18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world,l until now—and never to be equaled again.m

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. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.n 22 For false messiahs and false prophetso will appear and perform signs and wondersp to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard;q I have told you everything ahead of time.

24 “But in those days, following 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 heavenly bodies will be shaken.’c r

26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in cloudss with great power and glory. 27 And 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.t