Study Desk

"When you see the abomination that causes desolation ^(ag)[e] standing where it should not" (let the reader understand^[f]), "then those in Judea^(ah) must flee to the mountains!

A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house.^(ai)

And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes.^(aj)

Woe^(ak) to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!

Pray^(al) it^[g] won't happen in winter.

For those will be days of tribulation,^(am) the kind that hasn't been from the beginning^(an) of the world, ^[h](ao) which God created, until now and never will be again!

Unless the Lord^(ap) limited those days,^(aq) no one would survive.^[i] But He limited those days because of the elect,^(ar) whom He chose. ^(as)

"Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!^(at) Look—there!' do not believe it!

For false messiahs^[j] and false prophets will rise up and will perform signs and wonders^(au) to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.

"But in those days, after that tribulation: ^(av) The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light;

the stars^(aw) will be falling from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken.^(ax)

Then they will see the Son of Man^(ay) coming^(az) in clouds^(ba) with great power^(bb) and glory.^(bc)

He will send out the angels^(bd) and gather His elect^(be) from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. ^(bf)

"Learn^(bg) this parable^(bh) from the fig^(bi) tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.^(bj)

In the same way, when you see these things happening, know^[k] that He^[l] is near—at the door!

I assure you:^(bk) This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.

Heaven and earth^(bl) will pass away,^(bm) but My words will never pass away. ^(bn)

"Now concerning that day^(bo) or hour no one knows—neither the angels^(bp) in heaven nor the Son^(bq)—except the Father.^(br)

Watch! Be alert!^[m] For you don't know when the time^(bs) is coming. ^(bt)

It is like^(bu) a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves,^(bv) gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert.

Therefore be alert,^(bw) since you don't know when the master^(bx) of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning.

Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping.^(by)

And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!"