The destruction of the temple and signs of the end times
1As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!’2‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately,4‘Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?’5Jesus said to them: ‘Watch out that no-one deceives you.6Many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and will deceive many.7When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.8Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth-pains.9‘You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.10And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, 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.13Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.14‘When you see “the abomination that causes desolation” standing where it[1] does not belong – let the reader understand – then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Da 9:27; Da 11:31; Da 12:11)15Let no-one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out.16Let no-one in the field go back to get their cloak.17How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!18Pray that this will not take place in winter,19because those will be days of distress unequalled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now – and never to be equalled again.20‘If the Lord had not cut short those days, no-one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.21At that time if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Messiah!” or, “Look, there he is!” do not believe it.22For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.23So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.24‘But in those days, following that distress, ‘ “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;25the stars will fall from the sky, and 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 with great power and glory.27And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.28‘Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.29Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it[2] is near, right at the door.30Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The day and hour unknown
32‘But about that day or hour no-one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.33Be on guard! Be alert[3]! 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 with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.35‘Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back – whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or at dawn.36If he comes suddenly, 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)