1 As Jesus was observing the rich casting their offerings into the treasury,
2 he saw a poor widow throwing in the value of a farthing.
3 and he said, I declare unto you, that this poor widow has thrown in more than they all.
4 for they have offer'd only part of their superfluous wealth; but she has given all that was then left for her subsistence.
5 Some having said of the temple, that the stone-work was fine, and the furniture magnificent:
6 the time is coming, said he, when these buildings, which you now view, shall be all thrown down and lost in ruins.
7 thereupon they said to him, master, when shall this happen? and by what sign shall we know that the event is coming?
8 he answered, take care, that you be not seduced: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ. it won't be long e'er this happens, therefore do not follow them.
9 And when ye shall hear of wars, and seditions, be not alarm'd. for these must first happen: but the end will not be so soon.
10 then nation, said he, shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11 great earthquakes, and famines, and pestilences shall happen in divers places: terrible appearances and surprizing prodigies shall be in the heavens.
12 but before all these events, they will seize upon you and persecute you, drag you to the synagogues and to prisons, being accused before kings and governours, for professing my name.
13 and that shall be one proof of the truth of your profession.
14 fix it therefore in your mind, not to think beforehand about your defence.
15 for I will make you speak with such strength of argument, as all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict or withstand.
16 you will be betrayed even by your very parents, and brethren, and kindred, and friends. nay, some of you they will prosecute even to death.
17 you will be hated by all mankind for professing my name,
18 however a single hair of your head shall not be lost.
19 by your perseverance you will save your souls.
20 Now when you shall see Jerusalem invested by an army, then be assured that the desolation of it is nigh.
21 then let those, who are in Judea, fly to the mountains: let those, who are in the city, march out, and those, who are without not venture in.
22 for this is the time of vengeance, when all that is writ, shall be accomplished.
23 wo to them that are with child, or to them that give suck in those days: for this will be a region of great distress, and wrath will pour down upon this people.
24 by the destructive sword shall they fall, and be led into captivity among all nations: and Jerusalem shall be kept waste by the nations, as long as those nations shall subsist.
25 there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon the earth distress of nations under confusion, the sea and the waves roaring.
26 men dying with fear under the apprehension of those calamities, which are coming upon the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 and then shall they see the son of man come on a cloud, with power and great glory.
28 now when these things begin to appear, then lift up your heads, and behold your redemption drawing nigh.
29 Then by way of similitude, consider, said he, the fig-tree, and all the other trees;
30 when they shoot out their buds, you know for certain that summer is coming on:
31 in like manner, when you shall see these events, be assur'd that the kingdom of God is nigh.
32 I tell it you for certain, this generation shall not pass away, till all these things are accomplished.
33 heaven and earth shall fail sooner than my predictions shall fail.
34 set a guard upon yourselves, that ye be not stupified by surfeiting and drunkenness, or by the disquietudes of this life, and so that day come upon you with a surprize.
35 for like a snare, it shall surprize all the inhabitants of the earth.
36 be therefore upon your guard, be constant in prayer, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all those future ills, and be able to stand in the presence of the son of God.