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In Job 20 Zophar advances his second round of argumentation. He contends, that the wicked always suffer; and since you, Job, are suffering it follows that you must be wicked. The arguments are going round in circles and getting nowhere. Job, says Zophar, you insult our understanding. From the time of Creation, he says, it has been evident that the wicked have always suffered. They're scorning for the ways of the LORD is but momentary. And the wealth that the scorners have accumulated is merely laid in store for the just. How exotic and colourful is the language that Zophar uses. The Almighty will swiftly bring retribution upon the hypocrites is his contention. Zophar was correct in stating that the time will come when the LORD punishes the hypocrites. But he was totally wrong as to the timing of the recompense.
Our Sovereign is patient and not willing that any should perish. God is patient in the hope that people will respond, consider 2 Peter 3verses8-9; 1 Timothy 2verses3-7.
Zephaniah's theme is expressed in chapter 2verses3. The message is timeless and comes to us today with as much power and compulsion as it did in the prophet's day. Slowly read aloud, pause and ponder. Verses 4-5 deal with the judgments that would befall Judah's southern neighbours when the Babylonian invasion would soon overtake God's people. However, verses 6 and 7 tell of a coming time of peace and restoration. The 9th to 11th verses speak of the taunts of the Moabites and Ammonites and Yahweh's determined response. Verse 12 speaks of wrath falling on the Cushites of Northern Africa (including the Egyptians). Then finally the Almighty will bring judgment on the oppressing power of the Assyrian (Nineveh) told of in verses 13-16. It would become a waste, a desolate howling wilderness inhabited by wild beasts and birds of prey. The pride of the Chaldeans would be brought low by the LORD God omnipotent. Let us seek the LORD our God with all our heart so that it will be our Father's good pleasure to give the kingdom to His childrenverses see Matthew 25verses34-40.

The first of John's 3 letters was written between 85-98 AD by the aged and much beloved Apostle. He was one of the Lord's special 3 - Peter, James and John - who were selected by Jesus from among the 12 to witness select events and miracles. Together with his brother James, they were both fishermen and partners of Peter and Andrew in the fishing business. Their father Zebedee and his wife Salome appear to have owned the Galilean business. Salome seems to have been Mary's sister, making the two Apostles first cousins of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter and John were paired by the Lord Jesus for various tasks
 
including preaching. Peter may well have been the oldest of the Apostles and John the youngest. Peter died first as was prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ around 67 AD; while John died up to 40, or more years after that time (see John 21verses20-24). There are many internal evidence to the fact that the epistles of John and the book of Revelation were written towards the end of the first century AD (Revelation being the last writing of the New Testament; written after John's exile to the island of Patmos in 96 AD under the Emperor Trajan). John describes himself in each of the three letters as, "the Elder".

The vitally important themes of chapter 1 describe God's terms for forgiving usverses
1. Confession and repentance
2. Being in Christ by baptism - the blood of Christ cleanses us
3. Also teaching us about "propitiation" - Rom 3verses Greek word is hilasterion, which is translated as "mercy seat" in the book of Hebrews and it means 'chair, THRONE; MEETING PLACE' Romans 3 tells us that God is enthroned in Jesus Christ and for this reason he is the ONLY place where God will meet with men.
Verses 1-4 of chapter 1 speaks of what we heard from the beginning. Which beginning, we ask? The gospel of John tells us, 1verses1 "In the beginning". This was t