20. God has decided to make that terrible time short. If that time were not made short, then no one would go on living. But God will make that time short to help his special people whom he has chosen.
21. At that time, someone might say to you, ‘Look, there is the Christ!’ Or another person might say, ‘There he is!’ But don’t believe them.
22. False Christs and false prophets will come and perform great wonders and miracles. They will do these things to the people God has chosen. They will do these things to try to fool them, if that is possible.
23. So be careful. For I have warned you about all this before it happens.
24. “During the days after this trouble comes,‘The sun will grow dark.And the moon will not give its light.
25. The stars will fall from the sky.And everything in the sky will be changed.’ Isaiah 13:10; 34:4
26. “Then people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27. The Son of Man will send his angels all around the earth. They will gather his chosen people from every part of the earth.
28. “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 near.
29. So also when you see all these things happening, then you will know that the time is near, ready to come.
30. I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while the people of this time are still living.