Luke 21:17-36

¹⁷Everyone will hate you because of me.

¹⁸But not a single hair of your head will be lost.

¹⁹By standing firm you will gain your lives.

²⁰However, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you know that its destruction is near.

²¹Those who are in Judea should run away to the mountains, and those who are in Jerusalem should leave, and those who are the countryside shouldn't enter the city.

²²For these are days of punishment, fulfilling all that's written.

²³How hard it will be for those who are pregnant or nursing babies at that time! For terrible trouble is coming on the land and punishment against this people.

²⁴They will be killed by the sword and taken away as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trodden down by the foreign nations until their time is fulfilled.

²⁵There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and on the earth the nations will be in distress, confused by the sea's rolling and crashing.

²⁶People will be faint from fear, terrified about what is happening to the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

²⁷Then they'll see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

²⁸But when these things happen, stand up and look up, because you will soon be saved.”

²⁹Then he told them this story as an illustration. “Look at the fig tree, or any other kind of tree.

³⁰When you see new leaves appear, you don't need to be told that summer is near.

³¹In the same way, when you see these things happening, you don't need to be told that God's kingdom is near.

³²I tell you the truth, this generation won't come to an end before all this happens.

³³Heaven and earth will come to an end, but my word will not.

³⁴Watch out that you don't become distracted by partying or getting drunk or by the worries of this life, so that this day catches you by surprise.

³⁵For this day will come upon everyone who lives on the face of the earth.

³⁶Always keep watch and pray, so that you may be able to escape all that will happen and stand before the Son of man.”