50-00

Jesus Returns

This title can also be translated as: “About when Jesus returns to earth again” or “What will happen when Jesus returns to earth again?”

50-01

For almost 2,000 years, more and more people around the world have been hearing the good news about Jesus the Messiah. The Church has been growing.

This is background information about what has happened to the Church until today. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])

The Church has been growing

This could also be translated as: “The number of people in the Church around the world has been increasing” or “The number of believers in Jesus has been increasing.”

at the end of the world

This phrase means right before the present world comes to an end or in the final days of this world.

Though he has not yet come back

The connecting word Though introduces a contrast relationship. Jesus has not come back for 2,000 years, so you would expect he is not coming back as he promised. Instead, Jesus will come back as he promised. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])

50-02

the end will come

This could be translated as: “the end of this world will come” or “the end of this world will happen” or “this present world will end.”

50-03

make disciples

This has the meaning, help people to become my disciples.

The fields are ripe for harvest

The words fields and ripe for harvest are metaphors. The fields represent people. The words ripe for harvest mean that people are ready to accept the message of Jesus, like fields that are ready to be harvested. Alternate translation: This could also be translated as: “They are ready to be brought to God like fields that are ripe for harvest” or “They are ready to be gathered and brought to God like fields whose crops are ripe and ready to be gathered.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-metaphor/01.md]])

The fields

In this expression, The fields represents the people in the world.

ripe

Ripe here represents being ready to believe in Jesus.

harvest

Harvest here represents the work of bringing people to God by teaching them about Jesus.

50-04

not greater than

This could mean not more important than or in this case, not treated better than.

because of me

This could mean because you obey me or because you teach people about me or because you belong to me.

in this world

This could also be translated as: “in this lifetime.”

If you remain faithful to me to the end, then God will save you

The connecting word if introduces a hypothetical conditional relationship. If you remain faithful to the end, then God will save you. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical/01.md]])

remain faithful to me

This could mean Keep obeying me.

to the end

This could mean to the end of your life.

will save you

This refers to spiritual salvation rather than physical deliverance from harm. It has already been stated that many believers will be killed or tortured.

50-05

told his disciples a story

The story is in the form of a parable. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-parables/01.md]])

good seed

This seed was wheat grain. If this type of seed is not known in your language area, it is best to use a general term for seed. If there is no general term, it may be necessary to choose a type of grain seed that is known and say, for example: “good seed like rice.”

weed seeds

The weed seeds that were planted would grow up as tall grass but could not be eaten. They were useless.

wheat seeds

Wheat is a kind of grain that grows like a tall grass. It has seeds that people use for food.

50-06

General Information

Jesus continues to tell the story.

Master, you planted good seed

Here you is a metonym that refers to his servants. The landowner probably had his servants plant the seeds. Alternate translation: “we planted good seed” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-metonymy/01.md]])

The man answered, ‘Only my enemies would want to plant them. It is one of my enemies who did this.’”

This is a quotation within a quotation. The entire quotation can be restated so that this portion is an indirect quotation: “The man answered that only his enemies would want to plant them, so it was one of his enemies who did this.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotesinquotes/01.md]])

Only my enemies would want to plant them

If possible, translate this in a way that indicates that the speaker did not see this happen.

50-07

General Information

Jesus continues to tell the story.

Should we pull out

Here we is exclusive. It refers to the servants but not the master. The servants would not expect the master to pull weeds. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclusive/01.md]])

If you do that, you will pull

Each occurrence of you in this frame is plural, referring to all of the servants. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-youdual/01.md]])

you will pull out some of the wheat as well

This could mean you will accidentally pull out some of the wheat also. It would be too difficult to distinguish young wheat from the weeds, and to pull the weeds without uprooting the wheat.

until the harvest

This could mean until the time when the wheat is ready to harvest or until the wheat has grown enough to be harvested.

the wheat

This could mean the harvested wheat grains.

barn

This refers to the building where the harvested wheat grain was saved and stored. It could also be called a storehouse. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-unknown/01.md]])

50-08

The disciples did not understand the meaning of the story, so they asked Jesus to explain it to them

The connecting word so introduces a reason and result relationship. The reason is the disciples did not understand the meaning of the story. The result is they asked Jesus to explain it. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])

the Messiah

Jesus is referring to himself. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-123person/01.md]])

the people of God’s kingdom

This refers to the people who belong to or are part of the kingdom of God. It can also be translated as: “the people who live under God’s authority” or “the people who have submitted to God’s rule” or “the people who will live with God in his kingdom.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-possession/01.md]])

50-09

who belong to the devil

This could mean who obey the devil or who are ruled by the devil.

the devil

This could also be translated as: “Satan.”

the evil one

This is another title for Satan. It could be translated as: “Satan,” but the title, evil one describes his character.

represents the end of the world

This could mean represents what will happen to people at the end of the world.

the harvesters

This could also be translated as: “the men who harvest the ripe grain” or “the workers who gather in the ripe grain.”

50-10

who belong to the devil

This could also be translated as: “who obey the devil” or “who are ruled by the devil.” This refers to those who do not believe in Jesus but follow the evil ways of the devil.

cry and grind their teeth

They will grind their teeth as a symbolic act representing their extreme sadness and suffering. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-symaction/01.md]])

But the people who are righteous

The word But introduces an exceptional relationship. The people who are righteous because they followed Jesus will not be thrown in the fire with everyone else. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-exceptions/01.md]])

the people who are righteous

This refers to the people who belong to the Messiah (See: 50:08).

shine like the sun

This could also be translated as: “be glorious like the sun” or “show pure goodness as the sun shows bright light.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-simile/01.md]])

50-11

he left

This could also be translated as: “he left the earth” or “he left to go back to heaven.”

will come on the clouds in the sky

This could mean the clouds in the sky will surround him as he comes or the clouds of the sky will carry him along.

When Jesus returns

The connecting word When introduces a simultaneous clause. Jesus’ followers who have died will rise and meet him in the sky at the time of Jesus’ return. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous/01.md]])

Jesus returns

This could mean Jesus returns to the earth.

meet him in the sky

This could mean join him in the sky. Those who believe in Jesus will go up to be near Jesus while he is in the sky.

50-12

Then the followers of Jesus who are still alive

The connecting word Then introduces a sequential clause. After the Jesus followers who died rise to meet Jesus in the air, the Jesus followers who are still alive will also join Jesus. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])

still alive

This could mean still alive when Jesus returns.

After that, Jesus will live with his people

The connecting words After that introduce a sequential clause. After Jesus followers have joined Jesus, they will live together forever. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])

50-13

a crown

This crown represents our reward for believing in Jesus and serving him in this life.

perfect

This could mean complete or total.

50-14

But God will judge everyone who does not believe

The connecting word But introduces a contrast relationship. In contrast to the wonderful place of peace where Jesus’ followers will live, those who did not believe will suffer forever. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])

weep and grind their teeth

See note on 50:10. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-symaction/01.md]])

50-15

When Jesus returns

The connecting word When introduces a sequential clause. After Jesus returns, he will destroy Satan and his kingdom. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])

his kingdom

This could also be translated as: “Satan’s evil rule over people” or “all the evil things he does and the evil people he controls.”

rather than

This could mean instead of.

50-16

Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God

The connecting word Because connects the result (God destroyed the world), with the reason (Adam and Eve disobeyed God and brought sin into the world). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])

brought sin into

This could be translated as: “caused sin to enter.”

But some day God will create

The connecting word But introduces a contrast relationship. It is expected that God will destroy the world because of sin. Instead of leaving it destroyed, God creates a new heaven and a new earth. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])

a new heaven

This could also be translated as: “a new sky” or “a new universe.” It refers to a new set of stars and everything else in the sky.

a new earth

This current earth on which we live will be replaced by a new and improved one.

50-17

wipe away every tear

This could also be translated as: “bring an end to all of our grief” or “make trouble end” or “tenderly take away any sadness people have.”

rule his kingdom justly and with peace

This could also be translated as: “rule over his people fairly, in a way that brings them peace.”

A Bible story from

These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.