Read: Micah 5:1-7:20; Revelation 7:1-17; Psalm 135:1-21; Proverbs 30:5-6
Micah rallies the troops to prepare for a siege against Israel by the Assyrians which will crush their leader. But, while in their immediate future chaos is about to unfold, there is a great promise for the future. The Messiah will come from the small town of Bethlehem. Under his rulership, the people will be happy, safe and at ease. In the midst of being surrounded by the powers of darkness, we are the light of the world and we are safe in the eye of the storm if we hide in Christ. He is our Prince of Peace.
We are told that the Messiah has existed from eternity with God, his own people will reject him for a season but they will be restored in the end. Universal peace will rule the earth in the end of time, but in the meantime, we are called to trust in our great Shepherd’s care and his power. If we are attacked, he will defend us.
All that was required of them was to act justly love mercy and to walk humbly with God.
In Revelation we see four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land, sea or trees. They were not to harm the earth until God had sealed his 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. These will be the new Jewish converts that will come in to faith in Jesus as their Messiah. Dan and Ephraim are replaced by Joseph and Levi. One commentator I read said that the Anti-christ would come from the tribe of Dan. I’m not sure but it makes sense in the fact that one of Jesus’ disciples was a traitor.
God doesn’t forget anything. When Rehoboam became king after Solomon and the kingdom was split, he didn’t want the people to travel to Jerusalem in Judah lest they decided to defect to Judah, so he built two golden calves - one in Bethel (in Ephram) and the other in Dan. I think this is the main reason they were left out of redemption in the end.
The crowd of people from every tribe nation and people and language were the redeemed throughout the great tribulation - These were the martyrs of the fifth seal. Notice that the church has been taken out by this time.
Lord, thank you for your plan.
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