Tues.’s Devo - The Coming Army 12-21-21

Read; Zechariah 1:1-21; Revelation 12:1-17; Psalm 140:1-13; Proverbs 30:17 Zechariah means “Yaweh Remembers.” He was both a prophet and a priest. God called him to remind Israel and Judah of their past. He begged them not to be like their ancestors who refused to repent and turn to God. He reminded them that everything the prophets had said then came to past and everything the prophets said now would also come to pass. Three months later, Zechariah had another vision where he saw the horses of Revelation 6. Zechariah was shown a rider on a red horse. In Revelation, the red rider was the one to take peace from the earth which would result in war. In his dream the red horse rider was joined with the brown and white horses. They represented death, famine, war and power to take out 1/4th of the people on the earth in Revelation. These are the counterparts of the ones in Revelations. These are God’s riders sent to patrol the earth. They found that the whole earth was at peace. God announced why they were there. God was angry at the nations that had inflicted harm on his people far beyond his intentions. He was also angry with his people for not repenting. He was going to show mercy for them, but He wanted his Temple built. God showed him the four nations that had come against Israel as four horns. Then he showed him four blacksmiths or masons that would be used to terrify those nations and throw them down to destroy them. In Revelation we have the picture of God’s nation as a pregnant woman. She had a son, Jesus and Satan was ready to snatch him up. He was caught up to heaven in his resurrection and the woman fled into the wilderness where God took care of her. (This is the church in persecution.) War erupted in heaven as Michael and his heavenly army fought against the dragon and his demons. The dragon lost and he and his demons were forced out of heaven. He and his demons were thrown down to earth where he roams about deceiving the world into thinking he has power. He went after the church to persecute it. Persecution only made it stronger. Satan went to deceive the Church with his lies. His words were like a flood of water but the earth helped the church by swallowing the words. Then the devil went after the children and the saints. This is war that we are in. It is not one we can see with our eyes though we can see its results. It is a war of the mind and the spirit. We have been given spiritual weapons of our warfare which are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. We have to take every thought in obedience to the knowledge of Christ. Lord help us to rejoice when we have nothing tangible to be happy about. Help us to praise when we are down and help us to love and give when we feel depleted and lacking. You are our source of strength and might. We trust in You.

Mon.’s Devo - The Lord’s House

Read: Haggai 1:1-2:23; Revelation 11:1-19; Psalm 139:1-24; Proverbs 30:15-16 Haggai prophesied in the second year of Darius’s reign. Ezra had led the people to Jerusalem and began the rebuilding of the Temple. They had encountered much persecution and delay so the people had built their own houses instead. God was rebuking them for doing that because their reason for returning was to rebuild the Temple. Because the people had tended to their own needs above God’s, none of their labor was prospering. God told them that it was because they hadn’t put him first. The people heard what the Lord said and the remnant and the governor, Zerubbabel and the high priest Jehozadak obeyed. They began working on the temple once again. God encouraged them by telling them not to compare the simplicity of the one they were building to the splendor of the one Solomon had built because the glory of this temple would be greater than the glory of the last. The last was glorious in its building, this would be glorious in spirit. God asked Haggai to ask the priests this question. If a person accidentally became unclean would it make everything he touched unclean. Haggai answered, no. Then God asked him if a person knew he was unclean then intentionally touched something would it make it unclean. Haggai answered, yes. God explained that they were not blessed before because what they were doing was unclean which made everything they did not clean. Now that they repented and began working on the temple, though they sin, it will not be held against them. God will bless what they do. He would especially bless their leaders Zerrubbabel and Jehozadak for leading the people to do what was right. John was given a measuring stick and told to measure the Temple of God, the altar and to count the number of worshipers. The outer courtyard had been turned over to the nations. They would trample the holy city for 3 1/2 years. God would raise up two witnesses who would prophesy during that time. They were olive trees (anointed) and lamp stands (had revelation). They could kill anyone who opposed them with fire that come from their mouths. I don’t know if that was like when Jesus spoke to the scribes and Pharisees and shut them up or actual fire. They were given the power to turn the rivers to blood and to strike the earth with plagues like Moses did. When their mission was complete, the beast will be given power to kill them just like they did to Jesus when his mission on earth was finished. They would lie in the street three and a half days and not be allowed to be buried. People of the world will celebrate their death. Then God would breath life into them and they will stand up and God will call them to heaven while the earth watches. A terrible earthquake will hit and destroy a tenth of the city. Seven thousand will die because of it. That was the second terror. The third was about to happen. The seventh angle blew his trumpet and heaven proclaimed that the world had now become the Kingdom of out Lord and of his Christ and he will reign forever and ever. In heaven the 24 elders will bow down and worship the Lord. The earthquake will open the Temple where the Ark would be visible. An earth quake and a terrible hailstorm hit. Lord, may we complete our mission and hear you say, “Well done.”

Sun.’s Devo - The Day of the Lord

Read: Zephaniah 1:1-3:20; Revelation 10:1-11; Psalm138:1-8; Proverbs 30:11-14 Josiah had brought a sweeping change to the nation but it could not change their hearts. Josiah reinstituted the observance of Passover and cleaned out the idolatry of the nation, but only the Holy Spirit can bring true repentance. The people obeyed Josiah but only in action. Their hearts were not changed so God declared an end to humanity. He would destroy every trace of Baal worship from Jerusalem. The people claimed to worship the Lord but they worshiped Molech also. Jerusalem’s leaders were guilty of violence and deceit. God was going to attack their business sector and judge those who thought there would be no accounting of their sins. They would not enjoy the fruit of their labors. Zephaniah described “the Day of the Lord” which means the last judgment on the earth. What happened in their day was a precursor of the end judgment. Many would be slaughtered and noone would bury them. Their silver and gold would be worthless to save them. He begged them to repent before it happened so that at least their soul would be saved and maybe the Lord would save their life. God spoke of the five Philistine royal cities which were to be judged. Take note of the meaning of their names: Gaza - “strong” Ashkelon - “I shall be weighed” Ashdod - “ravager” Ekron - “eradication” Cherithites - “executioner” Canaan - “humiliated; trafficker” God would destroy them till none were left. The remnant of Judah would take their land and live in their houses. They would have their prosperity restored and enjoy God’s blessings once again. The Moabites and Ammorites who mocked God’s people would also come to ruin like Sodom and Gomorrah. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria would finally be destroyed. Jonah would see his prophecy come true. They were know for their pride and greatness. They would be humiliated. Jerusalem was known for its violence, crime and rebellion. It would now be known as God’s city and people would come to worship the Lord there once again. The day of judgment will be a day of rejoicing for the remnant. Finally justice will be served. In Revelation, John saw another angel come from heaven with a small scroll in his hand that had been opened. The angel put one of his feet on the ocean and one on the earth and roared like a lion. When he did the seven thunders answered. John was told not to write what they said, but the angel told him, “no more delay”. John was then told to take the scroll and eat it. It would be sweet to his mouth but bitter to his stomach. Lord, your Word is sweet to the righteous and bitter to the wicked. Help us to eat the fruit of righteousness and be blessed once again.

Sat.’s Devo - God’s Embrace

Read: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19; Revelation 9:1-21; Psalm 137:1-9; Proverbs 30:10 Habakkuk means “to embrace” as if God was embracing Habakkuk and putting favor on him for his struggle for his countries good. Habakkuk cried out the Lord for his help for his nation. Jehoiakim was the king and the Chaldeans were about to attack Jerusalem and take the king captive. God told Habakkuk what he was about to do before it happened. The Babylonians would march in and reek violence and chaos in their streets. Sounds a lot like Antifa to me. Habakkuk cried out to the Lord and acknowledged that these enemies were sent to correct them and punish them for their sins. Habakkuk spoke about beieng fish caught in their nets which made their captors rich. I couldn’t help but think of Covid as being the nets that have made us captors and enriched the elite. The wealth of the wicked will only bring them sorrow because they became rich by extortion and dishonesty. They murdered and corrupted and the tables would turn on them. They would soon be disgraced and drink from the cup of God’s judgment. Their hollow idols would not be able to help them. Habakkuk described God walking across the earth shaking its foundation in his fury, shattering the mountains and leveling the hills. The nations trembled at his presence as he went to rescue his chosen people and save his anointed ones. He cursed the heads of the wicked and destroyed the leaders of those who destroyed his people. All that Habakkuk saw made him quake in fear and he promised to wait patiently for God to take vengeance on their enemies. In the meantime, what he was seeing was the devastation of his nation, the lack and poverty of their sins and he had to choose to rejoice in the Lord who was his salvation and declare that he would come in power at the appointed time. In Revelation, the fifth angel sounded his trumpet. A star from heaven was given the key to the bottomless pit. Something that metaphored locusts and scorpions was unleashed on the earth but given command not to touch anyone who was marked with God’s mark. They were given power to hurt mankind for 5 months. These creatures that were unleashed were under the command of the angel of the bottomless it whose name was Abaddon, or Apollyon. Abaddon means “destruction” and Apollyon means “destroyer”. The sixth angel sounded and a voice was heard from the four horns of the altar of incense. It loosed the four angels which were bound in the Euphrates which were to slay a third of man. The angels had an army of 200,000 horsemen. They killed a third of the people with fire, smoke and brimstone. Those that did not die refused to repent of their murders, sorceries fornication or thefts, but continued worshiping devils and idols of money. Lord, we patiently wait for your rescue. Thank you for your embrace and favor.

Fri.’s Devo - Nahum

Read: Nahum 1:1-3:19; Revelation 8:1-13; Psalm 136:1-26; Proverbs 30:7-9 Nahum's name means "comforatble." This describes the people of Nineveh and their sin. They were comfortable in their sin and saw no reason to repent. Nahum was sent to Nineveh to proclaim its destruction for its sin. This time, they would not repent like they did in Jonah’s day. This time God was bringing his judgment down on them. They had oppressed other nations as well as Israel. They were violent and bloodthirsty. They were a city of murderers and liars. God was going to destroy Israel and Judah also but He would rebuild them. Nineveh would be destroyed. In Revelation the seventh seal was broken. Silence fell in heaven for about a half of an hour. The seven angels who stood before God were given seven trumpets. Another angel came to the golden altar of incense in heaven to offer the prayers of God’s people to God. The angel then filled the incense burner with fire and threw it down on the earth. It hi as thunder and lightning and a terrible earthquake shook the earth. The seven angels with the trumpet blew their trumpets one at a time. The first one blew and hail and fire missed with blood ws thrown down on the earth and one third of the trees burned and all the green grass. The second one brought fire on the sea and one third of all things in the sea died and one third of the ships. The third trupet brought down a great star which fell on the fresh water making it bitter The fourth angel blew and on-third of the sun . moon. and stars became dark A warning was given by an eagle that terror beyond terror would come through the last three angels. Lord, we give thanks to You for your faithful love endures forever. Thank you for taking note of us and everything about us. Thank you for your love.

Thurs.’s Devo- God’s Mercy

Read: Micah 5:1-7:20; Revelation 7:1-17; Psalm 135:1-21; Proverbs 30:5-6 Micah predicted the siege of Jerusalem and the fall of Israel’s leader. Then he saw the future ruler which would have his origin in the distant past. He would come from Bethlehem from the travail of a woman. Through him, a remnant of Israel would return to the Lord. He was talking of Jesus. He would stand in the strength of the Lord and in the majesty of the name of the Lord and be great until the ends of the earth. He will be the peace of those who trust in Him no matter what enemy was coming against them. In verse six it says that He (Jesus) will rescue us from the Assyrians when they pour over the borders to invade our land. The remnant left in the land will take their place among the nations and no one will be able to hold them back. None of the enemies will be able to stand against them. In that day, all of the evil that has been going on in the nations will be abolished. I pray that we are living in that day. In chapter six God told them to stand up and state their case against him because He was going to state his case against them. God reminded them of all he had done for them and asked them why they were so mad at him when he had always been on their side. Micah told the people what to do to get in God’s favor. It was to do what was right, love mercy and walk humble with God. God called out the sins of the people and told them that He was bringing them to ruin because they refused to repent. Chapter seven gives us a picture of what Micah’s world looked like. He felt like all the godly people had disappeared and not one honest person was on the face of the earth. Micah speaks out for his cause as though he is the only one who is trusting the Lord, but he is a type of the people who were God’s hidden remnant. God promised them that one day their cities would be rebuilt and they would be honored once agains as a nation. God would do miracles for them like he did for the people coming out of Egypt. Their sins would be taken away and God would show his people his love and faithfulness once again. In Revelation, John saw four angels standing at the corners of the earth holding back the four winds from blowing on the earth. Another angel shouted to the four to wait until they had placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants. Then they marked 144,000 Jews, an equal amount from each tribe. Dan was not mentioned. Dan means “God will judge”. Some believe that Dan was not mentioned because they led the nation in idolatry housing the golden calf. Then there was a great crowd too great to count who were standing before the throne worshiping the Lamb. They wore white robes and had palm branches in their hands. They were the ones who died in the great tribulation. They would be given living water and God would wipe every tear from their eyes. Lord, you always end with an encouraging word because your end is always good. All things work for the good of those who are called by You. Thank you for your great mercy.

Wed.’s Devo - The First Six Seals

Read: Micah 1:1-4:13; Revelation 6:1-17; Psalm 134:1-3; Proverbs 30:1-4 Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah who were kings of Judah. Jotham was a good king, Ahaz a bad one and Hezekiah was both. Amos was shown visions concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Samaria was the capital of Israel and was responsible for the sins of the whole nation. Jerusalem was the capital of Judah and responsible for the whole sins of Judah. Washington D.C. is our capital and responsible for the whole sins of our nation. God said that Samaria’s wound was too deep to heal and had reached into Judah and the gates of Jerusalem. Micah gave a list of towns mainly in Judah where God was going to judge with the meaning of their names. For example, Beth-leaphrah in verse 10 means “house of dust” and God said that they would roll in the dust to show their despair. Maroth in verse 12 means “bitter”. God said that they would wait for relief but only bitterness would await them. Judah and Israel were about to be humbled and destroyed and their land divided. Micah told them all of this prophecy and the people told him not to say those things to them, hoping that if he didn’t say them they wouldn’t come true. LOL! Micah’s response was that if they did what was right then God’s words would be comforting to them because they would know that He was judging sin. They hated good and loved evil. They did horrible things to each other and their false prophets were leading the people astray. In the last days, God’s mountain and influence would be the highest of all. People will want to hear God’s words and learn his ways. Peace and prosperity will come for God’s people and God will judge all matters fairly. At that time, the people of Jerusalem will crush God’s enemies. Revelation 6 reveals the first six of the seven seals. The first seal reveals the rider of the white horse, the Anti-christ who will get the victory over many battles. He stands for Babylon. The second seal reveals the rider of the red horse of Persia who brought war and slaughter everywhere. The third seal brought forth the black horse who brought famine and inflation. He stood for Greece. The fourth seal brought forth a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was Death and his companion was Grave. He stood for the Romans. They were given one forth of the earth to kill with the sword, famine and disease and wild animals. The fifth seal revealed the should of all who had been martyred for being faithful to the Lord. The were given a white robe and told to rest until their fellow brothers and sisters joined them. We are given the same colors of the seals. The robes are white, the sun becomes black, the moon becomes red and the stars fall like green figs. The people left on the earth will run to the calves and hide month the rocks and pray for death. Lord, help us to stand with righteousness and justice in our lives and in our nation.