Tag Archive | Bible

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 186

Jul5

Day 186 – Reading – 2 Kings 12 – 13, and 2 Chronicles 24

Read today’s Scriptures. 

Don’t be confused by all the similar names. Try to be consistent looking for the phrases:

“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD,”

and “He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.”

Right through here the names of the kings in Israel (north) and Judah (south) get a bit confusing for they are the same, and a few have the same or opposite “nicknames.”  Here’s the chart again. 

NOTE in Judah, after Jehoshaphat, there is Jehoram (Joram), another Ahaziah, Athaliah (the queen), Joash (Jehoash), and Amaziah.

NOTE in Israel, after Ahab, there is Ahaziah, another Joram (Jehoram), Jehu, Jehoahaz, another Jehoash (Joash).

Seriously, as you are reading, if you don’t mind marking your Bible, highlight or underline the northern king’s names in blue, and the southern kings’ names in red. (or other colors).

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2 Kings 12.

This chapter continues what we learned in 2 Chronicles 23-24.  Even though the new king in Judah is called Jehoash here, we read about him as Joash, saved from his murdering grandmother, hidden away by the priest, Jehoida, until he was seven, and then crowned the king. His wicked “nana” was also killed that day.  We also read of the reforms the boy (under the priest’s tutelage) made, including repairing the Temple.

Now we see him calling again for the three types of offering that support the temple. 

  • The 1/2 shekel per man whenever a census was taken,
  • the payments of vows,
  • and voluntary offerings.

King Joash/Jehoash called for these offering.  After some years, when they did NOT come in, he had a special “offering box” made.  It was a reminder for the people to give.  When it was full, the priest would count and bag it and GIVE IT TO WORKMEN (carpenters, builders, masons and stonecutters) who were doing the repair.  (No “hanky-panky” in changing so many hands.

He reigned 40 years. Towards the end, Hazael (whom Elisha had anointed King of Syria) came and took Gath from the Philistines.  Now Gath was a mere 20-25 miles west of Jerusalem. And when Joash saw that the Syrian king meant to attack and take Jerusalem, he took all the sacred gifts, and his own gifts, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the Temple and the king’s house … and sent it to Hazael. 

Pleased, Hazael “went away from Jerusalem.”  (Too bad he did not pray for help from God!!)

************** And then – sheesh – two of Joash’s servants KILLED the king.  He was buried in the city of David, and his son Amaziah reigned.

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2 Kings 13.

Meanwhile back up in the North, while Joash had been reigning, Jehoahaz (son of Jehu) began to reign. (17 years, evil)

Having left Jerusalem alone, the Syrian king, Hazael, and later his son Ben-Hadad III, continually harassed the northern kingdom, taking small bites of land/cities.  King Jehoahaz’s army was whittled down to 50 horsemen, ten chariots, and 10K foot soldiers.

BUT NOTICE!!!  This wicked king “sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him, for He saw how oppressed they were.”  (God is so gracious and merciful!  He gave them “a savior” so the people could escape from the hand of the Syrians, and live in their homes.)

NOTE: This “savior” whom God gave to Israel is not named. But there are three choices.

  • 1. The Assyrian king, who attacked the Syrians from behind and forced them to turn from Israel.
  • 2. Elisha, the prophet, who continued his “secret” leadership in revealing where the Syrians would strike next.
  • or 3. Jeroboam II, the man who would be king after Jehoahaz, who fought the Syrians back. 

Take your pick.

Jehoahaz died and was buried in Samaria. 

His son Jehoash/Joash began to reign in ISRAEL. (Joash, king of JUDAH was still on the throne in the south.  Two kings named Joash: north & south!)

This new king “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.” 

Elisha, the prophet of God be came deathly ill.  King Jehoash/Joash went to him and wept.  HE KNEW the northern kingdom was lost without this godly prophet.  

He cried out to Elisha, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”  (Remember there were only 10 chariots and 50 horsemen!).  He was asking for military help!!

Elisha had King Jehoash/Joash shoot an arrow out the window, prophesying a victory over Syria.

Elisha then had the King strike the ground with his quiver of arrows. the king struck three times.

“Oh, no!!” said Elisha. “You should have struck 5-6 times then you would have totally defeated them.  Now it’s only three times, and they will come back and get you.

AND ELISHA DIED. They buried him, but it seems they forgot to fill in the grave. A band of Moabites came by, one of them died, and they threw him in the grave. HE BOUNCED BACK OUT ALIVE, AFTER TOUCHING ELISHA’S BONES. Elisha’s double portion of God’s power continued even after his death!

What??? 

The Syrian king, Hazael died and Ben-Hadad III reigned. Israel fought with him and took back the cities that were taken in war. THREE TIMES Israel defeated them. 

Jehoash/Joash reigned 16 years and died, and was buried in Samaria.

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Jeroboam II became king in the NORTH.

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2 Chronicles 24.

Okay…. were you curious at how quickly Judah’s king Joash was suddenly killed by two servants, after getting on with repairing the Temple??

I was!

Now, in Chronicles, we see the details.  King Joash had an about face, and TURNED AWAY FROM GOD, after his mentor and surrogate father, Jehoiada, the priest died.  Like Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, Joash then listened to the advice of the young princes of Judah.  He abandoned the Temple AND SERVED IDOLS! What?

Zechariah, the new priest and son of Jehoiada, called Joash out and said God would forsake HIM. Joash didn’t like that and commanded that the priest be STONED!!

The Syrians came again and took all those princes captive, and injured King Joash severely.  IT WAS THEN, THAT THOSE TWO SERVANTS CONSPIRED TO KILL KING JOASH – BECAUSE HE HAD THE PRIEST, ZACHARIAH STONED.

Okay then.  That makes sense.  Good for them!

Amaziah, the king’s son reigned instead in JUDAH.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 177

Jun26

Day 177.  Reading 1 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 17.

 
Read the Scriptures.
What are you discovering about the Kings of Israel/Judah?
How can you pray for your own country with these sins?

1 Kings 16.

I skipped a brief reign of Nadab, Jeroboam’s son in 1 Kings 15 yesterday. In the second year of King Asa in Judah (south), Nadab reigned in Israel (north). He did EVIL in the sight of God, just like Jeroboam had.  A man named Basha (house of Issachar), conspired against him and killed him in Philistine territory where they’d been fighting.

Basha then reigned in his place. And, as per prophecy (1 Kings14:9-11), he killed all the house of Jeroboam, leaving “none that breathed.”

King Basha (north) then reigned 24 years, and did EVIL in God’s sight.

Now, to chapter 16.

Because of his evilness, King Basha (north) also had a prophecy of utter destruction against him.  And so, King Basha died, and Elah his son reigned in his place.  In the 26th hear of the southern King Asa’s reign, King Elah (north) began to reign.  He made it two years,  But the Zimri, commander of half of his chariots, conspired against him.  When Elah was at a friend’s house, drunk as a skunk, Zimri came in and killed him.  Zimri then became the new (northern) king.  He also then killed all the remaining relatives of the house of Basha – as prophesied because of Basha’s and Elah’s sin.

King Zimri (north) reigned seven DAYS.  The troops still down in Philistine territory heard this, and made Omri  their “commander-in-chief.  When Zimri heard about it he went into the king’s house, set aflame and died inside.  WHOA!

So, after a power struggle with one Tibni, Omri became the new northern King. (King Asa still was reigning in Judah (south).)  King Omri reigned in the north for twelve years.  Halfway through his reign, he moved the capital to Samaria.  He also “did what was EVIL” in God’s sight.  He died and …. AHAB, his son, reigned in his place in the northern kingdom.

King Ahab reigned 22 years, and did “evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, he took his wife, JEZEBEL, the daughter of the Sidonian king (and priest of Baal) and worshiped him. Ahab erected an altar to Baal in Samaria, and made an Asherah (female version of Baal).  HE DID THOSE THINGS TO PROVOKE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL TO ANGER, more than all the kings of Israel before him.

And, interestingly, during Ahab’s reign, a man named Hiel REBUILT JERICHO. If you remember in Joshua 6:29, Joshua cursed anyone who rebuilt that city, saying that it would be at the cost of the man’s first born and youngest sons.  That prophecy was fulfilled, but Jericho was rebuilt.

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2 Chronicles 17.

Meanwhile in the south, remember the long-reigning King Asa of Judah finally died from that stinky feet disease.  His son, Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.  The LORD was with King Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David.  He did not seek Baals, but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments.  THEREFORE, God established the kingdom in his hand.

He fortified the cities along the Judah-Israel boarder in Ephraim that his father had captured.

More significantly, in his third year of reign, he sent his officials, and with them the Levites, into the cities of Judah to teach them the Book of the Law of the LORD.  And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the land – that were AROUND Judah – and they made no war against King Jehoshaphat.

Some of the Philistines even came to King Jehoshaphat with gifts of silver, and the Arabians brought rams and goats as tribute. 

(This reminds me of Proverbs 16:7, that says, “If a man’s ways please the LORD, even his enemies are at peace with him.”)

Jehoshaphat built garrisons and store cities. His army was great and full of mighty men of valor.

(Why, oh why, don’t we always seek to please and honor and glorify the LORD.  What benefits!)

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(Jehoshaphat DOES make a major mistake, however, which we’ll cover on Sunday.)

 

List of north/south kings:

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 94

Apr4
Day 94.  Reading Judges 13 – 15
 

Read today’s scripture.

What encourages you from the book of Judges?

Judges 13.

Samson, the Old Testament Super Hero?  Not, when you get to know him!

The story begins as it has in the last chapters:

  • The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.
  • So the LORD gave them into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years.

This time we don’t read about the people crying out to God for help, but you can be sure they did.  The help would come from the tribe of Dan this time.  Remember, their land allotment was a small area at the Mediterranean Sea around Joppa. This was just north of the five main cities of Philistia (Ashdod, Gath, Ashkelan, Ekron, and Gaza). 

The town of Zorah, where Samson’s parents lived, was just east of Ekron and north of Gath. (kind of scary!)

As in so many of the Bible stories where God chooses special people for specific tasks, we see a man with a barren wife. One day the Angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah and told him that his wife was going to have a son. He was to be a Nazarite FROM BEFORE BIRTH. That meant that not only would the son NOT have his hair cut, and would not eat anything unclean or connected with grapes (juice, wine, raisins or skins), and never touch anything dead, but his MOTHER would also not eat anything from the vine or unclean.

The Angel of the LORD also told him that this son would “begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”  The couple believed, and asked God for more instructions on what they were to do with the child born to them. And the angel returned to instruct them.

Manoah asked the Angel for his name and the answer was amazing! “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?”  This immediately reminded me of Isaiah 9:6, speaking about the Messiah to come.

  • “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

It was surely the pre-incarnate Jesus, talking to this Danite man.

And… in due time, Manoah’s wife conceived and bore a son. They called him Samson. “And the young man grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him.”

Sounds good, so far……

Judges 14.

Samson went to Timnah, a boarder town of Judah, saw a Philistine girl there and told his parents to get her for his wife. His parents were of course upset, thinking their nice Jewish boy should marry a nice Jewish girl.  But they forgot that God was going to use Samson to “begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”  Samson was “seeking an opportunity against the Philistines” and this was from the LORD.

As the three journeyed down to Timnah, a lion rushed out at them. YIKES!  Samson grabbed the cat with his bare hands and tore it to pieces (in the power of the Spirit).  WHAT???  Then they calmly went the rest of the way and talked to the woman. (I assume they made the deal for the bride price.)

A few days later, Samson went back to claim his wife and saw the carcass of the lion he killed. THERE WAS A SWARM OF BEES INSIDE … AND SOME HONEY.  Samson scraped out some of the honey and ate it! (Now did he touch a dead body?)  When he saw his parents later he gave them some and they ate too. 

Now, why is this in the story – other than to show Samson broke the Nazarite Vow?  Because our clever “judge” made up a riddle for the wedding party guests to guess.  The winning prize would be 30 changes of garments, awarded to the guests if they guessed the answer, or kept by Samson, if they didn’t.

Here it is:

  • Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.

Of course WE know what it was, but no one else could guess.  CHEATERS!!  Yep, the young men went to Samson’s fiancé and threated her to find the answer. She did and told them.  They smugly gave him the answer,

Samson was furious.  “If you had not ‘plowed with my heifer’ you would not have found out my riddle!”

The Spirit of the LORD rushed on him. He went down to Ashkelon and killed the young men in hot anger.  He returned to his parent’s home, and his new bride was given to his best man.   Oh, boy!!!

Judges 15.

After he cooled off, Samson went down to claim his wife, only to discover she had been given to the other man.  The dad offered her younger sister, but Samson was angered again.

He caught 300 foxes (how did he do THAT?), tied there tails together with torches and lit the torches.  The foxes ran wildly though the grain fields and burned up all the crops and the fig trees.

This enraged the Philistines, so they came and burned Samson’s “wife” and her father with fire.

Samson struck them all with great blows, braking their hips and thighs. Then he went to sulk.

The Philistines got up an army and raided Judah.  When asked why, they said, they wanted Samson.  So 3,000 men of Judah went to Samson and made a deal.  They bound him and gave them over to the Philistines. 

The Philistines shouted in victory when they saw the bound Samson coming.  But……………………

The Spirit of the LORD rushed on him and the ropes binding him melted away.  He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey (another dead body), grabbed it, and with it killed 1,000 Philistines!  And he sang a song about it.  Then he threw away the jawbone.

Samson was then very thirsty and called out to God, “You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”

And God split open the hollow place and water came out from it, and Samson drank it.  WHOA!

And Samson judged Israel twenty years.

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(But wait! that’s not the end of his story. Stay tuned to tomorrow when Samson meets Delilah.) 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 40 & 41

Feb10

Days 40 & 41.  Reading Exodus 30 – 32 and Exodus 33 – 35. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Exodus 30.

Today, we learn about the two other pieces of Tabernacle furniture, one inside the tent and the other outside. We will also learn about the very special single-usage anointing oil and incense.

Inside the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, along with the Table for Bread and the Golden Lampstand, the small Altar of Incense would be placed just in front of the veil separating the two rooms.  This is where Aaron (the high priest) will burn holy, sweet-smelling incense before the LORD every morning and evening when he dresses the lamps.

The Holy Incense (not to be used elsewhere) was made of equal parts sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, with a sprinkle of pure, holy salt. These are to be ground and combined carefully, as by a perfumer. They were not to make any of this recipe for personal use or be cut off from Israel.

Just outside the door of the Tabernacle the Bronze Basin (or Laver) would be placed. This is where the priests would wash their hands and feet before entering the Tabernacle and before they burned food offerings to the LORD.

All the furniture inside and outside the Tabernacle would have rings attached at the lower corners and poles going through the rings. The Levites would carry the holy items, by the poles, never touching the furniture itself. 

The sacred Anointing Oil was to be made of the finest spices: liquid myrrh,  sweet-smelling cinnamon, aromatic cane, cassia, and olive oil. These were be mixed by a perfumer in the correct portions. This anointing oil would consecrate the Tabernacle, all its furniture and utensils, and Aaron and his sons (and any future priests).  It was never to be poured on the body of any other person. No one was to make a similar composition. or else be cut off from Israel.

Taxes. (Of course!)

Besides the contributions for making all the items involved with the Tabernacle, the people were to give a half shekel each for its upkeep annually. This was a “census tax,” meaning everyone twenty years old and above would give this offering, rich or poor, the same.  (Called the Temple Tax later)

Exodus 31.

The LORD called two men (Bezalel of Judah and Oholiab of Dan) to oversee the building of the Tabernacle and all its parts. God filled them with the Spirit of God, with the ability, intelligence, knowledge, and craftsmanship.

  • to devise artistic designs
  • to work in gold, silver, and bronze
  • in cutting stones for setting
  • in carving wood,
  • to work in every craft. 

God also gave “all able men” the ability to make everything (the Tent, furniture, garments, oil, and incense.

And lest they get carried away with all this construction and craft, Moses was to remind the people that “Above all, you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD sanctify you. Keep the Sabbath because it is holy for you. Anyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Six days your work will be done, and the seventh is a day of solemn rest, holy to the LORD.”

Then God gave Moses the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments engraved by “the finger of God.”

Exodus 32.

But, while glorious things were happening in the presence of the LORD on Mt. Sinai, below, the people sank into darkest sin.

For forty days, Moses was gone.  Had he died on that fire-engulfed mountaintop? Was he ever coming back?  No, he was NEVER coming back!  What are we to do? We HAVE TO go back to Egypt!  We need gods to lead us back through this desert! Aaron!  Make us gods to lead us!!!!

So Aaron (Israel’s future holy High Priest) collected gold earrings from the people and crafted a golden calf (a prime god of Egypt) for them to worship. 

They did just that, with singing, dancing, sacrifices, and an orgy.

The LORD to Moses:  “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the Way I commanded them. They have made a golden calf to worship and sacrifice to, saying, “THESE are our gods.”  My wrath burns hot against them. I may consume them to make a great nation of YOU, Moses.”

Moses to the LORD:  “O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against Your people, whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?  The Egyptians will say You brought them out to kill them. Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against Your people. REMEMBER Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Your own self to multiply their offspring, and give them the promised land to inherit it forever!”

(The LORD heard Moses’ intercession for His glory and relented from His plans to annihilate the people.)

But Moses’s anger burned for the LORD’s sake.

He met Joshua, who had been waiting halfway down the mountain. Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted.  “There is a noise of WAR in the camp!”

“It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.” growled Moses.

As they neared the camp, they SAW the golden calf. 

Moses’ anger burned HOT. He threw down the stone tablets (with God’s laws) and broke them at the foot of the mountain. He took that golden image and burned it with fire. He ground it to powder and scattered it on the water. Then he made the people drink it.

To Aaron, his brother, the future High Priest, Moses growled. “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great SIN upon them?”

Aaron answered with… a lie. “Don’t be angry. You know the people, that they are set on evil. They told me to make them gods to lead them back to Egypt because they didn’t know what happened to you. So they gave me their earrings, and I threw them into the fire … and out came this calf.”

Meanwhile, the people were “breaking loose” in craven, pagan frenzy. 

Moses stood at the gate of the camp and called, “WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE. COME TO ME.”  And all the Levites gathered around him. Moses sent them on a horrific mission of holy wrath. They were to go throughout the camp and kill all who had been crazy worshiping the calf.   They did.  They killed 3,000 men.

And in showing such loyalty to Moses and to God, Moses proclaimed, “Today you have been ORDAINED FOR THE SERVICE OF THE LORD for what you have done.” 

And so the Levites were in charge of the Tabernacle and everything involving the worship of the LORD God of Israel.

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Day 41, Exodus 33.

Moses, with a love for the Jewish people like Paul’s (Romans 9:1-5), intercedes for Israel because of their idolatry. “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin–but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”  

And after a plague swept through the camp, God announced that He would not go up to the promised land with Israel “lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people. So now take off your ornaments so know what to do with you.” 

And the people stripped themselves of their ornaments from that day on. 

Moses pleaded with God to accompany them with His Presence and not simply send an angel to guide them. “If your Presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people?  Is it not in Your going in with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on earth?”

And God listened to Moses’ plea.

Then … throwing caution to the wind, Moses asked to SEE GOD’S GLORY.   Whoa!

I can see God smiling at His chosen leader but shaking His head. “I will show you my GOODNESS and proclaim my Name before you. But you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”  Then God told him how He would do that. But first, Moses was to cut new stone tablets (which he broke) for God to write the Ten Commandments on, and come up into Mt. Sinai.

Exodus 34.

After Moses made them and ascended the mountain, the LORD descended in a cloud.  He put Moses in a rock cleft, covered him with His hand, and passed by so that Moses could only see the “backside” of God’s glory. And Moses heard the “goodness” of the LORD. 

“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands (of generations), forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by NO MEANS clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to three or four generations.”

And Moses fell to his face and worshiped God.

Then, God renewed His covenant with Israel. He said He WILL go with them to the Promised Land and drive out the pagans there. But THEY are to tear down the altars, idols, and pillars and break them into pieces. “You shall worship no other god, for the LORD whose name is “Jealous,” is a jealous God. And you shall NOT make for yourself ANY GODS OF CAST METAL.”

God reminded Moses of the feast days to be kept, the importance of the Sabbath, how to offer sacrifices and other offerings. Then God wrote the Ten Commandments again on the new stone tablets.

Exodus 35.

Moses returned to a more subdued people and repeated what the LORD commanded them.

THEN, Moses told them about the glorious Tabernacle they were to construct for the LORD so His presence would dwell “among” them in their camp.  He asked them for the contribution items and the gifted craftsmen to come forward.

All the people departed …

And then they returned. Everyone whose heart had been stirred and whose spirit had been moved came. They brought jewelry, cloth and yarns, animal skins, silver and bronze items, and acacia wood.   Every skillful woman spun with their hands the goat’s hair and wool. Men brought precious stones to be set, spices, oil, and fragrant incense.  Everyone donated items and time as “a free-will offering to the LORD.”

Bezalel, the architect and general construction manager, presented himself, got the plans, and began teaching others the skills of the trades and design. Oholiab also came and taught the skills of engraving and embroidery.  Both men had been called by God for the work, filled with the Spirit of God, and given skill, intelligence, and knowledge in all areas of craftmanship. 

(Perhaps this amazing, exacting project would keep the people’s hearts and minds away from idolatry and grumbling.)  It would take them almost one year.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 33 & 34 (Part 2)

Feb3

Day 34. Reading in Exodus 13 – 15. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Exodus 13.

Israel is out of Egypt! 

While it is fresh in their minds, the LORD instructs Moses to “consecrate to Me all the firstborn of Israel, man and beast. They are mine.”  Because God had spared these on the night of the tenth plague, they were HIS.  (Did they wonder what this commandment would involve? What would God do with them?)

And when they came into the promised land, they were to continue this practice. Every firstborn male (man and creature) was to be set apart for the LORD. (Donkeys were to be exchanged for lambs.)  God would not “kill” these firstborn boy children (whew). No, the people were to “redeem them” (buy them back) for a later established amount. (See Mary/Joseph doing this for infant Jesus in Luke 2:22-23)  Every time the people consecrated and redeemed their babies, they would remember HOW the LORD brought them out of Egypt. 

Another annual observance was instituted to remind them of that night and that journey. Not only were they to celebrate a Passover feast, they were also to eat only unleavened bread, like what they ate on that night of escape, for seven days. All to remember their deliverance! (Also, to point a later generation to the sinless Lamb of God, sacrificed for their salvation.)

Interestingly, God did not lead His newly freed people directly to the promised land. This would have caused them to travel through the land of the Philistines. They were not ready for war. They might have been scared out of their minds and wanted to return to Egypt.  Instead, the LORD led them into the wilderness and towards the Red Sea. He had a lot of things to teach these ex-slaves first. 

The LORD went before them as the ultimate leader and guide. He appeared as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He was their shade from the heat and a light and warmth in the cool desert darkness. Ever-present beacons of an Almighty and loving, promise-keeping God.

Exodus 14.

The LORD instructed Moses to lead the people in a circle and make their camp near a town with their backs to the Red Sea. It would look like they were trapped between “a rock and a hard place.” God told Moses that He had hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would pursue them. “But I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his armies.  Egypt will KNOW that I AM the LORD.”

Meanwhile, the weight of the loss of all the people of Israel dawned on Egypt when they looked at their fields,  construction sites, empty kitchens, and piling laundry. “What have we done that we have let Israel go from serving us!”

Pharaoh had monitored where the mass of ex-slaves was moving. When he learned they were backed up against the Red Sea, a sly smile came to his haggard face.  “Hahaha. They are trapped!”  God made Pharaoh’s heart like granite, and he, with all his horses and chariots and horsemen and army, pursued Israel … and overtook them, encamped by the sea.

The people freaked out! 

“Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us?  Didn’t we say to leave us alone so that we can serve the Egyptians? We would have been better off serving them than to die in the wilderness.”

Moses tried to calm them with words from the LORD. “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you today. The Egyptians that you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Can you imagine their terror, with the sea lapping at their heels and that massive hoard of armed and wicked chariots and soldiers charging fast right at them??? WOW!

Could the Israelites now see the whites of the eyes of the armies of Pharaoh? Could they see his evil grimace and raging eyes as he charged them???

“What are you waiting for, Moses? Lift your staff and stretch it out over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea ON DRY GROUND.”

And as Moses turned to obey, the pillar of cloud rose and moved between Israel and the enemy hoard.  Blinded, they screeched to a halt. And as the night fell, the pillar became fire: a light to Israel but pitch blackness to the army.

All night, an east wind blew, heaping up water to the left and right and making a wide pathway through the sea as dry as desert sand.  And Israel went down that path, through the walls of water and up to the ground on the other side. 

At daybreak, the pillar lifted, and the army of Pharaoh pursued Israel.  As soon as the last Israelite stepped on the other shore, the wheels of chariots began to sink into a mire of mud as the water began to leak. They and the horseman tried to turn back, but in the confusion, horses and men fell and were trampled. Confusion and panic grew.

Moses then stretched out his staff over the sea again.  The walls of water smashed together, covering the mad king with all his hosts. Not one escaped. 

Israel “saw the great power of the LORD used against the Egyptians, and they feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and His servant Moses.”

Exodus 15.

So, Moses wrote a song about the event. He and the people sang the song. Then Moses and Aaron’s sister, the prophetess Miriam (with a tambourine in her hand), led the women out dancing and singing the refrain. Wow. What a sight and sound!

  • I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider, He has thrown into the sea!
  • The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.”

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Then reality crashed on the crowd. A three-day journey from the Red Sea used all the freshwater they’d brought. They were thirsty. They came to a water hole, but it was bitter and brackish. (think stagnant)

The people grumbled (a habit they would exhibit ALL their days in the desert). “What shall we drink,” they groaned.

Moses looked to God, and the LORD showed him a dead tree branch.  Moses threw it into the water, and the water … became pure and clean and sweet!! 

As they were filling their water skins, the LORD spoke and made for them a STATUTE and a RULE, testing them. 

“IF you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in His eyes, and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, THEN I will put none of the diseases (plagues) on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I AM the LORD, your healer.”

Then, surprisingly, the masses of Israel moved to Elim, an oasis with twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. And they camped by the water.

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Tomorrow = next disaster (or test).

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 365 – the last day!

Dec31

   Day 365—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying THE REVELATION to John.

Day 365 – Revelation 19 – 22 (Rejoicing in Heaven, 1,000 years, Satan defeated, new Heaven/Earth, new Jerusalem, River & Tree of Life, Jesus is coming)

Revelation 19.

“Hallelujah! Salvation, and glory, and power belong to our God, for His judgments are true and just.”

“Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, small and great.”

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready: it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure.”  Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

Then John saw a white horse ridden by One called “Faithful and True.” His eyes are like a flame of fire and on His head are many diadems. He has “a name written that no one knows but Himself.”

He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is “The Word of God.”  This One will defeat the nations and rule them. He will “tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”  On his robe and on his thigh, He has a name written, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

And the “armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white a pure” (the saints) were following Him on white horses.

“I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who was sitting on the horse and against His army. The beast was captured, and the false prophet, who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the Mark of the Beast and those who worshipped its image.  THESE TWO WERE THROWN ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE THAT BURNS WITH SULFER.”

Revelation 20.

Then John saw an angel holding the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer.” (Until the thousand years have ended, and he is released for a LITTLE while.)

Then John saw the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. (It’s when Israel’s promised King will reign on the actual earth from Jerusalem.  (A promise fulfilled to the Jews.)

After that, Satan will be released to try to deceive men again, and there will be a great war until fire from Heaven comes down and consumes them. THEN THE DEVIL WILL BE THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE AND SULFUR AND WILL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOREVER AND EVER!”

Next comes “the Great White Throne Judgment,” when all the dead will stand before God’s throne. Books will be opened and the dead will be judged by WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, as written in the books.  “If anyone’s name was not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.“. 

Revelation 21.

John then saw a NEW heaven and a NEW earth.  He saw “the Holy City” descending out of heaven from God, like a bride adorned for her husband.  GOD IS GOING TO DWELL WITH MEN, AND THEY WILL BE HIS PEOPLE, AND HE THEIR GOD. 

All tears will be wiped away. There won’t be death, no mourning, no crying, and no more pain.  All things will be made new. 

Then, an angel showed John the Holy City, Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God. It was radiant like the most rare jewel, crystal clear like a diamond.  It had a high wall with twelve gates. Inscribed on each gate was the name of one of the twelve sons of Israel.  The wall had twelve foundations made of twelve precious jewels, with each of the twelve apostles’ names on them. 

The angel with John measured the city. It was a perfect 1,500-mile cube (about 2 million square miles in volume). It mirrored the configuration of the Most Holy Place in the temple.  It was made of pure gold, transparent as glass. 

There was NO TEMPLE because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were the temple.

There was NO SUN OR MOON because the glory of God and the lamp of the Lamb gave it light.

There was NOTHING UNCLEAN, ONLY those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life are allowed to enter the city.

Revelation 22.

The angel then showed John the pure, crystal-clear river of the Water of Life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.  It flowed through the middle of the street of the city. Growing on either side was the Tree of Life with twelve kinds of fruits, one for each month.

The servants of God and the Lamb will worship  Him.  And they will SEE HIS FACE. (see 1 John 3:2)

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John then signs his name. “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.”   

The angel told John, “Do NOT seal up the words of the prophecy of this book (like the prophet Daniel was told to do in Daniel 8:26, 12:4-10), “for the time is near.”

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the Bride say, COME!

Let the one who hears (reads) say, COME!

He who testifies to these things (Jesus) says, SURELY I AM COMING SOON.

John says, AMEN. COME, LORD JESUS!

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We did it. What a glorious trip through the Word of Almighty God, from pure beginning to purity restored.  Glory, hallelujah!

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, 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 361

Dec27

   Day 361—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 361 – 2 John 1, 3 John 1 (Do’s and do not’s of Christian hospitality)

This is the second of three letters John wrote to churches in Asia-Minor under his oversight. John calls himself “the elder,” which signifies his age and position in leadership.

There are warnings about false teachers trying to influence them and encouragements to hold fast to the truth and to Christ-like love for each other.

2 John.

John is encouraged that in this church (the elect “lady”) some make it a habit to walk in the truth of God’s word.  He encourages them all to keep loving one another. “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”

John cautions them about “many deceivers” who do NOT confess Jesus Christ in the flesh.  They are to watch out for them.  These deceivers are anti-Christ.  “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching of Christ, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” 

John closes, saying he wishes to come and talk to them face to face to complete his joy.

3 John.

In this letter, John addresses the “beloved Gaius,” a member in good standing of the church. “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health as it goes well with your soul.”

(What a great New Year’s prayer!!)

John also tells Gaius that it brings joy to his heart that he is “walking in the truth.”  He says Gaius is doing well in supporting true believing brothers in Christ, even if they are strangers, in a manner worthy of God. This way, supporters and missionaries can be “fellow workers for the truth.”

John then calls out two men – Diotrephes and Demetrius. The first man is selfish, does not acknowledge authority, talks wicked nonsense, and refuses hospitality. (I will deal with him when I come.) The second man has received good testimony from everyone, including from us. “Beloved Gaius, don’t imitate evil, but imitate good.”

In closing, John repeats that he hopes to see them soon and talk to them face to face. Meanwhile, “peace be to you.”

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Tomorrow, we begin John’s last writing – The Revelation.