Mark 13

Things to Come

11As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold 2what wonderful stones and 3what wonderful buildings!” 2And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? 4Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”

3As He was sitting on 5the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, 6Peter and 7James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the 8sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” 5And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 6Many will come in My name, saying, ‘9I am He!’ and will mislead many. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. 8For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

9“But 10be on your guard; for they will 11deliver you to the 12courts, and you will be flogged 13in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. 1014The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 1115When they 16arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. 12Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and 17have them put to death. 1318You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

14“But 19when you see the 20abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 1521The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; 16and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. 17But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18But pray that it may not happen in the winter. 19For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred 22since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. 20Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no 23life would have been saved; but for the sake of the 24elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days. 21And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is 25the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; 22for false Christs and 26false prophets will arise, and will show 2728signs and 29wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.

The Return of Christ

24“But in those days, after that tribulation, 30the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, 2531and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in 32the heavens will be shaken. 26Then they will see 33the Son of Man 34coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27And then He will send forth the angels, and 35will gather together His 36elect from the four winds, 37from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.

28“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, 38recognize that 39He is near, right at the 40door. 30Truly I say to you, this 41generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 3242But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

33“Take heed, 43keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time 44will come. 3445It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and 46putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. 35Therefore, 47be on the alert--for you do not know when the 48master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or 49when the rooster crows, or 50in the morning-- 36in case he should come suddenly and find you 51asleep. 37What I say to you I say to all, ‘52Be on the alert!’”