Mark 13

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold

1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said, “Teacher, look at these massive stones and these buildings.”

2 Jesus said, “You see all this, Not one stone here will be left on another, everything will be torn down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

3 As He sat on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,

4 “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when all this is about to go down?”

5 Jesus said, “Watch yourselves, do not let anyone deceive you.

6 Many will come in My name saying, ‘I am Him,’ and they will lead a lot of people off.

7 When you hear about wars and rumors of wars, do not panic, these things have to happen, but the end is not yet.

8 Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in different places, and famines. These are just the beginning, like birth pains.

9 Be alert. They will hand you over to courts, beat you in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings because of Me, as a witness to them.

10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

11 When they arrest you and bring you in, do not stress about what to say, say whatever is given to you in that moment, because it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them killed.

13 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

The Abomination of Desolation

14 “When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be, let the reader understand, then those in Judea need to run to the mountains.

15 If you are on the rooftop, do not go down or go inside to grab anything.

16 If you are in the field, do not turn back to get your coat.

17 It will be hard in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

18 Pray it does not happen in winter.

19 Those days will be trouble like never before, from the beginning of creation until now, and never again.

20 If the Lord had not cut those days short, nobody would survive. But for the sake of the ones He chose, He shortened those days.

21 If anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ,’ or ‘Look, there He is,’ do not believe it.

22 False messiahs and false prophets will show up and do signs and wonders to try to deceive, even the chosen, if that were possible.

23 Stay alert, I have told you everything ahead of time.”

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,

25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

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

27 And He will send out the angels and gather His people from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

28 Learn this from the fig tree: when its branch becomes tender and puts out leaves, you know summer is near.

29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, right at the door.

30 I am telling you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”

No One Knows the Day or Hour

32 “But about that day or hour, nobody knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, only the Father.

33 Stay alert. Stay ready. You do not know when the time is coming.

34 It is like a man going away, he leaves his house, puts his servants in charge, each with their assignment, and tells the doorkeeper to stay alert.

35 So stay ready, you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn.

36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.

37 What I say to you, I say to everyone, stay ready.”