Revelation 14:4
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4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins; these follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from humankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb,(A)
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Revelation 3:4
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4 Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.(A)
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James 1:18
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18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave birth to us by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.(A)
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2 Corinthians 11:2
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2 I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.(A)
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Revelation 5:9
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9 They sing a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to break its seals,
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from[a] every tribe and language and people and nation;(A)
Footnotes
- 5.9 Gk ransomed for God from
John 12:26
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26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.(A)
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John 10:27
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27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.(A)
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Revelation 17:14
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14 they will wage war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”(A)
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Revelation 7:15-17
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15 For this reason they are before the throne of God
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.(A)
16 They will hunger no more and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat,(B)
17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”(C)
Psalm 74:2
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2 Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago,
which you redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage.
Remember Mount Zion, where you came to dwell.(A)
John 8:12
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Jesus the Light of the World
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”(A)
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Jeremiah 2:3
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3 Israel was holy to the Lord,
the first fruits of his harvest.
All who ate of it were held guilty;
disaster came upon them,
says the Lord.(A)
1 Peter 2:9
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9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,[a] in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.(A)
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- 2.9 Gk a people for his possession
Ephesians 1:14
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14 this[a] is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.(A)
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- 1.14 Other ancient authorities read who
1 Corinthians 16:15
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15 Now, brothers and sisters, you know that members of the household of Stephanas were the first fruits in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints;(A)
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1 Corinthians 7:25-26
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The Unmarried and the Widows
25 Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.(A) 26 I think that, in view of the impending[a] crisis,[b] it is good for you to remain as you are.(B)
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1 Corinthians 6:20
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20 For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.(A)
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Acts 20:28
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28 Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God[a] that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.[b](A)
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John 13:37
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37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”(A)
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Luke 9:57-62
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Would-Be Followers of Jesus
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”(A) 60 And Jesus[a] said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
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- 9.60 Gk he
Matthew 25:1
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The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women[a] took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.[b](A)
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Matthew 8:19
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19 A scribe then approached and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
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1 Timothy 4:3
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3 They forbid marriage and abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.(A)
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1 Corinthians 7:28
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28 But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Yet those who marry will experience distress in the flesh, and I would spare you that.
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