Matthew 24:15-44

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Great Tribulation

¹⁵ “So when you see the abomination that causes desolation,^[a][b] spoken of by the prophet Daniel,^(A) standing in the holy place”^(B) (let the reader understand^[c]), ¹⁶ “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! ¹⁷ A man on the housetop^[d] must not come down to get things out of his house.^{(C) 18} And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes. ¹⁹ Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! ²⁰ Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. ²¹ For at that time there will be great tribulation,^(D) the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again! ²² Unless those days were limited, no one would^[e] survive.^[f] But those days will be limited because of the elect.^(E)

²³ “If anyone tells you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’^(F) or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it!^{(G) 24} False messiahs^[g] and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray,^(H) if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ Take note: I have told you in advance. ²⁶ So if they tell you, ‘Look, He’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; ‘Look, He’s in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.^{(I) 28} Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures^[h] will gather.^(J)

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation^(K) of those days:

³⁰ “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth^[i] will mourn;^[j] and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.^{(L) 31} He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet,^(M) and they will gather His elect from the four winds,^(N) from one end of the sky to the other.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

³² “Now learn this parable^(O) from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize^[k] that He^[l] is near—at the door!^{(P) 34} I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.^{(Q) 35} Heaven and earth will pass away,^(R) but My words will never pass away.^(S)

No One Knows the Day or Hour

³⁶ “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son^[m] —except the Father only.^{(T) 37} As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. ³⁸ For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark.^{(U) 39} They didn’t know^[n] until the flood came and swept them all away. So this is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be: ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one left.^{(V) 42} Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day^[o] your Lord is coming.^{(W) 43} But know this: If the homeowner had known what time^[p] the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into.^{(X) 44} This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.^(Y)