1 Corinthians 1: 18

II John 6 

And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

For further study - II John 1-6
The phrase, "many deceivers are entered the world" is not included in our reading today from II John, but it describes John's day as well as our day. In light of the situation, John in this the smallest of his writings gives us instructions for how to walk with the Lord in this day.
John lifts up the "truth" which he uses to describe the "revealed truth" the “holy” Scriptures. The Bible, as the only authority for doctrine, is our resource for a time like we live in today, a day of spiritual decline and apostasy.
In the message to all believers everywhere, John says the truth, true doctrine, is a necessity for our daily walk. Today we hear that "love" is the driving force in relationships - not doctrine. John says love is a key component in our Christian walk, but not to the exclusion of biblical doctrine. However, John brings the two - love and doctrine - into perfect harmony.
Our key verse for today, verse 6, defines love as walking in His commandments. We are not talking about the external “law” of Moses but the internal "law of Christ." I John 4:7-8 tells us what love is and how we got "true love." God is love and when we received Christ, the divine love of God was placed in our renewed heart. This love then is manifest in following "the law of Christ", which is to “love one another”, verse 5b.
Therefore, "love" and "law", i.e. the law of Christ, are partners in our walk with Him each day. To me this is very practical, especially in the world we walk through today. Because we love Him we do what He wants us to do.
I have found that to be the case with my dear wife of 48 years. The longer I am with her, the more I love her and the more I want to do those things that please her. This is a simple illustration of a profound truth that John reminds us of often in his letter.
Just one other thought. He wants us to show our love by walking in His law and at the same time, He enables us to do so. He also reminds us through John's letter that "reward day" is coming at the Judgment Seat of Christ and He does not want us to lose the reward He has for us, verse 8.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for the provision to walk by your law through your love that you placed within us.

II John 9 

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

For further study - II John 7-11

There are many today that say “doctrine divides” and it is better to love than to allow doctrine to divide believers. As we look at another book written by the apostle John, we see the view of the crowd who says doctrine divides is wrong.

John's perspective is that true Bible doctrine will unite, not divide. John gives us some directives for the last days that we should pay close attention to found here in our devotional reading for today.

John tells us about deceivers - many of them will enter this world at the time of the end. These deceivers will deny that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is come in the flesh. John is pretty tough on these deceivers - he calls them an "antichrist". Now that is not the “antichrist” - but an antichrist, verse 7.

Then John reveals the method for us to deal with these antichrists - these deceivers. He says if they come and bring their false doctrine, do not allow them to enter your house.

John also says do not bid them God speed. In fact, if we do allow them into our homes and bid them God speed, we are partakers of their evil deeds. John is straightforward with this message warning of false doctrine and those who propagate it in this world. We need to not only heed his warning, but follow his example in our associations as well.

Again John has a practical word for us. Verse 8 tells us that we must do as he has instructed or we are in danger of not receiving our “full reward”. Now this has nothing to do with salvation but with the rewards we receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

You may remember that at the “judgment seat” we will receive “crowns” that we will lay at the Lord's feet in thanksgiving for what he has done for us, Revelation 4:10.

You know, having a daily dose of prophetic truth is a blessing as it tells us how to live in these last days. Our passage today also reminds us that doctrine does not divide. It unites us all in Christ, as we await His call for us to join Him in the heavenlies.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to know the true doctrine of your word so that I am in perfect harmony with you, dear Lord.

II Kings 2 vs11 - And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

For further study - II Kings 2:1-11

This Biblical account of a living creature being taken into the heavens, alive, is the second such incident of this kind to be recorded in 6000 years of history. The first man to be taken to heaven alive was Enoch - an event recorded in Genesis 5:24. Enoch and Elijah are the only two men that have never died - and are now in the presence of God in the Third Heaven.
The New Testament writer of Hebrews says that "it's appointed unto man once to die" and yet these two men have not died as of yet - which leads us to other passages of Scripture for an explanation.
Revelation 11:3-12 foretells of two witnesses - two men who will have a preaching ministry from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during the coming 7 year Tribulation Period. Malachi 4:5-6 tells how God will send Elijah back to earth before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
It is reasonable to say that Elijah, one of the two men who have never died, will be one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11. The current popular Christian song, "we're living in the days of Elijah" speaks to this issue - and indicates that the Rapture, which must happen before the appearance of Elijah, must be close - let's keep looking up!


II Kings 9 vs36 

Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:

For further reading - II Kings 9:30-37

There are some very interesting characters in this Biblical narrative that reveal a very important principle of Bible prophecy or should I say several principles of Bible prophecy. I'll get to those principles in a moment, but first, the narrative.

Jehu is the son Jehoshaphat and had been made king of Israel, which included the 10 tribes who had separated from the other 2 tribes Benjamin and Judah. God would use Jehu to fulfill the prophecy He had given through Elijah.
Jehu would travel to Jezreel, the city, and be confronted by the wicked Jezebel. Do you remember her? She was the patron saint of the Prophets of Baal that were defeated and killed by Elijah, I Kings 18.
After Elijah defeated the 400 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, he ran, in fact, out ran King Ahab, Jezebel's husband and wicked king of Israel, all the way to Jezreel, I Kings 18:46. It was Jezebel who threatened to take the life of Elijah, I Kings 19:2, and scared Elijah so much that he ran for his life all the way to Mt. Sinai. However, Elijah returned to the land of Israel and gave the prophecy that Jezebel would die and her body would be eaten by the dogs, I Kings 21:23.
Now back to our narrative. The King of Israel, Jehu, would be used of God to fulfill the prophecy God gave to Elijah. After Jezebel's death, Jehu had her body thrown down to the ground and she was trodden upon under his feet.

Jehu commanded that Jezebel be buried, but when the men went to take her body for burial, all they found was the skull, feet and the palms of her hands. The dogs had eaten her flesh, which is what Elijah had prophesied would happen.

That is the narrative, and now the “principles” of Bible prophecy. Elijah had prophesied that dogs would eat the flesh of Jezebel in Jezreel. If it is indeed a prophecy from God through one of His prophets, it will happen just like it was prophesied - word for word. That is what happened here.
The second principle of Bible prophecy is that when one of God's prophecies is fulfilled that is assurance additional prophecies from God will also be fulfilled. There are countless records of that principle applied throughout the Bible. We will look at them as we continue our journey through the Bible with “prophetic prospectives” on our daily devotional.
Rest assured, this account of Jezebel's death confirms prophecies for the “last days”, which will also be fulfilled.

PRAYER THOT: Help me, dear Lord, in my study of prophecy to better understand the times we live in and the nearness of His coming.


II Kings 17 vs23 

Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

For further study - II Kings 17:1-23

The year is 722BC, the location is what is today northern Israel, and the situation is Assyria, led by King Shalmaneser, is taking the ten northern tribes, known as Israel, into captivity. Remember, after the death of King Solomon, I Kings 11, the twelve tribes of Israel had divided.
Jeroboam had taken ten tribes out of Jerusalem to the north and established Israel with these ten tribes. Rehoboam, the son of King Solomon, remained in the south with two tribes. These two tribes, Benjamin and Judah, became known as Judah.
A number of years later, the Assyrians came and took captive Israel, these ten northern tribes. The author of II Kings, who is unknown, but a man writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, II Timothy 3:16, reveals the sins of Israel, the reason for their capture.
Verse 7 says it all in the statement that "Israel had sinned against the Lord their God." The manifestation of that indictment was that the ten tribes had feared other gods more so than the Lord their God, verse 7. They also did secret things against the Lord, verse 9. They were involved with idol worship, verse 12. In reality, the bottom line was that they would not listen to the Lord and they hardened their necks against Him, verse 14.
The Lord had warned these ten tribes, Israel, as He always did, by the prophets that this would happen. The Jews failed to repent and return in obedience unto the Lord so He followed through on His warning and allowed their enemies to capture them taking them out of their promised land into Assyria.
By the way, the last three words of verse 23, "unto this day," refers to the time of the writing of II Kings, not until our day. I bring that to your attention because these ten tribes are not the "Ten Lost Tribes of Israel" as some try to say.
The Assyrians took the ten tribes, Israel, into captivity. But remember, the Babylonians defeated the Assyrians and took under its Kingdom all of the people of Assyria including these ten tribes.
These tribes are not lost - they were under the Kingdom of Babylon and representatives of these ten tribes returned to Jerusalem after the Medo-Persian Empire came to place and Cyrus allowed almost 50,000 Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.
Ezra, chapters 2 and 6, records that all of Israel, all twelve tribes or at least a family or two from these tribes returned to Israel. This is key, in light of the prophecy of Ezekiel 37:15-23, when once again the twelve tribes will be divided into two Jewish states, Israel and Judah.
The truth be known, the Jewish state of Israel today is so divided that Ezekiel's prophecy could happen in the near future. Our reading today helps us to see the background for the future fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
PRAYER THOT: Help me, Lord, to not sin against you and have to face Your chastisement.

II Kings 18 vs3 

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.

For further study - II Kings 18:1-12

Have you ever heard someone refer to the book of Hezekiah in the Bible? I often say, " in Hezekiah 3:16," in jest with people. Today, we are not in the book of Hezekiah, but II Kings, which is the record of Hezekiah as King of Judah, the revival under Hezekiah and the victory in Gaza for this King of Judah.
After the reign of King Solomon, I Kings 11, the Twelve Tribes of Israel divided into a Northern and a Southern “kingdom”. The ten tribes who went to the north were known as “Israel”. The two tribes in the south were “Judah”.
There were a number of Kings over Judah until the Babylonian captivity and Hezekiah was one of the greatest. He was great, not because he was a military genius or an astute politician, he was both wise in military activity, verse 8, and adept in the political arena. But Hezekiah's greatness came because, "he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord," verse 3.
The result of Hezekiah's "right living" led to a “revival” among the Jewish nation. The children of Israel had been misusing the "brazen serpent" that God had given the Jewish people for salvation, Numbers 21:5-9. This idolatrous activity took place all the way to the days of Hezekiah, over a thousand years after the brazen serpent in the wilderness wanderings.
The Jews were not "looking to live" on the brazen serpent but instead they were "burning incense" to the serpent. Hezekiah broke the brazen serpent into pieces to stop this idolatry. Hezekiah also removed the "high places," broke the images set up there, and cut down the groves, which all were symbolic of idolatrous worship.
Revival had broken out in Judah and it started with their King and worked its way down to the people. In contrast, this account reveals the defeat of the ten tribes in the north, Israel, by Shalmaneser, King of Assyria. They were defeated because they did not obey the voice of the Lord and transgressed the Mosaic Covenant, verses 9-12.
Before we conclude our devotional thoughts for today, please notice Hezekiah's victory over the Philistines in Gaza. The "Gaza" in this passage is the same as the "Gaza Strip" in modern times. God did give Judah, King Hezekiah, this piece of real estate almost 2,700 years ago.
Let me hasten to remind you that the Philistines of Biblical times are not the Palestinians of today. The Palestinians of today come from the line of Esau, Jacob's twin brother. (see my audio series Esau and the Palestinians)
It is so interesting that God gave the Jews victory over their enemies that were headquartered in Gaza. What goes around, comes around and will continue to do so in the future. Obadiah 14-18 tells of the victory that the Jews will have over the present residents of Gaza at the time of the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
That time is quickly approaching - keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Help me, dear Lord, to be like King Hezekiah and to do that which is right in Your sight.

I Chronicles 12:32 - And of the children of Issachar, which were men that understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

For further study - I Chronicles 12:23-38

The shepherd boy David grows up, becomes the King of Judah and serves in Hebron for 7 years, (II Samuel 5:1-6) before being approached by all the tribes of Israel to be their king. David would then serve as the king of all of Israel for 33 years more from the city of Jerusalem.
he record of the 12 tribes of Israel making David their king in I Chronicles 12 has a very interesting phrase that describes men of one of the tribes - the tribe of Issachar. These were "men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do," vs. 32. That description should be a principle that guides our daily lives - we can only make proper decisions today when we understand the times in which we are living. It is possible to understand the times only when we understand God's scenario found in Bible Prophecy for the last days.

God's word tells us we have a "sure word of prophecy" (II Peter 1:19) and we should take heed to the prophetic passage so Scriptures and study them in light of the times we find ourselves living in today (II Timothy 2:15).

II Kings 19 vs34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. For further study - II Kings 19:1-37

You need to take a moment with me and read all 37 verses of II Kings 19, our devotional reading for today. It is the story of a king’s prayer for the Lord to save the Jewish people and their city of Jerusalem, and how Jesus Christ intercedes to protect both the Jews and the city.

We first need some background. The King of Judah, King Hezekiah, had come to power and there was revival in the land of Judah and among the Jewish people, II Kings 18. Now around 710 BC, almost 15 years after the Assyrians had captured the ten tribes of Israel in the north, the Assyrians, led by King Sennacherib had come to capture Judah, the two southern tribes, and destroy the city of Jerusalem.
This caused King Hezekiah to humble himself, rent his clothes, cover himself with sackcloth and go into the Temple to pray. Hezekiah sent his servant, Eliakim, to the prophet Isaiah so that the prophet would also beseech the Lord for the protection of the Jews and Jerusalem.
Isaiah's message to King Hezekiah was a prophecy that the Lord would defeat the attacking Assyrian army. King Sennacherib would return home and there die in his own land.
Sennacherib heard the prophecy and determined that he would defy the Lord God of Israel. King Hezekiah heard that the Assyrians were coming and failed to believe the prophecy of Isaiah.
Therefore, he returned to the Temple to once again pray for his people and Jerusalem. The Lord's answer to the King's prayer would come through the prophet Isaiah, again.
This time Isaiah goes into more detail, verses 20-34. The Lord makes the promise to Hezekiah, through the prophet Isaiah, that He would defend the city of Jerusalem and thus the people, the Jewish people.
Verses 35-37 reveal the record of the prophecy fulfilled. That night Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecy. The "angel of the Lord" is a pre-incarnate appearance by Jesus who that night killed 185,000 of the attacking Assyrians, verse 35.
Then King Sennacherib returned to his capital city of Assyria, Ninevah, and Sennacherib was killed, by the sword of his enemies as Isaiah the prophet had foretold it would happen. This is another proof that Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.
Please notice before we leave this passage that the reason the Lord protected Jerusalem at this time was two-fold. The Lord saved Jerusalem for His own sake, He has chosen Jerusalem to dwell among His people forever, Psalm 132:13-14.
Jesus also saved Jerusalem because of His promise to King David that there would be a Temple in Jerusalem and one of David's descendants would rule on the throne in that Temple, forever. That king forever is "King Jesus".
Prophecy fulfilled in the past is evidence that prophecy yet to be fulfilled will be fulfilled.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for the pages of prophecy in the Bible that help me to understand the times in which I'm living and also alert me to the nearness of Your soon return.
II Peter 1 vs2 

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

For further study - II Peter 1:1-15

The disciple that followed Jesus Christ for three and a half years learning as he journeyed through Israel with the Master, the Messiah, the Apostle Peter finally learned how to be a true "servant" of the Lord.

In the first verse of Peter's second letter, this arrogant, loud-mouthed, mean, tough fisherman realized he was to be a “servant," a bondservant of Jesus Christ.

Notice in Peter's first letter, I Peter 1:1, he doesn't introduce himself as a servant but as an "apostle." This second letter was written not long before Peter's death and he knew that it was close, verse 14, and with that knowledge he could see things the way they really were, he was simply a "servant".

Peter tells us how "grace and peace" could be multiplied unto us through our knowledge of God the Father and Jesus the Son, our Lord. By that same knowledge, we also receive "all things that pertain unto life and godliness," verse 3.

This chapter, our extended reading, contains "Biblical mathematics." "Multiplication" is found in verse 2,"addition" is found in verses 5-7. Notice that because we are "partakers of the divine nature," verse 4, we can start with "faith" and then add virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and finally we can add to all of the above "love."

Let's look at Peter's purpose for this letter, II Peter 1:12-15. He wants us to "remember." Peter says he will not be negligent but instead will put us in "remembrance" of the things he had just written to us.

Peter says, verse 13, he will "stir up our remembrance" so that after his death, we who read his letter might "remember" these great truths. In chapter 3 of II Peter, the apostle reveals the way he will stir up our "remembrance" is by the words of the "holy prophets", the writings of the "apostles" and the words spoken by "Jesus Christ."

Peter's second letter is the "how to's" for living in the End Times. Read these words and “remember” them for the way ahead, until He comes.

PRAYER THOT: Help me, Lord, to remember Your Word so that I will be stirred up to action in these the last days.

II Peter 1 vs19 

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.

For further study - II Peter 1:15-21

Peter, as he writes what many call his “swan song”, reveals to the reader of his letter a message for those of us living in the last days. It is a letter that states the ground rules for the prophets used down through the centuries.
Peter says the written word, God's prophetic passages, are better than even an eyewitness account of an event, verses 16-18. That “more sure word of prophecy” is the Bible itself. We must only study the prophetic passages found between Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21. This is the inspired word of God. Any other prophecy from man today is of “another spirit” not the Holy Spirit.
Peter's exhortation to us is to study God's prophetic scriptures, which takes up about 30 percent of the entire Bible. He says that we "do well to take heed" to this word "as a light that shineth in a dark place", verse 19.
The reason Biblical prophecy is to be studied and will be to our benefit to do so is because it did not come to its written form by the will of man but holy men of God "wrote as the Holy Spirit inspired, breathed into them" what to write, verse 21.
The key to understanding the whole of God's prophetic word is found in verse 20. The phrase "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" is an essential in any deep study of Bible prophecy.
There are 17 Old Testament books that are essentially exclusively “prophetic” in nature. The book of Revelation in the New Testament is “prophetic” along with portions of all New Testament books with the exception of Philemon.
To read and study all of these books - not one passage in any of the prophetic books can contradict the other. They must all fit like a “hand in a glove” in perfect harmony. This principle will assist your study of prophecy as we realize even though we are studying books from a number of sources there is only one writer - the Holy Spirit of God.
We must now begin the study of this "sure word of prophecy" and continue our study "until the day dawn and the day star arise in our hearts," verse 19. That, of course, is the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to take heed to this “more sure word of prophecy” as I wait the Lord's coming.