1 Corinthians 1: 18

Malachi 2 vs16 

For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

For further reading - Malachi 2:10-16

Everywhere we turn in our devotional readings, we run into the “prophetic” (futuristic) and the “practical” characteristics of God's Word. Such is the case as we come to the writings of the last prophetic message of the Old Testament, Malachi.

We must first understand the context of our reading before we can see the prophecy revealed. We also need the historic background of this passage to be able to grasp the practical significance of our reading. Let's look at the historic first.
Malachi 2:11 refers to the Old Testament account of the tearing apart of the 12 tribes of Israel. This incident is recorded in I Kings 11. In that passage, it describes the conclusion of the 40 years of the reign of King Solomon over all of Israel.
With the demise of King Solomon, his kingdom will be divided, with 10 tribes moving to the north, and the 2 southern tribes remaining in Jerusalem, I Kings 11:9-40.
The ten tribes who went to the north kept the name “Israel”, and the two southern tribes became known as Judah. The division of the twevle tribes of Israel took place because of the multiplicity of marriages by King Solomon, who had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Malachi 2:11 states that the marriages to the daughters of strange gods were an abomination committed in Israel.
God had set the pattern for a biblical marriage in Genesis 2:24. Man and woman were to “leave” their parents and “cleave” to their spouse so that they would become “one flesh”.
In the New Testament, Jesus added to this directive stating that what He had joined together in marriage, let no man tear asunder, Matthew 19:6. Malachi reinforces this philosophy by stating that God hated the "putting away" of the wife, a divorce.
Now, please don't get angry if you've experienced a divorce. Remember that it's not the “unpardonable sin”, and, if you have accepted Christ as your Saviour, all sin is under the blood. However, we must lift high God's standard.
The prophetic aspect of today's reading is referring to the dividing once again of the nation of Israel, as foretold in Ezekiel 37:15-23. This prophetic passage predicted a future division of the 12 tribes of Israel into two Jewish states, Israel and Judah, during the coming Tribulation period. They will only come back together when the Messiah washes away all of their sin, Ezekiel 37:23.
It is possible that you have never heard that there will be two Jewish states in the future, (for more information, you can get the audio series "Ezekiel: Retribution or Restoration" from our bookstore). However, this future division is spoken of by both Malachi and Ezekiel, as well as the prophet Jeremiah, Jeremiah 3:18.
There are those who live in Judah and Samaria, (the "disputed territories"), today that are already making plans for a second Jewish state called “Judah”. The stage is, at this time in history, being set for the “final drama” to be played out. Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for the “practical” and “prophetic” significance of Bible prophecy. Help me to live by Biblical principles in these prophetic times.


Malachi 3:6 

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

For further study - Malachi 3:1-6

Remember, the prophet Malachi is the last prophet to have a ministry with a message from God before the 400 years of silence from the heavenlies and before the First Coming of Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 1 and 2. In our extended reading today we see in view both the First and Second Coming of Jesus Christ to earth.

"My messenger," in verse 1, is a prophecy of John the Baptist who would be the forerunner of Jesus. The extended passage also speaks of “two temples”, the one standing in Jerusalem at His First Coming and the one that will be in Jerusalem at His Second Coming. The "Lord," in verse 1, is Jesus at His First Coming.

John the Baptist would go before the Lord to announce His presence. This verse alone should be all that is needed for the Jews today to recognize that Jesus, 2,000 years ago, was the One who came to the Temple as the Messiah.

In verse 2 we see “another temple” and “another coming”, the Second Coming of Messiah Jesus Christ. When He comes the second time, He comes as the "judge" and the "refiner."

When Jesus comes, who will be able to stand up to His judgment? The answer is - no one. The focus of this prophecy is the Jewish people who will stand before the "refiner" for His purging.

At the First Coming of Jesus, the Jews rejected the One who gave numerous proofs of who He was. However, at the Second Coming, He comes as the "judge" and cleanses His people from open, public sin, verse 5. This judgment will be a very serious examination of the Jews and the purging of those lost ones from their ranks.

The prophet assures the Jewish people that he will not purge all of them, the Sons of Jacob "will not be consumed," verse 6. The reason, of course, is that the Lord is God and He changes not.

As I write this, I am reminded of the revelation of Jeremiah pertaining to the Jewish people. Jeremiah writes that the Lord's people, the Jewish people, will not cease to be a nation before Him forever, Jeremiah 31:35-36. The confirmation of that promise is that the sun, moon, and stars are shining in the heavenlies.

What an awesome God! By the way, what the Lord does for the Jews, He also does for each of us who know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

We, too, shall live forever. We know that statement to be true because of the Lord's protection of the Jewish people over 4,000 years and His relationship with the Jewish people today.


PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for being the Lord that changes not, One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.


Malachi 4 vs5 

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

For further study - Malachi 4:1-6

As we come today to the fourth chapter of Malachi, this last of the Old Testament books, we see the prophecy that will span the four hundred year period of silence from Malachi to the New Testament.

From Malachi to Matthew is a four hundred year period that the Lord does not communicate with His chosen people, the Jewish people. However, He tells them what, or who to look for before the Messiah will appear on the earth.

Malachi reveals that Elijah the prophet who went to heaven in a "chariot of fire," II Kings 2:8-11, will once again appear in history to be the forerunner of the coming Messiah. Remember, Elijah has never died and Malachi says that Elijah will come back to the earth and do so, "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord", verse 5.

Let me explain this verse. "The great and dreadful day of the Lord" is the day that Jesus steps back onto earth on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Zechariah 14:4. Elijah is the prophet that the Lord will send back to earth to call the people of the world to Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:11-14 records the words of Jesus that indicate John the Baptist could have fulfilled the prophecy of Malachi as it relates to Malachi 4:5, had the Jews believed. The Jews not only rejected the Messiah Jesus Christ but His forerunner, John the Baptist, the potential fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy.

Revelation 11:3-12 reveals the appearance of two witnesses during the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation Period. These two will be stationed in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount. They will direct the worldwide evangelism project to reach the entire population on earth with the gospel during the seven year Tribulation Period. Then Jesus Christ will come back, at His Second Coming, Matthew 24:14.

One of the two witnesses will be Elijah, as per our prophetic prospective on Malachi 4:5. Hebrews 9:27 says, "it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment." Elijah will come as one of the witnesses, die and then will be resurrected and called up into heaven, Revelation 11:3-12.

The days of Elijah are quickly approaching. We need to live in light of these truths with a great expectancy of His return to the earth.

Prayer Thot: Thank You, Lord, for the prophetic scenario that You lay out in Your Word for the end times. Since we know that these prophecies will be fulfilled, seemingly in our days, help me to live in light of these truths.

Mark 1 verse 38 - And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
For further study - Mark 1:21-39
The life of Jesus Christ was written, in the Gospels, by four men who spent much time with Him when He was here on earth. Mark wrote of the “servant” that Jesus became to all people He dealt with during His ministry.
At the same time, Mark brings to our attention the ministry of Jesus in the little village where He would be headquartered for 3 1/2 years of ministry, the fishing village of Capernaum.
This was also the town where Peter lived with his wife and mother-in-law, Mark 1:30. After a service on the Sabbath day, the Lord went to Peter's house and healed Peter's wife's mother. This event attracted attention to Jesus and His healing ministry and the people gathered to watch as Jesus healed those people brought to Him.
Early the next morning, Jesus went out to pray alone. But leave it to Peter to go out and find Jesus as He was praying. Peter told Jesus that all men were seeking Him. Notice what Jesus said to Peter, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also".
Then Jesus informed all those who gathered that He had come to preach, heal, cast out devils and serve the people. This is what the ancient Jewish prophet Isaiah had written that the “true Messiah” would do when He came to the earth, Isaiah 61:1-2a.

Even the demons could recognize who Jesus was. The demons that Jesus called out of the man in the synagogue in Capernaum told Jesus that even though he was a “demonic creature”, he knew who Jesus was, "the Holy One of God."

The preaching, healing and casting out of demons ministry of Jesus not only drew the people in the Galilee to Him but these ministries also authenticated Jesus as the Son of God, the “holy one” of God, who came to be the Saviour of the world.

Jesus was, and is, the focus of Bible prophecy. The fact that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy is evidence that He will fulfill additional prophecy pertaining to Him. The “end time” prophecies related to the “second coming” of Jesus Christ are nearing their fulfillment.

What unique days we are living in today. This is a “day” when He could come in the clouds above us and “shout” to have us join Him in the air - let's keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Help me to live recognizing that Jesus is the “Holy One of God” and that He could call for us to join Him in the air.


Mark 1 vs39 

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

For further reading - Mark 1:21-39

As we come to our devotional reading for today, I selected this portion of Mark because I was just at Capernaum and read from this passage. Our key verse records the Lord's ministry of casting out demons throughout the Galilee region.

Several thoughts come to mind as we read together this scripture. The New Testament Gospel writers reveal to us that “demonic activity” was prevalent during the time of the Lord's ministry on the earth.

This casting out of demons by the Lord was for the benefit of the one demon-possessed, of course, but it also demonstrated the authority of Jesus, verse 22, and that He had power over the "satanic world."

Remember that a "demon" is an “evil angel” that has taken up habitation in the body of a human and through this possession controls the person's every activity.

Jesus did have authority to cast out demons and He gave that authority to the apostles and no one else. The casting out of demons is not a ministry for today. In fact, if you confront someone that is demon-possessed, do not dare demand that the demon do anything. That would be dangerous and it is for the Lord to do that.

What we can do is lead the “demon-possessed” person to the Lord Jesus Christ. Once someone is saved, the Holy Spirit takes up habitation of the newly saved demon-possessed person. A demon and the Holy Spirit both cannot live in the same body and the Holy Spirit will take care of the demon by driving him out.

Another interesting insight from our reading would be included in the thought that the demons would talk to Jesus and the demon recognized who it was that he was dealing with, verse 24. Did you notice, even the demons will confess that Jesus is the “Holy One of God”? Every tongue will confess Him as the One from God.

As at the first coming of Jesus Christ when there was much demonic activity, there will also be an intense struggle between the good angels of God and the evil angels of Satan at the Second Coming of Jesus. In fact, the closer we get to the time of the Lord's return, seven years after the Rapture, demon activity will increase ten fold.

Jesus confirmed this in His Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24, when in response to the questions from the disciples, Jesus said the first, most important sign of His Second Coming will be “signs, wonders and miracles with unhindered demonic activity”, Matthew 24:4,5,11 and 24.

These Satanic attacks that happen near the Lord's return are one of the indicators that Jesus will soon shout for us to join Him in the air. In fact, that shout could come today for the Rapture. Keep looking up………….Until

PRAYER THOT: Thank you for the strength, Lord, to avoid the satanic attacks and in fact the ever increasing attacks, as we draw near to the Rapture of the Church.
Mark 9 vs.7 - And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
For further study - Mark 9:1-13
Mark's record of the transfiguration reveals a number of practical and prophetic truths that will benefit each of us as we read and realize these are for our everyday consumption. Remember this event follows the story of Jesus and His disciples in Caesarea of Philippi where Peter pronounced Jesus the "Christ", the Messiah. It was then that Jesus told His disciples to stop telling men of Him and who He was. It was here also that Jesus first revealed His upcoming death, burial and resurrection.
Now, we come to the record of the transfiguration and the events surrounding the Lord's appearance in His glorified body. Jesus told His men that there would be some of them who would not die before they saw Him in His kingdom to come.
Then, six days later, the Lord takes the "inner circle" up the mountain, on the slopes of Mount Hermon and Peter, James and John personally witnessed Jesus in His glorified body. They would also see Moses and Elijah in their glorified bodies as well. The Lord was speaking prophetically and the prophecies were being fulfilled.
Peter's statement at the transfiguration reveals that he thought the "kingdom" had come. That's why Peter wanted to setup three "tabernacles". He wasn't talking about putting up three statues to honor Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Peter wanted three "succas" to be built which is what the Jewish people do during the seven day Feast of Tabernacles.
A "succa" is a thatched hut similar to the ones the Jews used during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The Jewish people erect a "succa", tabernacle, and live in it during the Feast of Tabernacles today. The Feast of Tabernacles is a prophecy of the Kingdom Period yet to come.
Peter, seeing Jesus in His glorified body thought the "kingdom" had come, therefore the setting up of the three tabernacles. Of course, it was not the Kingdom Period beginning, but only a foretaste of things to come. What happened next is very significant.
God the Father interrupted the event and made a very profound statement, "This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him." What a statement, God the Father confirms Jesus as His Son and then the exhortation to all of us, "Hear ye Him." We must hear what the Lord says because He is the Son of God, the One with what we need to hear.
PRAYER THOT: Thank You Lord for Your words, the Word of God, the Bible. Help me to listen closely to what You say and then to do it.


Mark 11 vss9-10 

And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

For further study - Mark 11:1-19

Our reading for today is focused on the day, by tradition, that we refer to as "Palm Sunday." A quick reading of our extended portion for today seems to verify the account that we have long proclaimed as the presentation of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of prophecy, the long awaited Messiah. Indeed, the passage does reveal the events of at least three days in the life of Jesus Christ during Passion Week, the week of the death of our Lord.

Jesus was abiding at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus located in Bethany on the backside of the Mount of Olives. He had arrived on Friday afternoon just in time for the Shabbat meal, the special meal for a Jewish family on Friday evening which is technically the Jewish day of Saturday, the Sabbath.

John 12:12 states that the next day, Saturday, the official presentation of Jesus Christ as King took place with His “Triumphal Entry” into the city of Jerusalem. That means that it is "Palm Saturday" we should celebrate, not Palm Sunday as is the custom according to tradition.

Take a deep breath and simply look at the Scriptural facts. Jesus arrived at Bethany on Friday afternoon and the next day, entered the Temple Mount area having been hailed as the Blessed One, the One who comes in the Name of the Lord, verses 9 and 10.

Notice that the day of His Triumphal Entry He walked onto the Temple Mount as the “Potentate”, the King of Kings, verse 11. The next day, Sunday, when He came to the Temple complex, the money changers were set up and doing business and He overthrew their tables and ran them out of the area, verses 15-18. He had come to the Temple as the “Priest”, the High Priest. That evening, He returned to Bethany and the next day, He returned to the Temple Mount as the “Prophet” and would teach His disciples “things to come”, verses 27-33.

The narrative clearly teaches that the order of appearances on the Temple Mount is as I have described it. The money- changers were not in the Temple complex the first day, Saturday, or Jesus would have thrown them out then. They were not there because it was the Sabbath and they did not work on that day. However, the next day, Sunday, the first day of the Jewish work-week, they were in their regular place and Jesus took care of them.

I present this to you because we must be correct on our understanding of Scripture. Luke 19:41-42 tells us that Jesus showed up the exact day He was to be there for the official presentation of Him as King according to Daniel's prophecy of the day as foretold in Daniel 9:25-26. He didn't arrive a day early or a day late - but right on time the day He was to be there to fulfill prophecy. God's work is exact.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to be a true student of God's word - it matters.

Mark 13 vs14

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

For further study - Mark 13:14-23

The portion of scripture selected for our devotional today is from the Olivet Discourse, the message that Jesus gave on Tuesday afternoon of "Passion Week", the week of our Lords crucifixion.

In response to a question from His disciples, Jesus was explaining what will happen during the seven year Tribulation Period that leads up to the Second Coming of our Lord.

The disciples had asked the Lord for some "signs" of His Second Coming, His return to the earth to set up His kingdom, Mark 13:4.

Remember these are Jews asking for "signs" of the Second Coming. I Corinthians 1:22 reveals that God will give the Jews "signs"; however, "signs" are not for Christians.

We're not looking for "signs", we are listening for a "sound", the sound of the trumpet, the Lord's shout and the voice of the archangel, I Thessalonians 4:16, and we go to the heavenlies to ever be with the Lord.

By the way, there is not one prophecy that must be fulfilled before the Rapture. All prophecies yet to be fulfilled come after the Rapture.

Now back to the "signs" for the Jews, Jesus told them, verse 14, when you see the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by the prophet Daniel, Daniel 9:27, they were to flee to the mountains.

The "abomination of desolation" is when the Anti-christ walks into the Temple, into the "holy of holies" and claims to be God, II Thessalonians 2:4. That is when the Temple is desecrated. That happens at the mid-way point of the Tribulation Period, some 3 1/2 years after the Rapture.

This then means that there must be a temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in the first part of the Tribulation Period. All preparations have been made for a temple to be erected and go into full operation, today.

For the first time in history, all that needs to be done to fulfill the Lord's prophecy is in place. The Lord also gave additional information to describe when this all would happen, verse 22, when false teachers and false prophets were actively using signs, wonders and miracles to deceive and seduce the world.

This passage of scripture describes our day, today, which seems to indicate that we are so close to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Only one thing has to happen before all of these prophecies will be fulfilled, the Rapture of the Church, which could happen at any moment.

Prayer Thot: Perhaps today will be the day, Jesus, that You shout for us to join You in the heavenlies. Even so come, Lord Jesus, and help me to live in that expectancy.

Mark 13 vs30 - Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

For further study - Mark 13:28-37

Our devotional for yesterday was from Matthew 24:1-14 which is a record of the "Olivet Discourse" as reported by the disciple, Matthew. Luke also recorded the "Olivet Discourse", Luke 21:5-38.

Our devotional for today Mark 13:28-37 is a section of Mark's record of the most "profound prophetic conference" ever held on the Earth with Jesus, the Messiah, as the teacher.

As we discussed in the devotional from Matthew, the first portion of the Lord's message dealt with six major "signs" of the soon coming of Jesus Christ. His second coming to the Earth. We drew an interesting parallel between the "signs"Jesus gave, Matthew 24:47, and the "seals," the sealed judgments found in Revelation 6.

As we look at Mark's record of the "Olivet Discourse" we bypass additional "signs" that we will look at in another devotional. At the conclusion of the Lord's discourse, He used a parable to emphasize how to recognize the time and nearness of His coming. It's the parable of the "fig tree".

Jesus would often use the natural surroundings of where He was teaching to drive home His point. Let me remind you that this parable is not using the "fig tree" as the nation of Israel.

It's a simple illustration of how in the spring, which was the time of the year when the discourse was given, two days before the spring feast of Passover.The Lord says to His disciples, "notice that when leaves show up on a bare limb of a fig tree, it means summer is near".

Then Jesus says, "so likewise when ye shall see these things", these things were deception, war, famine, pestilence and earthquakes, the sealed judgments, know that it will be His time to return to Earth.

Our key verse even gets more specific, verse 30. "This generation shall not pass, until all these things be done", Jesus will come back to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

When the Lord referred to "this generation" He was not referring to those with Him that day on the Mount of Olives, they have passed away. Jesus was referring to the generation who "sees these things", the "signs".

Therefore, those people who seeing "these things" they are the people who will not pass until He comes. The people who are seeing these things are "we" that are alive today. Some of this generation will die but the main group could well be the "generation" that sees Jesus come back to the earth.

Prayer Thot: Thank you Lord for your "prophetic word" that gives the evidence of the nearness of Your soon return, which helps me to be watching for this "glorious appearing."
Mark 14 vs25 - Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
For further study - Mark 14:12-25
This is Mark's record of what has been called the "Last Supper". It was actually the observance of the "Passover Seder" which is the "meal" wheren Jews celebrate the Exodus out of Egyptian bondage which took place 3,500 years ago.
The "Passover Seder" is observed annually since the very first Passover, Exodus 12. It was at that time the Lord commanded the Jews to rehearse, at a special gathering, every year the Lord's provision and protection throughout these thousands of years.
The one-day "feast day"of "Passover", and the seven-day "feast" of "Unleavened Bread" are observed together, an eight day celebration. The actual day of Passover was 24 hours, starting from the evening of Passover, during the time of Jesus Christ on Wednesday evening, until sundown on Thursday evening.
The disciples, Peter and John, had prepared the meal and they met together with Jesus and the other disciples in an "Upper Room", verse 15, in the city of Jerusalem for the actual meal and the other activities.
The ingredients of the meal were "roast lamb" that represented the "passover lamb"; "unleavened bread" which represents the "separation between the bondage and freedom"; and "bitter herbs" which represents the bitter time in the Egyptian bondage for the Jewish people.
They would also have "bread and wine" in the meal. By the way, the wine was not an "intoxicating wine" because they weren't allowed to have "leaven" anywhere near the meal. Remember, grape juice can only ferment when leaven is added. That should settle an argument or two out there.
That night, Jesus and His disciples rehearsed the story of Passover and the sacrifice of the "sacrificial lamb". It would be at 3:00pm the next afternoon that Jesus Christ would be crucified on the cross to become our "sacrificial lamb".
Jesus became our "Passover lamb" by His death in Jerusalem, I Corinthians 5:7. Jesus actually fulfilled the Jewish feast day of Passover, for the Jewish people. We, as Christians, derive the spiritual benefits of our Lord's death, burial and resurrection which is our way to salvation, I Corinthians 15:1-5 and Romans 1:16.
After the "Passover Seder" Jesus instituted what we call the "Lord's Supper", the communion service, verses 22-24. Now, each time we celebrate the "Lord's Supper", the communion, we do it in remembrance of Him, I Corinthians 11:23-26.
Notice the last directive for the "Lord's Supper", "do this until I come."

Each communion service should "look back" to what our Lord did for us; "look in" so we can get our hearts right with the Lord; and "look up" for Him to come. As Jesus closed out the "Passover Seder", He said the next time He would join us for this sweet communion supper would be in the "Kingdom" that is yet to come.

What a heritage we receive from the Jews, and what prophetic truth in all that they are, and do today.
Prayer Thot: Thank you Lord Jesus for being my "Passover", help me to tell others this great story.
Matthew 1 vs.17 - So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

For further study - Matthew 1:1-25

What an appropriate time of the year to read this first chapter of Matthew, one of four chapters that record the information about the birth of Jesus. The other three chapters are Matthew 2 and Luke 1 and 2.

As you start to read Matthew 1 you will notice that you are reading a genealogy which sometimes is difficult to read. Please remember, there are many things you can learn from your reading of genealogies.

For example in verses 3 and 5 there are three names of women mentioned, "Thamar" in verse 3 and "Rachab" and "Ruth" in verse 5. These women are Gentiles and are in the line from Abraham to Jesus which is the Jewish "line of promise" through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

We won't be able to cover the stories of these three great ladies, suffice to say, they are part of the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. I'll skip over verse 17 for the moment, and get back to it, but please notice the hand of the Lord in the events that unfolded as recorded in verses 18-25.

Mary and Joseph were engaged, and not married, therefore they had not come together, physically, as husband and wife, verses 18 and 25. This will confirm that the mother of Jesus was a virgin, verse 23, and that which was "conceived in her was of the Holy Spirit", verse 20.

According to Old Testament law the only time a man could divorce his "wife", or should I say "wife to be", was during the "engagement" period.

During that time if he found his future wife to have been unfaithful or with another man, then the husband to be could have "put her away publicly", verse 19.

The phrase in verse 20, "the angel of the Lord" is either a "pre-incarnate" appearance of Jesus Christ, or a "special angel", dispatched by the Lord to meet with Joseph and to assure him that his wife to be was to deliver the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

This newborn son would be known as "Emmanuel" which interpreted means "God with us", verse 23. Jesus Christ would be "all God", and "all man", He would be the "God/man" to dwell among humankind for a period of time.

Now, let's look at verse 17. It is the compilation of the first sixteen verses of Matthew 1. It speaks of the fourteen generations from Abraham to King David and the fourteen generations form King David to the "carrying away into the captivity".

Then there was another fourteen generations to Jesus Christ. This is the very first genealogy that I have seen which includes "an event in history"

instead of a "personality".

This genealogy points out the time of the "Babylonian Captivity" of the Jewish people. It was at this time that the "times of the Gentiles" began.

"The times of the Gentiles" is the period of time when the "Jews and Jerusalem" are under Gentile world powers.

We are alive in "the times of the Gentiles" right now and this period will continue through the seven year Tribulation Period until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ when He brings an end to the Gentile world powers and sets up His Kingdom, a worldwide theocracy.

Even in the account of the First Coming of Jesus Christ we are reminded of His Second Coming. Babylon, modern day Iraq, will be a major player in the end times. Babylon is the place that Jesus will destroy just prior to His Second Coming to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Revelation 16:17-21.

Prayer Thot: Thank you Lord, for the reminders of Your Second Coming as we study and celebrate Your First Coming.

Matthew 2 vs.11 - And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

For further study - Matthew 2:1-23

We come today to the second chapter of Matthew which is also the second chapter to record the details of the birth of the Messiah, the first coming of Jesus Christ.

This chapter develops the Christmas story and expands the narrative over a two to five year period of time. That is implied in that Joseph and Mary with their son, Jesus, seem to have remained in Bethlehem for up to a year after His birth, and before they would have planned to return to Nazareth.

Verse 11 tells us that they were living in "the house" when they would be visited by a very distinguished group from the East, verse 2. After traveling into Egypt, verse 13, Joseph and Mary with "baby Jesus" would return to Israel, verse 21, most likely after at least a year. Therefore we are seeing a period of two to five years unfold in the narrative.

We're told that the "wise men" were from the East, either Persian or Chaldean, and would enter Jerusalem, causing King Herod to be troubled, along with all of the residents of Jerusalem, as well.

There is no reference that states there were only "three wise men", there may well have been three hundred. However, how ever many there were, they caused quite the stir in the city of Jerusalem.

They did bring "three gifts" to Jesus, gold, frankincense and myrrh, verse 11. Maybe that's why people think there were only three wise men. The time of the arrival in Jerusalem, and these wise men looking for the newborn babe, Jesus, I don't believe is coincidental.

I believe these men had seen the prophecy of Daniel, Daniel 9:25-26, and by studying the scriptures they were able to determine the time in which they were living, was also the time for the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

By studying Daniel's prophecy today, we, and even the Jews, must realize that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, had to be on earth before 70AD and the destruction of the Temple along with the devastation of the city of Jerusalem, again Daniel 9:25-26.

These wise men would take the Word of the Scriptures, once again, to determine the exact location of the place of birth for the "King of the Jews", verses 2-6. Notice how the Jewish leaders at the Temple knew the Scriptures telling of the birthplace of the "One " who would "rule the people of Israel", verse 6.

It seems that these religious Jewish leaders chose to be "blind' to the truth of scriptures. I make that statement realizing that many of us, even born-again Christians, choose to be "blinded" to the truth as well.

Just a thought about those three gifts brought to Jesus by the wise men, verse 11. The gold was brought because He was born a King; the frankincense speaks of the fragrance of His life; and the myrrh depicts His death.

Notice also that the wise men brought gifts "to Him", not gifts to exchange with each other. We must bring gifts to Him, even today. We must all work at not becoming so caught up in the "spirit of Christmas" that we take our eyes off the true reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ.

One other thought about the wise men, when they found the baby Jesus, having given Him the gifts, they "departed another way", verse 12. They did not return to Herod to tell him where the baby Jesus was with His parents. Everyone that comes to Jesus must depart another way. He will change each of us.

This second chapter of Matthew is a record of many Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah being fulfilled. It states time and again in the passage how prophecy had been fulfilled.

Fulfilled prophecy gives each of us a basis upon which to conclude and believe that all additional unfulfilled prophecies about Jesus Christ will be fulfilled also. The fulfilled prophecies of the First Coming set the stage for the yet to be fulfilled prophecies pertaining to His Second Coming, which also will be fulfilled, and seemingly in the near future.

Prayer Thot: Thank you Lord, for the assurance that yet to be fulfilled prophecy will be fulfilled as foretold. Help me to live expecting You to come at any moment, maybe today.

Matthew 2vs.19-21

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

For further study - Matthew 2:1-23
What an exciting, power-packed passage we are able to study today!

We will see the historic as well as prophetic significance in our key verses. Let's get started exploring the importance of this passage.

Jesus Christ was born before 4 BC. We know that because of the statement in Matthew 2:1, which states that Jesus was born in the time of Herod the Great. Herod the Great died in 4 BC, therefore we know that Jesus' birth was before that date. The reference to Jesus as "the King of the Jews," (Matthew 2:2), is prophetic, following the prophecy that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will reign as King during the Millennium, (Zechariah 6:17).
Jewish people today should realize what the chief priests and scribes understood about the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem of Judea, and recognize that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Micah 5:2, which names the location for the birth of the Messiah.
Herod, who claimed to be the "King of the Jews," was threatened by this newborn king, and had all Jewish boys under 2 years of age murdered. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15.
By the way, the reason that Herod was so focused on killing the newborn Jesus is because of who his forefather was. Herod was an Idumean, or an Edomite, which makes Herod a descendant of Esau. One of Herod's ancestors was Haman, the villain of the book of Ester.
It was because of Herod that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus would flee to

Egypt, thus setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Hosea 11:1 reveals that Messiah would come out of Egypt into Nazareth in the land of Israel. Jesus did just that. Notice the name of the land was Israel, (Matthew 2:20-21). Now this is significant.

My copy of the Bible is a very well respected translation and a very widely used study bible. It has maps in the back of the book that labels the land "Palestine". The Bible calls the land Israel, not Palestine. Man gave the land the name Palestine, not God. No where in the Word of God is God's land called Palestine.

The Roman emperor in the second century called the land Palestine in an effort to denigrate the land. Using the name Palestine for the land of Israel is a political statement that is somewhat of an anti- Semitic, anti-biblical statement. This term for God's land should not be used. Remember, words have meaning and we must use the correct words to convey the correct meanings.

The use of the word Palestine for the land of Israel helps to set the stage for the Palestinians, who are the descendants of Esau, to rise up and kill the Jewish people. Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for the prophetic truths that help me to recognize the soon coming of Jesus Christ.