Praying as Daniel prayed. Can we do this? Can we understand the fullness of our unworthiness? We do not deserve God's love. We are wretched sinners and if anyone shakes their head to this and denies it, all the more reason for them to fall to their knees and pray for enlightenment to man's state before God. Too often people focus on their self-worth, they'll even say that God loves them and that makes THEM worthy. God loves us all- sinner and saint - but He does hate the sin we commit.
'For God so loved the world…'
It's Christ's worth that matters not our own. God loves us and that love gave us Christ Jesus. We find worth only as HE is worthy. Our dependence upon the Lord is all we are called to, not to dependence upon ourselves. If we are good at all it is Christ in us that is good. Our good actions will not mean a thing. Sinners have a lot of good actions. The stereotype for a sinner is someone committing outward acts of evil. But I think it's safe to say that there are many, many, many sinners that don't seemingly sin at all. In fact we are all sinners aren't we? That person we look up to as an example of one leading a Christian life- that person is a sinner too. That pastor we listen to who speaks amazingly, that singer singing such a heart felt, touching, life changing song, they are sinners. We aren't to look to each other for an example in holiness because we will forever be disappointed. We have to look to our Savior and in Him alone we find the PERFECT example, in Him alone we find forgiveness.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
Only Jesus is sinless. Only Jesus has worth. By His grace we are forgiven. Only because of HIS worth are we saved. If we had to rely upon our own worth we'd have nothing to rely on. Only by faith in HIM, in HIS worth are we saved. If we wait to be transformed into one worthy, we'll forever be waiting. We must learn dependence now because without that dependence upon Christ we will never be His, fully His.
Daniel prayed earnestly.
'And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession,'
Daniel made his confession - to who? The LORD his God. The confession--
'and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments'
Obey and live. Disobey and die. Mankind was created and given this command. A simple command really. That choice given to the first parents is given to every one of us- daily, hourly, minutely. We might be quick to say that we would never had taken that bite from the forbidden fruit, but in truth we don't really know what we'd have done, do we? God keeps the covenant and gives mercy to those who love Him, and to those who keep His commandments. This is truth. Love and obey.
'We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments'
We are sinners. ALL are sinners. ALL have committed iniquity. ALL have done wickedly. ALL have rebelled. ALL have departed from God's precepts. All have departed from God's judgments. When we sin we do all that. The sin we've committed isn't just a non-consequential act, harming only us, but it's wicked. That little tiny sin is WICKED. That little tiny sin is REBELLION. That little tiny sin is us DEPARTING from God's precepts, and God's judgments. That one bite, that one tiny, delicate bite that barely took the tiniest nibble from the fruit, that first touch of teeth piercing the flesh of the fruit, the touch of lips pressed briefly against the pleasing fruit, that was WICKEDNESS, REBELLION, DISOBEYING. It was a tiny sin- in our perception. It wasn't murder. Yet it was the worst of all sins- the first. And that's all it took. God didn't give us three strikes and we're out. God didn't need to give us three strikes. One strike was enough. Introducing sin, that first inclination to disobey God was all that was necessary to bring the flood of sin into the world, to put SELF first, to put SELF before God came in that tiniest of seemingly harmlessness of sins. We CANNOT let Satan deceive us into believing the tiny sins don't matter. We HAVE sinned and whether small or great any sin at all is wicked, is rebelling, is leaving God's precepts, leaving God's judgment. We are guilty.
'Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.'
Prophets warned- Jeremiah, Daniel couldn't help but recall Jeremiah's prophesying because Daniel's own captivity was proof of Jeremiah's prophecy coming to pass. Daniel KNEW that God's people chose NOT to listen to God's prophets. Daniel knew that God's prophets had spoke to all- warning all from greatest to the least in the land and still they chose not to heed the prophets.
'O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.'
We deserve to be confused, to be shamed because of our guilt!
'To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him'
God alone can give mercy and forgiveness- even though we have rebelled. God can STILL forgive! God's mercy can STILL be felt. We are sinners and God alone has the power of mercy and forgiveness, it is HIS to give or not give. But no where else is mercy of forgiveness found, no where.
'Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.'
Even when the results of the sinning was made manifest and the punishment begun- there was NO turning from the sinning- no prayer- no REAL sincere prayer of repentance being prayed. There was no TURNING from the sin, no forgiveness sought- no forgiveness given. No understanding God's truth because of the refuse to truly repent.
'Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.'
No blaming God for what transpires as a result of sinning. The guilt lies with the SINNER! God is righteous in ALL His works! We are the ones who refuse to obey Him. Too many want to blame God. Too many want to point at the innocent ones affected by the wrath of God and then blame God. Too many do NOT want to take any responsibility for the innocent ones affected by their sinning and their forefathers sinning. It's easier for people to blame God than themselves. People don't want to believe that the innocent blood spilled under the various punishments enacted by God are the fault of anyone but God. They want God to be a fictional persona who doesn't hold any accountable, who won't allow any innocents to perish. The truth is, our actions bring about results that affect all. Adam and Eve's sin brought about the death of their second son. Abel was innocent in that he fully obeyed God, yet he was allowed to die. Many are the innocent youth too young to even be accountable, many are those who have sincerely accepted Christ as their Savior and they died in that forgiven state, yet they did die and some in very torturous ways- ways we call inhumane. Their deaths, their agonies, their abuse isn't God's fault- it's a result of sin.
'And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.'
According to God's righteousness!
According to God!
God forgives, God leads out of captivity, God's anger and fury can subside by HIS righteousness. For the sake of having a people that are His, sinners though they are, the need for God's anger and fury to be turned away is desperately desired, and here Daniel is pleading for that very thing. As we need to plead.
Dan 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
Hear the prayer.
Hear the supplication.
Cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for Your sake.
'O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.'
Incline Thine ear!
Open Thine eyes!
Behold our desolations!
Not for OUR righteousness.
FOR THY GREAT MERCIES!
'O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.'
Lord hear!
Lord forgive!
Lord harken!
Lord do not defer!
God for YOUR name!
God for YOU!
God for YOUR righteousness!
This is our prayer too, Lord! This is our supplication! For Your righteousness Lord! For Your people- people called by Your name! For Your city, the heavenly new Jerusalem! Please LORD! We are sinners, we are in need of Your mercy, Your forgiveness, help us Lord to understand Your will, Your word, Your prophecies for us. Open our eyes, open our understanding! By Your righteousness, by Your grace!
This is our prayer!
We need understanding.
We are to watch, and we need to know what we are to watch for. It does a watchmen no good to watch if he hasn't a clue what He is to watch for, right? Jesus would have us watch and pray. Jesus gave us many a sign to watch for. Jesus gave us prophecies that had yet to be fulfilled- to watch for. If we close our eyes and ears to all this and just hope God will understand that we love Him and that's enough, then are we truly loving Him by refusing to study to shew ourselves approved unto God…
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
…rightly dividing the word of truth! No need to be ashamed at all. But we should be ashamed, just as Daniel prayed-
'O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.'
Confusion of face- shame! Shame belonged to the people - kings, princes, fathers- shame belongs to us for sinning against God and we DARE not add to that shame by refusing to study God's word.
We can spend a lifetime studying the soothing words of the Bible, we could. We could soothe our consciences with the Bible and study only that which pleases our ears. But is that what we are supposed to do? Pick bits and pieces that suit us? No. We are to study as God would have us study. We are to study as the Holy Spirit guides us. We are told to WATCH and PRAY and the Bible tells us what to watch and how to pray. If we neglect the parts we don't want to hear because they take a bit of mental wrestling to truly understand we are only hurting ourselves. This is the meat of the Bible, the meat we have to chew and chew before we swallow. This isn't the milk of a newborn we are forever wanting to suckle on because then we don't have to chew, this is the meat. Chewing meat takes a lot more effort than merely sucking and swallowing. And everyone who has ever chewed meat knows that some meat is tender but other meat is tough and the tough meat takes even more effort to chew. The meat of the Bible needs to be eaten by us, because we cannot allow ourselves to remain babes not if we are wanting to follow God's will. God wants us to get to the meat and no longer be fed milk.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior we will feast on His word and by the Holy Spirit's enlightenment may our understanding be opened and may we full see what we are to watch for as the time of the end grows closer and closer and ever closer.
In the most amazing love of our Savior now and forever!!!!
Amen.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Prophecy - 18 - Desperate Prayer!
Dan 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
Dan 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
Daniel understood that Jeremiah prophesized that the Lord had to accomplish the 70 years in Jerusalem's desolation. But now Daniel wanted understanding that he didn't get earlier when the Angel interpreted things to him. Sure he understood a lot of it clearly just as you and I can through history, however Daniel was dealing with a future not a past. Daniel isn't alive now and looking back, Daniel was alive then and looking forward. Clearly he lacked understanding in something… remember this--
Dan 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
What part didn't he understand? Seriously. We know he had to understand that Medes and Persia had conquered Babylon- We know that he understood that Grecia would be next to conquer. It's a surety that Daniel would never forget that unique statue dream of Nebuchadnezzar's. He knew another power would come and then another and so on.
Yet, Daniel also understood that he'd been told stuff that he couldn't quite fathom and as such perhaps it bothered him. He did FAINT. He was sick for a number of days. He was astonished at the vision. Just as you and I would be astonished at what we didn't comprehend. So when we pick up just a short while later Daniel is wanting understanding yet again and as we know by the words of Jesus- sometimes fasting and prayer is necessary when we are seeking God's will, God's help. Let's continue reading...
Dan 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Dan 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
Dan 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
Dan 9:6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
Daniel already mentioned Jeremiah the prophet- a prophet that his fathers failed to heed, a prophet that went unheeded in Daniel's youth leading to his captivity. Daniel was a part of those who sinned, a part of those who had done wickedly, who rebelled against that precepts and judgment of God. Daniel was assuming the guilt because He understood that there was corporate guilt, not just individual. As part of that corporate guilt He was praying and seeking forgiveness corporately.
Dan 9:7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
Dan 9:8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
Dan 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
Dan 9:10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Dan 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
Dan 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
Dan 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
Dan 9:14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
Dan 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
Dan 9:16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
Dan 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
Remember this--
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
And remember this--
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
Is it NO wonder at all that Daniel had been left without understanding? Now here in Daniel 9:17 he says- 'Cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate'
Daniel understood the importance of the sanctuary, and from the vision he'd been given he knew horrific things were to occur and he wanted to understand more fully for all concerned.
Dan 9:18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
Dan 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
Dan 9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
What made the holy mountain of God holy? God's presence made it holy. The sanctuary built there in and of itself was only holy because God's presence was there. When the holy city, Jerusalem was chosen as the place of the holy temple it was all holy because of God's presence there. And God's presence was there why? For His people. When His people turned on Him, sinning against Him, rebelling against Him, He allowed the holy temple to be destroyed signifying what? That He was not pleased with those who called Him their people because they'd turned from His ways, from Him. Yet here we have Daniel praying - fasting in sackcloth and ashes- wanting desperately to have his prayer heard by God and he was praying for this- 'for the holy mountain of my God' - Jerusalem. He wanted God's presence to reside once more with His repentant people. After having the visions he'd had perhaps there was a fear that ultimately God's presence would not fully return to His people, in Jerusalem.
Dan 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Dan 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
Gabriel has returned.
Now Gabriel has come forth to give skill and understanding.
There was more information that Daniel needed. More information we would need if we were to understand. Daniel knew this book would be shut, the vision would be sealed, and that didn't stop him from realizing that more explaining was necessary for him and us who would be alive when the vision had been unsealed, the book open. Yet, Daniel didn't just get the information as you KNOW he wanted it. Daniel did not easily get the understanding. The revelation didn't come to him simply. Understanding was given to him before he prayed his desperate prayer. What does this tell us? Seriously? We can over look this and just jump to the rest of what was said, what was revealed but there is a HUGE lesson here for us and if we don't understand that then we might as well face up to the fact that we are not among those who will be God's very elect. God's elect will be FASTING in SACKCLOTH and ASHES- if not LITERALLY, then FIGURATIVELY at the VERY LEAST!
Those who desire this understanding and need it to be a HEART understanding, a SPIRIT understanding , very REAL understanding need to pray a prayer of desperation and they need to do so with all they are, not just a few words whispered, a few words of gesture for enlightenment, but a DESPERATE prayer! You know what I'm talking about! I know you know! And this is the truth! We need to do this! We need to seek our God with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, with all we are! We need to admit to our unworthiness and rely solely upon our Savior's mercy and grace, His forgiveness, His WORTH!
I just can't stress this enough, I just can't. We need our understanding opened! We need that eyesalve so we can see! We need that white raiment so we are clothed in our Savior's righteousness! We need that gold tried in fire, the faith, the belief beyond doubt! Yes, I'm shouting and have been for a bit here but we need to understand, we need know, we need the truth, the pure unadulterated truth so desperately.
The key to understanding prophecy isn't how well your internet browsing skills are to search out history. The key isn't in being the best puzzle solver ever. The key isn't in being able to decipher difficult words. The key isn't in any reference material you may possess, or find. The key to understanding prophecy is the HOLY SPIRIT! The key to understanding prophecy is GOD's GRACE, GOD's MERCY! The key to understanding prophecy is JESUS!
No, we might not have an angel come to open up our understanding as Daniel had, but that doesn't matter! We have to have a love of God and God will provide the means for us to have comprehension in Him. All necessary understanding will come from HIM and we need to pray for this like we've never prayed before!!!!!!!
By His love!
Amen.
Dan 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
Daniel understood that Jeremiah prophesized that the Lord had to accomplish the 70 years in Jerusalem's desolation. But now Daniel wanted understanding that he didn't get earlier when the Angel interpreted things to him. Sure he understood a lot of it clearly just as you and I can through history, however Daniel was dealing with a future not a past. Daniel isn't alive now and looking back, Daniel was alive then and looking forward. Clearly he lacked understanding in something… remember this--
Dan 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
What part didn't he understand? Seriously. We know he had to understand that Medes and Persia had conquered Babylon- We know that he understood that Grecia would be next to conquer. It's a surety that Daniel would never forget that unique statue dream of Nebuchadnezzar's. He knew another power would come and then another and so on.
Yet, Daniel also understood that he'd been told stuff that he couldn't quite fathom and as such perhaps it bothered him. He did FAINT. He was sick for a number of days. He was astonished at the vision. Just as you and I would be astonished at what we didn't comprehend. So when we pick up just a short while later Daniel is wanting understanding yet again and as we know by the words of Jesus- sometimes fasting and prayer is necessary when we are seeking God's will, God's help. Let's continue reading...
Dan 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Dan 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
Dan 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
Dan 9:6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
Daniel already mentioned Jeremiah the prophet- a prophet that his fathers failed to heed, a prophet that went unheeded in Daniel's youth leading to his captivity. Daniel was a part of those who sinned, a part of those who had done wickedly, who rebelled against that precepts and judgment of God. Daniel was assuming the guilt because He understood that there was corporate guilt, not just individual. As part of that corporate guilt He was praying and seeking forgiveness corporately.
Dan 9:7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
Dan 9:8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
Dan 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
Dan 9:10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Dan 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
Dan 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
Dan 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
Dan 9:14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
Dan 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
Dan 9:16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
Dan 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
Remember this--
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
And remember this--
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
Is it NO wonder at all that Daniel had been left without understanding? Now here in Daniel 9:17 he says- 'Cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate'
Daniel understood the importance of the sanctuary, and from the vision he'd been given he knew horrific things were to occur and he wanted to understand more fully for all concerned.
Dan 9:18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
Dan 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
Dan 9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
What made the holy mountain of God holy? God's presence made it holy. The sanctuary built there in and of itself was only holy because God's presence was there. When the holy city, Jerusalem was chosen as the place of the holy temple it was all holy because of God's presence there. And God's presence was there why? For His people. When His people turned on Him, sinning against Him, rebelling against Him, He allowed the holy temple to be destroyed signifying what? That He was not pleased with those who called Him their people because they'd turned from His ways, from Him. Yet here we have Daniel praying - fasting in sackcloth and ashes- wanting desperately to have his prayer heard by God and he was praying for this- 'for the holy mountain of my God' - Jerusalem. He wanted God's presence to reside once more with His repentant people. After having the visions he'd had perhaps there was a fear that ultimately God's presence would not fully return to His people, in Jerusalem.
Dan 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Dan 9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
Gabriel has returned.
Now Gabriel has come forth to give skill and understanding.
There was more information that Daniel needed. More information we would need if we were to understand. Daniel knew this book would be shut, the vision would be sealed, and that didn't stop him from realizing that more explaining was necessary for him and us who would be alive when the vision had been unsealed, the book open. Yet, Daniel didn't just get the information as you KNOW he wanted it. Daniel did not easily get the understanding. The revelation didn't come to him simply. Understanding was given to him before he prayed his desperate prayer. What does this tell us? Seriously? We can over look this and just jump to the rest of what was said, what was revealed but there is a HUGE lesson here for us and if we don't understand that then we might as well face up to the fact that we are not among those who will be God's very elect. God's elect will be FASTING in SACKCLOTH and ASHES- if not LITERALLY, then FIGURATIVELY at the VERY LEAST!
Those who desire this understanding and need it to be a HEART understanding, a SPIRIT understanding , very REAL understanding need to pray a prayer of desperation and they need to do so with all they are, not just a few words whispered, a few words of gesture for enlightenment, but a DESPERATE prayer! You know what I'm talking about! I know you know! And this is the truth! We need to do this! We need to seek our God with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, with all we are! We need to admit to our unworthiness and rely solely upon our Savior's mercy and grace, His forgiveness, His WORTH!
I just can't stress this enough, I just can't. We need our understanding opened! We need that eyesalve so we can see! We need that white raiment so we are clothed in our Savior's righteousness! We need that gold tried in fire, the faith, the belief beyond doubt! Yes, I'm shouting and have been for a bit here but we need to understand, we need know, we need the truth, the pure unadulterated truth so desperately.
The key to understanding prophecy isn't how well your internet browsing skills are to search out history. The key isn't in being the best puzzle solver ever. The key isn't in being able to decipher difficult words. The key isn't in any reference material you may possess, or find. The key to understanding prophecy is the HOLY SPIRIT! The key to understanding prophecy is GOD's GRACE, GOD's MERCY! The key to understanding prophecy is JESUS!
No, we might not have an angel come to open up our understanding as Daniel had, but that doesn't matter! We have to have a love of God and God will provide the means for us to have comprehension in Him. All necessary understanding will come from HIM and we need to pray for this like we've never prayed before!!!!!!!
By His love!
Amen.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Prophecy - 17
A ram with two high horns, one horn higher than the other, the higher coming up last.
Media and Persia.
A he goat, a notable horn between his eyes.
Grecia.
Four horns from broken notable horn.
Four generals of Alexander.
Little horn.
Rome Pagan and Papal.
This is all history. We're recapping it again because it warrants recapping. Re-read Daniel 8 and while you're reading it take a moment or two to realize that this prophecy that was given to Daniel to write down and then given to us- preserved by the holy spirit's power, was given for a reason! To think that anything our Lord has given us to read is invaluable is to do a great disservice to our God, and to put ourselves at risk of losing out on the messages He has given us in His word.
Personally I don't know many people who love the Lord that don't receive personal messages through the Lord's holy word. What do I mean? I mean that opening God's word to read it hoping to gain wisdom we are rewarded by the infinite wisdom present in the most holy word of God, all by the grace of our Lord. The wisdom, the messages written were written for all of mankind since the moment they were given. The holy word could NOT remain hidden, could NOT remain in seclusion. Scribes expounded on the written word and Jesus Himself rose up in the synagogue to read from the scriptures given- opening God's word to all who had an ear to hear. Then men of God inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote down all they could about Jesus and the message He brought to them, to US.
Part of that holy word is PROPHECY. The very prophecy we are undertaking to understand. We have to believe that God will give us understanding, and bless us as we read His word.
Let's reread Daniel 8 in its entirety, with a heart filled with love for our Savior, with hope for understanding, for wisdom, for the Holy Spirit's guidance in all truth.
Dan 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
Dan 8:2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
Dan 8:3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
Dan 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
Dan 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
Dan 8:6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
Dan 8:7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
Dan 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Dan 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Dan 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
Dan 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
Dan 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
Dan 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
Dan 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
Dan 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
Dan 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
*
Isn't that amazing. Really amazing. Daniel fainted. Daniel was sick for a number of days. After those sick days Daniel rose up and went about the king's business. Daniel was astonished at the vision he'd been given and even with the interpretation-- he did NOT understand it.
This was a POWERFUL vision! Powerful. And WE have to understand how powerful because this vision was shut up so that not even Daniel fully understood it and no one would understand it until the vision was opened up. If it was shut, then there would have to come a time for it to be open.
We've gone to another book in the Bible to help us in understanding Daniel before and that book was Revelation. These are two prophecy books that go hand in hand in many ways. Let's look at these verses for a moment--
Rev 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
Rev 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth
Rev 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Rev 10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
These verses are incredibly enlightening. Daniel is a 'little book' of prophecy. Think about it! Daniel wrote a little book of prophecy and that book was 'shut up'. Revelation talks of a little book that had to be taken and eaten, a book that would taste sweet and then make the belly bitter.
There is NO other book that is shut up in the Bible, not a one.
The book of Daniel was meant to be open at the time of the end, it was sealed until God wanted it to be understood.
Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
We are MEANT to understand and understanding is coming to us through the Holy Spirit.
We know that the pieces are falling into place perfectly. We might not want to admit how perfectly if we are stubborn but I pray to God that we set aside all preconceived notions and let the Holy Spirit lead us. I've said it before and I'm going to say it again- the Little Horn power is the papacy- yesterday, today, and tomorrow. That Little Horn power is controlled by the dragon. This means the papacy is controlled by the dragon. The papacy is controlled by Satan.
Some may grow outraged at this point and refuse to read anything further, not willing to even consider this could be true. They don't believe Jesus. Turning away from truth is denying the words of our Savior and our Savior said this…
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
God says this…
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
People don't want to hear truth they want fables.
This is truth.
People look at the Papacy today and they wonder at it in awe, they extol its virtues, they praise its marvelous good works. People find it hard to ever imagine that anything that LOOKS so wondrous, anything that APPEARS so marvelous could ever be controlled by evil.
There is much more to study on this, much more and it is all amazing how the Bible explains so much to us, so much!
By the grace of God may we open our hearts to our Savior's truth, all truth!
By His love and His forgiveness! In His mercy and grace!
Amen
Media and Persia.
A he goat, a notable horn between his eyes.
Grecia.
Four horns from broken notable horn.
Four generals of Alexander.
Little horn.
Rome Pagan and Papal.
This is all history. We're recapping it again because it warrants recapping. Re-read Daniel 8 and while you're reading it take a moment or two to realize that this prophecy that was given to Daniel to write down and then given to us- preserved by the holy spirit's power, was given for a reason! To think that anything our Lord has given us to read is invaluable is to do a great disservice to our God, and to put ourselves at risk of losing out on the messages He has given us in His word.
Personally I don't know many people who love the Lord that don't receive personal messages through the Lord's holy word. What do I mean? I mean that opening God's word to read it hoping to gain wisdom we are rewarded by the infinite wisdom present in the most holy word of God, all by the grace of our Lord. The wisdom, the messages written were written for all of mankind since the moment they were given. The holy word could NOT remain hidden, could NOT remain in seclusion. Scribes expounded on the written word and Jesus Himself rose up in the synagogue to read from the scriptures given- opening God's word to all who had an ear to hear. Then men of God inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote down all they could about Jesus and the message He brought to them, to US.
Part of that holy word is PROPHECY. The very prophecy we are undertaking to understand. We have to believe that God will give us understanding, and bless us as we read His word.
Let's reread Daniel 8 in its entirety, with a heart filled with love for our Savior, with hope for understanding, for wisdom, for the Holy Spirit's guidance in all truth.
Dan 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
Dan 8:2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
Dan 8:3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
Dan 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
Dan 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
Dan 8:6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
Dan 8:7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
Dan 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Dan 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Dan 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
Dan 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
Dan 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
Dan 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
Dan 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
Dan 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
Dan 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
*
Isn't that amazing. Really amazing. Daniel fainted. Daniel was sick for a number of days. After those sick days Daniel rose up and went about the king's business. Daniel was astonished at the vision he'd been given and even with the interpretation-- he did NOT understand it.
This was a POWERFUL vision! Powerful. And WE have to understand how powerful because this vision was shut up so that not even Daniel fully understood it and no one would understand it until the vision was opened up. If it was shut, then there would have to come a time for it to be open.
We've gone to another book in the Bible to help us in understanding Daniel before and that book was Revelation. These are two prophecy books that go hand in hand in many ways. Let's look at these verses for a moment--
Rev 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
Rev 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth
Rev 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Rev 10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
These verses are incredibly enlightening. Daniel is a 'little book' of prophecy. Think about it! Daniel wrote a little book of prophecy and that book was 'shut up'. Revelation talks of a little book that had to be taken and eaten, a book that would taste sweet and then make the belly bitter.
There is NO other book that is shut up in the Bible, not a one.
The book of Daniel was meant to be open at the time of the end, it was sealed until God wanted it to be understood.
Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
We are MEANT to understand and understanding is coming to us through the Holy Spirit.
We know that the pieces are falling into place perfectly. We might not want to admit how perfectly if we are stubborn but I pray to God that we set aside all preconceived notions and let the Holy Spirit lead us. I've said it before and I'm going to say it again- the Little Horn power is the papacy- yesterday, today, and tomorrow. That Little Horn power is controlled by the dragon. This means the papacy is controlled by the dragon. The papacy is controlled by Satan.
Some may grow outraged at this point and refuse to read anything further, not willing to even consider this could be true. They don't believe Jesus. Turning away from truth is denying the words of our Savior and our Savior said this…
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
God says this…
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
People don't want to hear truth they want fables.
This is truth.
People look at the Papacy today and they wonder at it in awe, they extol its virtues, they praise its marvelous good works. People find it hard to ever imagine that anything that LOOKS so wondrous, anything that APPEARS so marvelous could ever be controlled by evil.
There is much more to study on this, much more and it is all amazing how the Bible explains so much to us, so much!
By the grace of God may we open our hearts to our Savior's truth, all truth!
By His love and His forgiveness! In His mercy and grace!
Amen
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Prophecy - 16
Identifying fulfilled prophecy demands much study and obviously isn't something that is done quickly. We learn so much but we need to be careful that we aren't going too fast and overlooking things.
We've already learned some amazing facts about prophecy and our history and there are many more to learn.
Let's jump back to Daniel 8, something we touched on briefly.
Dan 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
Dan 8:2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
Dan 8:3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
Dan 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
Dan 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
Dan 8:6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
Dan 8:7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
Dan 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
*
Dan 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Dan 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
Dan 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
Dan 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
Dan 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
Dan 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
Dan 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
Dan 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
*******
This was a vision that Daniel was given an interpretation to and he only comprehended in part. Yet, the interpretation was given for a reason that we dare not ignore!
Daniel was told about the time he was currently living in- the Medes and Persians. Just as he'd been shown with the vision he'd been given when he was under the reign of Babylon's king, he was allowed to understand that the vision was a continuous identifying picture of what would come to pass, what would one day be history just as Babylon had succumbed to the Medes and Persians which was now part of Daniel's history.
Daniel was told outright that the next power would be Grecia. He wasn't living under the rule of Greece, but he knew that the angel revealing the vision to him was speaking truth. The Medes and Persians would NOT remain a ruling kingdom forever.
While Daniel didn't live to see the Medes and Persian's conquered by Greece he knew they would be, and they were.
Dan 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
Dan 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
Greece under Alexander the Great conquered the Medes and Persians.
When Alexander died, four of his generals took over the land he'd conquered- none with power as he had.
Facts…undisputed!
Now it gets a bit less clear doesn't it? While the words- Medes/Persia, Grecia were actually clarified the next power wasn't so much. Also, we know for a fact that Rome - the next power never fully disappeared but rather the Roman Empire was split up and out of the pieces of Rome came up that little horn power- the Papacy. So it's no wonder that the next power would be soooooo diverse from all the others. Rome as an empire dominating disappeared but that little horn power that took out three of the ten powers splitting up the Roman Empire sits where today? Where? Rome. This isn't coincidence, this is prophecy fulfilled.
Let's delve into this more deeply and solely by the grace of God we will gain understanding through the Holy Spirit.
Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Who did this? We know Rome did, we know the Roman empire conquered like NO other had. It conquered the south, the east, and the pleasant land- the middle east and Jerusalem. (((Do you remember the Roman Centurion coming to Jesus, that soldier had a sick servant and His GREAT FAITH in the word of Jesus was what Jesus saw and Jesus healed that servant. A ROMAN soldier.))) Rome ruled in great, great power.
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Did the power that would come out of Rome, the Papacy as we've noted --
Dan 7:20 ... even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Dan 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
THIS is the Papacy beyond any doubt.
Now… what's with this…'it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.'
Where else in our Bible are stars cast to the ground?
Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
When our Savior was born who ruled? We just talked about this… ROME. The child is our Savior being born! Satan didn't want Jesus to live! Didn't he have Herod try to kill him as soon as He was born?
Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Mat 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Mat 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
Mat 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Mat 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Yes. Satan wanted the Savior to be devoured as soon as He was born. One third of the angels were cast out from heaven when Satan sealed His fate.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And way back in Daniel we were told this…
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Even to the host of heaven.
Cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
In the time of Rome this happened, it came to pass, it is history, our history.
Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Against the daily sacrifice…by reason of transgression… and it cast down the truth to the ground…and it practiced and prospered.
Was sacrifice was made daily?
We know the Jewish religion, the religion of the people of Israel given them by God was that of a sacrificial system. There was a daily sacrifice because of sin, our sins. That sacrificial service pointed where? To our SAVIOR who sacrificed Himself for us, to our Savior who died so we could be forgiven! Who cast the truth to the ground? Who?! ROME was the force behind the crucifixion. ROME carried out the crucifixion. ROME was used by the Pharisees who wanted Jesus dead. ROME fulfilled this. Rome practiced and prospered.
We can't deny this! We can't! It fits without being forced in any way whatsoever. It fits because God intended that it fit.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
How long would be the vision concerning-
-the daily sacrifice
-the transgression of desolation
-to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden underfoot?
2300 days - THEN - the shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Prophetically 2300 years? We'll have to see if it fits won't we.
The sanctuary services upon earth ended when our Savior died on the cross, yes? The veil was torn in two.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent
We know that there is a heavenly sanctuary.
Psa 102:19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us
Knowing these fact- Biblical facts we have much to discern and by the grace of God we will as we continue to study His most holy word!
Enough for tonight, more tomorrow.
May we continue to understand His truth for us, we need it sooo desperately.
In his love!
Amen.
We've already learned some amazing facts about prophecy and our history and there are many more to learn.
Let's jump back to Daniel 8, something we touched on briefly.
Dan 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
Dan 8:2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.
Dan 8:3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
Dan 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
Dan 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
Dan 8:6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
Dan 8:7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
Dan 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
*
Dan 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Dan 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
Dan 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
Dan 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
Dan 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
Dan 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
Dan 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
Dan 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
*******
This was a vision that Daniel was given an interpretation to and he only comprehended in part. Yet, the interpretation was given for a reason that we dare not ignore!
Daniel was told about the time he was currently living in- the Medes and Persians. Just as he'd been shown with the vision he'd been given when he was under the reign of Babylon's king, he was allowed to understand that the vision was a continuous identifying picture of what would come to pass, what would one day be history just as Babylon had succumbed to the Medes and Persians which was now part of Daniel's history.
Daniel was told outright that the next power would be Grecia. He wasn't living under the rule of Greece, but he knew that the angel revealing the vision to him was speaking truth. The Medes and Persians would NOT remain a ruling kingdom forever.
While Daniel didn't live to see the Medes and Persian's conquered by Greece he knew they would be, and they were.
Dan 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
Dan 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
Greece under Alexander the Great conquered the Medes and Persians.
When Alexander died, four of his generals took over the land he'd conquered- none with power as he had.
Facts…undisputed!
Now it gets a bit less clear doesn't it? While the words- Medes/Persia, Grecia were actually clarified the next power wasn't so much. Also, we know for a fact that Rome - the next power never fully disappeared but rather the Roman Empire was split up and out of the pieces of Rome came up that little horn power- the Papacy. So it's no wonder that the next power would be soooooo diverse from all the others. Rome as an empire dominating disappeared but that little horn power that took out three of the ten powers splitting up the Roman Empire sits where today? Where? Rome. This isn't coincidence, this is prophecy fulfilled.
Let's delve into this more deeply and solely by the grace of God we will gain understanding through the Holy Spirit.
Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
Who did this? We know Rome did, we know the Roman empire conquered like NO other had. It conquered the south, the east, and the pleasant land- the middle east and Jerusalem. (((Do you remember the Roman Centurion coming to Jesus, that soldier had a sick servant and His GREAT FAITH in the word of Jesus was what Jesus saw and Jesus healed that servant. A ROMAN soldier.))) Rome ruled in great, great power.
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Dan 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Did the power that would come out of Rome, the Papacy as we've noted --
Dan 7:20 ... even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
Dan 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
THIS is the Papacy beyond any doubt.
Now… what's with this…'it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.'
Where else in our Bible are stars cast to the ground?
Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
When our Savior was born who ruled? We just talked about this… ROME. The child is our Savior being born! Satan didn't want Jesus to live! Didn't he have Herod try to kill him as soon as He was born?
Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Mat 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Mat 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
Mat 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Mat 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Yes. Satan wanted the Savior to be devoured as soon as He was born. One third of the angels were cast out from heaven when Satan sealed His fate.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And way back in Daniel we were told this…
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Even to the host of heaven.
Cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
In the time of Rome this happened, it came to pass, it is history, our history.
Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.
Against the daily sacrifice…by reason of transgression… and it cast down the truth to the ground…and it practiced and prospered.
Was sacrifice was made daily?
We know the Jewish religion, the religion of the people of Israel given them by God was that of a sacrificial system. There was a daily sacrifice because of sin, our sins. That sacrificial service pointed where? To our SAVIOR who sacrificed Himself for us, to our Savior who died so we could be forgiven! Who cast the truth to the ground? Who?! ROME was the force behind the crucifixion. ROME carried out the crucifixion. ROME was used by the Pharisees who wanted Jesus dead. ROME fulfilled this. Rome practiced and prospered.
We can't deny this! We can't! It fits without being forced in any way whatsoever. It fits because God intended that it fit.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
How long would be the vision concerning-
-the daily sacrifice
-the transgression of desolation
-to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden underfoot?
2300 days - THEN - the shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Prophetically 2300 years? We'll have to see if it fits won't we.
The sanctuary services upon earth ended when our Savior died on the cross, yes? The veil was torn in two.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent
We know that there is a heavenly sanctuary.
Psa 102:19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us
Knowing these fact- Biblical facts we have much to discern and by the grace of God we will as we continue to study His most holy word!
Enough for tonight, more tomorrow.
May we continue to understand His truth for us, we need it sooo desperately.
In his love!
Amen.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Prophecy - 15
We're going to jump back a bit to study something a bit more in detail in our prophecy study. We don't always get clear cut meanings explained to us. Some things are crouched deeply in mysteries so they aren't unveiled until the time they are needed.
We can't ignore the birth of Jesus, as being a prophecy fulfilled. Nor can we ignore the fact that those who were given that sacred trust completely overlooked it when it happened, why? Because they'd tried to interpret the prophecies to fit the meaning they desired. The rulership of Israel was looking for a conquering Messiah. The priesthood was waiting for their great expectation of a liberating man of God. The people had been convinced that a hero, a king was going to come to free them and they had their prime example in Moses. They wanted another Moses only this time they were expecting a liberator that would free them once and for all, and put all others, all the gentiles under subjection to them. Do you know, this is what Israel still expects today. They've refused to look at the prophecies in the light of history and watch how miraculously, and meticulously the key points have been met. They refuse to believe prophecy has been fulfilled and where does that leave them? Lost.
We dare not do the same.
What do I mean? We believe in Jesus so there is no chance of us not believing in His birth, death, and resurrection, right? Right. There's no chance we'll ever dismiss Jesus as the Son of God, our Messiah, our King, our Lord, and Savior. However it is very possible that we will do the same with this Little Horn power. People do NOT want to believe things are other than they've been taught to imagine.
People have grown up on the belief that the Antichrist is just a single person.
Do you know where this belief comes from?
Read this first--
'Many Protestant reformers, including Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer, John Knox, and Cotton Mather, identified the Roman Papacy as the Antichrist.[31] The Centuriators of Magdeburg, a group of Lutheran scholars in Magdeburg headed by Matthias Flacius, wrote the 12-volume "Magdeburg Centuries" to discredit the papacy and identify the pope as the Antichrist.'
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'The view of Futurism, a product of the Counter-Reformation, was advanced beginning in the 16th century in response to the identification of the Papacy as Antichrist. Francisco Ribera, a Jesuit priest, developed this theory in In Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli, & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij, his 1585 treatise on the Apocalypse of John. St. Bellarmine codified this view, giving in full the Catholic theory set forth by the Greek and Latin Fathers, of a personal Antichrist to come just before the end of the world and to be accepted by the Jews and enthroned in the temple at Jerusalem — thus endeavoring to dispose of the exposition which saw Antichrist in the pope.'
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We need to discuss Futurism, we need to discuss this personal Antichrist because SO many are caught up in this they've failed to realize this was something the PAPACY instigated to counter Biblical proofs from - Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer, John Knox, and Cotton Mather.
We've already studied to reveal the Papacy as the Little Horn power which would exist until our Savior returns. We've studied at great lengths and it adds up as NO other adds up.
History has proven this even beyond what those men of the reformation identified the Papacy as being the Antichrist. The Papacy labeled those who believed this as heretics and they had to come up with something to counter this and that something was…futurism.
* (Please take the time to really read the following information, even go as far to look things up for yourself because the internet is at your fingertips and studying all this is a necessity.)
'Futurism' is the idea of a future figure anti-Christ such as a Damien Thorn of the Omen movies' , developed by Jesuits as a distraction from 'Historicism' of the anti-Christ as the historical Roman Catholic Church
From http://www.lmn.org/magazine/170/Jesuits.html
'At the Council of Trent, the Jesuits were commissioned by the Pope to develop a new interpretation of Scripture that would counteract the Protestant application of the Bible’s Antichrist prophecies to the Roman Catholic Church. Francisco Ribera (1537-1591), a brilliant Jesuit priest and doctor of theology from Spain, basically said, “Here am I, send me.” Like Martin Luther, Francisco Ribera also read by candlelight the prophecies about the Antichrist, the little horn, that man of sin, and the Beast. But because of his dedication and allegiance to the Pope, he came to conclusions vastly different from those of the Protestants. “Why, these prophecies don’t apply to the Catholic Church at all!” Ribera said. Then to whom do they apply? Ribera proclaimed, “To only one sinister man who will rise up at the end of time!” “Fantastic!” was the reply from Rome, and this viewpoint was quickly adopted as the official Roman Catholic position on the Antichrist.
*
“In 1590, Ribera published a commentary on the Revelation as a counter-interpretation to the prevailing view among Protestants which identified the Papacy with the Antichrist. Ribera applied all of Revelation but the earliest chapters to the end time rather than to the history of the Church. Antichrist would be a single evil person who would be received by the Jews and would rebuild Jerusalem.”5 “Ribera denied the Protestant Scriptural Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2) as seated in the church of God—asserted by Augustine, Jerome, Luther and many reformers. He set on an infidel Antichrist, outside the church of God.”6 “The result of his work [Ribera’s] was a twisting and maligning of prophetic truth.”7
Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, who helped popularize and propagate the futuristic interpretation of biblical prophecy.
Following close behind Francisco Ribera was another brilliant Jesuit scholar, Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) of Rome. Between 1581 and 1593, Cardinal Bellarmine published his “Polemic Lectures Concerning the Disputed Points of the Christian Belief Against the Heretics of This Time.” In these lectures, he agreed with Ribera. “The futurist teachings of Ribera were further popularized by an Italian cardinal and the most renowned of all Jesuit controversialists. His writings claimed that Paul, Daniel, and John had nothing whatsoever to say about the Papal power. The futurists’ school won general acceptance among Catholics. They were taught that Antichrist was a single individual who would not rule until the very end of time.”8 Through the work of these two tricky Jesuit scholars, we might say that a brand new baby was born into the world. Protestant historians have given this baby a name—Jesuit Futurism. In fact, Francisco Ribera has been called the Father of Futurism.
Futurism in America
One of the most important figures in this whole drama is Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843-1921), a Kansas lawyer who was greatly influenced by the writings of Darby. In 1909, Scofield published the first edition of his famous Scofield Reference Bible. In the early 1900s, this Bible became so popular in American Protestant Bible schools that it was necessary to print literally millions of copies. Yet, in the much-respected footnotes of this very Bible, Scofield injected large doses of the fluid of Futurism also found in the writings of Darby, Todd, Maitland, Bellarmine, and Ribera. Through the Scofield Bible, the Jesuit child reached young adulthood. The doctrine of an Antichrist still to come was becoming firmly established inside 20th-century American Protestantism.
Cyrus Scofield, the famed publisher of the Scofield Reference Bible, liberally interspersed the footnotes of his Bible with large doses of Futurism. These footnotes are still widely accepted by many theologians today.
The Moody Bible Institute and the Dallas Theological Seminary have strongly supported the teachings of John Nelson Darby, and this has continued to fuel Futurism’s growth. Then in the 1970s, Pastor Hal Lindsey, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, released his blockbuster book The Late Great Planet Earth. This 177-page, easy-to-read volume brought Futurism to the masses of American Christianity, and beyond. The New York Times labeled it “The number one best-seller of the decade.” Over 30 million copies have been sold, and it has been translated into over 30 languages. Through The Late Great Planet Earth, Jesuit Futurism took a strong hold over the Protestant Christian world.
Left Behind
Now we have Left Behind. In the 1990s, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins took the future one-man Antichrist idea of Hal Lindsey, Scofield, Darby, Irving, Newman, Todd, Maitland, Bellarmine, and Ribera, and turned it into “The most successful Christian-fiction series ever” (Publishers Weekly). Hal Lindsey’s book, The Late Great Planet Earth, was largely theological, which limited its appeal, while Left Behind is a sequence of highly imaginative novels, “overflowing with suspense, action, and adventure,” a “Christian thriller,” with a “label its creators could never have predicted: blockbuster success” (Entertainment Weekly). The much-respected television ministries of Jack Van Impe, Peter and Paul Lalonde, and Pastor John Hagee, have all worked together to produce LEFT BEHIND: The Movie. The entire project has even caught the attention of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, resulting in an interview of LaHaye and Jenkins on Larry King Live. The Left Behind books have been made available on displays at WalMart, Fry’s Electronics, and inside countless other stores.
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Francisco Ribera
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francisco Ribera (1537–1591) was a Jesuit doctor of theology, born in Spain. He began writing a lengthy (500 page) commentary in 1585 on the book of Revelation (Apocalypse) titled In Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli, & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij, and published it about the year 1590. He died in 1591 at the age of fifty-four, so he was not able to expand on his work or write any other commentaries on Revelation. In order to remove the Catholic Church from consideration as the antichrist, Ribera proposed that the first few chapters of the Apocalypse applied to ancient pagan Rome, and the rest he limited to a yet future period of 3½ literal years, immediately prior to the second coming. During that time, the Roman Catholic Church would have fallen away from the pope into apostasy. Then, he proposed, the antichrist, a single individual, would:
Persecute and blaspheme the saints of God.
Rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Abolish the Christian religion.
Deny Jesus Christ.
Be received by the Jews.
Pretend to be God.
Kill the two witnesses of God.
Conquer the world.
So, according to Ribera, the 1260 days and 42 months and 3½ times of prophecy were not 1260 years as based on the year-day principle (Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6), but a literal 3½ years. Therefore, none of the book of Revelation had any application to the Middle Ages or the papacy, but to the future; to a period immediately prior to the second coming, hence the name Futurism. If this interpretation is correct, the reading and exposition of Revelation is unnecessary; a position that is in direct opposition to the reason it was written (Rev. 1:1-3).
The Futuristic system of interpretation was instigated by the Council of Trent (1545–1563) as a response to the Protestant reformation. Jesuit priests, Francisco Ribera and Robert Bellarmine, over several decades, developed the proposition that everything in Revelation from chapters 4-22 was to come to pass sometime in the future, thereby removing all incriminating interpretations against the Papacy. The Historicist method of interpretation had been building for 1500 years with input, argument, and discussion from hundreds of scholars, scientists, and theologians (most of which were Catholic). However, the Counter-Reformation solution proposed by Ribera and Bellarmine was in direct conflict with Peter's clear statement, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." 2 Peter 1:20, according to Froom (1948, Vols. 2, 3)
The first Protestant to accept and espouse Futurism was Samuel Roffey Maitland (1792–1866) curate of Christ Church, Gloucester, who wrote a 72 page pamphlet in 1826 denouncing the year-day principle. Even though many defended the traditional historical positions, Futurism became more and more popular with Protestants, especially after the printing of the Scofield Reference Bible about 1900. (Froom, 1948, Vols. 3, 4)
[edit] References
Ralph Thompson, Champions of Christianity in Search of Truth, p. 91.
H. Grattan Guinness, History Unveiling Prophecy or Time as an Interpreter, New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1905, p. 289.
The Incredible Cover-Up: Exposing the Origins of Rapture Theories, by Dave MacPherson. Omega Publications, Medford Oregon. 1980.
Leroy Edwin Froom, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers: The Historical Development of Prophetic Interpretation, Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1948, Vol. 2, pp. 486–493, Vol. 3, pp. 533, 655, 731, Vol. 4, 1195, 1196, 1204.
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The opposite of Futurism is Preterism- Not future but past, all the prophecy has been fulfilled in the past- something that absolutely IS NOT supported by prophecy!
'Preterism is a Christian eschatological view that interprets prophecies of the Bible, especially Daniel and Revelation, as events which have already happened in the first century A.D. Preterism holds that Ancient Israel finds its continuation or fulfillment in the Christian church at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. The term preterism comes from the Latin praeter, which is listed in Webster's 1913 dictionary as a prefix denoting that something is "past" or "beyond," signifying that either all or a majority of Bible prophecy was fulfilled by AD 70. Adherents of Preterism are commonly known as Preterists.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preterism
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If you've read all this then you've had a lot to take in, a lot! But mostly history and not Bible studying. The two go hand in hand with prophecy as we've stated and will continue to state.
The history proves that this isn't some NEW fad thought up by someone but rather these beliefs began a long, long time ago and as time continued on the puzzle pieces continued to be put into the puzzle and the picture has grown clearer and clearer.
Our Savior would have us WATCHING and PRAYING!
We are watching!
Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Found watching. Don't you want to be found watching? I want to be found watching!
Please Lord find us watching for you! Find us watching as the prophecies You have given us are fulfilled. Find us watching as you instruct us to watch. Lord we need You, we need Your guidance. We need Your enlightenment. We need the Holy Spirit to touch our hearts and minds, opening our understanding. Please Lord as we continue to study Your prophecies help us, bless us!
By Your amazing love! By Your grace! Only through YOU!
Amen.
We can't ignore the birth of Jesus, as being a prophecy fulfilled. Nor can we ignore the fact that those who were given that sacred trust completely overlooked it when it happened, why? Because they'd tried to interpret the prophecies to fit the meaning they desired. The rulership of Israel was looking for a conquering Messiah. The priesthood was waiting for their great expectation of a liberating man of God. The people had been convinced that a hero, a king was going to come to free them and they had their prime example in Moses. They wanted another Moses only this time they were expecting a liberator that would free them once and for all, and put all others, all the gentiles under subjection to them. Do you know, this is what Israel still expects today. They've refused to look at the prophecies in the light of history and watch how miraculously, and meticulously the key points have been met. They refuse to believe prophecy has been fulfilled and where does that leave them? Lost.
We dare not do the same.
What do I mean? We believe in Jesus so there is no chance of us not believing in His birth, death, and resurrection, right? Right. There's no chance we'll ever dismiss Jesus as the Son of God, our Messiah, our King, our Lord, and Savior. However it is very possible that we will do the same with this Little Horn power. People do NOT want to believe things are other than they've been taught to imagine.
People have grown up on the belief that the Antichrist is just a single person.
Do you know where this belief comes from?
Read this first--
'Many Protestant reformers, including Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer, John Knox, and Cotton Mather, identified the Roman Papacy as the Antichrist.[31] The Centuriators of Magdeburg, a group of Lutheran scholars in Magdeburg headed by Matthias Flacius, wrote the 12-volume "Magdeburg Centuries" to discredit the papacy and identify the pope as the Antichrist.'
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'The view of Futurism, a product of the Counter-Reformation, was advanced beginning in the 16th century in response to the identification of the Papacy as Antichrist. Francisco Ribera, a Jesuit priest, developed this theory in In Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli, & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij, his 1585 treatise on the Apocalypse of John. St. Bellarmine codified this view, giving in full the Catholic theory set forth by the Greek and Latin Fathers, of a personal Antichrist to come just before the end of the world and to be accepted by the Jews and enthroned in the temple at Jerusalem — thus endeavoring to dispose of the exposition which saw Antichrist in the pope.'
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We need to discuss Futurism, we need to discuss this personal Antichrist because SO many are caught up in this they've failed to realize this was something the PAPACY instigated to counter Biblical proofs from - Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer, John Knox, and Cotton Mather.
We've already studied to reveal the Papacy as the Little Horn power which would exist until our Savior returns. We've studied at great lengths and it adds up as NO other adds up.
History has proven this even beyond what those men of the reformation identified the Papacy as being the Antichrist. The Papacy labeled those who believed this as heretics and they had to come up with something to counter this and that something was…futurism.
* (Please take the time to really read the following information, even go as far to look things up for yourself because the internet is at your fingertips and studying all this is a necessity.)
'Futurism' is the idea of a future figure anti-Christ such as a Damien Thorn of the Omen movies' , developed by Jesuits as a distraction from 'Historicism' of the anti-Christ as the historical Roman Catholic Church
From http://www.lmn.org/magazine/170/Jesuits.html
'At the Council of Trent, the Jesuits were commissioned by the Pope to develop a new interpretation of Scripture that would counteract the Protestant application of the Bible’s Antichrist prophecies to the Roman Catholic Church. Francisco Ribera (1537-1591), a brilliant Jesuit priest and doctor of theology from Spain, basically said, “Here am I, send me.” Like Martin Luther, Francisco Ribera also read by candlelight the prophecies about the Antichrist, the little horn, that man of sin, and the Beast. But because of his dedication and allegiance to the Pope, he came to conclusions vastly different from those of the Protestants. “Why, these prophecies don’t apply to the Catholic Church at all!” Ribera said. Then to whom do they apply? Ribera proclaimed, “To only one sinister man who will rise up at the end of time!” “Fantastic!” was the reply from Rome, and this viewpoint was quickly adopted as the official Roman Catholic position on the Antichrist.
*
“In 1590, Ribera published a commentary on the Revelation as a counter-interpretation to the prevailing view among Protestants which identified the Papacy with the Antichrist. Ribera applied all of Revelation but the earliest chapters to the end time rather than to the history of the Church. Antichrist would be a single evil person who would be received by the Jews and would rebuild Jerusalem.”5 “Ribera denied the Protestant Scriptural Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2) as seated in the church of God—asserted by Augustine, Jerome, Luther and many reformers. He set on an infidel Antichrist, outside the church of God.”6 “The result of his work [Ribera’s] was a twisting and maligning of prophetic truth.”7
Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, who helped popularize and propagate the futuristic interpretation of biblical prophecy.
Following close behind Francisco Ribera was another brilliant Jesuit scholar, Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) of Rome. Between 1581 and 1593, Cardinal Bellarmine published his “Polemic Lectures Concerning the Disputed Points of the Christian Belief Against the Heretics of This Time.” In these lectures, he agreed with Ribera. “The futurist teachings of Ribera were further popularized by an Italian cardinal and the most renowned of all Jesuit controversialists. His writings claimed that Paul, Daniel, and John had nothing whatsoever to say about the Papal power. The futurists’ school won general acceptance among Catholics. They were taught that Antichrist was a single individual who would not rule until the very end of time.”8 Through the work of these two tricky Jesuit scholars, we might say that a brand new baby was born into the world. Protestant historians have given this baby a name—Jesuit Futurism. In fact, Francisco Ribera has been called the Father of Futurism.
Futurism in America
One of the most important figures in this whole drama is Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843-1921), a Kansas lawyer who was greatly influenced by the writings of Darby. In 1909, Scofield published the first edition of his famous Scofield Reference Bible. In the early 1900s, this Bible became so popular in American Protestant Bible schools that it was necessary to print literally millions of copies. Yet, in the much-respected footnotes of this very Bible, Scofield injected large doses of the fluid of Futurism also found in the writings of Darby, Todd, Maitland, Bellarmine, and Ribera. Through the Scofield Bible, the Jesuit child reached young adulthood. The doctrine of an Antichrist still to come was becoming firmly established inside 20th-century American Protestantism.
Cyrus Scofield, the famed publisher of the Scofield Reference Bible, liberally interspersed the footnotes of his Bible with large doses of Futurism. These footnotes are still widely accepted by many theologians today.
The Moody Bible Institute and the Dallas Theological Seminary have strongly supported the teachings of John Nelson Darby, and this has continued to fuel Futurism’s growth. Then in the 1970s, Pastor Hal Lindsey, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, released his blockbuster book The Late Great Planet Earth. This 177-page, easy-to-read volume brought Futurism to the masses of American Christianity, and beyond. The New York Times labeled it “The number one best-seller of the decade.” Over 30 million copies have been sold, and it has been translated into over 30 languages. Through The Late Great Planet Earth, Jesuit Futurism took a strong hold over the Protestant Christian world.
Left Behind
Now we have Left Behind. In the 1990s, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins took the future one-man Antichrist idea of Hal Lindsey, Scofield, Darby, Irving, Newman, Todd, Maitland, Bellarmine, and Ribera, and turned it into “The most successful Christian-fiction series ever” (Publishers Weekly). Hal Lindsey’s book, The Late Great Planet Earth, was largely theological, which limited its appeal, while Left Behind is a sequence of highly imaginative novels, “overflowing with suspense, action, and adventure,” a “Christian thriller,” with a “label its creators could never have predicted: blockbuster success” (Entertainment Weekly). The much-respected television ministries of Jack Van Impe, Peter and Paul Lalonde, and Pastor John Hagee, have all worked together to produce LEFT BEHIND: The Movie. The entire project has even caught the attention of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, resulting in an interview of LaHaye and Jenkins on Larry King Live. The Left Behind books have been made available on displays at WalMart, Fry’s Electronics, and inside countless other stores.
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Francisco Ribera
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francisco Ribera (1537–1591) was a Jesuit doctor of theology, born in Spain. He began writing a lengthy (500 page) commentary in 1585 on the book of Revelation (Apocalypse) titled In Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli, & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij, and published it about the year 1590. He died in 1591 at the age of fifty-four, so he was not able to expand on his work or write any other commentaries on Revelation. In order to remove the Catholic Church from consideration as the antichrist, Ribera proposed that the first few chapters of the Apocalypse applied to ancient pagan Rome, and the rest he limited to a yet future period of 3½ literal years, immediately prior to the second coming. During that time, the Roman Catholic Church would have fallen away from the pope into apostasy. Then, he proposed, the antichrist, a single individual, would:
Persecute and blaspheme the saints of God.
Rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Abolish the Christian religion.
Deny Jesus Christ.
Be received by the Jews.
Pretend to be God.
Kill the two witnesses of God.
Conquer the world.
So, according to Ribera, the 1260 days and 42 months and 3½ times of prophecy were not 1260 years as based on the year-day principle (Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6), but a literal 3½ years. Therefore, none of the book of Revelation had any application to the Middle Ages or the papacy, but to the future; to a period immediately prior to the second coming, hence the name Futurism. If this interpretation is correct, the reading and exposition of Revelation is unnecessary; a position that is in direct opposition to the reason it was written (Rev. 1:1-3).
The Futuristic system of interpretation was instigated by the Council of Trent (1545–1563) as a response to the Protestant reformation. Jesuit priests, Francisco Ribera and Robert Bellarmine, over several decades, developed the proposition that everything in Revelation from chapters 4-22 was to come to pass sometime in the future, thereby removing all incriminating interpretations against the Papacy. The Historicist method of interpretation had been building for 1500 years with input, argument, and discussion from hundreds of scholars, scientists, and theologians (most of which were Catholic). However, the Counter-Reformation solution proposed by Ribera and Bellarmine was in direct conflict with Peter's clear statement, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." 2 Peter 1:20, according to Froom (1948, Vols. 2, 3)
The first Protestant to accept and espouse Futurism was Samuel Roffey Maitland (1792–1866) curate of Christ Church, Gloucester, who wrote a 72 page pamphlet in 1826 denouncing the year-day principle. Even though many defended the traditional historical positions, Futurism became more and more popular with Protestants, especially after the printing of the Scofield Reference Bible about 1900. (Froom, 1948, Vols. 3, 4)
[edit] References
Ralph Thompson, Champions of Christianity in Search of Truth, p. 91.
H. Grattan Guinness, History Unveiling Prophecy or Time as an Interpreter, New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1905, p. 289.
The Incredible Cover-Up: Exposing the Origins of Rapture Theories, by Dave MacPherson. Omega Publications, Medford Oregon. 1980.
Leroy Edwin Froom, The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers: The Historical Development of Prophetic Interpretation, Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1948, Vol. 2, pp. 486–493, Vol. 3, pp. 533, 655, 731, Vol. 4, 1195, 1196, 1204.
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The opposite of Futurism is Preterism- Not future but past, all the prophecy has been fulfilled in the past- something that absolutely IS NOT supported by prophecy!
'Preterism is a Christian eschatological view that interprets prophecies of the Bible, especially Daniel and Revelation, as events which have already happened in the first century A.D. Preterism holds that Ancient Israel finds its continuation or fulfillment in the Christian church at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. The term preterism comes from the Latin praeter, which is listed in Webster's 1913 dictionary as a prefix denoting that something is "past" or "beyond," signifying that either all or a majority of Bible prophecy was fulfilled by AD 70. Adherents of Preterism are commonly known as Preterists.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preterism
*
If you've read all this then you've had a lot to take in, a lot! But mostly history and not Bible studying. The two go hand in hand with prophecy as we've stated and will continue to state.
The history proves that this isn't some NEW fad thought up by someone but rather these beliefs began a long, long time ago and as time continued on the puzzle pieces continued to be put into the puzzle and the picture has grown clearer and clearer.
Our Savior would have us WATCHING and PRAYING!
We are watching!
Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Found watching. Don't you want to be found watching? I want to be found watching!
Please Lord find us watching for you! Find us watching as the prophecies You have given us are fulfilled. Find us watching as you instruct us to watch. Lord we need You, we need Your guidance. We need Your enlightenment. We need the Holy Spirit to touch our hearts and minds, opening our understanding. Please Lord as we continue to study Your prophecies help us, bless us!
By Your amazing love! By Your grace! Only through YOU!
Amen.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Viewed in the Light of Eternity
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
We just studied this yesterday so why are we back here? I'll tell you why we are back here. We're back here because yesterday we talked about taking heed of three snares in our lives, but I just don't think we talked enough. I haven't forgotten the prophecy study we are on, but that prophecy study needs to be interspersed with the life lessons that we need to understand because what good does it do for us to understand the end is coming and the Bible prophecy is real if we aren't prepared for that end?
Life is one long learning process for us. Even those caught up in a mundane routine that never seems to vary- they too are constantly learning on some level. Every moment of our existence is a chance to live for Christ or not to live for Christ. Really, this is ALL that matters in our life- God. Before you start freaking out and naming all the things that are important, ask yourself this, do any of those things matter without God? Seriously, does good health matter unless you are God's? Does the health of your children matter if they can't see God in your life and have God themselves? Does having money, a job, a home matter if you do not know Jesus in your life as your Savior? All those things exist without God in your life- they don't disappear the moment you turn on God or if you've never accepted God. The same problems, the same pleasures, the same you exists but when you have God your spiritual dimension changes and as your spiritual dimension alters then it can affect other parts of your life- not necessarily changing the existence of things so much as changing how you might view them. Viewing things in the light of eternity, viewing things in light of forever living with God, viewing things with the understanding that NOW is only temporary changes perspectives. Does accepting our Savior mean you will suddenly love mushrooms if you despised them before? No. Does accepting our Savior mean you will suddenly no longer be annoyed at head-banging music as you were before? No. Accepting our Savior begins a new life- a spiritual life and just like our physical lives our spiritual lives will go through transformations, our spiritual lives will suffer from that refining process we are all called to go through. We will have spiritual growing pains and NO two people will have the same experience.
Yesterday we talked about being overcharged with:
Surfeiting
Drunkenness
Cares of this life
And one of the things we mentioned was how EVERYONE is vulnerable to these three snares of Satan. The whole world has the potential of being ensnared by a trap laid by the Devil himself and brought up into wonderful fullness. The Devil has made these snaring points what we generally just call 'life' today. His snare is our life. You can't get much more deceptive than that, can you? Oh well, that's life. That's just how it is. Can't change things. Things just keep getting worse. How to handle this, how to handle that, how to deal with life. Life for Dummies. The 911 on Life. Accept it, you can't alter it. Go with the flow. Modern thought. Current times. Keep up with evolution. Advance in acceptance. Don't be old school. New times. This day and age. Be informed. The newest trend. And the list goes on and on and forever on doesn't it?
Do we REALLY believe that our modern world with all it's advancements haven't come at a price?
Do we teach eternal life? Do we prepare our children for the real life possible for them to possess in Christ? Forget all about everything else and think about the reality of Christ's return to take us with Him. Do we LIVE with this as a REALITY?
Take heed.
Watch and Pray.
IF… and I really shouldn't even use that word…but I will because I'm not going to presume you aren't in a place of watching and praying as you take heed. If you find yourself caught up being overcharged with any one of those three things mentioned, or with two of them, or all three- what are you going to do? Will the third thing- cares of this life swell to gigantic proportions to envelope the other two? Or maybe drunkenness, drugs, intoxicating influences will be what inflates to deal with the other two. Perhaps you'll just indulge like never before in eating or other self-pleasures of your choosing to the point you think you care less about anything else so you're not caught up in those old life cares, right?
Vile and vicious, insidious, and spiritually-flesh eating, these three things have an incalculable number of tendrils snaking out every which way weaving in and out of our lives at any given moment trying to keep us from ever being free in Christ.
So…
Examine your life. Do it. Go on. Examine your life. Take an introspective walk through your last day. Do you notice points where any of those three snares might have you? You do? Good, good. Now do you feel a slight sense of despair at ever being snare free feeling you?
Think about this- overcharged heart.
This didn't say you can NEVER do anything for yourself in any way.
This didn't say you can NEVER drink.
This didn't say you can NEVER care about anything at all in life.
This said OVERCHARGED with these things. Letting our LIVES revolve around these things. Letting these things consume our lives! Letting these things become our lives!
We can't despair, Satan wants that more than anything. Satan wants us to despair to the point of losing all hope.
If you are trapped in any of these things or all of them, there is HOPE. CHRIST is our HOPE! We find our freedom from the snares only in CHRIST and no other place.
1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mar 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
1Co 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions
1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
This is the counsel we have been given. We can choose to ignore it. We can choose to make a half-hearted attempt at a life in Christ. We can choose to keep the snare about us and deceive ourselves if we want that and many will want that. The life Christ calls us to isn't one of worldliness in any way. If we want the world and Christ it's just not going to work at all, not really, no matter how much we want it to. Satan has packaged this world in a pretty, very enticing wrapping completely with ribbons and bows the only thing he hasn't done is sign the gift card because he wants us to be deceived.
Our life cannot be mostly worldly with a pinch of Jesus. Our lives have to be mostly Jesus with a pinch of the world and only that pinch because we have to live in this world- even Jesus understood that we had to live here and He prayed to His Father to have us kept from evil while we were living in this world.
This must be our prayer, keep us from evil Lord, keep us from anything that would keep us from You! Let us NOT be deceived. Help us to watch, to take heed to all that we need to so that we may be with you, that we may rise to meet You in the air when You come for us. Please Lord, all by Your grace! All by your mercy! All through Your righteousness in Your amazing LOVE, by Your Son, through forgiveness He gives to us.
Please Lord.
Please.
Amen.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
We just studied this yesterday so why are we back here? I'll tell you why we are back here. We're back here because yesterday we talked about taking heed of three snares in our lives, but I just don't think we talked enough. I haven't forgotten the prophecy study we are on, but that prophecy study needs to be interspersed with the life lessons that we need to understand because what good does it do for us to understand the end is coming and the Bible prophecy is real if we aren't prepared for that end?
Life is one long learning process for us. Even those caught up in a mundane routine that never seems to vary- they too are constantly learning on some level. Every moment of our existence is a chance to live for Christ or not to live for Christ. Really, this is ALL that matters in our life- God. Before you start freaking out and naming all the things that are important, ask yourself this, do any of those things matter without God? Seriously, does good health matter unless you are God's? Does the health of your children matter if they can't see God in your life and have God themselves? Does having money, a job, a home matter if you do not know Jesus in your life as your Savior? All those things exist without God in your life- they don't disappear the moment you turn on God or if you've never accepted God. The same problems, the same pleasures, the same you exists but when you have God your spiritual dimension changes and as your spiritual dimension alters then it can affect other parts of your life- not necessarily changing the existence of things so much as changing how you might view them. Viewing things in the light of eternity, viewing things in light of forever living with God, viewing things with the understanding that NOW is only temporary changes perspectives. Does accepting our Savior mean you will suddenly love mushrooms if you despised them before? No. Does accepting our Savior mean you will suddenly no longer be annoyed at head-banging music as you were before? No. Accepting our Savior begins a new life- a spiritual life and just like our physical lives our spiritual lives will go through transformations, our spiritual lives will suffer from that refining process we are all called to go through. We will have spiritual growing pains and NO two people will have the same experience.
Yesterday we talked about being overcharged with:
Surfeiting
Drunkenness
Cares of this life
And one of the things we mentioned was how EVERYONE is vulnerable to these three snares of Satan. The whole world has the potential of being ensnared by a trap laid by the Devil himself and brought up into wonderful fullness. The Devil has made these snaring points what we generally just call 'life' today. His snare is our life. You can't get much more deceptive than that, can you? Oh well, that's life. That's just how it is. Can't change things. Things just keep getting worse. How to handle this, how to handle that, how to deal with life. Life for Dummies. The 911 on Life. Accept it, you can't alter it. Go with the flow. Modern thought. Current times. Keep up with evolution. Advance in acceptance. Don't be old school. New times. This day and age. Be informed. The newest trend. And the list goes on and on and forever on doesn't it?
Do we REALLY believe that our modern world with all it's advancements haven't come at a price?
Do we teach eternal life? Do we prepare our children for the real life possible for them to possess in Christ? Forget all about everything else and think about the reality of Christ's return to take us with Him. Do we LIVE with this as a REALITY?
Take heed.
Watch and Pray.
IF… and I really shouldn't even use that word…but I will because I'm not going to presume you aren't in a place of watching and praying as you take heed. If you find yourself caught up being overcharged with any one of those three things mentioned, or with two of them, or all three- what are you going to do? Will the third thing- cares of this life swell to gigantic proportions to envelope the other two? Or maybe drunkenness, drugs, intoxicating influences will be what inflates to deal with the other two. Perhaps you'll just indulge like never before in eating or other self-pleasures of your choosing to the point you think you care less about anything else so you're not caught up in those old life cares, right?
Vile and vicious, insidious, and spiritually-flesh eating, these three things have an incalculable number of tendrils snaking out every which way weaving in and out of our lives at any given moment trying to keep us from ever being free in Christ.
So…
Examine your life. Do it. Go on. Examine your life. Take an introspective walk through your last day. Do you notice points where any of those three snares might have you? You do? Good, good. Now do you feel a slight sense of despair at ever being snare free feeling you?
Think about this- overcharged heart.
This didn't say you can NEVER do anything for yourself in any way.
This didn't say you can NEVER drink.
This didn't say you can NEVER care about anything at all in life.
This said OVERCHARGED with these things. Letting our LIVES revolve around these things. Letting these things consume our lives! Letting these things become our lives!
We can't despair, Satan wants that more than anything. Satan wants us to despair to the point of losing all hope.
If you are trapped in any of these things or all of them, there is HOPE. CHRIST is our HOPE! We find our freedom from the snares only in CHRIST and no other place.
1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mar 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
1Co 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions
1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
This is the counsel we have been given. We can choose to ignore it. We can choose to make a half-hearted attempt at a life in Christ. We can choose to keep the snare about us and deceive ourselves if we want that and many will want that. The life Christ calls us to isn't one of worldliness in any way. If we want the world and Christ it's just not going to work at all, not really, no matter how much we want it to. Satan has packaged this world in a pretty, very enticing wrapping completely with ribbons and bows the only thing he hasn't done is sign the gift card because he wants us to be deceived.
Our life cannot be mostly worldly with a pinch of Jesus. Our lives have to be mostly Jesus with a pinch of the world and only that pinch because we have to live in this world- even Jesus understood that we had to live here and He prayed to His Father to have us kept from evil while we were living in this world.
This must be our prayer, keep us from evil Lord, keep us from anything that would keep us from You! Let us NOT be deceived. Help us to watch, to take heed to all that we need to so that we may be with you, that we may rise to meet You in the air when You come for us. Please Lord, all by Your grace! All by your mercy! All through Your righteousness in Your amazing LOVE, by Your Son, through forgiveness He gives to us.
Please Lord.
Please.
Amen.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Do You Dwell On The Earth? Then take heed.
Stupid question? Well, maybe but guess what there is SNARE that is coming to all that dwell on earth, every last single human being. What sort of snare? The sort that will keep you from eternal life in Christ. Sounds fictional and fanatical? I didn't write it, Jesus did.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
For context maybe we need to read a bit more.
Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Luk 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luk 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luk 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Luk 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Luk 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luk 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
How is that for context?
Wait, how can this be? Jesus said it all way back then to His disciples. Jesus said all He said then to ALL of us right up until the end of time and if we don't believe this then we've got a huge problem starting with salvation.
We are to TAKE heed to ourselves. We aren't to look at others and take heed to them, but take heed to ourselves. We can control what we do, but not what another does, right? Right.
We are taking heed to ourselves - watching ourselves- lest at ANY TIME our HEARTS are overcharged with surfeiting- excess, fullness, bloating, over indulgence, lest at ANY TIME our HEARTS be overcharged with drunkenness, lest at ANY TIME our hearts be overcharged with cares of this life.
These THREE things can entrap us, can be a snare for us. These THREE things can cause the day of Salvation to come upon us unaware. These THREE things are so insidious they trap us for who? Whose snare is being set? Someone has to lay the trap for there to even be one, right? A trap, a snare, isn't put in place unless someone is hunting for something, right? Seriously. Would I lay a snare down to trap something if I didn't want to trap *that* particular something? Would the snare suddenly be there without anyone at all putting it there? No. Snares are put in place by a person wanting to entrap something. So this ALL encompassing snare that has the potential to ensnare ALL that dwell on the face of the whole earth, who put it there?
A snare is… anything that traps or entangles someone or something unaware. It's to capture by trickery.
Someone wants to trick all the inhabitants of the whole earth. Someone wants to trap every human being in existence. Who?
Who is invested in people NOT obtaining salvation in Christ? Who has a stake in people NOT spending eternity with Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior? Someone does. Someone wants this and someone has worked exceedingly long and hard setting up His snare.
2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Recover out of the SNARE of the DEVIL- WHO are taken CAPTIVE by HIM at HIS will.
The devil wants us! The Devil has laid a snare for us!
The Devil lays the snare that will come upon all who are on earth. All of us. Every single one of us will has the potential to be ensnared and the ONLY thing that will stop this from happening is if we TAKE HEED TO OURSELVES.
People don't like to take heed to themselves. People LOVE living in excess, living beyond their means, living extravagantly, even poor people love living this way and don't think they don't. They'll take their money and believe they have to spend it selfishly because hey, you only live once. I'm not saying all people do this, not by a long shot. But over all we are raised to be self-centered by our society. Our society tells us we aren't happy unless we have *things* lots of things, various things, things everyone has. What household doesn't have a television? Very, very few. What household doesn't have a computer? Again, very, very few. What household doesn't have some sort of entertainment be it radio, mp3 player, Ipod, books- yes, books. Not all books are of God- not by a LONG shot! We like to be able to take our minds off things, to unwind, to de-stress, to just do what we please at least for a portion of our day. Is this wrong? We've convinced ourselves it isn't wrong so it would do no good whatsoever for me to say otherwise. People live for their weekends, their vacations, their retirements, believing that is what all their hard work is for- the time off to enjoy all that they've earned. Enjoyment has become the thing we seek above all else, feeling that sensation of pleasure in food, drink, play. Self-gratification.
Taking heed that we are NOT overcharged with self indulgence. But not only that… taking heed that we are NOT overcharged with the cares of this life.
We are a world of neurotics, aren't we? We are a world of worriers, yes? We are a world of obsessing people. We are a world of medicating people who love to drug ourselves senseless so we don't feel, so we don't overly care, so we don't have to worry -- why, because the CARES OF THIS LIFE have taken over us. We are overcharged with the cares of this life. So maybe you don't drink, and maybe you're not obsessed with self-indulgence, but perhaps you are caught up with the cares of this life. What do you think? Do you think, as I do, that the majority of people can fit into one or more of these categories? Let's be honest with ourselves, really, really honest, no matter how much the East rants and raves about the West being capitalistic and self-absorbed- the East is just the same. The names might be changed but the people are the same everywhere. While there is ranting and raving on both sides the unfortunate truth is self-centeredness is something we all need to take heed to.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
We have to watch and pray always!
We can only escape all the things that will come to pass and stand before our Savior - if we take HEED to ourselves.
I don't think we take enough heed to ourselves, we need to take a lot more heed, a lot more!!! And most of all we need to WATCH and PRAY always!
Watch ourselves- be honest with ourselves- and pray, pray, pray to be accounted worthy- in Christ! Worthy through Him to escape!
By His grace! By His mercy may we be His completely and totally. May we take heed to ourselves without any pretenses whatsoever. In His LOVE!
Amen.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
For context maybe we need to read a bit more.
Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Luk 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luk 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luk 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Luk 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Luk 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luk 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
How is that for context?
Wait, how can this be? Jesus said it all way back then to His disciples. Jesus said all He said then to ALL of us right up until the end of time and if we don't believe this then we've got a huge problem starting with salvation.
We are to TAKE heed to ourselves. We aren't to look at others and take heed to them, but take heed to ourselves. We can control what we do, but not what another does, right? Right.
We are taking heed to ourselves - watching ourselves- lest at ANY TIME our HEARTS are overcharged with surfeiting- excess, fullness, bloating, over indulgence, lest at ANY TIME our HEARTS be overcharged with drunkenness, lest at ANY TIME our hearts be overcharged with cares of this life.
These THREE things can entrap us, can be a snare for us. These THREE things can cause the day of Salvation to come upon us unaware. These THREE things are so insidious they trap us for who? Whose snare is being set? Someone has to lay the trap for there to even be one, right? A trap, a snare, isn't put in place unless someone is hunting for something, right? Seriously. Would I lay a snare down to trap something if I didn't want to trap *that* particular something? Would the snare suddenly be there without anyone at all putting it there? No. Snares are put in place by a person wanting to entrap something. So this ALL encompassing snare that has the potential to ensnare ALL that dwell on the face of the whole earth, who put it there?
A snare is… anything that traps or entangles someone or something unaware. It's to capture by trickery.
Someone wants to trick all the inhabitants of the whole earth. Someone wants to trap every human being in existence. Who?
Who is invested in people NOT obtaining salvation in Christ? Who has a stake in people NOT spending eternity with Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior? Someone does. Someone wants this and someone has worked exceedingly long and hard setting up His snare.
2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Recover out of the SNARE of the DEVIL- WHO are taken CAPTIVE by HIM at HIS will.
The devil wants us! The Devil has laid a snare for us!
The Devil lays the snare that will come upon all who are on earth. All of us. Every single one of us will has the potential to be ensnared and the ONLY thing that will stop this from happening is if we TAKE HEED TO OURSELVES.
People don't like to take heed to themselves. People LOVE living in excess, living beyond their means, living extravagantly, even poor people love living this way and don't think they don't. They'll take their money and believe they have to spend it selfishly because hey, you only live once. I'm not saying all people do this, not by a long shot. But over all we are raised to be self-centered by our society. Our society tells us we aren't happy unless we have *things* lots of things, various things, things everyone has. What household doesn't have a television? Very, very few. What household doesn't have a computer? Again, very, very few. What household doesn't have some sort of entertainment be it radio, mp3 player, Ipod, books- yes, books. Not all books are of God- not by a LONG shot! We like to be able to take our minds off things, to unwind, to de-stress, to just do what we please at least for a portion of our day. Is this wrong? We've convinced ourselves it isn't wrong so it would do no good whatsoever for me to say otherwise. People live for their weekends, their vacations, their retirements, believing that is what all their hard work is for- the time off to enjoy all that they've earned. Enjoyment has become the thing we seek above all else, feeling that sensation of pleasure in food, drink, play. Self-gratification.
Taking heed that we are NOT overcharged with self indulgence. But not only that… taking heed that we are NOT overcharged with the cares of this life.
We are a world of neurotics, aren't we? We are a world of worriers, yes? We are a world of obsessing people. We are a world of medicating people who love to drug ourselves senseless so we don't feel, so we don't overly care, so we don't have to worry -- why, because the CARES OF THIS LIFE have taken over us. We are overcharged with the cares of this life. So maybe you don't drink, and maybe you're not obsessed with self-indulgence, but perhaps you are caught up with the cares of this life. What do you think? Do you think, as I do, that the majority of people can fit into one or more of these categories? Let's be honest with ourselves, really, really honest, no matter how much the East rants and raves about the West being capitalistic and self-absorbed- the East is just the same. The names might be changed but the people are the same everywhere. While there is ranting and raving on both sides the unfortunate truth is self-centeredness is something we all need to take heed to.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
We have to watch and pray always!
We can only escape all the things that will come to pass and stand before our Savior - if we take HEED to ourselves.
I don't think we take enough heed to ourselves, we need to take a lot more heed, a lot more!!! And most of all we need to WATCH and PRAY always!
Watch ourselves- be honest with ourselves- and pray, pray, pray to be accounted worthy- in Christ! Worthy through Him to escape!
By His grace! By His mercy may we be His completely and totally. May we take heed to ourselves without any pretenses whatsoever. In His LOVE!
Amen.
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