16
Then those who are in Judea should escape to the mountains.
17
No one on the roof should go down into his house to take anything out.
18
No one in the field should go back to get his coat.
19
How awful it will be in those days for pregnant women! How awful for nursing mothers!
20
Pray that you will not have to escape in winter or on the Sabbath day.
21
There will be terrible suffering in those days. It will be worse than any other from the beginning of the world until now. And there will never be anything like it again.
22
If the time had not been cut short, no one would live. But because of God's chosen people, it will be shortened.
23
"At that time someone may say to you, 'Look! Here is the Christ!' Or, 'There he is!' Do not believe it.
24
False Christs and false prophets will appear. They will do great signs and miracles. They will try to fool God's chosen people if possible.
25
See, I have told you ahead of time.
26
"So if anyone tells you, 'He is far out in the desert,' do not go out there. Or if anyone says, 'He is deep inside the house,' do not believe it.