1Looking up, he saw those who were dropping their gifts into the contribution box, the rich people. 2But he saw a poor widow dropping in two mites, 3and he said, "Truly I tell you this widow, poor as she is, has dropped in more than all. 4For they all out of their abundance contributed to the gifts, but she out of her lack put in all that she had to live on." 5As some were speaking about the Temple buildings, how they were decorated with beautiful stones and votive gifts, 6he said, "As to these things that you are looking at, there will come days in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be thrown down." 7They asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when they are about to happen?" 8He said, "Be on your guard against being misled. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is at hand.' Do not follow them. 9And when you hear of wars and disorders, do not be terrified. For these things must take place first, but the end will not come immediately." 10Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 11and there will be great earthquakes in various places, and pestilences and famines and terrors and great portents from heaven. 12Before all these things they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors because of my name. 13It will turn out your opportunity for testimony. 14Settle it, then, in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves. 15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your opponents will be unable to resist or reply to. 16You will be betrayed by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death 17and you will be hated by all on account of my name. 18Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will win your lives. 20"But when you see Jerusalem encircled by camps, then know that her desolation is near. 21Then those who are in Judaea are to flee to the mountains, and those in the midst of it are to depart, and those in the country places must not come into the city; 22for these are days of vengeance, that all the prophecies may be fulfilled. 23Alas for the women with child and the nursing mothers in those days! For there will be great distress on earth and wrath upon this people, 24and they will fall by the edge of the sword and will be taken as captives into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles have gone by. 25"There will be portents in the sun and in the moon and in the stars, and on earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roar of the sea and its surges, 26men fainting from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon mankind. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27And then they will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things are beginning to happen, look up and lift up your heads, for your liberation is drawing near." 29He gave them an illustration: "See the fig tree, and all the trees. 30When they put out leaves, you see for yourselves that summer is near. 31So, too, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly, I tell you, this generation will not pass away before all takes place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34Take care that your hearts are not dull through overeating and drinking and the cares of life, so that that day may come on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come on all who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36Be watchful at every season in prayer that you may be able to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man." 37During the days he continued to teach in the Temple courts, but every night he went out and stayed on the mount called Olive Orchard. 38All the people came early every morning to him in the Temple courts to listen to him.