Jesus left the temple, and his disciples came up to point out its buildings. He answered them directly: not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down. That was the first blow. Later, sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and asked when this would happen, and what would be the sign of his coming and of the end of the age.
Jesus began with a warning against deception. Many would come in his name, claiming to be the Christ, and would lead many astray. Wars and rumors of wars would be heard, but he told them not to be troubled. These things must happen, but the end is not yet. Nation would rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom; famines and earthquakes would occur in various places. He called these the beginning of birth pains.
Then the disciples themselves would be delivered up to tribulation and killed. They would be hated by all nations because of his name. Many would stumble, betray one another, and hate one another. False prophets would arise and lead many astray. Because lawlessness would be multiplied, the love of many would grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
He gave a clear marker: the gospel of the kingdom must be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. When they see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand—then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one on the housetop should not go down to take anything out of the house; the one in the field should not return for his cloak.
Woe to those who are pregnant or nursing in those days. They should pray that their flight not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be. If those days had not been shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.
If anyone says, 'Look, here is the Christ,' or 'There he is,' do not believe it. False christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Jesus told them beforehand. If they say he is in the wilderness, do not go out; if they say he is in the inner rooms, do not believe it. For as lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
He gave them a parable from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and puts out leaves, summer is near. So when they see all these things, they know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will not pass away.
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. They were unaware until the flood came and took them all away. So will be the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one is taken, one is left. Two women grinding at the mill; one is taken, one is left.
Therefore, watch, because they do not know on what day their Lord is coming. If the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So they must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour they do not expect.
He asked who is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household to give them their food at the proper time. Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing so when he comes. Truly, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.