Mark 13 NIV
1 As he was leaving the temple, one of his
disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What
magnificent buildings!"
2 "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on
another; every one will be thrown down."1
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of
Olives2 opposite the
temple, Peter, James, John3 and Andrew asked him privately,
4 "Tell us, when will these things
happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be
fulfilled?"
6 Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive
many.
7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed.
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the
beginning of birth pains.
9 "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the
local councils and flogged in the synagogues.5 On account of me you will stand before
governors and kings as witnesses to them.
10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry
beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for
it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.6
12 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his
child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.7
14 "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation'a10 standing where itb does not belong--let the reader
understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
15 Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house
to take anything out.
16 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak.
18 Pray that this will not take place in winter,
19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the
beginning, when God created the world,12 until now--and never to be equaled
again.13
20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive.
But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
21 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christc !' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not
believe it.14
22 For false Christs and false prophets15 will appear and perform signs and
miracles16 to
deceive the elect--if that were possible.
24 "But in those days, following that distress, " 'the
sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four
winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.20
28 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its
twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it
is near, right at the door.
30 I tell you the truth, this generatione21 will certainly not pass away until all
these things have happened.22
32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels
in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.24
34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his
servants26 in
charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep
watch.
35 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the
owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or
when the rooster crows, or at dawn.
36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
