Encouragement

The Price of Success

/ Tim A. / 3 Comments

Matthew 4:1-11 conclusion

“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him” Matthew 4:8-11.

Success is the next temptation. The devil wanted to give Jesus immediate gratification. There are many people today [2007] who desire immediate success/gratification, and will sell their very lives and souls to obtain it. Many measure success by the clothes you wear, the house you live in, the car or pickup truck you drive, and how much money you have in the bank; what the stocks you own are worth, etc..

A question could come to some minds, asking, “Did the devil have the right to offer the kingdoms of the world to Jesus?” The answer to that is yes, if you are asking concerning man’s sin. Adam and Eve had dominion over the earth until sin entered the picture, then, the devil, as ‘the ruler of this world’ (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Perhaps the devil had Psalm 2:8 in mind, and was attempting to get Jesus to come around the way of obedience to the Father, and get what God had promised the Son; “Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen [Nations] for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession”.

“Jesus, you can rule the world now. You don’t have to be a servant to God. You don’t have to be obedient.” He goes on and basically states, “You can have it all NOW, if you will fall down and worship me”. I think Jesus knew in His mind and heart, that, first of all, the Father would not be glorified in that; secondly, He would not be glorified in yielding; thirdly, the devil would be undefeated; fourthly, mankind, whom He came to redeem would still be lost, condemned, and there would be no hope for them.

The thing Jesus did is what every Christian can, should and ought to do everytime the temptation comes to look to success as an end all to all our problems. “Be gone devil. It is written, “You shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve”.

The greatest success ever was the completion of the Father’s will as He died on the cross, suffering the judgment of sin at the hand of His Father, in the place of all sinners; and by His resurrection from the grave. The real success of Jesus Christ has not yet been delivered to the saints. It will be delivered in His time, not ours. His success will come, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now thereefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him” Psalm 2:9-12 (KJV).

We know the work of Jesus Christ on the cross was successful, because He arose from the grave. We know He has been given His former glory, because He is seated at the Father’s right hand. We know that we will be with Him, because He has promised, and He does not lie.

When we are trusting the LORD, there are no shortcuts for survival, security, or success. These are truly obtained as we trust the One who died for us.

The Second Day

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Genesis 1:3-13 continuing…

“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day” Genesis 1:6-8 (KJV).

On day two the waters of the earth were to be divided. The water of the surface of the land, and the waters in the sky. This does leave us with the knowledge that there is water above us, even in our time. We know that because of clouds, rainfall, snowfall, icefall, etc. On this second day of creation this water above the earth seems to have been much more massive than that of today.

One thing that should be noticed is the orderly fashion in which God created. Of course, it is obvious to us that it should be done this way. However, far too many times we humans get the proverbial “Cart before the horse”. This is further evidence of the All-Wise, All-Powerful Creator.

This second day is a recorded day of division. It should also be noted that this is the only day where it is not recorded that “God saw that it was good”. It seems that there is something of a sadness on this day. Could it be possible that this division typifies the cross of Jesus? The separation of man from God? The separation of the God-Man from His father as He becomes the sins of the world, and becomes the brunt of His Father’s judgment? “We believe that the ‘firmament’ here typifies the cross and sets forth its twofold aspect. There our blessed Lord was divided or separated from God Himsell — ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’; and there also He was separated from man– ‘Cut off out of the land of the living'”. A. W. PINK Gleanings In Genesis pg. 24. One thing we must realize when we recognize “Types, shadows, etc.” is that a type does not deny the historicity or truth of the text. If we can see this here, then, truly glory is given to the Creator, and we magnify Him. This may be the reason why there is no acknowledgement of , “God saw that it was good”, His heart was grieved, because He saw the price that He would be paying to redeem fallen man.

It should be noted that at the last day of creation we are told, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (v. 31). At the completion of God’s New Creation he will be able to say, through His Son Jesus, “Well done Good and faithful servant. His creation is “Good”. The completion of creation – the New Creation (2 Cor. 5:17) – is “Very good”. Man, not the material things, are the priority of God’s glory.

The Price of Security

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Matthew 4:1-11 continuing…

“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” Matthew 4:5-7.

This the second temptation. How secure was the Lord Jesus in who He was/is? Did He have to prove it? Jesus had all the basic desires that all humanity has. He had one thing going for Him which we did not, and that is that He was/is Deity, yet He did not boast of it. He boasted of His Father. When an individual is secure they do not need to prove themselves before, mocking, hateful, envious, despising crowds, or individuals.

Jesus Christ had the desire for security. Again, I want you to remember these disires are God-given and no sin in them unless they become perverted, and outside God’s purview. People today have desire for financial security, health security, retirement security, home security, and family and marriage security. Many times these items can become a source of worry and fear, and that shows a lack of faith and trust in the Lord.

Security, or obtaining security can become a source of self dependence, and not so much depending upon the Lord and His provisions. People spend hours per day laboring extra long and hard to be sure their job is secure. Many labor, to the point of being afraid of their job – meaning they are afraid if they do not work the extra hours, do all the boss ask them to do above and beyond the call of duty, they could lose their position. Anyone who must do that is not secure. If you are fearful of these things; not having them, losing them, or maybe of never having them; you are not secure.

When a man or woman has obtained these or reached a point where they feel they are secure they have fallen into an open door to temptation. There has been many a Lottery winner who when they had won their million or millions, or maybe a little less, believed they were “Secure” now. They had it made. Then, something happened, they lost it, security was gone.

The devil tried to get Jesus to throw Himself over the edge. “If you are the Son of God, the angels will catch you, and no harm will happen to you” was his words. If you are secure in your own mind, and you feel you must prove it; you are the least secure person there is. The one who is secure needs not depend upon any proof, but upon the peace only God can give, then you will presume nothing. When the time comes all will be exposed.

Jesus would go to the cross, be lifted up before all to see, He would ask the Father to forgive their sins, He would finish what the Father sent Him to do, and three days later He would rise from the grave alive. He went all the way to death – the death of the cross – and He arose. He was secure in the Father’s will.

The Voice of God

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AND GOD SAID…Genesis 1:3-13

 

“In the beginning God…” clearly refutes all things which exalt themselves against God. “Pantheism” says all things are god and god is all things, but this is clearly refuted because if ‘all things are god’ then, how did they come to be? If God is all things, then, why create?

“Atheism” is repudiated by the Bible’s declaration of God.

“Materialism” is refuted because God’s material creation are distinguished as being separate by Scripture.

In these first few words God is seen as the All-Powerful (Omnipotent) One who is before all things and holds all things in His hand. It is declared that “…He is infinite and omnipotent, for no finite being possesses the power to ‘create’, and none but an Omnipotent Being could create ‘the heaven and the earth’.” A. W. PINK, From Gleanings In Genesis.

If we are to find the answers to the questions of life we must begin with God, as has been stated in the previous message. We must begin with Him, because it all began when He spoke things; seen and unseen; into existence.

There are those who follow the C. I. Scofield belief of a “Gap theory” between verses one and two. They believe this was the time of the dinosaurs, and gives allowance for the seeming contradiction of earth’s age, and other things, between science and Scripture. A look at Revelation 21:1, without question disputes the ‘gap theory’. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea”.

The earth ‘without form and void’ would be much like a painters canvas. The artist has a picture in his mind, but no one else can see it until the work is almost finished. This was a creation which was only beginning. The painter had not yet began His work.

There does seem to be Scriptural evidence which supports the existence of large dinosaurs on earth, even during the time of Job. In Job chapter 40 we see a creature called ‘Behemoth’ beginning in verse 15 – “Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron” Job 40:15-18. Some commentators say this is speaking of something like a hippopotamus. The description sounds to me to be much more than a hippo. In chapter 41 another creature call “Leviathan” is seen as a “fire breathing” creature, “By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth” Job 41:18-21. The Bible teachers of a few years ago declared that this was a crocodile. “Flame goeth out of his mouth…” a crocodile? Now, come on. Job must have lived sometime after the flood. This would have been when these creatures died off, because of the change of environment, after the flood.

At the initial creation the earth was covered with water. There was no light until the Spirit of God “Moved upon the face of the waters”. The Holy Spirit brooded, like a hen sits on her eggs bringing forth the desired result. PLEASE NOTE – God did nothing without the work of the Holy Spirit, or His Word which became flesh (John1:1, 14). This is so of individuals who find their lives void, and without purpose or meaning. God was not pleased with the darkness on the ‘deep’, and He is not pleased when our hearts are dark and void. God’s Spirit broods, and stirs our hearts to move us to God.

Without the moving of the Spirit there would be no light. NOTICE THE TRINITY AT WORK IN CREATION – 1. “God created…; 2. The Spirit moved…; and 3. God said…”; the Word went forth. When the Word went forth there was light.

Just as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were at work in the first creation, they are also fully at work in the New Creation bringing purpose, meaning and light into every life who is drawn to God’s grace and salvation.

The Beginning…

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The book of beginnings…

I have been posting these at the Watchman’s Trumpet, but I got away from its theme doing so. I will start over here. Forgive me if you have already read these first few posts.

 

THE BEGINNING… GODGenesis 1:1-2

If anyone is to know who they are, their purpose in life, where they came from, and where they are going, we must go back to the ‘Beginning’. No one will fully understand these life questions until they come to grips with the reality of the ‘Beginning’ of all things.

The Bible never argues the existence of God. It presents His reality, His person, power, and glory. The very first verse declares Him – “In the beginning God…”. ‘In the beginning…’ does not declare the beginning of God, but His creation; the things which He has made. For those who would say all things are god, then how did all things come to be? For those who would say, “There is no God”, their belief is repudiated by the declaration “…God created…”. For those who would cling to materialism and worldly possessions we see them as being separate in the created order, and mankind being the highest of the created order. Who is she/he that would elevate things over our fellow man? God has not done so, but has rather given to us all these good things to sustain us and for us to enjoy.

The answer to the four questions: WHO AM I? WHERE DID I COME FROM? WHY AM I HERE? WHERE AM I GOING? could also be followed with the question, HOW DO I GET THERE? To answer these questions we must begin with God. The unholy, unscientific theory of evolution leaves us asking still more questions like, ‘What came first the chicken or the egg?’ That is a foolish question when you understand God created the chicken full grown and layed eggs and to tend them. If we begin with God the question is answered. In man’s limited thinking everything has to begin small and grow larger. With God’s creating He began with a full grown earth – grown vegetation, vegetables, fruits, animals, and full grown human beings – a full grown Adam and a full grown Eve taken from Adam’s rib. Since God created a full grown creation that explains the age problems that “Science” seems to have with the Biblical account. If you begin with God there is no problem with creation. If you begin with evolution all you have is questions without answers.

Too many people want to interpret the Bible by science, when in reality we shoul interpret science through God and His Word – the Bible. When “Science” contradicts Scripture, then, science is in error; not the Scriptures. True science starts with something to study. Evolution – a human theory – begins with absolutely nothing, but human thought. You could even call it “Demonic thought” because it was the devil himself who asked the first doubting question, “Yes, hath God said…?” Ever since that day there has been a demonic thought in the mind of every man to doubt what God says, and to dethrone Him (See Psalm 2). It did not; it has not; nor will any plot of demon or man, ever overthrow the throne of God.

God was not just, “In the beginning”; He is the beginning, and He is the ending. He is the First and the Last. He is the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8, 11, 17; 21:6; 22:13).

Without God we have no beginning, identity, purpose or destiny. We are nothing more than evolutionary puppets on a string of chance, ie., if the Evolutionists are right. Nothing more than animals controlled by our passions, and lusts. God forbid!!!!

We can see by the order of the events in creation that there was a Supreme Being in control. The earth, planets, sun, moon, and stars are first; then, the separation of water and land, and the earth and sky; then, vegetation on earth, life in the oceans and waters; then, the birds of the air; then, the cattle and beasts of the field; and last of all man. This could not be an act of chance. If any of this would have been out of order it would have failed – at least by looking at it logically. How do the people who watch the stars, planets, and such (Astronomers) know when there is going to be an “alignment of planets”, an eclipse of the moon or the sun; and tell us to split second accuracy it is going to happen? Because there is order in God’s created universe. Things like that do not “Just happen”.

There is a better chance of winning a 350 million dollar lottery jackpot, with only one ticket, than all these things just happening without a Master-builder/Designer. You could probably say that there is a better chance of winning a 350 million dollar lottery jackpot ten times in a row, with one ticket each time, than these things “Just happening” without a Master Builder/Designer.

God Himself is the cause and effect of all that is. When you begin with God you will find who you are, where you came from, why you are here, and where you are going.

 

The Price of Survival

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Matthew 4:1-11 continued…

“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” Matthew 4:2-4 (KJV)..

Temptation. There are a lot of questions to be asked, that will be asked, but I will not try and answer. When it comes to Jesus and temptation I have heard many a question concerning Him and temptation, especially if the Son of God is really God. After the baptism of Jesus we are told that He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Now this would be quite the temptation.

This is another point which proves the deity of Jesus. It does not seem that the devil is a credible witness, but the very thought of his tempting Jesus kind of begs the question, “Why would he bother otherwise, unless he knew Jesus to be the Divine Son of God?”

We are now looking at the first offer of a shortcut around the will of the Father. There is within all of us the desire for survival. We have all heard many stories of people caught in snow storms, stuck in the mountains, unable to move from their position, and they survive. People caught in all kinds of horrific incidents where anyone without the will to survive would not have survived. It is a God-given drive that has been placed within us. There is no sin in this desire.

Jesus had fasted, ie., done without food and sustenance for forty days and forty nights. He was hungry. I have never gone very long without food. Most of the people of the United States of America have never gone very long without food. Forty days and forty nights would be stretching the absence of food to the limit. Jesus was hungry. The devil approaches Jesus, with the temptation, ‘If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread’, and he knew who Jesus was. It just seems that he was thinking in Jesus’s weakened state He would be mentally, and spiritually weakened and even deny who He was, or at least doubt it.

What would have been wrong with Jesus turning the stones available to Him into bread? He had the power, the ability. He would have been giving in to His appetites rather than following the will of the Father. If there was no other reason than the temptation of the devil, that was reason enough for Him to refuse turning stones to bread.

Many times in order to survive in the business world, the spiritual world, physical well being world, people are tempted to risk their very character and fail – their moral excellence. Jesus did not. There are also many tempted and do put their integrity at stake – who you are when no one is watching. Again, Jesus did not. Jesus understood, as well we should, that survival is dependent upon more than the material [bread] alone. Jesus realized there was a Higher Authority, and He was responsible to Him alone, and the Father did not lead Him to this temptation to turn stones to bread. That Higher Authority is God the Father, of course, and He has given us His Word as an instrument to wield against the overwhelming temptations to compromise when we are tempted to live by the material.

Jesus answered the devil’s temptation with, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Deut. 8:3). Learn the Word and face these temptations victoriously. O, how badly we need to work at this. I know I do.

The Confirmation

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Matthew 3:13-17 conclusion…

v. 17 –

The final thing we see in these last five verses of chapter three is the confirmation of the Father. This was the planned, intentional, sacrifice for sin. Sin would finally be judged as it should be judged. Jesus was the only sacrifice pleasing to God His Father, and His holiness, righteousness, justice, and judgment. He is the offering without blemish or spot. No lamb, goat, or bullock could take away sin; they only showed the need for a Savior; “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Heb. 9:11-14. We also read in Hebrews 10:4-6, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure”.

Even before it is time for the final sacrifice for sin God decrees His approval upon His Son as though the sacrifice were already made. Let’s look at a previous writer in the Psalms: ” I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten Thee.” Psalm 2:7. There is a voice from Heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”, and this would not be the last time His voice is heard. In Matthew 17 at the Mount of Transfiguration, we hear Him say, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him” (17:5); and then, again, in John12:28, “Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” in answer to Jesus’s prayer for the Father to glorify Him. All three times this voice is heard.

Jesus is the only sacrifice for sin in which God the Father is well pleased. In the baptism we see the three persons of the Godhead. Jesus the Son is in the water being baptized; the Holy Spirit is lighting on Jesus in the bodily form of a dove; and the Father is speaking from Heaven, declaring His Son.

Who will you believe? Will you believe the naysayers, who say that God is not a trinity, or will you listen to the precepts of the Word of God that clearly declare Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself being the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9).

The only way the Father will be pleased with us, and declare us as Just and holy is through His Son Jesus Christ.

The Anointing of the King

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Matthew 3:13-17 continuing…

v. 16 –

There is an anointing of the King in this verse. As a man Jesus needed the empowering of the Holy Spirit for obedience; “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” Hebrews 5:7-9. I realize that these reference verses say nothing about the Holy Spirit, but it does mention “In the days of His flesh”, and the ‘strong crying and tears’. He would have had the Holy Spirit in Him strengthening and emboldening Him for the fulfillment of His ministry and calling. The Spirit was with Him in His teaching. He was present when Jesus healed sickness, and when the dead were raised to life again. Even when He confronted the evil hypocrites and demons the Holy Spirit was moving in power. The Holy Spirit was especially there when it came to His calling and purpose in coming; His agony, and the death of the cross. Let us never forget that the purpose of Jesus Christ, the Son of God becoming man; was to die on that old rugged cross; and receive the curse and sting of death for us.

There was a visible empowering of the Holy Spirit, and was a sign to all who were present, that this One is the Anointed One. The heavens were opened (v. 16; Acts 7:56; Ezekiel 1:1). Ezekiel 1:1 shows us that the ‘heavens were opened’ before so it is not without precedent, O, but for someone greater than Ezekiel; the creator of Ezekiel. When God chooses to open the heavens it is a spectacular event. It was witnessed by several people. We are not told how many were there on the Jordan River that day, but we could estimate in the hundreds, probably. What a glorious event to witness. The Anointing of the King. The visible sign came in the form of a dove lighting on Jesus; “And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him…”. The “Bodily Shape” was so the witnesses could truly see what was taking place. Even Matthew, in verse sixteen witnesses, “…He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him…”. The dove, was to the Jew, a sacrifice of the poor. The dove signifies, that God has lowered Himself, to become a man as a man in need of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus trusted in the teaching and direction of the Spirit of God. Can we do any less.

The Head of the Kingdom

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Matthew 3:1-12 concluded.

vv. 10-12

Now, I realize there is a bit of duplication of the verses, but I guess you could call that writers, or author’s privilege. In looking at these verses – using verse 10 a second time – I want us to see the HEAD OF THE KINGDOM. John confronted the legalists of the Pharisees, and the unspiritual Sadducees with their wickedness and unwilling, disobedient hearts, and has warned them of the “Ax laid to the root of the trees…”

My thought for this is, “Just who is swinging the ax?” It must be, and most assuredly is the King of the kingdom. John’s condemnatory preaching to them concerning their fruit, or lack thereof, shows they had no heart for God, right, or holiness.

The HEAD OF THE KINGDOM Jesus the Messiah will be the One who judges the fruit of the tree. Every unfruitful tree will be cut down and burned. Remember Jesus cursing the fig tree and it died. It was similar to these so called religious leaders who were professing fruit, but had none. The fig trees had leaves, but bore no fruit. Wasn’t it “figleaves” which Adam and Eve used to cover themselves in the garden. That is a state of declaration rather than a question. The fig leaves were hiding the evidence of no fruit, and yet saying it bore fruit.

John was baptizing the willing and obedient unto repentance. These baptized were confessing their sinfulness, giving themselves to repentance and cleansing from sin. There was a need for repentance in that day. There is a great need for repentance in our day, 2007. Yet, people want feel good sermons, songs that move them to tears, and great emotion, but do not lead to sorrow over sin.

When an individual receives the grace of God through Jesus Christ they are baptized in the Spirit. In that baptism there is cleansing by the fire and water of God’s holy Word, and the Spirit. There is a purging of sin. The old chaff [ie., the waste, the good for nothing junk of life, the stench of a dead, rotting corpse, the joy stealing self obsorbtion, etc.] are all burned away, and cast out.

Just as John and Jesus came preaching repentance; so too does it need preached today. It not only needs preached it needs to be lived out in our lives. When we truly repent, Jesus is Lord of our lives, and He is then, truly worshipped and glorified, and others will see Him in us, as the HEAD OF THE KINGDOM.

The Baptist and the Sticks

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Matthew 3:1-12 continuing…

v. 7 –

Let’s take a look at the confrontation that takes place between the Baptist, the legalists and the liberals. John Baptist immediately recognizes them as poisonous snakes, and he calls them such. Now, today, we would hear comments from the crowd, if a preacher were to say something so brash. Some would say, “He shouldn’t have said that”; others might add, “Well, that was just rude”, still others might say, “You can’t draw a crowd like that”. Did John care? I think he cared for the people, but not for the cold hearted attitudes of these rebellious religious leaders who cared nothing for the truth or whether the Messiah was coming or not.

These “Leaders” were subtle like a serpent. There is evidence that there were some serpents in the land of Israel that appear as sticks as they lay so still, and unmoving; someone could inadvertantly pick one up and be bitten by it. John’s condemnation of them immediately relates them to their spiritual father – the devil. Later Jesus Himself would call them a “Brood of vipers” (Matthew 23:33).

Calling religious leaders a “Brood of vipers” would certainly not be a way to get into goods with the denominational crowd or elite. It is not the way to win friends and influence people. At least not according to our modern folklore. Preaching is out. Singing, concerts, drama, sports, etc. is what is the in thing. What ever works to draw a crowd – do it.

The Baptist was faithful to his calling. He remained the herald of the Messiah until his death by the hands of Herod who had him beheaded for the pleasure of his adultery and adulterous wife and step daughter.

To all the men of God who stand in the pulpits of the churches around the world; BE FAITHFUL TO GOD’S CALL – PREACH THE WORD. Never stop. Do not let the praise of men cause you to do the opposite of preaching. Make the preaching of God’s Word central in all you do. Preach for repentance. Preach for Jesus sake. Preach for the glory of Jesus.

People of the churches; stand beside your pastor/preacher if he is preaching the Word. Pray for him. Encourage him. If you do not have a crowd in your church and your pastor is preaching faithfully the Word of God, then pray, and reach out to those you work with, those you hosts in your home, just keep being faithful to God’s Word.

God’s Fulfilled Promises (2)

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Matthew 1:18-25 continued…

Joseph, then, obeyed the voice of God, and went and took Mary as his wife. He too had a heart similar to Mary’s, after the Angel came and confirmed Mary’s words to him. There does not seem to be a moments hesitation. In order to save he and Mary from some embarrassment they probably had their marriage soon after Joseph’s receiving the message.

It is so very important to believe the Word of God. It tells us these things of Jesus. His coming into the world, just like the rest of us, but as the seed of God, not of man. Note what verse 22 tells us, “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet…”.

The virgin birth of Jesus is acknowledged by the Holy Spirit in the writing of Scripture, and in the conception of Jesus. Mary knew herself to be a virgin (Luke 1:34). Her virginity was evidence of her godliness. Her virginity protected the divine nature of the Son of God. If he would have been born of Joseph, or any other man he would have no divine nature.

The baby which was conceived by the Spirit of God was declared to be a “Son” by the Angel before this baby was born (Luke 1:31; Matthew 1:21). This was a long time before there was ‘ultra sound’, or any medical technology we know of in 2007. Joseph is to name Him Jesus; “He shall save His people from their sins”. The name ‘Jesus’ means “Jehovah will save”. In Hebrew it is the name ‘Joshua’.

The birth of this very special baby by the virgin is in fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament. In particular Isaiah 7:14. Matthew’s Gospel continues throughout the Gospel to connect Jesus to the Old Testament. There are more Old Testament references in the Gospel of Matthew than in all the other Gospels. There are at least 100 references to the Old Testament with at least 93 actual references in this Gospel. This strongly shows us God’s power to keep His Word and fulfill His promises. Mary was indeed a virgin at the time of conception and at the time of the birth of Jesus. Immanuel – ‘God with us’ – God became man and dwelt among us.

There was a consummation of the virgin birth by Joseph’s determined action to be the husband of Mary and the legal father of Jesus. In essence the action was an act of obedience – obeying the messenger of God who came and confirmed the words of Mary. Joseph protected the virginity of Mary until after the child Jesus was born. There are some who want to continue to maintain the virginity of Mary even after the birth of Jesus, but this is fallacious; it has no merit at all up against the Scriptures. The fallacy of it is seen in the final verse – 25. “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS”. It is seen in chapter 12:46; and again in chapter 13:55-56; and again in Mark 6:3. To deny the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is to deny the truth which Jesus Himself spoke unto us. “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30); “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Who would or should even call Him a “Good man” if He told us nothing but lies? I am so thankful that the Word of God is true, trustworthy, completely reliable, and every word is God-breathed. Jesus was more than a ‘good man’; He is the God-man.

The virgin birth of Jesus is declared by the Old and New Testaments. It is believed by God’s people, by all who know His Son Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It does not matter who denies it or rejects it; it is the truth. Because of the virgin birth of Jesus we have further evidence of the reality, validity, and power of the life of Jesus. The way the world has been changed by the person, and the witness of Jesus is evidence of the truth of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are fulfilled because of this truth. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is consummated every time a sinner is born of God.

Fulfilled Promises

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GOD’S FULFILLED PROMISESMatthew 1:18-25

This part of the study in Matthew’s Gospel has to do with one of the most controversial subjects concerning the birth of Jesus. That is the fact that He was virgin born. There is much importance to be placed upon this truth. The deity of Jesus Christ and His very own character hang on this truth. To doubt this truth is to doubt the very words of Jesus Himself, because if He was not virgin born, then He was not and is not deity; He is not the Son of God; His death is no different than the thieves who died along side of Him and He was most deserving of His death.

We could ask the question, “Why is the virgin birth so important?” I believe that question is answered in the paragraph above. It is important because it gives us evidence of the truth of who Jesus is. If He was born of a virgin, then, He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14; and since He fulfilled that one He also fulfilled all the others concerning His first coming, and will fulfill all those concerning His return.

We do know that there have been myths of other religions which claimed someone was virgin born, but those prove to be nothing more than myth. These are attempts to deify their heroes or heroines. Within Roman Catholicism there is a teaching of Mary’s being virgin born; often referred to as “Immaculate Conception”, thus putting her in the level of deity. The thought is that Mary must be sinless, perfect, pure, clean, in order to bear the Son of God who is in fact “God with us’ – ‘Immanuel”. If you take that conclusion then, Mary’s mother would have to be “Immaculately born”, and her mother, and her mother, all the way back to Eve, before they fell. That did not happen. Mary, the mother of Jesus Immanuel, Son of God, was not without sin, she was not born of a virgin, and she herself recognized Jesus as her Savior (Luke 6:46-48). There is no Scriptural evidence to prove anything, but that Mary needed a Savior, she went on and became the mother of other children (v. 25; 12:46). There is no veneration due unto Mary. She is not a co-redemptrix. She is a sinner who has been saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Should we admire her? Yes! She obeyed God and became the mother of our Savior. O, that more of us had the heart of Mary, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” Luke 1:38.

There are some who profess to be Christians but do not believe the virgin birth of Christ to have been possible. Can one be a Christian, and not believe that Jesus Christ was born of Mary who was a virgin at the time of His birth? It would seem that an individual who is coming to Jesus by faith at the early stages of faith would not necessarily know of this doctrine, but as they grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus, they would learn of it and believe it. They would believe it because the virgin birth of Immanuel was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14, and fulfilled in Matthew 1:22-23 and Luke 1:26-37. As evidence of one’s salvation they will believe the Word of God, and God says Jesus was born of Mary who was a virgin at the time of His birth. Jesus was conceived in the womb of a virgin by the Spirit of God, and she remained a virgin until after His birth. Argue against the virgin birth of Jesus Christ all you want. Say, “Well that is just not possible.” With the technology we have today it is possible for a young woman to have a child without ever having sexual intercourse with a man. In the physical act she could still be considered a virgin (I guess), but the very fact of the implanting of the seed, or the embryo it would still be the seed of a man, not God. All things are possible with God.

When Mary told Joseph of her encounter with God he did not believe her. He loved Mary, and was going to divorce her privately. Divorce was necessary, because in that culture ‘betrothel’ was as binding as the actual marriage. It was much more than the “engagements” our culture knows here in the United States which can be broken off with a moments notice. Joseph, “Being a just man…” knew the child was not his. He was not going to embarass her, nor did he desire to bring harm to her, but his first thought was ‘Divorce’ but privately. She had betrayed him – so he thought – so he could do this according to law. It was not to be. God sent His angel to Joseph to confirm everything Mary had said. “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (vv. 20-23).

It is great to know that He is still with us.  He is always with us, and will never forsake those who trust in Him.

Ancestry of Sinners

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ANCESTRY OF SINNERS

Matthew 1:1-17 continued…

There is evidence of Jewish Royalty in an ancestry of sinners. This genealogy is evidence of divine lineage of Jesus, and succession of God’s establishment of

a people. It is given so that man may have proof of Jesus’s true identity. You could call this Gospel ‘The Identity Papers of Jesus the King’ It is proof positive that Jesus is the King of kings. For those who will not believe these papers, they would not believe my birth certificate either. I have much more confidence in God’s Birth Certificates than I do those that are manmade.

There are five people who are included in the genealogy of Jesus that most noble people would not want to claim, but here they are in the lineage of our Lord Jesus who is King of all kings, Lord of all lords, and He rules the Universe, and all that is within it. There is Tamar who deceived her father in law and committed an act of harlotry (Matthew 1:3; Gen. 38:13-30). Tamar is a representation of sin. The second person we see is Rahab, and she was a prostitute in the city of Jericho who was delivered from Jericho’s destruction because of her faith in the God of Israel (Matthew 1:5; Joshua 2:1-21; 6:23); Rahab is the representation of faith; she later married a Jew by the name of Salmon, and these were the proud parents of Boaz. And that leads us to the third woman and her name is Ruth – a Moabitish woman who was forbidden by law to enter the congregation; she represents the principle of grace (Matthew 1:5; Deut. 23:3-6; Ruth 1:16; 3:19; 4:18-22). These three women were Gentile women, and Tamar was a Canaanite (Gen 38:2) one of the peoples who were to be driven from the land of Promise and killed. The next woman on the list is not even named; she is instead called, “of her that had been the wife of Uriah” (v.6). We know her as Bathsheba – the partner in David’s great sin of adultery and murder, and she represents the principle of forgiveness. It is possible that Bathsheba was also a Gentile woman. How is all this possible? It shows that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament. He is a God of grace and mercy, and made a way for all to trust Him and be eternally saved.

The fifth and final woman mentioned in this kingly genealogy is Mary. A woman loved, respected, and admired by many. It is so sad however to see some who hold her in an attitude of worship, and to go through her to Jesus. That is pure idolatry and forbidden. Jesus alone is worthy of our worship and we need no mediator to get to Jesus. He is the Mediator for us to the Father. Mary is to be loved, respected, admired and we should follow her in the willing example of faith that she displayed when the angel came and told her that she would bear a Son. Luke recorded, by the breath of God, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” O, that we had a heart like Mary.

When it came to the moment of the conception and birth of the King, the Son of God, the mother must be as pure as is possible, and God chose Mary; a virgin – not just a young woman, which she probably was, but a virgin who had never had sexual intercourse with a man. God protects His purity. Matthew spares nothing to proclaim the virgin birth of Jesus.

Mary does have something in common with the other four women of this genealogy. They are all guilty of , or accused of sexual immorality. It is certain that people of Mary’s and Joseph’s town knew they were “Betrothed” which in that culture was much more than engagement for our culture. It would have taken Joseph to write a legal letter of divorcement for the marriage to cease, but he did not do that. There must have been suspicious, gossiping tongues, as they were seen together before there wedding became official. Mary was not without sin. She was a sinner, in need of a Savior, and she gave birth to her own Savior and ours. What a wonderful lady. We have much to thank Mary for.

Jesus is the only Jew, since 70 A.D., who know His genealogy, and can prove it. “Providence is God’s control of circumstances so that His will prevails in spite of the disobedience of man.” W.W. Wiersbe EXPOSITION OUTLINE pg. 9.

The genealogy of Jesus still continues today. NO! It is not like Dan Brown in THE DIVINCI CODE says which is nothing but purly fiction, and the thoughts of a warped mind. Who is in this genealogy today? All sinners who confess their sin, repent, and trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; those who believe God and act on their faith that He gives; those whom God has chosen by His grace; those who have received God’s forgiveness; those who have surrendered to God’s will for their lives. Those who have been born into the family by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, His body buried – carrying our sins away; and by His being raised to life again after three days. He ascended into Heaven. He will come again, and set up His kingdom.

God’s Faithful Providence (1)

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This is the beginning of a new series.  I pray that God will speak to your heart as He has to mine in its preparation.  It is a study in the Gospel of Matthew.  I know the Modern Day Magi spent most of 2006 writing on this same Gospel, and he did a wonderful job.  With me it will just be coming from a different thought, because I am a different person.  The final chapter of the TWELVE REASONS FOR BELIEVING IN THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE will be posted on Monday – the Lord willing.

JESUS THE KING

 

GOD’S FAITHFUL PROVIDENCE

Matthew 1:1-17

The Gospel of Matthew begins with a genealogy of the King of the Hebrews. Matthew’s Gospel was written to the Hebrew. It is written so they might know that Jesus is their King. At the time they were blinded by their own religious practices, and ceremonies, and self-righteousness as a nation, but Jesus was at that time their Messiah and King and to this day is their King.

The following is the outline Warren W. Wiersbe gives for the Gospel according to Matthew in THE BIBLE EXPOSITION COMMENTARY –

I. The Revelation Of The King – chapters 1-10;

II. The Rebellion Against The King – chapters 11-13;

III. The Retirement Of The King – chapters 14-20;

IV. The Rejection Of The King – chapters 21-27;

V. The Resurrection Of The King – chapter 28

The Gospel begins with Jesus, and His genealogy beginning with Abraham; not Adam. Abraham the father of the Hebrews and their relationship to God the Father. In the Gospel of Luke the genealogy is given backwards and ends with Adam, showing Jesus to be the Son of Man. The Gospel of Mark has no genealogy, nor does the Gospel of John. Servants have no genealogy as in Mark’s account, nor does God have genealogy as in the Gospel of John.

By way of introduction let me give some information concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The human penman for this Gospel is Matthew. He was called by Jesus while sitting at his place collecting taxes: “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him” (Matthew 9:9). As a tax collector he would have been a reject to those who were religious rulers, they would have counted him a traitor, because he was collecting taxes from his people for the Roman government.

This Gospel was written to the Jews to declare and give evidence of Jesus’s royal lineage.

Look at the differences of the four Gospels. First of all in Matthew; Jesus is seen as the King, and is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. For some help in seeing this look at what John wrote in the Revelation chapter four verses six and seven, “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle”. There is a similar depiction of this in the writings of Ezekiel the prophet, “As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle” (Ezekiel 1:10). In Mark’s Gospel; Jesus is seen as a Servant, and is the ox/calf – Jesus Himself said in the Gospel of Mark, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Then in the Gospel of Luke we see Jesus as the Son of Man, and represented, of course by the “face of a man”. Finally in the Gospel of John we see Him as the Son of God, and represented by the symbol of the eagle. The eagle above all, soaring in majesty, representing the All-Knowing power of God.

The Royal Lineage of Jesus is given by Matthew in verses 2 – 16, and with all its blemishes. Do not bolt about that statement, but rather rejoice in it, because actually within the lineage of Jesus are you and me as well.

In this Gospel we see a gracious King. We also see the wondrous providence of our great God and King.

In chapter one we have Matthew’s God breathed declaration of Jewish Royalty. David is considered, by the Jews, and by many others, to be the greatest of Israel’s kings. He was just a youngman when the prophet Samuel came to the household of Jesse by God’s appointment and chose and anointed David king the the place of Saul; in God’s own timing.

Abraham was the patriarch of Israel, and this identifies this gospel to the Jews, and to Jesus as being Jewish. Abraham’s faith is almost unsurpassed in all of the Scriptures and history. His faith speaks volumes for encouragement in growing in Christ, loving the Lord, trusting the Lord despite dire circumstances, and just plain ole ‘Holding on faith’ which is much more of God’s holding on than us holding on.

Jesus, of course, is who this Gospel is really about. But then, that is true of the whole of this book called the Bible. Jesus came and showed the people, and told the people who He was, but was despised by the Jewish religious establishment, and many of the people. He is defended by Matthew, as their King.

Reason # 9

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REASON # 9 – The Scriptures Refer to “The Blessed Hope”

 

Titus 2:11-15

The first seven reasons we have looked at were 1) The Unfulfilled Promises of God to Israel, 2) Scriptural/Historical Evidence of Previous Raptures, 3) The Scoffers Who Disclaim the Promise of Christ’s Return, 4) Jesus Said He Would Come Again and Take Us To a Prepared Place, 5) The Church Has Not Been Appointed to Wrath, 6) This View Maintains the Imminent Return of Jesus Christ, 7) Because of The Stronger Emphasis on Evangelism and Missions, 8) Because Israel is Put Aside for a Time; The Lord is Working In the Church Today.

Now the ninth reason for believing in the Pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church…

The Scriptures Refer to “The Blessed Hope”…

THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN (v. 11). The grace of God for salvation has appeared to all in the way of the cross. All are not automatically saved because of the cross, but is possible for every man to be saved.

Having the grace “appear” for all to be saved, then also gives just cause for judgment. The judgment that will come on all who “are of the earth”. These have not received the grace of God, but have shunned this marvelous grace.

 

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THIS GRACE WE ARE EXHORTED TO LIVE LIVES OF GODLINESS; TO DENY WORLDLINESS, AND UNGODLINESS (v. 12). Because we have received the grace of God we can expect to suffer some tribulation, but not for the purpose of bringing us to salvation.

Our tribulation is for our faith, strengthening, and building of godliness in us. Equipping us for that glorious kingdom that is yet to come – to reign and rule with Jesus.

 

BEING RECIPIENTS OF THE GRACE WE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT ‘BLESSED HOPE’ AND THEN, ‘THE GLORIOUS APPEARING’ OF OUR SAVIOR (v. 13). These are two separate events.

The BLESSED HOPE is the person of Jesus Christ, but there is the event as well. The event is when Jesus returns in the clouds; calls His children by name; and the trumpet sounds; and the call “Come up hither” will be heard by all who will hear His voice. When we hear His voice we will rise to meet Him in the air. The dead in Christ will hear His voice and come out of their graves. I personally believe the graves will be opened, just like Jesus’s grave was opened; not to let Him out, nor to let them out, but to let others see they are not there.

Would there be any “Blessed hope” knowing that we have a period of time ahead of us that is purely for the cleansing of Israel, and that we would be going through it too? Of course, our real hope is Jesus Himself, but He promised to come and receive us to Himself. That seems to me to be deliverance from that Tribulation unto the presence of Jesus.

 

HE IS PRESENTLY WORKING IN US TO PURIFY US, AND TO MAKE US ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS (v. 14). Jesus is presently equipping us; working in us to accomplish His will and purposes for our lives.

For what purpose would be a “Tribulation Period” be for the Church, when He is working in us now? Is that a thought that seeks the heart of the reason? If the restraining presence of God on earth is present, how can evil seem to go out of control? Sin is presently kept in check by the presence of a righteous remnant of people who truly make up the Body of Christ on earth called the Church.

 

THESE WORDS ARE TO BE TAUGHT AND PREACHED FOR EXHORTATION AND REBUKE (v. 15). Does the pastor sin in not presenting the ‘whole counsel of God’? Does the preacher/pastor disobey God and His word by failing to expound the Scriptures concerning the end times?

The answer to both questions most definitely seems to be YES!!! If one third of the Scriptures is prophetic, then, it would seem logical to spend one third of our preaching and teaching in the prophetic Word of God. We may not get it right, but if we expound the Word, and give explanation according to Scripture we will not miss it by far.

Paul says to Titus, “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” Titus 2:15 (KJV).

Is there anything “Blessed” about looking for and expecting a wrath to come?

Presently, the Church goes through tribulation that is for our cleansing and purification; there is no future wrath for the Body of Christ.

THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US OF ‘THE BLESSED HOPE’ FOR THE CHURCH, and wrath for the people of the earth.

The Time of the End

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THE TIME OF THE END

 

Daniel 12:1-13

 

There are those who do not believe that there is a God, or that He can show us a glimpse of the future. All of the last chapter was history, written before it ever happened, and we know that everything happened just as God told Daniel that it would.

If, indeed, God is God, why is it so hard for people to believe that He can and did reveal the future to men like Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the others? When there is wrath coming on the world He has His messengers warning, and exhorting people to turn to God and live. As a matter of fact we have His Word that tells us that He will not act without first send warning of doing so; Amos 3:7 says, “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (NKJV). Surely Daniel is a book about God’s revealed secrets to His servant Daniel.

In this twelfth and final chapter the secrets of God just keep coming. In this chapter God even goes so far as to tell us how many Hebrews will be saved in that last day.

 

MICHAEL THE ARCH ANGEL STANDS UP FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD (v. 1). This verse is a continuation from the latter chapter.

It appears that Michael has a special ministry as an arch angel, and that is as protector of the children of Israel, at least during the end of the time of the Gentiles rule on earth, and the “time of Jacob’s trouble”.

In the midst of the tribulation the Antichrist will break the covenant with Israel which he made with them three and one half years earlier (9:27). He will go into the ‘temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4b). He himself will in fact be the “ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION” spoken of by Daniel and by Jesus (Daniel 11:31, 12:11), “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)” (Matthew 24:15).

All those who are found written in God’s book will be delivered from this “Evil one”. The MacArthur Study Bible note for this says, “The book is the book of the saved (Mal. 3:16-4:3; Luke10:20; Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27)”. It would be the very same book your name and mine is written in because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In fact, the Bible does seem to give some idea as to how many Jews will be delivered. In Zachariah 13:8-9, the prophet wrote from the breath of God, “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God” Zechariah 13:8-9 (KJV). One third of the Jewish nation will be delivered and follow their Messiah. Romans 11:26a says, “And so all Israel shall be saved”. That is right this one third is “all Israel”.

 

THERE SHALL BE A RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND A RESURRECTION OF THE UNJUST (vv. 2-3). I have heard for many years of the judgment that is coming for both the just and the unjust. I also know that some people put these judgments at the same point in time. If you look at the statement by itself, then you might certainly come to that conclusion. That is why you must look at what the rest of Scripture says.

In this I will be understanding the “Just” as those who have been justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The “Just” ones have been declared “Just” by our Father Himself, therefore, the only judgment we will see will be what Paul calls the “Judgment Seat of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:10). This judgment will not be for sin, but rather for the determination of reward. We will be rewarded or suffer loss according to those things that we have did in our body.

Also I will be understanding that the “Unjust” are all those who have refused the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior, all those who are yet condemned in their sin. These having never received Christ will stand before God at what John called the “Great white throne” judgment. Here they will be judged for all their deeds they have done. None will be found who have glorified the Lord, and will be cast alive into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15).

Sometimes the prophets prophesied of two events without really realizing it. They had trouble understanding what they were foretelling. The same is true with Daniel in our present text.

For example; the prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 61, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn…” When this was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ He stopped the reading with, “…To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” The simple reason He stopped there is because it was not, then the time to fulfill the rest of it. That time has not come, even yet, but it will be here soon.

In verse two it refers to those who have died, both the believing and unbelieving. Both will one day come out of their graves. Some will come out of their graves at the rapture of the Church; some will arise at the end of the tribulation period, and will be with Jesus in the Millennial reign of Jesus. However, the wicked, unbelieving dead will not rise until after the Millennial reign. That is when they will go before the GREAT WHITE THRONE of God’s judgment and will be cast alive into the LAKE OF FIRE which burns forever and ever.

Verse three seems to allude to the idea of ‘teachers’ teaching during the tribulation. They will be warning their fellow Hebrews of what this time is all about, and telling them of their Messiah. In doing so they will shine like stars in eternity. This would most likely be the 144,000 that is spoken of in the Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1-5.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT TO KNOW THE WORD OF GOD – PROPHECY IN PARTICULAR – BETTER AS THE TIME APPROACHES (v. 4). According to this angel Daniel is to “Shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end”. That means there were things then, Daniel did not understand, now would he understand. God gives light as it is needed, to His people. Daniel did not need to know at his time.

We are in the ‘time of the end’, and God has started giving understanding in many of these things. I personally do not believe that the teaching of the rapture of the Church is relatively new. It is quite clear in Paul’s teachings that he was ready to go at any moment in the rapture, or to satisfy those who say the word “rapture” is not in the Bible; the catching away. I will not get into that here.

Many have looked at this passage, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” as a prophecy of automobiles, airplanes, and man’s great ability to travel – as we do today – and our increase in knowledge in medicine, science, etc. It most likely does not really have anything to do with that.

If we look at the context of the verse, Daniel is writing about what he has written. For Daniel the Book is ‘shut up’ – sealed if you will. As the day of God’s judgment draws closer people who love God and His Word will spend time in its study and will increase in knowledge and understanding of prophecy. When you love God and His Word and spend time in it God will teach you what He decides you need to know.

Understanding prophecy is a motivator to do God’s will. It is a motivator to holy living until the time that Jesus comes again. If we really believe that Jesus’s coming is closer than it has ever been, then, we should be studying, living holy, and working – truly WALIKING WITH GOD.

 

DANIEL’S CURIOSITY IS PUT IN CHECK (vv. 5-9). Daniel is still by the Tigris River (Hiddekel KJV). These who stood on each bank of the river were most likely angels. The “Man clothed in linen” is probably the same personage as in chapter 10:5-9 which is probably a preincarnate manifestation of Jesus Christ. The angels are curious also. One asked the One in linen, “How long…?” This question seems to be asking how long will this time of “Great tribulation” last. The answer comes back, “For a time, times and an half”. Time = 1 year; times = 2 years; and an half = ½ year or six months.

Notice, this man in linen lifts His hands toward the Father in heaven and “Sware by Him that liveth for ever”. When God could sware by no greater, He swore to Himself (Heb. 6:13). This is what was taking place between the Father and the Son. We can know and trust by this that the TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE (Jeremiah 30:7) will be no longer than 3 and one half years. Remember there are six purposes for this trial for the Jews listed in chapter 9:24. The Jews will flee Jerusalem during the tribulation and some will be saved, ie., trust Jesus as their Messiah.

Daniel is still very curious. The Lord tells him, “God about doing your business” or “Go on your way”, those things are sealed up until the end.

 

AS TIME DRAWS TO A CLOSE THE RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST WILL BECOME MORE CLEAN AND HOLY; WHILE THE WICKED WILL GET MORE AND MORE WICKED (v. 10). NOTE: This could refer to the 3.5 years of the first half of the tribulation.

Where sin abounds grace does much more abound (Romans 5:20). It will also be so at this horrendous time in human history. While believers will be being made righteous, the wicked will get more and more wicked. They will be blinded by the events while the believing remnant will become more and more wise, and more and more clean before the Lord God (2 Timothy 3:13 – “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived”).

 

THOSE LAST THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS WILL BE THE MOST TRYING FOR THE JEWS BUT THERE IS BLESSING FOR THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD (vv. 11-13). One thousand two hundred and ninety days equals 3.5 years. A Biblical year is measured in 360 days. There is no explanation for the ‘thousand three hundred and thirty five days’. Actually, the 1,290 days carries over about 30 more days. The 1,335 has a total carry over of about 75 days. There is no explanation for either. It could be a time of transition for the setting up of Messiah’s kingdom.

It is said of the 1,335 days that, “Blessed is he that waiteth…” for these days.

Once again the Lord tells Daniel, “Go thou thy way”. This is really instructions to carry on with your business that you do. We as Christians are not to go around with our head in the stars unaware of the world we live in. There are people who are dying, suffering, and headed into an eternity without Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Let us labor for our Lord in our work place, in our play, on vacation, or wherever we may be.

 

It is certain, at least to me, by the reading and study of Scripture that we are in the final days of the ‘last days’. The ‘last days’ began when Jesus came born of a virgin, was laid in a manger in Bethlehem, was worshipped by shepherds, and wisemen, and the angels. He has died, was buried, carrying our sins away, and He has risen just as He said. He also said that He would come again and receive us unto Himself. Know Jesus. Call on His name as Lord and Savior of your life.

MARANATHA…

 

 

The Word of God Fulfilled

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THE ANGEL’S CONTINUED EXPLANATION

 

Daniel 11:1 – 12:1

 

The first verse is clearly the angel, whom we believe to be Gabriel, still speaking to Daniel to give Him understanding of all the things he has seen.

Explanations do us good in most things in life. Daniel was God’s man, God’s prophet for that period of time, and he had received one of the most profound prophetic visions of all the history of mankind. He was given wisdom and grace by God to reveal to Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed, and to give him its interpretation. Daniel also received the vision of the same prophecy as seen from God’s eyes.

Daniel was a student of Scripture. We are told that he read the prophet Jeremiah concerning the 70 weeks. That is where Daniel Got his faith, and grew to the man that he was. He was a student of God’s Word.

 

What does the angel explain to Daniel?

 

THE ANGEL SPEAKS CONCERNING PERSIA AND HER KINGS (vv. 1-2). I have already explained that the first verse is a carry over from the tenth chapter. This angel had stood with Darius/Cyrus as a protecting angel as he was carrying forth the edict of God in making a decree for Hebrews to return to their land. This shows the promise God made to Abraham – “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you”. It is best to stand with the people of God who are the Hebrews as a nation.

For Daniel these were future. King Cambyses (529-522 B.C.). Pseudo Smerdis (522-521 B.C.). Darius I Hystapes (521-486 B.C.). Xerxes or Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther (496-465 B.C.).

These are now history past. We are assured by their fulfillment that God’s Word is true. If these were fulfilled then the yet future prophecies will be fulfilled also.

Remember Daniel has already seen the line-up according to Nebuchacnezzar’s dream. The head of gold was Babylon (Chap. 2; the lion of chap. 7). The arms and chest of silver represent the Medo-Persian empire (Chap. 2; the bear of chap. 7). The belly and thighs of bronze are Greece (Chap. 2; the goat of chap. 8). The legs of iron, feet of iron mixed with clay is Rome (Chap. 2; terrible beast in chap. 7).

 

CONCERNING GREECE (vv. 3-4). This picture of course refers to Alexander the Great. He is only called “Great” because of the swiftness with which he conquered the then known world. The belly and thighs of bronze [brass]. The speed of a leopard with wings.

When he died his kingdom was divided between four of his generals. The four kingdoms were; Macedonia; Asia Minor; Egypt – referred to in this chapter as the “king of the South”; and Syria – referred to in this chapter as “king of the North”.

This, too, was fulfilled just as the book of Daniel says.

This book was not written after the fact; as many unbelieving professors say; but years before the events took place. The unbelievers do not believe that God has the knowledge/foreknowledge to know what will happen in the future. They really give no allowance for God at all, but that does not matter, they will still see Him one day, whether they believe in Him or not.

 

CONCERNING EGYPT AND SYRIA (vv. 5-20). Ptolemy I Soter and Seleucus I Nicator (v. 5). Seleucus is the stronger. His alliance allowed him to seize the throne of Syria.

Ptolemy II Philadelphus and Antiochus II Theos (v. 6). Marriage was a political matter for peace and unity between nations. Ptolemy demanded Antiochus divorce his wife Laodice in order to marry Ptolemy’s daughter Berenice. After Ptolemy died, 2 years later, Antiochus took back Laodice and she murdered Antiochus and Berenice. O the pit of politics.

Ptolemy III Euregetes and Seleucus II Callinicus (vv. 7-9). Brother of Bernice – defending his sisters honor and avenging her death; attacked the Northern kingdom and won.

Ptolemy IV Philopater and Antiochus III the Great (vv. 10-19). Antiochus gave his daughter Cleopatra I in marriage to Ptolemy V (7 years of age), hoping to use her to underrmine the Egyptian government. Cleopatra was loyal to her husband.

God is still the God of history, because it is His-story.

 

CONCERNING ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES AND SYRIA (vv. 21-35; also see 8:9-14). This man is the picture of the future antichrist – he is in fact an antichrist for his time.

This man obtained his throne by guile.

He was successful in his military endeavors.

In 170 B.C. he turned his attention toward Israel. He plundered and defiled the temple. He abolished daily sacrifices. He killed many of the Jewish people. He left soldiers behind in Jerusalem to maintain control. He invaded Egypt again only to be confronted by Romans (v. 30; “ships of Chittim”.

In 168 B.C. he desecrated the temple. He erected an altar to Zeus, and offered a pig as sacrifice in the Hebrew temple. NOTE: In the future the Antichrist will put his own image in the temple of God when he breaks the covenant with the Hebrews in the middle of the “Seventieth week of Daniel” – the seven year tribulation period.

There was a small group of faithful Jews who opposed this godless leader (vv. 33-35). A Jewish priest named Mattathias and his five sons. His son Judah (Maccabeus meaning, “The hammerer”) was one of the heroes of this revolt. These laid down their lives and finally won. On December 14, 165 B.C., the temple was purified and the altar dedicated. The Jews celebrate this annually as the Feast of Lights (Hanukkah). This is also mentioned back in chapter eight.

 

CONCERNING THE TRIBULATION AND THE ANTICHRIST (vv. 36- 12:1). The time of the Great Tribulation, also known as the “Time of Jacobs trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). Just as the above historical things were foretold and came to pass; so too will the things that have yet to happen. They do not have to be spiritualized for fulfillment; they will be literally fulfilled.

This man will appear as a man of peace; a master politician; a man of no specific religious faith. The Tribulation will begin in peace for the Jewish people, but will become war against them in the last three and one half years. God, however, will preserve His people (Matthew 24:22). There will be military invasion (Daniel 11:40-43); a battle will take place at the valley called Armageddon (vv. 44-45); then, Jesus Christ will appear in all His glory, splendor and wrath ridding the world of all evil.

This is not a period of time that Christians look forward to. We are waiting and longing for the appearance of Jesus in the clouds; calling our names; and COME UP HITHER with the sound of the trumpet, and we will go to be with Him for all eternity. Blessed be the name of the Lord. MARANATHA.

Spiritual Warfare

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SPIRITUAL WARFARE

 

Daniel 10:1-21

 

There are wars in our world today. That is no profound statement I realize that, but it is none the less true. We grieve over the war in Iraq, and the young soldiers who are dying, civilians dying, women and children included in that. No war is pleasant. It is not really pleasant to even speak of. Sometimes, as bad as it is, wars are necessary to stand against what is evil. I do not think any one in their right mind would say that, “The attack of September 11, 2001 was not an attack from evil“.

Ever since the beginning of man; Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden we have come under attack from evil. The world is still under the domain of the chief of all evil and that is the devil. He still has his demons working and influencing the leaders of the world, but all his work and efforts will be to no avail. The devil and his demons are a defeated foe. They were defeated on the cross where Jesus died and conquered evil there. Proof of that is in that He rose from the dead.

There is a warfare which we as Christians are fighting today. Some will say, “You said that Jesus had conquered evil, why are we still fighting a war against it?” Jesus did conquer evil, and that is part of the glory of the matter. We need to remember that we are not fighting for victory, we are fighting from the victory. “Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.”

Paul the apostle told us, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  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” Eph. 6:10-12 (KJV). Paul also tells us that, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” 2 Cor. 10:4 (KJV).

Daniel was finding out about spiritual warfare.

AS WE LOOK AT THE TIME THAT DANIEL HAD THIS EXPERIENCE (v. 1). It was approximately two years after Cyrus had made the decree that the captives of Jerusalem could return to their homeland. In the book of Ezra we read, “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,  Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem” Ezra 1:1-3 (KJV).

This event takes place a few years following the events of chapter 9, because we see at the beginning of chapter nine that it took place during the first year of Darius of the Medes.

It could be that Daniel may have written the document that gave the Israelites permission to return to Jerusalem. Remember Daniel was in the court of the king, so this may have been his responsibility.

 

THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF DANIEL’S MOURNING (vv. 2-3). It is not told us what it was that caused Daniel to mourn, specifically. We do know that it had been approximately two years since the decree had gone out for the people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

News had most likely came back to Daniel of the trying circumstances of the 50,000 Hebrews who returned to the land. There were other Hebrews who had never left who were mocking those who had returned, and were hindering the work of the temple. There was a spiritual battle raging in Jerusalem.

Daniel’s heart was greatly burdened. He was so burdened – maybe for a couple of reasons; First, he may have been burdened for the people’s circumstances in Jerusalem – the work had been hindered and stopped (Ezra 4:1-6). Secondly, Daniel was probably burdened to better understand the prophecies he had received. It is quite possible the battle in Jerusalem over the building of the temple is the scene of the battle between the angelic being (vv. 13 & 20). It seems to relate to an ongoing battle (v. 13b “…I remained there with the kings of Persia”, said the angel. Daniel, in fact, had spent 21 days in mourning and fasting, because of his sorrow, and desire to get God’s direction and will. The prayer was heard on the first day, but due to the spiritual battle Daniel endured in prayer and fasting until he received answer.

Fasting seems to have been an almost forgotten practice. Private fasting, where there is no self aggrandizement, is a practice that Christians need to begin practicing in order to be overcomers in the life of faith.

Let us never forget to pray for our nation’s leaders. It could very well be that there are evil spirits directing the hearts of evil men and hindering the works of godly men. In fact the Bible is clear about that. Let us always beware to never pray to angels nor worship them – they are servants of God and servants to us as well. We are to worship and pray to God alone.

 

DANIEL’S PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE LORD (vv. 4-9). The appearance of this “…Certain man” seems to be almost identical to the description given of Jesus in the Revelation, “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:“ Rev 1:12-17 (KJV).

It is because of this that many, including myself see this ‘certain man’ as a Christ phony – a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus Christ. It would be similar to His appearance in the fiery furnace with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. This revelation took place while Daniel was walking by the river Hiddekel. Sometimes when one becomes burdened a walk in a place of quietness brings the best encounters with God. What an encounter it was. This is the first time Daniel has a personal visit from our Lord, at least that is recorded.

Even though they did not see the One whom Daniel saw, the men with Daniel fled and hid, because they realized something was going on and it was too great for them to stay around (vv. 7-8). The vision was so awe-inspiring Daniel had no strength. He heard His voice. Being so weakened and overcome by His presence Daniel went into a deep sleep. We should in no way consider this “deep sleep” as bad on Daniel’s part. From the excitement he may have blacked out and lost consciousness. Sometimes it is when our minds are resting in the Lord we are renewed, refreshed, and revived. NOTE, Daniel’s position “…My face toward the ground.” Most likely this “deep sleep” was probably the same type “deep sleep” God put on Adam when He created Eve”. So it was a God induced sleep.

 

DANIEL IS TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL (vv. 10-21). It does not say it clearly but most likely the hand that touched Daniel was the hand of Gabriel the angel who had spoken to him previously (8:16; 9:20-23).

NOTICE: The words this angel speaks to Daniel; “…A man greatly beloved” is spoken twice in this chapter (vv. 11 & 19) and one other time in the previous chapter (9:23). He says, “Fear not” twice (vv. 12, 19). “Peace be unto thee”, and “Be strong, be strong”. A double admonition.

Why Daniel prayed for twenty one days – the Spiritual Warfare. The angel was hindered by the “prince of Persia”. This could not have been a mere man which the angel of God was battling. It had to have been a “demon angel” appointed by satan over the kingdom of Persia. If Daniel had quit praying this ‘prince of Persia’ could have won the battle. Let us never cease praying for God’s will to be accomplished in His people and in the governments of men. Because of Daniel’s unceasing, fervent prayer the angel came with an answer. Delayed prayers are FAITH TESTING and FAITH BUILDING prayers. Daniel was touched three times by the angel (vv. 10, 16, and 18).

There are some who believe that this whole encounter was with the pre-incarnate Christ. It cannot be – because Jesus would not need the help of Michael. Jesus could, but speak the word, “Be gone” and that demon would flee. There is no doubt in my mind that from verses ten through verse 21 the one who touched Daniel was an angel, and most likely Gabriel, who had spoken to him previously.

The angel came to give Daniel understanding of what the “latter days” held for the Hebrews, and Gentile nations.

The angel speaks of returning to battle the ‘prince of Persia’. He tells Daniel that the ‘prince of Greece’ is on the way. It almost seems the angel encourages Daniel to keep praying. PLEASE REREAD EPHESIANS 6:10-18.

Let us as the Church of Jesus Christ keep praying too. Let’s pray for forgiveness of our own sin, confess them and repent. Let’s pray for those who are lost. Jesus is coming soon and the prince of darkness is working harder than ever before. MARANATHA.

Daniel’s Prayer (2)

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

 We continue Daniel’s Prayer with Daniel 9:19-27 –

In the fifth place we see that, DANIEL’S PRAYER WAS A FERVENT PRAYER. Daniel’s heart yearned for the day of deliverance. Even though he probably knew he would never see it – he would die in Babylon – still longed for that day when the people would return to Jerusalem, rebuild its walls, streets, temple and everything that goes with it all.

He fervently prayed – ie., with passion, commitment, and fire. Here are some things which accompany fervent prayer:

Humility – Change of garments – to garments of mourning ;; shaving off the hair on the head;

Crying – almost uncontrollable weeping;

Tearing of clothes – an outward sign of sorrow;

Fasting – committed to seeing God’s will done, even to the place of denying one’s self the physical needs one may have;

Sighing, groaning, even the sweating of blood.

Fervent prayer cares nothing for the negative opinions of others – the things listed above will seem fanatical to others who are less devoted, and unconcerned.

Daniel fasted. Reasons people in the Bible fasted; 1)Private problems; 2) Hannah for a child; 3) Public disasters; 4) The death of a king and his sons (1 Samuel 31); 5) Personal grief; 6) Grief for personal sin; 7) Pity for friends or others; 8) Searching for the will of God. It would do the Church of Jesus Christ wonders, if we would begin doing some fasting. We, today, are more familiar with feasting.

 

The sixth thing we see is, that while DANIEL PRAYING, THE ANGEL GABRIEL CAME AND GAVE HIM UNDERSTANDING (vv. 20-23). Daniel prayed; confessing the sins of the people of Israel and his own sins, and lifting up supplications unto the Lord for their land. While he was praying the angel Gabriel appeared to him once again.

Gabriel said he had come to give Daniel “Skill and understanding”. I do not think it is too bold of a statement to say that it was because of Daniel’s devotion to God and His Word that God chose him for “Skill and understanding”. Daniel was fervent in prayer. He was consistent in his prayers. He was devoted to the Word of God. He was an obedient servant to God. He fasted. He wept. He mourned. I find it no surprise that God chose Daniel to give “Skill and understanding”.

Notice, the angel said, “At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee..” Daniel’s prayers were heard from day one. His faith was strong in the Word of God.

The angel also tells him, “Thou are greatly beloved…” What a decree to come from the mouth of one of God’s angels.

 

In the seventh thing we see the angel giving DANIEL THE PURPOSE OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS (v. 24). This is the thing Daniel read from Jeremiah concerning Israel. In the prophecy each seven day week represents seven years, thus the seventy weeks would represent a total of 490 years. What was the purpose of these years – one week of which or seven years, has not yet come to pass.

The purpose of the seventy weeks has a six fold purpose; 1) “To finish the transgression” ie., to bring an end to Israel’s transgression – their sin and rebellion against God in worshipping idols; 2) “To make an end of sins”; 3) “To make reconciliation for iniquity”, ie., that is to reconcile the nation to God; 4) To bring in everlasting righteousness; 5) To seal up the vision of the prophecy; and 6) To anoint the most Holy.

 

In the eighth place we are told of THE RESTORATION OF JERUSALEM UNTO THE MESSIAH – WHO IS CHRIST JESUS (vv.25-26a). A decree would go forth for the restoration of Jerusalem from a Gentile king. There was such a decree that went forth from a king to Nehemiah to go and rebuild the walls of the city (Nehemiah 2).

The restoration of Jerusalem was done in 49 years. This period of time equals the ‘seven weeks’. There are 7 days in a week times 7 weeks equals 49 days. Each day equals 1 year. After the restoration of Jerusalem it would be 62 weeks until Messiah was ‘cut off’ this would equal 483 years. The Messiah, that is Jesus Chris, would be crucified on a cross in Jerusalem.

NOTICE – Seventy (70) weeks times 7 equals 490 weeks. This means that only 69 weeks have been fulfilled. The first 483 have been fulfilled exactly as God told Daniel. There has been approximately 2000 years since the completion of the 483 years. There remains 7 yet to be fulfilled. That seven years is known by at least two different titles; first, “The time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7); secondly, we know it better by “Tribulation period” – “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds” (Rev. 2:22). It is also known as the “Day of the LORD” in many Old Testament passages.

 

In the ninth place we see the SEVENTIETH WEEK; THE PRINCE TO COME; AND HIS COVENANT OF PEACE WITH ISRAEL (vv. 26b-27). The ‘prince that shall come’ is speaking of a deceiver. Some time following the disappearance of the saints of God, this man will come on the scene and make a peace covenant with Israel for seven years “One week”.

In the midst of the week – 3.5 years – this prince will break that covenant,a nd set himself up in the temple of God – “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” 2 Thes. 2:3-4.

He will desolate the temple. Really just his presence in the temple will be worse than the pig which Antiochus Epiphanes placed on the altar. In his desolation he will call for the people of the world to worship him. That is when he begins running into problems. The last 3.5 years will be a time of judgment upon the earth such as no one has ever seen.

Not only will Israel be delivered during this time, but when Jesus comes to put an end to sin, they will look upon Him whom they have pierced (Rev. 1:7). In John 19:37 it says, “And again another scripture saith, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced”.

The seven years of ‘tribulation will end with Jesus coming in the clouds with His saints, conquering the rebellious nations of earth, ‘the inhabitants of earth’, cleansing the land; and reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS. MARANATHA.

Delivered; Pure and Bold

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Daniel 3

NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S SECOND TESTIMONY TOWARD GOD (vv. 26-30).

Please Note : Just because someone has seen God’s mighty works, and can testify to God’s power does not necessarily mean they know God on a personal basis. At this point in the kings life, he did not know God.

God’s grace is so amazing toward Nebuchadnezzar and toward us all. This is the second mighty deed the king witnesses of the Almighty. The first, remember, was God revealing the dream through Daniel with its interpretation, and this is second; and at the scene of false worship.

When the king commanded them to come out of the fire – they obeyed. They could not obey when it came to worshipping an idol. They could, however, obey their king in other matters. This shows us that there is a time and place for civil disobedience.

When they came out of the fire there was not one single singed hair, nor a piece of clothing touched by the flame. They did not even have the scent of smoke on them or their clothing. When they came from the flames of that fire they were cleaner than ever before.

Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony has all appearances of genuine faith with one exception. You cannot legislate genuine faith. When you have a genuine faith in Jesus Christ you are secure enough in that faith to let the gospel do its work and the people trust God for themselves.

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, alias Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego were promoted even higher in Babylon. I wonder how the snitch felt now?

NOTE: They were cast down into the fire and God lifted them out of it. In times of our fiery trials God is closer than at any other time.

By the fire they were cleansed, they were strengthened in faith, and they were exalted, and God was exalted.

Delivered Through the Fire

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 Daniel 3

THE FIERY FURNACE OF DELIVERANCE (vv. 19-25).

This furnace was made seven times hotter than what it was. This shows that the king was angry at Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were trusted men in his court, but now they had failed him, so he thought.

Nebuchadnezzar chose the most ‘mighty men’ to cast them into the furnace. The Hebrews were bound and cast into the fire. These men’s faith never wavers. As they approach the fire the men who are to cast them in perish from the blazing heat. As the men enter the fire they have a very welcome visitor with them, and O such a Visitor He is. After looking at the two words in the old Webster dictionary (visitor, guest) it seems the word visitor would be best to describe Jesus’s appearance. This is from Websters Dictionary on “e-Sword”,

“VIS’ITOR, n.1. One who comes or goes to see another, as in civility or friendship.

2. A superior or person authorized to visit a corporation or any institution, for the purpose of seeing that the laws and regulations are observed, or that the duties and conditions prescribed by the founder or by law, are duly performed and executed.

The king is the visitor of all lay corporations.”

 

The ropes burned from their hands, they were loose and walking around in the fire. You could say it was the fire which set them free, but only the One in the fire with them preserved them from the very same flames which set them free. Free in the midst of the fire walking around. There is no better freedom than that.

The king and others looking into the flame saw them walking around with no harm coming on them. They also see four, rather than three men in the flame. What sweet fellowship the men must have been having with Jesus. Yes, I said with Jesus. That is who that fourth man was.

Nebuchadnezzar probably would not have recognized the Son of God, but that is who the fourth man in the fire was/is – Jesus Christ the pre-incarnate Son of God.

 

The Bold and Faithful

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THE KING’S MOCKERY OF GOD AND THE BOLD STAND OF THE FAITHFUL (vv. 13-18).

The decree has gone out, “Bow before this image, or burn”. Everyone has, with the exception of three Hebrew youth. The king hears that his decree has been shunned by three. He becomes angry. Did you ever think that the one who turned them in for their apparent insolence could have been one of those ‘wise men’ who could not reveal the dream, thus became jealous of these Hebrews. Nebuchadnezzar mocks the God of all creation.

Take a look now at the one’s who were bold people of faith. Their minds were made up (v. 16) – they would not bow – no compromise; no need for empty talk – they would not bow.

They knew God could deliver them, but even if not – they still would not bow. They had rather burn for God, and let the light of their burning shine throughout eternity, than bow to an idol. And, God still has the flame that could not harm them burning as an example today. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me bless His holy name. Amen. Do Christians have that kind of faith today. We know there are some, especially, if we are familiar with The Voice of the Martyrs ministry located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. They share stories each month in their Newsletter/magazine “THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS” of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are suffering for their faith. Facing persecution from their governments, if they refuse to give up preaching Christ or holding worship services. In the face of that kind of opposition they continue. God bless them. May we have that kind of faith.

The so called, “FAITH MOVEMENT” says God wants to bless you with material things, and if you are not it is due to sin in your life. What happens when things are gone? God will bless you with Good health, if you rid sin (negative thoughts and influences) from your life. What happens when health is gone? Are we only trusting God when we are blessed? That is the height of idolatry, not faith in the One true and living God. May God forgive those who teach such heresy.

When you are called on to stand for your faith will you bow under the butcher’s axe or before the idol of comfort and love for life?

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah had determined before hand, that they would not worship this image. How could they make that pre-determined decision and stick with it. There is one thing for sure, and that is, that they had prayed, and were continuing to pray. I do not think the Scriptures need tell us that; it is just simply evident, by their previous examples.

How can Christians today stand in the face of such trial? Only by maintaining a continuing fellowship with God in prayer, in His Word, and by being faithful in everyday living.

The three Hebrews would not bow – even though it meant being cast “alive” into a hot fiery furnace. There are many professing Christians today who will not give up their comfort to be faithful to Christ by living right or giving up ten percent of their income as a tithe of their income, because they “Can’t afford it”. They can afford to get a new car, new house, or go on vacation to a new place. They just simply do not love God, and in the day of their trial by fire; they will not be faithful, because they have not pre-determined, by faith, to stand.

Standing Firm In God

/ Tim A. / 2 Comments

“As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.“ Daniel 1:17-21 (KJV).

It is God who gave Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah wisdom and knowledge. It is also God who gave Nebuchadnezzar the eyes to see it in them. Notice it was God who gave Daniel “understanding in all visions and dreams”. This is an important thing to remember as we continue in the study of Daniel’s prophecy.

Here were four teenage young men who had spent three years in the University of Babylon learning all their ways; the sorcery, astrology, magic, etc. and NOTE what Nebuchadnezzar says of them. “He found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” In the final verse of chapter one we get a good clue as to the age of Daniel when he was able to return to Jerusalem. He would have been in his upper eighties or low nineties. God certainly had a sovereign plan for Daniel.

God’s plan was in the works for His people of Judah and Israel. It may not have seemed like a very promising thing, but we must remember that God is the Sovereign of all countries, and lands. There is no king , despot, dictator, or president who can overthrow the plan and/or will of God for His people.

Note from Whom came the knowledge and skill. We must know, also, that Daniel and his friends did not learn astrology, sorcery, or magic to practice it. They learned it in order to know how to deal with it. In like fashion, you and I can learn from the teachings of worldliness how to deal with their ideas without practicing their sin and evil. We can learn from the teachers of evolution, how to deal with the teaching of evolution. Of course, we have God’s Word. We know God to be faithful. We can trust, that, if God says that He created the world in six days, then, it was six days.

 

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah learned the wisdom of their world, and they stood firm in their God. We too, in our age, must learn to stand firm.

A Challenge of God-sized Proportions

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.  And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.“ Daniel 1:8-16 (KJV).

The question has recently been asked, “What is the big deal about character?” The person who has character [good character] is a person who can be trusted. Daniel and his comrades could very easily have thought, “Well! Mom and Dad are not here. Who is going to know?” Character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. You do your work when the boss is watching, and when he is not. You are faithful to your wife at home and away from home – when you are with her and when you are without her. You are faithful to God while at home, and you are faithful to God when you are on vacation.

These young men had faithful character. They, Daniel speaking for all four, refused to eat the defiled, rich food of the king. They were not obstinate, nor rebellious about it. Showing wisdom they presented an alternative. They requested that their menu be tested against the menu of the other 66 chosen youth; and were given a period of ten days.

Their food would be water to drink, and “PULSE – a KJV word for vegetables, or edible seeds – a simple diet that Daniel and his friends requested instead of the rich dishes offered by the Babylonians (Daniel 1:12, 16; vegetables, NKJV)” NELSON’S NEW ILLUSTRATED BIBLE DICTIONARY. “Pulse (seeds) usually means peas, beans, and the seeds that grow in pods. In the Authorized Version it occurs only in Daniel 1:12, 16, as the translation of words the literal meaning of which is ‘seeds’ of any kind. Probably the term denotes uncooked grain of any kind, as barley, wheat, millet, vetches, etc.” SMITH’S BIBLE DICTIONARY. This could be any vegetable or grains. These items are nourishing and filling. Water is the best substance you can drink – in its pure form.

What Daniel and the other three had done took courage, and much faith. They were willing to die for their faith; but only because they were willing to live for their God. It is easy to note that Daniel’s purpose in this was to glorify The LORD. There is no way possible he could actually known the outcome, except by faith.

At the end of the ten days Melzar saw that the countenance of the four men was superior to that of the other sixty six, and began feeding them the ‘pulse’ always. They did not defy their faith; they did not cause harm to Melzar or others; and God was glorified.

We as Christians must be sure to stand for our faith. If there is a way to do it without causing harm to others, then, we must take that route; if there is no other way; yet, we must stand. In any case we must seek the glory of God above all else.

In this world we must endeavor to live solely for Christ, while we at the same time are to be a witness of the power of God in our lives. Christians should be the best in their jobs, in education, in medicine, in science, in technology, etc. God gives knowledge and wisdom to those who do His will.

THE HAPPINESS OF THE REVELATION (7)

/ Tim A. / 3 Comments

This is the final article in the series of THE HAPPINESS OF THE REVELATION. I pray it has been a blessing and encouragement for all to read the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Most of all I pray that Jesus has been exalted above all in your hearts. It is quite clear to me that the Revelation and all of Scritpure is about Jesus our Lord and Savior.

THE HAPPY CLEANSED

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14 (KJV).

The one’s “Whose robes are washed” are the one’s who keep the commandments and are given way to the “Tree of life”, and are also free to enter “The gates into the city”.

We have come to the concluding Beatitude of the Revelation. In chapter 1:3 we see THE HAPPY READER; in 14:13 THE HAPPY DEAD; 16:15 THE HAPPY WATCHER; in chapter 19:6-10 the fourth Beatitude we see THE HAPPY FEASTERS; in the fifth and chapter 20:6 we see THE HAPPY VICTORS; and in chapter 22:7 we see THE HAPPY KEEPERS. What an encouragement to have these seven happy phrases throughout the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is words of hope and peace for all who are in Christ Jesus. Words which say to us, “You have nothing to fear. Be Happy”. What a blessing.

To be clean is the desire of many – maybe by all – people. Pilate futilely washed his hands to be cleansed of the blood of Jesus. Many try to physically shower or bathe to remove the dirt and filth of evil deeds, but without success.
There are people who walk around carrying a heavy load of guilt. To be cleansed of guilt is an endeavor many find difficult. To have your heart and mind cleansed of all guilt would truly be a glorious event. Many would love to start their lives over with a clean slate. Their lives ruined by deeds done, and how they long for cleansing from their past wrongs.
We know by comparing scripture with scripture; by “comparing spiritual things with spiritual”, that no one is saved – no one finds cleansing – by keeping commandments. Those who are knowledgable in the Greek say this should read, “Blessed are they who have washed their robes”. I have no problem with that because only those who have washed their robes in the “Blood of the Lamb” can do His commandments.
This work was done on the cross. God put our sins upon His Son, and He puts His Son’s righteousness upon all who will receive it. There is no greater peace of mind than knowing we are clean in God’s sight, because of the blood of Jesus. No wonder John called them “Blessed” or “Happy”.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29 (KJV). THEY ARE WASHED AND DOING HIS COMMANDMENTS. John also wrote, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 (KJV).
When one comes to Jesus by faith in Him and His finished work of grace on the cross you experience the cleansing from all sin. It is not a cleansing just from one sin, the worst sin, the lesser sin; it is cleansing from “all sin” one has in their life. There is no sin, short of unbelief, that cannot be forgiven.
Anyone who comes to Jesus can receive forgiveness for sin and take part in loving Jesus with all your life. It is a wondrous thing to know that you are forgiven, and that part of that forgiveness means we can have a close personal relationship and fellowship with our God and Savior Jesus – not only in the life to come but right here and right now.
There is HAPPINESS for all who come to Him , throughout all eternity. Join the HAPPINESS crowd. It can be found only in Jesus Christ.

There is happiness because WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY LOST HAS BEEN RETURNED. The fruit of God’s tree brought life. In the garden of Eden there was a tree of life. The way to the tree of life was blocked by Cherubims and a flaming sword (Gen. 3:24), because of the sin of Adam and Eve, and they were drove from the garden. “And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Gen 2:9 (KJV)
The other tree brought death. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen 2:17 (KJV). This was a spiritual death which eventually led to physical death. Death is much more than the cessation of life, it is a separation. That day in the garden Adam and Eve became separated from their union with God. They would eventually be separted body, soul and spirit.
Because of sin and disobedience we lost access to the Tree of Life. “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” Gen 3:22-24 (KJV). This was, in reality, God in His grace and mercy in action. Can you imagine what it would be like to live forever with sin and disease, all the pains of aging, and not dying. That is not for me. God protected us from and endless life of pain and sorrow. God created us eternal beings; created to live forever.
Access to the Tree of Life has been restored through THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS. This was a gift purchased for us by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. If you want cleansing; if you want access to the TREE OF LIFE you must trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Do you hear Him calling you. Trust Him. Be clean.
The TREE OF LIFE is restored to those who have been redeemed.

WE NOW HAVE ACCESS TO ENTER THE CITY OF GOD. No one can enter there except the righteous. Not the self-righteous who are depending on their own good works, goodness, saying, “Look at the good deeds I have done. God must let me in. I have been so successful in all the good deeds I have done.” What arrogance, pride, but no Heaven, no Jesus, only hell.
All evil is kept from the city and its inhabitants, and from the very presence of God. There is glory only in the presence of holy God. There is light in His presence. There is eternal life in His presence. Have this life and BE HAPPY.

In conclusion, there has been a way prepared for all who will come to Him. He has a prepared place for all who will come to Him. The only way to experience this cleansing is by faith in Jesus. This is cleansing from all evil and from the guilt of the past sins. Trust Him you are forgiven. You are clean in Him.
These things await THE HAPPY CLEANSED.