# verses

text:
You desire things and donвЂ™t have them. You kill, and you are jealous, and you still canвЂ™t get them. So you fight and quarrel. The reason you donвЂ™t have is that you donвЂ™t pray!


text:
Or you pray and donвЂ™t receive, because you pray with the wrong motive, that of wanting to indulge your own desires.


text:
You unfaithful wives! DonвЂ™t you know that loving the world is hating God? Whoever chooses to be the worldвЂ™s friend makes himself GodвЂ™s enemy!


text:
Or do you suppose the Scripture speaks in vain when it says that there is a spirit in us which longs to envy?


text:
But the grace he gives is greater, which is why it says, "God opposes the arrogant, but to the humble he gives grace."


text:
Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded people!


text:
Brothers, stop speaking against each other! Whoever speaks against a brother or judges a brother is speaking against <i>Torah </i>and judging <i>Torah</i>. And if you judge <i>Torah</i>, you are not a doer of what <i>Torah </i>says, but a judge.


text:
There is but one Giver of <i>Torah</i>; he is also the Judge, with the power to deliver and to destroy. Who do you think you are, judging your fellow human being?


text:
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a city, stay there a year trading and make a profit"!


text:
You donвЂ™t even know if you will be alive tomorrow! For all you are is a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears.


text:
your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat up your flesh like fire! This is the <i>acharit-hayamim</i>, and you have been storing up wealth!


text:
Listen! The wages you have fraudulently withheld from the workers who mowed your fields are calling out against you, and the outcries of those who harvested have reached the ears of <i>ADONAI</i>-<i>TzvaвЂ™ot</i>.


text:
You have led a life of luxury and self-indulgence here on earth- in a time of slaughter, you have gone on eating to your heartвЂ™s content.


text:
So, brothers, be patient until the Lord returns. See how the farmer waits for the precious "fruit of the earth"- he is patient over it until it receives the fall and spring rains.


text:
DonвЂ™t grumble against one another, brothers, so that you wonвЂ™t come under condemnation- look! the Judge is standing at the door!


text:
As an example of suffering mistreatment and being patient, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of <i>ADONAI</i>.


text:
Look, we regard those who persevered as blessed. You have heard of the perseverance of Iyov, and you know what the purpose of <i>ADONAI </i>was, that <i>ADONAI </i>is very compassionate and merciful.


text:
Above all, brothers, stop swearing oaths- not "By heaven," not "By the earth," and not by any other formula; rather, let your "Yes" be simply "Yes" and your "No" simply "No," so that you wonвЂ™t fall under condemnation.


text:
Is someone among you in trouble? He should pray. Is someone feeling good? He should sing songs of praise.


text:
Is someone among you ill? He should call for the elders of the congregation. They will pray for him and rub olive oil on him in the name of the Lord.


text:
The prayer offered with trust will heal the one who is ill- the Lord will restore his health; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.


text:
Therefore, openly acknowledge your sins to one another, and pray for each other, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.


text:
Eliyahu was only a human being like us; yet he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and no rain fell on the Land for three years and six months.


text:
you should know that whoever turns a sinner from his wandering path will save him from death and cover many sins.


text:
From: Kefa, an emissary of Yeshua the Messiah To: GodвЂ™s chosen people, living as aliens in the Diaspora- in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bythinia-


text:
chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obeying Yeshua the Messiah and for sprinkling with his blood: Grace and <i>shalom </i>be yours in full measure.


text:
Praised be God, Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who, in keeping with his great mercy, has caused us, through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah from the dead, to be born again to a living hope,


text:
Meanwhile, through trusting, you are being protected by GodвЂ™s power for a deliverance ready to be revealed at the Last Time.


text:
Even gold is tested for genuineness by fire. The purpose of these trials is so that your trustвЂ™s genuineness, which is far more valuable than perishable gold, will be judged worthy of praise, glory and honor at the revealing of Yeshua the Messiah.


text:
Without having seen him, you love him. Without seeing him now, but trusting in him, you continue to be full of joy that is glorious beyond words.


text:
The prophets, who prophesied about this gift of deliverance that was meant for you, pondered and inquired diligently about it.


text:
They were trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of the Messiah in them was referring in predicting the MessiahвЂ™s sufferings and the glorious things to follow.


text:
It was revealed to them that their service when they spoke about these things was not for their own benefit, but for yours. And these same things have now been proclaimed to you by those who communicated the Good News to you through the <i>Ruach HaKodesh </i>sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things!


text:
Therefore, get your minds ready for work, keep yourselves under control, and fix your hopes fully on the gift you will receive when Yeshua the Messiah is revealed.


text:
As people who obey God, do not let yourselves be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant.


text:
On the contrary, following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life;


text:
Also, if you are addressing as Father the one who judges impartially according to each personвЂ™s actions, you should live out your temporary stay on earth in fear.


text:
You should be aware that the ransom paid to free you from the worthless way of life which your fathers passed on to you did not consist of anything perishable like silver or gold;


text:
on the contrary, it was the costly bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah, as of a lamb without defect or spot.


text:
God knew him before the founding of the universe, but revealed him in the <i>acharit-hayamim </i>for your sakes.


text:
Through him you trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory; so that your trust and hope are in God.


text:
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth, so that you have a sincere love for your brothers, love each other deeply, with all your heart.


text:
You have been born again not from some seed that will decay, but from one that cannot decay, through the living Word of God that lasts forever.


text:
For all humanity is like grass, all its glory is like a wildflower- the grass withers, and the flower falls off;


text:
but the Word of <i>ADONAI </i>lasts forever. Moreover, this Word is the Good News which has been proclaimed to you.


text:
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, of all deceit, hypocrisy and envy, and of all the ways there are of speaking against people;


text:
and be like newborn babies, thirsty for the pure milk of the Word; so that by it, you may grow up into deliverance.


text:
you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be <i>cohanim </i>set apart for God to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him through Yeshua the Messiah.


text:
This is why the <i>Tanakh </i>says, "Look! I am laying in Tziyon a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and whoever rests his trust on it will certainly not be humiliated."


text:
Now to you who keep trusting, he is precious. But to those who are not trusting, "The very stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone";


text:
also he is a stone that will make people stumble, a rock over which they will trip. They are stumbling at the Word, disobeying it- as had been planned.


text:
But you are a chosen people, the KingвЂ™s <i>cohanim</i>, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.


text:
Once you were not a people, but now you are GodвЂ™s people; before, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.


text:
Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents not to give in to the desires of your old nature, which keep warring against you;


text:
but to live such good lives among the pagans that even though they now speak against you as evil-doers, they will, as a result of seeing your good actions, give glory to God on the Day of his coming.


text:
For the sake of the Lord, submit yourselves to every human authority- whether to the emperor as being supreme,


text:
Submit as people who are free, but not letting your freedom serve as an excuse for evil; rather, submit as GodвЂ™s slaves.


text:
Household servants, submit yourselves to your masters, showing them full respect- and not only those who are kind and considerate, but also those who are harsh.


text:
For it is a grace when someone, because he is mindful of God, bears up under the pain of undeserved punishment.


text:
For what credit is there in bearing up under a beating you deserve for doing something wrong? But if you bear up under punishment, even though you have done what is right, God looks on it with favor.


text:
Indeed, this is what you were called to; because the Messiah too suffered, on your behalf, leaving an example so that you should follow in his steps.


text:
When he was insulted, he didnвЂ™t retaliate with insults; when he suffered, he didnвЂ™t threaten, but handed them over to him who judges justly.


text:
He himself bore our sins in his body on the stake, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness- by his wounds you were healed.


text:
For you used to be like sheep gone astray, but now you have turned to the Shepherd, who watches over you.


text:
In the same way, wives, submit to your husbands; so that even if some of them do not believe the Word, they will be won over by your conduct, without your saying anything,


text:
Your beauty should not consist in externals such as fancy hairstyles, gold jewelry or what you wear;


text:
rather, let it be the inner character of your heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit. In GodвЂ™s sight this is of great value.


text:
This is how the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves and submit to their husbands,


text:
the way Sarah obeyed Avraham, honoring him as her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not succumb to fear.


text:
You husbands, likewise, conduct your married lives with understanding. Although your wife may be weaker physically, you should respect her as a fellow-heir of the gift of Life. If you donвЂ™t, your prayers will be blocked.


text:
Finally, all of you, be one in mind and feeling; love as brothers; and be compassionate and humble-minded,


text:
not repaying evil with evil or insult with insult, but, on the contrary, with blessing. For it is to this that you have been called, so that you may receive a blessing.


text:
For "Whoever wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,


text:
For <i>ADONAI </i>keeps his eyes on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of <i>ADONAI </i>is against those who do evil things."


text:
But even if you do suffer for being righteous, you are blessed! Moreover, donвЂ™t fear what they fear or be disturbed,


text:
but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts; while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you- yet with humility and fear,


text:
keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are spoken against, those who abuse the good behavior flowing from your union with the Messiah may be put to shame.


text:
For if God has in fact willed that you should suffer, it is better that you suffer for doing what is good than for doing what is evil.


text:
For the Messiah himself died for sins, once and for all, a righteous person on behalf of unrighteous people, so that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but brought to life by the Spirit;


text:
to those who were disobedient long ago, in the days of Noach, when God waited patiently during the building of the ark, in which a few people- to be specific, eight- were delivered by means of water.


text:
This also prefigures what delivers us now, the water of immersion, which is not the removal of dirt from the body, but oneвЂ™s pledge to keep a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah.


text:
He has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities and powers subject to him.


text:
Therefore, since the Messiah suffered physically, you too are to arm yourselves with the same attitude. For whoever has suffered physically is finished with sin,


text:
with the result that he lives the rest of his earthly life no longer controlled by human desires, but by GodвЂ™s will.


text:
For you have spent enough time already living the way the pagans want you to live- in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, wild parties and forbidden idol-worship.


text:
They think it strange that you donвЂ™t plunge with them into the same flood of dissoluteness, and so they heap insults on you.


text:
This is why he was proclaimed to those who have died; it was so that, although physically they would receive the judgment common to all humanity, they might live by the Spirit in the way that God has provided.


text:
The accomplishing of the goal of all things is close at hand. Therefore, keep alert and self-controlled, so that you can pray.


text:
As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of GodвЂ™s many-sided grace-


text:
if someone speaks, let him speak GodвЂ™s words; if someone serves, let him do so out of strength that God supplies; so that in everything God may be glorified through Yeshua the Messiah- to him be glory and power forever and ever. <i>Amen</i>.


text:
Dear friends, donвЂ™t regard as strange the fiery ordeal occurring among you to test you, as if something extraordinary were happening to you.


text:
Rather, to the extent that you share the fellowship of the MessiahвЂ™s sufferings, rejoice; so that you will rejoice even more when his <i>ShвЂ™khinah </i>is revealed.


text:
If you are being insulted because you bear the name of the Messiah, how blessed you are! For the Spirit of the <i>ShвЂ™khinah</i>, that is, the Spirit of God, is resting on you!


text:
Let none of you suffer for being a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or a meddler in other peopleвЂ™s affairs.


text:
But if anyone suffers for being Messianic, let him not be ashamed; but let him bring glory to God by the way he bears this name.


text:
For the time has come for the judgment to begin. It begins with the household of God; and if it starts with us, what will the outcome be for those who are disobeying GodвЂ™s Good News?-


text:
So let those who are suffering according to GodвЂ™s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator by continuing to do what is good.


text:
Therefore, I urge the congregation leaders among you, as a fellow-leader and witness to the MessiahвЂ™s sufferings, as well as a sharer in the glory to be revealed:


text:
shepherd the flock of God that is in your care, exercising oversight not out of constraint, but willingly, as God wants; and not out of a desire for dishonest gain, but with enthusiasm;


text:
also not as<i>machers </i>domineering over those in your care, but as people who become examples to the flock.


text:
Likewise, you who are less experienced, submit to leaders. Further, all of you should clothe yourselves in humility toward one another, because God opposes the arrogant, but to the humble he gives grace.


text:
Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the right time he may lift you up.


text:
Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.


text:
Stand against him, firm in your trust, knowing that your brothers throughout the world are going through the same kinds of suffering.


text:
You will have to suffer only a little while; after that, God, who is full of grace, the one who called you to his eternal glory in union with the Messiah, will himself restore, establish and strengthen you and make you firm.


text:
Through Sila, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written you briefly, encouraging you and giving my witness that this is GodвЂ™s true grace. Stand firm in it!


text:
Your sister congregation in Bavel, chosen along with you, sends greetings to you, as does my son Mark.


text:
From: ShimвЂ™on Kefa, a slave and emissary of Yeshua the Messiah To: Those who, through the righteousness of our God and of our Deliverer Yeshua the Messiah, have been given the same kind of trust as ours:


text:
May grace and <i>shalom </i>be yours in full measure, as you come to a full knowledge of God and Yeshua our Lord.


text:
GodвЂ™s power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through our knowing the One who called us to his own glory and goodness.


text:
By these he has given us valuable and superlatively great promises, so that through them you might come to share in GodвЂ™s nature and escape the corruption which evil desires have brought into the world.


text:
For this very reason, try your hardest to furnish your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge,


text:
For if you have these qualities in abundance, they keep you from being barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.


text:
Indeed, whoever lacks them is blind, so shortsighted that he forgets that his past sins have been washed away.


text:
Therefore, brothers, try even harder to make your being called and chosen a certainty. For if you keep doing this, you will never stumble.


text:
Thus you will be generously supplied with everything you need to enter the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah.


text:
For this reason, I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you already have.


text:
And I consider it right to keep stirring you up with reminders, as long as I am in the tent of this body.


text:
I know that I will soon lay aside this tent of mine, as our Lord Yeshua the Messiah has made clear to me.


text:
And I will do my best to see that after my exodus, you will be able to remember these things at all times.


text:
For when we made known to you the power and the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, we did not rely on cunningly contrived myths. On the contrary, we saw his majesty with our own eyes.


text:
For we were there when he received honor and glory from God the Father; and the voice came to him from the grandeur of the <i>ShвЂ™khinah</i>, saying, "This is my son, whom I love; I am well pleased with him!"


text:
Yes, we have the prophetic Word made very certain. You will do well to pay attention to it as to a light shining in a dark, murky place, until the Day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts.


text:
First of all, understand this: no prophecy of Scripture is to be interpreted by an individual on his own;


text:
for never has a prophecy come as a result of human willing- on the contrary, people moved by the <i>Ruach HaKodesh </i>spoke a message from God.


text:
But among the people there were also false prophets, just as there will be false teachers among you. Under false pretenses they will introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and thus bring on themselves swift destruction.


text:
In their greed they will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their punishment, decreed long ago, is not idle; their destruction is not asleep!


text:
For God did not spare the angels who sinned; on the contrary, he put them in gloomy dungeons lower than ShвЂ™ol to be held for judgment.


text:
And he did not spare the ancient world; on the contrary, he preserved Noach, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, and brought the Flood upon a world of ungodly people.


text:
And he condemned the cities of SвЂ™dom and вЂAmora, reducing them to ashes and ruin, as a warning to those in the future who would live ungodly lives;


text:
but he rescued Lot, a righteous man who was distressed by the debauchery of those unprincipled people;


text:
for the wicked deeds which that righteous man saw and heard, as he lived among them, tormented his righteous heart day after day.


text:
So the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and how to hold the wicked until the Day of Judgment while continuing to punish them,


text:
especially those who follow their old natures in lust for filth and who despise authority. Presumptuous and self-willed, these false teachers do not tremble at insulting angelic beings;


text:
whereas angels, though stronger and more powerful, do not bring before the Lord an insulting charge against them.


text:
But these people, acting without thinking, like animals without reason, born to be captured and destroyed, insult things about which they have no knowledge. When they are destroyed, their destruction will be total-


text:
they will be paid back harm as wages for the harm they are doing. Their idea of pleasure is carousing in broad daylight; they are spots and defects reveling in their deceptions as they share meals with you-


text:
for they have eyes always on the lookout for a woman who will commit adultery, eyes that never stop sinning; and they have a heart that has exercised itself in greed; so that they seduce unstable people. What a cursed brood!


text:
These people have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of BilвЂ™am Ben-BвЂ™or, who loved the wages of doing harm


text:
but was rebuked for his sin- a dumb beast of burden spoke out with a human voice and restrained the prophetвЂ™s insanity!


text:
Waterless springs they are, mists driven by a gust of wind; for them has been reserved the blackest darkness.


text:
Mouthing grandiosities of nothingness, they play on the desires of the old nature, in order to seduce with debaucheries people who have just begun to escape from those whose way of life is wrong.


text:
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him.


text:
Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former.


text:
It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them.


text:
What has happened to them accords with the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit." Yes, "The pig washed itself, only to wallow in the mud!"


text:
Dear friends, I am writing you now this second letter; and in both letters I am trying to arouse you to wholesome thinking by means of reminders;


text:
so that you will keep in mind the predictions of the holy prophets and the command given by the Lord and Deliverer through your emissaries.


text:
and asking, "Where is this promised вЂcomingвЂ™ of his? For our fathers have died, and everything goes on just as it has since the beginning of creation."


text:
But, wanting so much to be right about this, they overlook the fact that it was by GodвЂ™s Word that long ago there were heavens, and there was land which arose out of water and existed between the waters,


text:
It is by that same Word that the present heavens and earth, having been preserved, are being kept for fire until the Day of Judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.


text:
Moreover, dear friends, do not ignore this: with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day


text:
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some people think of slowness; on the contrary, he is patient with you; for it is not his purpose that anyone should be destroyed, but that everyone should turn from his sins.


text:
However, the Day of the Lord will come "like a thief." On that Day the heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will melt and disintegrate, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up.


text:
Since everything is going to be destroyed like this, what kind of people should you be? You should lead holy and godly lives,


text:
as you wait for the Day of God and work to hasten its coming. That Day will bring on the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt from the heat;


text:
but we, following along with his promise, wait for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness will be at home.


text:
Therefore, dear friends, as you look for these things, do everything you can to be found by him without spot or defect and at peace.


text:
And think of our LordвЂ™s patience as deliverance, just as our dear brother ShaвЂ™ul also wrote you, following the wisdom God gave him.


text:
Indeed, he speaks about these things in all his letters. They contain some things that are hard to understand, things which the uninstructed and unstable distort, to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.


text:
But you, dear friends, since you know this in advance, guard yourselves; so that you will not be led away by the errors of the wicked and fall from your own secure position.


text:
And keep growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah. To him be the glory, both now and forever! <i>Amen</i>.


text:
The Word, which gives life! He existed from the beginning. We have heard him, we have seen him with our eyes, we have contemplated him, we have touched him with our hands!


text:
The life appeared, and we have seen it. We are testifying to it and announcing it to you- eternal life! He was with the Father, and he appeared to us.


text:
What we have seen and heard, we are proclaiming to you; so that you too may have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Yeshua the Messiah.


text:
And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him- none!


text:
If we claim to have fellowship with him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth.


text:
But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.


text:
If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.


text:
If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.


text:
My children, I am writing you these things so that you wonвЂ™t sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the <i>Tzaddik</i>, who pleads our cause with the Father.


text:
Also, he is the <i>kapparah </i>for our sins- and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.


text:
But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with him.


text:
Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command. On the contrary, it is an old command, which you have had from the beginning; the old command is the message which you have heard before.


text:
Yet I am writing you a new command, and its reality is seen both in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.


text:
The person who keeps loving his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him that could make him trip.


text:
But the person who hates his brother is in the dark- yes, he is walking in the dark, and he doesnвЂ™t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.


text:
You fathers, I am writing you because you have known him who has existed from the beginning. You young people, I am writing you because you have overcome the Evil One.


text:
You children, I have written you because you have known the Father. You fathers, I have written you because you have known him who has existed from the beginning. You young people, I have written you because you are strong- the Word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the Evil One.


text:
Do not love the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, then love for the Father is not in him;


text:
because all the things of the world- the desires of the old nature, the desires of the eyes, and the pretensions of life- are not from the Father but from the world.


text:
And the world is passing away, along with its desires. But whoever does GodвЂ™s will remains forever.


text:
Children, this is the Last Hour. You have heard that an Anti-Messiah is coming; and in fact, many anti-Messiahs have arisen now- which is how we know that this is the Last Hour.


text:
They went out from us, but they werenвЂ™t part of us; for had they been part of us, they would have remained with us.


text:
It is not because you donвЂ™t know the truth that I have written to you, but because you do know it, and because no lie has its origin in the truth.


text:
Who is a liar at all, if not the person who denies that Yeshua is the Messiah? Such a person is an anti-Messiah- he is denying the Father and the Son.


text:
Everyone who denies the Son is also without the Father, but the person who acknowledges the Son has the Father as well.


text:
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will also remain in union with both the Son and the Father.


text:
As for you, the Messianic anointing you received from the Father remains in you, so that you have no need for anyone to teach you. On the contrary, as his Messianic anointing continues to teach you about all things, and is true, not a counterfeit, so, just as he taught you, remain united with him.


text:
And now, children, remain united with him; so that when he appears, we may have confidence and not shrink back from him in shame at his coming.


text:
If you know that he is righteous, you should also know that he is the Father of everyone who does what is right.


text:
See what love the Father has lavished on us in letting us be called GodвЂ™s children! For that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it has not known him.


text:
Dear friends, we are GodвЂ™s children now; and it has not yet been made clear what we will become. We do know that when he appears, we will be like him; because we will see him as he really is.


text:
So no one who remains united with him continues sinning; everyone who does continue sinning has neither seen him nor known him.


text:
Children, donвЂ™t let anyone deceive you- it is the person that keeps on doing what is right who is righteous, just as God is righteous.


text:
The person who keeps on sinning is from the Adversary, because from the very beginning the Adversary has kept on sinning. It was for this very reason that the Son of God appeared, to destroy these doings of the Adversary.


text:
No one who has God as his Father keeps on sinning, because the seed planted by God remains in him. That is, he cannot continue sinning, because he has God as his Father.


text:
Here is how one can distinguish clearly between GodвЂ™s children and those of the Adversary: everyone who does not continue doing what is right is not from God. Likewise, anyone who fails to keep loving his brother is not from God.


text:
and not be like Kayin, who was from the Evil One and murdered his own brother. Why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil, and his brotherвЂ™s were righteous.


text:
We, for our part, know that we have passed from death to life because we keep loving the brothers. The person who fails to keep on loving is still under the power of death.


text:
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.


text:
The way that we have come to know love is through his having laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers!


text:
If someone has worldly possessions and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how can he be loving God?


text:
Here is how we will know that we are from the truth and will set our hearts at rest in his presence:


text:
then, whatever we ask for, we receive from him; because we are obeying his commands and doing the things that please him.


text:
This is his command: that we are to trust in the person and power of his Son Yeshua the Messiah and to keep loving one another, just as he commanded us.


text:
Those who obey his commands remain united with him and he with them. Here is how we know that he remains united with us: by the Spirit whom he gave us.


text:
Dear friends, donвЂ™t trust every spirit. On the contrary, test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.


text:
Here is how you recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit which acknowledges that Yeshua the Messiah came as a human being is from God,


text:
and every spirit which does not acknowledge Yeshua is not from God- in fact, this is the spirit of the Anti-Messiah. You have heard that he is coming. Well, heвЂ™s here now, in the world already!


text:
You, children, are from God and have overcome the false prophets, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.


text:
They are from the world; therefore, they speak from the worldвЂ™s viewpoint; and the world listens to them.


text:
We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God doesnвЂ™t listen to us. This is how we distinguish the Spirit of truth from the spirit of error.


text:
Beloved friends, let us love one another; because love is from God; and everyone who loves has God as his Father and knows God.


text:
Here is how God showed his love among us: God sent his only Son into the world, so that through him we might have life.


text:
Here is what love is: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the <i>kapparah </i>for our sins.


text:
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains united with us, and our love for him has been brought to its goal in us.


text:
Here is how we know that we remain united with him and he with us: he has given to us from his own Spirit.


text:
If someone acknowledges that Yeshua is the Son of God, God remains united with him, and he with God.


text:
Also we have come to know and trust the love that God has for us. God is love; and those who remain in this love remain united with God, and God remains united with them.


text:
Here is how love has been brought to maturity with us: as the Messiah is, so are we in the world. This gives us confidence for the Day of Judgment.


text:
There is no fear in love. On the contrary, love that has achieved its goal gets rid of fear, because fear has to do with punishment; the person who keeps fearing has not been brought to maturity in regard to love.


text:
If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if a person does not love his brother, whom he has seen, then he cannot love God, whom he has not seen.


text:
Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah has God as his father, and everyone who loves a father loves his offspring too.


text:
because everything which has God as its Father overcomes the world. And this is what victoriously overcomes the world: our trust.


text:
He is the one who came by means of water and blood, Yeshua the Messiah- not with water only, but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.


text:
If we accept human witness, GodвЂ™s witness is stronger, because it is the witness which God has given about his Son.


text:
Those who keep trusting in the Son of God have this witness in them. Those who do not keep trusting God have made him out to be a liar, because they have not trusted in the witness which God has given about his Son.


text:
I have written you these things so that you may know that you have eternal life- you who keep trusting in the person and power of the Son of God.


text:
This is the confidence we have in his presence: if we ask anything that accords with his will, he hears us.


text:
And if we know that he hears us- whatever we ask- then we know that we have what we have asked from him.


text:
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he will ask; and God will give him life for those whose sinning does not lead to death. There is sin that does lead to death; I am not saying he should pray about that.


text:
We know that everyone who has God as his Father does not go on sinning; on the contrary, the Son born of God protects him, and the Evil One does not touch him.


text:
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment, so that we may know who is genuine; moreover, we are united with the One who is genuine, united with his Son Yeshua the Messiah. He is the genuine God and eternal life.


text:
From: The Elder To: The chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth- and not only I but also all who have come to know the truth-


text:
Grace, mercy and <i>shalom </i>will be with us from God the Father and from Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.


text:
I was very happy when I found some of your children living in truth, just as the Father commanded us.


text:
And now, dear lady, I am requesting that we love one another- not as if this were a new command I am writing you, for it is the one which we have had from the beginning.


text:
Moreover, love is this: that we should live according to his commands. This is the command, as you people have heard from the beginning; live by it!


text:
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not acknowledge Yeshua the MessiahвЂ™s coming as a human being. Such a person is a deceiver and an anti-Messiah.


text:
Watch yourselves, so that you wonвЂ™t lose what you have worked for, but will receive your full reward.


text:
Everyone who goes ahead and does not remain true to what the Messiah has taught does not have God. Those who remain true to his teaching have both the Father and the Son.


text:
If someone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, donвЂ™t welcome him into your home. DonвЂ™t even say, "<i>Shalom</i>!" to him;


text:
Although I have much to write you people, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and see you and to talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.


text:
Dear friend, I am praying that everything prosper with you and that you be in good health, as I know you are prospering spiritually.


text:
For I was so happy when some brothers came and testified how faithful you are to the truth, as you continue living in the truth.


text:
Dear friend, you are faithful in all the work you are doing for the brothers, even when they are strangers to you.


text:
They have testified to your love in front of the congregation. You will be doing well if you send them on their way in a manner worthy of God,


text:
since it was for the sake of <i>HaShem </i>that they went out without accepting anything from the <i>Goyim</i>.


text:
It is we, therefore, who should support such people; so that we may share in their work for the truth.


text:
I wrote something to the congregation; but Diotrephes, who likes to be the <i>macher </i>among them, doesnвЂ™t recognize our authority.


text:
So if I come, I will bring up everything he is doing, including his spiteful and groundless gossip about us. And as if that werenвЂ™t enough for him, he refuses to recognize the brothersвЂ™ authority either; moreover, he stops those who want to do so and tries to drive them out of the congregation!


text:
Dear friend, donвЂ™t imitate the bad, but the good. Those who do what is good are from God; those who do what is bad are not from God.


text:
Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, and so does the truth itself. We vouch for him, and you know that our testimony is true.


text:
however, I am hoping to see you very soon, and we will speak face to face. <i>Shalom </i>to you. Your friends send you their greetings. Greet each of our friends by name.


text:
From: YвЂ™hudah, a slave of Yeshua the Messiah and a brother of YaвЂ™akov To: Those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept for Yeshua the Messiah:


text:
Dear friends, I was busily at work writing to you about the salvation we share, when I found it necessary to write, urging you to keep contending earnestly for the faith which was once and for all passed on to GodвЂ™s people.


text:
For certain individuals, the ones written about long ago as being meant for this condemnation, have wormed their way in- ungodly people who pervert GodвЂ™s grace into a license for debauchery and disown our only Master and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah.


text:
Since you already know all this, my purpose is only to remind you that <i>ADONAI</i>, who once delivered the people from Egypt, later destroyed those who did not trust.


text:
And the angels that did not keep within their original authority, but abandoned their proper sphere, he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for the Judgment of the Great Day.


text:
And SвЂ™dom, вЂAmora and the surrounding cities, following a pattern like theirs, committing sexual sins and perversions, lie exposed as a warning of the everlasting fire awaiting those who must undergo punishment.


text:
Likewise, these people, with their visions, defile their own flesh, despise godly authority and insult angelic beings.


text:
When MikhaвЂ™el, one of the ruling angels, took issue with the Adversary, arguing over the body of Moshe, he did not dare bring against him an insulting charge, but said, "May <i>ADONAI </i>rebuke you."


text:
However, these people insult anything they donвЂ™t understand; and what they do understand naturally, without thinking, like animals- by these things they are destroyed!


text:
Woe to them, in that they have walked the road of Kayin, they have given themselves over for money to the error of BilвЂ™am, they have been destroyed in the rebellion of Korach.


text:
These men are filthy spots at your festive gatherings meant to foster love; they share your meals without a qualm, while caring only for themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds; trees without fruit even in autumn, and doubly dead because they have been uprooted;


text:
savage sea-waves heaving forth their shameful deeds like foam; wandering stars for whom the blackest darkness has been reserved forever.


text:
Moreover, Hanokh, in the seventh generation starting with Adam, also prophesied about these men, saying, "Look! <i>ADONAI </i>came with his myriads of holy ones


text:
to execute judgment against everyone, that is, to convict all the godless for their godless deeds which they have done in such a godless way, and for all the harsh words these godless sinners have spoken against him."


text:
These people are grumblers and complainers, they follow their evil passions, their mouths speak grandiosities, and they flatter others to gain advantage.


text:
But you, dear friends, keep in mind the words spoken in advance by the emissaries of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.


text:
They told you, "During the <i>acharit-hayamim </i>there will be scoffers following their own godless passions."


text:
These are the people who cause divisions. They are controlled by their impulses, because they donвЂ™t have the Spirit.


text:
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, and pray in union with the <i>Ruach HaKodesh</i>.


text:
Thus keep yourselves in GodвЂ™s love, as you wait for our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to give you the mercy that leads to eternal life.


text:
save others, snatching them out of the fire; and to yet others, show mercy, but with fear, hating even the clothes stained by their vices.


text:
Now, to the one who can keep you from falling and set you without defect and full of joy in the presence of his <i>Sh'khinah</i>-


text:
to God alone, our Deliverer, through Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord- be glory, majesty, power and authority before all time, now and forever. <i>Amen</i>.


text:
This is the revelation which God gave to Yeshua the Messiah, so that he could show his servants what must happen very soon. He communicated it by sending his angel to his servant Yochanan,


text:
Blessed are the reader and hearers of the words of this prophecy, provided they obey the things written in it! For the time is near!


text:
From: Yochanan To: The seven Messianic communities in the province of Asia: Grace and<i>shalom </i>to you from the One who is, who was and who is coming; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne;


text:
and from Yeshua the Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the earth's kings. To him, the one who loves us, who has freed us from our sins at the cost of his blood,


text:
who has caused us to be a kingdom, that is, <i>cohanim </i>for God, his Father- to him be the glory and the rulership forever and ever. <i>Amen</i>.


text:
Look! He is coming with the clouds! Every eye will see him, including those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the Land will mourn him. Yes! <i>Amen</i>!


text:
"I am the 'A' and the 'Z,'" says <i>ADONAI</i>, God of heaven's armies, the One who is, who was and who is coming.


text:
I, Yochanan, am a brother of yours and a fellow-sharer in the suffering, kingship and perseverance that come from being united with Yeshua. I had been exiled to the island called Patmos for having proclaimed the message of God and borne witness to Yeshua.


text:
I came to be, in the Spirit, on the Day of the Lord; and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet,


text:
saying, "Write down what you see on a scroll, and send it to the seven Messianic communities- Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea!"


text:
I turned around to see who was speaking to me; and when I had turned, I saw seven gold <i>menorah</i>s;


text:
and among the <i>menorah</i>s was someone like a Son of Man, wearing a robe down to his feet and a gold band around his chest.


text:
In his right hand he held seven stars, out of his mouth went a sharp double-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.


text:
When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand upon me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last,


text:
the Living One. I was dead, but look!- I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Sh'ol.


text:
Here is the secret meaning of the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold <i>menorah</i>s: the seven stars are the angels of the seven Messianic communities, and the seven <i>menorah</i>s are the seven Messianic communities.


text:
"To the angel of the Messianic Community in Ephesus, write: 'Here is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven gold <i>menorah</i>s:


text:
"I know what you have been doing, how hard you have worked, how you have persevered, and how you can't stand wicked people; so you tested those who call themselves emissaries but aren't- and you found them to be liars.


text:
Therefore, remember where you were before you fell, turn from this sin, and do what you used to do before. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your <i>menorah </i>from its place- if you don't turn from your sin!


text:
Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him winning the victory I will give the right to eat from the Tree of Life which is in God's Gan-'Eden."'


text:
"To the angel of the Messianic Community in Smyrna, write: 'Here is the message from the First and the Last, who died and came alive again:


text:
"I know how you are suffering and how poor you are (though in fact you are rich!), and I know the insults of those who call themselves Jews but aren't- on the contrary, they are a synagogue of the Adversary.


text:
Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Adversary is going to have some of you thrown in prison, in order to put you to the test; and you will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful, even to the point of death; and I will give you life as your crown.


text:
Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. He who wins the victory will not be hurt at all by the second death."'


text:
"To the angel of the Messianic Community in Pergamum, write: 'Here is the message from the one who has the sharp double-edged sword:


text:
"I know where you are living, there where the Adversary's throne is. Yet you are holding onto my name. You did not deny trusting me even at the time when my faithful witness Antipas was put to death in your town, there where the Adversary lives.


text:
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people who hold to the teaching of Bil'am, who taught Balak to set a trap for the people of Isra'el, so that they would eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and commit sexual sin.


text:
Therefore, turn from these sins. Otherwise, I will come to you very soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth.


text:
Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him winning the victory I will give some of the hidden <i>man</i>. I will also give him a white stone, on which is written a new name that nobody knows except the one receiving it."'


text:
"To the angel of the Messianic Community in Thyatira, write: 'Here is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like burnished brass:


text:
I know what you are doing, your love, trust, service and perseverance. And I know that you are doing more now than before.


text:
But I have this against you: you continue to tolerate that Izevel woman, the one who claims to be a prophet, but is teaching and deceiving my servants to commit sexual sin and eat food that has been sacrificed to idols.


text:
So I am throwing her into a sickbed; and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great trouble, unless they turn from the sins connected with what she does;


text:
and I will strike her children dead! Then all the Messianic communities will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and that I will give to each of you what your deeds deserve.


text:
But to the rest of you in Thyatira, to those who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some people call the 'deep things' of the Adversary, I say this: I am not loading you up with another burden;


text:
To him who wins the victory and does what I want until the goal is reached, I will give him authority over the nations;


text:
"To the angel of the Messianic Community in Sardis, write: 'Here is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: "I know what you are doing- you have a reputation for being alive, but in fact you are dead!


text:
Wake up, and strengthen what remains, before it dies too! For I have found what you are doing incomplete in the sight of my God.


text:
So remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and turn from your sin! For if you don't wake up, I will come like a thief; and you don't know at what moment I will come upon you.


text:
Nevertheless, you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; and they will walk with me, clothed in white, because they are worthy.


text:
He who wins the victory will, like them, be dressed in white clothing; and I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life; in fact, I will acknowledge him individually before my Father and before his angels.


text:
"To the angel of the Messianic Community in Philadelphia, write: 'Here is the message of<i>HaKadosh</i>, the True One, the one who has the key of David, who, if he opens something, no one else can shut it, and if he closes something, no one else can open it.


text:
"I know what you are doing. Look, I have put in front of you an open door, and no one can shut it. I know that you have but little power, yet you have obeyed my message and have not disowned me.


text:
Here, I will give you some from the synagogue of the Adversary, those who call themselves Jews but aren't- on the contrary, they are lying- see, I will cause them to come and prostrate themselves at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.


text:
Because you did obey my message about persevering, I will keep you from the time of trial coming upon the whole world to put the people living on earth to the test.


text:
I will make him who wins the victory a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he will never leave it. Also I will write on him the name of my God and the name of my God's city, the new Yerushalayim coming down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name.


text:
"To the angel of the Messianic Community in Laodicea, write: 'Here is the message from the <i>Amen</i>, the faithful and true witness, the Ruler of God's creation:


text:
"I know what you are doing: you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other!


text:
For you keep saying, 'I am rich, I have gotten rich, I don't need a thing!' You don't know that you are the one who is wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked!


text:
My advice to you is to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be dressed and not have to be ashamed of your nakedness; and eyesalve to rub on your eyes, so that you may see.


text:
Here, I'm standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me.


text:
I will let him who wins the victory sit with me on my throne, just as I myself also won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne.


text:
After these things, I looked; and there before me was a door standing open in heaven; and the voice like a trumpet which I had heard speaking with me before said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things."


text:
Instantly I was in the Spirit, and there before me in heaven stood a throne, and on the throne Someone was sitting.


text:
The One sitting there gleamed like diamonds and rubies, and a rainbow shining like emerald encircled the throne.


text:
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothing and wearing gold crowns on their heads.


text:
From the throne came forth lightnings, voices and thunderings; and before the throne were seven flaming torches, which are the sevenfold Spirit of God.


text:
In front of the throne was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living beings covered with eyes in front and behind.


text:
The first living being was like a lion, the second living being was like an ox, the third living being had a face that looked human, and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle.


text:
Each of the four living beings had six wings and was covered with eyes inside and out; and day and night they never stop saying, "Holy, holy, holy is <i>ADONAI</i>, God of heaven's armies the One who was, who is and who is coming!"


text:
And whenever the living beings give glory, honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne, to the One who lives forever and ever,


text:
the twenty-four elders fall down before the One sitting on the throne, who lives forever and ever, and worship him. They throw their crowns in front of the throne and say,


text:
"You are worthy, <i>ADONAI Eloheinu</i>, to have glory, honor and power, because you created all things- yes, because of your will they were created and came into being!"


text:
Next I saw in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals;


text:
and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"


text:
One of the elders said to me, "Don't cry. Look, the Lion of the tribe of Y'hudah, the Root of David, has won the right to open the scroll and its seven seals."


text:
Then I saw standing there with the throne and the four living beings, in the circle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been slaughtered. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the sevenfold Spirit of God sent out into all the earth.


text:
When he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down in front of the Lamb. Each one held a harp and gold bowls filled with pieces of incense, which are the prayers of God's people;


text:
and they sang a new song, "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals; because you were slaughtered; at the cost of blood you ransomed for God persons from every tribe, language, people and nation.


text:
You made them into a kingdom for God to rule, <i>cohanim </i>to serve him; and they will rule over the earth."


text:
Then I looked, and I heard the sound of a vast number of angels- thousands and thousands, millions and millions! They were all around the throne, the living beings and the elders;


text:
and they shouted out, "Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise!"


text:
And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea- yes, everything in them- saying, "To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb belong praise, honor, glory and power forever and ever!"


text:
Next I watched as the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living beings say in a thundering voice, "Go!"


text:
I looked, and there in front of me was a white horse; its rider had a bow and was given a crown; and he rode off as a conqueror to conquer.


text:
Another horse went out, a red one; and its rider was given the power to take peace away from the earth and make people slaughter each other. He was given a great sword.


text:
When he broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Go!" I looked, and there in front of me was a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales.


text:
Then I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living beings say, "Two pounds of wheat for a day's wages! Six pounds of barley for the same price! But don't damage the oil or the wine!"


text:
I looked, and there in front of me was a pallid, sickly-looking horse. Its rider's name was Death, and Sh'ol followed behind him. They were given authority to kill one-quarter of the world by war, by famine, by plagues and with the wild animals of the earth.


text:
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been put to death for proclaiming the Word of God, that is, for bearing witness.


text:
They cried out in a loud voice, "Sovereign Ruler, <i>HaKadosh</i>, the True One, how long will it be before you judge the people living on earth and avenge our blood?"


text:
Each of them was given a white robe; and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow-servants should be reached, of their brothers who would be killed, just as they had been.


text:
Then I watched as he broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, the sun turned black as sackcloth worn in mourning, and the full moon became blood-red.


text:
The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.


text:
Then the earth's kings, the rulers, the generals, the rich and the mighty- indeed, everyone, slave and free- hid himself in caves and among the rocks in the mountains,


text:
and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of the One sitting on the throne and from the fury of the Lamb!


text:
After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the land, on the sea or on any tree.


text:
I saw another angel coming up from the east with a seal from the living God, and he shouted to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea,


text:
"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads!"


text:
From the tribe of Y'hudah 12,000 were sealed from the tribe of Re'uven 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 12,000


text:
After this, I looked; and there before me was a huge crowd, too large for anyone to count, from every nation, tribe, people and language. They were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands;


text:
All the angels stood around the throne, the elders and the four living beings; they fell face down before the throne and worshipped God, saying,


text:
"<i>Amen</i>! "Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks, honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! "<i>Amen</i>!"


text:
One of the elders asked me, "These people dressed in white robes- who are they, and where are they from?"


text:
"Sir," I answered, "you know." Then he told me, "These are the people who have come out of the Great Persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb.


text:
That is why they are before God's throne. "Day and night they serve him in his Temple; and the One who sits on the throne will put his <i>Sh'khinah </i>upon them.


text:
"They will never again be hungry, they will never again be thirsty, the sun will not beat down on them, nor will any burning heat.


text:
"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will shepherd them, will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."


text:
When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for what seemed like half an hour.


text:
Another angel came and stood at the altar with a gold incense-bowl, and he was given a large quantity of incense to add to the prayers of all God's people


text:
on the gold altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of God's people from the hand of the angel before God.


text:
Then the angel took the incense-bowl, filled it with fire from the altar and threw it down onto the earth; and there followed peals of thunder, voices, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.


text:
The first one sounded his <i>shofar</i>; and there came hail and fire mingled with blood, and it was thrown down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.


text:
The second angel sounded his <i>shofar</i>, and what looked like an enormous blazing mountain was hurled into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood,


text:
The third angel sounded his <i>shofar</i>; and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky onto a third of the rivers and onto the springs of water.


text:
The name of the star was "Bitterness," and a third of the water became bitter, and many people died from the water that had been turned bitter.


text:
The fourth angel sounded his <i>shofar</i>; and a third of the sun was struck, also a third of the moon and a third of the stars; so that a third of them were darkened, the day had a third less light, and the night likewise.


text:
Then I looked, and I heard a lone eagle give a loud cry, as it flew in mid-heaven, "Woe! Woe! Woe to the people living on earth, because of the remaining blasts from the three angels who have yet to sound their <i>shofars</i>!"


text:
The fifth angel sounded his <i>shofar</i>; and I saw a star that had fallen out of heaven onto the earth, and he was given the key to the shaft leading down to the Abyss.


text:
He opened the shaft of the Abyss, and there went up smoke from the shaft like the smoke of a huge furnace; the sun was darkened, and the sky too, by the smoke from the shaft.


text:
Then out of the smoke onto the earth came locusts, and they were given power like the power scorpions have on earth.


text:
They were instructed not to harm the grass on the earth, any green plant or any tree, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.


text:
The locusts were not allowed to kill them, only to inflict pain on them for five months; and the pain they caused was like the pain of a scorpion sting.


text:
In those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.


text:
Now these locusts looked like horses outfitted for battle. On their heads were what looked like crowns of gold, and their faces were like human faces.


text:
Their chests were like iron breastplates, and the sound their wings made was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.


text:
They had tails like those of scorpions, with stings; and in their tails was their power to hurt people for five months.


text:
They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is "<i>Abaddon</i>" and in our language, "Destroyer."


text:
The sixth angel sounded his <i>shofar</i>, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the gold altar before God,


text:
saying to the sixth angel, the one with the <i>shofar</i>, "Release the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates!"


text:
And they were released. These four angels had been kept ready for this moment, for this day and month and year, to kill a third of mankind;


text:
Here is how the horses looked in the vision: the riders had breastplates that were fire-red, iris-blue and sulfur-yellow; the horses' heads were like lions' heads; and from their mouths issued fire, smoke and sulfur.


text:
It was these three plagues that killed a third of mankind- the fire, smoke and sulfur issuing from the horses' mouths.


text:
For the power of the horses was in their mouths- and also in their tails, for their tails were like snakes with heads, and with them they could cause injury.


text:
The rest of mankind, those who were not killed by these plagues, even then did not turn from what they had made with their own hands- they did not stop worshipping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.


text:
Nor did they turn from their murdering, their involvement with the occult and with drugs, their sexual immorality or their stealing.


text:
Next I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was dressed in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, his legs like columns of fire;


text:
and he had a little scroll lying open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,


text:
and shouted in a voice as loud as the roar of a lion; and when he shouted, seven thunderclaps sounded with voices that spoke.


text:
When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up the things the seven thunders said, do not write them down!"


text:
and swore by the One who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: "There will be no more delay;


text:
on the contrary, in the days of the sound from the seventh angel when he sounds his <i>shofar</i>, the hidden plan of God will be brought to completion, the Good News as he proclaimed it to his servants the prophets."


text:
Next the voice which I had heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the scroll lying open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land!"


text:
So I went over to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey."


text:
I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it; and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; but after I had swallowed it, my stomach turned bitter.


text:
I was given a measuring rod like a stick and told, "Get up, and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count how many people are worshipping there!


text:
But the court outside the Temple, leave that out; don't measure it; because it has been given to the <i>Goyim</i>, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months.


text:
"Also I will give power to my two witnesses; and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth."


text:
If anyone tries to do them harm, fire comes out of their mouth and consumes their enemies- yes, if anyone tries to harm them, that is how he must die.


text:
They have the authority to shut up the sky, so that no rain falls during the period of their prophesying; also they have the authority to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.


text:
When they finish their witnessing, the beast coming up out of the Abyss will fight against them, overcome them and kill them;


text:
and their dead bodies will lie in the main street of the great city whose name, to reflect its spiritual condition, is "S'dom" and "Egypt"- the city where their Lord was executed on a stake.


text:
Some from the nations, tribes, languages and peoples see their bodies for three-and-a-half days and do not permit the corpses to be placed in a tomb.


text:
The people living in the Land rejoice over them, they celebrate and send each other gifts, because these two prophets tormented them so.


text:
But after the three-and-a-half days a breath of life from God entered them, they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.


text:
Then the two heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up into heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.


text:
In that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were awestruck and gave glory to the God of heaven.


text:
The seventh angel sounded his <i>shofar</i>; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah, and he will rule forever and ever!"


text:
The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones in God's presence fell on their faces and worshipped God,


text:
saying, "We thank you, <i>ADONAI</i>, God of heaven's armies, the One who is and was, that you have taken your power and have begun to rule.


text:
"The <i>Goyim </i>raged. But now your rage has come, the time for the dead to be judged, the time for rewarding your servants the prophets and your holy people, those who stand in awe of your name, both small and great. It is also the time for destroying those who destroy the earth."


text:
Then the Temple of God in heaven was opened, and the Ark of the Covenant was seen in his Temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake and violent hail.


text:
Now a great sign was seen in heaven- a woman clothed with the sun, under her feet the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.


text:
Another sign was seen in heaven there was a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven royal crowns.


text:
Its tail swept a third of the stars out of heaven and threw them down to the earth. It stood in front of the woman about to give birth, so that it might devour the child the moment it was born.


text:
She gave birth to a son, a male child, the one who will rule all the nations with a staff of iron. But her child was snatched up to God and his throne;


text:
and she fled into the desert, where she has a place prepared by God so that she can be taken care of for 1,260 days.


text:
Next there was a battle in heaven- Mikha'el and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.


text:
The great dragon was thrown out, that ancient serpent, also known as the Devil and Satan [the Adversary], the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.


text:
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, "Now have come God's victory, power and kingship, and the authority of his Messiah; because the Accuser of our brothers, who accuses them day and night before God, has been thrown out!


text:
"They defeated him because of the Lamb's blood and because of the message of their witness. Even when facing death they did not cling to life.


text:
"Therefore, rejoice, heaven and you who live there! But woe to you, land and sea, for the Adversary has come down to you, and he is very angry, because he knows that his time is short!"


text:
When the dragon saw that he had been hurled down to the earth, he went in pursuit of the woman who had given birth to the male child.


text:
But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where she is taken care of for a season and two seasons and half a season, away from the serpent's presence.


text:
The serpent spewed water like a river out of its mouth after the woman, in order to sweep her away in the flood;


text:
but the land came to her rescue- it opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon had spewed out of its mouth.


text:
The dragon was infuriated over the woman and went off to fight the rest of her children, those who obey God's commands and bear witness to Yeshua.


text:
and I saw a beast come up out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten royal crowns and on its heads blasphemous names.


text:
The beast which I saw was like a leopard, but with feet like those of a bear and a mouth like the mouth of a lion. To it the dragon gave its power, its throne and great authority.


text:
One of the heads of the beast appeared to have received a fatal wound, but its fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth followed after the beast in amazement.


text:
They worshipped the dragon, because he had given his authority to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who can fight against it?"


text:
It was given a mouth speaking arrogant blasphemies; and it was given authority to act for forty-two months.


text:
So it opened its mouth in blasphemies against God to insult his name and his <i>Sh'khinah</i>, and those living in heaven;


text:
it was allowed to make war on God's holy people and to defeat them; and it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.


text:
Everyone living on earth will worship it except those whose names are written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb slaughtered before the world was founded.


text:
"If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he goes! If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he is to be killed!" This is when God's holy people must persevere and trust!


text:
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. It had two horns like those of a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.


text:
It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence; and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, the one whose fatal wound had been healed.


text:
It performs great miracles, even causing fire to come down from heaven onto the earth as people watch.


text:
It deceives the people living on earth by the miracles it is allowed to perform in the presence of the beast, and it tells them to make an image honoring the beast that was struck by the sword but came alive again.


text:
It was allowed to put breath into the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could even speak; and it was allowed to cause anyone who would not worship the image of the beast to be put to death.


text:
Also it forces everyone- great and small, rich and poor, free and slave- to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead


text:
preventing anyone from buying or selling unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.


text:
This is where wisdom is needed; those who understand should count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person, and its number is 666.


text:
Then I looked, and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Tziyon; and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.


text:
I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing waters and like the sound of pealing thunder; the sound I heard was also like that of harpists playing on their harps.


text:
They were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living beings and the elders, and no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who have been ransomed from the world.


text:
These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins; they follow the Lamb wherever he goes; they have been ransomed from among humanity as firstfruits for God and the Lamb;


text:
Next I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven with everlasting Good News to proclaim to those living on the earth- to every nation, tribe, language and people.


text:
In a loud voice he said, "Fear God, give him glory, for the hour has come when he will pass judgment! Worship the One who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!"


text:
Another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "She has fallen! She has fallen! Bavel the Great! She made all the nations drink the wine of God's fury caused by her whoring!"


text:
Another angel, a third one, followed them and said in a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives the mark on his forehead or on his hand,


text:
he will indeed drink the wine of God's fury poured undiluted into the cup of his rage. He will be tormented by fire and sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb,


text:
and the smoke from their tormenting goes up forever and ever. They have no rest, day or night, those who worship the beast and its image and those who receive the mark of its name."


text:
This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God's people, those who observe his commands and exercise Yeshua's faithfulness.


text:
Next I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write: 'How blessed are the dead who die united with the Lord, from now on!' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'now they may rest from their efforts, for the things they have accomplished follow along with them.'"


text:
Then I looked, and there before me was a white cloud. Sitting on the cloud was someone like a Son of Man with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.


text:
Another angel came out of the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, "Start using your sickle to reap, because the time to reap has come- the earth's harvest is ripe!"


text:
Then out from the altar went yet another angel, who was in charge of the fire; and he called in a loud voice to the one with the sharp sickle, "Use your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because they are ripe!"


text:
The angel swung his sickle down onto the earth, gathered the earth's grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's fury.


text:
The winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress as high as the horses' bridles for two hundred miles!


text:
Then I saw another sign in heaven, a great and wonderful one- seven angels with the seven plagues that are the final ones; because with them, God's fury is finished.


text:
I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those defeating the beast, its image and the number of its name were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps which God had given them.


text:
They were singing the song of Moshe, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and wonderful are the things you have done, <i>ADONAI</i>, God of heaven's armies! Just and true are your ways, king of the nations!


text:
<i>ADONAI</i>, who will not fear and glorify your name? because you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed."


text:
and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean bright linen and had gold belts around their chests.


text:
One of the four living beings gave to the seven angels seven gold bowls filled with the fury of God, who lives forever and ever.


text:
Then the sanctuary was filled with smoke from God's <i>Sh'khinah</i>, that is, from his power; and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels had accomplished their purpose.


text:
I heard a loud voice from the sanctuary say to the seven angels, "Go, and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God's fury!"


text:
So the first one went and poured his bowl onto the earth, and disgusting and painful sores appeared on all the people who had the mark of the beast and worshipped its image.


text:
The second one poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.


text:
Then I heard the angel of the waters say, "O <i>HaKadosh</i>, the One who is and was, you are just in these judgments of yours.


text:
They poured out the blood of your people and your prophets, so you have made them drink blood. They deserve it!"


text:
Then I heard the altar say, "Yes, <i>ADONAI</i>, God of heaven's armies, your judgments are true and just!"


text:
People were burned by the intense heat; yet they cursed the name of God, who had the authority over these plagues, instead of turning from their sins to give him glory.


text:
The fifth one poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom grew dark. People gnawed on their tongues from the pain,


text:
yet they cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, and did not turn from their sinful deeds.


text:
The sixth one poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water dried up, in order to prepare the way for the kings from the east.


text:
And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs; they came from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet.


text:
They are miracle-working demonic spirits which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited world to assemble them for the War of the Great Day of <i>ADONAI-Tzva'ot</i>.


text:
("Look! I am coming like a thief! How blessed are those who stay alert and keep their clothes clean, so that they won't be walking naked and be publicly put to shame!")


text:
The seventh one poured out his bowl on the air, and a loud voice came out of the Temple from the throne, saying, "It is done!"


text:
There were flashes of lightning, voices and peals of thunder; and there was a massive earthquake, such as has never occurred since mankind has been on earth, so violent was the earthquake.


text:
The great city was split into three parts, the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Bavel the Great and made her drink the wine from the cup of his raging fury.


text:
And huge seventy-pound hailstones fell on people from the sky. But the people cursed God for the plague of hail, that it was such a terrible plague.


text:
Then came one of the angels with the seven bowls; and he said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great whore who is sitting by many waters.


text:
The kings of the earth went whoring with her, and the people living on earth have become drunk from the wine of her whoring."


text:
He carried me off in the Spirit to a desert, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast filled with blasphemous names and having seven heads and ten horns.


text:
The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet and glittered with gold, precious stones and pearls. In her hand was a gold cup filled with the obscene and filthy things produced by her whoring.


text:
On her forehead was written a name with a hidden meaning, BAVEL THE GREAT MOTHER OF WHORES AND OF THE EARTH'S OBSCENITIES


text:
I saw the woman drunk from the blood of God's people, that is, from the blood of the people who testify about Yeshua. On seeing her, I was altogether astounded.


text:
Then the angel said to me, "Why are you astounded? I will tell you the hidden meaning of the woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that was carrying her.


text:
The beast you saw once was, now is not, and will come up from the Abyss; but it is on its way to destruction. The people living on earth whose names have not been written in the Book of Life since the founding of the world will be astounded to see the beast that once was, now is not, but is to appear.


text:
This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven hills on which the woman is sitting; also they are seven kings-


text:
five have fallen, one is living now and the other is yet to come; and when he does come, he must remain only a little while.


text:
The beast which once was and now is not is an eighth king; it comes from the seven and is on its way to destruction.


text:
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet begun to rule, but they receive power as kings for one hour, along with the beast.


text:
They will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are called, chosen and faithful will overcome along with him."


text:
Then he said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the whore is sitting, are peoples, crowds, nations and languages.


text:
As for the ten horns that you saw and the beast, they will hate the whore, bring her to ruin, leave her naked, eat her flesh and consume her with fire.


text:
For God put it in their hearts to do what will fulfill his purpose, that is, to be of one mind and give their kingdom to the beast until God's words have accomplished their intent.


text:
After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, the earth was lit up by his splendor.


text:
He cried out in a strong voice, "She has fallen! She has fallen! Bavel the Great! She has become a home for demons, a prison for every unclean spirit, a prison for every unclean, hated bird.


text:
"For all the nations have drunk of the wine of God's fury caused by her whoring- yes, the kings of the earth went whoring with her, and from her unrestrained love of luxury the world's businessmen have grown rich."


text:
Then I heard another voice out of heaven say: "My people, come out of her! so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not be infected by her plagues,


text:
"Render to her as she rendered to others! Pay her back double for what she has done! Use the cup in which she has brewed to brew her a double-sized drink!


text:
"Give her as much torment and sorrow as the glory and luxury she gave herself! For in her heart she says, 'I sit a queen- I am not a widow, I will never see sorrow.'


text:
"Therefore, her plagues will come in a single day- death, sorrow and famine; and she will be burned with fire, because <i>ADONAI</i>, God, her Judge, is mighty"


text:
The kings of the earth who went whoring with her and shared her luxury will sob and wail over her when they see the smoke as she burns.


text:
Standing at a distance, for fear of her torment, they will say, "Oh no! The great city! Bavel, the mighty city! In a single hour your judgment has come!"


text:
The world's businessmen weep and mourn over her, because no one is buying their merchandise any more-


text:
stocks of gold and silver, gems and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, all rare woods, all ivory goods, all kinds of things made of scented wood, brass, iron and marble;


text:
cinnamon, cardamom, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, flour, grain, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots- and bodies- and people's souls.


text:
The fruits you lusted for with all your heart have gone! All the luxury and flashiness have been destroyed, never to return!


text:
The sellers of these things, who got rich from her, will stand at a distance, for fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,


text:
and saying, "Oh no! The great city used to wear fine linen, purple and scarlet! She glittered with gold, precious stones and pearls!


text:
Such great wealth- in a single hour, ruined!" All the ship masters, passengers, sailors and everyone making his living from the sea stood at a distance


text:
And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, saying, "Oh no! The great city! The abundance of her wealth made all the ship owners rich! In a single hour she is ruined!"


text:
Rejoice over her, heaven! Rejoice, people of God, emissaries and prophets! For in judging her, God has vindicated you.


text:
Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a great millstone, and hurled it into the sea, saying, "With violence like this will the great city Bavel be hurled down, never to be found again!


text:
"The sound of harpists and musicians, flute-players and trumpeters will never again be heard in you. No worker of any trade will ever again be found in you, the sound of a mill will never again be heard in you,


text:
the light of a lamp will never again shine in you, the voice of bridegroom and bride will never again be heard in you. "For your businessmen were the most powerful on earth, all the nations were deceived by your magic spell.


text:
"In her was found the blood of prophets and of God's people, indeed, of all who have ever been slaughtered on earth!"


text:
After these things, I heard what sounded like the roar of a huge crowd in heaven, shouting, "<i>Halleluyah</i>! The victory, the glory, the power of our God!


text:
For his judgments are true and just. He has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her whoring. He has taken vengeance on her who has the blood of his servants on her hands."


text:
The twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshipped God, sitting on the throne, and said, "<i>Amen</i>! <i>Halleluyah</i>!"


text:
A voice went out from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great!"


text:
Then I heard what sounded like the roar of a huge crowd, like the sound of rushing waters, like loud peals of thunder, saying, "<i>Halleluyah</i>! <i>ADONAI</i>, God of heaven's armies, has begun his reign!


text:
"Let us rejoice and be glad! Let us give him the glory! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his Bride has prepared herself-


text:
fine linen, bright and clean has been given her to wear." ("Fine linen" means the righteous deeds of God's people.)


text:
The angel said to me, "Write: 'How blessed are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb!'" Then he added, "These are God's very words."


text:
I fell at his feet to worship him; but he said, "Don't do that! I'm only a fellow-servant with you and your brothers who have the testimony of Yeshua. Worship God! For the testimony of Yeshua is the Spirit of prophecy."


text:
Next I saw heaven opened, and there before me was a white horse. Sitting on it was the one called Faithful and True, and it is in righteousness that he passes judgment and goes to battle.


text:
His eyes were like a fiery flame, and on his head were many royal crowns. And he had a name written which no one knew but himself.


text:
He was wearing a robe that had been soaked in blood, and the name by which he is called is, "THE WORD OF GOD."


text:
And out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down nations- "He will rule them with a staff of iron." It is he who treads the winepress from which flows the wine of the furious rage of <i>ADONAI</i>, God of heaven's armies.


text:
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds that fly about in mid-heaven, "Come, gather together for the great feast God is giving,


text:
to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of generals, the flesh of important men, the flesh of horses and their riders and the flesh of all kinds of people, free and slave, small and great!"


text:
I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to do battle with the rider of the horse and his army.


text:
But the beast was taken captive, and with it the false prophet who, in its presence, had done the miracles which he had used to deceive those who had received the mark of the beast and those who had worshipped his image. The beast and the false prophet were both thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.


text:
The rest were killed with the sword that goes out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.


text:
Next I saw an angel coming down from heaven, who had the key to the Abyss and a great chain in his hand.


text:
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan [the Adversary], and chained him up for a thousand years.


text:
He threw him into the Abyss, locked it and sealed it over him; so that he could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were over. After that, he has to be set free for a little while.


text:
Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them received authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for testifying about Yeshua and proclaiming the Word of God, also those who had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands. They came to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years.


text:
(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first resurrection.


text:
Blessed and holy is anyone who has a part in the first resurrection; over him the second death has no power. On the contrary, they will be <i>cohanim </i>of God and of the Messiah, and they will rule with him for the thousand years.


text:
and will go out to deceive the nations in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for the battle. Their number is countless as the sand on the seashore;


text:
and they came up over the breadth of the Land and surrounded the camp of God's people and the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.


text:
The Adversary who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.


text:
Next I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.


text:
And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened; and another book was opened, the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from what was written in the books, according to what they had done.


text:
The sea gave up the dead in it; and Death and Sh'ol gave up the dead in them; and they were judged, each according to what he had done.


text:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there.


text:
Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.


text:
I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "See! God's <i>Sh'khinah </i>is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God.


text:
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away."


text:
Then the One sitting on the throne said, "Look! I am making everything new!" Also he said, "Write, 'These words are true and trustworthy!'"


text:
And he said to me, "It is done! I am the 'A' and the 'Z,' the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty I myself will give water free of charge from the Fountain of Life.


text:
But as for the cowardly, the untrustworthy, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those involved with the occult and with drugs, idol-worshippers, and all liars- their destiny is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, the second death."


text:
One of the seven angels having the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues approached me and said, "Come! I will show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb."


text:
He carried me off in the Spirit to the top of a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God.


text:
It had the<i>Sh'khinah </i>of God, so that its brilliance was like that of a priceless jewel, like a crystal-clear diamond.


text:
It had a great, high wall with twelve gates; at the gates were twelve angels; and inscribed on the gates were the names of the twelve tribes of Isra'el.


text:
There were three gates to the east, three gates to the north, three gates to the south and three gates to the west.


text:
The wall of the city was built on twelve foundation-stones, and on these were the twelve names of the twelve emissaries of the Lamb.


text:
The angel speaking with me had a gold measuring-rod with which to measure the city, its gates and its wall.


text:
The city is laid out in a square, its length equal to its width. With his rod he measured the city at 1,500 miles, with length, width and height the same.


text:
The foundations of the city wall were decorated with all kinds of precious stones- the first foundation stone was diamond, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,


text:
the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh turquoise and the twelfth amethyst.


text:
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate made of a single pearl. The city's main street was pure gold, transparent as glass.


text:
I saw no Temple in the city, for <i>ADONAI</i>, God of heaven's armies, is its Temple, as is the Lamb.


text:
The city has no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God's <i>Sh'khinah</i>gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.


text:
Nothing impure may enter it, nor anyone who does shameful things or lies; the only ones who may enter are those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.


text:
Next the angel showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.


text:
Between the main street and the river was the Tree of Life producing twelve kinds of fruit, a different kind every month; and the leaves of the tree were for healing the nations-


text:
no longer will there be any curses. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him;


text:
Night will no longer exist, so they will need neither the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because <i>ADONAI</i>, God, will shine upon them. And they will reign as kings forever and ever.


text:
Then he said to me, "These words are true and trustworthy: <i>ADONAI</i>, God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must happen soon."


text:
"Look! I am coming very soon. Blessed is the person who obeys the words of the prophecy written in this book!"


text:
Then I, Yochanan, the one hearing and seeing these things, when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel showing them to me.


text:
But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am only a fellow-servant with you and your brothers, the prophets and the people who obey the words in this book. Worship God!"


text:
Then he said to me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy in this book, because the time of their fulfillment is near.


text:
"Whoever keeps acting wickedly, let him go on acting wickedly; whoever is filthy, let him go on being made filthy. "Also, whoever is righteous, let him go on doing what is righteous; and whoever is holy, let him go on being made holy."


text:
"Pay attention!" [says Yeshua,] "I am coming soon, and my rewards are with me to give to each person according to what he has done.


text:
How blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go through the gates into the city!


text:
Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.


text:
"I, Yeshua, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the Messianic communities. I am the Root and Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.


text:
The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!' Let anyone who hears say, 'Come!' And let anyone who is thirsty come- let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge."


text:
I warn everyone hearing the words of the prophecy in this book that if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues written in this book.


text:
And if anyone takes anything away from the words in the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the Tree of Life and the holy city, as described in this book.


text:
"The one who is testifying to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon!'" <i>Amen</i>! Come, Lord Yeshua!


