Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
House of Bread
Today’s Audio Devotion:
House of Bread
Bethlehem means “house [beth] of bread [lechem].” During the period of the judges it was referred to as “Bethlehem in Judah” (Judges 17:7-9) to distinguish it from another Bethlehem near the Sea of Galilee (Joshua 19:15). Though Bethlehem was “little among the thousands of Judah” (Micah 5:2), it was important.
Boaz was a well-to-do farmer in Bethlehem who married a Moabite woman named Ruth. Boaz saved Ruth—and Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi—from poverty and established a legacy of salvation in Bethlehem. Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed, who had a son named Jesse, who had a son named David. When it was time for God to choose a king to replace Saul, He sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to choose David as king. Because Joseph was a descendant of David, he and Mary journeyed to Bethlehem to register for the census—where Mary gave birth to Jesus. So Boaz and Ruth are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5-6).
Bethlehem, the “house of bread,” gave the world the “bread of life” (John 6:35). God’s hand is always at work to accomplish His purposes.
Christ is the true Bread of Life sent by God to bring us eternal life. We all need Christ to be the Bread of Life to us.
Witness Lee
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).