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December 20 Daily Reading- Read the Bible in 1 Year
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Happy Hanukkah! If you would like to watch the 2025 Hanukkah service from the Messianic Jewish congregation I attend, you can find that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ5AT87INFU&t=5385s
If you would like to download my FREE calendar for keeping track of your commitment to read the Bible every day, you can find that on my site, here: https://www.inthefamilywaycoaching.com/pages/read-the-bible-in-1-year
Monthly memberships to support this event can be purchased on my site, here: https://www.inthefamilywaycoaching.com/offering_packages
Today we will begin reading the Book of Revelation, Chapter 1.
In today's reading we read about John experiencing a vision in heaven with Jesus and hearing God's voice. John is told to send a letter to the seven churches of Asia about what he sees and and hears. Jesus confirms that He WILL return!
In our discussion for daily application we will talk about obedience and being a witness for God. John obeyed the command to write what he saw and pass along the message that he was given to the seven churches of Asia. In the same way, we, too, need to remember that we are called to be witnesses for God in what WE experience with Him. We also need to obey God by making sure that we are doing the work He gives us to do so that we are actually found to be doing it when Jesus returns, like He taught us.
If you enjoyed today's reading and feel like God has lit YOUR light please click the LIGHT button (it looks like a thumbs up or a heart) and consider subscribing to or following my channel, if you have not done so already done so.
If you know someone who might be interested in reading the Bible with me this year please SHARE today's reading with them! It's never too late to join in! Let's help this event grow and together we can spread the word about reading God's Word!
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Transcript
Introduction to Daily Bible Reading
00:00:03
Speaker
Happy Hanukkah, everybody! Today is December 20th. We are here for our daily reading through the Day by Day Kids Bible, written by Karen Henley. My name is Robin. I'm with In the Family Way Coaching, and it is my pleasure to bring you this daily Bible reading event.
00:00:21
Speaker
Today, as you can see by the number of lights wt lit on our menorah, that we are on day seven of Hanukkah. So I hope that you have been encouraged to be the light in the world this year as we are in a world full of darkness.
00:00:37
Speaker
And the menorah light reminds us to be that light in the world. If you are following along on your bookmarking commitment calendar, it's time to take that out. It's time to get your sticker ready because we are about to hear the Bible today.
Exploring Revelation's Prophetic Nature
00:00:56
Speaker
We are going to be beginning the book of Revelation today. And the book of Revelation is what we call an apocryphal and prophetic book. So it is about the end times.
00:01:10
Speaker
And ah one of the things I was very nervous about doing the book of Revelation, but God told me today, he reminded me that we are looking at the big picture. We are not getting lost in the details. There is so much in Revelation and really in every single book of the Bible.
00:01:29
Speaker
that we're not here to go into like a sermon of every tea detail. We are here to look at the big picture. So that helps us see the overview of what we are seeing and reading in each chapter or daily selection that we are doing.
00:01:47
Speaker
So wheo that took a big load off my mind. Plus, it's not me. it's It's the Holy Spirit. And I'm just so thankful to the Holy Spirit for ah speaking for me because I know that um I wouldn't be able to do it, which sounds silly isn since this is supposed to be you know an event that I am doing, but it's not really my event. This is God's event. And I've just been really excited to see what God has been teaching us this year.
00:02:17
Speaker
We can get lost in the forest and not see the forest because of all the trees and forget we are in the forest. And the overview that we are receiving from this particular version of the Bible helps us to understand the big picture.
Jesus' Second Coming in Revelation
00:02:33
Speaker
And as we begin Revelation and when we end Revelation, we are going to see that the book of Revelation is book ended with Jesus's return. So in the very first chapter, we're going to be seeing Jesus reminding us that he coming.
00:02:51
Speaker
coming He is assuring us that he will be returning. And when he does, it will be visible to every everyone. We've read a couple of times this year where Jesus himself warned us that he says, if someone says that, oh, he's over there, come look. He says, don't believe that.
00:03:12
Speaker
He says, just as lightning when it strikes and it can be seen from the east to the west, so will it be evident when I return. And he says that it will be also on a day that nobody knows. So if anybody tries to predict and say, oh, it's going to happen on such and such a day, then that is also not true.
00:03:36
Speaker
Because no one, not even Jesus, knows the day that he will return. But he will be returning. So what we're going to be seeing here for our daily application is first just a reminder that Jesus is coming back.
00:03:55
Speaker
God's judgment is not slow as some would think it is slow. God has literally all the time that he needs in the world. And he is not slow. He is patient. Because God does not want anyone to die. But he wants everyone to come to eternal life in him.
00:04:16
Speaker
And since Jesus is the firstborn of those who will live forever, we too will be in line to live forever after.
00:04:28
Speaker
Now that we have received him as our savior. So what we are going to be seeing is obedience.
John's Vision and Biblical Consistency
00:04:36
Speaker
John was given this revelation. And he was told to send this message to the seven churches in that were established. And they would be receiving this letter of revelation. And so we see John's obedience.
00:04:55
Speaker
He did so. We also see Jesus' obedience because, as we mentioned, Jesus does not know the day of his return.
00:05:07
Speaker
We just know that it will happen, and it will happen when God decides it. So when God decides it, Jesus will do it.
00:05:18
Speaker
And so that is a big lesson of obedience for us as well. Jesus has been waiting a long time and he is patient. And we also need to be patient too.
00:05:31
Speaker
So let's begin. We are only going to be covering chapter one today in Revelation. I don't know about you, but I was a little bit relieved about that. And then tomorrow it will be chapter three. And it looks like every day for a while, we are just going through one chapter at a time, which I think is is very good. That way we don't have too much at one time.
00:05:55
Speaker
John wrote one more letter to Jesus's followers. The letter begins, to the seven churches in asia God gave this message to Jesus so that he would show it to us.
00:06:12
Speaker
And it shows what has to happen soon. God showed it by sending his angel to John. And John told about everything he saw.
00:06:25
Speaker
God will bring good things to people who read God's plan. He will bring good things to people who hear and believe. The time for these things to happen will be soon.
00:06:39
Speaker
God is God now. He always was God, and he always will be God. Seven spirits come near to God, and Jesus sees it all.
00:06:55
Speaker
He tells the truth about what he sees. Jesus died, but he came back to life again. So he is like the first one born to live forever.
00:07:09
Speaker
He rules as king over all other kings.
00:07:15
Speaker
Jesus loves us. He died for us. So we are free from sin's power. He made us into a kingdom for God.
00:07:27
Speaker
We serve God, his Father. Let Jesus's greatness and power shine forever. Yes, amen.
00:07:39
Speaker
Look, he is coming in the clouds. every Everyone will see him. Even the people who killed him will see him. Yes, amen.
00:07:53
Speaker
I am the first and the last, says God. I am the one who lives now. i have always lived. I always will live.
00:08:06
Speaker
I am the one with all the power.
00:08:11
Speaker
Now i John, am speaking. I am in God's family like you are. I have trouble because I follow Jesus, just like you.
00:08:24
Speaker
I am in God's kingdom because of Jesus, just like you. I quietly wait and believe, no matter what happens, just like you.
00:08:37
Speaker
i was on the island called Patmos, and I was sent away there so that I could not tell about Jesus. And it was the Lord's day. My spirit was meeting with God's spirit.
00:08:51
Speaker
I heard a loud voice behind me, and it sounded like a horn. It said, Write about the things you see, then send it to the seven churches.
00:09:05
Speaker
I turned around so I could see who was talking. I saw seven lamps on gold stands. Someone was standing among the lamps. He looked like a man.
00:09:18
Speaker
He wore a robe. It went all the way down to his feet. A wide gold claw went around his chest.
00:09:30
Speaker
His hair was like wool. It was as white as snow. His eyes shone like fire. And his feet were like brown metal.
00:09:44
Speaker
They glowed like metal does in a hot fire. And his voice, it sounded like a waterfall. He was holding seven stars in his right hand.
00:09:59
Speaker
A sharp sword with two edges came from his mouth. His face was like the sun shining the brightest. And when I saw him, I fell down like a dead man, and I was down at his feet.
00:10:17
Speaker
But he touched me with his right hand, and he said to me, Don't be afraid. I am the first and the last.
00:10:30
Speaker
I am the one who is alive. I was dead. But see, i am alive now. And I will live forever and ever.
00:10:42
Speaker
I keep the keys to death and the place of death called hell. So write about what you saw. Write about what is happening now.
00:10:56
Speaker
And write about what will happen later.
00:11:02
Speaker
Here is the mystery of the seven stars I hold. And here is the mystery of the seven gold lamps. The seven stars stand for the angels of seven churches.
00:11:16
Speaker
And the seven lampstands stand for the seven churches.
00:11:24
Speaker
And that is the end of the first chapter and and the end of our reading today in Revelation.
00:11:34
Speaker
Wow. Can you imagine having been given this incredible spiritual experience and then having to write down everything?
00:11:46
Speaker
We know that the same type of thing happened to other people like Daniel. And we see from the description that John gives of Jesus, it matches the description that Daniel gave when he wrote hit about his visions.
00:12:04
Speaker
I'm going to read us a little bit of that just so we can see the comparison.
00:12:13
Speaker
First, in Daniel chapter 7, verse 13, while Daniel was having a long vision, he said as part of it, I was watching in the night visions and behold, one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven.
00:12:30
Speaker
He approached the ancient of days and was brought into his presence. So he is describing that when Jesus comes, it will be on the clouds and visible just the way John saw it today or in Revelation as well.
00:12:50
Speaker
Then in Daniel 10 verse 5, he speaks about the way he saw Jesus clothed.
00:12:59
Speaker
And that says, oops, I lost my place there.
00:13:06
Speaker
He talks about the golden belt that was wrapped around his chest.
00:13:12
Speaker
And in Daniel 10 verse 5, Daniel says, I lifted my eyes and looked and behold, a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
00:13:27
Speaker
So two different people are seeing Jesus and they looked exactly the same. So that is very consistent. Then in Revelation, we read that his feet were like polished metal.
00:13:43
Speaker
And in Revelation in our big Bible, it says his feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace. And we read that happened in also in Daniel 10, verse six, where he goes on to say, his body was like yellow Jasper, his face like a flash of lightning.
00:14:06
Speaker
His eyes like fiery torches, which we saw it, we read today that his eyes look like fire. His arms and feet like the gleam of burnished bronze and the sound of his words like the roar of a multitude.
00:14:23
Speaker
So I wanted to point out the consistency that we see that Jesus is when he is seen. This is how he is described. And it is amazing. It is incredible.
00:14:37
Speaker
And so we see here in in both ah Jesus and in John that they are obeying God.
00:14:51
Speaker
We hear that, we see that John was with God in his spirit. It says, the lord my spirit was meeting with God's spirit.
00:15:01
Speaker
And i heard a loud voice behind me and it sounded like a horn. It said, write about the things you see, then send it to the seven churches.
00:15:14
Speaker
And so we see that he is writing this letter. So it's very important that we follow and obey what God tells us to do.
Witnessing and Glorifying God
00:15:26
Speaker
Now, it's not going to be writing a book of Revelation, I'm sure. but what God has been telling us to do throughout our reading this year is to obey and to do the things that he has told us to do, to value what he tells us to do over what the world wants us to do.
00:15:45
Speaker
And we see that there is really Jesus and God in heaven. These things are real. They are seen and heard by more than one person.
00:15:59
Speaker
And they are bearing their witness. They are giving witness. So we also are called to be God's witnesses. So when he is seeing this and telling about it, that's the definition of being a witness.
00:16:14
Speaker
So whatever experiences God does give you, It won't be revelation writing, but whatever experiences God brings you through, witness about it. Tell others about God's glory so that he may be glorified.
00:16:32
Speaker
forever and ever. Our testimony is important because we experience these things and they are real. They could be amazing things.
00:16:43
Speaker
They could be just comforting things. They could be reassuring things. They could be wonderful lessons that God's word has brought you through in difficult situations. and taught you how to grow so that you can be helpful to helping other people grow in the same areas.
00:17:03
Speaker
Whatever it is, be encouraged to be God's witness. Whatever you experience i with God, share it for the glory of God.
00:17:16
Speaker
Tell others about it so that God may be glorified. And let's see, I believe it says in here, in know In the beginning, he says, God will bring good things to people who read God's plan.
00:17:34
Speaker
And God will bring good things to those who witness as well. He will bring good things to people who hear and believe.
00:17:47
Speaker
Let's see, I'm looking for that prayer. says... Let Jesus's greatness and power shine forever.
00:17:58
Speaker
Yes. Amen. So as we are witnessing for for Jesus and for God to bring glory to God, let us remember to let Jesus's greatness and power shine forever.
00:18:14
Speaker
Amen. We are also the light of the world. So his greatness shines through us when we witness about him, when we obey him. It's just, it's a beautiful and carrying through. it passes through. So John's obedience will bring many good things to the people who read.
00:18:39
Speaker
And we're going to be reading about those things as we continue on through Revelation. So it's a very short reading today and not a whole lot of super difficult stuff going on yet, but it is a very important lesson.
00:18:55
Speaker
And we need to remember that what we are seeing in the big picture is that Jesus will be returning. When God says that it is time, he will obey and he will come.
00:19:07
Speaker
And we also need to obey so that when he returns, we may be found doing what we are supposed to be doing.
Call to Faithfulness and Patience
00:19:16
Speaker
Jesus warned us about that.
00:19:18
Speaker
He said it is good for the servant to be found doing what he is supposed to be doing when the master returns. So we need to make sure that we are obeying and doing the work that God gave us to do the same way that Jesus is obeying and the same way that John obeyed.
00:19:37
Speaker
And that's our daily application today. Well, this is a very short ah reading today. we Normally we have a lot more to talk about, but this is more ah straight to the point there and not a whole lot more we can go over. So I hope that you do feel encouraged to continue obeying until that day comes. I know that in the in Revelation it says soon, but it may not seem like it is soon since here we are, you know, in 2025. or later depending on when you get around to watching or hearing this video or on audio somewhere. But for God, it is not a long time. A day is as like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day.
00:20:22
Speaker
His timing is not long as we might think, but he is patient because there will be incredible judgment coming onto the world. And so we want to be sure that we are following God so that we are not led astray and so become part of that judgment. We want to remain firm in our faith and keep obeying and instead of turning away, thinking that he is a long time in coming or that he is not coming back at all because that is simply not the truth.
00:20:55
Speaker
The truth is that he will be returning. So I hope you have a fantastic rest of your day, whatever day you have gotten around to watching or listening to today's December 20th daily reading out of the Day by Day Kids Bible written by Karen
Conclusion and Hanukkah Wishes
00:21:11
Speaker
Henley.
00:21:11
Speaker
And again, I hope you are having a fantastic time of Hanukkah if you are choosing to celebrate. And if not, at least in spirit, I hope that you are choosing to be the light in the world, which is a world full of darkness and sin.
00:21:27
Speaker
I hope that you were choosing to be that light and that Jesus is shining brightly through you. And I will see you again next time. Until we meet again, have a great day.