Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared.
And the sea was also gone.
And I saw the holy city,
the new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven
like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne,
saying,
“Look,
God’s home is now among his people!
He will live with them,
and they will be his people.
God himself will be with them.
And he also said,
“It is finished!
I am the Alpha and the Omega—
the Beginning and the End.
To all who are thirsty
I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.
All who are victorious
will inherit all these blessings,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my children.”
He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there will be no more death
or sorrow
or crying
or pain.
All these things are gone forever.
And the one sitting on the throne said,
“Look, I am making everything new!”
Beware of false prophets
who come disguised as harmless sheep
but are really vicious wolves.
You can identify them by their fruit,
that is,
by the way they act.
Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes,
or figs from thistles?
Yes,
just as you can identify a tree by its fruit,
so you can identify people by their actions.
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.
The highway to hell is broad,
and its gate is wide open
for the many who choose that way.
But the gateway to life is very narrow
and the road is difficult,
and only a few ever find it.”
Keep on asking,
and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking,
and you will find.
Keep on knocking,
and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks,
receives.
Everyone who seeks,
finds.
And to everyone who knocks,
the door will be opened.
“Do not judge others,
and you will not be judged.
For you will be treated as you treat others.
The standard you use in judging is the standard
by which you will be judged.”
Seek the kingdom of God above all else,
and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need.
So don’t worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
Today’s trouble is enough for today.
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth,
where moths eat them and rust destroys them,
and where thieves break in and steal.
Store your treasures in heaven,
where moths and rust cannot destroy,
and thieves do not break in and steal.
Wherever your treasure is,
there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever.
Amen.
(Galveston, TX)