CHAPTER LIX.
DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE AND COMING OF THE SON OF MAN FORETOLD.
AND Jesus went out, and departed from the temple, and as he went out, his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him,
Seest thou these great buildings? As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which, verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, saying, Master, tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the
sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world, when all these things shall be fulfilled? and Jesus answered and said unto them,
Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near; and shall deceive many; go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars, see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must first come to pass; but the end is not yet.
Then said he unto them,
Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. All these are the beginning of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves: before all these, they shall lay their hands
[292]on you, and persecute you; for they shall deliver you up to councils: and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And (they) shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and
[293]brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.
And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the
[294]holy place, (whoso readeth let him understand:) and when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains: and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take anything out of his house and let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: for then shall be great
[295]tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: for false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
[296] Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.