The New Testament books of Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude are known as the Hebrew Epistles because they were, in large measure, written to the Jews, and yet they have important lessons for all of us.

As discussed in Part 1 of this series, the treacherous trio of Ezekiel 38 is defined as Turkey, Iran and Russia. Historically, each of these countries enjoyed grand imperial pasts. All are ambitious. All are making a move to achieve a measure of their previous success.

Since its founding in 2007, the mission of Soldiers Bible Ministry (https://soldiersbibleministry.org) is to provide Bibles and study materials to U.S. as well as allied troops—in their native languages—when requested.

Dear Mr. President, You face difficult challenges in matters such as achieving peace in the Middle East and protecting America from the threat of radical Islam and terrorism. These are challenges that have vexed past presidents, going as far back as our second president, John Adams.

The shifting geopolitical winds during the past few months have once again raised the specter of Ezekiel’s “Magog” invasion of Israel.

True they have tried, but their efforts have been cast in the pattern of an outworn tradition. Faced by failure of credit they have proposed only the lending of more money. Stripped of the lure of profit by which to induce our people to follow their false leadership, they have resorted to exhortations, pleading tearfully for restored confidence. They know only the rules of a generation of self-seekers. They have no vision, and when there is no vision the people perish.

There is a figure of merit in optics regarding “resolving power.” If you look at a star with a cheap telescope, you will see a bright spot. If you look at that same star with very high-quality optics, you may discover that that ostensible spot is actually a double star.

Last month we began a new series called The Kingdom, Power and Glory. As was stated in that first article, Chuck and I are convinced that the truths contained in this series “are some of the most life-changing principles we’ve encountered since our new births.”

While watching the media coverage of bus loads of angry Americans protesting in front of AIG headquarters and executives’ homes, another historical political diversion came to mind—Nero feeding Christians to the lions in giant public spectacles as the unwitting victims of Nero’s accusations.

Did you know that Daniel Webster, the famous 1800s statesman, was a born-again Christian? He was also known as a brilliant scholar who gave the most eloquent speeches ever delivered in Congress. One evening he was invited to lecture a group of congressmen.

Now we have the AIG bonuses and other outrages. Every-one is scratching their heads; others cry outrage and some dare to proclaim “immorality.” The lies, untruths and half truths and the greed are profound.

On May 29th (the 6th of Sivan on the Hebrew calendar) the Jews will celebrate Hag HaShavuot, the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. This comes from Leviticus 23:16, which points to “the morrow after the seventh sabbath” after the Feast of First Fruits (thus, 50 days—in Greek, pentecost.)

John must have been puzzled. Exiled to the lonely island of Patmos, he has just begun to receive what will become known as the most elevated vision of things to come given to any person in the history of planet earth.

The Book of Ephesians is the first of Paul’s “prison epistles” and is considered by many scholars to be the most majestic of all the epistles. Ephesians teaches the doctrine of Ecclesiology.

Dame Isabel Piczek—a Hungarian trained particle physicist and internationally renowned monumental artist—has apparently uncovered hard, scientific evidence that Jesus Christ did, in fact, rise from the dead.

David Wilkerson once said: “If I am not Christ-like at heart—if I’m not becoming noticeably more like Him—then I have totally missed God’s purpose for my life. It doesn’t matter what I accomplish for His kingdom. If I miss this one purpose, I have lived, preached and yes, striven in vain.”

In only a matter of months, tens of millions of Americans have seen their investments, retirements, life savings, home values, and employment decimated, or even evaporate completely before their eyes. Some are expecting that the worst is yet to come.

God’s basic purpose for our lives as Christians is to be “conformed into the image of Christ.” (Romans 8:29) Why? So that we can then reflect His character and His image to others and bear godly “fruit” (good works). John 15:16 says, “I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain.”

For the past seven years, a German experiment just south of Hanover—the GEO600—has been searching for gravitational waves: ripples in space-time thrown off by super-dense astronomical objects such as neutron stars and black holes. GEO600 has not detected any gravitational waves so far, but it might have inadvertently made the most important discovery in physics for half a century.

Having spent the better part of last year going through our series on “Reflecting God’s Image,” the lesson we’ve learned is that as Christians we have been created for God and His purposes. And only when we align ourselves with those purposes, will we ever be fulfilled and able to glorify Him.