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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
December 26 - Bible-in-a-Year
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Ezekiel 38-39
Chapter 38
Prophecy about Gog and Future Invasion of Israel
1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,2 "Son of man, set your face toward (C1)Gog of the land of (C2)Magog, the (C3)chief prince of (C4)Meshech and (C4)Tubal, and prophesy against him,3 and say, 'This is what the Lord (F1)GOD says: "Behold, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.4 "So I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will (C1)bring you out, and all your army, (C2)horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently dressed, a great contingent with shield and (F1)buckler, all of them wielding swords;5 (C1)Persia, (F1)(C2)Cush, and (C3)Put with them, all of them with buckler and helmet;6 (C1)Gomer with all its troops; (C2)Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.
7 "(C1)Be ready, and be prepared, you and all your contingents that are assembled around you, and be a guard for them.8 "(C1)After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been (C2)gathered from many (F1)nations to the (C3)mountains of Israel which had been a continual place of ruins; but (F2)its people were brought out from the (F1)nations, and they are (C4)living securely, all of them.9 "And you will go up, you will come (C1)like a storm; you will be like a (C2)cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you."
10 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "It will come about on that day, that (F1)thoughts will come into your mind and you will (C1)devise an evil plan,11 and you will say, 'I will go up against the land of (F1)(C1)unwalled villages. I will go against those who are (C2)at rest, who live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates,12 to (C1)capture spoils and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the ruins that are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who live at the (F1)center of the world.'13 "(C1)Sheba and (C2)Dedan and the merchants of (C3)Tarshish with all its (F1)villages will say to you, 'Have you come to capture spoils? Have you assembled your contingent to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to capture great (C4)spoils?'"'
14 "Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "On that day when My people Israel are (C1)living securely, will you not know it?15 "(C1)You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding horses, a large assembly and a mighty army;16 and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may (C1)know Me when I (C2)show Myself holy through you before their eyes, Gog."
17 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who (C1)prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?18 "It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," declares the Lord GOD, "that My fury will mount up in My (C1)anger.19 "In My (C1)zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will certainly be a great (F1)(C2)earthquake in the land of Israel.20 "(C1)The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all the crawling things that crawl on the earth, and all mankind who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; and the (C2)mountains will be thrown down, the steep pathways will (F1)collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground.21 "And I will call for a (C1)sword against (F1)him on all My mountains," declares the Lord GOD. "(C2)Every man's sword will be against his brother.22 "With plague and with blood I will enter into (C1)judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, (F1)a torrential rain, (C2)hailstones, fire, and brimstone.23 "So I will prove Myself great, show Myself holy, and (C1)make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD."'
Chapter 39
Prophecy against Gog—Invaders Destroyed
1 "And (C1)you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, 'This is what the Lord (F1)GOD says: "Behold, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal;2 and I will turn you around, lead you on a rope, take you up from the remotest parts of the north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel.3 "Then I will (C1)strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows fall from your right hand.4 "You will (C1)fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops, and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as (C2)food to every (F1)kind of predatory bird and animal of the field.5 "You will fall on the (F1)open field; for it is I who have spoken," declares the Lord GOD.6 "And I will send (C1)fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the (C2)coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD.
7 "And I will make My (C1)holy name known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not allow My holy name to be (C2)profaned anymore. But the (C3)nations will know that I am the LORD, the (C4)Holy One in Israel.8 "Behold, it is coming and it shall be done," declares the Lord GOD. "That is the day of which I have spoken.
9 "Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will (C1)go out and make (C2)fires with the weapons and burn them, both (F1)bucklers and shields, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them.10 "They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoils of those who plundered them and seize the (C1)plunder of those who plundered them," declares the Lord GOD.
11 "On that day I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea, and it will block the way of those who would pass by. So they will bury Gog there with all his horde, and they will call it the Valley of (F1)Hamon-gog.12 "For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to (C1)cleanse the land.13 "And all the people of the land will bury them; and it will be (F1)to their (C1)renown on the day that I (C2)appear in My glory," declares the Lord GOD.14 "They will also select men who will constantly pass through the land, (C1)burying those who were passing through, those left on the surface of the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will conduct a search.15 "As those who pass through the land pass through and anyone sees a human bone, then he will (F1)set up a marker by it until the burial detail has buried it in the Valley of (F2)Hamon-gog.16 "And even the name of the city will be Hamonah. So they will cleanse the land."'
17 "Now as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Say to every (F1)kind of (C1)bird and to every (C1)animal of the field: "Assemble and come, gather from every direction to My sacrifice, which I am going to (C2)sacrifice for you as a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel; and you will eat flesh and drink blood.18 "You will (C1)eat the flesh of warriors and drink the blood of the leaders of the earth, as though they were (C2)rams, lambs, goats, and (C3)bulls, all of them fattened livestock of (C4)Bashan.19 "So you will eat fat until you are full, and drink blood until you are drunk, from My sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.20 "You will eat your fill at My table with (C1)horses and charioteers, with warriors and all the men of war," declares the Lord GOD.
21 "And I will place My (C1)glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them.22 "And the house of Israel will (C1)know that I am the LORD their God, from that day onward.23 "The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their (C1)wrongdoing, because they were disloyal to Me, and I (C2)hid My face from them; so I handed them over to their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword.24 "(C1)In accordance with their uncleanness and their offenses I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them."'"
Israel Restored
25 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: "Now I will (C1)restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on all the (C2)house of Israel; and I will be (C3)jealous for My holy name.26 "They will (F1)(C1)forget their disgrace and all their (F2)treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they (C2)live securely on their own land with (C3)no one to make them afraid.27 "When I (C1)bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall (C2)show Myself holy (F1)through them in the sight of the many nations.28 "Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then I gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer.29 "I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have (C1)poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel," declares the Lord GOD.
Isaiah 61
Chapter 61
Exaltation of the Afflicted
1 The (C1)Spirit of the Lord (F1)GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD anointed me
To (C2)bring good news to the (C3)humble;
He has sent me to (C4)bind up the brokenhearted,
To (C5)proclaim (F2)release to captives
And (F3)freedom to prisoners;
2 To (C1)proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
And the (C2)day of vengeance of our God;
To (C3)comfort all who mourn,
3 To (C1)grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The (C2)oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit.
So they will be called (F1)(C3)oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
4 Then they will (C1)rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
5 (C1)Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
And (F1)foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6 But you will be called the (C1)priests of the LORD;
You will be spoken of as (C2)ministers of our God.
You will eat the (C3)wealth of nations,
And you will boast in their (F1)riches.
7 Instead of your (C1)shame you will have a (C2)double portion,
And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion.
Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land,
(C3)Everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 For I, the LORD, (C1)love justice,
I hate robbery (F1)in the burnt offering;
And I will faithfully give them their reward,
And make an (C2)everlasting covenant with them.
9 Then their offspring will be known among the nations,
And their descendants in the midst of the peoples.
All who see them will recognize them
Because they are the (C1)offspring whom the LORD has blessed.
10 I will (C1)rejoice greatly in the LORD,
My soul will be joyful in (C2)my God;
For He has (C3)clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a groom puts on a turban,
And (C4)as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the (C1)earth produces its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord (F1)GOD will (C2)cause (C3)righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations.
Luke 2:21-52
Chapter 2
21 And when (C1)eight days were completed (F1)so that it was time for His circumcision, (C2)He was also named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 (C1)And when the days for (F1)their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: "(C1)EVERY FIRSTBORN MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"),24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: "(C1)A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG DOVES."
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was (C1)righteous and devout, (C2)looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.26 And (C1)it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not (C2)see death before he had seen the Lord's (F1)Christ.27 And he came (F1)by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, (F2)(C1)to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,28 then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 "Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace,
(C1)According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have (C1)seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples:
32 (C1)A light for revelation (F1)for the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."
33 And His father and (C1)mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.34 And Simeon blessed them and said to (C1)His mother Mary, "Behold, this Child is appointed for (C2)the fall and (F1)rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be (F2)opposed—35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
36 And there was a (C1)prophetess, (F1)Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of (C2)the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in (F2)years (C3)and had lived with her husband for seven years after her (F3)marriage,37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with (C1)fasts and prayers.38 And at that very (F1)moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were (C1)looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Return to Nazareth
39 And when His parents had completed everything in accordance with the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to (C1)their own city of Nazareth.40 (C1)Now the Child continued to grow and to become strong, (F1)increasing in wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.
Visit to Jerusalem
41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at (C1)the Feast of the Passover.42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the feast;43 and as they were returning, after spending the (C1)full number of days required, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware of it.44 Instead, they thought that He was somewhere in the caravan, and they went a day's journey; and then they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.45 And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him.46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.47 And all who heard Him (C1)were amazed at His understanding and His answers.48 When Joseph and Mary saw Him, they were bewildered; and (C1)His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, (C2)Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You!"49 And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that (C1)I had to be in My Father's (F1)house?"50 And yet (C1)they on their part did not understand the statement which He had (F1)made to them.51 And He went down with them and came to (C1)Nazareth, and He continued to be subject to them; and (C2)His mother (C3)treasured all these (F1)things in her heart.
52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and (F1)stature, and in (C1)favor with God and people.
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