Thematic Bible: Coming of the lord jesus Christ


Thematic Bible





whosoever therefore shall be asham'd of me, and of my doctrine in this degenerate and corrupted age, of him likewise shall the son of man be asham'd, when he shall come with the glory of his father, accompanied with holy angels.

and that you, who are distress'd, should obtain your repose, together with us, when the Lord Jesus, with his angels, the ministers of his power, shall descend from heaven,

Of these did Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesy in these words, "see! the Lord is coming with ten thousand of his saints,

Now I would not have you, my brethren, be mistaken about the state of the dead, lest you should be as greatly afflicted as those, who have no hope. for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we must believe that God by Jesus will raise the dead, and assemble them with him. for one thing I have in charge to tell you from the Lord, that we, who shall be found still alive at the coming of the Lord, shall not get the advance of those that are dead: read more.
for the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and by the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet of God, resound the summons: they who died christians shall rise first: then we, who shall be still alive, shall be convey'd together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall ever be with the Lord. therefore comfort one another with this information.


Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkned, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. then shall that sign, the son of man in the clouds of heaven, appear: and all the tribes of the land shall mourn, and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. and he shall send his messengers, who with the shrill sound of a trumpet, shall gather together his select from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other.

Now after the time of that distress, the sun shall be dark, and the moon shall give no light: the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. then shall they see the son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory. read more.
then will he send his angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the remotest part of the earth, to the remotest part of heaven.

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse appear'd; and he that sat upon him was called the faithful and the true: in righteousness he judges and makes war: his eyes were as a flame of fire, on his head were many crowns: and a name inscrib'd which no one comprehended, but himself: he had a vesture dipt in blood: and his name is called, the logos of God. read more.
and the armies of heaven followed him upon white horses, cloathed in fine linnen, white and clean.


Now I would not have you, my brethren, be mistaken about the state of the dead, lest you should be as greatly afflicted as those, who have no hope. for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we must believe that God by Jesus will raise the dead, and assemble them with him. for one thing I have in charge to tell you from the Lord, that we, who shall be found still alive at the coming of the Lord, shall not get the advance of those that are dead: read more.
for the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and by the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet of God, resound the summons: they who died christians shall rise first: then we, who shall be still alive, shall be convey'd together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall ever be with the Lord. therefore comfort one another with this information.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkned, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. then shall that sign, the son of man in the clouds of heaven, appear: and all the tribes of the land shall mourn, and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. and he shall send his messengers, who with the shrill sound of a trumpet, shall gather together his select from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other.

Now after the time of that distress, the sun shall be dark, and the moon shall give no light: the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. then shall they see the son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory. read more.
then will he send his angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the remotest part of the earth, to the remotest part of heaven.


Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all the spiritual blessings in Christ's kingdom. according as he had chosen us in himself before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, free from vice, and devoted to virtue. having predetermin'd to adopt us by Jesus Christ to be his children, according to the good pleasure of his own will, read more.
to display the glory of his grace, which has render'd us acceptable by his beloved son: who has by his blood obtained for us the redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of his grace, out of the over-flowing treasures of his comprehensive wisdom and contrivance. for he has discover'd to us the secret of his will, that out of his meer good pleasure, he had purposed in himself, when the full time of the dispensation was come, to reduce all things both in heaven and on earth, under one head in Christ. It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it:

It is not necessary, my brethren, to specify the exact time: for you very well know, that the day of the Lord steals on like a thief in the night. whilst they flatter themselves with peace and safety, destruction shall fall upon them, like the pangs of a woman in travail, and they shall not escape. read more.
but you, my brethren, are too well inform'd to be surpriz'd by that day, as by a thief. you inherit the advantages of meridian light: we are not involv'd in the obscurity of night. therefore let us not sleep away our time like others, but be vigilant and temperate. they that are sober take their rest in the night, whilst they that are sots, are drunk in the night: but let us, who enjoy the light, be temperate; let us be arm'd with the breast-plate of faith and charity, and for an helmet, with the hope of salvation. for God did not design to make us the objects of his displeasure, but to effect our felicity by the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we happen to be alive or dead, we may be secure of living with him. wherefore comfort and edify one another, as you have hitherto done.

Now we conjure you, brethren, that with respect to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being assembled with him, you would not by any pretended revelation, by any discourse or epistle ascrib'd to us, be immediately perplex'd in your minds, or under any concern for the approach of the day of the Lord.


Now we conjure you, brethren, that with respect to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being assembled with him, you would not by any pretended revelation, by any discourse or epistle ascrib'd to us, be immediately perplex'd in your minds, or under any concern for the approach of the day of the Lord. don't be led into any mistake, because the previous rebellion does not yet appear, nor the man of sin throw off the disguise, that offspring of perdition: read more.
that adversary that exalts it self above the divine authority of majesty: that is seated in the temple of God, pretending to be it self divine. don't you remember, I told you this, when I was with you? and you know what hinders his throwing off the disguise at a time which he enjoys for the present. for the secret spirit of misrule is ready to break out as soon as the obstacle is taken away: and then the lawless will be discover'd, whom the Lord will extirpate by the spirit of his mouth, and at his glorious advent, will intirely abolish him, who by the instigation of satan will make his parade with various arts, with fallacious signs and prodigies, and with all the vile methods of imposture, to the ruin of those, who are averse to the truth, by which they might be saved. wherefore God will suffer a spirit of delusion to work them into the belief of a lye: to the condemnation of all those, who instead of embracing the gospel, had pleasure in iniquity.

As Jesus was going from the temple, his disciples came and desired him to take a view of the buildings. Jesus said to them, observe this vast structure, I tell you for certain, there shall not be any part of it left standing, but it shall be all thrown into ruins. And when he was upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to him in private, and said, tell us when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of this age? read more.
Jesus answered them, take care not to be deceived by any one: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ: and shall deceive many. ye shall hear likewise of wars, and rumours of wars: take care not to be disturb'd: for these things must happen, but the end of the Jewish age is not yet. for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. yet all this is but the beginning of sorrow. then shall they deliver you up to torments, and to death: and ye shall be hated by all nations upon my account. then shall many relapse, and shall pursue one another with mutual treachery and hatred. many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. and as iniquity becomes more flagrant, the zeal of many will grow cool. but he that shall persevere unto the end, shall be preserved. and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, to testify to all nations, that the end will then come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, mention'd by Daniel the prophet, stand about the holy place, (let him that readeth, consider it well) let those who are then in Judea, flee into the mountains, he that is on the battlements, let him not venture to go in to take any thing out of his house. if any man be in the field, let him not return back to take his coat. unhappy will they be that are with child, and they that give suck in those days. be sure to pray that your flight be not in the winter, nor on the sabbath-day: for the desolation will be so dreadful, the like was never seen since the beginning of the world, no, nor ever shall be again. for unless the time was to be short, very few could escape, but for the sake of the converts the time shall be short. Then if any shall cry, the Messiah is here, or he is there: give no credit to it. for there shall arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and shall shew such astonishing miracles and prodigies, as to deceive, if that can do it, the very converts themselves. remember, I have forewarn'd you. wherefore, if they shall say to you, now he is in the desert, do not stir: or now, he is in the secret chambers, believe them not. for as the lightning darts from the east in an instant to the west: such shall the advent of the son of man be. for whereever the carcase is, there will the eagles be assembled. Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkned, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. then shall that sign, the son of man in the clouds of heaven, appear: and all the tribes of the land shall mourn, and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. and he shall send his messengers, who with the shrill sound of a trumpet, shall gather together his select from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other. this may be illustrated by a comparison taken from a fig-tree: when the branches become tender, and push out their leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: in like manner, when ye shall see all these things happen, know that he is come to your very doors. I declare unto you, the present generation shall not cease, till all these things are pass'd. heaven and earth may fail, but my words shall never fail. As to the day and hour, that no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but the father only. as the days of Noe were, so shall also the advent of the son of man be. for as at the time that usher'd in the deluge, they were eating and drinking, marrying themselves and their children, till the day that Noe entred into the ark, having no thoughts of the flood till it came, and swept them all away; so shall also the advent of the son of man be. of two persons, who shall be then in the field, one shall be taken, and the other left. two women shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left. watch therefore, for ye know not at what hour your Lord shall come. but this you conceive, that if a man knew at what hour of the night the thief would come, he would set a watch, and not suffer his house to be broke open. therefore be ye also prepar'd: for the son of man may come at an hour you least expect.

As Jesus was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, see, master, what stone-work, and buildings are here. but Jesus answer'd him, you see this magnificent structure, which shall not be left till it be all demolished, one stone after another. and when he was sitting upon the mount of Olives over-against the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew said to him in private, tell us, read more.
when shall this happen? and what will be the sign that this is going to be accomplished? Jesus answer'd by saying, take care not to let any one impose upon you; for many shall come in my name, and say, I am the Messiah; and deceive many. but when ye shall hear the talk of wars, and the noise of wars, be not alarm'd; for that must happen; but the end is not yet. for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: there shall be earthquakes in divers places, famines and commotions. these are the beginning of sorrows. then look to your selves: for they will deliver you up to the tribunals, and scourge you in the synagogues: you will be brought before governours, and princes upon my account, to be my witnesses against them. but the gospel must first be published among all nations. now when they shall lead you to deliver you up, be not sollicitous about your defence, don't premeditate upon it; but what shall be suggested to you at the very occasion, that deliver: for it is not you that will plead, but the holy spirit. then the brother shall betray his brother to death, and the father his son: children shall prosecute their parents, and be the instruments to take away their lives: you will be the object of universal hatred upon my account; but he that shall persevere unto the end, shall be saved. Now when you shall see the-abomination of desolation, mentioned by the prophet Daniel, establish'd where it ought not to be (let the reader observe) then let those, who are in Judea, flee to the mountains: he that is upon the battlements let him not descend into the house, nor enter therein to take any thing away: let not him that is in the field return back to fetch his garment. unhappy the women who are pregnant, and those who nurse children at such a time. pray that your flight be not in the winter. for the distress of that time will be such as never happen'd since the beginning of the world, which God created, to this present, nor ever shall be. so that if the Lord should suffer it to last, no man could escape: but he will not suffer the time to last long, out of regard to his elect. Then if any one shall say to you, Christ is here, or, he is there, don't believe it. for false Christs, and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and prodigies, so as to seduce, if it were possible, even the very elect. be you therefore upon your guard: remember I have forewarned you against all events. Now after the time of that distress, the sun shall be dark, and the moon shall give no light: the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. then shall they see the son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory. then will he send his angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the remotest part of the earth, to the remotest part of heaven. Consider this similitude taken from a fig-tree: when its branch is yet tender, and pushes out its leaves, you know that summer is near: so when you shall see these things happen, know that he is nigh, even at your doors. I declare unto you, this generation shall not be extinct, till all these things be transacted.

Some having said of the temple, that the stone-work was fine, and the furniture magnificent: the time is coming, said he, when these buildings, which you now view, shall be all thrown down and lost in ruins. thereupon they said to him, master, when shall this happen? and by what sign shall we know that the event is coming? read more.
he answered, take care, that you be not seduced: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ. it won't be long e'er this happens, therefore do not follow them. And when ye shall hear of wars, and seditions, be not alarm'd. for these must first happen: but the end will not be so soon. then nation, said he, shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. great earthquakes, and famines, and pestilences shall happen in divers places: terrible appearances and surprizing prodigies shall be in the heavens. but before all these events, they will seize upon you and persecute you, drag you to the synagogues and to prisons, being accused before kings and governours, for professing my name. and that shall be one proof of the truth of your profession. fix it therefore in your mind, not to think beforehand about your defence. for I will make you speak with such strength of argument, as all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict or withstand. you will be betrayed even by your very parents, and brethren, and kindred, and friends. nay, some of you they will prosecute even to death. you will be hated by all mankind for professing my name, however a single hair of your head shall not be lost. by your perseverance you will save your souls. Now when you shall see Jerusalem invested by an army, then be assured that the desolation of it is nigh. then let those, who are in Judea, fly to the mountains: let those, who are in the city, march out, and those, who are without not venture in. for this is the time of vengeance, when all that is writ, shall be accomplished. wo to them that are with child, or to them that give suck in those days: for this will be a region of great distress, and wrath will pour down upon this people. by the destructive sword shall they fall, and be led into captivity among all nations: and Jerusalem shall be kept waste by the nations, as long as those nations shall subsist. there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon the earth distress of nations under confusion, the sea and the waves roaring. men dying with fear under the apprehension of those calamities, which are coming upon the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. and then shall they see the son of man come on a cloud, with power and great glory. now when these things begin to appear, then lift up your heads, and behold your redemption drawing nigh. Then by way of similitude, consider, said he, the fig-tree, and all the other trees; when they shoot out their buds, you know for certain that summer is coming on: in like manner, when you shall see these events, be assur'd that the kingdom of God is nigh. I tell it you for certain, this generation shall not pass away, till all these things are accomplished. heaven and earth shall fail sooner than my predictions shall fail. set a guard upon yourselves, that ye be not stupified by surfeiting and drunkenness, or by the disquietudes of this life, and so that day come upon you with a surprize. for like a snare, it shall surprize all the inhabitants of the earth. be therefore upon your guard, be constant in prayer, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all those future ills, and be able to stand in the presence of the son of God.


Now I would not have you, my brethren, be mistaken about the state of the dead, lest you should be as greatly afflicted as those, who have no hope. for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we must believe that God by Jesus will raise the dead, and assemble them with him. for one thing I have in charge to tell you from the Lord, that we, who shall be found still alive at the coming of the Lord, shall not get the advance of those that are dead: read more.
for the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and by the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet of God, resound the summons: they who died christians shall rise first: then we, who shall be still alive, shall be convey'd together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall ever be with the Lord. therefore comfort one another with this information.

But Christ is actually risen, as previous to those who were dead. for since by man came death, by man the resurrection of the dead will likewise come. for as by Adam all die, even so by Christ shall all be restored to life. read more.
but every one in proper order: Christ has the precedence, next they who were Christians shall rise at his advent.

If then you are risen with Christ, seek the things, that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. let the things above, and not such worldly matters be the object of your thoughts. for you are dead to them, and Christ has secured your life with God. read more.
Christ is your life, and when he shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.


The kingdom of the Messiah will then be such, as when ten virgins took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. five of them were wise, and five were foolish. they that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: read more.
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. while the bridegroom tarried, they were drowsy and slept. and at midnight there was a sudden cry, see the bridegroom comes; go and meet him. then the virgins all arose, and trimmed their lamps. and the foolish said to the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out. but the wise answered, for fear there should not be enough for us and you, go rather to those that sell; and buy for your selves. and while they were gone to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready, entred with him into the hall, and the door was shut. afterwards came the other virgins likewise, and cry'd, Lord, Lord, pray let us in. but he answered, I assure you, I know you not. watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.

be circumspect, be vigilant, and devout: because you are uncertain when that time will be. when a man travels into foreign parts, he leaves his goods in charge to his servants, he appoints to every one his task, and orders the porter to be vigilant, watch ye therefore (for you don't know when the master of the house will return; whether at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning) read more.
for fear by his sudden return he should surprize you sleeping. what I say to you, I say to all, be vigilant.

Let your loins be girt, and your lamps burning: imitate those servants who stand waiting for their master's return from the wedding, to let him in as soon as he comes to the door. happy those servants, whom the master at his arrival shall find thus watching: I assure you, he shall gird himself, and make them sit at table, and will come to serve them. read more.
happy are the servants he finds in such a state, whether it be at the second or at the third watch of the night, when he comes. if the master of a house knew at what hour the thief would come, no doubt he would be on his guard, and not suffer him to break into his house. be ye therefore likewise prepar'd; for the son of man will come, when you least expect him.

Their attention being raised by this, Jesus pursued his discourse with a parable, occasion'd by their thinking, that, because he was advanc'd so nigh to Jerusalem, the kingdom of God would immediately commence. a nobleman, said he, was going to travel to a foreign country, in order to have his kingdom confirm'd to him at his return. and he called ten of his servants, to whom he deliver'd ten pounds: improve that, said he, till I return. read more.
but he being hated by the citizens, after he was gone, they sent a deputation to court, to make this protest, "we will not have him for our king." upon his return, being confirm'd king, he order'd the servants, he had trusted with the money, to appear, and inform him, what improvement each of them had made. the first came and said, Lord, your one pound has gained ten more. he answer'd, honest servant, that's well: since your industry has made so much of so little, I give you the government of ten cities. then the second came, and said, Lord, your pound has produc'd five more. his master replied, you shall be governor of five cities. but another came and said, Lord, here's your money, which I laid up safe in a napkin. for I was in fear of you, knowing you to be a hard master, who exact what you never gave, and reap where you have never sown. wicked slave, said he, from your own mouth will I convict thee. "you knew I was a hard master, exacting what I never gave, and reaping where I never sowed: " why then did you not lodge my money in the bank, that on my return I might have drawn it out with interest? then he said to his attendants, take the one pound from him, and give it him, that gain'd ten. but they objected, Lord, he has already ten pounds: I tell you, said he, that to every one who improves, more shall be given: and he that makes no improvement, shall be stript of what he has. as for those enemies of mine, who would not have me for their king, bring them here, and slay them in my presence.

Then by way of similitude, consider, said he, the fig-tree, and all the other trees; when they shoot out their buds, you know for certain that summer is coming on: in like manner, when you shall see these events, be assur'd that the kingdom of God is nigh. read more.
I tell it you for certain, this generation shall not pass away, till all these things are accomplished. heaven and earth shall fail sooner than my predictions shall fail. set a guard upon yourselves, that ye be not stupified by surfeiting and drunkenness, or by the disquietudes of this life, and so that day come upon you with a surprize. for like a snare, it shall surprize all the inhabitants of the earth. be therefore upon your guard, be constant in prayer, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all those future ills, and be able to stand in the presence of the son of God.


And unto the angel of the church in Sardis, write, "THESE things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast the reputation of being alive, but art dead. be watchful, and fortify the rest that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. remember therefore what thou hast received and heard: observe it and repent. if therefore thou art not vigilant, I will come upon thee as a thief, thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkned, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. then shall that sign, the son of man in the clouds of heaven, appear: and all the tribes of the land shall mourn, and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. and he shall send his messengers, who with the shrill sound of a trumpet, shall gather together his select from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other. read more.
this may be illustrated by a comparison taken from a fig-tree: when the branches become tender, and push out their leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: in like manner, when ye shall see all these things happen, know that he is come to your very doors. I declare unto you, the present generation shall not cease, till all these things are pass'd. heaven and earth may fail, but my words shall never fail. As to the day and hour, that no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but the father only.


Consider this similitude taken from a fig-tree: when its branch is yet tender, and pushes out its leaves, you know that summer is near: so when you shall see these things happen, know that he is nigh, even at your doors. I declare unto you, this generation shall not be extinct, till all these things be transacted. read more.
heaven and earth shall fail, but my words shall never fail. as to the day and hour, that no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor even the son; but the father only. be circumspect, be vigilant, and devout: because you are uncertain when that time will be. when a man travels into foreign parts, he leaves his goods in charge to his servants, he appoints to every one his task, and orders the porter to be vigilant, watch ye therefore (for you don't know when the master of the house will return; whether at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning) for fear by his sudden return he should surprize you sleeping. what I say to you, I say to all, be vigilant.


And unto the angel of the church in Sardis, write, "THESE things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast the reputation of being alive, but art dead. be watchful, and fortify the rest that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. remember therefore what thou hast received and heard: observe it and repent. if therefore thou art not vigilant, I will come upon thee as a thief, thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

watch therefore, for ye know not at what hour your Lord shall come. but this you conceive, that if a man knew at what hour of the night the thief would come, he would set a watch, and not suffer his house to be broke open. therefore be ye also prepar'd: for the son of man may come at an hour you least expect. read more.
If then there be a servant, appointed by his master to take care of his family, who faithfully and prudently distributes their allowance according to the establishment: happy is the servant, who shall be found so employed, at his master's return. I tell you, he shall make him steward of all his estate. but if he be dishonest, and says to himself, my Lord delays coming, and shall pretend to assault his fellow-servants, and spend his time with sots: the master of that servant will come in a day when he least expects it, and at an hour he is not aware of; and shall turn him out of the family, and give him the reward due to such behaviour: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

be ye therefore likewise prepar'd; for the son of man will come, when you least expect him.


when a man travels into foreign parts, he leaves his goods in charge to his servants, he appoints to every one his task, and orders the porter to be vigilant, watch ye therefore (for you don't know when the master of the house will return; whether at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning)

Let not your heart be troubled: you trust in God, trust also in me. in my father's house are many mansions; however, I have told you, I am going to prepare a place for you: and when I am gone, and have prepar'd a place for you, I will come again, to take you with me, that where I am there ye may be also. read more.
and where I am going you know, and the way ye know. Thomas said to him, Lord, we know not whither you are going, how then can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man can come to the father, but by me.

now Jesus perceiving that they had a mind to ask him, said to them, are you sollicitous about what I said, "within a little while ye shall not see me: but within a little while ye shall see me again?" verily, verily I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. a woman when she is in travail, is afflicted at the approach of her pains: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, the remembrance of her anguish, is lost in her joy, that a man is born into the world. read more.
so you are afflicted at present: but I will see you again, and then shall your hearts be affected with joy, and your joy shall no one wrest from you.


Now we conjure you, brethren, that with respect to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being assembled with him, you would not by any pretended revelation, by any discourse or epistle ascrib'd to us, be immediately perplex'd in your minds, or under any concern for the approach of the day of the Lord. don't be led into any mistake, because the previous rebellion does not yet appear, nor the man of sin throw off the disguise, that offspring of perdition:

As for you, my brethren, bear your sufferings with constancy, till the advent of the Lord. the farmer, from the prospect of a golden crop, patiently expects the showers of the spring and the autumn. be you equally patient, and exercise your fortitude, for the advent of the Lord is nigh.


as the days of Noe were, so shall also the advent of the son of man be. for as at the time that usher'd in the deluge, they were eating and drinking, marrying themselves and their children, till the day that Noe entred into the ark, having no thoughts of the flood till it came, and swept them all away; so shall also the advent of the son of man be. read more.
of two persons, who shall be then in the field, one shall be taken, and the other left. two women shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left. watch therefore, for ye know not at what hour your Lord shall come. but this you conceive, that if a man knew at what hour of the night the thief would come, he would set a watch, and not suffer his house to be broke open. therefore be ye also prepar'd: for the son of man may come at an hour you least expect. If then there be a servant, appointed by his master to take care of his family, who faithfully and prudently distributes their allowance according to the establishment: happy is the servant, who shall be found so employed, at his master's return. I tell you, he shall make him steward of all his estate. but if he be dishonest, and says to himself, my Lord delays coming, and shall pretend to assault his fellow-servants, and spend his time with sots: the master of that servant will come in a day when he least expects it, and at an hour he is not aware of; and shall turn him out of the family, and give him the reward due to such behaviour: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

the same thing shall happen in the son of man's time as did in Noah's days. eating and drinking, marriages and matches was the business till the very day that Noah entred into the ark, when the flood came and overwhelm'd them all. and as it was in the days of Lot, they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building: read more.
but the very day that Lot went out of Sodom, a storm of lightning and thunder fell from heaven and destroy'd them all. even thus shall it be in the day when the son of man shall appear. then let not him that is on the house-top venture down to secure his furniture: and he that is in the field, let him not return back. remember Lot's wife. he that seeks to save his life, will expose it; and he that exposes his life, will preserve it. I tell you, that of two persons lying in the same bed that night, the one shall be taken, and the other left. two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken, and the other left: two men shall be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left. then they ask'd him, where, Lord, will this happen? he reply'd, wherever the carcase is, there will the eagles hover together.


to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who being sanctified by Christ Jesus, are saints by that vocation, to all that any where invoke the name of Jesus Christ, who is both their Lord and ours. grace and peace be with you from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I continually give thanks to God on your behalf, for the favour he has bestowed on you thro' Jesus Christ; read more.
in your being enriched by him in every gift, with all that light and knowledge, whereby the testimony we gave concerning Christ was confirmed among you. so that you will be deficient in no gift; during your expectation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: and God will confirm you to the end, that ye may be unaccused in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. for he, who has called you to the communication of his son Jesus Christ our Lord, will make good his promise.


who is so great an impostor as he, who denies that Jesus is the Christ? he is antichrist, that denies the father and the son. whosoever denieth the son, disowns the father: adhere therefore to what ye have learnt from the beginning. if you adhere to what ye have heard from the beginning, you will still persist to own both the son and the father. read more.
and this is the reward that he hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written to you concerning those that would seduce you. but as the unction which ye have received from him, abides in you, you don't need any instruction: being then fully instructed by his unction, which is true and not fallacious, adhere to what that has taught you. adhere to that, my dear children, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.


This is the second letter I now write to you, my brethren, by which I would awaken your sincere attention, by admonishing you to be mindful of the predictions of the holy prophets, and of the directions of the apostles of our Lord and Saviour. Above all things you are to know, that in these last times, impostors will appear, who will abandon themselves to their own sensual passions, whose cry will be, read more.
"where is the promise of his coming? for since our fathers are dead, the state of things is the same it has ever been since the beginning of the world." but they are wilfully ignorant, that the heavens were originally form'd by the divine Logos, and likewise the earth, which was separated from the water, and still subsists upon it. whence the former world was destroyed by an inundation. but the heavens and the earth now existing are kept in store by his Logos, reserv'd for the conflagration of doomsday, when the impious shall be involv'd in perdition.