Month: November 2020

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Devotionals

DANIEL, REVELATION, THE 2300-DAY PROPHECY, AND THE SANCTUARY

November, 6 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

DANIEL, REVELATION, THE 2300-DAY PROPHECY, AND THE SANCTUARY

“The prophecies of Daniel are closely related to those of the book of Revelation. In large measure Revelation covers the same ground but gives particular emphasis to the role of the CHRISTIAN CHURCH as God’s chosen people.

“Thus details that may be obscure in the book of Daniel are often clarified by COMPARISON with the book of Revelation. That part of his ‘prophecy which related to the last days, DANIEL was hidden to ‘CLOSE UP AND SEAL ‘to the time of the end (GC 356), when, THROUGH A DILIGENT STUDY OF THE BOOK, ‘knowledge’ of its import would be ‘increased’ (ch. 12:4; AA 585). John was specifically instructed ‘to seal NOT the sayings of the prophecy’ of his book, ‘for the time is at hand’ (Rev. 22:10). Thus for a CLEARER interpretation of ANY portion of the book of Daniel that tend to be OBSCURE, we should search CAREFULLY [not carelessly or hurriedly] the book of Revelation for light to dispel the darkness.” – Ibid, p. 753.

“We should be earnest students of prophecy; we SHOULD NOT REST until we become intelligent in regard to the subject of the SANCTUARY, which is brought out in the visions of DANIEL and JOHN (in Revelation). This subject [the sanctuary] sheds great light on our PRESENT POSITION AND WORK, and gives us UNMISTAKABLE proof that God has led in our PAST experience [of the early Advent movement, 1840-1844]. It explains our DISAPPOINTMENT in 1844, showing us that the sanctuary to be cleansed (Dan. 8:14] WAS NOT THE EARTH, as we had supposed, but that Christ entered into the most holy apartment of the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY, and is there performing the CLOSING WORK of His PRIESTLY OFFICE, in fulfillment of the words of the angel to the prophet Daniel.”- E.G. White, Maranatha, 247.

Our eyes “believe’  what our mind “sees.” Therefore “Let this mind be in you what was also in Christ Jesus.” Bless all, NMF. 

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Devotionals

NEBUCHADNEZZAR LEARNED HIS LESSON BUT NOT THE BABYLONIAN KINGS AFTER HIM

November, 5 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

NEBUCHADNEZZAR LEARNED HIS LESSON BUT NOT THE BABYLONIAN KINGS AFTER HiM

“The lessons Nebuchadnezzar personally learned over a period of MANY YEARS largely failed to benefit those who succeeded him upon the throne of Babylon. The last ruler of Babylon, Belshazzar, openly defied the God of heaven (ch. 5:23) inspire of the fact that he was ACQUAINTED  with the experience of Nebuchadnezzar (v. 22). Instead of working in harmony with the divine plan, ‘Babylon became a proud and cruel oppressor’ (Ed 176), and in the rejection of the principles of heaven, wrought it’s own ruin (Ed 177). The nation was weighed [in the heavenly balances] and found wanting (ch. 5:25-28).

“In delivering Daniel from the lions’ den, God demonstrated His power and authority before the rulers of the PERSIAN Empire (see ch. 6:29-23; PK 557) as He has previously before those of Babylon. An edict of Darius the Mede acknowledged the ‘living God’ and admitted that He is ‘steadfast forever’ (v. 26)

“Even the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not [cannot be changed] (v. 8), was obliged to yield to the decrees of the ‘Most High’ who ‘rules in the kingdom of men’ (ch. 4:32).

“Cyrus was favorably impressed by the miraculous evidence of divine power exhibited in the deliverance of Daniel from the lions den (PK 557). The prophecies outlining his [Cyrus’] role in the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple (Isa. 44: 26 to 43:13) also made a deep impression upon him. ‘His heart was profoundly moved, and he determined to fulfill his divinely appointed mission.’ (PK 557).” -Ibid, p. 751.

The prophecy pointing to the rebuilding of the desolated Jerusalem and the Temple were fulfilled in the 70-week prophecy of Dan.9: 24-27. Evangelicals harboring a Zionist view still look the future from these prophecies! They have been literally “left behind.”  Not only that: because of adopting Futurism, many believe and urge that Donald Trump is the modern-day “Cyrus” that will restore the Jerusalem and Israel—the nation-state created only in 1948 by the United Nations based on Zionism, not the Bible. God bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

NEBUCHADNEZZAR MADE READY TO MEET DANIEL’S GOD

November, 4 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

NEBUCHADNEZZAR MADE READY TO MEET DANIEL’S GOD

Having met Daniel who excelled socially, physically and intellectually by his own determination, Nebuchadnezzar was now ready to realize Daniel’s spiritual superiority by being introduced to Daniel’s God!

“These events prepared Nebuchadnezzar to meet Daniel’s God. [Here’s how]. A series of dramatic experiences—the dream of chapter 2, the striking deliverance from the fiery furnace (ch. 3), and the dream of chapter 4—demonstrated to the king’s satisfaction the knowledge, power, and authority of Daniel’s God.

“The INFERIORITY of human knowledge, exhibited in the experience of ch. 2, led Nebuchadnezzar to admit to Daniel, ‘Of a TRUTH it is, that your God is a God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a Revealer of secrets’ (ch. 2:47).

“He freely acknowledged that the wisdom of God was superior, not only to human wisdom, but even to the SUPPOSED wisdom of his own gods. The incident of the Golden Image and fiery furnace led Nebuchadnezzar to admit that the God of heaven ‘delivered His servants’ (ch.3:28). His conclusion was that no one in all his realm ‘should speak anything amiss against the God’ of the Hebrews in view of the fact that ‘no other God’ can ‘deliver after this sort’ (v. 29).

“Nebuchadnezzar now realized that the God of heaven was not only wise but powerful, that He was not only omniscient but omnipotent. The third experience—the SEVEN YEARS during which his own vaunted wisdom and power were temporarily removed—taught the king that only that the ‘Most High’ is wise and powerful but that He exercises that THAT wisdom and power to rule in HUMAN affairs. (ch. 4:32). He has wisdom, power and authority.

“It is significant that the FIRST ACT Nebuchadnezzar performed AFTER his reason returned to him was to ‘praise and extol and honor the King of heaven’ and to acknowledge that ‘those that walk in pride’ as he had done for so many years, God ‘is able to abase’ (v. 37).”- Ibid, pp. 751, 752.
(More follows tomorrow). Bless all, NMF. 

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Devotionals

THE BOOK OF DANIEL REVEALS HOW GOD USES VARIOUS MEN TO FULFILL HIS WILL

November, 3 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE BOOK OF DANIEL REVEALS HOW GOD USES VARIOUS MEN TO FULFILL HIS WILL

“The first four chapters of Daniel narrate the MEANS by which God secures the allegiance of Nebuchadnezzar. [He never employs deception, compromise of principle, coercion, intimidation, craftiness, deception, confusion, or persecution].

“First of all, God needed a man who would be a FIT REPRESENTATIVE of the principles and policies of heaven at the court of Babylon, so He chose Daniel to be His personal AMBASSADOR to Nebuchadnezzar.

“The means God employed to bring Daniel, a captive, to the favorable attention of Nebuchadnezzar, and the means by which Nebuchadnezzar came to have confidence, first in Daniel and then in Daniel’s God, illustrate the MANNER in which God uses men TODAY to accomplish His will on earth.

“God could use Daniel BECAUSE Daniel was a man of PRINCIPLE, a man of STERLING character, a man whose chief business life was to live for God!

“Daniel ‘purposed in His heart’ (Dan. 1:8) to live in harmony with all the REVEALED will of God. First, God brought him ‘into favor and tender love’ with the officials of Babylon (v. 9). This prepared the way for the second step, the demonstration of the PHYSICAL superiority of Daniel and his companions (vs. 12-15). Then followed a demonstration of INTELLECTUAL superiority. ‘God gave them all knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom’ (v. 17), with the result that they were considered ‘ten times better’ than their closest competitors (v. 20).

“Thus in Personality, Physique, and Intellect Daniel proved to be markedly SUPERIOR to his fellow men, and thereby WON the confidence and respect of Nebuchadnezzar.”

For me, this is what the children’s song, “Dare to be a Daniel” really means—much more than “daring to pray” when it was outlawed or bravely, without murmur, doubt and complaint to be “thrown into the hungry lions’ den!”
(More follows tomorrow). God bless all, NMF 

Categories
Devotionals

THE TWO SECTIONS OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL

November, 2 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE TWO SECTIONS OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL

Daniel is divided into two sections: the Historical Section: Dan. 1:1 to 6:28 and the Prophetic Section: Dan.7:1 to 12:13.

“The Historical Section reveals in a most striking manner, the true philosophy of history. (See Education, 173-184). This section stands as a preface to the prophetic section.

“By providing a detailed account of God’s dealings with one nation, Babylon, the book enables us to understand the meaning of the rise and fall of other nations outlined in the prophetic portion of the book.

“Without a clear understanding of the philosophy of history as revealed in the narrative of the role of Babylon in the divine plan, the role of the OTHER nations that succeeded Babylon on the screen of prophetic vision CANNOT be fully understood or appreciated.  For a summary of the divine philosophy of history as set forth by inspiration, see on chap. 4:17.

“In the Historical section, we find Daniel, GOD’S MAN OF THE HOUR, brought face to face with Nebuchadnezzar, the GENIUS OF THE GENTILE WORLD, that the king might have opportunity to know Daniel’s God, the Arbiter of History, and to cooperate with Him.

“Nebuchadnezzar was not only a monarch of the greatest nation of the time but was also eminently wise, and had an innate sense of justice and right. He was, in fact, the leading personality of the Gentile world, ‘the mighty one of the heathen’(Eze.31:11), raises to power for a special role in the divine plan.

“Of him God said, ‘Now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant’(Jer. 27:6).

“As the Jews went captive into Babylon, it was desirable that they be held under a hand that was FIRM without being CRUEL (according for the standards of that day). Daniel’s mission at the court of Nebuchadnezzar was the SECURE the submission of the king’s will to the will of God in order that the divine purpose might be realized.

“In one of the dramatic moments of history, God brought together these two great personalities!” – Ibid, pp. 750, 751.

More follows tomorrow. God bless all today, NMF 

Categories
Devotionals

OUTLINE OF DANIEL, WHICH IS SUPPLEMENTED BY REVELATION TO COMPLETE THE BIBLE PROPHECIES

November, 1 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

OUTLINE OF DANIEL, WHICH IS SUPPLEMENTED BY REVELATION TO COMPLETE THE BIBLE PROPHECIES

Before going a step further studying the details of the parallel visions of Daniel (ch. 2; 7; 8-9;  10-12), It is indispensable that we see a full view of the book itself, it’s purpose, and why Revelation cannot be properly interpreted, understood and valued in these last days of earth’s history:

The Theme: “The Book of Daniel night appropriately called a handbook of history and prophecy. PREDICTIVE prophecy is a preview of history; history is predictive prophecy PASSING IN REVIEW. The element of prediction [1] enables God’s people to see the things of TIME in the light of ETERNITY, [2] alerts them for effective action [not merely reactionary] at appropriate times, [3] facilitates PERSONAL preparation for the FiNAL crisis, and [4] provides a firm basis for FAITH upon fulfillment of the prediction.

“The four major lines of prophecy in the book of Daniel set forth in BRIEF OUTLINE, against the backdrop of WORLD HISTORY, the experiences of God’s people from the days of Daniel down to the close of time. ‘The curtain is drawn aside, and we Behold, above, behind, and through the play and counter play of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will’ (PK 500).

“EACH of the four lines of prophecy reaches a CLIMAX when ‘the God of heaven’ sets ‘up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed’ (chap. 2:44), when ‘the Son of man’ receives ‘everlasting dominion’ (ch.7:13,14), when opposition to the ‘Prince of princes’ is ‘broken without hand’ (ch.8:25), and God’s people are delivered forever from their oppressors (ch.12:1).

“The prophecies of Daniel thus provide a DIVINELY CONSTRUCTED BRIDGE  from the precipice of time to the boundless shores of eternity, a bridge over which those who, like Daniel, PURPOSE in their hearts to love and serve God, may pass by faith from the UNCERTAINTY and DISTRESS  of the PRESENT LIFE to the PEACE and SECURITY OF ETERNAL LIFE.”- Commentary of the Book of Daniel, A Section of Vol. 4, SDA Bible Dictionary.
(More tomorrow), God bless all, NMF