‏ Mark 13

1As Jesus was walking out of the Temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and buildings these are!" 2"You see these mighty buildings? There shall not be left here one stone upon another which shall not be thrown down," he answered. 3When he had seated himself on the Mount of Olives, facing the Temple, Peter and Jamesand Johnand Andrew asked him privately, 4"Tell us when these things shall be, and what shall be the sign that all these predictions are about to be fulfilled."

5So Jesus began to tell them. 6"Be ye watchful lest any one mislead you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and will mislead many. 7But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars do not be dismayed, such things must come, but the end is not yet. 8For nation shall rise in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines; these are the beginning of birth-pangs. 9"You yourselves must be on your guard. They will hand you over to the courts, and you will be flogged on the synagogues; and you will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, to witness to them for me. 10But the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations. 11When, however, they are leading you all to trial, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but whatever is given you in that hour, that say, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12"And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise up against their parents, and have them put to death. 13You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he that endures to the end shall be saved.

14"But when you see the Abomination of Desolation ‘standing where he ought not’ (let the reader ponder this), then let those in Judea flee to the mountains; 15let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor go in to get anything out of his house; 16and he who is in the field, let him not turn back to get his cloak. 17And alas for the pregnant women, and for those that are nursing their infants in those days! 18Pray that it may not come in the winter. 19For those will be days of suffering the like of which has never been from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never shall be. 20And had not the Lord cut short those days, not a single person would escape; but for the elect’s sake whom he has chosen, he has cut them short. 21"At that time if any one tell you, ‘See, here is Christ,’ or ‘See, there he is,’ do not believe it; 22for false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, to lead astray the very chosen, if they can. 23Be on your guard! I have told you it all beforehand.

24"But when the tribulation is past, in those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shed her light, 25and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26Then will they see the Son of man coming in clouds, with great power and glory. 27Then he will send forth the angels and gather his chosen from the four winds, from uttermost earth to uttermost sky.

28"From the fig tree learn now her parable; as soon as ever her branches are full of sap and bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near. 29So also do you, whenever you see these things happening, know that He is near, at your very door. 30I tell you truly that the present generation shall not pass until all these things begin to happen. 31Earth and sky shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 32But concerning that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, 33nor the Son, but only the Father. 34Take heed! Awake! for you never know the time. As a man gone abroad and leaving his house gives authority to his slaves, to each his task; 35and orders the porter to keep watch; keep watch then, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming - in the evening, at midnight, at cockcrow, or in the morning - 36lest he should come unexpectedly and find you sleeping; 37and what I say to you, I say to all. Be awake and on guard."