Pastor McBride (People’s Church) did a series of messages on Daniel and a few things he said really caught my attention. Of course my thoughts raced on to other Scriptural truths, other wonders.
What is your situation at the present time? Where are you? Do you know why you are where you are? For this trip we’ll need the time machine to propel us back in time and then to shoot us forward beyond the present. I just told the Lord I want to take this trip with Him. Please join us, there’s plenty of room.
The Lord gave (Daniel 1:2) Jehoiakim into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand. Doesn’t that sound strange – God delivered His own people, Judah, into captivity in Babylon – a place rampant with idolatry! This (Daniel 2:48-49) sounds more like God’s doing – Daniel and his 3 friends are promoted. Fiery furnace!? That (Daniel 3:19-25) doesn’t sound like the Lord, does it? He not only placed them in the furnace – He joined them in the flames. Now (Daniel 6:16) the lion’s den? I can actually picture Daniel using one of the hungry lions for a pillow. These things – the fiery furnace – the lion’s den – were essential to Nebuchadnezzar’s future when he would become a believer in the one true God. As hours and seasons pass and situations change – I’m learning more and more that as long as I know WHO – I don’t need to know WHY. As I guard my fellowship and relationship with my precious Lord, I’ll always know WHO and I love Him. I don’t have to see the end to know that God always has a good purpose. Because I know that, it is not difficult to trust Him. That’s why it’s possible at all times and in everything (Ephesians 5:20) to give thanks.
Jeremiah gave (Jeremiah 29:7) the Lord’s command to the Jews in captivity. Pray for the peace and prosperity of the city where you are held captive. Doesn’t that sound off-base and difficult? We might be more inclined to pray for its destruction, but there is never a call for us to second-guess God.
Jeremiah was told (Jeremiah 27:2-12) to put a yoke and bonds on himself as an example and send yokes and bonds to the nations. The message was that they were all to submit to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Why? God said (Jeremiah 43:10) Nebuchadnezzar is an instrument in My hand to accomplish My purpose. How and for what reason? To all people, nations, languages that dwell on the earth (Daniel 4:1-3) Nebuchadnezzar gave witness to the Sovereignty of the One True God and his personal testimony of his faith in Him. Isn’t it exciting to trace the Divine strategizing of Sovereign wisdom? Who could have guessed? Who could have known? We need to remember – no matter what or where – God always sees the big picture, the whole picture. We are safe and secure in simply trusting and obeying the Lord our God.
For us now, unless death claims us first, we look forward to the Rapture. Or do we? If we really – truly – deeply believe that Jesus could come at any moment, we will (1 John 3:3) live a godly life. Dr. Charles Stanley pointed out some aspects of the Rapture and I’d like to share them with you along with my expanding thoughts.
Think again about (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and put your imagination in gear – not for a fantasy but for a soon-coming reality. Jesus comes (16) with a shout and I see 2 reasons for His shout. It’s a shout of joy because His Church/Bride will then have been completed. But there is more – get ready for double goose bumps.
There’s the shout of Jesus the voice of Michael, the archangel (Jude 9) who will summon the angelic host and the trumpet blast to signal God’s Presence. Jesus will bring with Him (14) the living souls of believers who have died previously.
You remember when (John 11:43) with a loud voice Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave. With this shout of Jesus (in addition to all that we have seen) we will see the most amazing sight beyond anything ever seen by anyone. From the earth – from the sea – from the battlefields – from the beaches – Jesus will call forth the bodies of believers to be transformed and reunited with their souls. Millions all over the world – and we will actually see it or be part of it if we die before then. What will we feel – how will we feel when in a moment (1 Corinthians 15:52-54) our bodies are transformed and forever liberated from all temptation – pain – infirmity – a body never hindered by but perfectly fitted for - - the ages of time and space and heaven? Look up (Romans 13:11) now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. By God’s unfailing grace we can endure where we are without complaint or question because of where we know we are going to be.
I am sure you can remember a day (probably recall many) you had a day that was long – hard – wearying – difficult. You were very tired and maybe a bit disgruntled. But – when you arrived at your front door – you uttered a huge sigh of relief and felt a warm glow of happiness – just because you were home. Even the word “home” can stir up so many emotions within us. Home means family – comfort food – love. Remember this and let your soul simply – deeply bask in the wonder. All the relief and happiness we felt when we reached our front door – can’t be compared – doesn’t come close – to what we will feel when we cross the threshold and enter our eternal HOME. We are so secure in our glorious future as God Himself.
During the Great Tribulation, the time of Jacob’s Trouble, the plagues of Egypt (EX.7) will be repeated but with much greater intensity and will be world-wide. Will any repent? They gnaw their tongues for pain (Revelation 16:10-11) and blaspheme the God of heaven!
There’s still fuel in the time machine. What do you say we travel ahead to 7 years after the Rapture. Let’s see what we can learn about the SIGN (Matthew 24:30) of the Son of Man. What is the SIGN? At the end of the Great Tribulation there will be a (Matthew 24:29) catastrophic event. The sun will be darkened, the moon will not shed its light, the stars will fall from the sky and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. It will be (Zeph.1:15) a day of wrath – distress- ruin – desolation – of darkness and gloom. A time of (Joel 2:10, Revelation 9:2-4, Isaiah 13:10-11, Isaiah 34:4) darkness – terror – punishment. (The Second Coming of Christ has nothing to do with the Rapture when (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Jesus comes for His saints. At His Second Coming, He comes (1 Theselonians 3:13) with His saints). Then the SIGN of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:30) will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn in anguish and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great glory. Every Scripture connected to His Coming mentions clouds. Could that terrifying darkness be the SIGN? No, let’s dig deeper.
I think this darkness is significant because (John 3:19-20) Light came into the world but people loved darkness rather than Light because their deeds were evil. Every wrong-doer hates – loathes – detests the Light and shrinks from it lest his deeds be exposed. (Those who hate Light will be burned by (Revelation 16:8-9) the glaring, scorching – super-heated sun). During the First Coming of Jesus (Luke 23:44) when the Lamb of God was crucified – during the last half of the 6-hour period – when darkness enveloped the whole land – what was happening during that awful darkness? With breaking heart, God was relentlessly thundering down on Jesus the full penalty for the total sin of the entire world. That is where my concentration needs to be. I'll never experience the energy of God if I don’t take time to dwell on the tragedy of God – the Cross of Jesus Christ.
Every eye (Revelation 1:7) shall see Him. How could that be possible? How could anyone see Him in such darkness – darkness so intense it could be felt? THE SIGN!!!! His Messianic Title is Son of Man and the SIGN will reveal His Coming to the whole world. Gideon Levitam (a Messianic Jewish preacher) explains –“that the SIGN is the Shekinah glory of God which always signals the Presence of God”. Can we even begin to imagine – after all that terrifying darkness – suddenly – the entire sky over the whole world – brilliant with light - - - not blinding light but revealing light. Now He comes, the Son of Man, as absolute Monarch and of His Kingdom there will be no end.
What do we know about that Shekinah? The Divine Presence in the Cloud had a two-fold purpose. It hid Israel from Egypt (Exodus 14:19-20) – it was darkness to the Egyptians but (Exodus 13:21-22) a guiding light to Israel. The Shekinah glory (Exodus 24:15-18) on Mt. Sinai. The Shekinah glory of God’s Presence (Exodus 34:29-30) was reflected on the face of Moses. The Cloud of Shekinah glory (Exodus 40:34) filled the tabernacle. Solomon’s temple (2 Chronicles 7:1) was filled with the Shekinah glory of the Lord. The Shekinah flooded the sky and the hearts of the shepherds (Luke 2:9) when the angel announced he birth of the Saviour Who is Christ the Lord. This same glory was spoken of (Matthew 17:5, Acts 1:9) in connection with the ministry of Jesus Christ.
We see all around us and all over the world the growing darkness. Uncontrolled riots and protests, murderous disregard for human life, exorbitant waste of our tax dollars, total lack of integrity in most political leaders - - just like Nebuchadnezzar who left God out. Will any of to-day’s government leaders repent as Nebuchadnezzar did and his sanity was restored? What happens if they don’t? The wicked (Psalms 9:17) will be turned into hell with all nations that forget God. This makes me tremble for Canada but I’ll do better to pray instead of tremble.
Those who hate and deliberately reject the Light will be tormented (JUDE 13) in the blackness of darkness forever in (Revelation 20:13-15) the Lake of Fire – including all those now in disembodied existence who await judgment. Never again will they see even the tiniest glimmer of Light.
After Christ’s Second Coming, is that the end? Not by a long shot. Remember what Jesus said (John 14:3) I’m going to prepare a place for you and I’ll come back to get you to be with Me forever. About 60 years later John saw (Revelation 21:1) a vision of a new heaven and a new earth. When God first created this present world it was literally “heaven on earth”. This earth will not be annihilated but will be renovated. No human can fully describe heaven - we have just a glimpse – a thrilling glimpse and questions. How could a city 1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide and 1500 miles high fit on the earth? Well, God set billions of stars in their right places so this would not be a problem for Him. Actually we don’t know if the New Jerusalem will be on earth or a satellite city above and adjacent to the earth. Even though (Revelation 22:5) there is no night there, there will also be (Revelation 21:23) no need of sun or moon. Because the SHEKINAH GLORY of the Personal Presence of God and the Lamb will be there forever. We will worship and live in that Glory with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – plus – never again be parted from our loved ones. Let your anticipation grow along with reverence and He is coming as KING of kings and LORD of lords to set up his eternal kingdom and establish His rule. One joy bump should be even bigger than our goose bumps!
Please don’t take these or any other Scripture as book-lore – history – interesting – or whatever. This is REAL and should be the fuel for our prayers and witness to the unsaved. This is REAL and if you are truly born again (are you sure?) you will see every bit of these events. The Bible is not like any other book. Its eternal Words are alive with the very breath of the Living God.
The Shekinah which Moses experienced once on the mountain and which people could see reflected on his face - - we have constantly within us. Can people see any evidence in our lives of God’s Presence? We live in urgent times and because of what we have and what we know – we are (Romans 1:14) debtors and we are (Romans 14:12) accountable.
Dr. Charles Stanley – “Accountability is responsibility and a gift of protection. Knowing that we are accountable can protect us from many wrong turns”.
If Jesus had not fully paid for all sin and fully satisfied God’s wrath, the Holy Spirit could not have been given. But – JESUS IS VICTOR and we have the Holy Spirit to energize us with the power of God so that the Resurrection Life of Jesus is being lived in and through us.
We would read a very different Book of Daniel (if we had it at all) if Daniel had not been faithful in the Lion’s den. The lion’s den was temporary but the results are eternal. We need to carefully consider where we are – remember it is temporary – and pray, trust and obey for the accomplishment of God’s eternal purpose. When the Lord comes (Matthew 24:46) blessed is the one whom He will find faithful by life and witness to reveal and offer spiritual food to the unsaved. The Cross of Jesus is the centre of time and eternity. The name “Daniel” means – God is my Judge.
