Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Matthew 23:37-24:14 (NRSV)

11/21/2007

The last things

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say. 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"


As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to
point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah!' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you arenot alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

"Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you
will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away,and
they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the
love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

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