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DECEMBER 23
Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the
sea! For the devil has come down to you, hav-
ing great wrath, because he knows that he has
12:9 dragon was cast…to the earth. Satan a short time.”
and his demons were cast out of heaven at the 13 Now when the dragon saw that he had
time of their original rebellion, but still have been cast to the earth, he persecuted the
14
access to it (Job 1:6; 2:1).That access will then woman who gave birth to the male Child. But
be denied, and they will be forever barred the woman was given two wings of a great
from heaven. Devil and Satan. “Devil” comes eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to
from a Greek verb meaning “to slander” or “to her place, where she is nourished for a time
falsely accuse.” He is a malignant liar (John and times and half a time, from the presence
8:44; 1 John 3:8). His accusations against of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water
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believers (v. 10) are unsuccessful because of out of his mouth like a flood after the woman,
Christ our Advocate (1 John 2:1). Satan, mean- that he might cause her to be carried away by
ing “adversary” or “enemy,” appears especially 16
in Job and the Gospels. deceives the whole the flood. But the earth helped the woman,
world. As he has throughout human history, and the earth opened its mouth and swal-
Satan will deceive people during the lowed up the flood which the dragon had
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Tribulation (13:14; 20:3; John 8:44). After his spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon
temporary release from the bottomless pit at was enraged with the woman, and he went to
the end of the Millennium, he will briefly make war with the rest of her offspring, who
resume his deceitful ways (20:8,10). keep the commandments of God and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
DAY 22:Who was the prophet Nahum, and how was his message
related to the prophet Jonah?
The significance of the writing prophets was not their personal lives; it was their message.
Thus, background information about the prophet from within the prophecy is rare. Occasionally
one of the historical books will shed additional light. In the case of Nahum, nothing is provided
except that he was an Elkoshite (1:1), referring either to his birthplace or his place of ministry.
Attempts to identify the location of Elkosh have been unsuccessful. Suggestions include Al Qosh,
situated in northern Iraq (thus Nahum would have been a descendant of the exiles taken to Assyria
in 722 B.C.), Capernaum (“town of Nahum”), or a location in southern Judah (1:15). His birthplace or
locale is not significant to the interpretation of the book.
Nahum forms a sequel to the Book of Jonah, who prophesied over a century earlier. Jonah
recounts the remission of God’s promised judgment toward Nineveh, while Nahum depicts the
later execution of God’s judgment.Nineveh was proud of her invulnerable city,with her walls reach-
ing 100 feet high and with a moat 150 feet wide and 60 feet deep. But Nahum established the fact
that the sovereign God (1:2–5) would bring vengeance upon those who violated His law (1:8,14;
3:5–7).The same God had a retributive judgment against evil which is also redemptive, bestowing
His loving kindnesses upon the faithful (1:7,12,13,15; 2:2).The prophecy brought comfort to Judah
and all who feared the cruel Assyrians.Nahum said Nineveh would end “with an overflowing flood”
(1:8); and it happened when the Tigris River overflowed to destroy enough of the walls to let the
Babylonians through. Nahum also predicted that the city would be hidden (3:11). After its destruc-
tion in 612 B.C., the site was not rediscovered until 1842 A.D.

December 23 3 Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see trouble?
For plundering and violence are before
Habakkuk 1:1–3:19 me;
There is strife, and contention arises.
The burden which the prophet Habakkuk 4 Therefore the law is powerless,
1 saw.
And justice never goes forth.
2 For the wicked surround the
O LORD, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear? righteous;
Even cry out to You, “Violence!” Therefore perverse judgment
And You will not save. proceeds.

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