Mark 13
1As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What stones and what buildings!” 2Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another that will not be thrown down.”
3As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be completed?” 5Jesus began to tell them, “Watch that no one leads you astray. 6Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will lead many astray. 7When you hear of wars and reports of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
9“But watch yourselves. They will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. 10And the good news must first be proclaimed to all the nations. 11When they lead you away and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Say whatever is given to you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12Brother will hand brother over to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
14“When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it must not be”—let the reader understand—“then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 15The one on the housetop must not go down or enter to take anything from his house. 16The one in the field must not turn back to take his cloak. 17Woe to those who are pregnant and those nursing infants in those days! 18Pray that it does not happen in winter. 19For those days will be a distress such as has not occurred from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will again. 20If the Lord had not shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved. But because of the chosen, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or ‘Look, there!’ do not believe it. 22For false messiahs and false prophets will rise and give signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the chosen. 23But you, watch! I have told you everything beforehand.
24“But in those days, after that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. 25The stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27Then he will send the angels and gather his chosen from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.
28“Learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29So also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near, at the doors. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things happen. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.
32“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Watch; stay awake! For you do not know when the time is. 34It is like a man away on a journey who left his house and gave his slaves authority, each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35So stay awake, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming: in the evening, at midnight, at cockcrow, or in the morning. 36Otherwise he may come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: stay awake!”