Last Days Difficult Times

II Timothy 3: 1-5

Now Paul goes from speculations to describing conditions at the end of our time line. 

(1) But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

He then says how far people will go in their degradation in these last days. The word he uses for difficult is chalepos, "terrible, hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous." This word is used only here and in Matthew 8:28, describing the "violent" demoniacs. 

He then gives eighteen character defects that will be prevalent and characterize this time. 

(2) For men will be lovers of self, 

This is philautoi, "selfish." 

lovers of money, 

This is philargyroi, "avaricious." 

boastful, 

This is alazones, "imposters, braggarts." 

arrogant, 

This is hyperephanoi, "proud, showing oneself above others." "With an overweening estimate of one's means or merits, despising others, treating them with contempt; haughty." 

revilers, 

This is blasphemoi, "evil-speaking, slanderous." 

disobedient to parents, 

Today the public schools are actually teaching children to be disobedient to their own parents! 

The next four adjectives all begin with a-negative. 

ungrateful, 

This is acharistoi, the opposite of being thankful. 

unholy, 

This is anosioi, describes the person who has no fellowship with God and so is living a merely "secular" life

(3) unloving, 

This is astorgoi, "without love," and means "without family affection." This can result in an anti-social personality disorder, which seems prevalent today. 

irreconcilable, 

This is aspondoi, "unforgiving, without a treaty or covenant." 

malicious gossips, 

This is diaboloi, when given the definite article, is "the devil." This connotes "prone to slander, accusing falsely." I see this in the political scene very deeply. 

The next three adjectives also are a-negative. 

without self-control, 

This is akrateis, in the widest sense, it describes the the weak man without strength, who is easily led into bodily lustful sin. 

brutal, 

This is anemeroi, "not tame, savage, fierce." 

haters of good, 

They hate and despise everything that is good and beneficial and healthy. I see groups of people today that only want to tear down everything that has benefited people, and promulgate practices that will cause more people to die and be sick physically and emotionally, "for their own safety," which is a lie. 

(4) treacherous, 

This is prodotai, "traitor, betrayer," used of Judas when he sold Jesus for the price of a slave. 

reckless, 

This is propeteis, literally, "falling forward, headlong," and came to mean "hasty, reckless, rash." 

conceited, 

This is tetyphomenoi, the perfect passive participle of typhoo, "to be wrapped up in smoke," so to be "puffed up" in pride. 

lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 

This is a play on words, describing those who put self in the place of God as the center of their affections. 

(5) holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; 

Yet they are religious! This describes a church that may recognize who Jesus is, but deny what He has accomplished on the Cross. They teach that we have to "earn" grace by doing religious things. 

avoid such men as these. 

He tells him to apotrepou, "turn away from," or "have nothing to do," with these evil hypocrites. They are not worth his time or energy. 

Paul was warning Timothy, so he would teach his leadership and congregation, and the advice is even more apropos to us today. 

The church has from the Middle Ages or before denied all that Jesus has accomplished and finished on the Cross; that's why the Reformation happened. But even the denominations that came from that movement have since then lost their doctrinal way with corrupted teachings. 

Today we must be very careful of who we choose to sit under to learn from. The truth of God is pure and simple, and it has been corrupted and complicated more and more through time, until today most people in America, for instance, who consider themselves Christians only have a religion, not that relationship with God that He intends us to have. 

We must be "born again" in order to even "see" God's Kingdom (John 3: 3). It's like He wrote His Scripture in a code, that takes His Holy Spirit as the key to understanding it. Otherwise, one can make it look like it says anything he wants it to say, to justify whatever sin. 

Our enemy the devil knows that his time is short now, and he is feverishly and aggressively pouring his poison down the throats of all who have not turned to our God for Redemption. 

God still loves them, and wants them to give up what they think are their own ideas and submit to the Lord who gave Himself up for them. 

O my Father, please help us to understand what You are telling us all through the love letter You wrote to us. You want us to expect You to be who You are, and to not be surprised or shocked by what You have said You will do to this world. 

You have held out the carrot to mankind for all the eras we have lived, and still there are so many who refuse Your kindness, choosing instead to be seduced by the deceptions of the devil. And even our own hearts lie to us, Father. So, when You use the stick, please let it convince people of Your power and authority, to acknowledge You. 

You've given us Your word, written down, so the words can be seen and understood; and not change like man's tradition, which is like the children's Telephone game. And You've given us Your own Holy Spirit to decipher the code and put the dots together to see Your bigger picture. 

And when Your wrath is poured out on the whole world, Father, Your children will just need to stand, and watch the thousands fall at their side, the ten thousands at their right hand, knowing that the wrath we deserve has already been poured out on Jesus for us on the Cross. And Your peace on us in the midst of the maelstrom will show the world Your faithfulness and care. 

O Father, You are so good to us! Please send out Your children into all the world, so that every living person will be able to understand how You have loved them, and offer freely the most wonderful and gracious and generous opportunity to be born into Your own royal family! All we need to do is to submit to letting You do it all for us! 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, please come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

Flee From Childish Wants

II Timothy 2: 20-26

We've just seen how we are to handle God's word accurately. 

(20) Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 

As God's family we've been depicted in several different earthly concepts, like stones, priests, and athletes. Here we are vessels for the Master's use. 

There are goblets for fine wine, and there are also chamber pots. 

(21) Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, 

These things are the faulty understandings of what God is telling us, as we read yesterday; we are to abstain from wickedness. 

he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 

This is our responsibility, to make sure we're not trying to read anything into God's word that isn't really there, just to satisfy our own pride. To take care to compare scripture with scripture, to open our minds to what God is saying to us, and to understand Scripture with open clarity to be prepared to face what is ahead. Then we will be fit to do God's work in the world, and to serve Him forever. 

(22) Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 

The way we do this is to flee youthful lusts, to not be childish in wanting to know everything right now. We are to be patient to let God teach us, and to run after righteousness, faith, love and peace, in the company of other believers who have also purified their hearts. 

(23) But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 

(24) The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, 

Arguments and quarrels only come from wanting to impose our ideas on others, rather than listening to others. 

but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 

(25) with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 

And after listening to them, if we find that they are adding to or ignoring passages of Scripture, we are to patiently and gently steer them in the right direction to know the truth. Then it is their decision to follow that path, and change their mind. 

(26) and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 

If our patience and gentleness and kindness would lead them into knowing the truth, then they can in turn be reasonable with us, and even turn around their thinking to escape the deceptions of the devil. 

Paul is writing to Timothy, the pastor at the church in Ephesus, so he is to be the example for the other church leaders to follow. It is his responsibility to make sure that the teachers are not teaching any fallacy. 

When someone is caught in a deception, it will lead him into all kinds of side-paths, off the narrow road, and lead away from Christ. This is what the devil wants to do with us, to get us off-track. Because that will keep us from promoting and growing God's Kingdom. 

Even Christians are susceptible to these small deviations, when we're not totally focused on Scripture, but opening our minds to other sources of "truth." 

Research is good, and we can stand on the shoulders of others who have gone before us. But we are not to put any man's opinion on the same level as God's word, and do our own research in Scripture to make sure there is nothing disputable or not in line with what God has clearly told us. 

And when we still see gaps in our knowledge, we can be patient, knowing that God knows what He's doing, and not try to make up something to fill the gap. 

When I give you my thoughts in this blog, I don't want you, dear reader, to swallow my opinion whole, but to do your own research, also. I may think that I am being true to the Word, but I am still human, and can still make errors. 

If you ever see anything in any of my entries that may not align with Scripture, please call me on it, leave me a comment, and I will thank you for it and do more research and prayer. 

O my Father, please lead us into an accurate understanding of what You are doing in this part of Your great Plan of the Ages that we are living through. If this is the time You have described, strengthen us through it. And if You will relent and give us more time to gather more into Your family, then strengthen us through that, too. 

O Father, I know that Your word is precise and accurate, and I also know that You will relent when Your people confess and forsake our sins and seek Your face. 

Father, call all of Your children to bring a great revival in our societies, that every living person will hear and come to the knowledge of Your great love for us all and Your provision of everything we need, both now and forever. Draw all of Your embryonic children to the birth into Your family, and fill Your house! 

And every eye will see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

Understand The Word Accurately

II Timothy 2: 14-19

Paul has just quoted what may have been an early Christian hymn that poetically stated Biblical truth. 

(14) Remind them of these things, 

Keep these lyrics, this hymn, on your mind, and before the people. 

and solemnly charge them in the presence of God 

This looks very serious, like an oath. 

not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 

Not to take words out of context, not to argue if a word means this or that without considering the passage it is in. If a certain word can be understood in more than one way, then it's useless to argue about it, just take the tone of the whole passage for the meaning. 

(15) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 

Here's a verse that is much loved and often memorized. 

We all need to be diligent and carefully aware of how we approach God's word. God wants us to be honest and open to receive what He is actually telling us (exegesis, drawing out what is there), not looking for what we want to hear (eisegesis, putting in what we want to be there). 

What God wants to teach us is not always pleasant to our sensibilities, and His standards are never what we would call "politically correct" in our society. Man's standards rarely have ever come even near to the high level of purity and wholesomeness of God's. 

We must take care to handle God's word accurately, so that we understand what God is telling us. To do otherwise is shameful. 

(16) But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 

Arguing about words is more than a waste of time and energy, it leads to further ungodliness. 

(17) and their talk will spread like gangrene. 

This is so dangerous to their faith that Paul says it's like a medical term, gangraina, a sore that eats into the flesh, like gangrene or cancer. 

Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

Then he names two of the teachers there in Ephesus who are spreading this spiritual disease. 

(18) men who have gone astray from the truth saying the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. 

He even puts his finger on a misinterpretation that they are promoting, that the Day of the Lord has already come; and they have deluded some with this heresy. 

(19) Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the Name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." 

Nevertheless, no matter what people may say or teach, or how widespread the idea reaches, even though all men have believed a lie, God remains true (Romans 3: 4). 

God always knows who are His, and are true to His teachings and ways. And those who are His will know His truth that sets them free from the pull of wickedness, so they will stay away from all that does not conform to reality. 

O my Father, please help us to face Your Word honestly and openly, even when You are telling us where we have been wrong! We react negatively to the messenger who tells us we're wrong, because we want to think we're too smart to fall for deception. 

That's where Eve was deceived, and our enemy has never changed his tactics. The Devil still convinces so many gullible people that they are intelligent and know what's what, and in their pride they cannot hear anything else. 

But, Father, Your word is still true and accurate, and is the reality we need to be aware of. Teach us Your Truth, Father, to have our eyes open to see Your reality around us, and not be seduced into any side-road that would take us off Your path. 

O Father, You have given us everything we need to know, for living today in this world around us, and for preparing for the glory You have for us in the next state we will be in. Help us to connect all the dots, to see the connections between all the stories and all the rules and all the prophesies; to better understand Your Big Picture, and be able to supply whatever pieces that we still find missing in the puzzle. 

My Father, when we can see what You are doing, it builds our trust in You, to persevere when we don't see what You're doing. We know that You know what You're doing, and You don't have to tell us everything. 

Father, send out all of Your children to teach the world how much You love us all, and to let them know that You have already planned out everything that looks so confusing to us. Father, while we're in the midst of the maelstrom swirling around us, may Your peace be upon us to show the world Your power and authority. 

And may every living person hear and understand enough to be able to turn to You, Father God, to Your outstretched hands, to give them Your gracious and generous gift of rescue and salvation and redemption. 

And let no one have any excuse for rejecting Your kind offer. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus! 

Endure Suffering Now And Reign Forever

II Timothy 2: 8-13

Paul has just likened the Christian life to that of a soldier, an athlete and a farmer, all hard workers, training and toiling.  

(8) Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, 

Paul personalized the Gospel, that Jesus was born into the royal family of King David, and He rose from the dead to never die again, to reign on David's throne. 

(9) for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. 

He is so impassioned for his Lord to be known that he is willing to suffer whatever hardship is necessary, even being mistreated as a criminal. 

Even though he is in prison, the message is not, and is still going out, even more!

(10) For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. 

He will go through all this for his love for those who will believe, his sisters and brothers in the Lord, who will not only be rescued here, but also will sit with King Jesus on His throne ruling with Him, as He sits in His Father's throne. 

(11) It is a trustworthy statement: 

This opening formula is always attached to a maxim relating to doctrine or practice on which full reliance can be placed. 

This is generally thought to be an early Christian hymn. It is in the typical form of Hebrew poetic parallelism, with four "if" clauses. 

For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

This is in the aorist tense, indicating a crisis. Paul spells this out in Romans 6: 3-6, 8, 11. It's only as we die with Christ, in admitting He died our death, that we can have spiritual life with Him right now, as His Holy Spirit lives in us. We must die in order to live. 

(12) If we endure, we will also reign with Him; 

 To endure is in the present continuous tense, indicating that we are to continually keep on enduring to the end, not giving up, to reign with Him on His throne. 

If we deny Him, He also will deny us;  

This does not say we can lose our salvation. If we give in to denying our relationship with Him, He will deny our rewards that would have been due us. We will suffer much loss eternally in our ruling position in doing this, so we must stay strong even in the midst of the maelstrom that will swirl around us. We have the Armor of God (in Ephesians 6: 13-18), in which we will be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. No excuse. 

(13) If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 

Even if we give in to the forces arrayed against us, and are unfaithful to Him, He will still be faithful to us, to do everything He said He would do: in us, to us, for us and through us. Our Lord God is good, and true, and faithful. Nothing can change Him, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can count on it. And put our full trust in Him. 

O my Father, thank You so much for being who You are, our Almighty God. Thank You for being true to Yourself, so that we can trust You. You have shown Yourself to be completely worthy of all of our trust, regardless of what may be going on around us. 

My Father, strengthen us to withstand whatever the world will throw at us. When we stumble, we will not fall; Your hand will hold us up. When we are perplexed, we will never give in; we can trust that You know what You're doing. When we're persecuted, we know You will not forsake us; and when we are cast down, we will not be destroyed, but You will raise us up. (II Corinthians 4: 8-9.)

Father, even when we will be dying in our flesh, we know that we are alive in Your Spirit forevermore. We need not fear anyone who can only attack us in this world. We've read the last chapter--we win! 

O Father, we who are in Christ are safe. Please send us out as Your messengers and missionaries to share with every living person in the world how much You have loved us all, and want everyone to turn to You to receive Your generous and gracious gift. Father, Your hands are open wide, draw all of Your embryonic children to Yourself. Let everyone understand enough to turn to You, and those who refuse and rebel will have no excuse. 

Every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

Network The Gospel

II Timothy 2: 1-7

Paul is encouraging Timothy before he leaves the body to be present with the Lord.

(1) You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Paul considers him to be his son in the Lord, and it is in Christ that we find strength.

(2) The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Paul is handing the baton to Timothy, and instructs him to pass it on to others, who will be faithful and true, to in turn pass it on to others, through the ages, like a relay race. We call this networking, and it works because it is God's plan. This is what God had Moses write the people, to teach the next generation (Deuteronomy 11: 19), and Paul is applying this principle here, too.

It only takes one generation to drop the baton.

(3) Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

He again tells Timothy to expect and be willing to suffer (as in 1: 8), and places it in a military context.

(4) No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Anyone who is on assignment in the military is not thinking about his affairs back home, but is concentrating on the mission, to make it successful.

(5) Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

Then he uses another framework, as an athletic competition. To participate in the Games you must qualify and perform following all the rules that are set for the competition, to not be disqualified from participating.

(6) The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

Then he changes the picture again, to an agrarian one. The farmer who does all the work of producing the crop should receive benefit from what has been produced.

(7) Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 

Paul uses these different illustrations to picture different aspects of our work as Christians and as leaders in God's church.

He tells him to consider what he's told him, to think about it, and pray about it, to let the Holy Spirit teach him the applications of Scripture. God wrote His word in a kind of code that takes His Holy Spirit as the key to unlocking understanding of it, how it all works together, and what to expect so we're not surprised or shocked at what is happening all around us.

We are living in exciting times. As I see things, we are in the Last Days of the End Times that began with Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension and the Day of Pentecost. Now we're beginning to face the chaos and persecution He said would come.

So be strong, people, in the Spirit of the Lord, and be prepared to stand firm against the onslaught of the evil storms brewing and building even now.

O my Father, please help us to be strengthened in the knowledge of what we will be facing soon. Enlarge our perception of Your care for us in protecting us from Your wrath being poured out all around us, trusting in You to have put what wrath we deserve onto Christ Jesus as our Savior. Keep our feet firmly planted, that we will not be moved or shaken in the midst of all the turmoil.

O Father, let Your peace flood our minds, to keep us steady, that the world will know that only You are God.

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Even so, do come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Phygelus, Hermogenes and Onesiphorus

II Timothy 1: 15-18

(15) You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

When Paul mentions Asia, he is referencing the Roman province, at the west end of Asia Minor.

Paul spent over three years in Ephesus, and while he was there the Gospel went out all over the province (Acts 19:10). Paul must have been especially disappointed with these two, to name them.

These Asians probably turned away from Paul when he was arrested and taken to Rome in disgrace for his second and final imprisonment.

(16) The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains;

This is one who realized Paul's sterling character, and the chains he was hauled off in didn't denigrate his opinion of him. Paul appreciated his consistent hospitality.

(17) but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me--

This man was determined to find Paul when he went to Rome. There were a lot of prisoners, but he "searched hard" for Paul until he finally found him.

(18) the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day--and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.

Paul reminds Timothy of the services he rendered while he was still at the home church in Ephesus, and prays that God would have mercy on him when Jesus returns on that Day to judge for rewards.

O my Father, I pray for Your church today, please help Your children to see one another with Your eyes, as siblings in Your family. Even when we are hauled away in disgraceful chains. It's when we're treated this way that we'll know who our real friends are.

My Father, strengthen all of Your family members to uphold one another when times of trouble come, and we are being arrested for our faith. Help us all to stand strong for our faith and for one another.

O Father, send out Your children all over the whole world, so that every living person will hear how much You have loved us all, and known each of us, wanting every one of us to turn to You and accept Your generosity and gracious gift.

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, our Messiah, our Savior and Redeemer, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

The Treasure Entrusted

II Timothy 1: 8-14

(8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the Gospel according to the power of God, 

Paul doesn't want Timothy to feel bad about his imprisonment. He wants Timothy to visit him if he can, and see the conditions he is in, to commiserate with him but also to rejoice with him in what God is doing. 

(9) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 

God has chosen us before He even made the world. So it doesn't depend on anything we do or don't do, it's God's choice. He sent His Son, our Lord Jesus, to do all the work for us and redeem us into His own family. This is given to us as a free gift, that we could never earn or deserve. 

(10) but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, 

This plan of God was manifested by Jesus' first coming. The word for appearing here is often used for His second coming, but here refers to the first, when He came to pay our debt and conquer death, to bring us eternal, spiritual life through the Good News that He has finished that work for us. 

(11) for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 

Paul has been given to be able to preach, and to lay the groundwork for the church, and to teach Christians how to live as royal family members of the King. 

(12) For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; 

Paul is not shamed by the disrespect and mishandling as a prisoner, because he knows that it is because of what he has believed and lived out and taught others. 

for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that Day. 

What Paul has entrusted is what has been left with a trusted associate to keep while the person is away on a trip, that he expects to retrieve upon his return. Like putting your stuff in storage, you expect it to be there when you go for it. 

Paul has entrusted Christ Jesus with his salvation and redemption, and he knows that He is totally trustworthy to keep it safe until the Day of His return. 

(13) Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 

Timothy, and all of us, are to hold on to the high standard of the sound words of Scripture, which Paul taught him, believing them and applying them in our lives and relationships, loving others as Christ Jesus has loved us. 

(14) Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. 

Now Paul asks Timothy to keep safe the valuable treasure that he holds, that Paul expects him to share and teach, to promote the Kingdom of God. He is to remain faithful to the truth he has learned through the Holy Spirit who dwells in every Christian. 

Paul is nearing death. He is aware that he will not be travelling any more to share the Gospel, and he is leaving Timothy with his treasure: the sound doctrine, the revelation of Christ Jesus in all its fullness. 

O my Father, You are so good to give us Paul and Moses and Abraham and David. Thank You for Joseph and Isaac and Jacob. Thank You for Isaiah and Jeremiah and Zechariah. Thank You so much, dear Father, for all the kings and prophets and people whose stories teach us Your lessons, and what to expect to come. 

Thank you, my Father, for all the blessings You have given to all of us, in this world, but especially in Your Son, our Lord God, Christ Jesus our King. 

O Father, You have loved us so much that You planned from the beginning, before You did anything to make it so, for Your Son to be our Lord God to prepare us for His first appearing to be our Savior and Redeemer; and to prepare us today for His second, Glorious Appearing, to call us out to Himself. 

Then we will reign with Him over this very Earth for the thousand years of our Golden Age, before it explodes and the Universe implodes, and You will bring about a New Heaven (Universe) and a New Earth(-like Planet) upon which Your Heaven will descend to live with us and us with You forever as Your Family! 

My Father, You have planned it all out ahead of Time itself. Then You have sent Your Son to do the work, to rule and reign, and to prepare us for the glorious future You have decided to give us! 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will sing Your glory, proclaiming that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!