Book of Common Prayer

Children of light

5 Now when it comes to specific times and dates, my dear family, you don’t need to have anyone write to you. ² You yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a midnight robber. ³ When people say, “Peace and security!” then swift ruin will arrive at their doorstep, like the pains that come over a woman in labor, and they won’t have a chance to escape.

⁴ But as for you, my dear family—you are not in darkness. That day won’t surprise you like a robber. ⁵ You are all children of light, children of the day! We don’t belong to the night, or to darkness. ⁶ So, then, let’s not go to sleep, like the others, but let’s keep awake and stay sober.

⁷ People who sleep, you see, sleep at night. People who get drunk get drunk at night. ⁸ But we daytime people should be self-controlled, clothing ourselves with the breastplate of faith and love, and with the helmet of the hope of salvation; ⁹ because the road on which God has placed us leads, not to fury, but to gaining salvation, through our Lord Jesus the Messiah. ¹⁰ He died for us, so that whether we stay awake or go to sleep we should live together with him. ¹¹ So strengthen one another, and build each other up, just as you are doing.

Signs of the end

⁵ Some people were talking about the Temple, saying how wonderfully it was decorated, with its beautiful stones and dedicated gifts.

“Yes,” said Jesus; ⁶ “but the days will come when everything you see will be torn down. Not one stone will be left standing on another.”

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked him, “when will these things happen? What will be the sign that it’s all about to take place?”

⁸ “Watch out that nobody deceives you,” said Jesus. “Yes: lots of people will come using my name, saying ‘I’m the one!’ and ‘The time has come!’ Don’t go following them. ⁹ When you hear about wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. These things have to happen first, but the end won’t come at once.

¹⁰ “One nation will rise against another,” he went on, “and one kingdom against another. ¹¹ There will be huge earthquakes, famines and plagues in various places, terrifying omens, and great signs from heaven.

¹² “Before all this happens they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons. They will drag you before kings and governors because of my name. ¹³ That will become an opportunity for you to tell your story. ¹⁴ So settle it in your hearts not to work out beforehand what tale to tell. ¹⁵ I’ll give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.

¹⁶ “You will be betrayed by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will kill some of you. ¹⁷ You will be hated by everyone because of my name. ¹⁸ But no hair of your head will be lost. ¹⁹ The way to keep your lives is to be patient.”