489 : Paul Writes To The Thessalosians
"To the church of the Thessalonians: Grace be unto you,
and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.
We remember without ceasing your work of faith
and how you became followers of us and of the Lord.
Having received the word in much affiiction, you were examples to all that believe,
in Macedonia and Achaia.
"For yourselves, brethren, know that our coming to you was not in vain.
Even after we had suffered and were shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi,
our God made us bold to speak to you of his gospel in the face of much opposition.
"Then we, brothers, being taken from you-in person, not in heart-tried
all the more to see you again.
We would have come to you-I, Paul,
again and again-but Satan prevented us.
Therefore we sent Timothy,
our brother and minister of God and our fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ,
to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith.
"Now as touching brotherly love, you do not need me to write you,
for you yourselves were taught by God to love one another-but we beseech you,
brethren, that you increase in this more and more.
"But I would not have you ignorant concerning those who sleep in death,
that you sorrow not like those who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
so also will God bring with him those who sleep in Jesus.
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Then we who 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.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Amen."
( Link to free online Bible to view where this event takes place in the Bible )
