The Great Tribulation

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation,[a] spoken of by the prophet Daniel,(A) standing in the holy place”(B) (let the reader understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 A man on the housetop[b] must not come down to get things out of his house,(C) 18 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. 19 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great distress,[c](D) the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. 22 Unless those days were cut short, no one would[d] be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.(E)

23 “If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’(F) or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it.(G) 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray,(H) if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note: I have told you in advance. 26 So if they tell you, ‘See, he’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; or, ‘See, he’s in the storerooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.(I) 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures[e] will gather.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 24:15 Dn 9:27
  2. 24:17 Or roof
  3. 24:21 Or tribulation, also in v. 29
  4. 24:22 Lit short, all flesh would not
  5. 24:28 Or eagles

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place(A) ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a](B) spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop(C) go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!(D) 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.(E)

22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect(F) those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.(G) 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders(H) to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning(I) that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming(J) of the Son of Man.(K) 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:15 Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11