The Day of the Lord

(Zephaniah 1:7-18; 2 Peter 3:10-13)

1And concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need of my writing to you, 2for yourselves have known thoroughly that the day of the Lord as a thief in the night doth so come, 3for when they may say, Peace and surety, then sudden destruction doth stand by them, as the travail doth her who is with child, and they shall not escape; 4and ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may catch you as a thief; 5all ye are sons of light, and sons of day; we are not of night, nor of darkness, 6so, then, we may not sleep as also the others, but watch and be sober, 7for those sleeping, by night do sleep, and those making themselves drunk, by night are drunken, 8and we, being of the day -- let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and an helmet -- a hope of salvation, 9because God did not appoint us to anger, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who did die for us, that whether we wake -- whether we sleep -- together with him we may live; 11wherefore, comfort ye one another, and build ye up, one the one, as also ye do.

Christian Living

12And we ask you, brethren, to know those labouring among you, and leading you in the Lord, and admonishing you, 13and to esteem them very abundantly in love, because of their work; be at peace among yourselves; 14and we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the infirm, be patient unto all; 15see no one evil for evil may render to any one, but always that which is good pursue ye, both to one another and to all; 16always rejoice ye; 17continually pray ye; 18in every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you. 19The Spirit quench not; 20prophesyings despise not; 21all things prove; that which is good hold fast; 22from all appearance of evil abstain ye;

Final Blessings

23and the God of the peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved unblameably in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; 24stedfast is He who is calling you, who also will do it.

25Brethren, pray for us;

26salute all the brethren in an holy kiss; 27I charge you by the Lord, that the letter be read to all the holy brethren;

28the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you! Amen.