Tag: Through the Bible in a year.

December 18, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation and the last chapter of Haggai.

December 18: Revelation 9, Haggai 2 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 9.By now we are deep into the last half of the tribulation, the fifth trumpet sounded and the locusts from the bottomless pit are released. Then the sixth trumpet sounded, featuring the angels from the Euphrates doing horrendous deeds. An army of two hundred million mounted troops were released to kill a third of mankind. At the time of John the total world population was about 300 million!

Haggai 2 describes the coming glory of God’s house, but the people are defiled. Nevertheless God promises a  future blessing with Zerubbabel chosen like God’s signet ring.

December 17, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation, the last chapter of Zephaniah and the first chapter of Haggai.

December 17: Revelation 8, Zephaniah 3, Haggai 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 8 describes the precursors to the great tribulation with the opening of the seventh seal and the sounding of the trumpets. It begins with an earthquake. First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck, Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck, Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck, Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck. One ecological disaster after another.

Zephaniah 3. Jerusalem is full of wickedness but there remains a faithful Remnant and they will rejoice in God’s faithfulness, restoring His people.

Haggai 1 is about the right priorities. God had commanded the inhabitants of Jerusalem to rebuild His house.  When pointed out their wrongful ways the people obeyed.

December 16, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation and the first two chapters of Zephaniah.

December 16: Revelation 7, Zephaniah 1, Zephaniah 2 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 7. the apostle John saw angels telling of the 144 thousand sealed of Israel, and then saw a multitude that came out of the Great Tribulation singing praises such as “Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”

Zephaniah 1 is a prophecy of the Great Day of the LORD.

Zephaniah 2 is a call to repentance and a prophecy of judgment on many nations.

 

December 15, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read only one chapter of Revelation, but it is big (and controversial).

December 15: Revelation 6 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 6, The first six seals are opened. First Seal: The rider on a white horse. He represents the conqueror or the Catholic Church. Second Seal: The rider on a red horse. He represents conflict on earth or the powers of humanism, secularism, communism and socialism. Third Seal: The rider on the black horse. He represents scarcity on earth or the results of unrestrained capitalism. Fourth Seal: The rider on the green horse. He represents mass death on earth or the religion/state power of Islam. Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs. “It was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Then comes the Sixth Seal with the Great Earthquake. It is at this time I place the rapture of the believers. We are living in the time of the first five seals already being opened. Read all the Old Testament references ans see if it makes sense to you. This is but one interpretation.

 

December 14, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation and two chapters of Habakkuk.

December 14: Revelation 5, Habakkuk 2, Habakkuk 3 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 5. Worship continued in heaven and John saw a scroll, Nobody but the Lamb was worthy to take and open the scroll with seven seals. All broke out in praise, singing a new song, saying, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” and “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.  And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”

Habakkuk 2. The LORD answered the prophet to his second complaint. It contains this gem, just as valid today as it was then: “The just shall live by his faith“.  On the other hand there was promised more woe to the wicked.

Habakkuk 3 recorded Habakkuk’s prayer, a hymn of faith.

December 13, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation , the last chapter of Nahum and the first chapter of Habakkuk

December 13: Revelation 4, Nahum 3, Habakkuk 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 4. John is shown the throne room of Heaven. Someone is sitting on the throne. A rainbow is over it, 24 elders are around it, in the front are seven lamps, representing the seven-fold spirit of God. Around it are also four creatures, one like a lion, representing Jesus as king (Matthew), one like an ox representing Jesus as a servant (Mark), one with the face of man representing the humanity of Christ (Luke), and the fourth like an eagle representing Jesus is God (John). All sing or say praises, a true worship.

Nahum 3. The prophet Nahum ends with a “woe to Nineveh.”

Habakkuk 1 begins with the prophet’s first complaint and the LORD’s reply. After that the prophet pours out his second complaint.

December 12, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation and the two first chapters of Nahum.

December 12: Revelation 3, Nahum 1, Nahum 2 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 3 ends the message to the seven churches: Sardis, the church that claimed to be alive, but in God’s eyes was dead; Philadelphia, the church that kept its faith, and as a reward will be kept from the hour of trial that is coming; and finally the church of Laodicea, the church that thought it had it all figured out and prospered, when in reality they had nothing. These can be seen as seven historical churches, which they were, but also as seven types of churches as they exist today and through history. They can also be taken as seven states of the individual believer. However you take it, there is something in it for every believer, even today.

Nahum 1 speaks of God’s wrath on His enemies, in this case the coming destruction of Nineveh.

Nahum 2 prophesies of the coming fall of Nineveh.

December 11, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read one chapter of Revelation and the last chapter of Micah.

December 11: Revelation 2, Micah 7 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 2 begins the message to the seven churches: Ephesus, the church that lost its first love; Smyrna, the church that stood firm even when it was persecuted;  Pergamos, a church that looked good but compromised itself, and the church of Thyatira, a corrupted church, but with hope of repentance. These can be seen as seven historical churches, which they were, but also as seven types of churches as they exist today and through history. They can also be taken as seven states of the individual believer. However you take it, there is something in it for every believer, even today.

Micah 7. The prophet expresses deep sorrow for Israel’s sins, coupled with the hope that the nation will rise again and that  God will forgive Israel.

 

December 10, read through the Bible in a year.

Today we read the first chapter of Revelation and one chapter of Micah.

December 10: Revelation 1, Micah 6 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Revelation 1. The final book of the Bible begins with an introduction and promises a blessing to all who read it and take it to heart. It sends a greeting to the seven Churches followed by the most wonderful vision of the Son of Man.

Micah 6. The LORD has a case against Israel and will punish Israel’s injustice. One remedy: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?“

December 9, read through the Bible in a year.

In between the letter of Jude and Revelation we read two Psalms and three chapters of Micah.

December 9: Proverbs 30, Micah 4, Micah 5 (click on the chapter to begin reading).

Proverbs 30. The sayings of Agur. Solomon wasn’t the only man with wisdom and these sayings made it into the canonical scripture. Two examples: “give me neither poverty nor riches” and “The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give.”

Micah 4 speaks of the LORD’s future reign in Zion and Zion’s triumph.

Micah 5.The promise of the coming Messiah: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”  But first it promises punishment of Israel’s injustice.