We will be walking through Matthew 24: 29-51 — Jesus’ words about His return in glory. Up to this point, He’s described the world’s turmoil, the rise of deception, and the abomination that brings desolation. But beginning in verse 29, everything shifts. The heavens open. And Jesus tells us that when he comes after the tribulation he will be “coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory". It’s a moment that will shake the heavens and the earth — but for those who know Him, it will be the long-awaited day of joy. Here Jesus gives us hope — the promise that even when the world seems consumed, His plan is still unfolding. Then, in verses 32–35, Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree. For centuries, Bible students have seen the fig tree as a symbol of Israel (Hosea 9:10; Jeremiah 24:5–7, etc. ). And after nearly 2,000 years of exile, Israel was reborn as a nation in 1948 — a prophetic “leafing out” of that tree. When Jesus said, “When you see these things, know that it is near — even at the doors,” it’s as if He was saying, keep an eye on Israel, because when you see its revival that will signal that the season is changing. The rest of the verses call us to readiness. Jesus compares His coming to the days of Noah — when life went on as usual until the flood came suddenly. He warns us not to be spiritually asleep, but to be watchful and to live faithfully, expectantly. These verses remind us that prophecy isn’t meant to scare us — it’s meant to prepare us. The Lord is returning, and He wants us to be living with our hearts on fire, ready for His return, and our eyes lifted to Heaven.
