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The Widow’s Offering
1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their
gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow
put in two very small copper coins.
3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has
put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave
their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty
put in all she had to live on.”
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the
temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts
dedicated to God. But Jesus said,
6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when
not one stone will be left on another; every one of them
will be thrown down.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things
happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to
take place?”
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived.
For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and,
‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of
wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must
happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great
earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and
fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this, they will lay hands on you
and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and
prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors,
and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear
testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry
beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will
give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will
be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed
even by parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends,
and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will
hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will
perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,
you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those
who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the
city get out, and let those in the country not enter the
city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment
of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in
those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There
will be great distress in the land and wrath against this
people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as
prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on
by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are
fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On
the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the
roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from
terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the
heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will
see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great
glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up
and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing
near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree
and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see
for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so,
when you see these things happening, you know that the
kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation 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, or your hearts will be weighed down
with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and
that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it
will come on all those who live on the face of the whole
earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be
able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may
be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each
evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called
the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the
morning to hear him at the temple. |
Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
