God has given us one book that can change the entire direction of our lives, the Bible.

And in this study, journeying through scriptures, we will take a brief big-picture look at every book of the Bible, tracing God's unfolding story

from Genesis to Revelation. Our prayer is that this journey will stir your heart to open God's

word daily. Let's join Scott Pauli for today's study.

In our beloved country, we know very little about real persecution.

And yet, around the world, at this very present hour, there are believers who are

suffering and even dying for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now that's nothing new.

As a matter of fact, persecution has always been connected with the gospel. And we've come now

to two books near the end of our New Testament that are written to persecuted believers.

Hebrew Christians, Jews, who had been dispersed because of persecution. And Peter

is the one writing to both of them in these letters known as First and Second Peter. Now,

one of the things that these two letters have in common is that they are in time books. They deal

of how to live in light of the soon return of Jesus Christ.

I believe this.

I believe the near we get to the return of Christ,

the more persecution believers are going to face.

Just expect it.

Don't be surprised at it.

And yet God, don't you love this,

God has given us two beautiful books in the New Testament

that explain to us how to live in victory in the midst of persecution.

Now they're written by the Apostle Peter and Peter knew something about persecution.

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