The Times of the Gentiles part five

The Times of The Gentiles part Three

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 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. 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. I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 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. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. (Daniel 7:1-28 KJV) After giving the time and location of the four vision (verse 1),in verse 2-6 the first vision is described.It begins with a vision of the sea (the Mediterranean ),representing the Gentile world (Isaiah17:12-13,Matthew 13:47-50,Revelation 13:1, 17:1,15),troubled by the four winds(verse 2). Suddenly four beast arise from this sea,each one being different from the other (verse 3). All four then arise out of the Mediterranean area.The first beast is lion-like (verse 4),representing the Babylonian Empire(Jeremiah 4:7,48:40,49:19,22,50:17,44 Ezekiel 17:3).The latter part of verse four is probably a reference to Nebuchadnezzar 's experience recorded in Daniel 4:1-37.The second beast is bear-like and represents the Medo-Persian empire(verse 5).The bear is lop-sided,being raised up on one side;for although the Medes and the Persians were confederate,the Persians were by far the dominant power and it was a lop-sided alliance.Furthermore,the bear is found to have three ribs in its mouth,having devoured the flesh.Historically,these three ribs represent the three kingdoms conquered by the Medo-Persian forces giving them their empire status:Lydia,Babylonia,and Egypt.The bear is less majestic than the lion and is bulky and weighty.Medo-Persia conquered by shear force of numbers.The third beast is leopard -like,representing the Hellenistic Empire(verse 6).The leopard is also less majestic than the lion and less grand than the bear but is swifter than both.With leopard -like speed Alexander the Great conquered the Medo-Persian Empire and greatly extended the Hellenistic Empire.At his death,however,the empire split into four kingdoms.The four wings represent the four kingdoms rising out of Alexander's empire,and the four heads represent the four generals who took control of the four kingdoms:Ptolemy over Egypt,Palestine and Arabia Petrea;Seleucus over Syria, Babylonia,and as far east as India;Cassander over Macedonia and Greece; and Lysimachus over Thrace and Bithynia.The second vision found in verse 7-8 describes the fourth beast Unlike the others it is non-descript.While the others are given animal-like discriptions, none is given for this one.This fourth beast is described as being diverse, emphatically different,from all the others it completely subdues and breaks in all that precedes it.It appears as far more ferocious than the previous three empires.The fourth beast has ten horns.But while it began with ten horns,an eleventh horn arises,the little horn,who uproots three of the ten others.Having uprooted the other three,it begins to speak great things . With the uprooting of the three horns,seven of the original remain and the little horn is now an eighth.Once again,as in Daniel two,the uniqueness of the fourth empire is emphasized stating that it goes through several stages.The interpretation will be discussed later.But for now it is enough to note that the fourth beast does represent a fourth Gentile empire. We will pick up here next time God Bless

Times of the Gentiles part three

Having thus described the awesome image that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed,Daniel proceeded to give the interpretation in verse 36-45(read).After the declaration of the interpretation (verse36),Daniel interprets the meaning of the head of gold(verses37-38)as being Nebuchadnezzar ,the head of the Babylonian Empire.It was with this empire that the times of the Gentiles began,when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the Solomonic Temple in 586 B.C.Thus Babylon was the first of the four Gentile empires to dominate Jerusalem .The two arms of silver united into the breast of silver represents the two nations of the Medes and the Persians who established the Medo-Persian Empire(verse 39a).The Medo-Persian Empire was followed by the Greek or Hellenistic Empire symbolized by the belly and two thighs of brass (verse39b)for the third territorily embraced both east and west.The two thighs may also represent Syria and Egypt which arose out of the Hellenistic Empire and controlled Jewish territory. The rest of the image represents the fourth Gentile empire (verses40-43).The fourth empire goes through several stages,three of which are presented in this text.First there is the united stage(verse40).But this united stage gives way to the two division stage(verse41) which still has the strength of iron.Eventually,however,the four Gentile empire gives way to a ten division stage as is seen in the ten toes(verses42-43)being composed of iron and clay.Part of this ten division stage will be strong and part will be brittle and weak.The Fourth Gentile empire is unique from all the previous ones.It totally subdues and crushes all that precedes it.It is the fourth Gentile empire that is particularly emphasized by the text dealing with the times of the Gentiles.However,the fifth empire,that will follow it,will not be Gentile but Jewish (verses 44-45).Two prominent symbols are used here,but they are consistent with their usage elsewhere.Whenever the word stone is used symbolically,it is always a symbol of the Second Person of the Trinity,God the Son,the Lord Jesus Christ,the Messiah of Israel .Whenever the word mountain is used symbolically , it is always a symbol of a king,kingdom,or throne.Thus,following the fourth Gentile empire,God will set up His own kingdom.The kingdom is set up during the ten division stage (verse44a),and this brings to an end the domination of the other kingdoms (verse44b).In the end the image of Gentile domination will be smashed at the second coming . Once Gentile domination is thus smashed by the stone,Christ,the kingdom of God is set up,and it is set up by this stone.To summarize the first passage dealing with the times of the Gentiles,this is a period of time when four Gentile empires will follow one another in sequence with the fourth empire going through several different stages.But eventually this will give way to God setting up His own Kingdom. God bless!!!

The times of Gentiles part 2

Daniel 2:31-45 The basic content of Nebuchadnezzar 's dream is in verses 31-35: Thou, O king , sawest,and,behold,a great image.This image,which was mighty,and whose brightness was excellent ,stood before thee;and the aspect thereof was terrible,as for this
image,it's head was of fine gold,it's breast and it's arms of silver,it's belly and it's thighs of brass,it's legs of iron,it's feet part of iron,and ,and part of clay,Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands ,which smote the image upon its feet that were of iron and clay , and brake them in pieces,Then was the iron,the clay,the brass , the silver,and the gold,broken in pieces together,and became like the chaff of the summer threshing -floors, and the wind carried them away,so that no place was found for them;and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain,and filled the whole earth.After a general description of the awesomeness of the image (verse31), Daniel describes the composition of the image (verses32-33).The image is described as having a head of gold,the breast and arms composed of silver,the belly and thighs of brass,legs of iron ,culminating with the feet and toes of part iron and part clay.Two things should be noted concerning these metals:first ,they
increase in strength;but secondly,they decrease in value.The fulment will be in decrease of the character of authority and rule.Yet there will be an increase in strength.Then the image is destroyed by a stone,and the stone smites the image on its feet(verses34-35a).Then,with the image destroyed ,the stone becomes a great mountain that fills the entire earth(verse35b).we will pick up here next time,God Bless

The Times of the Gentiles

A definition of the times of the Gentiles can be gleaned from Luke 21:24: (And they shall fall by the edge of the sword,and shall be led captive into all the nations:and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles,until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.) The times of the Gentiles can best be defined as that long period of time from the Babylonian Empire to the second coming of Christ during which time the Gentiles have dominance over the city of Jerusalem.This does not rule out temporary Jewish control of the city,but all such Jewish control will be temporary until the second coming of Christ.Such temporary control was exercised during the Maccabbean period (164-63 B.C.),the first Jewish revolt against Rome(66-70 A.D.),the second Jewish revolt against Rome(132-135 A.D.),and since 1967 as a result of the Six Day War. This,too, is temporary as Gentiles will yet trod Jerusalem down for at least another 3 and a half years (Revelation 11:1-2).Any Jewish take-over of the city of Jerusalem before the second coming of Christ must,therefore,be viewed as a temporary one and does not mean that the times of the Gentiles have ended. The times of the Gentiles can only end when the Gentiles can no longer trod down the city of Jerusalem.To understand the course of the times of the Gentiles,four passages will Need to be studied and then combined.we will start here next time with Daniel 2:31-45. God Bless

Sufferings part two

We have the blessed promise that if we suffer with him we will reign with him.Thank God, the sufferings of this present day are insignificant compared to the glory we will share with Jesus!! Praise the living God I'm ready to see my Lord aren't you? The John to whom God gave the Revelation on the Isle of Patmos is the same beloved John to whom Jesus entrusted His mother on the day of His crucifixion .This is also the same John to whom God gave the marvelous salvation message (John 20:30,31).He is the same John to whom the Holy Spirit dictated the three epistles that bear his name-1,2,and 3rd John.This is the the John"whom Jesus loved"...... the John who laid his head on Jesus'breast at the last supper and asked,"Is it I,Lord?"He was a man just like you and me -but he was a man entirely yielded to the will of God,Oh saints if we could only get hold of this if we could be like our brother John how much better our lives would be oh saints how much better could we serve our God!!!!! Preaching to myself here (smile).Praise God for His mercy!!!.He served God with all of his heart and soul,with all of his strength.He was perfectly contented to suffer whatsoever he was called upon to suffer for the sake of the Word of God.He did not mention the trial,the condemnation,the parting with friends (if he had any friends.....I wonder if he had even one friend except Jesus),Can I get an AMen on that if you have ever felt like that.(smile).Not one word of reproach or complaint fell from the lips of John the Beloved.His arrest,trial,and the proceedings before his cruel exile,are passed over in complete silence,not even worthy to be mentioned by him.He simply says,"I was in the Isle called Patmos."What A Man Of God!!!!! God Bless

Three great periods of suffering

There are three great periods of determined suffering for God's people:1.The sufferings under pagan Rome.2.The persecution under papal Rome during the middle ages and the dark ages.3.The coming persecution under the power of the two Beast in Revelation 13-the Ecclesiastical Beast and the Political Beast.These Beast will be energized by the devil himself.It will be a time of such persecution as has not been known in the past,or at any time during man's stay upon this earth.The Jews will suffer most during the reign of the two Beast.John the beloved disciple was not schooled in the ability to trim the word of God to fit the times in which he lived.The modernists and liberals of today are trained in our preaching-manufacturing plants-known as schools of theology(smile).They are trained exactly how to preach a gospel that will suit the times and the people to whom they preach.But John preached the word without apology,and because of his true Gospel he was banished for his testimony and the Word of God which he preached.The Word of God declares,"if any man will live godly in Christ Jesus he shall suffer persecution "(11Tim.3:12).The only reason some of us are not exiled or thrown into prison is simply because we do not preach as fervently and as sternly as did Paul,John,Peter and others.This modern "Santa Claus " religion that is sweeping the country today is not the religion Jesus taught and John practiced.Jesus did not say,"Follow me and I will put a big automobile in your garage,money in your bank,and give you a host of friends and a flowery bed of ease!"Jesus said,"Follow me-and I will give you a cross to carry! I will let you walk beside me in my yoke.I will let you come after me and see where I live ....no place to lay my head.And if you are willing to carry the cross,you can be my disciple,but if you are not willing to carry the cross,you cannot be my disciple,you cannot share my crown.If you refuse to suffer with me,you cannot reign with me.If you put your hand to the plow and look back,you are not fit to be my disciple.If you deny me,I will deny you!" we will pick up here next week God Bless