Prophetic Prospective Daily Devotional

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Someone has said that a Christian should read one chapter of Proverbs every day of the month. In fact that works very well because there are 31 chapters in Proverbs. May I encourage you to read today this 15th chapter of Proverbs. It is packed with wisdom for everyday living.

As you read through this nugget of God's wisdom please notice verse 3. What an awesome thought, "the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good".

These words remind me of other verses that convey that same truth to the reader: Proverbs 5:21 --- "the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord": Job 34:21 --- "His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all His goings": Jeremiah 16:17 --- "Neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes": Jeremiah 32:19 --- "For thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of man": Hebrews 4:13 --- "neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight".

John the Revelator wrote in the description of the resurrected, glorified person of Jesus Christ, found in Revelation 1:12-16, that His eyes, verse 14, were as a "flame of fire". A further word study of this description would indicate that the Lord has "x-ray vision". He sees all, everywhere. His eyes are upon our every activity, our every word, our good works and our bad works.

What an awesome thought as we await the One described in Revelation that will call us up to be with Him forevermore, at the Rapture. At the time of the Rapture we will stand at the "Judgment Seat of Christ", a time when all of our works will be judged, both the good and the bad, by Jesus Christ.

This truth should help to bring us more in line with "His image" as we prepare to enter into "His eternal presence". This is not a time to determine "saved" or "lost" that will be already determined before we arrive at the Judgment Seat. This judgment is to determine "rewards" or "loss of rewards" that Jesus will or will not give each of us.

These "rewards" will be for praising Him for what He has done for us, Revelation 4:10, and also to determine our "job description" for eternity future, Revelation 22:12. This will be a very awesome time. We must prepare for it today. Remember, the Rapture can happen at any moment, even today. 

PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord help me this day to live my life before you, the One who sees all that I do, both good and evil.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The book of Proverbs written by King Solomon is packed with tidbits of spiritual refreshment. A daily dose of Proverbs is worth every minute spent reading and meditating upon its contents.

Our key verse, verse 7, speaks of "knowledge". We will look at the impact of "knowledge" in a moment. Before we do that, let’s take a look at the entire book of Proverbs. There is a goldmine of nuggets that will bring true riches to you as you read them each day.

Someone has said that a "Proverb a day will keep the devil away". I commend to you Proverbs as additional reading after our daily devotionals. What you will find is a number of sayings, a collection of sayings from Solomon that contain Divine wisdom applied to the earthly, everyday conditions of the people of God.

Notice in our key verse a definition of the beginning of "knowledge". "Knowledge" does not come with University training but by a "fear of the Lord". I don't mean that we are to "fear the Lord" like we fear someone who can bring harm upon us. The term "fear of the Lord" is a "reverential fear" that is also a "hatred of evil". This is the "fear" King Solomon is referring to in the verse.

The Word then states the source of "true knowledge" is that "hatred of evil" and the "reverential fear of the Lord" that is the beginning of "knowledge". This world's thinking is focused on the wrong source for true "knowledge".

The Lord Jesus Christ was the "Creator" of the heavens and earth and all that is in it and on it. There is only one way you and I can know anything about our origins and that is by reading the account written by the only One that was there, "In the beginning".

The eyewitness to Creation was Jesus Himself and if we want to have knowledge of that time we must read the Lord's account of this time in history, as recorded in the first and second chapters of Genesis.

Then, through a "reverential fear" of the Lord that causes us to read His Word, we gain "knowledge" which contains wisdom and instruction. "Fear" is a great thing when focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.

This "knowledge" that we receive from the Lord and His Word is the instructions by which we can then live out our lives as we await His call, at the Rapture, for us to join Him in the heavenlies.

By the way, it is essential that we make certain we watch and live for His call daily, because our world today is set for it to happen, the Rapture, at any moment, maybe even today.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Give me, dear Lord, a "reverential fear" of You, which will bring me knowledge, wisdom and instruction for my everyday life.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

I love this chapter written by King David, which speaks of the attributes of God and how He watches over me because He brought me into existence. I am privileged to share these thoughts with you today from our devotional reading.

David, the King, was also a musician who writes this Psalm like it was a hymn with three verses. Verse one presents our wonderful Lord in His "omniscience", verses 1-6.

"Omniscience" means that the Lord is "all knowing". David refers to "the Lord" who "knows me", verse 1; my "down-sitting", verse 2; and my "words", verse 4. That is an awesome thought, what God knows about me.

The "omnipresence" of God, another characteristic of my Lord, is presented in verses 7-12 by the Psalmist. It's interesting to note that David uses the truth of how we can not "flee from Thy presence", verse 7, in explaining that the Lord is present everywhere and at all times, and we can never "get away from Him".

Why in the world would we want to be out of His presence, even if it was possible? The only answer is that we would be living in "sin" and ashamed to be in His presence. The other great aspect of His "omnipresence" is that He is always there to take care of us, what a blessing that is for each of us.

Verses 13-18 present the "omnipotence" of the Lord. He is "all powerful". I especially love these verses written by David about our Lord and how He made me and knows everything about my person, body, soul and spirit.

Because He is "omnipotent", "I am fearfully and wonderfully made", verse 14."My body is not hidden from Him, even when I was in my mothers womb", verses 13-16. These verses are the greatest proof that "abortion" is "murder", blasphemy against the Lord.

He knew me before I was born and possessed me at that time. Actually, He knew me in "eternity past", Jeremiah 1:5.

As the second King of Israel concludes this marvelous passage on the attributes of the Lord he brings to our attention the reality that the world is an "enemy " of our Lord. David writes of a "perfect hatred", verse 22. There is a "hatred of those that hate the Lord". That is a pretty heavy thought.

The prayer that David uses and gives us to use also, in the last two verses, verses 23-24, is a prayer that we should, or at least I should, pray every day as I await the all-knowing, always present and all-powerful Lord who will keep me until He calls me to meet Him in the air at the Rapture, which could happen today.

Rehearsing the characteristics, attributes, of the Lord, on a daily basis, will prepare me, and in fact, each of us, for the future and our departure to be with Him, forever.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, please search me, know my heart, reveal any wicked way in me, and lead me in thy way, everlasting.

For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

This Psalm is one of the Psalms that King Solomon wrote, and he wrote it in honor of his father David and the promise that God had made to his father, the Davidic Covenant.

David had passed from the scene and now Solomon prepared, by prayer to the Lord for provision and direction, for building the permanent worship center that David wanted to have been able to build.

The Lord had promised his father that there would be a Temple in Jerusalem and that King David's son would sit on the throne in Jerusalem and this would be the case forever as well, II Samuel 7, (The Davidic Covenant).

Solomon opens his prayer calling upon the Lord to remember the promise that He made to David. Solomon was eager to do the work of the Lord to build the Temple in Jerusalem.

In fact, Solomon tells the Lord that he would be willing to not go into his own home and go to bed and sleep until he had found the place where the Lord would dwell among His people, the Jewish people.

Solomon set the example that we should follow, the Lord's work comes before our own need for sleep. The Lord assured Solomon that He would fulfill his father David's desire to build a "permanent dwelling place" for the Lord.

Then, the Lord tells Solomon and all saints down through the ages that, in fact, He has chosen Jerusalem as the location on earth where He will dwell among His people, the Jewish people, forever, verses 13-14.

This was the Lord's plan from eternity past and is the reason that King David purchased the threshing floor from Ornon the Jebusite, I Chronicles 21:18-30. It's the reason that King David made Jerusalem the "political capital" of the Jewish people, II Samuel 5, and also, the "spiritual capital" of the Jews, II Samuel 6.

God, in eternity past, chose Jerusalem as His eternal abode among His people, the Jewish people. It is the reason the Lord had Solomon to build the first Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

This is also the reason that Jerusalem has been a center of controversy in the past. It's the reason that Jerusalem is so controversial today and it will continue to be that way until the Lord Jesus comes to build His permanent Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and to dwell among His people, forever.

However, I must remind you that there is another event before the return of the Lord to earth to build His Temple, in fact this next event, the Rapture happens at least seven years before the Lord’s return. The truth be-known, the Rapture could happen today. Keep looking up.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me Lord, to realize as I watch the controversy surrounding Jerusalem today, to realize Your plan for Your city and how close that plan may be to fulfillment.

Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

This is a very important Psalm in the "last days scenario" that is found in Bible prophecy. Combining this chapter along with Daniel 11:40-45 and Ezekiel 38 will give you an understanding of how the nations will align themselves against the Jewish State of Israel in the last days.

I must remind you that there is no prophecy of private interpretation, II Peter 1:20, therefore these three passages of prophetic scripture that I mentioned above, and many other passages in God's Word, enlighten us to how the nations form a coalition to destroy Israel in the last days.

In this passage the Psalmist is actually praying and the very first verse sets the scene for what is the theme of this prophetic passage.

The Psalmist wants the Lord to awaken to the fact that these nations are making plans to try to remove Israel from the face of the earth. Thus he wants God to protect them and destroy the attacking enemy.

Verses 2 and 3 record the prayer alerting the Lord of the enemies of Israel, and thus enemies of the Lord Himself, relaying to Him that these enemies are ready to go after Israel, having developed a plan.

Verse 4 states that these enemies of God and Israel want to destroy Israel so that "the name of Israel will no longer be remembered".

By the way, verse 4 is almost a direct quote from former Iranian President Ahmadinejad's speech to over 4,000 Arab and Islamic leaders in Tehran when he called for Israel to be wiped off the face of the earth and be forgotten forever.

These are the names of some of the enemies of Israel that you will recognize. The Edom, in verse 6, is the Palestinian people of today. The Ishmaelites of that same verse are the people of Saudi Arabia. Tyre, listed in verse 7, is modern-day Lebanon.

I believe I have given you enough names of nations who are today preparing to join with other nations to form a coalition of nations aligned against the Jewish State of Israel.

We are living in Psalm 83. These nations mentioned, plus those mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and Daniel 11 are making ready for their attack on Israel. This attack takes place in the first six months of the seven year long Tribulation Period after the body of Christ, Christians, have departed earth at the Rapture.

With the nearness of this coalition of nations attacking Israel upon us, the Rapture, which happens before these nations attack, the Rapture must be very close at hand. Keep looking up!

PRAYER THOUGHT: Your time clock dear Lord, Israel, is about to be attacked, which indicates the Rapture must be close at hand. Even so come Lord Jesus, today!

Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

When reading through the Bible, as you come to Psalm 22, 23 and 24, you see three aspects of a "shepherd", the "good shepherd", the "great shepherd" and the "chief shepherd". In Psalm 22, the Psalmist reveals the "Good Shepherd" as the "shepherd" who gives his life for his sheep, John 10:11.

The Psalmist gives us a graphic picture of death by crucifixion. This Psalm is a prophecy of the Messiah who would give His life for the salvation of all who would come to Him for eternal life.

Psalm 23 depicts the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the One the Psalmist is writing about, as the "Great Shepherd". The writer shows the "Great Shepherd", "brought again from the dead through the blood of the everlasting covenant", Hebrews 13:20, is the One that tenderly cares for the sheep.

In our devotional reading for today, we focus on the "Chief Shepherd", I Peter 5:4, who appears as the "King of Glory", the One who comes to reward the sheep. Four times in Psalm 24 the Messiah is referred to as the "King of Glory", verses 7-10.

As we begin to read through this 24th Psalm we see that the Chief Shepherd was also the "Creator", verses 1 and 2. The truth is, that the only way He could be the "Chief Shepherd" and the "King of Glory" is that He was the "Creator" of all things and that all of Creation belongs to Him.

The Psalmist then tells us that the only way we can "ascend to the hill of the Lord" is if we have "clean hands and a pure heart", verse 4. By the way, the next verse in our reading reveals to us that our salvation, the way to clean hands and a pure heart, comes from Him, verse 5.

Verses 7-10 speak of the coming Messiah, referred to here as the "King of Glory". I have heard a song that uses these four verses as the words to its melody. It is a beautiful song, which, of course, is what the Psalms are, "songs to sing".

Let me go back to the reference in I Peter 5:4 that speaks of the "Chief Shepherd", the "King of Glory". Notice the Chief Shepherd brings with Him when He comes a "crown of glory" for all of us, as Christians, that have "fed the flock", I Peter 5:2. That means we have helped other Christians to grow in the Lord as we have been "examples to the flock," I Peter 5:3.

I look forward to receiving from the "Chief Shepherd" a "crown of glory" when the "King of Glory" comes. I want to give back to our Lord this crown, Revelation 4:10, in thanksgiving for what the "Chief Shepherd", the "King of Glory" has done for me.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me, Lord, to be at the task of "feeding the flock" by being the example you want me to be so I will receive the "crown of glory" from the "Chief Shepherd" when You come.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

This passage selected for our reading today is so rich. Our key verse has prophetic significance, which we must consider and will do so in a moment. Before that, let's look at several "great truths" found in Psalm 19.

The very first verse of our extended reading is such a blessing. We are given the way to see the "glory of the Lord"- we just look up to the heavens. During the fourth day of creation, Genesis 1:14-19, the Lord uttered three words, "the stars also" and the "star-filled" heavens appeared.

This space is not large enough to even consider the extent of those three words. Might I suggest you take some time in the near future to stop to view the "heavens". Notice the "handiwork" of the Lord and see how the heavens declare "His glory". I have done this and have been blessed.

Verses 2-4 reminds us how we fail to observe the passing of each day and each night. The truth is that like precision clockwork each day and night appear and then are gone.

The passage speaks of the sun and how the Lord has a special dwelling place, a tabernacle for it each night. That, of course, from my perspective - while those on the other side of the earth will have another perspective.

Notice what the Psalmist, this Psalm written by King David, says about the Word of the Lord, which is the "law of the Lord". Reading the Lord's Word, which is perfect and sure will lead you to Him as Savior and make you wise. The Word will also show us any secret sins that must be dealt with, verse 12.

Before we come to our "Prayer Thought", please notice verse 9. It starts out, "the fear of the Lord". That phrase is a statement of Old Testament "piety" meaning "reverential trust" with "hatred of evil".

In verse 9, there is a statement about judgment, judgment to come. Let me remind you of two of the future judgments, the Great White Throne and the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The Great White Throne, Revelation 20:11-15, is where lost people will stand to be sentenced to the "Lake of Fire" joining Satan, Antichrist, and False Prophet.

The Judgment Seat of Christ, II Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10, will be a time for Christians, when Jesus will hand out rewards for those "righteous acts" we have done in His power and for His glory.

Notice how the Psalmist refers to the judgments, "true and righteous". Someone will only stand at the Great White Throne if they have never trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

All Christians will stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ. We must prepare today for that judgment, in a future tomorrow. By the way, the Judgment Seat of Christ begins right after the Rapture. At that moment we stand to be judged for the works done for Jesus since we got saved.

That is an awesome thought, the Rapture and then the Judgment Seat. This truth should cause us to live every moment of every day for Him as we await His shout to call us up to be with Him in the heavens, ever to be with Him. Remember, the Rapture could happen today.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, Psalm 19:14.

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

What a powerful passage of scripture the Psalmist gives to us, actually a very prophetic passage of Scripture. In essence we are reading for today the order of the establishment of the Kingdom to be set up in Jerusalem. This will be an eternal Kingdom to be ruled over by the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

Let's take a journey through this Psalm, with the Kingdom in mind, and notice how it comes to pass. Verse one reveals that the heathen, Gentiles, will rise to power as the leaders of the world. These Gentile world powers will continue to gain power and control in the world all the way up to the Lord's return.

It will be these Gentile nations, who come against God and His chosen people with the intention of destroying them, Psalm 2:2-3. God's reaction is very interesting. The Lord actually laughs, Psalm 2:4, at His enemies. This is laughter that comes from awareness that the Gentile world leaders are unable to do what they want to do, that is to destroy His people, the Jews, and His plan for the End Times.

However, it is at this time that the world leaders believe they are really what they think they are, when the Lord unleashes His wrath against them. He will do this from His "holy hill of Zion", which is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In this passage the Lord God gives His power and position to His Son, Jesus Christ, Psalm 2:7. God will give the heathen, the Gentile world, to His Son, Psalm 2:8, and Jesus will break them in pieces, like a potters vessel.

The "Lord's Kingdom", which is in perfect harmony with all prophetic passages that relate to this coming period of time, is yet in the future.

In the last three verses of our extended reading, Psalm 2:9-12, we see that the Lord, and prophecy are very practical. Since this is the way history will be played out in the future the Psalmist suggest that the readers must be wise.

This is suggested to the kings and judges of the earth. Then he instructs the people of the world to serve the Lord with fear, which is the beginning of wisdom.

I love this next instruction, "Kiss the Son". Kiss Jesus Christ, in other words, honor, love, obey and serve the Son of God. Then the Psalmist tells of the blessings that will come to them that put their trust in Him.

This wonderful chapter is evidence that prophecy tells of the future and the Lord's rule and reign from Jerusalem. But it also reveals to us how practical prophecy is as well. It recommends the study of prophecy to you and me for the blessing we will receive and the motivation to live for Him and serve Him until He comes to call us up to be with Him at the Rapture, which precedes the establishment of His Kingdom by seven years.

The "truth be known", the Rapture can take place at any time, and it could be today!

PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to understand prophecy so that it becomes practical in my daily life.

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: But now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

When you look at the extended reading you will notice that I have given you four chapters in Job plus the first six verses in chapter 42. I understand that this is a lot of reading for one day, however, I can assure you that when you read the whole passage in the extended reading it will be a blessing to you.

Let me focus on the first six verses in Job 42. Job is responding to a question by God, Job 38:4, asking where Job was when He created the earth, and, in fact, all of creation.

Job realized how insignificant he was in light of all that God had created. After seeing who God is, in the Creation, Job repented of his sins. Job was able to humble himself when the Lord reminded Job that He was the "Creator", Job the "creation".

Throughout these four chapters are many examples in God's creation of that which will make manifest the Lord's Glory in His creative acts. I'll only be able to bring some of His Creation to your attention as you will notice when you eventually read through these passages.

Let me list some of the Lord's creative acts that I've chosen as "highlights" of God's Creation.

Chapter 38:8, Who is able to shut up the sea with doors?

Chapter 38:12, Who can cause the morning to begin?

Chapter 38:16, Hast thou entered into the spring of the sea?

Chapter 38:22, Has thou entered into the treasures of the snow?

Chapter 38:31, Can thou shut out the light of the stars and constellations?

Chapter 38:34, Can you with your voice start, or stop the rain?

Chapter 39:13, Gavest thou the goodly wings to the peacocks?

Chapter 39:29, Doth the eagle mount up at your command?

Chapter 40:15-24, God speaks of the dinosaur, the behemoth?

Chapter 41:1, Can you catch the sea monster, the leviathan, with a fishing pole and hook?

These are only a few of the examples of the Lord's creative acts that Job was able to think through during his conversation with the Lord. It was after Job had studied God's creation that Job saw the "Glory of the Lord" with his own eyes, Chapter 42:5, and was made to see how sinful he was before the Lord.

Job, after seeing the "glory of the Lord", repented and got his heart right with God. When we see the "glory of the Lord", we will also be ready to trust and obey the Lord. Psalm 19 reveals to us that we can see the "glory of the Lord" in the "heavens", and in His "handy work" that is evident in all of Creation.

The Lord allowed all that happened in the life of Job so that He might make known His "glory". That same "glory" will be made manifest in Jesus Christ, when He comes back to earth. Then all of us will be able to see the true "glory" of the Lord.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for evidence of Your glory in Your creation.

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproveth God, let him answer it.

This portion chosen for our devotional reading today is a continuation of the conversation between God and Job. Back in Job 38, the Lord responded to Job's concerns of how he was being treated with "where were you, Job, when I created the world especially the earth?" The Lord was reminding Job that He created all things and could take care of him. Again, Job 40 is simply a continuation of that conversation.

As we eavesdrop on the talk between God and Job, we can learn some very valuable information about the Lord's Creation that will prepare us for the onslaught of questions from the so-called "educational community" of our present-day world.

Let me remind you that Peter warned that there would be those who would deny the Second Coming of the Lord and do so based upon their misunderstanding of how "man" and all of creation came into existence, II Peter 3:3-8.

Here in Job, we have the record of the creation by God of the "chief of the ways of God" in creation, verse 19. The creature described in this passage of Scripture is none other than the "dinosaur" referred to as the "behemoth", verse 15.

The writer of this book, Job, records the Lord's words that introduced to the world this "colossal beast", the "dinosaur". Notice the detailed description of this massive animal that ate grass, as an ox would, verse 15. This creature had a tail like a cedar log, verse 17, his bones like bars of iron, verse 18.

The writer of Job places this massive animal near Jericho lying in the Jordan River and seemingly drinking all the water of the river, verse 23. In the animal world, Job is told that the "dinosaur is the chief of all animals" and that which the Lord wants to show off to mankind. Let me remind you that the Lord created dinosaurs on the sixth day of creation before He created man, Genesis 1:24.

Though many of the dinosaurs had disappeared from the earth, soon after the Flood, 4500 years ago, there are still some around today. They are mostly found in Florida and are called alligators.

God's detailed information on His creative acts 6,000 years ago recorded in Job 38-41 gives us the Bible information to combat those who deny that our Lord Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth and all that in them is, Colossians 1:16 and Exodus 20:11.

The "Creator" thus then can tell the "creation" of the future He has planned for them. Our Lord knows the "beginning from the end" and has a plan that will unfold in the last days. The next event on His agenda is the Rapture and that could happen today, keep looking up.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you, Lord, for the assurances we have as we acknowledge Your creative acts and Your plans for the future as revealed to us in Bible prophecy.

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

The 38th chapter of Job comes at a time in the life of Job when he is very depressed and considering the suggestions of his so called friends to just curse God and die. The Lord comes to Job and confronts him with a number of questions about his creation... When the Lord had brought the heavens and earth into place and everything else in creation into existence.

Notice verse 4 with verse 7. The question is, "Job where were you when I created the earth.....When the morning stars and the sons of God shouted for joy". This question gives us the time of the creation of angels, described here as the "sons of God", Job 1:6 and 2:1, and the "morning stars".

God brought forth angels on the "first day of creation" after the time He created the heavens, and before He created the earth, Genesis 1:1. I say that because God created all things in the 6 - 24 hour days of creation, Exodus 20:11. Job 38:4 and 7 says when the earth was created the angels shouted for joy. The "angels" had to be there at that time.

The subject of angels, both good and bad angels, has a close connection to Bible prophecy, both in the first coming of Jesus Christ, and the Second Coming. In fact, the most used word in the book of Revelation, other than "and, the, etc.", is "angel" or its plural, "angels", used 81 times.

An "angel" delivers the message of "Revelation" to the Apostle John who recorded its prophecies for us to read, Revelation 1. The "letters" to the Seven Churches, Revelation 2 and 3, are presented to the "Angels" of the Churches. Angels deliver all of the seven "Trumpet Judgments", Revelation 8, 9 and 11, and all of the "Vial Judgments", Revelation 16.

Angels are our fellow servants, Revelation 19:10 and 22:9. Angels will accompany Jesus Christ as He returns to the earth at His Second Coming, Matthew 24:31. Angels are real and will play key rolls in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the period leading up to the Lord's return.

This angelic activity includes both good and bad angels. (See my study on "Angels" for much more information on "angels") As at the 1st coming of Christ...... at His 2nd coming "angels", both good and evil, will participate. I'm convinced that even now angels are preparing for their role in the soon coming of Jesus Christ, which could be today.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for the "protection" that Angels provide for me and for the reality of their "partnership" with me in ministry, as well. 

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

In a future reading for our daily devotions from the book of Job, we will discuss the creation of "angels" that took place on the first day of Creation, between the time the Lord created the "heavens" and then the "earth", Job 38:4-7. In today’s extended reading, we eavesdrop on a conversation between God and Satan.

They are discussing Job, and the Lord speaks of Job as one like none other on the earth. Job is an "upright man", one "who feareth God and escheweth evil". He is a man who "holdeth fast his integrity". All of the above characteristics could be found in Job.

Satan responds that God is protecting His servant Job. The Lord then allows Satan to test Job to the point of death saying to Satan, "he is in thine hand; but save his life", verse 6. Satan went from the Lord to Job and began to severely test God's servant.

Notice that in the testing, even Job's wife told her husband to "curse God and die", verse 9. I love the last 10 words of our reading, found in verse 10, "in all this did not Job sin with his lips". What a testimony, which has echoed down through the centuries of time, all the way to us today. In this present-day world, we need that same kind of integrity.

Please notice before we leave this devotional reading the pattern that Satan follows which will be his "trademark" throughout his time as the "ruler of this world". Satan will attack and test the believers in an effort to turn them against the "Most High God".

There is a New Testament passage that is key to our understanding of Satan's devices in the end times, which are revealed in Ephesians 6. Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the "whole armor of God" so that we can stand against the "wiles of the devil".

Paul warns us that in the last days we will not wrestle against flesh and blood, Ephesians 6:12, "but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies".

Paul, in this passage, defines all that is a part of Satan's "kingdom of darkness". He describes the same attack by Satan today as Job described over 4,000 years ago. As we get closer to the Lord's return the more intense will be the Satanic attacks. As then, so now also, the Lord is our "protector" from Satan.

The exhortation from Paul to "put on the whole armor of God" in these the "last days" is an absolute must do activity that we cannot fail to do as soon as possible. The Devil, and his evil angels, will be very active as the time draws closer to the Lord’s return.

In order to be prepared for the life we will live leading up to the Rapture, at least seven years before the Lord’s return, we must be "dressed" properly, with the "whole armor of God" so that we can withstand all the wiles of the Devil and his evil angels.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, help me to pattern my life after Job, a life of integrity. And at the same time, thank you, Lord, for the "armor" that I can put on to fight the "wiles of the devil".

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

The narrative that we read today is from the record of a "man" that the Lord would allow Satan to test to the point of death. The book of Job was written some 500 years before Moses wrote the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. This makes Job the oldest book in the Bible. It also places Job as a Biblical personality that dates back before Moses.

Most likely Job would have been a contemporary of the patriarchal age and most likely alive at a time before Moses. The main character of the book, Job, was known as a man who "feared God" with a reverential fear, a fear that is actually the beginning of real wisdom. The truth of the matter is that Job was a man greatly respected in his home region and known as a great man, one who detested evil.

In a later devotional we shall learn more about Job, but suffice to say Job was a man that God had a special relationship with and a man the Lord would allow to be put to the test of faithfulness to the God of creation. I mention creation because in a future look at Job in another devotional God will ask him where his servant was when the Lord brought the worlds into existence, Job 38:4-7.

Our extended reading reveals that the devil has access to God and even the "good angels". The "sons of God", verse 6, would witness a meeting between God and Satan. This is of interest because since the fall of the angels, the ones who followed Lucifer in rebellion against the Lord of Heaven, the "evil angels" have not had access to the presence of God. Only Satan has daily access to God for a period of time that he spends accusing the brethren, Revelation 12:10.

Several things to notice about what God does with Satan. God allows Satan to be the instrument of affliction and to apply all the affliction he wanted on Job, short of taking his life, verse 12. This narrative also tells us that though Satan is the "king of this present world", God still has the controlling power over him.

Job was a righteous man, but notice affliction came upon him, allowed by God. Many today get into this philosophy that God makes us healthy, wealthy and happy. In the end Job loses his health, wealth and happiness, but is still a righteous man who is in the perfect will of God. This truth is "in the face" of much of the preaching today.

A true study of Job will bring about a sobering understanding of the ways of God in our lives. By the way, Satan will have his power until Jesus Christ returns to defeat him and cast him into the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:7-10.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to love and obey You dear Lord, as Job did, even in the face of either physical, economic or spiritual troubles.