O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the
works of the devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of
eternal life: Grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope,
we may purify ourselves, even as he is pure; that, when he shall
appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto
him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father,
and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth, ever one God,
world without end. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. 1 St John iii. 1.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that
we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth
us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that,
when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as
he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also
the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that
he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not
seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive
you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is
righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil
sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xxiv. 23.
When if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or
there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and
false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch
that (if it were possible) they shall deceive the very elect.
Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore, if they shall say unto
you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: Behold, he is in
the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh
out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also
the coming of the Son of Man be. For wheresoever the carcase is,
there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon
shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven,
and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall
appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all
the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man
coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And
he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they
shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end
of heaven to the other.