²⁸ “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming^(A) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹ and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.^(B)

⁶² “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^(A)

² Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(A)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We ought always to thank God for you,^(B) brothers and sisters,^[a] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.^{(C) 4} Therefore, among God’s churches we boast^(D) about your perseverance and faith^(E) in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.^(F)

⁵ All this is evidence^(G) that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy^(H) of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. ⁶ God is just:^(I) He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you^{(J) 7} and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven^(K) in blazing fire^(L) with his powerful angels.^{(M) 8} He will punish^(N) those who do not know God^(O) and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^{(P) 9} They will be punished with everlasting destruction^(Q) and shut out from the presence of the Lord^(R) and from the glory of his might^{(S) 10} on the day^(T) he comes to be glorified^(U) in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.^(V)

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,^(A) the firstborn from the dead,^(B) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.^(C)

To him who loves us^(D) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,^{(E) 6} and has made us to be a kingdom and priests^(F) to serve his God and Father^(G)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.^(H)

⁴ I saw thrones^(A) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.^(B) And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded^(C) because of their testimony about Jesus^(D) and because of the word of God.^(E) They^[a] had not worshiped the beast^(F) or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.^(G) They came to life and reigned^(H) with Christ a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.^(I)