M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jehoram Rules in Judah
21 Jehoshaphat died, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His son Jehoram became king in his place. 2 Jehoram’s brothers were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Israel. 3 Their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold, and things of much worth. He gave them strong cities in Judah. But he made Jehoram king, because he was the first-born.
4 Now when Jehoram had become king in the place of his father, and had made himself strong, he killed all his brothers with the sword. He killed some of the leaders of Israel also. 5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king. And he ruled for eight years in Jerusalem. 6 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as those of Ahab’s house did. (For Ahab’s daughter was his wife.) He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. 7 Yet the Lord would not destroy the family of David, because of the agreement He had made with David. He had promised to give a light to him and his sons forever.
8 In the days of Jehoram, Edom turned against the rule of Judah, and set up a king of their own. 9 Then Jehoram crossed over with his captains and all his war-wagons. He went during the night and destroyed the Edomites who had gathered around him and the captains of the war-wagons. 10 So Edom has been against the rule of Judah to this day. Libnah turned against Jehoram’s rule at the same time, because he had left the Lord God of his fathers. 11 And Jehoram made high places in the mountains of Judah. He caused the people of Jerusalem to give themselves over to sin. And he made Judah sin. 12 Then a letter came to him from Elijah the man of God, saying, “The Lord God of your father David says, ‘You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat, and the ways of King Asa of Judah. 13 But you have walked in the way of the kings of Israel. You have caused Judah and the people of Israel to give themselves over to sin, as those of Ahab’s house did. And you have killed your brothers, your own family, who were better than you. 14 So see, the Lord is going to send a bad disease upon your people, your sons, your wives, and all you have. 15 You yourself will suffer a bad sickness, a disease of your stomach. Your insides will come out because of the sickness, day by day.’”
16 Then the Lord made the Philistines and the Arabs who were near the Ethiopians angry against Jehoram. 17 They came and fought against Judah, and carried away all the things they found in the king’s house, together with his sons and his wives. No son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest. 18 After all this the Lord caused a sickness in Jehoram’s stomach, which could not be cured. 19 After that time, at the end of two years, his insides came out because of his sickness. And he died in much pain. His people made no fire for him like the fires made for his fathers. 20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. And no one felt bad when he died. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the graves of the kings.
The Fifth Horn—the Hole Without a Bottom
9 The fifth angel blew his horn. I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to earth. The key to the hole without a bottom was given to the angel. 2 He opened the hole and smoke came out like the smoke from a place where there is much fire. The sun and the air became dark because of the smoke from the hole. 3 Locusts came down to the earth out of the smoke. They were given power to hurt like small animals that sting. 4 They were told not to hurt the grass or any green plant or any tree. They were to hurt only the men who did not have the mark of God on their foreheads. 5 The locusts were not allowed to kill these men. They were to give them much pain for five months like the pain that comes from a small animal that stings. 6 Men will look for ways to die during those days, but they will not find any way. They will want to die, but death will be kept from them. 7 The locusts looked like horses ready for war. They had on their heads what looked like crowns of gold. Their faces were like men’s faces. 8 Their hair was like the hair of women. Their teeth were like the teeth of lions. 9 Their chests were covered with what looked like pieces of iron. The sound their wings made was like the sound of many wagons rushing to war. 10 They had tails like a small animal that stings. The sting came from their tails. They were given power to hurt men for five months. 11 These locusts have a king over them. He is the head angel of the hole that has no bottom. His name in the Hebrew language is Abbadon. In the Greek language it is Apollyon. (It means the one who destroys.)
12 The first time of trouble is past. But see, there are two more times of trouble coming after this.
The Sixth Horn—the Angels That Kill
13 The sixth angel blew his horn. I heard a voice coming from the four corners of the altar made of gold that is before God. 14 The voice said to the sixth angel who had the horn, “Let the four angels loose that have been chained at the big river Euphrates.” 15 They had been kept ready for that hour and day and month and year. They were let loose so they could kill one-third part of all men that were living. 16 The army had 200 million soldiers on horses. I heard them say how many there were.
17 I saw, as God wanted to show me, the horses and the men on them. The men had pieces of iron over their chests. These were red like fire and blue like the sky and yellow like sulphur. The heads of the horses looked like the heads of lions. Fire and smoke and sulphur came out of their mouths. 18 One-third part of all men was killed by the fire and smoke and sulphur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails. Their tails were like the heads of snakes and with them they could bite and kill. 20 The men that were still living after these troubles were past would not turn away from worshiping demons. They would not turn away from false gods made from gold and silver and brass and stone and wood. None of these false gods can see or hear or walk. 21 These men were not sorry for their sins and would not turn away from all their killing and their witchcraft. They would not stop their sex sins and their stealing.
Zechariah Sees a Flying Book
5 I looked up again and saw a flying book. 2 And the angel said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a flying book, as long as ten long steps and as wide as five long steps.” 3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over all the land. Everyone who steals will be cut off by what is written on one side. And everyone who swears will be cut off by what is written on the other side. 4 I will send it out,” says the Lord of All, “and it will go into the house of the robber and the house of the one who makes false promises using My name. It will spend the night in that house and destroy it, both its wood and stones.”
Zechariah Sees a Woman in a Basket
5 Then the angel who was speaking with me came out and said to me, “Look up and see what this is that is going out.” 6 And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the large basket going out.” And he said, “This is the sin of all the people in all the land.” 7 Then the lead cover was lifted up, and there was a woman sitting in the large basket. 8 The angel said, “This is Sin!” And he threw her back into the basket and threw the lead weight on its opening. 9 Then I looked up and saw two women coming out with the wind in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork. And they lifted up the large basket between earth and heaven. 10 I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the basket?” 11 He said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar. When it is ready, it will be put in its place.”
Jesus Speaks to the Teachers of the Law and the Proud Religious Law-Keepers
8 (*Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning He went back to the house of God and all the people came to Him. He sat down and taught them.
3 The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers came to Him. They brought a woman who had been caught doing a sex sin. They made her stand in front of them all. 4 Then they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of doing a sex sin. 5 Moses told us in the Law to throw stones and kill a woman like this. What do You say about it?”
6 They were trying to set a trap to find something against Him. Jesus got down and began to write in the dust with His finger. 7 They kept on asking Him. Then He stood up and said, “Anyone of you who is without sin can throw the first stone at her.” 8 Again He got down and wrote in the dust. 9 When they heard what He said, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones until they were all gone. Then Jesus was left alone with the woman.
10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are those who spoke against you? Has no man said you are guilty?” 11 She said, “No one, Sir.” Jesus said to her, “Neither do I say you are guilty. Go on your way and do not sin again.”)
Jesus Teaches about the Light of the World
12 Jesus spoke to all the people, saying, “I am the Light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will not walk in darkness. He will have the Light of Life.”
13 The proud religious law-keepers said to Him, “You are talking about Yourself. What You say about Yourself is not true.”
14 Jesus said, “Even if I speak of Myself, what I am saying is true. I know where I came from and where I am going. You do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You say as a man would say if people are guilty or not guilty. I am not saying anyone is guilty. 16 But even if I did, it would be true. I am not alone. The Father Who sent Me is with Me. 17 It is written in your Law that when two men agree about something, it proves it is true. (A) 18 I speak for Myself and the Father Who sent Me speaks for Me.”
19 The proud religious law-keepers asked Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus said, “You do not know Me or My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”
20 Jesus spoke these words near the money box while He taught in the house of God. No one put his hands on Jesus because His time had not yet come.
Jesus Tells of His Going Away
21 Jesus spoke to the Jews again, saying, “I am going away. You will look for Me but you will die in your sins. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 The Jews said, “Will He kill Himself because He said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”
23 He answered them, “You are from below. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins. If you do not believe that I am the Christ, you will die in your sins.”
25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus answered, “The answer is the same as I told you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you. I must say if you are guilty. But He Who sent Me is true. I tell the world the things I have heard from Him.”
27 They did not understand that Jesus was speaking to them about the Father. 28 Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, you will know that I am the Christ. I do nothing of Myself. I say these things as My Father has taught Me. 29 He that sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone. I always do what He wants Me to do.” 30 As Jesus said these things, many people put their trust in Him. 31 He said to the Jews who believed, “If you keep and obey My Word, then you are My followers for sure. 32 You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”
Jesus Teaches What It Means to Be Free
33 They said to Jesus, “We are children of Abraham. We have never been servants to anyone. What do you mean when You say, ‘You will be free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “For sure, I tell you, everyone who sins is the servant of sin because sin has a hold on him. 35 And the servant does not belong in the house. The son belongs in the house. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free for sure.
37 “I know that you are the children of Abraham. But you want to kill Me because My Word is not in your hearts. 38 I speak of what I saw when I was with My Father. You do what you have seen your father do.”
39 They said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said, “If you were children of Abraham, you would do what he did. 40 I am a Man Who has told you the truth as I heard it from God. Now you are trying to kill Me. Abraham never did anything like that. 41 You are doing the works of your father.” They said to Him, “We were born of parents who were faithful in marriage. We have one Father. He is God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love Me. I came from God. I did not come on My own, but God sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you do not want to hear My teaching. 44 The devil is your father. You are from him. You want to do the sinful things your father, the devil, wants you to do. He has been a killer from the beginning. The devil has nothing to do with the truth. There is no truth in him. It is expected of the devil to lie, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 I tell you the truth and that is why you do not put your trust in Me. 46 Which one of you can say I am guilty of sin? If I tell you the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 Whoever is born of God listens to God’s Word. You do not hear His Word because you are not born of God.”
The Jews Say Jesus Has a Demon
48 The Jews said to Jesus, “Are we not right when we say You are from the country of Samaria, and You have a demon?” 49 Jesus said, “No, I do not have a demon. I honor My Father. You do not honor Me. 50 I am not looking for honor for Myself. There is One Who is looking for it. He says what is right from wrong. 51 For sure, I tell you, if anyone keeps My Word, that one will never die.”
52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know You have a demon. Abraham died. The early preachers died. You say, ‘If anyone keeps My Word, that one will never die.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and the early preachers died. Who do You think You are?” 54 Jesus said, “If I honor Myself, My honor would be worth nothing. My Father honors Me. You say He is your God. 55 You have never known Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know the Father and obey His Word. 56 Your father Abraham was glad that he was to see My coming. He saw it and was happy.”
57 The Jews said to Jesus, “You are not even fifty years old. How could you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “For sure, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I was and am and always will be!”
59 Then they picked up stones to throw at Him. Jesus hid Himself *and left the house of God.
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