What is God’s time in relation to man’s?

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.

The Lord declares for you to be strong, Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua, son of Jehozadek. He says for all the people of the land to be strong. Work [at building the temple] for I am with you, according to the covenant [Mosaic] made together when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst so fear nothing. For the Lord declares: Yet once more in a little while I will shake the heavens and all the earth.

Haggai is prophesying to those who returned to the land from Babylonian captivity. Released by Cyrus the Great of Persia, they returned to their home [promised] land and had to rebuild their lives. Haggai [and Zechariah his contemporary] encouraged them in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem – sometimes referred to by historians as “Zerubbabel’s temple” (verses “Solomon’s” prior and “Herod’s” later in the first century).

God’s statements here are in a response to their specific underwhelmed reaction to the temple not being like “its former glory” (vs 3). Verse 6 of this passage is applied by the inspired writer of Hebrews to the second coming/final judgment of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 12:25-29). Specifically, in Hebrews the writer contrasts the Christian’s place in the unshakable, spiritual kingdom of God with the second coming of Christ and the literal “removal of things that can be shaken.”

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Remember that to God one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day.

Peter’s letters have been of encouragement to the saints to remain strong during persecution and false prophets (vs 1). God has not forgotten them or His promises (vs 9); the “day of the Lord” will come as a “thief in the night” (vs 10).

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

Blessed be Israel’s God, for He has visited His people in order to purchase them back. He’s raised up a horn of salvation for us through the house of David, His servant, just as He spoke about through His prophets of old,

Zechariah’s prophecy from God that was spoken when his mouth was finally opened after the birth of his son, John the Baptist. The prophecy describes John the Baptist and his mission as well as his cousin Jesus and what He would do.

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

Don’t throw away your assurance and its great reward. You need to endure and continue to do the will of God in order to receive what (He) has promised. Remember what God has said through the prophets: the coming one will come in a little while without delay; His righteous one will live by faith, but if he shrinks back God has no pleasure in him.

The Hebrews writer is beginning the conclusion of his letter imploring the Jewish Christians to remain faithful and not forget all of the “better” things they have in Christ. A Christian continuing to sin willfully is further described as “one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace” (vs 29). The writer appears to be quoting from Habakkuk 2:3-4.

The preceding verses recall their former endurance (vss 32-34); the following verse contrasts shrinking back with faith (vs 39).

And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

God will certainly give justice to His elect who are crying to Him day and night. He will not delay with them, and will quickly give them justice. But really, when the Son of Man comes, who will He find faithful?

Jesus shares a parable (only in Luke) for the purpose of teaching them to pray without losing heart (vs 1). It’s about a worldly and profane judge (vs 2) and a widow seeking justice for her adversary (vs 3). He repeatedly refused to give her justice, until finally, due to her continued persistence, he relents (vs 5). Jesus’ point is that God, being righteous, would hear even more the continued pleas from His elect.

And the Lord answered me: ‘Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

God told Habakkuk to record the vision so that everyone can be warned who reads it. While the vision has not yet reached its preordained time, it will quickly come and not be compromised. If it seems to not be happening, just wait, it will surely happen, and in fact, is in no way delayed.

The book records a conversation between Habakkuk and God. The prophet first questions why God is tolerating the sin of Judah (1:2-4). After God responds (1:5-11) that He’s raising up the Chaldeans (e.g. Babylonians), Habakkuk questions how/why a more sinful nation would judge a less sinful nation (1:12-2:1). The Babylonians began their dominance around 605BC and began carrying Judah away in captivity around 586BC. God exacted judgment on Babylon around 539BC.

In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

In a short time, the wicked will be done away with and even though you search carefully you will not find them. Rather, the meek will inherit the earth and enjoy abundant peace.

A psalm of David (around 1,000BC) about God’s faithfulness to His people. The “land” is a big theme, mentioned six times in a future state of inheriting or dwelling in the land. Interesting, since the nation of Israel was already long established in the Promised Land. The phrase, “the meek shall inherit the land” is repeated by Jesus in His “Sermon on the Mount” as one of the so-called Beatitudes (Mt 5:5).

Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.

Pay attention to Me [God], those that are stubborn and walk in unrighteousness. My righteousness is inevitable and not far off, bringing salvation that is not delayed. I will put salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

God’s spokesman, the prophet Isaiah, preaching to Judah around 700BC before the Babylonian captivity some 100-120 yrs away. God reminds Judah of their sins and God’s faithfulness and the inevitability of judgment. Specifically, He’s addressing “transgressors” (vs 8) and “stubborn of heart” (vs 12).

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Brethern, take great care in case any of you might have an evil, unbelieving heart/mind that leads you to fall away from the living God. Avoid being hardened by sins deceit by encouraging each other every day, as long as you draw breath.

Letter to Jewish Christians that is calling on them to “hold fast” in spite of persecution. The main argument is the “better” things that exist for them through Christ Jesus. Chapter three deals specifically with Jesus’ superiority to Moses himself (vss 1-6) and goes on to compare the followers of Moses to those of Jesus. The writer quotes from Psalms 95:7-11 (vss 7-11) where the writer there uses an even more ancient example from Numbers 14:22 and the wilderness wanderings. He goes on to explain (interpret) those who rebelled (vss 16-19) as those that followed Moses from Egypt but “provoked” God and “sinned”, thereby dying in the wilderness (vss 16-17). As a result, they did not “enter his rest” since they were “disobedient” (vs 18), which is the same as “unbelief” (vs 19).

Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

For those that say they will go here or there today or tomorrow and make plans accordingly, recognize that you don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Your life is nothing but a mist that appears for a brief time and then disappears.

James’ letter throughout is about encouraging and warning Christians to live out the “word of truth” (1:18) in their lives and gives many practical examples of what that looks like.

It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these people: the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy ones to execute judgment and convict the ungodly of their ungodly deeds and of the harsh things ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.

Jude is writing a brief, but stern letter of warning “to those who are called” (vs 1) to “contend for the faith” (vs 3) and remaining obedient. He also warns about false teachers (vs 4), but continues to give several examples from the Old Testament of those that did not remain faithful (for various reasons) and were condemned as a result. It is these false teachers and generally those “following their own sinful desires” (vs 16) that Jude says Enoch was prophesying about in his statement of judgment for their “deeds of ungodliness” (vs 15).

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.

Listen, because what I (Solomon) have concluded to be appropriate is to enjoy all of the things your labor rewards you with the few days of life that God grants you. This is his allotted portion.

The preceding verses describe the dissatisfaction and possible loss associated with wealth (vss 10-17). The following verses describe receiving possessions and enjoying one’s work as God’s gift (vss 18-20).

For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer.

Briefly, I [God] deserted you, but with great compassion, I will yet gather you together. For a moment was I angry and hid my face, but with everlasting love, I will have compassion for you, declares the Lord, your Redeemer.

God is speaking through Isaiah the prophet around 700BC. This chapter, along with the entire latter half of Isaiah, starting around chapter 40, contains many confirmed Messianic prophecies along with images and foreshadowing of Christ and His coming Kingdom. Extending from the heavily inspired-writer-confirmed Messianic passages in chapter 53, this chapter continues with statements (vs 1) cited by Paul in Galatians 4:27. We also see the common image of Jesus as the groom/husband to the redeemed of His church (vs 5).

Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: "O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction."

God tells those in Judah (e.g. "Zion") not to be afraid when the Assyrians come against them just as the Egyptians did. It will not last, and ultimately, He will turn His anger toward the Assyrians' destruction.

The full discourse begins back in chapter 7 through 12 during the reign of Ahaz in Judah. He reigned sixteen years beginning around 750BC and was succeeded by his son, Hezekiah. Assyria, under Tiglath-Pileser III, was already wreaking havoc throughout Israel, but it would not be until Sennarcharib (around 700BC) that the north would be destroyed. It would be about another one hundred years when Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon would destroy Assyria at the Battle of Charchmish (605BC).