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The Gospel of Luke 21

21 Then Jesus looked up from where he was sitting and saw rich people putting their gifts of money into the offering boxes in the temple courtyard. 2 He also saw a poor widow put two small copper coins into one of the boxes. 3 And he said to his disciples, “The truth is that this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all of these rich people. 4 Let me tell you why that is true. All those rich people gave a lot of money, but it was extra money that they did not really need. But this widow, who is very poor, gave all the money that she had, even though she really did need it to live on.”

5 Some of Jesus’ disciples were talking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and decorations that people had given. But Jesus said, 6 “Let me tell you what is going to happen to these things that you are admiring. Someday your enemies will demolish them entirely.”

7 Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will show that these things are about to take place?” 8 Jesus replied, “Do not let anyone mislead you. For many people will come and each will claim to be me. Each will say about himself, ‘I am the Messiah!’ They will also say, ‘The time is almost here when God will rule as king!’ Do not believe what they are saying! 9 Also, you will hear about wars and people fighting each other. Things like that must happen before the end of the world comes. So when you hear about those things, do not be afraid.

10 Various people groups will attack each other, and the people of different kingdoms will fight each other. 11 And in various places there will be great earthquakes. There will also be famines and terrible diseases. Many things will happen that will cause people to be very afraid. People will see strange things in the sky that will show that something very important is going to happen. 12 But before all these things happen, your enemies will seize you and treat you badly. They will bring you to the synagogues, whose judges will put you on trial and put you in the prisons. Your enemies will also have kings and high government authorities put you on trial because you believe in me. 13 That will be a time for you to tell them the truth about me. 14 So resolve firmly not to worry ahead of time about what you will say to defend yourselves, 15 because I will give you the right words so that you will know what to say. As a result, none of the people accusing you will be able to say that you are wrong. 16 And even your parents and brothers and sisters and other relatives and friends will betray you, and they will kill some of you. 17 Most people will hate you because you believe in me. 18 But your entire being will be safe spiritually. 19 If you go through difficult times and prove that you trust God, after you die your souls will live on in God’s presence.

20 When you see armies surround the city of Jerusalem, then you will know that they will soon destroy that city. 21 At that time those of you who are in other places in the province of Judea must escape to the mountains. And those of you who are in this city must leave. Those of you who are in the nearby countryside must not come into the city. 22 You should run away because God will punish the city of Jerusalem at this time. When he does that, what God has said in the Scriptures about this will come true. 23 When this happens, how terrible it will be for pregnant women and for those who are nursing their babies. There will be great suffering in the land. God will be angry with these people and punish them severely. 24 Many of them will die because soldiers will kill them with their weapons. Their enemies will take others as prisoners and send them to many places around the world. The Gentiles will control the city of Jerusalem for as long as God allows.”

25 “At this time, strange things will happen to the sun, the moon, and the stars. And on earth, people groups will become very frightened. They will be as afraid as they would be in a roaring ocean with huge waves. 26 People will be so afraid that they will faint because they are waiting for what will happen next in the world. The stars in the sky will move out of their usual places. 27 Then all people will see me, the Son of Man, coming in the clouds powerfully and with brilliant light. 28 So when those terrible things begin to happen, assume a posture of confidence, because God will soon rescue you.”

29 Then Jesus gave them an example. He said, “Think about the fig trees, and even all the trees. 30 When you see that their leaves are sprouting, you know that it is the beginning of summer. 31 In the same way, when you see these things that I have just described happening, you will know then that God will soon show himself as king. 32 I am telling you the truth. The people who see the first of the signs I have described will definitely live to see all these things happen. 33 You may think of the sky and the land as permanent. They are not, but my words are permanent.

34 Be very careful to control yourselves. If you get drunk, your minds will not be alert afterwards. And if you worry about day-to-day matters, you will become distracted. Then you will not be paying attention to the signs I have told you about, and I will surprise you when I return. 35 I will come so suddenly that it will be like when a trap springs closed on an animal. So you need to be watching for my return, because it will affect every person in the world. 36 So you must be always ready for my coming. Pray that you will be able to stay faithful to me as you experience these difficult things that I have been talking about. That way I, the Messiah, will declare you innocent when I come to judge the world.”

37 Each day Jesus was teaching people at the temple. But every evening he went out of the city and stayed all night on the Mount of Olives. 38 And early every morning, great crowds of people came to the temple to listen to him as he taught.

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