Today’s Reading: Ezek 43:1–44:31, Rev 21:9–27, Job 39:1–10

Today’s Theme: The True Temple

Today’s reading shows us that the true temple is God himself and that we too are the temple of God. If the Holy Spirit is not living in us we are just a dead empty building.

The Great Temple of Jerusalem and even a newly rebuilt temple, all point to their ultimate fulfilment in God Himself, the one in whom we live, move, have our being and worship, in the light of His glory.

Ezekiel 43:1–44:31

God’s glory from the east

And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.(Ezekiel 43:2, ESV)

Lord, we pray Your glory would come and rise from the east, let Your glory be seen this day throughout Asia and turn hearts towards You.

The Spirit enters the temple / body

As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east,(Ezekiel 43:4, ESV)

Without the Spirit and glory of the Living God, everything we do is dead. Fill us and our works this day O Lord, so that we will not be dead and empty temples.

Bury the dead kings far away

Now let them put away their whoring and the dead bodies of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in their midst forever.(Ezekiel 43:9, ESV)

We must bury our old dead kings, the things of the world and flesh that we once bowed to. We must bury them so far away, so as to put them out of our sight, presence and remembrance. It is like when Abraham wanted to bury his dead out of his sight.

The light of his glory

“As for you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and they shall measure the plan.(Ezekiel 43:10, ESV)

God’s glory, His glorious plans and works should cause us to see our iniquity for the shameful act it is and turn away from it towards His glorious light.

Jesus, without blemish

When you have finished purifying it, you shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish and a ram from the flock without blemish.(Ezekiel 43:23, ESV)

Jesus was our sacrifice without blemish.

Prophecy fulfilled

And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut.(Ezekiel 44:2, ESV)

The Ottoman Turk empire unwittingly fulfilled this prophecy by blocking the eastern or Golden gate through which the Messiah will come, if we take this prophecy as a typological one.

Circumcise your hearts

in admitting foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, to be in my sanctuary, profaning my temple, when you offer to me my food, the fat and the blood. You have broken my covenant, in addition to all your abominations.(Ezekiel 44:7, ESV)

It was clear that the purpose of circumcision in the old testament was meant to be an outward sign of the inward work of heart circumcision. If we follow the pleasures of sin in our hearts then we defile the house of God, the ministry and our own bodies which are His temple.

Don’t work with mere human effort

When they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen garments. They shall have nothing of wool on them, while they minister at the gates of the inner court, and within.(Ezekiel 44:17, ESV)

Pastor has taught us well, that wool causes us to sweat, speaking of human effort, but linen speaks of work empowered by God and not the flesh of man.

Don’t sweat, let the Spirit work

They shall have linen turbans on their heads, and linen undergarments around their waists. They shall not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat.(Ezekiel 44:18, ESV)

The point about human effort and flesh in ministry, is made clear.

Thank God for our Pastors

They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.(Ezekiel 44:23, ESV)

Ministers of the Gospel are to live lives of holiness and have been charged with the responsibility of training the people to discern well between truth and error.

We should especially appreciate the ministry of our own Pastors in this regard, as they guide us in truth.

Where applicable, we should accept our part of this call in our lives, for the glory of God’s name, for our joy and for the edification of the body of Christ.

God, our inheritance

“This shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance: and you shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession.(Ezekiel 44:28, ESV)

YES Lord Yes, as a member of Your royal priesthood, I am so glad that I have You as my inheritance. God is the Gospel, God is the gospels aim and end, to have him as our treasure forever.

Revelation 21:9–27

The Bride

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”(Revelation 21:9, ESV)

This is the Church, the redeemed bride.

12, pointing to God’s government

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.(Revelation 21:14, ESV)

There is much great symbolism here, the twelve angels, twelve tribes and now the twelve apostles as though these all point to and have a role to play in God’s perfect government, as part of His perfect plan.

Angles, the size of men

He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement.(Revelation 21:17, ESV)

Angels and humans are similar or the same in size as opposed to new visions claims where Angels are 10 feet tall.

God is the true temple

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.(Revelation 21:22, ESV)

This is the meaning of Ezekiel’s great temple, the temple was always just pointing to the reality of God.

Job 39:1–10

The wonder of creation

Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open; they go out and do not return to them.(Job 39:4, ESV)

The great wonder for the natural world of God’s creation and the animal world in particular. God shows us the beauty and wisdom of it in His word, long before the naturalist started to celebrate it and worship it aside from Him.

God over nature

“Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger?(Job 39:9, ESV)

We can’t even tame many animals without inflicting great cruelty, we are not the masters of the universe, God alone is sovereign even over the animal kingdom

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Revelation 21

Today’s Reading: Ezek 41:1–42:20, Rev 20:7–21:8, Job 38:34–41

Today’s Theme: Called to be Overcomers

Today’s theme looks at the call we have to be overcomers in Christ. There are great rewards awaiting us, so let us live holy lives, killing sin, growing in Christ, being fruitful and faithful to the glory of God.

Ezekiel 41:1–42:20

Called to be multifaceted

a human face toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved on the whole temple all around.(Ezekiel 41:19, ESV)

The prophetic visions are replete with these creatures that appear to have some symbolic reference to multifaceted personalities, like the Godhead Himself. What are we to learn from this? I think it is that we should have an understanding of our dual natures in Christ (Flesh – man vs Spirit – Lion).

Also we must allow God to use us in multiple ways and know how to use reason as men, and power like lions.

Be holy

He measured it on the four sides. It had a wall around it, 500 cubits long and 500 cubits broad, to make a separation between the holy and the common.(Ezekiel 42:20, ESV)

We should be separate unto the Lord as holy and make clear divisions between the Holy and secular in our lives too.

Revelation 20:7–21:8

The Bible is Epic

And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,(Revelation 20:9, ESV)

This reads like the best action film ever, what epic events! We need to open our eyes to the literary quality of the bible, it is an engaging narrative revealing God’s truth.

Eternal punishment

and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.(Revelation 20:10, ESV)

The plain teaching of the bible is that hell is eternal punishment.

We will all be held accountable

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.(Revelation 20:12, ESV)

Everything that every person has ever done has all been recorded and we will be held to account for everything. We need the grace of God not only to be saved but to work out our salvation. As Francis Schafer said, now we are saved how should we then live?

He has already written your name

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.(Revelation 20:15, ESV)

Thank you Lord that in Your love You chose to write our names in Your book of life, from the foundation of the world. How awesome is Your love.

The day we yearn for

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”(Revelation 21:4, ESV)

This is the great day that our hearts yearn for.

Thirsty!

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.(Revelation 21:6, ESV)

Yes Lord, we are thirsty for You. Confess your thirst to God today and drink from His abundant supply.

Called to be overcomers

The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.(Revelation 21:7, ESV)

As saints we must be conquerors and overcomer’s. It is not enough to be a “Christian”, we must be overcomer’s, defeating sin in our lives, growing and being fruitful as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Don’t be cowardly

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”(Revelation 21:8, ESV)

We must be bold and brave in standing for the truth and not like the “cowardly”. You MUST be bold in your stand for God. Fear God, not man.

Job 38:34–41

God has given man understanding

Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?(Job 38:36, ESV)

Wow, this blows me away, and the evolutionary theorist have really bad solutions for this. If man would honestly consider this question then he would give glory to God for the amazing wonder of consciousness, intelligence and understanding.

The Animal Kingdom

Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?(Job 38:41, ESV)

Animals are in communion with God, this is an earth shattering reality.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Revelation 21

Today’s Reading: Ezek 39:25–40:49, Rev 19:11–20:6, Job 38:25–33

Today’s Theme: Star Creator

It is just amazing to consider that God created the stars and constellations, it is this same powerful God that will restore Israel and defeat evil.

Ezekiel 39:25–40:49

Israel, regathered to God’s glory

when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies’ lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations.(Ezekiel 39:27, ESV)

Israel will be the vindication of God’s holiness to all nations and at the same time, the act of regathering will be instrumental in Israel themselves being saved.

Set your heart

And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.”(Ezekiel 40:4, ESV)

We need to be really deliberate in what we look at and listen to. We should guard our eyes and ears. We should live a life of purpose, setting our hearts to do all that the Lord shows and tells us.

God has detailed plans

The length of the vestibule was twenty cubits, and the breadth twelve cubits, and people would go up to it by ten steps. And there were pillars beside the jambs, one on either side.(Ezekiel 40:49, ESV)

This precise measurement and all the others in this passage, show how precise and detailed God is in His plans. To be so detailed, He needs to be sovereign in power to perform His plan.

Revelation 19:11–20:6

The Word of God

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.(Revelation 19:13, ESV)

The mighty Word of God, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The final battle

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.(Revelation 19:19, ESV)

The final great battle where evil will ultimately be defeated.

The devil will be bound

And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,(Revelation 20:2, ESV)

The serpent that became a dragon – the devil – is bound for 1000 years, the enemy is defeated.

The 1st Resurrection

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.(Revelation 20:6, ESV)

We should live in a way that we are able to be a part of the first resurrection and reign with Christ.

Job 38:25–33

For His own pleasure

to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man,(Job 38:26, ESV)

God does amazing things that no one else will ever see, to bring Himself glory and pleasure.

God controls the stars

“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?(Job 38:31, ESV)

These are star constellations, God is the one who breathed the stars into existence.

Constellations created by God

Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children?(Job 38:32, ESV)

Star constellations were made by God as signs in the heavens, later corrupted by astrologers when they lost their original meaning.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Revelation 20

Today’s Reading:  Ezek 38:1–39:24, Rev 19:1–10, Job 38:12–24

Today’s Theme: Rejoice in God’s Power

Today’s theme is that we should rejoice in God’s mighty power, shown in the ultimate judgement and victory over evil.

Ezekiel 38:1–39:24

Who is Gog?

You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.(Ezekiel 38:16, ESV)

The latter days are mentioned here, is this an allusion to some great northern country, like Russia rising against Israel in the last days?

The following link provides insightful information from trusted bible dictionaries: Gog and Magog on the map

God judges the nations

I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the Lord.(Ezekiel 39:6, ESV)

God will lead these great nations into destruction as a judgement.

The universe restored

“And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.(Ezekiel 39:7, ESV)

How we long for that day, when the universe is fixed.

A great slaughter

For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.(Ezekiel 39:12, ESV)

Will this be a nuclear or biological attack?

Revelation 19:1–10

Rejoice the enemy is judged

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”(Revelation 19:1–2, ESV)

We should not be sorry but should rejoice at the final judgement of the evil world system.

Rejoice in God

And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”(Revelation 19:5, ESV)

Rejoicing in God is central to His purpose.

Heaven is full of praise

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.(Revelation 19:6, ESV)

Heaven is going to be loud.

Clothed with your own works

it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.(Revelation 19:8, ESV)

We are clothed with the things we do, so do right and do well.

The invited

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”(Revelation 19:9, ESV)

Those invited show that God’s people are specific and select, not universal.

Worship God

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.(Revelation 19:10, ESV)

The pure purpose of existence.

Job 38:12–24

Bow to God’s power

“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,(Job 38:12, ESV)

All men must bow to God’s majesty and power, we can’t stop morning from coming or make it come faster.

The mystery of the deep oceans

“Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?(Job 38:16, ESV)

Although man has gone to space, he still cannot do this.

The mystery of death

Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?(Job 38:17, ESV)

Man still does not understand and cannot master death.

Light

“Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,(Job 38:19, ESV)

This still baffles scientists.

Snow

which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?(Job 38:23, ESV)

This helped Russia defeat Germany.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Revelation 19

Today’s Reading:  Ezek 36:1–37:28, Rev 18:1–24, Job 38:1–11

Today’s Theme: New Creation

Today’s theme looks at God’s work, regeneration and new creation in the believer and in the earth. In Job, we look back at God’s amazing work of creation. God is the creator and regenerator.

Ezekiel 36:1–37:28

The Land is God’s

therefore thus says the Lord God: Surely I have spoken in my hot jealousy against the rest of the nations and against all Edom, who gave my land to themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and utter contempt, that they might make its pasturelands a prey.(Ezekiel 36:5, ESV)

This echoes what the nations do with Israel today too, however as the text says, the land of Israel is God’s possession and He has given it to the children of Israel as a testimony.

Filthy ways

“Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity.(Ezekiel 36:17, ESV)

That is vivid imagery, God is saying that their ways were like used sanitary towels.

God’s concern for his name

But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.(Ezekiel 36:21, ESV)

God is rightly uppermost in His own affections, and has concern for the sanctity and glory of His name.

God centred

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.(Ezekiel 36:22, ESV)

God acts for His glory, not for us, this is the most noble thing God could do. It would not be good for us if God was man centred, it is to our benefit that God is God centred.

The miracle or regeneration

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.(Ezekiel 36:25–27, ESV)

This is a picture of the miracle of regeneration, where God changes our very nature so that we can serve Him as we really should.

God saves us for his own glory

It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord God; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.(Ezekiel 36:32, ESV)

We are not saved through our own goodness and we are no better than others, this was true for Israel too.

Creation, redeemed

And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’(Ezekiel 36:35, ESV)

Redemption includes the creation, it is not just the people. How do we apply this today? The question of our responsibility before God, for the care of the earth, is an important one.

A people reborn

And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”(Ezekiel 37:3, ESV)

The miracle of regeneration, not of the heart of man only, but also the very nation of Israel.

Proclaim (prophesy) the truth

Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.(Ezekiel 37:4, ESV)

We must declare the truth to those dead in sin, so that they might live.

The work of the Holy Spirit

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”(Ezekiel 37:9, ESV)

Symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s work in regeneration.

God made us alive

And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.(Ezekiel 37:13, ESV)

We know God is real because we were dead in our sins and He made us alive in Christ.

Backsliding can be healed

They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.(Ezekiel 37:23, ESV)

This is the context of where the word backsliding comes from, it is something that needs to be healed.

The Shepherd King

“My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes.(Ezekiel 37:24, ESV)

Jesus is the Shepherd King.

Revelation 18:1–24

God’s call to His people

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;(Revelation 18:4, ESV)

I believe this is God’s call to His people in the Roman Catholic Church and those in any other cult.

The queen of heaven

As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’(Revelation 18:7, ESV)

The queen of heaven, this points to the false worship of Mary.

Capitalism will end

The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,(Revelation 18:15, ESV)

Capitalism (and all other isms) will end, it will be replaced by God’s theocratic kingdom.

Job 38:1–11

Don’t obscure good counsel

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?(Job 38:2, ESV)

Lord, I don’t want to darken godly counsel, and speak pure speculation without knowing the truth.

Where were you?

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.(Job 38:4, ESV)

God’s big question to His challengers who say He never created the earth, this statement alone is so humbling.

God’s humorous challenge

Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?(Job 38:5, ESV)

God even has a sense of humour when laying down this challenge.

The Angels were there

when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?(Job 38:7, ESV)

The Angels rejoiced when God created the earth.

God the greatest scientist

and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors,(Job 38:10, ESV)

God set the laws of physics in motion and maintains them.

God sets boundaries

and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?(Job 38:11, ESV)

God sets the boundaries of the sea… how awesome is our God.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Revelation 18