus(E)

24 Then Yeshua said to his disciples, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. 25 Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them. 26 What good will it do for people to win the whole world and lose their lives? Or what will a person give in exchange for life? 27 The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory. Then he will pay back each person based on what that person has done. 28 I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 16:18 In Greek there is a play on words between petros (Peter or pebble) and petra (rock).

Jesus Teaches His Disciples on the Mount of Olives(A)

24 As Yeshua left the temple courtyard and was walking away, his disciples came to him. They proudly pointed out to him the temple buildings. Yeshua said to them, “You see all these buildings, don’t you? I can guarantee this truth: Not one of these stones will be left on top of another. Each one will be torn down.”

As Yeshua was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign that you are coming again, and when will the world come to an end?”

Yeshua answered them, “Be careful not to let anyone deceive you. Many will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people.

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Don’t be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don’t mean that the end has come. Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All of these are only the beginning pains of the end.

“Then they will hand you over to those who will torture and kill you. All nations will hate you because you are committed to me. 10 Then many will lose faith. They will betray and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 And because there will be more and more lawlessness, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

14 “This Good News about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come.

15 “The prophet Daniel said that the disgusting thing that will cause destruction will stand in the holy place. When you see this (let the reader take note), 16 those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains. 17 Those who are on the roof should not come down to get anything out of their houses. 18 Those who are in the field should not turn back to get their coats.

19 “How horrible it will be for the women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. 20 Pray that it will not be winter or a day of worship when you flee. 21 There will be a lot of misery at that time, a kind of misery that has not happened from the beginning of the world until now and will certainly never happen again. 22 If God does not reduce the number of those days, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.

23 “At that time don’t believe anyone who tells you, ‘Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’ 24 False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work spectacular, miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, even those whom God has chosen. 25 Listen! I’ve told you this before it happens. 26 So if someone tells you, ‘He’s in the desert!’ don’t go out looking for him. And don’t believe anyone who says, ‘He’s in a secret place!’ 27 The Son of Man will come again just as lightning flashes from east to west. 28 Vultures will gather wherever there is a dead body.

29 “Immediately after the misery of those days, the sun will turn dark, the moon will not give light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the universe will be shaken.

30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. All the people on earth will cry in agony when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and from every direction under the sky, they will gather those whom God has chosen.

32 “Learn from the story of the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and it sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the door.

34 “I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all these things take place. 35 The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

No One Knows When the Son of Man Will Return

36 “No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows.

37 “When the Son of Man comes again, it will be exactly like the days of Noah. 38 In the days before the flood, people were eating, drinking, and getting married until the day that Noah went into the ship. 39 They were not aware of what was happening until the flood came and swept all of them away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes again.

40 “At that time two men will be working in the field. One will be taken, and the other one will be left. 41 Two women will be working at a mill. One will be taken, and the other one will be left.

42 “Therefore, be alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will return. 43 You realize that if a homeowner had known at what time of the night a thief was coming, he would have stayed awake. He would not have let the thief break into his house. 44 Therefore, you, too, must be ready because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him.

45 “Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant? The master will put that person in charge of giving the other servants their food at the right time. 46 That servant will be blessed if his master finds him doing this job when he comes. 47 I can guarantee this truth: He will put that servant in charge of all his property. 48 On the other hand, that servant, if he is wicked, may think that it will be a long time before his master comes. 49 The servant may begin to beat the other servants and eat and drink with the drunks. 50 His master will return unexpectedly. 51 Then his master will severely punish him and assign him a place with the hypocrites. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.

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