1 Corinthians 1: 18

PRAYER THOT: Thank you for fulfilled prophecy, proof that You are who You said You are.

Amos 5 vs8 

Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name: For further study - Amos 5:1-20

This passage of scripture for our daily reading today, was written by a farmer, a man who God called to be a Prophet. God called him from where he lived, in Tekoa near Bethlehem in Judea, to be the one to give the message to Israel.
Remember, this was the time when the Jewish people were divided into two nations, ten tribes in the north - Israel, and two tribes in the south - Judah. God takes a “southern boy” to speak to the northerners.
The message in our passage for today is one of judgment to come and the Lord's plea for Israel, i.e. both groups of Jews, to "seek the Lord." The Lord gives his people information on the coming judgment in the days of Amos, but also these prophetic warnings are appropriate for today, and especially for today.
Amos is describing the "day of the Lord," verse 18, and telling the Jews that will be a day of great judgment. Remember, the "day of the Lord" is that period of time after the Rapture of the Church and includes the seven years leading up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. That "day" will be a dark day, verse 18, and no matter where the Jews turn in that day, they will be met by judgment.
Notice verse 19. They flee from a lion only to be met by a bear and even as they rush into the house for protection and rest, as they lean against the wall a serpent bites them. The coming Tribulation period, the "time of Jacob's trouble" will be a terrible time of darkness and judgment, verse 20.
However, the loving God reaches out to the Jews today and during that terrible time ahead, He reaches out to His people. He says, "seek the Lord," verse 6; "seek Him," verse 8; "seek good" (God) and "live", verse 14. Notice our key verse, verse 8, where we see the Creator, the Lord Himself, telling the Jewish people to "seek Him."
I love this verse. He says, I created the stars and even named them all. Then He says, I control the oceans upon the face of the earth, I am the One you must seek. He is the only One who can bring His people through the "day of the Lord."
The record of the Lord's lamentation over Israel written by Amos some 2,700 years ago is applicable for today. Jews and Gentiles, all peoples that are not saved, must seek the Lord as He reaches out to them. That day of darkness, the "day of the Lord" is quickly approaching.
PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord, as I see that day of judgment quickly approaching, please raise me up, as You did Amos from his farm work, to warn lost people before it is eternally too late.

Amos 7 verses 14-15 

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was Ia prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

For further study - Amos 7:10-17

The period of time being covered in our devotional reading for today is the time leading up to the destruction of Israel, the ten tribes of Israel's twelve tribes that divided from the twelve and followed Jereboam at the end of King Solomon's reign as the third King of all of Israel.

Jereboam was from Bethel and had become the leader of the ten northern tribes that would be captured by Assyria around 725 BC. Jereboam had set up "altars" in Dan and Bethel, his hometown. These were "adulterous worship centers" and used for the purpose of keeping these rebelling Jews in line.
The "chief priest" at the so-called "temple" in Bethel was a man named Amaziah. After the prophetic ministry of Amos had been revealed to Amaziah, he went to King Jereboam and complained about the prophecy given by Amos.
Amaziah told Amos to go back down south to prophesy among his own people, the people of the two southern tribes, Judah and Benjamin. Amaziah would realize he was messing with the wrong man, the prophecy of Amos would come true and his adversary Amaziah and his family would suffer the consequences, verse 17.
The response from Amos to the false accusation made by Amaziah was one that has been often quoted down through the centuries, "I was not a prophet, neither was I a prophet's son," verse 14.
Amos then explained he was a farmer and a rancher in the divided kingdom in the south, Judah. Amos was a "herdman," a rancher, and a farmer, a "gatherer of sycamore fruit" in Tekoa, a community near Bethlehem.
God had called this "country boy" to become his spokesman to the ten northern tribes, Israel. Amos had never trained to be a prophet and simply followed the Lord's lead when called upon, as was the case with all "true prophets of God," II Peter 1:21.
The test of a "true prophet of God" is that everything He reveals must come true in the exact detail given, Deuteronomy 18:20-22. Amos was a true prophet of God and the prophecy he gave the ten northern tribes did come to pass, they were taken into captivity by the Assyrians.
Just this reminder, Jesus said in His Olivet Discourse, that the greatest indication that His Second Coming was close would be the "deception" presented by false prophets with their signs, wonders, and miracles, Matthew 24:4,5,11 and 24.
We have a proliferation of false prophets using signs wonders, and miracles today - a definite signal that Jesus will be returning to earth in the seemingly near future.
Remember, the Rapture happens at least seven years before His Second Coming. That means the Rapture could happen at any time. Keep looking up.

Prayer Thot: Help me, Lord, to live each day as the day that the Rapture will happen.

Amos 9 vs15 

And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God. For further study - Amos 9:11-15

In our last devotional we looked at the prophecy of Joel who introduced to us the prophetic phrase, "the day of the Lord". Here in Amos 9:11, the prophet uses Joel's phrase to define the time of His work among the Jewish people, in the day leading up to the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Our passage for today is filled with what the Lord will do for the Jewish people, however, I want to focus on one key verse, verse 15.
The Lord makes a promise in the form of a prophecy, that He will plant the Jewish people upon their land and they shall no more be pulled out of their land, the land that He has given them.
Let’s look at several thoughts about this verse. The Lord did promise Abraham in Genesis 15, that He would give the land to the Jewish people, his descendants, in the last days. In fact, as you study the 38 passages of scripture that relate to the true biblical borders of Israel, you must conclude that God will ultimately give the Jewish people 10 times what they have today.
The promise of all the land will be fulfilled during the “millennial kingdom” in the future, and the Jewish people will have that land forever, throughout all of eternity. I know this because the "Lord thy God" said it, verse 15b. Today the Jewish people have only 10 percent of the land He promised to give them.
The promise that Amos wrote to the Jewish people is yet to be fulfilled, however I do believe the beginning stages of God's plan and promise for the Jews is in the process of being fulfilled.
The religious Jews in Israel today who are refusing to give up the land they believe that God gave them take this passage seriously. They believe they will be no more pulled up out of the land He gave them. I believe that as well.
Therefore, His promises to protect them in the land are true also. If some of their enemies or all of their enemies try to take the land away, He will return to protect the Jews. With the nations of the Middle East plotting to take the land of the Jewish people from them it seems His return is close at hand. Even so come Lord Jesus.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to accept God's promises as absolutes.


Colossians 1 verse 16

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

For further study - Colossians 1:9-19
As I read the extended portion of our devotional today I can hardly contain myself. His glorious power, Colossians 1:11, has given us all long suffering and patience, with joyfulness. Verse 12 says we are partakers of the inheritance of the saints. We've been delivered from the power of darkness. We have been redeemed through His shed blood which means we have the forgiveness of our sins. Then He reveals to us how He can grant all these things to us, He is the Creator of all things, verse 16.

Our key verse for today tells us that by Him, by Jesus Christ, were all things created. That's all things in the heavens and on the earth. Things visible to us and those things we cannot see, the invisible things of this world.

Look at the last words of verse 16, "all things were created by Him, and for Him." I have a note beside this verse in my bible, " a created cannot be the Creator". I don't remember where I got that thought from, but it is true. It seems like the world today is made up of a bunch of creators, not the created ones. For sure the created are not living in light of the fact that the verse says "......and for Him."

The basis for all prophetic truth in the Bible is the reality that the Creator, Jesus Christ, knows the beginning from the end. He is the only One who can tell us what will happen in the future.

Notice verse 17, "and by Him all things consist." He not only brought everything into existence, but He keeps everything together today. He is in charge and has a plan for the world and for each of us in this world. The last verse in our reading, verse 18 tells it all. The final result is so that He might have the pre-eminence over, and with His creation.

We started these thoughts with what we have in Him and conclude with us as the creation giving Him the pre-eminence. We can do that because of what we have in Him.

It is great that the Creator loves us enough to tell us in the prophetic passages of scripture what will happen as we prepare for His return to be the pre-eminent One.

Remember, the creation brought forth by the Creator is the basis for all of prophetic truth. He has a plan for His creation and He let's us know what it is in His Word. What a wonderful Creator.

Prayer Thot: Help me to remember, You created man, ultimately me, for Your purpose and Your glory.

Colossians 1 vs 17 - And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. For further study - Colossians 1:15-29

As we come to our devotional time today we will look at the letter that Paul wrote the people in Colosse, the new church that he had established there, a letter that elaborates our sufficiency in Christ Jesus. The entire letter is another of the letters that Paul penned during his ministry that would be such a help to the early Christians, as well as to all of us today.

I've been to Colosse, in what is today modern-day Turkey. What remains of the community there is nestled in the mountains high above the area of the church that was located in Laodicea, the area known in Biblical times as Asia Minor.

The area of Colosse today is like the Alps in Europe, breathtaking by it's beauty. Paul reveals to those Christians at Colosse that the beautiful area where they lived had been created by Jesus Christ, verse 16. Jesus created everything and it was created for Him.

We'll take a look at verse 17 in a moment, but first notice what the Lord has done for us by Jesus, through His blood, verse 20. We have been "reconciled" by what Jesus did for us on His cross, verse 21. We who were not in harmony with Jesus, because of our sin, had been alienated from the Lord but by His shedding of blood on the cross we have been "reconciled,"

brought back into "perfect harmony" with Christ Jesus.

Paul reveals the "mystery" which hath been hid from ages and generations, verse 23, the "church". The "church" is made up of both Gentiles and Jews who have been "born again." That would be all who have trusted in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, that which is the "power of God unto salvation."

Paul told those at the Church in Colosse that because we're born again we have Christ, who "is our hope of glory", verse 27.

Now let me take you back to verse 17. Remember, verse 16 says Jesus Christ created all things in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, even the angelic creatures, everything was created by Him and for Him.

Verse 17 reveals that all things that Jesus created are being "held together" by Jesus as well, "by Him all things consist", verse 17. That means He holds together every aspect of me as the product of a created being.

The rocks, the mountains, the animals, humankind, by Him all of these things were created. But what holds all of creation together so that today they do not "blow apart". Jesus is the one who holds all things together.

The truth is, one day everything will "blow apart". That's when everything on this earth will "burn up" as foretold in Bible prophecy, II Peter 3:10.

All that Jesus will have to do is release the power that holds everything together and it all burns up, just as Bible prophecy tells us. Then we'll have new heavens and a new earth, the former heavens and earth will burn up. This seems to indicate that Bible prophecy will be fulfilled, seemingly in the future.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for reconciling me back to You and for holding all of Your creation together until the time of the end.

Colossians 3 vs15

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. For further study - Colossians 3:15-25

As we approach our extended reading for today reflect with me on our devotional in Colossians the last time we were in the book, which was the first fifteen verses of Colossians 3 .
Verses 2, 3 and 4 exhort us to set our focus and affections on the heavens where Jesus awaits the command from His Father to call the body of Christ, the Church, up to be with Him. Verse 4 says we will appear at that time with Him in the heavenlies. What a glorious hope that is for each of us as believers.
Now to our reading for today, in verse 15 we see Paul exhorts us to "let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly". That means to first read God's Word and then meditate upon what we have read. Finally we internalize the Word of God, as we apply every bit of it to our daily lifestyle.
In verses 15-22 Paul tells us what will happen when the Word does dwell in us richly. Our music will be God-honoring music. Music, by the way, is not for evangelism. In the 500 references to music in the Bible they all deal with worshiping the Lord and not for evangelizing lost people. Therefore, we don't need to mimic the world's music.
If the Word fills us, we will use psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to teach each other and admonish each other in our worship of the Lord. What we do, we do in the name of the Lord, verse 17.
Wives will submit to husbands, verse 18. Husbands will love their wives and be not bitter to them, verse 19. Children will obey parents because it pleases the Lord, verse 20. Fathers will raise their children but won't provoke them to anger, verse 21. Servants will obey masters, verse 22. Again Paul tells us that whatever we do, do it "heartily as unto the Lord and not to men," verse 23.
What we have just thought through is the lifestyle of the person that has the Word of God dwelling in them richly. Verse 24 refers us to the time of reward when the Lord will give us a special reward at the "Judgment Seat of Christ." That “reward” He will give us is for living the Word-rich life on earth, before the Judgment Seat and before we appear in His presence, verse 14.
He tells us of our reward and at the same time tells us how to live so that we will indeed receive that reward. The provision He gives is His Word, which we must allow to dwell in us, richly. Thank you Lord for your Word.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for your Word, help me to let it dwell in me richly.

Colossians 3 vs.1 - If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

For further study - Colossians 3:1-15

In our devotional passage for today, we are told to "put off" some items and "put on" others. This exhortation is because we have "risen with Christ," verse 1. Paul tells the Colossians that when they, and thus when we put off the old man we also put off his deeds

- deeds like anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications in addition to fornication, inordinate affection, and idolatry.

These are the deeds of the "old man" we once were but in Christ we are told we are the new man and therefore have items to "put on." We are to put on holiness, mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another, and above all, put on love.

I know you have already read in your devotional reading for today all that I have just mentioned. However it is good to rehearse what we put off and put on as the followers of Christ. The passage also reveals to us that the "peace of God" is to rule in our hearts and we are to be thankful.

You know, thankfulness is foreign to most of us. Have you noticed how people seem to forget to say "thank you" when you serve them? It is as if we are supposed to serve and those that we serve take it for granted. Paul exhorts us to serve others anyway. Each day we spend time in God's word we see the instructions there for us to live by in the life He has for us to live.

I think it is great to know exactly how the Lord wants us to live.

Just this reminder. We do not live this way to get saved but because we are saved. The truth is that we could not live this way unless we were saved and empowered by Him to do so.

Before I conclude the devotional for today, a prophetic prospective on the passage is needed. Notice the first four verses of our extended reading. The "if" in verse 1 is a conditional "if" and thus could read "since we have been risen with Christ" at salvation then we should seek those things above, in the heavenlies. In fact, verse

2 says to set our affection or our focus, our ambitions on these things above. We do this so that when Christ shall appear in His glory we also shall appear with Him in glory.

A close study of current events in light of Bible prophecy will help us to focus on His return and how close it might be. We need to daily study the prophetic word of God to better understand the times in which we are living. This will help us to better seek those things above and set our affections on the future with Him in the heavens.

PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord, help me to look with great anticipation for Your return and our future existence throughout eternity in heaven with You.

Colossians 3 vs.1 - If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

For further study - Colossians 3:1-15

Last time we looked at these fifteen verses chosen for today’s devotional, I focused on what our daily focus must be, because we have been raised with Christ, verse 1.

We noticed in our prophetic prospective of this passage last time that we must seek those things which are above, in the heavenlies, not earthly things, verse 2.

We also have the promise that when He appears in glory we will appear with Him because He is our life, verse 4. As I read these verses again I realized that we must be looking for Him to appear, actually, at any moment.

Paul, the author of our devotional passage, also told Titus to look for Jesus to appear and as he did that it would help this young ministry partner with Paul, to "lay" aside that which is wrong and "live" that which is right.

That can be done as we "look" for His glorious appearing which is our blessed hope, Titus 2:12-13.

As a student of God's prophetic Word, I am very aware of how close we are to the Rapture, when Jesus calls us up into the heavenlies to be with Him forever. I must remind you that as we understand the times we are living in today we will "look for", focus, on His coming.

Let me give you one more insight before we close. Notice verse 1, our key verse, again. This power-packed verse informs us of, "where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." Jesus is not now on His throne, but instead He is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

One day Jesus will sit on His own throne in a Kingdom here on earth that God the Father, the Most High God, will give Him and that Kingdom will be forever, Daniel 7:13-14.

Today, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father and is there to intercede, to be our special "advocate" when the Devil accuses us of our short-comings to the Father, who is now on the throne in the heavens, Revelation 12:10 and 1 John 2:1 He is also there to be a "provider" for us on a daily basis, Philippians 4:19.

One day Jesus Christ will be in His temple, on His throne. But today He is seated at the right hand of the father for each of us. That is from where He will come when he comes to get us. I believe that coming is very close, indeed, keep looking out.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord, for being my special advocate and provider from your position at the right hand of God the Father in the heavenlies


Daniel 1 vs.17 - As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

For further study - Daniel 1:1-21

As the Babylonian Crown Prince Nebuchadnezzar was fighting in Egypt, he received the message that his father had died and he had been promoted to King of Babylon. On his journey back to Babylon he passed through Jerusalem and noticed a strange type of worship of a different God than his god. The worship of this new God was going on in a Temple like he had never seen.

Knowing that he was to become ruler of the known world, he was determined to know something about this new to him religion. Nebuchadnezzar decided to take some "hostages" from the “royal family” in Jerusalem back home with him to learn more about this religion.

Chapter one of Daniel is the sojourn of Daniel and three of his Hebrew friends to Babylon to learn the ways of the Chaldeans. They were to be trained to become a part of the group known as the "wise men" in Nebuchadnezzar's court.

As you read this account you learn how teenage boys (Daniel was 15 years old when taken to Babylon) could purpose in their hearts, verse 8, to honor the Lord with their obedience to His plan for their lives.

God would honor their obedience and give them "knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom", verse 17. At the same time God was preparing young Daniel to minister to the King, Daniel 2. Daniel would not only win the King's favor but reveal through the interpretation of the Kings dream, God's plans for the future.

God would use this man Daniel to give us the prophetic truths that describe many current events today giving us evidence that we are quickly approaching the time of the return of the Lord (see my study on Daniel).

Because Daniel purposed in his heart to do right, God used him for His purposes, to explain to us His plan for the future. The twelve chapters of Daniel are prophecies of the unfolding of the historic events that will take place on the earth leading up to the time of His coming back to the earth.
PRAYER THOT: Allow me to be used by you Lord as I purpose in my heart to honor you.
Daniel 2 vs.44 - And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

For further study - Daniel 2:1-45

I am taking a reading out of order today for our devotional for a purpose. Today, March 25, 2007, is the 50th anniversary of the signing of the "Treaty of Rome" signed by the European leaders 50 years ago today in the city of Rome. The European Union has actually been involved in a year-long celebration, but today special events will happen across Europe.

More on the significance of this day in a moment, bur first, to our reading for today. Daniel had been summoned by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar to tell him his dream and to interpret the dream for the King. God gifted Daniel with the ability to reveal the dream to the Babylonian King (verse 28) and to interpret it for him.

The dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had was of an image of a man with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, his belly and thighs of brass, two legs of iron and ten toes of iron and clay mixed. There was a stone that hit the toes and broke them into pieces. These broken pieces were like chaff of the summer threshing floors and the wind carried them away. The stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the world earth.

Daniel's interpretation of the king's dream was actually the revelation of the empires of the coming Gentile world, powers from

the times of Daniel until the times of the Return of Jesus Christ.

Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that he was the "Head of Gold" (verse 38) the first of the Gentile world powers.

The passages in Daniel 8 and 7 give us the understanding that the Medo-Persian Empire followed by the Grecian Empire and the Roman Empire would take Gentile history along the way all the way to a time when the "Ten Toes" would appear. Let me tell you that the "Ten Toes" are the "Revived Roman Empire" of the future (see my study, "The Daniel Papers www.prophecybookstore.com).

Now to the significance of this day, the 25th of March. It was 50 years ago today that a group of Europeans met to sign the "treaty" of Rome in Rome, Italy, that set the stage for the Common Market which is today the European Union. A close look at the European Union reveals that it is at least an infrastructure of the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy of the "Ten Toes" which will be ten nations, kings, or regions.

The key verse to notice about this prophecy is verse 44, "in the days of these kings." The God of heaven will destroy them and set up the kingdom that Jesus Christ will rule and reign over at His Return.

This interpretation of these prophecies fits the prophecies of John the Revelator in his book of prophecy, Revelation 17.

The evidence is strong that we are living in those days. But remember, before the Lord's Second Coming, seven years before, the Rapture takes place and that could happen today.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you for Daniel's prophecy that helps me understand the Lord's time.

Daniel 3 vs.18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

For further study - Daniel 3:1-30

For our extended reading today, I would like for you to read the entire chapter of Daniel 3. This chapter, in the book of prophecy written by Daniel, is not a prophetic passage.
However, it is very practical and is one of the three very practical passages in Daniel, which also includes Daniel 4 and 6. We will use these chapters in another devotional, later on.
Daniel, the author of the book, is not mentioned in chapter 3 and there is not a definite reason that we can point you to scripturally on the subject. There have been suggestions that Daniel may have been traveling during this time.
Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, had an "image of gold", verse 1, erected in Babylon, most likely an "image of a man", an image of himself that was ninety feet tall and nine feet wide at it's base.
Nebuchadnezzar's wise counselors set a trap for the three Hebrew companions of Daniel; Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, which are their godly Hebrew names. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are the Chaldean names for these three Hebrew boys.
The trap for these three was the royal order for everyone to bow to the "image of gold" when they heard the sound of music. Failure to bow would be met with the punishment of being thrown into the "fiery furnace".
Please let me point out several real blessings from the many that you will notice as you read our extended reading for the devotional today.
The three Hebrew boys refused to bow and when brought before Nebuchadnezzar they told the King that "their God which they served was able to deliver them from the burning fiery furnace", verse 17.
That assurance was a real blessing for the three, as it is for us today, an assurance that He can deliver us from any fiery trial. However, look at the next verse, verse 18, "but if not".
Please read our key verse several times, "But if not", if God decides not to deliver us, the boys said, "we will not serve thy gods or worship the golden image".
That is the attitude missing today. Often we want God to be "Johnny on the spot", to take care of us all the time. I love that phrase, "but if not". What God decides is best, whether I think so or not.
The three boys did not "bow" and they were thrown into the furnace where they did not "burn". They not only did not burn, even the smell of smoke was not upon their bodies nor their clothing, verse 27.
When the Lord does something, He does it right. It was Jesus Christ, in a “pre-incarnate” appearance, that came to rescue the three Hebrew boys, verse 25.
This is a great story that ended with the three Hebrew boys being promoted in the Babylonian Kingdom, verse 30. Though it's not actually a prophetic passage, it does have a prophetic spiritual application.
In the last days God will protect the Jewish people from the "fiery Tribulation", a period of time known as "Jacob's trouble", that seems to be coming very soon. Remember, the Lord will preserve the Jewish people, He has a special plan for them in the future.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for Your protection. Please give me that "but if not" attitude when You have a better plan for me.

Daniel 5 vss30-31 

In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

For further study - Daniel 5:1-31

This fifth chapter of Daniel's prophecy is not only a prophetic passage of great importance but also a chapter that has a very important historic significance as well.

The King of Babylon, at the time of Daniel 5, is Belshazzar who most likely was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. King Nebuchadnezzar had died and Belshazzar came to power over this world empire near the time of it's end.
The King had invited 1,000 of his "lords" to a banquet, which actually turned into the "last hoorah" for King Belshazzar.
Though the Medes and the Persians had been threatening to overthrow the Babylonians, the King felt secure inside the walls of this supposedly "impregnable city" with it's double high walls surrounding the city, a city that never had been defeated.
During the course of the evening the King called for the "Temple vessels" that his grandfather had brought out of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem to Babylon. The King had his servants fill these "special vessels" with wine and made them available to the King's guest. This was a very bad mistake, which I will discuss a bit later.
It was while the drunken party was going on that the Medes came from the North and the Persians from the South and damned up the water entering the city under it's Northern wall, and exiting under it's Southern wall.
That gave Babylon's enemies a dry tunnel under the walls to enter the city. This was the method by which the "impregnable city" was entered by its major enemies at that time. The Babylonian Empire was brought down by theMedo-Persian Empire, the second of the Gentile world powers to rule over Jerusalem and the Jewish people.
This passage, describing the fall of the Babylonian Empire, does not mention that the city of Babylon was destroyed, only the Empire. The truth be known, the city of Babylon has never been destroyed as Bible prophecy says will happen in the last days.
Ancient Jewish Prophets say that Babylon must be destroyed, totally, and never be rebuilt. Isaiah 13 and 14, Jeremiah 50 and 51, Revelation 18 and Revelation 16:17-21 describe the total destruction of the city of Babylon.
Babylon the city was not destroyed, as described in Daniel 5. Other passages indicate that same truth as well. Seventy-five years after the fall of the Babylonian Empire, Ezra lived in Babylon, Ezra 7:6 and 9.
Secular history tells us that Alexander the Great ruled the world from his headquarters in Babylon, 200 years after the fall of the Babylonian Empire. Peter, the Apostle, started a church in Babylon, 500 years after the fall of the Empire, I Peter 5:13. Babylon, one day in the future, will be destroyed, as revealed in Revelation 16.
The other thought that I wanted to give you pertaining to the use of the "implements" from the Temple, Daniel 5:2-5, is that because the Babylonians desecrated the Temple and it's implements, God will bring eternal judgment on Babylon, Jeremiah 50:28 and Jeremiah 51:11.
Biblical Babylon is the modern-day state of Iraq, where the Antichrist will be headquartered and will rule over a "one world" political, governmental, economic system in the last days. The rebuilding of war-torn Iraq is setting the stage for Bible Prophecy to be fulfilled. Keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Help me, Lord to discern the urgency of the moment in these days that seem to be the last days and help me to live in light of this knowledge.
Daniel 7 vs14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

For further study - Daniel 7:1-14

Daniel had become a leader, most likely the third highest- ranking leader, in the Babylonian Empire, by the time he reached 70 years of age, his age at the time of the "night vision" recorded in our extended reading passage.
For almost 50 years he had served as a counselor to King Nebuchadnezzar and now Daniel was serving his grandson, Belshazzar in the first year of his reign, verse 1.
As a young man Daniel had been gifted by the Lord to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel 2, which was a prophecy of the present and future Gentile world powers from Daniels' day until the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Now some 50 years later the Lord gives Daniel a "vision" of that same scenario for the Gentile world empires and what would happen at the Second Coming of Jesus.
Since I don't have the time and space to go into a lot of detail, let me give you the overall big picture, presented to Daniel in his "night vision". Daniel would see "four great beast" rise up out of the sea, each one diverse from the other, verse 3.
Let me remind you that this is "apocalyptic literature". In "apocalyptic literature" the author uses "symbols" to convey an "absolute truth." The symbol is not an allegory nor a fairy-tale, but an "absolute truth".
That being said, please allow me to take a shortcut and tell you what the symbols represent in Daniel 7. The "lion with eagles wings" is the Babylonian Empire, verse 4. The "bear with three ribs in its mouth,"verse 5, is the Medo-Persian Empire. In verse 6, the "leopard with four wings and four heads" is the Grecian Empire.
The "awesome beast" in verse 7 is the "Revived Roman Empire" (See my audio series, "The Daniel Papers").
Notice the "ten horns" of the "awesome beast" in verse 7 and in verse 8, the "little horn" that comes out of the "ten horns." The "ten horns" represent the "Revived Roman Empire" and the "little horn" is one of twenty-seven names for the "Antichrist".
I understand I haven't gone into very much detail on this prophecy that Daniel received in a "night vision" but deeper study will reveal these truths.
Please notice verses 13-14. Here is the promise of a future "kingdom" that will be given to Jesus Christ, the "Son of Man", verse 13, by the "ancient of days", God the Father. This is a "kingdom" that comes after the "Revived Roman Empire" and the "Antichrist" are on the scene, and it will be an "everlasting kingdom."
I remind you that it is not a "Kingdom" which is in place now. This "Kingdom", referred to in this passage, will be given to Jesus, at the return of the Messiah, by God the Father. By the way, the recent European Union Treaty accepted by all 27-member states of the EU calls for a "Supra-State," the United States of Europe. The Treaty also provides for an EU that will be led by a "powerful, permanent president".
These both, if not the ultimate fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy, then they sure are a prototype of prophecy yet to be fulfilled, seemingly in the near future. Keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Help me, Lord to live pure and productive every day as I prepare for your soon coming.


Daniel 9 vs24 - 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.

For further study - Daniel 9:1-27

In this ninth chapter of Daniel's prophecy, the ancient Jewish prophet is around 85 years old and had just come under the Medo-Persian Empire after seventy years under the Babylonians.

I give you this information because it helps us to see how Bible prophecy helps us to determine where we are on God's prophetic time-clock. Verse two tells us of what Daniel got from his own devotional time, reading God's Word. Daniel was reading from the book of Jeremiah, 29:10 and 25:11, where the prophet Jeremiah, almost one hundred years before the fact, revealed that the Jews would be out of the land of Israel for a seventy year period of time so that the "land of Israel" could get it's "seventy Sabbaths".

By reading God's Word Daniel could determine where he was in God's time. Notice as you read verses 3-23, Daniel, once he realizes where he was in God's prophetic time , he confessed his sins, the sins of his people and looks for the Lord's direction for his life.

You may not know that there is not one single negative word said about Daniel any place in the entire Bible. There is, by the way, in this chapter a "commendation", from the heavenlies, for Daniel, verse 23.

God gives Daniel a glimpse into the future with the prophecy of the seventy weeks of Daniel, verses 24-27. God has a "special plan", the seventy weeks of Daniel, (490 years); for a "special people", the Jewish people; and a "special place", the Holy City of Jerusalem; all of these in verse 24.

In this devotional I won't have the time to deal with the entire prophecy that extends from Daniel's day until the day of the Lord's return to earth. I would love to share with you the special blessing of Daniel9:25-26 where we can see how the Lord set the time when the Messiah would appear on the earth.

The time for the appearance of the Messiah, verse 25, from when King Artaxerxes, the King of Nehemiah's day, gave the command to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, some time in April 445BC, would be until the crucifixion of Jesus in April of 30 AD. This passage actually lays out for us when the Messiah would show up in Jerusalem.

In fact, Daniel even added information about the destruction of the Temple, which took place in 70AD, to the time mix. This prophecy pin-pointed that the Messiah would be crucified, "cut off", verse 26, and that it had to happen before the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, which was done by the Roman army.

These two verse set the time for the appearance of the Messiah on the earth. Jesus Christ fulfilled every prophetic detail, proving He was the Messiah and that He came right on time, according to Bible prophecy. Next time we are in Daniel for our devotions, I will look at Daniel 9:27 and be more specific about the Lord's return. All the prophecies of Daniel, referring to the Lord's first coming and what would happen, were fulfilled in every detail. By the way, fulfilled prophecy sets the stage for future Bible prophecy to be fulfilled. Keep your focus on the "special people", the Jewish people, and the "special place", Jerusalem, to know where God is on His time clock.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for Your prophecies that help me understand the times in which we're living. Help me to live in light of Your soon coming.

Daniel 9 vs27 - 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.

For further study - Daniel 9:24-27

Today for our devotional time I once again look at this passage from Daniel's prophecy of the "70 Weeks of Daniel".

Remember, in verse 24, we see that the Lord has a "special plan", "Seventy Weeks are determined"; for a "special people", "upon thy people"; and a "special place", "thy Holy city".

The "70 Weeks" are a period of 490 years that will focus on "thy people", the Jewish people. In addition there will be a focus as well on the "holy city", the city of Jerusalem.

Verses 25-26 of our devotional reading reveal to us that the "Messiah", Jesus Christ, had to be crucified in Jerusalem before 70 AD when the city of Jerusalem was devastated and the Temple was destroyed.

Now we come to verse 27 which speaks of a "coming world ruler" and a "peace treaty" that he will establish between the Jewish State of Israel and it's neighbors, enemies all.

Several things we must consider about this verse. The "He" that begins verse 27 is a pronoun that modifies "the prince that shall come" of verse 26. "The prince that shall come" is one of twenty-seven names for the "Antichrist", the Satanically energized , demonic world leader during the Tribulation Period. (See my CD series, "Age of Antichrist".)

Notice that the Antichrist, who I believe is alive and well on planet earth today, will not "sign a peace treaty" but instead "confirm" this treaty.

The Hebrew word used here is "gabar" which is never translated "sign" but always "confirm", to strengthen or make stronger. There will be peace treaties on the table that have not been normalized, they are not working, waiting for some "world leader" to come along and "confirm" them.

This prophetic scenario for the end times continues to be enhanced by the previous peace treaties that Israel has with it's neighbors, the Egyptians, the Palestinians, and the Jordanians.

Also, the "Annapolis Middle East Peace Summit" is another of the current events that helps sets the stage for Bible prophecy, Daniel 9:27, to be fulfilled.

This further reminder that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will never really be resolved until Jesus Christ comes back to earth, Malachi 1:1-4, Ezekiel 35, Jeremiah 49:7-22 and the little book of Obadiah.

According to Bible prophecy all that we see happening in our world today is "shouting out at us", Jesus is coming and it could be very soon! Our world has never been as it is today. The stage is being set for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.

Jesus is coming and it could be today!

PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord, as I study Your prophetic Word to use my knowledge of Your Word to understand the days I am living in, and help me to realize how close we are to the Rapture when I will be gathered up to be with You forevermore in the heavenlies.

Daniel 11 vs.31 - And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

For further study - Daniel 11:21-35

This passage in the 11th chapter of Daniel's prophetic book is a prophecy that has been referred to as a "double fulfillment prophecy". It is a prophecy with a "near time" fulfillment and a "long time" fulfillment.

The passage is referring to the Grecian leader, "Antiochus Epiphanes", who came to power 360 years after Daniel wrote the passage we're reading for our devotional today.

We are reading from, as it relates to the prophecy, the "near time" fulfillment of the prophecy that would take place around 168-165 BC.

Daniel pre-wrote history about Antiochus coming to power and taking control of Jerusalem with his mighty military force.

Antiochus and his men would desecrate the Temple by slaughtering a "pig", a non-kosher animal, on the sacred alter of the Jewish Temple. We know that Antiochus committed this blasphemous act on the Jewish date of Kislev 25 which corresponds to our calendar date of December 25th. This was done in 168 BC, as foretold in our devotional passage.

Though it does not mention Antiochus Epiphipanes by name, it describes this Grecian leader and all that he does to the Jews, Jerusalem and the Temple.

Verse 31 details the incident as the "abomination that maketh desolate". Verse 32 reveals that "the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits". Daniel's prophecy about these people is describing a Jewish family known as the Macabees.

The Macabees, a father and his sons who would rise up against Antiochus and ultimately run the "madman" and his military force out of Jerusalem and the Temple. The Macabees did that on Kislev 25, December 25th, 165 BC, exactly three years to the day after Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Temple.

After restoring the Temple and re-consecrating the Jewish worship center, the Macabees found a "flask" of virgin olive oil, enough to light the seven branched menorah for one day. However, it stayed lighted for eight days, thus the Jewish Holy Day of "Chanukah", the "feast of dedication" and also know as the "feast of lights". Jesus celebrated Chanukah, as recorded in John 10:22.

To this point in our devotional reading for today we have been discussing "history", the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy, verses 21-32, which happened in 168-165 BC.

However, there is another event which will be known as the "abomination of desolation" that will happen in the future, during the Tribulation Period. Daniel 9:27 is the prophecy that foretells that the Temple in Jerusalem will be desecrated at the mid-way point of the Tribulation.

Jesus confirmed this prophecy in his Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24:15. The prophecy of Daniel 9:27 and the confirmation of the prophecy of Matthew 24:15 require a Temple, on the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem for the fulfillment of the prophecy.

Of course, right now, there is not a Temple in Jerusalem but the Jews have all preparations in order for that Temple to be put in place. They will erect the Temple right after the Rapture, which could happen at any moment, so let's keep looking up!

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for fulfilled prophecy in the past which assures me that yet to be fulfilled prophecy will be fulfilled. Even so come Lord Jesus.

Daniel 11 vs.40 - And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

For further study - Daniel 11:36-45

As I write this devotional thought, there are reports that the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has made secret contacts with Syrian President Basher Assad and has expressed Israel's willingness to give back the Golan Heights if the Syrians will break off relations with Iran and stop supporting Islamic terrorist organizations.

The Israeli Prime Minister says it would be worth giving up the Golan Heights for peace with Syria according to this recent report. As I write this, the Prime Minister of Israel is not denying nor confirming the report.

Our devotional for today speaks to this issue of peace or war between Israel and Syria. Let me give you some more information about our passage of prophetic truth for today.

There are three pronouns used in these ten verses, he, his, and him.

These pronouns are all referring to the "antichrist" the Satanically energized world religious and political leader during the seven year time of judgment yet to come called the Tribulation Period. The "King of the North" as defined earlier in Daniel 11, is modern-day Syria. (see my audio series, The Daniel Papers.)

The "King of the South," also defined in Daniel 11:4-7, would be modern-day Egypt. Verse 40 in our reading reveals how the alignment of Arab and Islamic nations, led by Russia, will begin to make their way into Israel to destroy the Jewish state. Almost in concert, the

two nations, Egypt and Syria, will come "against him," verse 40.

Remember the "him" is the antichrist.

Why would the text say that Syria and Egypt are going to attack the antichrist? The answer is that before both Arab nations move against Israel, the antichrist will have confirmed a peace agreement between Israel and her enemies, Daniel 9:27. So, to attack Israel is like attacking the antichrist who has just guaranteed Israel's peace.

Verse 41 tells us that the antichrist will rush back to Israel go to the north and destroy Syria, then go south to take care of Egypt, verses 42 and 43. At that time, all of the other nations aligned against Israel will attack, verse 43 and Ezekiel 38.

This scenario described in prophecy seems to be coming near to being played out politically according to the report that Israel's Prime Minister is ready to give back the Golan Heights to Syria. However, I must hasten to tell you that this prophetic scenario does not actually begin until after the Rapture of the Christians. The stage is being set, Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.

PRAYER THOT: Help me, dear Lord, this day to live as if the Rapture could happen in the next moment.

Deuteronomy 7 vs.6

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

For further study - Deuteronomy 7:1-9

God tells the Jewish people through their leader Moses that He had chosen them to be a special people and did thus chose the Jews, above everybody on earth. Our extended reading actually tells the Jews and we who are reading this passage of scripture for our devotional reading today that they were not chosen because they were the largest number of people of any people around. Reality is that the Jews were the fewest of all the people.

Then the Lord tells everyone why He chose the Jewish people, verse 8, because He loved them. Someone has suggested that we put the word "grace" around verse 8. It was by His grace that the Jewish people were chosen. The truth is, it was by His grace that I, or any of us, was chosen for salvation.

Verse 9 is a key verse, not only in the passage, but throughout all of the Bible. God is a covenant keeping God. He makes this statement through Moses to the Jews and it is true throughout 1,000 generations. That's a long time, however you number a generation.

The promise of God to the Jewish people is that He will keep His covenant. His promise to the Jewish people is key to understanding

Bible prophecy and how history is going to play out in the future.

God has a plan for the Jewish people. He has made a number of covenants, promises to the Jews, that have not yet been fulfilled, but will be in the future.

God is not God if He can break any promise or covenant He made with His chosen people. Those who believe that the church has replaced the Jews must accept this promise in scripture or otherwise their theology is wrong, actually heretical. God's plan for the Jewish people includes a Jewish nation in the land of their forefathers, with a temple in Jerusalem and the Jewish people recognizing and accepting Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Lord and Savior.

Satan would like to negate God's promises to the Jews and he can do that through violence or violation of God's program for the Jews.

Religion and even false doctrine found in Christian circles can make that happen. God's promises to the Jews, His chosen people, are true and forever.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for your faithfulness to keep your promises to the Jews and thus to me also.

Deuteronomy 28 vs.64 

And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

For further study - Deuteronomy 28:62-67

This portion of Scripture is a message that Moses gave to the Jewish people while traveling towards the “promised land”, however, it has a prophetic significance that would be played out during two different unique periods of history.

The passage follows the message that Moses had given explaining the “curses” and the “blessings” in the previous chapter, Deuteronomy 27. Now God’s man to lead the Children of Israel to the land He had promised them, Moses, is given the responsibility to “warn” the Jews that they would face “tough times” ahead if they were disobedient to His directives.
Moses wrote of a “world-wide dispersion” for disobedience that would include a “terrible time” of loneliness as the Lord would withdraw His hand of protection from His “chosen people” because they refused to do as He told them. They had been set apart for a purpose and they rejected His plan for them.
This prophecy was actually fulfilled in 70 AD when General Titus, leader of the Roman army, destroyed the Jewish Temple, devastated the city of Jerusalem and dispersed the Jews to the four corners of the earth, verse 64. In fact, the “Arch of Titus”, located in Rome, Italy, is a monument to fulfilled prophecy. Remember, fulfilled prophecy is a reason to believe that all other prophecies yet to be fulfilled, will be fulfilled.
The fulfillment of this prophecy in Deuteronomy was fulfilled by the last departure of the Jews, as foretold in the Bible, when they were put out of the land of Israel in 70 AD. A close study of the “life of the Jewish people” over the almost 2,000 years of their dispersion, was described in our devotional reading for today.
The promise of the return –also the last spoken of in the Bible - is now under way and has been so for a number of years. It will culminate with the return of Jesus Christ to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Zechariah 14:4.
Preceding our Lord's Second Coming by seven years will be the Lord's shout for us to join Him in the air at the Rapture of the Church, which could be today. Keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord, thank you for the reminder that there is a price to pay for disobedience. Help me to be obedient as I await Your return to gather me up to be with You, forever.


Deuteronomy 30 vs.5 

And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

For further study - Deuteronomy 30:1-10

The passage chosen for our devotional reading today is what is referred to as the "Land Covenant". Maybe in the margin of your Bible or possibly above the first verse of our reading you find, as I do in my King James Scofield Reference Bible, the title of the covenant to be the "Palestinian Covenant".

That is not the title of the covenant, the word "Palestinian" is a man-made word that is a negative word introduced to the Jewish and Christian world in the second century by a Roman Emperor who named the land of Israel, "Palestine".
The Bible never calls the land that God gave to the Jewish people, "Palestine". The land is called "Israel". There has never been a land that God called "Palestine", the Lord calls the land "Israel", Matthew 2:20-21. Please do not refer to the land of Israel as "Palestine" but by it's true Biblical name, "Israel".
By the way, there was never an Arab state of "Palestine" that must be returned to the Palestinian people. From around 1500 AD until 1917 AD the Ottoman Empire, the empire of the Turkish nation, controlled what is today, the land of Israel. The Turks ruled this land for over 400 years.

Then, until the United Nations gave the Jews this land in 1948, as a nation called Israel, the land was under the sovereignty of the British Empire. There has never been a state, an official government, for the state of "Palestine".

The truth is our devotional reading for today promises to give the "land" to the Jewish people. This "land covenant" includes all of the land that God has promised to the Jewish people, some ten times the amount of land that the Jews now control.

The total amount of land that the Jews will receive according to this covenant will be given to the Jews during the Kingdom period when the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is ruling and reigning from his Temple in Jerusalem.

There will also be a time when the Jews will be brought back into the land of their forefathers, verse 5. The Jews will love the Lord with all of their heart, verse 6, at that time in history. This period of time in the future will be when the Lord Jesus Christ has returned to the Earth to set up His Kingdom.

Until the return of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, the conflict over the ownership of the land will continue and intensify. Though God has promised the Land to the Jewish people they will return to the land of their forefathers only to be almost destroyed by their enemies. This persecution will be used by the Lord to turn the Jews to their Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Remember, seven years at least before Jesus comes back to give His Chosen people, the Jewish people, their land our Lord will shout and call all Christians up to join Him in the heavenlies at the time of the Rapture, which could happen today.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for keeping your promises to the Jews and to me as a Christian, especially your promise to call us up to be with you forever more.


Deuteronomy 32 vs.8 

When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

For further study - Deuteronomy 32:1-10

Our reading today is the first portion of a song that the Lord directed Moses to write and then teach the children of Israel, Deuteronomy 31:19 and 21. The fact that God directs Moses to write a song, which we will discuss in a moment, is evidence that the Lord will and does use music to teach His way to His people. I have long said that music is so much more than entertainment. It is for edification and exhortation, for the people of God.