¹⁶ For in him all things were created:^(A) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;^(B) all things have been created through him and for him.^{(C) 17} He is before all things,^(D) and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head^(E) of the body, the church;^(F) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(G) from among the dead,^(H) so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest^(A) who has ascended into heaven,^[a](B) Jesus the Son of God,^(C) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.^{(D) 15} For we do not have a high priest^(E) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are^(F)—yet he did not sin.^{(G) 16} Let us then approach^(H) God’s throne of grace with confidence,^(I) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

³ It gave me great joy when some believers^(A) came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.^(B)

¹³ So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy^(A) both them and the earth.^{(B) 14} So make yourself an ark of cypress^[a] wood;^(C) make rooms in it and coat it with pitch^(D) inside and out. ¹⁵ This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.^{[b] 16} Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit^[c] high all around.^[d] Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. ¹⁷ I am going to bring floodwaters^(E) on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.^{(F) 18} But I will establish my covenant with you,^(G) and you will enter the ark^(H)—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

The Three Angels

⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair,^(A) and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth^(B)—to every nation, tribe, language and people.^{(C) 7} He said in a loud voice, “Fear God^(D) and give him glory,^(E) because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made^(F) the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”^(G)

⁸ A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’^[a](H) which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”^(I)

⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast^(J) and its image^(K) and receives its mark on their forehead^(L) or on their hand, ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury,^(M) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.^(N) They will be tormented with burning sulfur^(O) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.^(P) There will be no rest day or night^(Q) for those who worship the beast and its image,^(R) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”^{(S) 12} This calls for patient endurance^(T) on the part of the people of God^(U) who keep his commands^(V) and remain faithful to Jesus.

¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;^(A)

¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^[a](A)