December 19

John 19:38-42

Jesus Is Buried

[38] After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. [39] Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. [40] So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. [41] Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. [42] So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Revelation 16

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

[1] Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

[2] So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

[3] The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

[4] The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. [5] And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, 

    “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,

        for you brought these judgments. 

    [6] For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,

        and you have given them blood to drink.

    It is what they deserve!”

    [7] And I heard the altar saying, 

    “Yes, Lord God the Almighty,

        true and just are your judgments!”

    [8] The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. [9] They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

[10] The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish [11] and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

[12] The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. [13] And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. [14] For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. [15] (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) [16] And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

The Seventh Bowl

[17] The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” [18] And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. [19] The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. [20] And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. [21] And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

Job 38:1-21

The LORD Answers Job

[1] Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

    [2] “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 

    [3] Dress for action like a man;

        I will question you, and you make it known to me.

    [4] “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

        Tell me, if you have understanding. 

    [5] Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

        Or who stretched the line upon it? 

    [6] On what were its bases sunk,

        or who laid its cornerstone, 

    [7] when the morning stars sang together

        and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

    [8] “Or who shut in the sea with doors

        when it burst out from the womb, 

    [9] when I made clouds its garment

        and thick darkness its swaddling band, 

    [10] and prescribed limits for it

        and set bars and doors, 

    [11] and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,

        and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

    [12] “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,

        and caused the dawn to know its place, 

    [13] that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,

        and the wicked be shaken out of it? 

    [14] It is changed like clay under the seal,

        and its features stand out like a garment. 

    [15] From the wicked their light is withheld,

        and their uplifted arm is broken.

    [16] “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,

        or walked in the recesses of the deep? 

    [17] Have the gates of death been revealed to you,

        or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 

    [18] Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?

        Declare, if you know all this.

    [19] “Where is the way to the dwelling of light,

        and where is the place of darkness, 

    [20] that you may take it to its territory

        and that you may discern the paths to its home? 

    [21] You know, for you were born then,

        and the number of your days is great!

Zephaniah 1

[1] The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

The Coming Judgment on Judah

    [2] “I will utterly sweep away everything

        from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. 

    [3] “I will sweep away man and beast;

        I will sweep away the birds of the heavens

        and the fish of the sea,

    and the rubble with the wicked.

        I will cut off mankind

        from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. 

    [4] “I will stretch out my hand against Judah

        and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

    and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal

        and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, 

    [5] those who bow down on the roofs

        to the host of the heavens,

    those who bow down and swear to the LORD

        and yet swear by Milcom, 

    [6] those who have turned back from following the LORD,

        who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.”

    The Day of the LORD Is Near

    [7] Be silent before the Lord GOD!

        For the day of the LORD is near;

    the LORD has prepared a sacrifice

        and consecrated his guests. 

    [8] And on the day of the LORD’s sacrifice—

    “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons

        and all who array themselves in foreign attire. 

    [9] On that day I will punish

        everyone who leaps over the threshold,

    and those who fill their master’s house

        with violence and fraud.

    [10] “On that day,” declares the LORD,

        “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate,

    a wail from the Second Quarter,

        a loud crash from the hills. 

    [11] Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar!

        For all the traders are no more;

        all who weigh out silver are cut off. 

    [12] At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,

        and I will punish the men

    who are complacent,

        those who say in their hearts,

    ‘The LORD will not do good,

        nor will he do ill.’ 

    [13] Their goods shall be plundered,

        and their houses laid waste.

    Though they build houses,

        they shall not inhabit them;

    though they plant vineyards,

        they shall not drink wine from them.”

    [14] The great day of the LORD is near,

        near and hastening fast;

    the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter;

        the mighty man cries aloud there. 

    [15] A day of wrath is that day,

        a day of distress and anguish,

    a day of ruin and devastation,

        a day of darkness and gloom,

    a day of clouds and thick darkness, 

    [16]     a day of trumpet blast and battle cry

    against the fortified cities

        and against the lofty battlements.

    [17] I will bring distress on mankind,

        so that they shall walk like the blind,

        because they have sinned against the LORD;

    their blood shall be poured out like dust,

        and their flesh like dung. 

    [18] Neither their silver nor their gold

        shall be able to deliver them

        on the day of the wrath of the LORD.

    In the fire of his jealousy,

        all the earth shall be consumed;

    for a full and sudden end

        he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

Zephaniah 2

Judgment on Judah’s Enemies

    [1] Gather together, yes, gather,

        O shameless nation, 

    [2] before the decree takes effect

        —before the day passes away like chaff—

    before there comes upon you

        the burning anger of the LORD,

    before there comes upon you

        the day of the anger of the LORD. 

    [3] Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,

        who do his just commands;

    seek righteousness; seek humility;

        perhaps you may be hidden

        on the day of the anger of the LORD. 

    [4] For Gaza shall be deserted,

        and Ashkelon shall become a desolation;

    Ashdod’s people shall be driven out at noon,

        and Ekron shall be uprooted.

    [5] Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast,

        you nation of the Cherethites!

    The word of the LORD is against you,

        O Canaan, land of the Philistines;

        and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left. 

    [6] And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures,

        with meadows for shepherds

        and folds for flocks. 

    [7] The seacoast shall become the possession

        of the remnant of the house of Judah,

        on which they shall graze,

    and in the houses of Ashkelon

        they shall lie down at evening.

    For the LORD their God will be mindful of them

        and restore their fortunes.

    [8] “I have heard the taunts of Moab

        and the revilings of the Ammonites,

    how they have taunted my people

        and made boasts against their territory. 

    [9] Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts,

        the God of Israel,

    “Moab shall become like Sodom,

        and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,

    a land possessed by nettles and salt pits,

        and a waste forever.

    The remnant of my people shall plunder them,

        and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.” 

    [10] This shall be their lot in return for their pride,

        because they taunted and boasted

        against the people of the LORD of hosts. 

    [11] The LORD will be awesome against them;

        for he will famish all the gods of the earth,

    and to him shall bow down,

        each in its place,

        all the lands of the nations.

    [12] You also, O Cushites,

        shall be slain by my sword.

    [13] And he will stretch out his hand against the north

        and destroy Assyria,

    and he will make Nineveh a desolation,

        a dry waste like the desert. 

    [14] Herds shall lie down in her midst,

        all kinds of beasts;

    even the owl and the hedgehog

        shall lodge in her capitals;

    a voice shall hoot in the window;

        devastation will be on the threshold;

        for her cedar work will be laid bare. 

    [15] This is the exultant city

        that lived securely,

    that said in her heart,

        “I am, and there is no one else.”

    What a desolation she has become,

        a lair for wild beasts!

    Everyone who passes by her

        hisses and shakes his fist.