The Harvest of Judgement

REVELATION 14: 1-20

(December 23)

In our previous chapter, we got a good description of the evil showdown that will take place when Satan and his band of brothers take over the world (temporarily).

Chapter 14 gives us believers a little glimpse into the beautiful eternity that waits for us if we can stand strong against the persecution. The Lamb John is referring to is the Messiah, of course. And Mt. Zion is often a name used for Jerusalem, which is the capital of Israel. It is so different than the worldly empire.

What about the 144,000 people gathered around the Lamb? They represent the believers who withstood the persecution on earth and are now poised to live out eternity with God. The three angels represent destiny ... the contrast between the destiny of those who believe and those who don't. (It is QUITE a contrast!)

An angel flies by with the Good News, the eternal gospel. This is one last effort to get ALL to hear and recognize this truth from God, so that no one can ever say they didn't hear it. This is the last proclamation of this truth before God's great judgment begins.

Another angel announces the fall of Babylon. Babylon was an immoral empire where idol worship was rampant. Babylon once ransacked Jerusalem and carried the people of Judah into captivity. This city was the Jews' worst enemy. The Roman empire was the worst enemy of the early Christians. So, John gave Rome the name Babylon to indicate their evil as the enemy of God's people.

Another angel informs that all who refused to follow God will now receive his wrath. They are about to be tossed into the eternal fire, from which there is no escape.

The Son of Man came on a white cloud and swung his sickle, harvesting those who followed the enemy and wore the mark of the beast. They were gathered for judgement and blood flowed in a stream about 180 miles long and as high as a horse's bridle.

Judgment was in full swing on the earth. There was no turning back for those who refused God. There were no more second, or third, chances. What was done was done.

There is such finality in that... such desperation for those who must face this judgment on the wrong side. If only they had used their time on earth wisely, to follow Christ instead of the world.

We still have time. There is time to share with those we know who do not follow Christ. There is still time to plead with them, to live out life as an example to them, and to pray for them. Don't waste the precious time we still have. Fervent prayers move mountains.

Who can you pray for today?

The King is Coming - Small Beginnings

One Year Bible: Dec. 23

Zechariah 4:1-5:11

“Small Beginnings”

Today’s message is filled with visions that involve “Small Beginnings.”

“Do not despise these ‘SMALL BEGINNINGS’ for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (Zechariah 4:10)

Today’s visions begin with Zechariah sleeping. He can’t quite stay awake for the message the angel is teaching him. He was a lot like the disciples in the garden, and all of us, for that matter.

He is asked what he sees by the angel and answers, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks, And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl.” ( 4:2-4)

Then the Lord explains to Zerubbabel what the vision means, “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way. It will become a level plain before him!” (4:6)

The vision goes on to tell of seven lamps that represent “The Eyes of the LORD” that search all around the world. A “Flying Scroll” goes out over the entire land, and there is a basket filled with a woman named “Wickedness’s Sins.” These sins will lead the people of Israel, the Wicked Woman, into captivity.

The people of Israel have been “BLIND” and with “UNBELIEF.”

In Zechariah and Revelation, we see that God is the CANDLE, just as they had witnessed in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. His light and presence were always with them.

The church is “THE CANDLESTICK.” The light from “THE CANDLE” is to shine through us….

And so, once again, the people are asked to “REBUILD the TEMPLE”... They are to make the effort and devote themselves to making a place for God to be the center of their world. He “Dwelled” in the temple, and His presence was always with them to “Bless” and “Protect” them. Yet, they had been returned from captivity and had not rebuilt the temple.

Why is this? Were they too busy? Self-absorbed? Did they learn nothing from captivity?

The Temple of God, before its destruction, had been the most magnificent place imaginable!

Was the task just too daunting for them?

God is giving them this message, “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s armies.” (4:6)

They weren’t called to do great, perfect, mighty things on their own, and neither, for that fact, are we…

Speaking of “Small Beginnings,” God’s answer to all of mankind’s problems was a tiny manger, a humble stable, and a Lowly King. Before Jesus was born, God told the people through the prophet Zechariah in 9:9 that He would send a “Lowly King.”

“Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey-- riding on a donkey’s colt.” (9:9)

Matthew 21:4-5 tells us that what took place fulfilled what the prophets wrote, “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Once again what is CONCEALED in the Old Testament is REVEALED in the New Testament.

The mystery of the ages will come in the fullness of time and all of mankind will be made right, whole, and complete through…

As we approach the most HOLY of seasons, let us remember that God’s greatest gift did not come in a large, flashy package.

It came as a baby, humble, meek, and mild.

God loves SMALL BEGINNINGS!

A New Beast Emerges

REVELATION 12:18 - 13:18

(December 22)

Even though the dragon did not get to the woman, he was not finished yet. He stood by the sea and "all hell broke loose!"

A new beast emerged from the sea with seven heads and ten horns, each horn having a crown. Every head had names written on it ... names of the wicked who had blasphemed God. Blasphemy is showing great disrespect to God.

This beast had an unusual appearance, with a body like a leopard, feet of a bear, and the mouth of a lion. And he was given great power by the dragon.

John noticed that one of the seven heads seemed to be fatally wounded. And right there, while he watched, the fatal wound was healed! The world saw this and thought it was amazing. They worshiped the dragon, for he was the one who had given the power to the beast. (Seems like this one incident caused them to forget all the miracles of Jesus.) This is a counterfeit miracle meant to deceive, much like Pharaoh's magicians, who copied Moses' signs in Egypt.

If it is a true sign or miracle, it will point to Jesus. Counterfeit, false, and phony miracles are meant for deception. But this helped the beast gain influence through the power he was given by Satan.

This beast started blaspheming God and was given the authority to do whatever he pleased for 42 months. He waged war on God's people and ruled over every tribe, language, and nation. The worldly people all worshipped him. It is those people who didn't have their names written in the Book of Life.

As if that wasn't enough, another beast came up out of the earth with two horns like a lamb, but a voice like a dragon. He, too, had the same authority as the first beast. He did some awesome miracles, deceiving the people even more. He ordered that a great statue be made of the first beast, then he gave life to the statue, and it began to speak. The statue commanded that anyone who did not worship it must die.

Every single person was required to receive a mark on the forehead or right hand. Without the mark, you could not buy or sell anything. They would not survive without it. That number was 666.

This mark of the beast is designed to mock the seal that God places on his followers. God marks his people to save them. Satan's beast marks his people to save them from the persecution that will come from following Christ.

Those who accept this mark show their allegiance to Satan. It is a refusal to commit to God, preferring death over faith in God. The number is a symbol of worldwide dominion and complete evil of this unholy trinity (the dragon and the two beasts), whose purpose is to undo the work of Jesus and overthrow him.

The King is Coming - The Glory Returns

One Year Bible: Dec. 22

Zechariah 2:1-3:10

The Glory Returns!

Many years ago, I had the privilege to sing in a choir at Christmas time at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Ca. This is an ice rink, and it was very cold in there. But nothing was as chilling as the lead voice we sang with, Sandi Patty. She sang the Hallelujah Chorus with a gigantic choir behind her. It was chilling and a foretaste of what Heaven’s worship must sound like. The only difference is that the King Himself will be there to receive our praise!

The book of Zechariah is about “The Kingdom Coming” and “The King Coming.” God’s people were very broken after their seventy years of captivity. They had no temple and no drive to rebuild it. So, God sent Zechariah an amazing message for them… and us too.

“When I Zechariah looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. ‘Where are you going?’ I asked. He replied, ‘I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.” (2:1-2)

These are the words of the first angel to Zechariah, who then goes to meet a second angel who was coming towards him. There is a “big stir” and urgency in the air…

“The other angel said, ‘Hurry, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone! Many will live outside the city walls. Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, say the LORD. And I will be THE GLORY INSIDE THE CITY! " (2:3-5)

A battle rages from Genesis through Revelation. In the garden, “The tempter, Satan” comes to Adam and Eve with a simple “Twist.” That “Twist” is to disobey God and seek to be equal with God. In the book of Job, Satan goes directly to God’s throneroom for permission to torture Job so that he, too, will deny and curse God.

In the gospels, he also meets Jesus in the mountains to test him. It is the same “Twist” of scripture. Satan’s plot is for Jesus to bow down to him rather than to God alone. Jesus rebukes him with scripture. He will submit to no other will but that of His father.

Revelation ends with the final war before Satan is silenced. “In the fullness of time,” he will be judged and sentenced. He was defeated at the cross, but the time of judgment for all mankind awaits.

Here we find Satan mentioned again as a central figure in the war raging against Jerusalem. Make no mistake, God’s people did not just get into all their troubles alone. Those “Poles” that they worship were just like the “tree” that Adam and Eve ate from. They were forbidden and opened all doors of evil in their lives.

God returned them from captivity, but Satan wants them back. He does not want God’s divine plan for Reconciliation to continue so that Jesus can come through the lineage of David as proclaimed by the prophets. Even in the gospels, we see ALL of the baby boys being killed. The king wanted to stop Messiah!

Have you noticed how Jesus told heavenly truths using parables? This concealed the truth from those that did not seek faith.

God also uses visions and prophecies to tell of “what is to come”... It is like Morris Code for his soldiers. He warns of what will happen in the battle in a way that the believers will pay attention and stay alert. But, the enemy will continue to act out their plans unaware…

But make no mistake! God is aware, watching, and “Protecting the walls of Jerusalem.”

In this book, you will see many prophecies, much like the book of Revelation, where God is imparting to those that “have eyes to see” a message of WARNING and HOPE.

This book has seven-ten prophecies. We will look at their meaning so that you can better understand them as you read for yourself…

There is a RIDER ON THE RED HORSE (1:8-17): Judgment is represented here as the nations have abused God’s covenant, and He is a jealous God.

There are FOUR HORNS, and FOUR CARPENTERS, which are the nations that had scattered Israel, and the Carpenters are the instruments of judgment on the FOUR NATIONS.

The Man with the Measuring Line tells us that God is actively involved with his angelic army as the wall around the glorious city.

Joshua, the High Priest, is the actual High Priest anointed by the prophets over the remnant that returns. He is to help rebuild “The Temple of God” so God’s presence can reside with His people again. His Hebrew name, “Joshua,” is equivalent to the Greek name, “Jesus.” This Priest/King foreshadows the coming Messiah who will fulfill all the teachings and take up residence to be worshipped.

There is the CANDLE (God) and the CANDLESTICKS (God’s people), which are all reminders of what went on in the Temple. The light was God’s presence which never went out and the reminder that God’s MIGHT would rebuild the temple.

THE FLYING SCROLL is THE WORD OF GOD, and the EPHAH is a measuring container that holds all the corruption against God.

The FOUR CHARIOTS are God’s judgment upon the nations.

Finally, the culmination is the SYMBOLIC CROWNING OF JOSHUA which is a vision of the second coming of Christ.

The entire Gospel message is found right here in Zechariah.

Then the angel said to me, “Shout this message for all to hear, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says; My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong… I have returned to show MERCY to Jerusalem.”

As we approach the Christmas story, may we read it through the context of its origin... It is not just the beginning of the New Testament. It is the central theme of the ENTIRE Bible.

The LORD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES’ is coming…Priest. King. Messiah.

“For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” (Hallelujah Chorus)

The Glory Returns!

The Woman vs. the Dragon

REVELATION 12: 1-17

(December 21)

Have you ever seen something and been so astounded by what you saw that you couldn't believe you were actually seeing it? That has happened to me several times. Once, I witnessed an accident between a vehicle and kid on a bicycle. It was so unbelievable to me as I watched the impact and what happened next. I almost couldn't believe I was seeing what I saw.

Another time, I had an up close and personal experience with my favorite country western singer. (If you really know me, no names are necessary.) I was equally incredible, only in a much more positive way, and my mind couldn't believe what was happening.

I can only imagine what amazement we will all have when we witness Jesus face-to-face. Will we even be able to comprehend the majesty of what we are seeing? It is exciting to think about.

In today's scripture reading, John sees something in heaven that he finds incredulous, and of great significance. A woman, clothed with the sun appeared. She had a crown of stars on her head (12 to be exact) and the moon at her feet. She was crying out in labor pains as she was about to deliver a baby.

A large red dragon appeared. This dragon had seven heads with seven crowns, and it had ten horns. With a tail so large it swept away 1/3 of the stars in the sky, it had no problem tossing those stars down to earth. That dragon stood there waiting for the woman to give birth, because it had every intent of devouring that baby.

The woman gave birth to a son who would rule all the nations. The child was snatched away from the dragon and caught up to God and to his throne. The woman ran off to the wilderness to a place that had been prepared for her for protection in the coming 1,260 days.

What does this all represent? How are we to decipher this vision? The woman represents the faithful followers of God. They have been waiting for the Messiah to come. The crown of 12 stars that adorned her head represents the 12 tribes of Israel. The male child, of course, is Jesus. If you remember in the story of his birth, King Herod was anxiously waiting to destroy the infant, who he saw as a threat. This desire was encouraged by Satan (red dragon) because he also wanted the Savior of the world to die.

So what happened next? The "war in heaven" began, in which the forces of good and evil went toe to toe. The good fought against the bad, and the good won. The dragon and his angels were forced out of heaven and were thrown down to the earth. The dragon threatened the woman again, but she was given two wings to fly to safety. When the devil tried to drown her with a flood of water from his mouth, the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river. The dragon declared war against the rest of the woman's children ... literally all who keep God's commandments and follow Jesus.

Do you see that come to pass in your own life? Has the devil come after you, time and time again? He is fulfilling the promise made to war against us. He is doing his best to yank us from the loving arms of Christ and hurl us into the fiery flames of his rule.

But we are stronger than he thinks, and he has no authority over us as long as we cling to Jesus. He may cause us some pain and suffering, but we win in the end, because with Christ, we are victorious against the enemy.

The Inbetween

One Year Bible: Dec. 21

Zechariah 1:1-21

The Inbetween

“Here’s What I can tell you: I was one way. And now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between… was him.” --Mary Magdalene’s Witness from “The Chosen” Season 3

Our family recently enjoyed the Season 3 movie theatre preview of “The Chosen Season 3”. Of all the things I could watch in a theatre, I love seeing characters come to life from the Bible. For perhaps the first time, you ponder how it would have been to walk in their steps and come face to face with the things they saw and heard. Yes, it is drama, which makes us pause to think about how real people felt in such life-changing situations.

In the movie, Mary Magdalene explained to Nicodemus how she had been healed by Jesus. While she didn’t fully understand what happened, she knew that his presence, power, and voice sent the demons running out of her.

The theme song “The Inbetween” by Matt Maher was based on Mary Magdalene's words in the movie. It is a powerful song that focuses on the change from her encounter with Jesus Christ.

When you think about it, the people receiving Zechariah's prophetic words are also living “Inbetween Kingdoms.” They had known the “Glory Days of the Temple” and then captivity, but they would not see Jesus in their lifetime.

But then there was Zechariah, who had visions of what was to come. Yet, he lived in the reality of no temple and no power in the people’s lives. They were rebuilding their homes but really not rebuilding their lives.

There was no way to rebuild their lives but to rebuild the temple. This was the place where God dwelled with his people. He was the light that never went dim.

So, Zechariah’s message to God’s people returning from captivity was this, “Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and stop all your evil practices.”

Zechariah has the sobering responsibility to speak to a people that lived stuck Inbetween Glory and Glory. The Glory of the original Temple in all its splendor has passed, and the coming Kingdom of God is in the distant future.

So, God gives Zechariah visions, word pictures, and images as signs along the path. As he shares this with the people, they will tell their children, and when Jesus comes, they will recognize that he is “The Long Awaited One”... The promised Messiah.

The book of Zechariah has more prophecies of Christ than any other Old Testament book except for Isaiah. These important prophecies are confirmed in the words of the apostles and Jesus in the New Testament.

There is also great symbolism, like in the book of Revelation, that corresponds with John’s prophetic words about the end times. It is all rolled into this book, "In the Inbetween.”

Zechariah will tell of Jesus…Servant, Branch, King/Priest, Lowly King, Betrayed, Hands Pierced, Smitten Shepherd, and his Second Coming.

One of the powerful concepts of the entire New Testament is God’s fulfillment of his covenant promises to Abraham and the lineage of David. Zechariah will remind people that although they have come home and the Temple of David is not still there, God is.

Not only that, God doesn’t need the old Temple to dwell with them or to keep his promises to the lineage of David.

One of the important words that Zechariah will use to describe Jesus to the people is the word, “Branch.”. Have you ever heard the phrase, “Jesus as the Root or BRANCH of Jesse”?

Isaiah 11:1, 10 says, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”

What was the root or “BRANCH of Jesses.” The lineage of David, the priest, and King after God’s heart, helped build the Temple. In Romans 15, Paul paraphrases this prophecy and links it to Jesus Christ.

The theme of the BRANCH prophesied in Zechariah has been illuminated by Jesus himself. The Messiah has come not just for the Jews but for the gentiles. He came for all mankind!

Nothing is out of God’s sight, power, plan, and providence. In Jesus, all will be made right!

These people truly lived in the “Inbetween,”, somewhere between Glory to Glory, but very soon, these prophecies will come true, and Messiah will dwell among them. They had no hope of ever being holy without HIM.

“I don’t think he is waiting for us to be holy. He is here because we can’t be holy without him.”--Mary Magdalene (Season 2 of “The Chosen”)

The Final Trumpet Sounds

REVELATION 11:1-19

(December 20)

Anticipation can be nerve wracking ... whether you are waiting on something good to happen or preparing for something bad to occur. I have to think John is on pins and needles, waiting for that seventh angel to blow his trumpet.

While waiting, he was given a measuring stick so he could "Go measure the Temple of God and the altar and count the number of worshipers." He was to measure only the inner portion, not the outer courtyard. The outer courtyard had been turned over to those who disrespected the holy city to be trampled on for 42 months (1,260 days) during which two witnesses would prophesy.

As usual, the numbers mentioned have symbolic meaning. The number is equivalent to three-and-a-half years. While the number 7 was considered perfect, 3 1/2 indicated incompletion, imperfection, or sometimes evil.

The events that are predicted equivalate to trouble ... the holy city gets trampled, a woman takes refuge in the desert, the devil-inspired beast uses his authority. Nothing good is coming from this incomplete and imperfect time.

What are the two prophets who will prophesy? They are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord. No harm can come to them and if anyone tries, they are consumed by the fire that flashes from their mouths. They have the power to keep the rain from falling and to turn the rivers and oceans into blood. They can also strike the earth with any kind of plague as often as they want. (Now, that is POWER!)

Once they are finished, a beast will come up from the earth that will declare war on them and kill them. Their bodies will lie where all can see, in the main street of Jerusalem, for 3 1/2 days and no one will be allowed to bury them. It will be a time of gloating and celebration for all those who belong to the world.

After 3 1/2 days, God breathed life into them, and the people were terrified when they stood up. A loud voice came from heaven and commanded them to rise, so up they went, as all the wicked watched from below. In that moment, there was a terrible earthquake that killed seven thousand people. The remaining people were terrified, and decided they should glorify God.

That was the end of the second terror, but rest assured, another is coming. It was then that the seventh angel blew his trumpet and the shouts from heaven could be heard,

"The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever."

The elders fell to their faces before God, giving thanks to him. Then the Temple of God opened, and the Ark of his covenant was revealed. There was lightning and thunder, an earthquake, and a hailstorm.

John's anticipation over the seventh trumpet being blown could now dissipate, as he has watched the whole thing take place. But he is not done with seeing great things in this vision. There is more to come.

Return to Me

One Year Bible: Dec. 20

Haggai 1:1-2:23

Return to Me

There is an old-fashioned love story that was based on real-life events. It was a box office hit in the year 2000, yet there is something hidden in the layers of this movie that still make it memorable to me today.

I had a friend who actually had a “Christmas Miracle.” She desperately needed a new heart, and she got the phone call just in time for Christmas to receive her new heart. It was beyond amazing!

Perhaps that is why this movie touches my heart and lingers in my thoughts…

A man in the movie named Bob loses his wife in a tragic accident. At the same time, a woman named “Grace” faces certain death while in the hospital until Bob’s wife’s heart arrives.

She writes a letter to the family to thank them for the gift of life given to her through this woman’s heart. The grieving husband held it in his hands and held the words in his heart.

Sometime later, his friend takes him to the neighborhood restaurant hoping to “set him up” in a new romance. This attempt fails, but Bob is captivated by a young waitress there. Her name is Grace.

The scars on her chest bear witness for the rest of her life to the great gift that she was given. Can you imagine the emotion that came when Bob fell in love with Grace and realized that once again, he was holding in his arms “the beating heart” of his first love? This love had come back to him through “GRACE.”

That is like a parable of exactly what happened to the nation of Israel. They lost their first love and went deep down into desperation. There was no way out for them! After years of rejecting the prophets’ warnings, the people of Judah were taken into captivity to Babylon for seventy years.

In essence, “The Glory had departed.” God’s temple, where His presence once resided with them, was taken away…

Finally, after God freed them and graciously allowed them to return home. They came home and built their own households, but sixteen long years later, they still had not rebuilt the temple.

They had “HOUSES,” but NO “HOME.”

God’s presence no longer “DWELT” in the midst of them.

The “Beating heart” was absent, silent, missing…

How could this be? Why would they let this go on for sixteen long years?

Did they not know how to recapture “The Glory Days”?

They had laid the foundation for a new temple, but no further work had followed that first step. Were they spiritually insensitive, complacent, or just defeated?

They wanted God to prioritize them, yet He was not their priority…

The signs of a people without God’s heartbeat at the center of their life are An Unsatisfied Life, An Unfocused Life, and An Unfulfilled Life.

Not rebuilding the temple was a sign that they had become complacent with Babylon’s affluence, ease, and paganism. God wasn’t at the “Center of it all.”

Haggai’s message to these people was, “Return to Me.”

They had wanted God to RESCUE them, and He had done just that.

Repentance is a “Turning away from something” and a decision to “Turn towards something.”

So, he asks them this question that still applies to us today, “Is it time… to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”(1:3-4)

He also instructs them to carefully consider their ways, “Think carefully about your ways: You have planted much but harvested little.” (1:5-6)

How does this apply to us today? As we approach a new year, will we “Turn from old ways” and move forward to “new ways”?

Are we busy building our own homes, cramming our own closets, and filling up the hours of our days with temporary pleasures? Or will we “Build up the kingdom of God” and make it the center and core of our being? One is temporary. One is eternal.

My favorite part of the movie was her name, “GRACE.”. That is the story of the Bible. There is a dead heart, and God takes “A BEATING ONE” from his sacrificial gift and places it in our hearts, and once again, there is love, peace, and joy.

Return to Me… That is His loving call to each of us.

The Secret in the Scroll

REVELATION 10:1-11

(December 19)

The things John is seeing are just beyond our imaginations. I have to wonder what his thoughts are as angel after angel, creature after creature, come into his line of vision. The magnificence of it all would be an amazing sight. But it seems like it would also be terrorizing. Yet, John just stands there, taking it all into his mind, so that he can record it all for you and me.

The next thing that appears before him is another angel coming down from heaven. This angel is surrounded by a cloud and there is a rainbow over his head. With a face as bright as the sun and feet like pillars of fire, he holds a small, opened scroll.

He lands on earth with one foot on land and the other on the sea. He shouts mightily and the seven thunders answer him. This was something John was getting ready to write down when a voice from heaven said to him, "Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down." (Verse 4)

Doesn't that make you wonder what the seven thunders said? My curiosity is most definitely peaked by the secret!

The angel raised his right hand toward heaven and swore an oath in the name of God. The waiting time was almost up. When that seventh angel finally blows his trumpet, God's plan will be fulfilled, just as he had told the prophets long ago.

John heard the voice speaking to him again, telling him to take the scroll from the angel. When he took it, the angel told him, "It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!" (Verse 9)

John ate the scroll, and it was just as the angel had said it would be.

This was not the same scroll that was mentioned in chapter 5. The scroll in that chapter was a revelation of judgments against evil. We are not told what the contents of this scroll are.

In Ezekial 3:1, Ezequiel has a vision. In that vision, he was told to eat a scroll filled with judgements against the nation of Israel. The taste was sweet, but the contents brought destruction. So, we might assume the scroll John ate also contained some type of judgement.

What does this mean? How are we supposed to decipher the message in the eating of these scrolls?

We can compare it to God's word. It is so sweet to those of us who believe in it and live by it. It brings us the sweet reward of salvation. But to those who do not believe, the judgement it brings is very bitter.

Think about it. There is some scary happenings in this book. But they are made much less frightening by our assurance that we are children of God. Imagine not having that assurance? How terrifying would the words be to someone without the hope of salvation?

And while there are very descriptive explanations of what is to come for those who do not follow Christ, there are also many secrets in the scrolls ... the unknowns of exactly what this will feel like, how much pain and suffering there will be, how long eternity feels like, how often regret will wash over them. These are secrets merely because they are unknown. Our human minds cannot even begin to imagine the depths of what is to come.

All the more reason we need to share the love of Jesus and the power of God with those around us, so that they can live in the assurance of what we know instead of the fear of the secrets in the scrolls.

Darkness Before Dawn

One Year Bible: Dec. 19

Zephaniah 1:1-3:20

DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN

In our Western culture, DAY begins with morning and ends in DARKNESS.

Interestingly, in Jewish culture, DAY began with DARKNESS in the EVENING. (Genesis 1:5).

That, right there, is a complete MIND SHIFT!!

What an interesting word picture for us that DARKNESS was the beginning and moved to LIGHT. That is the story of the Bible, the Old Testament, and the prophets.

To summarize the book of Zephaniah, it would be SAD SONG (Chp. 1), SAD SONG (Chp. 2), and GLAD SONG (Chp 3), or DARK, DARK, LIGHT.

The prophet Jeremiah, known as “the weeping prophet,” delivered a message like a musician singing a melody of the minor chords. His sad song was to touch the “heartstrings” of God’s people.

Zephaniah delivered the same message to the same people at the very same time, but he had a different approach. He was more like a “country western singer” singing about the hardness of hearts. He wasn’t just singing about broken trucks, broken relationships, and bottles of beer. All his verses were, “Baby, you done HIM wrong!” He was talking about a nation that had its boots on and was “walkin’ away.” They had “cheatin’” hearts, and he is letting them know that this song will end badly!

Zephaniah’s book speaks of “The Decree of the Lord” (1:1-6), “The Day of the Lord” (1:7-3:8), and “The Deliverance of the Lord” (3:9-20). His message is not just for this time but has a warning for future generations as well. However, It also brings comfort…

“O daughter of Jerusalem! For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last, your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. On that day, the announcement to Jerusalem will be, ‘Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the Lord, your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

(Zephaniah 3:15-17)

The end of the Old Testament is the backdrop for the Christmas story. So, we need to stop and soak it in… In the background is pain upon pain, brokenness upon brokenness, and finally, silence upon silence. In this setting, Zephaniah redirects their downcast eyes…

Look up! Can you see it? Can you hear?

“The Lord will REMOVE His judgment. The King will LIVE among you. Your troubles will be over. You will never again fear disaster…He will TAKE DELIGHT in you with gladness. With his love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (3:15-17)

Do you remember the famous song “Hey Jude” by the Beatles?

Well, this one is a slight variation on the original…

“Hey Judah, Take a sad song and make it better. Remember to let HIM into your heart. Then you can start to make it better….”

These words were the fulfillment of prophecy, and the answer to their SAD SAD SONG!

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will bring GREAT JOY to all people.” (Luke 2:10)

The angels, in their joy, sang, “Glory to God in the highest.””

Their SADNESS was being miraculously transformed into GLADNESS!

How is Christmas looking for you this year?

Do you have any “sad songs” playing on your “hard drive”?

Have you ever thought, “I’m just not feeling like celebrating Christmas”?

That’s okay because SAD comes before GLAD…

As the Jewish culture practices, “DAY begins in the evening and culminates into DAWN”; Light shines best in the darkness!

May we be reminded that He can take the sad songs of our life and make them better.

The God of the world has come down to dwell in the hearts of his people, and “He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (3:15-17)

In fact, HE did JUST THAT!!

“Yet, in thy DARK STREETS SHINETH… the everlasting LIGHT.

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

(O Little Town of Bethlehem, Phillips Brooks)

Yes, DARKNESS comes before DAWN!

The First Two Terrors

REVELATION 9:1-21

(December 18)

John is getting a real eye full as he continues to receive this vision of what is to come. After watching four of the angels blow their trumpets in yesterday's reading, he saw the ramifications of those instruments being sounded. Now we see the vision play out at the sounding of the next two angels.

When the fifth angel blew his trumpet, John saw "a star that had fallen to the earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit." This bottomless pit is the place of the demons and their king, Satan. When this pit was opened it was filled with smoke and darkness.

Out of the smoke came the swarm of locusts. They covered the earth and stung like scorpions. They didn't do harm to the grass, plants, or trees. They only went after the people without the seal of God on their foreheads. They tortured these people with painful stings for five months, making them wish for death instead of the pain they were enduring.

Now, these weren't your ordinary locusts. These locusts were ready for battle. They appeared to have gold crowns on their heads and their faces resembled humans. They had hair like a woman and teeth like a lion, and they wore armor made of iron. Their king was the leader of the pit. For five months, they terrorized the earth.

This plague of locusts is seen as a foreshadowing of "the day of the Lord", in which God's judgement comes upon the earth. Locusts are symbols of destruction because they always destroy vegetation. Here, they symbolize an invasion of demons sent to torture people who don't believe in God. They are not created by Satan, because God is the Creator of all things. They are fallen angels who joined Satan, with the goal of preventing, distorting, or destroying peoples' relationship with God.

After these five long months of torture, the sixth angel blew his trumpet. A voice spoke from the gold alter, demanding that this angel "release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River." So, the angel did.

These angels had been prepared for massacre. They killed one-third of the people on earth with an army of about 200 million. The riders in this army wore colorful armor of red, blue and yellow. The horses had heads like lions and blew fire, smoke and sulfur from their mouths. Their tails had heads like snakes and could do injury.

There were actually people who survived, but they still refused to repent of their sins and follow God. They continued worshiping their demons and idols, murdering people, practicing witchcraft and sexual immorality, and stealing.

As if these first two terrors weren't enough, there was sure to be more to come for those who refused God. They keep getting opportunities to repent, and they stubbornly refuse. Despite the horror that they witness, they still won't submit to the authority of God.

When I look around at our world today, there is much horror and devastation. There are plagues happening, disasters striking, and war happening. People are witness to terrible events. Yet none of that is enough to make them turn to God. They keep being given opportunities for change, but they refuse to seek it.

What will become of them? We will read more in the days to come, and I promise you, it is not a pretty story. Following God isn't always "pretty". It is often difficult, painful, and isolating. But it is not for our time on this earth that we follow him. It is for our time of eternity. We have a choice to make, and that choice determines whether we spend our eternal days praising the king on the throne or agonizing with the king of the pit. To me, the choice is easy.

How Long, O Lord?

One Year Bible: Dec. 18

Habakkuk 1:1-3:19

How long

“How long, O LORD?”

Habakkuk was a prophet who lived during the reign of the godly king Josiah. (640-609 B.C.)

He knew what it was like to live during a time of revival and then to see God’s people slip right back into apathy, adultery, and idolatry.

His burden came from the fact that he had seen the great revival, and now he lived during the great decline…

Perhaps, you carry that same burden as you watch our society decline in moral and spiritual values…

Habakkuk’s name means “EMBRACE.” He was a person who “EMBRACED” God. He came to a firm faith as he wrestled with difficult questions.

Here is one of his questions, “Why do You show me iniquity and cause me to see trouble?” He then asks, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?” (2-4)

Habakkuk says, “For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.” (2-4)

What is God’s reply to Habbkuk’s difficult questions?

His message, in paraphrase, is, “Be utterly astounded. I will work a work in your days which you would not believe. Lastly, I am raising up people even now.”

While Habbakuk is trying to take all that information in, he also wonders why God would use a nation more wicked than Judah to bring judgment to Judah.

Then Habbukuk gave his response to all of this information that confused him. He basically says that he will watch to see what God will say to him and that he will answer when “he is corrected.”

Habakkuk reveals to us amazing truths about God and his justice, and he also teaches us how to humbly respond.

In essence, Habakkuk models a prayer we need to offer in times of trouble, “Lord, I don’t always understand what You are doing or your timing. But, I know that You are right in all you do. You can offer grace to sinners who do not know you and humble those that claim to be your people but do not wholeheartedly follow you. As for me, please speak to me and correct me.”

His name is Habbakuk, meaning “to cling to.” May we be reminded to EMBRACE God and trust His Ways, His Will, and His Workings.

How Long, O Lord? Let’s pray!

The Trumpets Begin to Sound

REVELATION 8:1-13

(December 17)

If you remember from a couple of days ago, we talked about the seals being broken. Out of the seven seals, we heard what happened when six of them were broken. But what about that final seal?

In today's reading, John witnesses the Lamb breaking the seventh seal. When it was broken, there was silence all through heaven for about half an hour. Then John saw each of the seven angels receive a trumpet.

Another angel appears, this one holding a gold incense burner. He stood at the alter and took the large amount of incense that was given to him. Why was so much given? It was to mix with the prayers of God's holy people. This was an offering on the gold alter before the throne.

The prayers, mixed with the smoke, rose up to God from the alter. When that was done, the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the alter and threw it down on the earth. WHOA! That was followed by thunder, lightning and a terrible earthquake.

It was then that the seven angels began to blow their trumpets. We will hear about the first four of them today.

When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire, mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. One-third of the earth was burned, along with one-third of the trees and all the grass.

Angel number 2 blew his horn and a huge fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water turned into blood, one-third of the sea creatures died, and one-third of the ships were destroyed.

When the third angel blew his trumpet, a huge star fell from the sky onto the earth. This star had a name ... Bitterness. So, when it fell, it left one-third of the water bitter, causing many people to die from drinking it.

The trumpet sounding from the fourth angel caused the sun, one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars to go dark. Because of this, one-third of the day was dark, and one-third of the night.

Then John saw an eagle flying through the air with a loud cry. The eagle was a symbol of swiftness and destruction. The picture we should be getting here is that there is a strong, powerful bird flying over all the earth, with a warning of all the horrible things that are about to take place. "Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets." (Verse 13)

Does this all sound frightening to you? This book is filled with information that can get us really scared, if we let it. The thing we need to remember as believers is that we have the victory. While we may experience the terrors described in Revelation, we will be protected from spiritual harm. It is the unbelievers who will meet spiritual harm during these coming events.

Many say that this particular book is a struggle to read. I thought so too until the Sunday I walked into First Christian Church as a new member of the congregation. Pastor Ed was preaching a sermon series on Revelation, and I gained so much from sitting there each Sunday, listening as he broke it down, and taking a multitude of notes. Once I understood it a little better, it wasn't quite so frightening. When we, as Christians, realize our place in all that is to come, it eases our fears.

My prayer is that as we continue to break this book down into smaller sections, that you, too, will understand better and feel lighter about the contents.

That Ninevah

One Year Bible: Dec. 17

Nahum 1:1-3:19

THAT NINEVAH

“The LORD is Good, a STRONG REFUGE when trouble comes. HE is CLOSE to those who TRUST in HIM.” (Nahum 1:7)

Have you wondered why we are still talking about “Jonah and his three-day cruise”? It was a “whale of a sail”...

Well, let me give you a little hint. It is found in the opening words of the book of Nahum, “This message concerning Nineveh came as a vision to Nahum, who lived in Elkosh.” (Nahum 1:1)

Did you catch that? The message was about Nineveh.

Yes, THAT VERY NINEVAH that Jonah hoped to bypass altogether.

THAT NINEVAH sent Jonah into rebellion because they were the enemy of God’s people, and they went unpunished, and Jonah despised them.

THAT NINEVAH that God had the great fish expel Jonah onto the dry land so that he could deliver them the shortest sermon ever, “Repent or be destroyed.”

THAT NINEVAH that fasted, prayed and repented as a people.

THAT NINEVAH is the very subject of Nahum’s prophecy of judgment.

Do you have a few questions? Jonah did. I sure do. In fact, I think the world is generally filled with questions about God’s mercy and judgment that are “way above our pay grade.”

Fortunately for us, through Nahum’s prophecy, we will learn more about God’s nature and truth.

Nahum’s name means “COMFORTER”, and yet his prophecy is full of “JUDGMENT.”

The short story of a very long saga is found in the book of Nahum, which we will cover in one day together. That message is, “It’s OVER for Ninevah!”

Didn’t they just repent, and why did God go to all that trouble to send Jonah and then destroy them?

Jonah did warn Ninevah, and they did repent… for a season.

Approximately 150 years later, we see God again dealing with Ninevah. Their repentance was much like “a diet.” They lost a heavy load for a season but returned to what was comfortable for them. It wasn’t a “lifestyle change.”

They had continued to lead nations into idolatry (Nah. 3:4), carried tribes into captivity, oppressed the people of Judah, and messed with “the apple of God’s eye,” Israel.

Like us, God’s people must have struggled with the question, “Are they really going to get away with this again?”

I wonder if Jonah was still around to say under his breath, “I told you so.”

Nahum’s prophecy helps us to understand this harsh message and the God that is behind the message.

First, we learn that God is a JEALOUS God, and no one is equal to Him. He is not sharing worship with idols.

Secondly, God is the one who AVENGES our enemies. Not you, me, or Jonah. God gives all mankind “a season” to repent, and after that comes judgment.

Thirdly, Nahum tells us that “God is slow to anger.” Jonah wanted God to give these evil people what they deserved 150 years sooner, but God, instead, gave them a prophet to preach to them a message of repentance.

Next, we are reminded that God is GREAT in POWER. He had the restrained power to allow Ninevah to repent and the determining POWER to discipline them and AVENGE His chosen people.

Lastly, we are reminded that GOD IS GOOD!

Sometimes, we are angry with God when He allows evil and upset when discipline and judgment come. But Nahum reminds us GOD IS GOOD. That is WHO HE IS, and HE CAN BE NO OTHER.

Yes, Nahum’s name means COMFORTER, and his message to us today is the same as in this message. God will judge; we don’t have to do that. God will forgive; it is not our place to hold a grudge against our enemies. God will deal with them in HIS TIME!

We can learn a lot of lessons from… THAT NINEVAH!

Marked with the Seal of God

REVELATION 7:1-17

(December 16)

John's vision continues. If you remember, he had been watching the seals being broken and seeing the colored horses and other amazing sights. Now he sees four, each one standing at one of the four corners of the earth. They were keeping the winds from blowing on the earth or sea.

Then, in front of him, he sees another angel coming from the east. This angel is carrying the seal of the living God. This seal of God was to be placed on the forehead of all the living servants before the other four angels could cause any harm to the sea or land.

An amazing number of servants is recorded as being marked ... 144,000 to be exact, all from the tribes of Israel. It is said that this is a significant number. It is equivalent to twelve times twelve times one thousand. What is so important about that? Well, it symbolizes completeness. What does that mean? It means that none of God's followers will be passed by. They will all be brought safely to him. God has two ways of sealing believers ... he either draws them from earth through the rapture or gives them special strength and courage that enables them to survive the time of great persecution. (I vote rapture ... how about you?)

Keep in mind, many will undergo persecution and the seal won't prevent physical harm from coming to them. They may even die as a result of what they go through. The protection God is providing is from spiritual harm. Either way, they will be brought to their eternal home in heaven. These are the believers that are so strong, even the worst persecution won't cause them to fall away from God.

This section of scripture mentions the twelve tribes of Irael, but the list isn't quite the same as the one in the Old Testament. This list is more symbolic of the true followers of God. You might notice that the tribe of Dan isn't mentioned. That is because they were famous for being rebellious and full of idolatry, which is unacceptable as a follower of God. Ephraim is also not mentioned because of his rebellion.

John then sees a huge crowd of white-robed people holding palm branches and standing in front of the throne before the Lamb. They could be heard shouting, "Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!" The angels were standing around the throne. The elders and four living beings were also circled. All fell to their faces to worship God.

One of the elders then interacts with John, asking him, "Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?" John informs him that he is the one who should know the answer to his own question. That same elder then says, "These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white."

He goes on to tell John that these people will receive shelter from God, never to be hungry or thirsty again, never to feel the burning heat of the sun. The Lamb will lead them to the life-giving water and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Now, THAT sounds like an amazing promise and reason enough for us to remain faithful to God, no matter what is going on around us. The promise of having the shelter of God, and having nothing come against us again, should ignite the fire within us to stand firm despite any persecution, knowing for certain that WE WIN IN THE END!

Little Bethlehem

One Year Bible: Dec. 16

Micah 5:1-7:20

Little Bethlehem

Yesterday, we looked at the “Back Story.”

Jonah sinned by running away from Sovereign God. He hated the Gentiles and was not about to see them be given a second chance or grace. When he was in the big fish “for three days and three nights,” he prayed for God to rescue him, which he did.

We looked at how Jesus compared Jonah as a foretelling of his “three days and nights” deep in the depths of the ground. But what did Jesus pray when representing His Father by going to the cross to give salvation to all people… Jew, Gentile, Male, Female, “Whosoever will may come.”

He prayed quite a different prayer than Jonah, “Not my will, but yours be done.”. (Luke 22:42)

While the book of Jonah gives us the “back story,” Micah gives us “The future”...

Micah begins with the words, “He has laid siege against us.” (5:1)

God’s people are about to be humbled, captured, and all may seem lost. But it is not!

Look at what Matthew 2:5 tells us, “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written.”

You see, they knew the words of Micah quite well, as you have heard them at every Christmas Eve service.

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet, a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the time when the woman in labor gives birth to her son. Then, at last, his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored all around the world. And he will be the source of our peace…” (5:2-5)

Isn’t it interesting that God used a prophet shepherd, Micah, to proclaim to the people in the darkness that a prophet shepherd would be the one to bring them freedom from their captivity and peace instead of sorrow?

“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie, Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” (O Little Town of Bethlehem, Redner, and Brooks)

Micah’s prophecy told them of a place where Messiah would be born. Darkness would break into glorious light, and this child would be their long-awaited source of peace. Little Bethlehem.

But what does God want from us? Micah 6:8 was a song that I sang many years ago. It is easy to learn all the words when you sing them. The words are taken directly from scripture, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what the Lord requires of you. But to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

That is what God has always desired from His people, and it is what He still desires of us.

To Do Justly… Means to do what is right.

To Love Mercy… This means looking for every opportunity to respond to others with genuine concern, caring, and help.

To Walk Humbly…Means to walk in a way where “you are less”, and God and others are MORE.

And so, in the very same book, we catch a glimpse of the foretelling of prophecy in the word Bethlehem.

How will Messiah come?

He will come as a child born in a lowly manger in the most humble setting known to man. His entire life will be of humble means. He will wash his disciple's feet, point them to his father, and lay down all of His rights to serve His father’s plan for us.

What will Messiah do during his short earthly ministry?

Even as a young boy, he is found missing by his mother to be discovered teaching rabbis in the temple. His words will be, “Don’t you know I must be about my Father’s business.”

From this humble beginning and then to his temptations in the desert by the devil, He will always defer to His Father’s will. He will always choose to live Justly… to do what is right.

Why is the son of man known for hanging out with the outcasts, sick, demon-possessed, and other sinners?

He loved mercy. To the paralytic, sick, lame, demon-possessed woman at the well and to the thief on the cross, he will “speak life” to them. The outcasts of society.

You see, Micah has a lot to teach us about WHO God is… He is Just, Merciful, and humble. He is long-suffering and faithful.

And so he sent us a word picture…O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Humble but Hope Filled. Just but Gentle. Merciful and Mild.

"Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight."

(O Little Town of Bethlehem, Christmas Carol)

Breaking the Seals

REVELATION 6:1-17

(December 15)

The end of human history ... have you ever contemplated how that will all come to pass? Will we be here? What will it look like to those who experience it? What will it feel like?

So many questions in our minds, but the answer is truly found in Revelation. John gets this bird's eye glimpse into the future and what is to come.

Chapter six starts with Christ unrolling the scroll. This is a significant act. It is the first of three seven-part judgments. As each seal is opened, Christ the Lamb sets in motion the things that will cause the end of history as we know it. Remember, the scroll is not COMPLETELY opened until all seven seals have been broken.

What is written in this scroll? What does it hold? The scroll shows the depravity of humans and how God is the one who stands in authority over all that happens in human history.

As the first four seals are opened, horses of different colors appear. First, John sees a white horse. The rider has a bow and a crown, and he rode off to be victorious in many battles. The second horse was red, and its rider had a mighty sword and was given the ability to remove the peace from the earth. Of course, once done, war and slaughter followed.

A black horse appeared upon the breaking of the third seal. The rider, holding a pair of scales in his hand, he was to measure and charge.

The fourth seal brought a pale green horse with a rider named Death. This rider had a companion which was the Grave. To these two, authority was given to kill 1/4 of the earth. They could do this by sword, or by starvation and disease. Or they could have the people killed by wild animals.

But why only 1/4 of the earth? This indicates that God limited his judgement, it is not yet complete. There is still time for those who don't believe to turn to Christ and repent of their lives of sin. The limited punishment demonstrated the wrath God has over sin, but also showed that he is merciful and loving, giving people another chance to turn to him before he imposes final judgement upon the earth.

At the fifth seal, John stopped seeing horses. Instead, he saw all the souls of those who had died for the word of God. They were the faithful ones who never backed away from their testimony. They were crying out for judgement over the people who had caused them to suffer. They were given white robes and asked to be patient until all their brothers and sisters could join them.

The breaking of the sixth seal caused a huge earthquake. The sun turned dark, and the moon turned red. The stars fell from the sky, while all the mountains and islands moved from where they had stood. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, hid themselves in caves and among the big rocks of the mountains. They were trying to hide from the coming judgement.

Do these folks hiding include believers who are still living on earth? While the sight might have been terrifying to see, for believers it will not be a day of judgement, but a day of reward. Those who are not believers will be the ones that have to face God's wrath on that day of judgement.

John witnessed the breaking of six seals in this part of his vision. Remember, it is only when all seven seals are COMPLETELY broken that the scroll will be completely open. John still has much more to see.

Someday

One Year Bible: Dec. 15

Micah 1:1-4:13

Someday

The book of Micah points us to a “Someday” that the people of Israel cannot begin to fathom…

“For my people’s wound is too deep to heal. It has reached into Judah, even to the gates of Jerusalem.”(Micah1: 9). This “WOUND” is “TRANSGRESSION,” and because of their waywardness, there has only been judgment and discipline. But Micah reminds us of a new hope, a new plan, a “SOMEDAY.”

“SOMEDAY, O Israel, I will gather you; I will gather the remnant who are left. I will bring you together again like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture… Your king will lead you; the Lord himself will guide you.” (Micah 2:12-13)

The prophetic books of Jonah, Micah, and Nahum point us to underlying truths about God, ourselves, and life. The books of Micah and Nahum deal with the judgment and rescue of God’s people. Just talking about judgment is a difficult thing. I am so glad that the book of Jonah gave us a “face” and a “living person” that we can relate to in Jonah. This person, “Jonah,” is the back story of Micah’s story of hope found in that “SOMEDAY.”

The “SOMEDAY” is when God will open the kingdom to the Gentiles, and it is why God sent Jonah to do this unfathomable thing that the Jews can not begin to comprehend. He is to preach repentance to the Gentiles, who were God’s people’s enemy.

The truths that we learn from how God handled this weak, self-centered prophet will help us to better understand the next two prophetic books of Micah and Nahum, and they will all point us to God’s rescue of his people through His son, Jesus.

So, Let’s take a little closer look at the “back story” of Jonah again and see how the principles we learned about his life can help us understand the teachings of Micah and Nahum.

The theme is judgment, rescue, and atonement.

Who is worthy of God’s rescue and forgiveness, and who receives His judgment?

Right now, we find ourselves studying the final five prophets in the Old Testament. These are the FINAL warnings to God’s people before He sends them into exile.

This is a big TRANSITION time!

The prophecies of Jonah and Naum were VERY unusual because their message was for a GENTILE KINGDOM! This was unheard of…unfathomable.

The GENTILES were the enemies of God’s chosen people and often were their enemies taking God’s people captive. How could God choose to use pagans?

The book of Micah fits into this final period or transition, and it points to the Messiah in unbelievable ways. You will see this for yourself in tomorrow’s reading, where Micah actually tells us where the Messiah will be born.

These final prophets are here to open our eyes to a “Grander Plan” than God’s people could possibly fathom. That “Grander Plan” is a means of salvation that will no longer “roll back sins every year” as the Jewish sacrifices did. Instead, it will provide a complete atonement through the long-awaited Messiah.

Before we go on to Micah’s startling proclamation of Messiah and where he will be born, let’s look at the Jewish mentality of the Gentiles…

Jonah is the embodiment of this unsavory sentiment.

Jonah was sent to Ninevah, a GREAT CITY filled with GREAT WICKEDNESS, and he carried a GREAT MESSAGE… There is only one problem… Jonah didn’t want to take God’s message of Repentance to a WICKED GENTILE nation.

After the “Three Day Tour” in the giant fish, Jonah was literally EXPELLED into ministry. God had rescued him, and he was thankful. However, in the very next breath, he is NOT thankful that God would rescue the likes of these wicked GENTILES!

So, Jonah gave these wicked people the SHORTEST SERMON in the books, “Forty Days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” (Jonah 3: 4) That was it, folks! Not even an offering was taken!

Nineveh, however, gave the greatest response to a sermon in all of history!

“From the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city….” (Jonah 3: 4-7)

Immense repentance fell upon the entire city of Nineveh. They were to mourn, repent, pray, and turn away from evil… AND THEY DID!!!

Jonah was the most successful, miserable minister in the history of prophets!

“This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So, he complained to the Lord about it: ‘Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a MERCIFUL and COMPASSIONATE God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen!”

(Jonah 4: 1-3)

I am so happy that we have a record of Jonah’s ministry to better understand these final prophecies of judgment. They give us amazing insight into who God is, how He judges and forgives, and a glimpse of the transition to “The Kingdom of God.”

It is “at hand.” However, like the story of the prodigal son, Jonah is the son that has “gone astray” and also the son that is “resentful” of their father’s mercy. Both sons all rolled into one angry package, and Jonah represents that… That, my friends, is the “back story.”

This nation has been WRONG and RESENTFUL. They have RUN AWAY and been RESCUED.

They found God to be Merciful, Compassionate, and Just. But how can this HOLY GOD rescue GENTILES too?

But then comes along the book of Micah with a message to these very people. His message is simply this, “Someday,”...Wait for it!

A Glimpse of Heaven (Part 2) … The Lion and the Lamb

REVELATION 5:1-14

(December 14)

As John's glimpse into Heaven continues, he sees a scroll in the right hand of Jesus. It is written all over and sealed with seven seals. A loud-voiced angel shouted, "Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?" But there were no takers.

What? You mean there was no one worthy to open the scroll and read it? This made John weep until he was stopped by one of the elders, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals."

But when John looked at Jesus, he did not see a lion, he saw a lamb. This lamb was standing between the throne and the four creatures and looked as if it had been slaughtered. With seven horns and seven eyes it was an amazing sight. These represented the seven-fold Spirit of God that is sent out into all of the earth. This lamb took the scroll, causing the elders and the creatures to fall down before it, each holding a harp and a gold bowl of incense. Why incense? It represented the prayers of God's people.

Why was Jesus seen as both a lion and a lamb? It all gets so confusing if we don't pay close attention. The lion symbolized his authority and power. The lamb symbolized his submission to the will of his Father.

The lamb was the perfect sacrifice for all our sins. Because of this, it is he who can save us from what is revealed in the words written on that scroll. That Lamb won the greatest of all battles when he died on the cross for our sins. All forces of evil were defeated in that moment.

Christ the Lion will be the one who leads the battle when Satan is finally defeated for good. The Lion will be victorious over Satan because of the victory the Lamb has already achieved.

And the great news ... WE get to participate in this victory!!! We don't get that privilege because of anything we have done or said. It comes to us only because of the promises of Christ to all who believe in him. For all who call on his name, we will one day stand in the presence of the Lion and the Lamb.

Slimy Seaweed

One Year Bible: Dec. 14

Jonah 1:1-4:11

Slimy Seaweed

Have you ever wondered where God is in times of discipline, judgment, and trials?

Has there been a time in your life when you felt so invisible, small, and insignificant that you wondered if God cared or knew your name?

There are many people who consider the book of Jonah “an allegory” or “parable.” That is convenient for their mindset because they can’t grasp that “a great fish” could really swallow a living person and house him in its acidic stomach for “three days and three nights” and then vomit him up on land. (Jonah 1:17)

What color was his skin when he was “expelled” from “fish school”? Did the acids turn him yellow, or was he green from all that seaweed? Enquiring minds want to “SEA”...

Well, then again, maybe we should also toss out some of the other great miracles like Daniel in the Lion’s Den and Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. To take this a little bit further, how did Peter walk on water exactly?

Sounds a little “fishy,” doesn’t it?

Miracles require faith, don’t they? Isn’t it interesting that people facing life and death pray, “God help me!” They are asking the sovereign God to intervene in their life and death situations while in the next breath doubting God’s very sovereignty! We can’t have it both ways. But then again, neither could Jonah, and he found that out pretty quickly.

So much for human minds! What does the Bible say about this story and God’s judgment?

We find that in 2 Kings 14:25, Jonah is identified as a “real person.” He was a Jewish prophet from Gath Hepher in Zebulun who ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam !! (793-753 BC)

We might also take note that Jonah is mentioned by Jesus as a historic person and pointed to as a type of foreshadowing of his Messiahship (representing his death, burial, and resurrection) in Matthew 12: 41 and Luke 11:32. Follow the Three Days and Three Nights…

“Then some of the teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we would like to have you do something special for us to see.’ He said to them, ‘The sinful people of this day look for something special to see. There will be nothing special to see but the powerful works of the early preacher Jonah. Jonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of a big fish. The Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the grave also. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.”

(Mt. 12: 38-41)

So much for this being a “Whopper of a Tale”!! If you think this is “Quite A Ride,” just wait for God’s next act…

Jesus linked the factual truth of his own resurrection directly with Jonah’s three days of being buried deep down in the darkest sea! God raised Jonah from the depths, and He will be raising us from the depths of the sea also by the death, burial, and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ.

Three Days and Nights. Inside the great fish. Buried in the deepest sea.

THEN. JONAH. PRAYED.

Those are three powerful words… for Jonah and for us as well.

“I cried out to the LORD, and HE answered me. I called to YOU from the land of the DEAD, and the LORD, You HEARD ME!” (Jonah 2:2)

Do you ever feel that your circumstances are insurmountable and that your words are insufficient?

Check this out, “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.” (Jonah 2:5)

I don’t think it can get much worse than that. This man is stuck at the bottom of the deepest sea due to his own disobedience and his “running from the Lord.”

What is he wearing? Seaweed. Talk about a visual picture of being “Entangled in sin.”

Jonah simply didn’t want to go and minister to a pagan people that he literally detested and hated. His actions brought peril to an entire ship of people who were not “God-fearing” … until that day when the Gentiles prayed louder than him!

As we continue the next few days to look at the prophet's warnings and teachings about God’s judgment against disobedient people, we can learn a LOT from Jonah.

He was a Hebrew, a prophet, and one who “worshipped the Lord” (Jonah 1:9)

God showed him mercy and rescue. At the very same time, God showed grace to a pagan nation by sending Jonah to proclaim the truth to them, even though Jonah literally refused to go and ran in the opposite direction.

Yes, in the coming days, we will learn much about the true character of a righteous, just, and merciful God. I am so thankful that God gave his judgment a face that we can glimpse upon… that face is the face of Jonah.

Traitor. Runner. Slimy Seaweed. Rescued.

Even in times of discipline and judgment, Jonah reminds us of who God really is…

“I cried out to the LORD, and He answered me. I called to YOU from the land of the dead, and Lord, You heard me!” (Jonah 2:2)

This, my friends, is no “fish tale”... On this truth, you can rest your Slimy Seaweed!