and I am the living one, though I was dead and lo! I am alive for evermore, Amen; and I hold the keys of hell and of death.

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: "He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things:

But I hold it against you that you do not love as you did at first.

And to the angel of the Church in Pergamum, write These are the words of Him who holds the sharp two-edged sword.

"I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.

But I hold it against you that you tolerate that Jezebel of a woman who claims to be inspired and who is misleading my slaves and teaching them to practice immorality and to eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols.

But to you I say, and to the rest that are at Thyatira, as many as do not hold this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak, I will lay upon them no other burden.

Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come.

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: " 'He who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars speaks thus: I know what you are doing; you are supposed to be alive, but you are dead.

Call to mind, then, what you have received and heard, and hold to it, and repent. Unless you are on the watch, I will come as a thief, and you will never know at what hour I am coming upon you.

To the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia write:-- "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds 'the Key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one opens':--

I am coming quickly. Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.

All whom I hold dear, I reprove and chastise; therefore be in earnest and repent.

AND after these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, to hold back the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, neither on the sea, nor on any tree.

The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to their faithfulness in Jesus:

(See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is he who keeps awake, and keeps hold of his clothes, so that he will not have to go naked and be put to shame!)

They hold one sentiment, and will give their own power and authority to the beast.

And the woman which thou sawest is the great city, which holds dominion over the kings of the earth.

And he cried mightily with a great voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of demons, and the hold of every impure spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, "Look. Do not do it. I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy."

And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,