Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
Messengers
Today’s Audio Devotion:
Messengers
The Old Testament, written primarily in Hebrew, uses the word mal’ak (pronounced mal-AHK) for angel. Its basic meaning is “messenger, one who is sent.” This word occurs more than two hundred times in the Old Testament, and it can refer to either human or heavenly messengers. The New Testament uses the Greek word angelos (pronounced AN-gel-os), and it also occurs nearly two hundred times. It, too, can refer to either a human or a supernatural messenger.
We commonly use the word angel to describe any kind of heavenly supernatural being apart from God Himself. The reality is a bit more complex since the Bible gives us glimpses of various spiritual beings, including cherubim, seraphim, archangels, principalities, and powers.
Nevertheless, the word angel reassures us that God wants to communicate with us, and He has many ways of sending us messages and messengers. His greatest communication is in His written Word, the Bible, and His Incarnate Word, the Son. Praise God today that He exists and He is not silent.
[Angels] come to attend the redeemed; they wait on their steps; they sustain them in trial; they accompany them when departing to heaven.
Albert Barnes
For Your Phone or Tablet
Official Mobile App and Lock Screens
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:
-
King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon
Daniel's words to the king are clear. "You are this head of gold" (Daniel 2:37–38).
-
Medo–Persian Empire
The Medo–Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BC and remained in power for approximately two hundred years (Daniel 5:28).
-
Grecian Empire
Greece's Empire succeeded the Medo–Persians (Daniel 8:21).
-
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).
-
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).