Today’s readings.. (Job 38), (Zechariah 13,14), (Revelation 15,16),

     Today’s reading of the last chapter of the prophet Zechariah starts with, “Behold a day is coming for the LORD … will gather all nations against Jerusalem …” and our reading in Revelation contains the only verse in the Bible with the word ARMAGEDDON. We read there how “demonic spirits” (humanism, so called rights of man, totally irrational attitudes? And Denial of God) ” … 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” [Revelation 16:14-16]

      The word Armageddon crops up in our Newspapers quite a lot, sometimes in relation to climate change and fearsome weather events. It was also used in relation to the world-wide financial instability, which is still far from solved, especially in Europe. The world’s economy in the last 20 years has been supercharged so that it needs massive continuous spending. This is the NOW generation, we must have everything NOW.

       The money crisis is kept at bay by Governments throwing a heap of largely borrowed money into the system. Of course, money is no longer gold and silver, which was its foundation, even 100 years ago. Money has become an idol which man worships, Paul said to Timothy “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” And so it has become.

      Zechariah’s chapter also describes Armageddon without using the word! Remember our thoughts yesterday. After the LORD goes forth to fight “… the mount of Olives shall be split in two”   [Zechariah 14:3,4] We noted that Revelation 16:18 speaks of “a great earthquake such as there has never been since man was on earth.”

Zechariah also states that “all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, their tongues will rot in their mouths.” [Zechariah 14:12].

      But then, writes 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 the King, the LORD of Hosts …” [Zechariah 14:9,16]. 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.” [Revelation 15:4]

      The challenge to us – we quote again “Blessed is the one who stays awake keeping his garments”. We note Revelation 19:8 – “fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints”. We must be with those who are awake, keeping our garments. [see Revelation 16:15]