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DECEMBER 16
though it had been slain, having seven horns 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many
and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of angels around the throne, the living creatures,
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God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and the elders; and the number of them was
and took the scroll out of the right hand of ten thousand times ten thousand, and thou-
Him who sat on the throne. sands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:
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8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four
living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
down before the Lamb, each having a harp, To receive power and riches and
and golden bowls full of incense, which are the wisdom,
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prayers of the saints. And they sang a new And strength and honor and glory and
song, saying: blessing!”
“You are worthy to take the scroll, 13 And every creature which is in heaven and
And to open its seals; on the earth and under the earth and such as are
For You were slain, in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
And have redeemed us to God “Blessing and honor and glory and power
by Your blood Be to Him who sits on the throne,
Out of every tribe and tongue and And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!”
to our God; And the twenty-four elders fell down and wor-
And we shall reign on the earth.” shiped Him who lives forever and ever.

DAY 15: Describe the worship in Revelation 5.
“The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having
a harp”(v. 8).These ancient stringed instruments not only accompanied the songs of God’s people
(1 Chr. 25:6; Ps. 33:2), but also accompanied prophecy (1 Sam. 10:5).The 24 elders, representative of
the redeemed church,played their harps in praise and in a symbolic indication that all the prophets
had said was about to be fulfilled.“Each having…bowls full of incense,which are the prayers of the
saints.”These golden, wide-mouth saucers were common in the tabernacle and temple. Incense was
a normal part of the Old Testament ritual.Priests stood twice daily before the inner veil of the temple
and burned incense so that the smoke would carry into the Holy of Holies and be swept into the nos-
trils of God.That symbolized the people’s prayers rising to Him.Specifically,these prayers represent all
that the redeemed have ever prayed concerning ultimate and final redemption.This becomes a major
theme throughout the book (11:17,18; 13:7,9,10; 14:12; 16:6; 17:6; 18:20,24; 19:8; 20:9).
“And they sang a new song” (v. 9). The Old Testament is filled with references to a new song
that flows from a heart that has experienced God’s redemption or deliverance (14:3; Pss. 33:3; 96:1;
144:9).This new song anticipates the final,glorious redemption that God is about to begin.“For You
were slain,and have redeemed us to God by Your blood.”The sacrificial death of Christ on behalf of
sinners made Him worthy to take the scroll.

“Many dead bodies everywhere,
December 16 They shall be thrown out in silence.”
4 Hear this, you who swallow up the
needy,
Amos 8:1–9:15 And make the poor of the land fail,
Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, a 5 Saying:
8 basket of summer fruit. And He said, “When will the New Moon be past,
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“Amos, what do you see?” That we may sell grain?
So I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” And the Sabbath,
Then the LORD said to me:
That we may trade wheat?
“The end has come upon My people Making the ephah small and the
Israel; shekel large,
I will not pass by them anymore. Falsifying the scales by deceit,
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And the songs of the temple That we may buy the poor for silver,
Shall be wailing in that day,” And the needy for a pair of sandals—
Says the Lord GOD— Even sell the bad wheat?”

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