²⁰“When you see armies camped around Jerusalem, realize that the time is near for it to be destroyed. ²¹Then those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains. Those of you in Jerusalem should leave it. Those of you in the fields shouldn’t go back into them. ²²This will be a time of vengeance. Everything that is written about it will come true.

²³“How horrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. Indeed, the land will suffer very hard times, and its people will be punished. ²⁴Swords will cut them down, and they will be carried off into all nations as prisoners. Nations will trample Jerusalem until the times allowed for the nations ⸤to do this⸥ are over.

²⁵“Miraculous signs will occur in the sun, moon, and stars. The nations of the earth will be deeply troubled and confused because of the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶People will faint as they fearfully wait for what will happen to the world. Indeed, the powers of the universe will be shaken.

²⁷“Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

²⁸“When these things begin to happen, stand with confidence! The time when you will be set free is near.”

²⁹Then Jesus used this story as an illustration. “Look at the fig tree or any other tree. ³⁰As soon as leaves grow on them, you know without being told that summer is near. ³¹In the same way, when you see these things happen, you know that God’s kingdom is near.

³²“I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all this takes place. ³³The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

No One Knows When the Earth and the Heavens will Disappear

³⁴“Make sure that you don’t become drunk, hung over, and worried about life. Then that day could suddenly catch you by surprise ³⁵like a trap that catches a bird. That day will surprise all people who live on the earth. ³⁶Be alert at all times. Pray so that you have the power to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand in front of the Son of Man.”

³⁷During the day Jesus would teach in the temple courtyard. But at night he would go to the Mount of Olives (as it was called) and spend the night there. ³⁸All of the people would get up early to hear him speak in the temple courtyard.

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