The Great Day of the Lord

4 ^[a] “For behold, ^(A)the day is coming, ^(B)burning like an oven, when ^(C)all the arrogant and ^(D)all evildoers ^(E)will be stubble. The day that is coming ^(F)shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. ² But for you ^(G)who fear my name, ^(H)the sun ^(I)of righteousness shall rise ^(J)with healing in its wings. You shall go out ^(K)leaping like calves from the stall. ³ And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, ^(L)on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

^4 (M)“Remember ^(N)the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules^[b] that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

^5 (O)“Behold, I will send you ^(P)Elijah the prophet ^(Q)before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. ⁶ And he will ^(R)turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and ^(S)strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”^[c]

⁴ For ^(A)whatever was written in former days was written for our ^(B)instruction, that through endurance and through ^(C)the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you ^(D)to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify ^(E)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles

⁸ For I tell you that Christ ^(F)became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order ^(G)to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order ^(H)that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

¹⁰ And again it is said,

¹¹ And again,

¹² And again Isaiah says,

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all ^(O)joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵ “And ^(A)there will be signs in sun and moon ^(B)and stars, and on the earth ^(C)distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, ²⁶ people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For ^(D)the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ And then they will see ^(E)the Son of Man coming in a cloud ^(F)with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and ^(G)raise your heads, because ^(H)your redemption is drawing near.”

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

²⁹ And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰ As soon as they come out in leaf, you see ^(I)for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. ³¹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ^32 (J)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. ^33 (K)Heaven and earth will pass away, but ^(L)my words will not pass away.

Watch Yourselves

³⁴ “But watch yourselves ^(M)lest ^(N)your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and ^(O)cares of this life, and ^(P)that day come upon you suddenly ^(Q)like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ But ^(R)stay awake at all times, ^(S)praying that you may ^(T)have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and ^(U)to stand before the Son of Man.”