The King Who Exalts Himself

³⁶ “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself^(A) above every god and will say unheard-of things^(B) against the God of gods.^(C) He will be successful until the time of wrath^(D) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.^{(E) 37} He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. ³⁸ Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. ³⁹ He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.^[a]

⁴⁰ “At the time of the end the king of the South^(F) will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm^(G) out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.^{(H) 41} He will also invade the Beautiful Land.^(I) Many countries will fall, but Edom,^(J) Moab^(K) and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. ⁴² He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. ⁴³ He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt,^(L) with the Libyans^(M) and Cushites^[b] in submission. ⁴⁴ But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. ⁴⁵ He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at^[c] the beautiful holy mountain.^(N) Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

The End Times

12 “At that time Michael,^(O) the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress^(P) such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book^(Q)—will be delivered.^{(R) 2} Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:^(S) some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.^{(T) 3} Those who are wise^[d](U) will shine^(V) like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,^(W) like the stars for ever and ever.^{(X) 4} But you, Daniel, roll up and seal^(Y) the words of the scroll until the time of the end.^(Z) Many will go here and there^(AA) to increase knowledge.”

⁵ Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.^{(AB) 6} One of them said to the man clothed in linen,^(AC) who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”^(AD)

⁷ The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand^(AE) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,^(AF) saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.^[e](AG) When the power of the holy people^(AH) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.^(AI)”

⁸ I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

⁹ He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed^(AJ) until the time of the end.^{(AK) 10} Many will be purified, made spotless and refined,^(AL) but the wicked will continue to be wicked.^(AM) None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.^(AN)

¹¹ “From the time that the daily sacrifice^(AO) is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation^(AP) is set up, there will be 1,290 days.^{(AQ) 12} Blessed is the one who waits^(AR) for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.^(AS)

¹³ “As for you, go your way till the end.^(AT) You will rest,^(AU) and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.^(AV)”

On Denying the Incarnation

4 Dear friends,^(A) do not believe every spirit,^(B) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.^{(C) 2} This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh^(D) is from God,^{(E) 3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,^(F) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.^(G)

⁴ You, dear children,^(H) are from God and have overcome them,^(I) because the one who is in you^(J) is greater than the one who is in the world.^{(K) 5} They are from the world^(L) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.^(M) This is how we recognize the Spirit^[a] of truth^(N) and the spirit of falsehood.^(O)

God’s Love and Ours

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another,^(P) for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God^(Q) and knows God.^{(R) 8} Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.^{(S) 9} This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^(T) into the world that we might live through him.^{(U) 10} This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us^(V) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.^{(W) 11} Dear friends,^(X) since God so loved us,^(Y) we also ought to love one another.^{(Z) 12} No one has ever seen God;^(AA) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.^(AB)

¹³ This is how we know^(AC) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.^{(AD) 14} And we have seen and testify^(AE) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.^{(AF) 15} If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,^(AG) God lives in them and they in God.^{(AH) 16} And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.^(AI) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.^{(AJ) 17} This is how love is made complete^(AK) among us so that we will have confidence^(AL) on the day of judgment:^(AM) In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,^(AN) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.^{(AO) 20} Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister^(AP) is a liar.^(AQ) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,^(AR) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.^{(AS) 21} And he has given us this command:^(AT) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.^(AU)

Psalm 123

A song of ascents.