LONGING FOR HOME AT CHRISTMAS Jerusalem had been overthrown by the Babylonians and its citizens had been taken captive. As they were force marched from Judea to Babylon, they were allowed to rest for a while by one of its rivers. Yet though their bodies were in Babylon, their hearts remained in Zion. And when
THE VISION OF THE SEVEN TRUMPETS Seven is a significant number in the Bible. The Bible opens in Genesis with the seven days of creation and it begins to draw to a close with the seven trumpets of judgment in Revelation. The number seven signifies completion. The apostle John wrote of seven signs and seven
BETHLEHEM, CHRIST’S PROPHESIED BIRTHPLACE In the midst of Micah’s prophecy for Israel’s judgment, the Spirit revealed the future birthplace of the Messiah. This is the prophecy that the priests and scribes quoted to King Herod when the Magi came seeking the one born king of the Jews (Matt. 2:6). Bethlehem was also called the
THE PROPHECY OF CHRIST’S COMING TO SHEPHERDS Micah prophesied that “sovereignty” would come to a “hill” where stood the “watchtower for the flock.” This prophecy points to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In Hebrew, the phrase “watchtower for the flock” is “Migdal Edar.” It described both a tower and a place. It would
SOME HAVE TO GO DOWN BEFORE LOOKING UP Jonah chapter two records the prayer of God’s runaway prophet. Jonah’s prayer took place from inside the belly of a great fish, which God had sent to rescue him from drowning. When he was convinced of his imminent death and felt his life slipping away, he finally
THE WORSHIP OF HEAVEN The apostle John saw and heard the worship of heaven in God’s throne room. His report was very similar to the prophet Isaiah’s, who had also been given a vision of this scene (See Isa. 6). They both reported the sight and sound of the four six-winged creatures. Yet, only John
JESUS WARNS AGAINST BEING LUKEWARM “You are lukewarm!” These words were spoken by Jesus to the apostle John to pass on to the church at Laodicea. The ruins of this ancient city are located in the Western part of modern day Turkey. It’s geographic location gives insight to the words of Jesus. Located in the
WHO IS THIS ONE WHO MADE AND SUSTAINS ALL THINGS? The Lord is not an absentee creator. He is not merely a celestial clockmaker who fashioned the universe, wound it up and watches time pass from a distance. No, the Lord was active in making all things and continues to sustain all things. He made
DOES JESUS HAVE YOUR FIRST LOVE? John’s revelation began with seven letters from Jesus to seven churches. Each letter mentioned something specific to the city in which the church was located. Most of the letters began with a commendation followed by a correction. This was the case with the first letter, which was written to
TIME TO TURN TO GOD Writing in the 9th century BC, the prophet Joel opened his book with warnings concerning a plague of locusts. He warned that the locusts were only a small thing compared to the coming Day of the Lord. He encouraged God’s people to repent while there was still time. This