THE END IS NEAR!

Today’s reading is like hearing someone state, “The end is near!” in stereo. Not simply that we are approaching the end of the year and the end of the One Year Bible for 2022. But we are reading Revelation 12 and Zechariah 1…both of which deal with the end of time and the victory of God! It does seem odd to be personally reading devotionally in Revelation and Zechariah while the world is celebrating Christmas. But is that not a truly appropriate perspective to gain?! Jesus, the Redeemer sent by God that first Christmas to rescue sinful humanity, will one day rule with justice and might and, while we might not experience the fullness of this truth today, has overcome and is victorious!

Don’t give up….the end is near! You are approaching the end of the year, the end of the One Year Bible and the end of Revelation…which speaks to the end of time. In today’s Old Testament reading, we are told that Satan knows his time is near (Rev. 12:12) so he ramps up his violence toward the followers of God. We read of the word of the Lord coming to Zechariah and Zechariah speaking with the ‘angel of the Lord’ (the pre-incarnate Christ) about Jesus’ eventual return and reestablishment of His temple in Jerusalem (Zech. 1:16-17)! He loves His people and is working out His plan even if today you are facing the onslaught of the enemy.

Again, don’t give up! Finish the year well! You are close! Persevere! John records the following in Rev. 12:10, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come…” Stand in His victory…a victory He has given you! “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Cor. 15:57). “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).