Mark 13
1 As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these stones and these buildings!”
2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here on another; every one will be torn down.”
3 He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, opposite the temple, when Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately:
4 “Tell us: when will these things happen, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be fulfilled?”
5 Jesus began to say to them, “Be careful that no one deceives you.
6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘It is I,’ and they will deceive many.
7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; these things must 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; there will be famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
9 Take care: they will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them.
10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.
11 When they lead you away to hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you will say. Say whatever is given to you at that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12 Brother will hand brother over to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
14 “When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be—let the reader understand—then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
15 Whoever is on the rooftop must not come down or go inside to take anything from his house,
16 and whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
17 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!
18 Pray that this does not happen in winter.
19 For those days will bring a distress unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation God created until now, and never will again.
20 If the Lord had not cut those days short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones whom he chose, he cut those days short.
21 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, the Christ is here!’ or ‘Look, he is there!’ do not believe it.
22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the chosen ones.
23 But you, stay alert. I have told you everything beforehand.”
24 “But in those days, after that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.
25 The stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27 Then he will send the angels and gather his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
28 Learn this lesson from the fig tree: when its branch becomes tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near.
29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the doors.
30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
32 “As for that day or hour, no one knows—not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33 Stay alert, keep watch; for you do not know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man who, when he went away on a journey, left his house, gave authority to his servants, assigned each one his work, and ordered the doorkeeper to keep watch.
35 So keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming: in the evening, at midnight, at the rooster’s crow, or early in the morning.
36 Otherwise, he may come suddenly and find you sleeping.
37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: keep watch.”
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