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Luke 21:5-36

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

5 ^aAnd while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see ^bthe days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher ^cwhen will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, ^d“See that you are not led astray. For ^emany will come in my name, saying ^f‘I am he!’ and ^g‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be ^hterrified, for these things ⁱmust first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution

10 Then he said to them, ^j“Nation will rise against nation, and ^kkingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great ^learthquakes, and in various places ^mfamines and pestilences. And there will be ⁿterrors and great ^osigns from heaven. 12 But before all this ^pthey will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to ^qthe synagogues and ^rprisons, and you ^swill be brought before ^tkings and ^ugovernors for my name’s sake. 13 ^vThis will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds ^wnot to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for ^xI will give you a mouth and ^ywisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or ^zcontradict. 16 You will be delivered up ^aaeven by parents and brothers ^{▼

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Or parents and brothers and sisters} and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 ^acYou will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But ^adnot a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your ^aeendurance you will gain your lives.

Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem

20 “But ^afwhen you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that ^agits desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are ^ahdays of ^aivengeance, to fulfill ^ajall that is written. 23 ^akAlas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and ^alwrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and ^ambe led captive among all nations, and ^anJerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles ^aountil the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

25 “And ^apthere will be signs in sun and moon ^aqand stars, and on the earth ^ardistress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For ^asthe powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see ^atthe Son of Man coming in a cloud ^auwith power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and ^avraise your heads, because ^awyour redemption is drawing near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see ^axfor yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 ^ayTruly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 ^azHeaven and earth will pass away, but ^bamy words will not pass away.

Watch Yourselves

34 “But watch yourselves ^bblest ^bcyour hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and ^bdcares of this life, and ^bethat day come upon you suddenly ^bflike a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But ^bgstay awake at all times ^bhpraying that you may ^bihave strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and ^bjto stand before the Son of Man.”