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This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai:
"Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me." [JONAH 1:1-2]
But God said to Jonah, "Have you reason to
be angry over the plant?" "I have reason to be
angry," Jonah answered, "angry enough to die." Then
the LORD said, "You are concerned over the plant which cost
you no labor and which you did not raise; it came up in one night
and in one night it perished. And should I not be concerned over
Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than a hundred
and twenty thousand persons who cannot distinguish their right
hand from their left, not to mention the many cattle?" [JONAH
4:9-11]
But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be
among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who
is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from
ancient times. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the
strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD, his God;
And they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the
ends of the earth; he shall be peace. [Taken from MICAH 5:1,3]
A jealous and avenging God is the LORD, an
avenger is the LORD, and angry; The LORD brings vengeance on his
adversaries, and lays up wrath for his enemies; The LORD is slow
to anger, yet great in power, and the LORD never leaves the guilty
unpunished. In hurricane and tempest is his path, and clouds are
the dust at his feet; He rebukes the sea and leaves it dry, and
all the rivers he dries up. Withered are Bashan and Carmel, and
the bloom of Lebanon fades; The mountains quake before him, and
the hills dissolve; The earth is laid waste before him, the world
and all who dwell in it. Before his wrath, who can stand firm, and
who can face his blazing anger? His fury is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are rent asunder before him. [NAHUM 1:2-6]
Near is the great day of the LORD, near and very
swiftly coming, Hark, the day of the LORD! bitter, then, the
warrior's cry. [ZEPH 1:14]
Greater will be the future glory of this house
than the former, says the LORD of hosts; And in this place I will
give you peace, says the LORD of hosts. [HAG 2:9]
Again I raised my eyes and looked: there was a man with a
measuring line in his hand. "Where are you going?" I asked. "To measure Jerusalem," he answered; "to see how great is its width and how great its length." [ZECH 2:5-6]
But they refused to listen; they stubbornly
turned their backs and stopped their ears so as not to hear. And
they made their hearts diamond hard so as not to hear the teaching
and the message that the LORD of hosts had sent by his spirit
through the former prophets. Then the LORD of hosts in his great
anger said that, as they had not listened when he called, so he
would not listen when they called, but would scatter them with a
whirlwind among all the nations that they did not know. Thus the
land was left desolate after them with no one traveling to and
fro; they made the pleasant land into a desert. [ZECH 7:11-14]
I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and petition; and they shall look on him whom they have thrust through, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a first-born. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. [ZECH 12:10-11]
On that day there shall be among them a great
tumult from the LORD: every man shall seize the hand of his
neighbor, and the hand of each shall be raised against that of his
neighbor. Judah also shall fight against Jerusalem. The
riches of all the surrounding nations shall be gathered together,
gold, silver, and garments, in great abundance. [ZECH 14:13-14]
If Edom says, "We have been crushed but we
will rebuild the ruins," Thus says the LORD of hosts: They
indeed may build, but I will tear down, And they shall be called
the land of guilt, the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.
Your own eyes shall see it, and you will say, "Great is the
LORD, even beyond the land of Israel." [MAL 1:4-5]
Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, Before
the day of the LORD comes, the great and terrible day, To turn the hearts of the fathers to their
children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I
come and strike the land with doom. Lo, I will send you Elijah,
the prophet, Before the day of the LORD comes, the great and
terrible day. [MAL 3:23-24]
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in
the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in
Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We
saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."
When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him. [MT 2:1-3]
When he heard that John had been arrested, he
withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in
Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that
what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:
"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea,
beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in
darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land
overshadowed by death light has arisen." [MT 4:12-16]
He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing
every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all
of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various
diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics,
and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds from Galilee,
the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan
followed him. [MT 4:23-25]
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. [MT 5:11-12]
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of
these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called
least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches
these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of
heaven. [MT 5:19]
"Again you have heard that it was said to
your ancestors, 'Do not take a false oath, but make good to the
Lord all that you vow.' But I say to you, do not swear at all; not
by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his
footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white
or black. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'
Anything more is from the evil one." [MT 5:33-37]
[Jesus said,] "The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be."
[Taken from MT 6:22-23]
When Jesus came down from the mountain, great
crowds followed him. [MT 8:1]
He got into a boat and his disciples followed
him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat
was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke
him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" He said
to them, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?"
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great
calm. The men were amazed and said, "What sort of man is
this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?" [MT 8:23-27]
Amen, I say to you, among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least
in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. [MT 11:11]
At that time Jesus was going through a field of
grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick
the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they
said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful
to do on the sabbath." He said to them, "Have you not
read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he
went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which
neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully
eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the
priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are
innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you
would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is
Lord of the sabbath." [MT 12:1-8]
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise
with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the
preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah
here. [MT 12:41]
At the judgment the queen of the south will
arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from
the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is
something greater than Solomon here. [MT 12:42]
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
[MT 13:45-46]
Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to
the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of
that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord,
Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But he
did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked
him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after
us." He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel." But the woman came and did him
homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply,
"It is not right to take the food of the children and throw
it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even the
dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their
masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman,
great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And
her daughter was healed from that hour. [MT 15:21-28]
Great crowds came to him, having with them the
lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They
placed them at his feet, and he cured them. [MT 15:30]
From that time on, Jesus began to show his
disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the
elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on
the third day be raised. [MT 16:21]
At that time the disciples approached Jesus and
said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He
called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like
children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever
humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name
receives me. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe
in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone
hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things
must come, but woe to the one through whom they come! If your hand
or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is
better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled than with two
hands or two feet to be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye
causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for
you to enter into life with one eye than with two eyes to be
thrown into fiery Gehenna." [MT 18:1-9]
Great crowds followed him, and he cured them
there. [MT 19:2]
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I
say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the
kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to
pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter
the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were
greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings this is
impossible, but for God all things are possible." [MT 19:23-26]
But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know
that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great
ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so
among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be
your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your
slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to
serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." [MT 20:25-28]
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced
the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them (a scholar
of the law) tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment
in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall
love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first
commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor
as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two
commandments." [MT 22:34-40]
The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
[MT 23:11-12]
"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If one
swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the
gold of the temple, one is obligated.' Blind fools, which is
greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And
you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one
swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.' You blind
ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift
sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is
upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who
dwells in it; one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God
and by him who is seated on it." [MT 23:16-22]
"When you see the desolating abomination
spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place
(let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the
mountains, a person on the housetop must not go down to get things
out of his house, a person in the field must not return to get his
cloak. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days.
Pray that your flight not be in winter or on the sabbath, for at
that time there will be great tribulation, such as has not been
since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be. And
if those days had not been shortened, no one would be saved; but
for the sake of the elect they will be shortened. If anyone says
to you then, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do
not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will arise, and
they will perform signs and wonders so great as to deceive, if
that were possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told it to you
beforehand. So if they say to you, 'He is in the desert,' do not
go out there; if they say, 'He is in the inner rooms,' do not
believe it. For just as lightning comes from the east and is seen
as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be."
[MT 24:15-27]
"Immediately after the tribulation of those
days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its
light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will
appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and
they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a
trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds,
from one end of the heavens to the other." [MT 24:29-31]
[Jesus said,] "His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and
faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will
give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'"
[Taken from MT 25:21]
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he
questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus
said, "You say so." And when he was accused by the chief
priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him,
"Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against
you?" But he did not answer him one word, so that the
governor was greatly amazed. [MT 27:11-14]
But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and
gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn
in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split,
tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen
asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his
resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The
centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus
feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was
happening, and they said, "Truly, this was the Son of
God!" [MT 27:50-54]
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week
was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the
tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of
the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone,
and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his
clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of
him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in
reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus
the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he
said. Come and see the place where he lay." [MT 28:1-6]
There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for
twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many
doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but
only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him
in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch
his clothes, I shall be cured." Immediately her flow of blood
dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her
affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my
clothes?" But his disciples said to him, "You see how
the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched
me?'" And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman,
realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and
trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole
truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." [MK 5:25-34]
In those days when there again was a great crowd
without anything to eat, he summoned the disciples and said,
"My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have
been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send
them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way,
and some of them have come a great distance." His disciples
answered him, "Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy
them here in this deserted place?"... He ordered the crowd to
sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave
thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute,
and they distributed them to the crowd... They ate and were
satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over - seven baskets. [Taken from MK 8:1-4,6,8]
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must
suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests,
and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. [MK
8:31]
Then they asked him, "Why do the scribes
say that Elijah must come first?" He told them, "Elijah
will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it
written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and
be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come and
they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of
him." [MK 9:11-13]
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the
house, he began to ask them, "What were you arguing about on
the way?" But they remained silent. They had been discussing
among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat
down, called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wishes
to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of
all." [MK 9:33-35]
"Whoever causes one of these little ones
who believe (in me) to sin, it would be better for him if a great
millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the
sea." [MK 9:42]
Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You
know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over
them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever
wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes
to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man
did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a
ransom for many." [MK 10:42-45]
Some Sadducees, who say there is no
resurrection, came to him and put this question to him, saying,
"Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If someone's brother dies,
leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and
raise up descendants for his brother.' Now there were seven
brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no
descendants. So the second married her and died, leaving no
descendants, and the third likewise. And the seven left no
descendants. Last of all the woman also died. At the resurrection
(when they arise) whose wife will she be? For all seven had been
married to her." Jesus said to them, "Are you not misled
because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God? When
they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in
marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven. As for the dead
being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the
passage about the bush, how God told him, 'I am the God of
Abraham, (the) God of Isaac, and (the) God of Jacob'? He is not
God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled." [MK
12:18-27]
One of the scribes, when he came forward and
heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked
him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus
replied, "The first is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our
God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your
strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
[MK 12:28-31]
As he was making his way out of the temple area one of his disciples said to him, "Look, teacher, what stones and what buildings!"
Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be one stone left upon another that will not be thrown down."
[MK 13:1-2]
"But in those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the
heavens will be shaken. And then they will see 'the Son of Man
coming in the clouds' with great power and glory, and then he will
send out the angels and gather (his) elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky." [MK 13:24-27]
But the angel said to him, "Do not be
afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife
Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And
you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his
birth, for he will be great in the sight of (the) Lord. He will
drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit
even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children
of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the
spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward
children and the disobedient to the understanding of the
righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord." [LK 1:13-17]
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was
sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin
espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David;
and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said
unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art
thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying,
and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found
grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt
bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be
great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord
God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he
shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom
there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this
be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to
her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the
most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which
shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold
thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old
age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy
word. And the angel departed from her. [LK 1:26-38]
And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the
greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he
has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will
all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for
me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those
who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the
arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from
their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled
with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped
Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his
promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants
forever." [LK 1:46-55]
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.
[LK 1:57-58]
Now there were shepherds in that region living
in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The
angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said
to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you
good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today
in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah
and Lord." [LK 2:8-11]
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the
feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up
according to festival custom. After they had completed its days,
as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in
Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was
in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among
their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they
returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found
him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening
to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were
astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents
saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him,
"Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have
been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to
them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I
must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand
what he said to them. [LK 2:41-50]
The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds
assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray. [LK 5:15-16]
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
[LK 6:22-23]
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those
who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do
the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect
repayment, what credit (is) that to you? Even sinners lend to
sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your
enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then
your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most
High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. [LK
6:31-35]
When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity
for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped
forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he
said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat
up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear
seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, "A great
prophet has arisen in our midst," and "God has visited
his people." This report about him spread through the whole
of Judea and in all the surrounding region. [LK 7:13-17]
"I tell you, among those born of women, no one is
greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater
than he." [LK 7:28]
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
"Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did
not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her
tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with
ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence,
she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven,
loves little." [LK 7:44-47]
People came out to see what had happened and,
when they approached Jesus, they discovered the man from whom the
demons had come out sitting at his feet. He was clothed and in his
right mind, and they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed it
told them how the possessed man had been saved. The entire
population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave
them because they were seized with great fear. So he got into a
boat and returned. [LK 8:35-37]
He said, "The Son of Man must suffer
greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the
scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." [LK
9:22]
An argument arose among the disciples about
which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of
their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said
to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one
who is least among all of you is the one who is the
greatest." [LK 9:46-48]
At the judgment the queen of the south will rise
with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because
she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here. [LK 11:31]
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise
with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of
Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah
here. [LK 11:32]
There is a baptism with which I must be
baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! [LK
12:50]
[Jesus] said to them in reply, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!" [Taken from LK 13:2-3]
"What man among you having a hundred sheep
and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the
desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he
does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon
his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and
says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost
sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in
heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous
people who have no need of repentance." [LK 15:4-7]
The person who is trustworthy in very small
matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is
dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. [LK
16:10]
[Jesus said,] "Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'" [Taken from LK 16:25-26]
Then he said to his disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, 'Look, there he is,' (or) 'Look, here he is.' Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be (in his day). But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation." [LK 17:22-25]
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens
will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand."
[LK 21:25-28]
Then an argument broke out among them about
which of them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them,
"The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in
authority over them are addressed as 'Benefactors'; but among you
it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the
youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater: the
one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one
seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves. It is you
who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you,
just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and
drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel." [LK 22:24-30]
Then he led them (out) as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising
God. [LK 24:50-53]
Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel." Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this." And he said to him, "Amen, amen,
I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
[JN 1:49-51]
So they came to John and said to him,
"Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom
you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to
him." John answered and said, "No one can receive
anything except what has been given him from heaven. You
yourselves can testify that I said (that) I am not the Messiah,
but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the
bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices
greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been
made complete. He must increase; I must decrease." [JN 3:26-30]
(The woman) said to him, "Sir, you do not
even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get
this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave
us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and
his flocks?" Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone
who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks
the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give
will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal
life." [Taken from JN 4:11-14]
Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen,
amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only
what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do
also. For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that
he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so
that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and
gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he
wishes." [JN 5:19-21]
But I have testimony greater than John's. The
works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I
perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. [JN
5:36]
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, "Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: 'Rivers of living water
will flow from within him.'" [JN 7:37-38]
(So) the Jews said to him, "Now we are sure
that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you
say, 'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.' Are you
greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who
died? Who do you make yourself out to be?" Jesus answered,
"If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my
Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.' You do
not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not
know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep
his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it
and was glad. So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty
years old and you have seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I
AM." So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid
and went out of the temple area. [JN 8:52-59]
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
"How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are
the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I
told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's
name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not
among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they
follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them
to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the
Father's hand. The Father and I are one." [JN 10:24-30]
On the next day, when the great crowd that had
come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they
took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out:
"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
(even) the king of Israel." Jesus found an ass and sat upon
it, as is written: "Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your
king comes, seated upon an ass's colt." [JN 12:12-15]
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have
washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have
given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you
should also do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than
his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If
you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. [JN 13:14-17]
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me
will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father. [JN 14:12]
You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I
will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I
am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. [JN
14:28]
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you. [JN
15:12-14]
Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.
[JN 15:20-21]
So Pilate said to him, "Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?"
Jesus answered (him), "You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin."
[JN 19:10-11]
With great power the apostles bore witness to
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded
them all. [ACTS 4:33]
Then Peter said to her, "Why did you agree
to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, the footsteps of those who
have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you
out." At once, she fell down at his feet and breathed her
last. When the young men entered they found her dead, so they
carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear
came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. [ACTS 5:9-11]
Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great
numbers of men and women, were added to them. [ACTS 5:14]
The word of God continued to spread, and the
number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a
large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith. [ACTS
6:7]
Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was
working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members
of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and
Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and
debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and
the spirit with which he spoke. [ACTS 6:8-10]
Now those who had been scattered went about
preaching the word. Thus Philip went down to (the) city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Messiah to them. With one accord, the crowds
paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and
saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a
loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed
and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city. [ACTS
8:4-8]
A man named Simon used to practice magic in the
city and astounded the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone
great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, paid attention
to him, saying, "This man is the 'Power of God' that is
called 'Great.'" They paid attention to him because he had
astounded them by his magic for a long time, but once they began
to believe Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom
of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were
baptized. Even Simon himself believed and, after being baptized,
became devoted to Philip; and when he saw the signs and mighty
deeds that were occurring, he was astounded. [ACTS 8:9-13]
The hand of the Lord was with them and a great
number who believed turned to the Lord. [ACTS 11:21]
In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue together and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks came to believe, although the disbelieving Jews stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. [ACTS 14:1-2]
Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question. They were sent on their journey by the church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
[ACTS 15:2-3]
Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to
invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits,
saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."
When the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, tried to do
this, the evil spirit said to them in reply, "Jesus I
recognize, Paul I know, but who are you?" The person with the
evil spirit then sprang at them and subdued them all. He so
overpowered them that they fled naked and wounded from that house.
When this became known to all the Jews and Greeks who lived in
Ephesus, fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus
was held in great esteem. Many of those who had become believers
came forward and openly acknowledged their former practices. [ACTS
19:13-18]
"On that journey as I drew near to
Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone
around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,
'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' I replied, 'Who are you,
sir?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are
persecuting.'" [ACTS 22:6-8]
"But I have enjoyed God's help to this very day, and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike, saying nothing different from what the prophets and Moses
foretold, that the Messiah must suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles." [ACTS 26:22-23]
It so happened that the father of Publius was sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, after praying, laid his hands on him and healed him. After this had taken place, the rest of the sick on the island came to Paul and were cured. They paid us great honor and when we eventually set sail they brought us the provisions we needed.
[ACTS 28:8-10]
I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my
conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness that I
have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. For I could
wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the
sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh. [ROM 9:1-3]
But as it is, there are many parts, yet one
body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need
you," nor again the head to the feet, "I do not need
you." Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker
are all the more necessary, and those parts of the body that we
consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our
less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, whereas
our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so
constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is
without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that
the parts may have the same concern for one another. If (one) part
suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all
the parts share its joy. [1COR 12:20-26]
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
But I shall show you a still more excellent way. [1COR 12:31]
So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but
the greatest of these is love. [1COR 13:13]
Whoever speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but whoever prophesies builds up the church. Now I should like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be built up.
[1COR 14:4-5]
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 1:10-11]
I have great confidence in you, I have great
pride in you; I am filled with encouragement, I am overflowing
with joy all the more because of all our affliction. [2COR 7:4]
And with them we have sent our brother whom we
often tested in many ways and found earnest, but who is now much
more earnest because of his great confidence in you. [2COR 8:22]
We are not boasting beyond measure, in other people's labors; yet our hope is that, as your faith increases, our influence among you may be greatly enlarged, within our proper limits, so that we may preach the gospel even beyond you, not boasting of work already done in another's sphere. [2COR 10:15-16]
May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what
are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who
believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he
worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his
right hand in the heavens, far above every principality,
authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not
only in this age but also in the one to come. [EPH 1:18-21]
All of us once lived among them in the desires
of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses,
and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest. But God,
who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life
with Christ (by grace you have been saved), raised us up with him,
and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the
ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in
his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. [EPH 2:3-7] [Note: The
reader should not take the phrase "by grace you have been
saved" to mean that all persons are granted salvation regardless
of a person's faith or behavior. The author is confident of the
salvation of those he is writing to, but the final judgment
belongs to God alone. It is clear throughout the bible that
eternal sufferings do await various people (even
Christians). One example is HEB 10:26-27,36: "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...
You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised."
For additional information on this topic, visit the non-Catholics
section.]
So (also) husbands should love their wives as
their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one
hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as
Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.
"For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his)
mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one
flesh." This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to
Christ and the church. [EPH 5:28-32]
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 2:6-11]
I send him therefore with the greater eagerness,
so that, on seeing him, you may rejoice again, and I may have less
anxiety. [PHIL 2:28]
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last
you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned
about me but lacked an opportunity. [PHIL 4:10]
For I want you to know how great a struggle I am
having for you and for those in Laodicea and all who have not seen
me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged as they are
brought together in love, to have all the richness of fully
assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God,
Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge. [COL 2:1-3]
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the
Holy Spirit, so that you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. [1THES 1:6-7]
Brothers, when we were bereft of you for a short
time, in person, not in heart, we were all the more eager in our
great desire to see you in person. [1THES 2:17]
We ought to thank God always for you, brothers,
as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more, and the
love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater.
[2THES 1:3]
Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who
was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by
angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the
world, taken up in glory. [1TM 3:16]
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great
gain. [1TM 6:6]
Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of
harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. [2TM 4:14]
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]
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who
has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold
fast to our confession. [HEB 4:14]
When God made the promise to Abraham, since he
had no one greater by whom to swear, "he swore by
himself," and said, "I will indeed bless you and
multiply" you. And so, after patient waiting, he obtained the
promise. 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. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which
reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered
on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek. [HEB 6:13-20]
See how great he is to whom the patriarch
"Abraham (indeed) gave a tenth" of his spoils. [HEB 7:4]
Unquestionably, a lesser person is blessed by a
greater. [HEB 7:7]
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to
be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the
sanctuary...thus obtaining eternal redemption. [Taken
from HEB 9:11-12]
Therefore, brothers, since through the blood of
Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new
and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his
flesh, and since we have "a great priest over the house of
God," let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute
trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and
our bodies washed in pure water. [HEB 10:19-22]
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. [HEB 10:32-36]
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to
be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter; he chose to be
ill-treated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the
fleeting pleasure of sin. He considered the reproach of the
Anointed greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was
looking to the recompense. [HEB 11:24-26]
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin
that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies
before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and
perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he
endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at
the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such
opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and
lose heart. [HEB 12:1-3]
May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever (and ever). Amen.
[HEB 13:20-21]
In the same way the tongue is a small member and
yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a
huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our
members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting
the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by
Gehenna. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea
creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil,
full of deadly poison. [JMS 3:5-8]
But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it
says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the
humble." [JMS 4:6]
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an
inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through
faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final
time. [1PT 1:3-5]
His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.
[2PT 1:3-4]
(Now) this is how we shall know that we belong
to the truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our
hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows
everything. Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have
confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask, because we
keep his commandments and do what pleases him. [1JN 3:19-22]
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. [1JN 4:4]
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 5:7-12]
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children
walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father. [2JN
1:4]
I rejoiced greatly when some of the brothers
came and testified to how truly you walk in the truth. [3JN 1:3]
Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that
my children are walking in the truth. [3JN 1:4]
I wish to remind you, although you know all things, that (the) Lord who once saved a people from the land of Egypt later destroyed those who did not
believe. The angels too, who did not keep to their own domain but deserted their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains, in gloom, for the judgment of the great
day. [JUDE 1:5-6]
"I know your works, your love, faith,
service, and endurance, and that your last works are greater than
the first." [RV 2:19]
Then I watched while he broke open the sixth
seal, and there was a great earthquake; the sun turned as black as
dark sackcloth and the whole moon became like blood. [RV 6:12]
The kings of the earth, the nobles, the military
officers, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person
hid themselves in caves and among mountain crags. They cried out
to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from
the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of
the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come and who
can withstand it?" [RV 6:15-17]
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." [RV 7:9-10]
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." [RV
7:13-15]
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. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with
burning coals from the altar, and hurled it down to the earth.
There were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
[RV 8:3-5]
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." [RV 11:15-18]
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. [RV 12:1-2]
"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 12:12]
When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down
to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male
child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle,
so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from
the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a
half-year. The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of
his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. But
the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed the
flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth. 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 12:13-17]
Then I saw a beast come out of the sea with ten
horns and seven heads; on its horns were ten diadems, and on its
heads blasphemous name(s). The beast I saw was like a leopard,
but it had feet like a bear's, and its mouth was like the mouth of
a lion. To it the dragon gave its own power and throne, along with
great authority. I saw that one of its heads seemed to have been
mortally wounded, but this mortal wound was healed. Fascinated,
the whole world followed after the beast. [RV 13:1-3]
Then I saw another beast come up out of the
earth; it had two horns like a lamb's but spoke like a dragon. It
wielded all the authority of the first beast in its sight and made
the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose
mortal wound had been healed. It performed great signs, even
making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of
everyone. It deceived the inhabitants of the earth with the signs
it was allowed to perform in the sight of the first beast, telling
them to make an image for the beast who had been wounded by the
sword and revived. It was then permitted to breathe life into the
beast's image, so that the beast's image could speak and (could)
have anyone who did not worship it put to death. It forced all the
people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be
given a stamped image on their right hands or their foreheads, so
that no one could buy or sell except one who had the stamped image
of the beast's name or the number that stood for its name. Wisdom
is needed here; one who understands can calculate the number of
the beast, for it is a number that stands for a person. His number
is six hundred and sixty-six. [RV 13:11-18]
A second angel followed, saying: "Fallen,
fallen is Babylon the great, that made all the nations drink the
wine of her licentious passion." [RV 14:8]
So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and
cut the earth's vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of
God's fury. [RV 14:19]
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. [RV 15:1]
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." [RV 15:2-4]
The sixth angel emptied his bowl on the great
river Euphrates. Its water was dried up to prepare the way for the
kings of the East. [RV 16:12]
These were demonic spirits who performed signs.
They went out to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for
the battle on the great day of God the almighty. [RV 16:14]
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the
air. A loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying,
"It is done." Then there were lightning flashes,
rumblings, and peals of thunder, and a great earthquake. It was
such a violent earthquake that there has never been one like it
since the human race began on earth. The great city was split into
three parts, and the gentile cities fell. But God remembered great
Babylon, giving it the cup filled with the wine of his fury and
wrath. Every island fled, and mountains disappeared. Large
hailstones like huge weights came down from the sky on people, and
they blasphemed God for the plague of hail because this plague was
so severe. [RV 16:17-21]
On her forehead was written a name, which is a
mystery, "Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the
abominations of the earth." [RV 17:5]
After this I saw another angel coming down from
heaven, having great authority, and the earth became illumined by
his splendor. [RV 18:1]
They will keep their distance for fear of the
torment inflicted on her, and they will say: "Alas, alas,
great city, Babylon, mighty city. In one hour your judgment has
come." [RV 18:10]
A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge
millstone and threw it into the sea and said: "With such
force will Babylon the great city be thrown down, and will never
be found again. No melodies of harpists and musicians, flutists
and trumpeters, will ever be heard in you again. No craftsmen in
any trade will ever be found in you again. No sound of the
millstone will ever be heard in you again. No light from a lamp
will ever be seen in you again. No voices of bride and groom will
ever be heard in you again. Because your merchants were the great
ones of the world, all nations were led astray by your magic
potion. In her was found the blood of prophets and holy ones and
all who have been slain on the earth." [RV 18:21-24]
After this I heard what sounded like the loud
voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying: "Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has
condemned the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her
harlotry. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."
[RV 19:1-2]
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]
Next I saw a large white throne and the one who
was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence
and there was no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the
lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then
another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged
according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The
sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All
the dead were judged according to their deeds. Then Death and
Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the
second death.) Anyone whose name was not found written in the
book of life was thrown into the pool of fire. [RV 20:11-15]
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. There were three gates facing east, three north, three
south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of
stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. [RV 21:9-14]
Also try:
good
/ goodness [G5a]
holy
/ holiness [H14a]
righteous
/ righteousness [R11]
honor
/ honors / honored / honorable [H16]
glory
/ glorify / glorified / glorious [G3a]
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