Alive and at peace.

Wisdom 3: 1-9

"But the souls of the upright are in the hands of God and no torment can touch them.

To the unenlightened they appeared to die, their departure was regarded as a disaster, their leaving us like an annihilation, but they are at peace.

If, as it seemed to us, they suffered punishment, their hope was rich with immortality, slight was their correction, great will their blessing be.

God was putting them to the test and has proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace and accepted them as a perfect burnt offering.

At their time of visitation, they will shine out, as sparks run through the stubble, so will they.

They will judge nations, rule over peoples and the Lord will be their king for ever.

Those who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love, for grace and mercy await his holy ones and he intervenes on behalf of his chosen".

Wisdom  5: 15-23

"But the upright live for ever, his recompense is with the Lord and the Most High takes care of them.

So they will receive the glorious crown and the diadem of beauty from the Lord' s hand; for he will shelter them with his right hand and with his arm he will shield them.

For armour he will take his jealous love, he will arm creation to punish his enemies; he will put on justice as a breastplate and for helmet wear his forthright judgement; he will take up invincible holiness for shield, of his pitiless wrath he will forge a sword and the universe will march with him to fight the reckless.

Bolts truly aimed, the shafts of lightning will leap and from the clouds, as from a fulldrawn how, fly to their mark and the catapult will hurl hailstones charged with fury.

The waters of the sea will rage against them, the rivers engulf them without pity, and winnow them like a hurricane.

Thus wickedness will lay the whole earth waste and evildoing bring down the thrones of the mighty".

Revelation 7: 13-17

"One of the elders then spoke and asked me, "Who are these people, dressed in white robes and where

have they come from?".

I answered him, "You can tell me sir". 

Then he said, "These are the people who have been through the geat trial, they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb.

That is why they are standing in front of God's throne and serving him day and night in his sanctuary; and the One who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

They will never hunger or thirst again, sun and scorching wind will never plague them, because the Lamb who is at the heart of the throne will be their shepherd and will guide them to springs of living water and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes".