14. But make up your mind not to worry ahead of time about how to stand up for yourselves.
15. I will give you words of wisdom. None of your enemies will be able to withstand them or oppose them.
16. "Even your parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends will hand you over to the authorities. They will put some of you to death.
17. Everyone will hate you because of me.
18. But not a hair on your head will be harmed.
19. If you stand firm, you will gain life.
20. "A time is coming when you will see armies surround Jerusalem. Then you will know that it will soon be destroyed.
21. Those who are in Judea should then escape to the mountains. Those in the city should get out. Those in the country should not enter the city.
22. This is the time when God will punish Jerusalem. Everything will come true, just as it has been written.
23. "How awful it will be in those days for pregnant women! How awful for nursing mothers! There will be terrible suffering in the land. There will be great anger against those people.
24. Some will be killed by the sword. Others will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be overrun by those who aren't Jews until the times of the non-Jews come to an end.
25. "There will be miraculous signs in the sun, moon and stars. The nations of the earth will be in terrible pain. They will be puzzled by the roaring and tossing of the sea.
26. Terror will make people faint. They will be worried about what is happening in the world. The sun, moon and stars will be shaken from their places.
27. "At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud. He will come with power and great glory.
28. When these things begin to take place, stand up. Hold your head up with joy and hope. The time when you will be set free will be very close."
29. Jesus told them a story. "Look at the fig tree and all the trees," he said.
30. "When you see leaves appear on the branches, you know that summer is near.