Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
Spiritual Eyes
Today’s Audio Devotion:
Spiritual Eyes
Perhaps the saddest of the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor was delivered to the church in Laodicea. This city was wealthy due to it being on one of the major trade routes of the region; it was a major banking center. Apparently, the Christians in the city had participated in the prosperity and saw themselves as being self-sufficient due to their wealth. While they may have been materially well-off, Christ saw them as being in great need spiritually: They were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”
Their condition illustrates a principle in Scripture contrasting physical and spiritual eyes. This contrast was illustrated in the life of the nation of Israel. Because of their sin, they could see physically but could not perceive spiritually (Isaiah 6:9). Christ reaffirmed their spiritual blindness when He taught them using parables (Matthew 13:14-15). Just because we can see physically does not mean we always perceive spiritually and therefore truthfully.
Pray with the psalmist: “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18).
It is no advantage to be near the light if the eyes are closed.
Augustine
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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).