Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 296
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IMMERSE
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MESSIAH
13:3-25
Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the
Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked
him, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these
things are about to be fulfilled?”
Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my
name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will
hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must
take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes
in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of
the birth pains, with more to come.
“When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed
over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial
before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be
your opportunity to tell them about me. For the Good News must first be
preached to all nations. But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t
worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that
time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
“A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own
child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be
killed. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the
one who endures to the end will be saved.
“The day is coming when you will see the sacrilegious object that causes
desecration standing where he should not be.” (Reader, pay attention!)
“Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person out on the deck of
a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field
must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant
women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight
will not be in winter. For there will be greater anguish in those days than at
any time since God created the world. And it will never be so great again. In
fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will
survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days.
“Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’
don’t believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen
ones. Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!
“At that time, after the anguish of those days,
the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
