anitasanecdotes

Zechariah 5 and 6 presents the law as a scroll that convicts people of their sins. There is a basket of iniquity in which a woman “Wickedness” sits. Two winged women take the basket away.

Another image similar to Revelation is of four chariots representing the four winds of heaven that patrol the earth. A king is crowned who will help build the temple with the aid of a far off land. These things will come to pass if the people of God obey the Lord.

In Revelation 18 an angel declares that Babylon is fallen. The people are encouraged to get away from her. Everyone who deals with her will be punished. They have made the wrong choice.

I have been reading many posts from friends this December talking about Christmas. Some bemoan the disappearance of Christ in Christmas either because we replace “Christ” with an “X” or are too focused on Santa or wish people “Happy Holidays”. Others talk about how Christians took the pagan holiday of Saturnalia and hijacked it by making it about Jesus. These conversations come up every year and I find them distractions and unfortunate. When we focus on things that divide or distract we become ineffectual witnesses.

Yes, Christians do celebrate Christmas during the pagan holiday of Saturnalia. Pagans had created celebrations around the winter solstice when the dark period of the day is at its longest and now the light will return. Christians have always tried to find traditions in a culture, which they believe reflect Jesus Christ and his coming. We, too, observe darkness and the coming of light into the world. We live in the darkness of sin. Jesus Christ, the light of the world, came into this darkness to bring light. This light reveals our sin and brings the hope of redemption, restoration and reconciliation. It was a concept that pagan society could understand and hopefully embrace.

Yes, Christmas takes place at the same time as many other holidays. It always has and for Christians to get huffy and fussy about acknowledging that others might be celebrating other holidays is the epitome of hubris. If I am wanting to share a faith that speaks of love and acceptance with others, the last thing I should do is offend those folks. Perhaps we should take our cue from the early Christians and share the similarities of our celebration with other faiths and open ourselves up for pleasant conversation instead of putting them off by insisting that everyone say Merry Christmas to us.

Yes, our secular culture focuses on Santa and presents. Isn’t it wonderful that even in society the concepts of generosity and giving are emphasized. Certainly we can embrace the fact that our Santa is based upon a real person Saint Nicholas of Myra whose faith moved him to be generous to others. It is difficult to talk to children about giving when they are surrounded by what they are going to get. We as parents and grandparents can help our children understand the concept of generosity by talking about it at home. We can talk about Jesus, who is the best gift we have ever received. We can talk about how Jesus taught us that it is better to give than receive and come up with ideas of how they can give to others (i.e. giving away their old toys to the poor or taking a portion of the money that you were going to spend on them and having them pick out a gift for Toys for Tots or another group, making cookies or gifts for an elderly person in their life or at church and taking it to them, having them put some of their piggy bank money in the kettle for the Salvation Army). This will help put things in perspective a little bit more. If we start this when they are small, our children will live lives of generosity from our example.

Yes, “Xmas” is alright as a substitute for “Christmas”. The first Christians knew that it was dangerous for them to acknowledge that they followed Christ. Often they used the first letters of “Christos” as a kind of code to identify one another. The first letter is chi, which looks like and X, and the second letter is rho, which looks like a P. Perhaps you have seen P and X combined together as a symbol. It stands for Christ. It is true that many will not know what the X stands for. Perhaps, instead of being crotchety and complaining, a pleasant explanation will help others understand.

Yes, Christmas is about Christ. Christmas is about the coming of God in the flesh (incarnation), becoming  one of us to show us how much God loves us. It is a time when everyone should be told that they are loved and accepted. It is a time when our hearts and doors should be open to welcome others in. It is a time to share faith as well as gifts, to bring good news to a world that often only hears bad, to offer our best for our Lord.

Let’s stop bickering about things that really don’t matter in the grand scheme. As we open our hearts for Christ, let us remember that he opened his heart for the lost, the poor, the disenfranchised, the sinner, and the unbeliever. He gently explained why he had come and welcomed all to become not only his friends but his brothers and sisters. Let’s not be the cranky relative complaining that others aren’t doing things right, instead let us be Christ to others this Christmas spread Christ’s peace and love to a lost, broken and hurting world.

Zechariah 3 and 4 presents the high priest Joshua standing before the Lord along with the accuser (the meaning of “Satan”). Joshua is dressed in filthy clothes representing sin. The clothes are removed, signifying the removal of his guilt. Joshua will rule the Lord’s house. While Joshua is the name of a priest mentioned in the book of Ezra, it is also the Hebrew name of Jesus. This vision could just as easily represent what Jesus has done for us. Zechariah mentions that Joshua is an omen of things to come when God brings His servant the Branch, a definite reference to Jesus.

Next Zechariah speaks of a lampstand with seven lamps, a similar vision as found in Revelation. The lamps represent the eyes of the Lord watching the whole earth. There are also two olive trees that represent two anointed ones who stand by the Lord.

 Revelation 17 speaks of Babylon as a wanton woman. She lures the kings of the earth to disobey God. They will make war on the Lamb, Christ, and He will conquer them.

Zechariah 1 and 2 was written while the people are at the end of their exile under King Darius. God has punished the people and now is ready to restore Jerusalem, Israel and Judah. Many of the images in Zechariah are like those found in Daniel and Revelation.

The nations that have been against the people of God will be punished. The Lord will establish Himself in Judah and the nations will come to Him. Judah and Jerusalem will belong to the Lord.

 Psalms 146 and 147 are both songs of praise to the Lord. Our trust should be in Him and in no other. God is the champion of the oppressed and troubled. He heals all disease and lifts up the downtrodden.

Haggai 1 and 2 takes place during the time of King Darius. The time of exile is ending. Haggai calls the people to repentance and they repent. They are told to make themselves clean again to prepare for the return to their land and the rebuilding of God’s temple. God has chosen them to restore Judah.

 Revelation 16 describes the plagues that pour out of the bowls of the seven angels. These plagues are similar to the previous ones but affect everything on earth, not just a portion.

In Zephaniah 1, 2 and 3 God is angry because his people continue to worship other gods. He promises to destroy both the people and the gods they worship. God calls the people to repentance. Only the righteous will be saved from God’s wrath. God will punish not only His people but also the nations who brought their gods to the people of Israel and Judah. All of them will be destroyed for their sin. Once the wicked are removed God will restore the faithful to their land. Only the humble shall remain.

 In Revelation 15 those who have conquered the beast praise the Lord for His deeds of judgment upon those who have turned away. The living creatures give seven angels bowls full of the wrath of God, plagues that will be poured upon the earth.

Habakkuk 1, 2 and 3 reflect the thoughts of a frustrated prophet. He wonders how long God will wait and allow this rebellious people to continue in their sin. God tells him to keep waiting. God has an appointed time that is right.

The book ends with a prayer of praise telling of how God answered in the past. The prophet promises to wait. Even if he does not see any indication that God is working he puts his trust in God.

We pray and then…we wait. Sometimes the waiting is excruciatingly long. We wonder if God is even listening. Like Habakkuk, we need to take the stance that even though we do not see God working, we trust the He is there and is working His purpose out.

 Psalm 145 is a song of praise for who God is, for what He has done and will do.

 Nahum 1, 2 and 3 speak of the destruction of Ninevah. This could just as well be the prophecy Jonah preached to the Ninevites. God is going to punish them for their sins against His people.

After reading so many of these prophecies it is clear that while God punishes His own for their sins, He also punishes those who have come against His people. They may think that they are more powerful than Israel’s God but they will not prevail.  We need to remember that we are loved by our God. It may seem that everything is going against us, but God will help us to conquer. We will prevail because our God is in control. We may be experiencing the consequences of our sins. We may be persecuted for our faith. We may be going through a time of testing. Whatever the cause, the difficulties will not last. And even in the midst of them we can call on God and know that He is with us.

 Revelation 14 brings a return of the Lamb. With Him are the redeemed. Angels appear and bring judgment down upon Babylon and those who worship the beast.

In Micah 6 and 7 God takes issue with His people because they have forgotten how He saved them from their enemies. They worship other gods. They treat the poor unjustly. They will be punished in kind, being captives and slaves again.

Micah expresses his anguish over the sins of the people. He publicly declares his trust in God. Even though he may experience punishment for his sins God is with him. God will eventually deliver him from this punishment and delights in showing clemency (what a beautiful phrase from the scripture). Those who believe that they have conquered Micah will know that God is faithful.

Revelation 13 brings the coming of two beasts that blaspheme the Lord and persecute the saints. The number of the second beast is 666. There has always been much speculation on what this number signifies. I wonder if it is not symbolic for one who does not measure up to God. There are two numbers that are most associated with God: three and seven. Seven is considered the perfect number. Six would be short of perfection. It would be missing a component that would make it God. To many it might seem to be godlike because it seems to be so close, but it falls short. The beast appears to have power but ultimately it will fall short. It is not God.

Micah 4 and 5 turn to a mixture of prophecies concerning the more immediate punishment of the people of God and the ultimate establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. In the more immediate times Assyria and Babylon will destroy their lands and take them into exile. God will tear down everything that has to do with idols and execute vengeance on those who do not obey. In the final days, one from Bethlehem will rule the earth and bring peace to all.

Revelation 12 speaks of a great spiritual battle between God and Satan. Satan pursues those who are faithful and tries to take them from the Lord. But the Messiah conquers Satan with his blood and is the victor.