Study Desk

"And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.

"And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

"For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

"For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

"For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.

"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

"For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

"But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,'

"For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them;

"However, the prudent ones answered, 'No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'

"Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.'

"For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.

"For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;

"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.'

"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;