His words come shortly after some gawking tourists had admired the great beauty and rich adornments of the Jerusalem Temple. For any tourist or pilgrim to Jerusalem, the sight of the Temple was impressive indeed, enough to catch the breath and cause the heart to beat faster. The Temple was more than a gorgeous piece of architecture a wonderful spectacle, it was the very dwelling place of God on earth. It stood for the presence of the Holy One in the midst of the people. Jesus warned his listeners not to count on the stability or beauty of this building, indeed not to count on anything but trouble.
Disaster is about to hit.
Then he tells them how to face disaster. Notice that he does not tell them to cower, He does not tell them to run away. He does not tell them to move. That of course is the classic stance for prayer. Christians have been taught wrongly that we should pray on our knees.