Jesus talks about a time of great trouble
5 Some of Jesus' disciples were talking about the temple. They spoke about the many beautiful stones in the walls. They also spoke about the many gifts to God that people had put there. 6 Jesus said to them, ‘You can see all these beautiful things now. But a day is coming when enemies will completely destroy it all. Not even one stone will remain on top of another stone.’
7 They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will all these things happen? What signs will show us that they will soon happen?’
8 Jesus replied. ‘Be careful! Some people will tell you things that are not true. Do not believe them. Many people will say that they have come on my behalf. They will say, “I am the Messiah.” They will say, “Now is the time!” Do not agree with those people. 9 You will hear about wars and about fights against rulers. Do not be afraid. Those things must happen first, but the end of everything will not happen immediately.’
10 Jesus then said to them, ‘People from one country will attack the people from another country. Kings and their armies will fight against other kings and their armies. 11 The ground will shake with great earthquakes. In many different places, people will be hungry, with no food. People will suffer with bad diseases. Things that show God's power will happen in the sky so that people are afraid.
12 But before all those things happen, people will take hold of you. They will cause you to suffer. They will take you to the leaders in their meeting places and they will put you in prisons. They will make you stand in front of kings and rulers. All this will happen because you are my disciples. 13 This will be the time to tell people the good news about me. 14 You will have to answer their questions. But decide not to think now about what you will say. Wait until that time comes. 15 I will give you the right words to speak at that time. I will help you to be wise. Your enemies will not be able to argue against you. They will be quiet.
16 Even your parents and other people in your family will turn against you. They will give you to your enemies. They will even kill some of you. 17 Everybody will hate you because you are my disciples. 18 But your life will be safe with me. You will not lose even one hair from your head. 19 Yes, you will have true life, if you remain strong.
Jesus warns that armies will destroy Jerusalem
20 One day you will see Jerusalem with armies all around it. Then you will know that enemies will soon destroy that city. 21 People in Judea must then run away to the hills to hide. People that are inside the city must leave it. People that are outside in the fields must not go back into the city. 22 This is when God will punish the people in the city. Then all the things will happen that are written in the Bible. 23 That will be a bad time for women who are soon to have a baby! It will also be a bad time for those women who have little babies! Yes, very bad things will happen to all the people of this country. God will be very angry with the people who live here.
24 At that time, enemies will fight God's people and kill many of them in war. They will take some of them away as prisoners to live in all the other countries. Foreign nations will destroy Jerusalem. They will rule here until their time comes to an end.’
The Son of Man will return to this world
25 ‘You will see strange things happen to the sun and to the moon and to the stars. Down on earth, people in many countries will become very afraid. The sea will make a lot of noise with great waves. 26 These things will frighten people so that they become very weak. The powerful things in the sky will shake. People will be very afraid about what will soon happen in the world. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man as he comes in a cloud. He will have great power and bright glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up! Be brave and look up, because God will save you very soon.’
