Verses 23-24 In verse 5 and verse 11, Jesus warned the *disciples about false *Messiahs and false

teachers who announce future events. Many people with false messages came and said that God had sent them. That was before the *Romans defeated the *Jews in Jerusalem. Now Jesus is talking about events that are further still in the future. One day, Jesus, also called the Son of Man, will return to this earth. He will return to earth with power and authority. He will arrive like a king. But people will try to make Christians believe wrong things about him. Before Jesus returns, false teachers and false *Messiahs will even perform signs and *miracles. False *Messiahs can be people who oppose Jesus the Christ. Sometimes they say that they are Christians. But they teach false things. Christians must be very careful. They must not believe false teachers. Verse 25 Jesus told his *disciples about this so that they will be prepared. They will be able to guard themselves against what is false. Verse 26 They must not believe that Christ is out in the desert away from people. But some Christians went there to avoid the evil things in society. Christ is not hiding in the inner room in a house. There are no secrets about him that only special people can discover. Verse 27 Jesus, the *Son of Man, will come suddenly and with a great light, exactly as a flash of lightning comes. People everywhere will be able to see him. Verse 28 Vultures are big, black birds that eat dead things. They always gather round a dead animal. They give clear evidence that a dead animal is there. This verse probably means that there will be clear evidence when Jesus returns. Nobody will miss him. Everyone will see him.

The *Son of Man will return 24:29-31

These verses describe how history will end. And how the *Son of Man will come. The language is similar to words in the *Old Testament (Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 2:31; Zephaniah 1:14-15 and other verses). They describe how God controls everything in human history. v29 Immediately after those days finish, the days when people need to suffer, The sun will become dark and the moon will not shine. The stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the sky will shake. v30 At that time the *Son of Mans sign will appear in the sky. The people who belong t o all the nations on the earth will be sad and weep then. They will see the *Son of Man as he comes on wonderful bright clouds in the sky. He will come with great power and light. v31 He will cause a loud *trumpet to sound and he will send out his servants from heaven. They will gather together the people that he has chosen. They will bring them from one end of the earth to the other. Verse 29 The words in this verse come from Isaiah 13:10 and Isaiah 34:4. These signs refer to Gods judgement on *Babylons people at first, and on people from all the nations. Verse 30 In Daniel 7:13-14, we read about when the *Son of Man will come. He will come with great power and wonderful bright light. Jesus used these words about himself when he was answering the high *priest (Matthew 26:64). Zechariah wrote about the *Jews. They would look at the man that they had killed. Then they would be sad (Zechariah 12:10).

Verse 31 *Trumpets are metal musical instruments that you blow into. People used them to call everyone together. They also warned people about danger. When God gave the *Law on *Mount Sinai, the people heard a loud *trumpet. And Jesus said that the loud *trumpet call would be part of this event too. The *Lord will come with a great pure light so that everyone gives him honour. The *Old Testament speaks about a time when God will bring the *Jews together. He will bring them from all the places where he has scattered them. In the same way, the *Son of Man will send his servants from heaven with his message. They will call Christians together from every part of the world. Then they will all be with him.

The lesson from a fruit tree 24:32-35

v32 Learn a lesson from the *fig tree. When its branches become soft and green, the leaves appear. Then you know that summer is near. v33 In the same way, you will see all these things happening. Then you will know that the time is near. God is ready to begin. v34 I am telling you the truth. Some people who are living will not have died until all this has happened. v35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. Verse 32 Everybody who was listening to Jesus recognised this common fruit tree. They were always glad to see the new leaves because summer was surely coming. Verses 32-34 These verses may be a warning about the time when the *Romans would defeat the *Jews in Jerusalem. This would happen in less than 40 years. But Jesus had described different things in verses 29-31. In them, he referred to the time just before he would return to earth at the worlds end. And he spoke about the signs that people will see when the world is ending. Verse 34 Many of Jesus *disciples believed that Jesus would return to earth soon. They thought that they would still be alive then. Christians at Thessalonica did not continue with their normal work because they were waiting for him. Paul had to correct their ideas. They should work in the usual way while they waited, he told them (2 Thessalonians 3:6). Jesus had promised his *disciples that he would return to them (John 14:18). This promise came true when he lived again after he died. And it came true when the *Holy Spirit came at *Pentecost. But Jesus will return to earth with power and wonderful light at some time in the future. The people who are still alive then will see that event. Verse 35 Everything will end. The sky and the earth will disappear because they are of no more use. But the authority of Jesus will never change. He is always the same (Hebrews 2:17).

Jesus will return, so be ready 24:36-44

v36 Nobody knows when that day or that time will be. Not even Gods servants in heaven know and neither does the Son know. Only the Father knows. v37 You remember how it was in the days of Noah. It will be like that when the *Son of Man comes. v38 In the days before the flood, people were eating and they were drinking. They were marrying. And they were giving their daughters to marry young men. They did all these things until the day that Noah entered the big boat. v39 They did not know what was happening. Then the flood came. And the flood swept them all away. And it will be like that when the *Son of Man comes. v40 Two men will be working in a field. Jesus will take one man, but he will leave the other man. v41 Two women will be making flour with a hand mill. And Jesus will take one woman, but he will leave the other woman. v42 So always be ready. You do not know which day your *Lord will come. v43 You must understand this. Suppose a house owner knew what time in the night a thief was coming. Then he would be awake and ready. He would not let the thief break into his house. v44 So you also must be ready. The *Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him.

Verse 36 Some people try to work out when the world will end. Sometimes, people say that they know the actual date. Jesus said that the Son would return to earth with power and in that wonderful bright light. But he said that only God the Father knew when that would happen. Jesus was Gods Son. But as a human person, he did not know the date. Verses 37-39 Jesus gave the example about the people who lived during Noahs time. While he was preparing the big boat, other people were living ordinary lives. Noah was prepared, but the other people were not prepared. Noah was safe in the big boat, but the other people died in the flood. Verses 40-41 Jesus explained that he would come and bring judgement. One man who was at work would be ready for Jesus. The other man would not be ready. Two women would be making flour. But only one woman would be ready for Jesus. The other woman would not be ready. Verses 42-44 The *Son of Man will return. People do not expect a thief to come during the night. And people would not expect Jesus to return. Later, Paul wrote to the Christians at Thessalonica. He repeated what Jesus had said (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

The story about the wise and the wicked servants 24:45-51
v45 Think about a loyal and wise servant. His master has put him in command of the other servants in his house. This chief servant should give food to the other servants at the right time. v46 Their master will return home later. If the chief servant is doing his work properly, then it will be very good for him. v47 I am telling you the truth. The master will make that servant head of everything that he owns. v48 But suppose the chief servant is wicked. Suppose he says to himself, My master is staying away a long time! v49 So then he begins to beat the other servants. And he eats and drinks with drunks. v50 The master will come back one day when his servant is not expecting him. He will return. But the servant does not know the time when he will return. v51 Then his master will cut that servant into pieces. He will send him to join other bad servants. They only pretended to serve their master. In that place they will weep and bite their teeth together in pain. Verses 45-47 The servant did his work well while his master was absent. The master rewarded him with more responsibility. Christ wants his servants to be loyal like that. They should work for Christ until he returns. Verses 48-51 This servant thought only about his own happiness. He did not care about the other servants or about his master. But his master would give him a severe punishment when he returned. In the end, the servant would join those who only pretended to serve the master. This is a picture of people who only pretend to live good lives. But they do not please God. Weep and bite their teeth together in pain was a way to say They were sad and they regretted past actions.