¹⁵ You will remember that the prophet Daniel predicted this—predicted the abomination that causes desolation^[a]—when you see the prophesied desolation of the holy place. (Reader, take notice; it is important that you understand this.) ¹⁶ When you see this, let those in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ If you are relaxing on your rooftop one evening and the signs of the temple’s destructions come, don’t return to your house to rescue a book or a pet or a scrap of clothing. ¹⁸ If you are in the field when the great destruction begins, don’t return home for a cloak. ¹⁹ Pregnant women and nursing mothers will have the worst of it. ²⁰ And as for you, pray that your flight to the hills will not come on the Sabbath or in the cold of winter. ²¹ For the tribulation will be unparalleled—hardships of a magnitude that has not been seen since creation and that will not be seen again. ²² Indeed the Lord God your merciful judge will cut this time of trial short, and this will be done for the benefit of the elect that some might indeed be saved—for no one could survive the depravity for very long.

²³ I cannot say this clearly enough: during this time, someone will say to you, “Look, here is the Anointed One!” or “Aren’t you relieved? Haven’t you seen the Savior down there, around the bend, over the hill and dale?” Do not believe them. ²⁴ False liberators and false prophets will appear, and they will know a few tricks—they will perform great miracles, and they will make great promises. If it were possible, they would even deceive God’s elect. ²⁵ But I am warning you ahead of time: remember—do not fall for their lies or lines or promises. ²⁶ If someone says, “He’s out there in the desert”—do not go. And if someone says, “He’s here at our house, at our table”—do not believe him. ²⁷ When the Son of Man comes, He will be as visible as lightning in the East is visible even in the West.