I’ll start this blog by telling you about a promise God made to me. A promise that I can say He is still keeping…
When I lost my job in 2017, I felt as if I lost my value to society. I stood in our garden after taking my son to school, where a voice prompted me to turn on the sprayers to the veggie garden. I did not understand why, but knew it was important to obey.
When I turned the tap on I could hear the water rushing to the lower part of the garden. To my surprise a wood thrush hopped over the grass towards the flowing waters. The bird happily drank water and took a shower.
That morning’s reading came from Luke 12:6 (KJV) saying that, “are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” It was as if in that moment, God was telling me not to worry about my circumstances. That He will provide in my need, just like He provided in that birds needs.
I can testify today that He provided for me and my family in these last three years. We had no want. There was no need He didn’t met.
What we need to remember is God is ALWAYS in control of everything. We look at the chaos in this world and wonder where is God in all of this. We forget that all this has been prophesied about by more than just one prophet.
Daniel 11 (I use the King James Version) warns us about the antichrist who will “…pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and … [who] shall place the abomination that maketh desolate” (verse 31). Meaning, that he will corrupt the true word of God and weakening the resolve of the church. He will replace it with worldly views that will sound right, but will cause God to forsake the church and its people.
The antichrist shall “corrupt [people] by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32, KJV). True Christian leaders will see the intent and will rise up against the antichrist machinations. Nonetheless, “he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done“(Daniel 11:36, KJV). He will glorify the evil one, who will give him great power, and he shall rule over many countries, and gain many land which he will sell for great gain; even the holy land will fall under his rule (verses 39-41).
Christians will “fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days” (verse 33). Verse 34 and 35 states,”…they shall fall, they shall be holpen (to take hold of one) with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end ….” The confirmation we find in Daniel 12:10-9 (KJV), “many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” There will be those who will say they are Christian, but will seek their own interest. They will not understand the true gospel of Christ. The gospel that tells us that we will suffer, in fact Jesus said that we have to deny ourselves and pick up our cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23,KJV).
In Daniel’s 12 our hope finally arrives. And the piece even provides a blessing for those who waits upon the Lord. In verse 1 (KJV), starts with telling us that “… at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people.” With his coming the bible promises that there will be:
- “...a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time“
- “…thy people (Israel) shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book“
- “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt“(verse 2)
Many scoff at Christians believing in the rapture, and that one day Jesus will return, saying that so many years has gone by and nothing has happened. But God is not mocked. For with God one day is as a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8).
The troubled time will be recognized as “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4, KJV). This we see in our every day rushed lives, where the knowledge of the world is at our finger tips.
We find that “from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days” (verse 11). This amount to 3.5 years. Daily sacrifice is the sacrifice which the high priests brought daily in the temple, “…first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He (Jesus) did once, when he offered up himself” (Hebrews 7:27, KJV). Just after the rapture there will be 3.5 years till the antichrist set himself up in the temple in Jerusalem. That will be the time people will realize that they have been deceived.
In Daniel we learn that we have to wait upon the Lord. What then are we waiting for? The return of the King of course.
Zephaniah 3:8-9, KJV – “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord , until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord , to serve him with one consent.”
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30, KJV).
“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26, KJV).
This is the only promise in the bible that is repeated over and over again. We do not know the date and time, but we need to be ready for it. Are you ready for the return of the King?
My prayer for you today, is that you will return to Jesus and trust in His promises for you. He is ready to forgive you of your sins, just as He has done mine. He will provide for you, just as He has done for us. #GodCanDoThis
Notes:
https://bible.com/bible/1/dan.11.2-45.KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/dan.12.1-13.KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/zep.3.8-9.KJV
Lightbearer's Quest 