Don't Fear

²⁵"Amazing things will happen with the sun, moon, and stars. The people on earth will feel trapped. The oceans will be upset, and the people will not know why. ²⁶People will become afraid. They will be very worried about what will happen to the world. Everything in the sky will be changed. ²⁷Then people will see the Son of Man* coming on a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸When these things begin to happen, don't fear. Look up and be happy! Don't worry. Be happy, because you know that the time when God will free you is near!"

My Words Will Live Forever

²⁹Then Jesus told this story: "Look at all the trees. The fig tree is a good example. ³⁰When it becomes green (grows buds), you know that summer is near. ³¹It is the same with these things I told you would happen. When you see all these things happening, then you will know that God's kingdom is coming very soon. ³²"I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while the people of this time are still living! ³³The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed; but the words I have said will never be destroyed!

Be Ready All the Time

³⁴"Be careful! Don't spend your time drinking and getting drunk. Or don't be too busy with worldly things. If you do that, you will not be able to think right. And then the end might come when you are not ready. ³⁵It will come like a surprise to all people on earth. ³⁶So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to continue safely through all these things that will happen. And pray that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.*" ³⁷During the day, Jesus taught the people in the temple* area. At night he went out of the city and stayed all night on the Mount of Olives.* ³⁸Every morning all the people got up early to go listen to Jesus at the temple.

Son of Man A name Jesus used for himself. In Dan. 7:13-14, this is the name for the Messiah, the one God chose to save his people. temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship. Mount of Olives A hill east of the city of Jerusalem where a person could look down into the temple area.