Come near Me and listen to this: "From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there." And now the Sovereign Lord has sent Me, with His Spirit . . ."

   "Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," declares the Lord.

   "And many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you . . ."

   In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us through His Son. He is the One through Whom God created the universe, the One Whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. He shines with the brightness of God's glory; He is the exact likeness of God's own being, and sustains the universe with His powerful Word. After He had made men clean from their sins, He sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.

   And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness: He Who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, beheld by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

   The message given by the angels was shown to be true, and anyone who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment he deserved. How, then, shall we escape if we pay no attention to such a great salvation? The Lord Himself first announced this salvation, and those who heard Him proved to us that it is true. At the same time God added His witness to theirs by doing signs of power, wonders, and many kinds of miracles. He also distributed the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His will.

   And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit . . .

   May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

Taken from Is. 48, Zec. 2, Heb. 1, I Tim. 3, Heb. 2, II Cor. 13, The New International
Version, New American Standard and Today's English Version. For free Lifescope book,
write to Box 1575, Carlsbad, NM 88221. Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.