Alsoifanyonecompetesas an athlete,he does not win the prizeunlesshe competesaccording to the rules.
"Striveto enterthroughthe narrowdoor;for many,I tellyou, will seekto enterand will not be able.
Some,to be sure,are preachingChristevenfrom envyand strife,but somealsofrom good will;
For thispurpose alsoI labor,strivingaccordingto His power, which mightilyworkswithinme.
You have not yetresistedto the pointof shedding bloodin your strivingagainstsin;
"YOU HAVE MADEHIM FOR A LITTLE WHILELOWERTHANTHE ANGELS;YOU HAVE CROWNEDHIM WITH GLORYAND HONOR,AND HAVE APPOINTEDHIM OVERTHE WORKSOF YOUR HANDS;
But we do seeHim who was madefor a little whilelowerthanthe angels,[namely], Jesus,becauseof the sufferingof deathcrownedwith gloryand honor,sothat by the graceof GodHe might tastedeathfor everyone.
Blessedis a manwhoperseveresunder trial;for once he has beenapproved,he will receivethe crownof lifewhich[the Lord] has promisedto thosewho loveHim.
And when the Chief Shepherdappears,you will receivethe unfadingcrownof glory.
Do not fearwhatyou are aboutto suffer.Behold,the devilis aboutto castsome of you into prison,sothat you will be tested,and you will havetribulationfor tendays.Be faithfuluntildeath,and I will giveyou the crownof life.
I am comingquickly;hold fastwhatyou have,sothat no onewill takeyour crown.
the twenty-fourelderswill fall downbeforeHim who sitson the throne,and will worshipHim who livesforeverand ever,and will casttheir crownsbeforethe throne,saying,
Aroundthe throne[were] twenty-fourthrones;and upon the thrones[I saw] twenty-fourelderssitting,clothedin whitegarments,and goldencrownson their heads.
