As we begin this study of the Book of Daniel, it is important for me to say that we will not have a verse by verse examination of the book. The objective of this stop along the road to Armageddon is to consider key passages of scripture that deal with the events of past history, and future prophecy, as they relate to God’s chosen people, who are the Jews, the nation of Israel. Daniel’s prophecy primarily shows the time line of the Gentiles as they persecute the Jews. This story tells of the four Gentile world empires and the events that will take place during the time of tribulation and the two resurrections. As a guide, I will be using the Scofield Reference Notes which can be found on the internet. It should be noted that Daniel was taken captive to Babylon eight years prior to another prophet arriving there, Ezekiel, whose prophetic time line is that of the Jews. The dates of the writing of Daniel are from 607 B.C. through 534 B.C. The theme of the book of Daniel may be said to be the hope of God’s chosen people during the times of the Gentiles. Jesus spoke of that period of time in Luke 21:24, which is the time from Israel’s captivity (586 B.C.) to Babylon (2 Kings, Chapter 25) to her restoration in the Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6). The Book of Daniel is one of four books of the Bible that may be identified as being “apocalyptic,” which relates to the revealing, or unveiling, of the end times. The other apocalyptic books in the Bible are Ezekiel, Zechariah and Revelation.
Scofield’s Reference Notes
Daniel Overview
Book Introduction – Daniel
Daniel, like Ezekiel was a Jewish captive in Babylon. He was of royal or princely descent ( Daniel 1:3). For his rank and comeliness he was trained for palace service. In the polluted atmosphere of an oriental court he lived a life of singular piety and usefulness. His long life extended from Nebuchadnezzar to Cyrus. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel ( Ezekiel 14:20), Joshua, the high priest of the restoration, Ezra, and Zerubbabel.
Daniel is the indispensable introduction to New Testament prophecy, the themes of which are, the apostasy of the Church, the manifestation of the man of sin, the great tribulation, the return of the Lord, the resurrections and the judgments. These, except the first, are Daniel’s themes also.But Daniel is distinctively the prophet of the “times of the Gentiles” ( Luke 21:24), (See Scofield ” Luke 21:24 “). His vision sweeps the whole course of Gentile world-rule to its end in catastrophe, and to the setting up of the Messianic kingdom.
Daniel is in four broad divisions:
1. Introduction.
2. The personal history of Daniel from the conquest of Jerusalem to the second year of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 1:1-21.
3. The visions of Nebuchadnezzar and their results, Daniel 2:1 to Daniel 4:37.
4. The personal history of Daniel under Belshazzar and Darius, Daniel 5:1 to Daniel 6:28. The visions of Daniel 7:1 to Daniel 12:13.
The events recorded in Daniel cover a period of 73 years (Ussher).
Let’s consider the following video that discusses, “The Rapture Of The Church and The Second Coming Of Christ.”
The Timing Of The Rapture And The Second Coming Of Christ
The John Ankerberg Show – Dr.Jimmy De Young And Dr. Renald Showers
The following post is provided as food for thought for those who desire to share the truth of the gospel of Christ with those who may not have come to saving faith in our Lord. Additional information is shown that will help to comfort those who are concerned about the uncertainty of the end of times tribulation.
Fishing For Saints – The Great Commission – Saints are the born-again body of believers, who are the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, per the Words of Our Lord, “I will build My Church,” (Matthew 16:18).
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Acts 1:8 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
In Philippians 1:1-2, we see the composition of a church, which is the body of Christ: the saints, those who have been born again; the deacons, those who assist the pastors (the overseers), those who have the overall responsibility for the conduct of a church. An overseer is also called a pastor, shepherd and elder. There is no scripture that shows that any other official in a church has authority over a pastor. The biblical example of church leadership is shown, as follows:
Acts 14:23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Notice that each church/congregation had a plurality of elders (overseers, pastors, shepherds). Notice, also, that the local church did not have a super structure governing it. When the question of Gentiles in the church arose, notice the order of the Church meeting in Jerusalem that discussed that matter.
Acts 15 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
(Notice, vs 1-2, that the authority was “the apostles and elders.”)
1 And certain men who came down from Judea taught the brethren and said, “Unless ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
(Notice, vs 3, that the church sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem. No mention was made of deacon or trustee authority.)
3 And being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
(Notice, vs 4, that there was the church (the body of Christ), the apostles, and the elders. No other official was mentioned; neither a deacon nor trustee.)
4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and by the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
(Notice, vs 5-6, the apostles and elders considered the matter. There was not a church vote, or the inclusion of a deacon or trustee).
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter.
(Notice, vs 7, that Peter testified. No mention was made of his addressing a board of deacons or trustees.)
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.
(Notice, vs 8, Barnabas and Paul testified. No mention was made of their addressing a board of deacons or trustees.)
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul as they declared what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
(Notice, vs 13, that James, who was the brother of Jesus, took control of the meeting. He had become the leader of the church at Jerusalem, and may be described as being the lead pastor or senior pastor.)
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, hearken unto me.
(Notice, vs 22-23, that the apostles and elders, and the “whole church,” decided to send men to Antioch to tell of their decision. No mention was made of a board of deacons or trustees being involved.)
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely Judas surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.
23 And they wrote letters to accompany them in this manner: “The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
The purpose of this discussion of the council of Jerusalem was not to criticize deacons, or trustees. But, it is important to notice that “trustees” are not mentioned in scripture. Deacons are servants, and serve to assist pastors. Deacons have no scriptural authority to lead a church or to have authority over a pastor. The text authority for deacons is found in Acts 6, where they were needed to act as servants of the local church, under the authority of the apostles (Acts 6:1-4). A plurality of elders, by way of Associate Pastors/Elders, is a way that a congregation can have unbroken pastoral leadership in the event that the pastor/lead pastor should leave such a congregation. It is important to understand that a deacon is not a pastor, and can not serve as a pastor. It should also be understood that there are deacons who are qualified to be ordained as a pastors.
Philippians 1:1-2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
(Notice that saints are “the body of born again believers in Christ.”)
1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Consider those who are responsible for church leadership. Notice that deacons and trustees are not identified as being church leaders. Pastors are responsible for the overall mission of the church, which is to “equip the saints.” Pastors may enlist the talents of deacons, and other saints, but the responsibility for the conduct of the church is assigned to pastors.
Consider the Body And Bride Of Christ. Consider, to the extent, that Christ loved His bride, the church of Christ, by dying for her. Christ is the Bridegroom of all bridegrooms. The church of Christ is the bride of all brides.
Ephesians 5:21-33 The Message (MSG)
21 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.
22-24 Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
25-28 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage.
29-33 No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.
Colossians 1:18 New King James Version (NKJV)
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:24 New King James Version (NKJV)
24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
Consider The Equipping Of The Saints
Ephesians 4:11-12 – New American Standard Bible
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Daily equipping is necessary. Believers in Christ can not be equipped if they receive teaching for only one hour a week. No pastor can properly “equip the saints” if the time of teaching occurs only one hour each week. Detailed study is needed frequently.
Consider key scriptures. Develop a philosophy of scriptural belief.
Isaiah 55:8 King James Bible (We may not always understand the ways of God, but they still are the ways of God.)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Psalm 103:19 King James Bible (Nothing is beyond the control of God.)
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
1 John 4:8 New American Standard Bible (Regardless of the situation, always know that God is “love.”)
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
John 10:28 King James Bible (Once you’re born again, you can’t be unborn again)
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Consider key word meanings, “Hebrew and Greek.” (numbers here relate to Greek)
Hebrews 4:12 – New American Standard Bible
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart
12. Soul – 5590; Spirit – 4151
Romans 8:28-30 (NASB)
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
28. called – 2822; purpose – 4286
29. foreknew – 4267; predestined – 4309; to be conformed – 4832b; to the image – 1504; of His son – 5207
30. predestined – 4309; called – 2564; justified – 1344; glorified – 1392
Consider Key Terms:
Jeremiah 30:7 – Jacob’s Trouble (Tribulation)
Luke 21:24 – Times Of The Gentiles (The era from Israel’s captivity to Babylon (586 B.C..2 Kings 25) to Her restoration in the Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6/Millennium/For God’s Purpose)
Joel 3:10 – Beat Your Plowshares Into Swords…(Tribulation-War)
Isaiah 2:4 – Beat Your Swords Into Plowshares… (Millennium-Peace)
Consider The Special Born Again Body And Bride Of Christ.
1 John 1:5 – John 1:1-13 – Light vs darkness (See those verses below.)
John 1:9 New King James Version (NKJV) – The Calling/The Courting Of The Holy Spirit Of Those In Darkness (it doesn’t stop).
9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
John 3:3-8 – The Cleansing By The Holy Spirit – This is a spiritual cleansing of our spirit, and not water baptism.
John 3:16 – The Response Of The Prospective Bride; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (A forever relationship)
John 3:17 – Peter 3:9 – Not One Misses The Calling
John 3:17:For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (The purpose of Jesus is to save His prospective bride from eternal separation from God.).
2 Peter 3:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (Jesus doesn’t give up on His prospective bride)
John 3:18- Romans 8:1 – The Consummation Of The Relationship
John 3:18 New King James Version (NKJV)
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (A belief in Christ seals the relationship between the prospective bride of Christ and the Bridegroom, Christ. The bride will never “not be” the bride.)
Romans 8:1 New King James Version (NKJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (The intimate relationship of “the bride in Christ” will never be annulled.)
John 3:19 – The Rejection Of The Calling, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” ( There is no desire for darkness to come to a relationship with light. Those in darkness would rather stay in that darkened state. That is why John 1:9 is so very important to this discussion.)
John 3:20 – The Natural State Of Those In Darkness: “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (Selfish pride may be a reason for some to not come to faith in Christ.)
Without darkness being enlightened, those in darkness will never make a move toward the light. That is the teaching of John 1:1-13. Just as a pursing and prospective bridegroom tries to gain the favor of an alluding and prospective bride, Jesus pursues those whom He desires to be His bride, which are all who come into the world…and, He never gives up! Without the ever pursuing light, those in darkness will stay in darkness. Their life is only temporary, and will last for only about 70 years; but Jesus will give them life, eternal life, if they will receive Him, who is “The Light.” Those who were darkness, but become light, will always be light; they will never be darkness again; they are eternally light; they are eternally secure in Christ. Here is proof of light extinguishing darkness. Take a flashlight with you into a totally dark room. Stand in the middle of the room and point your flashlight in any direction. wherever your light is pointed, darkness will be replaced by light, and will not come back as long as the light is shining. Jesus is the everlasting light. He is called “the light of the world” in John 8:12. His light is eternal and always shining on those who have received Him as their Lord And Savior. Consider the teaching of John 10:28: “Once you’ve been born again, you can’t be unborn again.” “Once you’re in the light, you’re always in the light (of Christ).
Consider those who are “in darkness;” – Rev 3:10 – Rev 11:10 – Rev 13:8; they miss the rapture..
Revelation 3:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 11:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 13:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Notice that in each of the three above scriptures, the reference to those who are present during the tribulation are those who,”dwell on the earth.” They have no born again relationship with Christ. They can be called, “darkness.”
Consider those who are “light” – Philippians 3:20 – Important! They are caught up in the rapture.
Philippians 3:20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
Compare Rev 3:10 with Philippians 3:20.
“Dwellers of the earth vs Citizens of heaven”
The State Of Those “In Light”
John 3:21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
Consider sin, and its relationship to the world.
John 1:29 New King James Version (NKJV)
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Jesus came to take away the sin of the world. It is obvious that sin remains in the world, but the sinful spirits of us, who have been born again, have been made to be as pure as the spirit of Jesus once we have been born again, born from above. As was seen in the scriptures, John 3:3-8, the new birth/birth from above, is a spiritual cleansing. The result is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Consider the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
John 14:16-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
2 Corinthians 5:17 New King James Version (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Colossians 1:27 New King James Version (NKJV)
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Consider the requirement to indwell the Spirit of God.
1 John 1:5 New King James Version (NKJV)
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
Notice that in order for us to be “in God” we can not be “darkness,” or “sin.” When we were born again, sin and darkness no longer filled our spirits.
Consider our prior spiritual conditions before we were born again.
John 1:1-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Notice that darkness (sin) was the state of all mankind before Jesus came into the world as a sinless infant. Because we were born again, “of God,” we became children of God. So, as it relates to John 1:29, Jesus was successful in removing this particular “sin of the world”(from our spirits).
Consider two key purposes of the tribulation.
Daniel 9:24 English Standard Version (ESV)
24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.
We won’t discuss the period of the “seventy weeks” in this session; that will take place later. The final “seven weeks” will be the time of tribulation (Matthew 24:21, “(ESV) 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.”) The purpose of the tribulation is:
(1) Finish the transgression: bring to an end of Israel’s course of apostasy and sin and dispersion; the restoration of Israel.
(2) Put an end to sin: bring to judgment; shut up in prison; seal up; removed out of God’s sight.
(3) Atone for iniquity: a picture of the cross on which Christ reconciled Israel, as well as the world to Himself (2 Cor 5:19). To cover, to wipe out, to nullify, to make as harmless, non-existent, or inoperative, to annul, to withdraw from God’s sight.
(4) To bring in everlasting righteousness: Jesus will reign as king, and deal wisely, and execute justice and righteousness in the land. Israel will be saved, and will dwell securely.
(5) To seal both vision and prophet: the termination of usual direct revelation by means of vision and oral prophecy. No more is to be added, and that which has predicted will receive divine confirmation in the form of actual fulfillment. Once a letter is sealed, its contents are irreversible.
(6) To anoint a most holy place: The anointing of the Holy of Holies in the millennial temple, which will be the center of worship in Jerusalem.
To summarize these six events, the first three are fulfilled in principle at Christ’s first coming, and in full at His return. The last three will be complete at his second coming. The purpose of the time of tribulation will be two-fold. (1) deal with sin. (2) deal with Israel’s unbelief in Jesus as Messiah. As believers in Christ, those of us who have been born again, have had the sin issue taken care of. We are “without sin,” as it relates to our spirit. Those who have not been born again, to include the Jews and Gentiles, who are alive when the rapture takes place, will be left behind because their sin issues will not have been dealt with. During the tribulation, the judgments of God upon the sinful earth (seal, trumpet, bowl, Rev 6-18), will be used to draw the world (all who are left behind) to accept Jesus as Messiah, Lord and Savior. But, not all will come to faith in Christ, and will spend an eternity in the lake of fire. In the following scriptures you will see those who will stand before the Great White Throne Judgment. They are the people who have not been born again; those who didn’t have their sin debt paid by Jesus. Their names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Revelation 20:11-15 English Standard Version (ESV)
Judgment Before the Great White Throne
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them,according to what they had done. 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.
Those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and have been born again, have been saved from the Great White Throne Judgment. Our sins will not be held against us, because Jesus made us to be righteous, with our spirits being as pure as the Spirit of Christ. At the cross, Jesus became sin, so that we can be the righteousness of God. Jesus did not becomes a sinner; he became sin so that he could take sin’s judgement for those who have trusted in Him for salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore,we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Revelation 21:1-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
The eternity, that has been prepared for those of us who have been born again, is described below.
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
1 John 5:4-5 New King James Version (NKJV)
We who are believers in Christ have become “overcomers” (Rev 21:6) through our belief in Him.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
As believers in Jesus, as our Lord and Savior, we have been commissioned by Him to share the message of the gospel, which is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We know from the teaching of John 1:1-13 that unbelievers have no particular desire to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. So, it is the responsibility of those of us who have been born again, and have a personal saving faith relationship in Christ, to witness to unbelievers so that they will know the meaning of Romans 10:13.
Romans 10:13 New King James Version (NKJV)
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
It is not our sole responsibility to tell others of the promise of eternal life in Christ. We also need to let them know that they can be spared “the wrath to come” that will take place during the coming tribulation, if they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 New King James Version (NKJV)
9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Revelation 6:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
Let’s consider the time of tribulation as we view an introductory video of the movie, MEGIDDO: The Omega Code 2. Following the video will be the full length movie that has been provided, courtesy of the courtesy of TBN, The Trinity Broadcasting Network.
“they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Isaiah 7:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:22-25 New King James Version (NKJV)
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Jesus is all that Satan “is not.” Satan is all that Jesus “is not.”
John 7:37-39 New King James Version (NKJV)
37 … Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 10:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:11-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 New King James Version (NKJV)
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Psalm 122:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Bikers carrying American flags. A United States Marine saluting the flags. Bikers saluting the Marine. Americans standing on the side of the street waving American flags. Yes! Patriots, they are!
For The Saluting Marine
The Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge Allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with Liberty and Justice for all.
An excerpt from the 1942 movie, To The Shores Of Tripoli with Randolph Scott and John Payne.
The video is from a movie about World War II. Oh, how we need real patriots in our nation now! We have such a need in our White House, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, and anywhere else decisions are made that relate to the readiness of defense of our nation, from enemies foreign and domestic. Let’s consider the Pledge Of Allegiance, which I recited every day that I attended public school.
The Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge Allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with Liberty and Justice for all.
The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy (1855 – 1931), a Baptist minister, in August 1892. The Pledge was published in the September 8th issue of The Youth’s Companion, the leading family magazine and the Reader’s Digest of its day. In 1892, Francis Bellamy was also a chairman of a committee of state superintendents of education in the National Education Association. As its chairman, he prepared the program for the public schools’ quadricentennial celebration for Columbus Day in 1892. He structured this public school program around a flag raising ceremony and a flag salute – his Pledge of Allegiance
We also said (from Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version)
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen
Let us also remember the words of Psalm 122:6
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
Our Jewish Friends have a saying that none of us should ever forget:
“Never Forget”
The following letter is from The International Fellowship Of Christians And Jews, which relates to:
“Holocaust Remembrance Day.”
Help Us To Never Forget
Dear Pastor and Friend of The Fellowship,
On Sunday, the world will take a moment to remember and honor the six million Jews and other victims who were brutally and systematically murdered during the Nazi regime that ruled Germany during the mid-20th century. In 2005, the UN General Assembly designated January 27 – the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp – as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
At sundown on April 7, Jews around the world will join Israel in its own commemoration of the Holocaust during Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The full name of Holocaust Remembrance Day in Hebrew is actually “Yom HaShoah Ve-Hagevurah,” meaning “Day of (remembrance of) the Holocaust and the Heroism.” This reminds us that even though many ignored evidence of Nazi crimes, there were those who went to great lengths to save Jews. Not all of these were Jewish. In fact, many remembered today as “righteous gentiles” were Christian.
In Holland, Corrie ten Boom sheltered those fleeing Nazi oppression. In France, Pastor Andre Trocme helped to make an entire town, Le Chambon, a safe haven for persecuted Jews. Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish Christian, rescued thousands of Jews from the Nazi death machine. And there were, of course, many more who are less well-known, but no less deserving of our gratitude.
Some say the Holocaust is too terrible to remember. But there is a reason why the Jewish people have vowed to “never forget.” They remember so that they may prevent such horrible events from ever occurring again.
By our modern standards, the Holocaust sometimes feels like ancient history. We like to think we have progressed, and that the threat of another Holocaust is remote. But we are continually reminded that the motivating force behind the Holocaust – the scourge of anti-Semitism – is alive and well. We see it in Toulouse, France, where a terrorist last year murdered four people, including three children, at a Jewish school. We see it in Ukraine, where a 25-year-old Jewish student was severely beaten during Passover. And we see it on a global scale in the words and actions of the radical Islamist government in Iran, which vows to wipe the “Zionist regime” – the Jewish state of Israel – off the map, and is pursuing nuclear capabilities to make its dream a reality.
If indeed it is true that “those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” we have very real cause for alarm today – making the observances of Holocaust Remembrance Day all the more important. We hope that you will use the resources available in our Pastor’s Library as a reminder to “never forget.”
Here you’ll find my thoughts on how both Jews and Christians should respond to the Holocaust, as well as stirring video and written testimonies from Holocaust survivors, teaching video clips on the Holocaust, and links to websites that offer additional Holocaust study resources.
During these solemn days of observances, I invite you to pause to remember the six million innocent people who were killed just for being Jewish, to give thanks to God for the “righteous gentiles” whose faith led them to risk their lives saving Jews, and to renew the vow with the Jewish people to “never forget” the horrors of the Holocaust.
With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President
A final word: Our nation, The United States Of America, was built upon Judeo-Christian principles. May our nation “Never Forget” that important fact.
What does ‘Judeo-Christian’ mean?
By Dennis prager
The uniqueness of America
http://www.jewishworldreview.com | The United States of America is the only country in history to have defined itself as Judeo-Christian. While the Western world has consisted of many Christian countries and consists today of many secular countries, only America has called itself Judeo-Christian. America is also unique in that it has always combined secular government with a society based on religious values.
Deuteronomy 7:6 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
Consider God’s Chosen People
It is apparent from the things that we read and hear from news reports that The Nation Of Israel has very little support from most of the nations of the world, including my nation’s leader and his political party. A warning is given by God to those who oppose His people. The warning is severe and is seen in Genesis 12:3. There will come a time in a possibly near future event that the nations of the world will conduct a major attack against The Nation Of Israel. “All” of the nations of the world will oppose Israel. Consider the prophetic words of Zechariah, who wrote about the event that will take place at the end of The Great Tribulation, which will be brought about at the Battle Of Armageddon. Zechariah’s prophecy was given to him by God in the year 487 B.C.
Zechariah 12:2-4 Living Bible (TLB)
2 “I will make Jerusalem and Judah like a cup of poison to all the nearby nations that send their armies to surround Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem will be a heavy stone burdening the world. And though all the nations of the earth unite in an attempt to move her, they will all be crushed.
4 “In that day,” says the Lord, “I will bewilder the armies drawn up against her, and make fools of them, for I will watch over the people of Judah, but blind all her enemies.
Revelation 16:16 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
As you read the following passages of scripture, consider the people groups of Genesis 15: 19, 20, 21:19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.” Those folks are “gone!” God’s chosen people, “the Jews,” are still with us, regardless of what the ungodly leaders of the world may think about the situation.
The Call of Abram
Genesis 12:1-3 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 13:14-18 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent, and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron; and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Genesis 15:1-21 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
God’s Covenant with Abram
1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4 But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
7 Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years;14 but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
The Sign of the Covenant
Genesis 17:4-8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations.6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.”
Genesis 22:17-18 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves,
God’s Covenant With Isaac
Genesis 26:1-5 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to King Abimelech of the Philistines. 2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; settle in the land that I shall show you. 3 Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and will give to your offspring all these lands; and all the nations of the earth shall gain blessing for themselves through your offspring, 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
God’s Covenant With Jacob
Genesis 28:10-15 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14 and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 15 Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Moses the Mediator of God’s Will
Deuteronomy 5:22-24 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
22 These words the Lord spoke with a loud voice to your whole assembly at the mountain, out of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, and he added no more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me. 23 When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders; 24 and you said, “Look, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the fire.
The Great Commandment
Deuteronomy 6:1-9 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
6 Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, 2 so that you and your children and your children’s children may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
A Chosen People
Deuteronomy 7:1 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1. When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are about to enter and occupy, and he clears away many nations before you—the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations mightier and more numerous than you—
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
7 It was not because you were more numerous than any other people that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you—for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 It was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath that he swore to your ancestors, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
“God’s Chosen People” are seen in the opening scene of the following video. It should be stated by the liberal news outlets that the Jews don’t behead people; the liberal news media says very little in a positive view of The Nation Of Israel. There is no expiration date on Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.”
The US involvement in Vietnam was from 1950 until the last US combat troops were withdrawn in 1973. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon were the commanders in Chief. There were more than 500,00 US troops stationed there by 1969. 58,220 US troops died in the war. In the US, there were many protests against the war. Troops who returned from their tours of duty often faced great ridicule. Today, in the US, there are questions about the proper treatment of US veterans in VA hospitals. Many of those who have not received proper VA treatment are those whose ages place them in the Vietnam War era. They may have been stationed in Vietnam, or in other adjoining areas of Southeast Asia, such as Thailand. The time was during that of the Cold War with Russia. Other US troops were stationed at bases throughout the world. Many people had loved…
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23 And Adam said:
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
In the video, Marriage “Is” between Christopher and Leah
Wedding Hallelujah
Chris And Leah
Marriage “is not” between “Adam And Steve.”
The PCUSA seems to have “lost its way,” as the following link suggests.
People go to different types of places to find fulfillment for their lives; there are many reasons, but oftentimes we don’t understand their reasoning for the places that they go. Consider loneliness. Lonely people go to be with other people, wherever those “other people” can be found. Those places may be dance clubs, pool halls, bars and other places that most believers in Christ will not go; there can be good reasons for that seemingly protective reluctance. Still, the lonely people that congregate in those apparently, ungodly, places are the ones that Jesus provided directions for us in the great commission. Consider those words of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Matthew 28:19-20 Good News Translation (GNT)
19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you…
It is very clear that all of us can not go “to all peoples everywhere.” However, we who are bloggers have the world at our fingertips. Many believers in Jesus may wonder why I use secular videos and blog titles so often. The reason is that I am fishing for unbelievers to take my bait and read the blessings of God’s Holy Word. I may post a video that has a totally secular video, but, somewhere in that post I will include words of scripture. Sometimes, not all of each video may be appropriate for a church group or “Sunday School Class,” but, I am trying to attract people to my posts who have no relationship with Jesus, in any way, shape, fashion or form.
When I was a member of the military, I was known to be a non-drinker. So, I became a designated driver for people who had as their “place to go,” a pool hall, bar or dance club. The members of my unit knew where I stood with Christ, and they had a great respect for me. With or without me, “the guys” were going “to their place” for the evening. It was my concern that they went and returned safely, so, I drove them – I wasn’t too bad at pool, either. But…I stayed off the dance floor; that was my “no-go-zone.” The guys were very accommodating when it came to my “beverages;” it was, “give him a coke!” I can relate to the Mash television series. The chaplain for the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital was “Father Mulcahy.” He was “one of the guys” at that Mash Unit in South Korea, during the Korean War, in the tv series. The people in that Chaplain’s Unit knew where he stood with Christ. He had a close, but casual, relationship with everyone in the 4077th, which was similar to the situation that I had in my units where I was stationed.
During my non-military times, I have gone under a bridge in a major city where homeless people “called home.” I have ministered to homeless people, prostitutes, homosexuals, drug addicts and alcoholics. Each time of witness was a safe one. I can remember very vividly the times that I would hold a hand of one of the “ladies of the evening,” and pray with them and watch tears flow from their eyes down their cheeks. I would ask them if they knew Jesus as their Lord and Savior; most of them would say, “yes, but my life is a wreck.” Many of “those ladies” grew up in “the church.” One lady used to sing in her church choir; she acquired aids. Another woman told me that she performed her “first act for money” was when her child needed food. Another young woman told me about her church; she had leukemia. All of this may be very difficult for believers to grasp, but I will make it very simple. When you’re a woman, and you don’t have any money, and you don’t have any food to eat, and you don’t have a place to sleep — and you bring a child into the equation — you don’t know what you will do to survive. I have seen homeless women of mothers’ ages, on Mothers’ Days, walking the streets with no place to go. In the warm months they would wear jeans, athletic shoes and a shirt; when the weather got cold, they would put on a jacket.
During my travels I would normally stay in “flea bag motels.” By staying in such places, I was able to talk to a lot of people about their relationships with Jesus. One day, as I was checking into a motel, while I was putting my things away, I laid my Bible on the bed. (We have all heard someone say that they opened up their Bible and it opened to such and such a verse). Guess what! My Bible, somehow, opened itself to Jeremiah 18. I began reading…
Jeremiah 18:1-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Potter and the Clay
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: 2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.”3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
Then, I said, “God are you making me and molding me?” The answer was “yes.” It was on that day that I understood why the things of Matthew 25:40 (“unto the least of these”) had been taking place in my life.
Matthew 25:35-40 New King James Version (NKJV)
35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Up until this point in time, I really didn’t understand the Divine purpose that was behind what I had been doing. Yes! I knew that I was providing ministry to “the least of these,” but I didn’t fully comprehend the direction that God had placed in my life.
The Apostle Paul said that we should be “all things to all people,” as we find in the following scriptures.
1 Corinthians 9:21-23 Living Bible (TLB)
21 When with the heathen I agree with them as much as I can, except of course that I must always do what is right as a Christian. And so, by agreeing, I can win their confidence and help them too.
22 When I am with those whose consciences bother them easily, I don’t act as though I know it all and don’t say they are foolish; the result is that they are willing to let me help them. Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. 23 I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ.
Let me encourage all Christian bloggers to be prayerfully innovative in their methods of witnessing the message of Christ. We have been given a tremendous opportunity to spread the gospel of Christ to parts of the world that missionaries can not physically go. I am especially concerned for the “billion plus” Muslims around the world, who may never listen to a missionary or be able to read a single word of the Gospel of Christ.
Acts 1:8 Living Bible (TLB)
8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to testify about me with great effect, to the people in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, about my death and resurrection.”
One of the “coldest”place in any household can be the bedroom. But, as I heard one leading pastor say in a sermon, “keep the bedroom Hot!” But, we all know how the distractions of the world can cause the temperature in every room to drop to “freeing minus 1,000.” In the following video, as the couple is dancing, notice how their eyes are trained on each other’s eyes. Their kissing embrace is one that most couples can identify with. In my post on “Facing The Giants”(021815), flowers, a special dinner, and a moonlit night worked the math of bringing a child into the family. Who knows? A night out of dancing, special touches, tender kisses, and “trained eyes,” just might add to many other family sizes. So, if it works for you, be sure to let me know, and the new family addition can be named after me. “Equipping The Saints? Not really! I’ll help you with that one.
As you watch the video please consider the following verses of scripture.
Proverbs 18:22 New Living Translation (NLT)
22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.
Ephesians 5:33 The Voice (VOICE)
33 Nevertheless, each husband is to love and protect his own wife as if she were his very heart, and each wife is to respect her own husband.
1 Corinthians 7:5 New Living Translation (NLT)
5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her
*Question: “What is the love of Christ?”
Answer:The phrase “love of Christ,” as opposed to “love for Christ,” refers to the love that He has toward mankind. His love can be briefly stated as His willingness to act in our best interest, especially in meeting our greatest need, even though it cost Him everything and even though we were the least worthy of such love.
Though Christ Jesus, being God in nature, existed from the beginning of time with God the Father (John 1:1) and the Holy Spirit, He willingly left His throne (John 1:1-14) to become a man, that He might pay the penalty for our sin so that we would not have to pay for it for all eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Because mankind’s sin has been paid for by our sinless Savior Jesus Christ, God who is just and holy can now forgive our sins when we accept Christ Jesus’ payment as our own (Romans 3:21-26). Thus, Christ’s love is shown in His leaving His home in heaven, where He was worshipped and honored as He deserved, to come to earth as a man where He would be mocked, betrayed, beaten, and crucified on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin, rising again from the dead on the third day. He considered our need of a Savior from our sin and its penalty as more important than His own comfort and life (Philippians 2:3-8).
Sometimes people may give their lives willingly for ones they deem as worthy—a friend, a relative, other “good” people—but Christ’s love goes beyond that. Christ’s love extends to those most unworthy of it. He willingly took the punishment of those who tortured Him, hated Him, rebelled against Him, and cared nothing about Him, those who were most undeserving of His love (Romans 5:6-8). He gave the most He could give for those who deserved it the least! Sacrifice, then, is the essence of godly love, called agape love. This is God-like love, not man-like love (Matthew 5:43-48).
This love which He demonstrated toward us on the cross is just the beginning. When we place our trust in Him as our Savior, He makes us God’s children, co-heirs with Him! He comes to dwell within us through His Holy Spirit, promising that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Thus, we have a loving companion for life. And no matter what we go through, He is there, and His love is ever available to us (Romans 8:35). But as He rightfully reigns as a benevolent King in heaven, we need to give Him the position He deserves in our lives as well, that of Master and not merely companion. It is only then that we will experience life as He intended and live in the fullness of His love (John 10:10b).
WRITER: The fourth Gospel was written by the Apostle John (John 21:24).
DATE: The date of John’s Gospel falls between A.D. 85 and 90. Probably the latter.
THEME: This is indicated both in the Prologue (John 1:1-14), and in the last verse of the Gospel proper (John 20:31), and is: The incarnation of the eternal Word, and Son of life; (2) that as many as believe on Him as “the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31) may have eternal life. The prominent words are, “believed” and “life.”
The book is in seven natural divisions:
1. Prologue: The eternal Word incarnate in Jesus the Christ, John 1:1-14.
2. The witness of John the Baptist, John 1:15-34.
3. The public ministry of Christ, John 1:35 to John 12:50.
4. The private ministry of Christ to His own, John 13:1 to John 17:26.
5. The sacrifice of Christ, John 18:1 to John 19:42.
6. The manifestation of Christ in resurrection, John 20:1-31.
7. Epilogue: Christ the Master of life and service, John 21:1-25.
Please watch the following video.
The Gospel Of John – The Life Of Jesus – Full Movie
22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
The following verse shows those, by the lifestyles that they have chosen, who have no personal saving relationship with God.
Revelation 21:8 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Life style adverse changes and reduced life-age expectancies can be attributed to homosexual life styles.
Homosexuals more likely to suffer from depression: “A new study in the United Kingdom has revealed that homosexuals are about 50% more likely to suffer from depression and engage in substance abuse than the rest of the population, reports Health24.com . . . the risk of suicide jumped over 200% if an individual had engaged in a homosexual lifestyle . . . the lifespan of a homosexual is on average 24 years shorter than that of a heterosexual .
Consider God’s Chosen People, those who we know as Israel.
Deuteronomy 6:4-12 New International Version (NIV)
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
10 When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 New International Version (NIV)
6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosenyou out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
7 The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.8 But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Consider three of the leaders of Israel, and how they showed “Blessing and honor and glory and power,” to God, who is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Joshua 24:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Nehemiah 1:4-11 New International Version (NIV)
“4 … I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ 10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
2 Chronicles 6:3-4 New International Version (NIV)
3 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. 4 Then he said:“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David.
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 He said: “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way
2 Chronicles 7:1-3 New International Version (NIV)
7 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of theLord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.”
Consider the situation that is present in America. There are three major problems that need the immediate attention of us, as a nation, and of our nation’s leader
1. We need to turn from our nation’s way of killing unborn babies. Unfortunately, our nation’s leader thinks that it is okay to kill unborn babies.
2. We need to turn from our nation’s way of providing marriage for people of the same sex. Unfortunately, our nation’s leader thinks that it is okay for people of the same sex to be married.
3. We need to turn from our nation’s way of providing only tacit support of God’s Chosen People, who are the nation of Israel. Unfortunately, our nation’s leader has treated the leader of Israel without proper respect.
The 2016 USA elections are coming into view. We will elect a President, one-third of the Senate, and all of the House Of Representatives. In 2008, a majority of voters, who said that they were Christians, voted for our nation’s present leader. Did they know that he would support the killing of unborn babies; that he would support same-sex marriage; and that he would provide only tacit support for “God’s Chosen People,” the nation of Israel? Can we say, very truthfuly, that our nation’s present leader is like the three leaders of Israel who are Joshua, Nehemiah and King Solomon? Are the Christian voters who voted for our present leader experiencing “buyer’s remorse? Do our nation’s Christian voters feel remorseful for electing a president who supports abortion on demand; who supports same-sex marriage; and who does not provide proper respect for Israel?
Consider the following link, which will let you know something about the mindset of our nation’s leader. It is important to know that the points that have been made about our nation’s leader are not gossip; they are documented by the words of our nation’s leader. We should ask ourselves if our nation’s leader meets the standards of leadership that are needed to lead a nation that was established using God’s Word as a guide for our system of government and laws. Very little was known about our nation’s leader before he was elected to office; who was elected “through the support of a majority of Christian voters.” We have learned a lot about our nation’s leader over the last six years. We should ask ourselves if we will vote for a similar candidate in 2016..
We need to know enough about a candidate’s opinions and mindset before we cast a vote for that person. As Christians, we have no business voting for candidates who support abortion on demand; who support same-sex marriage; and who do not properly support the nation of Israel. These three personal character traits need to be known about anyone, and everyone, who will be seeking our votes.
Consider Jesus,”the Lamb of God.”
Revelation 5:11-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Consider our nation, and our leader. Do we, as a nation; does he, as our nation’s leader,” show “blessing and honor and glory and power” to Jesus, the Lamb of God? How can we, or he, say that we show “blessing and honor and glory and power” to Jesus when we, he, support the killing of unborn babies; when we, he, support same-sex marriages; when we, he, do not show proper respect and support for God’s chosen people, who are the nation of Israel? We need to fall on the promises of 2 Chronicles 7:14, which is our way of making things right between us and God. May we never repeat the same mistake again of electing to public office those who support the killing of unborn babies; those who support same-sex marriage; and those who do not show proper support and respect for Israel and the Jews, who are God’s chosen people.
2 Chronicles 7:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Consider Jesus, the Lamb of God, who died for our sins to give us eternal life with Him.
We need to consider also that we, as a nation, and our nation’s leader, do not reflect the image of our Lord when we support the killing of unborn babies. We need to consider that we, as a nation, and our nation’s leader, do not reflect the image of our Lord when we support same-sex marriage. We need to consider that we, as a nation, and our nation’s leader, do not reflect the image of our Lord when we do not provide the proper respect and support for the Jews, and Israel, who are God’s Chosen People.
Let us consider the Holiness of Jesus, the Lamb of God, Who sits on the throne.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
“God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, please protect Christians and Jews who are targets of Islamic Extremists around the world. Amen”
Baptizing In The Name Of The Father And Of The Son And Of The Holy Spirit
Consider football. It molds young boys into men. It teaches the values of teamwork and hard work. It enforces the God-inspired virtues of everyone playing by the rules – the same rules, and the rewards that come from striving for success.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.
Michigan State Fight Song
Michigan State is busy during spring training. The aim is for the Spartans to beat Michigan, Ohio State and anyone else who may get in their way of winning the Big Ten Championship. For details, check out the link.
Are there any Michigan football fans out there? What do you think about Jim Harbaugh’s chances of turning the Wolverines around this year? Check out the links.
Michigan Wolverines Fight Song
Can we not say that the triumphs of the Wolverines will be sung to the Lord?
Exodus 15:1 Living Bible (TLB)
15 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord:
I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
He has thrown both horse and rider into the sea.
Jay Harbaugh is sticking with the family business — heck, sticking with the family. He’ll just be sitting in a different chair at the Thanksgiving table.
The University of Michigan announced Tuesday that Harbaugh has joined his dad Jim in Ann Arbor to serves as the Wolverines’ tight ends and assistant special teams coach.
“Jay gathered a wealth of experience the last three seasons coaching in the NFL and I am excited to have him join our coaching staff,” Jim Harbaugh said in a prepared statement. “His passion for teaching the game is at the highest level and he will be an asset to our team.”
And where did Jay Harbaugh spend those last three seasons in the NFL? Working as offensive quality control coach in Baltimore — under his uncle John Harbaugh.
“It is an amazing opportunity and privilege to coach football at one of the premier universities in the world,” Jay Harbaugh said in a prepared statement. “I’m ecstatic about being in Ann Arbor, and to be a part of building something special with the great people in our program.”
The Wolverines hired Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach late last month after four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he led the club to three straight NFC Championship Games and lost to his brother’s Ravens 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans in February 2013.
Most of us have heard the song, “Lookin’ For Love…In All The Wrong Places.” In the movie, “Fireproof,” Caleb Holt is looking on the internet; Catherine, his wife, is looking in a hospital. Neither of them is looking to God for the answers to their marriage problems. It’s important for us to remember to “keep our glance on the problem and our gaze on God.”
In the movie, Caleb is a very heroic fireman who is locked in a failing marriage. He accepts his father’s challenge to take part in a 40-day experiment designed to teach both husband and wife the true meaning of commitment. In this faith-based marriage drama the roles of the husband and wife are played by Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea. Kirk said his commitment to his marriage means that he won’t take part in scenes where he will be required to kiss a female co-star. In this movie the actual wife of Kirk Cameron plays the part of Catherine in the scene where Caleb kisses Catherine.
Check out the introduction to the movie where some key thoughts are presented. One such thought is, “never leave your partner behind.”
Fireproof – Introduction
As you watch the movie please consider the following verses of scripture.
Ephesians 5:22 New American Standard Bible
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:25 New American Standard Bible
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
Ephesians 5:33 New American Standard Bible
Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:5 New Living Translation
Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Fireproof – Full Length Movie, Uninterrupted – Courtesy of Trinity Broadcasting Network
(For those who receive this post by email, please click onto any blue line, figure, number or letter so that you can view the video and see other posts)
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The game of football teaches many things about life and serving God. Consider the lessons that are taught in the movie, “Facing The Giants.”
Let us consider the conversation that takes place between Mr. Bridges and Coach Grant Taylor in the following video.
Preparing For Rain – Facing The Giants
Prepare yourself, your ministry, for God’s blessings.
Hosea 10:12 King James 2000 Bible
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he comes and rains righteousness upon you
Never give up as long as God holds the door to his blessings open for you.
Rev 3:8 King James 2000 Bible
I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name.
You may be an encourager for others. That is a mighty calling on your life.
Acts 4:36 King James 2000 Bible
And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of encouragement,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
The last-named item of “The Whole Armor Of God” is prayer. We are to “pray for the saints.” Saints is a word that identifies all of us who have been “born again” and are part of the spiritual body of Christ.
Ephesians 6:18 King James 2000 Bible
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thus with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:1 King James 2000 Bible
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Consider Daniel’s prayer. In it, you will see the sinful situation that exists in our world today.
Daniel 9:3-19 New English Translation (NET Bible)
3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to implore him by prayer and requests, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God, confessing in this way:
“O Lord, great and awesome God who is faithful to his covenant with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned! We have done what is wrong and wicked; we have rebelled by turning away from your commandments and standards. 6 We have not paid attention to your servants the prophets, who spoke by your authority to our kings, our leaders, and our ancestors, and to all the inhabitants of the land as well.
7 “You are righteous, O Lord, but we are humiliated this day—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far away in all the countries in which you have scattered them, because they have behaved unfaithfully toward you. 8 O Lord, we have been humiliated—our kings, our leaders, and our ancestors—because we have sinned against you. 9 Yet the Lord our God is compassionate and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. 10 We have not obeyed the Lord our God by living according to his laws that he set before us through his servants the prophets.
11 “All Israel has broken your law and turned away by not obeying you. Therefore you have poured out on us the judgment solemnly threatened in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against you. 12 He has carried out his threats against us and our rulers who were over us by bringing great calamity on us—what has happened to Jerusalem has never been equaled under all heaven! 13 Just as it is written in the law of Moses, so all this calamity has come on us. Still we have not tried to pacify the Lord our God by turning back from our sin and by seeking wisdom from your reliable moral standards.14 The Lord was mindful of the calamity, and he brought it on us. For the Lord our God is just in all he has done, and we have not obeyed him.
15 “Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with great power and made a name for yourself that is remembered to this day—we have sinned and behaved wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all your justice, please turn your raging anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. For due to our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people are mocked by all our neighbors.
17 “So now, our God, accept the prayer and requests of your servant, and show favor to your devastated sanctuary for your own sake. 18 Listen attentively, my God, and hear! Open your eyes and look on our desolated ruins and the city called by your name. For it is not because of our own righteous deeds that we are praying to you, but because your compassion is abundant. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, pay attention, and act! Don’t delay, for your own sake, O my God! For your city and your people are called by your name.”
Consider the answer to Daniel’s prayer; it is relevant to us today.
Daniel 10:2-14 New English Translation (NET Bible)
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three whole weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine came to my lips, nor did I anoint myself with oil until the end of those three weeks.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was beside the great river, the Tigris. 5 I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Ufaz. 6 His body resembled yellow jasper, and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches; his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd.
7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men who were with me did not see it. On the contrary, they were overcome with fright and ran away to hide. 8 I alone was left to see this great vision. My strength drained from me, and my vigor disappeared; I was without energy. 9 I listened to his voice, and as I did so I fell into a trance-like sleep with my face to the ground. 10 Then a hand touched me and set me on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are of great value. Understand the words that I am about to speak to you. So stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up shaking. 12 Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.13 However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was opposing me for twenty-one days. But Michael, one of the leading princes, came to help me, because I was left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to future days.”
My thoughts. Daniel prayed. His prayer was immediately heard and answered. The delivery of the answer to Daniel’s prayer came later.
In the movie Coach Taylor made the challenge to his team, “if we win we’ll praise Him, if we lose we”ll praise Him.” Consider Job’s situation after having “lost it all.” (Job 1:13-19)
Job 1:20-21 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
A final thought from the video clip is: “do your best and leave the rest up to God.”
2 Timothy 2:15 New International Version
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Many of life’s lessons can be learned from the game of football. Let us pray for the coaches and players of football teams everywhere.
Eternity 