Mark 13:24-37

24Then, after all these bad things have happened, the sun will become dark. The moon will not shine any more.

25Stars will fall out of the sky. And the powerful things in the sky will shake.

26Then people will see the Son of Man. He will come in the clouds. He will have great power and bright glory.

27Then he will send his angels. They will go in every direction, to every part of the earth and to every part of the sky. They will bring together all the people that God has chosen.

28Here is a lesson for you to learn about the fig tree. When the new branches on the tree start to grow, the leaves appear. Then you know that the summer will begin soon.

29In the same way, you will see these strange things happening. Then you will know that the Son of Man will come very soon. He will be like someone at the door who is ready to come in.

30I tell you this: The people who are alive now will not all die until all these things happen.

31One day, the earth and the sky will have an end. But my words will be there for ever.

32Nobody knows the day or the hour when all these things will happen. Only God the Father knows when they will happen. The angels who are in heaven do not know. Even the Son does not know.

33Watch carefully! Keep awake! You do not know the time when all these things will happen.

34It is like when a man begins a journey. Before the master leaves his house, he gives authority to his servants. He tells each servant about the work that he should do. Then he tells the servant at the door to watch for his master's return.

35So you must watch carefully. You do not know when the master of the house will come back. He might arrive in the evening, or in the middle of the night. Or he might arrive early in the morning, or just before the sun rises.

36When he arrives, he may surprise you. He may even find you asleep!

37I am saying this to you. I am also saying this to everyone else. Always be ready!’