Matthew 24:15-28

The Abomination of Desolation

15 So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ ^[a] spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), ¹

16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17 Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house.

18 And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

19 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!

20 Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath.

21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.

22 If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

23 At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

25 See, I have told you in advance.

The Return of the Son of Man

26 So if they tell you, ‘There He is, in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Here He is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²

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

28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.

Cross References

• 1. (Mark 13:14–23; Luke 21:20–24)
• 2. (Mark 13:24–27; Luke 21:25–28)

Footnotes

• [a] See Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31, and Daniel 12:11.