Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷ But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),^(A) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^{(B) 18} For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(C) blocked our way.^{(D) 19} For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(E) in which we will glory^(F) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(G) Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory^(H) and joy.

¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood,^(A) he too shared in their humanity^(B) so that by his death he might break the power^(C) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil^(D)— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear^(E) of death.

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,^(A) and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you.^(B) Wash your hands,^(C) you sinners, and purify your hearts,^(D) you double-minded.^{(E) 9} Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.^{(F) 10} Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.^(G)

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind.^(A) Your enemy the devil prowls around^(B) like a roaring lion^(C) looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him,^(D) standing firm in the faith,^(E) because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.^(F)

⁷ Dear children,^(A) do not let anyone lead you astray.^(B) The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.^{(C) 8} The one who does what is sinful is of the devil,^(D) because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God^(E) appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.^{(F) 9} No one who is born of God^(G) will continue to sin,^(H) because God’s seed^(I) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

⁴ You, dear children,^(A) are from God and have overcome them,^(B) because the one who is in you^(C) is greater than the one who is in the world.^{(D) 5} They are from the world^(E) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.^(F) This is how we recognize the Spirit^[a] of truth^(G) and the spirit of falsehood.^(H)

⁷ Then war broke out in heaven. Michael^(A) and his angels fought against the dragon,^(B) and the dragon and his angels^(C) fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent^(D) called the devil,^(E) or Satan,^(F) who leads the whole world astray.^(G) He was hurled to the earth,^(H) and his angels with him.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven^(I) say:

⁵ The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies^(A) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.^{(B) 6} It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.^{(C) 7} It was given power to wage war^(D) against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.^{(E) 8} All inhabitants of the earth^(F) will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life,^(G) the Lamb^(H) who was slain from the creation of the world.^[a](I)

⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(J)

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness^(L) on the part of God’s people.^(M)

The Beast out of the Earth

¹¹ Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.^(N) It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.^{(O) 12} It exercised all the authority^(P) of the first beast on its behalf,^(Q) and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,^(R) whose fatal wound had been healed.^{(S) 13} And it performed great signs,^(T) even causing fire to come down from heaven^(U) to the earth in full view of the people. ¹⁴ Because of the signs^(V) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived^(W) the inhabitants of the earth.^(X) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.^{(Y) 15} The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship^(Z) the image to be killed.^(AA)

¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them,^(A) was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,^(B) where the beast^(C) and the false prophet^(D) had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.^(E)