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39 The craftsmen made beautiful sacred garments of blue, purple, and scarlet cloth—clothing for Aaron to wear while ministering in the Holy Place, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

^2 Bezalel made the ephod of finely woven linen and embroidered it with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. ^3 He made gold thread by hammering out thin sheets of gold and cutting it into fine strands. With great skill and care, he worked it into the fine linen with the blue, purple, and scarlet thread.

^4 The ephod consisted of two pieces, front and back, joined at the shoulders with two shoulder-pieces. ^5 The decorative sash was made of the same materials: finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ^6 They mounted the two onyx stones in settings of gold filigree. The stones were engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel, just as a seal is engraved. ^7 He fastened these stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that the priest represents the people of Israel. All this was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

^8 Bezalel made the chestpiece with great skill and care. He made it to match the ephod, using finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. ^9 He made the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square. ^10 They mounted four rows of gemstones on it. The first row contained a red carnelian, a pale-green peridot, and an emerald. ^11 The second row contained a turquoise, a blue lapis lazuli, and a white moonstone. ^12 The third row contained an orange jacinth, an agate, and a purple amethyst. ^13 The fourth row contained a blue-green beryl, an onyx, and a green jasper. All these stones were set in gold filigree. ^14 Each stone represented one of the twelve sons of Israel, and the name of that tribe was engraved on it like a seal.

^15 To attach the chestpiece to the ephod, they made braided cords of pure gold thread. ^16 They also made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings and attached them to the top corners of the chestpiece. ^17 They tied the two gold cords to the rings on the chestpiece. ^18 They tied the other ends of the cords to the gold settings on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. ^19 Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the inside edges of the chestpiece next to the ephod.^20 Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the front of the ephod, below the shoulder-pieces, just above the knot where the decorative sash was fastened to the ephod. ^21 They attached the bottom rings of the chestpiece to the rings on the ephod with blue cords. In this way, the chestpiece was held securely to the ephod above the decorative sash. All this was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

^22 Bezalel made the robe that is worn with the ephod from a single piece of blue woven cloth, ^23 with an opening for Aaron’s head in the middle of it. The opening was reinforced with a woven collar so it would not tear. ^24 They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and attached them to the hem of the robe. ^25 They also made bells of pure gold and placed them between the pomegranates along the hem of the robe, ^26 with bells and pomegranates alternating all around the hem. This robe was to be worn whenever the priest ministered before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

^27 They made tunics for Aaron and his sons from fine linen cloth. ^28 The turban and the special head coverings were made of fine linen, and the undergarments were also made of finely woven linen. ^29 The sashes were made of finely woven linen and embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet thread, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

^30 Finally, they made the sacred medallion—the badge of holiness—of pure gold. They engraved it like a seal with these words:Holy to the Lord. ^31 They attached the medallion with a blue cord to Aaron’s turban, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

^32 And so at last the Tabernacle was finished. The Israelites had done everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.^33 And they brought the entire Tabernacle to Moses:

the sacred tent with all its furnishings, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases;

^34 the tent coverings of tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather;

the inner curtain to shield the Ark;

^35 the Ark of the Covenant and its carrying poles;

the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement;

^36 the table and all its utensils;

the Bread of the Presence;

^37 the pure gold lampstand with its symmetrical lamp cups, all its accessories, and the olive oil for lighting;

^38 the gold altar;

the anointing oil and fragrant incense;

the curtain for the entrance of the sacred tent;

^39 the bronze altar;

the bronze grating and its carrying poles and utensils;

the washbasin with its stand;

^40 the curtains for the walls of the courtyard;

the posts and their bases;

the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard;

the ropes and tent pegs;

all the furnishings to be used in worship at the Tabernacle;

^41 the beautifully stitched garments for the priests to wear while ministering in the Holy Place—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests.

^42 So the people of Israel followed all of the Lord’s instructions to Moses. ^43 Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them.

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40 Then the Lord said to Moses, ^2 “Set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year. ^3 Place the Ark of the Covenantinside, and install the inner curtain to enclose the Ark within the Most Holy Place. ^4 Then bring in the table, and arrange the utensils on it. And bring in the lampstand, and set up the lamps.

^5 “Place the gold incense altar in front of the Ark of the Covenant. Then hang the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle.^6 Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the Tabernacle entrance. ^7 Set the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar, and fill it with water. ^8 Then set up the courtyard around the outside of the tent, and hang the curtain for the courtyard entrance.

^9 “Take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and all its furnishings to consecrate them and make them holy. ^10 Anoint the altar of burnt offering and its utensils to consecrate them. Then the altar will become absolutely holy. ^11 Next anoint the washbasin and its stand to consecrate them.

^12 “Present Aaron and his sons at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and wash them with water. ^13 Dress Aaron with the sacred garments and anoint him, consecrating him to serve me as a priest. ^14 Then present his sons and dress them in their tunics.^15 Anoint them as you did their father, so they may also serve me as priests. With their anointing, Aaron’s descendants are set apart for the priesthood forever, from generation to generation.â€

^16 Moses proceeded to do everything just as the Lord had commanded him. ^17 So the Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year. ^18 Moses erected the Tabernacle by setting down its bases, inserting the frames, attaching the crossbars, and setting up the posts. ^19 Then he spread the coverings over the Tabernacle framework and put on the protective layers, just as the Lord had commanded him.

^20 He took the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant and placed them inside the Ark. Then he attached the carrying poles to the Ark, and he set the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—on top of it. ^21 Then he brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Tabernacle and hung the inner curtain to shield it from view, just as the Lord had commanded him.

^22 Next Moses placed the table in the Tabernacle, along the north side of the Holy Place, just outside the inner curtain. ^23 And he arranged the Bread of the Presence on the table before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him.

^24 He set the lampstand in the Tabernacle across from the table on the south side of the Holy Place. ^25 Then he lit the lamps in the Lord’s presence, just as the Lord had commanded him. ^26 He also placed the gold incense altar in the Tabernacle, in the Holy Place in front of the inner curtain. ^27 On it he burned the fragrant incense, just as the Lord had commanded him.

^28 He hung the curtain at the entrance of the Tabernacle, ^29 and he placed the altar of burnt offering near the Tabernacle entrance. On it he offered a burnt offering and a grain offering, just as the Lord had commanded him.

^30 Next Moses placed the washbasin between the Tabernacle and the altar. He filled it with water so the priests could wash themselves. ^31 Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons used water from it to wash their hands and feet. ^32 Whenever they approached the altar and entered the Tabernacle, they washed themselves, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

^33 Then he hung the curtains forming the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar. And he set up the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard. So at last Moses finished the work.

^34 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. ^35 Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.

^36 Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. ^37 But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. ^38 The cloud of the Lord hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys.

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24 As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. ^2 But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!â€

^3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?â€

^4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, ^5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. ^6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. ^7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. ^8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

^9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. ^10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. ^11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. ^12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. ^13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ^14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

^15 “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecrationstanding in the Holy Place.â€Â (Reader, pay attention!) ^16 “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. ^17 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. ^18 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.^19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. ^20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. ^21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. ^22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.

^23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. ^24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. ^25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.

^26 “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! ^27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes.^28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.

^29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days,

the sun will be darkened,

the moon will give no light,

the stars will fall from the sky,

and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

^30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.^31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.