Part 31

024:023 "If at that time any one should say to you, `See, here is the Christ!' or `Here!' give no credence to it.

024:024 For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets, displaying wonderful signs and prodigies, so as to deceive, were it possible, even God's own People.

024:025 Remember, I have forewarned you.

024:026 If therefore they should say to you, `See, He is in the Desert!' do not go out there: or `See, He is indoors in the room!' do not believe it.

024:027 For just as the lightning flashes in the east and is seen to the very west, so will be the Coming of the Son of Man.

024:028 Wherever the dead body is, there will the vultures flock together.

024:029 "But immediately after those times of distress the sun will be darkened, the moon will not shed her light, the stars will fall from the firmament, and the forces which control the heavens will be disordered and disturbed.

024:030 Then will appear the Sign of the Son of Man in the sky; and then will all the nations of the earth lament, when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with great power and glory.

024:031 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet-blast, and they will bring together His own People to Him from north, south, east and west--from one extremity of the world to the other.

024:032 "Now learn from the fig-tree the lesson it teaches. As soon as its branches have now become soft and it is bursting into leaf, you all know that summer is near.

024:033 So you also, when you see all these signs, may be sure that He is near--at your very door.

024:034 I tell you in solemn truth that the present generation will certainly not pass away without all these things having first taken place.

024:035 Earth and sky will pass away, but it is certain that my words will not pass away.

024:036 "But as to that day and the exact time no one knows--not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

024:037 `For as it was in the time of Noah, so it will be at the Coming of the Son of Man.

024:038 At that time, before the Deluge, men were busy eating and drinking, taking wives or giving them, up to the very day when Noah entered the Ark,

024:039 nor did they realise any danger till the Deluge came and swept them all away; so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man.

024:040 Then will two men be in the open country: one will be taken away, and one left behind.

024:041 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken away, and one left behind.

024:042 Be on the alert therefore, for you do not know the day on which your Lord is coming.

024:043 But of this be assured, that if the master of the house had known the hour at which the robber was coming, he would have kept awake, and not have allowed his house to be broken into.

024:044 Therefore you also must be ready; for it is at a time when you do not expect Him that the Son of Man will come.

024:045 "Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has entrusted the control of his household to give them their rations at the appointed time?

024:046 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes shall find so doing!

024:047 In solemn truth I tell you that he will give him the management of all his wealth.

024:048 But if the man, being a bad servant, should say in his heart, `My master is a long time in coming,'

024:049 and should begin to beat his fellow servants, while he eats and drinks with drunkards;

024:050 the master of that servant will arrive on a day when he is not expecting him and at an hour of which he has not been informed;