Book of Common Prayer

God’s victory

19 After this I heard something like a loud voice coming from a huge crowd in heaven. “Alleluia!” they were saying. “Salvation and glory and power belong to our God! ² His judgments are true and just! He has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged the blood of his servants for which she was responsible.” ³ Once more they said, “Alleluia! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”

⁴ Then the twenty-four elders and the four creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne. “Amen!” they said. “Alleluia!” ⁵ And a voice came from the throne: “Give praise to our God, all you his servants, and you who fear him, both small and great.” ⁶ Then I heard something like the sound of a great crowd, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of strong thunder, saying, “Alleluia! The Lord our God, the Almighty, has become king! ⁷ Let us celebrate and rejoice and give him the glory, because the marriage of the lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. ⁸ She has been given shining, pure linen to wear.” (The linen is the righteous deeds of God’s holy people.)

⁹ “Write this,” he said to me. “God’s blessing on those who are called to the marriage supper of the lamb.” And he added, “These words are the true words of God.” ¹⁰ I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Look! Don’t do that! I am a fellow-servant with you, and with your brothers and sisters who hold on to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!” (The testimony of Jesus, you see, is the spirit of prophecy.)

The leaven of the Pharisees

16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tried to catch him out by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

² This was his reply to them: “When it’s evening you say, ‘Sky looks like wine, it’s going to be fine.’ ³ And in the morning you say, ‘Red in the sky, rain by and by.’ Well then: you know how to work out the look of the sky, so why can’t you work out the signs of the times? ⁴ The generation that wants a sign is wicked and corrupt! No sign will be given to it, except the sign of Jonah.”

With that, he left them and went away.

⁵ When the disciples crossed over the lake, they forgot to bring any bread. ⁶ “Watch out,” said Jesus to them, “and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

⁷ They discussed it with each other. “It’s because we didn’t bring any bread,” they said.

⁸ But Jesus knew what they were thinking. “You really are a little-faith lot!” he said. “Why are you discussing with each other that you haven’t got any bread? ⁹ Don’t you understand, even now? Don’t you remember the five loaves and the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you picked up afterwards? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves and the four thousand, and how many baskets you picked up? ¹¹ Why can’t you see that I wasn’t talking about bread? Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”

¹² Then they understood that he wasn’t telling them to beware of the leaven you get in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.