Mark

On the Destruction of the Temple

As Jesus left the temple, one of his disciples said:

“Look, Master, at the enormous stones and wonderful buildings here!”

And Jesus answered:

“You see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another, but all will be torn down.”

The Beginning of Sorrows

As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives facing the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew approached him privately and asked;

“Tell us, when will this happen? What sign will show us that it is about to occur?”

Jesus began to tell them:

“Don’t let anyone mislead you.

Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many people. 

When you hear about wars and threats of war, don’t be troubled; this must happen, but the end is not yet. 

Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes everywhere and famines, too. And these will be like the first pains of childbirth. 

 Stay alert, because you will be arrested and brought to court. You will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to testify before them. 

 But the preaching of the gospel to all nations must come first.

So, when you are arrested and brought to trial, don’t worry about what you are to say; for you shall say what will be given to you in that hour. It is not you who speaks, but the Holy Spirit.

 Brother will betray brother even to death, and the father his child. Children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. 

 All will hate you for my name’s sake, but whoever holds out to the end will be saved.

The Great Tribulation

So, when you see the desolating abomination set up where it should not be (may the reader understand!), then let those in Judea flee to the mountains.

 If you are on the housetop, don’t come down to take anything with you. 

 If you are in the field, don’t turn back to fetch your cloak. 

How difficult it will be then for pregnant women and mothers with babies at the breast! 

 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 

For this will be a time of distress, unequaled from the beginning of creation until now; and it will never be experienced again. 

So, if the Lord had not shortened that time, no one would survive; but he decided to shorten it for the sake of those he has chosen.

 And if anyone says to you at that time, ‘Look, here is the Messiah! Look, he is there!’—do not believe it. 

For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders to deceive even God’s chosen people, if possible. 

 Be on your guard, then; I have told you everything in advance.

The Parousia

Later on in those days, after that disastrous time, the sun will grow dark, the moon will not give its light,

the stars will fall from the sky, and the whole universe will be shaken. 

Then people will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

And he will send the angels to gather his chosen people from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

The Example of the Fig Tree

Learn a lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branches become tender and it begins to sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.

 In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the time is near, even at the door.

 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all this has happened. 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 

About the Day and the Hour

But regarding that day and that hour, no one knows when it will come, not even the angels, not even the Son, but only the Father.

 Stay alert and watch out, because you never know when the time will arrive. 

 When a man travels abroad and leaves his home, he assigns his servants responsibilities and instructs the doorkeeper to stay alert. 

 So stay alert, because you don’t know when the owner of the house is coming—whether it’s in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or before dawn. 

 If he arrives unexpectedly, don’t let him find you asleep.

What I tell you, I tell everyone: Stay awake!”