As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately.
“Tell us,” they said,
“when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
(Matthew 24:3).
Jesus answered:
“Watch out that no one deceives you.
For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. (Matthew 24:4-6).
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:7-8).
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death,
and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world
as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
(Matthew 24:9-14).