December 25

From Eternity to a Feed Trough

The Unpolished Truth About Christ’s Birth

The night Jesus Christ was born was not soft or polished. It was cold ground, rough wood, animal breath hanging in the air. God did not enter the world through marble halls or crowned doors. He came low, where dirt sticks to your boots and survival is learned early. Scripture does not dress it up, and neither should we.

Long before Bethlehem ever knew His name, God had already spoken. Isaiah said straight that a virgin would conceive and bear a son, and His name would be Immanuel ~Isaiah 7:14. God with us. Not God watching from a distance. Not God sending instructions from heaven. God stepping into the dust Himself. Isaiah went on and said a child would be born, a son would be given, and the government would rest on His shoulders ~Isaiah 9:6. That tells you right away this baby was not staying small. Kings answer to Him, whether they know it or not.

Micah nailed down the location like a surveyor driving a stake. Bethlehem, small and overlooked, would be the place, and the One coming out of it would be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth were from everlasting ~Micah 5:2. That means the Child born in time did not begin there. He stepped into history already eternal.

When the moment came, God did not consult power brokers or priests. He sent an angel to a young woman who had nothing to offer but obedience. Gabriel told Mary she would conceive and bear a son and call His name Jesus ~Luke 1:31. When she asked how such a thing could be, the answer shut the door on human effort. The Holy Ghost would overshadow her, and the power of the Highest would do the work ~Luke 1:35. Salvation was never going to be man-built.

Joseph found himself staring at a situation he could not fix. God met him there too. An angel told him not to fear, because what was conceived in Mary was of the Holy Ghost ~Matthew 1:20. Then God named the Child Himself and said why He came. Call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins ~Matthew 1:21. Not from inconvenience. Not from discomfort. From sin.

When heaven finally broke the silence, it was not in a palace courtyard. It was over a field where working men watched sheep through the night. An angel told them not to fear and said the news was for all people ~Luke 2:10. Then the words landed heavy. Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord ~Luke 2:11. Savior. Christ. Lord. Heaven stacked the truth high and did not apologize for it.

The sign God gave was plain and humbling. A baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger ~Luke 2:12. Feed trough. Hay. No throne. No crowd. Just God in flesh, breathing the same air as sinners. Then heaven could not hold back any longer. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men ~Luke 2:14. God was not negotiating peace. He was declaring it, on His terms.

Wise men followed a star God set in the sky and walked into danger asking one question that rattled a king. Where is He that is born King of the Jews ~Matthew 2:2. Herod feared Him because power always fears the rightful King. Darkness does not argue with the Light. It tries to kill it.

Years later, John put the whole thing into words that still hit hard. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us ~John 1:14. Not imagined. Not symbolized. Made flesh. Paul backed it up and said when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman ~Galatians 4:4. God chose the hour. God chose the way. God sent the Son.

That Child grew into a Man who walked dusty roads, spoke truth men hated, and carried a cross meant for sinners. The manger points straight to Calvary. He came low because redemption costs blood. He came humble because salvation is God’s work, not ours.

The birth of Jesus Christ is not a seasonal scene. It is a line drawn in the dirt. God kept His word. God entered the world. God provided a Savior. Scripture leaves no middle ground. Unto you is born a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord ~Luke 2:11. He was born whether men bow or not. The only question left is whether you will.

Zechariah 8:1-23
Revelation 16:1-21
Psalm 144:1-15
Proverbs 30:29-31

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New Testament: Revelation 16:1-21

Summary:
The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
The Seventh Bowl

The God of Perfect Justice

Then I heard the angel who was in charge of the waters. He said, “The way you judge is fair. You are the Holy One. You are the One who is and who was. ~ Revelation 16:5

No Mercy

The Cost of Mocking God

The fire does not flicker in Revelation 16. It pours. John hears a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” That voice is not frantic. It is settled. Judgment does not rush. It moves when God speaks.

The first bowl hits flesh. Grievous sores fall on the men who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. Scripture shows no confusion about cause and effect. They chose allegiance, and allegiance bore fruit. The same God who heals also wounds. Deuteronomy says it plain, “I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal.” No man bargains once the bowl is poured.

The second angel pours his vial upon the sea, and it becomes as the blood of a dead man. Everything in it dies. The third follows, pouring his bowl on rivers and fountains, and they become blood too. Heaven explains itself. The angel says God is righteous because they shed the blood of saints and prophets, and He has given them blood to drink. Scripture calls it deserved. The ground always remembers spilled blood. From Abel forward, it cries out.

Then the sun is touched. Men are scorched with great heat, and instead of repentance, they blaspheme the name of God who has power over these plagues. That line should stop a man cold. Pain alone does not produce repentance. The heart must bow. Romans already warned that stubborn hearts treasure up wrath against the day of wrath. Revelation shows that warning fulfilled.

The fifth bowl darkens the seat of the beast. His kingdom fills with pain. Men gnaw their tongues and still blaspheme the God of heaven. They repent not of their deeds. Sin hardens. Proverbs says the wicked are taken in the cords of their own sin. By this point, those cords are steel.

The sixth bowl dries up the great river Euphrates, preparing the way for kings from the east. Then John sees unclean spirits like frogs come from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They work miracles to gather the kings of the earth to battle against God Almighty. Deception never sleeps. Jesus already warned that false signs would deceive if it were possible even the elect. Scripture never says deception ends before judgment. It intensifies.

Right there, the Lord speaks. “Behold, I come as a thief.” Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. That warning is mercy dropped into the middle of wrath. Watch. Stay clean. Hold fast. Revelation has no patience for lazy faith.

The seventh bowl finishes it. A great voice from the temple says, “It is done.” Lightning flashes. Thunder roars. The greatest earthquake in human history splits cities apart. Babylon comes into remembrance before God. Great hail falls from heaven, each stone like a talent. Men blaspheme God because of the plague of the hail. Even crushed, they refuse to bow.

This chapter names the sin without apology. Idolatry. Rebellion. Blasphemy. Love of power. Hatred of truth. Scripture already said men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Revelation shows where that road ends.

God is not a means to human ends. He is not summoned to bless rebellion. Scripture warns that God is not mocked. What a man sows, he reaps. Your sin will find you out. Revelation 16 is payday without delay.

This is not written to entertain prophecy junkies. It is written to warn the living. Today is the day of repentance. Today is the day to fear the Lord and depart from evil. Jesus said unless you repent, you will perish. Paul said now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.

The campfire truth is simple. You will either bow now in repentance or bow later under judgment. The bowls will be poured. The voice has already spoken. Choose whom you will serve while mercy still calls your name.

“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” ~ Revelation 16:15

watches, and keeps his garments. Our Lord emphasizes the need for constant readiness for His return (cf. 1Jn_2:28). The imagery pictures a soldier ready for battle, or a homeowner watchful for the arrival of a thief (see also Rev_3:3; 1Th_5:2, 1Th_5:4; 2Pe_3:10). ~ MacArthur Bible Commentary