7. Some followers asked Jesus, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What will show us that it is time for them to take place?”
8. Jesus said, “Be careful! Don’t be fooled. Many people will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am the Christ’ and, ‘The right time has come!’ But don’t follow them.
9. When you hear about wars and riots, don’t be afraid. These things must happen first. Then the end will come later.”
10. Then he said to them, “Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms.
11. There will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and other terrible things in many places. In some places there will be no food for the people to eat. Fearful events and great signs will come from heaven.
12. “But before all these things happen, people will arrest you and treat you cruelly. They will judge you in their synagogues and put you in jail. You will be forced to stand before kings and governors. They will do all these things to you because you follow me.
13. But this will give you an opportunity to tell about me.
14. Don’t worry about what you will say.
15. I will give you the wisdom to say things so that none of your enemies will be able to show that you are wrong.
16. Even your parents, brothers, relatives and friends will turn against you. They will kill some of you.
17. All people will hate you because you follow me.
18. But none of these things can really harm you.
19. You will save yourselves by continuing strong in your faith through all these things.
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.