and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts.

to live a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men,

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming?

not in the passion of lust like the heathen, who do not know God;

Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

But we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

Then we who are alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him.

But we ask you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.