Our Coming King
December 23rd
Nazareth & Megiddo… View from the Town of the Branch
“And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.“
Matthew 2:23
Daily Devotional
December 23rd
Nazareth’s connection to the valley of Megiddo points to the city having a connection to last things. In Revelation 19:11-21, after the apostle John wrote of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in heaven, he wrote about the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus to the Battle of Armageddon:
In Matthew’s Gospel as the Lord Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse, He spoke of the gathering of God’s ancient people after the Tribulation. His use of “elect” in this passage is not the same as used in the book of Romans, for He was speaking to Jewish disciples about the Jewish Temple, and buildings, and of the consummation (See Matthew 24:1-3).
The Lord Jesus said that His second coming would be “like lightning from the east to the west” (Matthew 24:27). Nazareth is on the east side of the valley of Megiddo. When this is put together with the prophecy in Hosea 1, Nazareth seems to be the place. The Lord Jesus will descend until He is just above the city of Nazareth when He destroys the armies in the Valley of Megiddo. Then He will send His angels out to gather his ancient people (Matthew 24:30-31 and Hosea 1:10-11).
Revelation 19:11-21
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
King James Version (KJV)
Publisher
Olive Tree Public Domain
Matthew 24:1-3
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
King James Version (KJV)
Publisher
Olive Tree Public Domain
Matthew 24:27
King James Version (KJV)
Publisher
Olive Tree Public Domain
Matthew 24:30-31
King James Version (KJV)
Publisher
Olive Tree Public Domain
Hosea 1:10-11
King James Version (KJV)
Publisher
Olive Tree Public Domain
About Lakeland FBC
Lakeland First Baptist seeks to glorify God by encouraging all people into a relationship with Jesus Christ, discipling them in spiritual growth, and equipping them to make disciples of the nations.