Matthew 24

1 As Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] left [went out, departed from] the temple [a sacred place, the Temple in Jerusalem] and was walking away [traveling on, going on his way], His disciples [learners, followers] came up to Him [approached, drew near] to point out [show, exhibit] its [the temple’s] buildings [structures, constructions, the physical temple]. word study 2 “Do you see [perceive, behold] all these things [these buildings, this temple]?” He replied. “Truly [verily, assuredly] I tell you [declare to you, say unto you], not one stone [rock, foundation stone] here [in this place, at this location] will be left [remain, be allowed to stay] on another [upon, on top of]; every one [each and every stone] will be thrown down [destroyed, torn down, cast down].” word study 3 While Jesus was sitting [seated, resting] on the Mount of Olives [a mountain of olive trees, a place of prayer], the disciples came to Him privately [in a private setting, apart from the crowd]. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things [events, happenings] happen, and what will be the sign [indication, token] of Your coming [presence, arrival] and of the end [consummation, completion] of the age [a long period of time, an era]?” word study 4 Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] answered [to respond, to begin speaking], “See to it [take heed, be careful] that no one [no man, no person] deceives [leads astray, misleads] you [addressing them directly, as in a warning]. word study 5 For many [a large multitude, numerous] will come in My name [My authority, My character], claiming [saying, professing], ‘I am the Christ [the Messiah, anointed one],’ and will deceive [lead astray, seduce] many [a great number, multitude]. word study 6 You will hear [and begin to hear] of wars [conflicts and reports of conflicts] and rumors of wars [talk of wars, news of wars], but see [take heed, be aware] to it that you are not [lest you be] alarmed [troubled, frightened]. These things [all these events, everything] must [it is necessary, it behoveth] happen [come to pass, take place], but the end [the goal, the conclusion] is still [not yet, has not arrived] to come [to be, to arrive]. word study 7 Nation [Gentiles, non-Jewish people] will rise [be lifted up, stand up] against [in opposition to] nation, and kingdom [God’s royal power, dominion] against kingdom. There will be [exist, come to pass] famines [hunger, lack of food] and [also] earthquakes [shaking of the ground, tremors] in [within, throughout] various [different, diverse] places [locations, regions]. word study 8 All [every, everything] these [events, things] are the [initial, first] beginning [start, origin] of [labor, travail, or birth] birth pains [sorrows, extreme suffering, like childbirth]. word study 9 Then [at that specific point in time] they will deliver [surrender or hand over] you over to be persecuted [afflicted, tribulation] and killed [put to death, destroyed], and you will be hated [detested, loved less] by all [every, entire] nations [Gentiles, non-Jewish people] because of [through, on account of] My name [character, authority, who I am]. word study 10 At that time [then, at a specific point] many [a large number] will fall away [be offended, stumble] and will betray [deliver up] and hate [detest, love less] one another [each other], word study 11 and many [a large multitude, numerous] false prophets [claiming to speak for God, but actually fake] will arise [stand up, be raised up] and mislead [lead astray, deceive, cause to wander] many [a great number, large crowds]. word study 12 Because of [due to, as a result of] the multiplication [increase, abundance] of wickedness [lawlessness], the love [unconditional affection] of most [many] will grow cold [become lukewarm, lose its fervor]. word study 13 But the one [he who, all those who keep on believing] who perseveres [endures, remains, holds out] to the end [goal, conclusion, final result] will be saved [delivered, rescued, healed, protected, to save from harm]. word study 14 And this [good news, message of salvation] gospel [of salvation, the message of God’s kingdom] of the kingdom [of God, God’s royal power] will be preached [proclaimed, heralded] in all [the whole, entire] the world [inhabited earth, all nations] as a testimony [witness, evidence] to all [every] nations [Gentiles, people groups], and then [at that time, afterwards] the end [goal, conclusion] will come [arrive, be present]. word study 15 So when [at any time, whenever] you see [perceive, behold] standing [established, set up] in the holy [set apart, sacred] place [temple, sanctuary] ‘the abomination [idolatry, detestable thing] of desolation [devastation, wasteland],’ [spoken of by Daniel the prophet, foretold] described [spoken, uttered] by the prophet [one who speaks for God] Daniel [a prophet of God, interpreter of dreams] (let the reader [one who studies, ponders] understand [comprehend, perceive]), word study 16 then [at that specific point in time] let those who are [dwelling, living] in Judea [the southern region of Palestine] flee [run away, escape] to the mountains [high elevations, hills]. word study 17 Let no one [not a single person] on the housetop [roof of the house, upper room] come down [go down, descend] to retrieve [take, fetch] anything [any thing, something] from his house [home, dwelling place]. word study 18 And let [certainly not, by no means] no one [any person, individual] in the field [countryside, rural area] return [turn back, go back] for his [belonging to him, his own] cloak [outer garment, mantle, a covering for the body]. word study 19 How miserable [woe, expressing deep sorrow] those days will be for pregnant [with child, in a state of expectancy] and nursing [suckling, giving nourishment] mothers [those who give suck, caregivers]! word study 20 Pray [to worship and ask of God] that your flight [escape, time of trouble] will not occur [happen, come into being] in the winter [rainy season, stormy period] or [nor, not even] on the Sabbath [day of rest, seventh day of the week]. word study 21 For at that time [then, at a specific point] there will be great [intense, severe] tribulation [pressure, distress, affliction], unmatched [such as was not] from the beginning [origin, start] of the world [the earth, human history] until now [the present time], and never [no, nor ever] to be seen [to exist, to happen] again [in the future]. word study 22 If those days [had not been shortened, would not have been cut short] had not been cut short [reduced in duration, made briefer], nobody [no flesh, not a single person] would be saved [rescued, delivered from harm]. But for the sake [because of, on account of] of the elect [chosen ones, select few], those days [that time, that period] will be cut short [shortened, made less severe]. word study 23 At that time [then, a specific point in time], if anyone [a person, someone] says to you, ‘Look [see, perceive], here [in this place] is the Christ [Messiah, anointed one]!’ or ‘There [in that place] He is [present, among you]!’ do not [by no means] believe it [trust, have faith]. word study 24 For [because of this reason] false Christs [impostor messiahs] and false prophets [deceptive speakers] will appear [arise, come into view] and perform [show, give] great [intense, extraordinary] signs [supernatural indications] and wonders [marvels, astonishing events] that would deceive [lead astray, mislead] even the elect [chosen ones, select few], if [in the event that] that were possible [able to occur, within their power]. word study 25 See [behold, notice, perceive], I have told [foretold, warned, predicted] you [directly, beforehand] in advance [before it happens, beforehand, previously]. word study 26 So if [in the event that, if it happens that] they tell you, ‘There He is [present, among you] in the wilderness [desert, deserted place],’ do not go out [do not depart, do not leave]; or, ‘Here He is [present, in your midst] in the inner rooms [secret chambers],’ do not believe it [do not trust, do not have faith]. word study 27 For just as [in the same manner] the lightning [a bright, shining light] comes from the east [the direction of the rising sun] and flashes [shines, appears] as far as the west [the direction of the setting sun], so will be [thus, in this way] the coming [arrival, presence] of the Son [the Messiah, the Christ] of Man [humanity, the descendant of Adam]. word study 28 Wherever [in any location, wherever it may be] there is a carcass [corpse, dead body], there [in that exact place] the vultures [eagles, birds of prey] will gather [assemble, collect]. word study 29 Immediately [at once, without delay] after the tribulation [pressure, distress] of those days: ‘The sun [the celestial body] will be darkened [obscured, hidden from view], and the moon [the lunar body] will not give its light [shine, radiate]; the stars [heavenly bodies] will fall from the sky [heaven, the atmosphere], and the powers [strengths, abilities] of the heavens [the spiritual realm, the universe] will be shaken [agitated, disturbed]. ’ word study 30 At that time [then, at the appointed moment] the sign [token, indication] of the Son [Child, descendant] of Man [human, humanity] will appear [shine, become visible] in heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place], and all [every, the whole] the tribes [nations, clans] of the earth [soil, land] will mourn [lament, grieve]. They will see [perceive, behold] the Son [Child, descendant] of Man [human, humanity] coming [approaching, returning] on [upon, among] the clouds [cloud masses, heavenly bodies] of heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place], with [accompanied by, in the power of] power [strength, authority] and great [much, abundant] glory [honor, praise]. word study 31 And He will send out [dispatch, commission] His angels [messengers, heavenly beings] with a loud [great, powerful] trumpet call [sound of a trumpet, blast], and they will gather [collect, assemble] His elect [chosen ones, select] from the four winds [directions, spiritual forces], from one end [extremity, boundary] of the heavens [sky, spiritual realm] to the other [opposite, farthest point]. word study 32 Now learn [gain spiritual insight, understand] this lesson [parable, moral teaching] from the fig tree: As soon as its branches [small parts, shoots] become tender [soft, gentle] and sprout [grow, put forth] leaves [new growth], you know [recognize] that summer [the warm season, a time of harvest] is near [close at hand, approaching]. word study 33 So also [in the same way, thus], when you [as direct addresses] see [perceive, experience] all [everything] these things [specific events], you will know [understand, recognize] that He [the Messiah, Jesus] is near [close at hand], right [even, precisely] at the door [the threshold, the entrance]. word study 34 Truly [verily, with absolute certainty] I tell you, this [specific, present] generation [group of people living at the same time] will not [by no means, never] pass away [come to an end, perish] until [till the time when] all [every, everything] these things [events, prophecies] have happened [be fulfilled, be accomplished]. word study 35 Heaven [the sky and God’s home] and earth [the soil, a region, or the entire globe] will pass away [come to an end, perish], but My words [divine message, idea expressed] will never [not at all, under no circumstances] pass away [disappear, be forgotten]. word study 36 No one [none, nobody] knows about [concerning, regarding] that day [a 24-hour period, a specific time] or hour [a specific time, a moment], not even [nor] the angels [messengers of God, heavenly beings] in heaven [the sky, God’s home], nor [neither] the Son [the Messiah, Jesus Christ], but [except] only [alone, solely] the Father [God, the Creator]. word study 37 As [in the same manner, just as] it was in the days [a 24-hour period, a period of time] of Noah [a patriarch, a righteous man], so [thus, in this way] will it be at the coming [arrival, presence] of the Son [a child, the Messiah] of Man [a human being, the ultimate representative of humanity]. word study 38 For [as it was, in a similar manner] in the days [a period of time, an era] before [prior to, preceding] the flood [a deluge, a catastrophic overflow], people [humans, mankind] were eating [consuming food, nourishing themselves] and drinking [swallowing liquids, satisfying thirst], marrying [entering into a covenant of marriage, becoming one] and giving in marriage [bestowing a daughter in matrimony, uniting two families], up to [until, as far as] the day [a 24-hour period, a specific point in time] Noah [the patriarch, the righteous one] entered [went into, stepped aboard] the ark [a wooden vessel, a place of safety]. word study 39 And they were oblivious [completely unaware, without knowledge], until the flood [a deluge, catastrophic overflow] came and swept them all away [took them all, removed every one]. So will it be at the coming [arrival, presence] of the Son [Child, descendant] of Man [humanity, a human being]. word study 40 Two [a pair, a couple] men will be [exist, present] in the field [the countryside, a place of work]: one [a single individual] will be taken [received, removed] and the other [the remaining one] left [abandoned, forsaken]. word study 41 Two [a pair] women will be grinding [to grind grain into flour] at the mill [a millhouse]: one [a single individual] will be taken [to receive or accept] and the other [another single individual] left [to release or abandon]. word study 42 Therefore [then, as a consequence] keep watch [stay awake, be vigilant], because you do not know [are unaware, have no knowledge] the day [hour, specific time] on which [when] your Lord [Master, God] will come [arrive, return]. word study 43 But understand [be certain, know] this: If the homeowner [master of the house, householder] had known [been aware, perceived] in which watch [specific time, hour] of the night [darkness, period of rest] the thief [one who steals, robber] was coming [approaching, arriving], he would have kept watch [been vigilant, stayed awake] and would not have let [allowed, permitted] his house [home, dwelling] be broken into [broken through, dug into]. word study 44 For this reason [because of this truth], you also must be [become, prepared] ready [prepared, watchful], because the Son [a child] of Man [a human] will come [arrive, return] at an hour [a specific time] you do not [absolutely not] expect [think, suppose]. word study 45 Who then is the faithful [trustworthy, dependable] and wise [thoughtful, discerning] servant, whom the master [lord, owner] has put in charge [appointed, set over] of his household [family, those in his care], to give the others their food [nourishment, sustenance] at the proper [right, opportune] time [season, moment]? word study 46 Blessed [happy, supremely blissful] is that servant [slave, one subject to another] whose master [lord, one in authority] finds [discovers, meets with] him doing [making, producing] so [thus, in this way] when he returns [comes, arrives]. word study 47 Truly [verily, with certainty] I tell you, he will put [set, appoint, make ruler over] him in charge [over, to have authority] of all [every, everything] his possessions [goods, substance, everything he has]. word study 48 But suppose that servant [evil, wicked, or worthless] is wicked [depraved, or morally corrupt] and says [to speak or think] in his heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], ‘My master [lord, or one in authority] will be away [delaying, or tarrying] a long time [for an extended period, or indefinitely].’ word study 49 And he begins [to rule, commence] to beat [strike, be cruel to] his fellow servants [companions in service, slaves of the same master] and to eat [consume food, participate in meals] and drink [swallow liquids, indulge in wine] with drunkards [those who get intoxicated, the drunken]. word study 50 The master [lord, one in authority] of that servant will come [arrive, be present] on a day [a 24-hour period, a specific time] he does not expect [look for, anticipate] and at an hour [a specific time, a moment] he does not anticipate [know, is aware of]. word study 51 Then he will cut him to pieces [cut him asunder, divide him in two] and assign him a place [portion, share] with the hypocrites [those who pretend to be righteous, insincere ones], where there will be weeping [intense crying, lamentation] and gnashing [grinding, intense anger] of teeth [a sign of extreme anguish]. word study