Thursday, January 21, 2016
Psalm 47
Psalm 47 (New International Version)
Psalm 47
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
2 How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm [a] of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings [b] of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
Psalm 47
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
2 How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm [a] of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings [b] of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
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.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Chronological New Testament Study Day 92
Revelation 19; Revelation 20; Revelation 21; Revelation 22
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 small and great!" 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." 9 Then the
angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the
wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true
words of God." 10At this I fell at his feet to worship him.
But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with
your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the
testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 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 makes 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 Out of his mouth comes a sharp
sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an
iron scepter." 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 mighty men, of horses and
their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and
great." 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the
earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the
horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with
him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf.
With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast
and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake
of burning sulfur. 21 The rest of them were killed with the
sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds
gorged themselves on their flesh.
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 for Jesus and because of the word of God.
They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his 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 have part 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. 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--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. 11 Then
I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky 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 he had done. 14 Then
death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the
second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the
book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, 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,
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live 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 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 him who is thirsty I will give to
drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He
who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my
son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the
murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters
and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is
the second death." 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 in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 He
measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the
angel was using. 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 chalcedony, the fourth
emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the
seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase,
the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve
gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of
the city was of pure gold, like 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. 27Nothing
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.
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. 6 The angel said to me, "These words are
trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent
his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take
place." 7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he
who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book." 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, "Do not do it! I am a fellow
servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the
words of this book. Worship God!" 10Then he told me, "Do
not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is
near. 11Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is
vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let
him who is holy continue to be holy." 12 "Behold, I
am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to
what he has 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 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 him who hears say, "Come!"
Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free
gift of the water of life. 18 I warn everyone who hears the
words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will
add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if
anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him
his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this
book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I
am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21The grace of the
Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
Psalm 46
Psalm 46 (New International Version)
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. [a]
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields [b] with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. [a]
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields [b] with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Revelation 20
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Chronological New Testament Study Day 91
Chronological New
Testament Study Day 91
Revelation 12; Revelation 13; Revelation 14; Revelation 15; Revelation
16; Revelation 17; Revelation 18
1 A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman
clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars
on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she
was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in
heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns
on his heads. 4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the
sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was
about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was
born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule
all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and
to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the desert to a place
prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. 7 And
there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and
the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong
enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great
dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who
leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with
him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now
have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the
authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them
before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they
did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore
rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the
sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he
knows that his time is short." 13 When the dragon saw
that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth
to the male child. 14The woman was given the two wings of a great
eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where
she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the
serpent's reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed
water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the
torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its
mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his
mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went
off to make war against the rest of her offspring--those who obey God's
commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
1 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a
beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns
on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2 The beast
I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like
that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great
authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had
a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was
astonished and followed the beast. 4 Men worshiped the dragon
because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast
and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against
him?" 5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words
and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6 He
opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling
place and those who live in heaven. 7 He was given power to
make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority
over every tribe, people, language and nation.8 All inhabitants of
the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the
book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the
world. 9 He who has an ear, let him hear. 10 If
anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be
killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient
endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. 11 Then
I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but
he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of
the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship
the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And he
performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from
heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs
he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the
inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the
beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was
given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could
speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He
also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so
that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the
beast or the number of his name. 18 This calls for wisdom. If
anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's
number. His number is 666.
1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing
on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name
written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven
like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I
heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And
they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and
the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been
redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile
themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb
wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits
to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they
are blameless. 6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair,
and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to
every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud
voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has
come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of
water." 8 A second angel followed and said, "Fallen!
Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening
wine of her adulteries." 9 A third angel followed them
and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and
receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, 10 he, too,
will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into
the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence
of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their
torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who
worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his
name." 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of
the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. 13 Then
I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in
the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will
rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." 14 I
looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one
"like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp
sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the
temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud,
"Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the
harvest of the earth is ripe." 16So he who was seated on the
cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. 17Another
angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still
another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a
loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and
gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are
ripe." 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth,
gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's
wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the
city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles
for a distance of 1,600 stadia.
1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven
angels with the seven last plagues--last, because with them God's wrath is
completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed
with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the
beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them
by God 3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the
song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. 4 Who will not
fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All
nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been
revealed." 5 After this I looked and in heaven the
temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. 6 Out
of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed
in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then
one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls
filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And
the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and
no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were
completed.
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the
seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the
earth." 2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on
the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark
of the beast and worshiped his image. 3 The second angel
poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead
man, and every living thing in the sea died. 4 The third angel
poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became
blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
"You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One,
because you have so judged; 6 for they have shed the blood of
your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they
deserve."7 And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God
Almighty, true and just are your judgments." 8 The fourth
angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch
people with fire. 9They were seared by the intense heat and they
cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to
repent and glorify him. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl
on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men
gnawed their tongues in agony11 and cursed the God of heaven
because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they
had done. 12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great
river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings
from the East. 13 Then I saw three evil spirits that looked
like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the
beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are
spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of
the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God
Almighty.15 "Behold, I come like a thief ! Blessed is he who
stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be
shamefully exposed." 16 Then they gathered the kings
together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. 17 The
seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a
loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 Then
there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe
earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on
earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split
into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered
Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his
wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not
be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred
pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of
hail, because the plague was so terrible.
1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and
said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute,
who sits on many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth
committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the
wine of her adulteries."3 Then the angel carried me away in
the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that
was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The
woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious
stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable
things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 This title was
written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw that the woman
was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony
to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the
angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the
mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and
ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not,
and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of
the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the
creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he
once was, now is not, and yet will come. 9 "This calls
for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman
sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is,
the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little
while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth
king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. 12 "The
ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who
for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They
have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They
will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is
Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and
faithful followers." 15 Then the angel said to me,
"The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes,
nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw
will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they
will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put
it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast
their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled. 18 The
woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He
had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With
a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has
become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every
unclean and detestable bird. 3 For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery
with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive
luxuries." 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
"Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so
that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins
are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. 6 Give
back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix
her a double portion from her own cup. 7 Give her as much
torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she
boasts, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.' 8 Therefore
in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will
be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. 9 "When
the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury
see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified
at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: " 'Woe! Woe, O great city,
O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!' 11 "The
merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their
cargoes any more-- 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones
and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron
wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and
marble; 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh
and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and
sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men. 14 "They
will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and
splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.' 15The merchants who
sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off,
terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn 16 and cry
out: " 'Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! 17 In
one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' "Every sea captain,
and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the
sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her
burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' 19 They
will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: "
'Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through
her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin! 20 Rejoice
over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged
her for the way she treated you.' " 21 Then a mighty
angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the
sea, and said: "With such violence the great city of Babylon will be
thrown down, never to be found again. 22 The music of harpists
and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again.
No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a
millstone will never be heard in you again. 23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be
heard in you again. Your merchants were the world's great men. By your magic
spell all the nations were led astray. 24 In her was found the
blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the
earth."
Psalm 45
Psalm 45 (New International Version)
Psalm 45
For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song. [a]
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.
5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.
8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house.
11 The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, [b] men of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber ; her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you.
15 They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king.
16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land.
17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.
Psalm 45
For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song. [a]
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2 You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.
5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.
8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.
9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.
10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house.
11 The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, [b] men of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber ; her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you.
15 They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king.
16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land.
17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)