The Gospel According to St. Mark

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 13 -

(Matthew 24:1–8; Luke 21:5–9)

And as He is going forth out of the temple, one of His disciples says to Him, “Teacher, see! What stones! And what buildings!”

And Jesus answering said to him, “See these great buildings? There may not be left a stone on a stone that may not be thrown down.”

And as He is sitting at the Mount of Olives, opposite the temple, Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, were questioning Him by Himself,

“Tell us when these things will be? And what [is] the sign when all these may be about to be fulfilled?”

And Jesus answering them, began to say, “Take heed lest anyone may lead you astray,

for many will come in My Name, saying, I am [He], and many they will lead astray;

and when you may hear of wars and reports of wars, do not be troubled, for these ought to be, but the end [is] not yet;

for nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles; these [are the] beginning of travails.

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9–14; Luke 21:10–19)

And take heed to yourselves, for they will deliver you up to Sanhedrins, and to synagogues, you will be beaten, and before governors and kings you will be set for My sake, for a testimony to them;

and to all the nations it is first necessary that the good news be proclaimed.

And when they may lead you, delivering up, do not be anxious beforehand what you may speak, nor premeditate, but whatever may be given to you in that hour, that speak, for it is not you who are speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

And brother will deliver up brother to death, and father child, and children will rise up against parents, and will put them to death,

and you will be hated by all because of My Name, but he who has endured to the end—he will be saved.

The Abomination of Desolation

(Matthew 24:15–25; Luke 21:20–24)

And when you may see the abomination of the desolation, that was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it should not (whoever is reading let him understand), then those in Judea, let them flee to the mountains;

and he on the housetop, do not let him come down into the house, nor come in to take anything out of his house;

and he who is in the field, do not let him turn to the things behind, to take up his garment.

And woe to those with child, and to those giving suck, in those days;

and pray that your flight may not be in winter,

for those days will be tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created, until now, and may not be [again];

and if the LORD did not shorten the days, no flesh had been saved; but because of the chosen, whom He chose to Himself, He shortened the days.

And then, if any may say to you, Behold, here [is] the Christ, or, Behold, there, you may not believe;

for there will rise false Christs and false prophets, and they will give signs and wonders, to seduce, if possible, also the chosen;

and you, take heed; behold, I have foretold you all things.

The Return of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:26–31; Luke 21:25–28)

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light,

and the stars of the sky will be falling, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with much power and glory,

and then He will send His messengers, and gather together His chosen from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32–35; Luke 21:29–33)

And from the fig tree learn the allegory: when the branch may already become tender, and may put forth the leaves, you know that the summer is near;

so you, also, when you may see these coming to pass, you know that it is near, at the doors.

Truly I say to you that this generation may not pass away until all these things may come to pass;

the heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

Readiness at Any Hour

(Matthew 24:36–51; Luke 12:35–48)

And concerning that day and the hour no one has known—not even the messengers who are in Heaven, not even the Son—except the Father.

Take heed, watch and pray, for you have not known when the time is;

as a man who is gone abroad, having left his house, and given to his servants the authority, and to each one his work, also commanded the doorkeeper that he may watch;

watch, therefore, for you have not known when the lord of the house comes, at evening, or at midnight, or at rooster-crowing, or at the morning;

lest, having come suddenly, he may find you sleeping;

and what I say to you, I say to all, Watch!”

(Matthew 24:1–8; Luke 21:5–9)

As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!”

Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone on another, which will not be thrown down.”

As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,

“Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?”

Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.

For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ (a) and will lead many astray.

“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9–14; Luke 21:10–19)

“But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.

The Good News must first be preached to all the nations.

When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.

The Abomination of Desolation

(Matthew 24:15–25; Luke 21:20–24)

“But when you see the abomination of desolation, (b) spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,

and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.

Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak.

But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days!

Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter.

For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.

Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days.

Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it.

For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

But you watch. “Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.

The Return of the Son of Man

(Matthew 24:26–31; Luke 21:25–28)

But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light,

the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. (c)

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

(Matthew 24:32–35; Luke 21:29–33)

“Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near;

even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors.

Most certainly I say to you, this generation (d) will not pass away until all these things happen.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Readiness at Any Hour

(Matthew 24:36–51; Luke 12:35–48)

“But of that day or that hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.

“It is like a man traveling to another country, having left his house and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.

Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming—whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning;

lest, coming suddenly, he might find you sleeping.

What I tell you, I tell all: Watch!”

Footnotes

(a)13:6 or, “I AM!”

(b)13:14 ℘ Daniel 9:17; 11:31; 12:11

(d)13:30 The word translated “generation” (genea) could also be translated “race”, “family”, or “people”.