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.
31. In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that God's kingdom is near.
32. "What I'm about to tell you is true. The people living at that time will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
33. Heaven and earth will pass away. But my words will never pass away.
34. "Be careful. If you aren't, your hearts will be loaded down with wasteful living, drunkenness and the worries of life. Then the day the Son of Man returns will close on you like a trap. You will not be expecting it.
35. That day will come upon every person who lives on the whole earth.
36. "Always keep watching. Pray that you will be able to escape all that is about to happen. Also, pray that you will not be judged guilty when the Son of Man comes."
37. Each day Jesus taught at the temple. And each evening he went to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives.