Matthew 24
1 Jesus had left the Temple and was going on His way, when His disciples came and called His attention to the Temple buildings.
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].
2 "You see all these?" He replied; "in solemn truth I tell you that there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be pulled down."
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.”
3 Afterwards He was on the Mount of Olives and was seated there when the disciples came to Him, apart from the others, and said, "Tell us when this will be; and what will be the sign of your Coming and of the Close of the Age?" (aiōn g165)
[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)
4 "Take care that no one misleads you," answered Jesus;
Jesus replied, “[All that I will say is], be sure that no one deceives you [about what will happen]
5 "for many will come assuming my name and saying 'I am the Christ;' and they will mislead many.
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].
6 And before long you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. Do not be alarmed, for such things must be; but the End is not yet.
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!
7 For nation will rise in arms against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places;
[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.
8 but all these miseries are but like the early pains of childbirth.
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].
9 "At that time they will deliver you up to punishment and will put you to death; and you will be objects of hatred to all the nations because you are called by my name.
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].
10 Then will many stumble and fall, and they will betray one another and hate one another.
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.
11 Many false prophets will rise up and lead multitudes astray;
Many will come saying that they are prophets, but they will be lying, and they will deceive many people.
12 and because of the prevalent disregard of God's law the love of the great majority will grow cold;
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].
13 but those who stand firm to the End shall be saved.
But [all] those who keep on [believing in me] to the end [of their lives] will be saved.
14 And this Good News of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed throughout the whole world to set the evidence before all the Gentiles; and then the End will come.
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.”
15 "When you have seen (to use the language of the Prophet Daniel) the 'Abomination of Desolation', standing in the Holy Place" --let the reader observe those words--
“[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: ]
16 "then let those who are in Judaea escape to the hills;
When you see that happen [in the Temple, those of you] who are in Judea [district] must flee to the [higher] hills!
17 let him who is on the roof not go down to fetch what is in his house;
Those who are outside their houses must not go back into their houses to get things [before they flee].
18 nor let him who is outside the city stay to pick up his outer garment.
Those who are [working] in a field should not turn back to get their outer clothing [before they flee].
19 And alas for the women who at that time are with child or have infants!
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]
20 "But pray that your flight may not be in winter, nor on the Sabbath;
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,
21 for it will be a time of great suffering, such as never has been from the beginning of the world till now, and assuredly never will be again.
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].
22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would escape; but for the sake of God's own People those days will be cut short.
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.”
23 "If at that time any one should say to you, 'See, here is the Christ!' or 'Here!' give no credence to it.
“[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!
24 For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets, displaying wonderful signs and prodigies, so as to deceive, were it possible, even God's own People.
25 Remember, I have forewarned you.
Do not forget [that] I have warned you about all this before [it happens].
26 If therefore they should say to you, 'See, He is in the Desert!' do not go out there: or 'See, He is indoors in the room!' do not believe it.
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],
27 For just as the lightning flashes in the east and is seen to the very west, so will be the Coming of the Son of Man.
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].
28 Wherever the dead body is, there will the vultures flock together.
[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.)”
29 "But immediately after those times of distress the sun will be darkened, the moon will not shed her light, the stars will fall from the firmament, and the forces which control the heavens will be disordered and disturbed.
“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.)
30 Then will appear the Sign of the Son of Man in the sky; and then will all the nations of the earth lament, when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with great power and glory.
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].
31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet-blast, and they will bring together His own People to Him from north, south, east and west--from one extremity of the world to the other.
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.”
32 "Now learn from the fig-tree the lesson it teaches. As soon as its branches have now become soft and it is bursting into leaf, you all know that summer is near.
“[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.
33 So you also, when you see all these signs, may be sure that He is near--at your very door.
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].
34 I tell you in solemn truth that the present generation will certainly not pass away without all these things having first taken place.
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.
35 Earth and sky will pass away, but it is certain that my words will not pass away.
[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.”
36 "But as to that day and the exact time no one knows--not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
“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].
37 'For as it was in the time of Noah, so it will be at the Coming of the Son of Man.
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].
38 At that time, before the Deluge, men were busy eating and drinking, taking wives or giving them, up to the very day when Noah entered the Ark,
39 nor did they realise any danger till the Deluge came and swept them all away; so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man.
40 Then will two men be in the open country: one will be taken away, and one left behind.
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].
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken away, and one left behind.
[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.
42 Be on the alert therefore, for you do not know the day on which your Lord is coming.
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].
43 But of this be assured, that if the master of the house had known the hour at which the robber was coming, he would have kept awake, and not have allowed his house to be broken into.
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].
44 Therefore you also must be ready; for it is at a time when you do not expect Him that the Son of Man will come.
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].”
45 "Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has entrusted the control of his household to give them their rations at the appointed time?
“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].
46 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes shall find so doing!
If that servant is doing that [work] when the house owner returns, [the house owner] will be very pleased with him.
47 In solemn truth I tell you that he will give him the management of all his wealth.
Think about this: The house owner will appoint [that one servant] to be the supervisor of all his possessions.
48 But if the man, being a bad servant, should say in his heart, 'My master is a long time in coming,'
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.’]
49 and should begin to beat his fellow servants, while he eats and drinks with drunkards;
[So he] will begin to beat the other servants and eat and get drunk.
50 the master of that servant will arrive on a day when he is not expecting him and at an hour of which he has not been informed;
[Then] the house owner will come back at a time when the servant does not expect him [DOU].
51 he will treat him with the utmost severity and assign him a place among the hypocrites: there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
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].”
