Nehemiah 10-13; Revelation 8
Nehemiah 10-13
The renewed covenant among the returned Jews in Jerusalem led to their commitment to obey God’s commandments, avoid intermarriage with surrounding nations, and support temple worship by faithfully giving all that God commanded: “We will not neglect the house of our God” (Neh. 10:39).
After rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, Nehemiah undertook significant efforts to restore order in temple worship. He conducted a thorough census of the priests and Levites living throughout Judea, brought them together, carried out purification, established their consistent material provision, and organized ongoing temple service:
“They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were heads of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (Neh. 12:45-46).
Unfortunately, after Nehemiah returned to serve the king, Jerusalem quickly fell into sin. The priest Eliashib gave a temple storeroom to his relative Tobiah, which was against the law. The Levites were no longer supported, temple worship ceased, and the Sabbath was violated for commercial gain. Nehemiah had to address all these issues upon his second visit to Jerusalem.
This reflects a common human tendency to drift away from God during favorable circumstances.
Revelation 8
The judgments poured out on the earth during the Great Tribulation unfold telescopically. The seventh seal opens the way for seven trumpets, each announcing escalating calamities. After each angel sounds a trumpet, a new wave of disasters strikes the earth:
• First trumpet: Destruction of vegetation.
• Second trumpet: Devastation of the seas.
• Third trumpet: Poisoning of drinking water.
• Fourth trumpet: Darkening of light sources on earth.
Through these judgments, God will reveal the fragility of life on earth, which depends entirely on His power and goodwill.
The renewed covenant among the returned Jews in Jerusalem led to their commitment to obey God’s commandments, avoid intermarriage with surrounding nations, and support temple worship by faithfully giving all that God commanded: “We will not neglect the house of our God” (Neh. 10:39).
After rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, Nehemiah undertook significant efforts to restore order in temple worship. He conducted a thorough census of the priests and Levites living throughout Judea, brought them together, carried out purification, established their consistent material provision, and organized ongoing temple service:
“They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were heads of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (Neh. 12:45-46).
Unfortunately, after Nehemiah returned to serve the king, Jerusalem quickly fell into sin. The priest Eliashib gave a temple storeroom to his relative Tobiah, which was against the law. The Levites were no longer supported, temple worship ceased, and the Sabbath was violated for commercial gain. Nehemiah had to address all these issues upon his second visit to Jerusalem.
This reflects a common human tendency to drift away from God during favorable circumstances.
Revelation 8
The judgments poured out on the earth during the Great Tribulation unfold telescopically. The seventh seal opens the way for seven trumpets, each announcing escalating calamities. After each angel sounds a trumpet, a new wave of disasters strikes the earth:
• First trumpet: Destruction of vegetation.
• Second trumpet: Devastation of the seas.
• Third trumpet: Poisoning of drinking water.
• Fourth trumpet: Darkening of light sources on earth.
Through these judgments, God will reveal the fragility of life on earth, which depends entirely on His power and goodwill.
Posted in Reading Bible Together