Luke 21:5-36

English Standard Version

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

⁵^(A)And 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, ^(B)the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” ⁷And they asked him, “Teacher, ^(C)when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” ⁸And he said, ^(D)“See that you are not led astray. For ^(E)many will come in my name, saying, ^(F)‘I am he!’ and, ^(G)‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. ⁹And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be ^(H)terrified, for these things ^(I)must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution

¹⁰Then he said to them, ^(J)“Nation will rise against nation, and ^(K)kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹There will be great ^(L)earthquakes, and in various places ^(M)famines and pestilences. And there will be ^(N)terrors and great ^(O)signs from heaven. ¹²But before all this ^(P)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to ^(Q)the synagogues and ^(R)prisons, and you ^(S)will be brought before ^(T)kings and ^(U)governors for my name's sake. ¹³^(V)This will be your opportunity to bear witness. ¹⁴Settle it therefore in your minds ^(W)not to meditate beforehand how to answer, ¹⁵for ^(X)I will give you a mouth and ^(Y)wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or ^(Z)contradict. ¹⁶You will be delivered up ^(AA)even by parents and brothers^[a] and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. ¹⁷^(AB)You will be hated by all for my name's sake. ¹⁸But ^(AC)not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹By your ^(AD)endurance you will gain your lives.

Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem

²⁰“But ^(AE)when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that ^(AF)its desolation has come near. ²¹Then 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, ²²for these are ^(AG)days of ^(AH)vengeance, to fulfill ^(AI)all that is written. ²³^(AJ)Alas 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 ^(AK)wrath against this people. ²⁴They will fall by the edge of the sword and ^(AL)be led captive among all nations, and ^(AM)Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, ^(AN)until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵“And ^(AO)there will be signs in sun and moon ^(AP)and stars, and on the earth ^(AQ)distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, ²⁶people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For ^(AR)the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷And then they will see ^(AS)the Son of Man coming in a cloud ^(AT)with power and great glory. ²⁸Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and ^(AU)raise your heads, because ^(AV)your redemption is drawing near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

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

Watch Yourselves

³⁴“But watch yourselves ^(BA)lest ^(BB)your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and ^(BC)cares of this life, and ^(BD)that day come upon you suddenly ^(BE)like a trap. ³⁵For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶But ^(BF)stay awake at all times, ^(BG)praying that you may ^(BH)have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and ^(BI)to stand before the Son of Man.”