Prophecy - 36

Yesterday we discuss Daniel 11: 1- 4 which brought us right up to Alexander the Great's divided kingdom.


How many main compass directions are there? North, South, East and West, right? So when we read this next verse we have to keep in mind that we'd just discuss the divided kingdoms.


Dan 11:5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.


How was Alexander the Great's kingdom divided to the South, North, East, West? We need a starting point don't we? Well, because we are reading from our Bible and this is Biblical prophecy it only seems sensible to use the Holy City, the city from which Daniel had been taken, Jerusalem.


• The following is taken from a site online but it sums it up nicely- if you go to the site you'll see a map and chart.



North
-taken by Lysimachus- Thrace, Asia Minor
Later conquerered by Seleucus (281)
Roman rule-Pompey (63 BC)


South
- taken by Ptolemy- Egypt, Palestine,
Roman rule- Octavian (31 BC)


East
-taken by Seleucus- Syria, Babylon, Persia,
Later conquered by Ptolemy Ceraunus
Roman rule- Pompey (63 BC)


West
-taken by Cassander- Greece, Macedonia,
Later conquered by Lysimachus (288)
Roman rule- Aemilius Paullus (168)


After the death of Alexander without an heir, the Greek empire was eventually divided among four successors. Ptolemy, Seleucus and Lysimachus were his generals and Cassander was the son of his general Antipater.

After a while, the empire was reduced to a northern and southern kingdom.

Diadochi Wars.

SOUTH

The Greeks started a new dynasty of kings (Ptolemies) in Egypt. They were defeated in the battle of Actium in 31 BC.

NORTH

The generals in the north were at war.
• Lysimachus. In 288 BC, Lysimachus allied with Pyrrhus of Epirus and invaded Macedonia then he expelled Pyrrhus in 285. Now he controlled Greece, Macedonia, Thrace and Asia Minor.
• Seleucus 1 Nicantor. In 281 BC, he killed Lysimachus in the battle of Corupedion. Now everything except Egypt belonged to him, but not for long.
• Ptolemy Ceraunus. In 281 BC, he murdered Seleucus 1 Nicantor and controlled the north.


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So now we have to advance with this prophecy and history-


Dan 11:5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.


The king of the South- Egypt- this king would be strong but another would be stronger than Him and have a greater dominion than he does. Does this reflect history? The ruler who took over Egypt was Ptolemy, let's see what history reveals.

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'Seleucus I (given the surname by later generations of Nicator, i.e. Seleucus the Victor) (ca. 358 BC – 281 BC) was a Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great and one of the Diadochi. In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire. His kingdom would be one of the last holdouts of Alexander's former empire to Roman rule.

They were only outlived by the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt by roughly 34 years.

After the death of Alexander, Seleucus was nominated as the satrap of Babylon in 320 BC. Antigonus forced Seleucus to flee from Babylon, but, supported by Ptolemy, he was able to return in 312 BC.

Seleucus' later conquests include Persia and Media. He formed an alliance with the Indian King Chandragupta Maurya. Seleucus defeated Antigonus in the battle of Ipsus in 301 BC and Lysimachus in the battle of Corupedium in 281 BC. He was assassinated by Ptolemy Ceraunus during the same year. His successor was his son Antiochus I.

Seleucus founded a number of new cities, including Antioch and Seleucia.'


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Seleucus was supported by Ptolemy and went on to form a greater empire than Ptolemy. This holds true to prophecy. The king of Egypt supported (one of his princes) Seleucus and then he went on to be strong above the king of Egypt garnering more land through his conquests. This divide took the four (N,E,S,W) and the split was more between two (N,S).


Now it is incredibly important to understand that the kingdoms of these various directional divisions N,S are the focus. The land of the North, the land of the South- we cannot logically keep it to the ruling kings of the time because it would make absolutely no sense whatsoever. The land has to be the main focus. We understand that those who controlled the divided kingdom, not by happenstance, split it between North and South by design, God's design.


So when Seleucus died not long after gaining his great kingdom encompassing much of the Northern territory that had once belonged to the conquering Alexander the Great, the lands fell to his successor and they become the *kings* of that territory.


Now let's look at the next verse--


Dan 11:6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.


This is very detailed. The king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement- did this happen? Yes.


'Berenice, also called Berenice Syra, was the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus and his first wife Arsinoe I of Egypt.
In 261 BC she married the Seleucid monarch Antiochus II Theos (King of the North), who, following an agreement with Ptolemy(King of the South) (249 BC), had divorced his wife Laodice I and transferred the succession to Berenice's children.'

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HISTORY! PROPHECY!


Berenice daughter of Ptolemy (King of the South) married the Selecuid (Seleucus') monarch Antiochus II Theos(King of the North)- following an AGREEMENT with the king of the south to divorce his current wife and give all succession to the daughter of the South's children.


That's not all of it though. The verse goes on-- ' but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times. '


The daughter would NOT retain power- they would not stand- they would be given up that brought her and begat her and strengethened her- read this….


'In 246 BC, when Ptolemy died, Antiochus II took up again with his first wife, Laodice. The Syrian King died shortly after, many suspect from poisoning. Queen Berenice claimed the Regency for her son, Seleucus and conquered Soloia with her army, however, she and her son were both poisoned by Laodice as well. Berenice's brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes succeeded their father and set about to avenge his sister's murder by invading Syria and having Laodice killed.'

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The daughter of the king of the South did NOT stay in power with the king of the North- the king of the North brought back his first wife. Then the king of the North died and the first wife claimed everything for her son- even going on to kill the daughter of the king of the South and her children, and her entire entourage that had come with her from the South. Such treachery and all predicted by Daniel's prophecies, God's prophecies through Daniel.


Let's read more of this fascinating history predicted LONG before it occurred.


Dan 11:7 But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
Dan 11:8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.
Dan 11:9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.


Out from the fallen daughter of the king of the South (Berenice) came her family to avenge her. Just reread a bit of the history already noted above--

'Berenice's brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes succeeded their father and set about to avenge his sister's murder by invading Syria and having Laodice killed.'

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Berenice's brother - King of the South avenged the death of his sister and the murdering Laodice was killed.


'Due to a falling out at the Seleucid court, his eldest sister Berenice Phernophorus was murdered along with her infant son. In response Ptolemy III invaded Syria.[6] During this war, the Third Syrian War, he occupied Antioch and even reached Babylon.[7] In exchange for a peace in 241 BC, Ptolemy was awarded new territories on the northern coast of Syria, including Seleucia Pieria, the port of Antioch. The Ptolemaic kingdom reached the height of its power.'

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The king of the South went into the kingdom of the North and he gained much- 'awarded new territories' , the kingdoms of the South reached the HEIGHT of its power.


Amazing facts! Amazing truths! Amazing history! Amazing prophecies!


There is no doubt to be left here, the pieces once again fit into place.


Why is it so important that we piece together the prophecy with history? Because it will lead us right up to the end… to prophecy not yet filled.


We have to remember though, and remember it good- there will come a time when God's people will be living in the last prophecies, they will, or maybe I should say -we will, be living as prophecy is being fulfilled. We are blessed with being able to watch and pray. We are blessed with being able to discern the signs of the times we live in. All through history people had to live through prophecies as they were fulfilled- and only as we've looked back can we see where things have come to pass as predicted, but at the end there will be no looking back. It's so important for us to piece this together as God allows, as the Holy Spirit guides us so we can understand our own position in prophetic time.


By the grace of God we will understand more and more of His truth and all the truth we need to be prepared for Him fully, known by Him, all in His amazing LOVE!


More tomorrow by God's amazing grace!


Amen.

Broken Compass

Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul…


If we truly believe that we WRONG our own souls when we sin against God, why do we find it so incredibly easy to sin and so awfully hard not to? Do we care about wronging our souls? We need to, we really need to.


The trouble is, with sin so accepted we don't comprehend the wrong we are doing to ourselves or others. With the love of many waxing so very cold, sin has lost all it's horror. We call it being enlightened when we say we are not taken in by that old, out-dated, dinosaur concept of sin. We know better now. We have evolved. We no longer have to believe in something so silly. Sure we might believe in right and wrong, everyone knows that it's wrong to do certain things, but all those other things that people used to call sins, well they're old wives tales, middle ages stuff. It's all that religious stuff that made our ancestors act crazy and kill people. Yeah, religion has killed more people than anything else in the world- they should all be outlawed. Why, just today when reading comments on the Norway bombing one commentator said something along those same lines- religion is the cause of all the terrorists acts. People believe all this! People support all this! A whole generation of people are being brought up that it's wrong to speak the name of Jesus, in fact they can get in trouble it they bring up Jesus in school. They're also being taught it is wrong to be prejudice against others religions. Do you see? They are being told not to be bold about their own religion but to be accepting other religions. In fact they are told they have to be tolerant to religions that promote the doing away with their own religion. I'd have NO problem with that if it were being taught as 'loving your neighbor, turn the other cheek', but that's not the case here. They are being indoctrinated to believe there is something really wrong with their religion, but not the others.


Back to sin…


I read a very good book that clarified really nicely about the moral concepts we have of right and wrong, how they had to be formed from something- not just happenstance. How all over the world every society has the same concept of general right and wrong. The book is called 'Mere Christianity' by C.S. Lewis and is definitely worth the read.


It is true that this moral compass exists for the majority of people yet people make up lots of excuses to bend that moral compass to point more in the direction they want it to go in than the direction it would point if left alone, if left not tampered with. That moral compass has been skewed so badly that in our society today if you believe in God's ten commandments- yes, all ten of them; and if you believe it is a sin to break those ten commandments- then you're one demented person, with a few screws loose, and you ought to be dealt with delicately, tip toeing around your crazy self. Seriously, hold up God's ten commandments as your standard and people will nod and smile, they're good in theory but impossible for people to keep. They're okay and all, you know they like the one about not stealing, and not killing, but hey people have to lie, and they have to covet it's just plain natural, so is not honoring your parents- sheesh didn't they have awful parents back when God gave those commandments? Not all parents deserve to be honored that is for sure, so take out all those pointless commandments as being sin and worthy of death, and while you're at it take out those pesky commandments about having just one God and all that too- people today know better. It's okay that there are several gods as long as people get along and don't try to kill each other. And hey, that sabbath thing- it's kinda nice to have a day off work, but you do what you gotta do and work when you have to especially nowadays with work so scarce. There, that about sums up the normal take on the ten commandments, nice guidelines but not really that important, God won't reject someone because they see things differently than He does. Of course that's all assuming the people believe in God at all. It's just downright stupid to hold on to a faith that has no substance, childish and silly.


Today's moral compass is definitely broken, not just bent, it's broken and it's only going to get worse.


Sin.


Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul…


Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.


Our deeds.


We have a raised standard.
We have a Savior who died because He knew we could never save ourselves.
We have the Love of God in sending His Son to save us.
We have His word, His wisdom and if we sin against our God, against the wisdom He wants us to have then we are condemning ourselves, we are wronging our own souls.
We have to know that sin exists and that we need a pardon for that sin.
We have to recognize the sin that exists around us- the candy-coated sins, polished up nice 'n shiny to make them more acceptable- we have to recognize the sin and if we find the sin in our lives we need to throw ourselves at the feet of our Savior and beg His forgiveness.


By the grace of God may we NOT sin against Him! May we realize, really realize that we condemn ourselves when we sin and even a fool should know that condemning yourself, hurting yourself, is not right in any way, shape, or form. And I already know that many people do hurt themselves and strangely enough find solace in doing so- this world is so corrupt- that compass is so incredibly broken we have to cling tightly to our Savior as He leads us to Him as the entire world follows the broken compass.


In His amazing LOVE!

By His grace and mercy!

Only through HIS righteousness!


Amen.

Prophecy - 35

Dan 10:18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
Dan 10:19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
Dan 10:20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
Dan 10:21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.


Strengthened, Daniel is given further information- information he was to record for us, for those in the future, for those who would live through these times to look back and know that the God of Daniel was truly the One and Only God we could believe in without fail. Is there any other reason for prophecy? It warns, it reveals, it removes doubt IF the listener allows the truth of the matter to be understood. You could show all this to someone and they'd still shrug it off, they'd still be defiant against believing in God. People will twist things until they can get their own opinions across, the opinions that shout to the world they will not be swindled by anyone or anything, they're too darn smart for that. Whatever the reason people choose to disbelieve, whatever the reason people decide they'd rather believe in themselves than a proven God, their decisions are influenced by Satan and they are deceived by him. A whole world except a very few will be deceived. Knowing this fact, we have to pray unceasingly that we are not among those deceived.


Prophecy allows us to believe that if the prophecies come true in all the past, then the future prophecies will also come to pass- there is no stopping them. Daniel predicted the world's future from that point on until it's end ushered in by God claiming victory over evil, by God's kingdom being realized. Because God knew many would doubt, He gave many, many facts, many pieces to the puzzle to be put together throughout time. We who are living now have the advantage over so many who lived as the history was being made. We who are living at the end will have no excuse to give for why we have not been able to see God's hand at work. We who are living at the end cannot hold ignorance up as an excuse. There are no excuses for unbelief, none.


Let's go through more of these prophecies given and pray unendingly for understanding, for enlightenment into ALL TRUTH! We do not want to be deceived by Satan, we do not want to be among those fooled into losing our eternal lives.


Dan 11:1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
Dan 11:2 And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.


Three kings in Persia would stand up and then a fourth richer than all the others. Through the fourth's strength and riches -Greece would be affected.


Is this history? Do we have an historical account of this occurring?

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1st King-

When Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.E., Cambyses was employed in leading religious ceremonies.[4] In the cylinder which contains Cyrus' proclamation to the Babylonians, Cambyses' name is joined to his father's in the prayers to Marduk. On a tablet dated from the first year of Cyrus, Cambyses is called king of Babylon, although his authority seems to have been ephemeral. Only in 530 B.C.E., when Cyrus set out on his last expedition into the East, did Cyrus associate Cambyses with the throne. Numerous Babylonian tablets of the time date from the accession and the first year of Cambyses, when Cyrus was "king of the countries" (i.e., of the world).
After the death of his father in August 530, Cambyses became sole king. The tablets dating from his reign in Babylonia run to the end of his eighth year, in March 522 B.C.E. Herodotus (3.66), who dates his reign from the death of Cyrus, gives him seven years five months, from 530 B.C.E. to the summer of 523.[5]

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2nd King-

Bardiya (Greek: Smerdis) (Old Persian: Bardiya;[2] Ancient Greek: Sµ??d??) (possibly died 522 BCE) was a son of Cyrus the Great and the younger brother of Cambyses II, both Persian kings. There are sharply divided views on his life, he may have ruled the Achaemenid Empire for a few months in 522 BCE, or he may have been impersonated by a magus called Gaumata.[3]

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3rd King-

Darius I Hystaspes, or Darius the Great, king of Persia [522-486 BCE]. Through his father Hystaspes, Darius belonged to the Achaemenid family, as did Cyrus The Great and his son Cambyses II, but to a different branch of this family. When Cambyses was in Egypt, during the last year of his reign, a certain Gaumata usurped the throne by pretending to be Bardiya, Cambyses' brother, who had been assassinated secretly before Cambyses started out for his Egyptian campaign in 525 BCE. When Cambyses learned of this usurpation he immediately set out for Persia, but on the way, while in Syria, he died in July, 522 BCE, as the result of either an accident or suicide, leaving no heir. Darius, a distant cousin of Cambyses, at once set out to gain the throne for himself. With some helpers he slew the Smerdis/Gaumâta or false Bardiya in September, 522 BCE, and assumed the kingship. However, he had to fight against a number of other pretenders and rebels. It took more than a year (522-521 BCE) of hard fighting to put down revolts associated with Bardiya's claim to the throne. Almost every province of the empire was involved in the conflict, including Persia and, most particularly, Media. He finally emerged from the struggle the

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4th King-

Immediately after seizing the kingship, Darius I of Persia (son of Hystaspes) married Atossa (daughter of Cyrus the Great). They were both descendants of Achaemenes from different Achaemenid lines. Marrying a daughter of Cyrus strengthened Darius' position as king.[1] Darius was an active emperor, busy with building programs in Persepolis, Susa, Egypt, and elsewhere. Toward the end of his reign he moved to punish Athens, but a new revolt in Egypt (probably led by the Persian satrap) had to be suppressed. Under Persian law, the Achaemenian kings were required to choose a successor before setting out on such serious expeditions. Upon his great decision to leave (487-486 BC),[2] Darius prepared his tomb at Naqsh-e Rostam and appointed Xerxes, his eldest son by Atossa, as his successor. Darius' failing health then prevented him from leading the campaigns,[3] and he died in October 486 BC.[3]

Xerxes was not the oldest son of Darius, and according to old Iranian traditions should not have succeeded the King. Xerxes was however the oldest son of Darius and Atossa hence descendent of Cyrus. This made Xerxes the chosen King of Persia.[4] Some modern scholars also view the unusual decision of Darius to give the throne to Xerxes to be a result of his consideration of the unique positions that Cyrus the Great and his daughter Atossa have had.[5] Artobazan was born to "Darius the subject", while Xerxes was the eldest son born in the purple after Darius' rise to the throne, and Artobazan's mother was a commoner while Xerxes' mother was the daughter of the founder of the empire.[6]
Xerxes was crowned and succeeded his father in October–December 486 BC[7] when he was about 36 years old.[2] The transition of power to Xerxes was smooth due again in part to great authority of Atossa[1] and his accession of royal power was not challenged by any person at court or in the Achaemenian family, or any subject nation

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Invasion of the Greek mainland
Main article: Greco-Persian Wars

Darius left to his son the task of punishing the Athenians, Naxians, and Eretrians for their interference in the Ionian Revolt and their victory over the Persians at Marathon. From 483 BC Xerxes prepared his expedition: A channel was dug through the isthmus of the peninsula of Mount Athos, provisions were stored in the stations on the road through Thrace, two bridges were built across the Hellespont. Soldiers of many nationalities served in the armies of Xerxes, including the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Babylonians, Indians, Egyptians and Jews.[11]
According to the Greek historian Herodotus, Xerxes' first attempt to bridge the Hellespont ended in failure when a storm destroyed the flax and papyrus bridge; Xerxes ordered the Hellespont (the strait itself) whipped three hundred times and had fetters thrown into the water. Xerxes' second attempt to bridge the Hellespont was successful.[12] Xerxes concluded an alliance with Carthage, and thus deprived Greece of the support of the powerful monarchs of Syracuse and Agrigentum. Many smaller Greek states, moreover, took the side of the Persians, especially Thessaly, Thebes and Argos. Xerxes set out in the spring of 480 BC from Sardis with a fleet and army which Herodotus exaggerated to be more than two million strong with at least 10,000 elite warriors named Persian Immortals. The actual Persian strength was around two to three hundred thousands. Xerxes was victorious during the initial battles.

Thermopylae and Athens

At the Battle of Thermopylae, a small force of Greek warriors led by King Leonidas of Sparta resisted the much larger Persian forces, but were ultimately defeated. According to Herodotus, the Persians broke the Spartan phalanx after a Greek man called Ephialtes betrayed his country by telling the Persians of another pass around the mountains. After Thermopylae, Athens was captured and the Athenians and Spartans were driven back to their last line of defense at the Isthmus of Corinth and in the Saronic Gulf. The delay caused by the Spartans allowed Athens to be evacuated.

What happened next is a matter of some controversy. According to Herodotus, upon encountering the deserted city, in an uncharacteristic fit of rage particularly for Persian kings, Xerxes had Athens burned. He almost immediately regretted this action and ordered it rebuilt the very next day. However, Persian scholars dispute this view as pan-Hellenic propaganda, arguing that Sparta, not Athens, was Xerxes' main foe in his Greek campaigns, and that Xerxes would have had nothing to gain by destroying a major center of trade and commerce like Athens once he had already captured it.

At that time, anti-Persian sentiment was high among many mainland Greeks, and the rumor that Xerxes had destroyed the city was a popular one, though it is equally likely the fire was started by accident as the Athenians were frantically fleeing the scene in pandemonium, or that it was an act of "scorched earth" warfare to deprive Xerxes' army of the spoils of the city.
At Artemisium, large storms had destroyed ships from the Greek side and so the battle stopped prematurely as the Greeks received news of the defeat at Thermopylae and retreated. Xerxes was induced by the message of Themistocles (against the advice of Artemisia of Halicarnassus) to attack the Greek fleet under unfavourable conditions, rather than sending a part of his ships to the Peloponnesus and awaiting the dissolution of the Greek armies. The Battle of Salamis (September 29, 480 BC) was won by the Greek fleet, after which Xerxes set up a winter camp in Thessaly.

Due to unrest in Babylon, Xerxes was forced to send his army home to prevent a revolt, leaving behind an army in Greece under Mardonius, who was defeated the following year at Plataea.[14] The Greeks also attacked and burned the remaining Persian fleet anchored at Mycale. This cut off the Persians from the supplies they needed to sustain their massive army, and they had no choice but to retreat. Their withdrawal roused the Greek city-states of Asia.

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Clearly this happened AS predicted by God.


Dan 11:3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.


What mighty king of note stood up next?

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Alexander the Great--

Upon Philip's death, Alexander inherited a strong kingdom and an experienced army. He succeeded in being awarded the generalship of Greece and, with his authority firmly established, launched the military plans for expansion left by his father. In 334 BC he invaded Persian-ruled Asia Minor and began a series of campaigns lasting ten years. Alexander broke the power of Persia in a series of decisive battles, most notably the battles of Issus and Gaugamela. Subsequently he overthrew the Persian king Darius III and conquered the entirety of the Persian Empire.i[›] The Macedonian Empire now stretched from the Adriatic sea to the Indus River.

Following his desire to reach the "ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea", he invaded India in 326 BC, but was eventually forced to turn back by the near-mutiny of his troops. Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BC, without realizing a series of planned campaigns that would have begun with an invasion of Arabia. In the years following Alexander's death a series of civil wars tore his empire apart which resulted in the formation of a number of states ruled by the Diadochi - Alexander's surviving generals. Although he is mostly remembered for his vast conquests, Alexander's lasting legacy was not his reign, but the cultural diffusion his conquests engendered.

Alexander's settlement of Greek colonists and culture in the east resulted in a new Hellenistic culture, aspects of which were still evident in the traditions of the Byzantine Empire until the mid-15th century. Alexander became legendary as a classical hero in the mold of Achilles, and features prominently in the history and myth of Greek and non-Greek cultures. He became the measure against which generals, even to this day, compare themselves and military academies throughout the world still teach his tactical exploits.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great

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Dan 11:4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.


4 others--


1) Cassander is first recorded as arriving at Alexander the Great’s court in Babylon in 323 BC, where he had been sent by his father, Antipater, likely to the help uphold Antipater’s regency in Macedon, although a later contemporary suggestion hostile to the Antipatrids was that Cassander had journeyed to poison the King.[1]

Whatever the truth of this suggestion, Cassander certainly proved to be singularly noted amongst the diadochi in his hostility to Alexander's memory.[1] Alexander IV, Roxana, and Alexander’s supposed illegitimate son Heracles would all be executed on his orders, and a guarantee to Olympias to spare her life was not respected.[2] So too, Cassander would restore Thebes, which had been destroyed under Alexander. This gesture was perceived at the time to be a snub to the deceased King.[3] It was even said that he could not pass a statue of Alexander without feeling faint. Cassander has been perceived to be ambitious and unscrupulous, and even members of his own family were estranged from him.[4] He was taught by philosopher Aristotle at the Lyceum in Greece.


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2) Lysimachus was born in 362/361 BC, the son of the Thessalian Agathocles from Crannon. He was granted citizenship in Macedon and was educated at the court in Pella. He was probably appointed Somatophylax during the reign of Philip II.[1] During Alexander's Persian campaigns, he was one of his immediate bodyguards. In 324 BCE, in Susa, he was crowned in recognition for his actions in India.[2] After Alexander’s death in 323 BCE, he was appointed to the government of Thrace as strategos.

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3) Seleucus I (given the surname by later generations of Nicator, Greek : S??e???? ????t?? (Hindi: ????????), i.e. Seleucus the Victor) (ca. 358 BC – 281 BC) was a Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great and one of the Diadochi. In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire. His kingdom would be one of the last holdouts of Alexander's former empire to Roman rule. They were only outlived by the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt by roughly 34 years.

After the death of Alexander, Seleucus was nominated as the satrap of Babylon in 320 BC. Antigonus forced Seleucus to flee from Babylon, but, supported by Ptolemy, he was able to return in 312 BC. Seleucus' later conquests include Persia and Media. He formed an alliance with the Indian King Chandragupta Maurya. Seleucus defeated Antigonus in the battle of Ipsus in 301 BC and Lysimachus in the battle of Corupedium in 281 BC. He was assassinated by Ptolemy Ceraunus during the same year. His successor was his son Antiochus I.

Seleucus founded a number of new cities, including Antioch and Seleucia.

*

4) Ptolemy I Soter I (Greek: ?t??eµa??? S?t??, Ptolemaios Sot?r, i.e. Ptolemy (pronounced /'t?l?mi/) the Savior), also known as Ptolemy Lagides,[1] c. 367 BC – c. 283 BC, was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great, who became ruler of Egypt (323 BC – 283 BC) and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty. In 305/4 BC he took the title of pharaoh.

His mother was Arsinoe of Macedon, and, while his father is unknown, ancient sources variously describe him either as the son of Lagus, a Macedonian nobleman, or as an illegitimate son of Philip II of Macedon (which, if true would have made Ptolemy the half-brother of Alexander). Ptolemy was one of Alexander's most trusted generals, and was among the seven somatophylakes (bodyguards) attached to his person. He was a few years older than Alexander, and had been his intimate friend since childhood. He may even have been in the group of noble teenagers tutored by Aristotle.[citation needed]

Ptolemy served with Alexander from his first campaigns, and played a principal part in the later campaigns in Afghanistan and India. At the Susa marriage festival in 324, Alexander had Ptolemy marry the Persian princess Artakama. Ptolemy also had a consort in Thaïs, the Athenian hetaera and one of Alexander's companions in his conquest of the ancient world.

When Alexander died in 323 BC Ptolemy is said to have instigated the resettlement of the empire made at Babylon. Through the Partition of Babylon, he was appointed satrap of Egypt, under the nominal kings Philip Arrhidaeus and the infant Alexander IV; the former satrap, the Greek Cleomenes, stayed on as his deputy. Ptolemy quickly moved, without authorization, to subjugate Cyrenaica.

*

Four major generals- four divisions.


*******

This is history. Factual. We cannot afford to ignore this is favor of soothing tales and ear pleasing words. We cannot shove all this aside because we'd rather just read of love. We need to realize that THIS is all given to us as a result of the love of our Savior. Remember Jesus spoke of Daniel who lived a long, long time before He ever did.


Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand)


Jesus' words.


Jesus was directing us to Daniel's prophecies. How can we dare to ignore this?


More tomorrow by the grace of our Savior!

In His amazing, wondrous love!

Prophecy - 34

Daniel Chapter 10 -

Dan 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
Dan 10:2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.



A thing was revealed.
The thing was true.
He understood the thing.
The time appointed was long.
He understood the vision.


Remember in chapter 8 and 9 the angel Gabriel was explaining things to Daniel but it was hard for Daniel to comprehend it all- understandably so. Daniel understood that this vision would not be completed for a long, long time - do you think perhaps this caused some of the mourning? We have lived approximate 2500 years after Daniel lived. If Daniel had some comprehension of just how long it would be until the prophecy would be fulfill how daunting that would have to be. Even now if I had to imagine 2300 years into the future, if I had to imagine 1260 years into the future it's just…wow. Maybe it's 'wow' to me because I'm living in the hope and expectation of my Savior's soon return, not life ongoing another 2000 years. Daniel was living with the expectation of things to take place as well. Think about it… he'd been thrust from his home at Jerusalem and taken captive to Babylon. While there He interprets a dream given the king of Babylon and that first dream, that first vision was an overall grand picture. Then Daniel lived during the time of the Medes and Persians take over of Babylon - as predicted. And He was told about Grecia coming up to take over from Medes and Persians. To His comprehension, for at least a short while there, it could easily be considered the entire vision would be completed in relatively short order and our Savior would usher in a whole new world. The end of all evil. How fantastic to imagine it all. Daniel was human and he had ideas and he struggled with comprehension even after he was told things. That Daniel was mourning isn't surprising at all really.


Dan 10:3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.


For 3 weeks Daniel didn't allow himself any luxuries at all whatsoever. He was so upset by it all, very understandable.


Dan 10:4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
Dan 10:5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
Dan 10:6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.


Just imagine this Daniel is standing by the great river and when he looks up he sees a man, and what a man! This wasn't any ordinary person by a long shot.


Dan 10:7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.


Such an extraordinary sight this man was that those people who were with Daniel couldn't see him but a fear overcame them such a great fear they ran away to hide.


Dan 10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.


Left alone, Daniel faced this vision and he had no strength left, it's no wonder is it? Something that could be unseen by others yet cause extreme fear, at the least had a strength sapping affect on Daniel.


Dan 10:9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.


Fainted at the sound of the man's voice?


Dan 10:10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.


The man touched Daniel, the man pulled him up onto his hands and knees- waking him obviously to the point that he could understand what was said next.


Dan 10:11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.


Stand upright he was told and Daniel stood but not without shaking in fear.


Dan 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.


The man in the vision does not want Daniel to be scared, he tells him not to fear. He tells Daniel from the FIRST day when Daniel's heart was determined to understand and he abased himself before God- his word were heard! His words…were…heard. The man CAME because of what Daniel petitioned God for- understanding.


Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.


The man in the vision would have come sooner BUT he was warring with a prince of the kingdom of Persia for 21 days.


Who was this man?
Who was the prince the man was fighting with, who prevented the man from going to Daniel- IN A VISION?


We can't for a moment allow ourselves to believe that this vision man unseen by any but Daniel, was contending with a flesh and blood prince of Persia and that flesh and blood prince was able to prevent this vision man from going to Daniel. This had to be a spiritual battle and we KNOW that beyond a doubt the spiritual world is REAL and mostly unseen. We fight in this spiritual battle all the time remember this verse--


Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.


This spiritual Prince of Persia hindered the spiritual vision man before Daniel - read this…


1Th 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.


Satan hindered 'us'. This was Satan hindering flesh and blood. If Satan hindered flesh and blood it's only understandable that Satan could contend with this man of God - a spiritual force with spiritual force. What force controls the kingdoms of this world? We've studied this before. The kingdoms of this world belong to Satan. Satan offered them to Jesus when he was tempting Him in the wilderness. The Prince of the ruling kingdom of Persia would be Satan, and what freed the spiritual man of God from this battle with Satan?


Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.


Michael a chief prince came to help him. Another spiritual force. This spiritual battle is more real than Satan would have any of us really, truly believe.


Dan 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Dan 10:15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
Dan 10:16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
Dan 10:17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
Dan 10:18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
Dan 10:19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
Dan 10:20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
Dan 10:21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.


This wasn't easy! As a prophet Daniel suffered. He knew that the visions were growing more and more complex and the things he was seeing, the understanding he was being given wasn't pleasant. The visions foretold of a future where Satan would rule the earth and God's people would be in the minority. There would always be a people that would belong to God, but they would not rule, they would suffer and great so. The future which was to take place over a LONG time, didn't predict wondrous things but rather great horrors that Daniel was allowed to foresee. Is it any wonder that Daniel was frightened, so incredibly frightened it's guaranteed that He would have died of his fear if he hadn't been strengthened by these amazing spiritual beings sent by God.


Daniel would be shown a vision even more complex than any he'd seen prior to this and now that he was strengthened he'd be able to understand, he'd be able to endure what was being required of Him. Remember- Daniel prayed for this! Daniel was the one who initiated this vision that had taken all his strength from him. This wasn't an unwanted vision. This wasn't a forced vision. This was what Daniel was praying for and had continued to pray for- depriving himself of all luxurious things, of all comfort thing- for three weeks! He wanted this and yet, feared it and doesn't that sound like so much we deal with in our own lives? I'm not putting us on par with Daniel by any means, but in a small way we can understand a bit about wanting and fearing at the same time, right?


More tomorrow when we begin chapter 11 and by the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ may we have understanding just as Daniel prayed for understanding- we too need to pray earnestly for understanding. All by the grace of our God, all by the righteousness of our Lord, guide us! Let the Holy Spirit reveal all truth to us as far as we need to understand to know God's will now and forever.


Amen!

Prophecy 33- Don't Hide From Truth

The judgment we all face.


Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Act 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you


Sins are recorded but they can be BLOTTED out. Just as they can be blotted out, they can also be left to remain. If they're not blotted out then the person must account for them and as we well know, a person has no righteousness in which to save themselves. We are only saved by the grace of our Savior through His sacrifice, by His forgiveness there is no other way. We can try to blot out our own sins but it'll never happen. We can even try to blot out another's sins, but that won't happen either. The record made of our sins can only be blotted out by Jesus Christ.


Psa 51:1 ...Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.


David wanted his transgressions to be blotted out.


Psa 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.


Isa 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.


And then we have verses about NOT blotting sins out.


Neh 4:5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.


Jer 18:23 Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.


Again we are drawn to the Day of Atonement, why? Because the blotting out of sin, the cleansing of the record of sin is typified in that Day of Atonement. Jesus is our High Priest in heaven and as such He has the work of a High Priest to undertake. That work is has been shown to us through the earthly sanctuary services. Why else would we be told Jesus is our High Priest? Why?


Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.


Maybe it feels as if I'm repeating the same things over and over and I probably am. It's just so incredibly important for us to realize all this as factual, not some man-made concoction. Jesus our prophet, our priest, and our king. Right now our Savior has the role of our high priest and as such we will be judged by a record of our acts, a record of our choices, whether or not we have our Savior as our Advocate, whether or not we've chosen Him as our great Sacrifice, to cover our sins, and be our Righteousness.


As every day passes by we are ONE day closer to our Savior's return. We are one day closer to all probation closing. These are FACTS. We have to know that the signs of time and those signs only reveal the ever deepening deception, the ever widening acceptance of evil as good, the unsteadiness of our very earth all are wake up calls - calls to snap out of the stupor we've fallen into. Every single day we are confronted by evil, it surrounds us in so much and it threatens to consume us. Only our Savior can protect us, only our Savior can keep us from that evil. The world needs to realize but it won't, those who emphasize the truth are ridiculed and rejected.


Just recently in the news there was an article about a woman who is going to run for president of the U.S.- Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. The article was about her quitting her church, why? Because her church holds the belief that the Papacy is the beast of Revelation, that Catholicism is of the devil. The VERY thing we've been studying and have proven through prophecy and history to be true! This fact is brought into the public's eye, right there into the public's spotlight and the fact along with it- that the potential presidential candidate QUIT her church rather than be associated with a church that holds an unpopular belief. She doesn't want to lose the Catholic vote come race time and why? Because there are millions of Catholics, millions of potential votes she'd alienate from herself. Do you see it? Do you understand that a wake up call has been given and just how many will believe it? How many will turn from their belief it apostasy? How many will turn into apostasy? A cry has gone out for those willing to acknowledge it. In the article about this it was mentioned that the belief about the Catholic church as the beast dates back to Martin Luther and the Protestant reformation. Our history proves that it goes back that far and further but the more common knowledge of it didn't begin to come to light until the Bible was allowed to be read by more than just the Catholic church. We know for a fact it had a great resurgence when knowledge was increased in the very late 1700 early 1800's. We've studied this, and it isn't a coincidence!!!!!!!! You can shrug all this off as if it were, but we are asking for truth! We are asking for enlightenment! We are watching! We are praying! We must not close our eyes just because it's more comfortable to do so!


Please God help us! Help us as we continue to study Your truths! Please…please Lord we want our names in Your Book of Life, never to be stricken from it, never!!!! We acknowledge Jesus as our Prophet, our Priest, our King, our Righteousness!


By Your love, Your grace always!


Amen.

Prophecy - 32

Jesus said-


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.


The year 1844 - 167 years ago. Is 167 years a long time? In some respects it is, right? It's about 2 and 1/2 average lifetimes, if 66 was about the average lifespan.


As a child I can remember my great grandmother who was born in the late 1800's she married my great grandfather who was born in 1876- 135 years ago he was born. He married in 1904, had children- my grandfather- born in 1910 who had my mother born in 1938 who then had me born in 1963. We all have histories comparable to this and truly 167 years can seem like a long time - but it's not in the grand scheme of things. When we think of 2300 years then 167 doesn't seem like a whole lot of years does it? So when people say - Where is the Lord, why does He delay- they are not thinking prophetically-


Luk 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.


The Lord does NOT delay and we cannot believe that He does. Our Lord is longsuffering, not sadistic!


2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


He would that we would ALL come to repentance. He wants us to be His, to love Him, to be loved by Him and so much evil goes on and on in the heart of man. When all who would be saved have decided to love the Lord with all their hearts and be loved by Him, saved by Him, then He will have no choice but to close probation for the human race. The judging will be over. The Sanctuary cleansed- God's people forgiven and cleansed able to join Him in the air to be His forever more, immortal, to live with Him eternally in His righteousness.


Right now we are living in probationary time- but there WILL come a time when probation is closed and we are still living. Remember yesterday we had this verse in our study-


1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


We which are ALIVE and REMAIN. There will be those who are not dead who will never taste death, who never have part in the second death.


Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.


Knowing some will be living when probation closes for them means understanding that time does run out on people. Without a doubt all probation ends for the dead when they die - because they can never from then on find grace, find forgiveness, find righteousness in Christ. The dead know nothing.


We know prophetically there are many things that take place before our Lord returns. We are given many signs and we are told to watch. We are given prophecy and expected to study. If that 2300 years drew to a close in 1844 and a new phase in history was begun drawing us one step closer to our Lord's return, then PRAISE GOD! No, we do not have an exact date but you can count on the reality of our Savior returning.


We are studying the judgment in connection with all this because at some point between 1844 and the time our Savior returns that Sanctuary will be fully cleansed, and that means - 'He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. ' Rev 22:11


We can choose to ignore all prophecy and just hope for the best, or we can watch as our Savior instructed us to watch so that we are NOT taken unaware, so that we are NOT caught off guard as the greatest deception we can ever imagine takes place and deceives all but a very few of the billions of people alive today.


More tomorrow by the grace of God, more in-depth studying, studying that we cannot blow off as unimportant. We make choices all the time, we have to choose to seek the knowledge the Lord has for us, we must watch and pray always!


By the grace of our Lord and Savior!


Amen!

Prophecy - 31

Judgment.


Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the JUDGMENT was set, and the books were opened.


Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his JUDGMENT is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.


Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.


Judgment was set.
The books were opened.
What books?


Psa 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.


Mal 3:16 ...and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.


Php 4:3 ...whose names are in the book of life.


Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.


Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.


Rev 17:8 ...whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.


Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.


Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.


Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.


Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.


The book of life.
Books of judgment- books people will be judged out of.
Book of remembrance.


Record books, we all know what they are don't we? Records are kept of transactions, of events. A diary is like a record book isn't is? A record is being made of events in a person's life. If we are going to be judged out of books they have to be books recording events of our lives. They have to be records that affect our eternal life. What sort of things do you imagine affect our eternal life? Sin. Salvation. Sin affects our eternal life, right? If there is proof of our sins- sins we have not sought and received forgiveness for- then we are guilty of that sin and the punishment of sin is …death.


Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death


Everyone left out of the book of life will find the record of their sins, a record of why their name was not written in the book of life.


Too many believe that everyone will be found in the book of life, everyone except the really bad sinning people. This draws us right back to these verses we've talked about many times--


Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.


Many people will be shocked when they realize their names are NOT written in the book of life. I pray I'm not one of them!


Workers of iniquity - are workers of sin, and at the same time many of these workers of sin believe they are working for the Lord. None will be left to wonder at their fate. A record is being made. Out of those books people will be judged. There will be a record that will explain why a person doesn't have their name in the book of life. Not one single person will be able to say they were judged wrongly, the proof will be right there.


We want our names in the book of life and they must be written there before our Savior returns. Everyone that will be saved will be saved BEFORE our Savior returns. Everyone that will be saved will have been judged worthy of salvation through Christ. This judgment is something we ALL face. This judgment is something that every single human being faces.


Truth-Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.


Truth-Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.


We can't imagine the number of people that there are to judge. All the dead from Abel onwards, and then all the living, as well as the evil angels. Millions and millions, and milllions, billions and billions of people. While this number seems amazing high there is NO doubt that every single person will be judged no matter how many have ever or will ever live.


Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.


Every single one of us will give account of ourselves to God. No one escapes this, no one can escape it.


And there is an order to the judgment. There is…


The righteous will judge the wicked, and the righteous must be judged as well- these are facts, Biblical facts.


1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?


Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.


Dan 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Dan 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.


The saints shall judge the world.
Judgment was given unto them.
Judgment was given to the saints of the most High.


Obviously if the saints are to judge the wicked, even wicked angels, at some point they have to already have been judged themselves and found worthy to be the saints of God, right? Right. The Bible says this very thing.


1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.


Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.


1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


There is a first resurrection.
The dead in Christ shall rise first.


The Saints will judge the wicked, this is Biblical fact.


The Saints will be judged prior to their judging the wicked.


The Saints are changed to immortality when Christ comes but the wicked are not.


Those that are Christ's go with Him at His second coming so… by default that leaves who? The dead in Christ, the living in Christ go with Him! They aren't left behind! So many are caught up on this LEFT BEHIND nonsense, and yes, I'll call it nonsense because I believe it is nonsense. They've taken a figurative verse in the Bible and blown it up to give second chances to people that DO NOT exist! There is a judgment and by the time Christ comes it's all decided. The fact that we judge the wicked is if you really think about it- for our benefit. They've already been judged wicked and will never be saints. What happens when we are judging is we are given the opportunity to understand fully the course the wicked have taken to get them where they are. We are allowed to understand where they have not accepted Christ's righteousness, Christ's forgiveness and this makes sense! God would NEVER ever allow any question as to why a person was not chosen as a saint, we will know. We will understand why the judging that deemed the wicked as such was done.


Enough for today, more tomorrow. We are discussing the judgment because before a full cleansing, a complete judging will take place. Guilty, not Guilty- there are only TWO verdicts for all of us to choose from. The sin of the not guilty will be placed upon the scapegoat, the sin of the guilty will remain upon them.


By the grace of our God, by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior now and forever! In His love, in His righteousness alone.


Amen.