Sun.’s Devo - God Wins!

Read: Zechariah 8:2-23; Revelation 16:1-21; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 30:29-31 Merry Christmas! We have great news to read on the day we celebrate as the arrival of our King’s birth on earth. God proclaims that his love for Mt. Zion is passionate and strong. He is consumed with passion for Jerusalem, his bride. That is us! When he returns Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City and Mt. Zion will be called the Holy Mountain. Once again, Jerusalem would be filled with the old and the young. Before they started rebuilding, they lived unsafely and in poverty, but when they began the work, God turned their situation around. Now they will receive the blessings of heaven and peace on every side. God will make them the very symbol and source of blessing. God wanted these promises to encourage them to continue building. At one time, God was determined to punish Israel, but now he was determined to bless them. But, he did require that they change their ways. They had to tell the truth to each other, vender verdicts in court that lead to peace. Stop scamming against on another and telling lies. Then he answered the question the men of Bethel had asked him in what we read yesterday. Pertaining to the fast that mourned the Temple’s destruction, they could stop celebrating it. Instead they were to become festivals of joy and celebration. God’s people would be honored and esteemed by all. In Revelation, the seven angels leave to pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth. The first bowl brought terrible boils on those how had the mark or worshiped his statue. The second bowl was poured on the sea and it became like blood. All died in the sea. The third angel poured his bowl on the rivers and springs and they became blood. Because they had shed blood of God’s people, they would be made to drink blood as their just reward. The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast and his kingdom was plunged in to darkness. They anguished in the dark with their boils yet they did not repent of their sins. The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the Euphrates River and it dried up so that the kings from the east could easily march their armies to the west. Three evil spirits left from the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophets and went out to all the leaders of the earth calling them to the battle against the Lord. God warned the people that he would come as a thief but to those who are watching for him to come he would be a blessing. The rulers with their armies would gather at Armageddon. The seventh bowl was poured out into the air and a shout came from the throne saying, “It is finished!” Then thunder rolled and lighting flashed. The earth experienced the greatest earthquake it had ever had. The earthquake split the city of Babylon into three sections and many nations fell into the heaps of rubble. Every island disappeared and all the mountains were leveled. A terrible hailstorm with hailstones as large as 75 pounds fell to the earth. They cursed God because he was winning the war. Lord, help your believers who have to live through that time on the earth. May they be strong and courageous. May we be strong and courageous in our war against sin. May we not grow weary but depend on your Spirit to revive us. The victory is the Lord’s!