Chapter 120

¹ Since, then, he hid the day from them, but declared it through the signs that come to pass—by which a person will readily recognize it—we ought to perceive the things that happen in their season and, while knowing, to keep silent.

² And these things must come to pass even if we do not wish it; for the truth never lies.

³ For just as he said concerning the city of Jerusalem: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has drawn near”—and the things foretold came upon it—so too must we now expect.

⁴ “For when you see,” he says, “the abomination of desolation standing in a holy place—let the reader understand—then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, and let the one on the housetop not go down to take anything from his house, and let the one in the field not turn back to take his cloak. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing in those days. For there will then be a great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world nor ever shall be. And if those days had not been cut short, no flesh would have been saved.”

⁵ He has therefore made it plain to us in this, that we may no longer be in doubt about anything.

⁶ And again he says: “When you see the abomination of desolation standing in a holy place, and when you see the fig tree putting forth its leaves, know that summer is near; so also you, when you see all these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors.”

⁷ Since, then, the abomination has not yet appeared, but the fourth beast alone is still holding power, how can the appearing of the Lord take place?

⁸ But someone will say: It is written, “When you see wars and disorders, then know that it is near.” Yes, it is written; “for nation,” he says, “will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be earthquakes in various places and famines and pestilences”—things that have already happened and will happen.

⁹ “But all these things are the beginning of birth pangs,” he says, “yet the end is not in them.” For first the gospel of the Lord must be proclaimed in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come, when the whole span of time is fulfilled.