Matthew 24:4-24 Then making a discerning reply, Jesus says to them, "You men be constantly looking, seeing, and staying alert, so that nothing and no one can mislead or should deceive you folks.

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ⁴ Then making a discerning reply, Jesus says to them, "You men be constantly looking, seeing, and staying alert, [so that] nothing and no one can mislead or should deceive you folks. ⁵ "You see, many people will be coming, upon [association with; the basis of, or, the supposed authority of; on the reference to] My name, one after another saying, 'I, myself, am the anointed one (or: the Christ;),' and they will be leading astray and deceiving many people. ⁶ "Now, you men [= the disciples who had come to Him privately] will be at the point to be repeatedly hearing [the noise of] battles and wars, as well as news of battles and reports or rumors of wars – each time see to it that you men are not disturbed, thrown into disorder, or terrified by the commotion, outcries or uproar. You see, it remains necessary for such to be birthed and to occur. However, it is not yet the destined end – the closing act of the goal (the consummation; the final fruition, completion and perfection [of the plan]). ⁷ "For you see, [one] ethnic group (or: a nation) will be caused to progressively rise up upon [another] ethnic group (or: a nation) – even [one] kingdom upon [another] kingdom (or: a reign upon a reign) – and there will continue being famines [later MSS add: plagues (or: troublesome times)] and earthquakes down in [various] places (or: districts). ⁸ "Yet all these things [are but] a beginning of birth pangs [note: = travail to birth something {new}; also: = a time of distress]. ⁹ "At that time people will be repeatedly handing you men over into pressure (squeezing; tribulation; affliction), and then, they will, one after another, kill you. Further, you will continue being men that are repeatedly treated with ill-will, and constantly hated by all the ethnic multitudes (or: the nations) – because of My Name. ¹⁰ "Also at that time, many people will be repeatedly trapped by taking the bait of the snare, or tripping over the trap-stick, and so, they will proceed in turning one another over [to the authorities or enemies] and betray each other, as well as hating one another or treating each other with ill-will. ¹¹ "Also, many false prophets will proceed in being raised up and they will be progressively leading many folks astray, deceiving them and causing them to wander. ¹² "Then further, because the lawlessness is to be multiplied and increased, the majority of the people's love (or: the love of many folks; = acceptance from the masses) will be progressively caused to blow cold (or: will continue cooling off from the Breath blowing on it). ¹³ "Now [as to] the person remaining under [all this] and enduring unto [the] purposed goal (or: into a final, destined act), this one will be repeatedly rescued and delivered (or: continuously kept safe). ¹⁴ "Furthermore, this good news which pertains to the reign (or: this message of goodness, ease and wellness which belongs to and comes sovereign action and influence of the kingdom) will be progressively publicly proclaimed within the whole inhabited area (or: the Hellenistic world, as opposed to barbarian lands; or: = the Roman Empire) – [leading] into a witness and evidence for all the ethnic multitudes (or: unto a testimony among all the nations), and at that point the purposed goal will proceed having arrived and continue here (or: and at that time the final act will have progressively come, and its product will continue being here; or: and so then the destined end will be progressively arriving). ¹⁵ "Therefore, whenever you men can see (or: may perceive) ‘the effect of the loathing and nauseating [event; condition; thing; situation] from the desolation (or: the result from the abhorring abomination associated with, or which causes, the devastation and abandonment; or: the resulting effect of the desecration, which is an act of ruining, forsaking and leaving uninhabited like a desert),’ that was being spoken through Daniel the prophet, standing ‘within the midst of a set-apart place (or: [the] holy place) ’ [Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11] – let the person presently reading continue to use his mind and intellect for the comprehension [of this] (= figure out what this means!) – ¹⁶ "at that time, let the people within the midst of Judea progressively escape (flee; take flight) into the hills and mountains. ¹⁷ "Let the person upon the housetop (roof) not descend (= go downstairs) to pick up or carry away the things (= his possessions) from out of his house, ¹⁸ "and let not the one in the midst of the field turn back behind to pick up his cloak (= to get a coat or outer garment). ¹⁹ "Now it will progressively be a difficult or tragic time for the pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! ²⁰ "So you folks be progressively taking thought toward having ease, speaking for well-being and take action to have goodness (or: be praying) – to the end that your escape (flight) may not happen (occur) in a winter or rainy season, nor yet on a sabbath. ²¹ "You see, ‘at that time there will be great pressure (squeezing; compression; affliction; tribulation) of the sort that has not happened (occurred; been birthed; come to be) from [the] beginning of [this] ordered arrangement (system; adorned order; systematic disposition; world) until now – neither under any circumstances could it have occurred (happened; come to be).’ [Joel 2:2; Dan. 12:1] ²² "Furthermore, if those days were not curtailed (or: except those days be cut short), no flesh (= people) [at] all would likely be rescued (delivered; kept safe). Yet, because of the picked out and chosen folks, those days will proceed being curtailed (cut short). ²³ "At that time, if anyone should say to you folks, 'Look! Here [is] the Anointed One (or: the anointing; or: the Christ; or: = the Messiah)!' Or, 'There [He/it is]!' – you folks should not trust or believe [it]. ²⁴ "For you see, false christs (or: false anointings; phony anointed ones; = counterfeit messiahs) will one after another be raised up, and they will continue giving (presenting; = performing) great signs and miracles (amazing things; wonders) so as to continuously mislead (deceive; cause to wander; lead astray) – if able (if in [their] power; or: since [it is] possible) – even the picked out and chosen folks.