The Full Olivet Discourse

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples, Peter and James and John and Andrew, came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?”  And Jesus answered them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray.  For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places:  all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs, [the time before the tribulation of those days].

But before all this [throughout the entire Christian era] they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors and councils for my name's sake.  This will be a time for you to bear testimony.  Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer;  for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.  You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name's sake.  

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.  And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another.  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because wickedness is multiplied, most men's love will grow cold.  But not a hair of your head will perish.  By your endurance you will gain your lives.  He who endures to the end will be saved.  

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end [the Great Tribulation] will come.  But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle.  And let not those who are out in the country enter it; for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.  And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days!  Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.  They will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.  Then if any one says to you, 'Lo, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it.  For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.  … Immediately after the tribulation of those days [the Day of the Lord follows], the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,  men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory;  and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.  From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.  But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.  It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.  Watch therefore—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.  And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.”