Mark 13 RCW Translation, 2024.03.27. 2nd ed
- As Jesus was leaving the Temple, one of His disciples said, “Rabbi, look! What country did these stones and buildings come from?”
- Jesus responded by saying: “You see these great buildings, not one stone will be left upon another. Everything here will be thrown down.”
- Later, as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives facing the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately:
- “Tell us when this will all happen, and what warning sign will indicate that it is about to happen.”
- Jesus responded by saying, “Be watching alertly so that no man would deceive you.
- “Many will be coming in My name, saying ‘I Am’, and they will deceive many.
- “When you hear about wars, and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This will happen, but the conclusion is later.
- “Race will be aroused against race, and nation raised up against nation, and earthquakes will occur in different places. There will be famines and conflicts. These are like the first contractions of childbirth.
- “Stay alert! You will be arrested and taken before councils, and you will be whipped in the synagogues. You will be led before authorities and kings on account of Me, as a testimony to them.
- “It is necessary that the Gospel be proclaimed in all nations first.
- “When they arrest you, do not consider what you will say. Do not even think about what you will say in your own defense. Speak only what is given to you to say, for it will be the Holy Spirit speaking, not you.
- “Brother will betray brother to death, Father will betray son, children will rise up and cause their parents to be put to death.
- “You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be rescued.
- “So, when you see the ‘Abomination of the Desolation’ which stood where it should not, as spoken by Daniel the prophet,(let the one reading perceive this reference), then those in Judea should flee to the mountains.
- “The one still on the roof should leave immediately without even going back inside to retrieve anything from his house.
- “And the one in the field should leave immediately without returning to pick up his clothes.
- “Woe to those who are pregnant, and those still nursing an infant in those days.
- “Pray that you will not have to flee in winter.
- “For those will be days of pressure unprecedented in all history, from the beginning of Creation until now, and will not be repeated.
- “and if the Master does not limit those days, no flesh would spared; but for the sake of His chosen ones, He will limit those days.
- “If anyone says to you, ‘Look! The Messiah is here, or there.’ Do not believe it.
- “Because fake messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and miracles to deceive, if possible, even the chosen ones.
- “Be alert! Look, I have told you all of this before it happens.
- “But, in those days, after all that distress, the sun will become dark, and the moon will give no light.
- “And the stars of the sky will fall, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
- “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with much power and glory.
- “Then He will send his angels and will gather together His chosen ones from all four directions, from the very extreme ends of land and sky.
- “Consider this parable of the fig tree. When its branch is tender and leaves are starting to sprout, you know that summer is near.
- “So, you also, when you see these things starting to happen, know that He is near, right at the door.
- “I am telling you the truth. This present generation will not pass away until all of these things start to happen.
- “The sky and the land will pass away but My words will never pass away.
- “But concerning that day and hour, no one is aware. Not the angels in heaven nor even the Son, only the Father.
- “Be alert! Be vigilant! Be praying! You cannot perceive when that season will arrive.
- “Like a traveler leaving his home and giving his servants authority and to each his work assignments, and he orders the doorkeeper to be alert…
- “Be alert! For you cannot know when the Master of the house is coming, evening or midnight or dawn, or mid-morning.
- “But He will come suddenly and may find you napping.
- “What I say to you, I say to all, ‘Be alert!’”