Zephaniah, The Prophet’s Message

Zephaniah 1:1-18

The WORD of The LORD (GOD Almighty) which came to Zephaniah, The Son of Cushi, The Son of Gedaliah, The Son of Amariah, The Son of Hezekiah, in The Days of Josiah, The Son of Amon, King of Judah.

“I (GOD Almighty) Will UTTERLY CONSUME EVERYTHING, from The Face of The Land,” SAYS The LORD (GOD Almighty); “I (GOD Almighty) Will CONSUME Man and Beast; I (GOD Almighty) Will CONSUME The Birds of The Heavens, The Fish of The Sea, and The Stumbling Blocks, along with The Wicked (Unbelievers).  I (GOD Almighty) Will CUT OFF Man, from The Face of The Land,” SAYS The LORD (GOD Almighty).  “I (GOD Almighty) Will STRETCH OUT My (GOD Almighty’s) Hand AGAINST Judah, and AGAINST All The Inhabitants of Jerusalem.  I (GOD Almighty) Will CUT OFF Every Trace of Baal from THIS Place, The Names of The Idolatrous Priests with The Pagan Priests, Those (Unbelievers) who Worship The Host of Heaven on the housetops; Those (Unbelievers) who Worship and Swear Oaths by The LORD (GOD Almighty) BUT who ALSO Swear by Milcom; Those (Unbelievers) who have TURNED BACK from Following The LORD (GOD Almighty), and have NOT Sought The LORD (GOD Almighty), NOR Inquired of Him (GOD Almighty).”

Be SILENT in The Presence of The LORD, GOD (GOD Almighty); for The Day of The LORD (GOD Almighty) IS AT HAND, for The LORD (GOD Almighty) has PREPARED a Sacrifice; He (GOD Almighty) has INVITED His (GOD Almighty’s) Guests (Believers).  “And it shall be, in The Day of The LORD’s (GOD Almighty’s) Sacrifice, that I (GOD Almighty) Will PUNISH The Princes (Unbelievers) and The King’s Children (Unbelievers), and All (Unbelievers) such as are clothed with foreign apparel.  In The SAME DAY, I (GOD Almighty) Will PUNISH All Those (Unbelievers) who Leap Over The Threshold, who fill Their (Unbelievers) Masters’ Houses with Violence and Deceit.  “And there shall be on THAT DAY,” SAYS The LORD (GOD Almighty), “The Sound of a Mournful Cry from The Fish Gate, a Wailing from The Second Quarter, and a Loud Crashing from The Hills.  Wail, YOU (Unbelievers) Inhabitants of Maktesh!  For All The Merchant People (Unbelievers) are CUT DOWN; All those (Unbelievers) who handle money are CUT OFF.  “And it shall Come To Pass at THAT TIME, that I (GOD Almighty) Will SEARCH Jerusalem with Lamps, and PUNISH The Men (Unbelievers), who are SETTLED in Complacency, who say in Their Heart, ‘The LORD (GOD Almighty) will NOT Do Good, NOR Will He (GOD Almighty) do evil.’  Therefore Their (Unbelievers) Goods shall become booty, and Their (Unbelievers) Houses a Desolation; They (Unbelievers) shall build houses, but NOT inhabit them; They (Unbelievers) shall plant vineyards, but NOT drink their wine.”

The Great Day of The LORD (GOD Almighty) is NEAR; It (The Great Day of The LORD GOD Almighty) is NEAR and HASTENS QUICKLY.  The NOISE of The Day of The LORD (GOD Almighty) is BITTER; there The Mighty Men (Unbelievers) shall CRY OUT.  THAT DAY is a Day of WRATH, a Day of TROUBLE and DISTRESS, a Day of DEVASTATION and DESOLATION, a Day of DARKNESS and GLOOMINESS, a Day of Clouds and Thick Darkness, a Day of TRUMPET and ALARM, AGAINST The Fortified Cities and AGAINST The High Towers.  “I (GOD Almighty) Will Bring DISTRESS upon Men (Unbelievers), and They (Unbelievers) shall walk like Blind Men (Unbelievers), because They (Unbelievers) have sinned AGAINST The LORD (GOD Almighty); Their (Unbelievers) Blood shall be POURED OUT like dust, and Their (Unbelievers) Flesh like REFUSE.”  Neither Their (Unbelievers) silver NOR Their (Unbelievers) gold shall be able to DELIVER Them (Unbelievers) in The Day of The LORD’s (GOD Almighty’s) WRATH; but The Whole Land shall be DEVOURED by The FIRE of His (GOD Almighty’s) Jealousy, for He (GOD Almighty) will MAKE Speedy Riddance of All Those (Unbelievers) who DWELL in The Land.

 

Zephaniah 2:1-15

Gather Yourselves (Believers) Together, yes, Gather Together, O Undesirable Nation, BEFORE The Decree is ISSUED, OR The Day PASSES like chaff, BEFORE The LORD’s FIERCE ANGER Comes Upon YOU (Believers), BEFORE The Day of The LORD’s (GOD Almighty’s) ANGER Comes Upon YOU (Believers)!  SEEK The LORD (GOD Almighty), All YOU (Believers) Meek of The Earth, Who have UPHELD His (GOD Almighty’s) Justice.  SEEK Righteousness, SEEK Humility.  It may be that YOU (Believers) Will BE HIDDEN in The Day of The LORD’s (GOD Almighty’s) ANGER.

For Gaza shall be FORSAKEN, and Ashkelon DESOLATE; They shall DRIVE OUT Ashdod, at Noonday, and Ekron shall be UPROOTED.  WOE to The Inhabitants of The Seacoast, The Nation of The Cherethites!  The WORD of The LORD (GOD Almighty) is AGAINST YOU (Unbelievers), O Canaan, Land of The Philistines: “I (GOD Almighty) Will DESTROY YOU (Unbelievers); so there shall be NO Inhabitant.”  The Seacoast shall be pastures, with shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks.  The Coast shall be for The Remnant (Believers) of The House of Judah; They (Believers) shall feed Their (Believers) Flocks there; in The Houses of Ashkelon, They (Believers) shall lie down at evening.  For The LORD, Their (Believers) GOD (GOD Almighty) Will INTERVENE for Them (Believers), and RETURN Their (Believers) Captives.

“I (GOD Almighty) have HEARD the reproach of Moab, and the insults of The People of Ammon, with which They have reproached My (GOD Almighty’s) People (Believers), and made arrogant threats AGAINST Their (GOD Almighty’s People’s) Borders.  Therefore, as I (GOD Almighty) LIVE,” SAYS The LORD of Hosts, The GOD (GOD Almighty) of Israel, “Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and The People of Ammon like Gomorrah, OVERRUN with weeds and saltpits, and a Perpetual DESOLATION.  The Residue (Believers) of My (GOD Almighty’s) People shall PLUNDER Them, and The Remnant (Believers) of My (GOD Almighty’s) People shall POSSESS Them.”  This They (Unbelievers) shall have for Their (Unbelievers) Pride, because They (Unbelievers) have reproached and made arrogant threats AGAINST The People (Believers) of The LORD (GOD Almighty) of Hosts.  The LORD (GOD Almighty) will be AWESOME to Them (Unbelievers), for He (GOD Almighty) Will REDUCE TO NOTHING All the gods of The Earth; People (Believers) shall WORSHIP Him (GOD Almighty), Each One (Believers) from His (Believers) Place, indeed All The Shores of The Nations.

“YOU (Unbelievers) Ethiopians also, YOU (Unbelievers) shall be SLAIN by My (GOD Almighty’s) Sword.”  And He (GOD Almighty) will STRETCH OUT His (GOD Almighty’s) Hand AGAINST The North, DESTROY Assyria, and make Nineveh a DESOLATION, as dry as the wilderness.  The herds shall lie down in Her (Nineveh’s) Midst, every beast of The Nation.  Both the pelican and the bittern shall lodge on The Capitals of Her (Nineveh’s) Pillars; their voice shall sing in the windows; DESOLATION shall be at The Threshold; for He (GOD Almighty) will LAY BARE the cedar work.  This is The Rejoicing City (Nineveh), that DWELT SECURELY, that said in Her (Nineveh’s) Heart, “I am it, and there is none besides me.”  How has She (Nineveh) become a DESOLATION, a place for beasts to lie down!  Everyone who passes by Her (Nineveh) shall hiss and shake his fist.

 

Zephaniah 3:1-20

WOE to Her (Unbelievers) who is Rebellious and Polluted, to The Oppressing City!  She (Unbelievers) has NOT OBEYED His (GOD Almighty’s) VOICE, She (Unbelievers) has NOT RECEIVED CORRECTION; She (Unbelievers) has NOT TRUSTED in The LORD (GOD Almighty), She (Unbelievers) has NOT DRAWN NEAR to Her (Unbelievers) GOD (GOD Almighty).  Her Princes (Unbelievers) in Her (Unbelievers) midst, are roaring lions; Her Judges (Unbelievers) are evening wolves, that leave NOT a bone till morning.  Her Prophets (Unbelievers) are Insolent, Treacherous People (Unbelievers); Her Priests (Unbelievers) have POLLUTED The Sanctuary, They (Unbelievers) have DONE VIOLENCE to The Law.  The LORD (GOD Almighty) is RIGHTEOUS in Her Midst, He (GOD Almighty) will do NO unrighteousness.  Every morning, He (GOD Almighty) BRINGS His (GOD Almighty’s) Justice to LIGHT; He (GOD Almighty) NEVER FAILS, but The Unjust (Unbelievers) knows NO shame.  “I (GOD Almighty) have CUT OFF Nations, Their (Unbelievers) Fortresses are DEVASTATED; I (GOD Almighty) have MADE Their (Unbelievers) Streets DESOLATE, with NONE passing by.  Their (Unbelievers) Cities are DESTROYED; there is NO ONE, NO inhabitant.  I (GOD Almighty) SAID, ‘Surely YOU (Unbelievers) Will FEAR Me (GOD Almighty), YOU (Unbelievers) Will RECEIVE INSTRUCTION, so that Her Dwelling would NOT be CUT OFF, despite everything, for which I (GOD Almighty) PUNISHED Her.  But They (Unbelievers) rose early and CORRUPTED All Their (Unbelievers) Deeds.

 

“Therefore WAIT for Me (GOD Almighty),” SAYS The LORD (GOD Almighty), “Until The Day I (GOD Almighty) RISE UP For PLUNDER; My (GOD Almighty) DETERMINATION is to Gather The Nations (Unbelievers) to My (GOD Almighty’s) Assembly of Kingdoms, to POUR on Them (Unbelievers) My (GOD Almighty’s) INDIGNATION, All My (GOD Almighty’s) FIERCE ANGER; All The Earth shall be DEVOURED with The FIRE of My (GOD Almighty’s) Jealousy.  “For then, I (GOD Almighty) will RESTORE to The Peoples (Believers) a PURE LANGUAGE, that They (Believers) All may Call on The Name of The LORD (GOD Almighty), to SERVE Him (GOD Almighty) with One Accord.  From beyond The Rivers of Ethiopia, My (GOD Almighty’s) Worshipers (Believers), The Daughter (Believers) of My (GOD Almighty’s) Dispersed Ones (Believers), shall bring My (GOD Almighty’s) Offering (Believers).  In THAT DAY, YOU (Believers) shall NOT be shamed for any of Your (Believers) Deeds, in which YOU (Believers) TRANSGRESS AGAINST Me (GOD Almighty); for then, I (GOD Almighty) Will TAKE AWAY from Your (Believers) Midst, Those who REJOICE in Your (Believers) Pride, and YOU (Believers) shall NO longer be haughty in My (GOD Almighty’s) Holy Mountain.  I (GOD Almighty) Will LEAVE in Your (Believers) Midst a Meek and Humble People (Believers), and They (Believers) shall TRUST in The Name of The LORD (GOD Almighty).  The Remnant (Believers) of Israel, shall do NO unrighteousness and speak NO lies, NOR shall a deceitful tongue be found in Their (Believers) Mouth; for They (Believers) shall feed Their (Believers) Flocks and lie down, and NO ONE shall make Them (Believers) afraid.”

Sing, O Daughter of Zion!  Shout, O Israel!  Be Glad and Rejoice with All Your Heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!  The LORD (Jesus Christ) has TAKEN AWAY Your (Believers) Judgments, He (Jesus Christ) has CAST OUT Your (Believers) Enemy.  The King of Israel (Jesus Christ), The LORD (Jesus Christ), is in Your (Believers) Midst; YOU (Believers) shall see disaster NO more.  In THAT DAY, it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do NOT fear; Zion, let NOT Your (Believers) Hands be weak.  The LORD (Jesus Christ), Your (Believers) GOD (GOD Almighty) in Your (Believers) Midst, The Mighty One (Jesus Christ), Will SAVE; He (Jesus Christ) Will REJOICE Over YOU (Believers) with Gladness, He (Jesus Christ) Will QUIET YOU (Believers) with His (Jesus Christ’s) LOVE, He (Jesus Christ) Will REJOICE Over YOU (Believers) with Singing.”  “I (GOD Almighty) Will GATHER, Those (Believers) who SORROW Over The Appointed Assembly, Who are AMONG YOU (Believers), to Whom its REPROACH is a burden.  Behold, at THAT TIME, I (GOD Almighty) Will DEAL with All who AFFLICT YOU (Believers); I (GOD Almighty) Will SAVE The Lame (Believers), and GATHER Those (Believers) Who were DRIVEN OUT; I (GOD Almighty) Will APPOINT Them (Believers) for Praise and Fame in EVERY LAND, where They (Believers0 were put to shame.  At THAT TIME, I (GOD Almighty) Will BRING YOU (Believers) BACK, even at The Time, I (GOD Almighty) GATHER YOU (Believers); for I (GOD Almighty) Will GIVE YOU (Believers) Fame and Praise, AMONG All The Peoples of The Earth, when I (GOD Almighty) RETURN Your Captives BEFORE Your Eyes,” SAYS The LORD (GOD Almighty).

Fellow Believers may These Words (below), Zephaniah Shared, Give YOU (Believers) Hope.

Zephaniah 2:3

“It may be, that YOU (Believers) Will BE HIDDEN, in The Day of The LORD’s (GOD Almighty’s) ANGER.”

So YOU May Be Prepared, Persecutions Are Coming

Matthew 5:14, 16

Then He (Jesus Christ) opened His (Jesus Christ’s) Mouth and TAUGHT Them (Believers), SAYING: “YOU (Believers) are The LIGHT of The World.  Let Your (Believers) LIGHT so SHINE before Men, that They (Men) may SEE Your (Believers) Good Works, and GLORIFY Your (Believers) Father (GOD Almighty) in Heaven.”

Matthew 10:32-33

“Therefore Whoever (Believers) CONFESSES Me (Jesus Christ), BEFORE Men, Him (Believers), I (Jesus Christ) will also CONFESS, BEFORE My (Jesus Christ’s) Father (GOD Almighty), Who is in Heaven.  But whoever (Unbelievers) DENIES Me (Jesus Christ), BEFORE Men, him (Unbelievers), I (Jesus Christ) will also DENY, BEFORE My (Jesus Christ’s) Father (GOD Almighty), Who is in Heaven.”

Luke 12:8-9

 “Also, I (Jesus Christ) SAY to YOU, Whoever (Believers) CONFESSES Me (Jesus Christ), BEFORE Men, Him (Believers), The Son of Man (Jesus Christ) also will CONFESS, BEFORE The Angels of GOD (GOD Almighty).  But, he (Unbelievers) who DENIES Me (Jesus Christ), BEFORE Men, will be DENIED, BEFORE The Angels of GOD (GOD Almighty).”

Acts 13:47

“For so The LORD (Jesus Christ) has COMMANDED Us (Believers): ‘I (Jesus Christ) have SET YOU (Believers), as a LIGHT to The Gentiles, that YOU (Believers) should be for Salvation, to The Ends of The Earth.’”

Matthew 5:10-12, 43-45a

Then He (Jesus Christ) Opened His (Jesus Christ’s) Mouth and TAUGHT Them (Believers), SAYING: “BLESSED are Those (Believers) who are PERSECUTED for Righteousness’ Sake, for Theirs (Believers) is The Kingdom of Heaven.  BLESSED are YOU (Believers), when They (Unbelievers) REVILE and PERSECUTE YOU (Believers), and say all kinds of evil AGAINST YOU (Believers), FALSELY, for My (Jesus Christ’s) Sake.  REJOICE and BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD, for GREAT is Your (Believers) REWARD in Heaven, for so They (Unbelievers) PERSECUTED The Prophets, who were BEFORE YOU (Believers).”

“YOU (Believers) have HEARD that it was said, ‘YOU (Believers) shall LOVE Your Neighbor and HATE Your Enemy.’  But I (Jesus Christ) SAY to YOU (Believers), LOVE Your (Believers) Enemies, BLESS those (Unbelievers) who CURSE YOU (Believers), DO GOOD to those (Unbelievers) who HATE YOU, and PRAY for those (Unbelievers) who SPITEFULLY USE YOU (Believers) and PERSECUTE YOU (Believers), that YOU (Believers) may be SONS (Children) of Your (Believers) Father (GOD Almighty) in Heaven.”

Matthew 10:16-23, 26

“Behold, I (Jesus Christ) SEND YOU (Believers) OUT as SHEEP in The Midst of Wolves (Unbelievers). Therefore, be WISE as serpents and HARMLESS as Doves (symbol of The Holy Spirit).  But BEWARE of Men (Unbelievers), for They (Unbelievers) will DELIVER YOU (Believers) UP to Councils and SCOURGE YOU (Believers) in Their (Unbelievers) Synagogues.  YOU (Believers) will be BROUGHT before Governors and Kings for My (Jesus Christ’s) Sake, as a TESTIMONY to Them (Unbelievers) and to The Gentiles (Yet-To-Be-Believers).  But when They (Unbelievers) DELIVER YOU (Believers) UP, do NOT worry, about how or what YOU (Believers) should Speak.  For it (The Words) will be GIVEN TO YOU (Believers), in THAT HOUR, what YOU (Believers) should Speak; for it is NOT YOU (Believers) Who Speak, but The Spirit of (The Holy Spirit) Your (Believers) Father (GOD Almighty), Who SPEAKS in YOU (Believers).”

“Now Brother (Unbelievers) will DELIVER UP Brother (Believers) to Death, and a Father (Unbelievers), His (Unbelievers) Child (Believers); and Children (Unbelievers) will RISE UP AGAINST Parents (Believers) and CAUSE Them (Parents/Believers) to be PUT TO DEATH.  And YOU (Believers) will be HATED by All, for My (Jesus Christ’s) Name’s Sake.  But He (Believers), Who ENDURES to The End will be SAVED.  When They (Unbelievers) PERSECUTE YOU (Believers) in this City, FLEE to another (City).  For ASSUREDLY, I (Jesus Christ) SAY to YOU (Believers), YOU (Believers) will NOT have gone through The Cities of Israel, BEFORE The Son of Man (Jesus Christ) COMES.  Therefore, do NOT fear Them (Unbelievers).  For there is NOTHING Covered, that will NOT be REVEALED, and Hidden, that will NOT be KNOWN.”

Mark 13:9, 11-13

And Jesus (Jesus Christ) began to SAY: “But WATCH OUT for YOURSELVES (Believers), for They (Unbelievers) will DELIVER YOU (Believers) UP to Councils, and YOU (Believers) will be BEATEN in The Synagogues.  YOU (Believers) will be BROUGHT before Rulers and Kings for My (Jesus Christ’s) Sake, for a TESTIMONY to Them (Unbelievers).  But when They (Unbelievers) ARREST YOU (Believers) and DELIVER YOU (Believers) UP, do NOT worry, beforehand, or PREMEDITATE, what YOU (Believers) will Speak.  But WHATEVER is GIVEN YOU (Believers), in THAT HOUR, SPEAK THAT; for it is NOT YOU (Believers) Who Speak, but The Holy Spirit.  Now, Brother (Unbelievers) will BETRAY Brother (Believers) to Death, and a Father (Unbelievers), His (Unbelievers) Child (Believers); and Children (Unbelievers) will RISE UP AGAINST Parents (Believers) and CAUSE Them (Parents/Believers) to be PUT TO DEATH.  And YOU (Believers) will be HATED by All, for My (Jesus Christ’s) Name’s Sake.  But He (Believers), Who ENDURES to The End shall be SAVED.

Luke 21:12-19

And He (Jesus Christ) SAID: “But BEFORE All These Things, They (Unbelievers) will LAY Their (Unbelievers) Hands on YOU (Believers) and PERSECUTE YOU (Believers), DELIVERING YOU (Believers) UP to The Synagogues and Prisons.  YOU will be BROUGHT before Kings and Rulers for My (Jesus Christ’s) Name’s Sake.  But it will TURN OUT for YOU (Believers), as an OCCASION FOR TESTIMONY.  Therefore, SETTLE it in Your (Believers) Hearts, NOT to MEDITATE Beforehand, on what YOU (Believers) will ANSWER; for I (Jesus Christ) will GIVE YOU (Believers) a MOUTH and WISDOM, which All Your (Believers) Adversaries (Unbelievers), will NOT be able to CONTRADICT OR RESIST.  YOU (Believers) will be BETRAYED, even by Parents (Unbelievers) and Brothers (Unbelievers), Relatives (Unbelievers) and Friends (Unbelievers); and They (Unbelievers) will PUT Some of YOU (Believers) to DEATH.  And YOU (Believers) will be HATED by All, for My (Jesus Christ’s) Name’s Sake.  But NOT a Hair of Your (Believers) Head shall be LOST.  By Your (Believers) Patience, POSSESS Your (Believers) Souls.

2 Timothy 3:12, 16-17

Yes, and All (Believers) Who DESIRE to LIVE GODLY in Christ Jesus, WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.  All Scripture is GIVEN BY INSPIRATION of GOD (GOD Almighty), and is Profitable FOR Doctrine, FOR Reproof, FOR Correction, FOR Instruction in Righteousness, that The Man (Believers) of GOD (GOD Almighty) may be COMPLETE, THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED for EVERY Good Work.

Revelation 3:7b-13

“These Things SAYS He (Jesus Christ), Who is HOLY, He (Jesus Christ), Who is TRUE, He (Jesus Christ), Who has The Key of David, He (Jesus Christ), Who OPENS and NO ONE SHUTS, and SHUTS and NO ONE OPENS”: “I KNOW Your (Believers) Works.  See, I (Jesus Christ) have SET Before YOU (Believers) an OPEN DOOR, and NO ONE can shut it (The Open Door); for YOU (Believers) have a little strength, have KEPT My (Jesus Christ’s) WORD (The Gospel of Jesus Christ), and have NOT Denied My (Jesus Christ’s) Name.  Indeed, I (Jesus Christ) will MAKE Those (Unbelievers) of The Synagogue of Satan, who say They (Unbelievers) are Jews and are NOT, but LIE, indeed, I (Jesus Christ) will MAKE Them (Unbelievers) COME and WORSHIP before Your (Believers) Feet, and to KNOW that I (Jesus Christ) have LOVED YOU (Believers).  Because YOU (Believers) have KEPT My (Jesus Christ’s) Command to PERSEVERE, I (Jesus Christ) also will KEEP YOU (Believers), from THE HOUR OF TRIAL, which shall COME Upon The Whole World, to TEST Those (Unbelievers) who DWELL on The Earth.  Behold, I (Jesus Christ) AM COMING QUICKLY!  HOLD FAST what YOU (Believers) have, that NO ONE May TAKE Your (Believers) Crown.  He (Believers) Who OVERCOMES, I (Jesus Christ) will MAKE Him (Believers), a PILLAR in The TEMPLE of My (Jesus Christ’s) GOD (GOD Almighty), and He (Believers) shall GO OUT, NO more.  I (Jesus Christ) will WRITE on Him (Believers), The NAME of My (Jesus Christ’s) GOD (GOD Almighty) and The NAME of The City of My (Jesus Christ’s) GOD (GOD Almighty), The New Jerusalem, which COMES DOWN OUT of Heaven, from My (Jesus Christ’s) GOD (GOD Almighty).  And I (Jesus Christ) will WRITE on Him (Believers), My (Jesus Christ’s) NEW NAME.  “He (Believers) who has an ear, let Him (Believers) HEAR, what The Spirit SAYS to The Churches.”

Fellow Believers, I Share These Scriptures with YOU (Believers), NOT to SCARE YOU (Believers), well maybe, but more so, to PREPARE YOU (Believers).  Think about this, almost All of GOD Almighty’s Prophets were PERSECUTED and KILLED, Our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ, was PERSECUTED and KILLED, and many of Jesus Christ’s Disciples and Followers were PERSECUTED and KILLED, AHEAD of Us (Believers).  2 Timothy 3:12 states: “Yes, and All (Believers) Who DESIRE to LIVE GODLY in Christ Jesus, WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.”

So that YOU (Believers) may be PREPARED, may I make YOU (Believers) AWARE of a few things.  First of all, Admitting YOU (Believers) are a Christian (Believer in The Gospel of Jesus Christ) could COST YOU (Believers), Your (Believers) LIFE (BEING PUT TO DEATH).  Admitting YOU (Believers) are a Christian could COST YOU (Believers), Your (Believers) FREEDOM.  Admitting YOU (Believers) are a Christian could COST YOU (Believers), Your (Believers) ESSENTIALS (Water, Food, Shelter, etc.).  Admitting YOU (Believers) are a Christian could COST YOU (Believers), Your (Believers) LIVELIHOOD.  Admitting YOU (Believers) are a Christian could COST YOU (Believers), All Your (Believers) POSSESSIONS.  Admitting YOU (Believers) are a Christian could COST YOU (Believers), Your (Believers) Family and Your (Believers) Friends.  Admitting YOU (Believers) are a Christian could COST YOU (Believers), EVERYTHING in THIS World!

Now, remember Jesus Christ’s Own WORDS, “REJOICE and BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD, for GREAT is Your (Believers) REWARD in Heaven!”

Are YOU Jesus Christ’s LIGHT Upon The World

Matthew 5:14, 16

Then He (Jesus Christ) opened His (Jesus Christ’s) Mouth and taught them, SAYING: “YOU (Believers) are The LIGHT of The World.  Let Your (Believers) LIGHT so SHINE before men, that they (men) may SEE Your (Believers) Good Works, and GLORIFY Your (Believers) Father (GOD Almighty) in Heaven.”

Matthew 10:32-33

“Therefore whoever (Believers) CONFESSES Me (Jesus Christ), BEFORE Men, Him (Believers), I (Jesus Christ) will also CONFESS, BEFORE My (Jesus Christ’s) Father (GOD Almighty), who is in Heaven.  But whoever (Unbelievers) DENIES Me (Jesus Christ), BEFORE Men, him (Unbelievers), I (Jesus Christ) will also DENY, BEFORE My (Jesus Christ’s) Father (GOD Almighty), who is in Heaven.”

Luke 12:8-9

 “Also, I (Jesus Christ) SAY to YOU, whoever (Believers) CONFESSES Me (Jesus Christ), BEFORE Men, Him (Believers), The Son of Man (Jesus Christ) also will CONFESS, BEFORE The Angels of GOD (GOD Almighty).  But, he (Unbelievers) who DENIES Me (Jesus Christ), BEFORE Men, will be DENIED, BEFORE The Angels of GOD (GOD Almighty).”

Acts 13:47

“For so The LORD (Jesus Christ) has COMMANDED Us (Believers): ‘I (Jesus Christ) have SET YOU (Believers), as a LIGHT to The Gentiles, that YOU (Believers) should be for Salvation, to The Ends of The Earth.’”

2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Therefore, since We (Believers) have This Ministry (The Gospel of Jesus Christ), as We (Believers) have RECEIVED Mercy, We (Believers) do NOT lose heart.  But We (Believers) have RENOUNCED the hidden things of shame, NOT walking in craftiness NOR handling The WORD (The Holy Bible) of GOD (GOD Almighty) deceitfully, but by Manifestation of The Truth (The Gospel of Jesus Christ), Commending Ourselves (Believers) to EVERY Man’s Conscience in The SIGHT of GOD (GOD Almighty).  But even IF Our (Believers) Gospel (The Gospel of Jesus Christ) is VEILED, It (The Gospel of Jesus Christ) is VEILED to those (Unbelievers) who are PERISHING, whose (Unbelievers) minds, the god (Satan) of this age, has BLINDED, who do NOT believe, lest The LIGHT of The Gospel of The GLORY of Christ (Jesus Christ), Who IS The Image of GOD (GOD Almighty), should SHINE on them (Unbelievers).  For We (Believers) do NOT Preach, Ourselves (Believers), but Christ Jesus, The LORD, and Ourselves (Believers), Your (Believers) Bondservants for Jesus’ (Jesus Christ’s) Sake.  For it is The GOD (GOD Almighty), Who COMMANDED LIGHT TO SHINE, out of darkness, Who has SHONE in Our (Believers) Hearts to GIVE The LIGHT of The Knowledge of The GLORY of GOD (GOD Almighty), in The Face of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:9-18

We (Believers) do NOT Cease to PRAY for YOU (Believers), and to ASK that YOU (Believers) may be FILLED with The Knowledge of His (Jesus Christ’s) Will, in All Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding; that YOU (Believers) may WALK WORTHY of The LORD (Jesus Christ), Fully Pleasing Him (Jesus Christ), being Fruitful in Every Good Work and increasing in The Knowledge of GOD (GOD Almighty); STRENGTHENED with ALL MIGHT, according to His (Jesus Christ’s) Glorious Power, for All Patience and Longsuffering with Joy; Giving Thanks to The Father (GOD Almighty), who has QUALIFIED Us (Believers) to be PARTAKERS of The Inheritance of The Saints (Believers) in The LIGHT.  He (Jesus Christ) has DELIVERED Us (Believers) from the power of darkness and CONVEYED Us (Believers) into The Kingdom of The Son (Jesus Christ) of His (GOD Almighty’s) LOVE, in whom We (Believers) have REDEMPTION, through His (Jesus Christ’s) Blood, The Forgiveness of Sins.  He (Jesus Christ) IS The IMAGE of The Invisible GOD (GOD Almighty), The Firstborn OVER All Creation.  For BY Him (Jesus Christ) ALL THINGS were CREATED that are in Heaven and that are on Earth, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE, whether Thrones OR Dominions OR Principalities OR Powers.  ALL THINGS were Created THROUGH Him (Jesus Christ) and FOR Him (Jesus Christ).  And He (Jesus Christ) is BEFORE All Things, and in Him (Jesus Christ), ALL THINGS Consist.  And He (Jesus Christ) IS The HEAD of The Body, The Church, who is The Beginning, The Firstborn from The Dead, that in All Things, He (Jesus Christ) may have The Preeminence.

So, what does it mean, to be Jesus Christ’s LIGHT upon The World?

Well, first and foremost, it means, We (Believers) are Children of GOD Almighty, and GOD Almighty IS Our (Believers) First Priority.  Meaning, We (Believers) SERVE GOD Almighty and Jesus Christ, through The Holy Spirit, by Sharing The Gospel of Jesus Christ with EVERYONE.  GOD Almighty’s WORD, The Holy Bible (GOD Almighty Breathed AND GOD Almighty Inspired), is Our (Believers) Textbook, Guidebook, Reference Book, History Book, Prayer Book, Study Guide, Daily Devotional Book, and so much more.  When We (Believers) read the words in The Holy Bible, We (Believers) learn things GOD Almighty wants Us (Believers) to KNOW, but also, as We (Believers) are reading the words in The Holy Bible, GOD Almighty, Himself, SPEAKS to Our (Believers) Hearts REVEALING even more things, He (GOD Almighty) wants Us (Believers) to KNOW.  Sometimes, the things GOD Almighty REVEALS to Us (Believers), while reading and studying The Holy Bible, is MEANT for Us (Believers), individually, but other times, what GOD Almighty REVEALS to Us (Believers), while reading and studying The Holy Bible, is MEANT for Us (Believers) to learn, know, and share with others.

We (Believers) spend time communing with GOD Almighty and Jesus Christ, through PRAYER.  Our (Believers) time spent in prayer is precious, not only to Us (Believers), but also to GOD Almighty.  Our (Believers) One-on-One Time with GOD Almighty is Our (Believers) DIRECT Communication with The Creator of EVERYTHING.  Our (Believers) chance to confess Our (Believers) sin and ask for Forgiveness (which by GOD Almighty’s WORD, He both Forgives and Forgets), but also to pray for guidance, to reveal Our (Believers) concerns, hopes, desires, and dreams, to ask for healing (physically, mentally, emotionally, and Spiritually), to ask for The WORDS to say to others, and so much more.  Our (Believers) time spent in prayer is more importantly, GOD Almighty’s OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK Directly to Us (Believers).

We (Believers) want EVERYONE to KNOW GOD Almighty’s Unconditional LOVE.  We (Believers) want EVERYONE to KNOW Jesus Christ’s Unconditional LOVE.  We (Believers) are COMMANDED by Our (Believers) LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ, to Share The Gospel of Jesus Christ, by telling others about GOD Almighty’s Amazing Saving Grace THROUGH GOD Almighty’s Free Gift of Salvation.  We (Believers) REVEAL GOD Almighty’s Free Gift of Salvation, THROUGH Jesus Christ’s Mortal Life on Earth, His (Jesus Christ’s) Death upon The Cross (His Crucifixion), GOD Almighty RAISING Jesus Christ, ALIVE, from The Grave (His Resurrection), and finally, His (Jesus Christ’s) Ascending, ALIVE, into Heaven (His Ascension).

We (Believers) want others to understand, that GOD Almighty wants a Personal Relationship with them (specifically), and that Jesus Christ wants a Personal Relationship with them (specifically), through The Holy Spirit.  We (Believers) want others to understand, what GOD Almighty, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit, expect from each and every single one of Us, especially GOD Almighty’s Children (Believers).

We (Believers) want others to understand, that GOD Almighty wants them (specifically) to be in GOD Almighty’s Immediate Presence, with Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, GOD Almighty’s Holy Angels, and All The Rest of The Children (Believers) of GOD Almighty, for Eternity, Forever.

When We (Believers) talk about GOD Almighty, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Holy Bible, GOD Almighty’s Amazing Saving Grace, GOD Almighty’s Free Gift of Salvation, and being in GOD Almighty’s Immediate Presence, Forever, We (Believers) want Jesus Christ to SHINE so brightly within Us (Believers), that People SEE Jesus Christ, instead of Us (Believers).  Amen.