The Day of the Lord

5 Now as to the ^(A)periods and ^[a]times, brothers and sisters, you ^(B)have no need of anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know full well that ^(C)the day of the Lord is coming ^(D)just like a thief in the night. ³ While they are saying, “^(E)Peace and safety!” then ^(F)sudden destruction ^[b]will come upon them like ^(G)labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in ^(H)darkness, so that the day would overtake you ^[c](I)like a thief; ⁵ for you are all ^(J)sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of ^(K)darkness; ⁶ so then, let’s not ^(L)sleep as ^[d](M)others do, but let’s be alert and ^[e](N)sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, ^(O)get drunk at night. ⁸ But since ^(P)we are of the day, let’s ^(Q)be ^[f]sober, having put on the ^(R)breastplate of ^(S)faith and love, and as a ^(T)helmet, the ^(U)hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for ^(V)wrath, but for ^(W)obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (X)who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore, ^[g]encourage one another and ^(Y)build one another up, just as you also are doing.

³ And as He was sitting on ^(A)the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of ^(B)Your coming, and of the ^[a]end of the age?”

⁴ And Jesus answered and said to them, “^(C)See to it that no one ^[b]misleads you. ⁵ For ^(D)many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the ^[c]Christ,’ and they will ^[d]mislead many people. ⁶ And you will be hearing of ^(E)wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. ⁷ For ^(F)nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be ^(G)famines and earthquakes in various places. ^8 (H)But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “^(A)Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and ^(B)you will be hated by all nations because of My name. ¹⁰ And at that time many will ^[a](C)fall away, and they will ^[b]betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹ And many ^(D)false prophets will rise up and ^[c]mislead many people. ¹² And because lawlessness is increased, ^[d]most people’s love will become cold. ^13 (E)But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. ¹⁴ This ^(F)gospel of the kingdom ^(G)shall be preached in the whole ^[e](H)world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The Scroll with Seven Seals

5 I saw ^[a]in the right hand of Him who ^(A)sat on the throne a ^[b](B)scroll written inside and on the back, ^(C)sealed up with seven seals. ² And I saw a ^(D)strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” ³ And no one ^(E)in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁴ Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁵ And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the ^(F)Lion that is ^(G)from the tribe of Judah, the ^(H)Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ And I saw ^[c]between the throne (with the four living creatures) and ^(I)the elders a ^(J)Lamb standing, as if ^(K)slaughtered, having seven ^(L)horns and ^(M)seven eyes, which are ^[d](N)the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ And He came and took ^(O)the scroll out of the right hand of Him who ^(P)sat on the throne.