Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries "MAGNIFY THE LORD" for Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries "MAGNIFY THE LORD" for Wednesday, December 14, 2016

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior"(Luke 1:46-47)
Read Luke 1:46-55.
Luke 1:46 Then Miryam said,

“My soul magnifies Adonai;

47     and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,

48 who has taken notice of his servant-girl

    in her humble position.[Luke 1:48 1 Samuel 1:11; 2:1]

For — imagine it! — from now on, all generations will call me blessed!

49     “The Mighty One has done great things for me!

Indeed, his name is holy; 50 and in every generation

    he has mercy on those who fear him.[Luke 1:50 Psalms 103:17; 111:9]

51 “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm,

    routed the secretly proud,

52 brought down rulers from their thrones,

    raised up the humble,

53 filled the hungry with good things,

    but sent the rich away empty.

54 “He has taken the part of his servant Isra’el,

    mindful of the mercy

55 which he promised to our fathers,

    to Avraham and his seed forever.”

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One year in early December our old black-and-white console television conked out on us. Mom covered it with a white cloth and set up the manger scene on top. On Christmas morning my parents lifted the white cloth from the front of the set and suddenly we had a brand new color television. Seeing all the programs in color for the first time was amazing.
Mary had an experience something like that. First, the angel's message, and now Elizabeth's greeting. In response, she bursts out in praise, "My soul magnifies the Lord!"
What a curious thing to say. She obviously doesn't mean her soul or spirit has made God greater than He already is. She means her mental image of God has grown significantly. Previously, she thought God would have sent His angel to the high priest's daughter in Jerusalem or to a girl from a powerful, influential and wealthy family. She surely didn't think God would send an angel to a girl like her with no fame, wealth or influence.
But God had noticed her -- a young, unknown girl from an insignificant, little town that is never mentioned throughout the entire Old Testament. God chose her to be the mother of His Son.
When we recognize our unworthiness, our sin, our failings, then God is ready to magnify Himself in our eyes too. That's the secret of Christmas: the Christ Child came to our world to take away our sin and the punishment we deserve for it. Today He comes to your house to live with you, give meaning to your life, guard your ways, and even lead you through death to life everlasting.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I am amazed You would concern Yourself with someone like me. Thank You for sending Your Son to save me and promising me eternal life for His sake. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 77-78 Revelation 6

Psalms 77:1 (0) For the leader. For Y’dutun. A psalm of Asaf: 2 (1) I cry aloud to God, aloud to God; and he hears me. 3 (2) On the day of my distress I am seeking Adonai; my hands are lifted up; my tears flow all night without ceasing; my heart refuses comfort. 4 (3) When remembering God, I moan; when I ponder, my spirit fails. (Selah) 5 (4) You hold my eyelids [and keep me from sleeping]; I am too troubled to speak. 6 (5) I think about the days of old, the years of long ago; 7 (6) in the night I remember my song, I commune with myself, my spirit inquires: 8 (7) “Will Adonai reject forever? will he never show his favor again? 9 (8) Has his grace permanently disappeared? Is his word to all generations done away? 10 (9) Has God forgotten to be compassionate? Has he in anger withheld his mercy?” (Selah) 11 (10) Then I add, “That’s my weakness — [supposing] the Most High’s right hand could change.” 12 (11) So I will remind myself of Yah’s doings; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 13 (12) I will meditate on your work and think about what you have done. 14 (13) God, your way is in holiness. What god is as great as God? 15 (14) You are the God who does wonders, you revealed your strength to the peoples. 16 (15) With your arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Ya‘akov and Yosef. (Selah) 17 (16) The water saw you, God; the water saw you and writhed in anguish, agitated to its depths. 18 (17) The clouds poured water, the skies thundered, and your arrows flashed here and there. 19 (18) The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind, the lightning flashes lit up the world, the earth trembled and shook. 20 (19) Your way went through the sea, your path through the turbulent waters; but your footsteps could not be traced. 21 (20) You led your people like a flock under the care of Moshe and Aharon. 78:(0) A maskil of Asaf: (1) Listen, my people, to my teaching; turn your ears to the words from my mouth. 2 I will speak to you in parables and explain mysteries from days of old. 3 The things which we have heard and known, and which our fathers told us 4 we will not hide from their descendants; we will tell the generation to come the praises of Adonai and his strength, the wonders that he has performed. 5 He raised up a testimony in Ya‘akov and established a Torah in Isra’el. He commanded our ancestors to make this known to their children, 6 so that the next generation would know it, the children not yet born, who would themselves arise and tell their own children, 7 who could then put their confidence in God, not forgetting God’s deeds, but obeying his mitzvot. 8 Then they would not be like their ancestors, a stubborn, rebellious generation, a generation with unprepared hearts, with spirits unfaithful to God. 9 The people of Efrayim, though armed with bows and arrows, turned their backs on the day of battle. 10 They did not keep the covenant of God and refused to live by his Torah. 11 They forgot what he had done, his wonders which he had shown them. 12 He had done wonderful things in the presence of their ancestors in the land of Egypt, in the region of Tzo‘an. 13 He split the sea and made them pass through, he made the waters stand up like a wall. 14 He also led them by day with a cloud and all night long with light from a fire. 15 He broke apart the rocks in the desert and let them drink as if from boundless depths; 16 yes, he brought streams out of the rock, making the water flow down like rivers. 17 Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High; 18 in their hearts they tested God by demanding food that would satisfy their cravings. 19 Yes, they spoke against God by asking, “Can God spread a table in the desert? 20 True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, until the vadis overflowed; but what about bread? Can he give that? Can he provide meat for his people?” 21 Therefore, when Adonai heard, he was angry; fire blazed up against Ya‘akov; his anger mounted against Isra’el; 22 because they had no faith in God, no trust in his power to save. 23 So he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven. 24 He rained down man on them as food; he gave them grain from heaven — 25 mortals ate the bread of angels; he provided for them to the full. 26 He stirred up the east wind in heaven, brought on the south wind by his power, 27 and rained down meat on them like dust, birds flying thick as the sand on the seashore. 28 He let them fall in the middle of their camp, all around their tents. 29 So they ate till they were satisfied; he gave them what they craved. 30 They were still fulfilling their craving, the food was still in their mouths, 31 when the anger of God rose up against them and slaughtered their strongest men, laying low the young men of Isra’el. 32 Still, they kept on sinning and put no faith in his wonders. 33 Therefore, he ended their days in futility and their years in terror. 34 When he brought death among them, they would seek him; they would repent and seek God eagerly, 35 remembering that God was their Rock, El ‘Elyon their Redeemer. 36 But they tried to deceive him with their words, they lied to him with their tongues; 37 for their hearts were not right with him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant. 38 Yet he, because he is full of compassion, forgave their sin and did not destroy; many times he turned away his anger and didn’t rouse all his wrath. 39 So he remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that blows past and does not return. 40 How often they rebelled against him in the desert and grieved him in the wastelands! 41 Repeatedly they challenged God and pained the Holy One of Isra’el. 42 They didn’t remember how he used his hand on the day he redeemed them from their enemy, 43 how he displayed his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Tzo‘an. 44 He turned their rivers into blood, so they couldn’t drink from their streams. 45 He sent swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. 46 He gave their harvest to shearer-worms, the fruit of their labor to locusts. 47 He destroyed their vineyards with hail and their sycamore-figs with frost. 48 Their cattle too he gave over to the hail and their flocks to lightning bolts. 49 He sent over them his fierce anger, fury, indignation and trouble, with a company of destroying angels 50 to clear a path for his wrath. He did not spare them from death, but gave them over to the plague, 51 striking all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham. 52 But his own people he led out like sheep, guiding them like a flock in the desert. 53 He led them safely, and they weren’t afraid, even when the sea overwhelmed their foes. 54 He brought them to his holy land, to the hill-country won by his right hand. 55 He expelled nations before them, apportioned them property to inherit and made Isra’el’s tribes live in their tents. 56 Yet they tested El ‘Elyon and rebelled against him, refusing to obey his instructions. 57 They turned away and were faithless, like their fathers; they were unreliable, like a bow without tension. 58 They provoked him with their high places and made him jealous with their idols. 59 God heard, and he was angry; he came to detest Isra’el completely. 60 He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent he had made where he could live among people. 61 He gave his strength into exile, his pride to the power of the foe. 62 He gave his people over to the sword and grew angry with his own heritage. 63 Fire consumed their young men, their virgins had no wedding-song, 64 their cohanim fell by the sword, and their widows could not weep. 65 Then Adonai awoke, as if from sleep, like a warrior shouting for joy from wine. 66 He struck his foes, driving them back and putting them to perpetual shame. 67 Rejecting the tents of Yosef and passing over the tribe of Efrayim, 68 he chose the tribe of Y’hudah, Mount Tziyon, which he loved. 69 He built his sanctuary like the heights; like the earth, he made it to last forever. 70 He chose David to be his servant, taking him from the sheep-yards; 71 from tending nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Ya‘akov his people, Isra’el his heritage. 72 With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with skillful hands. Revelation 6:1 Next I watched as the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living beings say in a thundering voice, “Go!” 2 I looked, and there in front of me was a white horse; its rider had a bow and was given a crown; and he rode off as a conqueror to conquer. 3 When he broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Go!” 4 Another horse went out, a red one; and its rider was given the power to take peace away from the earth and make people slaughter each other. He was given a great sword. 5 When he broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Go!” I looked, and there in front of me was a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living beings say, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages! Six pounds of barley for the same price! But don’t damage the oil or the wine!” 7 When he broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living being say, “Go!” 8 I looked, and there in front of me was a pallid, sickly-looking horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Sh’ol followed behind him. They were given authority to kill one-quarter of the world by war, by famine, by plagues and with the wild animals of the earth. 9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been put to death for proclaiming the Word of God, that is, for bearing witness. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, “Sovereign Ruler, HaKadosh, the True One, how long will it be before you judge the people living on earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Each of them was given a white robe; and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow-servants should be reached, of their brothers who would be killed, just as they had been. 12 Then I watched as he broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, the sun turned black as sackcloth worn in mourning, and the full moon became blood-red. 13 The stars fell from heaven to earth just as a fig tree drops its figs when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. 15 Then the earth’s kings, the rulers, the generals, the rich and the mighty — indeed, everyone, slave and free — hid himself in caves and among the rocks in the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us[Revelation 6:16 Hosea 10:8] from the face of the One sitting on the throne and from the fury of the Lamb! 17 For the Great Day of their fury has come, and who can stand?” -------

Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries "CHRISTMAS TRIPS" for Tuesday, December 13, 2016

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth(Luke 1:39-40)
Read Luke 1:39-45.
Luke 1:39 Without delay, Miryam set out and hurried to the town in the hill country of Y’hudah 40 where Z’kharyah lived, entered his house and greeted Elisheva. 41 When Elisheva heard Miryam’s greeting, the baby in her womb stirred. Elisheva was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh 42 and spoke up in a loud voice,

“How blessed are you among women!

And how blessed is the child in your womb!

43 “But who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! 45 Indeed you are blessed, because you have trusted that the promise Adonai has made to you will be fulfilled.”

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Christmas trips were always so much fun. It was exciting to see the Christmas decorations as we walked up to the front door. I loved stepping inside and seeing the Christmas tree, along with all the toys my cousins or friends had gotten for Christmas. Then we'd pull out a few toys of our own that we had brought along.
A Christmas trip to her relative is the first step on Mary's new path. She sets out to see her cousin Elizabeth, who is miraculously pregnant in her old age. Mary quickly travels from the area of Galilee to Zechariah's home in Judea. Filled with excitement she walks up to Elizabeth's door. Beaming with joy she greets her aged cousin-and gets the surprise of her life.
In a loud and excited voice Elizabeth proclaims, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" (Luke 1:42b). Mary is shocked and delighted. She hasn't even had the chance to say anything more than "hello," and immediately Elizabeth knows everything. The Holy Spirit has revealed to her that the Child just beginning to grow in Mary's womb is actually God's Son.
What a comfort for Mary! She won't face the awkward explanation of the circumstances concerning her pregnancy, or have to convince the priest's wife this was all God's doing. In an instant, before Mary can say anything, the Holy Spirit has done it all. God has led her to the one couple able to fully understand and appreciate the amazing things God has done for her.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for faithful people like Elizabeth who believe Your promises and share our faith. Bring us together this Christmas season that we may rejoice together and share our wonder at Your amazing love in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 74-76 Revelation 5

Psalms 74:(0) A maskil of Asaf: (1) Why have you rejected us forever, God, with your anger smoking against the sheep you once pastured? 2 Remember your community, which you acquired long ago, the tribe you redeemed to be your very own. Remember Mount Tziyon, where you came to live. 3 Hurry your steps to these endless ruins, to the sanctuary devastated by the enemy. 4 The roar of your foes filled your meeting-place; they raised their own banners as a sign of their conquest. 5 The place seemed like a thicket of trees when lumbermen hack away with their axes. 6 With hatchet and hammer they banged away, smashing all the carved woodwork. 7 They set your sanctuary on fire, tore down and profaned the abode of your name. 8 They said to themselves, “We will oppress them completely.” They have burned down all God’s meeting-places in the land. 9 We see no signs, there is no prophet any more; none of us knows how long it will last. 10 How much longer, God, will the foe jeer at us? Will the enemy insult your name forever? 11 Why do you hold back your hand? Draw your right hand from your coat, and finish them off! 12 God has been my king from earliest times, acting to save throughout all the earth. 13 By your strength you split the sea in two, in the water you smashed sea monsters’ heads, 14 you crushed the heads of Livyatan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert. 15 You cut channels for springs and streams, you dried up rivers that had never failed. 16 The day is yours, and the night is yours; it was you who established light and sun. 17 It was you who fixed all the limits of the earth, you made summer and winter. 18 Remember how the enemy scoffs at Adonai, how a brutish people insults your name. 19 Don’t hand over the soul of your dove to wild beasts, don’t forget forever the life of your poor. 20 Look to the covenant, for the land’s dark places are full of the haunts of violence. 21 Don’t let the oppressed retreat in confusion; let the poor and needy praise your name. 22 Arise, God, and defend your cause; remember how brutish men insult you all day. 23 Don’t forget what your foes are saying, the ever-rising uproar of your adversaries. 75:1 (0) For the leader. Set to “Do Not Destroy!” A psalm of Asaf. A song: 2 (1) We give thanks to you, God, we give thanks; your name is near, people tell of your wonders. 3 (2) “At the time of my own choice, I will dispense justice fairly. 4 (3) When the earth quakes, with all living on it, it is I who hold its support-pillars firm.” (Selah) 5 (4) To the boastful I say, “Do not boast!” and to the wicked, “Don’t flaunt your strength! 6 (5) Don’t flaunt your strength so proudly; don’t speak arrogantly, with your nose in the air! 7 (6) For you will not be raised to power by those in the east, the west or the desert; 8 (7) since God is the judge; and it is he who puts down one and lifts up another. 9 (8) In Adonai’s hand there is a cup of wine, foaming, richly spiced; when he pours it out, all the wicked of the earth will drain it, drinking it to the dregs.” 10 (9) But I will always speak out, singing praises to the God of Ya‘akov. 11 (10) I will break down the strength of the wicked, but the strength of the righteous will be raised up. 76:1 (0) For the leader. With string music. A psalm of Asaf. A song: 2 (1) In Y’hudah God is known; his name is great in Isra’el. 3 (2) His tent is in Shalem, his place is in Tziyon. 4 (3) There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. (Selah) 5 (4) You are glorious, majestic, more so than mountains of prey. 6 (5) The bravest have been stripped of their spoil and now are sleeping their final sleep; not one of these courageous men finds strength to raise his hands. 7 (6) At your rebuke, God of Ya‘akov, riders and horses lie stunned. 8 (7) You are fearsome! When once you are angry, who can stand in your presence? 9 (8) You pronounce sentence from heaven; the earth grows silent with fear 10 (9) when God arises to judge, to save all the humble of the earth. (Selah) 11 (10) Human wrath serves only to praise you; what remains of this wrath you wear as an ornament. 12 (11) Make vows to Adonai your God, and keep them; all who are around him must bring presents to the one who should be feared. 13 (12) He curbs the spirit of princes; he is fearsome to the kings of the earth. Revelation 5:1 Next I saw in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals; 2 and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven, on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it. 4 I cried and cried, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it. 5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t cry. Look, the Lion of the tribe of Y’hudah, the Root of David, has won the right to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw standing there with the throne and the four living beings, in the circle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been slaughtered. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the sevenfold Spirit of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. 8 When he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down in front of the Lamb. Each one held a harp and gold bowls filled with pieces of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people; 9 and they sang a new song, “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals;     because you were slaughtered; at the cost of blood you ransomed for God     persons from every tribe, language, people and nation. 10 You made them into a kingdom for God to rule,     cohanim to serve him; and they will rule over the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard the sound of a vast number of angels — thousands and thousands, millions and millions! They were all around the throne, the living beings and the elders; 12 and they shouted out, “Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea — yes, everything in them — saying, “To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb belong praise, honor, glory and power forever and ever!” 14 The four living beings said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped. -------

Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries "LIFE'S CRAZY PATH" for Monday, December 12, 2016

Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word"(Luke 1:38).
Read Luke 1:36-38. Luke 1:36 “You have a relative, Elisheva, who is an old woman; and everyone says she is barren. But she has conceived a son and is six months pregnant! 37 For with God, nothing is impossible.” 38 Miryam said, “I am the servant of Adonai; may it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
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Did you ever open a Christmas present only to find an empty box with a clue in it? Following that clue led you out to the swing set, where another clue sent you to the hall closet. From there you went out to the garage, then up to the bedroom and, finally, down to the basement, where your real present was waiting for you.
The angel concludes his visit assuring Mary nothing is impossible for God, pointing to Mary's own relative Elizabeth as an example. Mary humbly offers herself to God's wonderful plan. But she has no idea the crazy path she will follow, as His plan unfolds in her life. We will trace this path through this Christmas season into the Lenten devotions, coming later this winter.
But no matter what will happen, Mary trusts God, and she is content to follow His path, wherever it may lead. We can learn a lot from her attitude! Sometimes God's will takes us down paths we are not expecting, paths we sometimes do not even wish to go. But God promises to be with us along the road. And we look forward to a great present at the end: eternal life with Him in our glorious and resurrected body, living in a perfectly restored world.
Actually, Mary's Son Jesus did the same thing too. When His Father asked Him to take the path of the cross, Jesus said, "Not My will, but Yours be done" (see Luke 22:42). He went to the cross, took our guilt on Himself, and died in our place so that God could look on us with love, favor and forgiveness.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sometimes Your perfect plan for our life takes us down paths we would not choose on our own. Give us faith and confidence to trust You as Jesus did. In His Name. Amen.
Today's Bible Readings: Zechariah 13-14 Revelation 3-4

Zechariah 13:1 When that day comes, a spring will be opened up for the house of David and the people living in Yerushalayim to cleanse them from sin and impurity. 2 “When that day comes,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “I will cut off the very names of the idols from the land, so that no one even remembers them any more. I will also expel the [false] prophets and the spirit of uncleanness from the land; 3 so that if anyone continues to prophesy, his own father and mother who brought him into the world will tell him, ‘You cannot continue to live, because you are speaking lies in the name of Adonai’; then his own father and mother who brought him into the world will stab him to death. 4 When that day comes, each one of the prophets will be shamed by his vision when he prophesies. He will stop wearing a hair cloak to deceive people; 5 and instead, he will say, ‘I’m no prophet, I just work the soil; since my youth I’ve only wanted to be an ordinary man.’ 6 If someone asks him, ‘Then what are these gashes between your shoulders?’ he will answer, ‘I got hurt at my friends’ house.’ 7 “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the young ones. 8 In time, throughout that land,” says Adonai, “two-thirds of those in it will be destroyed — they will die, but one-third will remain. 9 That third part I will bring through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined, I will test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is my people’ and they will say, ‘Adonai is my God.’” 14:1 Look, a day is coming for Adonai when your plunder, [Yerushalayim], will be divided right there within you. 2 “For I will gather all the nations against Yerushalayim for war. The city will be taken, the houses will be rifled, the women will be raped, and half the city will go into exile; but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.” 3 Then Adonai will go out and fight against those nations, fighting as on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies to the east of Yerushalayim; and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, to make a huge valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 You will flee to the valley in the mountains, for the valley in the mountains will reach to Atzel. You will flee, just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of ‘Uziyah king of Y’hudah. Then Adonai my God will come to you with all the holy ones. 6 On that day, there will be neither bright light nor thick darkness; 7 and one day, known to Adonai, will be neither day nor night, although by evening there will be light. 8 On that day, fresh water will flow out from Yerushalayim, half toward the eastern sea and half toward the western sea, both summer and winter. 9 Then Adonai will be king over the whole world. On that day Adonai will be the only one, and his name will be the only name. 10 All the land will be made like the ‘Aravah, from Geva to Rimmon in the Negev. Yerushalayim will be raised up and inhabited where she is, from Binyamin’s Gate to the place where the earlier gate stood, and on to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hanan’el to the king’s winepresses. 11 People will live there, the curse will be broken, and Yerushalayim will live in safety. 12 Adonai will strike all the peoples who made war against Yerushalayim with a plague in which their flesh rots away while they are standing on their feet, their eyes rot away in their sockets, and their tongues rot away in their mouths. 13 When that day comes, there will be among them great panic, sent by Adonai, so that everyone lays hands on his neighbor, who in turn attacks him. 14 Y’hudah too will fight against Yerushalayim; and the wealth of all the nations will be assembled — gold, silver and clothing in great abundance. 15 A plague like this plague will also affect the horses, mules, camels, donkeys and all the other animals in those camps. 16 Finally, everyone remaining from all the nations that came to attack Yerushalayim will go up every year to worship the king, Adonai-Tzva’ot, and to keep the festival of Sukkot. 17 If any of the families of the earth does not go up to Yerushalayim to worship the king, Adonai-Tzva’ot, no rain will fall on them. 18 If the family of Egypt doesn’t go up, if they refuse to come, they will have no [annual] overflow [from the Nile]; moreover, there will be the plague with which Adonai will strike the nations that don’t go up to keep the festival of Sukkot. 19 This will be Egypt’s punishment and the punishment of all the nations that don’t go up to keep the festival of Sukkot. 20 When that day comes, this will be written on the bells worn by the horses: “Consecrated to Adonai”; and the cooking pots in the house of Adonai will be [as holy] as the sprinkling bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every cooking pot in Yerushalayim and Y’hudah will be consecrated to Adonai-Tzva’ot. Everyone who offers sacrifices will come, take them and use them to stew the meat. When that day comes, there will no longer be merchants in the house of Adonai-Tzva’ot. Revelation 3:1 “To the angel of the Messianic Community in Sardis, write: ‘Here is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: “I know what you are doing — you have a reputation for being alive, but in fact you are dead! 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains, before it dies too! For I have found what you are doing incomplete in the sight of my God. 3 So remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and turn from your sin! For if you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief; and you don’t know at what moment I will come upon you. 4 Nevertheless, you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; and they will walk with me, clothed in white, because they are worthy. 5 He who wins the victory will, like them, be dressed in white clothing; and I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life; in fact, I will acknowledge him individually before my Father and before his angels. 6 Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”’ 7 “To the angel of the Messianic Community in Philadelphia, write: ‘Here is the message of HaKadosh, the True One, the one who has the key of David, who, if he opens something, no one else can shut it, and if he closes something, no one else can open it.[Revelation 3:7 Isaiah 22:22] 8 “I know what you are doing. Look, I have put in front of you an open door, and no one can shut it. I know that you have but little power, yet you have obeyed my message and have not disowned me. 9 Here, I will give you some from the synagogue of the Adversary, those who call themselves Jews but aren’t — on the contrary, they are lying — see, I will cause them to come and prostrate themselves at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you. 10 Because you did obey my message about persevering, I will keep you from the time of trial coming upon the whole world to put the people living on earth to the test. 11 I am coming soon; hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 12 I will make him who wins the victory a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he will never leave it. Also I will write on him the name of my God and the name of my God’s city, the new Yerushalayim coming down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. 13 Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”’ 14 “To the angel of the Messianic Community in Laodicea, write: ‘Here is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the Ruler of God’s creation: 15 “I know what you are doing: you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth! 17 For you keep saying, ‘I am rich, I have gotten rich,[Revelation 3:17 Hosea 12:9(8)] I don’t need a thing!’ You don’t know that you are the one who is wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked! 18 My advice to you is to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be dressed and not have to be ashamed of your nakedness; and eyesalve to rub on your eyes, so that you may see. 19 As for me, I rebuke and discipline everyone I love; so exert yourselves, and turn from your sins! 20 Here, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me. 21 I will let him who wins the victory sit with me on my throne, just as I myself also won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”’” 4:1 After these things, I looked; and there before me was a door standing open in heaven; and the voice like a trumpet which I had heard speaking with me before said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.” 2 Instantly I was in the Spirit, and there before me in heaven stood a throne, and on the throne Someone was sitting. 3 The One sitting there gleamed like diamonds and rubies, and a rainbow shining like emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothing and wearing gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came forth lightnings, voices and thunderings; and before the throne were seven flaming torches, which are the sevenfold Spirit of God. 6 In front of the throne was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living beings covered with eyes in front and behind. 7 The first living being was like a lion, the second living being was like an ox, the third living being had a face that looked human, and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle.[Revelation 4:7 Ezekiel 1:5–10] 8 Each of the four living beings had six wings[Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:2] and was covered with eyes inside and out; and day and night they never stop saying, “Holy, holy, holy is Adonai, God of heaven’s armies[Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3; Amos 3:13; 4:13] the One who was, who is and who is coming!” 9 And whenever the living beings give glory, honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne, to the One who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the One sitting on the throne, who lives forever and ever, and worship him. They throw their crowns in front of the throne and say, 11 “You are worthy, Adonai Eloheinu, to have glory, honor and power, because you created all things — yes, because of your will they were created and came into being!” -------

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