Thursday, October 22, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 29
John 11 NIV
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1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from
Bethany,1 the village of Mary
and her sister Martha.2
2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick,
was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her
hair.3
3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord,
the one you love4 is
sick."
4 When he heard this, Jesus
said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory5 so that God's Son may be
glorified through it."
5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he
stayed where he was two more days.
7 Then he said to his disciples, "Let
us go back to Judea."6
8 "But Rabbi,"7 they said, "a short while
ago the Jews tried to stone you,8and
yet you are going back there?"
9 Jesus answered, "Are there not
twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees
by this world's light.9
10 It is when he walks by night that he
stumbles, for he has no light."
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell
them, "Our friend10 Lazarus
has fallen asleep;11 but
I am going there to wake him up."
12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he
sleeps, he will get better."
13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his
disciples thought he meant natural sleep.12
14 So then he told them
plainly, "Lazarus is dead,
15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there,
so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
16 Then Thomas13 (called
Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may
die with him."
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had
already been in the tomb for four days.14
19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to
comfort them in the loss of their brother.16
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she
went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.17
21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus,
"if you had been here, my brother would not have died.18
22 But I know that even now God will give you
whatever you ask."19
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother
will rise again."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am22 the resurrection and
the life.23 He who
believes24 in me will
live, even though he dies;
27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I
believe that you are the Christ,b27 the Son of God,28 who was to come into the
world."29
28 And after she had said this, she went back
and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher30 is
here," she said, "and is asking for you."
29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and
went to him.
30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village,
but was still at the place where Martha had met him.31
31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the
house, comforting her,32noticed
how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going
to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was
and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died."33
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who
had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved34 in spirit and troubled.35
34 "Where have you laid him?" he
asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.
35 Jesus wept.36
36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved
him!"37
37 But some of them said, "Could not he who
opened the eyes of the blind man38 have
kept this man from dying?"39
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved,40 came to the tomb. It was a cave
with a stone laid across the entrance.41
39 "Take away the stone," he
said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by
this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."42
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus
looked up45 and
said, "Father,46I
thank you that you have heard me.
42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said
this for the benefit of the people standing here,47 that they may believe that
you sent me."48
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud
voice, "Lazarus, come out!"49
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet
wrapped with strips of linen,50 and
a cloth around his face.51 Jesus
said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to
visit Mary,52 and had seen
what Jesus did,53 put their
faith in him.54
46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and
told them what Jesus had done.
47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees55 called a meeting56 of the Sanhedrin.57 "What are we
accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many
miraculous signs.58
48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will
believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our placec and our nation."
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas,59 who was high priest that year,60spoke up, "You know nothing at
all!
50 You do not realize that it is better for you
that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."61
51 He did not say this on his own, but as high
priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,
52 and not only for that nation but also for the
scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.62
53 So from that day on they plotted to take his
life.63
54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about
publicly among the Jews.64Instead
he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where he
stayed with his disciples.
55 When it was almost time for the Jewish
Passover,65 many went up from
the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing66 before the Passover.
56 They kept looking for Jesus,67 and as they stood in the
temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to
the Feast at all?"
57 But the chief priests and Pharisees had given
orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that
they might arrest him.
Ephesians 1
Ephesians 1 (New International Version, ©2010)
Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God's holy people in Ephesus,[a] the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God's holy people in Ephesus,[a] the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Revelation 1
Revelation 1 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 1
Prologue
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Greetings and Doxology
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 "Look, he is coming with the clouds,"[b] and "every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him."[c] So shall it be! Amen.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
John's Vision of Christ
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[d] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Revelation 1
Prologue
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Greetings and Doxology
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 "Look, he is coming with the clouds,"[b] and "every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him."[c] So shall it be! Amen.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
John's Vision of Christ
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[d] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 28
Luke 16; Luke
17:1-10
1 Jesus told his disciples: "There was a
rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So
he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account
of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' 3 "The
manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job.
I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- 4 I
know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into
their houses.' 5"So he called in each one of his master's
debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' 6 "
'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him,
'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' 7 "Then
he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' " 'A thousand bushels of
wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight
hundred.' 8"The master commended the dishonest manager because
he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing
with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell
you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is
gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 "Whoever
can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is
dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So
if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you
with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with
someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? 13 "No
servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both
God and Money." 14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard
all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them,
"You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows
your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.16 "The
Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news
of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into
it. 17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for
the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. 18 "Anyone
who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man
who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 19 "There
was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury
every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus,
covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the
rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "The
time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side.
The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was
in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his
side. 24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me
and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
because I am in agony in this fire.' 25 "But Abraham
replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things,
while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in
agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great
chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor
can anyone cross over from there to us.' 27 "He answered,
'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for
I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to
this place of torment.' 29 "Abraham replied, 'They have
Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'30 " 'No,
father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will
repent.' 31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses
and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the
dead.' "
1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that
cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they
come. 2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea
with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little
ones to sin. 3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother
sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins
against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says,
'I repent,' forgive him." 5 The apostles said to the
LORD, "Increase our faith!" 6 He replied, "If
you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. 7"Suppose
one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to
the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to
eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get
yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and
drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he
was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything
you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done
our duty.' "
2 Corinthians 13
2 Corinthians 13 (New International Version, ©2010)
2 Corinthians 13
Final Warnings
1 This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."[a] 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him in our dealing with you.
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
Final Greetings
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God's people here send their greetings.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13
Final Warnings
1 This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."[a] 2 I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him in our dealing with you.
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
Final Greetings
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God's people here send their greetings.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Revelation 22
Revelation 22 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 22
Eden Restored
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
John and the Angel
6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."
7 "Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll."
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!"
10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy."
Epilogue: Invitation and Warning 12 "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
Revelation 22
Eden Restored
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
John and the Angel
6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."
7 "Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll."
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!"
10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy."
Epilogue: Invitation and Warning 12 "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 27
Luke 14; Luke 15
1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the
house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There
in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. 3 Jesus asked
the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath
or not?" 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of
the man, he healed him and sent him away. 5 Then he asked
them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the
Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?" 6 And
they had nothing to say. 7 When he noticed how the guests
picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 "When
someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a
person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If
so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man
your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important
place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so
that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better
place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow
guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 12 Then
Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite
your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do,
they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But
when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the
blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you,
you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." 15 When
one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed
is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." 16 Jesus
replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many
guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to
tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 18 "But
they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a
field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' 19"Another
said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out.
Please excuse me.' 20 "Still another said, 'I just got
married, so I can't come.' 21 "The servant came back and
reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and
ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town
and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 22 "
'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still
room.' 23 "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to
the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be
full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited
will get a taste of my banquet.' "25 Large crowds were
traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 "If
anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and
children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my
disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and
follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 "Suppose one of you
wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see
if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the
foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule
him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able
to finish.' 31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war
against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able
with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty
thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation
while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In
the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my
disciple. 34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its
saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit
neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who
has ears to hear, let him hear."
1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners"
were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and
the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with
them." 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose
one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the
ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds
it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his
shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and
neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost
sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more
rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous
persons who do not need to repent. 8 "Or suppose a woman
has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house
and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds
it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I
have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, I tell you,
there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who
repents." 11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who
had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father,
give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13 "Not
long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant
country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After
he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and
he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to
a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He
longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one
gave him anything. 17 "When he came to his senses, he
said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am
starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father
and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I
am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired
men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while
he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion
for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The
son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no
longer worthy to be called your son. ' 22 "But the father
said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring
on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened
calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For
this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So
they began to celebrate. 25"Meanwhile, the older son was in
the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.26 So
he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 'Your
brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.' 28 "The older
brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded
with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these
years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never
gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But
when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes
home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31 " 'My son,'
the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But
we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is
alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
2 Corinthians 12
2 Corinthians 12 (New International Version, ©2010)
2 Corinthians 12
Paul's Vision and His Thorn
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul's Concern for the Corinthians
11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles,"[a] even though I am nothing. 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
2 Corinthians 12
Paul's Vision and His Thorn
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul's Concern for the Corinthians
11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles,"[a] even though I am nothing. 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16 Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
Revelation 21
Revelation 21 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 21
A New Heaven and a New Earth
1 Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth,"[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death'[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits[d] thick.[e] 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[f] 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 21
A New Heaven and a New Earth
1 Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth,"[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death'[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits[d] thick.[e] 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[f] 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 26
Luke 12; Luke 13
1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had
gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak
first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the
Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed
that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What
you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have
whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the
roofs. 4 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of
those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I
will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the
body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are
not five sparrows sold for two pennies ? Yet not one of them is forgotten by
God.7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't
be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 8 "I
tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also
acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9 But he who disowns
me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. 10 And
everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone
who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 "When
you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about
how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for
the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." 13 Someone
in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance
with me." 14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a
judge or an arbiter between you?" 15 Then he said to
them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's
life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."16 And
he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a
good crop. 17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have
no place to store my crops.' 18 "Then he said, 'This is
what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will
store all my grain and my goods.19 And I'll say to myself,
"You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy;
eat, drink and be merry." ' 20 "But God said to him,
'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will
get what you have prepared for yourself ?' 21 "This is
how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich
toward God." 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or
about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than
food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens:
They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.
And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you
by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? 26 Since you
cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 "Consider
how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even
Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.28 If
that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of
little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will
eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world
runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But
seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 "Do
not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the
kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide
purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will
not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 "Be
dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like
men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he
comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It
will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.
I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at
the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good
for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the
second or third watch of the night.39 But understand this: If the
owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not
have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready,
because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect
him." 41 Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this
parable to us, or to everyone?" 42 The Lord answered,
"Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge
of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It
will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he
returns. 44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of
all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to
himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to
beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The
master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an
hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with
the unbelievers.47 "That servant who knows his master's will
and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with
many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things
deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been
given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with
much, much more will be asked. 49 "I have come to bring
fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But
I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is
completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No,
I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in
one family divided against each other, three against two and two against
three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son
against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against
mother-in-law." 54 He said to the crowd: "When you
see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and
it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's
going to be hot,' and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to
interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't
know how to interpret this present time?57 "Why don't you
judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with
your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way,
or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the
officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you,
you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. "
1 Now there were some present at that time who
told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their
sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, "Do you think that these
Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered
this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too
will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower
in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others
living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent,
you too will all perish." 6 Then he told this parable:
"A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for
fruit on it, but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who
took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for
fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up
the soil?' 8 " 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone
for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If
it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' " 10On
a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and
a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was
bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus
saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free
from your infirmity." 13Then he put his hands on her, and
immediately she straightened up and praised God. 14 Indignant
because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the
people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days,
not on the Sabbath." 15 The Lord answered him, "You
hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the
stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not
this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long
years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" 17 When
he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted
with all the wonderful things he was doing. 18 Then Jesus
asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It
is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and
became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." 20 Again
he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?21 It is
like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it
worked all through the dough." 22 Then Jesus went through
the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone
asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said
to them,24 "Make every effort to enter through the narrow
door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able
to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the
door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for
us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' 26 "Then
you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 "But
he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you
evildoers!' 28 "There will be weeping there, and gnashing
of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the
kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will
come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the
feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are
last who will be first, and first who will be last." 31 At
that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place
and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you." 32 He
replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today
and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' 33 In
any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day--for surely no
prophet can die outside Jerusalem! 34 "O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I
have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under
her wings, but you were not willing! 35 Look, your house is
left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say,
'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
Revelation 20
Revelation 20 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 20
The Thousand Years
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They[a] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
The Judgment of Satan
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The Judgment of the Dead
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20
The Thousand Years
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They[a] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
The Judgment of Satan
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The Judgment of the Dead
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
2 Corinthians 11
2 Corinthians 11 (New International Version, ©2010)
2 Corinthians 11
Paul and the False Apostles
1 I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles."[a] 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Paul Boasts About His Sufferings
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
2 Corinthians 11
Paul and the False Apostles
1 I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles."[a] 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Paul Boasts About His Sufferings
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
Revelation 19
Revelation 19 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 19
Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon's Fall
1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
"Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."
3 And again they shouted: "Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."
4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!"
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants,
you who fear him, both great and small!"
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus."
The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small."
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Revelation 19
Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon's Fall
1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
"Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."
3 And again they shouted: "Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."
4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!"
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants,
you who fear him, both great and small!"
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus."
The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small."
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
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