According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
There are no appointed psalms for this evening.
At Psalm 140
Tone 8
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Rejoice and be glad, O city of Sion;* exult and be exceedingly joyful, O Church of God.* For behold, your King has come in righteousness, seated on a foal,* and the children sing His praises: “Hosanna in the highest!* Blessed are You whom are abundantly compassionate:* Have mercy upon us.”
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Rejoice and be glad, O city of Sion;* exult and be exceedingly joyful, O Church of God.* For behold, your King has come in righteousness, seated on a foal,* and the children sing His praises: “Hosanna in the highest!* Blessed are You whom are abundantly compassionate:* Have mercy upon us.”
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The Saviour has come today to the city of Jerusalem, to fulfil the Scriptures;* and all have taken palms in their hands and spread their garments before Him,* knowing that He is our God, to whom the cherubim without ceasing sing:* “Hosanna in the highest!* Blessed are You who are abundantly compassionate:* Have mercy upon us.”
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The Saviour has come today to the city of Jerusalem, to fulfil the Scriptures;* and all have taken palms in their hands and spread their garments before Him,* knowing that He is our God, to whom the cherubim without ceasing sing:* “Hosanna in the highest!* Blessed are You who are abundantly compassionate:* Have mercy upon us.”
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You who are seated upon the cherubim and praised by the seraphim,* was seated, O gracious Lord, like David upon a foal,* and the children praised You in Godly manner;* but the Jews unlawfully blasphemed against You,* thus prefiguring the manner by which the Gentiles, as yet untamed and uninstructed,* were to pass from unbelief to faith.* Glory be to You, O Christ,* who alone are merciful and love mankind.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
You who are seated upon the cherubim and praised by the seraphim,* was seated, O gracious Lord, like David upon a foal,* and the children praised You in Godly manner;* but the Jews unlawfully blasphemed against You,* thus prefiguring the manner by which the Gentiles, as yet untamed and uninstructed,* were to pass from unbelief to faith.* Glory be to You, O Christ,* who alone are merciful and love mankind.
Glory…
Rejoice and be glad, O city of Sion;* exult and be exceedingly joyful, O Church of God.* For behold, your King has come in righteousness, seated on a foal,* and the children sing His praises: “Hosanna in the highest!* Blessed are You whom are abundantly compassionate:* Have mercy upon us.”
Now…
You who are seated upon the cherubim and praised by the seraphim,* was seated, O gracious Lord, like David upon a foal,* and the children praised You in Godly manner;* but the Jews unlawfully blasphemed against You,* thus prefiguring the manner by which the Gentiles, as yet untamed and uninstructed,* were to pass from unbelief to faith.* Glory be to You, O Christ,* who alone are merciful and love mankind.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.
verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.
Aposticha
Tone 2
From palms and branches, as passing from one divine Feast to another,* let us now make haste, O faithful,* to the mysterious and salvific celebration of Christ’s Passion.* Let us behold Him undergo voluntary suffering for our sake,* and let us sing a becoming hymn with thanksgiving to Him,* and with compunction let us cry aloud:* “O You who are the fount of goodness and the haven of salvation,* O Lord, glory be to You!”
Tone 3
O sing to the Lord a new song:* for the Lord has wrought wondrous things.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God:* for He is Judge of the meditations and thoughts of the heart.* Let no man draw near to tempt the Perfection of faith;* rather, let us come to Christ in meekness and in fear,* that we may receive mercy and find grace* to help us in our time of need.
Tone 7
All the ends of the earth* have seen the salvation of our God
O evil and adulterous synagogue,* you have not been faithful to your own husband.* Why do you then hold fast to the Testament of that which you are not an heir?* Why do you glory in the Father, since you have rejected the Son?* Why have you not accepted the prophets who proclaimed the Son?* Be ashamed when your own children cry aloud:* “Hosanna to the Son of David; * blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.”
Tone 2, Glory…
From palms and branches, as passing from one divine Feast to another,* let us now make haste, O faithful,* to the mysterious and salvific celebration of Christ’s Passion.* Let us behold Him undergo voluntary suffering for our sake,* and let us sing a becoming hymn with thanksgiving to Him,* and with compunction let us cry aloud:* “O You who are the fount of goodness and the haven of salvation,* O Lord, glory be to You!”
Tone 7, Now…
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God:* for He is Judge of the meditations and thoughts of the heart.* Let no man draw near to tempt the Perfection of faith;* rather, let us come to Christ in meekness and in fear,* that we may receive mercy and find grace* to help us in our time of need.
MATINS ON MONDAY MORNING
Troparion, Tone 8
Behold the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night;* and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching,* but unworthy is he whom He shall find in slothfulness.* Beware, then, O my soul, and be not overcome by sleep,* lest you be given over to death and shut out from the Kingdom.* But rise up and cry aloud: Holy, holy, holy are You, O God:* through the Theotokos have mercy upon us. (3)
Sessional Hymn I, Tone 1
On this day the Holy Passion shines forth upon the world* as a light most perfect;* for Christ in His goodness hastens to His sufferings.* He who holds all things in the palm of His hand* has consented to be hung upon the Tree,* that He may save mankind.
Glory… Now…
On this day the Holy Passion shines forth upon the world* as a light most perfect;* for Christ in His goodness hastens to His sufferings.* He who holds all things in the palm of His hand* has consented to be hung upon the Tree,* that He may save mankind.
Sessional Hymn II, Tone 1
O Judge invisible how are You seen in the flesh,* drawing near to be slain by lawless men,* condemning by Your Passion our own condemnation?* Therefore with one accord, O Word,* we send up praise, majesty, and glory to Your power.
Glory… Now…
O Judge invisible how are You seen in the flesh,* drawing near to be slain by lawless men,* condemning by Your Passion our own condemnation?* Therefore with one accord, O Word,* we send up praise, majesty, and glory to Your power.
Sessional Hymn III, Tone 8
The first-fruits of the Lord’s Passion fill this present day with light.* Come then, all you who love to celebrate the feasts,* and let us welcome it with hymns.* For the Creator draws near to take up the Cross;* He is questioned, beaten, and brought to Pilate for judgment,* after which a servant struck Him on the face,* and all this He has endured that He may save mankind.* Wherefore let us cry aloud to Him:* O Christ God the Lover of mankind,* grant remission of sins to those who venerate in faith Your Holy Passion.
Glory… Now…
The first-fruits of the Lord’s Passion fill this present day with light.* Come then, all you who love to celebrate the feasts,* and let us welcome it with hymns.* For the Creator draws near to take up the Cross;* He is questioned, beaten, and brought to Pilate for judgment,* after which a servant struck Him on the face,* and all this He has endured that He may save mankind.* Wherefore let us cry aloud to Him:* O Christ God the Lover of mankind,* grant remission of sins to those who venerate in faith Your Holy Passion.
Gospel
Matthew 21:18-43
Canon
Ode 1
Irmos: Let us sing to the Lord, who by His divine command* dried up the billowing and impassable sea,* and through it led the Israelite people on foot:* for gloriously has He been glorified.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
Ineffable is the condescension of the Word of God, for Christ himself is both God and man; as God he hid not this condescension, when He appeared to His disciples in the form of a servant: for gloriously has He been glorified.
Glory… Now…
I who am rich in Godhead have come to minister to Adam who has grown poor. I who fashioned him have of My own will put on his form. I who am impassable in My divinity have come to lay down My life as a ransom for him.
Katavasia: Let us sing to the Lord, who by His divine command* dried up the billowing and impassable sea,* and through it led the Israelite people on foot:* for gloriously has He been glorified.
Kontakion, Tone 8
Jacob lamented the loss of Joseph,* but he was valorously seated in a chariot and honoured as a king.* For he was not enslaved to the pleasures of Egypt,* but was glorified by God who sees the hearts of all,* and bestows upon them an incorruptible crown.
Ikos
Let us now add our lamentation to the lamentation of Jacob, and let us weep with him for his ever-memorable and chaste son Joseph, who was enslaved in body but kept his soul free from bondage, and became lord over all Egypt. For God grants to his servants an incorruptible crown.
Ode 8
Irmos: The relentless fire, fed with endless fuel,* drew back in fear before the pious children, pure in body and in soul;* and as the flame waned in strength, they sang an everlasting song:* O all you works, praise the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
“All men shall know that you are My disciples, if you keep My commandments”, says the Saviour to His friends, as He went to His Passion. “Be at peace one with another and with all men; think humbly of yourselves and you shall be exalted; acknowledge Me as Lord, and praise and supremely exalt Me throughout all ages.”
Let us bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the Lord.
“Let your rule over others be different from that of the Gentiles: it is not my will that their tyranny and self-willed ways be followed. He, therefore, who would be the first among you, let him be as the last, and acknowledge Me as the Lord, and praise and supremely exalt Me throughout all ages.”
Now…
“Let your rule over others be different from that of the Gentiles: it is not my will that their tyranny and self-willed ways be followed. He, therefore, who would be the first among you, let him be as the last, and acknowledge Me as the Lord, and praise and supremely exalt Me throughout all ages.”
We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!
Katavasia: The relentless fire, fed with endless fuel,* drew back in fear before the pious children, pure in body and in soul;* and as the flame waned in strength, they sang an everlasting song:* O all you works, praise the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
(The Magnificat is not chanted)
Ode 9
Irmos: You have magnified, O Christ, the Theotokos who bore You:* from her, O our Creator, You have taken a body of like passions to our own,* and released us from all our transgressions.* Wherefore with all generations we call her blessed and we magnify You.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
“Cast away all the impurity of the passions and thereby gain a wise understanding, worthy of God’s Kingdom,” You said to Your apostles, O Wisdom of all, “and you shall be glorified, and shine forth more brightly than the sun.”
Glory… Now…
“Look upon Me as your example,” You said to Your disciples, O Lord, “think not highly but be content with what is humble, and drink of the cup that I drink of, that you be glorified with Me in the Kingdom of the Father.”
Katavasia: You have magnified, O Christ, the Theotokos who bore You:* from her, O our Creator, You have taken a body of like passions to our own,* and released us from all our transgressions.* Wherefore with all generations we call her blessed and we magnify You.
Hymn of Light, Tone 3
Sung slowly with compunction
Your bridal chamber do I see all-adorned, O my Saviour, yet I have no wedding garment that I may enter therein. Make the robe of my soul to shine forth, O Giver of Light, and save me. (3)
At the Praises
Tone 1
Praise Him for His mighty acts,* praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness.
As the Lord Went to His voluntary Passion,* He spoke to His apostles on the way saying:* “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem,* and the Son of man shall be betrayed, as it is written of Him.”* Purified in mind let us also journey with Him,* that we may be crucified with Him* and for His sake die to the pleasures of this life,* that we may also live with Him and hear Him say:* “No longer do I ascend to the earthly Jerusalem to suffer,* but I ascend to My Father and your Father,* and to my God and your God;* and I shall raise you up together, even to the Jerusalem on high,* in the Kingdom of heaven”
Praise Him with the sound of trumpet,* praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
As the Lord Went to His voluntary Passion,* He spoke to His apostles on the way saying:* “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem,* and the Son of man shall be betrayed, as it is written of Him.”* Purified in mind let us also journey with Him,* that we may be crucified with Him* and for His sake die to the pleasures of this life,* that we may also live with Him and hear Him say:* “No longer do I ascend to the earthly Jerusalem to suffer,* but I ascend to My Father and your Father,* and to my God and your God;* and I shall raise you up together, even to the Jerusalem on high,* in the Kingdom of heaven”
Tone 5
Praise Him with timbrel and dance,* praise him with strings and flute.
O faithful we have come to the saving Passion of Christ God:* let us glorify His ineffable long-suffering,* that in His compassionate mercy* He may also raise up us who have been slain by sin,* for He is exceedingly good and the Lover of mankind.
Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation.* Let every breath praise the Lord.
O faithful we have come to the saving Passion of Christ God:* let us glorify His ineffable long-suffering,* that in His compassionate mercy* He may also raise up us who have been slain by sin,* for He is exceedingly good and the Lover of mankind.
Tone 5, Glory… Now…
O Lord, coming to Your Passion,* You strengthened Your disciples,* taking them aside and saying to them:* “How is it that you have forgotten that which I told you beforehand?* That in accordance with the Scriptures,* it cannot be that a prophet should perish save in Jerusalem.* Now is the time at hand, of which I spoke to you:* for see, I am betrayed into the hands of sinners who shall mock Me* and nail Me upon the Cross* and deliver Me up for burial,* and with loathing, look upon Me as a man dead.* Yet be of good cheer:* for on the third day I shall arise,* bringing unto the faithful joy and life eternal.”
Aposticha
Tone 5
O Lord, the mother of the sons of Zebedee,* not understanding the hidden mystery of Your plan,* asked of You to grant the honour of a temporal kingdom to her sons.* But instead of this You promised to Your friends that they would drink of the cup of death;* and that before them, this cup would be partaken of by You,* to cleanse mankind from their sins.* Wherefore we cry aloud to You:* O salvation of our souls, glory be to You.
In the morning, fill us with Your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Show forth Your work to Your servants; let Your glory shine on their children.
O Lord, teaching Your disciples to think the most perfect thoughts,* You said them: “Be not like the Gentiles, who exercise authority over those who are weak.* But it shall not be so among you, O My disciples,* for of My own will I am a pauper.* Let him, then, who is first among you be the servant of all.* Let him who rules be as one ruled,* and let the first be as the last.* For I Myself have come to minister to Adam in his poverty,* and to give my soul as a ransom for many who cry aloud to Me:* Glory be to You.”
Tone 8
Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands, give success to the work of our hands.
Let us fear the punishment of the fig tree,* which withered because it was unfruitful, O brethren; let us bring* fruits worthy of repentance to Christ,* who grants us His great mercy.
Glory… Now…
A second Eve did the serpent find in the words of the Egyptian woman,* who with flattery sought to lead Joseph to succumb to sin.* But, leaving his garment behind him, Joseph,* like the first created man before his disobedience,* fled naked yet not ashamed.* By his prayers, O Christ, have mercy on us.
LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS ON MONDAY EVENING
At Psalm 140
Tone 1
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Going freely to His Passion,* the Lord said to His disciples along the way:* Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,* and the Son of man shall be delivered up, as it is written.* Come, let us purify our thoughts that we may go with Him;* let us be crucified with Him;* in Him we shall die to the pleasures of this life,* that we may live with Him and hear Him say to us:* I am no longer going to the earthly Jerusalem to suffer,* but I am going to My Father and your Father,* to My God and your God;* you shall go with Me to the heavenly Jerusalem* in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Going freely to His Passion,* the Lord said to His disciples along the way:* Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,* and the Son of man shall be delivered up, as it is written.* Come, let us purify our thoughts that we may go with Him;* let us be crucified with Him;* in Him we shall die to the pleasures of this life,* that we may live with Him and hear Him say to us:* I am no longer going to the earthly Jerusalem to suffer,* but I am going to My Father and your Father,* to My God and your God;* you shall go with Me to the heavenly Jerusalem* in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Tone 5
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O faithful, let us hasten to the saving Passion of Christ our God;* let us glorify His long-suffering which is beyond expression,* that He may save us from sin and death,* and that He may also raise us in His goodness and love for humankind.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O faithful, let us hasten to the saving Passion of Christ our God;* let us glorify His long-suffering which is beyond expression,* that He may save us from sin and death,* and that He may also raise us in His goodness and love for humankind.
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
When You were going to Your Passion, O Lord,* You reassured Your disciples by taking them aside and saying:* How can you forget the words I have spoken to you?* The Scriptures say that all the prophets die only in Jerusalem!* Now the time of which I have spoken to you has arrived:* Behold, I shall be delivered into the hands of sinners;* they shall mock Me and nail Me to the Cross;* and after burying Me, they shall number Me among the dead.* Take courage, however, for I shall rise on the third day,* to bring joy and eternal life to all the faithful.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
When You were going to Your Passion, O Lord,* You reassured Your disciples by taking them aside and saying:* How can you forget the words I have spoken to you?* The Scriptures say that all the prophets die only in Jerusalem!* Now the time of which I have spoken to you has arrived:* Behold, I shall be delivered into the hands of sinners;* they shall mock Me and nail Me to the Cross;* and after burying Me, they shall number Me among the dead.* Take courage, however, for I shall rise on the third day,* to bring joy and eternal life to all the faithful.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Not understanding the depth of the ineffable mystery of Your plan of salvation,* the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to You, O Lord;* she asked You to grant them the places of honour in a temporal kingdom.* But in place of these honours,* You proclaimed to Your friends that they would drink from the cup of death,* the same cup from which You shall first drink* to cleanse us of our sins.* Therefore, we cry out to You:* O Saviour of our souls, glory to You!
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Not understanding the depth of the ineffable mystery of Your plan of salvation,* the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to You, O Lord;* she asked You to grant them the places of honour in a temporal kingdom.* But in place of these honours,* You proclaimed to Your friends that they would drink from the cup of death,* the same cup from which You shall first drink* to cleanse us of our sins.* Therefore, we cry out to You:* O Saviour of our souls, glory to You!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
When You taught Your disciples to seek that which is higher,* You said to them, O Lord:* Do not imitate the pagans by lording over those who are weak;* it shall not be that way with you.* For I have chosen to be poor;* so the first among you shall become the servant of the rest;* the one who commands shall be as the one who obeys;* the most noble shall be as the lowest.* For I Myself have come to serve the poverty of Adam* and to give My life as a ransom for the many* who now sing: O Lord, glory to You!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
When You taught Your disciples to seek that which is higher,* You said to them, O Lord:* Do not imitate the pagans by lording over those who are weak;* it shall not be that way with you.* For I have chosen to be poor;* so the first among you shall become the servant of the rest;* the one who commands shall be as the one who obeys;* the most noble shall be as the lowest.* For I Myself have come to serve the poverty of Adam* and to give My life as a ransom for the many* who now sing: O Lord, glory to You!
Tone 8
Glory…
O faithful, let us fear the punishment of the fig tree* which was dried up for not having borne any fruit;* let us offer worthy fruits of repentance to Christ,* who grants us His great mercy.
Now…
The Serpent thought he found a second Eve in the Egyptian woman,* who tried to make Joseph succumb to her words of flattery.* But he avoided sinning;* he left his garment behind, but was not ashamed of his nudity,* as were our first parents after their disobedience.* Through his prayers, O Christ, have mercy on us.
Prokeimenon I, Tone 6
May the Lord bless you from Sion,* and may you see prosperity of Jerusalem.
verse: Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways.
Reading 1
Exodus 1:1-20
Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Is-sachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. All those who were the seed of Jacob were seventy-five persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already). Now Joseph died, as well as all his brothers and all that generation. Then the children of Israel increased and multiplied, became numerous, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. But there arose a new king over Egypt who knew not Joseph. Then he said to his nation, “Look, the race of the children of Israel is a great multitude and is stronger than we; come, let us outwit them, lest they multiply, and it happen in the event of war that they also join our enemies and fight against us and so escape out of the land.” Therefore he set taskmasters over them to afflict them in their works; and they built for Pharaoh strong cities—Pithom and Raamses and On, which is Heliopolis. But the more they humbled them, the more they multiplied and grew; and the Egyptians greatly abhorred the children of Israel. So the Egyptians tyrannized the children of Israel by force. They made their lives bitter with hard labor—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their labor in which they made them serve was by violence. Then the king of the Egyptians spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women and see they are about to give birth, if it is a male, then you shall kill him; but if a female, let her live.” But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing and saved the male children alive?” Thus the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the women of Egypt; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.” Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty.
Prokeimenon II, Tone 8
We bless you* in the name of the Lord.
verse: They have oppressed me from my youth,—this is the song of Israel.
Reading II
Job 1:1-12
There was a man in the land of Ausitis whose name was Job. That man was true, blameless, righteous, and God-fearing, and he abstained from every evil thing. Now he had seven sons and three daughters, and his cattle consisted of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys in the pastures. Moreover he possessed a very large number of house servants. His works were also great on the earth, and that man was the most noble of all the men of the East.
His sons would visit one another and prepare a banquet every day, and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of their drinking were ended, Job sent and purified them; and he rose early in the morning and offered sacrifices for them according to their number, as well as one calf for the sins of their souls. For Job said, “Lest my sons consider evil things in their mind against God.” Therefore Job did this continually.
Then as it so happened one day that behold, the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the devil also came with them. The Lord said to the devil, “Where did you come from?” So the devil answered the Lord and said, “I came here after going about the earth and walking around under heaven.” Then the Lord said to him, “Have you yet considered my servant Job, since there is none like him on the earth: a blameless, true, and God-fearing man, and one who abstains from every evil thing?” So the devil answered and said before the Lord, “Does Job worship the Lord for no reason? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his cattle have increased in the land. But stretch out Your hand and touch all he has, and see if he will bless You to Your face.” Then the Lord said to the devil, “Behold, whatever he has I give into your hand; but do not touch him.” Thus the devil went out from the Lord.
Gospel
Matthew 24:3-35
At that time, when Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
“So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’—do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
“Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”