a thread opens
And at midnight there was a cry made, Look, the bridegroom comes; go out to meet him.
The Vigil
Today’s scroll, one verse at a time — each linked to the last by the cross-references rather than by any model of you. The same vigil for everyone, and a different one tomorrow.
Take heed, watch and pray: for you know not when the time is.
from Matthew 25:6
Look, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
from Mark 13:33
Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come.
from Revelation of John 16:15 · a strong link
Then he said to them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death: stay you here, and watch with me.
from Matthew 24:42
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I to this hour.
from Matthew 26:38
a thread opens
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
from I Corinthians 8:4
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
from Mark 12:29
But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
from Galatians 3:20
Who also has made us able ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.
from Hebrews 8:6
a thread opens
By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
from I John 3:16
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
from Titus 2:13
For whom he did foreknow, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
from I John 3:2 · a strong link
a thread opens
But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.
For the truth’s sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us for ever.
from I John 2:27
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
from II John 1:2
If they sin against you, (for there is no man who sins not,) and you be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives to a land far off or near;
from I John 1:8
And enter not into judgment with your servant: for in your sight shall no man living be justified.
from II Chronicles 6:36
How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
from Psalms 143:2
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
from Job 25:4
a thread opens
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.
Greet all your leaders, and all the saints. They of Italy greet you.
from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link
Remember your leaders, who have spoken to you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conduct.
from Hebrews 13:24 · a strong link
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?
from Hebrews 13:7
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
from Matthew 24:45
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
from I Corinthians 4:1
a thread opens
I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
from I Chronicles 29:17
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
from Hebrews 4:12 · a strong link
But have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
from II Corinthians 2:17 · a strong link
What fruit had you then in those things of which you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
from II Corinthians 4:2
a thread opens
Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is mute, so he opens not his mouth.
from I Corinthians 5:7
And went again into the judgment hall, and said to Jesus, Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer.
from Isaiah 53:7 · a strong link
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him, Are you the King of the Jews?
from John 19:9
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Matthew 25:6 along this chain. Today’s own vigil is laid separately.
Each verse follows the one before it along the chain a study Bible draws — a century old, public, and compiled by people arguing about Scripture rather than about how long you stay. Every card says which verse it came from and opens the chapter it belongs to. Today’s vigil is the same for every reader and is worked out from the date alone, so there is no account, no counter, and nothing stored in your browser or ours.
The text is the Lantern Modern Standard. The links are openbible.info’s cross-reference set (CC BY), the same apparatus behind the reader’s Echoes drawer. Read a whole book · Today’s table