Ezekiel Part 2

Cross References

• Lesson 1

  [Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV] {3} And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

   

  [2 Timothy 2:15 ESV] {15} Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

   

  [Eze 1:1-3 ESV] {1} In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. {2} On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), {3} the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.

   

  [Eze 1:2 ESV] {2} On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin),

   

  [Eze 2:1-10 ESV] {1} And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” {2} And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. {3} And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. {4} The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ {5} And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. {6} And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. {7} And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house. {8} “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” {9} And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. {10} And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

   

  [Eze 3:1-11 ESV] {1} And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” {2} So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. {3} And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. {4} And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. {5} For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel– {6} not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. {7} But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. {8} Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. {9} Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” {10} Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. {11} And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.”

   

  [Eze 3:16-21 ESV] {16} And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: {17} “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. {18} If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. {19} But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. {20} Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. {21} But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”

   

  [Eze 24:1-2 ESV] {1} In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: {2} “Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.

   

  [Matthew 4:4 ESV] {4} But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

   

  [Romans 15:4 ESV] {4} For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

   

  [1 Corinthians 10:6-11 ESV] {6} Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. {7} Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” {8} We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. {9} We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, {10} nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. {11} Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

   

  [Psalm 119:102 ESV] {102} I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.

   

  [Daniel 9:24 ESV] {24} “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.

   

  [Jeremiah 10:21 ESV] {21} For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.

   

  [Jeremiah 23:1-6 ESV] {1} “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. {2} Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. {3} Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. {4} I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD. {5} “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. {6} In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

   

  [Jeremiah 25:30-38 ESV] {30} “You, therefore, shall prophesy against them all these words, and say to them: “‘The LORD will roar from on high, and from his holy habitation utter his voice; he will roar mightily against his fold, and shout, like those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. {31} The clamor will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD has an indictment against the nations; he is entering into judgment with all flesh, and the wicked he will put to the sword, declares the LORD.’ {32} “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, disaster is going forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth! {33} “And those pierced by the LORD on that day shall extend from one end of the earth to the other. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall be dung on the surface of the ground. {34} “Wail, you shepherds, and cry out, and roll in ashes, you lords of the flock, for the days of your slaughter and dispersion have come, and you shall fall like a choice vessel. {35} No refuge will remain for the shepherds, nor escape for the lords of the flock. {36} A voice–the cry of the shepherds, and the wail of the lords of the flock! For the LORD is laying waste their pasture, {37} and the peaceful folds are devastated because of the fierce anger of the LORD. {38} Like a lion he has left his lair, for their land has become a waste because of the sword of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.”

   

  [Jeremiah 50:6-7 ESV] {6} “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold. {7} All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their habitation of righteousness, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’

   

  [Jeremiah 3:12-18 ESV] {12} Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever. {13} Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD. {14} Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. {15} “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. {16} And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. {17} At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. {18} In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage.

   

  [Matthew 2:4-6 ESV] {4} and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. {5} They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: {6} “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

  [Micah 5:2 ESV] {2} But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

   

  [John 10:11-18 ESV] {11} I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. {12} He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. {13} He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. {14} I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, {15} just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. {16} And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. {17} For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. {18} No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

   

  [John 10:24-30 ESV] {24} So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” {25} Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, {26} but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. {27} My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. {28} I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. {29} My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. {30} I and the Father are one.”

   

  [Matthew 26:31-33 ESV] {31} Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ {32} But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” {33} Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

   

  [Zechariah 13:7 ESV] {7} “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.

   

  [Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV] {20} Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, {21} equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

   

  [Psalm 119:38 ESV] {38} Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.

   

  [Acts 20:17-32 ESV] {17} Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. {18} And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, {19} serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; {20} how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, {21} testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. {22} And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, {23} except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. {24} But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. {25} And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. {26} Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, {27} for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. {28} Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. {29} I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; {30} and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. {31} Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. {32} And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

• Lesson 2

  [Genesis 25:19-34 ESV] {19} These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, {20} and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. {21} And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. {22} The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. {23} And the LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.” {24} When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. {25} The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. {26} Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. {27} When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. {28} Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. {29} Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. {30} And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) {31} Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” {32} Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” {33} Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. {34} Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

   

  [Obadiah 1:1-21 ESV] {1} The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” {2} Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. {3} The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” {4} Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD. {5} If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night– how you have been destroyed!– would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? {6} How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out! {7} All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you– you have no understanding. {8} Will I not on that day, declares the LORD, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau? {9} And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter. {10} Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. {11} On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. {12} But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress. {13} Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity. {14} Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress. {15} For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. {16} For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been. {17} But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions. {18} The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken. {19} Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. {20} The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb. {21} Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.

   

  [Ezekiel 11:14-21 ESV] {14} And the word of the LORD came to me: {15} “Son of man, your brothers, even your brothers, your kinsmen, the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those of whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Go far from the LORD; to us this land is given for a possession.’ {16} Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’ {17} Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ {18} And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. {19} And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, {20} that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. {21} But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.”

   

  [Ezekiel 34:11-31 ESV] {11} “For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. {12} As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. {13} And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. {14} I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. {15} I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. {16} I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. {17} “As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. {18} Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? {19} And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet? {20} “Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. {21} Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, {22} I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. {23} And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. {24} And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken. {25} “I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. {26} And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. {27} And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. {28} They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. {29} And I will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. {30} And they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord GOD. {31} And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD.”

   

  [Jeremiah 31:31-34 ESV] {31} “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, {32} not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. {33} For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. {34} And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

   

  [Romans 11:25-29 ESV] {25} Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. {26} And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; {27} “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” {28} As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. {29} For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

• Lesson 3

  [John 3:3-8 ESV] {3} Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” {4} Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” {5} Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. {6} That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {7} Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ {8} The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

   

  [John 7:37-39 ESV] {37} On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. {38} Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” {39} Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

   

  [John 14:15-17 ESV] {15} “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. {16} And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, {17} even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

   

  [Acts 1:4-8 ESV] {4} And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; {5} for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” {6} So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” {7} He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. {8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

   

  [Romans 8:9 ESV] {9} You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

   

  [Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV] {13} In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, {14} who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

   

  [Jeremiah 30:1-11 ESV] {1} The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: {2} “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. {3} For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.” {4} These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah: {5} “Thus says the LORD: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, and no peace. {6} Ask now, and see, can a man bear a child? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor? Why has every face turned pale? {7} Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it. {8} “And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and foreigners shall no more make a servant of him. {9} But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. {10} “Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. {11} For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD; I will make a full end of all the nations among whom I scattered you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.

   

  [Jeremiah 33:1-26 ESV] {1} The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: {2} “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it–the LORD is his name: {3} Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. {4} For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege mounds and against the sword: {5} They are coming in to fight against the Chaldeans and to fill them with the dead bodies of men whom I shall strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil. {6} Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. {7} I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. {8} I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. {9} And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it. {10} “Thus says the LORD: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again {11} the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD: “‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD. {12} “Thus says the LORD of hosts: In this place that is waste, without man or beast, and in all of its cities, there shall again be habitations of shepherds resting their flocks. {13} In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD. {14} “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. {15} In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. {16} In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ {17} “For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, {18} and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.” {19} The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: {20} “Thus says the LORD: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time, {21} then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers. {22} As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me.” {23} The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: {24} “Have you not observed that these people are saying, ‘The LORD has rejected the two clans that he chose’? Thus they have despised my people so that they are no longer a nation in their sight. {25} Thus says the LORD: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, {26} then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.”

   

  [Hosea 3:1-5 ESV] {1} And the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” {2} So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. {3} And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” {4} For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. {5} Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.

   

  [Amos 9:7-12 ESV] {7} “Are you not like the Cushites to me, O people of Israel?” declares the LORD. “Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir? {8} Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD. {9} “For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth. {10} All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’ {11} “In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, {12} that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the LORD who does this.

   

  [Zechariah 12:1-3, 8-12 ESV] {1} The oracle of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: {2} “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. {3} On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. … {8} On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. {9} And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. {10} “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. {11} On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. {12} The land shall mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves;

   

  [Zechariah 13:1-2 ESV] {1} “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. {2} “And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness.

   

  [Isaiah 11:1-16 ESV] {1} There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. {2} And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. {3} And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, {4} but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. {5} Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. {6} The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. {7} The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. {8} The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. {9} They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. {10} In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples–of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. {11} In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. {12} He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. {13} The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, and those who harass Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim. {14} But they shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines in the west, and together they shall plunder the people of the east. They shall put out their hand against Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites shall obey them. {15} And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt, and will wave his hand over the River with his scorching breath, and strike it into seven channels, and he will lead people across in sandals. {16} And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.

   

  [Isaiah 60:1-22 ESV] {1} Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. {2} For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. {3} And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. {4} Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. {5} Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. {6} A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD. {7} All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will beautify my beautiful house. {8} Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows? {9} For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful. {10} Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. {11} Your gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut, that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession. {12} For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste. {13} The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. {14} The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. {15} Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you majestic forever, a joy from age to age. {16} You shall suck the milk of nations; you shall nurse at the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. {17} Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver; instead of wood, bronze, instead of stones, iron. I will make your overseers peace and your taskmasters righteousness. {18} Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. {19} The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. {20} Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. {21} Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. {22} The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it.

   

  [Jeremiah 32:36-44 ESV] {36} “Now therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence’: {37} Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. {38} And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. {39} I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. {40} I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. {41} I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. {42} “For thus says the LORD: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them. {43} Fields shall be bought in this land of which you are saying, ‘It is a desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’ {44} Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, declares the LORD.”

   

  [Matthew 24:29-31 ESV] {29} “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. {30} Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. {31} And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

   

  [Matthew 25:31-46 ESV] {31} “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. {32} Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. {33} And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. {34} Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. {35} For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, {36} I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ {37} Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? {38} And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? {39} And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ {40} And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ {41} “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. {42} For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, {43} I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ {44} Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ {45} Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ {46} And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

   

  [Ezekiel 36:24-28 ESV] {24} I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. {25} I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. {26} And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. {27} And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. {28} You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

   

  [John 1:11-13 ESV] {11} He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. {12} But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, {13} who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

   

  [Romans 11:1, 11, 25-27 ESV] {1} I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. … {11} So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. … {25} Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. {26} And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; {27} “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

   

  [Jeremiah 31:31-34 ESV] {31} “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, {32} not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. {33} For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. {34} And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

   

  [John 1:29-36 ESV] {29} The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! {30} This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ {31} I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” {32} And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. {33} I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ {34} And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” {35} The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, {36} and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

   

  [John 19:13-19 ESV] {13} So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. {14} Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” {15} They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” {16} So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, {17} and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. {18} There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. {19} Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

   

  [1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV] {7} Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

   

  [Luke 22:14-20 ESV] {14} And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. {15} And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. {16} For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” {17} And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. {18} For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” {19} And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” {20} And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

   

  [Acts 2:1-4 ESV] {1} When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. {2} And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. {3} And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. {4} And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

   

  [Acts 2:33, 38-39 ESV] {33} Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. … {38} And Peter said to them, “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. {39} For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

   

  [1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV] {13} For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

• Lesson 4

  [1 Chronicles 5:1-4 ESV] {1} The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; {2} though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph), {3} the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. {4} The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

   

  [Revelation 20:8 ESV] {8} and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

   

  [Revelation 19:11-16 ESV] {11} Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. {12} His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. {13} He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. {14} And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. {15} From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. {16} On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

   

  [Revelation 19:17-18 ESV] {17} Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, {18} to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.”

   

  [Revelation 19:19-21 ESV] {19} And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. {20} And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. {21} And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

   

  [Revelation 20:1-3 ESV] {1} Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. {2} And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, {3} and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

   

  [Revelation 20:4-6 ESV] {4} Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for 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. {6} Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

   

  [Revelation 20:7-10 ESV] {7} And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison {8} and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. {9} And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, {10} and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

   

  [Revelation 20:11-15 ESV] {11} Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. {12} And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. {13} And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. {14} Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. {15} And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

   

  [Revelation 21:1-4 ESV] {1} Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. {2} And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. {3} And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. {4} He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

   

  [Isaiah 14:24 ESV] {24} The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

   

  [Ezekiel 28:25-26 ESV] {25} “Thus says the Lord GOD: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and manifest my holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their own land that I gave to my servant Jacob. {26} And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.”

   

  [Ezekiel 34:23-31 ESV] {23} And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. {24} And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken. {25} “I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. {26} And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. {27} And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. {28} They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. {29} And I will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. {30} And they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord GOD. {31} And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD.”

   

  [Jeremiah 23:5-6 ESV] {5} “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. {6} In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

   

  [Zechariah 14:9-11 ESV] {9} And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. {10} The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses. {11} And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security.

   

  [Revelation 19:10 ESV] {10} Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

• Lesson 5

  [Proverbs 2:1-5 ESV] {1} My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, {2} making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; {3} yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, {4} if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, {5} then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

   

  [Ezekiel 33:21-22 ESV] {21} In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has been struck down.” {22} Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the fugitive came; and he had opened my mouth by the time the man came to me in the morning, so my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.

   

  [Ezekiel 8:1-4 ESV] {1} In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there. {2} Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man. Below what appeared to be his waist was fire, and above his waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal. {3} He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. {4} And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley.

   

  [Ezekiel 9:3 ESV] {3} Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist.

   

  [Ezekiel 10:18-22 ESV] {18} Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. {19} And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. {20} These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim. {21} Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the likeness of human hands. {22} And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the Chebar canal. Each one of them went straight forward.

   

  [Ezekiel 11:22-23 ESV] {22} Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. {23} And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city.

   

  [Ezekiel 8:3 ESV] {3} He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy.

   

  [Ezekiel 8:1-18 ESV] {1} In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there. {2} Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man. Below what appeared to be his waist was fire, and above his waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal. {3} He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. {4} And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley. {5} Then he said to me, “Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy. {6} And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.” {7} And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. {8} Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. {9} And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.” {10} So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. {11} And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up. {12} Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.’” {13} He said also to me, “You will see still greater abominations that they commit.” {14} Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. {15} Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? You will see still greater abominations than these.” {16} And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east. {17} Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger? Behold, they put the branch to their nose. {18} Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”

   

  [Ezekiel 9:1-11 ESV] {1} Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” {2} And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. {3} Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. {4} And the LORD said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” {5} And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. {6} Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the house. {7} Then he said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out.” So they went out and struck in the city. {8} And while they were striking, and I was left alone, I fell upon my face, and cried, “Ah, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?” {9} Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see.’ {10} As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads.” {11} And behold, the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his waist, brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded me.”

   

  [Ezekiel 10:1-22 ESV] {1} Then I looked, and behold, on the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire, in appearance like a throne. {2} And he said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.” And he went in before my eyes. {3} Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the house, when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. {4} And the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD. {5} And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks. {6} And when he commanded the man clothed in linen, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he went in and stood beside a wheel. {7} And a cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out. {8} The cherubim appeared to have the form of a human hand under their wings. {9} And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub, and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling beryl. {10} And as for their appearance, the four had the same likeness, as if a wheel were within a wheel. {11} When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without turning as they went. {12} And their whole body, their rims, and their spokes, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around–the wheels that the four of them had. {13} As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing “the whirling wheels.” {14} And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. {15} And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the Chebar canal. {16} And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them. And when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them. {17} When they stood still, these stood still, and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them. {18} Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. {19} And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. {20} These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim. {21} Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the likeness of human hands. {22} And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the Chebar canal. Each one of them went straight forward.

   

  [Ezekiel 11:1-25 ESV] {1} The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the LORD, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty-five men. And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. {2} And he said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city; {3} who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This city is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’ {4} Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man.” {5} And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind. {6} You have multiplied your slain in this city and have filled its streets with the slain. {7} Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the meat, and this city is the cauldron, but you shall be brought out of the midst of it. {8} You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord GOD. {9} And I will bring you out of the midst of it, and give you into the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you. {10} You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel, and you shall know that I am the LORD. {11} This city shall not be your cauldron, nor shall you be the meat in the midst of it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, {12} and you shall know that I am the LORD. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you.” {13} And it came to pass, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?” {14} And the word of the LORD came to me: {15} “Son of man, your brothers, even your brothers, your kinsmen, the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those of whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Go far from the LORD; to us this land is given for a possession.’ {16} Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’ {17} Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ {18} And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. {19} And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, {20} that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. {21} But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.” {22} Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. {23} And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city. {24} And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me. {25} And I told the exiles all the things that the LORD had shown me.

   

  [2 Chronicles 36:11-21 ESV] {11} Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. {12} He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. {13} He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. {14} All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD that he had made holy in Jerusalem. {15} The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. {16} But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy. {17} Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand. {18} And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. {19} And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels. {20} He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, {21} to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

   

  [Haggai 2:1-9 ESV] {1} In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: {2} “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, {3} ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? {4} Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, {5} according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. {6} For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. {7} And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. {8} The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. {9} The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.’”

   

  [Zechariah 14:16-21 ESV] {16} Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. {17} And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. {18} And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with which the LORD afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. {19} This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. {20} And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “Holy to the LORD.” And the pots in the house of the LORD shall be as the bowls before the altar. {21} And every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy to the LORD of hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil the meat of the sacrifice in them. And there shall no longer be a trader in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day.

   

  [1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV] {19} Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, {20} for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

   

  [1 Peter 1:14-16 ESV] {14} As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, {15} but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, {16} since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

   

  [Ezra 1:1-5 ESV] {1} In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: {2} “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. {3} Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel–he is the God who is in Jerusalem. {4} And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” {5} Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem.

   

  [Ezra 2:1-70 ESV] {1} Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. {2} They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: {3} the sons of Parosh, 2,172. {4} The sons of Shephatiah, 372. {5} The sons of Arah, 775. {6} The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. {7} The sons of Elam, 1,254. {8} The sons of Zattu, 945. {9} The sons of Zaccai, 760. {10} The sons of Bani, 642. {11} The sons of Bebai, 623. {12} The sons of Azgad, 1,222. {13} The sons of Adonikam, 666. {14} The sons of Bigvai, 2,056. {15} The sons of Adin, 454. {16} The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. {17} The sons of Bezai, 323. {18} The sons of Jorah, 112. {19} The sons of Hashum, 223. {20} The sons of Gibbar, 95. {21} The sons of Bethlehem, 123. {22} The men of Netophah, 56. {23} The men of Anathoth, 128. {24} The sons of Azmaveth, 42. {25} The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. {26} The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621. {27} The men of Michmas, 122. {28} The men of Bethel and Ai, 223. {29} The sons of Nebo, 52. {30} The sons of Magbish, 156. {31} The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. {32} The sons of Harim, 320. {33} The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725. {34} The sons of Jericho, 345. {35} The sons of Senaah, 3,630. {36} The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. {37} The sons of Immer, 1,052. {38} The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. {39} The sons of Harim, 1,017. {40} The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74. {41} The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128. {42} The sons of the gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139. {43} The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, {44} the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha, the sons of Padon, {45} the sons of Lebanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Akkub, {46} the sons of Hagab, the sons of Shamlai, the sons of Hanan, {47} the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, the sons of Reaiah, {48} the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, the sons of Gazzam, {49} the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, the sons of Besai, {50} the sons of Asnah, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephisim, {51} the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, {52} the sons of Bazluth, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, {53} the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, {54} the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha. {55} The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda, {56} the sons of Jaalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, {57} the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Ami. {58} All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392. {59} The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: {60} the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652. {61} Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). {62} These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. {63} The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim. {64} The whole assembly together was 42,360, {65} besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. {66} Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, {67} their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720. {68} Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. {69} According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments. {70} Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.

• Lesson 6

  [Hebrews 8:13 ESV] {13} In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

   

  [Hebrews 10:10-18 ESV] {10} And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. {11} And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. {12} But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, {13} waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. {14} For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. {15} And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, {16} “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” {17} then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” {18} Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

   

  [Ezekiel 43:1-5 ESV] {1} Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. {2} And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. {3} And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. {4} As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east, {5} the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

   

  [Ezekiel 40:46 ESV] {46} and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of Levi may come near to the LORD to minister to him.”

   

  [Ezekiel 43:19 ESV] {19} you shall give to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, declares the Lord GOD, a bull from the herd for a sin offering.

   

  [Numbers 18:8, 19 ESV] {8} Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I have given you charge of the contributions made to me, all the consecrated things of the people of Israel. I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual due. … {19} All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the LORD I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD for you and for your offspring with you.”

   

  [Numbers 25:1-13 ESV] {1} While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. {2} These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. {3} So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. {4} And the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” {5} And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.” {6} And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. {7} When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand {8} and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. {9} Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand. {10} And the LORD said to Moses, {11} “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy. {12} Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, {13} and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

   

  [Malachi 2:1-8 ESV] {1} “And now, O priests, this command is for you. {2} If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. {3} Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. {4} So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts. {5} My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. {6} True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. {7} For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. {8} But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts,

   

  [Jeremiah 33:14-18 ESV] {14} “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. {15} In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. {16} In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ {17} “For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, {18} and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.”

   

  [Ezekiel 40:45-46 ESV] {45} And he said to me, “This chamber that faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple, {46} and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of Levi may come near to the LORD to minister to him.”

   

  [Ezekiel 43:19 ESV] {19} you shall give to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, declares the Lord GOD, a bull from the herd for a sin offering.

   

  [1 Chronicles 6:3-8 ESV] {3} The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. {4} Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua, {5} Abishua fathered Bukki, Bukki fathered Uzzi, {6} Uzzi fathered Zerahiah, Zerahiah fathered Meraioth, {7} Meraioth fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, {8} Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Ahimaaz,

   

  [1 Samuel 2:11-17, 27-36 ESV] {11} Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli the priest. {12} Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD. {13} The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, {14} and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. {15} Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” {16} And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” {17} Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD with contempt. … {27} And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh? {28} Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. {29} Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?’ {30} Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. {31} Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. {32} Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. {33} The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men. {34} And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day. {35} And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever. {36} And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, “Please put me in one of the priests’ places, that I may eat a morsel of bread.”‘”

   

  [1 Kings 2:10-12, 26-27, 35 ESV] {10} Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. {11} And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. {12} So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established. … {26} And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate, for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because you shared in all my father’s affliction.” {27} So Solomon expelled Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, thus fulfilling the word of the LORD that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. … {35} The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in place of Joab, and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.

   

  [Leviticus 1:1-5, 14 ESV] {1} The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, {2} “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock. {3} “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD. {4} He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. {5} Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. … {14} “If his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or pigeons.

   

  [Leviticus 2:1-3 ESV] {1} “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it {2} and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. {3} But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD’s food offerings.

   

  [Leviticus 4:1-12 ESV] {1} And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, {2} “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them, {3} if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the LORD for a sin offering. {4} He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD and lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the LORD. {5} And the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it into the tent of meeting, {6} and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle part of the blood seven times before the LORD in front of the veil of the sanctuary. {7} And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before the LORD that is in the tent of meeting, and all the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. {8} And all the fat of the bull of the sin offering he shall remove from it, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails {9} and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys {10} (just as these are taken from the ox of the sacrifice of the peace offerings); and the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering. {11} But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung– {12} all the rest of the bull–he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up.

   

  [Leviticus 5:1-6 ESV] {1} “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity; {2} or if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, and he realizes his guilt; {3} or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt; {4} or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; {5} when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, {6} he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

   

  [Leviticus 7:11-18 ESV] {11} “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the LORD. {12} If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil. {13} With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread. {14} And from it he shall offer one loaf from each offering, as a gift to the LORD. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings. {15} And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. {16} But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten. {17} But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire. {18} If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.

   

  [Hebrews 10:1-18 ESV] {1} For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. {2} Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? {3} But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. {4} For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. {5} Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; {6} in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. {7} Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” {8} When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), {9} then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. {10} And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. {11} And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. {12} But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, {13} waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. {14} For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. {15} And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, {16} “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” {17} then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” {18} Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

   

  [Galatians 3:11-12, 19-26 ESV] {11} Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” {12} But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” … {19} Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. {20} Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. {21} Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. {22} But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. {23} Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. {24} So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. {25} But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, {26} for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

• Lesson 7

  [1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV] {24} Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

   

  [Zechariah 14:1-11 ESV] {1} Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. {2} For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. {3} Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. {4} On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. {5} And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. {6} On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. {7} And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light. {8} On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. {9} And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. {10} The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses. {11} And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security.

   

  [Ezekiel 43:3 ESV] {3} And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face.

   

  [Ezekiel 40:1-2 ESV] {1} In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day, the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me to the city. {2} In visions of God he brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south.

   

  [Ezekiel 45:6-7 ESV] {6} “Alongside the portion set apart as the holy district you shall assign for the property of the city an area 5,000 cubits broad and 25,000 cubits long. It shall belong to the whole house of Israel. {7} “And to the prince shall belong the land on both sides of the holy district and the property of the city, alongside the holy district and the property of the city, on the west and on the east, corresponding in length to one of the tribal portions, and extending from the western to the eastern boundary

   

  [Hebrews 1:1-14 ESV] {1} Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, {2} but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. {3} He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, {4} having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. {5} For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? {6} And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” {7} Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” {8} But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. {9} You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” {10} And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; {11} they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, {12} like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” {13} And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? {14} Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

   

  [Acts 4:12 ESV] {12} And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

   

  [Galatians 3:11 ESV] {11} Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

   

  [Galatians 3:24 ESV] {24} So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

   

  [Revelation 19:11-16 ESV] {11} Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. {12} His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. {13} He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. {14} And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. {15} From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. {16} On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

   

  [Revelation 19:17-21 ESV] {17} Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, {18} to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” {19} And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. {20} And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. {21} And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

   

  [Revelation 20:1-3 ESV] {1} Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. {2} And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, {3} and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

   

  [Revelation 20:4-6 ESV] {4} Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for 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. {6} Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

   

  [Hebrews 10:5-10 ESV] {5} Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; {6} in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. {7} Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” {8} When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), {9} then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. {10} And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

   

  [Ephesians 3:1-21 ESV] {1} For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles– {2} assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, {3} how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. {4} When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, {5} which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. {6} This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. {7} Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. {8} To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, {9} and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, {10} so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. {11} This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, {12} in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. {13} So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. {14} For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, {15} from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, {16} that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, {17} so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, {18} may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, {19} and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. {20} Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, {21} to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

   

  [Ephesians 5:25-32 ESV] {25} Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, {26} that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, {27} so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. {28} In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. {29} For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, {30} because we are members of his body. {31} “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” {32} This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

   

  [1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 ESV] {13} But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. {14} For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. {15} For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. {16} For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. {17} Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

   

  [Philippians 1:23 ESV] {23} I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

   

  [1 Corinthians 15:50-54 ESV] {50} I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. {51} Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, {52} in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. {53} For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. {54} When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

   

  [Revelation 19:7-8, 14 ESV] {7} Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; {8} it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”– for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. … {14} And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

   

  [Revelation 17:12-14 ESV] {12} And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. {13} These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. {14} They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

   

  [Zechariah 14:5, 9 ESV] {5} And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. … {9} And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one.

   

  [Ezekiel 37:26-28 ESV] {26} I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. {27} My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. {28} Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”

   

  [Ezekiel 45:16-17, 21-25 ESV] {16} All the people of the land shall be obliged to give this offering to the prince in Israel. {17} It shall be the prince’s duty to furnish the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the new moons, and the Sabbaths, all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel: he shall provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to make atonement on behalf of the house of Israel. … {21} “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall celebrate the Feast of the Passover, and for seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten. {22} On that day the prince shall provide for himself and all the people of the land a young bull for a sin offering. {23} And on the seven days of the festival he shall provide as a burnt offering to the LORD seven young bulls and seven rams without blemish, on each of the seven days; and a male goat daily for a sin offering. {24} And he shall provide as a grain offering an ephah for each bull, an ephah for each ram, and a hin of oil to each ephah. {25} In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month and for the seven days of the feast, he shall make the same provision for sin offerings, burnt offerings, and grain offerings, and for the oil.

   

  [Isaiah 65:19-24 ESV] {19} I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. {20} No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. {21} They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. {22} They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. {23} They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them. {24} Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.

   

  [Matthew 25:31-46 ESV] {31} “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. {32} Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. {33} And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. {34} Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. {35} For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, {36} I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ {37} Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? {38} And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? {39} And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ {40} And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ {41} “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. {42} For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, {43} I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ {44} Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ {45} Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ {46} And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

   

  [Zechariah 14:16-17 ESV] {16} Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. {17} And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them.

   

  [Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10 ESV] {1} Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. {2} And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, {3} and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. … {7} And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison {8} and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. {9} And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, {10} and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

   

  [Matthew 25:34-37 ESV] {34} Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. {35} For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, {36} I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ {37} Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

   

  [Revelation 21:1 ESV] {1} Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

   

  [Revelation 20:11-15 ESV] {11} Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. {12} And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. {13} And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. {14} Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. {15} And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

   

  [Hebrews 13:10-16 ESV] {10} We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. {11} For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. {12} So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. {13} Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. {14} For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. {15} Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. {16} Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

   

  [Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16 ESV] {8} By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. {9} By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. {10} For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. … {13} These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. {14} For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. {15} If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. {16} But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

   

  [Ezekiel 3:1-27 ESV] {1} And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” {2} So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. {3} And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. {4} And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. {5} For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel– {6} not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. {7} But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. {8} Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. {9} Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” {10} Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. {11} And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.” {12} Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!” {13} It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake. {14} The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me. {15} And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days. {16} And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: {17} “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. {18} If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. {19} But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. {20} Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. {21} But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.” {22} And the hand of the LORD was upon me there. And he said to me, “Arise, go out into the valley, and there I will speak with you.” {23} So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face. {24} But the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and he spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself within your house. {25} And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people. {26} And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house. {27} But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

   

  [Ezekiel 3:1-27 ESV] {1} And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” {2} So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. {3} And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. {4} And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. {5} For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel– {6} not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. {7} But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. {8} Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. {9} Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” {10} Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. {11} And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.” {12} Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!” {13} It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake. {14} The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me. {15} And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days. {16} And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: {17} “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. {18} If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. {19} But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. {20} Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. {21} But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.” {22} And the hand of the LORD was upon me there. And he said to me, “Arise, go out into the valley, and there I will speak with you.” {23} So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face. {24} But the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and he spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself within your house. {25} And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people. {26} And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house. {27} But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

   

  [Ezekiel 33:1-33 ESV] {1} The word of the LORD came to me: {2} “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, {3} and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, {4} then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. {5} He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. {6} But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. {7} “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. {8} If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. {9} But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. {10} “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ {11} Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? {12} “And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. {13} Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. {14} Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, {15} if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. {16} None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live. {17} “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just. {18} When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. {19} And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this. {20} Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.” {21} In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has been struck down.” {22} Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the fugitive came; and he had opened my mouth by the time the man came to me in the morning, so my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute. {23} The word of the LORD came to me: {24} “Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’ {25} Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: You eat flesh with the blood and lift up your eyes to your idols and shed blood; shall you then possess the land? {26} You rely on the sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife; shall you then possess the land? {27} Say this to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely those who are in the waste places shall fall by the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence. {28} And I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and her proud might shall come to an end, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that none will pass through. {29} Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed. {30} “As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.’ {31} And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. {32} And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. {33} When this comes–and come it will!–then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

   

  [Ezekiel 13:1-23 ESV] {1} The word of the LORD came to me: {2} “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’ {3} Thus says the Lord GOD, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! {4} Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. {5} You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD. {6} They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. {7} Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the LORD,’ although I have not spoken?” {8} Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. {9} My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. {10} Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, {11} say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. {12} And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the coating with which you smeared it?’ {13} Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end. {14} And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD. {15} Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, {16} the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD. {17} “And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own hearts. Prophesy against them {18} and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to my people and keep your own souls alive? {19} You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies. {20} “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against your magic bands with which you hunt the souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free, the souls like birds. {21} Your veils also I will tear off and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand as prey, and you shall know that I am the LORD. {22} Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life, {23} therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. And you shall know that I am the LORD.”

   

  [Ezekiel 22:1-31 ESV] {1} And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, {2} “And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then declare to her all her abominations. {3} You shall say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A city that sheds blood in her midst, so that her time may come, and that makes idols to defile herself! {4} You have become guilty by the blood that you have shed, and defiled by the idols that you have made, and you have brought your days near, the appointed time of your years has come. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all the countries. {5} Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you; your name is defiled; you are full of tumult. {6} “Behold, the princes of Israel in you, every one according to his power, have been bent on shedding blood. {7} Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you. {8} You have despised my holy things and profaned my Sabbaths. {9} There are men in you who slander to shed blood, and people in you who eat on the mountains; they commit lewdness in your midst. {10} In you men uncover their fathers’ nakedness; in you they violate women who are unclean in their menstrual impurity. {11} One commits abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; another in you violates his sister, his father’s daughter. {12} In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD. {13} “Behold, I strike my hand at the dishonest gain that you have made, and at the blood that has been in your midst. {14} Can your courage endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it. {15} I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the countries, and I will consume your uncleanness out of you. {16} And you shall be profaned by your own doing in the sight of the nations, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” {17} And the word of the LORD came to me: {18} “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them are bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace; they are dross of silver. {19} Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. {20} As one gathers silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into a furnace, to blow the fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you. {21} I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst of it. {22} As silver is melted in a furnace, so you shall be melted in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD; I have poured out my wrath upon you.” {23} And the word of the LORD came to me: {24} “Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is not cleansed or rained upon in the day of indignation. {25} The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. {26} Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. {27} Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. {28} And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken. {29} The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. {30} And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. {31} Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD.”

   

  [John 8:31 ESV] {31} So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

   

  [2 Peter 3:10-18 ESV] {10} But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. {11} Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, {12} waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! {13} But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. {14} Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. {15} And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, {16} as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. {17} You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. {18} But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.