Christ . . . did not think that being equal with God was something to be held on to. He gave up His place with God and made Himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. And when He was living as a man, He humbled Himself and was fully obedient to God. He obeyed even when that caused His death - death on a cross.
   Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
   That is why Christ died and rose from death to live again. He did this so that He would be Lord over both the dead and the living.
   [John saw Him in a vision:] ". . . His eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like bronze that glows hot in a furnace. His voice had the sound of a great waterfall, and I saw that in His right hand He held seven stars. A sharp two-edged sword came out of His mouth, and His face was ablaze like the sun at its height. When my eyes took in this sight I fell at His feet like a dead man. And then He placed His right hand upon me and said, 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the One Who lives. I was dead, but look: I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and where the dead are. . .' "
   [Jesus said:] "I solemnly assure you that the man who hears what I have to say and believes in the One Who has sent Me has eternal life. He does not have to face judgment; he has already passed from death into life. I tell you the truth. The time is coming and is already here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. And those who hear will have life. Life comes from the Father Himself. So the Father has allowed the Son to give life. And the Father has given the Son the power to judge because He is the Son of Man. Don't be surprised at this. A time is coming when all who are dead and in their graves will hear His voice. Then they will come out of their graves, they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Taken from Phil. 2, Rom. 14, Rev. 1, Jn. 5, The Everyday Bible, The New King James,
The Phillips Translation and The King James Version. For free Lifescope book,
write to Box 1575, Carlsbad, NM 88221. Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.