SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

From the first of January 2014 The Home Bible College and the Daily Devotional Bible Reading will merge into one. From now on the Students of the Home Bible College will find their Daily questions for study attached to the daily readings. This will enable our students to have a text book and study questions in one.

So Year One students will follow the NT readings and the appropriate study questions every day.

The Year Two students will follow the OT readings etc etc.

The Year Three students will follow their studies on the Page devoted to them.

The Year Four students will also follow their studies on their Page.



This will very much simplify the whole study procedure.


If you would like to study with the Home Bible College then contact us straight away. And begin on the month you are in.

PM Jan 1st Gen 1

January 1^st Genesis The Beginnings

A. The Creation The Seven days of Creation

1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2: And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3: And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4: And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5: And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6: And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7: And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8: And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9: And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10: And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 11: And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12: And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13: And the evening and the morning were the third day. 14: And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16: And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17: And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18: And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19: And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 20: And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21: And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22: And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23: And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 24: And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25: And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 26: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29: And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30: And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 2

1: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3: And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

The Garden of Eden

4: These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5: And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6: But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8: And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9: And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10: And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 11: The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12: And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 13: And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14: And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15: And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 18: And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19: And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20: And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22: And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23: And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25: And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 3 B. The Fall The Fall of Man

1: Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2: And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7: And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8: And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9: And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10: And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11: And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12: And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13: And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

The Judgement of Man

14: And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 16: Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18: Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 20: And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21: Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

The Expulsion from Eden

22: And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24: So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

The book of Genesis is the foundation stone of the Bible. Genesis is a large book of 50 chapters. Written by Moses 1450 - 1410 BC. The name ‘Genesis’ is taken from the Septuagint. This book is one of the most important books of the Bible, because the first 11 chapters cover half of Old Testament history a period of over 2,000 years. It is the book of Beginnings. It describes the beginning of creation, family, sin, language & nations and the nation of Israel. The second part, 39 chapters, covers a period of only 350 years. It starts with the call of Abraham and ends with the body of Joseph in Egypt. The Key Word in Genesis is ‘Generations’.

In chapter 1 Moses describes the account of the first week of the world. In the first few verses he states that it is God who created the heaven and the earth yet the earth was covered into total darkness, shapeless and empty. And So God goes about to bring light to this dark world. God speaks and it is so. The days of creation have a pattern to them. One of the characteristics of creation is the word ‘division’. Again and again God divides, he divides the day from the night and the sea from the sky and the land and the sea etc etc. Only on the sixth day does God decide to make man and woman yet between these two events, the man names all the animals and he is given instructions as to what God expects of him. So in chapter 2 we have what could be called a re-telling of the sixth day – clarifying further details. Ch 2v4 is the beginning of a section called ‘These are the generations of’. The prophet describes something of the eco-system of the earth. We are told much more detail about the environment in which Man is placed. We see that Adam names all the animals and then God puts him to sleep and created woman. The Lord describes their state as naked but innocent. In the next chapter the Lord describes how Adam and Eve fell in sin. It is Eve that is approached and clearly she has misunderstood Gods directions and then Satan deceives her but implying that God is withholding good things from her. Those good things are the sins to be resisted. She takes of the fruit that God has forbidden and they are plunged into sin. They realise their nakedness and try to cover-up their state. Then they heard the Lord walking in the garden and they hid themselves away. The Lord however calls to them and so a conversation ensues in which their sin become known and the judgment of God is declared. There is judgment for Satan, the woman and the man. Then the Lord clothed their nakedness with the death of animals and the use of skins. And so we see that there was blood on the soil of Eden. Lastly we read today that the Lord expels them from Eden and places angelic beings to guard the way back and to keep the way open to the tree of life.






The Home Bible College Questions for each day...
 

• Make a list of the first seven days of Creation, What do you notice as a pattern in the days. 
• What are your thoughts on the subject of the fall into sin of Adam and Eve? 
• How did God respond to the sin of Adam and Eve?

AM Jan 1st Matt 1

January 1^st Matthew 1 A. The Person of the King The Genealogy of Christ

1: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2: Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3: And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4: And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5: And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6: And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7: And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8: And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9: And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10: And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11: And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13: And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14: And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15: And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16: And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17: So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

The Birth of Christ

18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19: Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. 20: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22: Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24: Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

In this first chapter Matthew presents the credentials of the Messiah of Israel. He is ‘Son of David’ (The most common title) and ‘Son of Abraham’. In the first part of Matthews Gospel and the first part of Christ’s ministry Jesus is presented as ‘Son of David’. He has the right to sit on David’s throne. The ‘son of David’ was Solomon - the greatest king of Israel. Solomon was the richest and wisest King to live on earth. Jesus simply says of himself ‘a Greater than Solomon is here’. Christ was greater in wisdom in that he answers without any difficulty all of the most baffling questions of the Rabbis. Even his enemies said of Him ‘has any man spoken like this man’? When he has answered every question he asks one of his own and everyone is silenced. His question was how can David’s son - be his Lord? There was no answer from the teachers of Israel. And the answer of course is ! David’s Son – Jesus Christ, is David’s LORD. Christ as David’s son has All authority In heaven and on earth. The second part of Christ’s ministry displays the fact that Christ is ‘Son of Abraham’. The ‘son of Abraham’ was Isaac. The Lord Jesus learned obedience by the things that he suffered. He was willing to be led up Moriah’s hill. And he was willing to do something against his own will. He was willing to be laid upon the wood. The only difference was that for Isaac there was a substitute. Matthew is very clear that Mary was a virgin. He says that she was betrothed but ‘before they came together - she was found to be with child’. Joseph’s reaction as a righteous man was to divorce her on the grounds of impurity, but while he hesitated an angel of the Lord appears to him, to tell him that she is not impure and that this pregnancy is the work of God the Holy Spirit and that his sole responsibility is to go ahead and marry her and to name the child - Jesus. Joseph took Mary as his wife but did not have sexual union with her until after the birth of her son and he named the child – Jesus, which means ‘Jehovah is the Saviour’.

Home Bible College Questions for today...

• Make a list of the ancestors of Joseph
• What are your thoughts about Josephs position in the story of the birth of Christ?
• In this passage what do we learn about the mission that Christ was to fulfill?

PM Dec 31st Mal 1

December 31st Malachi 1 A. The Present The Love of God for Israel

1: The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. 2: I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3: And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4: Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever. 5: And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

The Priests rebuked for profanity

6: A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7: Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. 8: And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. 9: And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts. 10: Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. 11: For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. 12: But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. 13: Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. 14: But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

Malachi 2

1: And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. 2: If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. 3: Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. 4: And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 5: My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. 6: The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. 7: For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8: But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 9: Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

The People rebuked for social sin

10: Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11: Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. 12: The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. 13: And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. 14: Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15: And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16: For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. 17: Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

Malachi 3 B. The Future The Two Messengers

1: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2: But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4: Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5: And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. 6: For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

The People rebuked - Religious sins

7: Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9: Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11: And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12: And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. 13: Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14: Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? 15: And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. 16: Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17: And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18: Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Malachi 4 The Day of the LORD

1: For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3: And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. 4: Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The prophecy of Malachi has a very clear message, which is that the day of the LORD is coming. All of the OT prophets have had this theme in one way or another. This little book of only 4 chapters was written by the prophet Malachi in 430 BC. Malachi wrote to confront the people of Judah with their sins and to tell them of the love of God if they repented. It was written to the southern kingdom of Judah. This is last book in the Christian OT however it is not the last book in the Hebrew OT. 2 Chronicles is the last book in the Hebrew OT. Malachi announced the coming of John the Baptist (3v1) and the coming of Christ (3v1). Malachi prophesied to a people who were as hard as sin could make men. The prophecy of Malachi could be described as having two themes the present state of the Lords people, Israel and the future of Israel in the Messianic kingdom. Malachi begins by unburdening himself of the message of the Lord. He says the Lord says to Israel l have loved you yet you say has the Lord loved us? The Lord responds saying that Jacob had a brother Esau, yet the Lord only loved Jacob and hated Esau. The Lord made the inheritance of Esau waste land and a place for demons. Esau’s descendants will build in the desert but the Lord will destroy their palaces and the place will be uninhabited forever. Then the Lord brings another charge against Israel. He says a son honours his father and even a servant honours his master. Then he says If l am your father where is the honour that is my due? And if l am your master where is your respect? Then the Lord says you priests despise my name. (Notice that the Lords prayer begins Hallowed be thy name) The priests say how have we despised your name and the Lord answers you have polluted bread on the altar. The priests had made the table of the Lord an object of contempt. The priests were offering blind animals and lame animals for sacrifice. This was an evil thing before the Lord. The Lord says l will have no pleasure in your worship and l will not accept it from you. These are serious charges and they give a clue as to why the Lord is silent to Israel for 400 years from Malachi to John the Baptist. When John came he found a nation far from their God and full of sickness and impoverished and occupied by the Roman legions. Yet John was unable to bring about any real change. He called on the people to return to their God but it was not until Christ’s ministry that real restoration was possible. He only could forgive their sins and heal their backslidings. Malachi continues, There will come a day when from the rising of the sun to the going down of the sun the Lords name will be praised in all the earth and in every nation incense will be offered to the Lord’s name. It will be a pure offering and the name of the Lord will be great in the heathen nations. The Lord says that he will curse their blessings. The priests who should have kept the whole law have only kept part of it. Israel is in a sorry state they ask all innocently what have we done yet the Lord replies you have done evil in my sight. In chapter 3 Malachi begins to focus on the future he speaks of the ministry of John the Baptist. He will be sent by the Lord to prepare the way for the coming Messiah to Israel. Malachi describes Christ’s ministry as coming in judgment. Yet we know that when Christ came he came not to condemn or judge but to save, therefore Malachi has in mind a future day when Christ will come to his temple to execute judgment on the children of Israel. John said l baptise with water but he will baptise with fire. Christ will purify the sons of Judah that they might offer sacrifices of holiness to the Lord. Christ will bring judgment on evil doers and justice in Israel. The message of the Lord is, Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. This explains the wording of John and Christs and the Apostolic message, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It is not a general call to salvation as Christians experience it but it is a call specifically to Israel to return unto the Lord their God so that he would then return to them. Still Israel complains of their innocence and the Lord continues to explain their sin. They say when did we rob you? And the Lord replies in tithes and offerings. Then the Lord issues this wonderful challenge to Israel. He says bring all your tithes into the storehouse and prove me now. Test me O Israel to see if l will not open the windows of heaven and pour out on you a blessing that you will not have room enough to receive it. Then every nation will call you blessed. The Lord says, you have said strong words against me, you have said what is the point of keeping the law? Yet there were few that feared the Lord and l will keep a book of remembrance of those who fear me. They will be mine in the day when l take up my precious ones. Lastly Malachi speaks of the day of the Lord. He says a day will come which will burn like an oven. It will be a time of destruction of the proud and the wicked. But to those who fear the Lord the Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings and he will tread down the wicked. He says remember the law of Moses my servant and do it! Then Malachi says The Lord will send Elijah my prophet (resurrected from the dead). Before the great and terrible day of the Lord and he will bring a restoration in the family because if not l will smite the earth with a curse. And so ends the Old Testament. And the Children of Israel waited for 400 years until a man appeared in the wilderness of Judea calling, ‘Repent for the kingdom of God is near’.

AM Dec 31st Rev 22

December 31^st Revelation 22 The City walls etc

1: And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2: In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3: And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5: And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

H. Epilogue Christ is coming soon I’m coming soon

6: And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 7: Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 8: And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9: Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 10: And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11: He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14: Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15: For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16: I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17: And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Warnings & blessings

18: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20: He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

And so we come to the last chapter of the NT. John is still describing the New Jerusalem. He describes the clear water of the river. He sees the tree of life which bears twelve types of fruit every month. And whose leaves bring health to the nations. On this earth there is no curse.

Lastly John brings his book to an end with an affirmation of the truth of its prophesies. He also states that Gods blessing rests on those who read this book. John is told specifically not to seal this book because the days for its fulfilment are near. And so the book ends with a personal message from Christ himself, in which he promises not to delay his coming. The invitation of Christ is whosoever will may take of the water of life freely. Then comes blessings and curses on the readers of this book.

Amen

PM Dec 30th Zech 12

December 30^th Zechariah 12 Second burden 2nd Coming of Christ

1: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2: Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3: And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4: In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5: And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God. 6: In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7: The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. 8: In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. 9: And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10: And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11: In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12: And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13: The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14: All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

Zechariah 13

1: In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 2: And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. 3: And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. 4: And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: 5: But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. 6: And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. 7: Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 8: And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9: And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Zechariah 14

1: Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2: For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3: Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4: And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5: And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 6: And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 8: And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 9: And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. 10: All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. 11: And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. 12: And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 13: And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. 14: And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. 15: And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague. 16: And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17: And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18: And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19: This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 20: In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowl's before the altar. 21: Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

In the last three chapters of Zechariah the prophet records no less outstanding prophesies than previously. The prophesies regarding his first coming are understood to be literal and specific. The prophesies regarding his second coming are also to be understood to be literal and specific. It will be noted however that some prophesies are little understood until the time of their fulfilment. These prophesies regarding Christ’s second coming are given against the background of a God who stretched out the starry heavens and who made the foundations of the earth. He is the one who gave every man a spirit. The Lord says l will make Jerusalem the source of fear to all the nations around her. All those who come against Jerusalem will be totally destroyed. The people of Jerusalem will find their strength in the Lord their God. The Lord himself will defend the children of Israel. And even the weak will be as mighty as David. In the day when all the nations will rise against Israel the Lord will give a spirit of grace and prayer to them and they will see Christ as the one who they crucified. And they will mourn like the mourning of the loss of an only child. They will have great bereavement like that of a firstborn. All and every Israelite will mourn. There will be a general and great revival beginning with great fear and trembling and sorrow before God. On that day there will be a fountain opened to the house of David and to all who live in Jerusalem. It will be a fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. All Idols will cease forever in Israel. There will never again be spiritual adultery before the Lord. None will allow a false prophet to live in the land. Two thirds of the land will perish but the third will come through as through fire. They will be refined like silver and gold. They will call on the name of the Lord their God and he will hear them. And then there is this beautiful exchange – The Lord will say, You are my people. And they will reply, The Lord Jehovah is my God. Next Zechariah turns his focus on the day of the LORD. This is the great battle when all nations will gather against Jerusalem. Christ said of this time, You will be hated of all nations because of me. There will be battle, looting and rape and the people will be taken in servitude but the Lord will stand on the mountain of Olives (Where the Garden of Gethsemane was) And the mountain will divide causing a canyon lying east west. Men will flee and there will be no night or day. And living waters will flow out of Jerusalem half to the Dead Sea and half to the Mediterranean Sea. In that day the LORD will be king over the whole earth. The central part of Israel will be raised up the highest mountain in the earth and those who fought against Jerusalem will perish where they stand, including all their beasts. Those who do not die will every year go to Jerusalem to worship the King the Lord of Hosts. Those who refuse to go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord will have no rain the following year. They will go to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. It seems that Egypt will initially refuse to celebrate Tabernacles yet afterwards they will go. These prophesies are not only remarkable they are amazingly detailed. Zechariah says that the horses will have bells the inscription HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD. This will also be written on pots too in the house of the LORD. In fact every pot in all Israel will carry this inscription. There will never again be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts. There are some that mock at prophecy, yet we know that the 30 pieces of silver came to true exactly as foretold and so it will be with the inscriptions on the bells and pots - HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.

AM Dec 30th Rev 21

December 30^th Revelation 21 Christ becomes all in all – The New Jerusalem

1: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2: And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3: And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5: And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6: And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7: He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 9: And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10: And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11: Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12: And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14: And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15: And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16: And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17: And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18: And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19: And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20: The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21: And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22: And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23: And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24: And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25: And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26: And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27: And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Now we come to a very exciting part of Revelation. All that are wicked are removed for ever and God now begins to do something very new. God will make a new heaven and a new earth. The new earth will have no sea. Then John sees the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven to earth. God himself will dwell with men. There will be no more tears. No pain or sorrow Everything previous will have passed away. The wicked will not have ceased to exist but they are confined forever in the lake of fire. Then John is introduced to the Lamb the wife of the lamb (This is Israel) then John sees the New Jerusalem. Glorious in beauty and riches. Gold and precious stones. 1500 miles cubed. The city will have no temple and no sun or moon will shine upon it and there is no night time. The Lamb himself is the light. The nations will walk in the light and the Kings will bring their honour to it. The City will be holy.

PM Dec 29th Zech 9

December 29^th Zechariah 9 C. Prophetic Burdens First burden 1st Coming of Christ

1: The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD. 2: And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. 3: And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 4: Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. 5: Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6: And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7: And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 8: And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. 9: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. 10: And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from river even to the ends of the earth. 11: As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. 12: Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; 13: When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man. 14: And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. 15: The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. 16: And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. 17: For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

Zechariah 10

1: Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. 2: For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. 3: Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. 4: Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. 5: And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. 6: And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. 7: And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. 8: I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. 9: And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again. 10: I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Labanon; and place shall not be found for them. 11: And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. 12: And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.

Zechariah 11

1: Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. 2: Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down. 3: There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled. 4: Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter; 5: Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not. 6: For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them. 7: And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. 8: Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. 9: Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another. 10: And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it assunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. 11: And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. 12: And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13: And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. 14: Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. 15: And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 16: For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 17: Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

In the next few chapters Zechariah brings forward a number of prophesies that we today find astounding and they all relate to the first coming of Christ. In the early part of the chapter he brings lots of prophesies which at the present time are obscure. However in verse 9 he says rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion then he says Shout O daughter of Jerusalem But why? And the answer comes – Look! Your king comes to you, he is just and he has salvation and he is lowly and he is riding upon a colt the young foal of an ass. This takes us directly to the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday. Then the Lord carries on describing these obscure events. What we see from all this is that Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem has a context. And the context is the struggle and move and counter move of Israel’s enemies. Christ comes to Israel not only as their Messiah but their deliverer. He says the LORD their God shall save them in that day like a shepherd rescuing his flock. They will be like the gems of a crown, which is lifted up as a sign to the land. Is it possible to measure his grace and how beautiful he is? What he provides will be like bread to the young men and the joy of wine to the young women. When Israel needs rain in the autumn they will call on the Lord and they will be heard. The Lord will save his people. He will bring them to the place of blessing and he will have mercy on them. The Lord will whistle for his sheep to return to his pasture and they will flock to him. Those that have died will rise and they will be brought back to Zion. The Lord will destroy those who oppressed Israel. The Lord will have two shepherds crooks, one called ‘beauty’ and the other ‘bands’. Then the rod ‘beauty’ will be broken in two. Perhaps Zechariah is describing the two forms of religious leadership in Israel. Sadducees and Pharisees - beauty and bands. Perhaps he is saying that the theology of the Sadducees will be broken - perhaps by the resurrection of Christ! Next we have an interesting prophecy. It seems that Christ is asking the religious leaders for the price of his own head. So they weighed for my price – 30 silver coins. I dead slave was 60 silver coins. Christ was valued as half the price of a dead slave! Next we have a remarkable detail. The money is cast back into the temple and the money is taken to purchase the potters field. These remarkable prophesies are incidental proofs of the accuracy of the scriptures and of the prophets Zechariahs words. It seems that this whole passage is about Who is to be the shepherd of Israel? Is it to be Caiaphas the Sadducee? And the answer is No! When Christ stood before Caiaphas the high priest, He asked him, who are you? etc etc, At the end of the engagement Caiaphas tore his high priestly garments and thus brought his priesthood to an abrupt end. Then Zechariah speaks of the other staff – ‘bands’. This was also broken in two. Then the Lord says I will raise up a shepherd in the land, He will not care for the flock, he will not visit the sheep or tend them, He will eat the sheep and rip them open. The judgement of God is coming to the idolatrous shepherd. He will suffer injury on his right arm and he will loose sight on his right eye. All of this points to John chapter 10. Where Christ says I am the good shepherd etc etc. And Christ the Good shepherd is contrasted to the hireling and the wolf.