Study Desk

for it is written, " You shall be holy , because I am holy ."

Indeed, as long as I am in this tabernacle, I consider it right to stir you up by way of a reminder,

For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: "This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted."

Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder:

(My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One,

Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have already heard.

On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.

I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one.

For certain men have secretly slipped in among you—men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe—ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God—the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come—the All-Powerful!

When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last,

and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive—forever and ever—and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!

I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary.

Look! I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness, and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering, unless they repent of her deeds.

Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve.

Listen! I am going to make those people from the synagogue of Satan—who say they are Jews yet are not, but are lying—Look, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown.

So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth!

Because you say, "I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing," but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,