Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Discipleship 4 Worldliness
1 John 2:15,16,17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world --- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life --- is not of the Father but is of the world.17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15,16,17
1. You Must Realise the Persuasion of the World
16 For all that is in the world --- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life --- is not of the Father but is of the world.
Satan was persuasive to Adam and Eve and ever since.
And now much more after the Fall we have three enemies, the world the flesh and the devil
The world fascinates then assassinates
The world thrills then kills
The world anticipates then captivates.
The world calls then stalls
The world delights then blights
The world imitates then dissipates.
The world has a Prince
Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in trespasses and sins,2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
2 Corinthians 4: 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The world has a Power
16 For all that is in the world --- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life
It is stuff within us that desires what the world offers.
Chuck Swindoll speaks of the desire that comes from within us for Power, Pleasure, Fame and Fortune.
The world offers us the temptations to these things that tantalise our souls.
James 1: .14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
It's power is located in our human hearts.
Jeremiah 17:9 " The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
The world has a Philosophy
The fool has said in his heart there is no God. We live like fools when, though we are Christians, we forget God is involved in everything in our lives.
2. You Must Recognize the Pollution of the World
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world --- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life --- is not of the Father but is of the world.17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15,16,17
3. You Must Resist the Pull of the World
Love not the world…. The expulsive Power of a new Affection.
John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 4: 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Remember the price paid to ransom you
Love means you have a new affection.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world --- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life --- is not of the Father but is of the world.17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15,16,17
Love means you have a new direction
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15,16,17
Love Means You have a new condition… the passing nature of the world.. the eternal life we have on Christ.
Riches I heed not nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Thou and Thou only first on my heart
High King of Heaven my treasure Thou art.
1 John 2:15,16,17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world --- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life --- is not of the Father but is of the world.17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15,16,17
Monday, October 25, 2021
The End Times Wrap Up
Daniel 12:1-13 "The Time of the End" The End Times; The end of days
1"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."
5Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"
7The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time.b When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."
8I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?"
9He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11"From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
13"As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."
Questions
What does chapter 12 say the angel Michael will be doing during the awful period known as the Great Tribulation?
What does verse 2 say about the doctrine of resurrection? What will happen to those who are made to "awake"? Verse 3 gives a glimpse of what eternity holds for believers? What is that?
Why is the resurrection an important and necessary component of the gospel? Why do you think it is so often overlooked?
According to verse 3, what is the proper task of God's people living before "the end of the days"?
How did the "man clothed in linen" respond to Daniel's concern (verses 8–13)?
Given the stark reality and certainty of coming judgment, how will you pray differently this week? For unsaved friends, neighbors, co-workers? For world leaders? Why doesn't this truth sober us more?
What changes should you make in how you live in light of the Scripture's teaching about eternal rewards for faithful earthly service?
Do you ever grow impatient waiting for Christ's return? To what area of faithfulness is God calling you as you wait?
If salvation is secure in Christ, why does the Bible focus on God's people living holy lives?
Daniel ends with a call for endurance to the end. What other passages of Scripture call believers to persevere?
If you were to select a key verse to memorise from Daniel 12, which verse would it be?
Message: https://youtu.be/v0nysqHv88g
Last week I watched a movie about a train. It had Denzel Washington in it. Unstoppable is a 2010 American action thriller film directed and produced by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. It is based on the real-life CSX 8888 incident, telling the story of a runaway freight train and the two men who attempt to stop it.
Twenty years ago, on May 15, 2001, an incident happened in Ohio that involved a runaway CSX freight train. The identification number on the locomotive was #8888 which resulted in the incident becoming known as the 'Crazy Eights Incident.' Due to an operator error at a rail yard just outside of Toledo, the engine began rolling on its own with no engineer inside. Before long, it was barreling down the track at 51 mph along with its 47 cars, some of which were loaded with hazardous chemicals. As you can imagine, panic set in. Not only was there the fear of a derailment in a populated area, but two of the tanker cars were filled with phenol, a toxic liquid that can cause severe problems if touched or inhaled. Derailers were put on the tracks in an unpopulated area to try and force the train off the tracks, but the runaway engine plowed right over them. Officials tried shooting an emergency fuel cutoff switch, but it was no use. Finally, a plan was devised where two engineers took another engine and drove it to a secondary track that was alongside the out-of-control train's path. After the train roared past, they pulled behind it and carefully accelerated until they were just behind the last car. Easing ever closer, they heard the clack of their engine locking onto the last car. They immediately applied the brakes until they were able to slow the train down enough where another engineer could jump into the front engine and shut it down. I guess they all were glad that they didn't come off the rails on the crazy train…
For a lot people, the world seems like one big a ride on a crazy train; the Virus, the very real threat of war with China, division, the fear of an economic collapse. Bigger government and the rise of soft Marxism and the anti Christian feel of hard secularism. We wonder at times where the engineer is on this train that is barreling down the track. Daniel comes along and shows us that the Chief Engineer is right where He has always been—in the place of sovereign control. He is moving the train of human history down the track of time and will bring us into the station of His everlasting kingdom.
We come to the last chapter in Daniel, which is chapter 12. The last three chapters are a prophetic vision of the future that is given to Daniel for the sake of God's people. The prophecy that is revealed in this section provides a detailed glimpse of the future from the time of Daniel all the way up to the end of the world when Jesus returns to establish His kingdom. The setting for Daniel 12 is the 'time of the end,' a phrase that is used several times in the final two chapters of the book. The Hebrew word 'end' is used at least 10 times in the last two chapters. Daniel is being shown what will happen at the time of the end. The final chapter of Daniel concerns the time of the end, or the end of human history as we know it. History is linear, which means it has a beginning and an end. History is moving toward a future in which the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of Jesus Christ. And this is the overarching message of Daniel 12, which is all about God's promise of everlasting life for His weary people. No matter how bad things may get, the people of God are to live with the hope of His promise. The eschatological hope of the people of God is what keeps them looking up.
Perhaps you prefer to not think about it the end of the world. Maybe it seems so unrelated to the stack of stuff that stares you in the face every day. You are fully aware of the fact that the world as we know it will end one day, but you're confident that it won't be tomorrow. That's probably where a lot of us are. While it is certainly true that we must not be preoccupied with 'end times' in an unhealthy way, we do need to think about it in a biblical and realistic way. Jesus would not have had so much to say on the subject of judgment and the end of the age were it not a future reality. On one occasion, His disciples asked Him a question, the same question that many of us are curious about now—"What will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age?" And interestingly enough, He directed the disciples to the prophecy of Daniel. Upon reading the verses that make up this final chapter of Daniel, it seems obvious to the reader that the theme is the end of the age. In fact, the Hebrew word 'end' is used 10 times in the last two chapters. Daniel is being shown what will happen at the time of the end. According to Daniel 12, it will be a time of future tribulation, a time of final separation, a time of divine preservation, as well as a time of personal consolation.
1—A time of TRIBULATION (12:1)
"At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book."
The Tribulation period is the final seven years of history that leads up to the return of Jesus Christ and the establishing of His millennial kingdom on earth. Just why exactly is the tribulation described as being a period of seven years? In answer to that question, we need to go back to what Daniel is told in 9:24-27, or the prophecy of the seventy weeks. In verse
27, the final prophetic week is the seventieth which is a seven year period of time. Three and a half years into it, Antichrist will commit the 'abomination of desolation' which signals the half-way point. That is followed up by a time of great tribulation for the nation of Israel. Israel's defender
Verse 1 begins by saying, "A that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people." In what will be a time of unparalleled hardship, Daniel's prophecy is intended to be a comforting promise. The Antichrist will be a vicious persecutor of God's people. The nation of Israel will be surrounded and outnumbered by her enemies. Yet she will not be without defense. Michael the archangel will stand up in the last days to fight on Israel's behalf.
"At That Time"—means during the time of the end; the mid point of the seventieth week; 'Great Tribulation'
Revelation 12:7—"Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back…"
So when Daniel is told about a future time when Michael the archangel stands up on behalf of God's people, it is this spiritual conflict that is being referred to. The ongoing war that rages between the forces of heaven and hell will reach its peak during the tribulation period.
Israel's distress
Sometime after Michael arises to do battle against the devil and his angels, notice that verse 1 goes on to say, "And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time." Michael and the angels of heaven will fight against Satan, they will prevail over them, and Revelation 12:9 says the dragon will be cast out of heaven. The result will be an increased conflict on the earth because Satan will know that his time is short. He will then be permitted to make his final move, which will involve the Antichrist and a wave of persecution that will be unleashed against Israel. Other Old Testament prophets spoke of the same thing. For instance: Jeremiah 30:7—"Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it."
Matthew 24:21—"For then there will be great tribulation such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be."
Mark 13:19—"For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be."
Daniel 9:24 will all be fulfilled when the tribulation period is over and the kingdom belongs to Christ. What are those purposes? The seventy weeks are in order for God:
• to finish the transgression
• to put an end to sin
• to atone for iniquity
• to bring in everlasting righteousness
• to seal both vision and prophet
• to anoint a most holy place
Partially, this was accomplished in the first coming of Christ through His death
and resurrection. A fountain of salvation has been opened up for Gentiles. However, Israel rejected her Messiah. The apostle Paul says in Romans 11:25 that a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Romans 11:26—"And in this way all Israel will be saved as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob."
Israel in this time will come to repentance and faith.
For the unbelieving world, it will be a time of judgment and reckoning. God's wrath against the sinful rebellion of man is the theme of these chapters. We encounter Jesus Christ who is poised to take back control of the earth.
Nations rise up against nation, lawlessness and political chaos. When the third seal is broken, a rider on a black horse has a pair of scales in his hand. The cost of a quart of wheat is a denarius. Due to rising inflation and collapsing financial markets, the cost of food will skyrocket. When the fourth seal is broken, a rider on a pale horse is named Death, and all of hell follows with him. A quarter of the earth's population dies by the sword, famine, pestilence, and various plagues.
David Jeremiah—"Satan and the Antichrist would like nothing better than to have a worldwide plague under way at the beginning of the Tribulation to further their argument for a one-world government led by a seemingly benevolent, peace-loving dictator."
The last half of the tribulation will be a time of great distress on earth like never before.
Matthew 24:22—"And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short."
The tribulation will be a time unlike any in history, a time of distress for Israel. But notice Daniel is also told in verse 1, "But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book."
"Delivered"—words means to be rescued; to slip away
Deuteronomy 4:30-31—"When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey His voice. For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them."
The distress of that time will be unlike any other God will not forget the promises He made, but will preserve a remnant. Revelation 7 refers to 12,000 from every tribe of Israel who are 'sealed' by God. The seal identifies them as God's own possession, thereby shielding and protecting them from wrath.
"Your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book."
The book being referenced there is the book of life. It is only those whose names are written in the book of life who escape the future judgment. That is true for the remnant of Israel then, and it is true now for every man, woman, boy, and girl.
Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
2—A time of SEPARATION (12:2-3)
"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."
24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
Everyone is headed somewhere. The only question that remains is this one, "Where exactly are you headed?"
At the time of the end, many who sleep in the dust of the earth—that is, those who have died and have experienced physical death—shall awake. Some will awake to everlasting life, while some will awake to shame and everlasting contempt.
John 6:40—"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
Daniel is told in verse 3: "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."
3 - A Time of Annunciation
The 'wise' are those who trust Christ. The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The wise are those who respond in obedient faith to His Word. The wise are also witnesses in the way that they turn many to righteousness. They will shine for all eternity!
4—A time of PRESERVATION (12:4-10)
"But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.' Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, 'How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?' And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished."
Daniel is told in verse 4 to shut up the words and 'seal' the book until the time of the end. The idea is preservation, not concealment.
The NIV speaks of it as a scroll rolled up and sealed.
Rolled and sealed scrolls were common records of transaction in this age, particularly for land and title deeds. Revelation speaks of a scroll with seven seals. As each seal is unsealed, more of the catastrophes that are come upon the earth are revealed.
"I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished." Alistair Begg says this speaks of three things:
• The gravity of what has been revealed; the Man in linen lifts both hands in an oath to the One who lives forever
These things are going to occur. Nothing can stop them occurring. It is God's plan that is being revealed.
• The mystery of what has been revealed; the reference is to a time, times, and half a time (Dan. 7:25) it is a mystery how all these things will work out. But as they do work out you will look back in the books of Daniel and Revelation and see just how precisely God has worked it all out.
• The certainty of what has been revealed;
The sealing of the scroll is a royal seal. No one can stop it happening. Not even Satan.
An not that it is when the shattering of the power of God's people comes to an end that all these things will be finished "Shattering"—to break; to dash to pieces
Daniel 7:25—"He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into His hand for a time, times, and half a time."
David Jeremiah—"When we think of persecution, we often think of the Roman Empire and the brutal assaults on Christians by emperors like Nero who were determined to eradicate the church. But the most intense period of persecution in the history of the church is occurring around the world today.
2 Timothy 3:12—"All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
John 16:33—"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Jesus told His disciples the same thing: Matthew 24:21-22—"Then there will be great tribulation such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short."
8: "I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, 'O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?' He said, 'Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end."
James Boice says this is the most encouraging word for him. If Daniel didn't fully understand the things shown him, don't you get upset.
"Go your way, Daniel, for the words are sealed."
This means, it is a done deal. It is on permanent record. As you see it happen, it will then make sense. But until it happens:
"Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand."
5—A time of CONSOLATION (12:11-13)
"And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."
These numbers are hard to understand. We know that the final period of the tribulation is 1,260 days which is three and half years. But why the extra 30 days, followed by 45 more? Let me tell you with all the authority I can muster, this is answered in three firm words: "I don't know!"
Look at the practical admonition given to Daniel in the very last verse of the book
—"But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."
"Go your way till the end." Daniel, fulfill your present responsibilities in life.
Daniel is told to be faithful to carry out his responsibilities until the end of his days.
You and I are responsible to do what ew are responsible to do.
While you and I see the world around us galloping toward the day of judgment, we must not lose sight of our present responsibilities as the people of God. Rather than being stargazers, the Lord tells us to be soul-winners. Paul admonished the Thessalonians in this way:
2 Thessalonians 3:13 do not grow weary in doing good."
How are you doing in your present responsibilities? This truth of a coming kingdom ought to motivate you to work, to serve, and to live your life with a sense of accountability. When the Lord Jesus returns for His church at the time of the end, the time for gospel work will be over. Now is the time for us to engage in mission endeavors. Now is the time for us to invest in our children. Now is the time for us to take seriously the responsibility of discipleship.
2 Peter 3:10-12—"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, and the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming day of God."
1 John 3:2-3—"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure."
Verse 13 says, "Go your way till the end, Daniel. You will rest and stand at your allotted place."
Rest, then Resurrection!
Do you know what you have to look forward to as a believer? Rest and resurrection! And Reward. 'allotted place.' assigned portion, an inheritance. It is the same Hebrew word used in the book of Joshua to describe the division of the promised land among each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Daniel is told to go his way till the end of his life on earth. After that, he will rest and be raised to stand in his own allotted place of eternal reward. One of these days, when it is all said and done, faithful believers from every generation will be resurrected and will rule with Jesus Christ in the coming kingdom. O, how I long for His return! In His first coming, He came to atone for sins and to die on the cross as the substitute for sinners. Phillip Bliss said it well:
"Man of Sorrows," what a name For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah! what a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King, To His kingdom us to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing Hallelujah! what a Savior!
My friend, there is coming a time in the future, at the time of the end, when pain and sorrow will be no more. Death and dying will be no more. Sin will be banished, the world will be made new, and the Lord Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes. And one of these days, as I am taking a stroll in my new body through the streets of New Jerusalem, I imagine I will bump into Daniel. And I'll tell him, "I read your book! I even took a year to preach my way through it." Then we'll sit down at the table with all of God's saints from every age and sing to Him who is seated on the throne, "Worthy is the Lamb!"
Friday, October 22, 2021
Comfort In Difficult Times
The most wonderful encouragement I have found is how the Lord Himself comforts His people.
Psalm 94:17 If the LORD had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
18 When I thought, "My foot slips,"
your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
19 When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
When the cares of my heart are many:
The Problems Can Be Varied:
The Apostle Paul knew many difficulties.
2 Corinthians 11: 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
I chatted with a pastor for an hour or more today. He has recently been going through numerous death threats from "difficult customers." We compared wounds: I too had experienced several death threats since 1990; All by those who were "known to the police." And yes, it causes stress and anxiety. But God is in control of it all. And even ore so, the Lord always comforts His people. His comfort is worth the stress.
But The Principle is the Same
2 Corinthians 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
God comforts His people.
May God bless you with His comfort today (even if it is in the fires of tribulation).
Friday, October 15, 2021
The Battle at Little Big Horn
Daniel 8 The Big Little Horn
1In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. 2In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. 4I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great.
5As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. 6It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. 7I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it, and none could rescue the ram from its power. 8The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
Antiochus And The Maps
Alexander's first victory against the Persians was at the Granicus river near the Hellespont (334 B.C.). After taking all of Asia Minor, he crushed the army of Darius III of Medo-Persia in northern Syria (the Battle of Issus, 333 B.C.). The island fortress of Tyre fell after a remarkable seven-month siege, and in 332 he conquered Egypt without a battle. Acclaimed as a deity, he founded Alexandria and moved on to Mesopotamia where he met Darius III again and defeated him (Gaugamela, 331 B.C.). Babylon, Susa, Persepolis, and Ecbatana fell before him (330). By now Darius III had been murdered, and Alexander pushed his armies into Bactria and Sogdiana, down through what is modern Afghanistan to the borders of India. There, in his final great victory, he overcame the war elephants of King Porus (Battle of the Jhelum, 326 B.C.) and led his exhausted and discontented troops back to Susa (324 B.C.). Truly, he was one of the greatest military leaders of all time.
Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, book XI, chapter 8, paragraph 5
Josephus detailed the movements of Alexander the Great in significant detail, and his record of Alexander's decision not to capture and destroy Jerusalem is especially noteworthy. Alexander was making his way down the coast of Phoenicia, destroying cities as he went. Leaving Gaza in ruins, he moved his armies toward Jerusalem. Jaddua, the high priest in Jerusalem, heard this news and was understandably distraught. He called the people to fast and pray for God's protection. In a dream, God told Jaddua that they should adorn the city, open the gates, put on their finest garments, and go out to meet Alexander as he neared the city.
When Alexander approached and saw the multitude of citizens in their finery, a multitude of priests in their white-linen garments, and the high priest in his purple and scarlet vestments, he approached and saluted them. The multitudes, in one voice, saluted Alexander in return.
Alexander's generals and officials thought he'd lost his mind. One of them asked Alexander why he condescended to give honor to the high priest of the Jews when all other people bowed to adore Alexander. Alexander's answer, recorded by Josephus, is astonishing. It reflects how God apparently worked in Alexander to accomplish His purposes for His people. Here was Alexander's reply:
I did not adore [the high priest], but that God who hath honoured him with his high-priesthood; for I saw this very person in a dream, [wearing this] very [priestly dress], when I was at Dios in Macedonia, who, when I was considering with myself how I might obtain the dominion of Asia, exhorted me to make no delay, but boldly to pass over the sea thither, for that he would conduct my army, and would give me the dominion over the Persians; whence it is, that having seen no other in [this priestly dress], and now seeing this person in it, and remembering that vision, and the exhortation which I had in my dream, I believe that I bring this army under the divine conduct, and shall therewith conquer Darius, and destroy the power of the Persians, and that all things will succeed according to what is in my own mind.
According to Josephus, Alexander accompanied the priests and multitude to the Temple: "When he went up into the temple, he offered sacrifice to God, according to the high-priest's direction, and magnificently treated both the high-priest and the priests. And when the book of Daniel was showed him, wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended."
Before leaving Jerusalem, Alexander asked the high priest what favor he could do for them in gratitude for the divine direction God had given him. The priest asked that they would be able to follow the laws of Moses —that is, exercise their Jewish religion —in the land of Israel that Alexander now controlled. He also asked that Alexander, after conquering Persia, would allow the Jews in Mesopotamia to freely exercise their religion. According to Josephus, "[Alexander] granted all they desired."
8The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.
Having carved out an empire of 1.5 million square miles, Alexander provoked many of his Macedonian leaders to rebellion by claiming to be a god, by merging Persian and Greek elements in his army, and by marrying Persian women.
His mind full of new projects, Alexander built a fleet to explore the coasts of Arabia and Africa. He sailed up the Tigris to Opis, the ancient Assyrian city where Cyrus the Persian had defeated the Babylonians in 539.… Alexander entered Babylon for the last time in the spring of 323. Worn out by wounds, hardship and overdrinking, he fell ill of a fever. Soon he could neither move nor speak. He was propped up and each officer and soldier filed past. He acknowledged each man with his eyes or a slight movement of his head. Within two days Alexander died. He was not yet thirty-three years old. The first chapter of the apocryphal book of 1 Maccabees explains the transition between Alexander, conqueror and ruler of the Greek Empire, and Antiochus, subsequent ruler of the Seleucid portion of that empire:
When Alexander had been emperor for twelve years, he fell ill and realized that he was about to die. He called together his generals . . . and he divided his empire, giving a part to each of them.
9Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 11It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the LORD; it took away the daily sacrifice from the LORD, and his sanctuary was thrown down. 12Because of rebellion, the LORD's peoplea and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the LORD's people?"
14He said to me, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated."
Antiochus And The Maccabees
The wicked ruler Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus the Third of Syria, was a descendant of one of Alexander's generals. . . . He became king of Syria in the year [175] B.C. When Antiochus had firmly established himself as king, he decided to conquer Egypt. . . . Antiochus was able to capture the fortified cities of Egypt and plunder the whole land.
When Antiochus had firmly established himself as king, he decided to conquer Egypt. . . . Antiochus was able to capture the fortified cities of Egypt and plunder the whole land.
In the year [169] B.C., after the conquest of Egypt, Antiochus marched with a great army against the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. 1 Maccabees 1:5-7, 10, 16, 19-20, GNT.
ANTIOCHUS IV WAS MARKED BY DESTRUCTION AND DEPRAVITY
According to historian Solomon Zeitlin, Antiochus holds the distinction of being "the first person in history to persecute a people exclusively for their religious faith. Religious persecution was previously unknown in the history of civilization." As history shows us, Antiochus did everything he could to completely annihilate the Jewish religion:
The king also sent messengers with a decree to Jerusalem and all the towns of Judea, ordering the people to follow customs that were foreign to the country. He ordered them not to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, or wine offerings in the Temple, and commanded them to treat Sabbaths and festivals as ordinary work days. They were even ordered to defile the Temple and the holy things in it. They were commanded to build pagan altars, temples, and shrines, and to sacrifice pigs and other unclean animals there. They were forbidden to circumcise their sons and were required to make themselves ritually unclean in every way they could, so that they would forget the Law which the Lord had given through Moses and would disobey all its commands. The penalty for disobeying the king's decree was death. 1 Maccabees
Antiochus Epiphanes … [175 B.C.]. In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying, "let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us." This proposal pleased them, and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile customs, and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.… After subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the 143rd year [169 B.C.]. He went up against Israel and came to Jerusalem with a strong force. He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar.
Antiochus Epiphanes canceled all the Jewish festivals and instead required the Jews to celebrate Greek feasts. One of these was the celebration of Bacchanalia, which involved the worship of Bacchus, the god of pleasure and wine. He also forced the Jews to observe the Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival dedicated to worshiping Saturn. He installed harlots in the Temple for these celebrations and forbade the observance of the Sabbath. He forced the Jews to observe all his pagan feast days and banned the practice of circumcision.
When Scripture speaks of God's sanctuary being "cast down" (Daniel 8:11), it doesn't mean the Temple was destroyed but rather that it was defiled. First Maccabees 1:21-24 records how this happened: "In [Antiochus's] arrogance, he entered the Temple and took away the gold altar, the lampstand with all its equipment, the table for the bread offered to the Lord, the cups and bowls, the gold fire pans, the curtain, and the crowns. He also stripped all the gold from the front of the Temple and carried off the silver and gold and everything else of value, including all the treasures that he could find stored there. Then he took it all to his own country. He had also murdered many people and boasted arrogantly about it." 1 Maccabees 1:21-24.
On another occasion, Antiochus brought a pig to the Temple and, slitting its throat, sacrificed it on the sacred altar. He collected the pig's blood and sprayed it all over the inside of the Temple. This unholy sacrifice of an unclean animal on the sacred Temple altar is "the abomination of desolation" prophesied first by Daniel and later by Jesus (Daniel 11:31; 12:11; Mark 13:14). Antiochus's sacrifice was the initial fulfillment of the Daniel prophecy. The final fulfillment will occur when the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, enthrones himself in the Temple, erects a profane image in the holy place, and desecrates the Temple altar with an unclean sacrifice.
In His Olivet discourse, Jesus refers to Antiochus's unholy sacrifice as typifying a comparable event that will happen in the future: "When you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not . . . then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains" (Mark 13:14).
He Destroyed the Scripture DANIEL 8:12
12Because of rebellion, the LORD's peoplea and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
Antiochus "cast truth down to the ground" by outlawing the reading of the Scriptures and burning every copy of the Torah he could get his hands on: "Any books of the Law which were found were torn up and burned, and anyone who was caught with a copy of the sacred books or who obeyed the Law was put to death by order of the king." 1 Maccabees 1:56-57.
These are just a few examples from the long history of agony the Jews endured under Antiochus Epiphanes. Is it any wonder they hated this Greek ruler and privately called him "Antiochus Epimanes," which means "Antiochus the Madman"?
Daniel asked,
(Daniel 8:13). 13Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the LORD's people?" 14He said to me, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated."
Mattathias. When the commissioner of Antiochus commanded Mattathias to take the lead in offering a pagan sacrifice, he responded with these words: "I don't care if every Gentile in this empire has obeyed the king and yielded to the command to abandon the religion of his ancestors. My children, my relatives, and I will continue to keep the covenant that God made with our ancestors. With God's help we will never abandon his Law or disobey his commands. We will not obey the king's decree, and we will not change our way of worship in the least." 1 Maccabees 2:19-22.
Mattathias then killed the commissioner, overturned the altar, and fled with his five sons to the hills. They became known as the Maccabees, a term believed to come from the Aramaic word meaning "hammer," a symbol of the ferocity of Mattathias's sons. Many other Jews joined the Maccabees in all-out guerrilla warfare against Antiochus.
In 164 BC, after more than two years of fighting, the Maccabean warriors finally recaptured the Temple and cleansed it from the abomination of desolation.
When the Temple was recaptured, the Maccabees wanted to light the menorah, the sacred Temple candlestick, but they could find only a small flask of the special oil required for use in the Temple —barely enough to keep the menorah lit for one day. According to tradition, the oil miraculously lasted for eight days, which gave them enough time to obtain a new supply of the purified oil to keep the menorah burning.
To commemorate this deliverance and the Temple's rededication, the Jews established the perpetual feast of Hanukkah, a word that means "dedication." The celebration is sometimes referred to as the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights.
Today the Jews celebrate Hanukkah beginning on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev (in November or December on our calendar) by placing the menorah in a window or doorway where it's visible from the outside. Each day during the eight-day celebration, in late afternoon, one candle is lit until finally, on the eighth night, all eight candles are burning brightly.
15While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. 16And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling, "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision."
17As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."
18While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.
19He said: "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.c 20The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. 22The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.
23"In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
26"The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future."
27I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
Antiochus And The Man of Sin
2 Thessalonians.
Antiochus prefigures something that was yet to come.
Repeatedly this passage repeats the term "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."
There is something prophetic here of Antiochus and it loks ahead to someone who is very like Antiochus. His description is found in 2 Thessalonians 2
3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The Lord Jesus spoke of this person in similar terms.
Mark 13:14 "But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.15 The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house;16 and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat.17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!18 But pray that it may not happen in the winter.19 For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will.20 Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
This term is also a repeated term in the book of Daniel.
Daniel 12 Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
11 From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.12 How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!13 But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age."
Daniel 9: 27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate,
Daniel 11: 31 Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.32 By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.
The antichrist, the man of sin like Antiochus, will be:
DEVILISH IN HIS POWER
24He will become very strong, but not by his own power. DANIEL 8:24
When I read of the atrocities of Antiochus Epiphanes, I realize that he couldn't have been as evil as he was unless he had a special relationship with Satan, which is undoubtedly the meaning of the verse above. Surely this man was demon possessed!
The reign of Antiochus was a dress rehearsal for the reign of the Antichrist, who will also be empowered by Satan: "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
"The dragon [Satan] gave him his power, his throne, and great authority" (Revelation 13:2).
DESTRUCTIVE IN HIS PERSECUTION
He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. DANIEL 8:24
HE WILL BE DECEITFUL IN HIS PRACTICES
25He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. DANIEL 8:25
1 Maccabees provides this illustration: "Antiochus sent a large army from Mysia against the towns of Judea. When the soldiers entered Jerusalem, their commander spoke to the people, offering them terms of peace and completely deceiving them. Then he suddenly launched a fierce attack on the city, dealing it a major blow and killing many of the people. He plundered the city, set it on fire, and tore down its buildings and walls. He and his army took the women and children as prisoners and seized the cattle." 1 Maccabees 1:29-32.
"He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate" (Daniel 9:27).
In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul further describes this treacherous man: "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2:9-10).
HE WILL BE DEFIANT IN HIS PROFESSION
25, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.
Daniel 7:8 This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully...24The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.
Antiochus professed to be God himself. The coins minted during his reign bore these words: Antiochus, Theos Epiphanes, meaning, "Antiochus, God Manifest." Antiochus claimed to be God, again prefiguring the coming Antichrist, who will make the same claim.
Paul describes the scope of this audacious claim, calling the Antichrist the "man of sin" and the "son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
HE WILL BE DEFEATED IN HIS PURPOSE
Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. DANIEL 8:25
When the Jews cast the image of Jupiter out of the Temple, Antiochus was enraged. He vowed to turn the city of Jerusalem into a cemetery. On his way to Jerusalem, he was suddenly afflicted with a horrible disease that caused his body to be eaten alive by ulcers and worms. His suffering was unbearable, and the stench from his own body was so vile that even he couldn't stand the smell.
Just as Antiochus was brought down by nonhuman means, so will the Antichrist meet his end. 2 Thess 2:8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
And just as Antiochus received severe punishment for his war against God, so will the Antichrist. He will be "cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone" (Revelation 19:21). He'll share with Satan eternal punishment in the "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).
Why are we told of the end times battle at all?
We live in the end times (since the resurrection of Jesus).
We live in expectation: We don't know the day or the hour
We live confidently: overall message of Daniel: In spite of appearances, God is in control
We live holy godly lives
The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him. His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him
1. Get excited! Believers' lives are marked by a sense of anticipation shared by no one else on earth —only those who are awaiting Christ's imminent return. That's something to get excited about. "When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28).
2. Get busy! Jesus has a daily allotment of work for each of us to do. We have a world to reach, and every one of us has a role to fill. There's no time to waste. The closer we come to His return, the busier we become in doing His labor —and it's a joy! "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing" (Matthew 24:46).
3. Get ready! The books of Daniel and Revelation, along with the other prophetic promises of God, compel us to live with a sense of readiness. Walk with Him today. Stay pure. Stay prayerful. "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame" (Revelation 16:15).
