the spirit world

¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the directors of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places.

¹⁶For in him was created everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created through him and in him.

²And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect.

¹And I saw an Angel, descending from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the abyss and a great chain. ²And he apprehended the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and he bound him for a thousand years. ³And he cast him into the abyss, and he closed and sealed it, so that he would no longer seduce the nations, until the thousand years are completed. And after these things, he must be released for a brief time. ⁴And I saw thrones. And they sat upon them. And judgment was given to them. And the souls of those beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God, and who did not adore the beast, nor his image, nor accept his character on their foreheads or on their hands: they lived and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵The rest of the dead did not live, until the thousand years are completed. This is the First Resurrection. ⁶Blessed and holy is he who takes part in the First Resurrection. Over these the second death has no power. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him for a thousand years.

¹³But when the Spirit of truth has arrived, he will teach the whole truth to you. For he will not be speaking from himself. Instead, whatever he will hear, he will speak. And he will announce to you the things that are to come.

²⁸And it happened that, about eight days after these words, he took Peter and James and John, and he ascended onto a mountain, so that he might pray. ²⁹And while he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his vestment became white and shining. ³⁰And behold, two men were talking with him. And these were Moses and Elijah, appearing in majesty. ³¹And they spoke of his departure, which he would accomplish at Jerusalem. ³²Yet truly, Peter and those who were with him were weighed down by sleep. And becoming alert, they saw his majesty and the two men who were standing with him. ³³And it happened that, as these were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus: “Teacher, it is good for us to be here. And so, let us make three tabernacles: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what he was saying.

²²He is at the right hand of God, devouring death, so that we may be made heirs to eternal life. And since he has journeyed to heaven, the Angels and powers and virtues are subject to him.

²⁴Afterwards is the end, when he will have handed over the kingdom to God the Father, when he will have emptied all principality, and authority, and power.

²⁴God is Spirit. And so, those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

¹⁰And in him, you have been filled; for he is the head of all principality and power. ¹¹In him also, you have been circumcised with a circumcision not made by hand, not by the despoiling of the body of flesh, but by the circumcision of Christ. ¹²You have been buried with him in baptism. In him also, you have risen again through faith, by the work of God, who raised him up from the dead. ¹³And when you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he enlivened you, together with him, forgiving you of all transgressions, ¹⁴and wiping away the handwriting of the decree which was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken this away from your midst, affixing it to the Cross. ¹⁵And so, despoiling principalities and powers, he has led them away confidently and openly, triumphing over them in himself.

²¹above every principality and power and virtue and dominion, and above every name that is given, not only in this age, but even in the future age.

²⁶But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will suggest to you everything whatsoever that I have said to you.

³⁸Yet truly, Peter said to them: “Do penance; and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

⁵Jesus responded: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn by water and the Holy Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.

¹⁸And we are contemplating, not the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporal, whereas the things that are not seen are eternal.

²⁶But when the Advocate has arrived, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will offer testimony about me.

¹⁵And so, despoiling principalities and powers, he has led them away confidently and openly, triumphing over them in himself.

²¹Whoever holds to my commandments and keeps them: it is he who loves me. And whoever loves me shall be loved by my Father. And I will love him, and I will manifest myself to him.”

¹⁰even more so, those who walk after the flesh in unclean desires, and who despise proper authority. Boldly pleasing themselves, they do not dread to introduce divisions by blaspheming;

¹There was a man in the land of Uz named Job, and he was a simple and honest man, fearing God and withdrawing from evil. ²And there had been born to him seven sons and three daughters. ³And his possession was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, along with five hundred pairs of oxen and five hundred she-donkeys, and also a very large family. And this man was great among all the people of the east. ⁴And his sons went and made a feast by houses, each one on his day. And sending, they called their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵And when the days of their feasting had been completed, Job sent to them and sanctified them, and, getting up at dawn, he offered holocausts for each one. For he said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and have not praised God in their hearts.” So Job did all the days. ⁶But on a certain day, when the sons of God came to attend in the presence of the Lord, Satan also arrived among them.