Archive | September 2025

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 262

Sep19

Day 262 – Reading – Haggai 1 – 2

Read the Scriptures first. What catches your attention?  

Haggai 1.

(Remember back in Ezra, when the Samaritan adversaries had caused the rebuilding of the Temple to be stopped for many years? Ezra said God sent two prophets to encourage them.  We’ll study them today and over the weekend.  (“Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua the high priest arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.” Ezra 5:1-2)  Today we’ll read Haggai’s message.)

During the time when they were “forbidden” to work on the Temple, the people had begun building and remodeling their own houses, and planting crops and weaving material for new clothes.  But… the harvests were nothing, and the people were hungry and cold.  There was no money to furnish their homes.  WHY?

The prophet Haggai said why.  Because the Temple lay unfinished, with only the foundation built.  Now that Darius had given the green light, they were to “go up to the hills and bring wood and build the House, that I (God) may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified.”

Then Zerubbabel and Jeshua the high priest, with all the remnant of people feared the Lord and obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the prophet.

“I am with you,” declared the LORD.

And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God. 

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Haggai 2.

As the people worked on the rebuilding, they couldn’t help but see (or remember hearing of) the difference between what they were doing, and the great Temple that Solomon build. 

“Who of you saw this House in its former glory?” asked Haggai. “How do you see it now?  Is it not as nothing in your eyes?  But be strong O Zerubbabel and O Jeshua.  Be strong, all you people of the land, for the LORD says,

  • ‘Work, for I am with you. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.  I will shake the heavens and the earth, the see and dry land, and all the nations, so the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I WILL FILL THIS HOUSE WITH MY GLORY.  THE LATTER GLORY OF THIS HOUSE SHALL BE GREATER THAN THE FORMER.  AND IN THIS PLACE I WILL GIVE PEACE.'”

(NOTE: God, of course was referring to the glorious Millennial Kingdom and Temple.  The Jews viewed the Temple as one continual building, existing in different forms at different times.  Solomon’s until now. And then Herod’s great renovated one in Jesus’ time which would be again destroyed.  And then, perhaps a rebuilt one in time of Antichrist, but then … the final one in which God would dwell among them for 1,000 years.)

Haggai reminds the people how nothing went right for them when the neglected the rebuilding. But now, since they had begun, God promises to bless them.

 Then, Haggai was spoke God’s words to Zerubbabel the governor of Judah, about the future of the nations.  And “I will take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant, and make you like a signet ring, for I HAVE CHOSEN YOU.”

Zerubbabel was in the royal line of King David.  He was also in the line of both Joseph (Jesus’s step father) and Mary (Jesus’s own flesh & blood mother). See Matthew 1:12-13 and Luke 3:27.

A signet ring was a symbol of honor, authority and power.  It responded to a king’s scepter.  Zerubbabel represents the Davidic dynasty and resumes the Messianic line disrupted by the exile.

(Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin, who gave himself up to Nebuchadnezzar in the second deportation, and years later was brought from prison and honored all the rest of his life by a later king of Babylon.)

(God is so faithful to accomplish all He promises. Hallelujah!  I can trust Him explicitly to do as He says. Thank YOU!!)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 261

Sep18

Day 260 – Reading – Ezra 4 – 6,  Psalm 137.

Read the Scriptures first. 

Again, a little background reading would be helpful.  Who are the people living in the land of Israel who were adversaries of the newly returned Jews?  Read 2 Kings 17:24-41 for background. 

When the Assyrians deported the people of the northern kingdom, whose capital was Samaria, they brought back people from all their other conquered nations to mix and marry with the remaining “low” Jews who were left and keep the land. These people brought their own worship of pagan gods, and God sent lions among them. Then the Assyrian king sent a Jewish priest back to teach (also) the ways of the LORD.  And so the people who settled there had a religion made up of worship of the LORD plus all the other despicable pagan gods. They became known as the Samaritans, whom, still in Jesus’ time, the Jews hated.

Now these “Samaritans” were objecting to the influx of thousands of pure Jews who were settling in the land and rebuilding the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem.

Ezra 4

These Samaritans approached the heads of the Jews and offered to “help” them rebuild the Temple, since they’d been worshiping this God too, since King Esarhaddon (Assyria) brought them there. 

Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the high priest, said, “No way!  We alone are building a house for OUR God, as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.” (They could throw around a royal name, too!)

So the Samaritans resorted to discouraging and threatening the Jews, and bribing the contractors to slow the work.  They did this for SIXTEEN YEARS, through three Persian kings, until the time of King Darius! 

Whoa! 

During the reign of King Ahasuerus (after Cyrus), these Samaritans wrote an accusation against the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. (No response, maybe because the king was busy with his new Queen Esther, Mordecai, and his wicked prime minister, Haman.)

Then, during the reign of King Artaxerxes, they wrote another letter against Jerusalem. The exact letter is shown in Ezra 4:11-16. It ends with a threat, “…if the city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have NO possession in the province beyond the river!”  The Samaritans asked him to search the records and see if this city is not as rebellious and seditious as they claim!

This king listened to the Samaritans this time and sent a decree that all the work in Jerusalem was to “cease and desist.”   And so “the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem STOPPED and it CEASED until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.”

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Ezra 5.

After the prophets of God, Haggai and Zechariah, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the LORD, Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the high priest, were encouraged and arose to begin rebuilding the Temple of the Lord. 

Once again, the opposition arose. The governor of the province and his associates came to them, demanding to see any new decree that allowed them to start building again.  They also demanded the names of all the workers.  (Sounds like Communism!)  The Jews ignored them… until a report could be sent to King Darius, and an answer returned.

Again, a copy of the letter the Governor sent to King Darius is included in Ezra 5:5b-17.  This letter is humorous to read because the Samaritans quote Zerubbabel, who explained how they were obeying the God of heaven and earth. They also quote him saying that King Cyrus had commanded them to rebuild it and had sent much money to make sure it was done.  

The Samaritans again ask the Persian king to “search the royal archives of Babylon” to see if such a decree WAS issued by Cyrus.   

(They had requested this of Artaxerxes, but he’d just given the decree WITHOUT searching the records!  But this king was actually going to do it.)

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Ezra 6.

King Darius DID make a search of the archives, and a scroll was found on which was written a decree by Cyrus, the king.  “Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height and breadth shall be 60 cubits each, with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. LET THE COST BE PAID FROM THE ROYAL TREASURY. And let the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar took be brought back to the temple of God.”

Ha!  Well, that serves those Samaritans right.  But wait!  King Darius continues,

  • “Now, therefore, let the Governor and his associates keep away and let the work on the house of God alone.  Let the Jews rebuild the house of God on its site. 
  • MOREOVER … I make a decree that the cost of rebuilding the house of the God of the Jews IS TO BE PAID IN FULL AND WITHOUT DELAY from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province (Samaritans).
  • AND, whatever is needed — bulls, rams, sheep for the burn offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, or oil as the priests at Jerusalem require — let that be given to them day by day WITHOUT FAIL, that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven (and pray for the life of the king and his sons.)
  • ALSO, I decree that anyone who alters this edict, that a beam shall be pulled out of his house and he be impaled on it, and the house be made a dunghill.  WHOA!!
  • May the God who has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem.
  • I, Darius, make a decree; let it be done with all diligence!  (And I imagine a swirling signature… or maybe the imprint of the royal ring in the clay.)

And according to the word sent by Darius, the Governor and his associates did with all diligence what the king ordered.  The Jews finished their building by decree  of the God of Israel, and by decree of Cyrus and Darius of Persia.  It had been 20 years since the foundation was laid.

The priests, Levites, and the returned exiles celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.  And they set up everything as it was written in the Book of Moses.

Then the returned exiles kept the Passover.  And the kept the feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days, with joy for the LORD had made them joyful.  

And so ended the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

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(Praise God!  He always keeps his promises.  He supplies, encourages, protects and helps those who obey Him.  Thank You, LORD, for doing those things for us today as well.  YOU are the God we serve, and love, and obey. You gave us salvation through Jesus… an even greater gift than the rebuilt temple. Thank You!)

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 260

Sep17

Day 260 – Reading – Ezra 1 – 3

Read the Scriptures listed.

Read 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 first. (It’s the book just before Ezra.)  Also read Isaiah 44:8 and 45:1-4,  Jeremiah 29:10-15, and Daniel 9:2.

This stirring up of Cyrus, king of Persia, was not just a random thing, but had been foretold by the prophets in detail.  Seventy years. Cyrus, king of Persia.  Return to rebuild the “House of the LORD”

Ezra 1.

The way the LORD changes people’s minds is by stirring up their spirits.  Perhaps Daniel, his prime minister, showed him his own name – Cyrus – in the ancient Hebrew prophet of Isaiah. Regardless, Cyrus proclaimed throughout his kingdom that the LORD, God of heaven, had charged him to rebuild HIS house at Jerusalem.  Then an open invitation.  “Whoever is among you of all His people, may his God be with him, AND LET HIM GO UP TO JERUSALEM AND REBUILD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL.”

The beginning of the returned Israel must begin with their God, and His house of worship.  Then they can see to themselves.  It’s like our own lives.  If God is honored at the center, then the rest will fall into place.

Cyrus also called for the people who remained (Jew or Babylonian) to assist those who were going by giving them silver, gold, goods, and beasts, and freewill offerings for the new Temple.  (Does this remind you of the night of Passover in Egypt?  The Egyptians then had loaded the Israelites with goods and beautiful ornaments, jewelry, vessels, and clothing. 

And so the priests, Levites, and the “leaders” of Judah and Benjamin rose up and made ready to go the 800 miles back to Judah and Jerusalem to rebuild the House of the LORD in Jerusalem. Cyrus brought out the gold and silver vessels from Solomon’s Temple (that Nebuchadnezzar had stolen, and Belshazzar had wickedly used). There were 5,400 articles!! WOW!   Cyrus gave them to Sheshbazzar, the treasurer, for safekeeping as they traveled and while the Temple building progressed. 

(There is no mention of the Ark of the Covenant with them.)

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Ezra 2.

This chapter lists by name and family those who returned in the first wave.  They returned each to his own town.

(Wow, what a sight it must have been! How many changes had there been in 70 years, with the crops, orchards, and vineyards barely kept going by the unskilled farmers who had been left behind?  Did the returnees “itch” to get things in order and fix up or rebuild their houses and barns?  BUT, the Temple was first.)

Those who led this group of 50,000 were Zerubbabel (in the line of Christ, see Matthew 1:13), Jeshua/Joshua (the high priest of the first return, in the line of Aaron), Nehemiah (not the same as the Book), Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai (not Esther’s uncle), Belshan, Mispar, Bigval, Rehum, Baanah, and the king’s appointed treasurer, Sheshbazzar.  Twelve men.  

The returnees were divided into these categories: The (general) people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants (singers, gatekeepers, etc.), the sons of Solomon’s servants, and those who could not prove (lost their lineage) that they belonged to Israel.  (They were only excluded from the priesthood.)

Some of the heads of families donated thousands of gold and silver coins to the project. They also gave 100 priests’ garments! 

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Ezra 3.

The returnees actually took seven months to fix up their own dwellings.  Then they built the altar of the God of Israel and sacrificed burnt offerings on it as was written in the Law of Moses. Morning and evening, they offered burnt offerings on it. There were also freewill offerings, offerings at the new moon, and at the feasts.  The first they kept was the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles).

Then they got to work on the foundation of the new temple.  They hired (with the money King Cyrus gave) Sidonians and Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon via the sea to Joppa.

Seven months later. Zerubbabel and the others made a beginning. Jeshua, the priests, and the Levites supervised the work and the workmen.  When the foundation was laid, the priests in their vestments came out blowing trumpets and praising the LORD, according to the directions of David, the king of Israel.  And they sang the songs he had written and thanked the LORD.

  • “For He is good, His mercy endures forever toward Israel.”

All the people shouted and praised the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. Many shouted for joy, but there were those–old men–who had seen the former Temple.  They wept with equally loud voices.

And the sound of rejoicing and weeping was heard far away.  (Ah-oh!)

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(How wonderful that the Temple was the first thing to be built. It would be the place where their God would live among them, as before. Yet it wasn’t exactly like before.   Things were not so lavish in gold. There was no palace or king. And for the most part, the city and the great walls were rubble.  But the Temple would stand again!!

O LORD, help me to make sure YOU are at the center of my heart and my life.  May I not stray from worship, praise and thanksgiving to You, oh, precious Lord.)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 259

Sep16

Day 259 – Reading – Daniel 10 – 12

Read the Scriptures.  

Daniel 10.

Here is another of the “end-time” prophesies that is hard to understand.  At least it seemed that Daniel understood some of it.

“In the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia, a word was REVEALED to Daniel.  And the word was true, and it was a great conflict.  And he UNDERSTOOD the word and had understanding of the vision.”

(This is now two years after the first decree was made to let Israel return to their land.)  Daniel had been mourning and waiting for three weeks concerning the visions he’d already seen. He was on the beach of the Tigris River when he saw a man (a vision?)  He describes this man much the way John described the risen/exalted Jesus in Revelation 1:13-14. Could this have been a Pre-Christ “Christophany?”  Also, Daniel’s reaction (He fell to the ground with no strength) was like John’s. Rev. 1:17.

(HOWEVER, many believe this “being” was again the angel Gabriel.)

A hand touched Daniel and “set him trembling on his hands and knees,” and the being said the sweetest words. “O Daniel, man much loved…”  Daniel stood, still trembling to hear the words, “From the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of them.”

Then the holy being explained a bit of invisible warfare that you and I are mostly unaware of. “The prince (demonic ruler) of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me.”

He now tells Daniel why he is there.  He has come to “make Daniel understand what is to happen to Israel in the latter days.”  At this, the being had to once again strengthen Daniel,

“O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage. 

I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth.”

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Daniel 11.

The being first confirms that Darius has been tasked to show kindness towards Israel in helping them return to their land.

Then, as in chapter 8:3-26, “a great huge chunk” of future events is retold. There will be conflict among the world nations, which will follow each other in conquest and power up to Antiochus Epiphanes and the desecration of the Temple. (Only a preview of what will happen later with the Antichrist. see Dan. 11:36) 

(This account is so accurate in history that critics think that it was written 400 years AFTER Daniel.  But, hey, we know that GOD knows all things from eternity past to eternity future, and He simply let Daniel in on a few items.)

The account continues with great persecution for the Jews until the “time of the end.”  The evil antichrist will reign until the Lord Jesus Christ returns in power and defeats him once and for all.  “He shall come to his end, with none to help him.”

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Daniel 12.

Encouragement is now given to Daniel and Daniel’s people, Israel. When that great evil antichrist is in power, the archangel Michael (keeper of Israel) will arise to help.

“And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people (Israel) SHALL BE DELIVERED, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.  MANY of those who sleep … shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And THOSE who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above.  THOSE who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.”

Then, Daniel is told to “shut of the words and seal the book” until the time of the end, when many will run to and fro and knowledge shall increase.  (WOW, DOESN’T THAT SEEM LIKE THESE DAYS, TODAY?)

Then Daniel looked and heard someone call out, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?”

And the being (Christ?) who was above the waters of the stream (Tigris) raised both hands to heaven, and swore, cryptically … “It will be for a time…times…and half a time. When the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end … all these things will be FINISHED.

Daniel: “I heard, but I did not understand.”  (You are not alone, Daniel.)

The being said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and “the abomination” that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.  Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days.”

Then He assures Daniel that he will “rest” (die) and “shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”   

(Oh, YES!  In eternity, Daniel will be there in his allotted place, and we will get to meet him.)

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(LORD, I surely do not understand much of this.  Like Daniel I have many questions. But I will trust YOU to put me where I’m to be, and at Your perfect time.  Oh, help me to be faithful!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 258.

Sep15

Day 258 – Reading – Daniel 7 – 9

Read the Scriptures.  Meditate on what the prophet is saying.

Day 258.  Daniel 7.

In the following three (6) giantchapters are the prophetic visions that Daniel had of the near and distant future. They are hard to understand, but with some help, we can gain a little knowledge.

This prophetic vision backtracks to the time of Belshazzar, the Babylonian king.  This time, Daniel had a dream, and in the morning, he wrote down the dream and the “sum” of it.

He saw four huge beasts emerge from the sea. 

  • One was like a lion with wings.  The wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up to stand on two feet. It was given the mind of a man.
  • The second beast was like a bear. It had three ribs in its mouth.  It was told to go and devour much flesh.
  • The third beast was like a leopard with four wings on its back.  It also had four heads. Dominion was given to it.
  • Then, Daniel saw a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong.  It had great iron teeth, and it devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped what was left with its feet.  It had ten horns. Then a little horn grew up and plucked out three of the horns by the roots.  And this little horn had the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Whoa!

These four beasts represent the same empires that Nebuchadnezzar’s dream-statue portrayed. The “sea” that they emerged from is the Mediterranean Sea (area).

  • The lion with wings represents Babylon. (Images of these were carved into the city gates.)
  • The bear is Medo-Persia, with the ribs representing all its vanquished nations.
  • The leopard represents Greece. The four heads represent the four generals who divided the kingdom after Alexander the Great died. (Macedonia, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt)
  • The fourth beast represents the Roman Empire. Its dominion fell apart, but it will be revived and returned to greatness near Christ’s second coming. It will consist of 10 parts ruled by 10 kings, then a final 11th king who will be Antichrist.

Daniel’s vision then goes forward to when the Ancient of Days will give judgment on him, and Christ will destroy him.  And glory and dominion will then be given to the King of Kings.

More details are then given about these end times, including the 3.5 years of great tribulation.

And Daniel?  Whoa. His thoughts greatly alarmed him, he paled, but he kept the matter in his heart.

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Daniel 8.

The next dream that Daniel had was while Belshazzar was still king. 

He saw a ram on the bank of a Canal. It had two tall horns, but one was taller.  He charged westward, northward, and southward. No beast could stand before him. He did as he pleased and became great.

Then a male goat came from the west across the face of the earth, without touching the ground.  It had a prominent horn between its eyes.  It came to the ram on the bank of the canal and ran at it.  The goat struck and broke the ram’s two horns, so it had no more power. The goat trampled the ram, and it died.  The goat then became exceedingly great.

But when it was great, the big horn was broken, and there came up four smaller horns facing the four winds. ONE of the horns grew really great, even to the stars. It faced “the Glorious Land.” And the burnt offerings and sanctuary were given to him for 2,300 days.

Okay, whoa again.

Then he heard a voice from heaven. “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”  And Gabriel told Daniel that this vision was for the time of the End, and Daniel was told to “seal it up.” 

First came the ram (Persia) and the goat (Greece) and the divided parts, one of whose leaders became Antiochus Epiphanes, who was then mirrored in the Antichrist, who would be in power for 6 1/3 years: the tribulation and Great Tribulation.

 “I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision, and did not understand it.”   (We didn’t either, Daniel!)

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Daniel 9.

Now we jump forward until after the defeat of Babylon, in the first year that Darius is reigning as king over the Chaldeans.

Daniel was reading in the books of Israel, and read in the book of the prophet Jeremiah, that 70 years would pass after the destruction of Jerusalem for Judah to be in exile.  The end of those 70 years was near, so Daniel began to pray.

Such a long, heart-felt prayer of confession, and adoration, and petition!!  (Oh, read the whole prayer several times!)

O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keeps His commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from Your commandments and rules.

We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name …  To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame … because of the treachery that they have committed against you.  To us, O LORD belongs open shame … because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God. 

And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us… by bringing about this great calamity.

Yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our god. We have not turned from our iniquities and gained insight by your truth. We have not obeyed… We have sinned, we have done wickedly.

O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your Holy hill, because, for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers. Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us!

Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for Your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate.

O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by Your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive, O Lord, pay attention and act.

Delay not, for Your own sake, O my God, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.

And while he was praying, confessing his sin and the sin of his people Israel, and presenting his plea before the LORD for the holy hill of God… while he was speaking, the man, Gabriel came to him. 

“O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy, a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you (for you are greatly loved) understanding of the vision.

It was not just 70 years, but 470 years about the people and the holy city, when God would put an end to sin and atone for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness. 

And he gives Danial more specific amounts of time until “the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

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(WOW. What a prayer. Oh, to pray that way for myself and others, my fellow believers and the unsaved!!)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 257

Sep15

Day 257 – Reading – Daniel 4 – 6

Read the Scriptures.  Meditate on what the prophet is saying.

Day 257.  Daniel 4. 

This is an interesting chapter. It’s told by Nebuchadnezzar himself.  It’s his “testimony.” He prefaces his story with praise to God, then, after telling the story of his sin of pride and its consequences, he ends the chapter praising the LORD God again.

So far, the Babylonian king has praised Daniel’s God only after seeing a couple of miracles.

  1. After Daniel revealed the king’s dream and it’s meaning, Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel, “Truly YOUR God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mystery.”
  2. Then, after Daniel’s three friends thrived in the fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed, “Blessed be THE GOD OF Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego…..”  “for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

Now the king praises God for what He has done for him, personally.  “It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done FOR ME.”

And he begins his story …

I was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace, when I saw a dream that made me afraid.

The king tells Belteshazzar (Daniel’s Babylonian name) the dream that scared him, and Daniel tells the meaning.

This is no golden statue with the king as the head.  It’s about a great fallen tree with only a stump left, and a man turned into a beast for seven years.  Daniel tells the king that he is BOTH. And this will happen to the king UNTIL HE KNOWS … that the LORD God is Sovereign over all the earth and the kings that rule there.

Daniel cautioned king Nebuchadnezzar to change his ways, that maybe God would delay the curse.

But no.  A year later, old Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of his royal palace…

(Wow, don’t kings get into trouble by doing that! Think of David.)

… and he looked around at the great city of Babylon and said, “Is not THIS great Babylon, which I have built by MY mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of MY majesty?”

While he was speaking these words, a Voice from Heaven threw down that curse. He would become a beast out in the field. He will eat grass like an ox, “UNTIL YOU KNOW THAT THE MOST HIGH RULES THE KINGDOM OF MEN AND GIVES IT TO WHOM HE WILL.”

And for seven years, the great king Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of the dwelling of men and ate grass like an ox. His hair grew as long as eagle feathers, and his nails were like a bird’s claws.   YIKES!!

(Definitely, PRIDE goes before a FALL!)

Then King Nebuchadnezzar resumes his story….

“At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned. I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored Him who lives forever…. for He does according to His will among the host of heaven AND among the inhabitants of the earth. And NONE can stay his hand or ask Him, ‘What have you done?'”

And, when his reason returned to him, so did the glory of his kingdom and his majesty and splendor. His counsellors and lords sought him as before, and his kingdom was established again.

But there was ONE difference.

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the king of heaven, for all His works are right and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride, He is able to humble.”  (Just ask me!)

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Daniel 5.

This chapter takes place OVER 20 YEARS LATER, after King Nebuchadnezzar died.  His grandson, Belshazzar (similar to Daniel’s Babylonian name), is now king.  He has NOT learned the lesson of God’s sovereignty, but is about to.

The armies of the Medo-Persians have Babylon under siege. The Babylonian Empire (like Jerusalem long ago) is about to END.  Belshazzar is holding a great feast as a morale builder for a thousand of his lords (officials).  They are drinking wine as if there is no tomorrow … which there isn’t for them all.

Then, in his debauchery, Belshazzar calls for the holy gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar stole from the Temple of the LORD.  He passes them among all his officials, his wives, and his concubines to drink from. And as they drank from them, Belshazzar praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Immediately, THE FINGERS OF A HUMAN HAND began writing on the plaster of the wall … right in front of the king.  “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.”

The king saw it!  The blood left his face.  His limbs gave way.  His knees knocked together.

‘BRING THE ENCHANTERS AND THE ASTROLOGERS,” he shouted. “I will reward greatly anyone who can read and interpret the writing.  But none could.

Then the queen reminded the king of Daniel, and Belshazzar called for him.

Daniel does not like this king. He doesn’t greet him with the normal “O King live forever.”  Instead, he abruptly says, “I don’t want your gifts. But I WILL read the writing and tell you what it means.”

But first, Daniel reminds him of Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and fall and eventual acknowledgment of the LORD Most High, which Belshazzar has NOT done.  Instead, this wicked king has praised false gods, and has not honored “the God in whose hand IS YOUR BREATH.”

“The words on the wall mean that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.  You have been “weighed in the balances” and found wanting.  Your kingdom now is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

THAT VERY NIGHT, October 16, 539 BC, Belshazzar was killed.

And Darius, the Mede, received the kingdom.

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Daniel 6. 

Darius arranged his kingdom, not with lords and wise men, but with three presidents (one was Daniel) and under them, 120 satraps to manage the kingdom, so the king would suffer no loss.

But the two presidents and the satraps were jealous of the Hebrew “exile” and sought ways to trap him and end his life. They convinced the king to make a law that people could only worship HIM for a month. The busy king agreed, not knowing this would endanger his favorite president.

The law went into force. Daniel continued to pray to God three times each day.  The satraps tattled on him.  The king was distressed, but his law was firm, and sadly, he allowed Daniel to be led to the LIONS’ DEN.

“May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” he called after Daniel.  Then the king went into his palace and FASTED all night.

At dawn, the king got up and rushed to the lions’ den.  “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions????”

“O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him. And  also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”

The king was exceedingly glad.  He took Daniel out, and threw those men who accused him into the den (with their wives and children!).  Before they reached the bottom, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones to pieces (eating them).

And Darius sent out a notice to “all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell on the earth.”  “Peace to you. I make a decree that in all my royal dominion, people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

for He is the living God, enduring forever;

His kingdom shall never be destroyed,

And His dominion shall be to the end.

He delivers and rescues;

He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.”

So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius the Mede and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 256

Sep13

Day 256 – Reading – Daniel 1 – 3.

Read Today’s Scriptures.  What do you see in Daniel that is new?

Daniel.

The book of Daniel covers the life of the prophet, from a teenager to an old man, and bridges the entire 70 years of captivity.  Daniel was taken captive from Jerusalem (along with his three friends) in Nebuchadnezzar’s first deportation. (Ezekiel went in the second.) (Ezekiel calls Daniel both righteous and wise.)  He was a prophet of God through two world empires. (Babylon, Medo-Persia) 

God, through Daniel, revealed to kings the meaning of their visions and dreams, even showing world powers way beyond their years.  What Revelation is to the New Testament, Daniel is to the Old Testament.

Daniel 1.

Daniel is taken to Babylon (the land of Shinar) along with “SOME of the vessels of the Temple.” (Do you remember King Hezekiah showing off all the treasures of the Temple to emissaries from Babylon, in Isaiah 39:1-6?  Nebuchadnezzar will take all of them in his second siege, and will even melt the precious metal from the Temple to take away in the final siege.)  These golden vessels were placed in the temple treasury of the Babylonian god, Bel, or Marduk. 

Next, Nebuchadnezzar designated some young men of the royal and noble Jewish families to be trained to work in his courts. He sent the chief of the eunuchs** to train them in the wisdom and learning of Babylon, deportment in royal ways, informed of the literature and language of the Chaldeans. They must also be without blemish, handsome, and healthy looking.

Among the ones chosen were Daniel and his three friends.  The chief of the eunuchs** was tasked to train them for three years. First, he changed their Jewish names to Babylonian ones.

**Does this mean Daniel and the others were made eunuchs?

Daniel resolved to keep himself from being defiled by pagan foods.  He requested of the chief of the eunuch to be able to eat only Kosher food. The man gave him (and his friends) ten days.  At the end, they were more healthy-looking than all the others, so he allowed them to continue with that diet.

God also gave them extra learning and skill in literature and wisdom.  And Daniel had special understanding of all visions and dreams.   (He reminds me of Joseph, in Genesis.)

At then end of the 3-year training, they all were brought before Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel and his friends were shown to be the “top of the class.,” better even than the older court magicians and enchanters!

(God honors those who honor Him!)

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Daniel 2.

Then came a test.  King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. (No, not like Martin Luther King Jr.)  It bothered him terribly.  He called all  his magicians, enchanters, and sorcerers to TELL him his dream and then INTERPRET his dream.

Of course none of those imposters could tell the King what he dreamed.  They were used to HIM telling THEM the dream, and they’d make up an interpretation.  

  1. Wise men: We can’t tell you YOUR dream, O King.  Tell it to us and we’ll tell you what it means.
  2. King Neb.:  NO!  You must tell me my dream, or…or… or you are imposters!!  And if so, you are dead men!
  3. Wise men: But, we can’t!
  4. King Neb.:  GRRRRRRR!!  LET ALL THE WISE MEN OF BABYLON BE DESTROYED!!

Wise men, Daniel and his friends, heard the decree to kill all of them. He went to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, and inquired with prudence and discretion what the hoop-la was about.  After he was told, Daniel requested an appointment with the King, that HE might show the King HIS dream.

THEN, Daniel (wise man that he was) asked his three friends to pray with him all night that God would show him the mystery of the king’s dream.   

AND THE MYSTERY WAS REVEALED TO DANIEL IN A VISION.

Next morning, Daniel went to King Nebuchadnezzar and calmly told him the dream and the interpretation, after first telling the pagan king that it was the JEWISH GOD who’d revealed it to him.

  • You saw a great image and it was scary.
  • From top to bottom, it was made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and iron mixed with clay.
  • A stone struck the image on its feet and broke them to pieces, then the whole thing fell and the wind carried it all away.
  • The stone became an unstoppable Kingdom forever.

Yes, cried the king. That’s right.  What does it mean?

And Daniel prophetically told him of the coming world empires after Babylon, represented by the golden head:  silver chest and arms = Medo-Persian, bronze middle and thighs = Greece, iron legs = Rome, and mixed iron and clay = revived Rome. And the stone?   Christ destroying the fourth empire and establishing the Millennian. 

King Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed by Daniel’s God telling the future.  And he gave Daniel gifts and made him ruler over the whole province, and became chief prefect over all the king’s men.  He also placed Daniel’s three friends in high places.

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Daniel 3.

Perhaps the king got so enamored with himself as the “head of gold,” that he had a huge 90-foot golden statue made in his likeness.  Not just the head, but the whole thing was gold.  He had a dedication party where he invited everybody who was somebody to it.  When the music began to play, they all would fall down and worship the image.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?  Um, no. As obedient Jews, they would not worship the king’s golden statue.  (Their ancestors had worshiped a few golden calves, and see what happened. Other idols in Jerusalem had caused the fall of that great city and the ruin of the magnificent Temple of God!  Bow to a golden statue?  NO WAY!)

  • The jealous ministers tattled on them.
  • Nebuchadnezzar gave them a second chance, and started up the music.
  • The three stood firm shaking their heads.
  • Then the infuriated king threw the miscreants into the blazing, hot furnace.  So there!
  • But wait. 
  • The three walked around in the furnace as if it were a Yogurt Land.  Their ropes were gone.  And… a fourth person was with them looking very much like “the Son of God.”

Nebuchadnezzar ordered them out, and quizzed them.  After all not a thread or hair was scorched, and they didn’t even smell of smoke.

“Our faithful God kept us.”

Now it was the king to stand in awe. “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has delivered his servants, who trusted Him and disobeyed the king’s command, and yielded up their lives rather than worship him. 

So King Nebuchadnezzar made a NEW law than anyone who speaks against their God, would be killed and their houses ruined.   And once again, the three were promoted.

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 255

Sep12

Day 255 – Reading – Joel 1 – 3

Read the Scriptures.  Meditate on what the prophet JOEL is saying.

Joel 1.

Joel’s message is timeless and applicable to any age. God judges sin, no matter what kind, or when. Joel calls for repentance, as in “rend your hearts and not your garments.”  Joel refers often to “the Day of the LORD.” which speaks of God’s wrath and judgment on sin anywhere and in any time.   

In this chapter, it’s probably wise to see the invasion of locusts as ACTUAL locusts, rather than invading armies.  And drought is another calamity Israel is facing. Not only do these affect the people personally, but there there is no grain for the Priests to offer.  Both vines and fig trees are affected – the very last things that locusts will eat. 

Joel calls for a fast to the LORD. This horrendous agricultural devastation is just a hint of the “Day of the LORD” to come in the future.

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Joel 2.

Joel uses the locust plague and the drought as a metaphor of the coming invasion of Judah, and even farther, the future Day of the LORD. 

“…the day of the LORD is coming: it is near. A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been seen, nor will be again…”

God is so gracious!  Even in the coming invasion, He gives Judah (and us) a chance to repent! 

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your HEARTS and not your garments.”

“Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster.  WHO KNOWS? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him.”

(No, the people did not repent, and yes, the LORD did send destruction of Judah and Jerusalem. But after the time He designated, God wanted to “restore” them.)

“Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given the early rain for you vindication; He has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before.”

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter. My great army, which I sent among you.  You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the Name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.”

Then, he gives a marvelous prophecy that Peter later picks up in his sermon at Pentecost.

“And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.  EVEN on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out My Spirit.”

“And it shall come to pass that EVERYONE who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

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Joel 3.

Joel writes of the time when the nation of Israel will be regathered to the Land.  And He will gather the other nations to a final confrontation at the battle of Armageddon.  God will judge the nations.

“Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plows into sword, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I AM A WARRIOR.”

“Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.  Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. (See Rev. 14:20)  The vats overflow, for their evil is great.  Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LRD is near in the valley of decision.”

“The LORD ROARS from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake.

“But the LORD is a refuge to His people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.

“And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; AND A FOUNTAIN SHALL COME FORTH FROM THE HOUSE OF THE LORD AND WATER THE VALLEY OF SHITTIM.” (See Ezekiel 47)

“Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations.”

Amen!

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(Thank You, LORD, for Joel, and the promises of restoration that reach even to our day: the time of the Gentiles. And, O, may MY heart repent of my sins, and be softened toward You.)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 254

Sep11

Day 254 – Reading – EZEKIEL 46 – 48

Read the Scriptures.  Meditate on what the prophet is saying.

EZEKIEL 46.

New/old rules for worship and offerings are covered here. The priest will offer the sacrifices and grain offering to the LORD as always, but the prince will have a part too (such as supplying some of the offerings). He shall enter the vestibule (inner court) in front of the Temple, do his thing, and leave by the same way. All the others who come to worship will enter one gate and leave by another. 

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Ezekiel 47.

Ezekiel, in his vision, is now brought to the door of the temple. He sees water leaking from below the threshold, south of the altar. (???)  Ezekiel is led out of the NORTH gate and is walked around the outside of the Temple compound to the SOUTH side.  There, flowing eastward, he sees the trickling water. 

The measuring man measures out 1,000 cubits (approx. 1,500 feet), and the water is “ankle deep.”  Another 1,000 cubits, and the water flowing out is now “knee deep.”  And 1,000 cubits more, and the water is “waist-deep.” After 1,000 more cubits, it was a river he could not walk though and deep enough to swim in. (Can you picture that?)

Then amazing words from the measuring man, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah (ravine), and enters the sea (Dead Sea): when the water flows into the sea, the water will become FRESH! And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be many fish!  And fishermen will cast nets! (But there will be marshes for salt.) Fruit trees will grow there!   The fruit will be for food, and the leaves for healing!  WOW!

Then the man gives the boundaries of the Millennial Israel.  Damascus, the East side of the Sea, the Brook of Egypt, and the Great Sea (Mediterranean).   See the map below.

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Ezekiel 48.

A Map of how the tribal lands will be divided during the Millennial Kingdom. 

Seven of the tribes will be located in the north, followed by the “holy portion” in the middle with the Temple.  Finally, the five remaining tribes will have their land in the south.

On the walls of the CITY in the middle (not the Temple compound), there will be three gates facing north with the names of 3 tribes (Reuben, Judah, and Levi). 

On the east side of the city, the three gates are named Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan.

The three south-facing gates of the city will be named Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun.

And on the west side of the city, the gates are named Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.

NOTE:  All the unconditional promises that God had made to Israel in 1) the Abrahamic Covenant; 2) the Priestly Covenant, 3) the Davidic Covenant, and 4) the New Covenant have here been fulfilled

The departed glory has returned, and God is dwelling again in the midst of His people.  And the name of THIS city, from that time on, shall be YHWH Shammah, “The LORD is there.”  

Amen!

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(And then, the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, also with twelve gates with the tribes’ names. But that final city will have NO Temple, because the LORD GOD and the LAMB are the temple. See Revelation 21:10-20.)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 253

Sep10

Day 253 – Reading – EZEKIEL 43 – 45

Read the Scriptures.  Meditate on what the prophet is saying.

EZEKIEL 43.

Another glorious vision! 

Just like Ezekiel saw by the Chebar canal when God called him. 

Just like he saw in the other vision, when God left the temple and the city.

NOW, though, Ezekiel saw the GLORY OF THE LORD returning to the city through the Eastern gate, then, entering, and filling the Temple!

And God spoke to him, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever.”  

And then an assignment:  “As for you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities.  And if they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them in detail…

  • the design of the temple,
  • its arrangement,
  • its exits and its entrances,
  • the whole design,
  • all its statutes and its whole design,
  • and all its laws.

Then God reveals the details of the new altar, how it is made, how it will be sanctified and consecrated, and then how He will accept them and their offerings.

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Chapter 44.

Now God takes Ezekiel in that vision back to the Eastern Gateway to the Temple (not the outer gate, see illustration in yesterday’s study), and shows him that it was now SHUT. This is because the GLORY of the LORD had passed through to enter the Temple.  Only the “prince” may sit in it to eat the bread before the LORD. 

NOTE: The “prince” mentioned here and in other chapters is NOT Jesus.  Our Savior is always portrayed as the King (or Lamb).  This person could be an administrator of the Millennial Kingdom, representing the King (the Lord Jesus Christ). He is not a priest as the Messiah will be.

NOTE: This “gateway” is NOT the sealed eastern gate of the modern city of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel fell on his face before the Glory of the LORD, and heard his instructions to tell to the rebellious Israelites back in Babylon. “Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I shall tell you concerning the statutes of the temple of the LORD and all its laws.”

“O house of Israel, enough of all your abominations, in admitting foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, into my sanctuary, profaning my temple. You have broken my covenant. You have not kept charge of my holy things. And the Levites, who went after idols, shall bear the punishment. They shall not come near me to serve me as priest or touch any of the holy things.  They shall only keep charge of the temple and its gates.”

God singled out only the Levitical Priests who were “sons of Zadok” (who was faithful to David and Solomon) to work with the holy things, and minister before Him in this Millennial Temple.

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Ezekiel 45.

During the Millennial Kingdom, the allotments of the land to the tribes will be different from those in Joshua’s time. It will be orderly, with horizontal bands of territory across the land from top to bottom. (We’ll see these in Chapter 48). Seven tribes will be located north of the central section, which is for the Temple, the prince, and the Levites. Five tribes will be located south of it.

(Yes, I know it’s different, but it’s orderly.)

God continues to tell Ezekiel what he is to relate to the people. He describes the prince’s property around the Temple and his duties. He cautions the civil leaders (princes) against their former sins of greed. He sets just weights and measurements for all their dealings, as well as for the offering amounts. And He describes to Ezekiel what to do for the various feasts.

In the Millennial Kingdom, only four “feasts” (instead of seven) will be celebrated. They are: the New Year, Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Booths.