Wed.’s Devo - The End From the Beginning

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I pray you are enjoying it surrounded by love and family.
Read: Zechariah 8:1-23; Revelation 16:1-21; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 30:29-31
God compelled Israel to return to him by reminding them of their past and today he entices them to obedience by promising them prosperity and peace in the future. He describes Jerusalem as a place where families live and hope and joy is restored. We have seen this happen in the past 70 years. Israel became a nation in 1943 and since that time Jews have come back to live in the land and prosper. They have come back physically, but God said they would come back spiritually also. This is also happening. (First the natural, then the spiritual - 1 Corinthians 15:46.)
In Revelation, the only ones left on the earth to experience God’s judgment are the unrighteous or the new converts. The bowls of God’s wrath will be poured out on them. The first judgement will be painful sores for those who have the mark of the beast. With the second bowl, the sea will turn to blood which will kill everything in the sea. In the third judgment their rivers and springs will become blood because they shed the blood of God’s people. In the fourth judgment the sun will become so hot it will scorch the people that refuse to repent and glorify God. The fifth angel’s bowl will be poured out on the throne of the beast and his kingdom will be plunged into darkness and be plagued with painful sores. Still men will refuse to repent and call out to God. The sixth angel will pour out his bowl on the Euphrates and it will dry up so the kings will be able to come from the East. Then the dragon, the beast and the false prophet will be possessed with demonic spirits to preform miraculous signs to deceived the nation. They will cater the kings of the world for the last battle at Armageddon. The seventh bowl will be poured out with lightning and thunder and a severe earthquake that will split Rome into three parts. The mountains will be made flat and the whole earth will be shaken and changed. Huge hailstones will fall from heaven. It will be the end.
Lord, thank you that you tell us the end from the beginning. Thank you that you will rescue your people before you pour out your wrath on the earth. Help us to be witnesses in these last days so that we can bring the harvest in.