I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     Zechariah prophesies that there will come a day when all the nations will gather to attack Israel. They will overrun and sack Jerusalem. When the conquest is completed, God Himself will fight against those nations. He will make a path for His people to flee from their enemies, while He brings down their armies. Once this has happened, a river of life-giving water will flow out of Jerusalem to the east and another to the west. God will send a plague on the nations which fought against Israel (the effects of the plague sound a lot like the descriptions of zombies). In the end, the people who survive the plaque will worship the Lord.
     The prophecy tells us that Jerusalem will be completely destroyed by its enemies, but no sooner will they have gained the victory then God will strike them down and rescue His people. God will exhibit His power on the earth and people will turn to Him for salvation. People from all over the earth will gather to worship His name. Those who refuse to worship the Lord will suffer, not because people persecute them, but because nature itself will turn against them. On the other hand those peoples who worship the Lord will prosper. There will be peace throughout the earth as everyone turns to the Lord and is governed by His will.

     John also tells us of a time when God shall reign on this earth. Satan will be bound for a thousand years, unable to deceive the people of the earth. During that time Christ will rule over the earth. At the end of that time Satan will be released and once more he will deceive people. He will gather armies from the ends of the earth to attack God’s people. His army will be as numberless as the sand on the sea shore. It will gather to attack God’s people, but before it can strike, fire will come from heaven and consume it. Satan, the beast, and the false prophet of the beast will be thrown into a lake of fire.
     Christ will come on a white horse and the earth and sky will be no more. All people from all time will be brought before Him to be judged according to their deeds. When the judgment begins death and the grave will be cast in the lake of fire, no more to have power over anyone. Those whose names were not recorded in the Book of Life will also be cast into the lake of fire. Both John and Zechariah tell us that the day will come when those who continue to refuse God’s grace will suffer for the consequences of the sins they have refused to repent. At the same time, God will rule over the earth and reward those who have accepted His grace and allowed Him to mend their ways.

     The psalmist reminds us to praise the Lord, for if it were not for Him we would not exist. He created us and gave us life. Let everything that is praise the Lord. From the least to the greatest, we owe God praise for all of the joy we have experienced. The surest way to experience more joy is to thank and praise God for the joy you have already experienced. I will praise the Lord.

     The writer tells us to speak up for those unable to speak for themselves. Let us fight for justice for those who are unable to fight for it for themselves. The only way to be sure that we will receive justice is to fight for justice for those who cannot do so for themselves.