N.T. Wright is viewed as a renowned [N]ew [T]estament scholar and authority on the resurrection of Jesus. He has produced a translation of the NT, now in its third edition, titled The New Testament for Everyone, Third Edition, Hardcover: A Fresh Translation, published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI 2023.
I have, therefore, decided to quote select passages from his translation in order to allow the readers see what this notable scholar believes in respect to the issue of justification and Christ’s Deity.
ON JUSTIFYING FAITH
Wright agrees that the expression pistis ‘Iesou Christou is more properly rendered as “the faithfulness of Jesus Christ”. Wright takes the position that believers are justified by Christ’s faithfulness, i.e., Jesus’ being perfectly faithful in accomplishing God’s will for him to die as a vicarious sacrifice for sinners.
“God’s covenant justice comes into operation through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah, for the benefit of all who have faith… God put Jesus forth as the place of mercy, through faithfulness, by means of his blood. He did this to demonstrate his covenant justice, because of the passing over (in divine forbearance) of sins committed beforehand. This was to demonstrate his covenant justice in the present time: that is, that he himself is in the right, and that he declares to be in the right everyone who trusts in the faithfulness of Jesus.” Romans 3:22, 25-26
“But we know that a person is not declared ‘righteous’ by works of the Jewish law, but through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. That is why we too believed in the Messiah, Jesus: so that we might be declared ‘righteous’ on the basis of the Messiah’s faithfulness, and not on the basis of works of the Jewish law. On that basis, you see, no creature will be declared ‘righteous.’… I have been crucified with the Messiah. I am, however, alive–but it isn’t me any longer, it’s the Messiah who lives in me. And the life I do still live in the flesh, I live within the faithfulness of the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:16, 20
“But the Bible shut up everything together under the power of sin, so that the promise–which comes by the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah–might be given to those who believe. Before this faithfulness arrived, we were kept under the guard by the law, in close confinement until the coming faithfulness should be revealed. Thus the law was like a babysitter for us, looking after us until the coming of the Messiah, so that we might be given covenant membership on the basis of faithfulness. But now that faithfulness has come, we are no longer under the rule of the babysitter. For you are all children of God, through faith, in the Messiah, Jesus.” Galatians 3:22-26
“This was God’s eternal purpose, and he’s accomplished it in Messiah Jesus our Lord. We have confidence, and access to God, in him, in full assurance, through his faithfulness.” Ephesians 3:11-12
“and that I may be discovered in him, not having my own covenant status defined by Torah, but the status which comes through the Messiah’s faithfulness: the covenant status from God which is given to faith.” Philippians 3:9
ON CHRIST’S DEITY
I now cite what I view to be the most relevant NT passages in establishing the absolute, essential Deity of Christ.
“In the beginning was the Word. The Word was close beside God, and the Word was God. In the beginning, he was close beside God. All things came into existence through him; not one thing that exists came into existence without him. Life was in him, and this life was the light of the human race… The true light, which gives light to every human being, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him… And the Word became flesh, and lived among us. We gazed upon his glory, glory like that of the father’s only son, full of grace and truth… Nobody has ever seen God. The only-begotten God, who is intimately close to the father–he has brought him to light.” John 1:1-4, 9-10, 14, 18
“This was Jesus’ response to them. ‘My father,’ he said, ‘is going on working, and so am I!’ So for this reason the Judeans were all the more eager to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath, but spoke of God as his own father, making himself equal to God.” John 5:17-18
“‘I haven’t got a demon!’ replied Jesus. ‘I am honoring my father, and you are dishonoring me. I’m not looking for my own glory; there is one who is looking after that, and he will be the judge. I’m telling you the solemn truth: anyone who keeps my word will never, ever see death.’ ‘Now we know that you really have got a demon!’ replied the Judaeans. ‘Look here: Abraham died! So did the prophets! And here are you, saying, “Anyone who keeps my word will never, ever taste death.” You’re not suggesting, are you, that you’re greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets! Who are you making yourself out to be?’ ‘If I do give myself glory,’ replied Jesus, ‘my glory is nothing. My father is the one who brings me glory –the one you say is “our God”; and you don’t know him! I know him, though. If I were to say I didn’t know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word. Your father Abraham celebrated the fact that he would see my day. He saw it and was delighted.’ ‘You’re not yet fifty years old!’ responded the Judeans. ‘Have you seen Abraham?’ ‘I’m telling you the solemn truth,’ replied Jesus. ‘Before Abraham existed, I Am.’ So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid, and left the Temple.” John 8:49-59
“‘My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them the life of the coming age. They will never, ever perish, and nobody can snatch them out of my hand. My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and nobody can snatch them out of my father’s hand. I and the father are one.’ So the Judeans once more picked up stones to stone him. ‘I’ve shown you many fine deeds from the father,’ Jesus replied to them. ‘Which of these deeds are you stoning me for?’ ‘We’re not stoning you for good deeds,’ replied the Judeans, ‘but because of blasphemy! Here you are, a mere man, and you’re making yourself into God!’” John 10:27-33 – Cf. Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:2, 6; Ps. 95:6-7; Isa. 43:13
“‘My Lord,’ replied Thomas, ‘and my God!’” John 20:28 – Cf. Ps. 35:23
“So they stoned Stephen. ‘Lord Jesus,’ he cried out, ‘receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Lord, don’t let this sin stand against them.’” Acts 7:59-60 – Cf. Ps. 31:5; Eccl. 12:7
“‘Well Lord,’ replied Ananias, ‘I’ve heard about this man from several people…all about how he’s done wicked things to your holy people in Jerusalem…and now he’s come here with authority from the chief priests to tie up everybody who calls on your Name!’… At once he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘This really is the son of God!’ Everyone was astonished, and said, ‘Isn’t this the man who caused havoc to those in Jerusalem who call on this Name? And here he is, coming to tie them up and take them off to the high priest!’” Acts 9:13-14, 20-21
“‘Just as I was on the way, and getting near to Damascus, suddenly a bright light shone from heaven all around me. It was about midday. I fell down on the ground and I heard a voice, saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” I answered, “Who are you, Master?” And he said to me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, and you are persecuting me!” The people who were with me saw the light, but they didn’t hear the voice of the person speaking to me. So I said, “What shall I do, Master?” And the Lord said to me, “Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all the things that have been arranged for you to do.” So, as I couldn’t see because of the brightness of that light, the people with me led me by the hand, and I came to Damascus. There was a man named Ananias,’ Paul continued. ‘He was a devout, law-keeping Jew, and all the Jews living in Damascus would testify to the fact. He came and stood beside me and said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” In that very moment I could see, and I looked at him. This is what he said, “The God of our ancestors chose you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the word from his mouth. This is because you are going to bear witness for him to all people, telling them what you have seen and heard. Now, then, what are you going to do? Get up, be baptized and wash away your sins BY CALLING ON HIS NAME.” After I came back to Jerusalem, and was praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance, and I saw him speaking to me. “Hurry up!” he said. “Leave Jerusalem as quickly as possible! They won’t accept your testimony about me.” “But Lord,” I replied, “they themselves know that in all the synagogues I used to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when they shed the blood of Stephen, your witness, I was myself standing there and giving approval. I was looking after their cloaks of those who were killing him.” “No,” he said to me. “Go away from here! I’m sending you far away–to the Gentiles!”’” Acts 22:6-21 – Cf. Gen. 4:26; 12:8; 21:33; Deut. 4:7; Pss. 99:6-8; 116:1-4, 13, 17; 145:18
“‘Watch out for yourselves,’ Paul continued, ‘and for the whole flock, in which the holy spirit has appointed you as guardians, to feed the church of God, which he purchased with his very own blood.” Acts 20:28
“For God has done what the law (being weak because of human flesh). God sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and as a sin-offering; and, right there in the flesh, he condemned sin… But you’re not people of flesh; you’re people of the spirit (if indeed God’s spirit lives within you; note that anyone who doesn’t have the spirit of the Messiah doesn’t belong to him). But if the Messiah is in you, the body is indeed dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of covenant justice… God, after all, did not spare his own son; he gave him up for us all!” Romans 8:3, 9-10, 32
“The patriarchs are their ancestors; and it is from them, according to the flesh, that the Messiah has come–who is God over all, blessed forever, Amen!” Romans 9:5
“because if you profess with your mother that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Why? Because covenant membership comes by believing with the heart, and salvation comes by professing with the mouth. The Bible says, you see, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich towards all who call upon him. ‘All who call upon the name of the Lord,’ you see, ‘will be saved.’” Romans 10:9-13 – Cf. Joel 2:32
“to God’s assembly at Corinth, made holy in Messiah Jesus, called to be holy, with everyone who calls on the name of our Lord, Messiah Jesus, in every place–their Lord, indeed, as well as ours! Grace to you and peace from God our father and Messiah Jesus the Lord… so that you aren’t missing out on any spiritual gift as you wait eagerly for our Lord, Messiah Jesus, to be revealed. He will establish you right through to the end, so that you are blameless on the day of our Lord Messiah Jesus. God is faithful! And it is through God that you have been called into fellowship of his son, Messiah Jesus, our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:2-3, 7-9
“None of the rulers of this present age knew about this wisdom. If they had, you see, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:8
“When you are assembled together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and my spirit is there too with the power of our Lord Jesus, you must hand over such a person to the satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 5:4-5
“But for us There is one God, the father, from whom are all things, and we live to him and for him; and one Lord, Jesus the Messiah, through whom are all things, and we live through him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6
“If anyone doesn’t love the Lord, let them be accursed! Come, Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Messiah Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 16:22-24
“But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent out his son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that he might redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent out the spirit of his son into our hearts, calling out ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son! And, if you’re a son, you are an heir, through God.” Galatians 4:4-7
“This is how you should think among yourselves–with the mind that you have because you belong to the Messiah, Jesus: Who, though in God’s form, did not regard equality with God as something he ought to exploit. Instead, he emptied himself, and received the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of humans. And then, having human appearance, he humbled himself, and became obedient even to death. And so God has greatly exalted him, and to him in his favor has given the name which is over all names. That now at the name of Jesus every knee within heaven shall bow–on earth, too, and under the earth; And every tongue shall confess that Jesus, Messiah, is Lord, to the glory of God, the father.” Philippians 2:5-11– Cf. Isa. 45:21-23
Paul, elsewhere, shows that this universal worship of Jesus takes place on the day of judgment when everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ so as to be judged by him:
“That is why the Messiah died and came back to life, so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. You, then, why do you condemn your fellow Christian? Or you: why do you despise a fellow Christian? We must all appear before the judgment seat of God, as the Bible says: As I live, says the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall give praise to God. So then, we must each give an account of ourselves to God.” Romans 14:9-12
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of the Messiah, so that each may receive what has been done through the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son. He is the one in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of God, the invisible one, the firstborn of all creation. For in him all things were created, in the heavens and here on earth. Things we can see and things we cannot, –thrones and lordships and rulers and powers–all things were created both through him and for him. And he is ahead, prior to all else and in him all things hold together; and he himself is supreme, the head over the body, the church. He is the start of it all; firstborn from realms of the dead; so in all things he might be the chief. For in him all the Fullness was glad to dwell and through him to reconcile all to himself, through him–yes, things on the earth, also the things in the heavens.” Colossians 1:13-20
“In him, you see, all the full measure of divinity has taken up bodily residence.” Colossians 2:9
“I thank Messiah Jesus our Lord, who gave me strength. He regarded me as trustworthy by appointing me to his service–even though I used to say blasphemous things against him, and persecuted his people violently! But I received mercy, because in my unbelief I didn’t know what I was doing. And the grace of our Lord was more than enough for me, with the faith and love that are in Messiah Jesus. Here is a word you can trust, which deserves total approval: ‘Messiah Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ –and I’m the worst of them! But this was why I received mercy: so that in me, precisely as the worst, Messiah Jesus could demonstrate the full scale of his patience, and make me a pattern for those who were going to believe in him and so attain the life of the age to come. To the King of ages, the one and only God, immortal and invisible, be honor and glory to the ages of ages, Amen!” 1 Timothy 1:12-17
“I give you this charge before God who gives life to all things, and Messiah Jesus, who made the noble profession before Pontius Pilate: be undefiled and blameless as you keep the commandment, until the royal appearing of our Lord Messiah Jesus, which the blessed and only Sovereign One, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at its proper time. He is the only one who possesses immortality; he lives in unapproachable light; no human being has seen him, nor can see him. To him be eternal honor and power, Amen!” 1 Timothy 6:14-16
“So don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me as his prisoner. Rather, suffer for the gospel along with us, in accordance with God’s power. God saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace in Messiah Jesus before all time and ages, but has now made it visible through the appearing of our savior Messiah Jesus, who abolished death and, through the gospel, shone a bright light on life and immortality. I was made a herald, apostle and teacher for this gospel; that’s why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one I have trusted, and I’m convinced that he has the power to keep me safe until that day what I have entrusted to him.” 2 Timothy 1:8-12
“This is my solemn change to you, in the presence of God and Messiah Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearance and his kingdom… What do I still have to look for? The crown of righteousness! The Lord, the righteous judge, will give it to me as my reward on that day–and not only me, but also to all who have loved his appearing… The first time my case came to court nobody showed up to support me; they all left me alone. May it not be reckoned against them! But the Lord stood besides me and gave me strength to enable me to complete my work as his royal herald, and to make sure that all the Gentiles heard the proclamation; and I was snatched clear of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will snatch me clear from every wicked deed and will save me for his heavenly kingdom. Glory to him for the ages of ages, Amen!” 2 Timothy 4:1, 8, 16-18
“while we wait eagerly for the blessed hope and royal appearing of the glory of or great God and savior, Jesus the Messiah. He gave himself for us so that he could ransom us from all lawless actions and purify for himself a people as his very own who would be eager for good works.” Titus 2:13-14
“In many ways and by many means God spoke in ancient times to our ancestors in the prophets; but at the end of these days he spoke to us in a son. He appointed this son to be heir of all things; through him, in addition, he created the worlds. He is the shining reflection of God’s own glory, the precise expression of his own very being; he sustains all things through his powerful word. He accomplished the cleansing needed for sins, and sat down at the right of the Majesty Supreme. See how much greater he is than the angels: the name he is granted is finer than theirs… Again, when God brings the firstborn son into the world, he says, Let all God’s angels worship him… In relation to the son, however, it says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom; you loved justice and hated lawlessness, therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness, as superior to your comrades. And again: You established the earth, O Lord, from the beginning and the heavens are the works of your hands; they will be destroyed, but you will remain; all of them will grow old like clothing, you will roll them up like a cloak, and they will be changed like clothing. But you are the same, and your years will never give out.” Hebrews 1:1-4, 6, 8-12
“James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, to the twelve dispersed tribes: greeting.” James 1:1
“My brothers and sisters, as you practice the faith of our Lord Jesus, the anointed King of glory, you must do so without favoritism.” James 2:1
“Look: you cheated the workers who mowed your fields by keeping back their wages, and those wages are crying out! The cries of the farm workers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived off the fat of the land, in the lap of luxury. You have fattened your own hearts on a day of slaughter. You have condemned the Righteous One and killed him, and he doesn’t resist you. So be patient, my brothers and sisters, for the appearing of the Lord. You know how the farmer waits for the valuable crop to come up from the ground. He is patient over it, waiting for it to receive the early rain and then the late rain. In the same way, you must be patient, and make your hearts strong, because the appearing of the Lord is near at hand. Don’t grumble against one another, my brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. Look–the judge is standing at the gates! Consider the prophets, my brothers and sisters, who spoke in the name of the Lord.” James 5:4-9
“The prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be given to you searched and inquired about this rescue. They asked what sort of time it would be, the time that the Messiah’s spirit within them was indicating when speaking of the Messiah’s sufferings and subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they were ministering these things–things which have now been announced to you by the holy spirit sent from heaven, through those who preached the good news to you. The angels long to gaze on these things.” 1 Peter 1:10-12 – Cf. Gen. 1:2; 41:38; Exod. 31:3; 35:31; Num. 11:16-17, 24-29; 24:2; 2 Sam. 23:2-3; Neh. 9:20, 30; Ps. 51:11; 143:10; Isa. 11:1-2; 32:15; 34:16; 44:3; 48:16; 59:20-21; 61:1; 63:10-11, 14; Ezek. 2:2; 3:24; 11:5; 36:27; 37:14; 39:29; Joel 2:28-29; Hag. 2:5; Mic. 3:8; Zech. 4:6; 7:12
“–if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Come to him, to that living stone. Humans rejected him, but God chose him and values him very highly!… and ‘a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’” 1 Peter 2:3-4, 8 – Cf. Ps. 34:8; Isa. 8:14
“But if you do suffer because of your righteous behavior, God’s blessing is upon you! ‘Don’t fear what they fear; don’t be disturbed.’ Sanctify the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to make a reply to anyone who asks you to explain the hope that is in you.” 1 Peter 3:14-15 – Cf. Isa. 8:12-13
“Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus the Messiah, to those who have obtained a share of faith equal to ours in the righteousness of our God and savior Jesus the Messiah… That is how you will have, richly laid out before you, an entrance into the kingdom of God’s coming age, the kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus the Messiah.” 2 Peter 1:1, 11
“Instead, grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus the Messiah. To him be glory both now and in the day when God’s new age dawns. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18
“Judah, slave of Jesus the Messiah, brother of James, to those who are called, the people whom God loves and whom Jesus the Messiah keeps safe!… Some people have sneaked in among you, it seems, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation–ungodly people, who are transforming God’s grace into licentiousness, and denying the one and only master, our Lord Jesus the Messiah… Enoch, the seventh in line from Adam, prophesied about these people, ‘Look!’ he said, ‘The Lord comes with ten thousand of his holy ones, to perform judgment against all, and to charge every human being with all the ungodly ways in which they have done ungodly things, and with every harsh word which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’… But you, beloved ones, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Pray in the holy spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for our Lord Jesus the Messiah to show you mercy which leads to the life of the age to come… –to the one and only God, our savior through Jesus the Messiah our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority before all the ages, and now, and to all the ages to come. Amen.” Jude 1:1, 4, 20-21, 25
“John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from He Who Is and Who Was and Who Is To Come, AND FROM the seven spirits that are before his throne, AND FROM Jesus the Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth. Glory to the one who loved us, and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and father–glory and power be to him forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see him; yes, even those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of him. Yes! Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, Who Is and Who Was and Who Is To Come, the Almighty.’ I, John, your brother and your partner in the suffering, the kingdom, and the patient endurance in Jesus. I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet. ‘Write down what you see in a book,’ It said, ‘and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.’ So I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. As I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the middle of the lampstands ‘one like a son of man,’ wearing a full-length robe and with a golden belt across his chest. His head and his hair were white, white like wool, white like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like exquisite brass, refined in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of many waters. He was holding seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword was coming out of his mouth. The sight of him was like the sun when it shines with full power. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though I was dead. He touched me with his right hand. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said, ‘I am the first and the last and the living one. I was dead, and look! I am alive forever and ever. I have the keys of death and Hades.’” Revelation 1:4-18 – Cf. 1 Kings 22:19-23; Isa. 6:1-5; Ezekiel 1:24-28; Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; 10:1-6; Zech. 12:10-14; Matt. 17:1-2
“Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira. ‘These are the words of the son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire and whose feet are like exquisite fire. I know what you have done: I know your love, your faith, your service and your patience. I know that your works have been more impressive recently than they were before. But I have something against you: you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and deceives my servants by teaching them to practice fornication and to eat idol-food. I gave her time to repent, but she had no wish to repent of her immorality. Look! I am going to throw her on a bed, and those who have committed fornication with her will have great distress, unless they repent of the works into which she has led them. I will utterly slaughter her children, and all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will give to each of you what your deeds deserve.’” Revelation 2:18-23 – Cf. Jer. 17:10; 11:20; 29:23
“When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down in front of the lamb. They each had a harp, and they each had golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s holy people. They sing a new song, which goes like this: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll; you are worthy to open its seals; for you were slaughtered and with your own blood you purchased for God, from every tribe and tongue, from every people and nation and made them a kingdom and priests to our God and they will reign on earth.’ As I watched, I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand, thousands upon thousands, and they were declaring in full voice, ‘The slaughtered lamb has now deserved to take the riches and the power, to take the wisdom, strength and honor, to take glory, and the blessing.’ Then I heard EVERY CREATURE in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, and in the sea, and EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THEM, saying, ‘To the One on the throne AND THE LAMB be blessing and honor and glory and power forever and ever!’ ‘Amen!’ cried the four living creatures. And the elders fell down and worshiped.” Revelation 5:8-14
“After this I looked, and lo and behold a huge gathering WHICH NOBODY COULD POSSIBLY COUNT, from every nation and tribe and people and language. They were standing in front of the throne, and in front of the lamb. They were dressed in white robes, holding palm branches in their hands. They were shouting out at the tops of their voices, ‘Salvation belongs to our God, to the one who sits on the throne, AND TO THE LAMB!’ All the angels who were standing around the throne and the elders and the four creatures fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God. ’Yes, Amen!’ they were saying. ‘Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen!’ One of the elders spoke to me. ‘Who are these people dressed all in white?’ he said. ‘Where have they come from?’ ‘Sir,’ I replied, ‘you know!’ ‘These are the ones,’ he said, ‘who have come out of the great suffering. They have washed their clothes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. THAT IS WHY they are there in front of God’s throne, serving him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They will never be hungry again, or thirsty again. The sun will not scorch them, nor will any fierce heat. The lamb, who is in the middle of the throne, will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of running water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 7:9-17 – Cf. Ps. 3:8; Jon. 2:9
“‘These words,’ he said to me, ‘are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent HIS angel to show his servants what must soon take place. “Look, I am coming soon. God’s blessing on the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”’… ‘Look! I am coming soon. I will bring my reward with me, and I will pay everyone back according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end… I, Jesus, have sent MY angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am David’s root and offspring. I am the bright morning star.’… The one who gives this testimony says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.” Revelation 22:6-7, 12-13, 16, 20-21 – Cf. Ps. 62:12; Prov. 24:12; Isa. 40:10; 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; 62:11
FURTHER READING
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