New Testament in a Year

Matthew 1:1-2:12
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Happy New Year! Welcome to the beginning of our New Testament in a Year journey in 2026! Today we begin the gospel of Matthew!  Below is Northern Renaissance painter Jan Sanders van Hemessen’s “Jesus Summons Matthew to Leave the Tax Office” from the year 1536:

~Matthew~
Author: Matthew
Place: Perhaps Antioch
Date: A.D. 60-70
Content: Matthew was a tax collector, called by Jesus to follow him early in his public ministry; hence, he was an eyewitness of most of the events he describes. He begins with a detailed account of Jesus’ birth of the virgin Mary, his baptism, and temptation in the wilderness. Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God, entrance into which meant eternal life. One entered by repentance and faith. Matthew blocks the teaching of Jesus together into five discourses in which may be seen the ethics, the proclamation, the parables, the fellowship, and the consummation of the kingdom. Jesus’ death and resurrection end the Gospel with the command to go into all the world with the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ.
Theme: Matthew’s main purpose in writing his Gospel is to show that Jesus fulfills the promise of God in the Old Testament. For this reason Jesus is introduced as a “descendant of King David and of Abraham,” and Matthew makes use of numerous Old Testament prophecies and quotations to explain Jesus’ life. Jesus came to be the Savior of the Jews, the Gentiles, and ultimately the world. The ethics required by members of God’s kingdom are found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) where the world’s values are rejected and the Kingdom of God and his righteousness become supreme. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 21)  A wonderful commentary on the book of Matthew by Daniel Wallace is at this link.  Below is a painting (I absolutely love this painting!) titled “The Inspiration of St. Matthew” by the Baroque Italian artist Caravaggio, circa 1602:

In today’s Matthew readings, we read the genealogy of Jesus. I know that genealogy’s can sometimes seem a bit boring to read, but this one in Matthew is phenomenal!  If you just finished reading the One Year Bible this past year, you will recognize many of these names.  Or – let me encourage you to come back and read this genealogy again on January 1st of next year, if you are going through the entire Bible for your first time this year.  This genealogy will amaze you.  One of the interesting things to note in this genealogy is the mention of 5 women – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.  It was not the norm in the 1st century to list women in genealogies – only men were typically listed.  At least 3 of these women were Gentiles (not Jewish) – Tamara, Rahab, and Ruth.  Matthew was potentially trying to indicate to his Jewish readers that God’s work in this world is not limited to the people of Israel – nor was God’s work limited to men.   The genealogy in Matthew is sometimes illustrated by a “Jesse Tree” showing the lineage of Jesus from Jesse, father of King David:

Chapter 1 verse 23 is certainly a huge prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah being fulfilled through the birth of Jesus: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).” Jesus is God and came to literally be with us.  To experience our human sufferings and temptations – and joys and triumphs.  The importance of this birth of Immanuel cannot be overstated.  God came to be with us in flesh and blood.

Chapter 2 verse 6 is very powerful in that last year’s One Year Bible crew recently read about the prophet Micah’s prophesying of Jesus being born in Bethlehem: “O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.” Here again you can see Matthew writing for his Jewish audience – quoting an Old Testament prophet and also focusing in on the town of “Bethlehem of Judah” – the City of David.  This was to demonstrate again that Jesus was from the lineage of King David.

Verse 10 is a brief verse showing us the reaction of the magi in being led to Jesus: “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!”   The magi were also Gentiles and likely astrologers – following a star might lead one to think this… 🙂  But no matter where they were from and what they believed prior, they were filled with joy at being led to the Messiah, Jesus.  And they gave him gifts and worshipped him.  And for us today – are we filled with joy in reading about the birth of Jesus?  Do we realize what this meant back then – and still means today?  That Immanuel was born – that God came to be with us.  (Note that some Biblical scholars say that contrary to popular tradition, it is believed that the magi did not visit Jesus at the manger on the night of his birth, as did the shepherds, but that the magi came months later and visited him as “child” in his “house” – see verse 11.)

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Matthew titled “The Birth of Jesus” is at this link and “The Visit of the Wise Men” is at this link.

Worship Video – I typically post up a worship video that relates to our daily readings on this section of the blog.  Today our readings in Matthew reminded me of Chris Tomlin’s song “Our God” (filmed live at Red Rocks, Colorado, in 2013 – I was there!). Enjoy, and don’t be afraid to Worship God right now along with this video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJpt1hSYf2o

Do you personally know our Great God?  Click here to meet Him!

Comments from You and Question of the Day: As today is our first day together on the New Testament in a Year journey in 2026, I thought I’d post up a “roll-call.”  This is an opportunity for each of us to click on the “Comments” link below and let everyone know a few things about ourselves, as we’ll be journeying through the Word together over the coming year.  So here’s the roll-call questions:  1. Have you read the entire New Testament before?  2. What are you looking forward to about reading the New Testament in 2026?  3. What’s your favorite book or verse in the Bible?  Thanks for participating in the roll-call!  🙂 Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 22:1-21
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Happy New Year!  Congratulations to everyone who completed the New Testament in a Year journey in 2025 today! It has been awesome to go through the journey this year with each of you.  It is quite a blessing to realize that you’ve read through God’s Word this past year!  It has been a huge blessing for me.  God has continued to transform me this past year through this journey.  Reading through the New Testament in a year will change us.  For the better!  🙂 For those of you wrapping up the journey today in 2025, I’d like to ask you to post up your reflections on this experience in the Comments section below.  The reason for this request is because we have lots of new folks signing up to take the journey in 2026.  What advice would you give them?  Any encouragement?  What has reading the Bible on a daily basis meant to you over the past year?  Has this experience changed you in any way?  Thanks for sharing! I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry! If this blog has been a blessing to you in 2025, please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Today we finish the book of Revelation with a glorious chapter describing the New Jerusalem in heaven, and with a clear reminder that Jesus is coming again!  Below is artist Pat Marvenko Smith’s look “Through the Gate of the Eternal City” from Revelation 22:1-6 in today’s readings:

 

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Chapter 22 verses 1 & 2 are so beautiful: “And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.”   This river combines the elements of the river in the Garden of Eden – see Genesis 2:8-14 – and the river flowing from the temple in Ezekiel’s vision – see Ezekiel 47:1-12.  I love this idea of this “river of life”.  There are so many beautiful allusions to God and grace being like water or a river in the Bible – particularly in the Psalms.  A river that heals us. I love this.  There is a great song by Steven Curtis Chapman about diving into the river.  I think it’s called “Dive” on his Speechless CD.  This song of his reminds me so much of these verses.  One of his lyrics goes something like:  “The River’s deep, the river’s wide, the river’s water is ALIVE!  So sink or swim, I’m diving in!”  Do you want to dive into this holy river of God?  Do you want to be healed and purified by it’s waters? Will you dive in?

Verse 8 is powerful for us to reflect upon, where we see an angel speaking to John after he fell to worship the angel:  “”No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this scroll. Worship God!”” My thought here is that do we sometimes worship other people in our life?   And does this worship of other people ultimately take away from our worship of God?  Meaning, I think it might sometimes be tempting for us to “worship” our pastors or ministers or spiritual mentors.  But, should we do this?  I think we would do well to remember that these people in our life are simply servants of God, like this angel.  They are not God.  We are called to give our hearts and minds and souls and worship to God and God only.

Verse 20 (almost) closes out the book of Revelation with these words: “Come, Lord Jesus!” Are these three words a prayer of your heart? Should they be? It’s only recently that I started praying these words from my heart, and it is an amazing thing to truly pray and truly desire. Come Lord Jesus!

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Revelation chapter 22 titled “The Epilogue” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Revelation reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song “Dive.” However, rather than share that song with you in the video below, our readings in Revelation chapter 22 also reminded me of his powerful song about his daughter called “Heaven is the Face.” Here’s a great live version of this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nT88tmF5O8

Can you imagine meeting Jesus in heaven?  Click here and make your imagination real!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let those who hear say, “Come!” Let those who are thirsty come; and let all who wish take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:17 (TNIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are thirsty for Jesus today and every day! Pray that you are daily responding to Jesus’ call to you to “Come!” Pray that you will follow Jesus and take the free gift of the water of Life He offers you, today and forevermore.

Comments From You and Question of the Day: For those of you wrapping up the New Testament in a Year today in 2025, I’d like to ask you to post up your reflections on this experience in the Comments section below.  The reason for this request is because we have lots of new folks signing up to take the New Testament in a Year journey in 2026.  What advice would you give them?  Any encouragement?  What has reading the Bible on a daily basis meant to you over the past year?  Has this experience changed you in any way?  Thanks for sharing!  Also, for everyone, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 21:1-27
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Revelation chapter 21 is definitely one of my favorite chapters in the Bible! It is what our very hearts long for!  Today we read a wonderful glimpse of the New Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God.

Certainly verses 3 and 4 are powerful for us to reflect upon: “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.”  Are you looking forward to that day when God will be among his people?  When he will remove all sorrows and pains?

And verses 23-25 are so beautiful to meditate upon: “And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations of the earth will walk in its light, and the rulers of the world will come and bring their glory to it. Its gates never close at the end of day because there is no night.”  Are you looking forward to this everlasting light?  The light that can come only from God and Jesus, the Lamb?

Below are artist Pat Marvenko Smith’s two great images of the heavenly Jerusalem from today’s readings titled “The City Four-Square: New Jerusalem” and “The Foundations of the City”, which verses 18 through 20 capture very well: “The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.”

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.
Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Revelation chapter 21 titled “The Eternal State” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Revelation Chapter 21 remind me of the beautiful MercyMe song “I can Only Imagine:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNDEyxEMNp0

Can you imagine meeting Jesus in heaven?  Click here and make your imagination real!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.” Revelation 21:23-24 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you will one day see this heavenly city, where the glory of God gives it light! Pray that you will walk in this glorious light through your saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 20:1-15
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In Revelation chapter 20 today we read about the Millennial Reign of Christ! There are 3 basic beliefs in the 1,000 years described in this chapter: 1.  Amillennialism (means we’re in a figurative 1,000 years now) describes the present reign of Jesus in heaven, along with deceased believers and currently living believers – all of which will be followed by Jesus’ second coming, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and Jesus’ reign over the new earth eternally.   2. Premillennialism (means Jesus will come before a literal 1,000 years) also believes in the present reign of Jesus in heaven that is moving toward a time when Jesus returns again, the first resurrection occurs, and there will be a reign of Jesus on the current earth as we know it for 1,000 years. Then will come the final general resurrection, the final judgment, and then the eternal kingdom on the new earth.  3.  Postmillennialism (means Jesus will come after a literal 1,000 years) believes that the entire world as we currently know it will be converted to Christianity and this will bring a millennium of peace – then to be followed by Jesus’ second coming, the general resurrection, final judgment, and the eternal kingdom.   Hopefully this makes some sort of sense on these three views? 🙂  I read a commentary that said the key to remember with all 3 of these views is that they are simply timing differences.  In all 3 views, Jesus returns again.  Jesus reigns.  Forever.

Verses 11-12 get into Judgment, which is obviously quite a topic to attempt to cover in a daily blog… 🙂  “And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done.”  So…  I am going to defer to someone much smarter than me on this one, and HIGHLY encourage you to read Lehman Strauss’s article entitled “The Future Judgment of the Believer” at bible.org at this link.  I encourage you to check this link out if you’d like a glimpse toward what happens after we pass on from this life – including a very interesting look at 5 crowns that can be given / received!  Actually, if you are really interested in learning more about what happens after we die, Mr. Strauss at bible.org has a great 10 part series called “Death and Afterward” at this link.  (which “The Future Judgment of the Believer” link above is #6 in the 10 part series.)  Below is artist Pat Marvenko Smith’s “The Great White Throne of Judgment” and “The Books Are Opened and The Book of Life” based on Revelation chapter 20 verses 11-12 today (which are at the top of this paragraph):

 

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

 

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Worship Song: Today’s readings in Revelation chapter 20 remind me of the “Revelation Song” performed here by Kari Jobe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dZMBrGGmeE

Do you look forward to singing the Revelation Song in Heaven one day?  Click here and sing!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that your life is a testimony that brings glory to Jesus. Pray that you will bring glory to Jesus no matter what the cost might be.

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 19:1-21
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Revelation chapter 19 verses 7 through 9 discuss the wedding feast of the Lamb (Jesus) in powerful language: “Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen.” (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.)  And the angel said, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”  The wedding feast of the Lamb is the end of human history – the judgment of the wicked and the wedding of the Lamb and his bride, the church.  Are you looking forward to the wedding feast of the lamb?  Do you want to be there?  Do you believe the words – blessed are those who are invited to the feast?  Have you accepted the Invitation?

Revelation chapter 19 utilizes the Hebrew for Hallelujah! four times in the first six verses – but it is interesting to note that Hallelujah is not used anywhere else in the New Testament.  Though, certainly we are reading Hallelujah frequently now in the Psalms!  (such as today’s Psalm 147).  The Hallelujah’s in this chapter, along with verse 16 in today’s readings – “On his robe and thigh was written this title: King of kings and Lord of lords.” – reminded me of Handel’s Messiah.

The rider on the white horse in chapter 19 is not the rider of the white horse from earlier in the book of Revelation, chapter 6 verse 2.  The rider in this chapter is Jesus, returning as Warrior-Messiah-King.  It’s interesting to note that many of the Jewish faith in the 1st century were looking for their Messiah to come as Warrior-Messiah-King, and thus they rejected Jesus as Messiah, who came then as the Suffering Servant.  However, it is powerful for us to keep in mind that Jesus is indeed coming again – and when he returns it won’t be in his previous role as the Suffering Servant.  That debt has been paid.  Jesus will return as Warrior-Messiah-King!

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Below is an image for verse 21 in today’s readings that is well worth cheering about!  “And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”

 

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Revelation chapter 19 titled “The Second Coming of Christ” is at this link. 

Worship Video: As I mention Handel’s Messiah’s Hallelujah Chorus in reference to Revelation 19 above, here it is live on December 24, 2006 from Olympic Square park in Hong Kong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH52IKiTIlA

Have you been invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb?  Click here for your invitation!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.’” Revelation 19:9 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb through a saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 18:1-24
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In Revelation chapter 18 today we read about the fall of Babylon.  This is one of those chapters in Revelation that can be interpreted in many ways by many different people – with the overriding question and interpretation revolving around who is Babylon that John is referring to here?  Most commentaries that I have read suggest that John is referring to the Roman empire of the 1st century in this chapter.  Much of Revelation is eschatological – end times prophecy – and some commentaries suggest that this chapter is too.   But it seems that most commentaries look at this chapter as a prophecy toward the fall of the Roman empire – an empire that in John’s time was a “cult of emperor worship”.   An empire that John wrote about here to warn the early Christian churches to be on guard against because it stood against God and His people.  However – other commentaries do consider Babylon in this chapter to represent the political and religious system of the world in general under the rule of the antichrist.  And some others see this chapter to be about a literal Babylon in Mesopotamia that is rebuilt and restored in the end times.   Below is John Martin’s “Fall of Babylon” from Illustrations from the Bible, 1835:

Since we’re nearing the end of the book of Revelation, and in particular because of the questions this chapter 18 can bring up, this is probably a good time for me to re-post this information below about the book of Revelation – same info I posted up when we started Revelation chapter 1 on December 9th.  There are basically 4 lines of thinking on how to interpret the book of Revelation, which I think are helpful to consider before diving into this book.  I am editing these comments below from bible.org at this link: Please check out this link for more details on these 4 points below and the book of Revelation overall – these comments were edited on bible.org from M. C. Tenney, Interpreting Revelation.

“(1) The preterist approach believes that “Revelation is simply a sketch of the conditions of the empire in the first century.”

(2) The historicist view (or continuous-historicist view) “contends that Revelation is a symbolic presentation of the entire course of the history of the church from the close of the first century to the end of time.”

(3) The futurist approach usually argues that “all of the visions from Revelation 4:1 to the end of the book are yet to be fulfilled in the period immediately preceding and following the second advent of Christ.”

(4) In the idealist approach, “the Revelation represents the eternal conflict of good and evil which persists in every age, although here it may have particular application to the period of the church.””

Below is art titled “The Angel with the Millstone” – a manuscript illumination from the year 1020 for chapter 18 verse 21 today: “Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted, “Just like this, the great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again.”

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Revelation chapter 18 titled “Destruction of Commercial Babylon” is at this link. 

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the fantastic song “Give This Christmas Away” by Matthew West and Amy Grant, with this terrific video featuring Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2ulYpoNXC0

Did you give this Christmas away?  Click here and give it all to Jesus!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 17:1-18
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Today in Revelation chapter 17 we read about the woman and the beast.  How have our readings in Revelation about the beast affected your faith or outlook on end times? Do you believe these writings in Revelation are true? Below is artist Pat Marvenko Smith’s “Babylon the Great riding the Beast”:

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Revelation chapter 17 titled “The Judgment of Religious Babylon” is at this link.

Worship Video: As it is the day after Christmas, here is for KING AND COUNTRY singing “Little Drummer Boy:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzEX3QMuVPM

Have you honored the new born king?  Click here to meet your King!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 16:1-21
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Merry Christmas!  Busy week with Christmas – full posts will be back on December 26th.

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Revelation chapter 16 titled “The Bowl Judgments” is at this link.  Below is artist Pat Marvenko Smith’s “The Seven Bowl Judgments” and “The Plagues of the Seven Bowls:

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site. Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Merry Christmas! – I will close out this Christmas day blog entry with a quick reflection here on A Charlie Brown Christmas.  🙂

I think sometimes many of us wonder the same things that Charlie Brown did during this time of year.  “What is the meaning of Christmas?”  Well, I’ll leave you will Linus’ wonderful answer to Charlie and the Peanuts gang straight from Luke 2:8-14 (King James Version):

^“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Video: Here’s Linus in Charlie Brown’s Christmas reciting the verses from Luke per above:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eff0cqYefYY

Do you know the true meaning of Christmas?  Click here to meet CHRISTmas!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 15:1-8
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Busy this week with Christmas – full posts with images will be back on December 26th. Merry Christmas!

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Revelation chapter 15 titled “Prelude to the Seven Last Plagues” is at this link.

Worship Video: As it is Christmas Eve, here is “Oh Holy Night” with Josh Groban singing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQWXfHzOKUU

How are you celebrating on this Holy Night?  Click here to celebrate forevermore!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Revelation 15:4 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are bringing glory to God’s name with your worship and life. Pray that you are evangelizing others to fear the Lord and worship Him now and forevermore.

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 14:1-20
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Today in Revelation chapter 14 we read about Jesus (the Lamb) and all believers (the 144,000) in the heavenly Jerusalem (Mount Zion).   I love verses 4 and 5 in this chapter: “For they are spiritually undefiled, pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. No falsehood can be charged against them; they are blameless.”  Are these 2 verses attractive to you?  Do you want to be like this someday in heaven?  Spiritually undefiled?  Pure?  Following Jesus wherever he goes?  Blameless?

We then read about the Three Angels and In verse 8 we read: “Then another angel followed him through the skies, shouting, “Babylon is fallen–that great city is fallen–because she seduced the nations of the world and made them drink the wine of her passionate immorality.””  Babylon, as we know from our recent readings in the Old Testament, such as Daniel, was in ancient Mesopotamia and the commercial, political, and religious center of a world empire led by Nebuchadnezzar.  Some commentators believe that John is writing about Rome here when he says Babylon – and that John uses the term Babylon because it would be too dangerous for him to say Rome.  Some others believe this reference to Babylon refers to the time of the antichrist in the end days, and represents the corrupt political and religious systems of the world in the end times.

Verse 12 is likely referring to the end times, but it does make me think about the persecuted Christians in our world today – “Let this encourage God’s holy people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying his commands and trusting in Jesus.”  There are thousands, if not millions, of Christians in our world today who suffer for their belief in Christ.  They are persecuted.  Today.   How can we encourage these holy people of God who are enduring persecution today?  Prayer is certainly one thing we can do, as a starter.  Have you heard of the International Day of the Persecuted Church?  Please visit their website by clicking on this link – and then click on the links on their home page to check out some great ministries that are serving the needs of the Persecuted Church.  Thank you for considering praying and getting involved in the Persecuted Church.

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Revelation chapter 14 titled “Special Announcements” is at this link.

Worship Video: As it is almost Christmas, here is Casting Crown’s “I Heard Bells on Christmas Day” live:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7670CXvPX0

Do you know the peace of God’s Silent Night?  Click here for heavenly peace!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!