Temple Destruction and Other Signs
(Mark 13:1–8; Luke 21:5–9)

1As Jesus was going from the temple, his disciples came and desired him to take a view of the buildings. 2Jesus said to them, observe this vast structure, I tell you for certain, there shall not be any part of it left standing, but it shall be all thrown into ruins.

3And when he was upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to him in private, and said, tell us when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of this age?

4Jesus answered them, take care not to be deceived by any one:

5for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ: and shall deceive many. 6ye shall hear likewise of wars, and rumours of wars: take care not to be disturb'd: for these things must happen, but the end of the Jewish age is not yet. 7for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. 8yet all this is but the beginning of sorrow.

Witnessing to All Nations
(Mark 13:9–13; Luke 21:10–19)

9then shall they deliver you up to torments, and to death: and ye shall be hated by all nations upon my account. 10then shall many relapse, and shall pursue one another with mutual treachery and hatred. 11many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12and as iniquity becomes more flagrant, the zeal of many will grow cool. 13but he that shall persevere unto the end, shall be preserved. 14and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, to testify to all nations, that the end will then come.

The Abomination of Desolation
(Mark 13:14–23; Luke 21:20–24)

15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, mention'd by Daniel the prophet, stand about the holy place, (let him that readeth, 16consider it well) let those who are then in Judea, flee into the mountains, 17he that is on the battlements, let him not venture to go in to take any thing out of his house. 18if any man be in the field, let him not return back to take his coat. 19unhappy will they be that are with child, and they that give suck in those days. 20be sure to pray that your flight be not in the winter, nor on the sabbath-day: 21for the desolation will be so dreadful, the like was never seen since the beginning of the world, no, nor ever shall be again. 22for unless the time was to be short, very few could escape, but for the sake of the converts the time shall be short. 23Then if any shall cry, the Messiah is here, or he is there: give no credit to it. 24for there shall arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and shall shew such astonishing miracles and prodigies, as to deceive, if that can do it, the very converts themselves. 25remember, I have forewarn'd you.

The Return of the Son of Man
(Mark 13:24–27; Luke 21:25–28)

26wherefore, if they shall say to you, now he is in the desert, do not stir: or now, he is in the secret chambers, believe them not. 27for as the lightning darts from the east in an instant to the west: such shall the advent of the son of man be. 28for whereever the carcase is, there will the eagles be assembled.

29Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkned, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. 30then shall that sign, the son of man in the clouds of heaven, appear: and all the tribes of the land shall mourn, and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31and he shall send his messengers, who with the shrill sound of a trumpet, shall gather together his select from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree
(Mark 13:28–31; Luke 21:29–33)

32this may be illustrated by a comparison taken from a fig-tree: when the branches become tender, and push out their leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33in like manner, when ye shall see all these things happen, know that he is come to your very doors. 34I declare unto you, the present generation shall not cease, till all these things are pass'd. 35heaven and earth may fail, but my words shall never fail.

Readiness at Any Hour
(Mark 13:32–37; Luke 12:35–48)

36As to the day and hour, that no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but the father only. 37as the days of Noe were, so shall also the advent of the son of man be. 38for as at the time that usher'd in the deluge, they were eating and drinking, marrying themselves and their children, till the day that Noe entred into the ark, 39having no thoughts of the flood till it came, and swept them all away; so shall also the advent of the son of man be. 40of two persons, who shall be then in the field, one shall be taken, and the other left. 41two women shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42watch therefore, for ye know not at what hour your Lord shall come. 43but this you conceive, that if a man knew at what hour of the night the thief would come, he would set a watch, and not suffer his house to be broke open. 44therefore be ye also prepar'd: for the son of man may come at an hour you least expect.

45If then there be a servant, appointed by his master to take care of his family, who faithfully and prudently distributes their allowance according to the establishment: happy is the servant, 46who shall be found so employed, at his master's return. 47I tell you, he shall make him steward of all his estate. 48but if he be dishonest, and says to himself, my Lord delays coming, 49and shall pretend to assault his fellow-servants, and spend his time with sots: 50the master of that servant will come in a day when he least expects it, and at an hour he is not aware of; 51and shall turn him out of the family, and give him the reward due to such behaviour: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.