KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, September 15, 2017
Chapters: Daniel 7-9
Message: Seeing Jesus Through Disaster
Hello My Friend,
My family and I were part of the millions of people that had to ride out hurricane Irma as she worked her way across the entire state of Florida. I believe hurricanes as well as all natural disasters are acts of God, and they will continue to get stronger as our nations become more and more corrupt in sin. While there are a few out there praising God for sparing Florida from what could have been a much worse disaster, there are twice as many condemning Him for destroying so much. How strange is it that those whom do not believe in God criticize Him when things like this happen? They are oblivious to the fact that God is trying to get their attention. We who know God know that Jesus warned us that all these things, including war and hate toward God would happen prior to His return. “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” – Matthew 24:6-8.
Did you ever have a dream that seemed so real that when you woke up you swore it really happened? How about experiencing something that you actually dreamt? Vision; The act of seeing external objects; actual sight. Some things are easy to believe because we see them right in front of us, but since many things that exist are not seen by the human eye, they are not so easy to believe and require something we like to call faith to see them. To the world, this type of vision is imaginary, but to the Christian, it can be down right scary, especially if it reveals unfamiliar things. Before Jesus came to earth, God often used dreams to communicate with people (I think He still does this sometimes), He spoke to Daniel through several dreams too, some of these dreams he had a hard time understanding, including this one where he saw four beasts. God helps him understand the dream, revealing an amazing prophecy of the forth beast.
“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” – Daniel 7:23-27.
“shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High,” The four beasts represents four world empires, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome at different times from the time of Daniel’s prophecy to the kingdom of Christ, the fourth beast is the Antichrist, he would come in the last days before Christ returns in all His glory. Acting solely by the power of Satan, he will bring evil in this world to the fullest, and although he will prosper for a little while, Christ will utterly destroy him, giving the entire kingdom to His people. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” – Revelation 20:10.
Daniel had another dream, this one was about a ram and a goat, it was more disturbing then the last, God sends one of His angels, Gabriel to interpret the dream for him.
“And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” – Daniel 8:19-25.
“but he shall be broken without hand.” This is talking about a second beast, the false prophet, he will come shortly after the Antichrist, and cause havoc on the world. When these two beasts are on the earth it will nearly be impossible to get saved and those who do will be to their death. We do not know the hour in which all this will take place, but I can tell you right now, there are many false prophets here already, and the Antichrist is lurking about himself, just waiting for the signal from his master. He too will be destroyed, and all Christ will do to destroy him is speak. “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” – Revelation 19:19-21.
In reading the Scriptures, Daniel discovered something, especially when getting to Jeremiah’s words, the end of their seventy years in captivity was coming to an end. He turns toward Jerusalem and begins to pray for them, as he was praying he was visited by Gabriel once again to explain the vision. The clearest prophecy concerning Christ, and the exact time in which He will be crucified is given in this interpretation.
“At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” – Daniel 9:23-27.
“and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,” The seventy weeks means one day for each year, four hundred and ninety years to be exact. At the end of sixty-nine weeks one sacrifice would be offered by one man, making full atonement for sin, putting an end to animal sacrifices once and for all, bringing righteousness and eternal life to every believer. Just like every prophecy comes true, Christ will return one day and when He does all will see Him for who He truly is, the Messiah, everlasting King, Saviour of all who believe in and receive Him. As Christians we are going to see lots of natural disasters come our way due to all the sins of the world, many false prophets are among us, proclaiming Christ too and this is part of why He is so angry as well, but we have nothing to fear because we will be with Jesus. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” – Matthew 24:13-14.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.” – Daniel 7:13.
Today’s Prayer: God, I thank You for the gift of eternal life when I put my faith and trust in Your Son, Jesus Christ to save me from my sins, death, and hell. Jesus, thank You for giving Your life as a sacrifice to save us, not by any merits which we have done, but by our faith and acceptance alone of You alone do you accept us. It can be hard to understand all the judgments taking place today as we prepare for Your return, but lead us and guide us, keep us reminded that the things we do for You are not to keep our salvation, but to bring others to You so they too can see You and be saved. I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2017 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.