31. At the sound of a loud trumpet, he will send his angels to bring his chosen ones together from all over the earth.
32. Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know that summer is near.
33. So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come.
34. I can promise you that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens.
35. The sky and the earth won't last for ever, but my words will.
36. No one knows the day or hour. The angels in heaven don't know, and the Son himself doesn't know. Only the Father knows.
37. When the Son of Man appears, things will be just as they were when Noah lived.
38. People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day that the flood came and Noah went into the big boat.
39. They didn't know anything was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man appears.
40. Two men will be in the same field, but only one will be taken. The other will be left.
41. Two women will be together grinding grain, but only one will be taken. The other will be left.
42. So be on your guard! You don't know when your Lord will come.
43. Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in.
44. Always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come.
45. Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time?
46. Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job.