⁶ But she who lives in ^[a]pleasure is dead while she lives.

⁵ You have lived on the earth in pleasure and ^[a]luxury; you have ^[b]fattened your hearts ^[c]as in a day of slaughter.

^7 (A)In the measure that she glorified herself and lived ^[a]luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as ^(B)queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’

The Dead Church

3 “And to the ^[a]angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who ^(A)has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

^24 (A)for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

³² It was right that we should make merry and be glad, ^(A)for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

¹⁴ Therefore He says:

By Grace Through Faith

2 And ^(A)you He made alive, ^(B)who were dead in trespasses and sins,

¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with ^[a]prodigal living.

²² But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”