Matthew 24
1 Jesus left the Temple [courtyard]. As he was walking along, [we] disciples came to him to ask him to note [how beautiful] the Temple buildings [were].
And Jesus departed from the temple and went away. And his disciples approached him, so as to show him the buildings of the temple.
2 He said to us, “These buildings that you are looking at [RHQ] [are wonderful, but] I want to tell you [something about them. They will soon be completely destroyed] {[Foreign invaders will completely destroy them]}. Every stone [in these buildings] will be thrown down {they will throw down every stone in these buildings}. Not one stone will be left {They will not leave one stone} on top of another stone.”
But he said to them in response: “Do you see all these things? Amen I say to you, there shall not remain here stone upon stone, which is not torn down.”
3 [Later], as Jesus was sitting alone on [the slope of] Olive [Tree] Hill, [we] disciples went to him and asked him, “When will this happen [to the buildings of the Temple? Also, tell us what will happen to indicate that you are about to] come again, and [to indicate] that this world is ending?” (aiōn g165)
Then, when he was seated at the Mount of Olives, the disciples drew near to him privately, saying: “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your advent and of the consummation of the age?” (aiōn g165)
4 Jesus replied, “[All that I will say is], be sure that no one deceives you [about what will happen]
And answering, Jesus said to them: “Pay attention, lest someone lead you astray.
5 Many [people] will come and say (that I sent them/that they have my authority) [MTY]. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah’, and they will deceive many [people].
For many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the Christ.’ And they will lead many astray.
6 You will hear about wars [that are close] and wars that are far away, but do not let that trouble you. Keep in mind that [God has said that] those things must happen. But [when they happen], it will not mean that the end [of the world] has come!
For you will hear of battles and rumors of battles. Take care not to be disturbed. For these things must be, but the end is not so soon.
7 [Groups in various] countries will fight each other, and [various] governments [will also fight] against each other. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be pestilences, and famines, and earthquakes in places.
8 These things will happen first. Then there will be other things that [will happen before I return. What will happen will be like the first pains] of childbirth MET].
But all these things are just the beginning of the sorrows.
9 At that time [people who oppose you] will take you to [the authorities, who] will mistreat you and kill you. You will be hated by [people who live in] all nations [PRS] {[People who live in] all nations [PRS] will hate you} because [you believe in me][MTY].
Then they will hand you over to tribulation, and they will kill you. And you will be hated by all nations for the sake of my name.
10 Also, many [people] will stop believing [in me because of the way they will suffer]. They will betray each other and will hate each other.
And then many will be led into sin, and will betray one another, and will have hatred for one another.
11 Many will come saying that they are prophets, but they will be lying, and they will deceive many people.
And many false prophets will arise, and they will lead many astray.
12 Because there will be more and more [people] who will disobey [God’s] laws [PRS], many [people] will no longer [MET] love [their fellow believers] [PRS].
And because iniquity has abounded, the charity of many will grow cold.
13 But [all] those who keep on [believing in me] to the end [of their lives] will be saved.
But whoever will have persevered until the end, the same shall be saved.
14 Furthermore, the good message about my ruling over people’s lives will be preached in every part of the world, in order that people of all ethnic groups may hear it. Then the end [of the world] will come.”
And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached throughout the entire world, as a testimony to all nations. And then the consummation will occur.
15 “[But before the world ends], the disgusting person who will defile [the] holy [Temple and cause people to abandon it will stand in the Temple. Daniel the prophet spoke and wrote] about that [long ago]. May everyone who reads [this] pay attention [to the following warning from me: ]
Therefore, when you will have seen the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place, may he who reads understand,
16 When you see that happen [in the Temple, those of you] who are in Judea [district] must flee to the [higher] hills!
then those who are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains.
17 Those who are outside their houses must not go back into their houses to get things [before they flee].
And whoever is on the roof, let him not descend to take anything from his house.
18 Those who are [working] in a field should not turn back to get their outer clothing [before they flee].
And whoever is in the field, let him not turn back to take his tunic.
19 I [feel] very sorry for women who will be pregnant and women who will be nursing [their babies] in those days, [because it will be very difficult for them to run away]
So then, woe to those who are pregnant or nursing in those days.
20 Pray that you will not have to flee (in the winter/in the rainy season) [when it will be hard to travel]. [People who think that God never allows anyone to do any work on] our day of rest [will not help you as you flee, so] pray also that you will not have to flee on such a day,
But pray that your flight may not be in winter, or on the Sabbath.
21 because people will suffer very severely [when those things happen]. People have never suffered that severely since [God] created the world until now, and no one will ever [suffer like that again].
For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until the present, and such as will not be.
22 If [God had not decided to] shorten that time [MTY] [when people will suffer so much], everyone [LIT] would die. But [he has decided to] shorten it because [he is concerned] about [the people] whom [he] has chosen.”
And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days shall be shortened.
23 “[At that time] people will appear [who will] falsely [say that they are] the Messiah or [that they are] prophets. They will perform many kinds (of miracles/of things that ordinary people cannot do), in order to deceive people. They will even try [to see] if [it is] possible to deceive [you people whom God has] chosen. So, at that time, if someone says to you, ‘Look, here [is] the Messiah!’ or [if someone says], ‘Over there is the Messiah!’ do not believe it!
Then if anyone will have said to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘he is there,’ do not be willing to believe it.
For there will arise false Christs and false prophets. And they will produce great signs and wonders, so much so as to lead into error even the elect (if this could be).
25 Do not forget [that] I have warned you about all this before [it happens].
Behold, I have warned you beforehand.
26 So if someone says to you, ‘Look, [the Messiah] is in the desolate area!’ do not go there. [Likewise, if someone says to you], ‘Look, he is in a secret room!’ do not believe [that person],
Therefore, if they will have said to you, ‘Behold, he is in the desert,’ do not choose to go out, or, ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not be willing to believe it.
27 because just like lightning flashes from the east to the west [and people everywhere can] see it [SIM], when [I], the one who came from heaven, return again, [everyone will see me].
For just as lightning goes out from the east, and appears even in the west, so shall it be also at the advent of the Son of man.
28 [When I return, it will be as obvious to everyone as the fact that] wherever you see vultures gathering, you know that there will be an animal carcass [MET] there. (OR, Just like the vultures gather together wherever there is an animal carcass, God will punish sinful people wherever they are.)”
Wherever the body shall be, there also will the eagles be gathered together.
29 “Immediately after many people have suffered during those days, [the universe will become dark]. The sun will become dark. The moon will not shine. The stars will fall from the sky. And the powerful [objects] in the sky will be shaken. (OR, And the spiritual beings in space will be deposed.)
And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30 After that, something [will be seen] {[people will observe something]} in the sky that indicates that [I], the one who came from heaven, [am returning to the earth]. Then [unbelieving people from] all ethnic groups of the earth will [mourn because they will be afraid] of [God punishing them]. They will see [me], the one who came from heaven, coming on the clouds with power and great glory [as I return to the earth].
And then the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven. And then all tribes of the earth shall mourn. And they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven, with great power and majesty.
31 I will send my angels [to the earth] from everywhere in the heavens. [They will be] blowing trumpets loudly. [Then] from throughout the whole earth [DOU] they will gather the people whom I have chosen.”
And he shall send out his Angels with a trumpet and a great voice. And they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the heights of the heavens, even to their furthest limits.
32 “[Now] I [want you to] learn something [from] this parable about [how] fig trees [grow]. [In this area], when the buds [of a fig tree] become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near.
So, from the fig tree learn a parable. When its branch has now become tender and the leaves have sprung forth, you know that summer is near.
33 Similarly, when you see all these things that I [have just described happening], you will know that [the time for me to return] is very close [MET].
So also, when you will have seen all these things, know that it is near, even at the threshold.
34 Keep this in mind: All of these events will happen before all the people who have observed the things that I have done have died.
Amen I say to you, that this lineage shall not pass away, until all these things have been done.
35 [You can be certain that these] things that I have told [you] about will happen. You can be more certain of that than you can be certain that the earth and sky [LIT] will continue to exist.”
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 “But neither I, nor any other person, nor any angel in heaven, knows either the day or the hour [when the things that I have told you about will happen]. Only [God, my] Father, [knows].
But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the Angels of the heavens, but only the Father.
37 It will be like what happened when Noah lived. Until the flood came, [the people] did not know that [anything bad would happen] to them. Before the flood waters covered the earth, [the people] were eating and drinking [as usual]. Some men were marrying women and [some parents] were giving their daughters to men to marry them. They were doing all this until the day that Noah [and his family] entered the big boat. And then the flood came and drowned all [those who were not in the boat]. Similarly, [the unbelieving people will not know] when [I, the one who came from heaven], will return, [and they will not] be [expecting me].
And just as in the days of Noah, so also will be the advent of the Son of man.
For it will be just as it was in the days before the flood: eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, even until that day when Noah entered into the ark.
And they did not realize it, until the flood came and took them all away. So also will the advent of the Son of man be.
40 When I [return], I [will not take all people up to heaven. I will take only those who trust in me. For example], two [people] will be in the fields. One of them will be taken {[I] will take one of them} up [to heaven] and the other [person] will be left {and I will leave the other [person]} [here to be punished].
Then two men will be in a field: one will be taken up, and one will be left behind.
41 [Similarly], two [women] will be at the mill grinding grain. One of them will be taken up [to heaven] and the other will be left.
Two women will be grinding at a millstone: one will be taken up, and one will be left behind.
42 So, because you do not know what day [I], your Lord, will return [to the earth], you need to be ready [for me to return at any time].
Therefore, be vigilant. For you do not know at what hour your Lord will return.
43 You know that if the owners of a house knew at what time in the night thieves would come, they would be awake and prevent the thieves from breaking into their houses. Similarly, I [will come just like unexpectedly as a thief].
But know this: if only the father of the family knew at what hour the thief would arrive, he would certainly keep vigil and not permit his house to be broken into.
44 So you need to be ready [for my return], because [I], the one who came from heaven, will return [to the earth] at a time when you do not expect [me to come].”
For this reason, you also must be prepared, for you do not know at what hour the Son of man will return.
45 “Think about what every faithful and wise servant is like [RHQ]. The house owner appoints one servant to supervise the other servants. He tells him to give them food at the proper times. [Then he leaves on a long trip].
Consider this: who is a faithful and prudent servant, who has been appointed by his lord over his family, to give them their portion in due time?
46 If that servant is doing that [work] when the house owner returns, [the house owner] will be very pleased with him.
Blessed is that servant, if, when his lord has arrived, he shall find him doing so.
47 Think about this: The house owner will appoint [that one servant] to be the supervisor of all his possessions.
Amen I say to you, he shall appoint him over all of his goods.
48 But a wicked servant might say to himself, ‘The owner [has been away] for a long time, [so he probably] will not return soon [and find out what I am doing.’]
But if that evil servant has said in his heart, ‘My lord has been delayed in returning,’
49 [So he] will begin to beat the other servants and eat and get drunk.
and so, he begins to strike his fellow servants, and he eats and drinks with the inebriated:
50 [Then] the house owner will come back at a time when the servant does not expect him [DOU].
then the lord of that servant will arrive on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know.
51 He will punish that servant severely [HYP], (OR, cut that servant into two pieces) and he will put him where (the hypocrites/the ones who only pretended to be good) are put. In that place the people cry and grind their teeth [because they suffer very much].”
And he shall separate him, and he shall place his portion with the hypocrites, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
