Questions from the Disciples

Matt. 24:1–3; Luke 21:5–7

13 Then aas He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”

2 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? bNot one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, cPeter, dJames, eJohn, and fAndrew asked Him privately, 4 g“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

The Tribulation

Matt. 24:4–26; Luke 21:8–24

5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: h“Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and ikingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines 1and troubles. jThese are the beginnings of 2sorrows.

9 “But kwatch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will 3be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10 And lthe gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 mBut when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, 4or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, nbut the Holy Spirit. 12 Now obrother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 pAnd you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But qhe who 5endures to the end shall be saved.

14 r“So when you see the s‘abomination of desolation,’ 6spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then tlet those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. 16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 17 uBut woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 And pray that your flight may not be in winter. 19 vFor in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

21 w“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and xwonders to deceive, if possible, even the 7elect. 23 But ytake heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

The Second Coming

Matt. 24:29–31; Luke 21:25–28

24 z “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be ashaken. 26 bThen they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His 8elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

Parable of the Fig Tree

Matt. 24:32–35

28 c“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that 9it is near—at the doors! 30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but dMy words will by no means pass away.

Exhortation to Watch

Matt. 24:36–51; Luke 21:34–36

32 “But of that day and hour eno one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the fFather. 33 gTake heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 hIt is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave iauthority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 jWatch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”