Book of Common Prayer

5 My brothers, you do not need anyone to write to you about the day or the year when these things will happen.

² You your-selves surely know that the day of the Lord will come just like a person who comes to steal in the night.

³ When people are saying, `Everything is quiet and safe,' they will be destroyed. It will all happen very quickly. And there will be no way out. It will be like the pain that a woman has when a child is born.

⁴ But you, my brothers, are not in the dark. That day should not surprise you like a person who comes to steal.

⁵ You all belong to the light. You belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the dark.

⁶ So then, we must not go to sleep like other people. No, we must keep watching and not get drunk.

⁷ Because we belong to the day, we must not get drunk. But we must be ready like people dressed for war. We must keep believing in God. We must be loving towards each other. Faith and love will be like strong clothes to cover our bodies. The hope of being saved will protect us like a hat or helmet covers our head.

⁸ God did not choose us so that he might be angry with us. But he chose us so that we might be saved through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ He died for us so that, if we are alive or dead, we will live with him.

¹⁰ So comfort and strengthen one another, just as you are doing. you to respect those who are working among you. They are your leaders in the Lord's work, and they tell you what you should do.

¹¹ ) My brothers, we beg you, tell this to people who do not do what they should do. Talk to those who fear, and say something that will make them strong. Help those who are weak. Be patient with all people.

²⁰ `When you see soldiers all around Jerusalem, then you will know that it will soon be broken down.

²¹ Then the people in Judea must go quickly to the hills. Those who are in the city must leave it. Those who are in the country must not come into the city.

²² Those will be days of punishment. All that has been written in the holy writings must happen.

²³ In those days it will be very hard for women who are to have a child. It will be very hard for mothers who have babies. There will be big trouble on the earth. God will show his anger to these people.

²⁴ They will be killed by swords or long knives. They will be taken away as prisoners to every country. Jerusalem will be broken down by people who are not Jews. They will walk over it until the end of their allowed time.'

²⁵ `There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And there will be much trouble for the people on earth. They will not know what to do. It will be like the sound of big waves of the sea.

²⁶ Men will be weak with fear. They will be afraid of the things that will be happening to the world. The powers in the sky will be shaken.

²⁷ Then people will see the sign of the Son of Man in a cloud. He will have much power and will be very great.

²⁸ When these things begin to happen, look up. Lift up your heads. You will soon be free.'