A Settled Future

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

The visions given to the prophet Daniel were so specific and detailed that some unbelieving skeptics refuse to accept that they were written hundreds of years before the events unfolded. They claim that instead the book of Daniel was written by unknown scribes who lived centuries after Daniel died. But God perfectly knows the end from the beginning, and it was no challenge for Him to speak through dreams and visions in a complete foretelling of the great empires of that age. The progression from the Babylonians to the Persians to the Greeks to the Romans were written down long before they happened. The descriptions of those kingdoms matched exactly how they developed and grew.

The most important part of Daniel’s prophecies is not about the human kingdoms at all, but of the Divine kingdom that will come in the end. The return of Jesus and His rule over the world is not a metaphor or a fantasy, but a settled reality. The main thing we are to take away from Daniel and the other prophecies is not the timing of the events or the identity of all the nations and leaders, but that God has already determined the final outcome and promised and dedicated His power to see that it happens. “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7).

Today's Growth Principle

No event that happens takes God by surprise, and no event that happens is cause for us to live in fear.

Hope Founded in God

“All My Hope on God is Founded”
(17th Century Hymn Title)

Psalms 42:11
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

Goodnight and God bless ☕️

I ask your forgiveness for not sending the Bible studies today.

This morning I was called into an urgent meeting with parents who are walking through a difficult state intervention situation concerning their child.

As Scripture reminds us, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”. Today was a time to stand with this family in prayer, counsel, and support.

I will send the regular studies tomorrow, Lord willing. In the meantime, please join me in prayer for this family. Ask that the Lord would intervene on their behalf, protect the children, grant wisdom to all involved, and let His mercy and justice prevail.

Have a blessed day! 🙏

"A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven."
John 3:27

"What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"
1 Corinthians 4:7