20. “When you see armies all around Jerusalem, then you will know that it will soon be destroyed.
21. At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must get out. If you are near the city, don’t go in!
22. These are the days of punishment to make come true all that is written in the Scriptures.
23. At that time, it will be hard for women who are pregnant or have nursing babies! Great trouble will come upon this land, and God will be angry with these people.
24. Some will be killed by the sword and taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be crushed by non-Jewish people until their time is over.
25. “Amazing things will happen to the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be afraid because of the roar and fury of the sea. They will not know what to do.
26. People will be so afraid they will faint. They will wonder what is happening to the whole world. Everything in the sky will be changed.
27. Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28. When these things begin to happen, don’t fear. Look up and hold your heads high because the time when God will free you is near!”
29. Then Jesus told this story: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.
30. When their leaves appear, you know that summer is near.
31. In the same way, when you see all these things happening, then you will know that God’s kingdom is coming very soon.
32. “I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while the people of this time are still living!
33. The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed; but the words I have said will never be destroyed!
34. “Be careful! Don’t spend your time feasting and drinking. Or don’t be too busy with worldly things. If you do that, you will not be able to think straight. And then that day might come when you are not ready.
35. It will close like a trap on all people on earth.
36. So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen. And pray that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37. During the day, Jesus taught the people in the Temple. At night he went out of the city and stayed on the Mount of Olives.
38. Every morning all the people got up early to go to the Temple to listen to him.