Immerse: Gospel of Luke - Flipbook - Page 63
21:7-31
Luke–ACTS
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time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not
one stone will be left on top of another!”
“Teacher,” they asked, “when will all this happen? What sign will show
us that these things are about to take place?”
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my
name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But
don’t believe them. And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t
panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be
famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and
great miraculous signs from heaven.
“But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution.
You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial
before kings and governors because you are my followers. But this will be
your opportunity to tell them about me. So don’t worry in advance about
how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words
and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you! Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and
friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. And everyone
will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will
perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.
“And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know
that the time of its destruction has arrived. Then those in Judea must flee
to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country
should not return to the city. For those will be days of God’s vengeance,
and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. How terrible
it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For
there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people. They
will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of
the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the
period of the Gentiles comes to an end.
“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here
on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and
strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the
earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see
the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when
all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is
near!”
Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other
tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer
is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can
