Commuter Bible NT

Today we’ll read the passage that so many of us have read and cherished year after year in celebration of Christ’s birth during the Christmas season. During a government-mandated census where the population of the Roman empire is required to present themselves to be counted, Joseph travels with his very pregnant fiancée to Bethlehem. The Christ is born to humble parents in a humble place under humble circumstances. The angels announce his birth to humble shepherds who hurry to see what has happened, and they leave praising God and telling others the remarkable news. All of this is even more remarkable, when we consider that our sovereign God chose these circumstances for his incarnation.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

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In our last reading the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah to announce the conception of his son, whom we know as John the Baptist. Gabriel also appeared to Mary to announce that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit who would be the promised Son of David, Jesus the Christ. In today’s episode, when Mary goes to visit Elizabeth an unexpected interaction takes place, and both women praise God in response. Later, when John is born, Zechariah’s tongue is loosed and he prophesies concerning his son.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

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[email protected]

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

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[email protected]

Luke, the physician, sets the stage for his gospel account by telling his friend that his goal in writing is to compile an orderly narrative of the accounts he has accumulating concerning Jesus. He begins by retelling what happened to Zechariah and to Mary when each was visited by the angel Gabriel. This messenger from the heavens announces the conception of two different babies: one born to Elizabeth would who would go before the Messiah, and one born to Mary who be that promised Son of David.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

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[email protected]

Friends, we’ve reached the final chapter of the final book of the New Testament, which means we have also reached the end of our reading plan for the year. Today, John sees the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Whereas the first Adam fell into sin and death by eating from a tree, the second Adam from above provides a tree of life which heals the nations. John hears the Lord say that he is coming soon, and that his reward is with him. He declares himself to be the Alpha and the Omega, the root and descendant of David, and the bright morning star.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

While the message of “Immanuel, God with us” is rightly accented at Christmastime, it is neither the beginning nor the end of the idea. In fact, God’s presence with his people is a story arc that begins in Genesis and finds it fruition here in Revelation. In the new heaven and the new earth the Lord will be with his people in the fullest and more final sense. A new Jerusalem appears with massive walls but with 12 open gates named after the 12 apostles of the Lamb. The walls and streets are made of transparent gold, and even the foundations are adorned with jewels. All of this imagery connotes that this city is secure, beautiful, and wanting for nothing. There is no temple in this city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are it’s temple.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

There are many things written in the book of Revelation that are confusing and sometimes even scary, but one truth shines brightly throughout the message of this book: in the end Christ is unfathomably glorious and eternally victorious. In our last episode, Babylon the Great fell and the world mourned. Today, the vast multitude of heaven cheers that God’s righteous judgment is begin executed. Christ appears as a rider on a white horse whose robe is dipped in blood, and the sword from his mouth will strike the nations who refused to repent. The beast and its armies will be slain, and Satan will be bound. The slain in Christ who had not submitted to the beast are raised from the dead to reign with Christ for a thousand years. Ultimately, Satan is thrown into the lake of fire, along with all of those whose name is not found in the book of life.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

In our last episode, an angel escorted John to a wilderness where he saw a woman on a scarlet beast. That woman has “Babylon the Great” written on her forehead. Today, another angel with great authority proclaims that Babylon has fallen. This lament is modeled after the lament found in Jeremiah 51, one of the longest chapters in Scripture, which declares the fall of the historic Babylon. Since Revelation is a book about the future, we don’t know exactly what this represents, but it is likely that Babylon is representative of a global power in rebellion against God. Merchants mourn her demise, for they had grown rich from her. Finally, a mighty angel hurls a large stone into the sea, saying that Babylon will fall like this, never to rise again.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

Seven angels have poured out seven bowls of wrath, and today, one of them approaches John and carries him away in the Spirit to a wilderness. There, he sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast. The woman is clothed in lavish and expensive attire, but holds a cup with every detestable thing. Moreover, she is drunk on the blood of the saints and the witnesses of Jesus. “Babylon the Great” is written on her forehead. The angel then explains the beast and its seven heads, stating that they represent seven mountains and seven kings. The beast itself represents an eighth king. It’s ten horns also represent ten kings which reign briefly, give their power and authority to the beast, and who unsuccessfully wage war with the Lamb.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

In our last episode the Son of Man appeared, seated on a cloud with a sickle in his hand. He harvested the earth with a single swing, and with a second swing he gathered the grapes for the winepress of God’s wrath. Today, the heavenly temple, also called the tabernacle of testimony, opens. Out of this temple, seven angels come forth to retrieve 7 golden bowls which are filled with God’s wrath. The first bowl produces painful sores for those who served the beast. The second bowl turns the sea to blood causing all life in the sea to die. The third bowl, likewise, turns the rivers and springs to blood. The fourth bowl intensifies the sun’s heat. The fifth bowl is poured on the throne of beast, plunging its kingdom into darkness. The sixth bowl dries up the Euphrates. The seventh bowl brings a number of natural disasters.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

Haman’s wrath against Mordecai and the Jewish people has returned on his own head. On today’s episode, Esther continues to represent her people before the king, turning a day of mourning into a day of rejoicing. As we finish Esther we’ll be turning back to the historical narrative recorded in the book of Ezra in which we learn of a new Persian king named Artaxerxes. While historians differ, it is believed that Artaxerxes’ father is the Ahaseurus from Esther, known more broadly as Xerxes. We are also introduced to the man for whom the book of Ezra is named as he is sent by Artaxerxes to Jerusalem.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]