28
Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it's not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds.
29
"Following those hard times, Sun will fade out, moon cloud over, Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble.
30
"Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies - no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven.
31
At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.
32
"Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner.
33
So it is with you: When you see all these things, you'll know he's at the door.
34
Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place.
35
Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.
36
"But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.
37
"The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's.
38
Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark.