no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.

Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken.

“Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,

By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.

By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.

Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.

But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,

For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.

But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.

Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

The sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.

Now when the Lamb opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.