23So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
24“But in those days, following that distress, “ ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
25the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ Isaiah 13:10; 34:4
26“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
28“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
29Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it Or he is near, right at the door.
30Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Day and Hour Unknown
32“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33Be on guard! Be alert Some manuscripts alert and pray ! You do not know when that time will come.
34It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.
36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
37What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.