1 Corinthians 1: 18

PRAYER THOT: Help me, Lord, to live for your soon return as I understand the times we are living in by reading Bible prophecy.
Jeremiah 30 vs.7 - Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. For further study - Jeremiah 30:1-11

Starting with the thirtieth chapter of Jeremiah we move into the section of this prophetic book referred to as the "messages of consolation", where Jeremiah, "the weeping prophet", reveals his heart and the prophetic Word of God that is somewhat of a "consoling message" to the Jews who had heard the previous messages of retribution.

Jeremiah 30-33 are the four chapters where the Lord uses the ministry of Jeremiah to console the Jewish people. As the prophet begins this section he does so in chapter 30 with a mix of retribution and consolation.

Jeremiah lets the Jews know that though they will go into the Babylonian Captivity, and indeed they were taken captive by the Babylonians, that the Lord would bring them back into "the land of their forefathers", verse 3.

Jeremiah told the Jews that they would actually "possess the land" as promised to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, verse 3b. This passage has a "double fulfillment" as is the case in other prophetic passages as well.

This means that there would be a "near term fulfillment" of these prophecies, and these prophecies were fulfilled, the Lord did return the Jews to the "land of their forefathers." The "long term fulfillment" of these prophecies, that the Jews would come back into the land in the last days, is in the process of being fulfilled, even today.

Verse 8 says that the "yoke" of the enemies of the Jewish people will be broken in the future, and that "King David" will be raised up to be co-regent with Jesus Christ as the Lord rules and reigns at the Temple in Jerusalem in the future Kingdom.

Notice verse 7 and the warning of "troublesome times" for the Jewish people, which is also yet future. I'm referring to the seven year "Tribulation Period" that takes place after the Rapture of the Church.

Jeremiah referred to the "time of Jacob's trouble" which is the last three and a half years of the seven year "Tribulation Period". The "time of Jacob's trouble" is like no time ever in the history of the Jewish people, verse 30.

It will be a time when the Lord dispatches the Archangel Michael, Daniel 12:1, to keep the Jews from being totally eliminated. God promised Jeremiah that there will be a great number of Jews to be saved, both physically and spiritually, out of the "time of Jacob's trouble".

By the way, as we watch the events of today unfolding and those things happening in Israel and among the Jewish people, it seems to be an indication that we are quickly approaching the "time of Jacob's trouble".

Remember, the Rapture takes place before the Tribulation, and the Lord's shout for us to join Him in the heavenlies could happen today.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for Bible prophecy that alerts me of the times I'm living in. Help me to live for You as I await Your return.

Jeremiah 16 vs17 

For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

For further study - Jeremiah 16:10-21

Jeremiah was a Prophet, chosen and set apart for his ministry by the Lord, in eternity past. We know this from His statement in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, set thee apart for service."

In fact, the first part of verse 5 says that "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee," referring to Jeremiah who God knew in His mind in eternity past. Jeremiah was set apart to be the "prophet to the nations" which included the nation of Israel as well.
In Jeremiah 16 the Lord, through Jeremiah, speaks to the Jews about the way their fathers failed to obey the Lord and walk in His way. Then he says to them, verse 12, "and ye have done worse than your fathers."
This is exactly what is happening among the Jews today, but there is a "spiritual application" in these verses as well. The "Body of Christ", the Church, is moving each and every day away from the purpose of the Church, set in place by Jesus, the "Head of the Church".
The purpose of the Church is basically two-fold, to be Holy as He is Holy and to go out into the world and win people to the Lord for their eternal salvation. By the way, we are to "go out" not try and bring the people into the church.
The early Church, during the first century, set the pattern, Acts 5:42. The new Christians daily went into the Temple, which was not a church, but a gathering place, and house to house as they "ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ".
This is a "spiritual application" from this passage. As we come back now to the "technical interpretation" of the passage notice in verses 13-15 that the Lord speaks of scattering the Jews across the world, casting them out of their land to places they knew not, where they would serve other gods and the Lord would show them no favor.
Verse 14 reveals that the day will come when the Jews will not speak of the "Exodus" at the Passover Seder, as is the custom, but instead will talk about how the Lord brought them from the "land of the north" verse 15, and all the lands where they had been scattered for the last 2,000 years.
This prophecy is being fulfilled even today as we witness over one million Jews from Russia, the "land to the north," immigrating into Israel. There are Jews who have come from over one hundred nations of the world, back into the land as Jeremiah said they would do in the last days.
Please notice one other verse before we leave this passage. It's our key verse for today, verse 17. "They are not hidden from my face, neither is their iniquity hidden from my eyes." The eyes of the Lord are upon us at all times. He sees everything that we do, 24/7.
That is an awesome thought as we watch the Jews returning to the land, nearing the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. That Bible prophecy will be completely fulfilled at a time soon after we have departed from earth at the Rapture. At that point we will stand face to face with Jesus. That could happen very soon, perhaps today.

PRAYER THOT: Please Lord help me to live in the realization that Your eyes are upon me at all times.

Jeremiah 31 verses 35-36

Thus saith THE LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; THE LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith THE LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. For further study - Jeremiah 31:1-40

The date June 7, 1967 marked one of the most important days in Israel's modern day history. On that date, after almost 2,000 years, the Jewish people reunited their holy city of Jerusalem. The Israeli Defense Force stormed off the Mount of Olives, down through the Kidron Valley, through the Lion Gate of the Old City, and on to the Temple Mount to capture this sacred piece of real estate for the Jewish people.

This was a very emotional moment for paratroopers who captured the entire Old City on day three of the Six Day War. Israel fought this war on 3 fronts and was victorious. The Israelis were under attack from the north by Syria, from the east by Jordan, and from the south by Egypt.

I remind you of this benchmark in Israel's history because of our devotional reading on the 40th anniversary of that day. The prophet Jeremiah 2,500 years ago foretold of a time in history future from his day that the Jewish people would return to their land after centuries of being scattered around the world.

Jeremiah 31:8-10 tells of how the Lord will bring the Jewish people from all over the world back "home." Jeremiah 31:17 reveals that these Jews gathered from the four corners of the earth, will be brought back into their land, into their own borders. Notice in Jeremiah 31:23, the Lord promises to give back to the Jewish people their Hebrew language.

Jeremiah 31:38-40 talks about the return of Jerusalem to the Jewish people, which was partially fulfilled on this date, June 6, forty years ago. I say partially because the city of Jerusalem will be a center of controversy until the Messiah, Jesus Christ, sets up His kingdom. Jesus Christ will reign over His kingdom from that city for 1,000 years.

Our key verses, (Jeremiah 31:35-36), reveal to us the commitment of God Himself to His plan for the Jewish people. The only way that God would break His promises to the Jewish people would be if the sun, moon, and stars were to be destroyed in the heavens.

Jeremiah 31:31-33 records the "New Covenant" that is given to the Jewish people. The New Covenant lasts forever. It is referring to the time that the Jewish people accept Jesus Christ as Messiah and Saviour, and He becomes their God. It's a time, as well, when the

Jewish people will be His people. This prophecy has yet to be

fulfilled.

As we mark the reunification of Jerusalem on this day, and with the other prophecies of Jeremiah 31 being fulfilled, we can know that the prophecy of Israel's salvation will also come to pass, seemingly in the near future. PRAYER THOT: Thank You, Lord, for Your commitment to the Jewish people in the past, and the future. It is an assurance of Your commitment to me, as well.

Jeremiah 33 vss20-21 - Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.

For further study - Jeremiah 33:1-26

This thirty-third chapter of Jeremiah is a confirmation of the great prophecy concerning the Davidic Covenant that the Lord gave to King David, II Samuel 7, some 3,000 years ago. That covenant is as true today as it was when the Lord gave it to David, the second King of Israel.

Within this chapter are some great promises, not only to King David, and Jeremiah the Prophet but by "spiritual application," to us today, as well.

Look at the first one in verse 3. "We can call upon the Lord for great and mighty things, that we knowest not." Please remember, this promise is in light of the principle of prayer in I John 5:14-15.

I must just take a look at the "mountain peaks" in this chapter due to time and space. Really, I could write for three days of devotions on this one chapter. Please read the entire chapter and dig out the great truths found in Jeremiah's writings.

In verse 15 God speaks to Jeremiah about the "Branch", that which is a name for Jesus Christ, Isaiah 4:2 and 11:1, Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12-13. God will raise up the "Branch" to execute judgment and righteousness in the land of Israel.

At that same time the Lord will cause all who dwell in Jerusalem to dwell safely. Jerusalem will be called "the Lord our righteousness". Remember, the Davidic Covenant called for a Temple to stand in Jerusalem and a King to rule and reign from that Temple for the 1,000 year Kingdom, yet to come.

This thirty-third chapter of Jeremiah restates, confirms, afresh and anew that God will keep His promise to King David. Verses 20-21 tell us the only way God could break this covenant.

Jeremiah records the Lord's only "escape clause" to the promise, the day and the night would have to disappear from this time in history for the Lord to be able to break the promise. If day and night could be done away with then the Lord could also cast David away and the seed of Jacob, the Jewish people, as well.

Of course we can't make the day and the night disappear; therefore, there will be a Temple in Jerusalem and Jesus Christ, the "Branch", the Son of David, will rule and reign from there in the Kingdom He promised to King David and the Jewish people.

That is a promise that you can take to the bank. What is so precious to me about this chapter is that if the Lord can't break His promise to King David, He can't break His promises to me, the promises of salvation, provision, protection and all that He said will happen in the future. Praise His wonderful name.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for being a promise keeping God, what a comfort that is to me.


Jeremiah 50 vs.28 - The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.

For further study - Jeremiah 50:28-40

The passage of prophecy selected for today's devotional and extended reading is from the whole of Jeremiah 50. Though I have only given you thirteen verses to read, verses 28-40, I suggest that you also include the entire 50th chapter of Jeremiah for your reading today.

In fact, Jeremiah 50 and 51 go together as one prophecy; however, we'll take a look at Jeremiah 51 for another devotional reading. These two chapters are part of the prophetic ministry of the priest-prophet Jeremiah that God had selected, sanctified and ordained even before his conception or birth.

Jeremiah was selected as a Prophet to the nations in eternity past, Jeremiah 1:5. There are other nations that Jeremiah wrote about prophetically in this book that must be understood as they relate to the end times as well.

As we come to Jeremiah 50 we see that this unique Prophet, 2,500 years ago, was actually pre-writing history for our day. Reading through Jeremiah is like reading from the front page of any major newspaper.

Jeremiah introduces this entire chapter, verse 1, as the prophecy from the Lord, given to Jeremiah and focused on Babylon. Remember, when Jeremiah wrote this chapter of prophecy, Daniel and his three Hebrew friends had just been taken into the Babylonian Captivity.

The Jews were facing the threat from Nebuchadnezzar and the mighty Babylonian Army, that all Jews would be eventually taken into captivity.

Jeremiah, before the fact, would tell the people how long they would be in this captivity, and out of Jerusalem, Jeremiah 25:11 and 29:10.

In this passage, this Jewish Prophet was revealing the eternal destiny of the Babylonians. Three times in Jeremiah 50 the Lord tells the prophet that Babylon, the literal city of Babylon, will be destroyed, forever.

In fact, when you include Jeremiah 51 in this prophecy it is seven times totally, that Jeremiah speaks of total destruction of Babylon, Jeremiah 50:13, 39 and 40 and Jeremiah 51: 29, 37, 43 and 62.

Biblical Babylon is today modern Iraq. These passages of prophecy pertaining to the total destruction of Babylon have not been fulfilled. In Daniel 5 we see the record of the fall of the Babylonian Empire; however, the city of Babylon was not then destroyed and has not been destroyed yet.

This total destruction of the literal city of Babylon takes place at the end of the seven year Tribulation Period, Revelation 16:17-21, and it is done in one hour, Revelation 18:10,17 and 19.

Before we leave Jeremiah 50 please look at verse 29. The reason that the Lord totally destroys the city of Babylon and all the Babylonians, the modern-day Iraqi's, is that King Nebuchadnezzar took the implements out of the Temple in Jerusalem and placed them in his idolatrous temple in Babylon, II Chronicles 36:18-21.

I mentioned that modern-day Iraq is Biblical Babylon thus all that we see happening today in that part of the world is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled, possibly in the near future.

Prophecy becomes very practical as we determine where we are on God's prophetic clock, by studying His prophetic plan, found in His prophetic Word.

PRAYER THOT: As I come to an understanding of the times by studying Your Word, dear Lord, help me to get my heart right and please use me to warn others of the times in which we are living.

Job 1 vs.12
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

For further study - 1:1-12

The narrative that we read today is from the record of a man that the Lord would allow Satan to test to the point of death. The book of Job was written some 500 years before Moses wrote the Torah; the first five books of the Old Testament. Thus this makes Job the oldest book in the Bible. It also sets Job as a Biblical personality that dates back before Moses.

Most likely Job would have been a contemporary of the patriarchal age and most like alive at the time before Moses. The main character of the book, Job, was known as a man who "feared God" with a reverential fear, a fear that is actually the beginning of real wisdom. The truth of the matter is that Job was a man greatly respected in his home region and known as a great man, one who detested evil.

In a later devotional we shall learn more about Job, but suffice to say Job was a man that God had a special relationship with and a man the Lord would allow to be put to the test of faithfulness to the God of creation. I mention creation because in our last look at Job in an earlier devotional , God ask him where his servant was when the Lord brought the worlds into existence, (Job 38:4-7).

Our extended reading reveals that the devil has access to God and even the good angels. The "sons of God," (verse 6), would witness a meeting between God and Satan. This is of interest because since the fall of the angels, the ones who followed Lucifer in rebellion against the Lord of Heaven, the evil angels have not had access to the presence of God. Only Satan has daily access to God for a period of time that he spends accusing the brethren, (Revelation 12:10)

Several things to notice about what God does with Satan. God allows Satan to be the instrument of affliction and to apply all the affliction he wanted on Job, short of taking his life, (verse 12).

This narrative also tells us that though Satan is the King of this present world, God still has the controlling power over him.

Job was a righteous man but notice affliction came upon him allowed by God. We get into this philosophy that God makes us healthy, wealthy and happy. In the end Job loses his health, wealth and happiness, but is still a righteous man who is in the perfect will of God. This truth is in the face of much of our preaching today.

A true study of Job will bring about a sobering understanding of the ways of God in our lives. By the way, Satan will have his power until Jesus Christ returns to defeat him and cast him into the Lake of Fire, (Revelation 20:7-10)

PRAYER THOT: Help me to love and obey you as Job did.


Job 2:6 

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

For further study - Job 2:1-10

In a future reading for our daily devotions from the book of Job, we will discuss the creation of "angels" that took place on the first day of Creation, between the time the Lord created the "heavens" and the "earth," Job 38:4-7. In today’s extended reading, we eavesdrop on a conversation between God and Satan.

They are discussing Job, and the Lord speaks of Job as one like none other on the earth. Job is an "upright man," one "who feareth God and escheweth evil." He is a man who "holdeth fast his integrity." All of the above characteristics could be found in Job.

Satan responds that God is protecting His servant Job. The Lord then allows Satan to test Job to the point of death saying to Satan, "he is in thine hand; but save his life," verse 6. Satan went from the Lord to Job and began to severely test God's servant.

Notice that in the testing, even Job's wife told her husband to "curse God and die," verse 9. I love the last 10 words of our reading, found in verse 10, "in all this did not Job sin with his lips." What a testimony that has echoed down through the centuries of time, all the way to us today. In this present-day world, we need that same kind of integrity.

Please notice before we leave this devotional reading the pattern that Satan follows which will be his "trademark" throughout his time as the "ruler of this world." Satan will attack and test the believers in an effort to turn them against the "Most High God."

There is a New Testament passage that is key to our understanding of Satan's devices in the end times, which are revealed in Ephesians 6. Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the "whole armor of God" so that we can stand against the "wiles of the devil."

Paul warns us that in the last days we will not wrestle against flesh and blood, Ephesians 6:12, "but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies."

Paul, in this passage, defines all that is a part of Satan's "kingdom of darkness." He describes the same attack by Satan today as Job described over 4,000 years ago. As we get closer to the Lord's return the more intense will be the Satanic attacks. As then, so now also, the Lord is our "protector" from Satan.

PRAYER THOT: Lord, help me to pattern my life after Job, a life of integrity. And at the same time, thank you, Lord, for the "armor" that I can put on to fight the "wiles of the devil."

Job 38:7 

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

For further study - Job 38:1-7

The 38th chapter of Job comes at a time in the life of Job when he is very depressed and considering the suggestions of his so called friends to just curse God and die. The Lord comes to Job and confronts him with a number of questions about his creation... when the Lord had brought the heavens and earth into place and everything else in creation into existence.

Notice verse 4 with verse 7. The question is, “Job where were you when I created the earth.....when the morning stars and the sons of God shouted for joy.” This question gives us the time of the creation of angels, described here as the “sons of God”, Job 1:6 and 2:1, and the “morning stars”.

God brought forth angels on the “first day of creation” after the time He created the heavens, and before He created the earth, Genesis 1:1. I say that because God created all things in the 6 - 24 hour days of creation, Exodus 20:11. Job 38:4 and 7 says when the earth was created the angels shouted for joy. The “angels” had to be there at that time.

The subject of angels, both good and bad angels, has a close connection to Bible prophecy, both in the first coming of Jesus Christ, and the Second Coming. In fact, the most used word in the book of Revelation, other than “and, the, etc.”, is “angel” or its plural, “angels”, used 81 times.

An “angel” delivers the message of “Revelation” to the Apostle John who recorded its prophecies for us to read, Revelation 1. The “letters” to the Seven Churches, Revelation 2 and 3, are presented to the “Angels” of the Churches. Angels deliver all of the seven “Trumpet Judgments”, Revelation 8, 9 and 11, and all of the “Vial Judgments”, Revelation 16.

Angels are our fellow servants, Revelation 19:10 and 22:9. Angels will accompany Jesus Christ as He returns to the earth at His Second Coming, Matthew 24:31. Angels are real and will play key rolls in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the period leading up to the Lord's return.

This angelic activity includes both good and bad angels. (see my study on “Angels” for much more information on “angels”) As at the 1st coming of Christ......at His 2nd coming “angels”, both good and evil, will participate. I'm convinced that even now angels are preparing for their role in the soon coming of Jesus Christ, which could be today.