Were

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.

Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.

…rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.

And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.

On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.

We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.

Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.

So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.

Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.

For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

…and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?

For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?

So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.

Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.

A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.

…containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.

Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.

Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.

Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.

Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.

This is why the ancients were commended.

By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.

Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,

…and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

…who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.

For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.

His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.

I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other!

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.

And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”

When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.

Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.

And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:

From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.

…a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.

Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.

The star opened the pit of the Abyss, and smoke rose out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit.

And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.

They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion.

And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads; and their faces were like the faces of men.

They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek it is Apollyon.

So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.

Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur.

For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm.

Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.

And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.