Temple Destruction and Other Signs (Matthew 24:1–8; Luke 21:5–9)
2 UST Jesus replied,“Look at these impressive structures! Enemies will completely destroy them. They will not leave anything standing.” BSB BSB: “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
3 UST Later, Jesus{ and his apprentices} sat down on top of the Mount of Olives in front of the temple. When no one else was with them, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Jesus, BSB BSB: While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
4 UST “Please explain to us when what you have described will happen. Also,{ please explain to us} how we can tell when everything that you have described is about to happen.” BSB BSB: “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?”
5 UST Jesus started to reply,“Make sure that no one deceives you! BSB BSB: Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you.
6 UST Many people will meet you and say that God has authorized them as he has authorized me. They will say that they are{ the Messiah}.{ By doing that,} they will deceive many people. BSB BSB: Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.
7 UST Whenever people tell you about wars that are happening and about wars that could happen, do not be afraid. Things like that have to happen. However, what I have said about the temple will not yet happen. BSB BSB: When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
8 UST Further, groups of people will attack each other. Earthquakes will happen in many places. Many people will not have enough food to eat. Those events are like the first pains a pregnant woman feels when she is going to have a child. They are bad, but many more bad things will still happen after them. BSB BSB: Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Witnessing to All Nations (Matthew 24:9–14; Luke 21:10–19)
9 UST Make sure that you are ready{ for what people will do to you}. They will arrest you and accuse you in front of groups of important people. They will beat you in the Jewish meeting places. Because you are my apprentices, people will accuse you before local rulers and kings. That way, you will tell those rulers{ about me}. BSB BSB: So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
10 UST Indeed, my apprentices must preach the good news to all groups of people before{ what I have said about the temple will happen}. BSB BSB: And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.
11 UST Whenever people arrest you and then accuse you, do not worry about how you will respond. In fact, you will not speak for yourselves. Instead, the Holy Spirit{ will speak through you}. So, you should say whatever God reveals to you at that time. BSB BSB: But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 UST { During this time,} men will have someone arrest their own brothers, and they will ask the judge to execute them. Fathers{ will do the same thing} to their own children. Children will rebel against their parents and cause them to die. BSB BSB: Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
13 UST Because you are my apprentices, many people will be hostile to you. However, if you persevere{ in being my apprentices} while people harm you, God will rescue you. BSB BSB: You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
The Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15–25; Luke 21:20–24)
14 UST At some point, you will realize that the detestable thing that destroys is where it does not belong.”(Anyone who is reading this should know what Jesus meant.)“When you realize that, those of you who are in the region of Judea should escape to the hilly areas nearby. BSB BSB: So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
15 UST Those of you who are outside your homes should not go back into your homes to get anything. BSB BSB: Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house.
16 UST Those of you who are working in fields should not go back home to get your coats. BSB BSB: And let no one in the field return for his cloak.
17 UST When what I have described happens, how terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers! BSB BSB: How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!
18 UST People will suffer very severely when what I have described happens. People have not suffered that severely since God created everything up to now, and no one will ever suffer that severely again. So, ask God to keep these things from occurring during the winter season{, when it is difficult to travel}. BSB BSB: Pray that this will not occur in the winter.
20 UST Suppose that the Lord{ God} were to allow what I have described to continue. In that case, nobody would survive. However, because of the people whom he has chosen{ to belong to him}, God will not allow what I have described to continue. BSB BSB: If the Lord had not cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has cut them short.
21 UST While those things are happening, there will be people who lie when they claim to be the Messiah or to speak for God. They will do amazing miracles. They will try to deceive the people whom God has chosen{ to belong to him}, and they will almost succeed in doing so. Therefore, when people tell you that the Messiah is here or there, do not trust{ what they say}. BSB BSB: At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.
23 UST Make sure that you are ready{ for what will happen}. I have warned you about this before it happens! BSB BSB: So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.
The Return of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:26–31; Luke 21:25–28)
24 UST While what I have described is happening, once people suffer in the ways I have described, God will cause the sun to become dark. The moon will not shine. BSB BSB: But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
25 UST Stars will drop down from the sky. God will disrupt the angels in heaven. BSB BSB: the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
26 UST After that, people will see me, the Son of Man, arriving by means of clouds. I will be very powerful and great. BSB BSB: At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 UST After that, I will tell the angels to collect the people whom I have chosen. They will collect them from every place that exists. BSB BSB: And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32–35; Luke 21:29–33)
28 UST Listen to this story about how fig trees grow. Whenever they begin to produce new branches and leaves, you can tell that it is almost the summer season. BSB BSB: Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.
29 UST Similarly, whenever you realize that what I have described is happening, you can tell that I will act very soon. BSB BSB: So also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, right at the door.
30 UST Most of the people who are alive right now will still be alive when what I have described happens. What I have said is true. BSB BSB: Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
31 UST Everything that God has created will eventually change or disappear. However, what I have said will never change or disappear. BSB BSB: Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Readiness at Any Hour (Matthew 24:36–51; Luke 12:35–48)
33 UST So, you do not know at what moment I will return to this world. Because of that, you need to make sure that you are ready. You need to focus and pray. BSB BSB: Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come.
34 UST { Here is a story} that illustrates{ what I mean}. A man decided to travel to a different country. Before he left home, he authorized each of his servants to do something specific{ to manage the household}. Then, he told the man who guarded the house to be ready{ for him to return}. BSB BSB: It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.
35 UST So then, I am like the man who owned that house. You cannot know at what moment I will return{ to this world}. It might be at sunset or at midnight. It might be very early in the morning or after sunrise. Because of that, you need to be ready{ at all times}. BSB BSB: Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
36 UST Otherwise, when I return{ to this world} when you do not expect me, I might discover that you are not ready{ for me}. BSB BSB: Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping.
37 UST I am telling you that you need to be ready{ at all times}. In fact, I am telling that to all people!” BSB BSB: And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”