They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the [a]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, ‘(A)I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ (B)Do not go after them. When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does 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 great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great [b]signs from heaven.

12 “But before all these things, (C)they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, [c]bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13 (D)It will lead to [d]an opportunity for your testimony. 14 (E)So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15 for (F)I will give you [e]utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16 But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all because of My name. 18 Yet (G)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 (H)By your endurance you will gain your [f]lives.

20 “But when you see Jerusalem (I)surrounded by armies, then [g]recognize that her desolation is near. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of [h]the city must leave, and (J)those who are in the country must not enter [i]the city; 22 because these are (K)days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for (L)there will be great distress upon the [j]land and wrath to this people; 24 and they will fall by (M)the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and (N)Jerusalem will be (O)trampled under foot by the Gentiles until (P)the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Return of Christ

25 “There will be [k]signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the [l]world; for the powers of [m]the heavens will be shaken. 27 (Q)Then they will see (R)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 (S)your redemption is drawing near.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 21:7 Or attesting miracle
  2. Luke 21:11 Or attesting miracles
  3. Luke 21:12 Lit being brought
  4. Luke 21:13 Lit a testimony for you
  5. Luke 21:15 Lit a mouth
  6. Luke 21:19 Lit souls
  7. Luke 21:20 Lit know
  8. Luke 21:21 Lit her
  9. Luke 21:21 Lit her
  10. Luke 21:23 Or earth
  11. Luke 21:25 Or attesting miracles
  12. Luke 21:26 Lit inhabited earth
  13. Luke 21:26 Or heaven