The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁹ “Immediately after the distress^(A) of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth^[a] will mourn;^[b] and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.^{(B) 31} He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet,^(C) and they will gather his elect from the four winds,^(D) from one end of the sky to the other.

⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.^{(A) 8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”^(B)

The Ascension

⁹ After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.^{(C) 11} They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”^(D)

Christ’s Resurrection Guarantees Ours

²⁰ But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits^(A) of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death^(B) came through a man,^(C) the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.^{(D) 22} For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.^(E)

²³ But each in his own order:^(F) Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end,^(G) when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father,^(H) when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power.^{(I) 25} For he must reign^(J) until he puts all his enemies under his feet.^{(K) 26} The last enemy to be abolished is death.^{(L) 27} For God has put everything under his feet.^[a](M) Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. ²⁸ When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son^(N) himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.^(O)

Victorious Resurrection

⁵⁰ What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh^(A) and blood^(B) cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.^(C) For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible body must be clothed^(D) with incorruptibility,^(E) and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. ⁵⁴ When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin^(I) is the law.^{(J) 57} But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory^(K) through our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.^{(A) 14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose^(B) again,^(C) in the same way, through Jesus,^(D) God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For we say this to you by a word from the Lord:^(E) We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming^(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(G) 16} For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,^[a](H) with the archangel’s^(I) voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ^(J) will rise first. ¹⁷ Then^(K) we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(L) to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage^[b] one another with these words.

From Groans to Glory

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing^(A) with the glory^(B) that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation^(C) for God’s sons^(D) to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected^(E) to futility^(F)—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it^(G)—in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself^(H) will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains^(I) until now. ²³ Not only that,^(J) but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits^(K)—we also groan within ourselves,^(L) eagerly waiting for adoption,^(M) the redemption of our bodies.^{(N) 24} Now in this hope^(O) we were saved, but hope^(P) that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ Now if we hope for what we do not see,^(Q) we eagerly wait for it with patience.

The New Creation

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth;^(A) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,^(B) and the sea was no more.^{(C) 2} I also saw the holy city,^(D) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(E) prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.^(F)

³ Then I heard a loud voice^(G) from the throne:^[a](H) Look, God’s dwelling^[b] is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples,^[c](I) and God himself will be with them and will be their God.^{[d] 4} He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.^(J) Death will be no more;^(K) grief, crying, and pain will be no more,^(L) because the previous things^[e] have passed away.^(M)

⁵ Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words^[f] are faithful and true.”^(N)