7 "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
8 Jesus replied, "Keep watch! Be careful that you are not fooled. Many will come in my name. They will claim, 'I am he!' And they will say, 'The time is near!' Do not follow them.
9 Do not be afraid when you hear about wars and about fighting against rulers. Those things must happen first. But the end will not come right away."
10 Then Jesus said to them, "Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom.
11 In many places there will be powerful earthquakes. People will go hungry. There will be terrible sicknesses. Things will happen that will make people afraid. There will be great and miraculous signs from heaven.
12 "But before all this, people will arrest you and treat you badly. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons. You will be brought to kings and governors. All this will happen to you because of my name.
13 In that way you will be witnesses to them.