Wed.’s Devo - Comfort

Read: Zechariah 1:1-21; Revelation 12:1-17; Psalm 140:1-13; Proverbs 30:17 The name Zechariah means “one whom Jehovah remembers”. Zechariah was a priest as well as a prophet like Jeremiah and Ezekiel. He prophesied two months after Haggai during the second year of Darius’ reign. God was really upset with their ancestors who worshipped other gods and abandoned the worship of God. God told them to return to him and he would return to them. He reminded them that he did everything he told his prophets he would do. Three months later Zechariah had a vision of a man sitting on a red horse. It was standing among the myrtle trees in a small valley. Behind him were other riders on red, brown and white horses. When Zechariah asked him who these were God told him that they were the ones the Lord had sent out to patrol the earth. They would report what they saw to the angel under the tree. They brought back the report that the earth was at peace. The angel of the Lord prayed that God would bring comfort to his people. The angel gave Zechariah a message to shout. God had great love and passion for Jerusalem and Mt. Zion but was not happy with their enemies that were now enjoying peace and security. His anger toward his people was over and now he was angry at the people who oppressed his people. It was time to rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem. Zechariah was shown four horns which represented the nations that had humbled and scattered Judah and the blacksmiths that were coming to terrify them and throw them down and destroy them. In Revelation, John witnessed several events. The first was a woman clothed with the sun standing on the moon. A crown of twelve stars was on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain. The next event was a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept away one third of the stars in the sky and threw them to the earth. He stood ready to devour her child once she gave birth. She gave birth to a son who would rule the earth with an iron rod (Jesus). The child was snatched away and caught up to God. The woman (the Church) fled into the wilderness where God prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days. There was great spiritual battle in heaven between Michael and Satan and God’s army won. Satan was thrown down to earth and the Church was given authority over him. We defeat him by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and the fact that we are not afraid to die. Once Satan was thrown to earth, he went after the Church. She was given wings to fly into the wilderness where she would be cared for and protected. Satan tried to kill her with a flood but the earth swallowed up the flood. Satan was really mad and declared war on the rest of her children. Lord, may we realize that the devil has already been defeated and we hold all the cards. We have been given authority to rule over him and declare victory for our nation and our families. We declare comfort to your people.

Tues.’s Devo - Building the Temple

Read: Haggai 1:1-2:23; Revelation 11:1-19; Psalm 139:1-24; Proverbs 30:15-16 Cyrus had sent a remnant of Jews back to Jerusalem to build a house to the Lord. They had become so consumed with building their own houses that they hadn’t yet began work on the Temple. God gave a word through Haggai to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. It was the first day of the sixth month. He rebuked him for building luxurious houses to live in when God’s house was lying in ruins. Because they neglected God’s house, they had not had enough to live on. God told them to consider their ways and change. God had called a drought on the land until they got their lives in order. Zerrubabel ,and the high priest, Joshua and the people got busy building God’s house. A month and twenty days later, Haggai came back with another word to Zerubbabel and Joshua and to the people. He told them to be strong for He was with them. Another word came almost two months later. God said that they had been an unclean people but the day they laid the first stone in the temple God started to bless their crops and where they had not brought forth a harvest, they would begin to. In Revelation, John was given a measuring stick to measure the Temple of God and the altar and to count the number of worshipers. He was not to measure the outer courtyard because it was to be turned over to the nations to be trampled for 42 months. God’s two witnesses clothed in burlap would prophecy during those 1,260 days. The two prophets were the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord. If anyone tries to harm them, fire will flash from their mouths and consume their enemies. They would have power to shut the sky so no rain would fall as long as they prophesied They would also have power to turn the rives to blood and strike the earth with every kind of plague at will. When their assignment is complete, the beast that comes from the bottomless pit will declare war against them. Their bodies will lie on the main street of Jerusalem for three and a half days. People will rejoice over their death and give presents to one another. At the end of the three and a half days, God will breathe life into their bodies and they will stand up. The people will be filled with terror. God will shout from heaven saying, “come up here!” and they will rise to heaven in a cloud. An earthquake will strike the city and destroy a tenth of it. Seven thousand people will die in the earthquake . Everyone else will be terrified and give glory to the Lord. This was the second terror. The third is on its way. The seventh angel blew his trumpet and a loud voice shouted in heaven. “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.” The twenty-four elders will fall on their faces in worship. It was now time to destroy all who had caused destruction on the earth. In heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark could be seen. There was lightning and thunder and an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm. Lord, we don’t know when all this will happen but we know that our days are in your hands. You are all wisdom and power and glory.

Mon.’s Devo - God’s Warnings

Read: Zephaniah 1:1-3:20; Revelation 10:1-11; Psalm 138:1-8; Proverbs 30:11-14 Zephaniah prophesied during the earlier part of Josiah’s reign which was around 625 B.C. Zephaniah means “Jehovah has guarded; hidden”. He begins with the list of his ancestors all the way back to his great-great-grandfather. I wonder if he was trying to imply that his generation and inheritance was hidden in God. He begins by giving God’s severe judgement on Judah for its idolatry and rebellion against God. Josiah had led his country in a great time of repentance and return to the Lord, but many did not follow him in this. They could not blame their leadership for leading them into idolatry, the blame was on themselves. In the second chapter, Zephaniah foretells of the fall of Nineveh because of their worship of Baal. Jeremiah and Huldah were both prophets during his time. Zephaniah spoke to the nation of their sins. Jeremiah had spoken to the labor force and the market places. Hildah spoke to the college in Jerusalem. The all pointed out the sin of the people and their turn from God to worship idols. In the third chapter, Zechariah condemns Jerusalem, but ends with the promise that she would be reestablished in worship to the true God. In Revelation it was time of the seventh angel to sound its trumpet. An angel came down from heaven standing on a cloud with a rainbow on his head. His face shone as the sun and his feet looked like pillars of fire. He had a little book in his hand that was open. One of his feet stood on the sea the the other on the earth. He cried out and seven thunders sounded. John was about to write what he saw but was told to seal up what the seven turners said and not to write them down. The angel declare the end of time on the earth, the sea and those under the sea. John was told to go and take the little book and eat it. It would be sweet to his mouth but bitter to his stomach. He told John that he would prophesy again before many people, nations, tongues and kings. Lord, we thank you for your plan on the earth. May we boldly declare your goodness and your ways in the path. Our hope is in you.

Sun.’s Devo - Deliverance

Read: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19; Revelation 9:1-21; Psalm 137:1-9; Proverbs 30:10 Habakkuk lived 600 years before Christ during the reign of Jehoiakim. In the first chapter, he prophesied the coming of the Chaldeans to invade Judah. In the second chapter he comforted his people by telling the humiliation their enemies were going to face when they did attack them. In the third chapter the prophet celebrated God’s victories in the past as a testimony of what he would do in the future. He will deliver them again! Habakkuk 3:17-19 is a favorite scripture declaring that even if there is no evidence of God’s deliverance and things are looking really bad, yet, we can will ourselves to rejoice in the Lord and find joy in the God of our salvation. In Revelation, the fifth angel sounded his trumpet and a star fell to the earth. (All through scripture stars represents people - Gen. 15:5, Gen. 37:9, and Jude 1:13 to name a few.) This “star” was given the key to the bottomless pit to open it. When he did, smoke poured out from it. Locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth. They could sting like scorpions and were told them could only hurt the ones who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads They were to torture them for five months with pain. The locusts looked like horses with gold crowns on their heads. Their faces look human. Their hair was long and their teeth were like that of a lion. They worked armor of iron and their wings sounding like a mighty rushing wind. They stung with eire tails and for five months they had permission to torment people. Their king was Abandon or Apollyon, the Destroyer. That was the first terror, but two more were coming. The sixth angel sounded his trumpet and John heard a voice coming from the four horns of the gold altar of incense. A voice commanded the four angels who were bound at the great Euphrates River to be released They were to kill one-third of all the people on the earth. The size of their army was 200 million. This army rode on horses. The riders wore red, blue and yellow armor and the horsed had heads like lions, and breathed out fire, smoke and sulfur. One third of all the earth was killed by their plagues. People who did not die of these diseases still refused to repent of their sins and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of precious metals. They refused to repent of their murders, witchcraft, sexual immorality or thefts. Lord, we choose to trust you to deliver us from our enemies and save our nation and our families. We will not be afraid of what man can do to us because they can never take our souls. Encourage your people to stand firm against sin and choose righteousness.

Sat.’s Devo - The Seventh Seal -

Read: Nahum 1:1-3:19; Revelation 8:1-13; Psalm 136:1-26; Proverbs 30:7-9 Nahum means “consolation” and “vengeance”. Nahum was the seventh of the minor prophets which also means “consolation” so this was the consolation in the book for God’s people. It was also God’s vengeance to come on his enemies, namely Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrians. God brings warning on his enemies and assurance to the Jews that although the Assyrians were close and they had already carried away the ten tribes of Israel, the Assyrians would fail in their attack on Jerusalem. Instead, their own capital would be taken and overthrown because of their sins. Nahum is believed to have lived during the time when Hezekiah was king. His prophecy didn’t come true for another 100 years. He begins by talking about the character of God against sin. God never lets the guilty go unpunished. He uses all his creation to execute his vengeance over the earth. No one can oppose him and win. But, he is a refuge to those who trust in him and comforts them. The Lord asks Sennecherib why he is scheming against him. Even though Sennecherib has many allies, they will not help against God. Assyria will have no more children to carry on their name and all their idols will be destroyed. Verse 15 tells us that a messenger would come from the mountains around Jerusalem with the good new of the fall of Assyria. This verse also parallels the Messiah that would come from the mountain of God - heaven with the good news of Salvation and defeat of Satan, which is much better news. The Destroyer was coming to crush them but God will restore their honor and splendor. It will not be so for Nineveh. They will be destroyed with out remedy. All their wealth will be taken and their people will watch in terror. Nineveh had been a city of murder and lies, crammed with wealth and never without victims. She had enchanted the people with her magic and beauty but she was about to be exposed for what was hidden in secret. This reminds me of today’s Hollywood and Disney. The world will see how vile they really are. Nahum told Assyria to prepare for the siege by storing up food and water and even making bricks ahead of time to repair the wall as it would be torn down during the siege. Even in preparing for what was coming, it would not help. There is no healing for their wound; their injury would be fatal. When other nations hear about what happened to them, they will clap for joy. All the world had suffered their cruelty so they would rejoice in their downfall. This is such a picture of the end of time when the Anti-christ’s kingdom falls. In Revelation, the seventh seal is broken and all heaven is silenced. Seven angels were given seven trumpets. Another angel came forth with a gold incense burner and stood at the altar. He was given much incense which was mixed with the prayers of God’s people. The angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down to earth manifesting in an earthquake. Then the angels with the trumpets began to blow their trumpet in order. The first trumpet was sounded and hail of fire and blood fell down to the earth. One-third of the earth was set on fire burning up the trees and grass. Trees and grass represent leaders and common people. The second trumpet caused a great mountain of fire to be shown into the sea. One-third of the creatures of the sea died and one third of the all the ships were destroyed. The third trumpet sounded and a great star fell from the sky like a torch and fell on one-third of the rivers and springs of water making the water bitter and poisonous. It killed many people who drank it. The fourth angel sounded and a third of the sun, moon and stars were struck. One-third of the day was dark and also one-third of the night. This darkness was like the darkness that fell on Egypt during Moses’ day. It was a darkness you could feel. He heard an eagle crying loudly warning of the terror to come on all who belonged to this world because of what would happen when the last three angels blew their trumpets. We give thanks to you, Lord, for your faithful love endures forever!

Fri.’s Devo -Sealed for God

Read: Micah 5:1-7:20; Revelation 7:1-17; Psalm 135:1-21; Proverbs 30:5-6 Micah calls out to the remnant to stay strong against their enemy and not to be eased into sin through their temporary time of prosperity. The enemy was coming and would strike Israel’s leader. From the small unimportant city of Bethlehem would arise a leader who could trace his lineage to the distant past. We know that that distant past was all the way to before creation. Israel would be under control of their enemies until Mary brought forth her son, Jesus. Then they would be spiritually free to return to their own land which means spiritually to their God. Micah continues to tell their fate in the natural as they are delivered from Assyria, but spiritually he is referring to their deliverance from Satan’s hold on them. Jesus would break the power of sin for them and set them free to rule over the strongholds of the earth. In that day, God will destroy every tool of the devil’s and destroy their worship. God brought Israel to his court to question them and to make their own defense of why they left worshipping him to worship other gods. He tells them what they need to do to return to him. They need to do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with him. If they are wise they would fear him because the enemy is coming and they have no power to fight him. God was sending their enemy to punish them for their sins which were great. They will live a life of lack and fear. Micah gives a cry from the remnant in vs. 7-10 of chapter 7. Those who wait confidently for God to save them will not be disappointed. They will be given justice and be brought into the light to see God’s righteousness. Israel’s cities will be rebuilt and extended. they will honor the Lord. God responds to their cry saying that all the world will be amazed to see what God will do for them. God will show his love for his faithful ones. In Revelation, John witnesses four angels standing at the corners of the earth holding back the winds. Another angel comes from the earth carrying the seal of the living God. He shouted to the four angels because they had been given power to harm the land and the sea. He tells them to wait and not bring their destruction until he had placed God’s seal on the foreheads of his servants. One hundred, and forty-four thousand were marked - twelve thousand from each tribe. The tribe of Dan was not marked as Dan was the “Judas” tribe that was marked for judgment. Dan means “a judge”. A huge crowd in wine robes stood before the Lamb and the throne waving palm branches and praising God. One of the twenty-four elders asked John who the ones in white robe were and where they came from. When John didn’t know, he told him. These were the ones who came out of great tribulation who had trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. They would never lack again and the Lamb would be their Shepherd who would heal them and restore their joy. Lord, thank you for your redemptive plan for your people. Teach us to do what is right, love mercy and walk humbly with you.

Thurs.’s Devo - Micah

Read: Micah 1:1-4:13; Revelations 6:1-17; Psalm 134:1-3; Proverbs 30:1-4 Micah was from Judah and prophesied during the kings of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He spoke to both Israel and Judah. He prophesied before and during the life of Isaiah. Micah’s name means “who is like Jehovah” which was a question to the people who had turned from worshipping Jehovah to worship all sorts of other gods. He was from the town of Maresheth which bordered on Philistine land and meant “possessor of a wine-press. A wine-press was a picture of how God would squeeze his chosen people to see what was inside them. Micah began his words to the people of the world meaning the people of his world, his chosen people. He described the leaders as mountains and the lowest of the people as valleys. They would all be judged the same. He put the blame of Israel and Judah on their capital cities of Samaria and Jerusalem. Samaria’s sins were going to be exposed for all to see. All her wealth would be taken away. Her sins had spread to Jerusalem. The enemy towns around Jerusalem would have no pity on Jerusalem; the same judgement was coming to them also. Lachish was distinguished as being the first city in Judah to follow in the Israels idolatry which led Judah to sin also. Lachish means “walk of a man” as opposed to walking in the Spirit of God. This was where Sennacherib put his headquarters. The enemy would take their inheritance from everywhere but in heaven. Micah begged Judah to repent for the sake of their posterity. What they were doing would greatly affect their children and their children. They lived their lives cheating one another out of their family’s inheritance instead of standing as a national family supporting one another. Their pride would be brought down and the would be left desolate. They would lose everything they owned including their land and their inheritance to an enemy nation. The people who heard Micah’s prophecies begged him to stop saying such curses against them. Micah countered that if they did what was right, God would say encouraging things to them, but they chose to sin instead. They had taken their own people’s homes from them and now theirs would be taken and they would go into exile. One day, God would raise up a leader among them who would bring them back to their land. At present, their leaders hated good and loved evil. The prophets were false and led them astray. They took bribes and punished those who wouldn’t feed them. Their visions were about to end. They would end in disgrace and shame. In contrast to the false prophets, Micah was confident because he got his words from God. God’s spirit had filled Micah with justice and strength to boldly prophesy Israel’s sin and rebellion. The false confidence that Judah had was about to come down on top of them. In the last days, God’s mountain will be Jesus Christ. All people will stream to him and be taught his ways. Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying the fruit of their labor. There will be nothing to fear. God’s weak remnant will become a strong nation with the Lord ruling as their king. Jerusalem will be restored. Enemy nations will rise up as one against God’s people but they won’t understand that it is God that is gathering them together where they will be beaten on God’s threshing floor. The wealth of many nations will become the Lord’s. In Revelation, John watches as the Lamb broke the first seal. John was called to come and watch. He beheld a white horse. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He went to win battles and gain victories. The second seal brought another horse. This one was red and its rider was given a mighty sword and was given authority to take peace from the earth. He brought war and slaughter. The third seal was opened and a black horse appeared. Its rider was holding pair of scales in his hand. It was to weigh the cost of wheat and barley for bread. The fourth seal brought forth a horse that was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth to kill with the sword, famine, disease and wild animals. The breaking of the fifth seal brought a scene of the altar. Under it were the souls of those who had been martyred for the word of God and for their faithful testimony of Christ. They cried out for judgment on the world and for God to avenge their blood. A white robe was given them and the were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters that would be martyred had joined them. When the Lamb broke the sixth seal, a great earthquake happened. The sun became black and the moon red. The stars fell to the earth and the sky was rolled up like a scroll. All of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. All the kings and leaders of the nations fled and hid in the caves. They cried out for death. It was the day of wrath. We have been going through a mock ‘day of wrath’ on the earth but this is not the end. The riders of the horses were types of antichrists bringing war, famine, disease and calamity. We are about to experience a great die off of people but the end is not yet. We are not in the day of wrath. God is exposing sin like never before and judging the leaders of the world but we must be patient and not lose hope. Our redeemer is orchestrating everything and we have to put on our white robes and be patient. We have been crucified with Christ so we are a living martyrs. God is shaking everything that can be shaken and seeing what remains. We will remain as his remnant and we will inherit the land if we hold on and trust in God’s plan. Lord, help us to know what to do in the days we are living. Help us to give hope and joy to those who need assurance and strength. May we bring peace and light to the dark world we live in.