Mark 13
1 While Jesus was leaving the Temple [area], one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at how marvelous [these] huge stones [in the walls are] and how wonderful [these] buildings [are]!”
And He departing out from the temple, one of His disciples says to Him, Teacher, behold, how great stones and how great buildings!
2 Jesus said to him, “[Yes], these buildings that you are looking [at] [RHQ] [are wonderful], but I [want to tell you something about] them. They will [soon] be destroyed {[Foreign invaders] will destroy [them]} [completely, with the result that] no stone here [in this Temple area] will be left on top of another stone.”
And Jesus responding said to him, Do you see these great buildings? stone may not be left upon stone, which may not be thrown down.
3 After they arrived on Olive [Tree] Hill across [the valley] from the Temple, Jesus sat down. When Peter, James, John, and Andrew were alone with him, they asked him,
And He sitting upon the Mount of Olives in front of the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately,
4 “Tell us, when will [that] happen [to the buildings of the Temple? Tell us what will happen that will show us that all these things that God has planned] are about to be finished {that [God] is about to finish all these things [that he has planned]}.”
Tell us, when these things shall be? and what shall be the sign when all these things may be about to have an end?
5 Jesus replied to them, “[I cannot give you a simple answer to your questions. All I will say is], beware that no one deceives you [concerning what will happen]!
And Jesus began to say to them, See, lest any one may deceive you.
6 Many people will come and say (that I sent them/that they have my authority) [MTY]. They will say, ‘I am [the Messiah]!’ They will deceive many people.
For many will come in my name, saying, I am He; and will deceive many. I
7 Whenever people tell you about wars [that are close] or wars that are far away, do not be troubled. [God has said] that those things must happen. [But when they do happen, do not think] that [God] will finish all [that he has planned] at that time!
And when you may hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not disturbed: for it behooves it to be so; but the end is not yet.
8 [Groups who live in various] countries will fight each other, and various governments will fight each other. There will also be [big] earthquakes in various places; and there will be famines. Yet, [when these things happen, people will have only just begun to suffer. The first things that they suffer will be like] the first pains a woman [suffers] who is about to bear a child. [They will suffer much more after that].
For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earth-quakes in divers places; and there shall be famines.
9 Be ready for [what people will do to you at that time]. Because [you believe in] me, they will arrest you and put you on trial before the religious councils. (In the synagogues/In the Jewish meeting places), you will be beaten {others will beat you}. You will be put {[People will put] you} [on trial] in the presence of high government authorities. As a result, you will be able to tell them [about me].
These are the beginnings of travails. But you take heed to yourselves: for they will deliver you into councils; and will beat you in the synagogues: and you shall stand before governors and kings on account of me, for a testimony unto them.
10 My good message must be proclaimed {[You] must proclaim my good message} to [people in] all people-groups before [God finishes all that he has planned].
And it behooves the gospel first to be preached to all the nations.
11 And when people arrest you in order to prosecute you [because you believe in me], do not worry before that happens about what you will say. Instead, say what [God] puts into your mind at that time. Then it will not be [just] you who will be speaking. It will be the Holy Spirit [who will be speaking through you].
And when they may lead you forth, delivering you up, do not be solicitous what you may speak, nor meditate: but whatsoever may be given to you in that hour, speak this: for you are not those speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 [Other evil things will happen]: People [who do not believe in me] will (betray/help others seize) their brothers [and sisters] in order that [the government] can execute them. Parents [will betray] their children, and children will betray their parents so that [the government] will kill their parents.
And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father the child; and the children will rise up against the parents, and put them to death.
13 [In general], you will be hated by most [HYP] people {most [HYP] people will hate you} because [you believe in] me. But all you who continue [to trust in me strongly] until your life is finished will be saved {[God] will save all you who continue [to trust in me strongly] until your life ends}.
And you shall be hated by all on account of my name: but the one persevering to the end, the same shall be saved.
14 [During that time] the disgusting [thing/person that the prophet Daniel described] will enter the Temple. It/He will defile [the Temple when he enters it and will cause people to abandon it. When you see it/him standing there] where it/he should not be, [you should run away quickly] (May everyone who is reading this pay attention to [this warning from Jesus]!) [At that time] those people who are in Judea [district] must flee to [higher] hills.
And when you may see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not (let him that readeth know), then let those in Judea fly to the mountains:
15 Those people who are outside their houses must not enter their houses in order to get anything [before they run away].
and let not the one on the housetop come down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house:
16 Those who are [working] in a field must not return [to their houses] in order to get [additional] clothes [before they flee].
and let not the one who is in the field turn back to take his garment.
17 But 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]
But alas unto those who are in gestation and nursing in those days.
18 In those days people will suffer very severely. People have never suffered like that since the time when God first created the world until now; and people will not [suffer that way] again. [So] pray that [this painful time] will not happen in (winter/the rainy season), [when it will be hard to travel].
But pray that your flight may not be in the winter.
For these days will be tribulation, such as has never been from the beginning of creation which God created, until now, and never may be.
20 If the Lord [God] had not [decided that he would] shorten that time [when people suffer so much], everyone would die. But he has [decided to] shorten that time because [he is concerned about you] people whom he has chosen [DOU].
And unless the Lord shortened those days, no flesh would be saved: but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
21 [At that time people who will] falsely [say that they are] Messiahs and prophets will appear. Then they will perform many kinds (of miracles/of things that ordinary people cannot do) [DOU]. They will even try to deceive [you] people whom God has chosen, [but they will not] be able to do that. So at that time if someone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or [if someone says], ‘Look, he is over there!’ do not believe it!
And if then one may say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, Lo, there; believe not.
For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and give signs and wonders, to deceive even the elect, if possible.
23 Be alert! Remember that [I] have warned you about all this before [it happens.]
But you see: behold, I have foretold you all things.
24 After the time when people suffer like that, the sun will become dark, the moon will not shine,
And in those days, after that desolation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light,
25 the stars will fall from the sky, and all things in the sky will be shaken {[God will cause] all things in the sky to shake}.
and the stars of heaven will be falling, and the powers which are in the heavens shall be shaken.
26 Then people will see [me], the one who came from heaven, coming through the clouds powerfully and gloriously.
And then they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 Then I will send out my angels in order that they gather together the people whom [God] has chosen from [everywhere, and that includes] all the most remote places on earth [IDM, DOU].
And then He will send forth His angels, and will gather His elect from the four winds, from the extremity of the earth unto the extremity of heaven.
28 Now I [want you to] learn something from this parable about [the way] fig trees [grow]. [In this area], when their buds become tender and their leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near.
But learn the parable from the fig-tree: when her branches may be now tender, and she may grow out leaves, know that the summer is nigh.
29 Similarly, when you see [what I have just described] happening, you yourselves will know that it is very near [the time for me to return] [MTY]. [It will be as though I am] already at the door [HEN].
So you also, when you may see these things take place, know that it is already at the doors.
30 Keep this in mind: You have observed the things that I have done and said, but all of those events [that I have just told you about] will happen before all of you will die.
Truly I say unto you, this race may not pass away, until all these things may be fulfilled.
31 You can [be certain that] these things [that I have prophesied] will happen. [You can be more certain of that than] you can [be certain that] the earth and what is in the sky will stay in place.
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32 But no one knows the exact time [when I will return]. The angels in heaven also do not know. Even [I do not know.] Only my Father knows.
But concerning that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels who are in heaven, or the Son, but the Father.
33 So be ready, [like people who are waiting for an important man to come], because you do not know when that time will come [when all these events will happen]!
Beware, watch; for you know not when the time is.
34 When a man who wants to travel [to a distant place] is [about to] leave his house, he tells his servants that they should manage the house. [He tells] each one what he should do. Then he tells the doorkeeper to be ready [for his return].
As a man, going away, leaving his own house, and giving authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and commanded the porter that he should watch.
35 [That man must always be] ready, [because he does not know whether] his master will return in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn. [Similarly], you also must [always] be ready, because you do not know [when I will return].
Watch therefore: for you know not when the Lord of the house cometh, late, or at midnight, or at the crowing of the cock, or in the morning;
36 [May it not happen that] when I come suddenly, I will find that you are not ready!
lest having come suddenly he may find you sleeping.
37 These words that I am saying to you [disciples] I am saying to everyone [who believes in me: Always] be ready!” [That is what Jesus warned his disciples].
And the things I say to you, I say to all, Watch.
