Open English Translation LUKE Chapter 21

21 When Yeshua looked up, he saw some wealthy people throwing their gifts into the temple treasury basket. 2 He also noticed a poor widow who threw in two small copper coins. 3 “I can assure you all,” he said, “that this poor widow threw more in than all the others, 4 because they all donated out of their plentiful wealth, but she in her poverty, gave her food budget.”

5 Meanwhile, some were talking about the temple building that had been constructed with beautifully cut stones and dedicated with promises to God, but Yeshua said, 6 “In the future, all of this that you’re all looking at, will be torn down in such a way that not one of those stones will be left sitting on top of another.”

7 Then they asked Yeshua, “Teacher, when will those things all happen, and what will be the sign that they’re about to happen?”

8 “Be careful,” he answered, “in case you all get deceived, because lots of people will come using my name and saying, ‘I’m him,’ or ‘The time has come.’ Don’t follow after them, 9 and whenever you all hear about wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, because all these things do need to happen first, but they don’t mean that the end will be right then.”

10 Then he told them, “Various countries and kingdoms will attack each other 11 and there’ll be huge earthquakes, and famines and diseases and other frightening events, as well as widespread signs from the sky.

12 “But before all that happens, they’ll be arresting you all, and persecuting you. You’ll be handed over to the meeting halls and prisons. Some of you will be stood in front of kings and governors because of my name 13 but it will turn out to be a way to tell them about me. 14 [ref]So be confident that you all don’t need to figure out in advance what you will say in your defence 15 because I’ll give you the words to say and wisdom which all of those opposing you won’t be able to resist or speak against. 16 But you’ll also be turned in even by parents and siblings, other relatives and friends, and some of you will be sentenced to death. 17 You all will be hated by everyone because of my name, 18 but it’s certain that not a single hair on your head will be lost, 19 but by your endurances, you’ll actually be gaining your lives.

20 “However, when you all see Yerushalem being surrounded by armies, then you’ll know that the time of her abandonment is close. 21 Then those who’re in Yudea should flee to the hills and those in the central area should get out, and foreigners should no longer go there 22 [ref]because that will be a time of vengeance when what’s been written will come to pass. 23 It’ll be so hard for pregnant and breast-feeding women at that time because there’ll be incredible distress in the country and severe anger towards the Jewish people. 24 They’ll be cut down with swords and taken to many other countries as slaves, then Yerushalem will be overrun by non-Jews until the times given to the non-Jews will be fulfilled.

25 [ref]“There’ll be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and anguish in countries around the world as they’re puzzled by the noise of the sea and surf. 26 People will faint from fear and worry about what’s happening to the planet, because the powers in the universe[fn] will be shaken. 27 [ref]Then they’ll see humanity’s child coming down in a cloud with power and great brightness. 28 But when these things start to happen, stand straight and look upwards, because your new lives of freedom will be about to begin.”

29 Then he told them a parable: “Watch the fig tree and all the trees. 30 Whenever you see shoots start appearing, you know that summer is not far away. 31 Similarly when you all see those things starting to happen, you will know that God’s kingdom is close.

32 “I can assure you all that that generation certainly won’t pass away until all those events come to an end. 33 The sky and the earth will pass away, but my statements will certainly not pass away.

34 Watch your own lives in case you end up focused on partying and drunkenness and day-to-day living, because then that sudden end might snap on you 35 like an animal trap, because it will hit everyone all over the planet. 36 No matter what the season, stay alert, asking God that you’ll all have the strength to escape all those things going to happen, and at the end to be able to stand in front of humanity’s child.”

37 [ref]Then Yeshua was teaching in the temple during the day, but he’d leave in the evening and go and stay on the Mount of Olives, 38 but all the people would return to the temple again the next day at dawn to listen to him again.