A masterwork on biblical prophecyA masterwork of core teaching on biblical prophecy from Dr. David Jeremiah

Learn More

Living in the Age of Signs

Online Destination

Today’s Audio Devotion:
The Divine Helper

The Greek word Jesus used for the Holy Spirit is parakletos, a combination of para (“beside”) and kaleo (“to call”). The Holy Spirit is, therefore, called to come alongside believers to help them—“Helper” being the translation of parakletos in many modern English versions (John 14:16).

Paul employs the image of helper when he says that the Holy Spirit “helps in our weaknesses” when it comes to prayer. When we come before God in prayer, sometimes “we do not know how to pray as we should” (NASB1995). Not so much what to pray for but how to pray at all. In such cases the Spirit “makes intercession for us” before God. That image is consistent with another rendering of parakletos—“advocate.” The Spirit helps us by representing us before the throne of God, interceding for us when we simply don’t know how to intercede ourselves. 

When you want to pray but don’t know how, don’t despair. Trust that the Holy Spirit will represent your heart before the throne of God. 

It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent.
Jeremy Taylor

Some 2,600 years ago, God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a dream. In this dream, the king saw a five–part statue made of five different metals (see Daniel 2). Each section represented an empire, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. Four of these empires have already risen and fallen in history—a clear fulfillment of Daniel's prophetic interpretation. The fifth and final empire indicates a future Europe—a ten nation coalition that will unite under the Antichrist's rule.

You can read about the King's dream and Daniel's interpretation in Daniel 2, but let's take a quick visual look at what you will find:

The Colossus
  1. King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon

    Daniel's words to the king are clear. "You are this head of gold" (Daniel 2:37–38).

  2. Medo–Persian Empire

    The Medo–Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BC and remained in power for approximately two hundred years (Daniel 5:28).

  3. Grecian Empire

    Greece's Empire succeeded the Medo–Persians (Daniel 8:21).

  4. Roman Empire

    When the Grecian empire was conquered by Rome, all the lands and peoples of the previous kingdoms were assimilated into the Roman Empire through the strengths of the "iron legions of Rome" (Daniel 2:40).

  5. Future European Coalition

    This empire has not yet risen. Daniel foretells a time when the Roman Empire—Europe—will consist of ten kingdoms or leaders. The future Roman Empire will be present on the earth when God sets up His earthly kingdom (Daniel 2:44).

This is a Sample Title

1:37 / 3:48