Mon.’s Devo - It Is Finished

Read: Zechariah 8:1-23; Revelation 16:1-21; Psalm 144:1-15; Process 30:29-31 God came to Zechariah and declared his great passion for Jerusalem. He spoke of the day he would tabernacle with them. Jerusalem would be called the Faithful City and the mountain of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies would be called the Holy Mountain. *** Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets and children will play in the streets with no fear of harm. God will gather his people from where they have been scattered and they will be his people. *** God encouraged them to finish the task of rebuilding the Temple. Where there had been lack and upheaval, God was bringing peace and prosperity. The earth will respond and produce heavy crops. Heaven will respond and bring rain and dew. God’s people will inherit blessings. Israel would no longer be known as a cursed nation but a source of blessing. So, he urged them to be strong and get on with rebuilding the Temple. *** As determined as God was to punish a rebellious nation, he will be determined to bless this godly nation. In response, they must speak truth, render just verdicts in court and stop scheming against each other, and stop being deceptive. *** This is cause people from all around the world to desire to travel to Jerusalem to be blessed and worship the Lord. People will want to walk with those who know the Lord *** In Revelation, the angels holding the bowls of wrath leave the Temple in heaven. The first angel poured out his bowl and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his statue. The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea and everything in the sea died. The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs and they became blood. This was payment for all the blood of God’s holy men that they shed. The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun and it scorched people so much that they cursed the Lord. But, they refused to repent and turn to the Lord. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. They cursed God and still refused to repent. The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the Euphrates River and it dried up so the kings from the east marked toward the west without any problem. Evil spirits that looked like frogs kept from the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. They were demonic spirits that did demonic miracles and gathered the nations together for battle against the Lord on the great judgment day. They gathered them all to a place called Armageddon. God said he would come on them unexpectedly like a thief. Sounds like an ambush to me! ***The seventh angel poured out his bowl and there came a shout from the Temple in heaven that said, “It is finished!” Thunder crashed and lighting flashed and the earth shook. Babylon was split into three sections and the cities of many nations tell into ruin. Every island disappeared and all the mountains were leveled. Hailstones weighing up to 75 pounds fell to the earth and the people cursed God. *** Notice that this is not happening to the godly people in Jerusalem but to the ungodly people in Babylon and the high and mighty of the earth. *** Lord may we be alert and build your kingdom on the earth. *** Merry Christmas! It is my prayer that you have peace in your family and hope for a great future that God has prepared for each of us. May his light illuminate your path and lead you today and throughout the rest of your lives.