ZECHARIAH 3-5:
In Zechariah 1-2 we heard how Zechariah’s dreams often included angels talking with him. There were horses and riders, horns and blacksmiths, and the measuring Jerusalem. Jerusalem will not be nearly big enough. God’s people WILL COME out of captivity in Babylon. Note that by Zechariah’s time, this was already happening. His words and those events foreshadow what we read in Revelation about the new Jerusalem.
ISAIAH 60:
In Isaiah 59 we again read beautiful messages that harmonize with what we are reading in Revelation. The beginning verses contain foundational truths:
1 NLT Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you,
nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.
Because of your sins, he has turned away
and will not listen anymore.
Ephesians 6 is not the only place we hear of spiritual armor, but in 59:17 it is the Lord who wears it.
The next-to-last verse of the chapter prophecies about the coming Redeemer. And the last verse says about those who are God’s redeemed people and enjoy a covenant with Him, “My spirit will not leave them.”
REVELATION 14:
Note that the beast that comes up from the sea— which we heard about in chapter 13, is under the ancient dragon of chapter 12. It says this about the beast:
7 NLT And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.
8 And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.
Note that the Book of Life belongs to the Lamb, and note when the names were written in it. This should encourage us who are on the path of Life! God knew you from before the world was made!
Back in chapter 12 we heard how long all this would last: a time, times, and half a time = 3 ½ years, 42 months, or 1260 days. We heard those times in Daniel. But remember these are symbolic numbers, and God alone knows how to calculate them.
Lord Jesus, we don’t know where to start to praise You and our heavenly Father! Because of You alone, we can be clothed in white. Your blood washes away the stains of our sins. You took away our sin in a single day. Thank you, Lord, that in all spiritual battle, we succeed— not by military might or by our own strength, but by your Spirit. Thank you that you have freed us from Babylon—the city of man, and this world’s system. And you have made us citizens of the New Jerusalem, which will be happy, prosperous, beautiful, and full of your glory. We will no longer need the sun and moon, because your light will be brighter and last longer. But what a great contrast for those who worship the beast and accept his mark on their bodies. There will be no relief from fiery torment for them forever. So may we have endurance in these last days, and never stop obeying God’s commands or stop being faithful to You, Lord Jesus. May we consider it a blessing to be killed in your service. And may we take comfort that the results of our service will not be forgotten by God.
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