Wed.’s Devo - Victory for Those Who Worship the Lamb

Read: Zechariah 6:1-7:14; Revelation 15:1-8; Psalm 143:1-12; Proverbs 30:24-28 Zechariah saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains. The chariots represented kingdoms on the earth. The chariot pulled by red horses was first and stood for the Roman Empire. In Revelation 6 this horse took peace from the earth by killing and carnage. The next chariot was led by black horses and stood for Babylon. It came from the north and brought famine and lack. The third chariot was drawn by while horses and it stood for Darius the Mede. It went west to conquer the world. The fourth chariot was led by dappled-gray horses and it was going out to the south. It stood for Egypt. It’s rider was Death and Hades followed it. It killed with war, hunger, and by the beast. *** As they went out to patrol the earth, the Lord told Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah to bring the silver and gold that had been offered by the exiles who came back from Babylon. He was to make a crown and put it on the head of Jeshua. He was to give him the name of the Branch because he would branch out and build God’s Temple. He stood for Christ. So though we see the kingdom’s of the world bringing war, famine, and disease, we are going to know that God is crowning Jesus to branch out and build his kingdom. He has been doing that very thing since Jesus came to the earth. *** God told Zechariah that people would come from all over the world to build the kingdom of God. Then we will know that God has spoken through his prophets. *** The people of Bethel sent two of their men, Sharezer and Regemmelech to ask the prophets and the priest if they were to continue fasting every summer on the anniversary of when the Temple fell. The Lord asked them who they mourned and fasted for because it surely wasn’t him. He asked them who they ate and drank for at their festivals because that wasn’t for him either. Then they told them the same things the prophets had told them before exile. They told them to judge fairly and to show mercy and kindness to one another. They were not to oppress widows, orphans, foreigners and the poor and they were to stop scheming against each other. Their ancestors had refused to hear these words - would they? *** The name Sharezer means “he beheld treasure.” Regemmelech means “storing of the king.” They were from Bethel where they worshiped the golden calf when the kingdoms split. They were steeped in idolatry. They beheld and enjoyed the wealth of the king, but withheld the truth and blessings from the people and stored them up for themselves. They stand for the elite of our day that withheld wealth, health, truth and blessings from God’s children, but now the shoe is going to be put on the other foot. The wealth of the wicked is going to transfer to the righteous. *** In Revelation, we have two different viewpoints. On one side there is the seven angels holding the seven last plagues ready to bring God’s wrath to completion on the earth. On the other side we see a sea of glass and fire with victorious believers standing on it playing harps and singing the song of victory. *** The angels holding the plague came out of the Temple and were handed a gold bowl of God’s wrath. The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the angels had poured out their bowls of God’s wrath. *** Lord, thank you that we are part of the group that praises you and doesn’t have to bear your wrath. Thank you that your wrath was poured out on Calvary for all our sins and we are now clothed in white. May we shine brightly in the world bringing many to your light.