“I’m going to jump in the shower,” I told my daughter last night. Quick as a flash, Thomas quipped, “Not really jump, Lolly!” The quirky smile on his two and a half year old face proves that he has his Poppy’s wit already. Maybe he gets it from his mom and dad, but who’s to say? She’ll say to him, “let’s jump in the car,” or “let’s go throw on some clothes,” and his response is consistently the same. “Not really throw, Mom.”
Peter alluded to a time when “scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’“
(2 Peter 3:3-4 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.3.3-4.NLT)
They deliberately forget God. They forget Him as Creator. “They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.“ (Romans 1:25 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.1.25.NLT)
”Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.“
Colossians 1:15-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/col.1.15-17.NLT
They deliberately forget God and count His judgment a myth. They forget His eternal nature, His Sovereignty, and His forbearance. He who always existed is the Life-Giver and the Light-Giver. He took on humanity for a time, defeated our adversary the devil, overcame our greatest enemies, sin and death, and made eternity in His glorious presence a possibility.
”In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.“
John 1:1-4, 14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.1.14.NLT
”Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.
You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!” For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.“
Psalms 90:1-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.90.1-4.NLT
”Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.“
Isaiah 11:1-2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.11.1-2.NLT
The patriarch, Israel, also known as Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham was given a prophecy from the Lord as he gave his final blessing to his twelve sons who would become the nation of Israel, God’s own possession through whom Messiah would come. To Judah, neither his first nor his favorite, Jacob spoke of days to come.
”Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the One to whom it belongs, the One whom all nations will honor.“
Genesis 49:9-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gen.49.9-10.NLT
”Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“
Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.9-11.NLT
John, in his exile on the isle of Patmos, left to die by the elements but preserved by God, was given a magnificent vision of heaven and God’s coming Kingdom with messages to the churches hand-delivered by Jesus himself. The heavenly messenger spoke things that must soon come to pass.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible translates, “God of the spirits of the prophets sent His angel to show His servants things which are imminent.” Close at hand and fast-approaching must have seemed to John and the first century followers of Jesus who received his epistle like waiting for the birth of a child or the observance of a high Holy day. Surely it would come in their lifetime, but as Peter reminds us, “A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” (II Peter 3:8)
And just as in the days of Job, there is a counterfeit lion, who walked among angels accusing the godly and deceiving the nations. (Job 1:6, 2:1, Revelation 20:3) He is the prince of the powers of the air, the commander of the powers of the unseen world, the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. (Ephesians 2:2) He is a thief whose only purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy, but the true Lion, the Lion of Judah, Jesus the Christ, purposes to give a rich and satisfying life, overflowing with abundance. (John 10:10) His Kingdom is coming and His will shall be done on earth as in heaven. (Matthew 6:10) He is preparing a place for us in His Father’s house and when the time is right, He will return for His own. (John 14:2-3) In the meantime, He has given us His Spirit and His Word so that we might stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10-17)
”Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.“
1 Peter 5:8-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.5.8-11.NLT
”The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.“
Proverbs 28:1 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.28.1.NLT
”The Angel said to me, “These are dependable and accurate words, every one.
The God and Master of the spirits of the prophets sent his Angel to show his servants what must take place, and soon.
And tell them, ‘Yes, I’m on my way!’
Blessed be the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”“
Revelation 22:6-7 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/rev.22.6-7.MSG
”Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.
Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.
He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.
And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”
Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.
And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”
And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea.
They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”
And the four living beings said, “Amen!”
And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.“
Revelation 5:1-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rev.5.1-14.NLT
”When the ram’s horn blows a warning, shouldn’t the people be alarmed?
Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?
Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
The lion has roared— so who isn’t frightened?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken— so who can refuse to proclaim his message?“
Amos 3:6-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/amo.3.6-8.NLT
”My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.
No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”“
John 10:27-30 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.10.27-30.NLT
”For my people are determined to desert me.
They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me.
“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim?
My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows.
No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy.
For someday the people will follow me. I, the Lord, will roar like a lion. And when I roar, my people will return trembling from the west. Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt. Trembling like doves, they will return from Assyria.
And I will bring them home again,” says the Lord.“
Hosea 11:7-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.11.9-11.NLT
Really?
”The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think.
No, he is being patient for your sake.
He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.“
2 Peter 3:9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.3.9.NLT
”And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.“
2 Peter 3:14-15 NLT
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