December 22

John 20:19-23

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

[19] On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [20] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Revelation 19

Rejoicing in Heaven

[1] After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, 

    “Hallelujah!

    Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 

    [2]     for his judgments are true and just;

    for he has judged the great prostitute

        who corrupted the earth with her immorality,

    and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

    [3] Once more they cried out, 

    “Hallelujah!

    The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”

    [4] And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” [5] And from the throne came a voice saying, 

    “Praise our God,

        all you his servants,

    you who fear him,

        small and great.”

    The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

[6] Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, 

    “Hallelujah!

    For the Lord our God

        the Almighty reigns. 

    [7] Let us rejoice and exult

        and give him the glory,

    for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

        and his Bride has made herself ready; 

    [8] it was granted her to clothe herself

        with fine linen, bright and pure”—

    for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 

[9] And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” [10] Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The Rider on a White Horse

[11] Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. [15] From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

[17] Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, [18] to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” [19] And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. [20] And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. [21] And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Job 40

[1] And the LORD said to Job:

    [2] “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

        He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

    Job Promises Silence

[3] Then Job answered the LORD and said:

    [4] “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

        I lay my hand on my mouth. 

    [5] I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

        twice, but I will proceed no further.”

    The LORD Challenges Job

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

    [7] “Dress for action like a man;

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

    [8] Will you even put me in the wrong?

        Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? 

    [9] Have you an arm like God,

        and can you thunder with a voice like his?

    [10] “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;

        clothe yourself with glory and splendor. 

    [11] Pour out the overflowings of your anger,

        and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. 

    [12] Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low

        and tread down the wicked where they stand. 

    [13] Hide them all in the dust together;

        bind their faces in the world below. 

    [14] Then will I also acknowledge to you

        that your own right hand can save you.

    [15] “Behold, Behemoth,

        which I made as I made you;

        he eats grass like an ox. 

    [16] Behold, his strength in his loins,

        and his power in the muscles of his belly. 

    [17] He makes his tail stiff like a cedar;

        the sinews of his thighs are knit together. 

    [18] His bones are tubes of bronze,

        his limbs like bars of iron.

    [19] “He is the first of the works of God;

        let him who made him bring near his sword! 

    [20] For the mountains yield food for him

        where all the wild beasts play. 

    [21] Under the lotus plants he lies,

        in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. 

    [22] For his shade the lotus trees cover him;

        the willows of the brook surround him. 

    [23] Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened;

        he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. 

    [24] Can one take him by his eyes,

        or pierce his nose with a snare?

Zechariah 1

A Call to Return to the LORD

[1] In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, [2] “The LORD was very angry with your fathers. [3] Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. [4] Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. [5] Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? [6] But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? So they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.’”

A Vision of a Horseman

[7] On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, [8] “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. [9] Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ [10] So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.’ [11] And they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’ [12] Then the angel of the LORD said, ‘O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ [13] And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. [14] So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. [15] And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. [16] Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. [17] Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’”

A Vision of Horns and Craftsmen

[18]  And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns! [19] And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” And he said to me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” [20] Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. [21] And I said, “What are these coming to do?” He said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one raised his head. And these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

Zechariah 2

A Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line

[1]  And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! [2] Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” [3] And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him [4] and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. [5] And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

[6] Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the LORD. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the LORD. [7] Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. [8] For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: [9] “Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me. [10] Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. [11] And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. [12] And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”

[13] Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

Zechariah 3

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest

[1] Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. [2] And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” [3] Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. [4] And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” [5] And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by.

[6] And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, [7] “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. [8] Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. [9] For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. [10] In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”

Zechariah 4

A Vision of a Golden Lampstand

[1] And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. [2] And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. [3] And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” [4] And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” [5] Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” [6] Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. [7] Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

[8] Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, [9] “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. [10] For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. 

“These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.”  [11] Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” [12] And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” [13] He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” [14] Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Zechariah 5

A Vision of a Flying Scroll

[1] Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! [2] And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.” [3] Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. [4] I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.”

A Vision of a Woman in a Basket

[5] Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, “Lift your eyes and see what this is that is going out.” [6] And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the basket that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” [7] And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! [8] And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And he thrust her back into the basket, and thrust down the leaden weight on its opening.

[9] Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. [10] Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they taking the basket?” [11] He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.”