From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near."

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"For I assure you that unless your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not find entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

But when John heard, in the prison, what the Christ was doing, he sent by some of his disciples to ask him, "Are you the Coming One, or are we to look for someone else?" read more. "Go and tell John," was Jesus' answer, "what you hear and see; "the lame are walking, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised up, and the gospel is being preached to the poor. "And blessed is the man who finds no cause of stumbling in me."

"In solemn truth I tell you that there has not arisen among those born of women a greater than John the Baptist; yet one of the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

"Any plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

Solemnly I tell you, some of those who are standing here shall not taste death, till they have seen the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

"In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will not even enter the kingdom of heaven.

"In solemn truth I tell you," Jesus answered, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also who have followed me shall sit on twelve thrones, to govern the twelve tribes of Israel.

"In solemn truth I tell you," Jesus answered, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also who have followed me shall sit on twelve thrones, to govern the twelve tribes of Israel.

"But give me your judgment. There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said to him, "'Son, go work today in my vineyard!' "'I will go, sir,' he answered; yet he did not go. read more. "Then he went to the second, and said the same thing to him. "'I will not,' he answered; but afterward he changed his mind and went. "Which of these two did the will of his father?" "The last," they replied. "I tell you truly," said Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and harlots are going into the kingdom of heaven before you! "For John came to you in the road of righteousness, and you did not give credence to him; but the tax-gatherers and the harlots gave credence to him. But you, although you saw this, did not even then change your minds and give credence to him.

"I tell you that for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation that does produce the fruit of it.

Once more Jesus answered them in parables. "The kingdom of heaven," he said, "may be compared to a king who made a wedding-feast for his son. read more. "He sent out his slaves to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they did not want to come. "Again he sent out other slaves. 'Tell the invited guests,' he said, 'that my luncheon is now ready; my oxen and fat cattle are killed; everything is ready; come to the wedding-feast.' "They, however, paid no attention, but went off, one to his own farm, another to his business; "while the rest seized his slaves and maltreated and murdered them. "Then the king's wrath was roused, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. "Then he said to his slaves, "'The wedding-feast indeed is ready, but the invited guests were not worthy. "'So go out into the partings of the highways, and summon everybody you find there to the wedding-feast.' "So those slaves went out into the roads, and gathered together all whom they found, good or bad, and the banquet-hall was filled with the guests. "Then the king came in to inspect his guests, and he discovered there a man who had not put on a wedding-garment. He said to him, "'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding-garment?' "The man was speechless. "'Bind him hand and foot, 'said the king to his officers, 'and cast him into the outer darkness; there will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth.' "For there are many called, but few are chosen."

"Take care," Jesus answered, "that no one mislead you; for many will come in my name saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. read more. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see to it that you are not afraid. Such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of birth-pangs. Then they will deliver you up to suffer affliction, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will stumble and fall, and will betray one another, and hate one another. Many false prophets will rise up and mislead many; and because of the increase of iniquity the love of the majority will grow cold; but he who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed throughout the whole inhabited earth, for a testimony to the Gentiles, and then will come the end. "So when you see the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place let the reader take note of this, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is upon the housetop not go down to get the things in his house, and the man in the field not turn back to get his cloak. Alas for thee women who are with child, and for the nursing mothers in those days! "But pray that your flight may not be in the winter; nor on a Sabbath; for then shall be a time of great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never shall be again. And if these days had not been shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect's sake these days will be cut short. "If at that time any one should say to you, 'See, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' believe him not. For false christs and false prophets will arise, and will work great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if it were possible, the very elect. See, I have forewarned you! So if they say to you, "'See, He is in the desert,' do not go out there. "'See, He is in the inner room,' do not believe it. For just as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west; so will be the coming of the Son of man. Wherever the corpse lies, there will the vultures flock together. "But immediately after the tribulation of those days, "The sun will be darkened, The moon will not shed her light, The stars will fall from the sky, And the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

"But immediately after the tribulation of those days, "The sun will be darkened, The moon will not shed her light, The stars will fall from the sky, And the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

"But immediately after the tribulation of those days, "The sun will be darkened, The moon will not shed her light, The stars will fall from the sky, And the powers of the heavens will be shaken. "Then the signs of the Son of man will appear in the sky; and then all the tribes of the earth will lament, when they see the Son of man coming upon the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

"Then the signs of the Son of man will appear in the sky; and then all the tribes of the earth will lament, when they see the Son of man coming upon the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his elect together from the four winds, from utmost heaven to utmost earth.

And he will send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his elect together from the four winds, from utmost heaven to utmost earth.

"But I say to you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father."

"But I say to you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father."

And as he was passing along by the sea of Galilee he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon's brother, casting their net into the sea, for they were fishermen;

"It is with the kingdom of God," he continued, "as if a man should have sown seed in the earth; night and day he sleeps and wakes while the seed is sprouting and growing tall, he knows not how. read more. Of its own accord the earth bears its crops; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. Then as soon as the crop is ready the man has the sickle put in at once, because harvest-time is come.

Not so shall it be among you. On the contrary whoever would become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever among you would be first, shall be slave of all,

Solemnly I tell you I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

And his father, Zachariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying. "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, For he has visited and redeemed his people, read more. "And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of his servant David, "As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets Which have been since the world began To deliver us from our enemies, and from the power Of all who hate us. "He showed mercy to our forefathers, He remembered his holy covenant, "The oath which he swore to Abraham, our forefather, "That he we should be delivered out of the Hand of our enemies, And should serve him without fear, "In holiness and righteousness before him All our days. "And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to prepare the way "To give to his people a knowledge of salvation Through the remission of their sins, "Through the heart of mercy of our God, Whereby the Dayspring from on high shall visit us, "To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, And to guide our feet into the paths of peace."

Now there was in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon. He was righteous and devout, and was waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him. Now it has been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. read more. And he came into the Temple, led by the Spirit. and when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Now lettest thou thy slave depart, O Master; according to thy word in peace, "Because my eyes had seen the salvation, "Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; "A light for the unveiling of the Gentiles And the glory of thy people Israel." And while his father and mother were marveling at the words that were spoken concerning him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother. "Behold this child is set for the falling and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. Yea, and a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in age, having lived with her husband seven years, after her girlhood, and then being a widow even for fourscore and four years. She departed not from the temple, but worshiped with the fasting and prayer, night and day. She came up at that very hour, and gave thanks to God, and spoke of the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

"But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when your host arrives he may say to you, 'My friend, come up higher.' Then you will be honored before the other guest. "For every one who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted." read more. Also to his host who had invited him, he continued, saying. "When you are making a dinner-party or a supper, do not invite your friends, or your brothers, or your relatives, or your rich neighbors, lest it chance that they invite you in return, and a recompense be made by you. "But when you make a reception, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. "Then you will be blessed, because they have no means to repay you, but you shall be paid in the Resurrection of the Just." One of his fellow guest who was listening to him, said to him, "Blessed are those who eat bread in the kingdom of God." Jesus answered. "A certain man was making a great feast to which he invited many guests. "At dinnertime he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' "And they all, without exception, proceeded to excuse themselves. The first told him. 'I have bought a field, and must needs go and see it. Pray have me excused.' "The second said: 'I have bought five yolk of oxen and am on my way to try them. I pray that you will have me excused.' "'I have taken a wife,' said the another, 'and for that reason I am unable to come.' "So the slave came and presented all these answers to his master. Then the master of the house was indignant, and said to his slave. 'Go out, quickly, into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in hither the poor, the maimed, the blind, the lame.' "And the slave said, 'My master, your orders have been carried out, but yet there is room.' "Said the master to his slave. 'Go out into the roads and the hedges, and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. "'For I tell you that not one of those invited guests shall taste my supper.'"

The Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of God was coming. He answered. "The kingdom of God does not come so that you can catch sight of it,

The Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of God was coming. He answered. "The kingdom of God does not come so that you can catch sight of it,

He gave them a cup in like manner, after supper saying. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for your sake.

For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

"In very truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "that unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

"I tell you solemnly," Jesus answered, "that unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

And he said to them. "You are from below. I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.

"and you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Jesus answered him. "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man ever comes to the Father but by me.

Dedicate them in thy truth; thy word is truth.

Jesus answered him. "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants have fought hard that I should not be handed the Jews; but in reality my kingdom is not of such origins."

Jesus answered him. "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants have fought hard that I should not be handed the Jews; but in reality my kingdom is not of such origins." "You are a king, then? You!" said Pilate. "You say truly that I am a king." answered Jesus, "for this purpose I was born, and to this end came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every man who is of the truth listens to my voice."

"You are a king, then? You!" said Pilate. "You say truly that I am a king." answered Jesus, "for this purpose I was born, and to this end came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every man who is of the truth listens to my voice."

"whom the heavens must receive until the time of restoration of all things. "God spoke of this ages ago, through the mouth of his holy prophets.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. None who are immoral, or idolaters, or adulterers, or catamites, or sodomites, or thieves, or avaricious men, or drunkards, or foul-mouthed men, or extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

For he must rule until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

For I know, if this earthly tent of mine were struck, I have a mansion built by God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent I am groaning, earnestly longing to be under the cover of my heavenly habitation; if so be that being so covered, read more. I shall not be found naked. For in this tent of mine I am groaning in deep trouble; not that I wish to be unclothed, but to be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up in life. And He who has wrought me out for this very end is God, who has given me his Spirit as pledge. Therefore I am always of good courage, because I well know that while I am at home in the body, I am in banishment from the Lord, for I am walking by faith, not by sight. So I have good courage, and am well pleased rather, to be in banishment from the body and to be at home with the Lord. And for this reason I also make it home with the Lord. For we must all be made manifest, in our true characters, before the Judgment-seat of Christ; so that each one may receive according to that which he has done in his body, whether good or evil.

envy, drunkenness, revellings, and things like these. I tell you beforehand, as I have already told you, that those who practise such sins shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

who for the praise of his glory is the pledge of our common heritage, unto the complete redemption of his purchased property.

For be well assured that no one guilty of fornication or impurity or covetousness which is idolatry, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

I ask that you may give thanks to the Father who has made us fit to receive our share of the heritage of the saints in the light. For he has delivered us out of the dominion of the darkness, and transplanted us into the kingdom of his dear Son,

For if we really believe that Jesus died and rose again, so even so will God through Jesus bring with him those also who have fallen asleep. For this I tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who survive unto the coming of the Lord, will in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep. read more. For the Lord himself with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God will descend from heaven. Then the dead in Christ will rise first. And afterwards we who are alive, who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. So comfort one another with these words.

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to meet him, I entreat you, brothers, not to be "quickly shaken out of your wits" and not to be agitated either by a spirit or by a message, or by an epistle purporting to be from me, saying, "The Day of the Lord is at hand." read more. Let no one deceive you by any means. For it will not come until after the Great Apostasy, and the revealing of the Man of Sin, the son of perdition, the adversary, who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God, or is an object of worship; so that he takes his seat in the Temple of God, and vaunts himself as God. Do you not recall that I often told you this, when I was with you? And now you know what is holding him back, to the end that he may be revealed in his appointed time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only there is one who is hindering and will continue to hinder till he be removed; and then the lawless one will be revealed. Him the Lord will consume with the breath of his lips, and destroy with the brightness of his appearing; even he whose coming is according to the energy of Satan, in every power and sign and lying wonder, and with all deceit of unrighteousness for those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth for their salvation. For this reason God is sending on them an energy of delusion, that they should put faith in a falsehood; so that they all should be condemned, who are faithless to the truth, but take pleasure in evil.

And the Lord will rescue me from every evil assault, and will preserve me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen!

By calling the covenant "new," He has made the first one obsolete; and whatever is becoming obsolete and aged, is near to vanishing.

By calling the covenant "new," He has made the first one obsolete; and whatever is becoming obsolete and aged, is near to vanishing.

On the contrary you are come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to innumerable hosts of angels, to the festal assemblage and church of the firstborn, registered in heaven, to a Judge who is God of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, read more. to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to his sprinkled Blood whose message cries louder than that of Abel.

Wherefore since we are receiving a kingdom which is unshakable, let us give thanks, and so offer acceptable worship to God, with holy awe and fear,

My children, let us not love in word nor in talk, but in deed and in truth. By this we shall come to know that we are really of the truth,

And we know that the Son of God is come, and has granted us and understanding, so that we may come to know him who is true. And we are in him who is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and life eternal.