UST MAT Chapter 24

◄ MAT 24 ► ║ ═ ©

24 After that, Jesus left the temple area. As he was walking, his apprentices came to him and pointed out the impressive structures that were in the temple area. 2 He responded, “Look at all these structures! Enemies will completely destroy them. They will not leave anything standing. What I have said is true.”

3 Later, Jesus sat down on top of the Mount of Olives. His apprentices came to him. No one else was with them. They asked him, “Please explain to us when what you have described will happen. Also, please explain to us how we can tell when you are going to return to this world and when this current time period will end.”

4 Jesus replied, “Make sure that nobody deceives you! 5 I say that because many people will meet you and say that God has authorized them as he has authorized me. They will say that they are the Messiah. By doing that, they will deceive many people. 6 Whenever people tell you about wars that are happening and about wars that could happen, make sure that you are not afraid. Things like that have to happen. However, the current time period will not yet end. 7 Further, groups of people will attack each other. Many people will not have enough food to eat, and earthquakes will happen in many places. 8 Those events are like the first pains a pregnant woman feels when she is going to birth. They are bad, but many more bad things will still happen after them.

9 While those things are happening, people will hurt you and kill you. Indeed, because you are my apprentices, many groups of people will be hostile to you. 10 Also while those things are happening, many people will stop believing in me. They will have people arrest their fellow believers. They will be hostile to each other. 11 There will be many people who lie when they claim to speak for God. They will deceive many people. 12 Since more and more people will do what is wrong, many people will stop caring for each other. 13 However, if you persevere in being my apprentices while people harm you, God will rescue you. 14 You, my apprentices, will proclaim the good news about God’s kingdom throughout this world. That way, you will tell every group of people about me. After that, the current time period will end.

15 At some point, you will realize that the detestable thing that destroys is in the temple building. Daniel, who spoke for God, already referred to this detestable thing.” (So, anyone who has read what Daniel wrote should know what Jesus meant.) 16 “When you realize that, those of you who are in the region of Judea should escape to the hilly areas nearby. 17 Those of you who are outside your homes should not go back into your homes to get anything. 18 Those of you who are working in fields should not go back home to get your coats. 19 When what I have described happens, how terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers! 20 Ask God to keep you from having to escape during the winter season or on the Jewish day of rest, when it is difficult to travel. 21 I say that because people will suffer very severely when what I have described happens. People have not suffered that severely since God created the world up to now, and no one will ever suffer that severely again. 22 Suppose that God were to allow what I have described to continue. In that case, nobody would survive. However, because of the people whom he has chosen to belong to him, God will not allow what I have described to continue.

23-24 23-24While those things are happening, there will be people who lie when they claim to be the Messiah or to speak for God. They will perform amazing miracles. They will try to deceive the people whom God has chosen to belong to him, and they will almost succeed in doing so. Therefore, when people tell you that the Messiah is here or there, do not trust what they say. 25 I have warned you about this before it happens! 26 So, suppose someone says to you that the Messiah is in a place where no one lives. Do not go there. Similarly, suppose that someone says to you that the Messiah is in some private rooms. Do not trust what that person says. 27 Here is why I say that: lightning lights up the sky from one side to the other, and everyone can see it. Similarly, when I, the Son of Man, return to this world, everyone will see it. 28 Carrion birds assemble wherever there is a dead body.

29 Once people suffer in the ways I have described, immediately God will cause the sun to become dark. The moon will not shine. Stars will drop down from the sky. God will disrupt the angels in heaven. 30 After that, people will see something in the sky that shows that I, the Son of Man, am about to act. In response, many groups of people here on earth will grieve. They will see me, the Son of Man, arriving by means of clouds. I will be powerful and very great. 31 I will have an angel sound a loud trumpet. I will tell my angels to collect the people whom I have chosen. They will collect them from every place that exists.

32 Listen to this story about how fig trees grow. Whenever they begin to produce new branches and leaves, you can tell that it is almost the summer season. 33 Similarly, whenever you realize that what I have described is happening, you can tell that I will act very soon. 34 Most of the people who are alive right now will still be alive when what I have described happens. What I have said is true. 35 Everything that God has created will eventually change or disappear. However, what I have said will never change or disappear.

36 However, as for when this current time period will end, no human being knows that. The angels who dwell in heaven do not know that. Even I, the Son, do not know that. In fact, only God my Father knows that. 37 So, when I, the Son of Man, return to this world, it will be like what happened when Noah was alive long ago.38-39 38-39Here is what I mean: at the time before God flooded the whole world, people did not realize what was going to happen. They did normal things, like eating, drinking, and getting married. They did those things right up to the moment when Noah went into the big boat that he had built. Then, God flooded the whole world and destroyed everyone who was not in the boat. That is what it will be like when I, the Son of Man, return to this world. 40 Consider what will happen to two men working on a farm when I return. God will bring one man to be with him. He will leave the other man behind to punish him. 41 Consider what will happen to two women using a stone to prepare grain. God will bring one woman to be with him. He will leave the other woman behind to punish her.

42 So then, you cannot know at what moment I, your Lord, will return to this world. Because of that, you need to be ready at all times. 43 Now learn from this situation: Suppose that a man who managed a household learned at what time a robber was going to steal from the house. In that case, he would be ready for the robber. He would prevent him from stealing from the house. 44 So then, since I, the Son of Man, will return to this world when you do not expect me, you too need to be ready.

45 To further understand what I am saying, consider an important servant. His master has put him in charge of all the other servants, and he needs to feed them at the proper times. He should be trustworthy and act wisely. 46 When his master returns, it will be very good for that servant if his master learns that he has done what he put him in charge to do. 47 The master will put that servant in charge of everything that he owns. What I have said is true. 48 However, suppose that the servant were wicked. Then, he would think that his master was staying away for a long time. 49 So, he would start hitting the other servants. He would feast with drunk people. 50 However, then his master would return at a time when the servant does not expect him. 51 The master will punish that servant severely. He will send him where he punishes people who pretend to obey but really do not. There, people will cry and sorrowfully grind their teeth.

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