1 Corinthians 1: 18

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for the “protection” that Angels provide for me and for the reality of their “partnership” with me in ministry, as well.

Job 40 vs2 

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

For further study - Job 40:1-24

This portion chosen for our devotional reading today is a continuation of the conversation between God and Job. Back in Job 38, the Lord responded to Job's concerns of how he was being treated with "where were you, Job, when I created the world especially the earth?" The Lord was reminding Job that He created all things and could take care of him. Again, Job 40 is simply a continuation of that conversation.

As we eavesdrop on the talk between God and Job, we can learn some very valuable information about the Lord's Creation that will prepare us for the onslaught of questions from the so-called "educational community" of our present-day world.

Let me remind you that Peter warned that there would be those who would deny the Second Coming of the Lord and do so based upon their misunderstanding of how “man” and all of creation came into existence, II Peter 3:3-8.

Here in Job, we have the record of the creation by God of the "chief of the ways of God" in creation, verse 19. The creature described in this passage of Scripture is none other than the "dinosaur" referred to as the "behemoth," verse 15.

The writer of this book, Job, records the Lord's words that introduced to the world this "colossal beast," the "dinosaur." Notice the detailed description of this massive animal that ate grass, as an ox would, verse 15. This creature had a tail like a cedar log, verse 17, his bones like bars of iron, verse 18.

The writer of Job places this massive animal near Jericho lying in the Jordan River and seemingly drinking all the water of the river, verse 23. In the animal world, Job is told that the “dinosaur is the chief of all animals” and that which the Lord wants to show off to mankind. Let me remind you that the Lord created dinosaurs on the sixth day of creation before He created man, Genesis 1:24.

Though many of the dinosaurs had disappeared from the earth, soon after the Flood, 4500 years ago, there are still some around today. They are mostly found in Florida and are called alligators.

God's detailed information on His creative acts 6,000 years ago recorded in Job 38-41 gives us the Bible information to combat those who deny that our Lord Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth and all that in them is, Colossians 1:16 and Exodus 20:11.

The Creator thus then can tell the creation of the future He has planned for them.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for the assurances we have as we acknowledge Your creative acts and Your plans for the future as revealed to us in Bible prophecy.

Job 42 vss5-6

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

For further study - Job 38 - 42:6

When you look at the extended reading you will notice that I have given you four chapters in Job plus the first six verses in chapter 42. I understand that this is a lot of reading for one day, however, I can assure you that when you read the whole passage in the extended reading it will be a blessing to you.
Let me focus on the first six verses in Job 42. Job is responding to a question by God, Job 38:4, asking where Job was when He created the earth, and, in fact, all of creation.
Job realized how insignificant he was in light of all that God had created. After seeing who God is, in the Creation, Job repented of his sins. Job was able to humble himself when the Lord reminded Job that He was the Creator, Job the creation.
Throughout these four chapters are many examples in God's creation of that which will make manifest the Lord's Glory in His creative acts. I'll only be able to bring some of His Creation to mind as you will notice when you eventually read through these passages.
Let me list some of the Lord's creative acts that I've chosen as "highlights" of God's Creation.
Chapter 38:8, Who is able to shut up the sea with doors?

Chapter 38:12, Who can cause the morning to begin?

Chapter 38:16, Hast thou entered into the spring of the sea?

Chapter 38:22, Has thou entered into the treasures of the snow?

Chapter 38:31, Can thou shut out the light of the stars and constellations?

Chapter 38:34, Can you with your voice start, or stop the rain?


Chapter 39:13, Gavest thou the goodly wings to the peacocks?


Chapter 39:29, Doth the eagle mount up at your command?


Chapter 40:15-24, God speaks of the dinosaur, the behemoth?


Chapter 41:1, Can you catch the sea monster, the leviathan, with a fishing pole and hook?
These are only a few of the examples of the Lord's creative acts that Job was able to think through during his conversation with the Lord. It was after Job had studied God's creation that Job saw the "Glory of the Lord" with his own eyes, Chapter 42:5, and was made to see how sinful he was before the Lord.
Job, after seeing the "glory of the Lord", repented and got his heart right with God. When we see the "glory of the Lord", we will also be ready to trust and obey the Lord. Psalm 19 reveals to us that we can see the "glory of the Lord" in the "heavens," and in His "handy work" that is evident in all of Creation.
The Lord allowed all that happened in the life of Job so that He might make known His "glory." That same "glory" will be made manifest in Jesus Christ, when He comes back to earth. Then all of us will be able to see the true "glory" of the Lord.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for evidence of Your glory in Your creation.

Joel 1 verse 1 - The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

For further study - Joel 1: 1 -10

The prophet Joel introduces to the reader a phrase that is used throughout all of the prophetic passages in God's Word. That phrase, "the day of the Lord," is used to describe a special time in history. First let me give you the meaning, or definition of the phrase, "the day of the Lord". It is any time in history when God intercedes in the affairs of man personally on the earth.

That definition has either a general usage of the phrase or a specific usage of the phrase. The general usage is the 1007 year period of time between the Rapture and the Great White Throne Judgement. The word "day" used in this general usage to define the "day" as a period of time not a 24 hour day.

The specific usage of the phrase is referring to the day that the Lord will step back on earth on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. This usage of the word is found in Zechariah 14: 1-4. You determine whether it's the general or specific usage of the phrase, the "day of the Lord" by the context of the passage.

Here in the second chapter of Joel he is using the general usage of the term, days that would be leading up to the day Jesus returns to the earth, the specific usage. Joel says, vs. 1, blow the trumpet in Zion

(Jerusalem) and sound

the alarm in my holy mountain. The term "my holy mountain" is referring to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The rest of the passage for today's reading begins to describe this awesome day leading up to the campaign of Armageddon.

There is much I could discuss with you in this passage which I will leave to another devotional. However, notice where we need to focus to determine where the Lord is in His timetable, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. As you do that today there is evidence that the day of the Lord, His return, is close at hand.

Keep looking up.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to sound the trumpet across the world of His soon return.


Joel 2 vs28

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

For further study - Joel 2:28-32

I am having you read this passage from Joel's prophecy so that we can think together about the fulfillment of this portion of Joel’s prophecy. The big question is, when was this passage fulfilled or when will it be fulfilled? The partial answer is that this prophecy has not yet been fulfilled, it is yet to be fulfilled.

There are those today who believe that this prophecy was fulfilled on “Pentecost” as recorded in Acts 2. That is not correct for a number of reasons.

Peter never said that Pentecost, almost 2,000 years ago, was the time of the fulfillment of Joel 2. Peter, in Acts 2, never said that this event on Pentecost in Jerusalem was the fulfillment of Joel 2, but he simply said this is that, “which was spoken by the prophet Joel”.

Peter was talking about Joel having written this and the Jewish people recognizing it because of their knowledge of the prophecy that they had read - written by Joel.

Peter was reminding the Jews that Joel had spoken of a time, yet future; however, not on Pentecost, when this would happen. The way I know this is correct is by our reading for today.

The passage we are reading today is part of the narrative of what happens in the "Day of the Lord". This is what Joel is revealing in his prophecy, the "Day of the Lord". In fact, the phrase “the day of the Lord" is being introduced in Joel's prophetic book.

The definition of the "Day of the Lord" is any time in history when God intercedes in the affairs of man, personally on the earth. It has a general usage and a specific usage as it relates to the days of the return of Jesus back to earth.

The "Day of the Lord" begins after the rapture, I Thessalonians 5:1-5, and concludes before the Great White Throne Judgment, Revelation 20:11.This is the general usage of the term.

The specific usage is when it refers to the “day” that Jesus steps on the earth at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Joel's passage is referring to that time, and leading up to that day. Thus, Joel 2:28-32 could not have been fulfilled on Pentecost, 2,000 years ago.

By the way, in Acts 2 there is no record that there were wonders in the heavens and in earth of blood and fire and pillars of smoke on that day. Also, on that day of Pentecost 2,000 years ago, the sun did not turn to darkness and the moon become like blood.

Please do not misuse scripture for your own purposes. This passage will be fulfilled in the future, and I believe in the not to distant future.

I had you read this passage and then made my comments so that we might together learn to approach our understanding of scripture, especially prophetic passages, in the proper context. This is essential in understanding the Bible and especially Bible Prophecy.
PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord, help me, as I study scripture to do so properly so that I can come to the proper understanding of what you are saying.
Joel 2 vs.1 - Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy

mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

For further study - Joel 2:1-17

The first chapter of Joel is a record of an actual "locust" invasion of the land, an historic event that Joel was to report to his generation and to all future generations. As we come to chapter 2, the prophet turns to another "invasion" of the land, this time by a "human army," not an "army of locusts".

It is in the second chapter that Joel introduces the phrase, "the day of the Lord." This phrase is a major prophetic theme that describes "a period of time when the Lord intercedes in the affairs of man, personally on the earth."

In its "general usage," it applies to the thousand and seven years that starts after the Rapture and extends to just before the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. The "specific usage" of the phrase is the day, or days, leading up to the Second Coming of Jesus.

Joel reveals the activities of "the day of the Lord" in the same way a Jewish day unfolds, the night and then the day. The Jewish day begins at sundown and goes to the next sundown. Verse 2 begins the description of "the day of the Lord" with "a day of darkness and "gloominess."

The "day" begins with a major battle, verse 3, and concludes with the "mother of all battles," the Battle of Armageddon, verse 11. Our devotional passage also gives us information on the rest of the "days" events that will unfold in the coming Tribulation Period.

Let me focus in this devotional thought on the first major battle of the "day of the Lord" as foretold in verses 2-3. This battle will take place in the very beginning of the 7 year Tribulation Period. Joel speaks of a "great people and a strong." He is describing a "mighty militia" like the world has never seen before, or will ever see again.

I believe this "mighty militia" will be Moslem for a number of reasons. This is based upon the focus of the attack which according to verse 3 is the "Garden of Eden" which all orthodox Jewish scholarship believes is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Also, there is the fact that our world today has almost 1/4 of its population that is made up of those of the Islamic faith. They are most likely the only people group that could form such a mighty militia.

The one other facet of my suggested scenario would be the other prophetic Scriptures that speak of an "alignment of nations" that come against Israel in the last days, i.e. Ezekiel 38, Daniel 11, and Psalm 83.

By the way, notice the first verse which says, "Blow the Trumpet in Zion,"

Zion being synonymous with Jerusalem. Then he says, "sound an alarm in My Holy Mountain." "My Holy Mountain" is a reference to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

As we look at our world today it seems that Joel's prophecy, in our reading for today, is at the point it could be fulfilled very shortly. We must keep looking up for Jesus to call us to be with Him at the Rapture which is the only thing that must happen before Joel's prophecy is fulfilled.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for the fact of Your soon return. Please help me to live in light of this truth.

Joel 2 vs. 1 - Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy

mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand.

For further study - Joel 2:1-10
The prophet Joel introduces to the reader a phrase that is used throughout all of the prophetic passages in God's Word. That phrase, "the day of the Lord," is used to describe a special time in history.
First let me give you the meaning, or definition of the phrase, "the day of the Lord". It is any time in history when God intercedes in the affairs of man personally on the earth. That definition has either a “general usage” of the phrase or a “specific usage” of the phrase.
The “general usage” refers to a period of 1,007 years, the period of time between the Rapture and the Great White Throne Judgment. The word "day"

used in this general usage to define the "day" as a period of time is not a 24 hour day.

The “specific usage” of the phrase is referring to “the day” that the Lord will step back on earth on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. This usage of the phrase is found in Zechariah 14:1-4. You determine whether it's the general or specific usage of the phrase, the "day of the Lord" by the context of the passage.
In this second chapter of Joel, and through out the rest of Joel, the Prophet is using the “general usage” of the term, days that will be leading up to the day Jesus returns to the earth, the “specific usage”.

Joel says, verse 1, “blow the trumpet in Zion (Jerusalem) and sound the alarm in my holy mountain”.

The term "my holy mountain" is referring to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

The rest of the passage for today's reading begins to describe this awesome day leading up to the campaign of Armageddon, which by the way starts at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

There is much I could discuss with you in this passage that I will leave to another devotional. However, notice where we need to focus to determine where the Lord is in His timetable, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. As you do that today there is evidence that “the day of the Lord”, His return, is close at hand. Keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Help me to sound the trumpet across the world of His soon return.

Joel 2:27 

And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

For further study - Joel 2:18-27

You might remember from the last time we read in Joel that this ancient Jewish prophet is describing the "day of the Lord," a phrase that Joel introduced to the "end time scenario" found in God's word. The phrase, "the day of the Lord" is any time in history when the Lord intercedes in the affairs of man on the earth, personally.

This definition is used in a "general" sense referring to the period of time after the Rapture and lasting for one thousand and seven years to the time just before the Great White Throne. The "specific" usage of the word is the day that the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth.

In Joel, the prophet describes the "day" as the Jewish day unfolds. The Jews start their new day at sundown and it goes 24 hours until the next sundown. Thus, the day begins with the night and then the day. This approach to a “day”, as revealed in Genesis 1, in the days of Creation, is used by the Jewish people.

Joel began the prophetic "day of the Lord" in chapter 2 by describing this day with the night first, verse 2. As the day proceeds the Lord now tells Joel that He is going to change the land of Israel to be as productive as it has been at any time in history.

We read first of His jealousy that the Lord has for His land, verse 18, which with the Hebrew flavor of the word "jealous" meaning that the Lord will be "aggressively possessive" of His land that He has promised to give to the Jewish people.

He then tells the Jews that He will stop their Northern enemy, verse 20. Verses 21-26 tell how the Lord will bless the Jews in the Land He has given them with the rains. The "former rains," are those rains in the fall and the "latter rains," are those in the spring.

These rains will nourish the land and make it very productive agriculturally. There will be great harvesting of the crops from the land. God will do this because of His promise, a promise that was made in His name, Ezekiel 36:22.

This prophecy is yet to be completely fulfilled. However, today in Israel you can see evidence of how this prophecy can indeed be fulfilled. This will be the time when God's “chosen people” will not be ashamed but a testimony to the world that the Lord is in the midst of the Jewish people and that He is their Lord, verse 27.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you for allowing us to see, dear Lord, the process of prophecy being fulfilled.

Joel 3 vs16 

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

For further study - Joel 3:9-16

The ancient Jewish prophet Joel, in the first two chapters of his prophecy, introduced a very significant prophetic phrase, the "Day of the Lord". The definition of this phrase is "any time in history when the Lord intercedes in the affairs of man, personally on the earth."
In Joel's description of the "Day of the Lord" he starts, as does a Jewish day, with the evening and night first and then the full day to follow. Thus the prophecies in this book are described with the darkest of events first, followed by the more encouraging prophecies. As we come to Joel 3 we see that the Lord is warning the people that "war" is approaching and they must get ready.
This passage does give us insight into the Lord's mind and it reveals that there is justification for "war" for the believer. The Lord tells the Jews to "prepare war". Notice He does not say "prepare for war" but "prepare war". In other words get ready right now.
The "mighty men" are to take their farming implements, their "plowshares" and turn them into "swords". These men must turn their "pruning hooks" into spears. The Jews, in the last days, are to be always ready for going to war.
It seems by Joel's statement that the battle will take place in the area of Jerusalem, the "Valley of Jehoshaphat". The "Valley of Jehoshaphat" is theKidron Valley located between the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives to the east of the Temple Mount.
At the time of this war, Jerusalem will be the main focus for all wars. Zechariah 14:2 says all the nations of the world will gather at Jerusalem for the beginning of the "Campaign of Armageddon" which is the first phase of the Battle of Armageddon.
This "mother of all wars" actually begins in the Valley of Jehoshaphat in Jerusalem. Verse 16 says that the Lord shall "roar out of Zion (Jerusalem) and the heavens and earth shall shake."
The truth is that before the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, roars out of Jerusalem "He roars into Jerusalem", Zechariah 14:4. The Messiah comes to Jerusalem to the Valley of Jehoshaphat to judge the Gentiles and then become the "hope of His people", the Jewish people.
The days described in Joel, the days during the "Day of the Lord" could well be describing the days we are living in today. There is the threat of war in almost all of the Middle East and much of it is focused on Jerusalem and the Jewish people.
As the days of Joel's prophecy play out in our world today the "voice of the Lord" will be "uttered from Jerusalem", verse 16. The way that the Lord will deal with His people, the Jews, is that His voice shall be heard throughout all the land and, in fact, all of the world. His voice, His word, will go forth from Jerusalem as His prophecies are fulfilled.
By the way, with the Middle East as it is today, the Lord's warning for war is appropriate. That war is coming soon. Jesus is also coming soon, keep looking up.

PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord, to understand the days I'm living in and with all current events setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled, help me to be ready for that coming and warn others of these days and their prophetic significance.

John 1 verse 14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
For further study - John 1:1-14
These 14 verses in the first chapter of the Gospel of John are some of the most profound words written in the scriptures. This explanation of the characteristics of the God-head is as good as any to be found anywhere in the world.
The truth found in these verses could well be expanded into volumes on the subjects of God, the creation, the Son, His incarnation, His grace, His truth and so much more.
I hope as you read through these verses, and any portion of scripture we suggest you read for your devotions, that you will spend some time prayerfully considering the awesomeness of His word. So far in this devotional thought, I have used the word, "word" only once.
If you read the passage first and then my thoughts, you have already read "word" several times. The "Word" is the person of Jesus Christ who was with God in the very beginning and even before that, He has always been.
May I suggest that John 1:1 is the oldest verse in the Bible - even older than Genesis 1:1. Genesis 1:1 describes what Jesus did in the beginning - He created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, verse 3.

But, of course, before that first creative act of bringing the world into existence, there was the God-head, God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son - the "Word".

The first prophetic passage that looks forward to the coming of a Messiah was given by the Lord to Adam and Eve and tells of a “saviour” to come, Genesis 3:15. That prophecy was fulfilled when the "Word" was made flesh and dwelt among man on the earth,verse 14.
As it relates to “prophecy”, John 1:14 is the record of the fulfillment of that 6,000 year old “prophecy”. The great truth of this passage is that we know who the Creator was, it was the "Word", verse 3, Jesus Christ. With that understanding, we can rest assured that the one who created all that there is can also tell us the future for all that is found in creation.

What a blessed assurance. Since this prophecy was fulfilled then we can rest assured any other prophecy He gives will also come to pass. Praise His name, the Word.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to understand His word for today and the future.


John 2 vs.11 - This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

For further study - John 2:1-12

The portion for our reading today is the record of the very first miracle that Jesus Christ did during His three and a half years of ministry. He healed the lame, restored sight to the blind, cast demons out of people, and even raised the dead. However, the first miracle was the making of wine out of water for the wedding guests at a wedding that He and His disciples were attending.

There is much I want to share with you from this passage of Scripture.

Notice the comment in John 2:1 that on the third day of the wedding Jesus came with His disciples to a gathering that His mother was attending. It is referring to the 7 day feast that follows the marriage ceremony of a Jewish couple. Even today, Jewish families celebrate the new marriage of their loved ones or friends for this 7 day period.

That will also be the case at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, (Revelation 19), when, for 7 years, Christians married to Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, will celebrate in the heavens that wedding. By the way, that is the reason the wine had run out for the guests. More showed up than the father of the bride had expected.

The text tells us that the mother of Jesus asked Him to make wine out of water. The truth is, that what Jesus did was not for the convenience of the wedding guests. He did no miracle for convenience but to confirm his Messianic claims. This is the case here also. I will prove that from the text in a moment.

But first, look at what actually happened. Jesus told His disciples to fill the 6 water pots full of water - but notice that they were special water pots. John 2:6 says they were for the purifying of the Jews. In other words, these pots had water with ashes of the red heifer in them. This ashen water was for purifying the Jews making them pure.

As we look to the future from this point in history in John 2, we know that the blood of Jesus makes us pure, not ashes of a red heifer in water. Jesus, with this miracle, took back the red heifer ordinance, (Numbers 19), the purification process for all who come unto Him, thus, water to wine with the wine as always symbolic of His blood.

Remember I said no miracle for convenience but confirmation. The miracle in John 2:11 was the first He did to manifest His glory and His disciples believed on Him.

One final thought, the next temple does need a red heifer and its ashes because it is not Messiah's Temple but the temple of the Antichrist. There is now a red heifer ready to fulfill that need.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for Your word that records the events of Your life which confirm Your Messianic claims.