Book of Common Prayer

He speaks of the day of doom and coming of the Lord. He exhorts them to watch, and to have regard for those who preach God’s word among them.

5 Of the times and seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write to you. ² For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come even as a thief in the night. ³ When they say, Peace, and no danger – then comes on them sudden destruction, like the travailing of a woman with child, and they shall not escape.

⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, such that that day should come on you as a thief. ⁵ You are all the children of light, and the children of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk, are drunk in the night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, armed with the breastplate of faith and love, and with the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep, we will live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore comfort yourselves together, and strengthen one another, even as you do.

²⁰ And when you see Jerusalem besieged with a host, then understand that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let the people who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the city get out. And let not those who are in other countries enter in. ²² For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfil all the things that are written. ²³ But woe will be to women who are with child and to those who give suck in those days, for there will be great trouble in the land, and wrath over all this people. ²⁴ And they will fall on the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden under foot by the Gentiles, until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled.

²⁵ And there will be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars, and in the earth the people will be in such perplexity that they will not know which way to turn. The sea and the waters will roar, ²⁶ and men’s hearts will fail them for fear, and for the dread of those things which shall come on the earth. For the powers of heaven shall move. ²⁷ And then shall they see the Son of man come in a cloud, with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near.