1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Expanded Bible

Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming

5 Now, brothers and sisters, we do not need to write you about times and ·dates [seasons; ^Crelated to end-time events]. ² You know ·very well [accurately] that the ·day the Lord comes again [^Lday of the Lord; ^Cthe time of Christ’s return and the judgments associated with it] will ·be a surprise, like a thief that comes in the night [^Lcome like a thief in the night]. ³ While people are saying, “·We have peace and we are safe [^LPeace and safety/security],” they will be destroyed ·quickly [suddenly]. It is like pains that come quickly to a woman having a baby. Those people will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not ·living in darkness [^Lin darkness], and so that day will not ·surprise you [or overtake you] like a thief. ⁵ [^LFor] You are all ·people who belong to the light [^Lchildren/sons of the light] and ·who belong to [^Lchildren/sons of] the day. We do not belong to the night or to darkness. ⁶ So we should not be like other people who are sleeping [^Cspiritually], but we should be ·alert [awake] and ·have self-control [sober]. ⁷ [^LFor] Those who sleep sleep at night. Those who get drunk get drunk at night. ⁸ But we belong to the day, so we should ·control ourselves [be sober]. We should ·wear faith and love to protect us [^Lput on the breastplate/body armor of faith and love], and the hope of salvation should be our helmet [Is. 59:17]. ⁹ God did not ·choose [appoint; destine] us ·to suffer his anger [^Lfor wrath] but to ·have [receive; gain; possess] salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ ·Jesus [^L…who] died for us so that we can live together with him, whether we are ·alive [^Lawake] or ·dead [^Lasleep] when he comes. ¹¹ So encourage each other and ·give each other strength [build each other up], just as you are doing now.