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

⁴⁰ Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.^{(A) 41} Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left.

⁹ then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial and to keep the unrighteous until the day of judgment, when they will be punished^(A)

The Reward of the Faithful

¹⁶ Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name.^{(A) 17} They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them.^{(B) 18} Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.^(C)

¹⁶ For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(A) 17} Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever.^(B)

⁴ But what is the divine reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^{(A) 5} So, too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. ⁶ But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.^[a](B)

⁷ What then? Israel has not achieved what it was pursuing. The elect have achieved it, but the rest were hardened,^(C)

²⁵ Take note, I have told you beforehand.

⁴ and said to him, “Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”^{(A) 5} To the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him and kill; your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.^{(B) 6} Cut down old men, young men and young women, little children and women, but touch no one who has the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were in front of the house.^(C)

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

²³ But be alert; I have already told you everything.^(A)