Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Mark 13
The Temple Will Be Thrown Down
As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these enormous stones and buildings!” Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
Do Not Be Led Astray
Later, as Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign when all these things are about to be completed?” Jesus began to tell them, “Watch out that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and reports of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is not yet. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
But watch yourselves. They will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you should say. Say whatever is given to you in that hour, because it is not you speaking but the Holy Spirit. Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The Desolating Abomination
“When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be—let the reader understand—then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. The person on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything out, and the person in the field must not turn back to get a cloak. How terrible it will be in those days for those who are pregnant and those nursing infants! Pray that it will not happen in winter. For those days will be a distress unlike anything from the beginning of the creation God created until now—and never again. If the Lord had not shortened those days, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect whom he chose, he shortened the days.
If anyone then says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. False christs and false prophets will arise and produce signs and wonders in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But you must watch. I have told you everything beforehand.
The Son of Man Coming
“But in those days, after that distress,
‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.’
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
He will send the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of earth to the farthest end of heaven.
The Fig Tree and the Unknown Hour
“Learn this parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that it is near, at the doors. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
But concerning that day or hour, no one knows—not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Watch! Stay awake, because you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going away on a journey. He leaves his house, gives authority to his servants, assigns each one their work, and commands the doorkeeper to watch. Therefore watch, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. Otherwise he may come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!”