Thoughts on the Bible Readings December 24th (Job 33; Zechariah 9; Revelation 7, 8, 9)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Having rebuked Job's 3 friends in chapter 32, Elihu turns his focus to rebuking Job in chapter 33. Elihu says that he is not influenced by important people, but he will speak the truth as it is. Nor will he be intimidated by older men. Elihu acknowledges that his respect for the Almighty will temper his response. Elihu declares that his words are acceptable before God and like those engaging in the debate, he "too was pinched off from the clay" (verse 6 ESV). Don't be frightened by what I say. He condemns Job's self- vindication and the idea that the Almighty has chosen to be Job's adversary. You, Job he says, have no right to question the LORD's right to do as He pleases. Humble yourself, listen with respect to Yahweh, is the course I recommend that you adopt, Job. What you have suffered gives you time for reflection. Job you need a mediator to speak on your behalf, as your accusations against your Maker are improper. When you understand the redemptive work of God you will receive God's mercy and will be delivered from a permanent place in the grave. But, Job, it requires your humble pleas in prayer to your Creator. Please hearken to my words Job, for my intent is to vindicate you. And I am sure my words are wise. Zechariah 9 is a magnificent chapter which focuses our attention on the contrast between our Lord Jesus Christ and Alexander the Great. It tells of Christ's redemptive work for believers. This chapter is one of the most remarkable in the Bible for establishing the veracity of the Word of God - it must have come from God, as it contains detailed prophecies that were fulfilled about 190 years after they had been said; precise prophecies that were outworked 550 years from being given; and prophecies which are soon to come pass. Verses 1-8 contain prophecies which refer to Alexander the Great's exploits around 332 BC. Alexander had just smashed the might of the Persian armies in two decisive battles - at the river Granicus in BC 334, followed by a complete rout of Darius' immense host at Issus in BC 333. The Syrians and the Tyrians fell in the wake of the swiftly flowing Grecian tide. Tyre had resisted sieges for 270 years before succumbing, as Scripture had foretold, to the phenomenon from Macedonia. Now God's people in puny Judah appeared to be the next kingdom to experience the wrath of the destroyer of the Gentiles. Alexander bypassed Judah and swept down the coast attacking the Philistines and sacking Egypt. God protected His vulnerable nation. Verse 5 names 3 cities off the coast, who would incur the rage of the goat. Gaza, who had the temerity not to surrender is singled out. After venting his fury on Gaza, Alexander dragged behind his chariot the king of Gaza - who soon became an unrecognisable pulp. Having secured the south Alexander turned his focus to Jerusalem. But the Almighty had hovered in protection above His people. Here we digress for a moment. When the Apostle Paul, some 360 years later, sought to preach in Asia, but was forbidden; Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia beseeching him to bring the Gospel to Greece to help them. Now, when the Macedonian Alexander sought to vent his rage upon Jerusalem, he was prevented. God caused him in a dream to see a vision of a man of Israel, clothed in white - the high priest - and with him the 24 elders leave Jerusalem on foot and beseech the Macedonian for clemency. Alexander dismounted from his giant, white horse and bowed in worship before the holy man of his dream. The mighty Greek king claimed to have seen 25 men coming on foot to entreat the all- conquering monarch and entreat him to spare Jerusalem and the subjects of this realm. The mighty destroyer of the Gentiles yielded to the man God had placed over His nation. From verses 9-12 we are introduced to God's warrior - El Gibbor of Isaiah 9verses6-7 - who conquered himself, and in so doing vanquished sin and death (Proverbs 16verses32; Hebrews 2verses14-18). How do we see Zion's king on his approach to Jerusalem - a lowly and meek man riding on a donkey (Matthew 21verses1-11 which quotes Zechariah 9verses9). The words "having salvation", from Zechariah 9verses9 mean "saving himself". In the process of saving others, the Lord Jesus Christ, had to first save himself. This great King, unlike Alexander whose sword caused the streets to run with the blood he shed, in love laid down his own life; and shed his own blood in order to save us. The chariot, the war horse and the battle bow were useless in Jesus' victory. Nonetheless, having first conquered himself, he will rightly come as the judge and conqueror of the world. And the entire earth will submit to the Almighty's chosen king, who will reign from Zion i.e. Jerusalem. We, who were prisoners of the pit, slaves to king sin, have through the Lord's redemptive work been given hope. And together with our Lord bring the world into subjugation (Acts 17verses30-31). Verses 14-17 tell us that just as the LORD delivered His people at the time of crisis in the Alexandrian age, so too they can be assured of Divine aid in the calamity that will soon befall them; and which will usher in the glories of the age of Messiah's kingdom. Read aloud slowly verses 16-17 and pause and ponder. In Revelation 7 we have described the sealing period of God's chosen people following Constantine's succeeding to the Roman throne. Believers were sealed by the Word of the LORD within their foreheads - minds, or thinking. The era of sealing commenced with the relative calm that followed the chaos of civil war within the Empire until Constantine's securing of his throne in 324 AD. When the sealing had been completed the restraining angels would unleash the four winds of judgment upon guilty Rome. From each of the 12 tribes 12,000 are sealed - clearly a symbolic number used in the apocalyptic symbolism. Each tribe is represented except Dan, which seems exempted because of its symbolising apostasy. Joseph had 2 portions as the firstborn and so both Ephraim and Manasseh are counted. The total representative number is 144,000 (identical to the virginal community, who are with the Lamb on Mount Zion Revelation 14verses1 and whose thinking is focused on that of their Father). In verses 9-17 those sealed ones have come through great trials (Acts 14verses22). And since they come out of every nation they are not literally from Israel, but they truly constitute, spiritually, the Israel of God. These faithful followers are clothed in the white robes of righteousness and immortality and carry the victory palms of deliverance in their hands. Like those of Revelation 14 they are led by the Lamb, who sustained, fed and redeemed his sheep who follow and trust their Lord. There was an incipient fulfilment of these words at the time of Constantine's rise to power in the Roman heavens. The ecclesiastical historian Eusebius tells us that the words of verses 10-12 were spoken at Constantine's inauguration. But in reality, the words belong to the Lord Jesus Christ and the commencement of his kingdom age. The Great Shepherd King, who has sustained and feed his people throughout their pilgrimage, now finally brings them into his rest. Gone are the trials belonging to the time of their mortality, as they now become part of the Father's glorified and consoled community (compare Revelation 21verses1-4).The book of Revelation is structured so as to intersperse among the unfolding sequential historical events visions of comfort to encourage those who are experiencing the trials on their journey to the kingdom of God. Chapters 7, 10, 14-15, 19 and finally 21-22 serve this purpose throughout the prophecy - visions of future glory. Chapter 8 sees the unleashing of the judgments of the four wind angels from verse 8 onwards. Prior to this was a period of calm before the storm of tumultuous upheaval in the empire which lasted for 14 years from 324-328 AD. Half an hour in prophetic symbolism. The sounding of the 7 trumpeting angels Is recorded in chapters 8-11. The sounding of the angels start with the opening of the seventh seal in 328 AD. How vital it is that the saints of this time, as is always the case, should be sustained by prayer represented as sweet incense before the Father (Psalm 141verses2). The first trumpet began sounding in 328 AD and continued until 428 AD. It told of the Goths under the command of Alaric attacking the Empire. The second of the wind trumpets sounded from 428 AD until 477 AD and spoke of the Vandals under Genseric sacking Rome. Verses 10-12 tell of the barbarian ravaging of the third trumpet against Rome between 433-453 AD under the Huns commanded by Attila. The fourth and final wind trumpet was by the Goth, Odoacer, in AD 476 and spoke of the final overthrow of the western Roman Empire. Hereafter the seat of Rulership was transferred to the capital of the eastern Empire in Constantinople from 476 AD onwards until its destruction on May 29th, 1453AD. The agents of destruction in the east were the Islamic powers started by the false prophet, Mohammed. Chapter 9 speaks of the opening of the pit of the abyss which released the Mohammedans to scourge the triune God worshippers from the Eastern Orthodox Church. Mohammed assumed control over his Arabs in 632 AD. Verses 13-20 speak of the rise of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire and its destructive attacking waves on Christian Europe and its eastern Roman capital of Constantinople. These attacks commenced on April 29th, 1063AD until their work was completed in 1453. Our Omnipotent Sovereign's fingers always direct and control the course of history just as our lives are safely held in those almighty, but tender and caring, Hands. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-bible-readings-december-24th-job-33-zechariah-9-revelation-7-8-9/?feed_id=107931&_unique_id=694a2ad837006