The book of Revelation unveils Jesus Christ in glory. The apostle John wrote this letter to the churches in Asia Minor who were feeling the overwhelming effects of persecution from all sides. This book was a reminder to them that God saw their hardships, cared about them, and would reward them for their faithfulness.

Through the use of vivid imagery, John writes Revelation to reveal the end of human history, the return of Christ, and the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth. John's message of hope in Revelation assures Christians that God is in sovereign control of all past,...

In the face of false teachings about Jesus, the apostle John took a direct approach. "I heard Jesus speak," he wrote. "I saw him . . . I even touched him." Just as we would write about someone we knew and loved, John told the early believers the truth about the Savior. But he didn't let them off the hook without an examination of their lives. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us" (1 John 1:9).

John was not alone in his concern about the influence of false teachers in the early church. Jude, a half-brother of Christ, also wrote to...

Believers in the early church scattered across the Roman Empire were facing the threat of increased persecution. Peter, the most outspoken of the disciples and leader among the apostles, wrote two practical and encouraging letters to strengthen the hearts of these followers of Christ. Through words of hope and wisdom, he taught them how to live victoriously in the midst of life-threatening trials.

In the first letter, Peter reminds believers of the many blessings available to them because of their persecution. In the second letter, he warns them to discern and defeat the false...

The apostle James, the oldest half-brother of Jesus, was a key leader in the Jerusalem church. During the early days of the young church, the Jewish believers had been scattered by persecution. Out of compassion, James wrote this epistle to confront them and motivate them to test the quality and consistency of their faith.

In this short and powerful book, James gives us practical guidance on issues that also measure our true and living faith and our spiritual fruitfulness. He encourages us to "be doers of the word, and not hearers only," to "draw near to God," and "to be patient . ....

The early Jewish believers had come from a background of legalism and works. When God came to earth in human flesh as the New Covenant, these believers discovered the freedom they could have in Jesus and the relationship they could enjoy with Him. Yet in the midst of persecution and rejection, they were often tempted to hold on to the former symbols, rituals, and traditions grounded in the requirements of the Old Covenant.

The unknown author of Hebrews sought to address this problem by contrasting the Old and New Covenants, brilliantly showing that Christ is higher than any Old...

Timothy was a close associate of Paul who was facing problems within the church that he was leading in Ephesus. In these personal letters, Paul gives practical pastoral instruction to his protege, highlighting godliness and holy living to help Timothy fulfill his calling and effectively carry out his important tasks in the church. "Let no one despise your youth," Paul encouraged, "but be an example to believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).

Paul's gentle encouragement in these letters challenges Timothy to persevere in his faith--a...

Like a tender shepherd, Paul wrote the letters of 1 & 2 Thessalonians to the church he founded in Thessalonica, a huge city in Macedonia. These were friends he knew, loved, and missed. His purpose in writing was to thank them for their work of faith, their labor of love, and their continued hope in the Lord Jesus Christ . . . and His coming again. Paul was also eager to remind them of the example their faithfulness had been to those around them.

Similarly, Paul's letter to Titus--a young pastor in Crete--is filled with personal affirmation, counsel, and guidance on how to prepare...

The people of Israel were carried away to Babylon, where they lived as exiles and outcasts. God sent this judgment on His people because of their continued unfaithfulness to His word--but the day came when He called them to return to Jerusalem. However, when they arrived there, they discovered things had dramatically changed for the worse. The Temple was destroyed, the city walls were torn down, and the land had been taken over by people who did not want them back. There was work to be done, and it was not going to be easy.

In this study, John MacArthur guides readers through an...

Many of God's people through the ages have been called to endure times of hardship, loneliness, and suffering. Some, such as Daniel and Esther, were even members of a race carried away to a foreign land that had never heard of the God of Israel. Their lives were not easy, but even in the midst of trials, these men and women discovered that God was with them--and that He was actively leading the events in their lives.

In this study, John MacArthur guides readers through an in-depth look at the historical period of Israel's exile beginning with the prophet Daniel being carried off to...

During the time of the divided kingdom, both the nation of Israel in the north and Judah in the south witnessed great miracles and great failures as their kings vacillated between serving God and following pagan practices. As God led the people through prophets such as Elisha--miraculously curing one man of leprosy and raising another back to life--the clock on the nation's self-rule began to tick down. For to the east, the powerful kingdom of Assyria was threatening to conquer all the people in the land of Canaan. It was a time of decision: would God's people serve Him or divide their...