1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

The Voice

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we want you to be fully informed about those who have fallen asleep in death so that you will not be overwhelmed with grief like those who live outside of the true hope. ¹⁴ Here’s what we believe: since Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, God will bring with Jesus all who have died through Him. ¹⁵ For we can say all this to you confidently because it is the word of the Lord: we who are still alive and left behind when the Lord comes will not precede those who have fallen asleep in death. ¹⁶ On that day, with a command that thunders into the world, with a voice of a chief heavenly messenger, and with a blast of God’s trumpet, the Lord Himself will descend from heaven; and all those who died in the Anointed One, our Liberating King, will rise from the dead first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and left behind will be snatched up together with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This is how we, the resurrected and the living, will be with Him forever. ¹⁸ So comfort one another with this hope, and encourage one another with these words.

5 Now, brothers and sisters, you don’t need further instruction from us or anyone else for that matter regarding how the seasons and times will play out. ² That’s because you know the truth well enough. The day of the Lord will race onto the scene and surprise us like a thief in the night. ³ People will be going about their business chanting, “All is well! All is at peace!” and in the next moment, ruin and destruction will suddenly seize them as labor pains grip a woman about to give birth; for them there will be no escape. ⁴ My brothers and sisters, it will be different for you. You do not dwell in the darkness, so that day will not surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of light. You are sons and daughters of the day. We are not created of night, nor are we owned by darkness. ⁶ So then let’s not give in to sleep or wander around in a stupor as some do, but let’s stay awake and in control. ⁷ You see, sleepers sleep through the night, and drunkards drink the night away; ⁸ but since we belong to the day, we should stay sober and in control, covered with a breastplate of faith and love and a helmet of the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us, His chosen, to face His wrath but to be the heirs of salvation through our Lord Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, ¹⁰ who died for us. So regardless of whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. ¹¹ So support one another. Keep building each other up as you have been doing.