The Destruction of the Temple and Signs before the End

131 As He was going out of the temple , one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher , behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings !" 2 And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings ? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down ." 3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple , Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately e , 4 "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled ?"

5 And Jesus began to say to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. 6 "Many will come in My name , saying , ' I am He!' and will mislead many . 7 "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars , do not be frightened ; those things must take place ; but that is not yet the end . 8 "For 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 be on your guard ; for they will deliver you to the courts , and you will be flogged in the synagogues , and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake , as a testimony to them. 10 " The gospel must first be preached to all the nations . 11 " When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say , but say whatever e is given you in that hour ; for it is not you who speak , but it is the Holy Spirit . 12 "Brother will betray brother to death , and a father his child ; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death . 13 " You will be hated by all because of My name , but the one who endures to the end , he will be saved .

14 "But when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be (let the reader understand ), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains . 15 " The one who is on the housetop must not go down , or go in to get anything out of his house ; 16 and the one who is in the field must not turn back e to get his coat . 17 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days ! 18 "But pray that it may not happen in the winter . 19 "For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now , and never e will. 20 "Unless the Lord had shortened those days , no e life would have been saved ; but for the sake of the elect , whom He chose , He shortened the days . 21 "And then if anyone says to you, 'Behold , here is the Christ '; or, 'Behold , He is there '; do not believe him; 22 for false Christs and false prophets will arise , and will show signs and wonders , in order to lead astray , if possible , the elect . 23 "But take heed ; behold , I have told you everything in advance .

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 "But in those days , after that tribulation , THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT , 25  AND THE STARS WILL BE FALLING from heaven , and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken . 26 "Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory . 27 "And then He will send forth the angels , and will gather together His elect from the four winds , from 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 . 29 "Even so , you too , when you see these things happening , recognize that He is near , right at the door . 30 "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place . 31 "Heaven and earth will pass away , but My words will not pass away . 32 " But of that day or hour no one knows , not even the angels in heaven , nor the Son , but the Father alone. 33 "Take heed , keep on the alert ; for you do not know when the appointed time will come . 34 " It is like a man away on a journey , who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge , assigning to each one his task , also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert . 35 "Therefore , be on the alert -for you do not know when the master of the house is coming , whether in the evening , at midnight , or when the rooster crows , or in the morning - 36 in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep . 37 "What I say to you I say to all , ' Be on the alert !' "