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 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 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 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 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.

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.