Twenty - Mark - 13

13:1  As Jesus was walking out of the Temple Courts, one of his disciples said to him. "Teacher, look what fine stones and buildings these are!"

13:2  "Do you see these great buildings?" asked Jesus. "Not a single stone will be left here upon another, which shall not be thrown down."

13:3  When Jesus had sat down on the Mount of Olives, facing the Temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew questioned him privately.

13:4  "Tell us when this will be, and what will be the sign when all this is drawing to its close."

13:5  Then Jesus began. "See that no one leads you astray.

13:6  Many will take my name, and come saying 'I am He',and will lead many astray.

13:7  And, when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; such things must occur; but the end is not yet.

13:8  For 'nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom'; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This will be but the beginning of the birth-pangs.

13:9  See to yourselves! They will betray you to courts of law; and you will be taken to Synagogues and beaten; and you will be brought up before governors and kings for my sake, that you may bear witness before them.

13:10  But the Good News must first be proclaimed to every nation.

13:11  Whenever they betray you and hand you over for trial, do not be anxious beforehand as to what you shall say, but say whatever is given you at the moment; for it will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

13:12  Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; and children will turn against their parents, and cause them to be put to death;

13:13  And you will be hated by every one on account of my Name. Yet the man that endures to the end shall be saved.

13:14  As soon, however, as you see 'the Foul Desecration' standing where he ought not" "then those of you who are in Judea must take refuge in the mountains;

13:15  And a man on the house-top must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house.

13:16  Nor must one who is on his farm turn back to get his cloak.

13:17  And alas for the women that are with child, and for those that are nursing infants in those days!

13:18  Pray, too, that this may not occur in winter.

13:19  For those days will be a time of distress, the like of which has not occurred from the beginning of God's creation until now--and never will again.

13:20  And, had not the Lord put a limit to those days, not a single soul would escape; but, for the sake of God's own chosen People, he did limit them.

13:21  And at that time if any one should say to you 'Look, here is the Christ!' 'Look, there he is!',do not believe it;

13:22  For false Christs and false Prophets will arise, and display signs and marvels, to lead astray, were it possible, even God's People.

13:23  But see that you are on your guard! I have told you all this beforehand.

13:24  In those days, after that time of distress, 'the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light,

13:25  The stars will be falling from the heavens,' and 'the forces that are in the heavens will be convulsed.'

13:26  Then will be seen the 'Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory;

13:27  And then he will send the angels, and gather his People from the four winds, from one end of the world to the other.

13:28  Learn the lesson taught by the fig-tree. As soon as its branches are full of sap, and it is bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near.

13:29  And so may you, as soon as you see these things happening, know that he is at your doors.

13:30  I tell you that even the present generation will not pass away, until all these things have taken place.

13:31  The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

13:32  But about 'That Day,' or 'The Hour,' no one knows--not even the angels in Heaven, nor yet the Son--but only the Father.

13:33  See that you are on the watch; for you do not know when the time will be.

13:34  It is like a man going on a journey, who leaves his home, puts his servants in charge--each having his special duty--and orders the porter to watch.

13:35  Therefore watch, for you cannot be sure when the Master of the house is coming--whether in the evening, at midnight, at daybreak, or in the morning--

13:36  Lest he should come suddenly and find you asleep.

13:37  And what I say to you I say to all--Watch!"