CHRIST IS BOTH CORNERSTONE AND CAPSTONE Zechariah was given a prophecy concerning Zerubbabel, the Jewish governor of Jerusalem. Zerubbabel had begun the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple that had been destroyed by the Babylonians, but work had stopped on it and the people were discouraged. Yet the Word of the Lord came to Zechariah saying,
ADVENT MEANS COMING The book of Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies about the “coming” of the LORD. Israel was called to “shout and be glad” in anticipation of His coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled in the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Yet Israel as
THE VERSE YOU WON’T SEE ON A CHRISTMAS CARD I’ve never seen Revelation 12:5 quoted on a Christmas card, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be. When the apostle John was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, the Lord pulled back the curtain between heaven and earth and invited old John to see things from
THY KINGDOM HAS COME With the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the host of heaven shouted with loud voices that the world’s kingdoms had finally come under Christ and that He would reign over them for eternity. The Lord’s Prayer is answered. God’s kingdom has come! When will this be? No one knows the
GOD IN OUR MIDST, REJOICING OVER US Near the end of Zephaniah’s prophecy of trouble and tribulation for Israel, he prophesied the coming of a Mighty Savior. Like a mighty hero, He would abide with them and rescue them. Like a husband, He would receive and rejoice over His bride. Like a mother, He would
LONGING FOR HOME AT CHRISTMAS Jerusalem had been overthrown by the Babylonians and its citizens had been taken captive. As they were force marched from Judea to Babylon, they were allowed to rest for a while by one of its rivers. Yet though their bodies were in Babylon, their hearts remained in Zion. And when
THE VISION OF THE SEVEN TRUMPETS Seven is a significant number in the Bible. The Bible opens in Genesis with the seven days of creation and it begins to draw to a close with the seven trumpets of judgment in Revelation. The number seven signifies completion. The apostle John wrote of seven signs and seven
BETHLEHEM, CHRIST’S PROPHESIED BIRTHPLACE In the midst of Micah’s prophecy for Israel’s judgment, the Spirit revealed the future birthplace of the Messiah. This is the prophecy that the priests and scribes quoted to King Herod when the Magi came seeking the one born king of the Jews (Matt. 2:6). Bethlehem was also called the
THE PROPHECY OF CHRIST’S COMING TO SHEPHERDS Micah prophesied that “sovereignty” would come to a “hill” where stood the “watchtower for the flock.” This prophecy points to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In Hebrew, the phrase “watchtower for the flock” is “Migdal Edar.” It described both a tower and a place. It would
SOME HAVE TO GO DOWN BEFORE LOOKING UP Jonah chapter two records the prayer of God’s runaway prophet. Jonah’s prayer took place from inside the belly of a great fish, which God had sent to rescue him from drowning. When he was convinced of his imminent death and felt his life slipping away, he finally