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 went out of the Temple, and on the way his disciples came to him, pointing out 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, answering, said to them, See you not all these things? truly I say to you that here there will not be one stone resting on another, which will not be pulled 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)
And while he was seated on the Mountain of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Make clear to us, when will these things be? and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world? (aiōn g165)
4 Jesus replied, “[All that I will say is], be sure that no one deceives you [about what will happen]
And Jesus said to them in answer, Take care that you are not tricked.
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 people will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and a number will be turned from the true way through them.
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!
And news will come to you of wars and talk of wars: do not be troubled, for these things have to be; but it is still not the end.
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 be moved against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and men will be without food, and the earth will be shaking in different 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 the first of the troubles.
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 be cruel to you, and will put you to death: and you will be hated by all nations because 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 numbers of people will be turned from the right way, and will give one another up and have hate for one another.
11 Many will come saying that they are prophets, but they will be lying, and they will deceive many people.
And a number of false prophets will come, causing error.
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 wrongdoing will be increased, the love of most people will become cold.
13 But [all] those who keep on [believing in me] to the end [of their lives] will be saved.
But he who goes through to the end will get salvation.
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 good news of the kingdom will be given through all the world for a witness to all nations; and then the end will come.
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: ]
When, then, you see in the holy place the unclean thing which makes destruction, of which word was given by Daniel the prophet (let this be clear to the reader),
16 When you see that happen [in the Temple, those of you] who are in Judea [district] must flee to the [higher] hills!
Then let those who are in Judaea go in flight to the mountains:
17 Those who are outside their houses must not go back into their houses to get things [before they flee].
Let not him who is on the house-top go down to take anything out of his house:
18 Those who are [working] in a field should not turn back to get their outer clothing [before they flee].
And let not him who is in the field go back to get his coat.
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]
But it will be hard for women who are with child and for those with babies at the breast 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,
And say a prayer that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a 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].
Because in those days there will be great sorrow, such as there has not been from the start of the world till now, or ever will 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 if those days had not been made short there would have been no salvation for any, but because of the saints those days will be made short.
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 any man says to you, See, here is the Christ, or, Here; do not put faith in him;
For there will come up false Christs, and false prophets, who will do great signs and wonders; so that if possible even the saints might be tricked.
25 Do not forget [that] I have warned you about all this before [it happens].
See, I have made it clear to you before it comes about.
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],
If, then, they say to you, See, he is in the waste land; go not out: See, he is in the inner rooms; put no faith in 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].
Because as in a thunderstorm the bright light coming from the east is seen even in the west; so will be the coming 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 dead body is, there will the eagles come 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.)
But straight away, after the trouble of those days, the sun will be made dark and the moon will not give her light and the stars will come down from heaven and the powers of heaven will be moved:
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 will be seen in heaven: and then all the nations of the earth will have sorrow, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
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 will send out his angels with a great sound of a horn, and they will get his saints together from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
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.
Now take an example from the fig-tree: when her branch has become soft and puts out its leaves, you are certain that the 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].
Even so, when you see all these things, you may be certain that he is near, even at the doors.
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.
Truly I say to you, This generation will not come to an end till all these things are complete.
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 will come to an end, but my words will not come to an end.
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 of that day and hour no one has knowledge, not even the angels in heaven, or the Son, but the Father only.
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 as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man.
Because as in those days before the overflowing of the waters, they were feasting and taking wives and getting married, till the day when Noah went into the ark,
And they had no care till the waters came and took them all away; so will be the coming of the Son of man.
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 the field; one is taken, and one let go;
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 crushing grain; one is taken, and one let go.
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].
Be watching, then! for you have no knowledge on what day your Lord will come.
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 be certain of this, that if the master of the house had had knowledge of the time when the thief was coming, he would have been watching, and would not have let his house 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].”
Be ready then; for at a time which you have no thought of the Son of man will come.
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].
Who is the true and wise servant, whom his lord has put over those in his house, to give them their food at the right time?
46 If that servant is doing that [work] when the house owner returns, [the house owner] will be very pleased with him.
A blessing on that servant, who will be doing so when his lord comes.
47 Think about this: The house owner will appoint [that one servant] to be the supervisor of all his possessions.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him over all he has.
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 says in his heart, My lord is a long time in coming;
49 [So he] will begin to beat the other servants and eat and get drunk.
And is cruel to the other servants, taking his pleasure with those who are overcome with wine;
50 [Then] the house owner will come back at a time when the servant does not expect him [DOU].
The lord of that servant will come in a day when he is not looking for him, and in an hour of which he has no knowledge,
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 will have him cut in two, and will give him a part in the fate of the false ones: there will be weeping and cries of sorrow.
