Matthew 24

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple

1As Jesus came out from the temple courts and was walking away, his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2But Jesus asaid to them, “You see all these buildings? Truly I say to you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all of them will be torn down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

3Later, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of yoʋr coming and of the end of the age?” 4Jesus answered them, “Make sure no one leads you astray. 5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6You will bhear of wars and rumors of wars. Do not be alarmed, for call these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be dfamines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8But all these things are the beginning of the labor pains.

9“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10Many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11Many false prophets will rise up and lead many astray. 12Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold, 13but he who endures to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The Great Tribulation

15“So when you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), 16“then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17He who is on the housetop must not come down to get anything out of his house. 18And he who is in the field must not turn back to get his egarments. 19Woe to those who are with child and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 20Pray that your flight will not happen in winter or on a Sabbath. 21For at that time there will be a great tribulation unlike any other from the beginning of the world until now, and it will never be equaled again. 22If those days had not been cut short, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the chosen those days will be cut short. 23If anyone says to you at that time, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Here he is!’ do not believe him. 24For false christs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so fas to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen. 25Behold, I have told you in advance. 26So if they say to you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27For just as lightning comes from the east and shines to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28gFor where the carcass is, there the vultures will be gathered together.

The Coming of the Son of Man

29“But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. The stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather together his chosen from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

32“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and put out leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, at the very gates. 34Truly I say to you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have taken place. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.

Be Ready

36“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels of hheaven, but only imy Father. 37jAs were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in kthe days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah went into the ark. 39They knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding grain at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 42Therefore keep watch, for you do not know lin what hour your Lord is coming. 43But know this: If the master of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him.

45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing so when he comes. 47Truly I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed min coming,’ 49and begins to beat his fellow servants and nto eat and drink with the drunkards, 50the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, 51and will cut him in two and assign his portion to be with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.