Deuteronomy 12 - Isaiah 30 – 2 Corinthians 13 – Revelations 12

Deuteronomy 12
- Now Moses gives them the statutes and rules to follow.
- The shall destroy the altars to other gods in the nations they take over.
- They shall burn the Asherim with fire and chop down their idols.
- They can't worship God and the other idols.
- They shall seek a place of habitation for God there.
- That's where they will bring their tithes and offerings; their vow and free will offerings and first born of their livestock.
- There they will eat, rejoice, in all that God has blessed them with.
- They shouldn't do there what they are doing now; whatever each person thinks is right.
- They haven't yet reached the rest and inheritance God has promised them.
- God will give them rest from their enemies and safety.
- God will choose a place there for their burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, and contributions
- There they will rejoice before the Lord with their children and their servants.
- The Levites in the various towns will also celebrate there.
- They shouldn't offer sacrifices anywhere they choose any more, but just where God chooses.
- They may slaughter and eat meat in their towns according to what God blesses them with.
- The unclean and clean may eat the deer or the gazelle, but they shouldn't eat the blood.
- They can NOT eat of their grain offering, first of wine or livestock.
- These shall be eaten in the place God chooses. This goes for their children, servants, and Levites with them.
- They shall rejoice in God in all that they do.
- They shouldn't neglect the Levite.
- God will enlarge their territory and they can eat meat whenever they want.
- If the place God chooses is too far from their town, they may eat within their town.
- Isn't this distance subjective?
- It repeats that the unclean and clean may eat the deer or the gazelle and not to eat the blood.
- The blood is life and that shouldn't be eaten with the flesh.
- They don't eat the blood so it may go well with them.
- Their vow offerings should be taken to the place God chooses.
- the blood from their offerings should be poured on the alter, but they may eat the flesh.
- Moses tells them to be careful and obey these things so it may go well with them forever when they do what is good and right in God's eyes.
- Moses warns them not to be ensnared and follow those people they overthrow.
- They shouldn't even ask how the previous nations served their gods lest they be tempted to do the same.
- They shouldn't do that, because every thing abominable to God, they have done.
- They even burnt their children to their gods.
- Moses tells them not to add to or take away from what God has commanded.

Isaiah 30
- God rebukes those who carry out ungodly plans and add sin upon sin.
- Those who went down to Egypt without asking God first because they wanted Pharaoh to protect them.
- Pharaoh's shelter and protection shall be their shame and humiliation.
- Even though Pharaoh's officials reach all the way to Zion, he will not profit them.
- An oracle on the beasts of Negeb says, "The lion and fiery serpent carry their riches to Egypt who cannot help them. That's why they call her "Rahab who sits still"
- Isaiah is to write this on a tablet and in a book so people can witness forever that they are rebellious and their children will not listen to God's instructions.
- They even tell the seers and prophets NOT to tell them what's right.
- They don't want to hear anymore about the Holy One of Israel.
- Their iniquity is on themselves because they trust in oppression and perverseness.
- They are like a leaning wall about to fall over or a pot smashed to pieces.
- They shall be saved through repentance and quietness.
- They thought they could ride their horses to get away, but a few invaders will cause them to flee.
- God is waiting to be gracious to them and exalts Himself in showing them mercy.
- God is a just god and those who wait on Him are blessed.
- Those who wait in Zion will experience God's grace.
- He will answer them when He hears them.
- God (Teacher) will not hide Himself anymore though they face affliction and adversity.
- They will hear God tell them which way to go.
- Then they will turn from idols and tell them to "Be gone!"
- In that day rain will grow seeds and the livestock will flourish.
- Streams will again flow from the mountains.
- Moonlight will be like sunlight.
- When God binds the broken the sunlight shall be 7 times brighter.
- The name of the Lord will come burning with anger and fury.
- His tongue will be a devouring fire and His breath like an overflowing stream.
- They shall have a celebratory song and be glad.
- The Lord's voice will be heard and His fury will be seen in storms and hailstones.
- This will terrify the Assyrians.
- God will fight the Assyrians.
- Topheth (a burning place) has been prepared for them.
- A fire pyre has been made for the king.

2 Corinthians 13
- This will be the 3rd time Paul is coming to them.
- He tells them that every charge must have 2 -3 witnesses.
- Paul is warning those in sin like he did during his 2nd visit, that he won't spare them on his next visit because they are seeking proof that Christ is speaking through Paul.
- Christ is not weak when dealing with them. He is powerful.
- Christ was crucified in weakness but He lives by the power of God.
- Paul and the others are also weak in Him but will live with Him by the power of God.
- Paul challenges them to examine and test themselves to see if they are in faith.
- Paul asks whether they realize Christ is in them.
- Paul hopes they will trust he hasn't failed the test.
- Paul prays that they won't do wring, but will do what is right even though he and the others seem to have failed.
- How have Paul and the others failed?
- Paul says that can't do anything against the truth.
- Paul is glad when he is weak and they are strong.
- They pray for the Corinthians' restoration.
- Paul writes them before his visit in hopes that when he is there he won't have to be "severe" in his use of the Lord's authority.
- Paul says his authority is for building up and not tearing down.
- Paul tells them to rejoice, aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the love of God will be with them.
- They are supposed to greet one another with a holy kiss.
- Paul prays that Jesus' grace, God's love, and the Holy Spirit's fellowship will be with them all.

Revelations 12
- A great sign = woman clothed with the sun. The moon was under her feet. a crown of 12 stars was on her head.
- She was pregnant and about to give birth.
- A second sign = a great red dragon, 7 heads with 7 diadems (crowns) and 10 horns
- Its tails swept 1/3 of the stars out of heaven and threw them to earth.
- The dragon waited to devour the woman's child when it was born.
- She gave birth to a man child, who was to rule all mankind with a rod of iron, but the child was caught up to God's throne.
- The woman fled into the wilderness and was nourished for 1,260 days in a place God had prepared for her.
- Why didn't the dragon eat the man child?
- A war arose and Michael led the angels against the dragon.
- The dragon and his angels were defeated and there was no more space for them in heaven.
- The dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent (Genesis reference?)
- The dragon is also know as the devil, Satan, deceiver of the world was thrown down to earth with his angels.
- At this moment the salvation and the power and kingdom and authority of Christ has come because the accuser (Satan) has been thrown down.
- Satan accuses us night and day before God.
- Satan has been conquered by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the testimony of those who died for Him.
- The heavens will rejoice, but the earth will woe because Satan has come to earth full of wrath because he knows his time is short.
- When the dragon was thrown to earth he pursued the woman, but but she flew away on eagle's wings.
- She flew away to the place where she'd be nourished for 1,260 days in the wilderness.
- What does it mean she will be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time?
- The dragon poured flood waters out of his mouth to sweep her away, but the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the water to help the woman.
- The dragon became furious and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring.
- Her offspring were those who keep the commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
- He (the dragon?) stood on the sand of the sea.