New Testament in a Year

²⁰ Here’s how you will know that the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple is imminent: Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies. ²¹ When that happens, there’s only one thing to do: if you’re in Judea, flee to the mountains; and if you’re inside the city, escape; and if you’re outside the city, stay there—don’t enter— ²² because the time has come for the promised judgment to fall. ²³ How sad it will be for all the pregnant women, for all the nursing mothers in those days! All the land of Israel and all her people will feel the distress, the anger, falling on them like rain. ²⁴ The sword will cut some down, the outsider nations will take others captive, and this holy city, this Jerusalem, will be trampled upon by the outsiders until their times are fulfilled.

²⁵ There will be earth-shattering events—the heavens themselves will seem to be shaken with signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars. And across the earth the outsider nations will feel powerless and terrified in the face of a roaring flood of fear and foreboding, crashing like tidal waves upon them. ²⁶ “What’s happening to the world?” people will wonder. The cosmic order will be destabilized. ²⁷ And then, at that point, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and blazing glory. ²⁸ So when the troubles begin, don’t be afraid. Look up—raise your head high, because the truth is that your liberation is fast approaching.

²⁹ (continuing with a parable) Look over there at that fig tree—and all the trees surrounding it. ³⁰ When the leaves break out of their buds, nobody has to tell you that summer is approaching; it’s obvious to you. ³¹ It’s the same in the larger scheme of things. When you see all these things happening, you can be confident that the kingdom of God is approaching. ³² I’m telling you the truth: this generation will not pass from the scene before everything I’m telling you has occurred. ³³ Heaven and earth will cease to exist before My words ever fail.

³⁴ So be careful. Guard your hearts. They can be made heavy with moral laxity, with drunkenness, with the hassles of daily life. Then the day I’ve been telling you about might catch you unaware and trap you. ³⁵ Because it’s coming—nobody on earth will escape it. ³⁶ So you have to stay alert, praying that you’ll be able to escape the coming trials so you can stand tall in the presence of the Son of Man.