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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth
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Truly I say unto you: this generation will not pass, until all these things are fulfilled.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, and on the grounds he installed a winepress. He built a tall fence around the property, and erected a watchtower. Then he rented it to vine keepers, and voyaged to a distant country. When the time of the harvest approached, the landowner sent his servants to the vine keepers to collect his share of the profits. But the vine keepers ambushed his servants, beat one, killed another, and drove the third off with stones.
A second time the landowner sent servants to collect his share; and though he sent a larger group than the first, they met with a similar fate.
Finally the landowner sent his only son, thinking, "At least they will respect my own son."
Yet when the vine keepers saw the son approaching, they plotted among themselves: "This is the heir. If we kill him, his inheritance will be ours."
So they took him, and dragged him out of the vineyard, and killed him. I ask you: when the landowner of this vineyard finally returns, what will become of the vine keepers?
My people, my people, you who killed the prophets, and spurned those who were sent to you, how often would I have gathered you, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and yet you would have none of it! Behold, your house is left desolate; and you will not see me until the time comes when all will say: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
If you had only known, in this your day, the eternal peace that was within your reach! But now it is hidden from your eyes. The powers of the heavens are shaken, and people's hearts fail them for fear, anticipating the calamities that are coming on the earth.
When the end time comes, and you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet "standing in the sacred place," then is the time for those that dwell in the cities to flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetops waste time coming down to take anything out of the house; neither let those working in the field return to fetch their clothes. Alas for women bearing children in those days! Pray that your flight will not be in winter, or on the Sabbath: for there will be great distresses, unequalled since the beginning of the world or ever again. Except those days be shortened, no one would survive: and yet those days will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen people.
For the day will come when your enemies will dig a trench around your walls, and hem you in on every side. They will hurl you down t the ground, and your children with you, and will not leave one stone standing upon another, all this misery because you failed to recognize when God himself was visiting you.
Do you see these magnificent temple walls? Truly I say to you, not one stone will be left standing! Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be completed.
When you hear of wars and the turmoil of destruction; don't let your hearts fill with fear: for these things must first come to pass; the end is not yet. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Fearful sights and great signs will appear in the heavens. There will be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars. On the earth will be great distress among the nations, and perplexity, roaring like the sea's mighty waves. Thee will be increasing famines, and plagues, and earthquakes. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Because sin will abound, the love of many will turn cold.
You will be betrayed, and condemned to die, and be hated by all nations for my name's sake. But remain watchful, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape these things that are coming to pass, and to stand, one day, before the Messiah, the Son of Man.
Learn what the fig tree can teach you. When its branches grow full of sap and produce new leaves, you know that summer is near. No man knows the exact day, or the precise hour of Messiah's returning; not even the angels in heaven, but only my Father. Yet when you see all these events begin to come to pass, you will know that the day draws near.
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These are the very words of Jesus of Nazereth. Taken originally from the Bible , and arranged here by subject as they appear in Lee Cantelon's book "The Words" (c) 1997. [www.thewords.com]
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The_Words
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