²⁴ For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.^[a](A)

²⁷ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.^(A)

³⁰ “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory.^(A)

The Great Day of the Lord

4 ^[a]See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.^{(A) 2} But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.^(B)

The Coming Messenger

3 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.^{(A) 2} But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap;^(B)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.^[a](A)

⁸ You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.^[a](A)

² not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.^(A)

² For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.^(A)