Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
Encouraged
Today’s Devotion:
Encouraged
Scottish pastor John McNeill told a story from his childhood about walking home one night. “It was nearly midnight when I started to tramp six or seven miles down through the lonely glen to get home. The road had a bad name. This particular night was very black, and two miles outside our little village the road gets blacker than ever. I was just entering the dark defile when, about one hundred yards ahead, in the densest of the darkness, there suddenly rang out a great, strong, cheery voice, ‘Is that you, Johnny?’ It was my father—the bravest, strongest man I ever knew.”[1]
We often need someone to call our name in the darkness to encourage us. Our God is the God of encouragement, and He uses various means to accomplish this goal. He uses His Word. He uses His Spirit. He uses the writings of others. But He also uses people.
In Acts 16, Paul gathered his young converts during a very dark time and encouraged them.
Someone is on a gloomy road today. Can you call their name in the dark? Can you be an encouragement?
Many a time since, when things have been getting black and gloomy about me, I have heard a Voice greater than that of my earthly parent cry: “Fear not, for I am with thee.”
John McNeill
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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:
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King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon
Daniel's words to the king are clear. "You are this head of gold" (Daniel 2:37–38).
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Medo–Persian Empire
The Medo–Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BC and remained in power for approximately two hundred years (Daniel 5:28).
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Grecian Empire
Greece's Empire succeeded the Medo–Persians (Daniel 8:21).
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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).
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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).