SIEGE OF JERUSALEM.

they will put to death.-And the brother shall betray his brother unto death, and the father his son; and children shall rise up against the parents, and shall work their death. And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake.—But a hair of your head shall not perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls.-And many false prophets shall rise, and shall seduce many. And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold. But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.

AND this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to the whole world, for a testimony to all nations, and then shall the consummation come. When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth, let him understand;—and when you shall see Jerusalem compassed about with an army: -then know that the desolation thereof is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea, flee to the mountains; and those who are in the midst thereof, depart out; and those who are in the countries, not enter into it.— And let him that is on the housetop, not go down into the house, nor enter therein to take any thing

DISPERSION OF THE JEWS-FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE
PROPHETS.

out of the house: and let him that shall be in the field, not turn back to take up his garment.-For these are the days of vengeance, that all things may be fulfilled that are written. But wo to them that are with child, and give suck in those days; for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.—But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the Sabbath.--For in those days shall be such tribulations as were not from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, neither shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect which he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

AND they shall fall by the edge of the sword; and shall be led away captives into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, till the times of the nations be fulfilled.

THEN if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. Behold I have told it to you beforehand. If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert; go

END OF THE WORLD.

ye not out: Behold he is in the closets; believe it not. For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.64

AND immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars 65 shall fall from heaven:- there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves; men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world: for the powers of heaven shall be moved.- And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: 66 and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn; and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty. And he shall send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds-from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD-ITS SUDDENNESS.

BUT when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.-Now of the fig-tree learn ye a parable. When the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves are come forth, you know that summer is very near; so you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know ye that it is very nigh, even at the doors;-know that the kingdom of God is at hand. - Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, until all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass 67 away, but my word shall not pass away.

BUT of that day or hour no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.68-Take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly. For as a snare

shall it come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of man.-Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is. Even as

PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS,

a man who going into a far country, left his house; and gave authority to his servants over every work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore, (for you know not when the lord of the house cometh: at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning,) lest coming on a sudden, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.

THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins; who taking their lamps, went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. And five of them were foolish, and five wise. But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready,