Destruction of the Temple Predicted

24 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple complex,(A) His disciples(B) came up and called His attention to the temple buildings. Then He replied to them, “Don’t you see all these things? I assure you: Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!”

Signs of the End of the Age

While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”(C)

Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives(D) you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.(E) You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines[a](F) and earthquakes in various places.(G) All these events are the beginning of birth pains.(H)

Persecutions Predicted

“Then they will hand you over for persecution,[b] and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.(I) 10 Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets(J) will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness(K) will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.[c] 14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world[d] as a testimony to all nations.(L) And then the end will come.(M)

The Great Tribulation

15 “So when you see the abomination that causes desolation,[e][f] spoken of by the prophet Daniel,(N) standing in the holy place”(O) (let the reader understand[g]), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! 17 A man on the housetop[h] must not come down to get things out of his house.(P) 18 And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes. 19 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great tribulation,(Q) the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again! 22 Unless those days were limited, no one would[i] survive.[j] But those days will be limited because of the elect.(R)

23 “If anyone tells you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’(S) or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it!(T) 24 False messiahs[k] and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray,(U) if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note: I have told you in advance. 26 So if they tell you, ‘Look, He’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; ‘Look, He’s in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.(V) 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures[l] will gather.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 24:7 Other mss add epidemics
  2. Matthew 24:9 Or tribulation, or distress
  3. Matthew 24:13 Or be saved
  4. Matthew 24:14 Or in all the inhabited earth
  5. Matthew 24:15 Or abomination of desolation, or desolating sacrilege
  6. Matthew 24:15 Dn 9:27
  7. Matthew 24:15 These are, most likely, Matthew’s words to his readers.
  8. Matthew 24:17 Or roof
  9. Matthew 24:22 Lit short, all flesh would not
  10. Matthew 24:22 Or be saved or delivered
  11. Matthew 24:24 Or False christs
  12. Matthew 24:28 Or eagles

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