Thoughts on the Bible Readings December 25th (Job 34; Zechariah 10; Revelation 10, 11)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]In Job 34 Elihu asserts that God is, and can only be, just. Elihu uses magnificent poetry, as did Job and his 3 friends, telling us of the folly of assuming that older civilisations were by comparison to the modern age primitive. Elihu asserts that Job's claims are not in accord with the humility, which Job should show when dealing with the Almighty. It is so wrong to challenge God. The LORD in an instant could wipe out all flesh by withdrawing their breath. You wouldn't even dare to talk that way to earthly dignitaries, who come and go in a moment of time; why then protest against God? Yahweh should not be subjected to human interrogation, nor will He answer any who should dare to try. Lay your hand upon your mouth and suffer in silence; and by this show yourself to be wise. Zechariah 10 deals with Yahweh's restoration of Judah and Israel. The rains had been withheld as the contemporary prophecy of Haggai indicated. Now upon their faithful asking the blessing would be returned. The vanity of both the nation and its leaders had formerly brought judgment upon Yahweh's lost sheep. For the condition the nation found itself in was the responsibility of their shepherds - who had proven themselves to be irresponsible shepherds, who should have known better (for this God would hold them to account). The people of the LORD would be his mighty battle horse. Verse 4 tells us that every good purpose of His people was from their Sovereign. The nation's might before their foes would be irresistible. Yahweh's love and compassion always encompasses His flock. The scattered remnants will be regathered and will bring the Gentiles into submission. From every place which has persecuted and scattered Israel will the Jews be brought to the Land of their fathers. Their Mighty One will empower His chosen family. In Revelation 10 we have a vision of the Rainbowed Angel, which speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ and his faithful believers going forth in judgment against the nations of the earth. The "little book" of the mighty angel is but small in comparison to the seven sealed scroll, which comprises more than 3,000 years of History and unfulfilled prophecy - by contrast the little book encompasses about 40 years of divine judgments after Armageddon. Small is the book, but intense and powerful is the outpoured and sustained anger. There are contained in the minute scroll seven distinct outpourings - or thunders. But they are not described. The immense angel is standing on both the land (eretz Israel) and the sea (the Gentle nations - see Haggai 2verses21-22; Hebrews 12verses25-29 - to strategically counter the fulfilment of Nebuchadnezzar's image, which only a little earlier been made to stand on its feet. indicating the all- embracing nature of the impact upon all the nations surrounding Israel. The immutability of the determined judgments of the Almighty are symbolically spoken of by the angel's oath on the existence of the Almightyverses please compare with Hebrews 6verses13-20. The declared will of God, as stated by the angel in verse 6, was that "there shall be time no longer"; i.e. the forbearance of the LORD had reached the end, and the time of judgment had come. The servants of God, i.e. faithful Jews and Gentiles will take possession of the earth, as the true seed and heirs to the promise made to Abraham (Romans 4verses13). In verses 8-10 John is commanded to take and eat the scroll that was in the hand of the angel. On eating it John found its taste was as sweet as honey (Isaiah 26verses8-9; Psalm 149verses1-9); since it was right that wickedness should be dealt with. But there was a bitterness within John's belly on ingesting the scroll. John recoiled when he saw the destruction which came upon his fellow humans - his natural feelings were to be disturbed by human tragedy. Verse 11 indicated that John himself would, together with the other saints of the Lord Jesus Christ, participate in these events; but after that he would have the pleasure of renovating the nations during the times of refreshing (Acts 3verses19-26). Chapter 11 of the book of Revelation addresses a time in History many hundreds of years before the encouraging vision of chapter 10. This chapter outlines the work, slaying and resurrection of the witnesses for the Truth of the Almighty. The witnesses (the Greek word indicates that the ones providing the testimony often died for their witnessing -l the Greek word used is the one from which our English word martyr comes. These men and women faithfully gave their lives to proclaim the truth of the Gospel. There was another responsibility to witness against the error of the great apostasy, which centred around the Church. The book of Revelation is a tale of two cities - Jerusalem speaking of the faithful believers in our Lord Jesus Christ; and Rome (portrayed as the mystical, or secret, Babylon). This message will be unravelled in subsequent chapters. After the opening of the seventh seal and the sounding of the seventh trumpet occurred Constantine ascended to the Roman heavens to take power. Persecution immediately broke forth on the group which opposed this new Roman pontiff. The trinitarians had triumphed and the time had now arrived to wreak havoc upon their Unitarian opponents. These were driven from the seat of power into the wings i.e. extremities of the Empire and the faithful were slaughtered at every opportunity. God would visit judgment upon the apostate power of Rome - remember the word apostasy speaks of a falling away from truth to error. The word used of "apostasy" has a numerical value of 666 (more will be said on this in the notes on chapter 13). God has never left Himself without a witness as the Apostle Paul said in Pisidian Antioch. Verse 3 tells us that the witness for the truth against the false Church teaching was for a period of 1,260 days (or years in prophetic language; where a day is put for a year e.g. Ezekiel 4verses5). If we take the starting point of the prophecy from Constantine's accession to the throne, then the terminal year is 1572 AD - when tens of thousands of Huguenots were slaughtered in Paris at the command of the pope. That time is known in history as the Massacre of St Bartholomew's Day. And this event signalled wholesale slaughter of that group of witnesses until 1685 when a Huguenot became king and revoked the edict of Nantes which had sanctioned the destruction of these protestors. Their bodies were said to lay exposed in the street, or broadway i.e. of Paris - France being the first son of the Church - for 3.5 days; prophetic of the 105-year interval after which they are said to come to life again during the French Revolution of 1789- 1792. At this time, they brought vengeance upon their enemies, as they ascended to heaven i.e. assumed power within France. Their enemies were terrified and 7,000 nobles and clergy were decapitated by the guillotine. The other group of witnesses were those who fought the apostates with clubs. They are termed in Revelation 11 - the earth. Historically they were known as the Circumcellions. The chapter finishes with the seventh trumpeter declaring that this event was a precursor to the time of Christ's kingdom being established on earth at his second coming (2 Timothy 4verses1). Read verses 14-19 aloud slowly and pause and ponder. Revelation 11verses15 is captured in Handel's oratorio Messiah. Compare this passage with what is revealed in Daniel 2verses35-45. This honour have all his saints (Psalm 149verses9). 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-25th-job-34-zechariah-10-revelation-10-11/?feed_id=108103&_unique_id=694bb1d1411fd