To his Disciples (by occasion of Jerusalem and the Temple’s destruction) he foretelleth, (5) what things shall be before the consummation of the world, as specially the Church’s full preaching unto all Nations. (14) Then, what shall be in the very consummation, to wit, Antichrist with his passing great persecution and seduction, but for a short time. (24) Then incontinent the day of Judgement, (28) to our great comfort in those miseries under Antichrist. (32) As for the moment, to us it pertaineth not to know it. (33) But rather every man to watch, that we be not unprovided when he cometh to each one particularly by death.
AND when he went out of the Temple, one of his Disciples saith to him: Maister, behold what manner of stones, and what kind of buildings. 2And Jesus answering, said to him: Seest thou all these great buildings? There shall not be left a stone upon a stone, that shall not be destroyed.
3And when he sat in Mount-olivet against the Temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him apart: 4Tell us, • when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when all these things shall begin to be consummate? 5And Jesus answering began to say to them: See, that no man seduce you. 6For many shall come in my name saying that • I am he; and they shall seduce many. 7And when you shall hear of wars and bruits of wars, fear not. For these things must be, but the end is not yet. 8For Nation shall rise against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom, and there shall be earthquakes in places, and famines. These things are the beginning of sorrows. 9But look to yourselves. For they shall deliver you up in Councils, and in Synagogues shall you be beaten, and you shall stand before Presidents and Kings for my sake, for a testimony unto them. 10And into all nations first the Ghospel must be preached. 11And when they shall lead you and deliver you, be not careful beforehand what you shall speak; but that which shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye. For it is not you that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 12And brother shall deliver brother unto death, and the father his son; and the children shall arise against the parents, and shall work their death. 13And you shall be odious to all men for my name. But he that shall endure unto the end, he shall be saved.
14And when you shall see • the abomination of desolation, standing where it ought not (he that readeth, let him understand) then they that are in Jewry, let them flee unto the mountains; 15and he that is on the house-top, let him not go down into the house, nor enter in to take anything out of his house; 16and he that shall be in the field, let him not return back to take his garment. 17And woe to them that are with child and that give suck in those days. 18But pray that the things chance not in the winter. 19For those days shall be such tribulations as were not from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, neither shall be. 20And unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect which he hath elected, he hath [a] shortened the days. 21And then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ; lo, there: do not believe. 22For there shall rise up false-Christs and false-Prophets, and they shall show • signs and wonders, to seduce (if it be possible) the elect also. 23You therefore take heed; behold I have foretold you all things.
24But in those days after that tribulation * the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25and the stars of Heaven shall be falling down, and the powers that are in Heaven, shall be moved. 26And then they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds, with much power and glory. 27And then shall he send his Angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of Heaven. 28And of the fig tree learn ye a parable. When now the bough thereof is tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is very nigh. 29So you also when you shall see these things come to pass, know ye that it is very nigh, at the doors. 30Amen I say to you, that this Generation shall not pass, until all these things be done. 31Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.
32But of that day or hour no man knoweth, neither the Angels in Heaven, nor the [b] Son, but the Father. 33Take heed, watch, and pray. For you know not when the time is. 34Even as a man who being gone into a strange country, left his house: and gave his servants authority over each work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35Watch 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) 36lest coming upon a sudden, he find you sleeping. 37And that which I say to you, I say to all, Watch.
Footnotes
ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. 13.
↑ 4. When shall these things be?.) The miseries which did fall before the destruction of the Temple and city of Hierusalem, were a resemblance of the extreme calamity that shall befall before the latter day at the time of Antichrist: whereupon Christ speaketh indifferently of both.
↑ 6. I am he.) As before the destruction of Hierusalem, diverse Seducers arose, and called themselves Christs, promising the People deliverance from the fears and dangers, they were in of foreign soldiers; so shall there come many towards the end of the world and make themselves Christs and Authors of Sects, and shall gain many Disciples; as in plain words followeth in this chapter v. 22. There shall rise up False-Christs, and False-Prophets &c.
↑ 14. The abomination of desolation..) No heresy doth so properly and purposely tend to this abomination of desolation * which by Antichrist shall be achieved, as this Calvinism: which taketh away with other Sacraments and external worship of God, the very sacrifice of Christ’s Body and blood, which being taken away (as St. Cyprian saith) no religion can remain.
↑ 22. Signs and wonders..) False-Christs and False-Prophets be seducers, who in the latter day by the power of the Devil shall seem to work wonders, and yet men must not believe them; Much less these, which for their false faith can not show so much as one false miracle.
Margin Notes
- 1. See the Annotations upon St. Matthew c. 24.
- 3. TUESDAY night.
- 7. Great wars toward the later end.
- 9. Much persecution of the faithful and Catholic men in the later end.
- 12. Great treachery and many false brethren at the same time.
- 14. Constancy and perseverance necessary in time of persecution.
- 32–37. The Gospel for some Confessors Bishops. And on the Anniversary of the creation of a Bishop.
- annot. 4. Arch-heretics be false-Christs and false-Prophets.
- annot. 14. Calvinism tendeth to the abomination of desolation.
Margin References
- 1. Mat. 24, 1. Luc. 21, 5.
- 14. Dan. 9, 27. 2 Thess. 2, 4.
- 24. Ex. 31, 7. Joel. 3, 15.
- 26. Dan. 7, 13.
- annot. 14. Hyppolyt. lib. de Antichristo. Cypr. de Coen. Do. nu. 1.
