are not all those spirits dispatch'd as ministers to take care of those who shall belong to the christian church.

For if the message delivered by angels proved to be authentic, and every violation or neglect of it led to a corresponding penalty,

how shall *we* escape if we are indifferent to a salvation as great as that now offered to us? This, after having first of all been announced by the Lord Himself, had its truth made sure to us by those who heard Him,

Since then the children were made subject to a state of mortality, so he himself likewise was subject to the same condition: that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Wherefore, christian brethren, you who are called to an heavenly inheritance, consider the apostle and high priest of the faith we profess, even Christ Jesus;

For Jesus is entitled to as much more honor than Moses as the builder of a house is than the house he builds.

While the faithful service of Moses in the whole House of God was that of a servant, whose duty was to bear testimony to a Message still to come,

But encourage yourselves each day, as long as it is called To-day, that none of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

even though his actions had been finished since the creation of the world. Somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day as follows: "On the seventh day God rested from all his actions,"

He again sets a definite day, [a new] “Today,” [providing another opportunity to enter that rest by] saying through David after so long a time, just as has been said before [in the words already quoted],

“Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

For the word of God is living, and effectual, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to a dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Therefore let us draw nigh with confidence to a throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace in every opportune need.

such solid nourishment is only fit for such as are arriv'd at their full growth and strength, whose senses have been exercis'd in distinguishing what is good, and what is prejudicial.

For it is impossible to arouse people to a fresh repentance when they have once for all come into the light and had a taste of the gift from heaven, and shared in the holy Spirit

If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

but bringing forth thorns and briars, it is found worthless and nigh to a curse, whose end is to be burned.

But our great desire is that every one of you should be equally earnest to attain to a full conviction that our hope will be fulfilled, and that you should keep that hope to the end.

For men swear by what is greater than themselves; and with them an oath in confirmation of a statement always puts an end to a dispute.

For, seeing there is to be a change of the priesthood, of necessity, of law too, a change cometh.

For he, of whom these things are said, belongs to a different tribe, of which no one has ever been attached to the service of the altar.

who has become [a priest] not according to a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

For the law led to no perfection, but was an introduction to a better hope, by which we draw nigh unto God.

He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself.

The law makes high priests of men who are feeble; but the word of the oath, which was made after the law, gives that position to a Son, in whom all good is for ever complete.

and they shall in no wise teach each one his fellow-citizen, and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord'; because all shall know Me, from a small one to a great one of them;

For the law being only an allusion to a future dispensation that was more excellent, and not an exact imitation of such a state, cannot by the anniversary sacrifices, which are offered, entirely purify those that present themselves.

Every other priest stands day after day at his ministrations, and offers the same sacrifices over and over again--sacrifices that can never take sins away.

Let us hold firmly to an unflinching avowal of our hope, for He is faithful who gave us the promises.

for you were passionately affected for those who were in bonds, and were pleas'd at the seizing of your goods, knowing that you have what is more excellent and lasting.

and we are not of those drawing back to destruction, but of those believing to a preserving of soul.

By faith Abraham, when he was called [by God], obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going.

By faith Sarah received strength to become pregnant, and actually gave birth to a child, although she was past the time of life for it, because she thought that He who made her the promise was to be trusted.

so that even a single person whose vigour was gone, gave rise to a posterity as numerous as the stars of the sky, or the sands on the sea-shore, which cannot be numbred.

But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.

for he preferred sharing the hardships of God's people to a short-lived enjoyment of sin,

Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured [to death], refusing to accept release [offered on the condition of denying their faith], so that they would be resurrected to a better life;

fixing our eyes upon Jesus, our leader and example in faith, who in place of the happiness that belonged to him, submitted to a cross, caring nothing for its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

that no one turns to sexual vice or to a profane life as Esau did ??Esau, who for a single meal parted with his birthright.

For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging windstorm,

to a trumpet's blast, or to a voice that made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

to the great festal gathering and Church of the first-born, whose names are recorded in Heaven, and to a Judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,

and to a mediator of a new covenant -- Jesus, and to blood of sprinkling, speaking better things than that of Abel!

Therefore, receiving, as we now do, a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us cherish thankfulness so that we may ever offer to God an acceptable service, with godly reverence and awe.

Give ear to those who are rulers over you, and do as they say: for they keep watch over your souls, ready to give an account of them; let them be able to do this with joy and not with grief, because that would be of no profit to you.

And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

Let a brother in humble life rejoice when raised to a higher position;

As the sun rises, and the hot wind blows, 'the grass withers, its flower fades,' and all its beauty is gone. So is it with the rich man. In the midst of his pursuits he will come to an untimely end.

For if any man be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like to a man considering his natural face in a mirror:

So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!

By it we bless the God and Father, and by it we curse men, who were made according to a likeness of God.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

according to a foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his great mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead,

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

by the power of God, having been kept through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time;

So that the true metal of your faith, being of much greater value than gold (which, though it comes to an end, is tested by fire), may come to light in praise and glory and honour, at the revelation of Jesus Christ:

You that have purified your souls by the holy spirit, in obeying the gospel, which obliges you to an undisguised benevolence, let your hearts be mutually affected with the most disinterested ardour;

adhere to him as to a living stone,

To whom you come, as to a living stone, not honoured by men, but of great and special value to God;

you, too, as living stones, are building yourselves up into a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, so that you may offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus, the Messiah.

Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest,

The husbands, in like manner, dwelling with them, according to knowledge, as to a weaker vessel -- to the wife -- imparting honour, as also being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

Because everything will soon come to an end, be sensible and clear-headed, so you can pray.

My dear brethren, don't be surpriz'd at your being brought as it were to the test of fire; as if some strange thing had happen'd to you.

Wherefore also let them who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator.

So, the elders in the various places where you live, are to receive the following exhortation. (I too, am an elder and have witnessed the sufferings of Christ, and am also assured of partaking of the glorious [salvation, 1:5] that will someday be revealed).

You should serve as shepherds of God's flock [i.e., the church], among whom you minister, providing careful oversight [of the people], not because you feel forced to, but because you want to, as this is in accordance with the way God wants it to be. Do not [serve as elders] simply out of a desire for the income you receive, but because your heart is in it.

And self-control to knowledge, and a quiet mind to self-control, and fear of God to a quiet mind,

for a man that is without these is blind, not seeing to a distance, and has forgotten the purification from his former errors.

But I consider it the right thing to do, as long as I am in this "tent" [Note: This is an allusion to his still being alive], to stir up your memory [of these things],

And we have the prophetic word made surer, to which ye do well taking heed (as to a lamp shining in an obscure place) until the day dawn and the morning star arise in your hearts;

since he condemn'd the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha to an entire subversion, and reduc'd them to ashes, to make them serve for examples to future impiety:

The Lord hath known to rescue pious ones out of temptation, and unrighteous ones to a day of judgment, being punished, to keep,

With eyes full of adultery, they cannot get enough of sin. They seduce unsteady souls and have had their hearts expertly trained in greed. They are doomed to a curse.

First be assured of this, that, as the age draws to an end, scoffers, led by their own passions,

And that the world which then was came to an end through the overflowing of the waters.

and the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured, for fire being kept to a day of judgment and destruction of the impious men.

The Lord is not slow in respect to his promise, as some men account slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to a change of mind.

Looking for and truly desiring the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will come to an end through fire, and the substance of the earth will be changed by the great heat?

He who says that he is living in him, will do as he did.

And the world and its desires is coming to an end: but he who does God's pleasure is living for ever.

for he that is a true christian, overcomes the world: by obtaining faith, we have gain'd a victory over the world.

From the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth),

now love consists in the practice of the divine precepts. this is the precept you have originally receiv'd, as the rule of your conduct.

Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers.

messengers also, those who did not keep their own principality, but did leave their proper dwelling, to a judgment of a great day, in bonds everlasting, under darkness He hath kept,

how they used to say to you-- 'As time draws to an end, there will be scoffers, who will be led by their godless passions.'

and in the midst of the seven lamp-stands, one like to a son of man, clothed to the foot, and girt round at the breast with a golden girdle,

So remember how far you have fallen, and repent and do as you did at first, or else I will come to you and take your lampstand from its place, if you do not repent.

"And to the person who has victory [in the Christian life], and who continues to do what I want until the end [of his life], I will give him authority over the nations [Note: This probably refers to a spiritual reign with Christ during the Christian age. See 20:4].

and he that was sitting like in appearance to a stone of jasper and a sardius, and a rainbow round the throne like in appearance to an emerald.

And the first living creature [was] similar to a lion, and the second living creature [was] similar to an ox, and the third living creature had a face like a man's, and the fourth living creature [was] similar to an eagle flying.

And the fourth angel blew the trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened, and the day did not shine [with respect to] a third of it, and the night likewise.

but when the seventh angel should speak, and the trumpet should sound, the mystery of God should be accomplish'd, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

And there was given to me a reed like to a rod, and the messenger stood, saying, 'Rise, and measure the sanctuary of God, and the altar, and those worshipping in it;

And in that day a great earthquake occurred, and the tenth part of the city fell. And seven thousand names of men were killed in the earthquake. And the rest became afraid, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

She was about to become a mother, and she cried out in anguish in giving birth to a child.

His tail swept away one third of the stars of heaven and flung them down upon the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth to a child in order to devour her child as soon as it was born.