Blessing the Children

¹³ People^(A) were bringing little children^(B) to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked^(C) them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw it, he was indignant^(D) and said to them, “Let the little children come to me.^(E) Don’t stop^(F) them, because the kingdom of God^(G) belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you,^(H) whoever does not receive^[a](I) the kingdom of God like a little child^(J) will never enter it.” ¹⁶ After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on^(K) them and blessed^(L) them.

Psalm 97

The Majestic King

The Rider on a White Horse

¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened,^(A) and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True,^(B) and with justice he judges and makes war.^{(C) 12} His eyes were like a fiery flame,^(D) and many crowns^[a] were on his head.^(E) He had a name written that no one knows except himself.^{(F) 13} He wore a robe dipped in blood,^(G) and his name is called the Word of God.^{(H) 14} The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. ¹⁵ A sharp^[b] sword^(I) came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it.^(J) He will rule^[c] them with an iron rod.^(K) He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God,^(L) the Almighty. ¹⁶ And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.^(M)

The Beast and Its Armies Defeated

¹⁷ Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, ¹⁸ so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”^(N)

¹⁹ Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies^(O) gathered together to wage war^(P) against the rider on the horse and against his army. ²⁰ But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs.^(Q) Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.^{(R) 21} The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.