12-17 - Luke 1 1-25

N.T. in a year reading & study, verses R paraphrased [  ] references {  } thots

🌙 [Luke was a Greek physician who met Paul, was known to travel with him, and wrote this gospel account and the Book of Acts ..acts of some of the earliest believers.]

     1 - Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning of it all were eyewitnesses, and then they were messengers of the word and message they delivered to us, 3 it seemed good to me to also - having followed all things closely for some time now - to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so you may have certainty concerning the things you’ve been taught.

     5 In the days of Herod (the Great) king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both were advanced in years.

     8 Now while he was serving as priest before God, on duty with his division, 9 according to the ways of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense to the LORD.

     10 And all the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to Zechariah an angel of the LORD standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And he was troubled and afraid when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he will not drink wine or strong drink, but will be filled with the Holy Spirit {/Presence of the LORD} even from his mother's womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the LORD their God, 17 and he will go forth in the presence of him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient [apeithés - disobedient, unbelieving] to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” {Prepared, 2Tim.3:16, Mt.25:1-13.}

     18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I’m an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel said, “I’m Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 But listen, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things happen, because you didn’t believe my words, but they will be fulfilled on time.” {To prevent his further speaking unbelief/negativity?} 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering what was taking him so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak, and they realized he had seen a vision. And he kept making signs to them for he was mute. 23 And when his time of service was over, he went home.

     24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself in isolation, saying, 25 “Thus has the Lord done for me in the days when he looked upon me to take away my reputation of being barren.”

Tomorrows verses - Luke 1:26-38

LUKE 1 39-45

 a paraphrased ‘enter the story’

 🍃🕊️reading & study 🕊️🍃

     06/18 - GospeL Verses

39 - In those days Mary went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah. 40 And she entered the house of Zechariah, and greeted Elizabeth.

     4 When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby in her womb leaped, she was filled with the Holy Spirit{/Presence of God}, 42 and she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women! And blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come here? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! 45 And blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the LORD.”

             ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com - peering through translator partial unbelief; cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - Luke 1:46-56

My own studies, had to paraphrase to post..

Start the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

MATTHEW 25 1-13

 a paraphrased ‘enter the story’

 🍃🕊️reading & study 🕊️🍃

     05/02 - GospeL Verses 

The Bridesmaids Parable - [The word bridesmaids is “parthenos - virgins, includes men who have not been with a woman, also used to refer to believers as pure (chaste), i.e. faithful to Christ their heavenly Bridegroom.” From commentary - “It was the custom that the bridesmaids wait at the bridegroom’s house, to receive him and the bride, and as this was commonly after sunset, they were provided with lamps or torches.”]

     25:1 - (Jesus continuing to answer “what will be the sign of your coming and the consummation of the age?” says) “Then, at that time, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were wise, and five were not. 3 For when the unwise took their lamps, they took no oil, 4 but the wise kept flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 And as the bridegroom was delayed, they all became sleepy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry!‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

     7 Then the maids rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And unwise said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, ‘There won’t be enough for us and for you! You need to have your own oil.’ 10 And while those bridesmaids went to buy, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Afterwards the other maids came knocking and saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I tell you, I don’t know you.’

     13 Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day or the hour.”

      More wedding notes - After the betrothal (married but no consummation or relations) the groom goes away for a year and prepares a place for his bride, while the bride focuses on her own preparations. Although she knows to expect her groom after about a year, she doesn’t know the exact day or hour. He could come earlier, he could come later. It was the father of the bridegroom who gave the final word for him to return and collect his bride. So the bride kept her lamps ready at all times, just in case the bridegroom came in the night, sounding the shofar (ram’s horn) to lead the bridal procession to the home he had prepared for her. The grooms accompany him, slightly ahead, with lit lamps/torches ..as messengers of his arrival. A question concerning some is where does the groom take the bride.. The grooms house, he has been building and preparing, is attached to his father’s house. I think Zechariah 14:4 answers the where, which verse includes the consummation of the age. But I could, of course, be wrong.

                     ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com - peering through translator partial unbelief; cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - Matthew 25:14-23

My own studies. Been neglecting Psalms (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150) and the Prophets.

LUKE 1 1-25

  🍃🕊️12/17 - GospeL Verses 🍃🕊️

[Luke was a Greek physician who met Paul and traveled with him and company somewhat, and wrote this gospel account and the Book of Acts ..acts of some of the earliest believers.] 1 - Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning of it all were eyewitnesses, and then messengers of the word/message they delivered to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time now, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you’ve been taught.

     5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

     8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when on duty with his division, 9 according to the ways of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense to the LORD. 10 And all the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to Zechariah an angel of the LORD standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And he was troubled and afraid when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he will not drink wine or strong drink, but will be filled with the Holy Spirit {/Presence of the LORD} even from his mother's womb. 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the LORD their God, 17 and he will go forth in the presence of him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient [apeithés - disobedient, unbelieving] to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” {Prepared, 2Tim.3:16}

     18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I’m an old man, and my wife is advanced in years also.” 19 And the angel said, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 But listen, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things happen, because you didn’t believe my words, but they will be fulfilled on time.” {To prevent his further speaking unbelief/negativity?} 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering what was taking him so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak, and they realized he had seen a vision. And he kept making signs to them for he was mute. 23 And when his time of service was over, he went home.

     24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself in isolation, saying, 25 “Thus has the Lord done for me in the days when he looked upon me to take away my reputation of being barren.”

                     ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com, and facts, cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - Luke 1:26-38

By Necessity Paraphrased

Annual Daily Reading & Study

Zechariah 12 and 13

       snipped, paraphrased

The oracle of the LORD (Yahweh) concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and forms the spirit of man within him: 2 “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of intoxication to the peoples surrounding her. The siege will be against Judah and Jerusalem. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all people. All who would heave it away will be severely injured.. For all the nations of earth will gather against it. 4 On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. (Of the four? 1:8-10; 6:1-7,8) But for the sake of the house of Judah my eyes will be open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5 Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.’

     6 On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blaze in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place - in Jerusalem. 7 And the LORD will give salvation to Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be greater than that of Judah. 8 On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them. 9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (I believe by cause and effect, which God created, so calls it his wrath, and as done by him.)

     10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, so that, when they look toward me, and on he whom they pierced, they will mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. 11 On that day  ..14 all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves, mourning.

Zechariah 13

      “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and impurity.

2 And I will cease the idols from the land, so they shall be thought of no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the unclean spirit. 3 And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘It is not life, for you speak lies in the name of the Lord.’ And his father and mother who bore him pierced through (the heart) when he prophesies. 4 On that day every prophet ..ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a cloak (fine clothes?) in order to deceive, 5 but will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a worker of the soil, for a man sold me in my youth.’ 6 And if one asks him, ‘What are these wounds on your back?’ he will say, ‘The wounds I received in the house of my friends.  - Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. The hand will turn against the humble of the land. 8 In the whole land, two thirds will perish, and one third will be left alive (Rev.12:6, at 70CE). 9 And I will put this third into the fire (metaphor) and refine them as one refines silver, and test (improve) them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

Life As A Slow Motion Gehenna

 🌙💭🌴 05-17-24, had a dream of a big pot, it had two handles on either side and it was white (but it didn’t start that way?) its lid was no where to be seen ..As we know per Zechariah, the pot is wickedness ..then during a.m. prayers.. I saw the earth, the grass, the trees and the earth as a whole dry up, become brittle and instantaneously wither away.. like watching an apple decompose in super fast motion. It was totally devoid of the burst of Life and light that Life is..

     So many believers still lost in the mist of the myths ..running around proclaiming immortal soul.. don’t we even get it yet? Imperfection, one tiny step away from God, uninterrupted, is an abyss. The bottom of the abyss is death. Literal death. Not being.. the opposite of life. It can’t be done. I won’t go into it any further right now, how to knit the pearls together to solve God’s logos riddle. Yes, the “end-aim” is Jesus. See the image. That’s the blueprint. And so mankind and creation will be sealed. Suffice it to say thankfully creation is to be more than an ant farm. I’m thinking instead God opted for total ‘herd’ immunity(?) And get this, as Life, he lives through, suffers and experiences everything that ever occurs.

Zechariah Chapters 5 - 9 Study

   Why study prophecy? One reason is history repeats. Like a trumpet sounding? In increasing circle and crescendo..?

Chapter 5 - 9 Condensed & Paraphrased

Again I looked and I saw a flying scroll! 2 “What do you see?” the angel said. “I see a flying scroll. Its length seems to be twenty cubits, and its width ten” I answered. 3 Then he said to me, “This scroll is the curse that goes out over the face of all the land. For everyone who steals will be cleaned out according to what is written on one side of the scroll. And everyone who swears falsely will be cleaned out according to what is written on the other side. (The Babylons always crash.). 4 It will enter the house of the thief, and the house of the one who swears falsely. And it will remain in their house and consume it, both timber and stones.”

     5 Then the angel said, “Look and see what it is that is going out.” 6 And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is a basket [an ephah] going out, it is - ayin - an eye - in all the land.” 7 And look! The heavy lid was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! 8 And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And thrust her back into the basket, and put the leaden weight on its opening. 9 And I looked and saw two women with wind in their wings. They had wings like a stork [chasidah - stork, a bird noted for being very maternal]. They lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. 10 Then I said, “Where are they taking the basket?” 11 He said, “To the land of Shinar (Babylonia) to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.” (Rev.14:4?)

Chapter 6

Again I looked and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. [No longer at rest as in chapter 1(8-10).] 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black, 3 the third white, and the fourth had dappled horses—all of them strong. 4 Then I asked, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven.. 6 The chariot with the black horses goes to the north (Persia?) the white go after them (Alexander/Greece? Councidence? the gospel went out in Greek) and the dappled ones go toward the south (Rome?) These are restless to march to and fro.. 11 ..Make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua [a ‘type’ of Jesus, as prophecy] the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD (Yhvh) of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch. For he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne.. 15 “And those who are far off shall come and help build the temple of the Lord. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent this message. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

Chapter 7

In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev. 2 Now the people of Bethel had sent.. to entreat the favor of the Lord, 3 saying to the priests and the prophets, “Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?” 4 Then the word of the LORD [Yhvh] of hosts came to me: 5 “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years (in Babylonian captivity where Daniel was prophet and had adventures) was it for me that you fasted? 7 Were not these the words the LORD [Yhvh] proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited? - To have honest courts, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart. 11,12 But they made their hearts stone-hard ..and would not hear the prophets. 13 And I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear.. 14 whirlwind and storm scattered them among distant nations, where they lived as strangers. Their land became desolate, the pleasant land a desert.”

Chapter 8

And the word of Yhvh came, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: With great zeal and fervor I am jealous for Zion.. 3 I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and it shall be called the faithful city, and the holy/sacred mountain of Yhvh of hosts. 4 ..Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 ..Should it not be marvelous to see? 7 ..Behold, I will save my people from the east and from the west, 8 and bring them to live in Jerusalem. I will be their God, and they will be my people in both faithfulness and righteousness [from root tsedeq - rightness, righteousness]. 9 So let your hands be strong (build the temple for my Spirit/Presence - ultimately of course, that’s us!) You hearing the words from these prophets present on the day the foundation of the temple was laid.. there was no safety.. 12 But there will be a sowing of peace. The vine will fruit, the ground will give its produce, and the heavens their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess it.. 13 As you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong. 14 ..As I purposed and didn’t relent.. 15 so now do I purpose to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah, fear not. 16 These are the things that you shall do — Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates/“courts” judgments that are true and make for peace. 17 Do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD. 19 And then the seasons that have been of fasting (mourning) shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Wherefore love truth and peace. 20 ..Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the God of hosts.’ 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat his favor. 23 In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Hebrew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Chapter 9

The oracle of the word of the Lord ..the Lord has an eye on mankind and on all the tribes of Israel,

Tyre (nations) heaped up silver like dust ..and gold.. But will be stripped ..power on the sea (trade) stricken.. Ashkelon shall see and fear, Gaza too, Ekron (of Philistine, an aggressor) also, its hopes are confounded. The king shall perish from Gaza, Ashkelon uninhabited, a mixed people shall dwell in Ashdod, and will be cut off the pride of Philistia.. taken away the blood from its mouth and abominations from between its teeth and it too will be a remnant for our God, it shall be like a clan in Judah and Ekron like the Jebusites (who became peacefully of the nation). Then I will dwell.  guard .. so none march to and fro, no oppressor shall again march over them.. 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you, righteous and saving is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. [And the second tkme on a white horse.] 10 No more chariot from Ephraim, no war horse from Jerusalem. The battle bow shall be cut off, and the LORD will speak peace to the nations, his dominion (kingdom) will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of earth.. 11 Because of the blood oath of the covenant with you I will set free from the waterless pit (desert conditions? dry leaf?) 12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope, today I declare that I will restore to you double. 13 Judah as a bow bent, Ephraim its arrow. Stirred up oh sons, of Zion, against your sons Greece ..like a warrior's sword. 14  Then the LORD will be seen over them, and his arrow will go forth like lightning, the Lord God will sound the trumpet.. with whirlwinds (of/from/to?) the south. 15 The Lord of hosts will protect them, and they shall devour, and tread down the sling stones, and they shall drink and roar as if drunk with wine, and be full like a bowl, drenched like the corners of the altar (Rev.16:13-16, Mt.13:30). 16 For on that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people, and like the jewels of a crown they will shine upon his land. 17 For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women.

Zechariah - Chapter 4

And the angel who talked with me came again and roused me as from a daze. 2 And he said, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, a lampstand all of gold. [A lampstand promises a temple for it to be in, see study of Haggai - Israel had been in captivity in Babylon (sound familiar? all of us?) Daniel read the prophet Jeremiah and found out the captivity would last seventy years. Right on schedule King Cyrus said all Israel could go home, then came Haggai and Zechariah after a while saying it’s time to rebuild the temple.] The lampstand of gold had a bowl at the top and branches to seven lamps. (The oil to the lamps comes from above.) 3 And there were two olive trees standing beside it, one on the right and one on the left.” 4 I asked the angel, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel who was talking with me said, “You don’t know what these are?” (Must seem obvious to the angel?) I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel - (the message being?) it’s not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. (Surely his Spirit is his Presence.) 7 Who are you! O great mountain/obstacle! Before Zerubbabel you shall become level as a plain. And he will bring forward the cap stone amid shouts of ‘Grace! Grace to it!’” [Zerubbabel was a leader in getting the temple built. And he is “a type” of Jesus, a prophetical type of Jesus who will build humanity - into a temple of God’s Spirit/Presence, who is love and the source of every good thing, including life.] [Grace - chen, hen - favour, grace, elegance, gracious, adornment, acceptance.]

     8 Then the word of the Lord came to me (Zechariah) saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house (temple). His hands will also complete it. Then (when it’s built) you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 Who despising the day of small things will rejoice in the big things? The seven (lamps) are the eyes of the Lord, which see throughout the whole earth.” 11 Then I said, “What are these two olive trees supplying the bowl, on either side of the lampstand? 12 What are these two olive trees?” 13 He said to me, “You don’t know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” [In this case, and at that time is Zerubbabel and Joshua.. led by the Holy Spirit/Presence of God to encourage a small, feeble band of returning exiles to rebuild, amid much opposition, what was laid utter waste. But the calling was of the highest, and God would provide. And will provide.]

Zechariah Context and Chapter 3

598bc babylonia conquers Judah (Israel has already been carried off to Assyria, Israel had split into two.)

     586bc Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem, carried many off to Babylon.. Babylon later fell to Persia:

    Belshazzar (Nebuchadnezzar’s son and last Babylonian king) - the writing on the wall king, followed by 

    Darius the Mede (Otherwise known as Nabonidus? And the lions den Darius) “received the kingdom” (under? his nephew) Cyrus the Great of Persia 550bc to 538bc - ruled only two years -  Cyrus decreed all Israel in all his kingdom should go home, and some/many did, led by Zerubbabel (who was a descendent of King David) and they began to “rebuild the TEMPLE” (and at the time of Cyrus’ proclamation, the massive empire included once again Assyria)

Then there’s 3 kings (Dn.11:2) Cambyses; Smerdis; Darius the Great-521 to 486bc

520bc Zechariah is shown visions

516bc the rebuilt temple is dedicated

(4th king, Dn.11) 486bc Xerxes’ great and famous war against Greece …non-consequential reigns are left out of the prophecy list. Alexander such a while later said his war against Persia was in revenge …464bc to 425bc Artaxerxes (son of Xerxes) ruled the Persian empire, Esther was one of his queens, it was from his court, around 440bc that Ezra and Nehemiah traveled from Persia to Jerusalem to start rebuilding the rubble that was Jerusalem’s WALLS.

[520bc] Zechariah 3:1 - Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. [An interesting cross reference is Rev.12:7-12, “war breaks out in heaven.. and Satan and his angels are no longer allowed access to the heavens.. woe to the earth however for he knows his time is short - I think next came the medieval inquisitions. But I read Rev.12 as an insert (fascinating!) with Mt.23:39 with verse 17.] 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” [Rev.12:10 - “who accused them day and night before God..”] (A brand plucked from the fire will be all of us. Like saved from a compost heap, where everything heats up/burns/decomposes - the worm that doesn’t quit.) 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with old, stained and unclean (decomposing) garments. 4 And the angel said to others, “Remove the old and self soiled garments from him.” And to Joshua he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity [avon - iniquity, guilt, punishment] away from you. (Have you noticed how we will sabotage ourselves? how we wait ‘for the axe to fall’? Guilt is the monster in our closet, liable to jump out at any time.) And I will clothe you with pure vestments [machalatsah - rich robe,  robe of state].” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban [tsaniph - wound cloth] on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with fine garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by. 6 And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua (the priest) 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest,..behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. [Jesus, only begotten Son, only straight out from God one.. So close both can administer God’s Spirit/Presence.] 9 For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with “seven eyes” I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 And in that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”

                     🎺🎉🕊️

The Prophets - Zechariah Chapters 1 2

     Paraphrased and Condensed

1:1 In the second year of King Darius — this is Darius the Great, not Darius the Mede who co-ruled for two years. Some time has passed, this Darius (of Persia) is listed as third after Cyrus. — In the eighth month (two months after the word first came to Haggai) the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying.. “Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you. 4 Don’t be like your fathers..  the former prophets cried out to them, “Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they would not hear.. 6 But my words and statutes.. did they not overtake your fathers? ..So they repented and said, ‘As the Lord of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.’” (The seventy years in captivity in Babylon.. Strangers in a strange land.. Current human condition.)

     7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, saying, 8 “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 9 Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said, ‘I will show you what they are.’ 10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’11 And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’ 12 Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been indignant these seventy years?’ 13 And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words.. 14 So the angel who talked with me said, ‘Cry out’ (not much printed words back then.) ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion (homeland).15 And I am not happy with the nations that are arrogant for they furthered the consequences that befell them. 16 ..So I return to Jerusalem with mercy. My house shall be built, the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’ 17 And cry out (proclaim) again, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’”

     18  And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns! 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” And he said, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” 20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen [charash - engravers, artificers, stonemasons]. 21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?” ..”These have come to terrify. To cast down/out the horns (powers) of the nations who lifted up their horns (powers) against the land of Judah to scatter [zarah - to scatter, fan, winnow] it.”

Chapter 2

And I looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and its length.” 3 And the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him, 4 and said to him, “Run, say to that young man - (the word came to Haggai, old man? And also Zechariah, young man, during this second year of Darius the Great) - ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it! 5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.

      6,7 Up! Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts.. he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. 9 Behold, I will turn the tables and you will know that Yhvh of hosts has sent. 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares Yhvh, the LORD. 11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that Yhvh of hosts has sent to you. 12 And the LORD will take possession of Judah as his inheritance in the holy land, for he will again choose Jerusalem.’

     13 Be silent all before the Lord for he has stirred himself from his holy dwelling.”

     Haggai, Zechariah, then Malachi are prophets after Daniel. And are the last of “the prophets”.

     Next - a brief history outline of the times of Daniel and after Daniel.

10-06 𝔉𝔯𝔬𝔪 Mk-11 Gal-2

      𝓓aily 𝓖ospel \/erses ✨

           Mark 11:1-10

[Mt. of Olives is higher than Mt. Zion by about 200 feet. And it’s straight east from Jerusalem overlooking the city. Zechariah wrote (14:4) “In that day, his feet will stand on Mt. of Olives ..and it will split in two from east to west, forming a great valley..”] (There’s been much made of the gospel accounts differing in details, but eye witness accounts always differ, and if they don’t authorities are suspicious. Since we just read Greek doctor Luke’s account yesterday.)

1 - As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent ahead two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of us, and just as you enter, you’ll find a colt tied there, which no one has yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’” 4 And so they went and they found a colt tied at a door in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they let them take it. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches in the field and spread them on the road. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 God bless the coming kingdom of our ancestor King David. Praise God in heaven above!"                    

       🌙☀️🌲🪐🕊️💫

From New Testament Letters

          (In Order Written)

       ~ Galatians 2:11-21 ~

11 When Peter came to Antioch, I (Paul) told him face to face that he was wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from those who insisted on the necessity of circumcision (for gentile Christians). 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, how can you want Gentiles to live like Jews? 15 You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles.” (Sarcasm.) 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For NO  ONE will ever be made right (deemed righteous/innocent) with God by obeying the law.” (Life is a Gift, not earned as if God could OWE us.) 17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law? Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 For if I build up again the things which I have torn down - I - make myself a trespassser! 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for/to God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live now by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died in vain!

                       ~*~

🗝️ [  ] - 𝕃𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕦𝕒𝕘𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤

      𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝒷𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒𝒽𝓊𝒷 𝒹𝑜𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝑜𝑜𝓁𝓈

      (  ) - 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤

𝒯𝑜𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌’𝓈 𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓈:

𝐿𝓊𝓀𝑒 19:41-48

𝒢𝒶𝓁𝒶𝓉𝒾𝒶𝓃𝓈 3:1-7

𝒜𝒸𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓀, 12:1-25

𝑅𝑒𝓋/𝒜𝓅𝑜𝒸 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓀, 14:1-7

𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓅𝒽𝑒𝓉𝓈 - Hosea, done; soon Isaiah

            🗞️📜