During the Tribulation, the final Antichrist will rise to power. All those who want to buy and sell will be required to wear his name or his number 666 on their right hand or foreheads. And all who dwell on the earth will be deceived into worshiping him, except those whose names are written in the Book of Life of the Lamb. It will seem that he has free reign to do evil and get away with it.
The prophet Habakkuk felt the same way about the enemies of Israel in his day. And we may feel that way today as we watch our nation and the world spiraling downward morally and spiritually while evil men and women appear unrestrained, even celebrated. But there will come a day when God will judge the wicked and in the meantime, God reminds us that “the just shall live by faith.”
Today’s Readings:
Habakkuk 1-3
Psalm 146.1-10
Proverbs 30.17
Revelation 13.1-18
Well, we’re nearing the end of our reading for the year. I pray that you are preparing to begin again in the coming year or perhaps you plan to make reading through the Bible your goal for the first time. Even if you have tried before and quit somewhere along the line, I want to encourage you to recommit to that goal. I started several times before I completed it.
I’m not sure what year I did so successfully, but it was over 20 years ago. Several years later, I committed to sending a daily email to encourage the ladies in our women’s ministry to read through their Bibles. That daily email became this blog. Reading through the Bible each year has impacted my life in ways I could only have imagined.
I haven’t done it perfectly and don’t expect I ever will. I have fallen behind at times and had to catch up. I’ve burned the midnight oils and had to set my alarm for the wee hours of the morning because I needed to get a post out. But it is always a labor of love.
The plan I follow takes us through all of God’s Word in a year. Each day we read some in the Old Testament, some in the New, a passage in Psalms, and another in Proverbs. I list the readings each day and provide free printables for those who like journaling (at the bottom of each daily email). You can sign up here if you would like to join us.
So, what is your goal for Bible reading and study in the coming year?
Now on to today’s readings …
The Just Shall Live by Faith Even in the Hardest of Times
Revelation 13.1-18:
The Final Anti-Christ
Let’s look at some of the verses in this chapter:
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
Apparently, Satan will summon one of his demons to come up out of the abyss. This demon will control the man who is Antichrist.
Deceiving Many
3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
During the Tribulation, this final Antichrist will rise to power. His power will come from Satan himself. Many will be deceived into worshiping him and at one point he will at least appear to die and be raised from the dead, causing many more to worship him.
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
All but genuine believers will be deceived into worshiping him.
Antichrist’s Sidekick
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
This is Antichrist’s sidekick, so to speak. He is the final false prophet.
The Final False Prophet
He will promote the Antichrist and encourage others to worship him, will force people to wear the mark of the beast if they wish to buy or sell, and will have people killed for refusing. But those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ and whose names have been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb will be protected from this deception.
It’s encouraging to know that people can and will be saved during the Tribulation, but it will be an unprecedented time of trial and persecution for those who are. And, as I said a couple of days ago, it’s a bittersweet reality that many will continue to reject the truth.
All the more reason to pray and share the gospel with those God has placed in our paths now.
Now let’s look at our Old Testament reading …
Habakkuk 1-3:
Are the Wicked “Getting Away with Murder”?
I have a handwritten note in my Bible that says, “A Prophet’s Journey from Perplexity to Praise.” I’m not sure who said it or when, but I wrote it down during a sermon or Bible study. It spoke to me again this morning as I reread it along with some other margin notes.
In chapter 1, Habakkuk was crying out to God about the sin and wickedness all around him. He saw the righteous being mistreated and wicked people “getting away with murder,” as we might say today. He asked God two questions that most of us have asked at some time. And possibly one that the Tribulation saints will ask, as well: “How long?” and “Why?”
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, “Violence!”
And You will not save.
3 Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me;
There is strife, and contention arises.
4 Therefore the law is powerless,
And justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
God responded to Habakkuk by telling him, he was going to judge the guilty in short order. But He would do so by allowing an even more evil government, the Chaldeans, to come in and take over as an instrument of judgment.
The prophet was at first shocked and questioned God’s methods. He reminded God of His own character and pointed out that the Chaldeans would take the credit and use their success to worship their own false gods and military might. But in chapter 2, God spoke to Habakkuk again.
Write It Down
He assured the prophet that He would judge the Chaldeans, as well. In fact, God’s judgment on evil was so sure, that the prophet was to write it down (Hab 2.2). God also reassured Habakkuk that righteous men and women would persevere even in difficult times by putting their faith and trust in Him.
… the just shall live by faith (Hab 2.4).
Today, too, it’s easy to think that evil men and women are “getting away with murder,” but we must remember that God is still in control. One of His attributes is His omniscience. That means He knows everything. No one gets away with anything! God will judge evil in His perfect timing. We can write it down just like Habakkuk!
The Just Shall Live by Faith
The prophet’s journey to praise is summed up by his prayer of praise in chapter 3. I would encourage you to read it if you haven’t already. It says, in part:
2 O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;
O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.
In other words, Your will be done, but remember mercy. He spent the next 14 verses focused on the power and purposes of God. He had come to know and trust God in a deeper way and ended with this:
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.
May that be our prayer of praise, as well.
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 146.1-10:
Hope in the Lord
Probably, most of us are saddened by the anger and hostility we see in the world today.
Just turn on the news. It’s easy to see the deepening divide in worldviews, the change in expectations for government, and the loss of respect for human dignity and the rule of law.
My husband commented that it is easier to understand when we realize that without trust in a sovereign loving God, government and its protection for their perceived rights is all people have. Sadly, even professing believers sometimes fall into this trap.
But the psalmist reminds us that we are not to put our trust in the things of this world, including governments or politicians, to deliver us.
Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish (vv. 3-4).
But …
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God (v. 5).
Put your hope where it matters in the only one who can save, not just in this life, but in the life to come.
Proverbs 30.17:
Mocking Children
The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.
God places great importance on a child’s respect for authority, especially in the home.
But He also expects us to be good examples to our children. If not, we can become stumbling blocks and make it easier for our children to dishonor us and suffer the consequences of that choice. So while our children are 100% responsible for their choice to honor or dishonor their parents, we are 100% responsible for our own actions before God.
Coming Up:
In the next few days, we’ll talk about priorities, the responsibility involved in being a true friend, how Scripture needs to act as a lens to view the world, how to face tests and trials, false religion, and fanaticism. I hope you’ll join us.
Get Ready for the Coming Year with a Plan for Your Bible Reading
Don’t forget to sign up here for my daily email. It can serve as a gentle reminder to stay on track with your Bible reading and I believe you’ll benefit from the additional background and application comments that I share.
Start today so you can begin the habit and it will be a regular part of your day come January.
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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