Luke - Chapter 21

Passage

And looking up, he saw the rich men putting their gifts into the treasury. And he also saw a certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And he said: Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For all these have put into the offerings of God out of their abundance: but she out of her poverty has put in all the living that she had. And when some were saying of the temple that it was adorned with fine stones and gifts, he said: As for these things which you see, the days will come in which there shall not be left a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying: Master, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when they begin to happen? And he said: Take care that you are not led astray: for many will come in my name, saying: I am he, and the time is at hand. Do not go after them, therefore. And when you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be terrified. These things must first happen: but the end is not yet. Then he said to them: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be great earthquakes in various places and plagues and famines and terrors from heaven: and there shall be great signs. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for my name's sake. And it shall turn out for you as a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts not to think beforehand how you shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist or contradict. And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brothers and relatives and friends: and some of you they will put to death. And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake. But a hair of your head shall not perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls. And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by an army, then know that its desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains: and let those who are in the midst of it depart: and let those who are in the countryside not enter into it. For these are the days of vengeance, so that all things that are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are with child and those who are nursing in those days: for there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the nations are fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, because of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: Men fainting for fear and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand. And he told them a parable: See the fig tree and all the trees: When they now put forth their fruit, you know that summer is near; So you also, when you see these things happen, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away until all things are fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take care of yourselves, so that your hearts are not weighed down with overindulgence and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly. For like a snare it shall come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. Watch, therefore, praying at all times, so that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that are to come and to stand before the Son of man. And in the daytime he was teaching in the temple: but at night he went out and stayed on the mount that is called Olivet. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.