^16 (A)by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always ^(B)to fill up the measure of their sins. But ^(C)wrath has come upon them at last!^[a]

¹⁹ For what is our hope or ^(A)joy or crown of boasting ^(B)before our Lord Jesus at his ^(C)coming? Is it not you?

¹³ so that he may ^(A)establish your hearts blameless in holiness before ^(B)our God and Father, at ^(C)the coming of our Lord Jesus ^(D)with all his saints.

The Coming of the Lord

¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, ^(A)that you may not grieve as others do ^(B)who have no hope. ¹⁴ For ^(C)since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him ^(D)those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you ^(E)by a word from the Lord,^[a] that ^(F)we who are alive, who are left until ^(G)the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For ^(H)the Lord himself will descend ^(I)from heaven ^(J)with a cry of command, with the voice of ^(K)an archangel, and ^(L)with the sound of the trumpet of God. And ^(M)the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be ^(N)caught up together with them ^(O)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so ^(P)we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

²³ Now may ^(A)the God of peace himself ^(B)sanctify you completely, and may your ^(C)whole ^(D)spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at ^(E)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.