But let us who live in the light be clearheaded,
protected by the armor of faith and love,
and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
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.
So encourage each other and build each other up…
We tell you this directly from the Lord:
We who are still living when the Lord returns
will not meet him ahead of those 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.
Then, together with them,
we who are still alive and remain on the earth
will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Then we will be with the Lord forever.
…we want you to know what will happen
to the believers who have died
so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
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.
Devote yourselves to prayer
with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Live wisely among those who are not believers,
and make the most of every opportunity.
Let your conversation be gracious and attractive
so that you will have the right response for everyone.
God stretches the northern sky over empty space
and hangs the earth on nothing.
He wraps the rain in his thick clouds,
and the clouds don’t burst with the weight.
He covers the face of the moon,
shrouding it with his clouds.
The foundations of heaven tremble;
they shudder at his rebuke.
…Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?
…“O Lord, I’m not very good with words.
I never have been,
and I’m not now,
even though you have spoken to me.
I get tongue-tied,
and my words get tangled.”
Then the LORD asked Moses,
“Who makes a person’s mouth?
Who decides whether people speak or do not speak,
hear or do not hear,
see or do not see?
Is it not I, the LORD?
Now go!
I will wait for the LORD…
I will put my hope in him.
Someone may say to you,
“Let’s ask the mediums
and those who consult the spirits of the dead.
With their whisperings and mutterings,
they will tell us what to do.”
But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance?
Should the living seek guidance from the dead?
Look to God’s instructions and teachings!
People who contradict his word
are completely in the dark.
…They will be thrown out into the darkness.
For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day
when God will reveal who his children really are.
Against its will,
all creation was subjected to God’s curse.
But with eager hope,
the creation looks forward to the day
when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom
from death and decay.
For we know that all creation has been groaning
as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
And we believers also groan,
even though we have the Holy Spirit within us
as a foretaste of future glory,
for we long for our bodies to be released
from sin and suffering…
For all who are led by the Spirit of God
are children of God.
So you have not received a spirit
that makes you fearful slaves.
Instead, you received God’s Spirit
when he adopted you as his own children.
Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
For his Spirit joins with our spirit
to affirm that we are God’s children.
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature
think about sinful things,
but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit
think about things that please the Spirit.
So letting your sinful nature control your mind
leads to death.
But letting the Spirit control your mind
leads to life and peace.
