New Testament in a Year

When Will the End Come?^[a]

Chapter 13

Jesus Announces the Destruction of the Temple.^{[b] 1} As Jesus was making his departure from the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at the size of these stones and buildings!” ² Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not a single stone will be left upon another; every one will be thrown down.”

The End Has Not Yet Come.^{[c] 3} As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives directly across from the temple, Peter,^[d] James, John, and Andrew questioned him when they were alone. ⁴ “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign that all those things are about to be accomplished?”

⁵ Jesus began to say to them, “Take care that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will lead many astray. ⁷ And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed, for those things are bound to happen, but the end is still to come. ⁸ For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famine. These are only the beginning of the labor pangs.

The Coming Persecution.^{[e] 9} “Be on your guard. For they will hand you over to courts and beat you in synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me to testify before them. ¹⁰ But first the gospel must be preached to all nations.

¹¹ “When they arrest you and bring you to trial, do not be concerned beforehand about what you are to say. Simply say whatever is given to you when that time comes, for it will not be you who speak but the Holy Spirit.

¹² “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. ¹³ You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved.

¹⁴ The Great Trial.“Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation^[f] standing where it does not belong (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, ¹⁵ the one who is standing on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of the house, ¹⁶ and someone who is in the field must not turn back to retrieve his coat.

¹⁷ “Woe to those who are pregnant and those who are nursing infants in those days. ¹⁸ Pray that all this may not occur in winter. ¹⁹ For in those days there will be such suffering as has not been since the beginning of the creation that God made until now and will never be again. ²⁰ And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect whom he chose, he did cut short those days.