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

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Living in the Age of Signs

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Today’s Audio Devotion:
Resisting the Downward Pull

It’s thrilling to see a shooting star. But it’s no fun for the meteoroid. When a space rock flies too close to our planet, it’s pulled into our atmosphere by gravity. The heat generated by friction causes intense heat, and the meteoroid is usually burned up.

Don’t become a shooting star! The world—along with the flesh and the devil—project a gravitational field. We’re drawn to them. We easily veer into sin, which burns us. We must be constantly on guard. Henry B. Carrington, a nineteenth-century Civil War soldier and writer, said, “There is a subtle pull also in the drift of fashion and usage which carries away everyone who is not established on a Bible conscience.”

Take attending church, for example. Losing the habit can start with a small, seemingly innocent decision to skip one week, then continue as you gradually miss more and more until the pattern is virtually burned up by the world’s atmosphere. Take care each day to avoid being drawn into the gravitational pull of the world.

The downward pull of sin is tremendous. To be able firmly to say, “Yet will not I,” requires the grace from above in the heart.
Henry B. Carrington 

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