Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
Protect Your Mind
Today’s Devotion:
Protect Your Mind
While every part of the human body is important, the two parts most critical for life are the heart and the brain. It is no surprise that soldiers past and present have sought to protect these two parts. (Witness modern bullet-proof vests and helmets.) Even ancient soldiers wore breastplates and helmets.
But so did the Messiah—at least in Isaiah’s figurative language. Paul derived his image of the breastplate of righteousness and helmet of salvation from Isaiah’s image of the Messiah (Isaiah 59:17; Ephesians 6:14, 17)—and used the image of a Roman soldier as a ready reference for his readers. So to put on the armor of God was like putting on the Messiah Himself: His truth, righteousness, faithfulness, salvation, and Word (Ephesians 6:14-17). But why the helmet of salvation? How does salvation protect the mind? When Satan tempts us to doubt our salvation and the love of God which secures it, we rely on what we know to be true.
Memorize, in your mind: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
One of the highest and noblest functions of man’s mind is to listen to God’s Word, and so to read his mind and think his thoughts after him.
John R. W. Stott
For Your Phone or Tablet
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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).