I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32

Paul returns to Antioch after his second missionary tour and then leaves for his final tour that brings him to Jerusalem and his arrest. Revelation begins with the trumpets sounding, the little book, two witnesses up to the proclamations of the three angels. We begin this week, Nehemiah which records the rebuilding of the wall surrounding Jerusalem and national revival. Zechariah finishes with prophetic prophecies of the restoration of Jerusalem and Judah, along with the recognition of the Messiah by Israel.

 

New Testament

Acts 18 – 23

Paul and Silas covered many new places and brought many new converts. In Corinth, Paul stays a year and six months teaching the word of God. In Ephesus, he continued for two years, “so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” Acts 19:10 Here in Ephesus, Paul purposes, in the Spirit, that after going to Jerusalem to bring the gift from the churches he must also see Rome. The power of a purpose in the Spirit will become a promise of the Lord and salvation in the storms that are to come. It also brought the book of Romans to be written.

Paul is warned not to go to Jerusalem but is resolute in going. Upon arriving, he is arrested in the Temple, and almost killed a second time by the Sanhedrin the next day after being arrested. But the Lord encourages him with the promise “You must also bear witness at Rome.” Acts 23:11 Promises are our future in Christ that transcend our captivity in this world.

Revelation 8 – 14

Here come the trumpet blasts! Then comes the mighty angel with the little book for John to take and eat. And is told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” Revelation 10:11

The two witnesses arrive with the power to testify for three and a half years, during the first half of Revelation. Then the beast ascends out of the bottomless pit, makes war against them, and kills them. But three and a half days later the two witnesses are resurrected and ascend into heaven and more worship breaks forth. Chapters twelve through fourteen give details about the overcoming church through the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and not loving their lives (souls) unto death. The beast and his prophet, the image of the beast and mark, and the number of his name are all found in Chapters thirteen and fourteen.

Old Testament

Nehemiah 1 -9

Nehemiah is Ezra’s contemporary, the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes. He hears from some returning from Jerusalem that though the Temple is rebuilt, the people are in great distress and reproach because the wall of Jerusalem is still broken down and the gates remain in ruins from the fires of Jerusalem’s destruction. Nehemiah weeps and mourns in fasting and prayer before God. He sets himself to obey the Lord’s command after repenting for Israel’s sins that had brought Jerusalem to ruin.

Having obtained favor from the King, he journeys to Jerusalem and begins a building project that calls all to work. In fifty-two days, they complete the wall in the midst of outward resistance from their jealous neighbors and inward corruptions that have been left unattended. Every Chapter is filled with suspense and determination to finish. Nehemiah’s name means “Comfort of Yahweh” and in many ways parallels the Holy Spirit’s ministry in rebuilding/restoring our souls as believers whose spirits have been born again.

Zechariah 9 – 13

This second half of Zechariah is promise and prophecy of the Lord, protection of His people, and their restoration with many promises that extend to the end of the age with the last Chapter bringing us into the millennial reign of Christ and worship of the King in Jerusalem.

Christmas

Luke 1

The recording of the birth of Jesus, beginning with the record of John the Baptist’s conception and Jesus’ conception along with John’s birth.

Matthew 1

We begin with the genealogy of Jesus Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the two men that the Lord swore by oath that through their natural seed would be born the God the Son according to the flesh. The genealogy includes five women, all who demonstrated extraordinary faith. Joseph is helped to believe that all this is of the Holy Spirit.