13) Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
14) We believe that Jesus died and rose again
and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15) According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord,
will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,
with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17) After that,
we who are still alive and are left
will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18) Therefore encourage each other with these words.
5:1) Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,
2) for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3) While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”
destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman,
and they will not escape.
4) But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
5) You are all sons of the light
and sons of the day.
We do not belong to the night
or to the darkness.
6) So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,
but let us be alert and self-controlled.
7) For those who sleep, sleep at night,
and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
8) But since we belong to the day,
let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
9) For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10) He died for us so that,
whether we are awake or asleep,
we may live together with him.
11) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Directions:
- Grab the closest Bible and verify that the text here is indeed the passage it is claimed to be. (or click here to open biblegateway.com in a new browser window) Nothing has been added or removed - nothing changed - not one word. The version shown is the NIV, but it could just as well be any version or language. The nature of the pattern remains.
- Hover your mouse cursor over a line of text to see it highlighted along with its companion element(s).
- Hover over a bar to see that group highlighted along with its companion group(s).
- If your cursor changes from an arrow to a hand, click to bring up comments about the shared theme. You can drag the little presentation window around to place it where you like.
- Meditate prayerfully on what you see, seeking insight about each pairing. How are the elements alike? How do they differ. Why are they paired?
- Yes, it really is what it appears to be. It is a supernatural phenomenon! Praise the Lord, who has blessed us with great favor in these last days! His handiwork is beyond compare! He has magnified His Word above all His name!
Bob Schlenker - www.theopenscroll.com > more structures