21:1 Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich tossing their offerings into the treasury.

21:2 But then he saw a poor widow toss in two tiny coins,

21:3 and he said, “Truly I tell you that this destitute widow has tossed in the greatest amount of all.

21:4 The others gave out of their abundance, but she gave out of her insufficiency, giving all she had to live on.”

21:5 Some of them were talking about the temple compound with its beautiful stonework and donated ornaments.

21:6 And Jesus said, “Everything you see here… the days will come when there won’t be one stone left on top of another; they will all be demolished!”

21:7 “Teacher,” they asked, “When will this happen, and what will be the sign to tell us when it’s about to begin?”

21:8 And he replied, “Stay sharp so that you are not mislead. For many will come in my name and say, ‘I am!’ and ‘The end is near!’, but don’t follow them.

21:9 Even when you start to hear about wars and chaos, don’t be afraid. These things must happen first, but the end is not yet.”

21:10 And he added, “Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

21:11 There will be strong earthquakes, famines and plagues in various places, terrifying things, and significant signs in the heavens.

21:12 “But before all of this, they will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to face tribunals and jail, and you will be led away to stand trial before kings and governors on my account.

21:13 Yet it will actually be an opportunity for you to give your testimony!

21:14 But the way to prepare yourself is not by rehearsing your defense,

21:15 for I will give you wise words that your opponents will not be able to refute.

21:16 “Even your parents, siblings, relatives, and friends will hand you over to be put to death;

21:17 everyone will hate you because of me.

21:18 But not a single hair on your head will be lost;

21:19 by your endurance you will secure your lives.

21:20 “Now when you see Jerusalem surrounded by military encampments, you will know that its ruin is near.

21:21 Then those in Judea must run away into the mountains: those in the city must evacuate, and those in the country must not go back to the city,

21:22 for this will be the fulfillment of what was written about the days of retribution.

21:23 But how awful it will be for women who are pregnant or nursing in those days! For there will be terrible stress on the world, and great rage against this people.

21:24 They will be killed in battle and taken captive to all the other nations. Then Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until their time is up.

21:25 “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And on the earth, the nations will be filled with anguish and perplexity due to the roaring and turbulence of the sea.

21:26 People will be deathly afraid and apprehensive of what is coming upon the whole world, for the forces of the heavens will be shaken.

21:27 And then they will see the Human coming in a cloud with great power and majesty.

21:28 But when you see this all coming to pass, stand up and raise your heads, for your rescue is coming!”

21:29 Then he gave them this parable: “Observe the fig tree, and all the other trees:

21:30 when they bud you know for sure that summer is near.

21:31 Likewise, when you see all these things happening, you can know that the kingdom of God is near.

21:32 I tell you truly that this generation will not pass away until all of this has happened.

21:33 The sky and earth may pass away, but my words will not.

21:34 “But take care that your hearts are not weighed down with drunkenness and hangovers and the anxieties of daily life, so that this Day doesn’t spring like a trap on you,

21:35 as it will on everyone else on the earth.

21:36 Always be alert, praying that you will prevail and escape all that is about to happen, so you will be able to stand before the Human.”

21:37 Jesus taught in the temple compound each day, and he spent each night on the Mount of Olives.

21:38 People came to the temple compound early every morning to hear him.