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DAILY BIBLE READING for Week of December 30-31, 2018
12/30 Malachi 1-4 - It is fitting that the Old Testament ends with a prophecy speaking out against religious ritualism and formality. Malachi was used by God to show the Jewish people that God wanted sincere worship from the heart, not just a practice of religion. In chapter 1 the Lord focuses on His love for His people and His prerogative to make choices. Chapter 2 speaks of priests needing to be true to the law of God and speak as God's spokesmen. God also pays attention to the marriage vows a couple make. In chapter 3 Malachi predicts the ministry of John the Baptist and the importance of giving with the right attitude. Chapter 4 speaks of the contrast between those who are proud whose lives have been wasted and the righteous who will rejoice at the Lord's coming. Note, the last word of the Old Testament is "curse" which speaks of the affect of Adam's sin at the beginning of the Old Testament. 12/31 Revelation 19-22 - Revelation comes to a close with four dramatic chapters. Chapter 19 speaks of the Battle of Armageddon, the marriage supper of the Lamb, and the return of Christ to this world. Chapter 20 speaks of the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ, the binding of Satan and his eventual release. Satan will seek to have one last battle in which he will be defeated and put in the lake of fire forever and ever! Then the unbelieving dead will face the Great White Throne Judgment. Chapter 21 speaks of the New Heaven and the New Earth with the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven. Chapter 22 closes the Scriptures speaking of the Tree of Life available for the righteous saints. A last invitation is given by the Lord for all who are thirsty for the water of life. A warning is given not to delete or add to what God has said. The final words of the Bible are a prayer for Jesus to come, soon!! This study and reading of God's Word was meant to give the reader a renewed desire to know the Lord and His Word more intimately and to hunger to get back into the Word literally every day! May God enrich your life as you do so!
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DAILY BIBLE READING for Week of December 23 - 29, 2018
12/23 Revelation 13-15 - Chapter 13 speaks of the rule of the Antichrist and the False Prophet and the instability in their relationship and rule. The infamous "Mark of the Beast," 666, is introduced. In chapter 14 the Lamb and the 144,000 rejoicing together. Chapter 15 introduces the final seven bowl judgments. 12/24 Zephaniah 1-3 - Zephaniah speaks of the Day of the Lord as a future event in which God will bring judgment on this world. Chapter 1 speaks of Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Jerusalem as a figure of future judgment. Chapter 2 speaks of God's call for Israel to repent. Chapter 3 speaks of the discipline of God's people and God's eventual joy over the salvation of His own. Zephaniah 3:17 speaks of God's singing in joy for His people! 12/25 Haggai 1,2 - Haggai prophesied after many Jews returned to Jerusalem. The people had started to rebuild the Temple but then were forced to stop as recorded in the book of Ezra. Now, in Haggai 1, God challenges the people to get back to work and put the Temple above their own housing. In chapter 2 God speaks of the future glory of the New Temple in the millennial age. Haggai is the only two-chapter book in the Bible. 12/26 Revelation 16-18 - Chapter 16 describes the affect of the seven bowl judgments being poured out on the earth. Chapters 17 and 18 give the judgment against Babylon and its destruction followed by the wails of those who witnessed it. 12/27 Zechariah 1-4 - Zechariah speaks of the coming of Christ, both in His first coming to be a priest who would die and suffer for His people, and in His second coming to rule and reign in Jerusalem. Chapter 1 gives a call for repentance and then the beginning of eight visions which will be explained over the next five chapters. Chapter 2 speaks of the Lord's glory in the kingdom age. Chapter 3 gives a great illustration of God's salvation of those who repent and Satan's efforts to bring shame on them. Chapter 4 emphasizes the need for the Spirit of God to make believers' lives effective. 12/28 Zechariah 5-8 - Chapter 5 gives two visions, of a scroll and a basket in which is a despicable woman. God's word reveals the curse against sinners and the woman speaks of those who promote wickedness. Chapter 6 gives a vision of four angelic chariots of those angels sent out to speak of coming judgment. Chapter 7 speaks of insincere leaders seeking guidance from God which they did not intend on following. Chapter 8 God speaks of His desire to restore Israel in the kingdom. 12/29 Zechariah 9-14 - The triumphal entry of Christ is predicted in chapter 9. Chapter 10 speaks of God's deliverance of His people in the future. Chapter 11 speaks of the rejection of the Messiah and the act of betrayal by Judas. In chapters 12 and 13, the prophet speaks of the city of Jerusalem facing an attack and the eventual coming of Christ to restore that city. Chapter 14 shouts of the Lord's coming and His kingdom being set up on this earth! DAILY BIBLE READING for Week of December 16 - 22, 2018
12/16 Obadiah; Jonah 1-4 - Obadiah is the first of the single-chapter books of the Bible. His prophesy speaks of God's judgment on Edom, the nation descended from Esau. Jonah is the great recording of the event often described as "Jonah and the Whale." However, the "whale" was actually a large fish prepared for one main purpose. Chapter 1 speaks of God's call for Jonah to preach judgment to the people of Nineveh. Jonah flees to Tarshish and God brings a major storm to stop him. Jonah is thrown overboard and is swallowed by the fish. Chapter 2 is where Jonah's prayer in the belly of the fish is given. Chapter 3 Jonah finally goes to Nineveh and preaches an 8-word message which turns the people of Nineveh to repentance. Chapter 4 reveals that Jonah's heart was cold towards Nineveh but God rebuked the prophet for his lack of compassion on those that obviously need the Lord. 12/17 Revelation 7-9 - Chapter 7 gives an interlude where God sets aside 144,000 Jews to be witnesses for Him during the Tribulation. Chapter 8 shows the opening of the 7th Seal which produces 7 Trumpet judgments, four of which are also opened. Chapter 9 speaks of the opening of the 5th and 6th Trumpet judgments. Each judgment reveals a growing level of violence on the inhabitants of this world for their rejection of God and His Christ. 12/18 Micah 1-4 - Chapter 1 speaks of God's judgment call against Israel. Chapter 2 gives God's reason for that judgment. Chapter 3 God rebukes the leadership of Israel for their leading Israel to hate good and love evil. Chapter 4 gives a bright revelation of the future kingdom of God on earth. 12/19 Micah 5-7 - Chapter 5 gives the famous prophecy of Jesus being born in Bethlehem. In chapters 6 and 7, Micah speaks of God's pleading with Israel to turn to Him and the eventual pardon God will give to those who do. 12/20 Revelation 10-12 - In chapters 10 and 11 an angel speaks of no further delay in the judgments of God on this earth. Two witnesses are assigned by God to give His message right in the city of Jerusalem. Though they will eventually be killed, they will rise again right in front of everyone, viewed by the whole world! The 7th Trumpet sounds at the end of chapter 11. In chapter 12 both history and prophecy meet as God speaks of His sending His Son and the war between Satan and God's angels, led by Michel, the archangel. 12/21 Nahum 1-3 - The book of Nahum is directed towards Nineveh. This prophesy comes about 100 years after Jonah's ministry. Obviously, Nineveh has gone back into its sinful and violent ways. God will bring destruction upon that city. 12/22 Habakkuk 1-3 - Habakkuk is a prophet who cries against Israel's sins. In chapter 1 God answers Habakkuk's concern by announcing that He will send the Babylonians to render judgment on Israel. Habakkuk is perplexed by God using such a wicked nation to do so. In chapter 2 God answers Habakkuk and reminds him that only those who put their faith in God will be justified. God speaks of the reasons for coming judgment. In chapter 3 Habakkuk's faith is renewed and he finds consolation in God's strength. DAILY BIBLE READING for Week of December 9 - 15, 2018
12/9 Hosea 13,14 - In chapter 13 God reveals the continuing sins of His people but also shows His desire to "ransom them from the grave" and redeem them from death. In chapter 14 Israel is blessed forever and God's anger is turned away from them! 12/10 Joel 1-3 - Joel speaks of the day of the Lord yet to come. In chapter 1 a locust invasion of tremendous magnitude is described which speaks of judgment to come. In chapter 2 the Lord reveals the invasion of Assyria from the north against Israel, but He also will turn again to His people and restore what they lost when they repent of their sins. In chapter 3 God speaks of the future judgment on Gentile nations and His restoring Israel to Himself. 12/11 Revelation 1-3 - The Book of Revelation is as fitting for the end of the Bible as Genesis was for the beginning. The title of this prophecy tells us that Revelation wasn't written just to speak about future prophetic announcements, but it was written to reveal who Jesus is! In Revelation 1:19 you will find an outline of the book. Chapter 1 refers to the things "which you have seen" while chapters 2,3 speak of the "things which are." Chapter 1 gives a clear vision of Christ while chapters 2,3 speak of the Church Age which started at Pentecost and will end at the Rapture. 12/12 Amos 1-3 - Amos speaks of God's judgment on sin. In chapter 1 the Amos describes the sins of the surrounding nations. In chapter 2 Amos focuses on the sins of Judah and Israel. In chapter 3 God makes clear that all 12 tribes of Israel are guilty before Him but He reminds the people that they must "walk with God" to have His favor on them. 12/13 Amos 4-6 - In chapter 4 the Lord speaks against worthless sacrifices and calls on Israel to "prepare to meet their God." In chapter 5 God pleads with His people to seek good and not evil and hate evil and love good. In chapter 6 God condemns those who relax in their sins and watch their nation fall into iniquity. 12/14 Revelation 4-6 - Chapter 4 of Revelation leads into the last part of Revelation 1:19, "the things which shall be." Chapter 4 speaks of the rapture as John is taken to heaven symbolizing the Church before the Throne of God. Chapters 5 and 6 speak of the seven-sealed scroll which is basically the "title deed of the earth" which Christ, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God, will open revealing the beginning of God's judgments on this earth. 12/15 Amos 7-9 - In chapter 7 Amos is accused of conspiracy because he preaches that Israel will be captured. In chapter 8 a vision of a basket of summer fruit is used to speak of the impending captivity of Israel. In chapter 9 Israel will be dispersed but there will be a day of restoration when David's kingdom is restored and Israel is blessed! DAILY BIBLE READING - December 2 - 8, 2018
12/2 1 John 1,2 - You will find the key theme in 1 John is that of Fellowship which every believer can have with God and should have with other believers. In chapter 1 John emphasizes the incarnation of Christ, that John actually touched Him and had rich fellowship with Him, which is the primary focus of this letter. In chapter 2 John brings the believer to see that being like the Savior is God's desire for each believer. 12/3 Hosea 1-3 - Hosea speaks of God's love relationship with His people, Israel. Even though Israel would act like Hosea's wife, prostituting herself, and God would be like Hosea, forgiving his wife and bringing her back to himself, God show His mercy to disobedient believers and His faithful love for them. In chapter 1, God actually calls on Hosea to marry a prostitute. Her children symbolized the attitude of Israel against the Lord. In chapter 2, God speaks of the chastisement He will bring against His people. In chapter 3 God calls Hosea to love his wife just as the Lord loves His people. 12/4 Hosea 4-6 - In chapter 4 God makes clear His indictment against His people. They turned against the Lord and refused to grow in their knowledge of Him. In chapter 5 God speaks of hiding His face from His people to show His disappointment with their actions. In chapter 6 the people of Israel will renew their desire to pursue the knowledge of God. 12/5 1 John 3-5 - In chapter 3 John speaks of the power of the Lord to enable a Christian to say "NO" to sin. Chapter 4 speaks of listening carefully to those who preach and determine if they are preaching truth regarding Christ. In chapter 5 John focuses on the assurance the believer in Christ that they can actually know they have eternal life. 12/6 Hosea 7-9 - In chapter 7 God further describes the sins of His people. In chapter 8 Israel is reminded that what they sow, they will reap. In chapter 9 God brings judgment on His people. 12/7 Hosea 10-12 - In chapter 10 God calls on His people to renew their commitment to Him by "breaking up their fallow ground" and sow seeds of righteousness once again. In chapter 11 God speaks of His past relationship with His people. Chapter 12 is where God speaks of Jacob's wrestling with God with the desire of seeking God's blessing on his life. This is what God desires of His people: to want God's blessing! 12/8 2 John, 3 John, Jude - 2 John is a letter to a beloved woman John knew who had been faithfully teaching her children the truth. 3 John is a letter to Gaius, a godly man who was careful to entertain believers who were faithfully preaching the Gospel wherever they went. Jude is a letter written to believers calling them to contend for the faith of Christ which was under attack by godless individuals. |
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Daily commentary and insight from Pastor Eckardt. Archives
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