Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
Be Thankful
Today’s Audio Devotion:
Be Thankful
When Jesus gathered His disciples for the Passover meal on the night before His death, “He took the cup, and gave thanks” (Matthew 26:27). While giving thanks was normal, what the cup represented was not normal: “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (verse 28). Jesus was giving thanks for what was about to happen—the shedding of His blood.
This illustrates what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Giving thanks for the impending experience of one’s own death is certainly an example of giving thanks in everything. Both Jesus and Paul used the same Greek word for giving thanks: eucharisteo. But Paul used the imperative form of the word, making it a command. It is God’s will for us to give thanks in everything; not to be thankful is to be disobedient to His will.
Begin the practice of giving thanks in those circumstances where you might not be inclined to do so—remembering that it is God’s will.
The measure of our spirituality is the amount of praise and thanksgiving in our prayer.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
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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).