TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Zechariah 1:1-21
Revelation 12:1-17
Psalm 140:1-13
Proverbs 30:17
We only have two books left in the Old Testament and a few chapters left in the New Testament! We’ve done Psalms already and are almost through it a second time! Only one chapter left in Proverbs! Congratulations to those who’ve been with us from the start, and welcome to those who are joining us lately!
Zechariah 1:1 — This prophecy came between Haggai 1:15 and Haggai 2:10.
Zechariah 1:3 — Are you calling yourself a follower of God but feel that He is distant from you? Want the LORD to be closer to you? All you have to do is turn to Him by turning away from your sin (Zechariah 1:4).
Zechariah 1:12 — This is the seventy years that Jeremiah foretold (Jeremiah 29:10), the Chronicler recorded (2 Chronicles 36:21), and Daniel counted down (Daniel 9:1-2).
Zechariah 1:14 — Jimmy DeYoung believes that this is a theophany, i.e. the angel of the LORD is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus.
In verse 14 the Lord says He is “jealous for Jerusalem”. The Hebrew flavor for “jealous” is “aggressively possessive”. The Lord has chosen Jerusalem for His eternal abode, the place to dwell among His people, the Jewish people, forever. Therefore, He is “aggressively possessive” of the city.
http://devotional.prophecytoday.com/2018/03/zechariah-116.html
Revelation 12:1 — John Walvoord explains the meanings:
As many commentators have noted they are seven in number: (1) the woman, representing Israel, (2) the dragon, representing Satan, (3) the man-child, referring to Christ, (4) Michael, representing the angels, (5) Israel, the remnant of the seed of the woman, (6) the beast out of the sea, the world dictator, and (7) the beast out of the earth, the false prophet and religious leader of the world.
https://walvoord.com/article/270
Revelation 12:6 — 1,260 days is three and a half years. Many think Petra will be the place where the woman will be protected. Petra is surrounded by high cliffs.
You can also take a 3D tour of Petra courtesy of the Smithsonian:
Revelation 12:7 — Michael the Archangel was the one who helped the messenger get to Daniel (Daniel 10:13), contended with the devil (Jude 1:9), and will lead the angels fighting against Satan (Revelation 12:7).
Revelation 12:10 — What does it mean that Satan is the accuser of the brethren? A similar tactic is found in Job 1. Satan’s job is to tear us down. But we can overcome by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11)!
Revelation 12:17 — We are in a war. We won’t end up with a truce where Satan has half the world and Jesus has half the world. One side will win, and one side will lose. We’re not the generals – we’re the foot soldiers that have the privilege of serving in the army of the Lord. So let’s make sure that we know our Commander (“have the testimony”) and we keep His commandments. Here’s a song from Patch the Pirate about our responsibility in the Army!
Psalm 140:1 — The Psalmist knew about the war. He knew that his hope was in the LORD (Psalm 140:4, 6, 8).
Proverbs 30:17 – A visual depiction of the 5th Commandment.
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