When the temple will be destroyed and the signs of the end
1Jesus was leaving the temple. One of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher! What huge stones! What wonderful buildings!’2‘Do you see these huge buildings?’ Jesus asked. ‘Not one stone here will be left on top of another. Every stone will be thrown down.’3Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, opposite the temple. Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him a question in private.4‘Tell us’, they said. ‘When will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to come true?’5Jesus said to them, ‘Keep watch! Be careful that no one fools you.6Many will come in my name. They will claim, “I am he.” They will fool many people.7You will hear about wars. You will also hear people talking about future wars. Don’t be alarmed. These things must happen. But the end still isn’t here.8Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many places. People will go hungry. All these things are the beginning of birth-pains.9‘Watch out! You will be handed over to the local courts. You will be whipped in the synagogues. You will stand in front of governors and kings because of me. In that way you will be witnesses to them.10The good news has to be preached to all nations before the end comes.11You will be arrested and brought to trial. But don’t worry in advance about what you will say. Just say what God brings to your mind at the time. It is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.12‘Brothers will hand over brothers to be killed. Fathers will hand over their children. Children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death.13Everyone will hate you because of me. But the one who remains strong in the faith will be saved.14‘You will see “the hated thing that destroys.” It will stand where it does not belong. The reader should understand this. Then those who are in Judea should escape to the mountains. (Da 9:27; Da 11:31; Da 12:11)15No one on the roof should go down into the house to take anything out.16No one in the field should go back to get their coat.17How awful it will be in those days for pregnant women! How awful for nursing mothers!18Pray that this will not happen in winter.19Those days will be worse than any others from the time God created the world until now. And there will never be any like them again.20‘If the Lord had not cut the time short, no one would live. But because of God’s chosen people, he has shortened it.21At that time someone may say to you, “Look! Here is the Messiah!” Or, “Look! There he is!” Do not believe it.22False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will do signs and miracles. They will try to fool God’s chosen people if possible.23Keep watch! I have told you everything in advance.24‘So in those days there will be terrible suffering. After that, Scripture says, ‘ “The sun will be darkened. The moon will not shine.25The stars will fall from the sky. The heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (Isa 13:10; Isa 34:4)26‘At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds. He will come with great power and glory.27He will send his angels. He will gather his chosen people from all four directions. He will bring them from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.28‘Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.29In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that the end is near. It is right at the door.30What I’m about to tell you is true. The people living now will certainly not pass away until all those things have happened.31Heaven and earth will pass away. But my words will never pass away.
The day and hour are not known
32‘But no one knows about that day or hour. Not even the angels in heaven know. The Son does not know. Only the Father knows.33Keep watch! Stay awake! You do not know when that time will come.34It’s like a man going away. He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge. Each one is given a task to do. He tells the one at the door to keep watch.35‘So keep watch! You do not know when the owner of the house will come back. It may be in the evening or at midnight. It may be when the cockerel crows or at dawn.36He may come suddenly. So do not let him find you sleeping.37What I say to you, I say to everyone. “Watch!” ’
Mark 13
English Standard Version
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
1And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” (Mt 24:1; Lu 21:5)2And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (Lu 19:44)
Signs of the End of the Age
3And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, (Mt 17:1; Mt 21:1; Mr 1:16; Mr 1:29; Mr 4:34)4“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” (Ac 1:6)5And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. (Jer 29:8; Mr 13:9; Mr 13:23; Mr 13:33; Eph 5:6; Col 2:8; 1Th 2:3; 1Jo 3:7)6Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. (Jer 14:14; Mr 13:22; Joh 8:24; 1Jo 2:18)7And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. (2Th 2:2; Re 1:1)8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. (2Ch 15:6; Isa 19:2; Ac 11:28; Re 6:4; Re 6:8; Re 6:12)9“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. (Mt 8:4; Mt 10:17; Mt 23:34; Mr 13:5; Mr 13:11; Lu 12:11; Ac 17:6; Ac 18:12; Ac 24:1; Ac 25:6; Ac 27:24; 2Jo 1:8)10And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. (Mt 28:19; Mr 14:9; Ro 10:18; Col 1:6; Col 1:23)11And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (Ex 4:12; Nu 23:5; De 18:18; Mt 6:25; Ac 4:8; Ac 6:10; Ac 13:9; 1Co 15:10; 2Co 13:3; 1Th 2:13; Heb 1:1)12And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. (Mt 10:35)13And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Da 12:12; Lu 6:22; Joh 15:18; Heb 3:6; Jas 5:11; Re 2:10)
The Abomination of Desolation
14“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Da 9:23; Da 9:25; Da 9:27; Da 11:31; Da 12:11; Re 1:3)15Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, (Lu 5:19; Lu 17:31)16and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.17And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! (Lu 23:29)18Pray that it may not happen in winter.19For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. (Ge 1:1; De 4:32; Da 12:1; Mr 10:6; Mr 13:24; Re 7:14; Re 16:18)20And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. (Isa 65:8; Mt 22:14; Mr 13:22; Mr 13:27; Lu 18:7; Joh 13:18; Joh 15:19; Eph 1:4)21And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. (Mr 13:6; Lu 17:23)22For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. (De 13:1; Mr 13:6; Mr 13:20; Mr 13:27; Ac 8:9; 2Th 2:9; 1Jo 2:18; Re 13:13; Re 16:14; Re 19:20)23But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. (Mr 13:5; Joh 13:19; Joh 14:29; 2Pe 3:17)
28“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. (Jas 5:9; Re 3:20)30Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (Mr 9:1)31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Ps 102:26; Ps 119:89; Isa 40:8; Isa 51:6; Mt 5:18; Heb 12:27; 1Pe 1:23; 1Pe 1:25; 2Pe 3:10)