Matthew 24:32-44

32‘Here 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 come soon.

33In the same way, you will see all 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.

34I tell you this: The people who are alive now will not all die until all these things happen.

35One day, the earth and the sky will have an end. But my words will be there for ever.’

36Jesus then said, ‘Nobody 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.

37Remember what happened when Noah was alive. It will be like that when the Son of Man returns to the earth.

38In Noah's time, in the days before the flood, people were eating their meals every day. Men married women and women married men. They continued to do all these things until the day that Noah went into his big boat.

39The people did not know what would happen. Then rain fell for a long time and all these people died in the deep water. When the Son of Man returns, it will happen quickly in the same way.

40At that time, it will be like this: Two men will be working in a field. God will take one man away, but he will leave the other man behind.

41Two women will be preparing food together in the same place. God will take one of them away, but he will leave the other woman behind.

42So you must watch carefully! You do not know the day when your Master will come back.

43You can be sure about this. The master of a house does not know at what time of night a man would come to rob him. If he knew the time, he would watch his house more carefully. He would not let the robber come into his house and take away his things.

44So you must also be ready. The Son of Man will come at a time when you are not thinking about it.’