God,
continued (4) related
links
Note: Scripture contained in this section is
but a small sampling of those passages which contain the word
"God". This section may not include other
references to God, such as "Father", "Lord",
"Holy Spirit", "Jesus", etc. |
This
topic continued from previous page - Click here to view
Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit
the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor practicing
homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. That is
what some of you used to be; but now you have had yourselves
washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
[1COR 6:9-11]
"Everything is lawful for me," but not
everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful for me,"
but I will not let myself be dominated by anything. "Food for
the stomach and the stomach for food," but God will do away
with both the one and the other. The body, however, is not for
immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body; God
raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not
know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take
Christ's members and make them the members of a prostitute? Of
course not! (Or) do you not know that anyone who joins himself to
a prostitute becomes one body with her? For "the two,"
it says, "will become one flesh." But whoever is joined
to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Avoid immorality. Every
other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral
person sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God,
and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a
price. Therefore, glorify God in your body. [1COR 6:12-20]
But if one loves God, one is known by him. [1COR
8:3]
No trial has come to you but what is human. God
is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength;
but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may
be able to bear it. [1COR 10:13]
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do everything for the glory of God. [1COR 10:31]
But I want you to know that Christ is the head
of every man, and a husband the head of his wife, and God the head
of Christ. Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered
brings shame upon his head. But any woman who prays or prophesies
with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head, for it is one
and the same thing as if she had had her head shaved. For if a
woman does not have her head veiled, she may as well have her hair
cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut
off or her head shaved, then she should wear a veil. A man, on the
other hand, should not cover his head, because he is the image and
glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come
from woman, but woman from man; nor was man created for woman, but
woman for man; for this reason a woman should have a sign of
authority on her head, because of the angels. Woman is not
independent of man or man of woman in the Lord. For just as woman
came from man, so man is born of woman; but all things are from
God. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God
with her head unveiled? Does not nature itself teach you that if a
man wears his hair long it is a disgrace to him, whereas if a
woman has long hair it is her glory, because long hair has been
given (her) for a covering? But if anyone is inclined to be
argumentative, we do not have such a custom, nor do the churches
of God. [1COR 11:3-16]
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but
the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same
Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces
all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of
the Spirit is given for some benefit. [1COR 12:4-7]
Some people God has designated in the church to
be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then,
mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration,
and varieties of tongues. [1COR 12:28]
He is not the God of disorder but of
peace. [Taken from 1COR 14:33]
The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for
"he subjected everything under his feet." But when it
says that everything has been subjected, it is clear that it
excludes the one who subjected everything to him. When everything
is subjected to him, then the Son himself will (also) be subjected
to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all
in all. [1COR 15:26-28]
Become sober as you ought and stop sinning. For
some have no knowledge of God; I say this to your shame. [1COR
15:34]
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who
encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to
encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement
with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ's
sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our
encouragement also overflow. [2COR 1:3-5]
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of
the affliction that came to us in the province of Asia; we were
utterly weighed down beyond our strength, so that we despaired
even of life. Indeed, we had accepted within ourselves the
sentence of death, that we might trust not in ourselves but in God
who raises the dead. He rescued us from such great danger of
death, and he will continue to rescue us; in him we have put our
hope (that) he will also rescue us again, as you help us with
prayer, so that thanks may be given by many on our behalf for the
gift granted us through the prayers of many. [2COR 1:8-11]
You are our letter, written on our hearts, known
and read by all, shown to be a letter of Christ administered by
us, written not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on
tablets of stone but on tablets that are hearts of flesh. Such
confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that of
ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming
from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed
qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of
spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life. [2COR
3:2-6]
Therefore, since we have this ministry through
the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged. Rather, we have
renounced shameful, hidden things; not acting deceitfully or
falsifying the word of God, but by the open declaration of the
truth we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight
of God. And even though our gospel is veiled, it is veiled for
those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this age has
blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they may not see the
light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of
God. For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and
ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus. For God who said,
"Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our
hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the
face of (Jesus) Christ.
[2COR 4:1-6]
For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a
tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling
not made with hands, eternal in heaven. [2COR 5:1]
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the
old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all
this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was
reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their
trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of
reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were
appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be
reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not
know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
[2COR 5:17-21]
Working together, then, we appeal to you not to
receive the grace of God in vain. [2COR 6:1]
Do not be yoked with those who are different,
with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and
lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with
darkness? What accord has Christ with Beliar? Or what has a
believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement has the
temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living
God; as God said: "I will live with them and move among
them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.
Therefore, come forth from them and be separate," says
the Lord, "and touch nothing unclean; then I will
receive you and I will be a father to you, and you shall be
sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." [2COR 6:14-18]
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us
cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit,
making holiness perfect in the fear of God. [2COR 7:1]
But God, who encourages the downcast, encouraged
us by the arrival of Titus [Taken from 2COR 7:6]
Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also
reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness
or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is
able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things,
always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every
good work. As it is written: "He scatters abroad, he gives to
the poor; his righteousness endures forever." The one
who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and
multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which
through us produces thanksgiving to God, for the administration of
this public service is not only supplying the needs of the holy
ones but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God.
Through the evidence of this service, you are glorifying God for
your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ and the
generosity of your contribution to them and to all others, while
in prayer on your behalf they long for you, because of the
surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his
indescribable gift! [2COR 9:6-15]
For, although we are in the flesh, we do not
battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our battle are
not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying
fortresses. We destroy arguments and every pretension raising
itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought
captive in obedience to Christ, and we are ready to punish every
disobedience, once your obedience is complete. [2COR 10:3-6]
As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed! Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of
Christ. [GAL 1:9-10]
For through faith you are all children of God in
Christ Jesus. [GAL 3:26]
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent
his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those
under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that
you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave
but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. [GAL
4:4-7]
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds,
rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies,
and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who
do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [GAL 5:19-21]
Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows, because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit. Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.
[GAL 6:7-9]
To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this
grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches
of Christ, and to bring to light (for all) what is the plan of the
mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so
that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through
the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. [EPH
3:8-10]
I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to
live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all
humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another
through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through
the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also
called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one
baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through
all and in all. [EPH 4:1-6]
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with
which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness,
fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you,
along with all malice. (And) be kind to one another,
compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in
Christ. [EPH 4:30-32]
So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and
live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as
a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or
any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is
fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk,
which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this,
that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater,
has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no
one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things
the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be
associated with them. [EPH 5:1-7]
And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,
giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
[EPH 5:18-20]
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and
from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be
able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our
struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities,
with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness,
with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor
of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having
done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your
loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a
breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of
peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all
(the) flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of
salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
[EPH 6:10-17]
And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
[PHIL 1:9-11]
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the
gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am
absent, I may hear news of you, that you are standing firm in one
spirit, with one mind struggling together for the faith of the
gospel, not intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is
proof to them of destruction, but of your salvation. And this is
God's doing. For to you has been granted, for the sake of Christ,
not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him. Yours is
the same struggle as you saw in me and now hear about me. [PHIL
1:27-30]
Have among yourselves the same attitude that is
also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of
God, did not regard equality with God something to be
grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a
slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in
appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to
death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly
exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of
those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. [PHIL 2:5-11]
So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always
been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am
absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling . For God
is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire
and to work. Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that
you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you
shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of
life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not
run in vain or labor in vain. [PHIL 2:12-16]
Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it
again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is
near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then
the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is
true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any
excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about
these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and
heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with
you. [PHIL 4:4-9]
Therefore, from the day we heard this, we do not
cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the
knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and
understanding to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be
fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in
the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord
with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy
giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the
inheritance of the holy ones in light. He delivered us from the
power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved
Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. [COL 1:9-14]
He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in
heaven and on earth, the visible and the
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or
powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is
before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is
the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might
be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace
by the blood of his cross (through him), whether those on earth or
those in heaven. [COL 1:15-20]
If then you were raised with Christ, seek what
is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think
of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and
your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life
appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. Put to death,
then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity,
passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Because of
these the wrath of God is coming (upon the disobedient).
[COL 3:1-6]
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and
beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if
one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you,
so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the
bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your
hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And
be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all
wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns,
and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And
whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. [COL
3:12-17]
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our
reception among you was not without effect. Rather, after we had
suffered and been insolently treated, as you know, in Philippi, we
drew courage through our God to speak to you the gospel of God
with much struggle. Our exhortation was not from delusion or
impure motives, nor did it work through deception. But as we were
judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the gospel, that is how
we speak, not as trying to please human beings, but rather God,
who judges our hearts. Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with
flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed - God
is witness - nor did we seek praise from human beings, either from
you or from others, although we were able to impose our weight as
apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing
mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we
were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but
our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.
You recall, brothers, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day
in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel
of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly
and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers. As you know, we
treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting
and encouraging you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as
worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. [1THES
2:1-12]
Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort
you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should
conduct yourselves to please God - and as you are conducting
yourselves - you do so even more. For you know what instructions we
gave you through the Lord Jesus. [1THES 4:1-2]
This is the will of God, your holiness: that you
refrain from immorality, that each of you know how to acquire a
wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion as
do the Gentiles who do not know God; not to take advantage of or
exploit a brother in this matter, for the Lord is an avenger in
all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed. For
God did not call us to impurity but to holiness. Therefore,
whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who
(also) gives his Holy Spirit to you. [1THES 4:3-8]
But since we are of the day, let us be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that
is hope for salvation. For God did not destine us for wrath, but
to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us,
so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with
him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as
indeed you do.
[1THES 5:8-11]
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is
the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. [1THES 5:18]
Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the
churches of God regarding your endurance and faith in all your
persecutions and the afflictions you endure. This is evidence of
the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of
the kingdom of God for which you are suffering. For it is surely
just on God's part to repay with afflictions those who are
afflicting you, and to grant rest along with us to you who are
undergoing afflictions, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from
heaven with his mighty angels, in blazing fire, inflicting
punishment on those who do not acknowledge God and on those who do
not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty
of eternal ruin, separated from the presence of the Lord and from
the glory of his power, when he comes to be glorified among his
holy ones and to be marveled at on that day among all who have
believed, for our testimony to you was believed. [2THES 1:4-10]
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at
work. But the one who restrains is to do so only for the present,
until he is removed from the scene. And then the lawless one will
be revealed, whom the Lord (Jesus) will kill with the breath of
his mouth and render powerless by the manifestation of his coming,
the one whose coming springs from the power of Satan in every
mighty deed and in signs and wonders that lie, and in every wicked
deceit for those who are perishing because they have not accepted
the love of truth so that they may be saved. Therefore, God is
sending them a deceiving power so that they may believe the lie,
that all who have not believed the truth but have approved
wrongdoing may be condemned.
[2THES 2:7-12]
First of all, then, I ask that supplications,
prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for
kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and
pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to
come to knowledge of the truth. [1TM 2:1-4]
Similarly, (too,) women should adorn themselves with proper
conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes, but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds.
[1TM 2:9-10]
I am writing you about these matters, although I hope to visit you soon. But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.
[1TM 3:14-15]
For everything created by God is good, and
nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the invocation of God in
prayer. [1TM 4:4-5]
Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let these first learn to perform their religious duty to their own family and to make recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing to God.
[1TM 5:3-4]
For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power
and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony
to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your
share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from
God. [2TM 1:6-8]
Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to
God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth
without deviation. Avoid profane, idle talk, for such people will
become more and more godless, and their teaching will spread like
gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have deviated
from the truth by saying that (the) resurrection has already taken
place and are upsetting the faith of some. Nevertheless, God's
solid foundation stands, bearing this inscription, "The Lord
knows those who are his"; and, "Let everyone who calls
upon the name of the Lord avoid evil." [2TM 2:15-19]
But understand this: there will be terrifying
times in the last days. People will be self-centered and lovers of
money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous,
licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless,
conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, as they
make a pretense of religion but deny its power. Reject them. [2TM
3:1-5]
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful
for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent,
equipped for every good work. [2TM 3:16-17]
Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith of God's chosen ones and the recognition
of religious truth, in the hope of eternal life that God, who does
not lie, promised before time began, who indeed at the proper time
revealed his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
by the command of God our savior, to Titus, my true child in our
common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus
our savior. [TI 1:1-4]
They claim to know God, but by their deeds they
deny him. They are vile and disobedient and unqualified for any
good deed. [TI 1:16]
I want you to insist
on these points, that those who have believed in God be careful to
devote themselves to good works; these are excellent and
beneficial to others. [Taken from TI 3:8]
In times past, God spoke in partial and various
ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he
spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and
through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his
glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains
all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished
purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of
the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the
name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. [HEB 1:1-4]
Therefore, we must attend all the more to what
we have heard, so that we may not be carried away. For if the word
announced through angels proved firm, and every transgression and
disobedience received its just recompense, how shall we escape if
we ignore so great a salvation? Announced originally through the
Lord, it was confirmed for us by those who had heard. God added
his testimony by signs, wonders, various acts of power, and
distribution of the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his
will. [HEB 2:1-4]
Every house is founded by someone, but the
founder of all is God. [HEB 3:4]
Take care, brothers, that none of you may have
an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God.
Encourage yourselves daily while it is still "today," so
that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have
become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the
reality firm until the end [Taken from HEB 3:12-14]
Therefore, a sabbath rest still remains for the
people of God. And whoever enters into God's rest, rests from his
own works as God did from his. Therefore, let us strive to enter
into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of
disobedience. Indeed, the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul
and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and
thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but
everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must
render an account. [HEB 4:9-13]
Every high priest is taken from among men and
made their representative before God, to offer gifts and
sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the
ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so,
for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as
for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when
called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not
Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but
rather the one who said to him: "You are my
son; this day I have begotten you"; just as he says in
another place: "You are a priest forever according to
the order of Melchizedek." [HEB 5:1-6]
Human beings swear by someone greater than
themselves; for them an oath serves as a guarantee and puts an end
to all argument. So when God wanted to give the heirs of his
promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his
purpose, he intervened with an oath, so that by two immutable
things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have
taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope
that lies before us. [HEB 6:16-18]
Therefore, he is always able to save those who
approach God through him, since he lives forever to make
intercession for them. [HEB 7:25]
We should not stay away from our assembly, as is
the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the
more as you see the day drawing near. If we sin deliberately after
receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains
sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a
flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries. Anyone who
rejects the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the
testimony of two or three witnesses. Do you not think that a much
worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of
God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was
consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace? We know the one who
said: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay," and
again: "The Lord will judge his people." It is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Remember
the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a
great contest of suffering. At times you were publicly exposed to
abuse and affliction; at other times you associated yourselves
with those so treated. You even joined in the sufferings of those
in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property,
knowing that you had a better and lasting possession. Therefore,
do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense.
You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has
promised. "For, after just a brief moment, he who is to come
shall come; he shall not delay. But my just one shall live by
faith, and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him." [HEB
10:25-38]
By faith we understand that the universe was
ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into
being through the invisible. [HEB 11:3]
But without faith it is impossible to please
him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and
that he rewards those who seek him. [HEB 11:6]
But now they desire a better homeland, a
heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their
God, for he has prepared a city for them. [HEB 11:16]
God had foreseen something better for us, so
that without us they should not be made perfect. [HEB 11:40]
Endure your trials as "discipline";
God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his
father does not discipline? [HEB 12:7]
Therefore, we who are receiving the unshakable
kingdom should have gratitude, with which we should offer worship
pleasing to God in reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire. [HEB
12:28-29]
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you
have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind. [HEB 13:16]
But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask
God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be
given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one
who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed
about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will
receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds,
unstable in all his ways. [JMS 1:5-8]
No one experiencing temptation should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
[JMS 1:13-15]
Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear,
slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.
[JMS 1:19-20]
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not
bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is
this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to
keep oneself unstained by the world. [JMS 1:26-27]
Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose
those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of
the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? [JMS 2:5]
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he
has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a
brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat
well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have
works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and
I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. You believe
that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and
tremble. Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without
works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith
was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the
works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham
believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"
and he was called "the friend of God." See how a person
is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way,
was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed
the messengers and sent them out by a different route? For just as
a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is
dead. [JMS 2:14-26]
Adulterers! Do you not know that to be a lover
of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be
a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God. [JMS 4:4]
So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near
to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts,
you of two minds. Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your
laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. [JMS 4:7-10]
Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit,
insincerity, envy, and all slander; like newborn infants, long for
pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grow into
salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him,
a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious
in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be
built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For
it says in scripture: "Behold, I am laying a stone in
Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever
believes in it shall not be put to shame." Therefore, its
value is for you who have faith, but for those without
faith: "The stone which the builders rejected has
become the cornerstone," and "A stone that will
make people stumble, and a rock that will make them
fall." They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their
destiny. But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the
praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light. Once you were "no people" but now
you are God's people; you "had not received
mercy" but now you have received mercy. [1PT 2:1-10]
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to
keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul.
Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of
you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God
on the day of visitation. Be subject to every human institution
for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme or to
governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the
approval of those who do good. For it is the will of God that by
doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people. Be
free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as
slaves of God. Give honor to all, love the community, fear God,
honor the king. [1PT 2:11-17]
For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust
suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace. But
what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing
wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is
good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been
called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an
example that you should follow in his footsteps. [1PT 2:19-21]
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if
that be the will of God, than for doing evil. For Christ also
suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the
unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the
flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit. In it he also went to
preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient
while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building
of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved
through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is
not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a
clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who
has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels,
authorities, and powers subject to him. [1PT 3:17-22]
Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh,
arm yourselves also with the same attitude (for whoever suffers in
the flesh has broken with sin), so as not to spend what remains of
one's life in the flesh on human desires, but on the will of God. [1PT
4:1-2]
As each one has received a gift, use it to serve
one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of
God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God
supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus
Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
[1PT 4:10-11]
If you are insulted for the name of Christ,
blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon
you. [1PT 4:14]
For it is time for the judgment to begin with
the household of God; if it begins with us, how will it end for
those who fail to obey the gospel of God? "And if the
righteous one is barely saved, where will the godless and the
sinner appear?" As a result, those who suffer in accord with
God's will hand their souls over to a faithful creator as they do
good. [1PT 4:17-19]
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
(overseeing) not by constraint but willingly, as God would have
it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. [1PT 5:2]
Likewise, you younger members, be subject to
the presbyters. And all of you, clothe yourselves with
humility in your dealings with one another,
for: "God opposes the proud but bestows favor on
the humble." So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of
God, that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your worries upon
him because he cares for you. Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent
the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for
(someone) to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that
your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same
sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to his eternal
glory through Christ (Jesus) will himself restore, confirm,
strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. To
him be dominion forever. Amen. [1PT 5:5-11]
Know this first of all, that in the last days
scoffers will come (to) scoff, living according to their own
desires and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? From
the time when our ancestors fell asleep, everything has remained
as it was from the beginning of creation." They deliberately
ignore the fact that the heavens existed of old and earth was
formed out of water and through water by the word of God; through
these the world that then existed was destroyed, deluged with
water. The present heavens and earth have been reserved by the
same word for fire, kept for the day of judgment and of
destruction of the godless. But do not ignore this one fact,
beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a
thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise,
as some regard "delay," but he is patient with you, not
wishing that any should perish but that all should come to
repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and
then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the
elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything
done on it will be found out. Since everything is to be dissolved
in this way, what sort of persons ought (you) to be, conducting
yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the
coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be
dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. [2PT 3:3-12]
Now this is the message that we have heard from
him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no
darkness at all. If we say, "We have fellowship with
him," while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do
not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the
light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of
his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, "We are
without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will
forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say,
"We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word
is not in us. [1JN 1:5-10]
The way we may be sure that we know him is to
keep his commandments. Whoever says, "I know him," but
does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in
him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly
perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union
with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to live (just) as
he lived. [1JN 2:3-6]
I write to you, children, because you know the
Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from
the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong
and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the
evil one. Do not love the world or the things of the world. If
anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For
all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes,
and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the
world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But
whoever does the will of God remains forever. [1JN 2:14-17]
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that
we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason
the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved,
we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been
revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like
him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope
based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure. [1JN 3:1-3]
Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away
sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him. Children, let no one
deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous. Whoever sins belongs to the devil,
because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son
of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. No one who
is begotten by God commits sin, because God's seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the
children of God and the children of the devil are made plain; no
one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone
who does not love his brother. [1JN 3:4-10]
The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion,
how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.
[1JN 3:16-18]
Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the
spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false
prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can know
the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ
come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of
the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is
already in the world. You belong to God, children, and you have
conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one
who is in the world. They belong to the world; accordingly, their
teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them. We
belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while
anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how
we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit. [1JN 4:1-6]
Beloved, let us love one another, because love
is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In
this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son
into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is
love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent
his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we
also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we
love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to
perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he
in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen
and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in
him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love
God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains
in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among
us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he
is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect
love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and
so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. We love because he
first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," but hates
his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother
whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the
commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his
brother. [1JN 4:7-21]
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ
is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the father loves (also)
the one begotten by him. In this way we know that we love the
children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For
the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his
commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God
conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our
faith. Who (indeed) is the victor over the world but the one who
believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came
through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by
water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the
Spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the
water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord. If we
accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf
of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony
within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar
by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. And
this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is
in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not
possess the Son of God does not have life. [1JN 5:1-12]
If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin
is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a
thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should
pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.
We know that no one begotten by God sins; but the one begotten by
God he protects, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that
we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the
evil one. We also know that the Son of God has come and has given
us discernment to know the one who is true. And we are in the one
who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and
eternal life. Children, be on your guard against idols. [1JN 5:16-21]
Many deceivers have gone out into the world,
those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh;
such is the deceitful one and the antichrist. Look to yourselves
that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full
recompense. Anyone who is so "progressive" as not to
remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever
remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. If anyone
comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him
in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in
his evil works. [2JN 1:7-11]
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good.
Whoever does what is good is of God; whoever does what is evil has
never seen God. [3JN 1:11]
Beloved, although I was making every effort to
write to you about our common salvation, I now feel a need to
write to encourage you to contend for the faith that was once for
all handed down to the holy ones. For there have been some
intruders, who long ago were designated for this condemnation,
godless persons, who pervert the grace of our God into
licentiousness and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus
Christ. [JUDE 1:3-4]
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says
the Lord God, "the one who is and who was and who is to come,
the almighty." [RV 1:8]
From the throne came flashes of lightning,
rumblings, and peals of thunder. Seven flaming torches burned in
front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. [RV 4:5]
The four living creatures, each of them with six
wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they
do not stop exclaiming: "Holy, holy, holy is the
Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to
come." Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and
thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and
ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on
the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever. They throw
down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming: "Worthy are
you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and
power, for you created all things; because of your will
they came to be and were created." [RV 4:8-11]
Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne
and the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb that seemed
to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are
the (seven) spirits of God sent out into the whole world. He came
and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on
the throne. When he took it, the four living creatures and the
twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders
held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the
prayers of the holy ones. They sang a new hymn: "Worthy
are you to receive the scroll and to break open its
seals, for you were slain and with your blood you purchased
for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they
will reign on earth." [RV 5:6-10]
When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw
underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered
because of the witness they bore to the word of God. They cried
out in a loud voice, "How long will it be, holy and true
master, before you sit in judgment and avenge our blood on the
inhabitants of the earth?" Each of them was given a white
robe, and they were told to be patient a little while longer until
the number was filled of their fellow servants and brothers who
were going to be killed as they had been. [RV 6:9-11]
Then I saw another angel come up from the East,
holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea,
"Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."
[RV 7:2-3]
After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and
tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing
white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried
out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who
is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb." All the
angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four
living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne,
worshiped God, and exclaimed: "Amen. Blessing and glory,
wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to
our God forever and ever. Amen." Then one of the elders spoke
up and said to me, "Who are these wearing white robes, and
where did they come from?" I said to him, "My lord, you
are the one who knows." He said to me, "These are the
ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have
washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they stand before God's throne and
worship him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on
the throne will shelter them. They will not hunger or thirst
anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the
Lamb who is in the center of the throne will
shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving
water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." [RV
7:9-17]
Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the
prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne.
The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.
[RV 8:3-4]
Locusts came out of the smoke onto the land, and
they were given the same power as scorpions of the earth. They
were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or any
tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on
their foreheads. They were not allowed to kill them but only to
torment them for five months; the torment they inflicted was like
that of a scorpion when it stings a person. [RV 9:3-5]
Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on
the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by the one who
lives forever and ever, who created heaven and earth and sea and
all that is in them, "There shall be no more delay. At the
time when you hear the seventh angel blow his trumpet, the
mysterious plan of God shall be fulfilled, as he promised to his
servants the prophets." [RV 10:5-7]
The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over
them and be glad and exchange gifts because these two prophets
tormented the inhabitants of the earth. But after the three and a
half days, a breath of life from God entered them. When they stood
on their feet, great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they
heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, "Come up
here." So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies
looked on. At that moment there was a great earthquake, and a
tenth of the city fell in ruins. Seven thousand people were killed
during the earthquake; the rest were terrified and gave glory to
the God of heaven. The second woe has passed, but the third is
coming soon. [RV 11:10-14]
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet. There
were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world
now belongs to our Lord and to his Anointed, and he will reign
forever and ever." The twenty-four elders who sat on their
thrones before God prostrated themselves and worshiped God and
said: "We give thanks to you, Lord God
almighty, who are and who were. For you have assumed
your great power and have established your reign. The nations
raged, but your wrath has come, and the time for the
dead to be judged, and to recompense your servants, the
prophets, and the holy ones and those who fear your
name, the small and the great alike, and to destroy
those who destroy the earth." Then God's temple in heaven was
opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.
There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder,
an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm. [RV 11:15-19]
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman
clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her
head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud
in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared
in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten
horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a
third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to
devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a
male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her
child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled
into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there
she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days. [RV
12:1-6]
The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is
called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was
thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have
salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and
the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our
brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and
night. They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the
word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them
from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who
dwell in them. But woe to you, earth and sea, for the
Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has
but a short time." [RV 12:9-12]
Then the dragon became angry with the woman and
went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who
keep God's commandments and bear witness to Jesus. [RV 12:17]
I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of
rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was
like that of harpists playing their harps. They were singing (what
seemed to be) a new hymn before the throne, before the four living
creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the
hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the
earth. These are they who were not defiled with women; they are
virgins and these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he
goes. They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race
for God and the Lamb. On their lips no deceit has been found; they
are unblemished. [RV 14:2-5]
Then I saw another angel flying high overhead,
with everlasting good news to announce to those who dwell on
earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. He said in a
loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, for his time has
come to sit in judgment. Worship him who made heaven and earth and
sea and springs of water." A second angel followed,
saying: "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that
made all the nations drink the wine of her licentious
passion." A third angel followed them and said in a loud
voice, "Anyone who worships the beast or its image, or
accepts its mark on forehead or hand, will also drink the wine of
God's fury, poured full strength into the cup of his wrath, and
will be tormented in burning sulfur before the holy angels and
before the Lamb. The smoke of the fire that torments them will
rise forever and ever, and there will be no relief day or night
for those who worship the beast or its image or accept the mark of
its name." Here is what sustains the holy ones who keep God's
commandments and their faith in Jesus. I heard a voice from heaven
say, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord
from now on." "Yes," said the Spirit, "let
them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany
them." [RV 14:6-13]
Then I saw in heaven another sign, great and
awe-inspiring: seven angels with the seven last plagues, for
through them God's fury is accomplished. Then I saw something like
a sea of glass mingled with fire. On the sea of glass were
standing those who had won the victory over the beast and its
image and the number that signified its name. They were holding
God's harps, and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of
God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and wonderful
are your works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are
your ways, O king of the nations. Who will not fear you,
Lord, or glorify your name? For you alone are
holy. All the nations will come and worship before
you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." After
this I had another vision. The temple that is the heavenly tent of
testimony opened, and the seven angels with the seven plagues came
out of the temple. They were dressed in clean white linen, with a
gold sash around their chests. One of the four living creatures
gave the seven angels seven gold bowls filled with the fury of
God, who lives forever and ever. Then the temple became so filled
with the smoke from God's glory and might that no one could enter
it until the seven plagues of the seven angels had been
accomplished. [RV 15:1-8]
Then I heard another voice from heaven
say: "Depart from her, my people, so as not to take
part in her sins and receive a share in her plagues, for her
sins are piled up to the sky, and God remembers her crimes.
Pay her back as she has paid others. Pay her back double for
her deeds. Into her cup pour double what she poured. To the
measure of her boasting and wantonness repay her in torment
and grief; for she said to herself, 'I sit enthroned as
queen; I am no widow, and I will never know grief.'
Therefore, her plagues will come in one day, pestilence,
grief, and famine; she will be consumed by fire. For
mighty is the Lord God who judges her." [RV 18:4-8]
A voice coming from the throne
said: "Praise our God, all you his servants, (and)
you who revere him, small and great." Then I heard something
like the sound of a great multitude or the sound of rushing
water or mighty peals of thunder, as they said:
"Alleluia! The Lord has established his reign, (our)
God, the almighty. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him
glory. For the wedding day of the Lamb has come, his
bride has made herself ready. She was allowed to wear a
bright, clean linen garment." (The linen represents the
righteous deeds of the holy ones.) Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed
are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These words are true; they come from God." [RV
19:5-9]
Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were
entrusted with judgment. I also saw the souls of those who had
been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God,
and who had not worshiped the beast or its image nor had accepted
its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and they
reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did
not come to life until the thousand years were over. This is the
first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the
first resurrection. The second death has no power over these; they
will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him
for (the) thousand years.
[RV 20:4-6]
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The
former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea
was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming
down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell
with them and they will be his people and God himself will always
be with them (as their God). He will wipe every tear from their
eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or
pain, (for) the old order has passed away." The one who sat
on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."
Then he said, "Write these words down, for they are
trustworthy and true." He said to me, "They are
accomplished. I (am) the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and
the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of
life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I
shall be his God, and he will be my son. But as for cowards, the
unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers,
idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the
burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death." [RV
21:1-8]
One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls
filled with the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come
here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." He
took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy
city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with
the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious
stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which
names were inscribed, (the names) of the twelve tribes of the
Israelites. [RV 21:9-12]
I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is
the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or
moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its
lamp was the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and to it
the kings of the earth will bring their treasure. During the day
its gates will never be shut, and there will be no night there.
The treasure and wealth of the nations will be brought there, but
nothing unclean will enter it, nor any (one) who does abominable
things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are
written in the Lamb's book of life.
[RV 21:22-27]
Then the angel showed me the river of
life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne
of God and of the Lamb down the middle of its street. On either
side of the river grew the tree of life that produces fruit twelve
times a year, once each month; the leaves of the trees serve as
medicine for the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there
anymore. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his
servants will worship him. They will look upon his face, and his
name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more, nor will
they need light from lamp or sun, for the Lord God shall give them
light, and they shall reign forever and ever. [RV 22:1-5]
Also try:
Trinity
[One God in Three Distinct Persons] [T10]
divine
[D13]
Holy
Spirit [S27a]
Jesus
(links) [J]
Holy
Eucharist [E]
Will
of God [W5]
Word
of God / Bible [B3]
God's
faithfulness [G]
mercy
[M3a]
kingdom
/ kingdom of God [K2a]
love
/ love of God / loving / loved [L7a]
anger
of God [A3]
fear
of God / fear of the Lord [F7]
command
/ commandments [C5a]
judgment
[J3a]
glory
/ glorify / glorified / glorious [G3a]
good
/ goodness [G5a]
great
/ greatly / greater / greatness [G8a]
holy
/ holiness [H14a]
hallowed
[H]
eternal
life / eternity [E2]
Heaven
/ heaven / heavens / heavenly [H8a]
church
[C4]
House
of God / House of the Lord [L6a]
reverence
/ honor to God [R8]
praise
/ praises / praised [P10a]
worship
[W12a]
trust
in God / trust in the Lord [T13]
turn
to the Lord [C10]
Other
resources:
God (Topic Page)
Catholic
Basics
Our
Father's Love
Scriptural
Litany of God
Reflections: A-Z
| Categorized
Classic
Encyclicals & Other Papal Documents
(Also
try: Help, A-Z)
more
alphabetical scripture | more
categorized scripture | top |