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 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.
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.
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.