Todays readings … Job 38. Zechariah 13&14, Revelation 15&16
“BEHOLD A DAY IS COMING…”
Today’s reading of the last chapter of the prophet Zechariah starts with, “Behold a day is coming …” and our reading in Revelation contains the only verse in the Bible with the word ARMAGEDDON. False spirits (attitudes?) “ … go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God Almighty. Behold I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake … and they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon” [Ch.16 v.14-16]
That word “Armageddon” has cropped up in our Newspapers quite a lot, sometimes in relation to climate change and the potential for more fearsome, indeed awesome weather events. It was used in relation to the world-wide financial crisis 8 years ago, which is still far from solved. AAP reported some years ago, ”In a new record, Australians now owe more in household debt that the country’s entire economy earns in a year”
The world’s economy has been revved up to work on massive spending – continuously. This is the NOW generation, ‘we must have it NOW.’ The crisis has been “solved” by Governments throwing a heap of largely borrowed money at the problem.
Zechariah’s chapter also describes Armageddon without using the word! “Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations … the mount of Olives shall be split in two” [12 v.3,4] A world shaking earthquake occurs, see Rev 16 v.18; “a great earthquake such as there has never been since man was on earth” – and the “day” will have come!
But then, says Zechariah, “the LORD will be King over all the earth … then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship in King, the LORD of Hosts …” [v.9,16]. We have read almost the same in Revelation, “Who will not fear O Lord and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you for your righteous acts have been revealed.” [15 v.4]
Blessed are those who are awake and ready for what God will cause to happen. {see 16 v.15]
