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2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 363-364

Dec29

   Day 363-364—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the LETTERS of the Apostles.

NOTE: USUALLY, Sunday’s and Monday’s studies are posted TOGETHER,  but because these readings are so long, I’ll post them SEPARATELY, today AND Monday. 

Day 363, Part A – Revelation 6 – 11 (Aspects of the Great Tribulation, the seven seals, 144K of Israel sealed, seven trumpets, two witnesses)

Revelation 6.

When Jesus, the Lamb, opens the first seals on the scroll, we see the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse emerge, one after another, bringing antichrists, war, famine, and death to the earth. The fifth seal reveals those who had already been martyred, crying for God to avenge their deaths. The sixth seal brings great earthquakes and changes in the heavens, causing the people on Earth to cry and hide in terror.

Revelation 7.

Then there is a pause while an angel of God descends and “seals” 144K of Israel (12K from each tribe) to give them authority and protection to proclaim salvation saved in the Tribulation, having “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Revelation 8.

When Jesus, the Lamb, opened the seventh seal, there was absolute silence in heaven for a half hour. Then, an angel came to stand by the altar with a gold censer filled with incense and “the prayers of God’s people.” The smoke from it rose before God.  Then, the angel filled the censer with fire and hurled it on the Earth. There were peals of thunder, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Next, angels with seven trumpets began to blow them, one at a time. At the first trumpet, hail and fire (and blood) were thrown onto the earth burning up a third of the vegetation. The second blast sent a vast burning mountain into the sea, turning a third into blood and killing a portion of sea creatures. With the third trumpet, a great star fell like a torch onto a third of the rivers, poisoning them. At the fourth trumpet, the sun, moon, and stars lost a third of their light.  “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth!“

Revelation 9.

At the fifth trumpet, John saw a star (angel) who was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.  He opened the shaft, and there arose from it smoke like a great furnace that darkened the sun. And from it came creatures like locusts and scorpions to kill and torment the people on earth for five months. (the 144K were spared this)  People longed for death but couldn’t. These creatures had a “king.” It was Apollyon himself.

At the sixth trumpet blast, God released the four angels, bound up at the Euphrates River. They were released and went in four directions, killing a third of mankind with plagues. 

“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, DID NOT REPENT of the works of their hands, or give up worshiping demons and idols, nor did they repent of their murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, or thefts.”

Revelation 10.

After that, a mighty angel descended from the clouds and set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. In his hand was a little scroll, opened.  And he roared like a lion or many peals of thunder, reading from the scroll.  But a voice told John NOT TO WRITE DOWN what it said.  Then the voice told John to go over, take the scroll, and eat it (like Ezekiel did in 3:1). It would be sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach.  John obeyed.  

Revelation 11.

John is then told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.  He is also told about God’s TWO WITNESSES, clothed in sackcloth, who will prophesy for three and a half years.  No one can harm them for that time. They will have the power to stop it from raining during that time, turn the earth’s waters into blood, and strike the Earth with all kinds of plagues. 

(Many people believe, from the description of their powers, that these two men are Elijah and Moses.)

At the end of those 3.5 years, the “beast that rises from the bottomless pit” will kill them.  All the world will see. Their dead bodies will lay in the street. People will refuse to bury them but rather rejoice over them, make merry, and exchange presents at their death BECAUSE they had been a torment to them. However, after 3.5 days, a breath of life from God will enter them and they will arise.  And God will call them from Heaven, “Come up here!”  And they will go up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watch. 

At that, a great earthquake will cause a tenth of the Great city to fall, killing 7K people and terrifying the rest. 

Finally, the seventh trumpet is blown. And, as a prelude, loud voices in heaven proclaim, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, an He shall reign forever and ever!”

Everyone falls on their faces and worships God, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for You have taken Your great power and begun to reign….” 

Then….. God’s temple in heaven was opened. The Ark of His covenant was seen within His temple!

And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. And a great sign appeared in heaven……….

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Day 364, Part B – Revelation 12 – 18  === See tomorrow.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 362

Dec28

   Day 362—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying THE REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST to John.

Day 362 – Revelation 1 – 5 (Meeting the reigning Jesus, His messages to 7 churches, into the throne room.)

John, an old man, and the last surviving apostle, is in exile on the prison island of Patmos (think Alcatraz) for his faithful preaching of the gospel. The churches he wrote to before are feeling the persecution and have begun to decline. This is a message of hope.

Revelation promises a blessing for reading it and ends with a warning about tampering with it.

1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”

22:18-19 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

Revelation 1.

A glorious introduction reveals the author and the recipient of the “revelation” letter.  It describes the Eternal triune God who was, is, and is to come. It depicts Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, and ruler of kings on earth, the One who LOVES us, has FREED us from our sins, and MADE us a kingdom and priests.  TO HIM BE GLORY AND DOMINION FOREVER AND EVER!  And He is coming soon, in the clouds, as he left.

John explains he was “in the Spirit” when he received this revelation and ascended to heaven.

(It makes me think of Paul’s experience in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, except Paul was NOT allowed to speak of what he saw.)

In John’s experience, Jesus told him to ‘write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches.” 

Then John attempts to describe the glorified Jesus Christ.  I saw “One like a son of man, clothed with a long robe with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.”

WHEN I SAW HIM, I FELL AT HIS FEET AS THOUGH DEAD.

And what were Jesus’ first words to His beloved disciple?  “Fear not. I am the living one. I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore.” He tells John what to write: “The things that you have seen, those that are, and those that are to take place after this.”

Then, Jesus begins his messages to each of the seven churches in Asia Minor, listed in the route the “book” would be circulated, beginning with Ephesus (John’s church).

Revelation 2 – 3.

There is a pattern to the messages. First, Jesus identifies Himself in a certain way. Then, He lists the good things (if any) that are found in that church. Next, He raises a concern – what has gone wrong in that church, either with their own hearts or with the entrance of some false doctrine. Lastly, Jesus promises them a reward if they “conquer” (overcome the sin/threat and persevere to the end).

He does this with Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.  Smyrna is a church under deep persecution and poverty, and Jesus states nothing wrong with them, while He says nothing good about Laodicea, giving only a warning to change while there is still time. 

Revelation 4.

John dutifully writes every word he hears, and then he looks up and sees an open door into heaven! (WOW!) He hears a voice saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place.” 

IMMEDIATELY, John, in the Spirit, was IN THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD!  And oh, what a sight that was.  He tries to describe the One seated on the throne and the throne in terms of radiant jewels – jasper, carnelian, emerald.

He describes 24 elders (maybe representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles) clothed in white with golden crowns.  He tries to describe the sounds and sights – flashes of lightning, peels of thunder, torches of fire, and in front, a reflecting pavement of crystal-clear glass.  There were “strange-looking living creatures” around the thrown who never stopped singing, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME!”

Everyone falls on their faces and worships Him, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Revelation 5.

Then John saw that the One on the throne was holding a scroll.  And angel shouted, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals?”

No one was found in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, and John began to weep loudly.  But one of the elders said, “Weep no more; behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that HE can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

But instead of a Lion, John saw a Lamb with a bloody throat as if it had been killed.  It was Jesus, and HE took the scroll.  When that happened, all the creatures and elders sang a new song.

“Worthy are YOU to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood, You ransomed people for God, from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

At that, all around the throne and in heaven, myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands of angels broke into praise and worship.

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory and blessing.”   “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 

And all fell down and worshiped.

(Can you imagine being John??)

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 272

Sep28

    Day 272—We are in the NINTH month of Bible reading with more of Israel’s history and the end of the book of NEHEMIAH, with a PSALM.

    Day 272 – Nehemiah 11 – 13, Psalm 126 (leaders in Jerusalem, the dedication of the wall with choirs, Nehemiah leaves & returns & scolds people)

Nehemiah 11.  This chapter lists the secular and religious people living inside Jerusalem and tells how 1 in 10 were chosen by lot to live within the city’s walls. 

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Nehemiah 12.  This chapter begins by listing the priests and Levites who had returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua/Joshua and Nehemiah and Ezra. 

Next, the completed wall of Jerusalem, which Nehemiah was sent to rebuild, was dedicated in a large and joyful ceremony.  (With gladness, thanksgiving, singing; with cymbals, harps and lyres.)  The leaders of Judah were put up on the wall, and two great choirs were appointed to give thanks.  Ezra, the scribe, led the procession up to the temple. They sang and rejoiced, “for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.”

Men were appointed over the storerooms, contributions, first fruits, and tithes to gather into them portions required by the Law for the priests and Levites.  “And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and gatekeepers as well as the Levites and priests.”

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Nehemiah 13.  On that day of dedication, they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people.  This time, they discovered the law that said no Ammonite or Moabite (descendants of Lot) should be allowed in the assembly of God. This was because of how they had treated Israel when they came from Egypt. (Numbers 22-23).  As soon as the people heard this, they separated from Israel those of foreign descent.

NOTE: It appears that after this, Nehemiah returned to the service of cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. He had been gone for two years.  While he was back in Persia, things began to fall apart. The priest, Eliashib, who was over the chambers for grain & offering storage, had cleaned out one of the larger ones and made a room for Tobiah. (Remember him? Arch foe of the Jews, back in Nehemiah 1-8) 

Other things had happened, too. The offerings for the Levites had fallen off, so they had to go work their farms outside the city. All kinds of work and buying & selling were done on the Sabbath, which had caused God’s anger in the past.  And, the people had begun intermarrying again with women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, so much so that their children couldn’t speak or understand Hebrew. 

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Nehemiah 13.  Nehemiah (after about 9 years, asked King Artaxerxes if he could return to Jerusalem to set things right. He was given approval.

He first threw Tobiah and all his furniture out of the temple storage chamber and had it cleaned.  Then, he confronted all the officials of Jerusalem and asked why the tithes had stopped coming in.  Soon, the people were bringing their tithes of grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. Nehemiah chose reliable men to distribute it to the Levites.  (The prophet Malachi – which we’ll read tomorrow – also prophesied against these people for neglecting this very thing.)

Next, Nehemiah raged against the people for buying and selling in the city on the Sabbath. “What is this evil thing you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers act this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and this city?”  He regulated the opening and closing of the city gates, closing them at the beginning of the Sabbath and not reopening them until afterward.  When merchants camped outside the walls to sell there, he chased them off. 

Nehemiah got very angry with those who were intermarrying with pagans. He confronted them, cursed them, beat some of them, and pulled out their hair.  He made them take an oath that they would not give their daughters to pagans or take women from them. 

 “Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin on account of such woman?. He was beloved by his God and God made him King over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.  Shall you do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women???

Even a grandson of the high priest had married a daughter of Sanballat (Remember him?).  Nehemiah chased him out. 

“Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work.”  Remember me, O my God, for good.

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NOTE: We don’t know if Nehemiah ever returned to Babylon/Persia.  And even though we study the prophet Malachi tomorrow, the book of Nehemiah was the final book in the original Old Testament.  It was the end of the Biblical history of the Jews for about 400 years until the next prophet came saying… “Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (A voice crying in the wilderness: John the Baptist)

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Psalm 126. 

"When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, 
we were like those who dream. 
Then our mouth was filled with laughter 
and our tongue with shouts of joy; 
then they said among the nations, 
'The LORD has done great things for them.'  
The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad."

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 271

Sep27

    Day 271—We are in the NINTH month of Bible reading with more of Israel’s history and the book of NEHEMIAH.

    Day 271 – Nehemiah 8 – 10 (Joy at the reading of the Law, Feast of Booths celebrated, confession, and commitment)

Nehemiah 8. After the wall was finished, and the people were living in their towns, in the seventh month, the men, women, and children of the age to understand gathered in the square just inside the Water Gate on the east side of the city and south of the Temple.

They gathered together to hear Ezra read the “Book of the Law of Moses.” (1st five books of the Bible, the “Torah”). “Bless the LORD, the great God,” Ezra said, and all the people answered, “Amen, amen.” Then they lifted their hands, bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD. 

(I should do this before I read God’s word each morning, too!)

Standing on a raised wooden platform, with Levites on either side, Ezra read from early morning until midday. The Levites helped the people to understand the Law while they listened. The people were attentive, hearing like it was the first time, and they wept.

“This day is holy to the LORD your God,” said Nehemiah. “Go, eat the fat, drink sweet wine, and share with the needy.  Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Then, they gathered again the next day to study the words of the law. They heard about the Festival of Booths/Tabernacles and realized they hadn’t obeyed that command for quite a while.  Ezra told them to gather branches and build booths, for they would celebrate the week unto the LORD. (It was to remember the days they’d lived in temporary shelters those 40 years in the wilderness.)  And they kept the feast, after which there was a “solemn assembly.” (The Day of Atonement)

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Nehemiah 9.  The people assembled, fasting and in sackcloth. They confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.  They stood and heard the reading of the Law for a quarter of the day, and for another quarter, they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.

Then, in verses 4 – 37, the Levites stood on the stairs and cried to the LORD their God. Then they commanded the people to  “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting.”

In worship and confession of sin, the Levites recited God’s mighty redemptive acts on Israel’s behalf, from creation through His promises to their forefathers, His faithfulness and care of them despite their sin and rebellion, and His offers of grace and mercy. “You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold your Manna and gave them water.”  

They praised God for bringing them into this good land and giving them prosperity but confessed that when they were filled with His great goodness, they became disobedient, rebelled, and committed great blasphemies. He had given them to their enemies (in Judges), but, when they cried to Him, He had sent them saviors and rest. However, soon, they were back into their old sinful ways.

God had warned them for many years by His prophets, but they would not listen. Finally, He sent them as captives to foreign lands.  But even there, He had spared a remnant. 

“Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to You that has come upon us.  You have dealt faithfully, and we have acted wickedly.  

They confessed that despite being in the land God had promised to their fathers, they were slaves. SLAVES! The land’s rich yield all went to the kings God set over them….because of their sins. Those kings now rule over their bodies and livestock as they please.

“Because of all this, the Levites prayed, “We make a firm covenant in writing” to obey God and not repeat the sins of our fathers.”

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Nehemiah 10. Like John Hancock boldly signing our own Declaration of Independence, Nehemiah, the governor, was the first to sign the seal of that “firm covenant.” Then came the names of the priests, Levites, and others. Surprisingly, Ezra’s name is not listed. All the rest of the people entered an oath (and a curse for breaking it) to walk in God’s law, to observe and do all the commandments, plus His rules and statutes. They also “obligated themselves” to bring yearly tithes and offerings to the house of God. “We will not neglect the house of our God.”

 

(Fresh starts, vows, and commitments are so wonderful. I wonder how long they – like we – can keep them.) 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 270

Sep26

    Day 270—We are in the NINTH month of Bible reading with more of Israel’s history and the book of NEHEMIAH

    Day 270 – Nehemiah 6 – 7 (Nehemiah threatened, wall finished, genealogies)

Nehemiah 6. Unable to get the building of the wall stopped with military force because the people kept weapons with them as they worked, Sanballat and Tobiah tried a new method.  They sent a letter inviting Nehemiah to come away for a little conference down by the coast. 

He saw through their murderous plot and said, “No thanks. I’m busy right now.”  Not to be discouraged, the conniving group sent four more invitations. (Hey, did it get lost in the mail? Come join us!”)  But Nehemiah’s answer was always the same. Nope.

Next, Sanballat sent him “an open letter.” This suggested that many people had read it and agreed with it.  The letter claimed Nehemiah planned to make himself king, and they were building the wall to revolt against Persia. Artaxerxes will hear about it and send an army.  “So come, let us counsel together.”

But again, Nehemiah saw through their attempt to get him alone to kill him.  He and Artaxerxes had a deal. When the project was done, Nehemiah would return to resume his position as cupbearer. The king trusted him.  Nehemiah knew these were attempts to keep the wall from being finished, and he prayed, “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

Finally, Tobiah and Sanballat hired a false prophet (actually a friend of Nehemiah’s) to tempt him, out of fear for his life, to go into the temple to hide because the plot was to kill him that night.  Well, Nehemiah was not afraid except to go into the temple.  “Should a man as I run away?  And what man such as I could go into the temple AND LIVE??” 

And he prayed, “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things they did, and also the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.”

And so, the wall was finished!! After being in ruins for nearly 100 years, the wall around the holy city was completed in 52 days.  And the enemies around Jerusalem WERE AFRAID.  They knew God had helped them.

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Nehemiah 7.  Then, after Nehemiah had finished all the gates and doors in the wall, he put his brother Hanani in charge of the city, telling him not to open the gates until the sun was well up, and to close and lock them in the evening, and post guards. The city was “wide and large,” and few people lived inside the walls. And their homes were not yet rebuilt. 

Then, Nehemiah found the record of the people who planned to return, written by Ezra in Babylon. Nehemiah updated it to the ones who had actually made it to the land, 42,360 besides servants (7,337). Some people could not trace their lineage, although they considered themselves Jews and they were included. He also listed the many gifts that were given, mainly for the upkeep of the Temple and those employed there. (Worth millions today.)

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 258

Sep14

    Day 258—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and future visions in DANIEL’S prophecy.

    Day 258 – Daniel 7 – 9 (Beginning of Daniel’s visions)

Daniel 7. Daniel has interpreted dreams for the kings of Babylon. Now, God sends him dreams of his own, which he finds much harder to interpret (as do we). In these dreams, animals usually represent kingdoms, and the animal’s horns represent leaders in those kingdoms.

Daniel talks about two dreams/visions he had in the first three years of Belshazzar’s 20-year reign. First, he saw the great sea (usually representing Gentile nations) being stirred by the four winds. Out of that swirling mass came four fantastic beasts (like those represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s statue dream.

They were a lion with eagle’s wings that became like a man (Babylon), a bear with three ribs in its mouth (Medo-Persia), a leopard with four wings and four heads (Greece), and finally, the fourth beast (Roman Empire), which was more terrifying than all three with huge lion’s teeth and ten “horns.” Three horns were prominent, but one small horn was the most powerful. It had eyes and a mouth like a man and spoke blasphemous words (against God & His dwelling place – Rev. 13:5-6) (the antichrist).

Then Daniel saw a vision of the Ancient of Days (God) with myriads of angels serving Him.  He sat in judgment, and the books were opened. The beasts were seen, destroyed, and burned with fire.  Then another appeared like the Son of Man (Christ). He was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom in which all the peoples, nations, and languages would serve him forever. 

Daniel was so overwhelmed and confused that he asked one of the beings standing there for an interpretation. The being explained the beasts and, particularly, the fourth one, and his defeat by the Ancient of Days. Daniel heard details but he mostly didn’t understand…. except that God and His people “win” in the end.

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Daniel 8.  Two years later, Daniel is given another vision. (Belshazzar is still the Babylonian king.)  He saw himself in the Medio-Persian capital of Susa, about 250 miles from Babylon.  He saw there a ram with two horns (the second one, the more powerful. (Medes & Persians). It charged (conquered) west, north, and south.

As Daniel watched, a male goat with a conspicuous horn (Alexander the Great of Greece) came from the west, struck, killed, and trampled the ram.  The goat became exceedingly “great,” but at the peak of his power, his horn was broken, and four horns (his four generals) replaced him.

Of the four, a little one became great and moved toward “the glorious land” (Israel). This little but massively powerful one (Antiochus Epiphanes, and later the Antichrist, as in chapter 11) took over the sanctuary and made burnt offerings, including one that defiled it. His “reign of terror” is 2,300 days, or 6 1/3  years – the rule of Antiochus until he dies. (After this, Judas Maccabeus led the people to clean the temple. Hanukkah.)

Again, Daniel asks for the interpretation, and another being – Gabriel, this time – explains. “The vision is for the time of the end.” He explains the Medes & Persians, Greece and Alexander, his four generals, and the great one “of boldface who understands riddles.”  (??)  In the dual understanding, Antiochus and Antichrist are combined, the latter even rising against the saints and the Prince of princes.  And he will be killed – but not by human hands. 

Then Gabriel tells Daniel that the number of days is true, but he is to “seal up the vision” because it takes place “many days from now” (still future to us). This all was so awful that Daniel was sick in bed for “some days” (he is an old man by now). Then he got up and did his job, but the vision “appalled him.”

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Daniel 9.  After the Medes take the kingdom of Babylon from King Belshazzar, Daniel realizes (from reading Jeremiah) that the end of Israel’s 70 years of “captivity” is near.  This inspired Daniel to pray. (And it is a great model of prayer for anyone.)  

He worships God first. “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keep covenant (promises) and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.”

He confesses their sin (himself included). “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 our kings, our princes, our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To YOU, O, Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us, open shame….because of the treachery they have committed against you. To us, O, LORD, belongs open shame: to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 

We have rebelled…. not obeyed the voice of the LORD…. transgressed Your law, refusing to obey… we have sinned against him…. bringing upon us a great calamity.  Yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. We have sinned; we have done wickedly.”

(When is the last time I confessed my sin before the Lord like that?)

Then, Daniel requests three things from the LORD.  “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 (1) Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 

O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and (2) 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 (3) your people are called by your name.

And while he was praying…Gabriel came to him in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice (3:00 p.m.). Gabriel tells him that God heard him “at the beginning of his pleas for mercy,” and God wanted Daniel to know “You are greatly loved.” WOW!

Then Gabriel gives Daniel some very specific times and periods of time “….to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity.

“”Seventy weeks (of years)….. From the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem (very soon) to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks (of years)… then 62 weeks when the anointed One will be cut off…. Then the city and sanctuary will be destroyed again….. Then, the desolation…. One week, divided into two parts…..

Scholars have figured this all out: the rebuilding of the temple, the long time before the Messiah comes and is “cut off,” an extended period (the times of the Gentiles, as Jesus said in Luke 21:24?), then 7 years of tribulation, and the final end and triumph of the Prince.

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(Whew!) More of Daniel’s prophesies tomorrow!

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 256

Sep12

    Day 256—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and future visions in DANIEL’S prophecy.

    Day 256 – Daniel 1 – 3 (Daniel & friends in Babylon, prosperity & persecution)

Daniel and his three friends (from noble Jewish families) were taken captive in Nebuchadnezzar’s first of three mass deportations. The boys were probably around 15 years old. Daniel lived there through the entire 70 years of captivity and possibly longer. He rose high in the government of several powerful kings but never turned from the LORD his God. 

Daniel 1.  The Babylonian king instructed Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch in charge of the eunuchs, to prepare some of the wise, good-looking, skilled, well-learned, and courtly young men of the royal and noble Jews to learn the Babylonian ways and language.  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were some of the chosen. They all received Babylonian names and began a rich diet of the king’s food and wine.

Oops! Not kosher!!

These faithful Jewish youth did not want to defile themselves according to Jewish dietary laws and asked Ashpenaz if they could just have veggies and water. Despite his fear that the boys would look skinny before the king and he would lose his head, Ashpenaz gave them 10 days as a test.  After eating vegan for the test, the four boys looked better and were more alert than all the others, so the chief eunuch allowed them to continue to eat kosher.  GOD gave them learning, skill, and wisdom, and to Daniel, He gave understanding in all visions and dreams.  In fact, when Ashpenaz brought them before Nebuchadnezzar at the end of three years, the king found them 10X better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.  

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Daniel 2.  Now, Daniel’s dream skills were to be tested. Nebuchadnezzar had a night of nightmares and the following day, commanded all the Chaldean magicians, enchanters, and sorcerers to come and tell him the meaning of his dream. They arrived and asked the king what he dreamed so they could “concoct” a favorable interpretation.  But no!  The king required them to TELL HIM THE DREAM TOO, which they could not.  “You shall be torn limb from limb and your houses destroyed!!!” shouted the king. After denying “anyone’s” ability to do what the king wanted, he sentenced them all to death.

Fortunately for them, when Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard came to arrest Daniel, he calmly asked what the big rigamarole was. He then made an appointment to see the king and tell him ALL HE WISHED TO KNOW.

Then he asked his three friends to “seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so they might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men.”  That night, God revealed the mystery to Daniel.  “Oh, blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might…”  “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for YOU have given me wisdom and might and have now made known to me what we asked of you.”  

Then, Arioch brought Daniel to the king.

“Can you make the dream and its interpretation known to me?” demanded the King.

“Not me, but the God of Heaven can do it,” answered Daniel.

So, Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar his dream of a giant statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and iron mixed with clay. He shows the king how this image represents the world’s kingdoms, beginning with Babylon as the head of gold.  He also tells the king that a stone will strike the image’s feet, destroy it, and then grow into a mountain that fills the whole earth. This represents how the great God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.

Wow, and double wow! 

The king is flabbergasted, falls on his face, and pays homage to Daniel. “Truly your God is God of Gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries.”  The king gives Daniel all kinds of promotions to top Prefect in Babylon. (At Daniel’s request, the king appoints his three friends to govern the provinces.) 

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Daniel 3.  The king becomes enamored with the statue he dreamed about and that the golden head represents “him.”  He commands an entire image of gold be made – that no doubt looks remarkably like him.  Then he commands ALL people everywhere to bow to this image when he begins to play his favorite tunes on Spotify. They do.  EXCEPT Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (And Daniel, but he’s not in the picture here.)  

Okay, remember those wizards and wise men who were demoted when Daniel revealed the king’s dream?  They are royally aggrieved with the Hebrew youngsters taking over their key spots. So they spy on the three governors and tattle to the king about their now bowing to the statue. 

Nebuchadnezzar is now also “royally” aggrieved and sends for the three.  He thinks that maybe his instructions aren’t clear, so he tells them again. 

“Worship my golden image when the music plays, or you’ll be thrown into the furnace.”  How clear can he get? 

But the three refuse. “Not on your life, er, on our lives, will we bow to another besides our great God of Heaven?  Even if you roast us. Hey, our God may save us!!  But even if not, we won’t bow to a golden image.  WE KNOW why our people are here in Babylon instead of in Judah. Worshiping stupid idols!

Music. Upright boys. King’s fury. Three hurled in. The guards fried on the spot. Four in the furnace. No ropes. Walking around praising God. HUH???  Yep, the king thinks he’s seeing things again. He commands they be drawn out of the furnace. They aren’t scorched or even singed. They don’t smell of smoke. 

Of course, now, Nebuchadnezzar turns his back on the image and worships “the Most High God,” the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego…. because of their witness.  They willingly yielded their bodies to be burned rather than worship any God except their own God, the LORD. 

Nebuchadnezzar made a decree that it was illegal to speak anything against their God, punishable by being torn limb from limb and their houses destroyed. “For there is no other God who is able to rescue in this way.”

(And the three were promoted even higher in the province of Babylon.)

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 254

Sep10

    Day 254—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and the conclusion of EZEKIEL’s prophecy.

    Day 254– Ezekiel 46-48 (Visions and instructions of the new temple, offerings, the prince, the freshening river, and future land divisions)

Ezekiel 46. This chapter itemizes many of the feasts and sacrifices/offerings that will take place in this new, huge temple area. Also, practically, it describes kitchens where the meats and grains will be boiled for the Priests’ use.

An interesting point is about the three gates of the temple courtyard. Only the “prince” shall use the East gate, and when the people come in to worship, they will enter either at the South or North gates and exit at the opposite ones. (North to South, South to North).  It’s suitable for traffic flow, but it may illustrate that the people go out “different” after worshiping the LORD GOD.

Ezekiel 47. This chapter portrays an amazing, cleansing, freshening, life-giving river that begins as a stream from under the temple’s threshold.  It flows between the temple and the altar and seems to seep out the south side.  In the vision, the Bronze builder leads Ezekiel in increments of 1,000 cubits (1,500 feet) along this rapidly increasing river, showing him how it gets deeper and deeper until it’s above the prophet’s head.  It eventually flows into the Dead Sea (Salt Sea), making the water drinkable and teaming with fish. Plants and fruitful trees grow along its banks.  (It’s interesting to read that a few marshes are left intact, so needed salt can be gathered.)

In this chapter (and part of Ezekiel 48), the slightly enlarged land of Israel is divided into tribal allotments. Some are similar, but for the most part, the allotments are different from those in Joshua’s time. They seem more evenly divided and are in horizontal bands from North to South. Dan is included, although it is omitted in the list at the beginning of Revelation because of its sin. Now, it seems they are united again with all the tribes of Israel that God has brought back from the two exiles (Assyria & Babylon) when they were scattered throughout the world.

Ezekiel 48b.  Even the priests and Levites get land of their own to live on.  The Temple city in the Holy Portion is now called the “The LORD is There” (YHVH Shammah) and has a circumference of 6 miles, with three gates on each side.  The twelve gates are named for the twelve original tribes of Israel. (North gates – Reuben, Judah, Levi; East gates – Joseph, Benjamin, Dan; South gates – Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun; West gates – Gad, Asher, Naphtali.)  

Interestingly, the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:10-14 has 12 gates, 3 on each side, with the names of the tribes of Israel, one on each. It ALSO has 12 foundations with the names of the apostles, one on each. 

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Tomorrow: Joel.

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 252 & 253

Sep9

    Days 252 & 253—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and EZEKIEL’s prophecy.

NOTE: Both Sunday and Monday studies are posted on Monday.

    Day 252 – Ezekiel 40 – 42 (Ezekiel’s vision of the New Temple)

For the next few days, you architects and builders, get your tape measures and drafting tools ready!

Ezekiel 40. Twenty-five years after Ezekiel went into captivity and fourteen years after Jerusalem fell, the LORD took him back to the city in a vision and stood him on a high mountain. A “builder man” in bronze with his measuring tools appeared. God told Ezekiel to write down all the man showed him.

(The dimensions of this new temple complex are huge, way surpassing the small one the returning exiles would build and even Herod’s.  THIS temple is way off in the future – in Christ’s millennial reign.)

The Bronze Builder begins with the outer court. If you get confused with cubits, “long” cubits, and handbreadths, remember a cubit is 18 inches, a handbreadth is 3 inches, and a long or royal cubit is the sum of these, 21 inches.  The Bronze Builder’s rod, or reed, was 10 1/2 feet long. This is the height and depth of the outside wall, not very tall, but enough to show the separation between holy and common.

Next, he measures and describes the East Gate (the one leading into the entrance of the Temple), the Outer Court of the Temple, the North and South Gates, the Inner Court and chambers for the priests, and finally, the Vestibule (or porch) of the Temple.

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Ezekiel 41. This chapter describes the Temple itself. (Read 1 Kings 6-7 to compare it to Solomon’s Temple). It is twice the size of Moses’ Tabernacle but the same as Solomon’s building. Decorations were carved cherubim and palm trees.

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Ezekiel 42. Many priestly chambers (rooms) and passageways are described in this chapter, particularly those where the priests prepared themselves to minister in the Holy Places.  The outer dimension of the Temple complex was 750 feet square.

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    Day 253 – Ezekiel 43 – 45 (Got continues to show Ezekiel visions of the NEW Temple, His Glory, the priests, and the prince)

Ezekiel 43. Remember, at the beginning of the book, Ezekiel saw the Glory of the LORD – on its wheeled, cherubim-flying glorious throne – leaving the Temple (full of abominations) and joining His people in captivity.  Now, God shows Ezekiel the Glory of the LORD, returning through the East gate and entering the Temple.  Again, the prophet falls on his face. Then the Spirit of the LORD lifts him up and takes him to the inner court. There he sees the glory of the LORD filling the temple.  “This is the place of my throne where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will no more defile My Name.”

Ezekiel is told to describe this temple to the exiled people, so they will be ashamed of their iniquities. He is also to remind them of the statutes and laws they are to observe.

It’s interesting that the bronze altar is described in detail, as well as all the animals to be sacrificed on it in this new era… burnt offerings and peace offerings. “And I will accept you, declares the Lord GOD.”

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Ezekiel 44.  God then takes Ezekiel back out to the East gate and tells him the gate is to remain closed because the Glory of the LORD has come through it.  Only “the Prince” may come in and go out through it.  Then God warns him that even though the North gate, no “unclean” person shall enter it.  The rest of the chapter reviews the laws about the Levitical priests, their clothing, their marriage status, and their foods.

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Ezekiel 45. The LORD then tells Ezekiel about an area around the Temple complex which He calls “the Holy District”  It is reserved for those who minister in the sanctuary; the priests and Levites.   There is also to be portion for the Prince in the Holy District.  And at the heart is an area that is one mile square, for those in Israel as well as the world to come and worship the LORD.

God then tells Ezekiel the schedule of offerings and celebrations throughout the year, including Passover and Unleavened bread in the first month.

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NOTE: Chapters 43-48 are some of the most challenging chapters in the Bible to interpret and understand.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 234

Aug21

    Day 234—We are in the eighth month of Bible reading: Israel’s history and Jeremiah’s prophecy.

    Day 234 – Jeremiah 46 – 48 (non-chronological judgments on Egypt, Philistia, and Moab)

Jeremiah 46. God tells about Egypt‘s overthrow by Babylon. Here is a decisive call to get ready for defeat.  “That day is the day of the LORD GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour, and be sated and drink its fill of their blood.” (referring to Egyptian defeat)

God tells of punishment but later relief.  “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his officers.  Afterward, Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old.”

But the Jews who fled to Egypt and then went to Babylon were to “Fear not.” “I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you, I will not make a full end.”

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Jeremiah 47. God tells of judgment on the Philistines by the Babylonians at the same time as they conquered Judah.  Later, it seems that Pharoah struck down Gaza before the Egyptians themselves were defeated by Babylon. 

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Jeremiah 48.  The Lord (through Jeremiah) calls down WOE on Moab (east across the Dead Sea from Israel). God’s judgment on Moab was intense. “The destroyer shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape; the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD has spoken.”   All the cities of Moab are to be destroyed “because he magnified himself against the LORD.“

Judgment and hope, even to Moab.  “Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh are undone, for your sons have been taken captive and your daughters into captivity.  Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days, declares the LORD.”