For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a (A)spectacle [a]to the world, both to angels and to men.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:9 Lit. theater

For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die(A) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle(B) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings.

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33 partly while you were made (A)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while (B)you became companions of those who were so treated;

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33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;(A) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.(B)

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We are (A)hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not (B)forsaken; (C)struck down, but not destroyed— 10 (D)always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, (E)that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live (F)are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

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We are hard pressed on every side,(A) but not crushed; perplexed,(B) but not in despair; persecuted,(C) but not abandoned;(D) struck down, but not destroyed.(E) 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,(F) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.(G) 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,(H) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.(I)

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36 As it is written:

(A)“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

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36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under (A)the altar (B)the souls of those who had been slain (C)for the word of God and for (D)the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, (E)“How long, O Lord, (F)holy and true, (G)until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a (H)white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them (I)that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

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When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(A) the altar(B) the souls of those who had been slain(C) because of the word of God(D) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(E) Sovereign Lord,(F) holy and true,(G) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(H) and avenge our blood?”(I) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(J) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[a] were killed just as they had been.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10.

14 (A)Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will (B)inherit salvation?

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14 Are not all angels ministering spirits(A) sent to serve those who will inherit(B) salvation?(C)

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Delivered from Suffering

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of (A)our [a]trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should (B)not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 (C)who delivered us from so great a death, and [b]does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:8 tribulation
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:10 NU shall

We do not want you to be uninformed,(A) brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced(B) in the province of Asia.(C) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,(D) who raises the dead.(E) 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,(F) and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope(G) that he will continue to deliver us,

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:8 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 8:1; 13:11.

I saw (A)the woman, drunk (B)with the blood of the saints and with the blood of (C)the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast

But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the [a]mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 17:7 hidden truth

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,(A) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery(B) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.(C)

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11 (A)All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and (B)worshiped God, 12 (C)saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in (D)white robes, and where did they come from?”

14 And I said to him, [a]“Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, (E)“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and (F)washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 7:14 NU, M My lord

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders(A) and the four living creatures.(B) They fell down on their faces(C) before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”(D)

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes(E)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes(F) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(G)

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36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and (A)of chains and imprisonment.

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36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(A) and even chains and imprisonment.(B)

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For (A)God did not appoint us to wrath, (B)but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 (C)who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

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For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath(A) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.(B) 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.(C)

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(A)that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that (B)we are appointed to this.

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so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.(A) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.(B)

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29 For to you (A)it has been granted on behalf of Christ, (B)not only to believe in Him, but also to (C)suffer for His sake, 30 (D)having the same conflict (E)which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

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29 For it has been granted to you(A) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer(B) for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle(C) you saw(D) I had, and now hear(E) that I still have.

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