Luke 21:8-19

8Jesus replied. ‘Be careful! Some people will tell you things that are not true. Do not believe them. Many people will say that they have come on my behalf. They will say, “I am the Messiah.” They will say, “Now is the time!” Do not agree with those people.

9You will hear about wars and people fighting each other. Do not be afraid. Those things must happen first, but the end of everything will not happen immediately.’

10Jesus then said to them, ‘People from one country will attack the people from another country. Kings and their armies will fight against other kings and their armies.

11The ground will shake, so that people will be afraid. In many different places, people will be hungry, with no food. Diseases will go from one person to another. Many people will die. Things will also happen in the sky that will frighten people.

12But before all those things happen, people will take hold of you. They will do bad things to you and give you pain. They will take you to the leaders in their meeting places and they will keep you in prisons. They will make you stand in front of kings and rulers. All this will happen because you are my disciples.

13This will be the time to tell them the good news about me.

14So prepare your minds. You must decide not to think about how to answer the questions of kings and rulers. Wait until that time comes.

15I will give you the right words to speak at that time. I will help you to be wise. The people who are against you will not be able to argue with you. They will just be quiet.

16Even your parents and other people in your family will take hold of you. They will make you stand in front of kings and rulers. They will even kill some of you.

17Everybody will hate you because you are my disciples.

18But your life will be safe with me. You will not lose even one hair from your head.

19Yes, you will have true life, if you remain strong.