Read: Malachi 3:1-4:6; Revelation 22:1-21; Psalm 150:1-6; Proverbs 31:25-31
I love how the end of the Old Testament and the end of the New dovetail. The Old ends with the promise of the Messiah’s first coming and the New ends with the promise of his second. Malachi tells us that God’s messenger will come first to prepare the people’s hearts for the Messiah. We know this person to be John the Baptist. Jesus would come as a refiner’s fire and a launderer’s soap to purify the priests and their sacrifices. He was coming to judge their sins and their worship.
Jesus did all of these things while he was on earth. He confronted the religious leaders of his day with the truth of the law, not their man-made laws. He was not afraid to stand up and proclaim the truth.
Malachi ends with describing Jesus’ second coming. The messenger he will send before that day will be the prophet Elijah. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to their fathers. He will turn the heart of the Jewish people back to their founding fathers of the Old Testament and teach them Jesus in the Old Testament.
In Revelation we are in heaven with John being shown the river of life. It is the opposite of the lake of fire. It will flow from the throne of God and bring life and healing to the nations. Those who have washed their robes through repentance will have the right to eat of the tree of life that the first Adam was forbidden to eat. Now will be the acceptable time for eternal life.
Lord, may we be clothed with strength and dignity and be able to laugh at the days to come because we trust in you. May our works praise you.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Sun.’s Devo- The New Heaven and the New Earth
Read: Malachi 1-2:17; Revelation 21:1-27; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 31:10-24
It may be hard for us to fathom but Esau stands for Satan’s kingdom on earth and Jacob stands for God’s kingdom on earth. Esau despised his inheritance that God had for him so Jacob went after it. God blessed Jacob because he had a desire to build his kingdom. God cursed Esau and his heritage. Esaus’ descendants were Edom and they wanted to rebuild their kingdom. God said he would destroy it if they did. Edom had no honor or reverence for God or his priests. Edom had claimed to worship the Lord but they brought the maimed and blind animals to God.
God had said that his name would be great among the Gentiles but they had profaned his name and his table. They had good animals but kept them for themselves.
In Chapter two, God addresses Israel’s priests who didn’t give God glory. The priests were suppose to be teaching God’s laws but instead they had added to and subtracted from God’s laws and made laws that were impossible for the people to keep. The priests were unjust, took bribes and showed favoritism.
They were putting their first wives away dealing deceitfully with them. They were not giving them a writ of divorcement so they had no legal obligation to provide for them. Also, if they did marry, they caused them to commit adultery because they were still legally married. Jesus addressed this very sin in Matthew 5:31, 32.
God told them that he was weary in their crying out for justice when they called evil, good.
Finally, the end will come. The new heaven and the new earth will appear and the new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven in all its glorious splendor. Pain and tears will be done away with and there will only be rejoicing for the elect. The unbelieving sinners will be receive their inheritance also. They will be thrown into the lake of fire.
The temple of the Lord is described in all it’s glory and majesty. There will be no more sun or moon because the glory of the Lord will be the light and Jesus will be the lamp. The gates will stay open and nothing impure will ever enter it only those whose names were written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Lord, help us to be a wife of noble character to you and to our husbands on earth.
It may be hard for us to fathom but Esau stands for Satan’s kingdom on earth and Jacob stands for God’s kingdom on earth. Esau despised his inheritance that God had for him so Jacob went after it. God blessed Jacob because he had a desire to build his kingdom. God cursed Esau and his heritage. Esaus’ descendants were Edom and they wanted to rebuild their kingdom. God said he would destroy it if they did. Edom had no honor or reverence for God or his priests. Edom had claimed to worship the Lord but they brought the maimed and blind animals to God.
God had said that his name would be great among the Gentiles but they had profaned his name and his table. They had good animals but kept them for themselves.
In Chapter two, God addresses Israel’s priests who didn’t give God glory. The priests were suppose to be teaching God’s laws but instead they had added to and subtracted from God’s laws and made laws that were impossible for the people to keep. The priests were unjust, took bribes and showed favoritism.
They were putting their first wives away dealing deceitfully with them. They were not giving them a writ of divorcement so they had no legal obligation to provide for them. Also, if they did marry, they caused them to commit adultery because they were still legally married. Jesus addressed this very sin in Matthew 5:31, 32.
God told them that he was weary in their crying out for justice when they called evil, good.
Finally, the end will come. The new heaven and the new earth will appear and the new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven in all its glorious splendor. Pain and tears will be done away with and there will only be rejoicing for the elect. The unbelieving sinners will be receive their inheritance also. They will be thrown into the lake of fire.
The temple of the Lord is described in all it’s glory and majesty. There will be no more sun or moon because the glory of the Lord will be the light and Jesus will be the lamp. The gates will stay open and nothing impure will ever enter it only those whose names were written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Lord, help us to be a wife of noble character to you and to our husbands on earth.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Sat.’s Devo - The Day of the Lord
Read: Zechariah 14:1-21; Revelation 20:1-15; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 31:8-9
When I think of “the day of the Lord”, I forget that a day to the Lord is as a thousand years. This is not all happening in a single day…it is happening over a space of time. We also know that we will not be on the earth to experience this but new believers will. This “day” will be unlike any other time. Here are some of the things it tells us of this time.
1. Jerusalem will be divided and half of the people will be taken and the other half left
2. God’s feet will stand on the Mt. Of Olives and it will be split in two forming a valley which will form a cross.
3. God will come with the saints from heaven.
4. There will be no light, cold or frost.
5. There will be no daytime or nighttime.
6. There will be light at evening time. (Look at number 4 and 5 ??? )
7. Living water will flow from Jerusalem to the east and to the west.
8. God will be the king over the whole earth.
9. The area around Jerusalem will become a desert, but Jerusalem will be raised up never to be destroyed again.
What happens to the people who fought against Jerusalem sounds like a good zombie movie. Their wealth will be collected and given to God’s people. The survivors will come to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or their desert land will not get any rain the next year.
Jerusalem will be cleansed of all her idolatry and the name of the Lord will be the only name they worship.
In Revelation, we see this same “day”. Satan is locked up during this time. The martyrs come to life and live during this day. When this “day” is over, Satan will be released to deceive the nations and gather them for the battle. He will be defeated and thrown into the lake of fire with the beast and the false prophet where they will be tormented day and night.
God will sit on the throne of judgment and open the books of remembrance and reward the deeds of the saints and punish the deeds of the wicked. Then he will open the Book of Life and sentence the wicked to the lake of fire and sentence the saints to eternal life.
Lord, your plan is amazing and true. May we serve you faithfully to the end.
When I think of “the day of the Lord”, I forget that a day to the Lord is as a thousand years. This is not all happening in a single day…it is happening over a space of time. We also know that we will not be on the earth to experience this but new believers will. This “day” will be unlike any other time. Here are some of the things it tells us of this time.
1. Jerusalem will be divided and half of the people will be taken and the other half left
2. God’s feet will stand on the Mt. Of Olives and it will be split in two forming a valley which will form a cross.
3. God will come with the saints from heaven.
4. There will be no light, cold or frost.
5. There will be no daytime or nighttime.
6. There will be light at evening time. (Look at number 4 and 5 ??? )
7. Living water will flow from Jerusalem to the east and to the west.
8. God will be the king over the whole earth.
9. The area around Jerusalem will become a desert, but Jerusalem will be raised up never to be destroyed again.
What happens to the people who fought against Jerusalem sounds like a good zombie movie. Their wealth will be collected and given to God’s people. The survivors will come to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or their desert land will not get any rain the next year.
Jerusalem will be cleansed of all her idolatry and the name of the Lord will be the only name they worship.
In Revelation, we see this same “day”. Satan is locked up during this time. The martyrs come to life and live during this day. When this “day” is over, Satan will be released to deceive the nations and gather them for the battle. He will be defeated and thrown into the lake of fire with the beast and the false prophet where they will be tormented day and night.
God will sit on the throne of judgment and open the books of remembrance and reward the deeds of the saints and punish the deeds of the wicked. Then he will open the Book of Life and sentence the wicked to the lake of fire and sentence the saints to eternal life.
Lord, your plan is amazing and true. May we serve you faithfully to the end.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Fri.’s Devo - The Last War
Read: Zechariah 12:1-13:9; Revelation 19:1-21; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 31:1-7
When all the nations come against Jerusalem, she will be unmovable. It will be so powerful that the other nations will be afraid and have to confess that it is because the Lord is with her. The leaders of Judah will become the powerful ones that consume their enemies. Judah is a picture of the believers in Jesus. They will be saved first, then the people who live in Jerusalem. God will fight against all the nations who fought against Jerusalem. The Jews as a nation will have their eyes opened to see that Jesus is their Messiah and they will weep at the revelation that for years they rejected their Savior. God will cleanse them of their sins and take away the name of the idols of their land. The prophets who prophesied lies will repent or be hurt by their own families.
In Revelation, the harlot which is the Roman Catholic Church is judged. All of heaven worshipped the Lord on his throne. Then a grew multitude joined him who were the bride who was dressed in linen. These are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Jesus rides in on a white horse. His name is Faithful and True. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and wearing many crowns. He has a name written on him that no-one knows but himself and a name that we do know - The Word of God. The armies of heaven follow him in white linen and out of Jesus’ mouth is a sharp sword. On his thigh is written Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Another angel orders all the birds in the second heaven to come and fight with them to eat the spoils of the war. The beast will be captured also with the false prophet and thrown into the lake of fire. The rest will be killed and the birds will eat their flesh.
Notice that we won’t have to fight this fight, God and his army will fight the war. We will be enjoying the feast of the Lamb.
Lord, your plan is awesome and beyond our imagination. Thank you for your mighty works and your grace toward your people.
When all the nations come against Jerusalem, she will be unmovable. It will be so powerful that the other nations will be afraid and have to confess that it is because the Lord is with her. The leaders of Judah will become the powerful ones that consume their enemies. Judah is a picture of the believers in Jesus. They will be saved first, then the people who live in Jerusalem. God will fight against all the nations who fought against Jerusalem. The Jews as a nation will have their eyes opened to see that Jesus is their Messiah and they will weep at the revelation that for years they rejected their Savior. God will cleanse them of their sins and take away the name of the idols of their land. The prophets who prophesied lies will repent or be hurt by their own families.
In Revelation, the harlot which is the Roman Catholic Church is judged. All of heaven worshipped the Lord on his throne. Then a grew multitude joined him who were the bride who was dressed in linen. These are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Jesus rides in on a white horse. His name is Faithful and True. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and wearing many crowns. He has a name written on him that no-one knows but himself and a name that we do know - The Word of God. The armies of heaven follow him in white linen and out of Jesus’ mouth is a sharp sword. On his thigh is written Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Another angel orders all the birds in the second heaven to come and fight with them to eat the spoils of the war. The beast will be captured also with the false prophet and thrown into the lake of fire. The rest will be killed and the birds will eat their flesh.
Notice that we won’t have to fight this fight, God and his army will fight the war. We will be enjoying the feast of the Lamb.
Lord, your plan is awesome and beyond our imagination. Thank you for your mighty works and your grace toward your people.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Thurs.’s Devo - Judgment on God’s Enemies
Read: Zechariah 10:1-11:17; Revelation 18:1-24; Psalm 146:1-10; Proverbs 30:33
Zechariah pled with the people to ask God, not their idols and false prophets, to bless their fields and give them rain. God was extremely angry with the shepherds who were suppose to be feeding the people with the bread of truth, but instead were teaching them to follow false gods.
God said that from Judah (the redeemed) would come the cornerstone which is the truth of the Messiah. From the redeemed would come the tent peg which holds up the tabernacle - the walls of salvation. From the redeemed would come the battle bow which knows how to shoot the arrows of the Word of God. From the redeemed would come every ruler because they would be the head and not the tail. When they gather together they will trample the enemy because God would be with them. God would scatter them across the earth then bring them back from Egypt and Assyria and bring them to Gilead and Lebanon. Gilead and Lebanon speaks of eternity and being made white. God told Zechariah to pasture and feed the ones that were marked for slaughter. He told him to take two rods and name one Beauty and one Bands. He was to break Beauty to break the covenant God had with all the people of both Israel and Judah. Then he broke Bands which was the covenant between Israel and Judah. The three shepherds he cut off in one month were the prophet, priest and king.
Zechariah was paid thirty pieces of silver for his prophecy and he threw it to the potter’s field. One day, Israel would reject the Messiah and pay the same price for his blood. It would also go to buy the potter’s field to pay for people who couldn’t afford to pay for their burial.
Then he spoke of the false prophet that would rise up in the end. He would not visit the oppressed, nor heal the broken, or care for the fatherless, or feed the poor, but he will take the best of the land and tear in pieces the weak. Woe to the leaders of the believers who don’t stay by their people. His end will be cursed.
Revelations gives the last call for the righteous people to come out of Babylon and be saved because judgment is about to fall. When she does, all the earth will look in awe and fear. The economy of the whole earth will be shaken. Babylon’s destruction will be permanent and quick.
Lord, you watch over your people and frustrate the ways of the wicked. We praise you!
Zechariah pled with the people to ask God, not their idols and false prophets, to bless their fields and give them rain. God was extremely angry with the shepherds who were suppose to be feeding the people with the bread of truth, but instead were teaching them to follow false gods.
God said that from Judah (the redeemed) would come the cornerstone which is the truth of the Messiah. From the redeemed would come the tent peg which holds up the tabernacle - the walls of salvation. From the redeemed would come the battle bow which knows how to shoot the arrows of the Word of God. From the redeemed would come every ruler because they would be the head and not the tail. When they gather together they will trample the enemy because God would be with them. God would scatter them across the earth then bring them back from Egypt and Assyria and bring them to Gilead and Lebanon. Gilead and Lebanon speaks of eternity and being made white. God told Zechariah to pasture and feed the ones that were marked for slaughter. He told him to take two rods and name one Beauty and one Bands. He was to break Beauty to break the covenant God had with all the people of both Israel and Judah. Then he broke Bands which was the covenant between Israel and Judah. The three shepherds he cut off in one month were the prophet, priest and king.
Zechariah was paid thirty pieces of silver for his prophecy and he threw it to the potter’s field. One day, Israel would reject the Messiah and pay the same price for his blood. It would also go to buy the potter’s field to pay for people who couldn’t afford to pay for their burial.
Then he spoke of the false prophet that would rise up in the end. He would not visit the oppressed, nor heal the broken, or care for the fatherless, or feed the poor, but he will take the best of the land and tear in pieces the weak. Woe to the leaders of the believers who don’t stay by their people. His end will be cursed.
Revelations gives the last call for the righteous people to come out of Babylon and be saved because judgment is about to fall. When she does, all the earth will look in awe and fear. The economy of the whole earth will be shaken. Babylon’s destruction will be permanent and quick.
Lord, you watch over your people and frustrate the ways of the wicked. We praise you!
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Wed.’s Devo - Overcoming the Beast
Read: Zechariah 9:1-17; Revelation 17:1-18; Psalm 145:1-21; Proverbs 30:32
God gave Zechariah a word against Hadrach which he said would rest upon Damascus. Hadrach means “the privy chamber” or the bathroom. God also brought a word against Tyre and Sidon. They were very wealthy ports that brought exports from all over the world into the land. Along with the exports of goods they had also brought in all the gods of other nations and embraced them. God proclaimed that foreigners would occupy their land. This land was taken in the Crusades by Richard the Lionhearted.
In verses 9 till the end, Zechariah speaks of both of Jesus’ comings. He will come riding on a donkey bringing righteousness and salvation and break the power of Satan’s bow. He will also free prisoners from death and restore twice what was stolen by the thief.
In verse 14, he begins talking about Jesus’ second coming to earth. He will come with the sound of the trumpet and save his people and take them to heaven.
In revelation we have the rest of what will happen on earth once we have left. The harlot will arise which is the false religion of the day which will come from the Roman Catholic Church in Rome. She will be powerful, rich and have much status. Kingdoms will rise and fall during that time and in the end the beast will arise and make war against the Lamb. His faithful and chosen followers will be with Him when he overcomes the beast because he is the Lord of Lords and King of kings. Rome will fall and its false religion because the beast will want all the power. In the next chapter we will read how all heaven will rejoice when this happens.
Lord, awaken your people to see that salvation is here and it is now the time to repent.
God gave Zechariah a word against Hadrach which he said would rest upon Damascus. Hadrach means “the privy chamber” or the bathroom. God also brought a word against Tyre and Sidon. They were very wealthy ports that brought exports from all over the world into the land. Along with the exports of goods they had also brought in all the gods of other nations and embraced them. God proclaimed that foreigners would occupy their land. This land was taken in the Crusades by Richard the Lionhearted.
In verses 9 till the end, Zechariah speaks of both of Jesus’ comings. He will come riding on a donkey bringing righteousness and salvation and break the power of Satan’s bow. He will also free prisoners from death and restore twice what was stolen by the thief.
In verse 14, he begins talking about Jesus’ second coming to earth. He will come with the sound of the trumpet and save his people and take them to heaven.
In revelation we have the rest of what will happen on earth once we have left. The harlot will arise which is the false religion of the day which will come from the Roman Catholic Church in Rome. She will be powerful, rich and have much status. Kingdoms will rise and fall during that time and in the end the beast will arise and make war against the Lamb. His faithful and chosen followers will be with Him when he overcomes the beast because he is the Lord of Lords and King of kings. Rome will fall and its false religion because the beast will want all the power. In the next chapter we will read how all heaven will rejoice when this happens.
Lord, awaken your people to see that salvation is here and it is now the time to repent.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Tues.’s Devo - The Seven Bowls
Merry Christmas! I pray you have a wonderful day of family and joy!
Read: Zechariah 8:1-23; Revelation 16:1-21; Psalm 144:1-15; Provers 30:29-31
The Bible speaks of Israel and Zion which are not the same in meaning. Israel includes the whole righteous and unrighteous people group, but Zion represents the city of the redeemed. Zechariah speaks of a day when He will return to his chosen people of Zion and dwell with them in the City of Truth. Then the mountain of the Lord which is an allegory for the Church will be called Holy. God would turn their fortunes from fear and lack to blessing and plenty. They would go from fasting to feasting. Their name would be restored.
In Revelation, the only ones left on the earth to experience God’s judgment are the unrighteous or the new converts. The bowls of God’s wrath will be poured out on them. The first judgement will be painful sores for those who have the mark of the beast. With the second bowl, the sea will turn to blood and kill everything in the sea. The third judgment is the rivers and springs will become blood also because they shed the blood of God’s people. In the fourth judgment the sun will become so hot it scorches the people that refused to repent and glorify God. The fifth angel’s bowl will be poured out on the throne of the was and his kingdom will be plunged into darkness. Still men will refuse to repent and call out to God. The sixth angel will pour out his bowl on the Euphrates and it will dry up so the kings will be able to come from the East. Then the dragon, the beast and the false prophet will be possessed to preform miraculous signs to deceived the nation. They will cater the kings of the world for the last battle at Armageddon. The seventh bowl will be poured out with lightning and thunder and a severe earthquake that will split Rome into three parts. The mountains will be made flat and the whole earth will be shaken and changed. Huge hailstones will fall from heaven. It will be the end.
Lord, thank you that you tell us the end from the beginning. Thank you that you will rescue your people before you pour out your wrath on the earth. Help us to be witnesses in these last days so that we can bring the harvest in.
Read: Zechariah 8:1-23; Revelation 16:1-21; Psalm 144:1-15; Provers 30:29-31
The Bible speaks of Israel and Zion which are not the same in meaning. Israel includes the whole righteous and unrighteous people group, but Zion represents the city of the redeemed. Zechariah speaks of a day when He will return to his chosen people of Zion and dwell with them in the City of Truth. Then the mountain of the Lord which is an allegory for the Church will be called Holy. God would turn their fortunes from fear and lack to blessing and plenty. They would go from fasting to feasting. Their name would be restored.
In Revelation, the only ones left on the earth to experience God’s judgment are the unrighteous or the new converts. The bowls of God’s wrath will be poured out on them. The first judgement will be painful sores for those who have the mark of the beast. With the second bowl, the sea will turn to blood and kill everything in the sea. The third judgment is the rivers and springs will become blood also because they shed the blood of God’s people. In the fourth judgment the sun will become so hot it scorches the people that refused to repent and glorify God. The fifth angel’s bowl will be poured out on the throne of the was and his kingdom will be plunged into darkness. Still men will refuse to repent and call out to God. The sixth angel will pour out his bowl on the Euphrates and it will dry up so the kings will be able to come from the East. Then the dragon, the beast and the false prophet will be possessed to preform miraculous signs to deceived the nation. They will cater the kings of the world for the last battle at Armageddon. The seventh bowl will be poured out with lightning and thunder and a severe earthquake that will split Rome into three parts. The mountains will be made flat and the whole earth will be shaken and changed. Huge hailstones will fall from heaven. It will be the end.
Lord, thank you that you tell us the end from the beginning. Thank you that you will rescue your people before you pour out your wrath on the earth. Help us to be witnesses in these last days so that we can bring the harvest in.
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