John 1:43-51 "The next day He purposed to go forth into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the … Continue reading The Ladder Days
Category: Matthew
Failure in the First Degree
John 1:6-18 "There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. There was the true light which, coming into … Continue reading Failure in the First Degree
Gloucester in the Clouds
John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the … Continue reading Gloucester in the Clouds
Hitting The Highlights of Zechariah; A Colorful Conclusion Immersed in Imagery
Zechariah 1:1, skipping many verses, -14:21 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying, "The LORD was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Return to … Continue reading Hitting The Highlights of Zechariah; A Colorful Conclusion Immersed in Imagery
Foundation for Fulfillment; Zechariah 14, Part One
Zechariah 14 Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished, and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the … Continue reading Foundation for Fulfillment; Zechariah 14, Part One
Peculiar Proclamations of the Prophecy Pundits; Zechariah 13, Part 2, The Forefront
Zechariah 13 (emphatically highlighted and notated by me) “In that day [not a literal day as we have seen but a specific period of time which is certainly not parenthetical or in perpetuity] a fountain [again, not literally a fountain of water but symbolism of a great amount, easily accumulating] will be opened for the … Continue reading Peculiar Proclamations of the Prophecy Pundits; Zechariah 13, Part 2, The Forefront
Perturbation from Prophecy Pundits; Zechariah 13, Part 1: The Backdrop
Zechariah 13 “In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity. And it will come about in that day,” declares the LORD of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will … Continue reading Perturbation from Prophecy Pundits; Zechariah 13, Part 1: The Backdrop
Countering Current Cultural Clutter
Zechariah 12 The burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the … Continue reading Countering Current Cultural Clutter
The Potter and The Shepherd
Zechariah 11 Open your doors, O Lebanon, That a fire may feed on your cedars. Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, Because the glorious trees have been destroyed; Wail, O oaks of Bashan, For the impenetrable forest has come down. There is a sound of the shepherds’ wail, For their glory is ruined; … Continue reading The Potter and The Shepherd
Rain for the Remnant; Slaughter for the Shepherds and the Coming Cornerstone
Zechariah 10 Ask rain from the LORD at the time of the spring rain— The LORD who makes the storm clouds; And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man. For the teraphim speak iniquity, And the diviners see lying visions, And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. … Continue reading Rain for the Remnant; Slaughter for the Shepherds and the Coming Cornerstone
It’s All About…Timing
Zechariah 9 The burden of the word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach, with Damascus as its resting place (for the eyes of men, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the LORD), And Hamath also, which borders on it; Tyre and Sidon, athough they are very wise. For Tyre … Continue reading It’s All About…Timing
Synthesis of Scripture
Zechariah 8 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ Thus says the LORD, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called … Continue reading Synthesis of Scripture
False Fasting and Former Days
Zechariah 7 Then it came about in the fourth year of King Darius, that the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev. Now the town of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to seek the favor of the LORD, speaking to … Continue reading False Fasting and Former Days
There’s Zest in Zechariah, Accompanied by a Curse
Zechariah 6 Now I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong dappled … Continue reading There’s Zest in Zechariah, Accompanied by a Curse
Just a Little Juxtaposition Justifies Judah and Jerusalem
Zechariah 5 Then I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, there was a flying scroll. And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.” Then he said to me, “This is the curse that … Continue reading Just a Little Juxtaposition Justifies Judah and Jerusalem
Don’t Despise the Day of Diminutive Deeds
Zechariah 4 Then the angel who was speaking with me returned, and roused me as a man who is awakened from his sleep. And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven … Continue reading Don’t Despise the Day of Diminutive Deeds
Zooming in on the Zeal in Zechariah
"And many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. “And the LORD will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose … Continue reading Zooming in on the Zeal in Zechariah
Coming Lamb–Conquering King
Zechariah 2 Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” And behold, the angel who was … Continue reading Coming Lamb–Conquering King
Remembering the Rider on the Red Horse
Zechariah 1:12-23 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?” And the LORD answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words. So … Continue reading Remembering the Rider on the Red Horse
Headlines, Hyperbole and Haggai; Part Three
Haggai 2:19 and then Zechariah 1:1-3 Is the seed still in the barn? Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not borne fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you. Can I play the role of a mega-church pastor for a while? That's rhetorical because … Continue reading Headlines, Hyperbole and Haggai; Part Three
Hyperbole, Headlines and Haggai; Part Two
Haggai 2:6+7 For thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. And I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations; and I will fill this house … Continue reading Hyperbole, Headlines and Haggai; Part Two
Hyperbole, Headlines and Haggai; Part One
Haggai 2:3-23 "'Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison? But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of … Continue reading Hyperbole, Headlines and Haggai; Part One
Living on a Thin Line
Haggai Chapter One: In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, … Continue reading Living on a Thin Line
Haggling over Haggai
Haggai 1:1-11 In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘This … Continue reading Haggling over Haggai
Imagery in The Apocalyptic Address
Micah, chapter 7 Woe is me! For I am Like the fruit pickers and the grape gatherers. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, Or a first-ripe fig which I crave. The godly person has perished from the land, And there is no upright person among men. All of them lie in wait … Continue reading Imagery in The Apocalyptic Address
The Recapitulation in The Apocalyptic Address
Micah, chapter 6 Hear now what the LORD is saying, “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice. Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the LORD, And you enduring foundations of the earth, Because the LORD has a case against His people; Even with Israel He will dispute. … Continue reading The Recapitulation in The Apocalyptic Address
The Hiatus with Healings
Acts 28:1-15 And when they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. But when Paul had gathered a … Continue reading The Hiatus with Healings
The Sinking Ship
Acts 27:27-34 But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to surmise that they were approaching some land. And they took soundings, and found it to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it … Continue reading The Sinking Ship
The Aging Man and The Sea
Acts 27:1-26 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. And embarking in an Adramyttian ship, which was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, we put out to sea, … Continue reading The Aging Man and The Sea
The Prisoner in Perpetuity
Acts 26:24-32 And while Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth. For the king knows … Continue reading The Prisoner in Perpetuity
