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15 When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was [a]spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in [b]the holy place (let him that readeth understand), 16 then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains: 17 let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house: 18 and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak. 19 But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! 20 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on a sabbath: 21 for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe [c]it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you beforehand. 26 If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, he is in the inner chambers; believe [d]it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the [e]coming of the Son of man. 28 Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the [f]eagles be gathered together.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:15 Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11.
  2. Matthew 24:15 Or, a holy place
  3. Matthew 24:23 Or, him
  4. Matthew 24:26 Or, them
  5. Matthew 24:27 Greek presence.
  6. Matthew 24:28 Or, vultures

The Abomination of Desolation

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation[a] spoken about by the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place” (let the one who reads understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! 17 The one who is on his[b] housetop must not come down to take things out of his house, 18 and the one who is in the field must not turn back to pick up his cloak. 19 And woe to those who are pregnant[c] and to those who are nursing their babies[d] in those days! 20 But pray that your flight may not happen in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, such as has not happened from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will happen. 22 And unless those days had been shortened, no human being would be saved.[e] But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.

23 “At that time if anyone should say to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘Here he is,’ do not believe him![f] 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear, and will produce great signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you ahead of time! 26 Therefore if they say to you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or[g] ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it![h] 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:15 An allusion to Dan 9:27
  2. Matthew 24:17 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  3. Matthew 24:19 Literally “who have in the womb”
  4. Matthew 24:19 The words “their babies” are not in the Greek text but are supplied as a necessary clarification
  5. Matthew 24:22 Literally “every flesh would not be saved”
  6. Matthew 24:23 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Matthew 24:26 Here “or” is supplied because of English style
  8. Matthew 24:26 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation