Daniel 2:21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding."
Yesterday we began to peer through the Book of Daniel to understand Prophecy's Big Picture. We looked at the entity referred to in scripture as "Babylon the Great", or what we are calling in this blog series: "The Enormous Empire". Babylon the Great in its historical and prophetic versions represents the united effort of humanity to set up a system hostile to God's prophetic Kingdom.
Today we want to consider what took place after the fall of the Babylonian empire in Daniel's time. We will discover that Daniel predicted the rise and fall of 3 major world empires that would take us into the days of Christ's birth. We will begin with Belshazzar of Babylon in Daniel 5 and trace history to discover how accurately the Bible predicted Prophecy's Big Picture.
1. Babylon - The empire who gave us the Magi
The Babylonian Empire of Daniel's day began under Naboplassor in 626 b.c. By the time we come to Daniel 5, it is in the eve of its existence. According to the 1st century historian Josephus, Darius the Mede had over a period of months used his army to divert the flow of the Euphrates river to flow around, rather than through the mighty city of Babylon. In Daniel's vision of the Colossal statue of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar's empire was the head of gold.
Though valuable, gold as a metal is soft. Daniel predicted that the might Baylonians would fall, albiet peaceably, to the combined efforts of Darius and Cyrus the Persian. In 538 b.c, that is exactly what took place. From the Babylonians, Daniel's influence infused into the pagan priests the idea of the coming Messiah. It is from that group that we would have the Magi, the Kings of the East, who came to worship at Jesus' feet in Matthew 2.
2. The Medo-Persian Empire - the ones who invented crucifixion
In Daniel 2 we continue with the vision of the statue. From the head of gold we see the statue having arms and a chest made of silver. (Daniel 2:32) Daniel 7-8 reveals the identity of this part of the statue as being the Medo-Persian Kingdom. From 538b.c into 333 b.c the Persian Empire stretched from modern day Iraq into the realms of Israel. The two arms represented the stronger Persian element and the weaker Medes. By 350 b.c or so the Persians would devise the most diabolical torture of crucifixion, which by the days of Rome had been perfected. God was raising up these historic empires to Sovereignly fulfill His overall plan.
3. The Greeks defeat the Persians and spread the Greek Language
Daniel 2 and chapters 8-11 record in striking detail the rise and fall of the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great in 333 b.c. According to Greek and Jewish Historians, Alexander the Great conquered the Persians and in 333 b.c began his spread of Greek language and culture (called by historians Hellenization). By 275 b.c this effort was well underway and the Jews in Alexandria Egypt translated the Hebrew Old Testament into the Greek Septuagint. This paved the way for the language of the New Testament, inspired by God following the ascension of Christ in 33 A.D. Daniel 8-11 tells of the split of the Greek Empire into four sub-kingdoms under the reigns of Alexander's four generals.
4. The Romans defeat the Greek's and are in power by Jesus' day
Greece had weakened into a divided empire, which gave rise to the Romans. Under the leadership of Caesar Augustus, Rome was very much a world power by Jesus' day. Throughout the Medditerranean world the Romans had divised a road way system called "The Roman Road" (via Romana), winding its way for some 50,000 miles. This was the perfect way of spreading the Gospel in the days of the Apostles.
In Daniel's vision of the statue in Daniel 2, the legs of Iron is Rome. At the end of the vision were toes composed of iron and clay. Though Rome would collapse as a result of internal division and corruption, a kingdom like it will once again be revived in the last days. The Rome-like nature of the world's final empire will be mankind's final attempt to rebel against Christ.
5. God used these empires of history in Christ's 1st coming, and He will show Himself supreme in Christ's second coming.
Prophecy's Big pictures demonstrates that what these empires meant for evil, God used to accomplish his Greatest good. He used the Magi of Babylon to worship the infant Christ. He used the Persian's crucifixion to bring about the death of Christ. He used the Greek Language to reveal the acomplishment of Christ in the New Testament. Then He used Rome to be the tool to provide the circumstances in which the Lord of glory would be crucified, buried and risen.
Though the Book of Daniel and Revelation 13 do depict the reviving of a final evil empire that can be likened unto Rome, its purpose will be to show the vain attempts of Satan and sinful humanity to usurp Jesus Christ. As Revelation 11:15 reminds us: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”
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Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Bible Prophecy's Big Picture
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';
The Hubble Space Telescope's attempt at a big picture
In 2003 to 2004 the Hubble Space Telescope turned its view upon a certain section of the sky near the constellation Orion. Its goal was to continuously focus on a patch of sky that was smaller than the eye of a needle viewed at arms length. Termed "the Hubble Ultra deep Field", Astronomers were hoping to peer into the earliest moments of the Universe's origin. The result was astounding! Literally thousands of galaxies and star systems populated a minute patch of sky that many thought might be empty. In attempting to explain the big picture of the universe, astronomy only discovered just how small we really are.
Considering the Book of Daniel as a telescope for prophecy's big picture
Around 600 years before Jesus Christ had come to earth, a young teenage Jew by the name of Daniel, along with the Jewish nation, was taken away captive into the land of Babylonia (modern day Iraq). Other prophets who had been ministering in Israel had warned the people that if they did not turn to the Lord in repentance, they would be taken away by the Babylonians for 70 years. (Jeremiah 25:11) Daniel was only 15 years old when this occured, and for the whole 70 year period Daniel received a series of visions and interpretations concerning his current day and the age to come.
The Book of Daniel functions a lot like a big telescope. It details both history and prophect, giving us the big picture of God's Divine plotline for our planet. When read in concert with the Book of Revelation, we get the complete Big Picture of Bible Prophecy.
What is the Big Picture of Bible Prophecy?
As you study the book of Daniel, its contents can be divided into two main parts: Chapters 1-6 are mainly historical, with a little bit of prophecy; and chapters 7-12 are mainly prophetic, with a little bit of history. As we turn the telescope of Daniel to the heavens of God's prophetic plan for time and eternity, we begin with the Bible's sweeping account of an Enormous Empire: Babylon the Great.
1. Enormous Empire - Babylon the Great
When Ancient Babylon Began - The Tower of Babel
The setting of Daniel begins during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Babylon's history is perhaps the longest of all of the empires recorded in scripture. In Genesis 9-11 we see the origins of this ancient Kingdom in the rise of the tower of Babel. Once God had dispersed the languages, the mighty tower had remained for centuries. Other empires would come and go, but that mighty tower stood as testament to mankind's rebellion against God. The ancient historian Strabo tells of the Tower of Babel still standing in his day - being a quarter of a mile at its base and over 600 feet high.
When Babylon arose again - The days of Daniel
Naboplassar in 626 b.c had conquered the Assyrians and began what historians call the Neo-Babylonian Empire. His son, Nebuchadnezzar (whom we meet in Daniel), came on the scene and began to reign around or before 605 b.c. Historians such as Herodotus and Josephus record King Nebuchadnezzar attempting to rebuild the ancient tower and the mighty city of Babylonia from ruins. By Daniel's time this project was well underway. Nebuchadnezzar had constructed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon - as a gift to his wife. For 43 years Nebuachadnezzar reigned. Once he died, the throne of Babylon passed through several of his relatives.
Babylon of History would end in the days of Daniel
By the time the seventy years were almost complete, Babylon of history was in the eve of its existence. A grandson of Nebuchadnezzar by the name of Belshazzar was taking care of Babylonia as second in command while his father, Nabodinus (not mentioned in scripture), the 1st in command, was off fighting various wars. In Daniel 5 we see the aged Daniel, now in his mid-eighties, warning Belshazzar of the end of he and his father's kingdom. It would be on that night that King Darius the Mede would come in and take over and defeat the Babylonians. Though gone from the pages of history, the pages of prophecy detail how Babylon will once again rear its ugly head.
Babylon the Great is predicted in Revelation
Revelation 17-19 records for us the prophetic theater in which the kingdoms of this world will be united together into a system Revelation calls "Babylon the Great". (Revelation 17:5) Babylon the Great, like its prior historical ancestors of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon and the Tower of Babel, will operate as a center of humanity in three ways.
In Revelation 17:1-13 we see Babylon the Great as Religious center. Much like the Tower of Babel and Nebuchadnezzar's demand of worship in Daniel 3, Babylon the Great will demand all of earth's inhabitants to bow at its feet. Then secondly, Babylon the Great will be a political center in Revelation 17:14-18:8. Then finally, Babylon the Great will be an economic center in Revelation 18:9-24.
Babylon, the Great Empire, will be defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ
Much like the Tower of Babel and the Neo-Babylonian empire of Daniel's day, the outcome will be brought to an end by Divine intervention. Christ will return to judge humanity and put a permanent end to Babylon the Great, demonstrating His power in Revelation 19:1-21.
The Hubble Space Telescope's attempt at a big picture
In 2003 to 2004 the Hubble Space Telescope turned its view upon a certain section of the sky near the constellation Orion. Its goal was to continuously focus on a patch of sky that was smaller than the eye of a needle viewed at arms length. Termed "the Hubble Ultra deep Field", Astronomers were hoping to peer into the earliest moments of the Universe's origin. The result was astounding! Literally thousands of galaxies and star systems populated a minute patch of sky that many thought might be empty. In attempting to explain the big picture of the universe, astronomy only discovered just how small we really are.
Considering the Book of Daniel as a telescope for prophecy's big picture
Around 600 years before Jesus Christ had come to earth, a young teenage Jew by the name of Daniel, along with the Jewish nation, was taken away captive into the land of Babylonia (modern day Iraq). Other prophets who had been ministering in Israel had warned the people that if they did not turn to the Lord in repentance, they would be taken away by the Babylonians for 70 years. (Jeremiah 25:11) Daniel was only 15 years old when this occured, and for the whole 70 year period Daniel received a series of visions and interpretations concerning his current day and the age to come.
The Book of Daniel functions a lot like a big telescope. It details both history and prophect, giving us the big picture of God's Divine plotline for our planet. When read in concert with the Book of Revelation, we get the complete Big Picture of Bible Prophecy.
What is the Big Picture of Bible Prophecy?
As you study the book of Daniel, its contents can be divided into two main parts: Chapters 1-6 are mainly historical, with a little bit of prophecy; and chapters 7-12 are mainly prophetic, with a little bit of history. As we turn the telescope of Daniel to the heavens of God's prophetic plan for time and eternity, we begin with the Bible's sweeping account of an Enormous Empire: Babylon the Great.
1. Enormous Empire - Babylon the Great
When Ancient Babylon Began - The Tower of Babel
The setting of Daniel begins during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Babylon's history is perhaps the longest of all of the empires recorded in scripture. In Genesis 9-11 we see the origins of this ancient Kingdom in the rise of the tower of Babel. Once God had dispersed the languages, the mighty tower had remained for centuries. Other empires would come and go, but that mighty tower stood as testament to mankind's rebellion against God. The ancient historian Strabo tells of the Tower of Babel still standing in his day - being a quarter of a mile at its base and over 600 feet high.
When Babylon arose again - The days of Daniel
Naboplassar in 626 b.c had conquered the Assyrians and began what historians call the Neo-Babylonian Empire. His son, Nebuchadnezzar (whom we meet in Daniel), came on the scene and began to reign around or before 605 b.c. Historians such as Herodotus and Josephus record King Nebuchadnezzar attempting to rebuild the ancient tower and the mighty city of Babylonia from ruins. By Daniel's time this project was well underway. Nebuchadnezzar had constructed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon - as a gift to his wife. For 43 years Nebuachadnezzar reigned. Once he died, the throne of Babylon passed through several of his relatives.
Babylon of History would end in the days of Daniel
By the time the seventy years were almost complete, Babylon of history was in the eve of its existence. A grandson of Nebuchadnezzar by the name of Belshazzar was taking care of Babylonia as second in command while his father, Nabodinus (not mentioned in scripture), the 1st in command, was off fighting various wars. In Daniel 5 we see the aged Daniel, now in his mid-eighties, warning Belshazzar of the end of he and his father's kingdom. It would be on that night that King Darius the Mede would come in and take over and defeat the Babylonians. Though gone from the pages of history, the pages of prophecy detail how Babylon will once again rear its ugly head.
Babylon the Great is predicted in Revelation
Revelation 17-19 records for us the prophetic theater in which the kingdoms of this world will be united together into a system Revelation calls "Babylon the Great". (Revelation 17:5) Babylon the Great, like its prior historical ancestors of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon and the Tower of Babel, will operate as a center of humanity in three ways.
In Revelation 17:1-13 we see Babylon the Great as Religious center. Much like the Tower of Babel and Nebuchadnezzar's demand of worship in Daniel 3, Babylon the Great will demand all of earth's inhabitants to bow at its feet. Then secondly, Babylon the Great will be a political center in Revelation 17:14-18:8. Then finally, Babylon the Great will be an economic center in Revelation 18:9-24.
Babylon, the Great Empire, will be defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ
Much like the Tower of Babel and the Neo-Babylonian empire of Daniel's day, the outcome will be brought to an end by Divine intervention. Christ will return to judge humanity and put a permanent end to Babylon the Great, demonstrating His power in Revelation 19:1-21.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Why prophecy and prayer go together
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
Hope is present conviction rooted in the certainty of who God is and what He is going to do. According to Titus 2:13, the second coming of Jesus Christ constitutes the "Blessed Hope" of the Christian faith. Today we want to see why prophecy and prayer go together.
Prayer proceeds by hope, prophecy supplies it
As you look at the statement made here in Philippians, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul was writing to a church located at a cultural center of the Roman empire. Much like a "county seat" in an American context - Phillipi was a place where issues such as Roman Citizenship played a huge role. To be a Roman citizen meant privileges that very few people in the first century had the opportunity to enjoy. For these people to whom Paul wrote - the fundamental question was: from whence do you derive your hope? The Christian must fight the temptation of placing too much hope in this world, which is why Paul directs their attention, and ours, to the return of Jesus Christ.
Now in just a few verses we read an incredible statement on the need of prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understand will guard your hearts and minds in Christ." Grammar and context connects Philippians 4:6-7 back to Philippians 3:20-21. In order to "be anxious for nothing" in prayer, I need to keep my heart focused upon the blessed hope of Christ's return. The hope needed in prayer is supplied by the hope of His return.
The Bible puts prophecy and prayer together
As we already witnessed, Philippians 3:20-21 and Philippians 4:6-7 are connected to one another. Prophecy's effectiveness can only be seen as we apply its message to our current situation through prayer. When we pray in accordance to Philippians 4:6-7 we are promised "peace that surpasses all understanding" and "guarding of the heart and mind in Christ". What prophecy does is lift me above the immediate horizon of my circumstances to see Christ who is Lord over my circumstances. To know that the end of all time is not in the whims of chance, but rather in the will of God, gives great hope concerning personal situations.
Hope is present conviction rooted in the certainty of who God is and what He is going to do. According to Titus 2:13, the second coming of Jesus Christ constitutes the "Blessed Hope" of the Christian faith. Today we want to see why prophecy and prayer go together.
Prayer proceeds by hope, prophecy supplies it
As you look at the statement made here in Philippians, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul was writing to a church located at a cultural center of the Roman empire. Much like a "county seat" in an American context - Phillipi was a place where issues such as Roman Citizenship played a huge role. To be a Roman citizen meant privileges that very few people in the first century had the opportunity to enjoy. For these people to whom Paul wrote - the fundamental question was: from whence do you derive your hope? The Christian must fight the temptation of placing too much hope in this world, which is why Paul directs their attention, and ours, to the return of Jesus Christ.
Now in just a few verses we read an incredible statement on the need of prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understand will guard your hearts and minds in Christ." Grammar and context connects Philippians 4:6-7 back to Philippians 3:20-21. In order to "be anxious for nothing" in prayer, I need to keep my heart focused upon the blessed hope of Christ's return. The hope needed in prayer is supplied by the hope of His return.
The Bible puts prophecy and prayer together
As we already witnessed, Philippians 3:20-21 and Philippians 4:6-7 are connected to one another. Prophecy's effectiveness can only be seen as we apply its message to our current situation through prayer. When we pray in accordance to Philippians 4:6-7 we are promised "peace that surpasses all understanding" and "guarding of the heart and mind in Christ". What prophecy does is lift me above the immediate horizon of my circumstances to see Christ who is Lord over my circumstances. To know that the end of all time is not in the whims of chance, but rather in the will of God, gives great hope concerning personal situations.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Why you need to pray for Jerusalem
Psalm 122:8 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you."
For the past couple of days we have been drawing the connection that the Bible makes between prayer and prophecy. Today we want to consider another prophetic truth that intersects with prayer - God's promise to never forsake Israel.
God's promise to not forsake Israel
When the Psalmist here is telling us to pray for Jerusalem, He is echoing the promises of God pertaining to the nation of Israel as He originally spoke to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. Over the history of His dealings with her, even though she had forsook Him many times, God's word has always stood firm concerning her. In fact Romans 11:25-26 plainly states: "For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
Why the promise to Israel is relevant to the Christian
To know that God never breaks His promises is one of the most fundamental cornerstones in prayer, since by God's promises we proceed to pray and live for Christ. Israel is the objective demonstration of just how faithful God is to His word.
How one man demonstrated the importance of Jerusalem in his prayer life
In Daniel 6 we read of Daniel being thrown into a lion's den as a result of refusing to compromise His worship of the Lord in the face of a king's decree of death. The Bible tells us that when the decree was issued that all subjects worship Darius the King - Daniel refused. Instead when he found out the contents of the decree, the Bible says in Daniel 6:10 - "Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously."
How Praying towards Jerusalem kept Daniel focused in the hard times
Daniel never stopped believing God's promise to restore His people. Though not having been in Jerusalem for nearly 70 years, Daniel, praying in Babylon hundreds of miles away, had prayed this way for the entirety of his captivity in that land. The center of Daniel's universe was the God of Scripture, whose affection was set upon God's people in Jerusalem. (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). When King Solomon had dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem 400 years before Daniel's day, the prayer was that it and the city would be the focal point in the prayer-lives of God's people. (1 Kings 8:30) No doubt Daniel had scriptures like these rolling through his heart as he prayed. His prayer life centered around the promises of God to His people. Within his book we see prayer and prophecy intertwined like a strong rope of faith.
Practical ways and benefits of praying for Jerusalem
When I make it a point to pray for Jerusalem, I try to do it in the midst of my morning routine. Even if something that I'm doing is not remotely connected to Jerusalem, I try to pray anyway for their welfare and restoration. Why? Because it reminds me that the horizon of my hope lies not in how well life here on earth is going but rather in God's unbreakable promises. Everytime I have breathed a short prayer for Jerusalem, I always find myself being able to see my hope in Christ being made clearer. Praying for a people who by and large does not even acknowledge Jesus as Messiah also instills in me the need to share Him with others. Then as a final thought, praying for Jerusalem opens the way for blessing, since through it I am aligning my heart with God's heart.
For the past couple of days we have been drawing the connection that the Bible makes between prayer and prophecy. Today we want to consider another prophetic truth that intersects with prayer - God's promise to never forsake Israel.
God's promise to not forsake Israel
When the Psalmist here is telling us to pray for Jerusalem, He is echoing the promises of God pertaining to the nation of Israel as He originally spoke to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. Over the history of His dealings with her, even though she had forsook Him many times, God's word has always stood firm concerning her. In fact Romans 11:25-26 plainly states: "For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
Why the promise to Israel is relevant to the Christian
To know that God never breaks His promises is one of the most fundamental cornerstones in prayer, since by God's promises we proceed to pray and live for Christ. Israel is the objective demonstration of just how faithful God is to His word.
How one man demonstrated the importance of Jerusalem in his prayer life
In Daniel 6 we read of Daniel being thrown into a lion's den as a result of refusing to compromise His worship of the Lord in the face of a king's decree of death. The Bible tells us that when the decree was issued that all subjects worship Darius the King - Daniel refused. Instead when he found out the contents of the decree, the Bible says in Daniel 6:10 - "Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously."
How Praying towards Jerusalem kept Daniel focused in the hard times
Daniel never stopped believing God's promise to restore His people. Though not having been in Jerusalem for nearly 70 years, Daniel, praying in Babylon hundreds of miles away, had prayed this way for the entirety of his captivity in that land. The center of Daniel's universe was the God of Scripture, whose affection was set upon God's people in Jerusalem. (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). When King Solomon had dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem 400 years before Daniel's day, the prayer was that it and the city would be the focal point in the prayer-lives of God's people. (1 Kings 8:30) No doubt Daniel had scriptures like these rolling through his heart as he prayed. His prayer life centered around the promises of God to His people. Within his book we see prayer and prophecy intertwined like a strong rope of faith.
Practical ways and benefits of praying for Jerusalem
When I make it a point to pray for Jerusalem, I try to do it in the midst of my morning routine. Even if something that I'm doing is not remotely connected to Jerusalem, I try to pray anyway for their welfare and restoration. Why? Because it reminds me that the horizon of my hope lies not in how well life here on earth is going but rather in God's unbreakable promises. Everytime I have breathed a short prayer for Jerusalem, I always find myself being able to see my hope in Christ being made clearer. Praying for a people who by and large does not even acknowledge Jesus as Messiah also instills in me the need to share Him with others. Then as a final thought, praying for Jerusalem opens the way for blessing, since through it I am aligning my heart with God's heart.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Why Pray for Christ's Return?
Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The Certainty of Christ's return
In this next to the last verse of the Bible we see Jesus make the promise of "Yes, I am coming quickly", with the prayer following it: "Amen, come, Lord Jesus". Now why is this so significant? Because the second coming of Jesus Christ is the most predicted event in the Bible. 224 specific prophecies are related to His Second coming or "Second Advent". Whenever we see God putting predictions in His word, that means one thing - it is a sure thing. Jesus Himself, speaking from the standpoint of His humanity, says these words in Matthew 24:34 - “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."
Why pray for something that is already planned by God the Father?
So why pray for an event that has been set by God the Father on His calendar? When we pray for Christ to return quickly, it stirs up within us the grace-affected desire to see Him. 2 Timothy 4:8 says these words - "in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
How praying for Christ's return stirs our commitment to have desire
As Christians we run the risk of becoming too tied to this present world. Focusing on the soon return of Jesus Christ enables us to live right now in light of eternity. Commitment to Christ needs Desire for Christ. Commitment without desire burns out and cannot endure under the testings of this age. When we pray for His soon return, it infuses into our hearts the desire for Him, as well as the desire to live a holy life for Him.
1 John 2:2-3 states - "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."
The Certainty of Christ's return
In this next to the last verse of the Bible we see Jesus make the promise of "Yes, I am coming quickly", with the prayer following it: "Amen, come, Lord Jesus". Now why is this so significant? Because the second coming of Jesus Christ is the most predicted event in the Bible. 224 specific prophecies are related to His Second coming or "Second Advent". Whenever we see God putting predictions in His word, that means one thing - it is a sure thing. Jesus Himself, speaking from the standpoint of His humanity, says these words in Matthew 24:34 - “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."
Why pray for something that is already planned by God the Father?
So why pray for an event that has been set by God the Father on His calendar? When we pray for Christ to return quickly, it stirs up within us the grace-affected desire to see Him. 2 Timothy 4:8 says these words - "in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
How praying for Christ's return stirs our commitment to have desire
As Christians we run the risk of becoming too tied to this present world. Focusing on the soon return of Jesus Christ enables us to live right now in light of eternity. Commitment to Christ needs Desire for Christ. Commitment without desire burns out and cannot endure under the testings of this age. When we pray for His soon return, it infuses into our hearts the desire for Him, as well as the desire to live a holy life for Him.
1 John 2:2-3 states - "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."
Monday, January 23, 2012
Prophecy's Role in Prayer
Luke 18:1&8 (1) Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart. (8) 8“I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
Jesus desire to find His people praying at His return
In this little section Jesus presents a parable on prevailing prayer. He tells the story of a poor and oppressed woman who had appealed to an unjust judge for resolution of a situation. Everyday she went to him, making an appeal for him to take care of the problem that was vexing her life. Jesus tells us that this Judge cared neither for her nor her plight, however he chose to intervene in order to get her out of his hair - so to speak. Jesus' point was that if an unjust Judge would answer the pleas of a woman He doesn't know, how much more will not the Father - who is Just and fair, hear the pleas of His people whom he loves. Jesus then closes the section with the statement of His desire to find such prevailing prayer among His people at His return.
Why we must see the connection between prophecy and prayer
Jesus here is making an important connection for us between prayer and His second coming. When we explore the scriptures, we discover the premium scripture places upon both. For instance, 1/5 of the 31,000 verses of the Bible deal with prophecy or Divine statements about the future. Of those more than 800 prophecies, 1/3 of those focus upon the most important theme in prophecy - Christ's return.
On the prayer side of things we find over 600 recorded prayers in the Word of God. Prayer is such a huge theme in the Bible. In Genesis 4:26 we see prayer first mentioned, with Revelation 21:20 being the last prayer of the Bible. In that final prayer of the Bible, we find the combinations of prophecy and prayer in these words: "He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."
Prayer needs hope, and prophecy gives us the Hope
The Holy Ghost speaks these words through Paul in Titus 2:13 - "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus". Prayer by its very nature is wrestling to know God, hear God and invite God to be front and center in our thoughts and situations. If anything, prayer needs hope - for often we find ourselves praying for people or situations where hope is in short supply. It seems that scripture intentionally connects prayer and prophecy together to infuse our prayer lives with the Hope - Christ. With prayer being possible because of Christ's first coming, and prophecy focusing us upon His second coming, it is clear why both need to be together.
Jesus desire to find His people praying at His return
In this little section Jesus presents a parable on prevailing prayer. He tells the story of a poor and oppressed woman who had appealed to an unjust judge for resolution of a situation. Everyday she went to him, making an appeal for him to take care of the problem that was vexing her life. Jesus tells us that this Judge cared neither for her nor her plight, however he chose to intervene in order to get her out of his hair - so to speak. Jesus' point was that if an unjust Judge would answer the pleas of a woman He doesn't know, how much more will not the Father - who is Just and fair, hear the pleas of His people whom he loves. Jesus then closes the section with the statement of His desire to find such prevailing prayer among His people at His return.
Why we must see the connection between prophecy and prayer
Jesus here is making an important connection for us between prayer and His second coming. When we explore the scriptures, we discover the premium scripture places upon both. For instance, 1/5 of the 31,000 verses of the Bible deal with prophecy or Divine statements about the future. Of those more than 800 prophecies, 1/3 of those focus upon the most important theme in prophecy - Christ's return.
On the prayer side of things we find over 600 recorded prayers in the Word of God. Prayer is such a huge theme in the Bible. In Genesis 4:26 we see prayer first mentioned, with Revelation 21:20 being the last prayer of the Bible. In that final prayer of the Bible, we find the combinations of prophecy and prayer in these words: "He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."
Prayer needs hope, and prophecy gives us the Hope
The Holy Ghost speaks these words through Paul in Titus 2:13 - "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus". Prayer by its very nature is wrestling to know God, hear God and invite God to be front and center in our thoughts and situations. If anything, prayer needs hope - for often we find ourselves praying for people or situations where hope is in short supply. It seems that scripture intentionally connects prayer and prophecy together to infuse our prayer lives with the Hope - Christ. With prayer being possible because of Christ's first coming, and prophecy focusing us upon His second coming, it is clear why both need to be together.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Contending for the heritage of biblical authority
Jude 1:3b - "I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints"
How scripture's unique authority as the inerrant Word of God been contended for by the historic church? To see a specific example, we will quickly journey through the Baptist movement in general, and Southern Baptists in particular, to discover how God's people have contended for the "faith once and for delivered to the saints" in the realm of biblical authority.
The heritage of the Baptist Movement and its view on Biblical Authority
From the early centuries of the Christian church, various groups with similar beliefs to Baptists existed. All of them espoused belief in the sole authority of scripture in determining how Christians drew conclusions from experience, reason and others sources of authority. How did earlier "Baptists" come to express this principle of "sola scriptura" (scripture alone) and how does Southern Baptist life connect into the historic Christian view of Scripture's authority?
1. The 1689 London Baptist Confession on the authority of the Bible - It alone is sufficient
Although historic doctrinal statements are secondary sources of authority, it is important to see how doctrines have developed and are consistent in the history of God's people. In this early Baptist Confession of faith, we see this statement on the scriptures: "The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation."
2. The 1723 Philadelphia Baptist Confession on the authority of the Bible - It alone is sufficient
When the Baptists came to America, most of them arrived to our shores with a familiarity of the 1689 confession. At Philadelphia in 1742, Baptists articulated what they believed and formulated what was termed: "The Philadelphia Baptist Confession". In it's article on the scriptures, they retained the identical wording of the 1689 confession.
3. The 1833 New Hampshire Confession - an important link to Southern Baptists
By 1833 Baptists in America existed in several different groupings. In the New England area the Baptist Churches felt it necessary to state their doctrinal beliefs in the "New Hampshire Confession of Faith". This document would be the forerunner to the "Baptist Faith and Message of 1925" (a Southern Baptist Doctrinal Statement). The New Hampshire Confession still advocated the principle of sola scriptura: (The Bible is) "the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried." The New Hampshire confession also advocated in writing that had been held by historic Baptist groups - namely the belief in biblical inerrancy.
4. The 1925 Baptist Faith and Message
When the Southern Baptists formed in 1845, they did not have a unified doctrinal statement. Southern Baptists have typically treated their statements of faith as "summaries" of what they believe. In 1925 the Southern Baptist Convention adopted what was termed "The Baptist Faith and message 1925". Its statement on scripture still advocated the Reformation principle of sola scriptura. Southern Baptists continued the emphasis of stating the Bible's character of inerrancy as the reason why it alone was the believer's authority. You can see this by going to the Southern Baptist Website (sbc.net) and comparing the 1925 Baptist Faith and Message.
5. The 1963 and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message
By 1963 the Southern Baptists felt the need to issue an updated version of the Baptist Faith and message. By retaining much of the same wording on the article of biblical authority, they added the following statement: "The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ." As the Denomination went through battles over Biblical inerrancy in the 70's, 80's and 90's, many leaders and pastors felt that a more emphatic statement needed to be made. In 2000 the convention adopted the current Baptist Faith and Message, changing the wording on the article of scripture in the last part to: "All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation." This change identified Christ as the "central focus" of the Bible's message, while re-emphasizing the historic belief in inerrancy as the chief characteristic behind the Bible's authority.
In Summary - Southern Baptists have never stopped believing in Sola Scriptura nor valuing biblical inerrancy
This quick summary serves to demonstrate where Southern Baptist have stood in light of the historic Christian church's belief on the absolute authority of the Bible. I would also add that in order to continue in that tradition, we must never abandon the belief in the Bible's inerrancy - since inerrancy is the main trait demonstrating the Bible to be Divinely inspired. As long as Christians continue to prize the Bible as uniquely sufficient in all matters of eternity and life, they will continue to "contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints."
How scripture's unique authority as the inerrant Word of God been contended for by the historic church? To see a specific example, we will quickly journey through the Baptist movement in general, and Southern Baptists in particular, to discover how God's people have contended for the "faith once and for delivered to the saints" in the realm of biblical authority.
The heritage of the Baptist Movement and its view on Biblical Authority
From the early centuries of the Christian church, various groups with similar beliefs to Baptists existed. All of them espoused belief in the sole authority of scripture in determining how Christians drew conclusions from experience, reason and others sources of authority. How did earlier "Baptists" come to express this principle of "sola scriptura" (scripture alone) and how does Southern Baptist life connect into the historic Christian view of Scripture's authority?
1. The 1689 London Baptist Confession on the authority of the Bible - It alone is sufficient
Although historic doctrinal statements are secondary sources of authority, it is important to see how doctrines have developed and are consistent in the history of God's people. In this early Baptist Confession of faith, we see this statement on the scriptures: "The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation."
2. The 1723 Philadelphia Baptist Confession on the authority of the Bible - It alone is sufficient
When the Baptists came to America, most of them arrived to our shores with a familiarity of the 1689 confession. At Philadelphia in 1742, Baptists articulated what they believed and formulated what was termed: "The Philadelphia Baptist Confession". In it's article on the scriptures, they retained the identical wording of the 1689 confession.
3. The 1833 New Hampshire Confession - an important link to Southern Baptists
By 1833 Baptists in America existed in several different groupings. In the New England area the Baptist Churches felt it necessary to state their doctrinal beliefs in the "New Hampshire Confession of Faith". This document would be the forerunner to the "Baptist Faith and Message of 1925" (a Southern Baptist Doctrinal Statement). The New Hampshire Confession still advocated the principle of sola scriptura: (The Bible is) "the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried." The New Hampshire confession also advocated in writing that had been held by historic Baptist groups - namely the belief in biblical inerrancy.
4. The 1925 Baptist Faith and Message
When the Southern Baptists formed in 1845, they did not have a unified doctrinal statement. Southern Baptists have typically treated their statements of faith as "summaries" of what they believe. In 1925 the Southern Baptist Convention adopted what was termed "The Baptist Faith and message 1925". Its statement on scripture still advocated the Reformation principle of sola scriptura. Southern Baptists continued the emphasis of stating the Bible's character of inerrancy as the reason why it alone was the believer's authority. You can see this by going to the Southern Baptist Website (sbc.net) and comparing the 1925 Baptist Faith and Message.
5. The 1963 and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message
By 1963 the Southern Baptists felt the need to issue an updated version of the Baptist Faith and message. By retaining much of the same wording on the article of biblical authority, they added the following statement: "The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ." As the Denomination went through battles over Biblical inerrancy in the 70's, 80's and 90's, many leaders and pastors felt that a more emphatic statement needed to be made. In 2000 the convention adopted the current Baptist Faith and Message, changing the wording on the article of scripture in the last part to: "All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation." This change identified Christ as the "central focus" of the Bible's message, while re-emphasizing the historic belief in inerrancy as the chief characteristic behind the Bible's authority.
In Summary - Southern Baptists have never stopped believing in Sola Scriptura nor valuing biblical inerrancy
This quick summary serves to demonstrate where Southern Baptist have stood in light of the historic Christian church's belief on the absolute authority of the Bible. I would also add that in order to continue in that tradition, we must never abandon the belief in the Bible's inerrancy - since inerrancy is the main trait demonstrating the Bible to be Divinely inspired. As long as Christians continue to prize the Bible as uniquely sufficient in all matters of eternity and life, they will continue to "contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints."
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