The Lord will come suddenly
1Friends, we do not need to write to you and tell you exactly when and how the Lord will come. 2You know very well that the day_of_the_Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3The people will say: ‘There is peace and we are safe.’ But then suddenly very bad things will happen to them. They will have a lot of trouble and pain like the pains of a woman who is having a baby. People will not be able to run away and flee from it. 4But friends, you don't live in the dark. You know how to live. You will be ready when the day_of_the_Lord comes. It will not come to you like a thief.
5All of you are people who love the light and love to work in the day. We don't live like sinful people who love the night and the dark. 6That is why we must not sleep like people who do not believe in Christ. We must be like people who are awake, like people who are not drunk. 7People who sleep go to sleep at night and people who get drunk are drunk at night. 8But we who love the daylight must not be like drunk people. We must put on clothes to protect us, like a soldier puts on when he goes to war. We must put on strong clothes that God gives us. He gives us armour and a helmet. The armour helps us to keep on believing and loving other people. The helmet helps us to keep on hoping that God will save us when Jesus Christ comes again.
9God does not want to punish us when Jesus Christ comes again. No, God wants to reward us. He wants our Lord Jesus Christ to save us. 10It does not_matter if we are still_alive or if we are dead when He comes again. He died to save us and that is why we will also live with Him. 11That is why you must encourage each other to be strong and help each other to grow stronger in faith, like you already do.
Paul says a few last things to the believers
12Friends, we ask you to respect the leaders who are working hard among you. Yes, respect those who teach you and tell you how to live for the Lord. 13You must respect your leaders and really love them because they are doing important work. Live peacefully with each other. 14Friends, we beg you to warn the people who are lazy. Help the people who are easily discouraged and encourage them. Help the people who do not believe strongly and be patient with everyone. 15If someone has done bad things to you, then you must not do bad things to him. You must make sure that no one does that. You must always try to do good things for each other and for everyone.
16You must always rejoice, 17and do not stop praying. 18You must always be thankful and thank the Lord, no_matter what happens. This is what God wants you to do because you believe in Jesus Christ.
19Do not try to stop the Holy_Spirit from working in you. 20Do not stop a prophet who is talking about God. Don't think that a prophet is unimportant. 21Do not believe everything that people say, but test everything that they say and find out if it really is what God wants. Then you will know what is good. 22Stay away from everything that is bad.
Paul's last greetings
23We pray that God, who gives peace, will make you pure so that you belong to Him only and that you will always do what He wants. We also pray that when our Lord Jesus Christ comes, you will be completely pure, in your spirit, your heart and your body. Then no one will be able to accuse you. 24God has chosen you to be his people and He always does what He has promised.
25Friends, you must please pray for us.
26Greet all the believers with a kiss that shows that you all belong to Christ. 27You must promise me, and the Lord must be your Witness, that you will read this letter to all the believers.
28I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will be gracious to you.
