1 A nd as was coming out of the temple '> area], one of His disciples said to Him, Look, Teacher! Notice the sort and quality of these stones and buildings!

Jesus went out of the house of God. One of His followers said to Him, “Teacher, look at the big stones and these great buildings!”

2 A nd Jesus replied to him, You see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be loosened and torn down.

Jesus said, “Do you see these great buildings? All these stones will be thrown down. Not one will be left standing on another.” Jesus Teaches on the Mount Of Olives

3 A nd as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple '> enclosure], Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately,

Jesus sat down on the Mount of Olives at a place where He could see the house of God. Peter and James and John and Andrew came to Him. They asked without anyone else hearing,

4 T ell us when is this to take place and what will be the sign when these things, all, are about to be accomplished?

“Tell us when this will be. What are we to look for when these things are to happen?” What to Look for Before Jesus Returns

5 A nd Jesus began to tell them, Be careful and watchful that no one misleads you.

Jesus began to say to them, “Be careful that no one leads you the wrong way.

6 M any will come in '> appropriating to themselves] the name which belongs to Me '> basing their claims on the use of My name], saying, I am! And they will mislead many.

Many people will come using My name. They will say, ‘I am Christ.’ They will turn many to the wrong way.

7 A nd when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not get alarmed (troubled and frightened); it is necessary take place, but the end is not yet.

When you hear of wars and much talk about wars, do not be surprised. These things have to happen. But the end is not yet.

8 F or nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines and calamities. This is but the beginning of the intolerable anguish and suffering '> birth pangs].

Nations will have wars with other nations. Countries will fight against countries. The earth will shake and break apart in different places. There will be no food for people. There will be much trouble. These things are the beginning of much sorrow and pain. It Will Be Hard for Those Who Believe

9 B ut look to yourselves; for they will turn you over to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake as a testimony to them.

“Watch out for yourselves. They will take you to the courts. In the places of worship they will beat you. You will be taken in front of rulers and in front of kings because of Me. You will be there to tell them about Me.

10 A nd the good news (the Gospel) must first be preached to all nations.

The Good News must first be preached to all the nations.

11 N ow when they take you and put you under arrest, do not be anxious beforehand about what you are to say nor meditate about it; but say whatever is given you in that hour and at the moment, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

“When you are put into their hands, do not be afraid of what you are to say or how you are to say it. Whatever is given to you to say at that time, say it. It will not be you who speaks, but the Holy Spirit.

12 A nd brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; and children will take a stand against their parents and them put to death.

A brother will hand over a brother to death. A father will hand over his son. Children will turn against their parents and have them put to death.

13 A nd you will be hated and detested by everybody for My name’s sake, but he who patiently perseveres and endures to the end will be saved ( made a partaker of the salvation by Christ, and delivered from spiritual death).

You will be hated by all people because of Me. But he who stays true to the end will be saved. Days of Trouble and Pain and Sorrow

14 B ut when you see the abomination of desolation mentioned by Daniel the prophet standing where it ought not to be— let the one who reads take notice and consider and understand and heed —then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

“You will see a very sinful man-made god standing in the house of God where it has no right to stand. Then those in the country of Judea should run to the mountains. It was spoken of by the early preacher Daniel. The one who reads this should understand.

15 L et him who is on the housetop not go down into the house nor go inside to take anything out of his house;

He that is on the top of the house should not take the time to get anything out of his house.

16 A nd let him who is in the field not turn back again to get his mantle (cloak).

He that is in the field should not go back to get his coat.

17 A nd alas for those who are pregnant and for those who have nursing babies in those days!

It will be hard for women who will soon be mothers. It will be hard for those feeding babies in those days!

18 P ray that it may not occur in winter,

Pray that it will not be during the winter.

19 F or at that time there will be such affliction (oppression and tribulation) as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God created until this particular time—and positively never will be.

In those days there will be much trouble and pain and sorrow. It has never been this bad from the beginning of time and never will be again.

20 A nd unless the Lord had shortened the days, no human being would be saved (rescued); but for the sake of the elect, His chosen ones (those whom He picked out for Himself), He has shortened the days.

If the Lord had not made those days short, no life would have been saved. Because of God’s people whom He has chosen, He made the days short. The False Religious Teachers

21 A nd then if anyone says to you, See, here is the Christ (the Messiah)! or, Look, there He is! do not believe it.

“If anyone says to you, ‘See! Here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

22 F alse Christs (Messiahs) and false prophets will arise and show signs and miracles to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (those God has chosen out for Himself).

Some will come who will say they are Christ. False preachers will come. These people will do special things for people to see. They will do surprising things, so that if it can be, God’s people will be led to believe something wrong.

23 B ut look to yourselves and be on your guard; I have told you everything beforehand.

See! I have told you about these things before they happen. Jesus Will Come Again in His Greatness

24 B ut in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;

“After those days of much trouble and pain and sorrow are over, the sun will get dark. The moon will not give light.

25 A nd the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

The stars will fall from the sky. The powers in the heavens will be shaken.

26 A nd then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great (kingly) power and glory (majesty and splendor).

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and shining-greatness.

27 A nd then He will send out the angels and will gather together His elect (those He has picked out for Himself) from the four winds, from the farthest bounds of the earth to the farthest bounds of heaven.

He will send His angels. They will gather together God’s people from the four winds. They will come from one end of the earth to the other end of heaven. The Picture-Story of the Fig Tree

28 N ow learn a lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branch becomes tender and it puts forth its leaves, you recognize and know that summer is near.

“Now learn something from the fig tree. When the branch begins to grow and puts out its leaves, you know summer is near.

29 S o also, when you see these things happening, you may recognize and know that He is near, at door.

In the same way, when you see all these things happen, you know the Son of Man is near. He is even at the door.

30 S urely I say to you, this generation ( the whole multitude of people living at that one time) positively will not perish or pass away before all these things take place.

For sure, I tell you, the people of this day will not pass away before all these things have happened.

31 H eaven and earth will perish and pass away, but My words will not perish or pass away.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away.

32 B ut of that day or that hour not a person knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

But no one knows the day or the hour. No! Not even the angels in heaven know. The Son does not know. Only the Father knows.

33 B e on your guard, and watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come.

“Be careful! Watch and pray. You do not know when it will happen.

34 I t is like a man '> already] going on a journey; when he leaves home, he puts his servants in charge, each with his particular task, and he gives orders to the doorkeeper to be constantly alert and on the watch.

The coming of the Son of Man is as a man who went from his house to a far country. He gave each one of his servants some work to do. He told the one standing at the door to watch.

35 T herefore watch (give strict attention, be cautious and alert), for you do not know when the Master of the house is coming—in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning—

In the same way, you are to watch also! You do not know when the Owner of the house will be coming. It may be in the evening or in the night or when the sun comes up or in the morning.

36 l est He come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep.

He may come when you are not looking for Him and find you sleeping.

37 A nd what I say to you I say to everybody: Watch (give strict attention, be cautious, active, and alert)!

What I say to you, I say to all. Watch!”