Signs Before the End
Study note
Jesus' prediction that not one stone of the temple will be left standing prompts the disciples' question about the timing and signs of the end. He warns against being deceived by false Christs and false prophets, and describes preliminary signs including wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution. Yet these are only 'the beginning of sorrows' -- the actual end comes only after the gospel has been preached to all nations. The call to endure to the end provides sober encouragement for believers facing tribulation.
1 Jesus left the temple. His followers came up to him. They pointed out the amazing temple buildings. And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 Jesus told them, "Take a good look at all of this. I am telling you honestly — the time is coming when not a single stone here will be left stacked on another one. It will all be torn down." And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 Later, while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his followers came to him privately. They asked, "When is all this going to happen? And what signs should we look for that will tell us you are coming back and that the world is ending?" And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 Jesus answered, "First and most importantly — don't let anyone fool you. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 Many people will show up claiming to be me. They will say, 'I am the Christ,' and they will trick a great number of people. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 You are going to hear about wars breaking out, and you will hear scary rumors about future wars. Don't let any of that terrify you. These things have to happen, but they don't mean the end has arrived yet. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 Countries will go to war against each other, and kingdoms will attack kingdoms. There will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes all over the place. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 But all of that is only the very beginning — like the first labor pains before a baby is born. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 After that, they will arrest you and hand you over to be tortured. They will execute some of you. Every nation on earth will despise you because you belong to me. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 During that time, many believers will give up their faith. They will turn on each other and be filled with hatred toward one another. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 A flood of fake prophets will show up and lead huge numbers of people down the wrong path. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 As evil spreads further and further, most people's love will freeze over and die. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But the person who holds firm all the way to the finish line — that person will be saved. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 This good news about God's kingdom will be announced across the entire world so that every nation hears it. After that, the end will finally come. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
The Great Tribulation
Study note
Jesus warns of an unprecedented period of tribulation, referencing Daniel's 'abomination of desolation' standing in the sanctuary. The urgency to flee without delay and the mercy of shortened days for the elect's sake paint a picture of extreme crisis. Amidst this chaos, false prophets will perform convincing signs, but Jesus' return will be unmistakable -- as visible as lightning flashing across the sky. There will be no need to search for him; his coming will be self-evident to the whole world.
15 "Daniel the prophet warned about a vile, harmful thing. You will see it standing in the sanctuary. If you are reading this, pay close attention." When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 then anyone living in Judaea needs to run to the mountains right away. Then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains:
17 If you are up on the roof of your house, don't waste time going inside to grab your belongings. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 If you are working out in the field, don't run back home for your coat. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 Those will be dreadful days for women who are expecting a baby or nursing an infant! And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 Pray that you won't have to flee during winter or on a sabbath day. But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 The suffering during that time will be worse than anything the world has ever seen. Nothing that terrible has happened since the beginning. And nothing that terrible will ever happen again. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 If God had not decided to shorten that period, no human being would survive it. But for the sake of the people he has chosen, he will cut those days short. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 During that time, if someone tells you, 'The Christ is right over here!' or 'He is over there!' don't fall for it. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 "Because fake Christs and fake prophets will show up and do amazing signs and wonders. They will be so convincing that even God's chosen people could almost be fooled." For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Remember — I have told you all of this before it happens. Behold, I have told you before.
26 So when people say, 'He is hiding out in the desert!' don't go looking. When they say, 'He is in a secret room!' don't believe a word of it. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 When the Son of man comes, it will be as clear as lightning. It will flash from one end of the sky all the way to the other. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 Wherever the dead body lies, that is where the vultures will circle. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
The Coming of the Son of Man
Study note
Cosmic disturbances follow the tribulation: the sun darkened, the moon failing, stars falling, and the heavens shaken. Then the sign of the Son of man appears, and all tribes of the earth mourn as they see him coming on the clouds with power and great glory. His angels gather the elect from every corner of the earth. The parable of the fig tree teaches that these signs can be recognized just as budding leaves indicate approaching summer. Jesus' assurance that his words will never pass away grounds all these predictions in absolute certainty.
29 As soon as that terrible time of suffering ends, the sun will go dark and the moon will stop shining. Stars will come falling out of the sky, and the powers that hold the heavens together will be shaken loose. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in the sky. Every people group on earth will weep. They will watch as the Son of man rides in on the clouds of heaven with unstoppable power and breathtaking glory. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 He will blast a mighty trumpet and send his angels to every corner of the earth. They will gather all of God's chosen people from one end of the world to the other. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
32 Take a lesson from the fig tree: when its branches turn soft and green and leaves start sprouting, you know summer is on the way. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 It works the same way here. When you see all these things happening, you will know the time is right around the corner. It is practically at the door. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 I am telling you honestly, this generation will still be alive when all of these things take place. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Someday heaven and earth will disappear. But my words? They will last forever. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Be Ready: The Unknown Hour
Study note
While the signs can be recognized, the exact timing of Jesus' return remains unknown -- even to the angels and the Son himself, only the Father knows. Comparisons to Noah's day and illustrations of one person taken while another is left emphasize the unexpected, divisive nature of his coming. The parables of the watchful homeowner and the faithful versus unfaithful servants drive home the practical message: stay alert and be faithfully about your Master's business, because he could return at any moment.
36 Nobody knows the exact day or hour when this will happen. The angels in heaven don't know. Only my Father knows. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 When the Son of man comes, it will be just like the days of Noe. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 "Before the flood, people lived normal lives. They ate meals. They went to weddings. This went on until the day Noe stepped into the ark." For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 They had no clue what was about to happen until the flood waters swept every one of them away. The return of the Son of man will happen exactly like that. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Two men will be out working side by side in a field. One will be taken and the other will be left behind. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women will be grinding grain together at the mill. One will be taken and the other will be left behind. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 So keep your eyes wide open, because you have no idea which day your Lord will show up. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 Think about this. If a homeowner knew when a thief was coming, he would have stayed up and guarded his house. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 You need to stay ready like that, because the Son of man will arrive at a time you are not expecting. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who is the faithful and wise servant? It is the one the master trusts to run the household. That servant makes sure everyone is fed on time. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 That servant is truly blessed if the master walks in and catches him doing exactly that. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 I am telling you the truth — the master will put that faithful servant in charge of everything he owns. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But what if that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is taking forever to get back'? But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 Then he starts beating up the other servants and partying with a bunch of drunks. And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 That servant's master will return on a day he is not expecting, at an hour he does not know about. The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 The master will punish him badly and send him where the fakes go -- a place of crying and grinding of teeth." And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.