¹⁵ “So when you see standing in the holy place^(A) ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’^[a](B) spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let no one on the housetop^(C) go down to take anything out of the house. ¹⁸ Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. ¹⁹ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!^{(D) 20} Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.^(E)

²² “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect^(F) those days will be shortened. ²³ At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.^{(G) 24} For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders^(H) to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time.

²⁶ “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as lightning^(I) that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming^(J) of the Son of Man.^{(K) 28} Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.^(L)

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates^(A) we do not need to write to you,^{(B) 2} for you know very well that the day of the Lord^(C) will come like a thief in the night.^{(D) 3} While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”^(E) destruction will come on them suddenly,^(F) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.^(G)

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness^(H) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^{(I) 5} You are all children of the light^(J) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,^(K) but let us be awake^(L) and sober.^{(M) 7} For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.^{(N) 8} But since we belong to the day,^(O) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,^(P) and the hope of salvation^(Q) as a helmet.^{(R) 9} For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath^(S) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(T) 10} He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.^{(U) 11} Therefore encourage one another^(V) and build each other up,^(W) just as in fact you are doing.