Thurs.’s Devo - The High Priest

Read: Zechariah 2:1-3:10; Revelation 12:18-13:18; Psalm 141:1-10; Proverbs 30:18-20 Today we read Zechariah’s third vision. Remembering that they are rebuilding the Temple, Zechariah is shown a man with a measuring line who is going to measure Jerusalem, not the Temple. Another angel came to tell Zechariah that one day the city would be so full of people that there wouldn’t be enough room for everyone. God would be a protective wall of fire around their city. God called his people back from exile to come back to Jerusalem He cursed the nations who had crushed his people. God proclaimed that Jerusalem was beautiful and that he was coming to live among them. Other nations would join themselves to the Lord and he would be their God also. In chapter three, Zechariah was shown the high priest Jeshua standing before the angel of the Lord. Satan was there to accuse him. The Lord stepped in and told Satan that he rejected his accusations and rebuked him. God said that Jeshua was like a burning stick that had been snatched from the fire - meaning that he had been snatched from hell. Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as a picture of his sin. The angels took off his filthy cloths and gave him fine new clothes. He put a clean turn on his head. This is the picture of salvation that would come through a future High Priest. God told Jeshua that if he walked in God’s ways and served him he would be given authority over his Temple and its courtyards. He told him that he was a picture of things to come. He was the symbol of the Branch, the Messiah that would come who would take away the sins of the nation in a day. In Revelation the dragon stood beside the sea. A beast rose out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns and ten crowns on its horns. Written on each head were the names that blasphemed God. The beast looked like a leopard, but had the feel of a bear and the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority. One of the heads received a fatal wound that was miraculously healed. The miracle brought the beast world-wide attention and honor. The beast was allowed to blaspheme God and do whatever he wanted for 42 months. He waged war against God’s holy people. They were to patiently endure the persecution and remain faithful. Another beast came up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon. He took authority over the first beast and required all the earth to worship the first beast. He did miracles and deceived the people who belonged to the world. He ordered a statue made of the first beast and then gave life to the statue so it could speak. Anyone who refused to worship the statue would die. He also required everyone to receive his mark on their right hand or forehead and no one could buy or sell without having the mark. The number of the beast was 666. Lord, as carry as all this sounds our comfort is in You. It is my understanding that we won’t be here during this time so I pray for believers who will be alive during these hard times. May they stand with You with your mark on their hearts, their head and their hands. May we stand in our day as lights in our dark days. Thank you that the end is near and salvation is coming. Thank you that you are a faithful High Priest.