Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry

Episode: December 27 (Zephaniah 1—Haggai 2; Psalm 146; Revelation 13–15)
Released: December 27, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode presents readings from Zephaniah 1—Haggai 2 (Old Testament), Psalm 146, and Revelation 13–15 (New Testament), moving listeners through prophecies of judgment and restoration, psalms of praise, and apocalyptic visions. The scripture readings are delivered without commentary, designed for immersion in the biblical text as part of a year-long journey through the ESV Bible.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Note: As per format, the episode consists of continuous Bible readings and does not include commentary or conversational analysis. The text is read aloud with alternations between reader and respondent, focusing on the flow and tone of the Scripture itself.

Zephaniah 1—3

[00:00–07:42]

• God's Sweeping Judgment:
  “I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the Lord. I will sweep away man and beast.” (Reader, 00:14)
  — A solemn prophecy of the Lord declaring coming judgment against Judah, Jerusalem, and surrounding nations for idolatry and complacency.

• Day of the Lord:
  “Be silent before the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is near.” (Reader, 01:01)
  Describes a coming day of wrath, distress, and darkness, emphasizing urgency and the necessity of humility.

• Accountability of Leaders and People:
  “Her officials within her are roaring lions, her judges are evening wolves...Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men.” (Reader, 04:41)
  — Indictment of corrupt spiritual and civic leadership.

• Promise of Restoration:
  “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love.” (Reader, 07:15)
  — Amidst warning, God’s promise to restore, save, and rejoice over the humble and faithful remains central.

Haggai 1—2

[07:42–12:54]

• Call to Rebuild the Temple:
  “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? ... Consider your ways.” (Reader, 07:47)
  — Rebuke to the returned exiles for neglecting the temple, urging focus on God's house over personal comfort.

• God’s Assurance and Encouragement:
  “Be strong, all you people of the land ... work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts.” (Reader, 09:24)
  — Despite disappointments, God calls for renewed commitment, promising his presence and future glory.

• Purity and Blessing:
  “From this day on I will bless you.” (Reader, 12:29)
  — Stresses obedience and purity; God pledges future blessing now that the work has resumed.

• Zerubbabel’s Chosen Role:
  “I will take you, O Zerubbabel ... and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.” (Reader, 12:42)
  — Messianic undertones in God’s choice of Zerubbabel.

Psalm 146

[12:54–13:45]

• Praise and Trust in God Alone:
  “Put not your trust in princes, in a Son of man in whom there is no salvation.” (Respondent, 12:59)
  — Exhortation to rely on God, not human power.

• Themes of Justice and Compassion:
  “The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind...The Lord watches over the sojourners, he upholds the widow and the fatherless.” (Reader & Respondent, 13:24–13:38)
  — Attributes of God’s care for the needy and marginalized.

Revelation 13–15

[13:51–End]

• The Beast and False Worship:
  “And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words ... and authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation.” (Respondent, 14:16)
  — Introduction of apocalyptic figures: the beast, the dragon, and the second beast who enforces worship of the first.

• Persecution and Endurance:
  “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” (Respondent, 14:25)
  — Amidst increasing tribulation and the mark of the beast (666), followers of Christ are called to patient endurance.

• Vision of the Redeemed and Triumph of the Lamb:
  “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” (Respondent, 15:03)
  — Contrasts worshippers of the beast with the security of those faithful to Christ.

• Three Angelic Proclamations:

  • Proclamation of the “eternal gospel” and the coming judgment.
  • Announcement of Babylon’s fall.
  • Warning against worshipping the beast and receiving its mark:
    “If anyone worships the beast ... he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath...” (Respondent, 16:23)

• Harvest Imagery & Final Judgment:
  “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe...the earth was reaped.” (Respondent, 17:10)
  — Vivid picture of the final harvest, the “winepress of the wrath of God,” culminating in dramatic judgment.

• Song of Moses and the Lamb:
  “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.” (Respondent, 18:04)
  — The victorious sing praise to God’s righteousness and sovereignty.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the Lord.” (Reader, 00:14)
• “Be silent before the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is near.” (Reader, 01:01)
• “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness.” (Reader, 07:15)
• “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” (Reader, 07:47)
• “From this day on I will bless you.” (Reader, 12:29)
• “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man in whom there is no salvation.” (Respondent, 12:59)
• “And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words…” (Respondent, 14:16)
• “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” (Respondent, 14:25)
• “Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” (Respondent, 15:00)
• “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty.” (Respondent, 18:04)

Structure and Flow

The episode travels from prophetic warning to reassurance, from a call to repentance and obedience to a vision of ultimate divine victory and justice. Each section is read in a reverent, measured tone, honoring the differing styles and moods of the biblical texts. No interpretive layers are added, letting Scripture speak for itself.

Conclusion

This installment powerfully juxtaposes prophetic judgment and hope from the Old Testament with the climactic cosmic struggle of Revelation. Unified by themes of trust, obedience, justice, perseverance, and God’s ultimate reign, it encourages listeners to seek humility, place their hope in God, and patiently endure until the day of the Lord’s vindication.