Can you believe that Christmas Day is here with all the family, food and fellowship. This is a great day to look at the events of that day, 2,000 years ago, from the scriptures, and to notice the insight God’s Word gives us.
Our key verse is an interesting statement, "and this shall be a sign unto you." Dr. Luke records what the angel said to the shepherds, that they would find the newborn babe, “God-man”, Jesus Christ, “in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes”.
For the longest time I could not understand why that would be a “sign” to the shepherds. Then one day I ran across a comment about the connection to the sign in a place in the Shepherd's Fields called the “Tower of the Flock”.
In the Hebrew, the phrase is, "Migdal Edar." "Migdal" is Hebrew for "tower" and "Edar" is "flock" in the Hebrew language. The phrase is only used twice in the Bible - Genesis 35:21 and Micah 4:8.
In the Genesis passage, "Migdal Edar" is referring to the location where Jacob pitched his tent after he buried his wife Rachel who had died in childbirth. "Migdal Edar" is on the road between Bethlehem, where Rachel was buried, and the city of Jerusalem, which is only three miles away.
The other mention of "Migdal Edar" or "tower of the flock" in Micah 4:8 is a prophecy that the announcement of the Messiah would be at "Migdal Edar". This location, "Migdal Edar", has been known by the religious Jews for centuries, as the place where the announcement of the “Messiah” will take place.
I must tell you that "Migdal Edar" was a watchtower in the Shepherd's Fields of Bethlehem. It was a two-story stone structure out in the fields. On the top story, a shepherd, a “priestly shepherd” would stand watching over the flock to make certain that the sheep were not being harmed.
Remember, the sheep raised in the Shepherd's Fields of Bethlehem were destined for the “temple sacrifice” three miles away. Also, these sheep must be without blemish or spot, perfect in order to be sacrificed. Bethlehem’s “shepherd’s fields” was the “holding pen for the sacrificial lambs”.
The bottom floor of "Migdal Edar" was for the “birthing” of these lambs. From the beginning, these lambs must be perfect. The “priestly shepherd” would take the newborn lamb and wrap it in “swaddling clothes” to keep it from harming its limbs. After wrapping the baby lamb, the shepherd would lay it in a “manger” until the newborn had calmed down.
These priestly shepherds knew this procedure and, when told it would be a sign, they re-called Micah 4:8 and with haste, Luke 2:16, ran to see the newborn Jesus, the Son of God.
By the way, read all of Micah 4. It tells of a coming Jewish temple, peace in the Middle East, a return of the Jews to the land and an alignment of nations against Israel. These are all prophecies that will be fulfilled as was the one of "Migdal Edar".
The fulfillment of Bible Prophecy, in the past, is assurance that the “yet-to-be-fulfilled” Bible prophecy will be fulfilled, and it could be soon. The next event is the Rapture, which could happen today. Keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Thank You for prophecy that was fulfilled by Your first coming and those that tell of Your Second Coming, which will also be fulfilled. Help me to live ready for these prophecies to be fulfilled.
I love the Christmas story as told by Matthew, the tax collector, and "Dr." Luke. These two men wrote about the most amazing, miraculous birth in the history of the world, in only four chapters, Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. In fact, the two men only use 168 verses to tell this marvelous story. The verse I have chosen to be highlighted, verse 37, says it all for this story, "nothing is impossible for God."
Look at the characters in this drama. There is an old couple Zacharias and Elisabeth, that have not had any children because the wife had a barren womb. Her husband is one of the elderly priests serving at the Temple about 6 miles from their home in Ein Karem in the Judean forest outside of Jerusalem. The Priest, Zacharias, is chosen by lot to offer the incense on the altar of incense - a special privilege for any priest.
It is when he is performing his duties that the “Archangel Gabriel” appears to tell Zacharias that his wife was going to have a child - something that Zacharias thought was impossible. In fact, because of his unbelief, he was made dumb - unable to speak - until the eighth day of his son's life.
From the Temple we journey over 90 miles north to the very small village in the Galilee known as Nazareth. Here, once again, the impossible will be discussed by Gabriel and a young “virgin girl” who was engaged to a man whose name was Joseph.
The young bride to be, Mary, when told by Gabriel that she was to birth the Messiah, would respond by asking how that could be, since she had never had a sexual relationship with any man, verse 34.
God loves the “impossible”, in fact, nothing is impossible with God, verse 37. Out of the impossible, God would bring forth His Son, the one He would give the throne of His father David, verse 32. Remember, God made a covenant with King David, II Samuel 7, that one of his sons would sit on the throne of the King in a temple in the city of Jerusalem one day.
The Prophet Jeremiah said that the sun, moon and stars would disappear before He broke His covenant with David, Jeremiah 33:20-21. By the way, it is impossible for the sun, moon and stars to disappear and it is impossible for God to break His covenant with King David. I guess there are some things impossible for God, only that which He said He “cannot” do.
Interestingly, the text seems to indicate that Jesus was indeed born in the month of December. Verse 5 reveals to us that Zacharias was serving at the Temple the last week of July and the first week of August, according to the “course of Abia”, I Chronicles 24:10.
After his service the priest would have a period of almost three weeks to deal with some related rituals before he could return to his family, his wife in the case of Zacharias. Elisabeth would have conceived the first week of September, with Mary conceiving in the first of March, six months later, verse 26.
Then, nine months later Mary would give birth to the Messiah on a cold winter night in December, in the “shepherds fields” near Bethlehem. The reason for the “shepherds” being in the fields at this season is that they were “priestly shepherds” who had trained to be priest and assigned to watch over the sheep to be sacrificed at the Temple about three miles from the shepherds fields.
These shepherds would be the ones to receive the message of the birth of the Messiah from the angels that filled the skies that cold winter night. These shepherds were told that they could find the newborn Messiah “wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger”, Luke 2:12, more on this in our next devotional.
You know the miraculous “first coming” of Jesus sets the stage for the “second coming” of Jesus. It lays the foundation upon which we can rest assured He will keep His promise. I love the Christmas story.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord that you will do that which seems impossible - you will come again soon!
This portion of Luke 24 that I have selected for today’s devotional reading is a record of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as recorded by Dr. Luke. This event in history is the cornerstone of our faith due to the fact that Jesus Christ had to raise from the dead to prove He was who He said He was.
His resurrection is also proof that He can do what He said He would do, at this time in history and in the future. Jesus Christ died to take away our sin and rose from the dead to prove He was the one qualified to do that.
I could write a lot about the resurrection from this passage but I want to point you to several verses and share with you what may be some new thoughts for you to consider. Verses 4 to 6 are the portion of the text that I’m referring to for your consideration.
When the “Mary’s” arrived at the grave sight, verses 1-3, they found the “stone rolled away from the sepulcher”. They even entered the burial sight and did not see the body of Jesus. The body was gone.
These ladies, also saw “two men in shining garments” standing near the burial sight. As the women stood there “perplexed” the two men spoke to them saying, “He is not here, but is risen”, verse 6.
These two “men” had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the only “eye witnesses” to the resurrection. They then gave testimony of what had happened to these ladies that had come to minister at the grave sight of Jesus.
It is interesting to me that there were also “two men” watching Jesus ascend into heaven, as recorded in another book that Dr Luke wrote to reveal the activities of Jesus. The book of Acts records the events of that day when Jesus went to heaven as His disciples watched Him go to “His Father’s house”.
Notice that in the account of the Lord’s return to heaven, after His resurrection, Acts 1:9-11, there were also “two men” standing by watching, verse 10. These men told those gathered there on the Mount of Olives that as He had gone to heaven, He would return to Earth someday.
I bring these two events, with “two men” in attendance at both, to your attention to have you consider that these “two men” are most likely the “Two Witnesses” of Revelation 11 who will have a three and one half year ministry from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Remember, a “witness” gives testimony of what he saw. During the Tribulation Period to come the “two witnesses” will be preaching and there will be many people that come to salvation through Jesus Christ, a result of His resurrection.
The message of the Two Witnesses during the Tribulation, at least the first of the seven years, will be that Jesus resurrected from the dead and He is coming again. That’s the “gospel of the kingdom” that will be preached to the whole world, Matthew 24:14, before Jesus comes back to Earth.
One of those witnesses will be Elijah, Malachi 4:5. I rejoice every time they sing at church the song, “We are living in the days of Elijah”. I do believe that we are living in “those days”. These “days” will be those that will follow the Rapture of the Church.
Remember, before the Tribulation, the time period of the ministry of the “Two Witnesses”, Jesus will shout for us to join Him in the heavens and that day could be today….so keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord help me to realize that we are living in the “days of Elijah” and live, expecting Jesus to call us up to heaven at any moment.
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
For the third straight day we go to the "well" of the "Olivet Discourse" for a "prophetic prospective" that applies to our day as well as to the day Jesus spoke these words on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and Dr Luke recorded them for us so that we might be able to read and learn from this passage, today.
Verses 5 and 6 of Luke 21 are parallel verses to both Matthew 24:1-3 and Mark 13:1-3. Jesus, while teaching on the Temple Mount on Monday afternoon of "Passion Week," made an astounding statement as He walked from the Temple, through the Eastern Gate, across the Kidron Valley and onto the Mount of Olives.
Jesus looked back at the “twenty-one story” Temple shining brightly on the Jerusalem horizon, because of the gold on this worship center, and the Lord made a prediction that one day in the near future there would not be a stone standing upon a stone on this majestic Temple.
The disciples gathered quickly around Jesus to ask Him more about His statement concerning the Temple. In the record of the "Olivet Discourse" filed in Matthew 24 Jesus does not respond to the question of the disciples as to when His prophecy would be fulfilled.
However, in our devotional reading for today, Luke records what the Lord told the disciples about the destruction of this Temple. In Luke 21:5-28 you have Luke's version of the entire "Olivet Discourse".
In verses 20-24 you have the answer to the disciples question about when the Temple would be destroyed. Jesus said, verse 20, that when they saw "armies" gathered around Jerusalem that would be a "significant sign" as to when the Temple's destruction would take place.
Jesus told the disciples that when they did see the "warning signs" to "flee to the mountains", verse 21. In the context of historic fact about the Roman Army who surrounded Jerusalem and the Temple for three years we can see how things unfolded.
General Titus gave the order to destroy the Temple and this mighty Roman Army followed through on that infamous day in 70 AD. I believe the Jews in 70 AD fled to "Masada" a "fortress stronghold" built by Herod the Great at the southwestern corner of the Dead Sea.
I make this statement because of verse 24. This verse gives us information about what happened the day the Temple was destroyed and literally ripped apart, stone by stone with no stone remaining upon another as the Roman Army finished their destructive work.
By the way, the prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled almost forty years to the day after the Lord gave this prophecy. Notice verse 24 again, it is detailing how when the Temple was destroyed the Jews were scattered to the nations of the world.
Then another prophecy about Jerusalem appears. The prophecy is that the Temple Mount will be "trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled". "Gentiles", the United States, European Union, the United Nations, Arab Nations and all Gentile nations of the world who play a role in having control of the city of Jerusalem today and in particular the Temple Mount.
These Gentiles will continue to do so until Jesus comes back to Jerusalem and destroys the "Gentile world powers." The stage is set for this prophecy to be fulfilled. Remember, the Rapture happens first and then these prophecies are fulfilled.
By the way, the Rapture could happen today!
PRAYER THOT: Help me to understand Your prophetic warnings and to then apply them to my life as I live expectantly awaiting Your return, even so come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Our key verse has a relationship with the ancient Jewish prophet Daniel and his writings, which I will get to in a moment. Let me set the scene for you as you read the extended portion of our devotional.
The previous thirteen verses, verses 28-40, are a description of the Lord's "Triumphal Entry" into the city of Jerusalem and onto the Temple Mount. The people who had rejected the Lord now welcomed Him into the city as a ruling King.
It is interesting to note the response of the Pharisee, verse 39, and what Jesus had to say to them as they complained to the Lord of all the commotion by the His disciples, asking Jesus to rebuke His disciples. Jesus responded with, if He had shut up those who welcomed Him the “stones would have cried out for Him”.
Verses 45 and 46 reveal the "priestly" attitude of Jesus against the money-changers in the Temple. He rebuked these money-changers and threw them out of the Temple. In verses 47 and 48 we see Jesus the "prophet", the teacher who taught in the Temple complex the people who were attentive to hearing Him.
But now back to our key, verse 42. Jesus was very moved when He stood atop the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple Mount in the city of Jerusalem. Luke wrote that "Jesus wept" over what He saw, a needy people who had rejected their Messiah.
Then Jesus said that on this day of His "Triumphal Entry" the people failed to receive the One described in Daniel's prophecy, Daniel 9:25-26. An in-depth study of this prophetic passage in Daniel would show that this day when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was doing so on the day Daniel predicted it would happen.
Daniel's prophecy indicates that from the decree by Artaxerxes, Nehemiah 2, to allow Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the streets and walls of the city, which took place April of 445BC, until the day, Saturday, in April 30AD when Jesus made His Triumphal Entry, could be figured out to the exact day (see my audio series, "The Daniel Papers).
The day Jesus stood there was that day predicted, not the day before or the day after. Jesus got to Jerusalem on the exact day it was foretold for Him to be there. The people of Jerusalem had not read Daniel's prophecy. They did not recognize He was to be there in Jerusalem at that time.
This is also the case with us today. We can determine where we are in God's "prophetic time" by studying His "prophetic word". We must study the prophetic Word of God to recognize when Jesus is coming back. It could be today!
Prayer Thot: Help me to understand, dear Lord, Your prophetic Word so that I can recognize the days I am living in and help me to live in light of that understanding.
This passage in Luke 17 is another of those conversations that Jesus had with His disciples and one of the times when He would be teaching them prophecy. In this message the Lord uses some of the same information as used either before, or that he would use later in His teachings.
Notice verse 26, where our Lord speaks of the "Days of Noah" as He will, chronologically, later, in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. By the way, the last of this chapter helps to explain about those who were "taken" in these prophetic passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke.
In verses 34-36 Dr Luke records the words of Jesus about those who would be "taken". If you don't understand that in this passage Jesus is speaking of His Second Coming, and not the Rapture, you will get mixed up eschatologically.
At the Rapture those who are Christians will be "taken" into the heavenlies to join Jesus, forever. However, when a passage is referring to the Second Coming the ones "taken" are the ones who go to "judgment" and the ones "left" will "rule and reign" with Christ in His Kingdom to come.
To better understand this principle Jesus gives us the last verse in Luke 17. When asked where the people would be "taken" the Lord said, to "where the eagles be gathered together", verse 37.
In that context, you may want to read Job 39:27-30 which explains that where the "eagles gather together is a place of judgment." Therefore, those "taken" in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 and 21 are all taken to judgment.
The ones "left" are the ones who will join Jesus to rule and reign. At the Rapture, a different event from the Second Coming, separated by at least seven years, the ones "taken" are the Christians.
Before we leave this passage, notice verse 28. The Lord had mentioned the "Days of Noah" which took place 4,500 years ago. In His mention of the "Days of Lot", these days were 4,000 years ago, days after the worldwide flood.
Interestingly, the "Days of Noah" were days when angels, the "sons of God" had a sexual relationship with the "daughters of men", Genesis 6:1-4 and Jude 6 and 7 .
The "days of Lot" also referred to the Jude passage, which was a time when the people, "gave themselves over to fornication", at Sodom and Gomorrah. Today it is referred to as homosexuality. I prefer the Biblical terminology, "sodomy", men, sexually with men and woman sexually with woman.
Because of this "sodomy" God destroyed the civilization of Sodom and Gomorrah. Today "sodomy" is allowed throughout all of society by educational, governmental and even religious leaders.
God does not hate "sodomites", the person, but "sodomy", the act. Jesus said when you see this type of "un-Godly sexual behavior" and see it as very prevalent in our society, that is a time when He could return to the earth.
We are living in those days. Jesus is coming and it could be in the "days" like the "days of Lot". Keep looking up!
Prayer Thot: Lord, give me a Godly love for sodomites so that I can lead them to Jesus Christ as their Savior, and help me to be aware of the days of Your coming.
In the devotional passage found in the Gospel of Luke that we are reading for today, I choseverse 22as our key verse because of the great truth it reveals for those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ, Christians.
Notice, at death, what happens to us as believers. God dispatches “angels” to come gather us up and take us into the presence of the Lord. We don't die “alone”, angels are there to comfort us for the journey into His presence.
What a blessed thought for us as we face that time, that time we will all face unless the Rapture should come first. I must be honest, I would much rather the Rapture happen first, and may it happen today.
The rest of our reading for today details the characteristics of the eternal hell, the "lake of fire" that has been prepared for the devil and his angels,Matthew 25:41. I know this passage is referring to "hades" which is the place of departed human spirits between death and resurrection.
It is now the place for all lost ones until the Great White Throne Judgment,Revelation 20:11-15. However, "hades", hell, has the same conditions as the "lake of fire".
Verse 23says it’s a place of "torment", "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched", Mark 9:44. It's also a place of "thirst",verse 24. One single drop of water, not a gallon jug, tea glass or spoonful, just one tiny drop of water would "cool the tongue".
Verse 25reveals that there will be "thinking" in the eternal "lake of fire." Those who make the choice to reject Jesus Christ and follow the lie of Satan will "think" forever, of every sermon, song and solicitation of the gospel he or she has ever heard. The "thinking" will last forever.
Those are the "conditions" for "hades" and also the eternal "lake of fire." The "constraint" of this place is that all who end up going there will only be released to appear before Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment, Revelation 20:13, only to be cast into the "lake of fire," forever, Revelation 20:15.
Finally, notice the "compassion" of the rich man in "hades." He wanted to return to life, so that he could tell his brothers of the "judgment" to come if they rejected Jesus Christ. We need to understand the realities of hell and its eternal judgments, then we would have the compassion that we need for our loved ones, friends and the lost people of this world.
The times we live in today seem to indicate the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This urgency should motivate us to go forth to win the lost to Jesus so that they escape the “eternal fires” of hell.
Prayer Thot: Dear Lord, give me the compassion of the rich man in "hades", a compassion for the lost, as I come to better understand the conditions and constraints of the "lake of fire".
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
In each passage of Scripture I discuss with you in our daily devotion, I endeavor to point out some very practical principles that will help each of us in our Christian experience. This will be the case today as well.
I also will point out prophetic passages and help you to look to the future for the fulfillment of these passages. Today, we will do that before we finish our thoughts about this passage.
There are some great practical principles found in these 13 verses of our reading. Notice that the Devil comes to tempt Jesus in a time of seeming weakness. Our Lord was 40 days in the wilderness going without food. The Devil is right there beside Him to put the Lord to the test in three different approaches.
First, the Devil tries the physical. The Lord has not eaten and the Devil challenges Him to turn the stone into bread. Jesus said to the Devil, the Word of God is more important than eating. One cannot live by only satisfying the physical need for food.
Then the Devil offers Jesus the kingdoms of this world. At this point, the Lord tells Satan to get behind Him, a method of resisting the Devil, James 4:7.
The third challenge was for Jesus to jump from the high spot of the temple into the arms of the angels who were to protect Him, Psalm 91:11-12. Notice the Devil even used the Scriptures to tempt Jesus. The Lord responded and told the Devil he was not allowed to tempt the Lord,Deuteronomy 6:16.
The other great truth, a very practical truth found in this passage, is the fact that the Lord responded each time to the Devil by quoting Scripture,verse 4,verse 8, andverse 12. Our defense against the Devil is the Word of God. We need to have it in our hearts and minds so well that we can respond to the Devil's testing by quoting Scripture.
Now let’s look at the prophetic significance of the passage. Notice that the Devil said to Jesus that he had the “kingdoms of this world” and the power to give the kingdoms of this world to our Lord. Under the sovereignty of God, the Devil does have control of the "kingdoms of this world" at this time in history.
In reality, the Devil has had the “kingdoms of this world” sinceGenesis 3, the fall of man. He will have those kingdoms until the Lord returns and sets up His Kingdom given to Him by God the Father,Daniel 7:13-14.
From that point on, Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Satan will be bound for the first 1,000 years of the Lord's Kingdom reign, Revelation 21:3, and then thrown into the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:7-10for eternity.
The “king of this present world”, Satan, will be defeated and imprisoned by the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ. That time in history is drawing closer every day.
PRAYER THOT: Help me, dear Lord, to learn and know the Word of God so that I will be able to use it when the testing comes to me.
I love the Christmas story as told by Matthew, the tax collector, and "Dr." Luke, any time of the year. These two men write about the most amazing, miraculous birth in the history of the world in only four chapters, Matthew 1-2andLuke 1-2.
In fact, these two writers of the Gospels only use 168 verses to tell this marvelous story. The verse I have chosen to be highlighted, verse 37, says it all for this story, "nothing is impossible for God."
Look at the characters in this drama. There is this old couple that have not had any children because the wife had a “barren womb”. Her husband is one of the elderly priests serving at the Temple, about 6 miles from their home in Ein Karem, in the Judean forest outside of Jerusalem.
The Priest Zacharias, was chosen, “by lot”, to offer the incense on the “altar of incense” - a special privilege for any priest. It is when he is performing his duties that the archangel Gabriel appears to tell Zacharias that his wife was going to have a child - something that Zacharias thought was impossible. In fact, because of his unbelief, he was made "dumb" - unable to speak - until the eighth day of his son's life.
From the Temple we journey north some 90 miles to the very small village in the Galilee known as Nazareth. Here, once again, the impossible will be discussed by Gabriel and a young virgin girl who was engaged to a man whose name was Joseph.
The young bride to be, Mary, when told by Gabriel that she was to birth the Messiah would respond by asking how that could be, since she had never had a sexual relationship with any man, verse 34.
God loves the “impossible”, in fact, nothing is impossible with God, verse 37. Out of the impossible, God would bring forth His Son, the one He would give the “throne” of His father David, verse 32.
Remember, God made a "covenant" with King David, II Samuel 7, that one of his sons would sit on the throne of the King in a Temple in the city of Jerusalem one day.
The Prophet Jeremiah said that the sun, moon and stars would disappear before He broke His covenant with David, Jeremiah 33:20-21. By the way, it is impossible for the sun, moon and stars to disappear and it is impossible for God to break His covenant with King David. I guess there are some things impossible for God, those things which He said He can not do.
You know the miraculous “first coming” of Jesus sets the stage for the “second coming” of Jesus. It lays the foundation upon which we can rest assured He will keep His promise. I love the Christmas story.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord that you will do that which seems impossible - you will come again soon!
Can you believe that Christmas Day is here with all the family, food and fellowship. This is a great day to look at the events of that day, 2,000 years ago, from the scriptures, and to notice the insight God’s Word gives us.
Our key verse is an interesting statement, "and this shall be a sign unto you." Dr. Luke records what the angel said to the shepherds, that they would find the newborn babe, “God-man”, Jesus Christ, “in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes”.
For the longest time I could not understand why that would be a “sign” to the shepherds. Then one day I ran across a comment about the connection to the sign in a place in the Shepherd's Fields called the “Tower of the Flock”.
In the Hebrew, the phrase is, "Migdal Edar." "Migdal" is Hebrew for "tower" and "Edar" is "flock" in the Hebrew language. The phrase is only used twice in the Bible - Genesis 35:21 and Micah 4:8.
In the Genesis passage, "Migdal Edar" is referring to the location where Jacob pitched his tent after he buried his wife Rachel who had died in childbirth. "Migdal Edar" is on the road between Bethlehem, where Rachel was buried, and the city of Jerusalem, which is only three miles away.
The other mention of "Migdal Edar" or "tower of the flock" in Micah 4:8 is a prophecy that the announcement of the Messiah would be at "Migdal Edar". This location, Migdal Edar, has been known by the religious Jewish community for centuries, as the place where the announcement of the “Messiah” will take place.
I must tell you that "Migdal Edar" was a watchtower in the Shepherd's Fields of Bethlehem. It was a two-story stone structure out in the fields. On the top story, a shepherd, a “priestly shepherd” would stand watching over the flock to make certain that the sheep were not being harmed.
Remember, the sheep raised in the Shepherd's Fields of Bethlehem were destined for the “temple sacrifice” three miles away. Also, these sheep must be without blemish or spot, perfect in order to be sacrificed. Bethlehem’s “shepherd’s fields” was the “holding pen for the sacrificial lambs”.
The bottom floor of "Migdal Edar" was for the “birthing” of these lambs. From the beginning, these lambs must be perfect. The “priestly shepherd” would take the newborn lamb and wrap it in “swaddling clothes” to keep it from harming its limbs. After wrapping the baby lamb, the shepherd would lay it in a “manger” until the newborn had calmed down.
These priestly shepherds knew this procedure and, when told it would be a sign, they re-called Micah 4:8 and with haste, Luke 2:16, ran to see the newborn Jesus, the Son of God.
By the way, read all of Micah 4. It tells of a coming Jewish temple, peace in the Middle East, a return of the Jews to the land and an alignment of nations against Israel. These are all prophecies that will be fulfilled as was the one of "Migdal Edar".
The fulfillment of Bible Prophecy, in the past, is assurance that the “yet-to-be-fulfilled” Bible prophecy will be fulfilled, and it could be soon. The next event is the Rapture, which could happen today. Keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Thank You for prophecy that was fulfilled by Your first coming and those that tell of Your Second Coming, which will also be fulfilled. Help me to live ready for these prophecies to be fulfilled.
I love the Christmas story as told by Matthew, the tax collector, and "Dr." Luke. These two men wrote about the most amazing, miraculous birth in the history of the world, in only four chapters, Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. In fact, the two men only use 168 verses to tell this marvelous story. The verse I have chosen to be highlighted, verse 37, says it all for this story, "nothing is impossible for God."
Look at the characters in this drama. There is an old couple Zacharias and Elisabeth, that have not had any children because the wife had a barren womb. Her husband is one of the elderly priests serving at the Temple about 6 miles from their home in Ein Karem in the Judean forest outside of Jerusalem. The Priest, Zacharias, is chosen by lot to offer the incense on the altar of incense - a special privilege for any priest.
It is when he is performing his duties that the “Archangel Gabriel” appears to tell Zacharias that his wife was going to have a child - something that Zacharias thought was impossible. In fact, because of his unbelief, he was made dumb - unable to speak - until the eighth day of his son's life.
From the Temple we journey over 90 miles north to the very small village in the Galilee known as Nazareth. Here, once again, the impossible will be discussed by Gabriel and a young “virgin girl” who was engaged to a man whose name was Joseph.
The young bride to be, Mary, when told by Gabriel that she was to birth the Messiah, would respond by asking how that could be, since she had never had a sexual relationship with any man, verse 34.
God loves the “impossible”, in fact, nothing is impossible with God, verse 37. Out of the impossible, God would bring forth His Son, the one He would give the throne of His father David, verse 32. Remember, God made a covenant with King David, II Samuel 7, that one of his sons would sit on the throne of the King in a temple in the city of Jerusalem one day.
The Prophet Jeremiah said that the sun, moon and stars would disappear before He broke His covenant with David, Jeremiah 33:20-21. By the way, it is impossible for the sun, moon and stars to disappear and it is impossible for God to break His covenant with King David. I guess there are some things impossible for God, only that which He said He “cannot” do.
Interestingly, the text seems to indicate that Jesus was indeed born in the month of December. Verse 5 reveals to us that Zacharias was serving at the Temple the last week of July and the first week of August, according to the “course of Abia”, I Chronicles 24:10.
After his service the priest would have a period of almost three weeks to deal with some related rituals before he could return to his family, his wife in the case of Zacharias. Elisabeth would have conceived the first week of September, with Mary conceiving in the first of March, six months later, verse 26.
Then, nine months later Mary would give birth to the Messiah on a cold winter night in December, in the “shepherds fields” near Bethlehem. The reason for the “shepherds” being in the fields at this season is that the were “priestly shepherds” who had trained to be priest and assigned to watch over the sheep to be sacrificed at the Temple about three miles from the shepherds fields.
These shepherds would be the ones to receive the message of the birth of the Messiah from the angels that filled the skies that cold winter night. These shepherds were told that they could find the newborn Messiah “wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger”, Luke 2:12, more on this in our next devotional.
You know the miraculous “first coming” of Jesus sets the stage for the “second coming” of Jesus. It lays the foundation upon which we can rest assured He will keep His promise. I love the Christmas story.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord that you will do that which seems impossible - you will come again soon!
This portion of Luke 24 that I have selected for today’s devotional reading is a record of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as recorded by Dr. Luke. This event in history is the cornerstone of our faith due to the fact that Jesus Christ had to raise from the dead to prove He was who He said He was.
His resurrection is also proof that He can do what He said He would do, at this time in history and in the future. Jesus Christ died to take away our sin and rose from the dead to prove He was the one qualified to do that.
I could write a lot about the resurrection from this passage but I want to point you to several verses and share with you what may be some new thoughts for you to consider. Verses 4 to 6 are the portion of the text that I’m referring to for your consideration.
When the “Mary’s” arrived at the grave sight, verses 1-3, they found the “stone rolled away from the sepulcher”. They even entered the burial sight and did not see the body of Jesus. The body was gone.
These ladies, also saw “two men in shining garments” standing near the burial sight. As the women stood there “perplexed” the two men spoke to them saying, “He is not here, but is risen”, verse 6.
These two “men” had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the only “eye witnesses” to the resurrection. They then gave testimony of what had happened to these ladies that had come to minister at the grave sight of Jesus.
It is interesting to me that there were also “two men” watching Jesus ascend into heaven, as recorded in another book that Dr Luke wrote to reveal the activities of Jesus. The book of Acts records the events of that day when Jesus went to heaven as His disciples watched Him go to “His Father’s house”.
Notice that in the account of the Lord’s return to heaven, after His resurrection, Acts 1:9-11, there were also “two men” standing by watching, verse 10. These men told those gathered there on the Mount of Olives that as He had gone to heaven, He would return to Earth someday.
I bring these two events, with “two men” in attendance at both, to your attention to have you consider that these “two men” are most likely the “Two Witnesses” of Revelation 11 who will have a three and one half year ministry from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Remember, a “witness” gives testimony of what he saw. During the Tribulation Period to come the “two witnesses” will be preaching and there will be many people that come to salvation through Jesus Christ, a result of His resurrection.
The message of the Two Witnesses during the Tribulation, at least the first of the seven years, will be that Jesus resurrected from the dead and He is coming again. That’s the “gospel of the kingdom” that will be preached to the whole world, Matthew 24:14, before Jesus comes back to Earth.
One of those witnesses will be Elijah, Malachi 4:5. I rejoice every time they sing at church the song, “We are living in the days of Elijah”. I do believe that we are living in “those days”. These “days” will be those that will follow the Rapture of the Church.
Remember, before the Tribulation, the time period of the ministry of the “Two Witnesses”, Jesus will shout for us to join Him in the heavens and that day could be today….so keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord help me to realize that we are living in the “days of Elijah” and live, expecting Jesus to call us up to heaven at any moment.
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
For the third straight day we go to the "well" of the "Olivet Discourse" for a "prophetic prospective" that applies to our day as well as to the day Jesus spoke these words on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and Dr Luke recorded them for us so that we might be able to read and learn from this passage, today.
Verses 5 and 6 of Luke 21 are parallel verses to both Matthew 24:1-3 and Mark 13:1-3. Jesus, while teaching on the Temple Mount on Tuesday afternoon of "Passion Week," made an astounding statement as He walked from the Temple, through the Eastern Gate, across the Kidron Valley and onto the Mount of Olives.
Jesus looked back at the “twenty-one story” Temple shining brightly on the Jerusalem horizon, because of the gold on this worship center, and the Lord made a prediction that one day in the near future there would not be a stone standing upon a stone on this majestic Temple.
The disciples gathered quickly around Jesus to ask Him more about His statement concerning the Temple. In the record of the "Olivet Discourse" filed in Matthew 24 Jesus does not respond to the question of the disciples as to when His prophecy would be fulfilled.
However, in our devotional reading for today, Luke records what the Lord told the disciples about the destruction of this Temple. In Luke 21:5-28 you have Luke's version of the entire "Olivet Discourse".
In verses 20-24 you have the answer to the disciples question about when the Temple would be destroyed. Jesus said, verse 20, that when they saw "armies" gathered around Jerusalem that would be a "significant sign" as to when the Temple's destruction would take place.
Jesus told the disciples that when they did see the "warning signs" to "flee to the mountains", verse 21. In the context of historic fact about the Roman Army who surrounded Jerusalem and the Temple for three years we can see how things unfolded.
General Titus gave the order to destroy the Temple and this mighty Roman Army followed through on that infamous day in 70 AD. I believe the Jews in 70 AD fled to "Masada" a "fortress stronghold" built by Herod the Great at the southwestern corner of the Dead Sea.
I make this statement because of verse 24. This verse gives us information about what happened the day the Temple was destroyed and literally ripped apart, stone by stone with no stone remaining upon another as the Roman Army finished their destructive work.
By the way, the prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled almost forty years to the day after the Lord gave this prophecy. Notice verse 24 again, it is detailing how when the Temple was destroyed the Jews were scattered to the nations of the world.
Then another prophecy about Jerusalem appears. The prophecy is that the Temple Mount will be "trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled". "Gentiles", the United States, European Union, the United Nations, Arab Nations and all Gentile nations of the world who play a role in having control of the city of Jerusalem today and in particular the Temple Mount.
These Gentiles will continue to do so until Jesus comes back to Jerusalem and destroys the "Gentile world powers." The stage is set for this prophecy to be fulfilled. Remember, the Rapture happens first and then these prophecies are fulfilled.
By the way, the Rapture could happen today!
PRAYER THOT: Help me to understand Your prophetic warnings and to then apply them to my life as I live expectantly awaiting Your return, even so come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Our key verse has a relationship with the ancient Jewish prophet Daniel and his writings, which I will get to in a moment. Let me set the scene for you as you read the extended portion of our devotional.
The previous thirteen verses, verses 28-40, are a description of the Lord's "Triumphal Entry" into the city of Jerusalem and onto the Temple Mount. The people who had rejected the Lord now welcomed Him into the city as a ruling King.
It is interesting to note the response of the Pharisee, verse 39, and what Jesus had to say to them as they complained to the Lord of all the commotion by the His disciples, asking Jesus to rebuke His disciples. Jesus responded with, if He had shut up those who welcomed Him the “stones would have cried out for Him”.
Verses 45 and 46 reveal the "priestly" attitude of Jesus against the money-changers in the Temple. He rebuked these money-changers and threw them out of the Temple. In verses 47 and 48 we see Jesus the "prophet", the teacher who taught in the Temple complex the people who were attentive to hearing Him.
But now back to our key, verse 42. Jesus was very moved when He stood atop the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple Mount in the city of Jerusalem. Luke wrote that "Jesus wept" over what He saw, a needy people who had rejected their Messiah.
Then Jesus said that on this day of His "Triumphal Entry" the people failed to receive the One described in Daniel's prophecy, Daniel 9:25-26. An in-depth study of this prophetic passage in Daniel would show that this day when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was doing so on the day Daniel predicted it would happen.
Daniel's prophecy indicates that from the decree by Artaxerxes, Nehemiah 2, to allow Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the streets and walls of the city, which took place April of 445BC, until the day, Saturday, in April 30AD when Jesus made His Triumphal Entry, could be figured out to the exact day (see my audio series, "The Daniel Papers).
The day Jesus stood there was that day predicted, not the day before or the day after. Jesus got to Jerusalem on the exact day it was foretold for Him to be there. The people of Jerusalem had not read Daniel's prophecy. They did not recognize He was to be there in Jerusalem at that time.
This is also the case with us today. We can determine where we are in God's "prophetic time" by studying His "prophetic word". We must study the prophetic Word of God to recognize when Jesus is coming back. It could be today!
Prayer Thot: Help me to understand, dear Lord, Your prophetic Word so that I can recognize the days I am living in and help me to live in light of that understanding.
This passage in Luke 17 is another of those conversations that Jesus had with His disciples and one of the times when He would be teaching them prophecy. In this message the Lord uses some of the same information as used either before, or that he would use later in His teachings.
Notice verse 26, where our Lord speaks of the "Days of Noah" as He will, chronologically, later, in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. By the way, the last of this chapter helps to explain about those who were "taken" in these prophetic passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke.
In verses 34-36 Dr Luke records the words of Jesus about those who would be "taken". If you don't understand that in this passage Jesus is speaking of His Second Coming, and not the Rapture, you will get mixed up eschatologically.
At the Rapture those who are Christians will be "taken" into the heavenlies to join Jesus, forever. However, when a passage is referring to the Second Coming the ones "taken" are the ones who go to "judgment" and the ones "left" will "rule and reign" with Christ in His Kingdom to come.
To better understand this principle Jesus gives us the last verse in Luke 17. When asked where the people would be "taken" the Lord said, to "where the eagles be gathered together", verse 37.
In that context, you may want to read Job 39:27-30 which explains that where the "eagles gather together is a place of judgment." Therefore, those "taken" in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 and 21 are all taken to judgment.
The ones "left" are the ones who will join Jesus to rule and reign. At the Rapture, a different event from the Second Coming, separated by at least seven years, the ones "taken" are the Christians.
Before we leave this passage, notice verse 28. The Lord had mentioned the "Days of Noah" which took place 4,500 years ago. In His mention of the "Days of Lot", these days were 4,000 years ago, days after the worldwide flood.
Interestingly, the "Days of Noah" were days when angels, the "sons of God" had a sexual relationship with the "daughters of men", Genesis 6:1-4 and Jude 6 and 7 .
The "days of Lot" also referred to the Jude passage, which was a time when the people, "gave themselves over to fornication", at Sodom and Gomorrah. Today it is referred to as homosexuality. I prefer the Biblical terminology, "sodomy", men, sexually with men and woman sexually with woman.
Because of this "sodomy" God destroyed the civilization of Sodom and Gomorrah. Today "sodomy" is allowed throughout all of society by educational, governmental and even religious leaders.
God does not hate "sodomites", the person, but "sodomy", the act. Jesus said when you see this type of "un-Godly sexual behavior" and see it as very prevalent in our society, that is a time when He could return to the earth.
We are living in those days. Jesus is coming and it could be in the "days" like the "days of Lot". Keep looking up!
Prayer Thot: Lord, give me a Godly love for sodomites so that I can lead them to Jesus Christ as their Savior, and help me to be aware of the days of Your coming.
In the devotional passage found in the Gospel of Luke that we are reading for today, I choseverse 22as our key verse because of the great truth it reveals for those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ, Christians.
Notice, at death, what happens to us as believers. God dispatches “angels” to come gather us up and take us into the presence of the Lord. We don't die “alone”, angels are there to comfort us for the journey into His presence.
What a blessed thought for us as we face that time, that time we will all face unless the Rapture should come first. I must be honest, I would much rather the Rapture happen first, and may it happen today.
The rest of our reading for today details the characteristics of the eternal hell, the "lake of fire" that has been prepared for the devil and his angels,Matthew 25:41. I know this passage is referring to "hades" which is the place of departed human spirits between death and resurrection.
It is now the place for all lost ones until the Great White Throne Judgment,Revelation 20:11-15. However, "hades", hell, has the same conditions as the "lake of fire".
Verse 23says it’s a place of "torment", "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched", Mark 9:44. It's also a place of "thirst",verse 24. One single drop of water, not a gallon jug, tea glass or spoonful, just one tiny drop of water would "cool the tongue".
Verse 25reveals that there will be "thinking" in the eternal "lake of fire." Those who make the choice to reject Jesus Christ and follow the lie of Satan will "think" forever, of every sermon, song and solicitation of the gospel he or she has ever heard. The "thinking" will last forever.
Those are the "conditions" for "hades" and also the eternal "lake of fire." The "constraint" of this place is that all who end up going there will only be released to appear before Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment, Revelation 20:13, only to be cast into the "lake of fire," forever, Revelation 20:15.
Finally, notice the "compassion" of the rich man in "hades." He wanted to return to life, so that he could tell his brothers of the "judgment" to come if they rejected Jesus Christ. We need to understand the realities of hell and its eternal judgments, then we would have the compassion that we need for our loved ones, friends and the lost people of this world.
The times we live in today seem to indicate the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This urgency should motivate us to go forth to win the lost to Jesus so that they escape the “eternal fires” of hell.
Prayer Thot: Dear Lord, give me the compassion of the rich man in "hades", a compassion for the lost, as I come to better understand the conditions and constraints of the "lake of fire".
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
In each passage of Scripture I discuss with you in our daily devotion, I endeavor to point out some very practical principles that will help each of us in our Christian experience. This will be the case today as well.
I also will point out prophetic passages and help you to look to the future for the fulfillment of these passages. Today, we will do that before we finish our thoughts about this passage.
There are some great practical principles found in these 13 verses of our reading. Notice that the Devil comes to tempt Jesus in a time of seeming weakness. Our Lord was 40 days in the wilderness going without food. The Devil is right there beside Him to put the Lord to the test in three different approaches.
First, the Devil tries the physical. The Lord has not eaten and the Devil challenges Him to turn the stone into bread. Jesus said to the Devil, the Word of God is more important than eating. One cannot live by only satisfying the physical need for food.
Then the Devil offers Jesus the kingdoms of this world. At this point, the Lord tells Satan to get behind Him, a method of resisting the Devil, James 4:7.
The third challenge was for Jesus to jump from the high spot of the temple into the arms of the angels who were to protect Him, Psalm 91:11-12. Notice the Devil even used the Scriptures to tempt Jesus. The Lord responded and told the Devil he was not allowed to tempt the Lord,Deuteronomy 6:16.
The other great truth, a very practical truth found in this passage, is the fact that the Lord responded each time to the Devil by quoting Scripture,verse 4,verse 8, andverse 12. Our defense against the Devil is the Word of God. We need to have it in our hearts and minds so well that we can respond to the Devil's testing by quoting Scripture.
Now let’s look at the prophetic significance of the passage. Notice that the Devil said to Jesus that he had the “kingdoms of this world” and the power to give the kingdoms of this world to our Lord. Under the sovereignty of God, the Devil does have control of the kingdoms of this world at this time in history.
In reality, the Devil has had the “kingdoms of this world” sinceGenesis 3, the fall of man. He will have those kingdoms until the Lord returns and sets up His Kingdom given to Him by God the Father,Daniel 7:13-14.
From that point on, Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Satan will be bound for the first 1000 years of the Lord's Kingdom reign, Revelation 21:3, and then thrown into the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:7-10for eternity.
The “king of this present world”, Satan, will be defeated and imprisoned by the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ. That time in history is drawing closer every day.
PRAYER THOT: Help me, dear Lord, to learn and know the Word of God so that I will be able to use it when the testing comes to me.
I love the Christmas story as told by Matthew, the tax collector, and "Dr." Luke. These two men write about the most amazing, miraculous birth in the history of the world in only four chapters, Matthew 1-2andLuke 1-2.
In fact, these two writers of the Gospels only use 168 verses to tell this marvelous story. The verse I have chosen to be highlighted, verse 37, says it all for this story, "nothing is impossible for God."
Look at the characters in this drama. There is this old couple that have not had any children because the wife had a “barren womb”. Her husband is one of the elderly priests serving at the Temple, about 6 miles from their home in Ein Karem, in the Judean forest outside of Jerusalem.
The Priest Zacharias, was chosen, “by lot”, to offer the incense on the “altar of incense” - a special privilege for any priest. It is when he is performing his duties that the archangel Gabriel appears to tell Zacharias that his wife was going to have a child - something that Zacharias thought was impossible. In fact, because of his unbelief, he was made dumb - unable to speak - until the eighth day of his son's life.
From the Temple we journey north some 90 miles to the very small village in the Galilee known as Nazareth. Here, once again, the impossible will be discussed by Gabriel and a young virgin girl who was engaged to a man whose name was Joseph.
The young bride to be, Mary, when told by Gabriel that she was to birth the Messiah would respond by asking how that could be, since she had never had a sexual relationship with any man, verse 34.
God loves the “impossible”, in fact, nothing is impossible with God, verse 37. Out of the impossible, God would bring forth His Son, the one He would give the “throne” of His father David, verse 32. Remember, God made a covenant with King David, II Samuel 7, that one of his sons would sit on the throne of the King in a Temple in the city of Jerusalem one day.
The Prophet Jeremiah said that the sun, moon and stars would disappear before He broke His covenant with David, Jeremiah 33:20-21. By the way, it is impossible for the sun, moon and stars to disappear and it is impossible for God to break His covenant with King David. I guess there are some things impossible for God, those things which He said He can not do.
You know the miraculous “first coming” of Jesus sets the stage for the “second coming” of Jesus. It lays the foundation upon which we can rest assured He will keep His promise. I love the Christmas story.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord that you will do that which seems impossible - you will come again soon!
