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The dragon gives power to the beast who appears to be the same figure as “the prince who is to come” spoken of in Daniel 9:26. He will be a ruler that openly wars against the people of God and the Lamb.

Paul tells the Ephesian elders they will never see him again. He warns them to be on guard for themselves and the people in their church, because false teachers will come in to corrupt the truth, like wolves attacking a flock of sheep. The elders’ job is to protect the flock and trust in Christ. Paul reminds them to remember his example, and to faithfully live out God’s word in their lives so that they might receive the inheritance of Christ. Lastly, he reminds them to give generously and bless those who are needy. The elders weep and embrace Paul, and see him off to his ship.

While in Miletus, Paul summons the Ephesian elders to leave Ephesus and meet with him. He gives them a final farewell, in which he reminds them of how he taught them the gospel faithfully for years. Paul tells them that the Holy Spirit has warned him that he will suffer and be arrested in Jerusalem, but he reassures the elders that he is not worried about his life. His purpose is to preach the gospel and suffer for Christ’s sake.

Paul’s team sails from Troas to Assos, while Paul journeys by land. They reunite in Assos, and sail to Mitylene. From Mitylene they sail south, eventually making port in Miletus, which is a city not far from Ephesus. Paul purposefully avoided stopping in Ephesus, because his intention is to be in Jerusalem in time for the holy day of Pentecost.

While in the city of Troas, Paul spends the night teaching the Troas believers. One of them, a young boy, falls asleep and drops out of a window to his death. Paul embraces the boy’s body and he comes back to life. Everyone is relieved. Paul then teaches until dawn, before leaving the city.

Paul returns to Macedonia, then Greece, to encourage the believers there. When he decides to sail home to Antioch, he learns of a plot against him. Rather than sail from Greece, he goes back north to Macedonia. He and eight co-ministers cross over the Aegean Sea from Macedonia to Asia Minor.

The Israelite spies leave Rahab’s house. They remain in the hill country west of Jericho for three days until the king’s agents who searched for them return to the city. Then, unlike the 10 spies in Numbers 13 who gave a negative report, they return to Joshua and tell him the LORD will give them victory over Jericho.

Rahab tells the Israelite spies that she fears the LORD their God and asks them to spare her and her family from death when they conquer the land of Jericho. The men agree to do what she says if she keeps their movements secret.

Joshua sends two men to scout out Jericho. While they stay in the house of a prostitute named Rahab, the king of Jericho sends word to her, asking her to deliver them into his hands. Rahab hides the men, and as soon as the king’s agents leave her house, watchmen shut the city gate for the night. 

Satan tries to destroy Israel, but God intervenes to provide a way of escape. Instead, Satan now turns his wrath to the children of the woman, representing Israel, who keep God’s commandments.

A statement of victory is declared: salvation has come, and the accuser has been thrown down, overcome by the blood of the Lamb. A warning is also issued to the earth, because Satan now dwells on earth for a limited time. 

John describes a cosmic battle in heaven between Michael and his angels and the dragon. Michael and his angels prevail and Satan is thrown down to earth.

The woman (Israel) gives birth to the Messiah and then flees to the wilderness to be protected by God for three-and—a—half years. 

Satan tries to destroy the newborn Child. He is depicted as a dragon who swept away a third of the angels with his tail, indicating that a third of the angels fell with him.  

A sign appears in heaven of a woman about to give birth. The woman represents Mary, the mother of Jesus, as well as Israel. Israel will ultimately bloom into a Messianic kingdom. Both are prophesied and are part of God’s plan, and both came or will come about through the birth pangs of labor. 

Paul now moves to some Old Testament examples of sowing and reaping; where we put our efforts determines the resulting consequences. This principle applies not only to investments that are of a material nature, but also spiritual ones as well. Being generous from the heart creates bounty both in this age as well as in the age to come. Ultimately, all bounty comes from the same source, the indescribable gift of God. 

Paul again declares his confidence in the Corinthians. He is sending a delegation of trusted brethren to ensure all financial dealings have full integrity. At the same time, he reminds the Corinthians that he has boasted to others of their generosity and readiness for the collection for the church in Jerusalem. He wants the Corinthians to be prepared so that their giving, which has motivated other churches to give, will be generous and not grudging.

Jesus empowers His group of twelve disciples to perform miracles before He sends them throughout the land. Mark lists the twelve apostles by name.

In the final verse of Deborah and Barak’s song, we witness a stark contrast between the vain expectations of Sisera’s mother and the actual fate of Israel’s enemies. Ultimately, the passage concludes with a prayerful declaration that all of God’s enemies should perish, while those who love Him shine like the rising sun.

Deborah and Barak praise Jael for her heroic act. Jael’s display of unexpected courage leads to the downfall of Israel’s ruthless oppressor.