Thought provoking Scripture Passages

****from my current ETRSF Bible word study project: about blessings:

James 1:12-14 & 2512 Blessed is the man (or woman) who endures temptation; for when he (or she) has been approved, he (or she) will receive the Crown of Life which The LORD has promised to those who Love Him.13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he (or she) is drawn away by his (or her) own desires and enticed. 25 But he (or she) who looks into the perfect Law of Liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he (or she) does.James 3:8-10 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.James 5:10-1110 My brethren, take the Prophets, who spoke in the Name (and character) of The Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by The LORD; that The LORD is very compassionate and merciful.1 Peter 1:3-53 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through Faith for Salvation ready to be revealed in the Last Time. 1 Peter 3:8-16 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.10 For "HE WHO WOULD LOVE LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, LET HIM REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL, AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT. 11 LET HIM TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; LET HIM SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. 12 FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE ON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN TO THEIR PRAYERS; BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL." 13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED."15 But sanctify The Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 1 Peter 4:12-1612 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the Name (and character) of Christ, blessed are you, for The Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him (or her) not be ashamed, but let him (or her) glorify God in this matter. Revelation 1:3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this Prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.Revelation 5:11-1311 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the Throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is The Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and Wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"13 And every creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him Who sits on the Throne, and to The Lamb, forever and ever!"Revelation 7:9-12-9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the Throne and before The Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God Who sits on the Throne, and to The Lamb!" 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and Wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."Revelation 14:12-1312 Here is the patience of the Saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in The LORD from now on.'" "Yes”, says The Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."Revelation 16:13-1613 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the Dragon, out of the mouth of the Beast, and out of the mouth of the False Prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the Earth and of the whole World, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he (or she) who watches, and keeps his (or her) garments, lest he (or she) walk naked and they see his (or her) shame."16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, “Armageddon”. Revelation 19:6-96 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For The Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the Marriage of The Lamb has come, and His Wife (the church) has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the Saints.9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the Marriage Supper of The Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."Revelation 20:4-64 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not worshiped the Beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the First Resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he (or she) who has part in the First Resurrection. Over such the Second Death has no power, but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.Revelation 22:6-7 & 12-14 6 Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And The LORD God of the holy Prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he (or she) who keeps the Words of the Prophecy of this Book."12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his (or her) work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and The End, The First and The Last.”14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into the City.