²⁹ “Right after the trouble of those days, this will happen:

³⁰ “Then there will be something in the sky that shows the Son of Man is coming. All the people of the world will cry. Everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky. He will come with power and great glory. ³¹ He will use a loud trumpet to send his angels all around the earth. They will gather his chosen people from every part of the earth.

³² “The fig tree teaches us a lesson: When its branches become green and soft, and new leaves begin to grow, then you know that summer is very near. ³³ In the same way, when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time^[b] is very near, already present. ³⁴ I assure you that all these things will happen while some of the people of this time are still living. ³⁵ The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed, but my words will last forever.

Only God Knows When the Time Will Be^(A)

³⁶ “No one knows when that day or time will be. The Son and the angels in heaven don’t know when it will be. Only the Father knows.

³⁷ “When the Son of Man comes, it will be the same as what happened during Noah’s time. ³⁸ In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving their children to be married right up to the day Noah entered the boat. ³⁹ They knew nothing about what was happening until the flood came and destroyed them all.

“It will be the same when the Son of Man comes. ⁴⁰ Two men will be working together in the field. One will be taken and the other will be left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding grain with a mill. One will be taken and the other will be left.

⁴² “So always be ready. You don’t know the day your Lord will come. ⁴³ What would a homeowner do if he knew when a thief was coming? You know he would be ready and not let the thief break in. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at a time when you don’t expect him.

Good Servants and Bad Servants^(B)

⁴⁵ “Who is the wise and trusted servant? The master trusts one servant to give the other servants their food at the right time. Who is the one the master trusts to do that work? ⁴⁶ When the master comes and finds that servant doing the work he gave him, it will be a day of blessing for that servant. ⁴⁷ I can tell you without a doubt, the master will choose that servant to take care of everything he owns.

⁴⁸ “But what will happen if that servant is evil and thinks his master will not come back soon? ⁴⁹ He will begin to beat the other servants. He will eat and drink with others who are drunk. ⁵⁰ Then the master will come when the servant is not ready, at a time when the servant is not expecting him. ⁵¹ Then the master will punish that servant. He will send him away to be with the hypocrites, where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.

Don’t Fear^(A)

²⁵ “Amazing things will happen to the sun, moon, and stars. And people all over the earth will be upset and confused by the noise of the sea and its crashing waves. ²⁶ They will be afraid and worried about what will happen to the world. Everything in the sky will be changed. ²⁷ Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to happen, stand up tall and don’t be afraid. Know that it is almost time for God to free you!”

My Words Will Live Forever^(B)

²⁹ Then Jesus told this story: “Look at all the trees. The fig tree is a good example. ³⁰ When it turns green, you know that summer is very near. ³¹ In the same way, when you see all these things happening, you will know that God’s kingdom is very near.

³² “I assure you that all these things will happen while some of the people of this time are still living. ³³ The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed, but my words will last forever.

Be Ready All the Time

³⁴ “Be careful not to spend your time having parties and getting drunk or worrying about this life. If you do that, you won’t be able to think straight, and the end might come when you are not ready. ³⁵ It will come as a surprise to everyone on earth. ³⁶ So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be able to get through all these things that will happen and stand safe before the Son of Man.”