Mark 13 — NETB

13Verse 1Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!”^{Verse 2}Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”

Signs of the End of the Age

^{Verse 3}So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,^{Verse 4}“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?”^{Verse 5}Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one misleads you.^{Verse 6}Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many.^{Verse 7}When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.^{Verse 8}For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.

Persecution of Disciples

^{Verse 9}“You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.^{Verse 10}First the gospel must be preached to all nations.^{Verse 11}When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.^{Verse 12}Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death.^{Verse 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

^{Verse 14}“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.^{Verse 15}The one on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of his house.^{Verse 16}The one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.^{Verse 17}Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days!^{Verse 18}Pray that it may not be in winter.^{Verse 19}For in those days there will be suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen.^{Verse 20}And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short.^{Verse 21}Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe him.^{Verse 22}For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect.^{Verse 23}Be careful! I have told you everything ahead of time.

The Arrival of the Son of Man

^{Verse 24}“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light;^{Verse 25}the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.^{Verse 26}Then everyone will see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds with great power and glory.^{Verse 27}Then he will send angels and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

^{Verse 28}“Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.^{Verse 29}So also you, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, right at the door.^{Verse 30}I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.^{Verse 31}Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Be Ready!

^{Verse 32}“But as for that day or hour no one knows it – neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son – except the Father.^{Verse 33}Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come.^{Verse 34}It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.^{Verse 35}Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return – whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn –^{Verse 36}or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly.^{Verse 37}What I say to you I say to everyone: Stay alert!”