Study Desk

Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.

For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.

For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night.

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

Dear brothers and sisters, we can't help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.

And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.

And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,

When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.

And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.

For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.

Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.