Open English Translation MARK Chapter 13

13 As they were leaving the temple area, one of Yeshua’s followers noted, “Teacher, look at those large, chiselled stones and those beautiful buildings that they’ve been made into.”

2 “Yes, incredible buildings,” Yeshua responded, “but the time will come when they’re torn down—not a single piece of stone will be left sitting in its place.”

3 Later when they were over on the Mt. of Olives overlooking the temple, Peter and Yacob and Yohan and Andrew were with Yeshua and asked 4 when all that destruction would happen, and what indications there would be that it would be about to happen.

5 But Yeshua told them, “Be careful so you all aren’t misled by others. 6 Plenty of people will say that they’re coming because they were sent by me, or that they are me, and they’ll mislead many others. 7 Also, whenever you all hear about wars or about battles about to begin, don’t be worried—those things will certainly happen, but there’s more to follow. 8 Countries will take up arms against other countries, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. There’ll be earthquakes in many places and there’ll be famines, but those will be just like the beginning of birth pains.

9 “So be careful. You’ll be turned over to local councils for questioning, will be whipped in the Jewish meeting halls, and will be stood in front of governors and kings because of following me. However, you’ll be able to present your life stories to them[ref] 10 and it’s right that the good message first[fn] be proclaimed to every people group. 11 But whenever they take you all along to hand you over, don’t worry in advance about what you’re going to say to defend yourselves, but wait until the hearing proceeds and speak what you are given then, because then it won’t be you speaking, but God’s spirit. 12 In those times, a brother will report on his brother to have him executed, and a father report on his child, and children will be encouraged to report on their own parents and then they’ll be executed as a result. 13 Then every one will hate you all because they hate my name, but anyone who endures to the end will be saved.[ref]

14 “But whenever you all see the most horrible thing that drives people from God, standing where it shouldn’t be (and you readers should understand that), then anyone in Yudea should flee into the hills,[ref] 15 and anyone upstairs looking outside shouldn’t come down into the bedrooms to get anything,[ref] 16 and anyone working outside shouldn’t go back inside to get a change of clothes. 17 It will be extremely difficult for pregnant women and for mothers who are breast-feeding their children in those days. 18 Just pray that it won’t happen in the winter, 19 because those days will be terrible like nothing that’s ever happened before, all the way back to when God created the world, right until the present time, and won’t ever happen again.[ref] 20 If Yahweh hadn’t shortened that time, no humans would even survive, but he shortened that time so that the chosen ones could be saved.

21 ⇔So don’t believe it if you all hear someone say, ‘Look, the messiah has arrived here.’ or ‘There’s the one that God has sent.’ 22 Plenty of fake messiahs and deceiving prophets will certainly come and even do things that humans can’t normally do, so much so that even the chosen ones would defect if that were possible. 23 So watch out, but I’ve warned you in advance about all of that.

24 “After those very difficult times, the sun will go dark[ref] and the moon won’t shine at night.[ref] 25 The stars will fall down out of the sky[ref] and the powers in the heavens will be shaken up.[ref] 26 Then the people will see the son of humanity in the clouds coming with incredible power and brightness.[ref] 27 He’ll send the messengers out to collect all the chosen people from the four corners of the world—from everywhere between the earth and the sky.

28 “So learn a lesson from fig trees—whenever the branches green up and start sprouting leaves, then everyone knows that summer is close. 29 So too whenever you see all those things happening, you know that the end of this current world is close. 30 I can assure you all that the generation of people who see those things won’t die off before those latter things happen. 31 The sky and the planet might collapse, but my teachings will never become irrelevant.

32 “But as for the date or time when all that will happen, only the father knows that—even the son and the messengers in heaven don’t know.[ref] 33 So watch out, observe current events, and be praying, because you won’t know exactly when all this will happen. 34 It can all be compared to a man who was about to leave his home and go on a trip. Before he leaves, he gives certain jobs and responsibilities to his various slaves, and instructs his security guard to stay alert.[ref] 35 So you all watch and stay alert, because you don’t know when the master of the house might return—perhaps one evening or at midnight, or at dawn or maybe mid-morning. 36 ⇔You certainly don’t want to be caught napping when he comes, 37 and what I’m telling all of you now, I tell everyone: stay alert and watch.”