³⁴ I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.

⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.^{(A) 41} Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.^(B)

⁹ if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials^(A) and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.^(B)

The Faithful Remnant

¹⁶ Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.^(A) A scroll^(B) of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared^(C) the Lord and honored his name.

¹⁷ “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my^(D) treasured possession.^(E) I will spare^(F) them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son^(G) who serves him. ¹⁸ And you will again see the distinction between the righteous^(H) and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.^(I)

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(A) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(B) and with the trumpet call of God,^(C) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(D) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(E) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(F) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(G) forever.

⁴ And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^{[a](A) 5} So too, at the present time there is a remnant^(B) chosen by grace.^{(C) 6} And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;^(D) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

⁷ What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.^(E) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,^(F)

²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time.

⁴ and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem^(A) and put a mark^(B) on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament^(C) over all the detestable things that are done in it.^(D)”

⁵ As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity^(E) or compassion.^{(F) 6} Slaughter^(G) the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children,^(H) but do not touch anyone who has the mark.^(I) Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men^(J) who were in front of the temple.^(K)

²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,^(A) because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.