“I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2 HCSB).

December 30, 2021

ARE YOU BOUND FOR THAT CITY? John saw the “Holy City,” the “new Jerusalem,” come down. This is the very place that Christ went to prepare, saying, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years” (Revelation 20:6 HCSB).

December 29, 2021

WILL YOU SHARE IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION? John saw a day when all those who share in the “first resurrection” would serve as priests of God and reign with Christ for a thousand years, a millennium. What is this “first resurrection” and who are those who share in it?   The first resurrection began with

“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10 HCSB).

December 28, 2021

HAVE YOU LOOKED ON HIM WHOM YOU HAVE PIERCED? The prophet Zechariah wrote around 520 BC. This was 500 years before Christ and 2500 years before the present age. His book is filled with Messianic prophecies. Here, we see a Messianic reference to “an only child,” a “firstborn” who the people of Israel would “look”

“Then I heard another voice from heaven: Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or receive any of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4 HCSB).

December 27, 2021

COME OUT OF BABYLON John the Revelator wrote that he heard “another voice” calling out, perhaps the voice of Christ to His people. Like the angel who told Lot to get out of Sodom, He warned them to come out of Babylon. Many have offered opinions as to the identity of Babylon, but the most

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14 NKJV).

December 26, 2021

CHRIST THE LAMB HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD In the apostle John’s revelation, he saw a beast with ten horns, which represents the Antichrist and the ten nations that unite to follow him. They unite to “make war with the Lamb,” which is Christ Jesus, and with “those who are with Him.” Yet, those who make

“…Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:23b HCSB).

December 25, 2021

IMMANUEL – GOD WITH US Zechariah’s prophecy described a time when great numbers of people from the Gentile nations would seek the One born king of the Jews, who is known by this description: “God is with you.”   Who is this One? It is Christ Jesus. As Isaiah prophesied (Isa. 7:14) and Matthew confirmed

“Even those from afar shall come and build the temple of the Lord. Then you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you” (Zechariah 6:15 NKJV).

December 24, 2021

MAGI CAME FROM AFAR The prophet Zechariah prophesied that the Lord of Hosts would send Messiah to them. He would be both priest and king (v.13) and would build the temple. Even “those from afar,” meaning the Gentiles, would come and be part of building the temple under His authority.   This prophecy was fulfilled

“Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you” (Zechariah 4:9 HCSB).

December 23, 2021

CHRIST IS BOTH CORNERSTONE AND CAPSTONE Zechariah was given a prophecy concerning Zerubbabel, the Jewish governor of Jerusalem. Zerubbabel had begun the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple that had been destroyed by the Babylonians, but work had stopped on it and the people were discouraged. Yet the Word of the Lord came to Zechariah saying,

“Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you”—this is the Lord’s declaration” (Zechariah 2:10 HCSB).

December 22, 2021

ADVENT MEANS COMING The book of Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies about the “coming” of the LORD. Israel was called to “shout and be glad” in anticipation of His coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled in the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Yet Israel as

“She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne” (Revelation 12:5 NLT).

December 21, 2021

THE VERSE YOU WON’T SEE ON A CHRISTMAS CARD I’ve never seen Revelation 12:5 quoted on a Christmas card, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be. When the apostle John was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, the Lord pulled back the curtain between heaven and earth and invited old John to see things from