Bible Reading December 26 (World English Bible)
Haggai
1, 2
Hag
1:1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in
the first day of the month, the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai, the
prophet, to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and
to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
Hag
1:2 "This is what Yahweh of Armies says: These people say, 'The
time hasn't yet come, the time for Yahweh's house to be built.' "
Hag
1:3 Then the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai, the prophet, saying,
Hag
1:4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled
houses, while this house lies waste?
Hag
1:5 Now therefore this is what Yahweh of Armies says: Consider your
ways.
Hag
1:6 You have sown much, and bring in little. You eat, but you don't
have enough. You drink, but you aren't filled with drink. You clothe
yourselves, but no one is warm, and he who earns wages earns wages to
put them into a bag with holes in it."
Hag
1:7 This is what Yahweh of Armies says: "Consider your ways.
Hag
1:8 Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house. I will
take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified," says Yahweh.
Hag
1:9 "You looked for much, and, behold, it came to little; and
when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says Yahweh of
Armies, "Because of my house that lies waste, while each of you
is busy with his own house.
Hag
1:10 Therefore for your sake the heavens withhold the dew, and the
earth withholds its fruit.
Hag
1:11 I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the
grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on that which the ground brings
forth, on men, on livestock, and on all the labor of the hands."
Hag
1:12 Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, the son of
Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people,
obeyed the voice of Yahweh, their God, and the words of Haggai, the
prophet, as Yahweh, their God, had sent him; and the people feared
Yahweh.
Hag
1:13 Then Haggai, Yahweh's messenger, spoke Yahweh's message to the
people, saying, "I am with you," says Yahweh.
Hag
1:14 Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of
Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the son of
Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the
people; and they came and worked on the house of Yahweh of Armies,
their God,
Hag
1:15 in the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in
the second year of Darius the king.
Hag
2:1 In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, the
Word of Yahweh came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
Hag
2:2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of
Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to
the remnant of the people, saying,
Hag
2:3 'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory?
How do you see it now? Isn't it in your eyes as nothing?
Hag
2:4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says Yahweh. 'Be strong, Joshua,
son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the
land,' says Yahweh, 'and work, for I am with you,' says Yahweh of
Armies.
Hag
2:5 This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of
Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. 'Don't be afraid.'
Hag
2:6 For this is what Yahweh of Armies says: 'Yet once, it is a
little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and
the dry land;
Hag
2:7 and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations
will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of
Armies.
Hag
2:8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,' says Yahweh of
Armies.
Hag
2:9 'The latter glory of this house will be greater than the
former,' says Yahweh of Armies; 'and in this place will I give
peace,' says Yahweh of Armies."
Hag
2:10 In the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year
of Darius, the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
Hag
2:11 "Thus says Yahweh of Armies: Ask now the priests
concerning the law, saying,
Hag
2:12 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and
with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it
become holy?' " The priests answered, "No."
Hag
2:13 Then Haggai said, "If one who is unclean by reason of a
dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?" The priests
answered, "It will be unclean."
Hag
2:14 Then Haggai answered, " 'So is this people, and so is this
nation before me,' says Yahweh; 'and so is every work of their hands.
That which they offer there is unclean.
Hag
2:15 Now, please consider from this day and backward, before a stone
was laid on a stone in the temple of Yahweh.
Hag
2:16 Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty
measures, there were only ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw
out fifty, there were only twenty.
Hag
2:17 I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of
your hands; yet you didn't turn to me,' says Yahweh.
Hag
2:18 'Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the
twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the
foundation of Yahweh's temple was laid, consider it.
Hag
2:19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the
pomegranate, and the olive tree haven't brought forth. From this day
will I bless you.' "
Hag
2:20 The Word of Yahweh came the second time to Haggai in the
twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,
Hag
2:21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, 'I will
shake the heavens and the earth.
Hag
2:22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the
strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the
chariots, and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders
will come down, everyone by the sword of his brother.
Hag
2:23 In that day, says Yahweh of Armies, will I take you,
Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel,' says Yahweh, 'and will
make you as a signet, for I have chosen you,' says Yahweh of Armies."
Revelation
13, 14
Rev 13:1
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of
the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten
crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names.
Rev 13:2
The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like
those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon
gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
Rev 13:3
One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal
wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.
Rev 13:4
They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the
beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the
beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
Rev 13:5
A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him.
Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him.
Rev 13:6
He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name,
and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7
It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome
them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was
given to him.
Rev 13:8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has
not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life
of the Lamb who has been killed.
Rev 13:9
If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10
If anyone has captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is with
the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of
the saints.
Rev 13:11
I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like
a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.
Rev 13:12
He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He
makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast,
whose fatal wound was healed.
Rev 13:13
He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to
the earth in the sight of people.
Rev 13:14
He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs
he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell
on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the
sword wound and lived.
Rev 13:15
It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast,
that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as
wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Rev 13:16
He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and
the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on
their foreheads;
Rev 13:17
and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that
mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Rev 13:18
Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the
number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six
hundred sixty-six.
Rev 14:1
I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a
number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the
name of his Father, written on their foreheads.
Rev 14:2
I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like
the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that
of harpists playing on their harps.
Rev 14:3
They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living
creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one
hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the
earth.
Rev 14:4
These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are
virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These
were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to
the Lamb.
Rev 14:5
In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.
Rev 14:6
I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to
proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe,
language, and people.
Rev 14:7
He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory;
for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the
heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!"
Rev 14:8
Another, a second angel, followed, saying, "Babylon the great
has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of
the wrath of her sexual immorality."
Rev 14:9
Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, "If
anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his
forehead, or on his hand,
Rev 14:10
he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared
unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and
sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the
Lamb.
Rev 14:11
The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no
rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and
whoever receives the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments
of God, and the faith of Jesus."
Rev 14:13
I heard the voice from heaven saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says
the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors; for their
works follow with them."
Rev 14:14
I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting
like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand
a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:15
Another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud voice to
him who sat on the cloud, "Send forth your sickle, and reap; for
the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!"
Rev 14:16
He who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth
was reaped.
Rev 14:17
Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven. He also
had a sharp sickle.
Rev 14:18
Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire,
and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle,
saying, "Send forth your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters
of the vine of the earth, for the earth's grapes are fully ripe!"
Rev 14:19
The angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage
of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of
God.
Rev 14:20
The winepress was trodden outside of the city, and blood came out
from the winepress, even to the bridles of the horses, as far as one
thousand six hundred stadia.
You
may have heard of the field of science known as synthetic biology. In
this highly advanced area of science, engineers utilize their
understanding of biology to “create” new life forms not found in nature.
According to SyntheticBiology.org, synthetic biology involves
“the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and
systems” and “the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for
useful purposes” (“Synthetic Biology,” 2012). Perhaps this conjures up
in your mind, as it does in the minds of many others, images of Dr.
Frankenstein sewing pieces of dead tissue together into a monster on his
laboratory table and bringing it to life. Is this what goes on in
synthetic biology? Can scientists create life?
