1 Thessalonians 5
The day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, bringing destruction to those who are unprepared, but believers are not in darkness and should be vigilant and sober, clothed with faith, charity, and the hope of salvation. They should live in union with Christ, console and build each other up, and recognize those who labor among them. Believers are also instructed to correct the disruptive, console the weak-minded, and pursue what is good, rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks always. They should test all things, hold on to what is good, and abstain from evil, trusting that God will sanctify them and preserve them until the return of Christ.
1 But concerning dates and times, brothers, you do not need us to write to you 2 For you yourselves thoroughly understand that the day of the Lord shall arrive much like a thief in the night 3 For when they will say, "Peace and security!" then destruction will suddenly overwhelm them, like the labor pains of a woman with child, and they will not escape 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that you would be overtaken by that day as by a thief 5 For all of you are sons of light and sons of daytime; we are not of nighttime, nor of darkness 6 Therefore, let us not sleep, as the rest do. Instead, we should be vigilant and sober 7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are inebriated, are inebriated in the night 8 But we, who are of the daylight, should be sober, being clothed with the breastplate of faith and of charity and having, as a helmet, the hope of salvation 9 For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for the acquisition of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ 10 who died for us, so that, whether we watch, or whether we sleep, we may live in union with him 11 Because of this, console one another and build up one another, just as you are doing 12 And we ask you, brothers, to recognize those who labor among you, and who preside over you in the Lord, and who admonish you 13 so that you may consider them with an abundance of charity, for the sake of their work. Be at peace with them 14 And we ask you, brothers: correct the disruptive, console the weak-minded, support the sick, be patient with everyone 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone. Instead, always pursue whatever is good, with one another and with all 16 Rejoice always 17 Pray without ceasing 18 Give thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for all of you 19 Do not choose to extinguish the Spirit 20 Do not spurn prophecies 21 But test all things. Hold on to whatever is good 22 Abstain from every kind of evil 23 And may the God of peace himself sanctify you through all things, so that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved without blame unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ 24 He who has called you is faithful. He shall act even now 25 Brothers, pray for us 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss 27 I bind you, through the Lord, that this epistle is to be read to all the holy brothers 28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen