December Bible Readings - 1 John 2-Revelation 22

1^st December 1 John 2:1-17

Notice that obedience to Jesus and to His word or command is inescapable for the Christian. This is how God’s love is made complete in us. When you apply God’s Word to your life, be practical. Ask yourself how, when and who!

2^nd December 1 John 2:18-29

Talk over with someone else what it means today to deny that Jesus is the Christ. Can you give examples from our society in Australia today? In John’s day these were people who were inside the perimeter of the Church.

3^rd December 1 John 3

We are called to two things – to discontinue in sin and to love our brother Christian. 1 Corinthians 13, Zechariah 7:9,10 and 8:16,17, Leviticus 19:18 and much else of the case law in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy will tell you what loving your brother means in practice.

4^th December 1 John 4

What verse in today’s reading do you think would be a good one to memorise. This is another famous chapter on love.

5^th December 1 John 5

John summarises everything he has said in the first four chapters in this last chapter. Meditate on verses 11 and 12. What idols do you have to keep yourself from?

6^th December 2 John

The chosen lady is a church. John had to be careful when writing to a persecuted church. John reiterates themes from his gospel. What verse touches on some situation in your life?

7^th December 3 John

Gaius is presumably Paul’s friend at Corinth whose hospitality is noted – see Romans 16:23, 1 Corinthians 1:14. I have always found his advice imitate what is good challenging. Find something that challenges you!

8^th December Revelation 1

This rich picture of Jesus is drawn from Genesis 3:24, Joshua 5:13-15, Ezekiel 1:7,27, Daniel 7:9,13, 8:17, Ezekiel 43:2, all through Ezekiel! This picture links Him to the whole of the Old Testament story of God’s dealings with mankind, from the Fall to Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land under Joshua, to the promise of the Messiah in Daniel’s revelation and in the prophets.

9^th December Revelation 2:1-17

We can find facets of our own congregation’s life in each of the seven churches. Do any of these descriptions apply to your congregation? What is your responsibility to Christ, to your congregation with what you see?

10^th December Revelation 2:18-3:6

Each of the seven churches is in what is now modern Turkey. Back then, Turkey was a polyglot mix of almost every nationality under the sun. Idolatry is called sexual immorality in the prophets – the image is that we the church are God’s wife! The idolatry of Thyatira was a mixture of current ideas with traditional Christian belief.

11^th December Revelation 3:7-22

The church at Philadelphia is the one church of the seven that did not receive a rebuke from Christ. What can you learn from what Jesus said to these Christians?

12^th December Revelation 4

The imagery of this chapter comes from the Exodus, Ezekiel’s visions, Noah, the 12 Patriarchs of Israel and the 12 Apostles. What have you found worthy about God this past week or month?

13^th December Revelation 5

The scroll is a will or testament. In ancient Rome, seven seals attested a will. Seven people put their seals on the will signed in their collective presence. It was hoped that at least one of the seven would be alive when the will was opened to attest its contents. In Revelation, There is no one who is able to open God’s testament to men and unlock the inheritance for us – except the Lamb!

14^th December Revelation 6

In John’s revelation Jesus opens the six of the seven seals. Jesus is the rider on the white horse. Then follow War, Famine, Death, Witnesses and Judgment (as in Egypt). What God is doing through Jesus within history is signed and sealed!

15^th December Revelation 7

John symbolises the whole of the Church (i.e. the true Israel of God) with the number 144,000 – 12 times 12,000. Israel is referred to as the thousands of Israel! (Numbers 10:36 Moses said, "Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel”.) The reference to a seal on their foreheads is reference to their baptism. All of God’s people will be saved. He will not miss out one of His own!

16^th December Revelation 8

The seventh seal is silence. God waits for something – the prayers of the saints. Prayer is the signal for the trumpets – as on the Day of Atonement or the Feast of Tabernacles. The trumpets unleash God’s salvation – which is also His judgment, as in Egypt of the Exodus!

17^th December Revelation 9

I remember when I read one book that claimed that the locusts mentioned were helicopter gun-ships – viz a viz their guns in the back. This is all science fiction and should be treated as such. The third is mentioned, because this was the share of those who did not inherit! The rule of inheritance in Israel was that the heir got two mouths or bites at the cherry, everyone else divided up the final mouth. Jesus will get two mouths!

18^th December Revelation 10

The Angel is described like Christ, while being quite different. The Angel’s face symbolises God’s holiness; the rainbow symbolises God’s mercy and covenant faithfulness; and the cloud, God’s presence, both protecting and judging God’s people.

19^th December Revelation 11

The two witnesses are the Law and the Prophets, or Moses and Elijah. They are linked to the two olive trees (Zechariah 4) the Lord’s Anointed (or Christs) the King and the Priest. Remember what Jesus said in John 8:14-18.

20^th December Revelation 12

All this imagery comes from the Old Testament. Remember Joseph’s dream? Psalm 2 as quoted refers to Christ. Though Satan tries to destroy the Church, she is saved in God’s providence by fleeing to the wilderness. 1260 days are 40 months, recalling the 40 years in the wilderness.

21^st December Revelation 13

The Beast is identified with the secular world powers that are inimical to Christ and His Gospel – hence horns, crowns, leopards, thrones, authority over tribes, peoples, ethnic groups. Verses 8-10 contain the key – the Redeemer’s coming is this world’s death stroke. What is required of us?

22^nd December Revelation 14

We believers are espoused to one husband – Jesus Christ. See 2 Corinthians 11:2. This chapter is a wonderful picture of what Jesus has done for you – we are cleansed and preserved by Christ and His Spirit.

23^rd December Revelation 15

John sees the Temple Above in Jerusalem Above. This is the Temple where Jesus offered up Himself as a sacrifice for our sins – Hebrews 9:11-14. You and I can serve the Living God, because Christ cleansed us from our sins.

24^th December Revelation 16

Judgment leads to the freedom of God’s people. The imagery of this chapter is meant to remind us of the history of the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. Seven is the number for completion or wholeness. God’s salvation of Israel was complete. So too shall be His salvation of the people of Christ! Hallelujah!

25^th December Revelation 17

Look at Proverbs chapters 5 to 9 and the warning about stupidity – the way of spiritual adultery. The adulteress is one major source for this chapter. So too is Zechariah 5:5-11. Babylon pictures all the allure of worldly thinking. The constant refrain of Revelation is the call for perseverance and faithfulness on our part.

26^th December Revelation 18

The image of Babylon is the same as what Jesus meant by Mammon. Nahum 3, Habakkuk 2 and Zephaniah 3 are all passages with the same message. Where have I placed my love? Is my profession the same as my practice?

 27^th December Revelation 19:1-10

Heaven will be a wonderful place! Verse 10 is a key verse to understand what the Bible means by prophecy. A lot of modern Christian commentators place the spirit or focus of prophecy of the Old Testament in the Jews. John places it in the testimony of Jesus.

28^th December Revelation 19:11-20:6

What impresses you about Jesus in this tremendous passage? Once again Psalm 2 is part of the background. Psalms 1and 2 portray the Law and the Prophets – the 2 witnesses to Christ.

29^th December Revelation 20:7-21:8

The Great White Throne – you need never be afraid that God will make mistakes. His throne is WHITE! Meditate on 21:1-8. Find one thing that brings comfort to you?

30^th December Revelation 21:9-22:5

Shameful, deceitful and impure are adjectives of hell, not heaven. I have a responsibility to turn away from such today. When Christ returns, the Garden of Eden will become the Garden in the midst of the Holy City!

31^st December 2004 Revelation 22:6-21

Jesus is coming! This thought is repeated throughout these closing verses. May those people we pray for all come to say: Amen. Come Lord Jesus!