Luke 21
1Looking up, Jesus saw the wealthy dropping their gifts into the treasury. 2He also saw a certain destitute widow dropping in two lepta. 3And he said, "Truly I tell you, this impoverished widow has dropped in more than all of them. 4For all these people dropped in gifts out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, dropped in her whole life’s resources."
5While some were speaking about the Temple—how it had been adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated offerings—he said, 6"As for these things you are gazing at, days will come in which not one stone will be left upon another that will not be torn down."
7They questioned him, saying, "Teacher, when then will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?"
8He said, "Watch out so that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has drawn near.' Do not go after them. 9When you hear of wars and instabilities, do not be terrified; for it is necessary for these things to happen first, but the end is not immediate."
10Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; there will be terrifying omens and great signs from heaven.
12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons, leading you away before kings and governors for the sake of my name. 13It will result in an opportunity for you to bear witness. 14Therefore, make up your minds not to rehearse your defense beforehand; 15for I will give you eloquence and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to withstand 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 everyone because of my name. 18Yet not a hair from your head will perish. 19By your patient endurance you will win your lives.
20But when you see Jerusalem being circled by armies, then know that her desolation has drawn near. 21Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must get out, and those in the countryside must not enter it; 22because these are the days of justice, to fulfill all that has been written. 23Woe to those who are pregnant and 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 mouth of the sword and be led away as captives into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the nations, until the times of the nations are fulfilled.
25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and its surging. 26People will faint from fear and from the expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited 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. 28But when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
29Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30As soon as they sprout leaves, you see it 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 these things have happened. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34But watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down by carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day closes in on you suddenly 35like a snare. For it will come upon everyone dwelling on the face of the whole earth. 36But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have the 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 lodge on the mountain called 'Of Olives.' 38And all the people would rise at dawn to go to him in the Temple to hear him.