December 4th One Year Bible Readings

Daniel 11:36-12:13 ~ 1 John 4:1-21 ~ Psalm 123:1-4 ~ Proverbs 29:2-4
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Old Testament - Today we finish the book of Daniel!  What an amazing read this book has been for me this year.  I have been blessed by it.  I hope you have too.  It is always interesting to dive into prophecies and angels and such.  I have to admit that I don't think about these types of things too often in my day to day life.  However, I know they are real.  And as I read the book of Daniel I am reminded of God's amazing story and where it is ultimately leading.  Below is an image of Satan being bound by Michael the archangel, from the John Brown Bible circa 1816:

In Daniel chapter 11 verse 36 onwards we are looking at verses prophesying about the anti-christ and end times.  The verses just prior to 36, in yesterday's readings, referred to Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 B.C., but we are looking at the future here in today's verses in chapter 11.  To get some more context on these verses today, check out 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and Revelation 13:5-8.  A portion of verse 36 does stand out to me today: "For what has been determined will surely take place." Do you believe these prophecies in Daniel have been determined?  Do you believe they will surely take place?

Daniel chapter 12 is called "The Time of the End" or "The End Times" in many Bible descriptors.  However, over at bible.org Bob Deffinbaugh calls this chapter "The Hope of Heaven".  I like that!  Here's an excerpt from Bob's essay: "Daniel 12 is the crowning chapter of this prophecy, as well as its conclusion. It takes the believer to the high-water mark of Christian hope—the assurance of the resurrection of the dead. Let us listen and learn, and gain hope and comfort."  Check out Mr. Deffinbaugh's full essay on Daniel chapter 12 at this link.

 

Verse 2 stands out in Daniel chapter 12: "Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt." This is one of the first clear mentions of a resurrection in the Old Testament.  The phrase "everlasting life" appears only here in the Old Testament!  Pretty fascinating.  Seems like this chapter is in some ways bridging Old Testament / Old Covenant theology to New Testament / New Covenant.  Do you believe that after death some will rise to everlasting life?  And some to everlasting contempt?  Below is the famous fresco titled "The Last Judgment" by Michelangelo, which is at the Sistine Chapel in Rome:

New Testament - First John chapter 4 verse 1 starts us off with quite a warning today: "Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world."  The interesting thing about this verse for me today is the implication to "see if the spirit they have comes from God."  Meaning, that the spirit some have come from the opposite of God - the devil.  A bit scary to think about this and realize this.  But, it's true.  There is good and evil in the world, and good and evil spirits influencing people.  It's better if we realize this.  It is a fallen world.  Do you believe this verse to be true?  Do you believe there is both good - and evil - in the world?  Do you believe there are many false prophets in the world?

Verses 7 through 21 are incredible verses on LOVE! A fun Bible fact for you here - the word love appears 43 times in First John overall - and 32 times in the short section of 4:7 through 5:3.  We're in the Christian love section here! :)  Certainly verses 9 & 10 here are well worth each of us reflecting upon: "God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."  Do you believe these verses to be true?  Do these verses maybe remind you of a similar verse John wrote in his Gospel?  John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  It is awesome that we have these verses to reflect upon - along with Daniel chapter 12 verse 2 above.   See any ties between these verses from the Old & New Testaments regarding eternal life?

Psalms - Psalm 123 is a short one, but a great one.  I love the beginning of verse 2 and 3 -  "We look to the LORD our God for his mercy....Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy..."  Do we look to the Lord for his mercy?  What would God's mercy to us look like?  Why would we need God's mercy?  Do we pray to the Lord this simple prayer - "Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy"?

Bible.org's commentary on Psalm 123 titled "A Prayer for Mercy" is at this link.

Proverbs - Proverbs 29 verse 3 teaches us today: "The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted."  This Proverb reminds me of how things played out for the Prodigal Son in the Gospel of Luke where he ended up feeding pigs after wasting his father's wealth.  Fortunately, we have a graceful God who can redeem situations like this, if we will repent.  Let us choose wisdom always.  Let us love wisdom always.  And let us bring joy to our heavenly Father!

YouTube - Today's readings in First John remind me of the Third Day song "You Are Mine:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o-JPkq5rvE

Are you His?  Click here and hear Jesus say "You Are Mine!"

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." 1 John 4:20-21 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you love God. Pray that you do not hate your brother or sister. Pray that you love your brother and sister.

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 One Year Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our One Year Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this One Year Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

Comments

[Ramona]

Daniel 11:36-12:13

Upon reading this,

But in their place he shall honor the god of fortresses; a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold and silver, with precious stones, and with pleasant and expensive things. (Daniel 11:38 AMP)

I couldn’t help but think of what a “god” is and that a god can be worshiped without it being a material substantive idol. Our gods are those things we put our trust and hope in and many put their hope in the god of fortresses, which I believe are manmade weapons and defenses. Who has the biggest gun, who has the most guns and who knows how to use them. From the criminal on the street, and often times in our house, to the countries that use force and “bigger” bombs to keep their neighbors and citizens in line, many worship the barrel of the gun and make it their god.

The schoolyard bully rules by fear and intimidation making themselves the local god; the car/suv/van/truck in the next lane that uses its size and engine power to rule the road, has made itself a god. The god of the fortress will prevail but only for a season.

I John 4:1-21

I’m not from the state of Missouri, the Show-Me-State, but I believe that I have adopted the attitude of “Show Me.” Don’t tell me you are a Christian show me. So, I love the first verse of the fourth chapter of First John. Maybe I’m that way because I walked away from Christianity at the age of 16 because I judged Jesus by His disciples and it took me over 20 years to realize that Jesus and these disciples, many of whom were abusers and sexual predators in the pulpit, were not of God, I’m not sure. If you give me a scripture to justify certain behavior, Ramona will look it up including its context I don’t care who the person is giving the “message.”

BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. (1 John 4:1 AMP)

Grace and peace,
Ramona