We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. 1 Co. 15. 51. Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. Phi. 3. 20, 21.-Where I am, there shall also my servant be. Jno. 12. 26.-If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Jno. 14. 3.-Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory. Jno. 17. 24.

CHAPTER V.

BUT UT of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Mat. 24 3, 36.-It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Ac. 1. 7.

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

If the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Lu. 12. 39, 40.-The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Pe. 3. 10.

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Re. 16. 15.-At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Mat. 25. 6.Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Lu. 21. 34_36.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. 2 Th. 1. 9.-They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark; and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also, as it was in the days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Lu. 17. 27-29.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. Eph. 5. 8.-Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. Col. 1. 12, 13.-Because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 1 Jno. 2. 8.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Mat. 25. 5, 13.

Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our

salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. Ro. 13. 11-13.-Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pe. 5. 8.

7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph. 6. 14, 16, 17.—Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Pe. 1. 13.-Time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. He. 11. 32-34.

I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Ti. 1. 12.-Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Mat. 22. 37-40.-Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Ps. 119. 6.We have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast. He. 6. 18, 19.

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Ti. 2. 4.-For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Jno. 3. 17.-What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction? Ro. 9. 22.

A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 1 Pe. 2. 8.-There are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men. Jude 4. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth; whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Th. 2. 13, 14.

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10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together. and edify one another, even as also ye do.

1 Th. 4. 15-18.

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

They... ordained them elders in every church. Ac. 14. 23.Acknowledge ye them that are such. 1 Co. 16. 18.—Receive him

CHAPTER I.

AUL, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 Jno. 1. 3.

2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints. Col. 1. 3; Eph. 1. 15-17; 1 Co. 1. 4, 5.

4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. He. 11. 32_36.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. He. 12. 1_3.

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

In nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. Phi. 1. 28.-Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Mat.

5. 10.-Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1 Pe. 4. 12, 13.-It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him. 2 Ti. 2. 11, 12.If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Ro. 8. 17.-We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Ac. 14. 22.

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. Zec. 2. 8.

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

There remaineth a rest to the people of God. He. 4. 9.— I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours. Re. 14. 13; 7. 13, 14.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. 1 Th. 4. 16; Mat. 16. 27.

As... the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity: and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Mat. 13. 40_42.

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. Is. 66. 15.-A certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adver saries. He. 10. 27.-For our God is a consuming fire. He. 12. 29.. The heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Pe. 3. 7; Re. 21. 8.- The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Ps. 9. 17; Ro. 1. 18, etc.-Tribulation_and_anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. Ro. 2. 9.

9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment. Mat. 25. 41, 46.-Suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 7.-He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever. Re. 14. 10, 11.

In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Ps. 16. 11.

They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Is. 2. 19.

10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. Eph. 3. 10.-What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy. 1 Th. 2. 19, 20.-Lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen : Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Re. 7.9 12.

11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. 2 Ti. 1. 9.-Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Lu. 12. 32.-Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Eph.

1. 5.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phi. 1. 6.-Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Pe. 1. 5.Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He. 12. 2.

12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am glorified in them. Jno. 17. 10.

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory. Jno. 17. 24.

Now

CHAPTER II.

OW we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. He. 10. 25.-The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Th. 4. 16, 17.

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be

troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 Jno. 4. 1.

He spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. Lu. 19. 11.-After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. Mat. 25. 19. As he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Mat. 24. 3_6.

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Mat. 24. 14.-Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 1 Co. 15. 24.— But now we see not yet all things put under him. He. 2. 8.

The seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged. Re. 11. 15-18.

We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Pe. 3. 13.

He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Ac. 17. 31.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Mat. 25. 31_34, 41; Re. 20; 21.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 1 Ti. 4. 1_3.-Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition. Jno. 17. 12; Re. 13. 11; 19. 20.

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Da. 7. 23-26; 11. 36; Re. 13. 1, 6.

The house of God, which is the church of the living God. 1 Ti. 3. 15.-Unto the church of God which is at Corinth. 1 Co. 1. 2.-Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said,

I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2 Co. 6. 16.

There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways. 2 Pe. 2. 1, 2.-Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1 Jno. 4. 3.

I saw a woman sit on a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Re. 17. 3_6.

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels. Col. 2. 18. Jno. 11. 48; 19. 12; Da. 7. 23-26.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. Da. 7. 10, 11.-He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. Is. 11. 4.

The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. He. 4. 12; Re. 2. 16. Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Re. 19. 15.

I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of

waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is

fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Re. 14. 6_8.Alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. Re. 18. 10, 21.

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

The magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. Ex. 8. 7.-There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Mat. 24. 24.-He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. Re. 13. 13.

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

It was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. Re. 9. 4.-All that dwell upon the earth shall wor ship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Re. 13. 8.

This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Jno. 3. 19.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

My people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Ps. 81. 11, 12.-As they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind. Ro. 1. 28.-If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Co. 4. 3, 4.

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

He that believeth not shall be damned. Mar. 16. 16.

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 1 Th. 1. 4. Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Ro. 8. 29, 30.-He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Eph. 1. 4.-Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. 1 Pe. 1. 2.-The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Ti. 2. 19.—Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth. Ja. 1. 18.

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 1 Th. 2. 12.-I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Ti. 2. 10.-The God of all grace, hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus. 1 Pe. 5. 10.-The glory which thou gavest me I have given them. Jno. 17. 22.

15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 1 Th. 3. 8.Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Co. 16. 13.-My brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. Phi. 4. 1.

I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 1 Co. 11. 2.