Joel 1:1-3:21 + Revelation 1:1-20 + Psalm 128:1-6 + Proverbs 29:18
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Old Testament – Today we start and finish the book of Joel! The book is basically about locusts. : ) Well, okay, more than that. This book was written by pretty much an unknown author. There are 12 other Joel’s mentioned in the Old Testament, and none are thought to be this book’s author. Joel’s name means “The Lord is God” or “Yahweh is God.” Not a bad name eh! This name is actually the reverse of Elijah – “God is Lord/Yahweh”. Different commentators estimate that this book was probably written between the 8th and 5th centuries B.C. And, yes, since you know I like images on this blog, will you please indulge me in one locust swarm picture? : )
~ Joel ~
Author: Joel
Date: Ninth century B.C.
Content: This beautifully written book uses a plague of locusts to describe symbolically God’s coming judgment on Jerusalem. Just as locusts devour the land, so will the enemy armies devour Jerusalem unless the nation repents of its sins. If the people do respond, there will be a time of prosperity and a return of God’s favor. God’s favor is seen as going beyond the immediate future to a time when God would pour out his Holy Spirit upon all flesh. The New Testament sees this as being fulfilled at Pentecost.
Theme: Joel’s message is one of coming judgment if Jerusalem does not repent. Just as surely as the locusts strip the trees bar, so will God strip bare the land. Joel also speaks of coming prosperity, and final blessing, if the people respond in faith. (Above commentary is from “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 15-16) A wonderful commentary on the book of Joel by Hampton Keathley IV is at this link. Below is an image of Joel prophesying when Israel had just been struck by two plagues – locusts and drought – from a 14th century illuminated Bible:
Joel chapter 2 verse 13 stood out to me in today’s readings: “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief; instead, tear your hearts. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered. He is filled with kindness and is eager not to punish you.” I like that – tear your hearts. One of my favorite musicians, David Wilcox, often talks and sings about hearts not working right – until they are broken. I think he’s actually preaching the Gospel message with this thinking. When we finally get to the point of surrendering our lives to Jesus, we come with broken-open hearts. Hearts that have been torn. We’ve given up our pride. We’re reading for God to fill our hearts instead. And as this verse tells us – God is gracious and merciful. Has your heart been torn for God?
Joel chapter 2 verses 28-32 are amazing! “”Then after I have poured out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, men and women alike. I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth–blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon will turn bloodred before that great and terrible day of the LORD arrives. And anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. There will be people on Mount Zion in Jerusalem who escape, just as the LORD has said. These will be among the survivors whom the LORD has called.” I didn’t realize until recently that these verses were quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost – seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection – in the book of Acts. Check out the similarities at this link, Acts Chapter 2 verses 16-21. Back to Joel chapter 2 verse 29: “In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, men and women alike.” We are in those days… Has God’s Spirit been poured out upon you? Into your heart?
Bible Project: Here is a terrific overview of the book of Joel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQLazbgz90c
New Testament – Today we start the book of Revelation! I have to confess that I have been a bit nervous about blogging through the book of Revelation. But here goes nothing! : ) Revelation has been called “The Revelation of John”, but really this book is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”. It is believed that the apostle John wrote this book. He also wrote the Gospel of John and the letters of First, Second, and Third John. There was some dispute about the apostle John writing this book in the third century by a bishop named Dionysius – as he thought the writing style of this book was so different from the Gospel of John & his letters. But most do believe that the apostle John did indeed write the book of Revelation on the Island of Patmos, off the coast of Ephesus, or modern-day Turkey. It is said that one of the major purposes of this book, written in circa 95 A.D., was to encourage Christians to resist the Roman empire’s demands of emperor worship. The other important thing to note is the Revelation is apocalyptic literature, which means that its writing is highly symbolic. Below is artwork of John on Patmos writing the book of Revelation:
There are basically 4 lines of thinking on how to interpret the book of Revelation, which I think are helpful to consider before diving into this book. I am editing these comments below from bible.org at this link: Please check out this link for more details on these 4 points below and the book of Revelation overall – these comments were edited on bible.org from M. C. Tenney, Interpreting Revelation.
“(1) The preterist approach believes that “Revelation is simply a sketch of the conditions of the empire in the first century.”
(2) The historicist view (or continuous-historicist view) “contends that Revelation is a symbolic presentation of the entire course of the history of the church from the close of the first century to the end of time.”
(3) The futurist approach usually argues that “all of the visions from Revelation 4:1 to the end of the book are yet to be fulfilled in the period immediately preceding and following the second advent of Christ.”
(4) In the idealist approach, “the Revelation represents the eternal conflict of good and evil which persists in every age, although here it may have particular application to the period of the church.””
Into the readings today… Chapter 1 verse 8 certainly stands out in today’s readings, as we hear from Jesus himself: “”I am the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come, the Almighty One.” I like that – the Alpha & Omega. The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus is the beginning and end of all things. Jesus is God.
In verses 17 & 18 today we hear this similar theme from Jesus again to John: “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one who died. Look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” It is awesome that Jesus uses the term Living One here. This is very similar to Old Testament verses we hear about God being a Living God. Jesus is also truly Living today in our lives. Do you believe Jesus is the Alpha & Omega? The Living One?
Bible Project: Here is a terrific overview of the book of Revelation!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nvVVcYD-0w
Psalms – Psalm 128 verse 1 stands out today: “How happy are those who fear the LORD– all who follow his ways!” Do you think it is possible to be happy and to fear God at the same time? Do you believe a healthy fear of God is, well, healthy? Why would we fear God – God who loves us immensely? What is this Psalmist saying to us today in our lives?
Proverbs – It is very interesting that Proverbs 29 verse 18 may help answer these questions immediately above: “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy.” Do you see parallels to this Proverb and the Psalm verse above? Are you accepting divine guidance in your life? Are you happy?
Worship Video: Revelation chapter 1 verse 8 in today’s readings reminds me of the fantastic song by Mark Harris called “One True God:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xuTmGRYFqM
Do you know the One true God? Click here and meet the One!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'” Revelation 1:8 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you know that Jesus is your Alpha and Omega. Pray today and every day, Come Lord Jesus, Come!
Comments from you: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
======= Ramona:
Joel 1:1-3:21 & Proverbs 29:18
As I read the Old Testament reading today I don’t know why but I began thinking of these two verses out of Isaiah,
WAIT and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]. [Rev. 21:6, 7; 22:17.] Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy]. [Jer. 31:12-14.]
(Isaiah 55:1-2 AMP)
And as I read through till Proverbs, I thought “Hmmm! There is similarity between the verse in Proverb and this passage. Locust strip the vegetation, the food, from the ground and famine of provisions results. Symbolically and or allegorically locust and famine can represent things that take away our sustenance, be it food, vision, hope or the things that make life, well, life. Today’s Proverb states,
Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]–blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he. [I Sam. 3:1; Amos 8:11, 12.] (Proverbs 29:18 AMP).
A famine of food will destroy our bodies, or at lest make us weak and possibly bring illness, but a famine of the Word of God makes us the walking dead.
8Weep with sorrow, as a virgin weeps when her fiance has died. 9There is no grain or wine to offer at the Temple of the LORD. The priests are mourning because there are no offerings. Listen to the weeping of these ministers of the LORD! 10The fields are ruined and empty of crops. The grain, the wine, and the olive oil are gone. (Joel 1:8)
Grain, wine and olive oil have been symbolically represented in scriptures, both in the Old and New Testament. Grain is what is used to make bread, we worship the Bread of Life. Wine, New Wine, is what Jesus said is hard for those who are filled up on the Old Wine to taste (Luke 5:39). The olive oil was used, and is still used today to make the special oil used to anoint the priests. This is was oil that was used to anoint Aaron into the priesthood, the oil that was poured upon his head and that flowed down to the hem of his priestly garment. (Exodus 29:21; Lev. 8:12) And looking at today’s New Testament reading, Jesus is the one standing in the middle of the seven lamp stands that use olive oil as fuel.
There was a four-hundred year silence of the Word of God between the last prophet in Israel and the Word given to Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary the mother of Jesus representing a famine of all three, bread, oil and wine. I could be off in left field but today, at lest to me, there is a strong connection between all of today’s readings.
No Word of God, no restrants; no Word of God, no spiritual food; no Word of God, no anointing to minister, and no spiritual Wine to make a glad and merry heart. (Ephesians 5:18)
Wine is made from Fruit and my mind is exploding with images of wine made from the Fruit of the Spirit. Remember the robe of the High Priest had sown on the bottom, a bell, and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, etc. I’m not sure but I think the bell represented the gifts of the spirit and the pomegranates represented the fruit of the spirit. (Ever open up a pomegranate? It is loaded with lots of little fleshy, juicy red fruit with a seed in the middle.)
Now I’ve got the “Mike” disease, known as the Tangent. I’m not sure how all this fits in, and it may not even fit it, but while I ride into work, I will read and reread today’s text and study and pray that all of this “Stuff” becomes clearer.
“I’m so excited, just so excited—I’m about to lose my mind and I think I like it” a line from the Pointer Sisters song.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Jan:
I receieved a CD in the mail yesterday just in time for the reading of Revelation. It is a wonderful work called, “The Bride’s Anthem/Adoring Prayers from the Book of Revelation.” It is one of the PTB/Praying the Bible Series & this one is read by Mike Bickle (a man that passionately loves our Beloved). You can purchase it at http://www.revivalnow.com. I put it on when I laid down to go to sleep & slept so wonderfully & dreamed like I have not dreamed in a while. There are several more in the PTB series that I am sure I will be acquiring in the near future.
“The Bride’s Anthem” is part of an entirely new genre of recordings called the ‘Praying the Bible’ series. The ‘PTB’ series seeks to revive the ancient Hebrew practice of biblical meditation namely, the Davidic combination of spoken prayers set to music & song. This unique combination models the pattern of audibly praying Scripture to God, supported by a prophetic flow of original music. The accompanying vocals reinforce what is being prayed.
In “The Bride’s Anthem,” Mike Bickle prays the Book of Revelation from the perspective of the adoring Bride longing for her soon coming Bridegroom. Most of the major themes of Revelations, as well as the revelatory hymns, are prayed as they are written, while still allowing for Spirit-led spontaneity & amplification. “The Bride’s Anthem” is like nothing you have ever heard. Be blessed as you mediate on our future as the Bride of Christ.
Can you imagine how deligted “HE” is when we sing/pray His Word back to Him…I think He would adore that in us. He loves us so much & takes such pleasure in us loving Him.
Jan
======== Patty:
Just found your site and am happy to come back each day. it’s great.
Patty
======= Pat:
Mike and all 3,000 plus in this Bible study, we need to start out by noting that Revelation is a book of prophecy with many different interpretations, and none of them will be proven right or wrong until after the Second Coming of Christ when the prophecy will be fulfilled. Therefore, no one should hesitate to say what the Scripture is speaking to them at the time of studying Revelation and no one should condemn another’s views as Revelation 1:3 says that ALL who reads and hears this prophecy will be blessed.
In Revelation 1:19 John was instructed to write “what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later.” The Book of Revelation is pretty much divided into three parts along that time frame. Chapters 1-3 are directed to the churches that existed at the time John was recording Revelation. It reviews how the churches developed to that point and the problems there were facing under Roman rule. Chapters 4-18 give us a description of Heaven as it will be and the last days on this planet earth as we now know it. Chapters 19-22 tell us about the Second Coming of Christ, His victory over sin and evil, and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom.
What impressed me in today’s reading of Chapter 1 was that God told us not once but three times in verses 8, 11 and 17 that He is the Alpha and Omega (the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet). He wants us to know from the beginning of this study of Revelation that it is His revelation and He is the one and only true God that ever was or ever will be!
God Bless!
Pat
====== Mae:
I was really excited to start Revelations! And I’m still excited of course! I read it many times, but I’m even more excited now cause I’m very curious what everyone’s comments are and the insights! “I am the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come, the Almighty One.” Yes … this defenitly stands out!!! He was there at the beginnen and He will be there in the end … I believe that, without a doubt!
“How happy are those who fear the LORD– all who follow his ways!” – psalm 128:1 … Personally I don’t think it’s ‘fear’ as in: being scared to death. For me it’s more: deep respect. The Lord is good, the Lord is always in control, He’s the greatest … He’s the man I have my deepest respect for and I want to obay him, I don’t want to dissapoint him. He’s allmighty and that’s why I fear him … in the positive meaning of the word. I’m not scared, I have the deepest respect for Him. So yes, for me it’s healthy. It’s defenitly possible to be happy and to fear Him at the same time.
The fear that I have is my fuel …
Mae
======= Sue:
JOEL 1:3 Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.
___________________________________________________________
This spoke to my heart because I teach 4&5-year-olds once a week during Women’s Bible Study at our church.
I see what little sponges their minds are and am amazed at how much they retain. Since we started in late September, the children have already memorized the Hebrew Testament through Nehemiah AND the key words for each book (like: Big N ing — “Beginning” for Genesis; Exit — “leaving Egypt” for Exodus, Wandering — “40 years in the desert after leaving Egypt”). The last time we gave them nine books and their keywords to learn, and they did: Ruth, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
My point?
“How happy are those who fear the LORD– all who follow his ways!”
You should see the glee in the faces of these children as they happily recite these books and their keywords, and their parents also are blessed!
Since about the 1960s someone said it was not polite to talk about politics or religion in social settings. As a result, I believe people have no desire to read scripture, as it cannot (then) be discussed, and as a result, our children have not had this told to them, and look at what is happening?
A “famine” of learning has occurred in our land, and I believe the locusts (in the form of unbelieving prosyletizers) are taking over because of our failure to teach our children. We must proclaim a fast against the evil idolatry of self-centeredness, the desire to acquire, and all the things that keep us from recognizing our dependence upon God.
This is one thing I LOVE about reading this One-Year Bible: Each book shows us how harmonious is the entire message of the Bible; as you said, Mike, with regard to Psalms and Proverbs today–and Joel comes right up behind with the same message told a different way:
“How happy are those who fear the LORD– all who follow his ways!” Do you think it is possible to be happy and to fear God at the same time? Do you believe a healthy fear of God is, well, healthy? Why would we fear God – God who loves us immensely? What is this Psalmist saying to us today in our lives?
“When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy.” Do you see parallels to this Proverb and the Psalm verse above? Are you accepting divine guidance in your life? Are you happy?
Famine
Fast
“How happy are those who fear the LORD– all who follow his ways!” Do you think it is possible to be happy and to fear God at the same time? Do you believe a healthy fear of God is, well, healthy? Why would we fear God – God who loves us immensely? What is this Psalmist saying to us today in our lives?
“When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy.” Do you see parallels to this Proverb and the Psalm verse above? Are you accepting divine guidance in your life? Are you happy?”
Sue
====== Romayne:
Joel is one of my favourite books of prophecy and one which has long conjured up many pictures in my imagination when I first read it. Like Mike, I’d sort of assumed the ‘army’ spoken about was going to be something like locusts, but couldn’t figure out the description being close enough. However, in the last few years I was amazed to read an article in Time initially which showed scientists who’d produced micro robots complete with faces, horses heads, hair and more spyware and weaponry than any current type of UAV. Fascinating to contemplate at the very least I think?
Romayne
======= Paul:
I’ve been looking forward to Revelation too. It’s a book of high interest to me but very hard to study and understand by yourself. So yeah, i am looking forward to this section of the one year Bible and will try to follow it closely in your blogs as far as the teaching.
Paul
======= Jenny:
For me, to f”ear” the Lord is to revere Him. He is not on my level, He is way above and beyond humans…so its a respect and knowledge of His mightiness and power. I think things like “Jesus is my homeboy”…that slogan thing is bringing Jesus down on our level…no, He is God incarnate almighty. My dad disagrees and thinks fear as in, trembling afraid. Well, I think of a lion or a murderer…i may be trembling afraid, but i dont respect them. An abusive person scared me as a child, it wasnt respect..i had outside respect for fear of harm, but total disrespect inside, it was fear though! To respect, like your parents, you love and obey them. If you fear them, but dont respect them…you probly have anger and hate stored up rather then love and not a trust for all things as we do our Lord, which is a love relationship. I had a nonbeliever friend I tried to share with tell me the fear of the Lord was in Him….he was afraid of God b’cos he knew he was in sin and knew God was not pleased, but he hasn’t changed his ways..that shows there wasnt a real fear of God, more a fear of punishment. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”…reverence for Him, to be in awe, that is the beginning of wisdom.
We definately need a broken heart before we come to the Lord…we ahve to be broken before we see we are not whole and need Jesus in our lives. A heart that isnt broken/sorrowful over their sin, is a proud heart. One verse I love is Matt 21:44 “He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed”. Jesus is this stone…we need to be broken to pieces. If we dont, the stone will fall on us and we will be crushed…destroyed eternally. We studied this verse very indeptly and it really spoke to me heart!
I’m thrilled to be in revelation! I’ve gone over this book a few times, but the scripture is always exciting and reveals something new, God always is teaching us, growing us. Jesus is indeed Living! The beginning and the end….who better to put your trust in??? Buddah? Ghandi? their graves are still occupied…
Jenny
====== Art:
Please do not be nervous about blogging about the Book of Revelation. Like all other Scripture, it is part of the Word of God. It is not an “easy read”, so some have a tendancy to avoid it. True, often we cannot bring our own meaning to the pages, but let us pray that God’s meaning be revealed. It is a blessing to be a part of the One Year Bible blog, and having the Book of Revelation put before us confirms this. December becomes my favorite month of study, partly because I am faced with study here that perhaps I would avoid on my own.
God Bless You,
art
====== Joan:
Mike, Thank you so much for all the work you do for this oneyearbibleblog. It has been a very growing experience for me.
God bless you and I love the commentaries. Thank you all. Yours in Christ
Joan
====== Cheryl:
I want to thank Mike for this oneyearbibleblog. I was having a real conflict with members of a church about pulling isolated verses from the bible. I chose to attend another church, but I also decided to read, for the first time, the entire bible. This I have almost done with a lot of help from this blog. It has been eye opening. thank you.
Cheryl
======= Tom:
First of all I thank Mike for this one year Bible blog because it one of the best blog I have gone through from a long time and its very good and the author of the article given a very good differences on old and new Testaments and thank the author for providing this.
Tom
======== Todd:
I just found this site today, yet I have another approach to revelations. Revelations has to do with judgements and those judgements are listed in order. The book is not about time as much as it is about judgement (church, throne, seal, trumpet, vial, final judgement-just/ unjust). The judgements are listed in order with some of John’s interactions inbetween. Some of the judgements have started in the past and ended in the past, some began at present and went into the future and some are in the future as a starting point and end there and other combinations as well. It is difficult to know which ones happened, are happening, or are going to happen but in the end they show the power wisdom and righteousness of God.
Todd
========= Nasser:
dear mike i love theoneyearbibleblog, god bless you for your hard working i see your blog as a great ,beautiful meal for my soul but i had i request from you . a lot of arabs like the website but had difficulty with english so can you put transalation in arabic.
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. joel 2:13
a clear way to repent and come back to god’s love .
if you had sin in your life this is the proper way to do it as joel express . you need to rend your heart by fasting ,praying , weeping how much you are sorry for all the sin you commit against god and others . put your pride aside and always remember the charecterstic of god which are for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Nasser
====== Kary:
Did you notice we all get a special blessing just for reading this book(v1:3)? An extra incentive altogether just to read Revelations more regularly.
If it was indeed the Apostle John who wrote this and not another, it is interesting to think that this would be his reunion with the Lord he followed in person physically for three years and interesting that Jesus did it this way instead of calling John by name and saying something like, “John, it is I.” (Of course, Jesus may have appeared to John at other times since the resurrection that we just don’t know about, like he appeared to Paul to encourage him in Acts).
It is also interesting that the description is very different than how we assume the resurected Lord looked to all the disciples and witnesses (think Mary Magdalene thinking he was the gardner or those on the road to Emmaus not recognizing Him – and yet we know He still had the holes in His hands, feet and side (John 20:27), plus probably all the other wounds. I suppose this means John is just seeing more of his glory than was previously or is physically (as opposed to spiritually) viewable. I also wonder if this is why John says it was One “like” the Son of Man and not just state that it was “the Son of Man”, perhaps it looked like the physical Jesus he remembered except now with white hair and feet like fine brass. Of course, the “like” could probably be explained to have a different nuance in the Greek translation such as “appeared” or even “as I remembered”. Jesus certainly has the ability to appear however He wishes, so His appearance may be something that He varies and maybe one of many reasons why it is important that we also know Him by his voice(John 10:27).
Lastly, have you noticed how often the Old Testament scheduled reading for the day coincides, correlates or in someway connects with the New Testament scheduled reading for the same day? I have seen this many times in our reading the Bible this way, sometimes very obviously in either small ways or big ways, and sometimes subtly or indirectly. Today, not only does our Proverbs reading parallel Psalms as Mike pointed out but note how the day we are starting Revelations, the Proverbs reading (at least in the NKJV) says where there is no “revelation”, the people cast off restratint. This is just more evidence of how amazing and perfect the Word of God is.
Thanks again Mike for doing this!
Kary
====== Elizabeth:
Hello,
I am just jumping onto this reading schedule today. I’ve been considering this blog as my reading schedule for the coming new year and thought I’d “try it on” for size. For me, it’s helpful to have a goal each day to keep me moving through the Bible.
I like the way the plan includes short chunks of psalms and proverbs. On so many plans, these books “blur by” and there is little time to savor them.
Anyway, thanks for your insights. God bless you!
Elizabeth
======= Luch:
I like how Psalm 127 and 128 show the cycle of family life. In Psalm 127 we the Lord at the center and inception of the family/marriage. Then children come. Psalm 128 speaks of the family living in joyful obedience to the scriptures. There’s a beautiful harmony portrayed here of fulfilling work, a fruitful wife, and happy kids. And as a result, the city of Jerusalem is prospering. What a beautiful picture the psalmist paints for us of idyllic family life in community.
Luch
======== Tabitha:
What stuck out to me in today’s reading was Joel 3:3, “They have cast lots for my people. Have given a boy as payment for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine that they may drink.”
It seems to me that over 2000 years ago the same horrible things were happening to children as we see now. I have heard of children being bought and sold for drugs, alcohol and sex.
May God forgive the human race for not making a change in all this time.
Tabitha
======== John:
Joel reminded me of the band Willet’s song “Repent” from their CD Teeth of a Lion, Fangs of a Lioness. In fact the whole CD seems based on the book of Joel!
John
====== Bob:
Revelation: I am really enjoying reading this right now because I am also reading Frank Peretti, “This Present Darkness”. Both deal with an amazing spiritual world that is absolutely fascinating. It is not everyone’s cup of tea but those who find it interesting will realize there is a real Spiritual War going on and will find it wise to side with God.
Bob
====== Jane:
I love the song one true God! The words So true!!!! Thx for sharing! ~
How can one not be happy when you post a cute little baby with its happy mama!!!
So happy to find that this study is on Revelation. All the troubles and divisions in the world today have been telling me I should return to studying this book.
Jane
====== Sam:
Hi Everyone,
I have a question. In the audio version, what translaton does the reader really use? It seems that it varies from the ones I try… NIV, ESV, etc.
Thanks,
Sam
======= Mike:
Hi Sam,
Tom Dooley is reading from the NLT Translation. From the 1996 version of the NLT. Note that there are variations in the text of the current NLT and 1996 NLT versions.
Mike
======== Jodie:
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:13-18)
This verse touched my heart. I can feel the love and gentleness of Jesus in this verse.
Jodie
======= Robert:
REVELATION
I had the wonderful opportunity to do a Bible Study on Revelation with 6 “seniors” a few years ago. Our private little joke was that between all of us we had over 500 years of life experience. I wanted to post a blog of our study but one of the wiser ones said no, we shouldn’t do that because it will only confuse people. LOL.
I would like to put forward the book we chose to guide us; Discipleship on the Edge: An Expository Journey through the Book of Revelation, by Darrell Johnson a professor from Regent College, Vancouver, B. C. Canada
Here is a quote from page 15:
“Revelation is not a crystal ball revealing esoteric secrets that enable one to escape the harsh realities of life on earth, but a down-to-earth manual on how to be a disciple of Jesus facing the harsh realities of life on the earth; in particular, how to do this the way Jesus did and does. And edge because…that is the “place” where we are called to be Jesus’ disciples.”
Robert
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