Scripture quotations ESV
One–sentence explainer: Jesus promises to keep His faithful from the worldwide hour of trial, and to suddenly raise and translate His people “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” Be ready.
“You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:40)
[32] From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. [33] So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. [34] Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. [35] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. [36] But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. [37] For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [38] For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, [39] and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [40] Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. [41] Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. [42] Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. [43] But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. [44] Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Note: Many understand the fig tree as Israel’s revival; others take it as a general lesson in recognizing prophetic seasons. Either way: watch.
[10] Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. [11] I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. [12] The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. [13] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Notes: “Keep you from” (tērēsō ek) reads as exemption out of, not merely protection through. “Those who dwell on the earth” is Revelation’s phrase for the world’s settled unbelievers (cf. Rev 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:2, 8).
Leviticus 23 presents the appointed feasts (moedim), God’s calendar of redemption. The spring feasts picture Messiah’s first coming; the fall feasts pattern the consummation, with a long interval between (fitting the church age).
Passover (Lev 23:5) → Christ our Passover (1 Cor 5:7)
Unleavened Bread (23:6–8) → sin removed/set‑apart life
Firstfruits (23:9–14) → Christ the firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Cor 15:20)
Weeks/Pentecost (23:15–22) → Spirit outpoured, firstfruits harvest (Acts 2)
Trumpets (23:23–25) → memorial of blowing (teru‘ah); resurrection/assembly imagery (1 Thess 4:16–17; 1 Cor 15:52) without date‑setting
Day of Atonement (23:26–32) → Israel’s future national repentance/cleansing (Zech 12:10; Rom 11:26–27)
Tabernacles (23:33–43) → ingathering/joy; God dwelling with His people (Zech 14:16; Rev 21:3)
Takeaway: The Feasts supply pattern, not a scheduling code. The command remains: watch, be ready, hold fast.
[4:13] But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. [15] For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words.
[5:1] Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. [2] For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. [3] While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. [4] But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. [5] For you are all children of light, children of the day… [8] But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. [9] For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ… [11] Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.
[51] Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. [53] For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
Note on “last trumpet”: Paul’s “last trumpet” is best read in its own context, not as Revelation’s seventh trumpet (mid‑trib). Many connect it to Numbers 10: the first trumpet assembles; the last signals the journey—fitting resurrection then translation.
[Rev 4:1] After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” … [4] Around the throne were twenty‑four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty‑four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads… [5] before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God…
[Isa 11:2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD…
Note: Many see the twenty‑four elders as a heavenly representation of the redeemed before the tribulation (cf. white garments/crowns), and the Seven Spirits as the Spirit’s sevenfold fullness (Isa 11).
[Matt 25:1–13] Ten virgins; five wise with oil, five foolish without. At midnight the cry goes out; the ready enter the marriage feast; the door is shut. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
[Matt 7:21–23] Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter, but he who does the will of the Father. To some Jesus will say, “I never knew you.” Fruit, not hype, marks reality.
[Luke 12:35–40] Stay dressed for action, lamps burning; the Son of Man comes like a thief—be ready.
Two‑stage pattern: Christ for His saints (translation, 1 Thess 4; 1 Cor 15) vs with His saints (revelation to earth, Matt 24; Rev 19).
Imminency: The church watches for Christ, not Antichrist (Phil 3:20; Titus 2:13; 1 Thess 1:10).
Wrath exemption: 1 Thess 5:9 aligns with Rev 3:10’s keeping from the worldwide hour of trial.
Interval needed: Bema (2 Cor 5:10), marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7–10), and millennial population (Isa 65:20–25) imply a gap between translation and revelation.
Church/Israel distinction: The church is a mystery body (Eph 3), while Daniel’s 70th week concerns Israel/Jerusalem (Dan 9:24–27).
Aim of the warnings: not to steal assurance, but to kill presumption and fuel holiness (1 John 3:3).
Repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; 16:31).
Be baptized and abide in Scripture and prayer (Acts 2:41–42; John 8:31–32).
Belong to a church that treats the Bible as final authority—adding nothing, subtracting nothing (Deut 4:2; Rev 22:18–19).
Watch, work, and encourage one another as children of the day (1 Thess 5:4–11).
Translation: All Scripture quotations are ESV (© Crossway).
“Christ” = “Messiah”: Christos (Gk.) = Mashiach (Heb.) = Anointed One, Israel’s Messiah and Savior of the world (John 4:22).
“Caught up”: 1 Thess 4:17’s harpazō = to seize/snatch up; Latin rapere → English rapture.
“Last trumpet”: See Num 10 (assembly/journeying). Paul calls this a mystery (1 Cor 15:51), distinguishing it from Revelation’s seventh trumpet.
“Those who dwell on the earth”: Revelation’s refrain for settled unbelievers (Rev 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:2, 8).
Seven Spirits: The Spirit’s sevenfold fullness (Isa 11:2).
Assurance vs presumption: True believers are kept by God’s power (1 Pet 1:5) and demonstrate life by persevering in faith and obedience (Heb 10:36–39).
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.