³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives,^(A) the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming^(B) and of the end of the age?”^(C)

⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.^{(D) 5} For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.^{(E) 6} You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^(F) There will be famines^(G) and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted^(H) and put to death,^(I) and you will be hated by all nations because of me.^{(J) 10} At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets^(K) will appear and deceive many people.^{(L) 12} Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.^{(M) 14} And this gospel of the kingdom^(N) will be preached in the whole world^(O) as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.^{(A) 9} When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^{(B) 11} There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.^(C)

¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me.^{(D) 14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.^{(E) 15} For I will give you^(F) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,^(G) and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me.^{(H) 18} But not a hair of your head will perish.^{(I) 19} Stand firm, and you will win life.^(J)