Luke
21
- As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting
their gifts into the temple treasury.
- He also saw a poor widow put in two very
small copper coins.
- "I tell you the truth," he said,
"this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
- All these people gave their gifts out of
their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
- Some of his disciples were remarking about
how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated
to God. But Jesus said,
- "As for what you see here, the time
will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will
be thrown down."
- "Teacher," they asked, "when
will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to
take place?"
- He replied: "Watch out that you are
not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The
time is near.' Do not follow them.
- When you hear of wars and revolutions, do
not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come
right away."
- Then he said to them: "Nation will
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
- There will be great earthquakes, famines
and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from
heaven.
- "But before all this, they will lay
hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons,
and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of
my name.
- This will result in your being witnesses
to them.
- But make up your mind not to worry beforehand
how you will defend yourselves.
- For I will give you words and wisdom that
none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
- You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers,
relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.
- All men will hate you because of me.
- But not a hair of your head will perish.
- By standing firm you will gain life.
- "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded
by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.
- Then let those who are in Judea flee to
the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country
not enter the city.
- For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment
of all that has been written.
- How dreadful it will be in those days for
pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land
and wrath against this people.
- They will fall by the sword and will be
taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the
Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
- "There will be signs in the sun, moon
and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the
roaring and tossing of the sea.
- Men will faint from terror, apprehensive
of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
- At that time they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
- When these things begin to take place, stand
up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
- He told them this parable: "Look at
the fig tree and all the trees.
- When they sprout leaves, you can see for
yourselves and know that summer is near.
- Even so, when you see these things happening,
you know that the kingdom of God is near.
- "I tell you the truth, this generation
will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
- Heaven and earth will pass away, but my
words will never pass away.
- "Be careful, or your hearts will be
weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and
that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.
- For it will come upon all those who live
on the face of the whole earth.
- Be always on the watch, and pray that you
may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able
to stand before the Son of Man."
- Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,
and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount
of Olives,
- and all the people came early in the morning
to hear him at the temple.
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