Day 353..."The greatest robbery?...Tithing...Language of Revelation"

What is the greatest robbery according to Malachi? He says denying God the tithe is robbing God. This statement certainly gets our attention! Is God not the owner of our lives and all we have anyway? If we believe God is the owner of all the metaphor makes more sense. If we hold on to our owning, I suppose this teaching is absurd. I tithe because I read over and over again God is to come first in my life! Malachi also offers a promise of blessing..."Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." One other thought..."could the failure to place God first in our lives not rob us of abundant life and blessing?"

Hebrews relates Jesus as the high priest Melchizedek. Of all things... Melchizedek is mentioned in Genesis 14 related to tithing. The Genesis reading is the first mention of the tithe. Amazing that these two readings coincide today! By the way can you spell Melchizedek?

Revelation continues the sound of trumpets from five and six. The failure of repentance leads to judgment. After reading the Old Testament Books recently, the language, imagery, and judgment of Revelation does not seem to have as much contrast. The final judgment does appear in the message of the prophets as well. Apocalyptic writing in the Bible does span beyond Revelation.