Monday, 23 December

1.   Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD, as his father David had done . 2.   For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals. 3.   He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 4.   And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. 5.   Therefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria. They defeated him, and carried away a great multitude of them as captives, and brought them to Damascus. Then he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with a great slaughter. 6.   For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 7.   Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer over the house, and Elkanah who was second to the king. 8.   And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9.   But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out before the army that came to Samaria, and said to them: "Look, because the LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand; but you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven. 10.   "And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the LORD your God? 11.   "Now hear me, therefore, and return the captives, whom you have taken captive from your brethren, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you." 12.   Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war, 13.   and said to them, "You shall not bring the captives here, for we already have offended the LORD. You intend to add to our sins and to our guilt; for our guilt is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel." 14.   So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the leaders and all the assembly. 15.   Then the men who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria. 16.   At the same time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17.   For again the Edomites had come, attacked Judah, and carried away captives. 18.   The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Sochoh with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they dwelt there. 19.   For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the LORD. 20.   Also Tiglath–Pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist him. 21.   For Ahaz took part of the treasures from the house of the LORD, from the house of the king, and from the leaders, and he gave it to the king of Assyria; but he did not help him. 22.   Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the LORD. This is that King Ahaz. 23.   For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 24.   So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25.   And in every single city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. 26.   Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27.   So Ahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem; but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

1.   Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll. 2.   And he said to me, "What do you see?" So 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 earth: ‘Every thief shall be expelled,’ according to this side of the scroll ; and, ‘Every perjurer shall be expelled,’ according to that side of it." 4.   "I will send out the curse ," says the LORD of hosts; "It shall enter the house of the thief And the house of the one who swears falsely by My name. It shall remain in the midst of his house And consume it, with its timber and stones." 5.   Then the angel who talked with me came out and said to me, "Lift your eyes now, and see what this is that goes forth." 6.   So I asked, "What is it?" And he said, "It is a basket that is going forth." He also said, "This is their resemblance throughout the earth: 7.   "Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket"; 8.   then he said, "This is Wickedness!" And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth. 9.   Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. 10.   So I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are they carrying the basket?" 11.   And he said to me, "To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base."

1.   Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2.   With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, 3.   with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses––strong steeds . 4.   Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" 5.   And the angel answered and said to me, "These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth. 6.   "The one with the black horses is going to the north country, the white are going after them, and the dappled are going toward the south country." 7.   Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, "Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth." So they walked to and fro throughout the earth. 8.   And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying, "See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My Spirit in the north country." 9.   Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 10.   "Receive the gift from the captives––from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon––and go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. 11.   "Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12.   "Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13.   Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both."’ 14.   "Now the elaborate crown shall be for a memorial in the temple of the LORD for Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15.   "Even those from afar shall come and build the temple of the LORD. Then you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God."

1.   Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty–four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2.   And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3.   They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty–four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4.   These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5.   And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. 6.   Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth––to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people–– 7.   saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." 8.   And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." 9.   Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10.   "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11.   "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." 12.   Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 13.   Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." 14.   Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15.   And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16.   So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17.   Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18.   And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe." 19.   So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20.   And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.