Judgment and Covenant Renewal

4 ^[a]“Surely the day is coming;^(A) it will burn like a furnace.^(B) All the arrogant^(C) and every evildoer will be stubble,^(D) and the day that is coming will set them on fire,^(E)” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch^(F) will be left to them. ² But for you who revere my name,^(G) the sun of righteousness^(H) will rise with healing^(I) in its rays. And you will go out and frolic^(J) like well-fed calves. ³ Then you will trample^(K) on the wicked; they will be ashes^(L) under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.

⁴ “Remember the law^(M) of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb^(N) for all Israel.^(O)

⁵ “See, I will send the prophet Elijah^(P) to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.^{(Q) 6} He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children,^(R) and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike^(S) the land with total destruction.”^(T)

Psalm 98

A psalm.

Request for Prayer

3 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,^(A) pray for us^(B) that the message of the Lord^(C) may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.^{(D) 2} And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people,^(E) for not everyone has faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful,^(F) and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.^{(G) 4} We have confidence^(H) in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts^(I) into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from^(B) every believer who is idle and disruptive^(C) and does not live according to the teaching^[a] you received from us.^{(D) 7} For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.^(E) We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(F) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,^(G) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.^{(H) 10} For even when we were with you,^(I) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work^(J) shall not eat.”

¹¹ We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.^{(K) 12} Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ^(L) to settle down and earn the food they eat.^{(M) 13} And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.^(N)

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times^(A)(B)

⁵ Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ⁶ “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;^(C) every one of them will be thrown down.”

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.^{(D) 9} When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^{(E) 11} There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.^(F)

¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me.^{(G) 14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.^{(H) 15} For I will give you^(I) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,^(J) and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me.^{(K) 18} But not a hair of your head will perish.^{(L) 19} Stand firm, and you will win life.^(M)

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,^(N) you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.^{(O) 22} For this is the time of punishment^(P) in fulfillment^(Q) of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled^(R) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.^{(S) 26} People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.^{(T) 27} At that time they will see the Son of Man^(U) coming in a cloud^(V) with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”^(W)

²⁹ He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God^(A) is near.

³² “Truly I tell you, this generation^(B) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.^(C)

³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,^(D) and that day will close on you suddenly^(E) like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray^(F) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”