16. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains;
17. Let him who is on the housetop not come down and go into the house to take anything;
18. And let him who is in the field not turn back to get his overcoat.
19. And alas for the women who are pregnant and for those who have nursing babies in those days!
20. Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
21. For then there will be great tribulation (affliction, distress, and oppression) such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now–no, and never will be [again]. [Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:2.]
22. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would endure and survive, but for the sake of the elect (God's chosen ones) those days will be shortened.
23. If anyone says to you then, Behold, here is the Christ (the Messiah)! or, There He is!–do not believe it.
24. For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God's chosen ones).
25. See, I have warned you beforehand.
26. So if they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness (desert)–do not go out there; if they tell you, Behold, He is in the secret places or inner rooms–do not believe it.
27. For just as the lightning flashes from the east and shines and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
28. Wherever there is a fallen body (a corpse), there the vultures (or eagles) will flock together. [Job 39:30.]
29. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [Isa. 13:10; 34:4; Joel 2:10, 11; Zeph. 1:15.]
30. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and beat their breasts and lament in anguish, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliancy and splendor]. [Dan. 7:13; Rev. 1:7.]
31. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (His chosen ones) from the four winds, [even] from one end of the universe to the other. [Isa. 27:13; Zech. 9:14.]