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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 8

Jan8

Day 8. Reading in Job 17 – 20. 

I invite you to read the scripture for the day and write what was meaningful to YOU “in the comments.”  We can encourage each other.

Job 17.

Job seems at his very lowest point in this chapter. ‘My spirit is broken.“

Even though Job is surrounded by “friends” (mockers, vs. 2) (unwise, vs. 10), he must feel terribly alone. When a person is in deep pain or sorrow, it’s hard for them to imagine how anyone can know what they feel.

  • How can we help them?  I think, the way these men surrounded Job in silence at the beginning is best.  For women, maybe a good hug too. (But would anyone have wanted to hug a man covered with oozing boils?)
  • Oh, God! Give me a heart of mercy, like Yours. Even in Your suffering on the cross, you asked for your persecutors to be forgiven. You took care of your grieving mother. You gave grace to the repentant thief.

Job 18.

Bildad speaks again. He chafes at Job’s unkind (but true) words about them. “Why are we stupid in your sight? YOU who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for YOU??”  He insinuates that Job is WICKED and then explains in gory detail what happens to wicked men who do not repent. After describing the horrors of the wicked, Bildad ends his speech with the whiplash accusation of a scorpion, no doubt glaring, or even pointing at Job. “…SUCH is the place of him who KNOWS NOT GOD.”

Job 19.

(Remember chapter one?  God describes Job as “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”  SURELY Job is a man who KNOWS God.)

And yet under the “torment” of his friends, Job slides deeper into doubt. He tells the men around him that their opinions of him don’t matter, but, yes, now he begins to feel that God has forsaken him. ‘He has kindled his wrath against me and counts me as His adversary.”

Job even cries out to these miserable men, “Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me.”  Then, faith seems to well up in him. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been this destroyed, yet IN MY FLESH…..I shall see God.”  (This is prophecy.)  What faith!

WOW!

  • Did you notice how Job’s prayer in verse 23 has been answered, even as you read the words? He prays, “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book. Oh that with an iron pen and lead (a printer?) they were engraved in the rock forever!” 
  • WE ARE READING the answer to that prayer.   WE KNOW that Job has not sinned according to the magnitude of his suffering.  WE KNOW what was happening in heaven concerning Job.
  • WE KNOW that when suffering comes to US, that God is in sovereign control and has us always in his hand and power. Satan can go THUS FAR and no more, to harm God’s children.  Help this to be not only “head” knowledge, but “heart” assurance.

Job 20.

Then, the third and youngest, Zophar, rises for the second time to place his hand across his chest and “wax eloquent” before the others. (You want to laugh, or gag as you read this, especially as he aims his deadly word-arrows towards Job.)

Zophar is aghast at Job’s wonderful claim of faith about seeing His Redeemer one day.  HOW DARE HE SAY HE WILL SEE GOD!?   He tells Job, “Don’t you know this from old, since man was placed on earth, that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? Though his height mount up to the heavens and his head reach to the clouds, he will perish forever like his own dung?” 

And Zophar goes on, yada, yada, yada, ending with, “This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.”  (And NOT seeing Him face to face, Zophar implies.)

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Eliphaz and Bildad get at Job a third time tomorrow. After that, a newcomer will try his hand. Eventually GOD HIMSELF will answer Job.  Stay tuned.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 3

Jan3

Day 3. Beginning with the five books of Moses, the Torah, in Genesis 8-11. 

I’m reading through God’s Word again this year, but I’ll TRY to write/blog about it differently. Instead of an overview of the text, I want it to be more personal.  (But old habits die hard!)

I invite you to read the scripture for the day and write “in the comments” what was meaningful to YOU. We can encourage each other in Him.

Genesis 8.

Today, in these chapters, I see God’s SOVEREIGNTY (His power and authority over the Earth and every living creature in it). “He’s got the whole world” and every single living thing (including ME) “in His hands.”

  • Yesterday, I mentioned that the flood did not destroy the fish and sea creatures.  Why?  In my mind** it’s because they were needed to be the “garbage disposals” of all that rotting flesh from those who died in the flood (people, animals, birds, reptiles, etc.) God’s clean-up operation via the fish and sea creatures took a year to complete.  (**only my opinion)

 

Imagine the earth from space, with NO LAND visible and covered by at least 22.5 feet of water. Picture a large but tiny wooden boat, sealed shut, floating on that planet of blue. It had no sail, rudder, or windows. It went where the water, wind, and the LORD God took it. And the eight people inside had to trust God completely.

Torrential rain had pelted it continually for almost six weeks. Then silence.  (Except for the animals, it was good that they had so many animals to care for daily.) FIVE MONTHS after Noah entered the ark, it came to rest on the mountain of Ararat. Can you imagine that bump, scrape, and then… no more swaying?

THREE MONTHS later, the tops of the mountains poked through the water, but Noah couldn’t see them. SIX WEEKS later, Noah opened a window at the very top. Only the sky could be seen. Over the next THREE WEEKS, Noah sent out a series of birds to see if the land had dried enough. But Noah waited FIVE MORE MONTHS before uncovering the ark and looking out to see “the new world.”

TWO MONTHS later, one year and ten days after entering the ark, God told Noah, “Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and their wives with you. Bring out every living thing with you, that they may swarm on the earth, and (you all) be fruitful and multiply.” And Noah obeyed.

The first thing Noah did was to offer burnt offerings to the LORD from the “extra” sacrificial animals he’d taken into the ark. 

The first thing God did was promise them never to destroy the Earth with floods of water. (Next time, fire, as told in Revelation.)

Wow. Imagine ONLY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY alive on earth. It’s fresh and clean. There are no buildings, no roads, no maps, no footprints. No farms, markets, or cousins living a few miles away. You are alone.

Genesis 9.

The Sovereign God gives this tiny family commands and promises. 

  • Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth.
  • Every animal, bird, reptile, and fish will be afraid of you. I have given them all to you for food, plus the green plants.
  • Don’t eat an animal with blood in it (alive).
  • The lifeblood of every human and animal is sacred. It’s the “life” of a thing.  (Ever wonder why, when the EMTs come to an accident, the first thing they do is “stop the bleeding?”)
  • Every human or animal must be punished by death for killing a person.
  • I’m establishing a Covenant (Promise) with you and all creatures. I will never flood the earth again. The sign (proof) of that promise is My Rainbow. (Remember in Revelation that there is a complete “bow” around God’s throne. He’s taking some of this and putting it in the clouds as a sign that THIS RAIN that you see falling will not destroy the whole earth. 

Oh yeah, lest I think Noah and family are as perfect as Adam and Eve were in the beginning, they sin too in that new and fresh world. And Noah curses his second son. His descendants are the wicked Canaanites.

Genesis 10 & 11.

Genealogies. This one traces the LINE OF CHRIST, which began with Adam and Seth, through Noah and Shem, to Abraham.  Notice how life expectancy goes from 900+ years to 100 or less. 

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And right in the middle is the story of the TOWER OF BABEL. Yes, sin is growing again. And it is disobedience and pride –  the same sins I deal with every day.  

Sure, the post-flood people were fruitful and multiplied. But they did NOT disperse throughout the earth.  (Many believe that the LAND MASS OF EARTH WAS ONE WHOLE UNIT that separated into continents later, during the time of Peleg. (See Genesis 10:25 and 11:17-18)  If that’s true, dispersing themselves worldwide would have been comparatively easy.

Not only disobedient, but in their PRIDE, they proposed building a city, a TOWER with its top in the heavens, and a “name” for themselves.  Was this tower to worship their own strength and supremacy? Was it to reach so tall that no flood could ever cover it?  

Regardless.  God said NO.

Until then, everyone spoke Noah’s (Adam’s language).  There was no need for “Google Translate” or an interpreter.  EVERYONE understood, “Hand me that brick.”

Until they couldn’t.

God “confused” their language. He made some to “speak” in German, Russian, Swahili, Korean, Spanish, Greek, Arabic, Scandinavian, Italian, Hebrew, and English (?).   “Hand me that brick” would now be “Gib mir den Ziegel” in German.

CHAOS REIGNED until the groups of similar languages found each other and began to move away. And the tower was left unfinished.  Babel became Babylon.  In Revelation, there is REJOICING when that “Great Babylon” falls forever.  That symbol of sin, pride, defiance, and disobedience.

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And then, from 200 miles south of Babylon, from the great city of Ur, a man named Terah took his sons, Abram and Nahor, their wives, and his grandson, Lot, and traveled the great “crescent” route north and west to Haran, then stopped there for a long time.

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Meanwhile, way south in the land of Uz (not Oz), there lived a man named Job, his wife, and ten children.

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 1

Jan1

Day 1. Beginning with the five books of Moses, the Torah, in Genesis 1 – 3. 

I’m reading through God’s Word again this year, but I’ll write/blog about it differently. Instead of an overview of the text, I want it to be more personal. 

I invite you to read the scripture for the day and write “in the comments” what was meaningful to YOU. We can encourage each other in Him.

Genesis 1.

I keep thinking about how the Book of Revelation ended, with God living among His redeemed people on a new, pure earth without sin or sorrow.  It began that way in Genesis 1. I’m so glad it ends that way in Revelation 21 because this journey I’m starting to read today will involve some pretty ugly, sinful things.

  • O God of creation, create in me a new heart and restore a right spirit within me. (Psalm 31:10) 

Genesis 2.

After creating a perfect place for mankind to live, God created Adam and then Eve. They were made in His triune image with three parts, body, living soul, and spirit. Adam was made from elements of God’s good earth and received God’s breath/spirit of life.  Eve also, but with a rib taken from Adam’s side.  That left an empty space in him that only she could fill.  

“This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” he said of Eve.

The garden God put them into was beautiful and perfect, with fruit-bearing trees and a river of water flowing out of it.  Revelation says that the new Jerusalem will also have the River of Life flowing from it and the Tree of Life growing along its banks, bearing a different fruit each month.

But there was one tree in Eden that is not in the new heaven and earth because “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9). The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was in the garden to test Adam and Eve, to see if they would “love the Lord their God with all their hearts, souls, and minds.” 

Genesis 3.

I don’t know how long Adam and Eve lived in Eden before the serpent tempted Eve. It must have been a while because they were used to walking with God in the cool of the day.

But it appeared, accused God of lying, of not loving them, and of withholding some good thing from them. Eve believed him and disobeyed God. And then Adam did too.

  • Oh, how often I believe the lies the “world” spins for me.  “Money makes you happy. Be proud of what you accomplish. Have fun and do whatever you like because God is love, and He won’t mind. Reading the Bible is a waste of time. 

O God, sometimes I believe those lies. I sin. Forgive me as you promised, for Jesus’ sake. (1 John 1:9)

God does not lie. When Adam and Eve disobeyed, death began its ugly takeover of their lives. Accusations, shame, fear, quarrels, hardship, and expulsion from the garden.

BUT!!!  God said that He would send “The Seed of the Woman,” who would crush the seed of the serpent (Satan). He would be injured in the process but would ultimately prevail. 

Jesus, God with us, our Savior, came in the flesh to die in our place and end sin and death. Then, as Revelation promised, He will rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And that serpent will spend forever and ever in the lake of fire.

  • O God Almighty, You made us, loved us, saved us, and promised we will be with You forever. Hallelujah! I love You!

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

Dec30

 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 will post them separately.

Day 364, Part B – Revelation 12 – 18 (Woman & dragon, Satan cast down, the Beast, 3 visions, 7 plagues, 7 bowls of wrath, 666, Babylon falls, Yay!)

This section of Revelation is filled with symbols and allegories. The people in the churches of John’s day would probably have understood their meanings more than we do. The sequence of events is not necessarily linear but often overlapping & repeating.

Revelation 12.

This chapter pictures Satan attempting to destroy the infant of a woman with a crown of 12 stars. But the child is taken to heaven and his throne before the Dragon can kill him. The woman (Israel?) is protected by God in the wilderness.

There is a great war in heaven. Michael and the angels fight against the dragon and his angels (demons). Michael’s army wins and throws the great dragon (that ancient serpent, the devil, Satan) down to earth with his angels.  Satan, “the accuser of the brethren” (remember Job?), is thrown down and mad. 

“WOE to the earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath because he knows his time is short.“

Revelation 13.

Then, an ugly, multiheaded, powerful “beast” emerges from the sea. (He looks a little like the beast in Daniel’s vision of end times.)  To this beast (Antichrist), the dragon gives his power, throne, and great authority.  The people of the earth worship the dragon and worship the beast. The beast speaks great blasphemies against God, His name, and His Temple.   The beast was “allowed” to make war on the saints and conquer them. All on the earth worshiped it, EXCEPT those whose names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Then a second beast emerges from the sea, looking like a lamb, but speaking like the dragon. This beast can do miracles and deceive the people of Earth into worshiping the Beast. It has them make a statue of the Beast and he enables it to speak too.  It makes all who live on Earth to get the MARK on their forehead or hand, or they cannot buy or sell anything. 

The mark? 666 is “the number of a man.” In John’s time, this was clearly NERO.

  • And so, now there is an unholy trinity: the Dragon/false prophet, the Beast/Antichrist, and the miracle-working second Beast. 
  • NOTE: Even the required Mark of the Beast is a foul imitation of God’s command in Deuteronomy 6:4-8 to Love the LORD, the ONE TRUE GOD, with all their hearts, soul, and strength. They were to teach His Words to their children and…” bind them as a sign on your HAND, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes (FOREHEAD).” (Their actions and thoughts.)

Revelation 14.

The victory is at hand!!

The Lamb of God stands on Mount Zion and with Him, the 144K evangelists, with HIS name on their foreheads. John heard thunderous singing, like a gazillion harps singing a new song.  An angel comes from the temple and flies overhead, proclaiming the Eternal Gospel. “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgement has come.”

A second angel proclaims the good news, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality!”

A third angel proclaims, “If anyone worships the Beast & its image and receives the mark, he also will drink the WINE of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger.” And they will be tormented hell with the sulfur and smoke of the torment forever and ever with no rest, day or night.

Here, John inserts, “a call for ENDURANCE of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

Then John sees Jesus with a sharp sickle. He swings the sickle across the earth, and the earth is reaped.

Another angel with a sharp sickle goes to the “VINE of the earth” because its grapes are ripe.  So this angle swings his sickle and reaps the grapes and throws them into the winepress of the Wrath of God.  “And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and the blood from it flowed from the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle for 184 miles.”

  • This reminds me of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. He is tramping out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.”
  • Also, if you reread Mark 14:34-36 (and passages in Matthew & Luke), you will see that JESUS drank that cup of Almighty God’s WRATH for us, when he died on the cross, PUNISHED FOR OUR SINS. This scene in Heaven portrays God’s wrath on those WHO REFUSED THIS SO GREAT SALVATION.

Revelation 15.

Next, John saw a great and amazing sign in heaven, “Seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is FINISHED.”

First, there was a vast “sea” of what looked like fiery glass. By it were those who overcame the Beast and with harps, they sang the song of Moses and the Lamb. “Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations…”

Then, out of the Sanctuary came the seven angels with seven plagues in seven golden bowls, FULL OF THE WRATH OF GOD, who lives forever and ever.

Revelation 16.

John heard, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God!”

  • First bowl: harmful and painful sores on those who bore the Mark of the Beast.
  • Second bowl: blood into the seas, killing every living creature in them.
  • Third bowl: blood into the rivers and springs of water.
  • Fourth bowl: on the sun so it scorched people with fire. (The people did not repent and give God glory but cursed the name of God.)
  • Fifth bowl: darkness on the Beast and his kingdom. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven, but they did not repent.
  • Sixth bowl: into the river Euphrates, so it dried up and prepared the way for the great kings and hoards from the East.  The dragon, beast, and second beast opened their mouths, and demonic spirits like frogs came out, going abroad to assemble all the kings of the world to assemble for battle at the place, ARMAGEDDON.
  • Seventh bowl: into the air, and a loud voice came out of the Temple, from the Throne, saying, “IT IS DONE!”  There came lightning, thundering, and a great earthquake so destructive that the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.  Every island fled away, and no mountains could be found.  Great hailstones, weighing 100 pounds, fell on the people.  AND THEY CURSED GOD!

Revelation 17.

Then, the seventh angel took John to view “The Great Prostitute” and her judgment. She was seated “on many waters,” picturing her rule over the peoples of many nations.  Written on her forehead was a name of mystery: “BABYLON” (code name: Rome).  She also sat on seven hills (again, Rome). She was drunk with the blood of the saints martyred for Jesus. The angel also explains the heads/horns of the Beast as kings who make war on the LAMB. 

The Lamb of God defeats them all, for He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Revelation 18.

Then, with the calls of angels, the announcement of Babylon’s fall is made known. 

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.”

All the kings of the earth weep and wail for her fall.

“Alas, alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour, your judgment has come.”

And all the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, for no one buys their cargo.

All the shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors on the sea stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning.

“Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth, For in a single hour, she has been laid waste.”

And a mighty angel took up a huge millstone and threw it into the sea saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence and will be found no more.”

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(WHEW, that was hard!)

Tomorrow, rejoicing in Heaven!

 

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, days 356-357

Dec23

   Day 356-357—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the LETTERS of the Apostles.  NOTE: Sunday’s and Monday’s studies will be posted on MONDAY,

Day 356 – Hebrews 7 – 10 (Melchizedek, Better Covenant, Redemption, Sacrifice, Faith)

Read a quick review of Melchizedek and Abraham in Genesis 14:18-20.

Hebrews 7.

The author discusses Melchizedek, king of Salem (peace), king of righteousness (zedek) and a priest of the Most High God. He tells how Abraham, coming home from rescuing his nephew Lot from an invading army, gave this priestly/kingly man a tithe (10th) of the loot. And Melchizedek blessed Abraham.

This was WAY before Israel’s priesthood was set up on Mt. Sinai, with Aaron, the Levite, as High Priest.  In a way (the author of Hebrews says), Aaron, the High Priest, paid tribute to Melchizedek, “being still in Abraham’s loins.” (He had no children at that point.)

Melchizedek is also said to have had “no beginning of days nor end of life” as a priest forever. He was a priest not based on the law (like Aaron) but on the power of an “indestructible” life. The author compares Jesus to this mysterious man, without beginning or end of days, but HIS ministry is much more excellent.  

The first covenant of law could make nothing perfect, so a new one was needed, allowing us to draw near to God. “Consequently, Jesus can save to the uttermost, those who draw near to God through HIM since He always lives to make intercession for them. 

Jesus is a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.  HE HAS NO NEED TO OFFER SACRIFICES DAILY like other priests, first for their own sins, then the people.  Jesus did this ONCE FOR ALL when he offered up HIMSELF.

Hebrews 8.

Jesus, as High Priest, is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a more excellent ministry than the old one.  He can mediate better because the new covenant has better promises and is faultless. In this new covenant, God says He will put His Law on their hearts and minds, not stone tablets, and His people will know Him.

He will be merciful toward their iniquities and will remember their sins no more!

Hebrews 9.

The author then reminds readers how the old covenant worked, with the Holy and Most Holy places in the “tent of worship.”  Behind the second curtain was the ark of the covenant and God’s presence.  No one could go into this place except for the High Priest, and that only once per year… carrying the blood of the sacrifice. 

But Christ, as high priest, entered ONCE FOR ALL into the most holy place through HIS OWN BLOOD. Doing this, he obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION.  He appeared ONCE FOR ALL to put away sin by sacrificing himself. 

Hebrews 10.

Under the old covenant, the sacrifices were a reminder of sins every year. “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”  Now, we have been sanctified (made clean, holy) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.

When Christ had offered FOR ALL TIME A SINGLE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, He sat down at the right hand of God. “For by A SINGLE OFFERING, He has perfected FOR ALL TIME, those who are being sanctified.”

Jesus. the perfect, sinless High Priest, offered Himself a spotless sacrifice and opened the new and living way for us through the curtain so that we can now “draw near (to God) with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” 

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Day 357 – Hebrews 11 – 13 (the FAITH chapter & heroes of the faith, witnesses for us to endure too, discipline as sons, acceptable worship, final instructions)

Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11 is called the “Faith Chapter” or the “Saint’s Hall of Fame.” In it, the author defines faith and how it’s to be used. He lists heroes of faith from the Old Testament, sixteen by name (including women), and many others by deeds or means of death. These all have served and glorified God.

DEFINITION: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (verse 1)

WHAT IT INVOLVES: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (verse 6)

From righteous Abel to the prophet Samuel, men and women have lived and died for God, loved and obeyed Him, trusted and spoke for Him without shame or fear, and many paid for it with their lives. 

These heroes “conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong through weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to fight, and some women received back their dead by resurrection!! 

(I can think of some names that come to mind here, can you?”

Others were tortured for their faith, suffered mocking and flogging, even chains and imprisonments, stoning, beheading (killed by the sword), and even being sawn in two!  They were destitute, afflicted, mistreated, and lived in deserts, mountains, dens, and caves.  OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY!

And YET, they did not “see” the promised Messiah they spoke about and waited for like WE HAVE!  (How totally blessed we are!)

Hebrews 12.

“Therefore, SINCE we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (those heroes listed above), let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith.  He, for the JOY that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated now at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus, as God’s Son, endured much hostility against Him. And so we, as God’s children, must endure “discipline” too.  God disciplines us (through suffering/persecution) for OUR GOOD, so we may share His holiness.  It doesn’t seem pleasant at the moment, but later, it “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” to those trained by it. 

So…. lift your drooping hands….strengthen your weak knees….and make straight paths for your feet.   And “let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken (by persecution or death), and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 13.

The author encourages readers to continue in brotherly love, hospitality to strangers, and prayer and support for those imprisoned for their faith.  They are to be faithful in marriage, not love money but be content with what they have.

They are to “remember their leaders (in prayer and financially), the ones who first spoke the Word of God to them.”  They are to consider the fruit of those men’s ministry and imitate their faith.  They are to pray and support their leaders and also to submit to and obey them (for THOSE MEN will have to give an account one day).

He ends with a doxology. ‘Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant….equip you with everything good, that you may do His will.

To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen”

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 335 & 336

Dec2

   Day 335—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 335 – 1 Corinthians 9 – 11 (Rights, privileges, & service, Idolatry, the glory of God, Head coverings, The Lord’s supper)

1 Corinthians 9.

In the previous chapter, Paul talked about his freedom to eat meat offered to idols, EXCEPT when it offended a weaker brother. He would never do anything to make such a one stumble.

Now, he talks about his freedoms and rights he does NOT insist upon.  Other apostles and missionaries,  like Jesus’ brothers and even Peter, took their believing wives with them. Was it only Barnabas and Paul who worked for a living as well as preached?  Wasn’t a soldier due his own expenses? Didn’t a vineyard planter eat the fruit?   He then quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 about not muzzling an ox who grinds the grain. Does not HE have the same rightful claim?

Yet, Paul chose NOT to claim the privilege but to work and impose no obligation on the people. He would rather die than have anyone deprive him of his ability to “present the gospel free of charge.”  He’s made himself a servant of all, that he might win more of them, Jews or Gentiles.  He compares this self-discipline to men in a race, running to “win the prize.”  He does it to win “the imperishable victory.” (Souls for the Lord Jesus)

1 Corinthians 10.

Next, Paul segues into comparing the Israelites of Moses’ time to those alive in that day.  “Those ancient Jews were examples for current believers.  Although they saw the miracles of God firsthand, they desired evil, were idolaters, and committed sexual immorality when they worshiped the golden calf Aaron made. That day, 23,000 were killed by God’s wrath. When they complained, thousands were destroyed by serpents. 

Paul urges the Corinthian church, “We must not put Christ to the test.” He encourages them, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

And so, he tells them to FLEE FROM IDOLATRY. (Corinth was full of idolatry, a great temptation.)  You can not worship idols (demons) and worship Christ too. 

“All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up.”  “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  Give no offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.  Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

1 Corinthians 11.

Paul then addresses head coverings for both men and women. Culturally, Corinthian men covered their heads when worshiping in pagan temples, while women only covered theirs when married.  Paul says men are to stand with heads uncovered because Christ is the head of every man in Christ.  

These traditions worked in the early church in Corinth to distinguish Christians from pagans. The same is true for women who covered their heads and had long hair, while men did not. The idea is to glorify Christ in all you do.

Then Paul gives explicit instructions for the Lord’s Supper. Verses 23-26 are often repeated in our services today when we observe Communion. 

He reminds us, too, of Jesus’ sacrificial death, his blood as a ransom payment for our sins, and his bodily death in our place.  He urges the Corinthians (and us) to examine and judge themselves and partake worthily.

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Day 336 – 1 Corinthians 12 – 14 (Spiritual gifts, the Love Chapter, Prophecy & tongues, orderly worship)

1 Corinthians 12.

Paul next clarifies a controversial subject in the Corinthian church. Spiritual gifts were needed in the newly planted churches because the New Testament had not yet been written. Not many Gentile churches would have the Torah, Prophets, and Teachings scrolls of the Old Testament.  And so the Spirit of God distributed to each church what the leaders and congregations needed.  The Corinthian church was fully blessed in this way. But they were viewing and using these gifts in the wrong ways.

First, they were to discern if the gifts in question were from the Spirit of God. Paul reminded them how they’d been fooled by worshiping idols and demons.  “No one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says that Jesus is accursed.  And no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit.” 

Once that is settled, he describes the various spiritual gifts, services, and activities that are given to the church by the Holy Spirit…FOR THE COMMON GOOD, not for individual glory. They are the gifts of wisdom and knowledge spoken to edify the church, extraordinary faith, gifts of healing and working of miracles, prophetic speaking, discernment of spirits, various tongues, and the interpretation of the tongues. (Others are included in lists in Romans 12 and 1 Peter 4)

“All these gifts are empowered by one Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.”  “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose.”

They were not to quarrel, envy each other’s spiritual gifts, or seek the “flashiest” ones.  All the gifts were needed and valuable.

Next, Paul lists the “gifted men” God appointed to lead the church. These were: Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Miracle workers, Healers, Help ministers, Administrators, and Speakers of various languages.  In these, Paul recommends asking God for the “higher” gifts, but ALL were to be used in a “MORE EXCELLENT WAY.”

1 Corinthians 13.

And, that excellent way was/is in…LOVE.  

This chapter is known as “The Love Chapter.” Paul says that any of the above gifts and gifted offices, if used purely for selfish motives and not with the Spirit’s fruit of LOVE, are merely annoying noise, less than nothing.

Then, Paul lists the numerous aspects of love that believers will show towards one another if ruled by God’s Spirit.  (These are very convicting. Take some time to read verses 4 – 8 and apply them to yourself.  Then ask God to make them evident in your life.)

Eventually, all the gifts will disappear when the Lord returns and takes His family to Heaven. But love never ends.  “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 14.

After that strong teaching on how all the gifts of the Spirit are to be used – with true love – Paul sheds more light on two gifts being abused in the Corinthian church: Prophecy and Tongues.

Paul urges them to pursue love and the spiritual gift of prophesy. (Not necessarily of FORE-telling, but of FORTH-telling the Word of God, for the edification of the whole church.)  And if the gift of tongues is used, they were to make sure someone was there to interpret what was said, or else how could the entire church be helped?

Paul tells them that these ministry gifts IN CHURCH MEETINGS were to be performed by men only. Yes, women would be blessed by gifts, but they should use them in the home or as in our times, in women’s ministries. 

Paul concludes by saying, “Earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done decently and in order.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 265

Sep21

    Day 265—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and ZECHARIAH’S prophecy.

    Day 265 – Zechariah 10 – 14 (Restoration for Judah & Israel now and in the future Messianic Kingdom, Jesus as shepherd and his rejection, Israel’s ultimate salvation, 2nd coming of the LORD)

This section is full of prophetic words for the time it was spoken, the time of Jesus’ first coming & rejection, and the time of His second coming and ultimate rule over restored Israel…all jumbled together in 5 chapters.  Whew!

Zechariah 10. God promises early and later rain to the people, meaning both physical and spiritual rain.  He condemns “household gods” and other means of divination that cause His people to wander like lost sheep looking for the direction HE would supply. His anger is against the false shepherds who led his people into sin. Yet God loves the people and will bring them all back from the distant lands to become strong again.

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Zechariah 11. Next, Zechariah is asked to act as the true shepherd (Jesus) to a wayward sheep, doomed to slaughter (i.e., raised for sacrifice) who will reject him.  Zechariah had two staffs, and when the “sheep” detested him, he refused to be their shepherd anymore. He broke his staffs (as if annulling the covenant with Israel). 

Then, “shepherd” Zechariah is to ask for his wages. He is given “30 pieces of silver.” The LORD then instructs him to throw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter.  (This is such a picture of Jesus being betrayed for the same amount of coin, and then Judas returning the money to the Jewish leaders in the temple, who then bought a “potter’s field” to bury his remains.) (Matthew 27:3-10)

With the “true shepherd” gone, Zechariah is then to play the role of a false shepherd who depicts the Antichrist of Daniel’s 70th week.  Because the future Israel did not choose the Good Shepherd, they will be destroyed by the foolish one, which is what Antichrist tries to do. (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15-22)

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Zechariah 12. The prophet reverts here to the coming Messianic age and the final restoration of Israel. Jerusalem will be like a “cup of staggering” (a huge wine bowl from which all the nations will get drunk.) Then, they will be easily defeated when they come to fight. (The Battle of Armageddon, Ezekiel 38:1-6, 14-16, Daniel 11:30-44, Revelation 9:13-16, 14;20, 16:12-16)  

The leaders will proclaim, “The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God,” possibly speaking of the Jews’ saving faith at that time.

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that when they look on me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weeps bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn Son.”

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Zechariah 13. “On that day, there will be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”

“Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, against the Man who stands next to me, declares the LORD of hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered….”

In the whole land, declares the LORD, two-thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one-third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my Name, and I will answer them. I will say, They are my people, and they will say, The LORD is my God.”  (See Matthew 25:31-46)

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Zechariah 14.   This chapter flashes back to chapters 12 and 13 before Israel’s national conversion.  The Jews will make a pact with a false messiah (the foolish shepherd or Antichrist).   In the middle of that 7-year covenant (Daniel’s 70th week), the Antichrist will break his treaty and require worship of himself alone. When Israel refuses, then comes Armageddon. After the LORD intervenes (His feet standing on the Mount of Olive, splitting it east & west), then comes the complete restoration of Israel.

And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day, the LORD will be one, and His name one.”   “The whole land shall be turned into a (fertile) plain.”    “There shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security.”

“Then everyone who survives of all the nations ( the Gentiles ) that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts.”  Wow.

 

(Tomorrow begins the book of ESTHER, telling of the Jews who did NOT RETURN from exile to Jerusalem.)

 

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 264

Sep20

    Day 264—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and ZECHARIAH’S prophecy.

    Day 264 – Zechariah 5 – 9  (3 visions, Israel’s enemies, the Messiah)

Zechariah 5. Zechariah’s sixth dream/vision is a huge Flying Scroll – 15×30 feet, the same size as the holy place in the temple. It’s written on both sides. The 2nd and 8th commandments are listed, so maybe the scroll was of all the 10 Commandments.

It symbolizes the Word of God that Israel and the entire world have disobeyed and the coming judgment.

The Woman in a Basket is the seventh vision.  The angel shows Zechariah the woman inside the basket, whom he calls “Wickedness,” and quickly covers the basket with the lead top.  Two women with stork-like wings pick up the basket and carry it off.  This pictures the wickedness that permeated Israel and Judah, finally being carried off to Shinar (ancient Babylon’s name and the place of the tower of Babel).  This is the final “great Babylon” of Revelation 17 – 18, which will be destroyed before the Messiah’s kingdom is set up.

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Zechariah 6.  The last dream/vision is of Four Chariots. The chariots represent God’s judgment on the nations that attack Israel. The two mountains are probably Mt. Zion and the Mt of Olives, where the Lord Jesus will return.  The color of the horses pulling the chariots is again similar to the 4 Apocalyptic horses in Revelation 6:1-8.  These chariots envision vengeance on the nations.  When the final judgment is done, God’s spirit of wrath rests.  See also Revelation 19 – 20.

The Crown and the Temple. Although this is not a vision, the crown on Joshua, the high priest, and the coming One (the Branch of David’s line) who will sit on a throne in the temple He will build again, picture the Lord Jesus who will both reign as King and serve as High Priest in the Messianic kingdom on earth.

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Zechariah 7. With the temple now half finished and no obstacles to hinder them, people from Bethel came to the priests in Jerusalem and asked if they should keep mourning the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.  God, through Zechariah, scolds them.  Was your mourning for Me or for yourselves?  Obedience, not ritual, is what is essential. (This reminds me of Samuel’s “To obey is better than sacrifice” to the former King Saul.)  God is interested in HEART attitudes.

God then reminds them how He had called the people repeatedly to justice, kindness, and mercy, not oppressing widows, orphans, and the poor, and not devising evil in their hearts.  But they had refused to listen to Him…so HE refused to listen to them in their hour of distress and scattered them.

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Zechariah 8. God, through Zechariah, is still answering the Bethel delegation.  He loves His people so much. His wrath was caused by His jealousy of them. But now He has returned and will dwell in their midst again, in “the faithful city.”  This also speaks of the remnant of Israel in the coming Messianic Kingdom, where “Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the city’s streets shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”

“I will save my people from the east and west countries and bring them to dwell in Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

“And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things (peace, fruitfulness, produce, dew from heaven). And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing.  Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

Then, to the remnant, God repeats the requirement that He gave formerly of speaking truth and peace with each other, devising no evil or false oaths or other things He hates.

And FINALLY, He answers their question.  “The FASTS shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy, and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Love truth and peace. “

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Zechariah 9. The first of two “oracles.”  Judgment of Israel’s Enemies, The first Coming, and rejection of the King of Zion. (Behold your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  (See Matthew 21, John 12)

Verses 10-17 allude to their king’s SECOND Coming: “His rule shall be from sea to sea.”   “On that day, the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of His people; for like the jewels of a crown, they shall shine on His land. For how great is His goodness and how great His beauty.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 263

Sep19

    Day 263—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and ZECHARIAH’S prophecy.

    Day 263 – Zechariah 1 – 4  (A call to repentance, and five visions)

According to Ezra 5:1 and 6:14, Zechariah and Haggai were prophets to the returned-from-exile Jews to begin (Haggai) and to finish (Zechariah) the rebuilding of the Temple.  Z. reminded them that this is where the Messiah would come, so build it!! Haggai was more scolding, whereas Z was more positive, reassuring them of future blessings. 

Zechariah 1.  Zechariah’s first words were of hope. “Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you.” Don’t be like your fathers who did not listen.  The people took this to heart and repented.

The “Horseman” was the first of five visions/dreams in this section and reassured the Jews of God’s purpose for their future. The man on the red horse is called “the angel of the LORD” and possibly is an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ.  Z. also sees three other horses, possibly referring to Revelation 6:1-8.  These patrol the earth, seeing the nations who had come against Israel, which angered the LORD. But He promises to return to Jerusalem with mercy. “My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.”

The “Horns and Craftsmen” vision is the second in the same night. The angel tells Z. that the four horns he sees are the nations God used to scatter Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.  The four craftsmen were come to terrify those nations and “cast them down.”

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Zechariah 2. The “Man with a Measuring Line” vision was next in that night of dreams. This vision is meant to comfort the returned exiles.  Not only is God measuring Jerusalem to rebuild it in their time, but also a greater Jerusalem in the time of the Messiah’s reign on earth.  And again, woes to the nations who dared to “touch Israel, the apple of His eye.”

And God’s promise of a glorious future time, “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come, and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people.”

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Zechariah 3. The “Joshua as High Priest” vision is the fourth that night and speaks of Israel’s future role as a priestly nation.  Joshua, the high priest, is pictured standing before “the angel of the LORD” in filthy garments (much like the nation of Israel, sinful and unworthy). At his right is Satan, the Adversary, accusing him.  The LORD rebukes Satan, saying Joshua is chosen, a “brand plucked from the fire,” much like Jerusalem. 

Note: God Himself (the angel of the LORD) removes Joshua’s filthy garments and clothes him in pure robes and a priestly turban.  This is also a glorious picture of God’s actions for those who trust in His Son, Jesus the Messiah. Our filthy sin is removed, and Christ’s righteousness clothes us like a robe.

Then, speaking of Jesus, the Messiah, the “Branch,” God says, “I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.”

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Zechariah 4. The “Golden Lampstand”  vision is next.  It’s a huge menorah with a large golden “bowl” for oil, seven branches, and seven lips on each branch.  Behind it are two olive trees feeding oil constantly to the bowl and branches.  “What are these?” asked Z.  “Don’t you know?” asked the Angel.  “No, my, Lord,” said Z. 

And the LORD replies,  “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. What are you, O great mountain?  Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain.”   Here, the LORD, through Z., encourages Zerubbabel to finish the temple building.  And God will give an abundant supply of His Spirit to help. (Spirit is often represented by oil in the Bible.)  God says that, although this temple is smaller and less grand than the previous one, it represents the glorious restoration temple when the Messiah comes to reign. 

And then the LORD tells Z. who the olive trees represent (verse 14). They are the “anointed ones” representing the kingly and priestly offices in Israel, through which God’s blessing will flow. At the time, these were Zerubbabel (descendant of David) and Joshua (descendant of Eleazar).  Together, they foreshadow the Messiah, who is both king and priest, like Melchizedek.  (Psalm 110)

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(Three more dreams that night will follow tomorrow.)