²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.^(A)

²⁴ For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.^{[a](A) 25} But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.^{(B) 26} Just as it was in the days of Noah, so, too, it will be in the days of the Son of Man.^{(C) 27} They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. ²⁸ Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot, they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,^{(D) 29} but on the day that Lot left Sodom it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them; ³⁰ it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. ³¹ On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away, and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. ³² Remember Lot’s wife. ³³ Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. ³⁴ I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. ³⁵ There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.”^{[b] 37} Then they asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the eagles will gather.”

⁸ You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.^[a](A)

² But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap;^(A)

³⁰ And the Lord will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and tempest and hailstones.^(A)

⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died,^[a] all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!”^(A)

⁵ See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.^(A)