Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The Great Day of Yahweh

4 “^[a]For behold, the day is coming, ^(A)burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every worker of wickedness will be ^(B)chaff; and the day that is coming will ^(C)set them aflame,” says Yahweh of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” ² “But for you who ^[b]fear My name, the ^(D)sun of righteousness will rise with ^(E)healing in its wings; and you will go forth and ^(F)skip about like calves from the stall.

Sing to Yahweh a New Song

A Psalm.

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, ^(A)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you ^[a](B)keep away from every brother who walks in an ^[b](C)unruly manner and not according to ^(D)the tradition which ^[c]they received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to ^(E)imitate us, because we did not act in an unruly manner among you, ⁸ nor did we ^(F)eat ^[d]anyone’s bread ^[e]without paying for it, but with ^(G)labor and hardship we kept ^(H)working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; ⁹ not because we do not have ^(I)the authority, but in order to offer ourselves ^(J)as a model for you, so that you would imitate us. ¹⁰ For even ^(K)when we were with you, we used to command this to you: ^(L)if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you are ^(M)walking in an unruly manner, doing no work at all, but acting like ^(N)busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and ^(O)exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(P)working with quietness, they eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, ^(Q)brothers, ^(R)do not lose heart in doing good.

^5 (A)And while some were talking about the temple, that it had been adorned with beautiful stones and dedicated gifts, He said, ⁶ “As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which ^(B)there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.”

⁷ So they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the ^[a]sign when these things are about to take place?” ⁸ And He said, “See to it that you are not deceived; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘^(C)I am He,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ ^(D)Do not go after them. ⁹ And when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.”

Signs of Christ’s Return

¹⁰ Then He continued saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, ¹¹ and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be terrors and great ^[b]signs from heaven.

¹² “But before all these things, ^(E)they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, ^[c]bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. ^13 (F)It will result in ^[d]an opportunity for your testimony. ^14 (G)So set in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; ¹⁵ for ^(H)I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. ¹⁶ But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, ¹⁷ and you will be hated by all because of My name. ¹⁸ Yet ^(I)not a hair of your head will perish. ^19 (J)By your perseverance you will gain your ^[e]lives.