Monday, November 30, 2015
Daniel 6:16
Monday, November 30, 2015 |
Then the king
commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions.
Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest
continually, he will deliver thee.
For further study – Daniel 6:10-28
You will recognize the story from your days in Sunday School and maybe
even have seen the drama played out in a church program some time in
your past. It is a wonderful story of the "steadfastness of Daniel."
Just to remind you, Darius, the king, had published a decree that told
his subjects they were not allowed to offer up a prayer to anyone other
than the King himself, verses 4-9. This decree was meant to bring harm to Daniel, but instead it brought praise to Daniel’s God.
You know the story so well, so allow me to just bring to your attention
some of the highlights of this portion of Daniel that we are using for
our devotional reading for today. There are many blessings to be found
in this passage. Here are just a few.
Daniel, as was his custom, went to his chambers and kneeled to pray
towards Jerusalem, as he had been commanded. By the way he was not
trying to hide and pray, but prayed with the windows open so that all
the Kingdom could see the faithfulness of Daniel, verses 10-11.
Daniel’s enemies rushed to the King to report Daniel going against the
King’s decree. Daniel decided that it was more important to obey God
than man. When we do that we must be ready to face the circumstances, as
was the case with Daniel.
The King, realizing what his decree meant to Daniel was very displeased
with himself and wanted to change his decree but was reminded by his men
that the "law of the Medes and Persians" would not allow the king to
change that order which would send Daniel to the death as a punishment
for simply praying.
How important is my prayer time I must ask myself. Would I be willing to
face a death sentence so that I could be faithful to the dictates of
God for my spiritual life. Daniel is a perfect example for me, and all
of us who want to serve Him.
What a promise that Daniel was reminded of by the King as he was being thrown into the lion’s den, verse 16, our key verse for today. As we "continually serve Him," He takes care of all our needs, even physically.
There is so much more in this passage that we could share. Let me draw
your attention to the prophetic portion of our reading for today, verse 26.
The King put out another decree that in all of the kingdom men should
"tremble and fear" before the God of Daniel. The entire kingdom would
recognize the God of Daniel as the "living God who was steadfast forever
and that His kingdom would be forever."
The kingdom that will be "forever" is the one that Jesus Christ will set
up after the seven year Tribulation, yet in the future. But I must say,
not to very long into the future. The Rapture could take place today,
which will set everything in motion for the Lord’s return to set up His
Kingdom.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you Lord, for your protection of those of us that "continually serve"
you. Help me to be as "steadfast" as Daniel in those things that you
direct me to do in my relationship with you.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Daniel 7:14
Sunday, November 29, 2015 |
And there was given him
dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and
languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be
destroyed.
For further study - Daniel 7:1-14
As we continue our devotional readings in Daniel I must apologize, I should have had you read Daniel 7 before Daniel 5. Remember, from our last reading Belshazzar was killed when the Medes and the Persians attacked Babylon. As we read the first verse of Daniel 7 Belshazzar was beginning the first year of his reign.
In Daniel 8:1 Belshazzar
was in the third year of his reign as the leader of the Babylonian
Empire. It is very difficult to have died and then reign for three
years. The way to read through Daniel, chapter by chapter, is in the
following order: 1-2-3-4-7-8-5-6-9-10-11-12. This is the chronological
order for the book of Daniel.
Now back to Daniel 7,
Daniel had become a leader, most likely the third highest-ranking
leader, in the Babylonian Empire, by the time he reached 70 years of
age, his age at the time of the "night vision" recorded in our extended
reading passage.
For almost 50 years he had served as a counselor to King Nebuchadnezzar
and now Daniel was serving his grandson, Belshazzar in the first year of
his reign, verse 1.
As a young man Daniel had been gifted by the Lord to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel 2,
which was a prophecy of the present and future Gentile world powers
from Daniels' day until the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Now some 50 years later the Lord gives Daniel a "vision" of that same
scenario for the Gentile world empires and what would happen at the
Second Coming of Jesus.
Since I don't have the time and space to go into a lot of detail, let me
give you the overall big picture, presented to Daniel in his "night
vision". Daniel would see "four great beast" rise up out of the sea,
each one diverse from the other, verse 3.
Let me remind you that this is "apocalyptic literature." In "apocalyptic
literature" the author uses "symbols" to convey an "absolute truth".
The symbol is not an allegory nor a fairy-tale, but an "absolute truth".
That being said, please allow me to take a shortcut and tell you what the symbols represent in Daniel 7. The "lion with eagles wings" is the Babylonian Empire, verse 4. The "bear with three ribs in its mouth," verse 5, is the Medo-Persian Empire. In verse 6, the "leopard with four wings and four heads" is the Grecian Empire.
The "awesome beast" in verse 7 is the "Roman Empire" (See my audio series, "The Daniel Papers").
I understand I haven't gone into very much detail on this prophecy that
Daniel received in a "night vision" but deeper study will reveal these
truths.
Please notice verses 13-14. Here is the promise of a future "kingdom" that will be given to Jesus Christ, the "Son of Man," verse 13,
by the "ancient of days," God the Father. This is a "kingdom" that
comes after the "Revived Roman Empire" and the "Antichrist" are on the
scene, and it will be an "everlasting kingdom".
I remind you that it is not a "Kingdom" which is in place now. This
"Kingdom," referred to in this passage, will be given to Jesus, at the
return of the Messiah, by God the Father.
By the way, the European Union Treaty accepted by all 28-member states
of the EU calls for a "Supra-State," the United States of Europe. The
Treaty also provides for an EU that will be led by a "powerful,
permanent president" and that person selected and put in power.
These both, if not the ultimate fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy, then
they sure are a prototype of the characters to come on the scene as
foretold in prophecy yet to be fulfilled, seemingly in the near future.
Remember, before all of these prophecies are fulfilled the Rapture of
the Church take place and that could happen even today. Keep looking up.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me, Lord to live pure and productive every day as I prepare for the Rapture which could happen today.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Daniel 5:30-31
Saturday, November 28, 2015 |
In that night was
Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took
the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
For further study - Daniel 5:1-31
This fifth chapter of Daniel's prophecy is not only a prophetic passage of great importance but also a chapter that has a very important historic significance as well.
The King of Babylon, at the time of Daniel 5,
is Belshazzar who most likely was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. King
Nebuchadnezzar had died and Belshazzar came to power over this world
empire near the time of the end of this great Gentile world power.
The King had invited 1,000 of his "lords" to a banquet, which actually turned into the "last hoorah" for King Belshazzar.
Though the Medes and the Persians had been threatening to overthrow the
Babylonians, the King felt secure inside the walls of this supposedly
"impregnable city" with it's double high walls surrounding the city, a
city that never had been defeated.
During the course of the evening the King called for the "Temple
vessels" that his grandfather had brought out of the Jewish Temple in
Jerusalem to Babylon. The King had his servants fill these "special
vessels" with wine and made these "special vessels" available to the
King's guest. This was a very bad mistake, which I will discuss a bit
later.
It was while the drunken party was going on that the Medes came from the
North and the Persians from the South and damned up the water entering
the city under it's Northern wall, and exiting under it's Southern wall.
That gave Babylon's enemies a dry tunnel under the walls to enter the
city. This was the method by which the "impregnable city" was entered by
its major enemies at that time. The Babylonian Empire was brought down
by the Medo-Persian Empire, the second of the Gentile world powers to
rule over Jerusalem and the Jewish people.
This passage, describing the fall of the Babylonian Empire, does not
mention that the city of Babylon was destroyed, only the Empire. The
truth be known, the city of Babylon has never been destroyed, as Bible
prophecy says will happen in the last days.
Ancient Jewish Prophets say that Babylon must be destroyed, totally, and never be rebuilt. Isaiah 13 and 14, Jeremiah 50 and 51, Revelation 18 and Revelation 16:17-21 describe the total destruction of the city of Babylon.
Babylon the city was not destroyed, as described in Daniel 5.
Other passages indicate that same truth as well. Seventy-five years
after the fall of the Babylonian Empire, Ezra lived in Babylon, Ezra 7:6 and 9.
Secular history tells us that Alexander the Great ruled the world from
his headquarters in Babylon, 200 years after the fall of the Babylonian
Empire. Peter, the Apostle, started a church in Babylon, 500 years after
the fall of the Empire, I Peter 5:13. Babylon, one day in the future, will be destroyed, as revealed in Revelation 16.
The other thought that I wanted to give you pertaining to the use of the "implements" from the Temple, Daniel 5:2-5, is that because the Babylonians desecrated the Temple and it's implements, God will bring eternal judgment on Babylon, Jeremiah 50:28 and Jeremiah 51:11.
Biblical Babylon is the modern-day state of Iraq, where the Antichrist
will be headquartered and will rule over a "one world" political,
governmental, economic system in the last days. The rebuilding of
war-torn Iraq is setting the stage for Bible Prophecy to be fulfilled.
Keep looking up, because the Rapture happens before all of these
prophecies are fulfilled. In reality, the Rapture could happen today,
what a day it would be for all of us who know Jesus Christ as Lord and
Saviour.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help
me, Lord to discern the urgency of the moment in these days that seem
to be the last days and help me to live in light of this knowledge.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Daniel 3:18
Friday, November 27, 2015 |
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
For further study - Daniel 3:1-30
For our extended reading today, I would like for you to read the entire chapter of Daniel 3. This chapter, in the book of prophecy written by Daniel, is not a prophetic passage.
However, it is very practical and is one of the three very practical passages in Daniel, which also includes Daniel 4 and 6. We will use these chapters in another devotional, later on.
Daniel, the author of the book, is not mentioned in chapter 3 and
there is not a definite reason that we can point you to scripturally on
the subject. There have been suggestions that Daniel may have been
traveling during this time.
Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, had an "image of gold", verse 1, erected in Babylon, most likely an "image of a man", an image of himself that was ninety feet tall and nine feet wide at it's base.
Nebuchadnezzar's wise counselors set a trap for the three Hebrew
companions of Daniel; Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, which are their
godly Hebrew names. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are the Chaldean
names for these three Hebrew boys.
The trap for these three was the royal order for everyone to bow to the "image of gold" when they heard the sound of music. Failure to bow would be met with the punishment of being thrown into the "fiery furnace".
Please let me point out several real blessings from the many that you
will notice as you read our extended reading for the devotional today.
The three Hebrew boys refused to bow and when brought before
Nebuchadnezzar they told the King that "their God which they served was
able to deliver them from the burning fiery furnace," verse 17.
That assurance was a real blessing for the three, as it is for us today, an assurance that He can deliver us from any "fiery trial". However, look at the next verse, verse 18, "but if not."
Please read our key verse several times, "But if not", if God decides
not to deliver us, the boys said, "we will not serve thy gods or worship
the golden image."
That is the attitude missing today. Often we want God to be "Johnny on
the spot", to take care of us all the time. I love that phrase, "but if
not." What God decides is best, whether I think so or not.
The three boys did not "bow" and they were thrown into the furnace where
they did not "burn". They not only did not burn, even the smell of
smoke was not upon their bodies nor their clothing, verse 27.
When the Lord does something, He does it right. It was Jesus Christ, in a "pre-incarnate" appearance, that came to rescue the three Hebrew boys, verse 25.
This is a great story that ended with the three Hebrew boys being promoted in the Babylonian Kingdom, verse 30. Though it's not actually a prophetic passage, it does have a prophetic spiritual application.
In the last days God will protect the Jewish people from the "fiery
Tribulation", a period of time known as "Jacob's trouble", that seems to
be coming very soon. Remember, the Lord will preserve the Jewish
people, He has a special plan for them in the future.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for Your protection. Please give me that "but if not" attitude when You have a better plan for me.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for Your protection. Please give me that "but if not" attitude when You have a better plan for me.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Daniel 2:44
Thursday, November 26, 2015 |
And in the days of
these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never
be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it
shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand
for ever.
For further study - Daniel 2:1-45
March 25, 2015 was the 58th anniversary of the signing of the "Treaty of Rome" signed by the European leaders 58 years ago in the city of Rome. More on the significance of this day in a moment, but first, to our reading for today.
Daniel had been summoned by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar to tell him his dream and to interpret the dream for the King. God gifted Daniel with the ability to reveal the dream to the Babylonian King, verse 28, and to interpret it for him.
The dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had was of an image of a man with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, his belly and thighs of brass, two legs of iron and ten toes of iron and clay mixed. There was a stone that hit the image of the man and broke it into pieces.
These broken pieces were like chaff of the summer threshing floors and the wind carried them away. The stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
Daniel's interpretation of the King's dream was actually the revelation of the "empires" of the coming Gentile world powers from the times of Daniel until the times of the return of Jesus Christ. Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that he was the "head of gold", verse 38, the first of the Gentile world powers.
The passages in Daniel 7 and 8 give us the understanding that the Medo-Persian Empire followed by the Grecian Empire and the Roman Empire would take Gentile history along the way of history, all the way to a time when the "ten toes" would appear. Let me tell you that the "ten toes" are the "Revived Roman Empire" of the future (see my study, "The Daniel Papers").
It was 57 years ago that a group of Europeans met to sign the "Treaty of Rome" in Rome, Italy, that set the stage for the Common Market, which is today the European Union. A close look at the European Union reveals that it is at least an "infrastructure" of the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy of the "ten toes" which will be ten nations, kings, or regions.
The key verse to notice about this prophecy is verse 44, "in the days of these kings". The God of heaven will destroy them and set up the kingdom that Jesus Christ will rule and reign over at His Return. This interpretation of these prophecies fits the prophecies of John the Revelator in his book of prophecy, Revelation 17.
The evidence is strong that we are living in those days. But remember, before the Lord's Second Coming, seven years before, the Rapture takes place and that could happen today.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you for Daniel's prophecy that helps me understand the Lord's time and that which proceeds His coming back to the Earth. Help me to realize the Rapture could be very close at hand and how then I should live in light of that realization.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Daniel 1:17
Wednesday, November 25, 2015 |
As for these four
children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom:
and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
For further study - Daniel 1:1-21
Today we begin the reading of the passages from the book of Daniel for our devotionals. This is a book that is basically a "timeline" of the "Gentile world powers" from the days of Daniel until, and including the Tribulation period, the seven years of judgment on the earth and earth-dwellers in the future. This time period is known as the "times of the Gentiles."
As the Babylonian Crown Prince Nebuchadnezzar was fighting in Egypt, he
received the message that his father had died and he had been promoted
to "King of Babylon". On his journey back to Babylon he passed through
Jerusalem and noticed a strange type of worship of a different God than
his god. The worship of this new God was going on in a Temple like he
had never seen.
Knowing that he was to become ruler of the known world, he was
determined to know something about this new, to him, religion.
Nebuchadnezzar decided to take some "hostages" from the "royal family"
in Jerusalem back home with him to learn more about this religion.
Chapter one of Daniel is
the sojourn of Daniel and three of his Hebrew friends to Babylon to
learn the ways of the Chaldeans. They were to be trained to become a
part of the group known as the "wise men" in Nebuchadnezzar's court.
As you read this account you learn how teenage boys (Daniel was 15 years
old when taken to Babylon) could purpose in their hearts, verse 8, to honor the Lord with their obedience to His plan for their lives.
God would honor their obedience and give them "knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom," verse 17. At the same time God was preparing young Daniel to minister to the King, Daniel 2.
Daniel would not only win the King's favor but reveal through the
interpretation of the Kings dream, God's plans for the future.
God would use this man Daniel to give us the prophetic truths that
describe many current events today giving us evidence that we are
quickly approaching the time of the return of the Lord (see my study on
Daniel).
Because Daniel purposed in his heart to do right, God used him for His
purposes, to explain to us His plan for the future. The twelve chapters
of Daniel are prophecies of the unfolding of the historic events that
will take place on the earth leading up to the time of the coming of
Jesus Christ back to the earth.
Our study of some of these prophecies found in the book of Daniel will
reveal to each student of God’s prophetic Word that the events foretold
2,500 years ago are about to be fulfilled in the near future. Remember,
the very next event to happen is the Rapture, which could happen today.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Allow me to be used by you Lord as I purpose in my heart to honor you.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Ezekiel 48:1
Tuesday, November 24, 2015 |
Now these are the names of the tribes.
For further study – Ezekiel 48:1-35
In the text that is in front of us today, Ezekiel 48, for our devotional we see the "faithfulness" of God in keeping His promises. The Lord made a promise to Abraham and to Moses about the "land" that He will give the Jewish people and this passage is the "title deed" for the Jews.
The entire chapter, as you read it, is sometimes difficult to
understand. The Lord is telling the "twelve tribes" of Jacob that they
will get a piece of real estate that will be theirs forever.
This list is only one of 38 different passages in the Bible that gives
us information on the exact borders for each of the tribes. Space will
not allow for all this information, so let me give you a summary of
these passages.
God will be giving the Jews ten times what they have today. The actual
borders start near the Nile River in Egypt extending north to the
Euphrates River, taking in half of Egypt, all of Israel, Lebanon, Syria
and Jordan.
The borders go south along the Euphrates to the Persian Gulf, which will
take in half of Iraq and three quarters of Saudi Arabia. All of this
real estate is promised to the Jewish people. Ezekiel starts to reveal
only a portion of all that God will give the Jews.
The late President Assad of Syria said that the problem in the Middle
East is the Jews believe that God has given them all of this land. It is
true, God has given all this land to the Jews, to be theirs during the
Kingdom to come.
Until that time there will be "major conflicts" between the Jews and
their "enemies" listed in the pages of God’s Word. These conflicts, the
fight by these listed nations to keep the Jews from getting this land,
will not negate God’s promises and plans for the Jews.
The reason that He will follow through on these promises is found in Ezekiel 36, another passage on the "land" that will be given to the Jewish people, Ezekiel 36:22.
The Lord talks about the Jews returning to the "land" and He tells them
the land will be producing for them all that they may need in the way of
food, clothing and shelter. Then He tells them that what He is doing is
not for them but for "His holy namesake."
This verse in Ezekiel, Ezekiel 36:22, is applicable to Ezekiel’s promise on the land in our devos for today. The Jews will get this land, for His holy namesake.
However, before this land will be given to the members of the twelve
tribes, there will be seven years of judgment, the Tribulation, a time
when the "conflicts" spoken of earlier will intensify. We can already
see that beginning to happen.
In these days we can see the stage being set for all the prophetic
passages in God’s Word, especially those prophecies written by the
ancient Jewish Prophet Ezekiel in our devotional scripture for today.
These prophecies will be fulfilled and seemingly in the near future.
Remember, the Rapture is next, and that could be today.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you Lord for making it so clear what will happen in the last days. Help
me to pay closer attention to your plan so that I will be better
prepared for the Rapture and to live pure and productive in light of
this.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Ezekiel 47:1
Monday, November 23, 2015 |
Afterward he brought me
again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from
under the threshold of the house eastward.
For further study – Ezekiel 47:1-23
This passage found here in the prophecy of Ezekiel deals with two subjects, the water flowing from the Temple in Jerusalem and the Biblical borders of Israel. Both of these subjects are intriguing and worth the time to study them.
Verses 1 to 12 in
this passage detail the events of the Kingdom Period, or at least what
happens in Jerusalem at the Temple Mount. After Jesus has built His
Kingdom Temple, Zechariah 6:12, and begins to "rule and reign" from this building there will be water flowing from Jerusalem down to the Dead Sea.
This prophecy, referring to water flowing out from the Temple, was
recorded by the Prophet, Ezekiel, who was also a Priest. He understands
what happens at the Temple during the future Kingdom. The events seem
almost unreal.
When the Temple is standing in Jerusalem during the Kingdom there will
be a steady flow of water that goes to the Dead Sea, via the Kidron
Valley, for the purpose of making this large body of “salt” water a
“fresh water lake.”
The water from the Temple will make this lake of "salt water" that is
seven times saltier than any ocean in the world, fresh water. In fact,
there will be "fishing" done by the local fisherman who will even dry
their nets on the shores of the Dead Sea at En Gedi.
This event is similar to what happens in the "New Jerusalem" when water flows from the "throne of God," Revelation 22:1. The "Kingdom Period" is a foretaste of that which is to come in eternity future.
The last portion of our reading for today, verses 13 to 23,
is the beginning of the dividing of the Land for the Jewish people
during the Kingdom. God has promised the Jews a "piece of real estate"
that is ten times larger than what they have today.
There are actually 38 locations in the scriptures that give all the
details for the complete borders for this land. This passage in Ezekiel
is only a small portion of that information. This "promise" will not be
fulfilled until the Kingdom, but, this "land promise" will be fulfilled,
by God.
These two prophecies are to be fulfilled in the Kingdom Period and will
set the stage for the eternal state of this region of the world, even on
the "new Earth", Revelation 21:1.
These prophecies are a comfort to the Jewish people and the realization
of what the Lord has told them for almost 4,000 years is about to
happen. Abraham was given the promise, Genesis 12,
when he came into the land. It will be fulfilled to the Jews as the
Lord keeps His promises. He Keeps His Promises to the Jews and to you
and me, as Christians.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you dear Lord for being a "promise-keeping" God. I can rest in the fact
that you will keep your promise to me of "eternal life" because you
keep your promises to the Jewish people. I look forward to you keeping
your promise to call me to be with you in the heavens, at the Rapture.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Ezekiel 45:22
Sunday, November 22, 2015 |
And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin-offering.
For further study – Ezekiel 45:1-25
The passage that we will look at today for our devotional reading is a very troubling portion of scripture for many people. It is discussing the events that take place at the Temple in Jerusalem, the one that Jesus will build when He returns to the earth at the Second Coming, Zechariah 6:12.
As you read through the whole chapter in this portion of Ezekiel’s prophetic book we see that seven chapters, Ezekiel 40-46, are dedicated to dealing with the Temple that Jesus will "rule and reign" from, Zechariah 6:13, in the Kingdom to come.
In these chapters, we find that the Prophet, in 202 verses, lays out all
that is needed, every detail, to construct the Messiah’s Temple and he
describes all the activities that will take place at this Temple, which
includes "animal sacrifices".
You read correctly, "animal sacrifices" will be performed at the Temple
in Jerusalem during the 1,000 year Kingdom Period. Let me set that aside
for a moment to look at several other details.
This passage, along with Ezekiel 42:20, defines the size and area of the city of Jerusalem, verses 1-6. It also describes the Temple Mount as well, Ezekiel 42:20. These are details that must be followed, in all instances in order for Bible Prophecy to be fulfilled.
These first six verses in Ezekiel 45 set
the borders of the city of Jerusalem, and the size of the Holy City, in
the Kingdom. Studying the details reveals that Jerusalem will be 2,500
square miles, 50 miles on each side. That is almost the width of the
State of Israel.
The Temple Mount, Ezekiel 42:20,
will be right at one square mile. This is almost three times its size
today. Actually, the "Old City" is today almost one square mile. The
Temple Mount, in the Kingdom will be where the Lord has chosen to "dwell
among His people, forever", Psalm 132:13-14.
Now, back to the restoring of the "sacrificial system" in the Kingdom
Period. In this devotional I am not going into full detail on this
troubling passage and issue. Let me say that the "sacrifice of animals"
in Old Testament times and in the Kingdom Period to come did not, and
will not effect the "eternal salvation" of anyone.
Sacrifices were offered up in Old Testament times to restore fellowship
of those who "sinned". In the Kingdom there will be Jews in human
bodies, that will not only enter the Kingdom, but also will have
"children", Isaiah 65:20.
As is the case during all dispensations, every one is "saved by grace, through faith", Ephesians 2:8-9.
All Old Testament "saints" accepted what God told them to do, by faith,
and thus "salvation", by faith. This salvation is a "gift" from the
Lord, not because of offering sacrifices.
Sacrifices will not only restore fellowship, but the whole operation of
the Temple will be to instruct the Jews in the Kingdom Period of how to
worship the Lord. Look on my website for an article that will go more
in-depth on this subject.
Before the Messiah’s Temple is erected in Jerusalem during the Kingdom
Period, there will be a Temple in Jerusalem during the Tribulation
Period, Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15 and Revelation 11:1-2. All preparations have been made for this next Temple to be up and operating in the very near future.
This Tribulation Temple will be where the Antichrist will receive
"worship" from all on the earth that do not trust in the Messiah for
eternal salvation. All preparations have been made for the Tribulation
Temple to be put in place, but first the Rapture must take place, and
that could happen today. Even so come, Lord Jesus.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you Lord for the promise of your return to earth, the preparations
already made for that to happen and the prospect that it might begin,
with the Rapture taking place, soon.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Ezekiel 43:7
Saturday, November 21, 2015 |
And he said unto me,
Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my
feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever.
For further study – Ezekiel 43:1-7
This passage of the prophecy written by the ancient Jewish Prophet Ezekiel is the foretelling of the day that Jesus will return to Jerusalem with the Jews that He has retrieved from the safety of the unique city of Petra. This is the climax of the seven years of terrible judgment on the Earth.
Jesus will have returned to the Earth just days earlier and after building His Temple in Jerusalem, Zechariah 6:12, He will go to the Jezreel Valley for the Battle of Armageddon.
Then Jesus will make His way to Petra, Isaiah 63:1-6, to gather the Jews that will have been protected in a "place prepared by God", Revelation 12:6, for the last half of the seven year Tribulation Period.
In this passage the word "glory", used four times, is referring to the
person of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. In the record found in the Old
Testament of when the "ark of the covenant" was brought into the
Temple, I Kings 8, the "glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord." This is what happens as this prophecy is fulfilled.
Verse 7 tells
us that the Lord will walk into the Holy of Holies and be seated on
this throne, where He will dwell among His people, the Jewish people,
forever. It is at this time that the Lord Jesus Christ fulfills the
Jewish Feast Day of Yom Kippur.
This passage that I selected for our devotional reading today is in the midst of six chapters,Ezekiel 40-46, that have the instruction for the Temple, the "Messiah’s Temple" to be built just prior to the Lord setting up His Kingdom.
This Temple will stand in Jerusalem forever, Ezekiel 37:26 and 28. It will be the location from which Jesus will rule and reign during the 1,000 year Kingdom, and on into eternity future.
This is information that we need to know since we will be ruling and
reigning with Jesus forever, as well. What a day that will be. This all
begins when we go to be with Jesus at the Rapture, which could happen at
any time. Therefore, keep looking up.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you Lord for the promise that we will rule and reign with you during
the Kingdom period, and into eternity future. Please help me to live in
light of what you have in store for me, and all that know you as Lord
and Saviour.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Ezekiel 38:18
Friday, November 20, 2015 |
And it shall come to pass at the same time
when God shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God,
that my fury shall come up in my face.
For further study – Ezekiel 38:1-39:6
In the text that I have chosen for the devotional for today we see the names of the present-day nations, or at least a portion of the list of nations, that will align themselves against the Jewish State of Israel.
This passage is a "foretelling" of the military action that will happen
in the Middle East in the first three months of the coming "Tribulation
Period", the seven years of judgment on this Earth in the future.
The "battle of Gog and Magog" is what the prophet is discussing with us
in this passage. It is an "alignment of nations" that will come to
Israel to destroy the Jewish State. In this passage we not only see the
"who" and the "when", but we also see the "what", that which happens
during the coming seven-year period of judgment known as the
"Tribulation".
These nations make up the "who" in this passage. The "when" is revealed to us in two verses, verses 8 and 11.
These verses speak of the time when the Jewish people come back into
the land in the last days and are "dwelling safely" in the land. They
also will be living in "unwalled villages".
Both terms are referring to a time when there is "peace" in the land. It will not be the time when Jesus has brought "peace" but a time of a "pseudo-peace" one that will be a "short-lived" peace. This "peace" comes when the Antichrist has established a "peace" in the land, which is in the very beginning of the Tribulation.
The "what" is the unfolding of the war to destroy the Jewish people and
take the "land" that God has given the Jews. As these nations attack
Israel, God intercedes, verses 18 to 23. Couple this with the verses found in Ezekiel 39, verses 1 to 6, and you come to an understanding that the Lord protects His "Chosen People".
Verse 2,
of Ezekiel 39, indicates that 5 out of every 6 Muslims will be
destroyed at this battle. This actually renders inoperative the entire
Muslim world. This has to be done so that the "one world religion" can
be set up in Rome, Italy. Islam will not co-exist with any other
religion, thus it must be removed.
This passage in Ezekiel 38 and 39 helps
us to understand why the nations of the Middle East and the Islamic
world hate the Jews and want to destroy the Jewish State. These nations
will continue to do what they can to eliminate Israel until this
prophecy is fulfilled.
However, the "Battle of Gog and Magog" will not come to pass until after
the Rapture of the Church. The Rapture happens just before the
appearance of the Antichrist with his "peace treaty".
As we look at our world today it is evident that we are quickly
approaching the days described in our devotional passage for today. That
means that the Rapture must be very near, "perhaps today".
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you Lord for the understanding of Bible prophecy for the last days. It
helps me to recognize where I am on Your time clock. Help me to live
expecting You to come today.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Ezekiel 37:22
Thursday, November 19, 2015 |
And I will make them one nation in the
land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them
all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be
divided into two kingdoms any more at all.
For further study - Ezekiel 37:15-23
This passage of scripture, selected for today's reading, is a prophetic passage that many Bible prophecy students have either ignored or have not been able to understand.
It is a prophecy that seems to be saying that the "ten lost tribes" of
Israel will in the last days be found and they will be reunited with the
two tribes known as Judah. According to Jewish history there are no
"ten lost tribes" of Israel.
The record found in Ezra speaks of "all twelve tribes" being back in the
land some 2,500 years ago when Cyrus gave permission for Zerubabbel to
take almost 50,000 Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, Ezra 1.
The list in Ezra 2 mentions a number of people from tribes other than Judah and Benjamin. Two examples are verses 28-29, Bethel and Ai are in the tribe of Ephraim, verse 28; and Nebo is in the tribe of Reuven, verse 29.
Even the fact that Ezra 6 uses
the term "Israel" indicates that it's speaking of all twelve tribes
back in the land at the time of the building of the Second Temple.
In Ezekiel 37:11 it
states that the "bones", in the dry valley, are the "whole house of
Israel." That means representatives of all twelve tribes have been
coming back into the land of their forefathers, even though they are
coming in unbelief, as the text states they should.
Therefore, the passage for our devotional reading for today is a
prophecy of two "Jewish states" during the Tribulation Period that will
become one state again at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ when He will
cleanse the Jews, and they will be His people, and He their God, verse 23.
The "two sticks" represent the two Jewish states, Israel and Judah. This prophecy is also revealed in Malachi 2, Jeremiah 3:18 and Ezekiel 35:10,
when it refers to "two nations". Now, that's the prophecy. (For more,
see my audio series on Ezekiel, "Dry Bones and Two Sticks")
The current events that play into this scenario are many. For a number
of years this prophetic concept has been discussed among the religious
Jews. The former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told former US
President George W Bush that Israel was on the verge of civil war, Jew
against Jew.
With the disengagement of the Gaza, the Annapolis Middle East Peace
Summit and pressure from the Unites States, the European Union and the
United Nations, the Israeli government called for the removal of the
Jewish settlers in Judea and Samaria, several hundred thousand Jewish
settlers.
This call has been met by calls for a "second" Jewish state, a campaign to come up with a "flag" for the second Jewish state, and an "anthem" as well. There are very serious Jewish scholars that are calling for this "second Jewish state", a prophecy that Ezekiel wrote about 2,500 years ago.
This call has been met by calls for a "second" Jewish state, a campaign to come up with a "flag" for the second Jewish state, and an "anthem" as well. There are very serious Jewish scholars that are calling for this "second Jewish state", a prophecy that Ezekiel wrote about 2,500 years ago.
The stage is set and all the actors are getting into place, the curtain
is about to go up on the final act in this prophetic drama for the last
days. Only one thing must happen before all of these prophecies will be
fulfilled, and that's the Rapture, which could happen, today. Keep
looking up ... Until.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for the
understanding of Bible prophecy for the last days. It helps me to
recognize where I am on Your time clock. Help me to live expecting You
to come today.
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