Matthew 24
1 Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.
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 But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown 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 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end 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 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.
Jesus replied, “[All that I will say is], be sure that no one deceives you [about what will happen]
5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.
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 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, 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 against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, 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 things are the beginning of birth pains.
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 “Then they will deliver you up to oppression and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake.
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 many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will 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 arise and will lead many astray.
Many will come saying that they are prophets, but they will be lying, and they will deceive many people.
12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many 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 he who endures to the end will be saved.
But [all] those who keep on [believing in me] to the end [of their lives] will be saved.
14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, 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, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
“[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 Judea flee to the mountains.
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 housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house.
Those who are outside their houses must not go back into their houses to get things [before they flee].
18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.
Those who are [working] in a field should not turn back to get their outer clothing [before they flee].
19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days!
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 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter nor on a 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 then there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.
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 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
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 “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe 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 false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
25 “Behold, I have told you beforehand.
Do not forget [that] I have warned you about all this before [it happens].
26 “If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t 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 as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
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 For wherever the carcass is, that is where the vultures gather 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 the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;
“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 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great 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 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky 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 from the fig tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that the 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 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors.
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 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are accomplished.
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 Heaven and earth will pass away, but 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 no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
“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 As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
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 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,
39 and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left.
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 and one will be left.
[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 Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.
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 know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would 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 also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, 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 then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
“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 lord finds doing so when he comes.
If that servant is doing that [work] when the house owner returns, [the house owner] will be very pleased with him.
47 Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.
Think about this: The house owner will appoint [that one servant] to be the supervisor of all his possessions.
48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his 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 begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,
[So he] will begin to beat the other servants and eat and get drunk.
50 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it and in an hour when he doesn’t know it,
[Then] the house owner will come back at a time when the servant does not expect him [DOU].
51 and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
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].”
