Mark 13:15-37 ▼

15 let him who is on the roof not come down and enter the house to fetch anything out of it;

16 and let not him who is in the field turn back to pick up his outer garment.

17 And alas for the women who at that time are with child or have infants!

18 "But pray that it may not come in the winter.

19 For those will be times of suffering the like of which has never been from the first creation of God's world until now, and assuredly never will be again;

20 and but for the fact that the Lord has cut short those days, no one would escape; but for the sake of His own People whom He has chosen for Himself He has cut short the days.

21 "At that time if any one says to you, 'See, here is the Christ!' or 'See, He is there!' do not believe it.

22 For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets, displaying signs and prodigies with a view to lead astray--if indeed that were possible--even God's own People.

23 But as for yourselves, be on your guard: I have forewarned you of everything.

24 "At that time, however, after that distress, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shed her light;

25 the stars will be seen falling from the firmament, and the forces which are in the heavens will be disordered and disturbed.

26 And then will they see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

27 Then He will send forth the angels and gather together His chosen People from north, south, east and west, from the remotest parts of the earth and the sky.

28 "Learn from the fig-tree the lesson it teaches. As soon as its branch has become soft and it is bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near.

29 So also do you, when you see these things happening, be sure that He is near, at your very door.

30 I tell you in solemn truth that the present generation will certainly not pass away without all these things having first taken place.

31 Earth and sky will pass away, but it is certain that my words will not pass away.

32 "But as to that day or the exact time no one knows--not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

33 Take care, be on the alert, and pray; for you do not know when it will happen.

34 It is like a man living abroad who has left his house, and given the management to his servants--to each one his special duty--and has ordered the porter to keep awake.

35 Be wakeful therefore, for you know not when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at cock-crow, or at dawn.

36 Beware lest He should arrive unexpectedly and find you asleep.

37 Moreover, what I say to you I say to all--Be wakeful!"