Luke 21
1Looking up, he saw the wealthy putting their gifts into the treasury. 2He also saw a destitute widow putting in two small copper coins. 3And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4For all these put in their gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood she had."
5As some were speaking about the temple—how it was adorned with beautiful stones and sacred offerings—he said, 6"These things you are looking at—days will come when not one stone will be left upon another that will not be thrown down."
7They asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to happen?"
8He said, "Watch out that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has drawn near.' Do not follow after them. 9When you hear of wars and upheavals, do not be terrified. For these things must happen first, but the end does not come immediately."
10Then he was saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven.
12"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors on account of my name. 13This will result in an opportunity for testimony. 14So resolve in your hearts not to rehearse your defense beforehand, 15for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17You will be hated by all on account of my name. 18Yet not a hair from your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your lives.
20"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, then know that her desolation has drawn near. 21Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those inside the city depart, and let those in the countryside not enter her. 22For these are days of vengeance, so that all that is written may be fulfilled. 23How terrible for those who are pregnant and for those who are nursing in those days! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken captive to all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the nations until the times of the nations are fulfilled.
25"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish among nations, perplexed at the roaring of the sea and the surging waves, 26people fainting from fear and dread of what is coming upon the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your liberation is drawing near."
29And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30When they have already sprouted, you see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things have happened. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34"But watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day come upon you suddenly 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man."
37During the days he was teaching in the temple, but at night he would go out and stay on the mount called Olivet. 38And all the people would come to him early in the morning in the temple to hear him.