6Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.
7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
8Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
9“You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
10And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
13Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
14“When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 standing where it Or he does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
15Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out.
16Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.
17How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
18Pray that this will not take place in winter,
19because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.