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The Destruction of the Temple and Signs
of the End Times
1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his
disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones!
What magnificent buildings!”
2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied
Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every
one will be thrown down.”
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite
the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him
privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And
what will be the sign that they are all about to be
fulfilled?”
5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives
you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and
will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of
wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the
end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in
various places, and famines. These are the beginning of
birth pains.
9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over
to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On
account of me you will stand before governors and kings as
witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached
to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to
trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say
whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you
speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father
his child. Children will rebel against their parents and
have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of
me, but those who stand firm to the end will be saved.
14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes
desolation” standing where it does not belong—let the reader
understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter
the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field
go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in
those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray
that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those
will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when
God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled
again.
20 “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one
would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has
chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone
says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there
he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false
prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to
deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your
guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
24 “But in those days, following that distress,
“ ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its
light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly
bodies will be shaken.’
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming
in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send
his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from
the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon
as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know
that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things
happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30
Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass
away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and
earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Day and Hour Unknown
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even
the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33
Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will
come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and
puts his servants in charge, each with an assigned task, and
tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when
the owner of the house will come back—whether in the
evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at
dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you
sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’
”
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Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
