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1.
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the revealed
will of God.
Hebrews
4:12-13
12For the word
of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it
penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it
judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all
creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and
laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
(New International Version)
2 Timothy
3:15-17
15and how from
infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make
you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(New
International Version)
1 Peter
1:22-25
22Now that you
have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have
sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the
heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but
of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of
the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of
the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to
you. (New International Version)
2. We accept
that there is one true Godhead comprised of the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. All believers are co-equal and co-eternal.
Matthew
28:19-20
19Therefore go
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age."
(New International
Version)
John
1:14
14The Word
became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,
the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of
grace and truth.
(New International Version)
3. Man was
created in the image of God. By voluntary transgression he fell and
his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ, the Son of
God.
Genesis
1:26-30
26Then God
said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them
rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the
livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move
along the ground."
27So God
created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28God blessed
them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the
earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of
the air and over every living creature that moves on the
ground."
29Then God
said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole
earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be
yours for food. 30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the
birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the
ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every
green plant for food." And it was so. (New International
Version)
The
Fall of Man
Genesis
3:1-7
1Now the
serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God
had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not
eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2The woman said
to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3but
God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the
middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'
"
4"You will not
surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5"For God knows that
when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like
God, knowing good and evil."
6When the woman
saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the
eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate
it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate
it. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized
they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made
coverings for themselves. (New International
Version)
Death Through Adam, Life Through
Christ
Romans
5:12-21
12Therefore,
just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through
sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—
13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not
taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death
reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those
who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a
pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift
is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of
the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by
the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's
sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the
gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if,
by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man,
how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of
grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one
man, Jesus Christ.
18Consequently,
just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so
also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that
brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of
the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the
obedience of the one man the many will be made
righteous.
20The law was
added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased,
grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in
death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (New International
Version)
4. The Salvation
of Man
A: Man's only
hope of redemption is through believing in the shed blood of Jesus
Christ on the cross. At that time, Jesus Christ became both sin and
sickness, providing both salvation and healing for all
mankind.
Psalm
103:1-5
1Praise the
LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2Praise
the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- 3who forgives
all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4who redeems your life
from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5who
satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is
renewed like the eagle's. (New International Verson)
This
salvation comes by believing in your heart that God raised Jesus
from the dead and by confessing with your mouth that Jesus is
Lord.
Romans
3:21-24
21But now a
righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to
which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from
God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is
no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that came by Christ Jesus. (New International
Version)
Romans
10:8-10
8But what does
it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your
heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you
confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is
with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with
your mouth that you confess and are saved. (New International
Version)
Ephesians
2:8-9
8For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can
boast. (New International Version)
B: The inward
evidence, to the believer, is the direct witness of the
Spirit.
Romans
8:16
16The Spirit
himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (New
International Version)
The
outward evidence to all men is a life of true holiness and
love.
I John
3:23
23And this is
his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to
love one another as he commanded us. (New International
Version)
John
13:34-35
34"A new
command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you
must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another." (New International
Version)
C. Salvation is
by faith in the work of Jesus Christ and not by human works; however
our works are evidence of our faith and will determine our rewards
in eternity.
Romans 10:9-10
9That if you
confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is
with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with
your mouth that you confess and are saved. (New International
Version)
Romans
14:10-12
10You, then,
why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your
brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11It is
written:
" 'As surely as
I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me,
every tongue will confess to God' "
12So then, each
of us will give an account of himself to God. (New International
Version)
II Corinthians
5:10
10For we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may
receive what is due him for the things done while in the body,
whether good or bad. (New International Version)
Ephesians
2:8-9
8For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can
boast. (New International Version)
Titus
3:5-7
5he saved us,
not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his
mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the
Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus
Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we
might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (New
International Version)
James
2:18
18But someone
will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without
deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (New International
Version
5.
Water baptism is a declaration to the world that a believer has died
with Christ and that they have been raised with Him to walk in the
newness of life.
Romans
6:4
4We were
therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the
Father, we too may live a new life. (New International
Version)
Acts
10:47-48
Then Peter
said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with
water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48So he
ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they
asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. (New International
Version)
Matthew
28:19-20
19Therefore go
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age." (New International
Version)
6.
We celebrate the Lord's Supper by eating the bread and drinking the
cup as a remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians
11:23-30
23For I
received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus,
on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given
thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do
this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, after supper he took
the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this,
whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For whenever you eat
this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until
he comes.
27Therefore,
whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy
manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the
Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread
and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without
recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on
himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a
number of you have fallen asleep. (New International
Version)
7. All believers
are entitled to, and should devoutly expect and earnestly seek, the
promises of the Father, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as according
to the command of Jesus Christ. With this comes the bestowing of
power for life and service, the bestowal of gifts and their uses in
the work of the ministry: This experience is distinct from the
experience of the new birth.
Luke
24:49
49And behold, I
will send forth upon you what My Father has promised; but remain in
the city [Jerusalem] until you are clothed with power from on high.
(Amplified Bible)
Acts
1:4-8
4On one
occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command:
"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised,
which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water,
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6So
when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time
going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He said to them: "It is
not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own
authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (New International
Version)
Acts
2:38-39
38Peter
replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your
children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God
will call." (New International Version)
Acts
10:44-46
44While Peter
was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who
heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with
Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been
poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in
tongues and praising God. (New International
Version)
Acts
11:13-18
13He told us
how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa
for Simon who is called Peter. 14He will bring you a message through
which you and all your household will be saved.' 15"As I began to
speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the
beginning. 16Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John
baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
17So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in
the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
18When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised
God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance
unto life." (New International Version)
Acts
15:7-9
7After much
discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know
that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles
might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God,
who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy
Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction
between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. (New
International Version)
Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians
12
1Now about
spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2You
know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced
and led astray to mute idols. 3Therefore I tell you that no one who
is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one
can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4There are
different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different
kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of
working, but the same God works all of them in all
men.
7Now to each
one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to
another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to
another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by
that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another
prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another
speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the
interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the
same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he
determines.
12The body is a
unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts
are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were
all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks,
slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to
drink.
14Now the body
is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say,
"Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not
for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear
should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,"
it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the
whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the
whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in
fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just
as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would
the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one
body.
21The eye
cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say
to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of
the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts
that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And
the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,
24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has
combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the
parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the
body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is
honored, every part rejoices with it.
27Now you are
the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in
the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of
healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of
administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?
Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater
gifts.
And
now I will show you the most excellent way.
9. The Church is
the Body of Christ and each believer is an integral part of the body
of Christ.
Ephesians
1:22-23
22God has put
all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over
all things for the benefit of the church. 23And the church is his
body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things
everywhere with himself. (New Living Translation)
Hebrews
12:23
23to the church
of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come
to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made
perfect, (New International Version)
10. Total
Prosperity encompasses.
(a)
Spiritual
Ephesians
2:19-22
19Consequently,
you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with
God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself
as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined
together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him
you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God
lives by his Spirit. (New International Version)
John 3:3,
11
3In reply Jesus
declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God
unless he is born again."
11I tell you
the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have
seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. (New
International Version)
II Corinthians
5:17-21
17Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new
has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself
through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting
men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of
reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though
God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's
behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be
sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
(New International Version)
Romans
10:9-10
9That if you
confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is
with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with
your mouth that you confess and are saved. (New International
Version)
(b)
Mental
Isaiah
26:3
3You will keep
in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in
you. (New International Version)
II Timothy
1:7
7For God did
not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and
of self-discipline. (New International Version)
Romans
12:2
2Do not conform
any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (New
International Version)
(c)
Physical
Isaiah
53:4-5
4Surely he took
up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him
stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5But he was pierced
for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the
punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we
are healed. (New International Version)
Matthew.
8:17
17This was to
fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our
infirmities and carried our diseases." (New International
Version)
3 John
1:2
2Dear friend, I
pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with
you, even as your soul is getting along well. (New International
Version)
(d)
Financial
Phillippians
4:19
19And my God
will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ
Jesus. (New International Version)
Luke
6:38
38Give, and it
will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together
and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure
you use, it will be measured to you." (New International
Version)
II Corinthians
9:6-11
6Remember this:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he
has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make
all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having
all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is
written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his
righteousness endures forever." 10Now he who supplies seed to the
sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of
seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will
be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving
to God. (New International Version)
(e)
Social
Proverbs
3:4
4Then you will
win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (New
International Version)
11. We
believe in the Blessed Hope that Jesus is coming to gather all His
saints to Heaven.
I Corinthians
15:51-52
51Listen, I
tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be
changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we will be changed. (New International
Version)
I Thessalonians
4:16-17
16For the Lord
himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the
voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the
dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive
and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
(New International Version)
II
Thessalonians 2:1-2
1Concerning the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we
ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by
some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us,
saying that the day of the Lord has already come. (New International
Version)
12. We hold that
those who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will
suffer eternal separation from God and will burn in the Lake of
Fire.
Revelation
19:19-20
19Then I saw
the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered
together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.
20But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had
performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he
had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and
worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the
fiery lake of burning sulfur. (New International
Version)
Revelation
20:10-15
10And the
devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning
sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They
will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The
Dead Are Judged
11Then I saw a
great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled
from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the
dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were
opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead
were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the
books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and
Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged
according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown
into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If
anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was
thrown into the lake of fire. (New International
Version)
13. The
Millennial Reign of Jesus is the return of our Lord Jesus Christ
with His saints from Heaven to rule and reign for one thousand years
on earth as the Scripture promised.
II
Thessalonians 1:7
7And to
[recompense] you who are so distressed and afflicted [by granting
you] relief and rest along with us [your fellow sufferers] when the
Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in a flame
of fire, (Amplified Bible)
All
Israel Will Be Saved
Romans 11:25,
27
25I do not want
you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be
conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full
number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be
saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer
will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their
sins.
(New International Version)
Revelation
19:11-16
11I saw heaven
standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is
called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.
He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He
is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of
God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white
horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his
mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He
will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the
fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he
has this name written:
KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS.
(New International Version)
Revelation
20:1-7
The
Thousand Years
1And I saw an
angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and
holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that
ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a
thousand years. 3He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed
it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until
the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a
short time.
4I saw thrones
on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their
testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not
worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on
their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with
Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life
until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first
resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first
resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will
be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a
thousand years.
7When the
thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison (New
International Version)
After this, there will be a new earth.
Revelation
21
The
New Jerusalem
1Then I saw a
new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth
had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy
City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I
heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God
is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people,
and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe
every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning
or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed
away."
5He who was
seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he
said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and
true."
6He said to me:
"It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the
End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from
the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all
this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8But the
cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually
immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all
liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This
is the second death."
9One of the
seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues
came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of
the Lamb." 10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain
great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down
out of heaven from God. 11It shone with the glory of God, and its
brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,
clear as crystal. 12It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and
with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names
of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13There were three gates on the
east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the
names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15The angel who
talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its
gates and its walls. 16The city was laid out like a square, as long
as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be
12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17He
measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement,
which the angel was using. 18The wall was made of jasper, and the
city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19The foundations of the city
walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first
foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony,
the fourth emerald, 20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the
seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth
chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21The
twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.
The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent
glass.
22I did not see
a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are
its temple. 23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on
it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth
will bring their splendor into it. 25On no day will its gates ever
be shut, for there will be no night there. 26The glory and honor of
the nations will be brought into it. 27Nothing impure will ever
enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,
but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
(New International
Version) | 
