9. When you hear about wars and riots, don’t be afraid. These things must happen first. Then the end will come later.”
10. Then Jesus said to them, “Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms.
11. There will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and other bad things in many places. In some places there will be no food for the people to eat. Terrible things will happen, and amazing things will come from heaven to warn people.
12. “But before all these things happen, people will arrest you and do bad things to you. They will judge you in their synagogues and put you in jail. You will be forced to stand before kings and governors. They will do all these things to you because you follow me.
13. But this will give you an opportunity to tell about me.
14. Decide now not to worry about what you will say.
15. I will give you the wisdom to say things that none of your enemies can answer.
16. Even your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will turn against you. They will have some of you killed.
17. Everyone will hate you because you follow me.
18. But none of these things can really harm you.
19. You will save yourselves by continuing strong in your faith through all these things.
20. “You will see armies all around Jerusalem. Then you will know that the time for its destruction has come.
21. The people in Judea at that time should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must leave quickly. If you are near the city, don’t go in!
22. The prophets wrote many things about the time when God will punish his people. The time I am talking about is when all these things must happen.
23. During that time it will be hard for women who are pregnant or have small babies, because very bad times will come to this land. God will be angry with these people.
24. Some of the people will be killed by soldiers. Others will be made prisoners and taken to all the different countries. The holy city of Jerusalem will be under the control of foreigners until their time is completed.
25. “Amazing things will happen to the sun, moon, and stars. And people all over the earth will be upset and confused by the noise of the sea and its crashing waves.