Wednesday 21 November 2012

1After these things I lookedand saw a door opened in heaven;and the first voice that I heard,like a trumpet speaking with me,was one saying, “Come up here,and I will show you the thingswhich must happen after this.”

2Immediately I was in the Spirit.Behold, there was a throne set in heaven,and one sitting on the throne3that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius.There was a rainbow around the throne,like an emerald to look at.4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones.On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting,dressed in white garments,with crowns of gold on their heads.5Out of the throne proceed lightnings,sounds, and thunders.There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne,which are the seven Spirits of God.6Before the throne was something like a sea of glass,similar to crystal.In the middle of the throne,and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.7The first creature was like a lion,the second creature like a calf,the third creature had a face like a man,and the fourth was like a flying eagle.8The four living creatures,each one of them having six wings,are full of eyes around and within.They have no rest day and night,saying, “Holy, holy,holy is the Lord God,the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!”

9When the living creatures give glory,honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne,to him who lives forever and ever,10the twenty-four elders fall down before himwho sits on the throneand worship him who lives forever and ever,and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,11“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,the Holy One, to receive the glory,the honor, and the power,for you created all things,and because of your desire they existed and were created!”

1Praise the Lord!Praise God in his sanctuary!Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power!2Praise him for his mighty acts!Praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet!Praise him with harp and lyre!4Praise him with tambourine and dancing!Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!

5Praise him with loud cymbals!Praise him with resounding cymbals!6Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!Praise the Lord!

11As they heard these things,he went on and told a parable,because he was near Jerusalem,and they supposedthat God’s Kingdom would be revealed immediately.12He said therefore,“A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.13He called ten servants of hisand gave them ten mina coins,and told them, ‘Conduct business until I come.’14But his citizens hated him,and sent an envoy after him,saying, ‘We don’t want this man to reign over us.’

15“When he had come back again,having received the kingdom,he commanded these servants,to whom he had given the money,to be called to him,that he might know what they had gained by conducting business.16The first came before him,saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’

17“He said to him, ‘Well done, you good servant!Because you were found faithful with very little,you shall have authority over ten cities.’

18“The second came, saying,‘Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.’

19“So he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’

20Another came, saying,‘Lord, behold, your mina,which I kept laid away in a handkerchief,21for I feared you, because you are an exacting man.You take up that which you didn’t lay down,and reap that which you didn’t sow.’

22“He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you,you wicked servant!You knew that I am an exacting man,taking up that which I didn’t lay downand reaping that which I didn’t sow.23Then why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank,and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?’24He said to those who stood by,‘Take the mina away from himand give it to him who has the ten minas.’

25“They said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’26‘For I tell you that to everyone who has,will more be given;but from him who doesn’t have,even that which he has will be taken away from him.27But bring those enemies of minewho didn’t want me to reign over them here,and kill them before me.’”28Having said these things,he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.