#08 2022Dev. Rev. 15:2. Victory! Read all of Rev.15 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read and think about His Word, to interact with it. This is God’s Story. How will His Story shape your own? All passages are taken the NIV.
Rev 15:2 “And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious…”

Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.

Rev.14 ends with a harvest and God’s judgments on the earth, it seems the end has come. But no, Rev.15 enters into another time of judgment, the end is not yet. Verse one defines the the sign John sees.

V.1 “I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with seven last plagues-last, because with them God’s wrath is complete.” Somehow John was aware of the plagues, these are plagues of judgment and we are reminded of the plagues God brought to Egypt when Pharaoh would not let His people go.

V.2-4 Before we move on to the rest of the vision there is an intermission of sorts; “those who had been victorious over the beast and over the number of his name.” They are standing besides the sea of glass, before the throne of God chapter 4, now “glowing with fire.” They are holding harps “given them by God”, they sing “the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb.” Why Moses? Moses is a type of Christ interceding for the people. The song takes phrases from Deut., Jer., and the Psalms, see footnotes. Those standing at the sea are those who persevered, the persecutions, those canceled, those maligned and killed for their faith. Think about the opposition to Christianity in our country and around the world, now increasing for those Christians who refuse to call lifestyles that Jesus does not approve of, acceptable as the world demands. Here in this vision of the plagues, followers of Jesus seem to be removed form what is coming, they are praising God and watching what is about to take place.

V.5-8 “After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple, the tabernacle of the covenant law-and it was opened.” Out of the temple came the seven angels, one of the four living creatures gave them seven bowls “filled with the wrath of God.” God filled the temple with his glory and his power, it filled with smoke and no one could go in. The opportunity to repent is past, the end is moving closer. We thank God that His people are safe, it appears that like in Egypt God’s people were exempt form the plagues of God’s wrath, Praise him!

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# 07 2022 Dev. Psalm 132: 13. A Place Rest! Read all of Psalm 132 first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think and interact with it. This is God’s story. How will it affect your story?  All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 132:13 “For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling,”

Intro. Ps. 120-137 is a series of Psalms that include 15 “songs of ascents.” Songs of ascents were sung at the temple by the Priests walking up the 15 steps entering the sanctuary, also sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the three feasts required, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, as well as during the return from Babylon back to Jerusalem.

Psalm 132 is a prayer for the David’s son and for the establishment of the Kingdom. There are two requests, v.1 and v.10. yet the prayer is also about a place of rest for God and “the ark of your might.” When David announced that he would build God a house, God responded: I have traveled with my people from place to place in a tent and have never asked for a house of cedar.  God adds: “I declare to you the Lord will build a house for you…” (Chr.17:5-10) Later, God said to David: “Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom forever…” (Chr.28:6-7). This Psalm may have been used for the dedication of the Temple.

V.1 “Lord, remember…” We identify when we find ourselves in a bad place, Lord, remember me, I belong to Jesus, remember my desire to serve you, remember my perseverance throughout my life, remember my faith, remember Jesus’ grace for me.

Vs. 2-5 David’s oath is remembered, his desire to “find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Vs. 6-9 “Let us go to his dwelling place, Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place.” The Temple was a place to worship, to bring gifts, to sacrifice, sacrifices that foreshadowed Christ on the cross. That is what we seek in our churches, a place to rest, a place to be revived, a place to worship, to give thanks and to “sing for joy.” Jesus does not dwell in our churches he dwells in our hearts, but “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

V.10 “do not reject your anointed one.” Lord do not reject the one sealed with your baptism!

V.11-12 “If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” This is a reference to Jesus Christ, David’s throne as imperfect it was, is the foreshadowing of Jesus’ heavenly throne.

V. 13-18 “The Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, ‘This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.”  And all the blessings mentioned, go along with God’s presence. That is how it was then, but today the implications of this Psalm is that God dwells with His people, wherever they are found and His blessings follow us. Zion represents you and me, and all who call on Jesus Christ. Jesus dwells with us and we dwell with Him, He is our Place of Rest. Praise be to God!
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# 06 2022 Dev. Rev.14:3. A new Song! Read all of Rev.14 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read and think about His Word, to interact with it. This is God’s Story. How will His Story shape your own? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Rev 14:3 “And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.” 

Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.

Rev.14 introduces another interlude, the Lamb on Mount Zion, “and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” This is the same group we see in chapter 7, all those sealed from before the creation of the earth. 144,000 is the perfect number, they are the multitude from every nation, tribe, language and people that no one is able to number.

They are pure and have not defiled themselves, they remain virgins. Human sexual relations between a man and his wife is not meant here, that is ordained by God, Gen 2: 23-24 before the fall. What is meant here is spiritual adultery, what God’s people continued to do and what the prophets continually warned them about and continually warn us about; the lust of the world, pride, goods, prestige, illicit sex, all of it is too much with us because of the beast. No, “they are blameless,” by the power and grace of Jesus.

The vision continues; “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth- to every nation, tribe language and people.” The eternal gospel that starts with God calling Adam and Eve after the fall; Where are you? God’s call continues through all generations and on into eternity. Where are you today? Where am I? Do we fear God, glorify him, worship him, the maker of heaven and earth?

“A second angel followed and said, “’Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’” she is the great deceiver, the harlot, the spiritual adulterers that represents all who rebel against God.

“A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: whoever worships the beast or receive his mark, will drink the wine of God’s fury.” There will be suffering “and the smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever.” God is with his people, the angel says: “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.”   

“Than I heard a voice from heaven, “’Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” This is the voice of God, and the voice of the Spirit of God. “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” Salvation does not depend on our deeds, by God’s grace alone are we saved!  But all that we do in the name of Jesus while on this earth, “Love, joy, peace,forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” follow us to heaven and become the building blocks for the New Heaven and the New Earth. 

“I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.” An angel came out of the temple and said: “take your sickle and reap.” The one seated on the cloud harvested the earth. He is Jesus gathering in the sheaves, His people, faithful and true, the people of God.

“Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.” He also is told to reap “the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” The grapes are gathered, he “threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city.” Jesus was crucified outside the city. There is no wine but blood, a lot of blood indicating God’s judgment and punishment for those who reject Jesus for the beast. But before God’s judgment Jesus gathers His people to himself in heaven, thanks be to God.

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# 05 2022 Dev. Psalm 131:2. Comfort! Read all of Psalm 131 first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think and interact with it. This is God’s story. How will it affect your story?  All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 131:2 “I have calmed and quieted myself,”

Intro. Ps. 120-137 is a series of Psalms that include 15 “songs of ascents.” Songs of ascents were sung at the temple by the Priests walking up the 15 steps entering the sanctuary, also sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the three feasts required, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, as well as during the return from Babylon back to Jerusalem.

Psalm 131 is a three verse “song of ascents. Of David.” There is a question about David as the author, the Psalm is “David like” some have assumed. We tend to take it like we read it, but this is also the inspired Word of God, as is every word in the Scriptures. It follows well after Ps.130 that answers a cry for mercy, honors God for His unfailing love, for God’s redemption and His forgiveness. Both Psalms are seeking comfort.

V. 1 “My heart is not proud, Lord,” Followers of Jesus identify with David, we understand that Jesus pulled us back from the brink of the pit. “my (our) eyes are not haughty.” Even the most accomplished among us have no grounds for false pride, for haughty eyes, looking down on someone. But this often happens and we are not even aware of it.

“I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.” Humanity has made great progress; we could say wonderful things, things too wonderful for us. But we are only scratching the surface of the possibilities God has for man. When God is not given credit for what His creation holds for us, we make ourselves gods.

V2. After rejecting what the world seeks after with a vengeance, he moves to what every human longs after- peace, only after he/she rejects all that the World has to offer; pride, selfish ambition, unrealistic dreams of greatness, he turns to the real meaning of life. He choses: “But I have calmed and quieted myself,” Peace is our own choice, it comes from inside by the power of the Spirit of God and is not about what goes on around us. “I am like a weaned child with it’s mother;” Some will say, well that is childish, but no, it is child like as Jesus told us in Mat. 18:2-4. It means to have faith like a child, complete trust in God as a child trusts mom. Trusting Jesus for all our needs and not trusting in ourselves, “like a weaned child I am content.” Contentment: spiritual peace and physical peace. Will you pray that for yourself today?

V.3. “Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” People of God: followers of Jesus, trust Him, look to Him, have faith in Him, accept His love and salvation. You will sleep like a baby!

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# 05 2022 Dev. Psalm 131:2. Comfort! Read all of Psalm 131 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read and think about His Word, to interact with it. This is God’s Story. How will His Story shape your own? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 131:2 “I have calmed and quieted myself,”

Intro. Ps. 120-137 is a series of Psalms that include 15 “songs of ascents.” Songs of ascents were sung at the temple by the Priests walking up the 15 steps entering the sanctuary, also sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the three feasts required, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, as well as during the return from Babylon back to Jerusalem.

Psalm 131 is a three verse “song of ascents. Of David.” There is a question about David as the author, the Psalm is “David like” some have assumed. We tend to take it like we read it, but this is also the inspired Word of God, as is every word in the Scriptures. It follows well after Ps.130 that answers a cry for mercy, honors God for His unfailing love, for God’s redemption and His forgiveness. Both Psalms are seeking comfort.

V. 1 “My heart is not proud, Lord,” Followers of Jesus identify with David, we understand that Jesus pulled us back from the brink of the pit. “my (our) eyes are not haughty.” Even the most accomplished among us have no grounds for false pride, for haughty eyes, looking down on someone. But this often happens and we are not even aware of it.

“I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.” Humanity has made great progress; we could say wonderful things, things too wonderful for us. But we are only scratching the surface of the possibilities God has for man. When God is not given credit for what His creation holds for us, we make ourselves gods.

V2. After rejecting what the world seeks after with a vengeance, he moves to what every human longs after- peace, only after he/she rejects all that the World has to offer; pride, selfish ambition, unrealistic dreams of greatness, he turns to the real meaning of life. He choses: “But I have calmed and quieted myself,” Peace is our own choice, it comes from inside by the power of the Spirit of God and is not about what goes on around us. “I am like a weaned child with its mother;” Some will say, well that is childish, but no, it is child like as Jesus told us in Mat. 18:3. It means to have faith like a child, complete trust in God as a child trusts mom. Trusting Jesus for all our needs and not trusting in ourselves, “like a weaned child I am content.” Contentment: spiritual peace and physical peace. Will you pray that for yourself today?

V.3. “Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” People of God: followers of Jesus, trust Him, look to Him, have faith in Him, accept His love and salvation. You will sleep like a baby!

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# 03 2022 Dev. Psalm 130:4. Forgiveness! Read all of Ps 130 first. We invite you into God’s space, to hear and think about His Word, God’s Story. How will His Story shape your own? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 130:4 “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”

Intro. Ps. 120-137 is a series of Psalms that include 15 “songs of ascents.” Songs of ascents were sung at the temple by the Priests walking up the 15 steps entering the sanctuary, also sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the three feasts required, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, as well as during the return from Babylon back to Jerusalem.

Psalm 130 is a four stanza song of ascents that cries out to the Lord on the way to the temple in Jerusalem (city of peace). The psalmist is in a bad place; they seek peace. The Psalm is in the first person but all the people are represented here; they cry out for Mercy.

Vs.1-2 is the request (cry) “Out of the depths…” The Psalmist is in a bad place; it appears to be a matter of sin. We all identify with that problem; for true followers of Jesus, sin drives us into a hole of depression. “I cry to you Lord; Lord, hear my voice… to my cry for mercy.” There is only one place to go and that is to plead for God’s grace in Jesus.

Vs. 3-4 the Psalmist anticipates God’s grace and mercy: “if you, Lord kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?” Could you stand? I cannot. “But with you there is forgiveness,” when we seek grace and mercy, God removes our sin as far as east is from the west (Ps 103:11-12) In God’s grace we are able to serve “with reverence” and a clear conscience. Praise the Lord!

Vs.5-6 …my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” This is what we also must do. “Be still, and know that I am God;” (Ps 46:10). “I wait for the Lord…” repeated here for emphases. Waiting, perhaps for a length of time, is difficult for us, but we wait like a watchman, anticipating the morning.

Vs. 7-8 Paraphrased. Followers of Jesus, (Israel) “put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.” God in Christ, “will redeem” all of God’s people (Israel) “from all their sins.” Praise be to God!

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# 02 2022 Dev. Rev.12:3. Protection from a Real Dragon! Read all of Rev.12 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Rev 12:3 “Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.” This sign indicates a powerful being and we should not underestimate the power of evil in our world, but the one who is with us (Jesus) is stronger than the one who is in the world.

Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.

Rev.12 begins again from the beginning of time but what John sees is a vision, describing God protecting His own from the attacks of Satan. To put this chapter in perspective, we go back to the very beginning; “so the Lord said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life ¹⁵ And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring^[a] and hers; he will crush^[b] your head,  and you will strike his heel.”(Gen.3).

 Vs.1-6 Two signs appear in heaven, one great sign represents all that is good and one that represents all that is evil. There is middle ground here. Who or what is the woman decked out with all the great lights of creation and is pregnant? Could she represent Mary? Yes, definitely! Could she represent the church? Yes, definitely! The sign also represents the great multitude sealed in Rev. 7:9-17.

The second sign, a hideous dragon in red, he is dangerous, has 7 heads, 7horns and 7crowns, represents the complete powers and principalities (agents) of evil from Satan in the garden (Gen.3) and every evil up to the end of time including Herod the Great trying to kill the Christ Child (Matt. 2). God intervened, using divine and natural means to save the women, the child, the church, and all those who God has called and sealed.

Vs.7-9 “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.” The dragon is here identified; “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” They lost the battle, “he was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” They are very much with us today.

Vs.10-12 There is rejoicing; “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah.” It was and still is a spiritual battle; “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” This battle is now going on all over the world. Is this battle going on in your life?

Vs.13-17-point back to all that went on before in this chapter. When the effort to kill the woman and her child failed, the church has survived and is on the rise, and the innumerable multitude that are sealed is safe at the throne of God, “The dragon is enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against her offspring- those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” Followers of Jesus, let it be known and you should not be surprised that we are in a spiritual battle as long as this present earth will last.  We do not fear for “now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.” Praise be to God!

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# 01 2022 Dev. Psalm 129:2. A Non Blessing! Read all of Psalm 129 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Psalm 129:2“They have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but…”

Intro. Ps. 120-137 is a series of Psalms that include 15 “songs of ascent.” Songs of ascent were sung at the temple by the Priests walking up the 15 steps entering the sanctuary, also sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the three feasts required, Pentecost, Passover and Tabernacles, as well as during the return from Babylon back to Jerusalem.

Psalm 129 is a two stanza song of ascent, perhaps sung on the way from Babylon after 70 years of captivity. It is a song of endurance, of final victory and it lays out the result of oppressing God’s people. it is in the first person but represents all of the people.

Vs. 1-2 the memory of oppression repeated twice for emphasis, “but they have not gained the victory over me.” He is victorious!  From the very beginning God’s people were under oppression and it continues in the New Testament, the Gospel age. In our day the oppression continues and is on the increase. Our constitution demands our government to be supportive, neutral in the very least but they are not.

Vs.3-4 gives us a graphic metaphor of the oppression: “Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.” They were slaves, beaten, whipped perhaps, they were oppressed. He praises God as righteous and praises Him for cutting him loose, setting him free from the wicked. That is how it was and that is how it is and how it will be, God has set us free in Christ Jesus. Free from what? You know!

Vs.5-8 “May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.” All who hate, dismiss creator God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, will be put to shame. (v.6) They will not be blessed; like the blessing of abundance, (v.7) and the abundance of the harvest, so important in that day, nor will anyone bless them in the name of the Lord (v.8). Us, followers of Jesus have gotten away from blessing each other in God’s Name (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). We should bring that back and say what the Psalmist says we should not say to the wicked. We now say it to all followers of Jesus and we should say this to people around us every day: “the blessing of the Lord be on you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.” We suggest you do this during this New Year. Amen and Amen!

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# 53 2021 Dev. Revelation 11:1,2. Two Witnesses! Read all of chapter eleven first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

Revelation 11:1,2 “Go and measure the temple of God and the alter, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.”

Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.

Rev.11 continues with the interlude and is the end of the first of the two sections of Revelation. John is told to measure God’s Temple, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD but most commentators think this is the temple, don’t forget this is a vision. 

Vs.1,2 “I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the alter, with its worshipers, but exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the gentiles (non believers) for 42 months.” Jesus also reacted to what was going on in the outer court (Mt. 21:13). Here God has set a boundary separating His own from the desecration by the world. This is meant to include all of God’s sanctuary and all of God’s people from creation up to the second coming of Jesus.

Vs.3-6 “and I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. 1,260 day equals 42 months. Verses 4-6 explain the two witnesses. The following explanation is taken from: “More than Conquerors”, Hendriksen, P 156, paraphrased.  1^st Just as “the two olive-trees and the two Lampstands” Joshua and Zerubbabel (Zech. 4) represents the blessings of God through the offices of Israel so God blesses the offices; pastors, missionaries, leaders of the church by the preaching of the Word and the sacraments. 2^nd Just as missionaries were sent two by two (Lk.10:1) so the church: her leaders and every true member, fulfils her mission to the world. 3^rd Just as the fire of judgment and condemnation proceeded out of Jeremiah’s mouth, destroying God’s enemies (Jer.5:14), so also the church of every generation condemns the wicked on the basis of God’s Word, leading to destruction. 4^th Just as Elijah received power that shut up the rain (I Kings 17:1) and just as Moses received authority to turn water into blood (Ex.7:20), the church in the Gospel age has the authority to judge when God’s message of salvation is rejected by the world. The two witness represent all of God’s redemptive grace extended to humankind from the moment of the fall (Gen3) to the very end of time (Jn.3:16-21).

Vs.7-14 “Now when they had finished their testimony…” There comes a time when it is finished, be sure that it is God’s timing. “The beast that comes up from the abyss” attacks and kills them, the churches’ witness is ended, never again to be spoken on the earth. We see the attack of the beast all around today, the attacks on followers of Jesus, on the Word of God, and on the church, sometimes from within, are increasing in our time. The church and her witness is not long dead; the evil world rejoices at her demise but it is short lived. In 3 1/2 days, a short time, God revives His church and calls her to Himself in a very public rapture.

“At that very hour there was a severe earthquake” a tenth of the former holy city collapsed and 7000 died but this is a representative vision of all evil in the world, there will be massive destruction and death. The survivors give glory to God, alas, to no avail, the time is now past.

“The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.”

Vs.15-18 “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” This is what every follower of Jesus is waiting to hear, praise be to God! We join in with the heavenly host in praise! Read vs.16-18 again.

 V.19 “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened and within the temple was seen the ark of his covenant.” God’s covenant: “I will be your God and you will be my people.” This is God’s love, Jesus’ sacrifice for our redemption, upheld in us by faith, powered by the Holy Sprit. This is not the end of God’s revelation, part two starts over with much more detail.

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