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The Widow's Great Gift

¹ While Jesus was sitting in the main church, he watched as rich folks came in and made a flourish of dropping large bills and gold coins into the offering box. ² Then a little old lady came by and dropped in two small copper coins.

³ Jesus said, "Did y'all see that? That little old widow lady just put in more than all those rich people combined. ⁴ They gave a microscopic amount of their wealth and she gave everything she had."

Jesus Predicts the Future

⁵ Some of the twelve cowboys began pointing out the magnificent stonework in the main church walls. Jesus saw their wonder and he said, ⁶ "Not too long from now, every one of these stones will be torn down. Not a single wall will be left."

⁷ "Boss," they asked, "when will it happen? What will set it off so we can know what to look for?"

⁸ Jesus replied, "Don't be fooled by imitations. Many people will come bearing what appears to be my name. They will say, 'I am the Top Hand who will save you' and also things like, 'Now is the time that God foretold!' But don't believe a word of it. ⁹ And when wars and rebellions happen, don't worry. Sure, these things will take place, but the end will still be a ways off." ¹⁰ 

Then Jesus said, "Nations will fight nations and ranches will fight ranches. ¹¹ The ground will shake, and people will go hungry. Plagues will break out, and there will be both terrors from below and miracles from above.

¹² "But before any of this happens, there will be a great persecution of those who ride for God. His cowboys will be sent to prisons and punished in the churches. They will stand trial before national leaders just because they ride for me. ¹³ But all of this will happen so you can tell them about me. ¹⁴ So don't fret about the charges or how you will answer. ¹⁵ When the time comes, I will give you the words to say and everyone will be astounded by my answers. ¹⁶ Also know this, those closest to you will double-cross you and stab you in the back. They will even have some of you murdered. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because you ride for my brand. ¹⁸ But I will not allow a single hair on your head to perish. ¹⁹ By your courage down here, you will receive the greatest reward for your souls in heaven.

²⁰ "You'll know everything is about to be destroyed when you see Jerusalem's enemies camped outside the gates. ²¹ Those who live in Judea will need to lope out of town and into the hills. Those who live in Jerusalem better hightail it out of there if they know what's good for 'em. ²² Those will be the days of God's wrath, and the words of his great cowboys will come true. ²³ Those are going to be hard days for nursing mothers. The days will be filled with pain and anguish. ²⁴ They will be impaled with swords or sold as slaves to other countries. And Jerusalem? It will be walked on by foreigners until the time when God's people return.

²⁵ "Signs will appear in the sky that are beyond comprehension. The sea will swell and roll in turmoil. There will be roaring waves and strange tides. ²⁶ Everyone will be confused as to what is happening. ²⁷ Then folks will see the Top Hand, riding through the clouds with great power and God's glory. ²⁸ When these things happen, you can be confident and know the time is close for your victory."

²⁹ Then he said, "All you have to do is see that a cow bags up and ³⁰ you'll know her time to calve is close. ³¹ In the same way, you can see the signs that God's outfit is close at hand. ³² I'm speaking the truth when I say that the people now will not die until all these things happen. ³³ Heaven, and even this earth will disappear, but my words will live forever.

³⁴ "Be careful! Worrying about life is as bad as partying all night and coming home drunk. Don't let any of these happen to you. ³⁵ These things will trap you as quick as a coyote in a snare. You'll be as surprised as the coyote when it happens, and your end will be the same. ³⁶ Stay vigilant as a cowboy on night duty in outlaw country. Say a prayer to the Boss that you'll be strong enough to make it through and join the Top Hand on my Daddy's outfit."

³⁷ Every day Jesus went to the main church to teach. Every evening he went back to Olive Hill to spend the night. ³⁸ People came from all over to hear him teach at the main church.