The Great Tribulation

¹⁴ “When you see the abomination of desolation^[a](A) standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea^(B) 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,^{(C) 16} and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat.^{(D) 17} Woe ^(E) to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!

¹⁸ “Pray^(F) it^[b] won’t happen in winter. ¹⁹ For those will be days of tribulation,^(G) the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of creation,^(H) which God created, until now and never will be again.^{(I) 20} If the Lord^(J) had not cut those days short,^(K) no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect,^(L) whom he chose.^(M)

²¹ “Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah!^(N) See, there!’ do not believe it. ²² For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders^(O) to lead astray, if possible, the elect. ²³ And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.

Psalm 110

The Priestly King

A psalm of David.

Christian Suffering

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.^{(A) 13} Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ,^(B) so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.^{(C) 14} If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,^(D) you are blessed, because the Spirit^(E) of glory and of God^[a] rests on you. ¹⁵ Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.^{[b] 16} But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.^{[c] 17} For the time has come for judgment^(F) to begin with God’s household,^(G) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

¹⁹ So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves^(I) to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.