Tuesday, April 01,
2014, 10:16 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put in mind the song “He Reached Down.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Daniel 12 (NIV). http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+12&version=NIV
A Time of Great
Distress
“At
that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There
will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of
nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found
written in the book—will be delivered.
Multitudes
who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others
to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the
brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the
stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the
scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase
knowledge.”
…When
the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be
completed.”
I
heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of
all this be?”
He
replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until
the time of the end. Many will be
purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be
wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will
understand…
Overview
of Chapters 11-12
The antichrist:
- Will
vent his fury against the holy covenant (new covenant relationship with
God)
- Will
show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant (relationship with
Christ)
- His armed
forces (false teachers, false church leaders and lying and deceptive
government and military) will damage the temple fortress (gospel of Christ
& our salvation) and will abolish the daily sacrifice (See Rom.
12:1-2; cf. Lu. 9:23-25)
- They (false
teachers and false church leaders, assisted by lying government) will set
up the abomination that causes desolation (unrepentant and rebellious
idolatry among God’s people, Christ’s church, which will warrant God’s
divine judgment)
- With
flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant (will
corrupt those living in idolatry and spiritual adultery against God, via man’s
philosophies and marketing schemes, man-made goals & visions, & false
teaching/false gospel, etc.)
- Will do as
he pleases.
- He will
exalt and magnify himself above every god, and will say unheard-of things
against the God of gods.
- Will be
successful until the time of wrath is completed
- Will honor
the god of fortresses
- Will
attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god
- Will
greatly honor those who acknowledge him – he will make them rulers over
many people and will distribute the land at a price
- Will
invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood & many will
fall
- He will
also invade the Beautiful Land (holy land as symbol of Christ’s church)
- Edom, Moab
& the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand – looks like
modern-day Jordan and Saudi Arabia
- Will
extend his power over many countries, incl. Egypt, Libya and Sudan
(2011/12)
- Will set out
in great rage to destroy and annihilate many (I believe most all of this
listed above has been going on since Christ’s death and resurrection, to
some degree, but that it has increased in severity and intensity in recent
years)
- Will
come to his end
The saints of God:
- The
people who know their God will firmly resist the antichrist king
- Those
who are wise will instruct many
- The
faithful will be killed by sword or fire, captured and/or plundered
- When they
fall (are persecuted), they receive a little help, but will be joined by
many who are not sincere in their faith (like spies or private police,
perhaps)
- They will
face this persecution so that they may be refined, purified and made
spotless until the time of the end
- Everyone
whose name has been written in the book of life will be delivered from or
through the time of great distress
- The dead
in Christ will be raised to everlasting life (the other dead to shame and
everlasting contempt)
- Those who
are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead
many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
- When the power (willpower,
rebellion, idolatry, & pride) of the holy people (Christ’s church) has
been finally broken (humbled), all these things will be completed
- Those who are
wise will understand, but the wicked will not understand
Their
Power Broken
When God comes to judge the earth and the
people of the earth, he will also visit his adulterous and idolatrous church in
judgment (See Rev. 2-3). In fact, I believe scripture teaches that judgment
begins with the family of God. Many Old Testament prophets prophesied
concerning God judging his adulterous people in the last days before his
return, and for the purpose of refining them, purifying them and making them a
holy people unto Him. Through divine judgment (correction/discipline/rebuke)
the church will be revived, their pride and arrogance broken. They will repent
of their evil ways, return to the Lord, and the gospel of Jesus Christ will
spread throughout the world unlike any time ever before, I believe, and many
will come to Christ and to salvation (See Isaiah 2). In this way, God will
rescue his (and many) people out of the grip of Satan and his deceptions (deep
waters).
He Reached Down /
An Original Work / February 3, 2014
Based off Psalm 18
How I love You, Lord,
My Rock and my
strength.
My God is my fortress;
I hide in Him.
He is my shield and
the horn of
My salvation, whom I
praise.
I have found my refuge
in Him.
He reached down from heaven
And rescued me;
Drew me out of waters
So deep, I’d sink.
He delivered me from
Satan
And my slavery to sin;
Gave me hope of heaven
with Him.
My God turned my
darkness
Into His light;
Opened up my blinded
eyes;
Gave me sight.
As for God, his way is
perfect.
He gives strength to
stand secure.
I have found my
vict’ry in Him.
My Lord lives!
Praise be to my Savior
God,
Jesus Christ, who died
On a cruel cross.
He is my Rock and the
source
Of my salvation, whom
I trust.
I will give praise
always to Him.
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