Introduction to Hebrews, Jesus is Best, Hebrews 1:1-4

What's the best thing you can think of?

Winning the lottery, that’d be the best.

Spending time with family, that’s the best.

Hitting a hole in one is the best.

If only I had enough money to pay the bills, that would be the best.

A good night’s rest, that’d be the best.

Oh, to be healthy again, would be the best.

If only all my kids were saved, that’d certainly be the best.

Of all those things...

Jesus is better.

Jesus is Best.

Jesus is so sure that He is the best, He offers a guarantee in Matthew 6:33.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

Seeking the best. That's what Hebrews is about.  

They’re about to abandon Jesus because persecution is rising.

Hebrews says hang on, don’t turn back, you have no place to go but down, because Jesus is the very best.  

TITLE:

Hebrews.

The title reveals that God makes...

Coffee. He brews. 😊

Sometime after the 1^st century, the N.T. writings were gathered, and given titles for convenience.

Hebrews doesn’t say it’s to the Hebrews. It doesn’t open with a greeting like the other epistles. It doesn’t say: From Paul, or Barnabus, or Whoever, to the Hebrews.

It just launches straight into the message and can be read in under an hour. It looks more like a sermon than a letter.

Since the subject matter revolves around Israel’s history and the Hebrew religious system of sacrifices and offerings, the title, Hebrews is fitting. 

(BTW: It wasn’t until the 13th century when chapters were added, and the 15-16th century verses were added).  

DATE:

Since the text implies that the temple sacrifices were still in operation, it must have been prior to AD 70, when the temple was destroyed by General Titus, who later became the emperor, after his dad, Vespasian, died in 79.

Additionally, in chapters 10 and 12 we’re told persecution was growing and then chapter 13 reveals that Timothy had just been released from prison, thus, it was probably somewhere between AD 67–69.

WRITER:

Unknown. Some say, Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Apollos, Luke, Philip, Priscilla, Aquila, or Clement of Rome.

Hebrews 2:3 says the writer was taught by those who heard Jesus. That seems to eliminate Paul as the writer, since Galatians 1:12 says he was not taught the gospel by any man, but direct revelation from Jesus.

We do know the Author is the Holy Spirit. If He wanted us to know the writer, then we would.

PURPOSE:

To show the divinity and supremacy of Jesus, thereby encouraging believers to hold fast and press on with faith and patience.   

Hebrews 1:1,
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

God spoke... Thank You Father for initiating the conversation.

In the beginning God spoke the worlds into existence, “Let there be...”

And there was.

Then, He created man and said, “Don’t...”

And we did.

We disobeyed His one command and rather than calling out to Him, we hid from Him.

Nevertheless, rather than crushing us back into the clay from which we came, He came calling for us.

He carried the conversation.

For thousands of years, He spoke through various times, cultures, places and peoples, in various ways by visions and dreams and prophets and priests.

Pause and think about this.

Nothing compares to what God has done. Nothing comes close. No religion. No alleged revelation to any one person, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Budda or whoever, can hold a candle to what God has done.

2 Peter 1:20, Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation.

There's nothing else like it. No one. No thing. Christ is king! To serve him and love him is the greatest offer, the greatest honor you'll ever get. Nothing else even comes close.

Jesus is best. Period.

Then, He had His Words, meticulously, flawlessly, jot by jot, tittle by tittle, documented and miraculously preserved, providing undeniable proof for the world to see that His Word is absolute Truth and endures forever. 

Nevertheless, we didn’t listen.

The OT ends with our words being stout against the Lord. We said, “What good does it do to serve the Lord? The heathen are happy, the wicked are blessed.” (Malachi 3:13-15).

So, God paused the conversation.  But that doesn’t mean He stopped listening.

There was a remnant who feared the Lord and did not forsake the assembling together of themselves and they spoke often one to another about the Lord. He hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written about it (Mal. 3:16).

Then, He closed the OT, and the conversation, with one last Word. It was a promise. I will come to You.

A comfort for some, a warning to others.

Then, all went silent. 400 years between Old Testament and New, not another recorded Word from God.

Until the fulness of time had come God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Gal. 4:4-7).

Once again, God initiated the conversation, this time, in Person. It started as a cry, on a silent holy night, from a Babe, in a manger.

² has in these last days...

The Jews long understood the “last days” would begin with the coming of the Messiah.

However, what most didn’t understand was that their Messiah had come, in a Baby who grew to be a Carpenter by the name of Jesus in a despised little village called Nazareth.

He came, just as He said 1000s of times, in 1000s of ways, over 1000s of years.

Now pause and consider, for 1000s of years, it’s been the last days, and just as He closed the OT saying, I will come to You, He ended the NT saying, "Surely, I AM coming quickly."  Rev. 22:20.

 He's been saying it 1000s of times, in 1000s of ways. Have you been listening? Are you ready?

²...spoken to us by His Son,

Now we're going to hear 7 descriptions of Christ’s divinity and supremacy.

1. The Word became flesh.

The prophets of old spoke the word of God, however, Jesus, The Prophet, is the Word of God. John 1:14, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Revealing that the old form of communication through a man, through a prophet, wasn’t enough.

God never wanted that separation caused by sin. Separation of Church and state was not something God or the Godly would ever pen. God hates separation. He hates divorce.

When He pierced that silent night 2,000 year ago, the very nature of His heart was revealed through the pen of the prophet who said, He shall be called Immanuel, meaning God with us. Isaiah 7:14. Matt. 1:23.

So, after 400 years of silence He picked up the conversation again with a better Mediator, the Son of God, the very living breathing Word of God.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. ...14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

It’s like, God was saying texting is not enough. We’ve got to meet face to face.

For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son...the Word became flesh

²...whom He has appointed heir of all things

2. Heir of all.

Heir of all things shows the full extension of authority from Father to Son.

The Son and the Father are One in possession, position and power.

²... through whom also He made the worlds;

3. Creator of all.

The Father is the Source of creation, the Son is the agent.

By the Word of God, the world was created. The Son is the Word.

Like, me saying I built this house with my own bare hands. My hands are not separate or inferior to me, they are part of me, at one with me.

(Disclaimer: if I built it, enter at your own risk 😊. 

³ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person,

4. Exact radiance of God

Jesus is, the Word became flesh, the heir of all, the Creator of all, the brightness of His glory, the express image of His person.

Brightness, only time used. Jesus illuminates, radiates, is the Light of God’s glory.  Light of the world.

The exact image of God.

He does not reflect God, like the moon reflects the sun. He is the Son. S.o.n. He is God.  Jesus said: If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father. John 14:9.

He radiates the exact image of God.

³...and upholding all things by the word of His power,

5. All powerful.

Omnipotent.

His Word holds the Power of God.

The same Word in the beginning that created all things, now holds all things together, and moving toward His sovereign conclusion, when all these things will end, and He by His Word will make all things new. Isaiah 65:17, Rev. 21:5.

³...when He had by Himself purged our sins,

6. Perfect Sacrifice for sin.

Up till now we were seeing the Son, Jesus, as The Prophet, the Word of God.

Now we see Him as our Great High Priest. The Perfect Sacrifice for sin.

The priests of old purged our sins by offering sacrifices, continually. But now we see Jesus, our Great High Priest, willingly become the Perfect Sacrifice for sin.

He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12.

³...sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

7. King of kings, Lord of lords.

Jesus, our Prophet, our Priest, finished His work and sat down at the right hand (that’s the place of honor, authority and power), as King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Jesus the Prophet is God’s Word to us.

Jesus the Great High Priest sacrificed Himself for us.

Jesus the One who conquered all, reigns supreme, and has prepared a kingdom for those who love Him, is King of kings, Lord of lords

We’ve just witnessed 7 descriptions of Christ’s divinity and supremacy.

1.    The Word became flesh

2.    Heir of all

3.    Creator of all

4.    Exact radiance of God

5.    All powerful

6.    Perfect Sacrifice for sin

7.    King of kings, Lord of lords 

 

⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Why after establishing the divinity and supremacy of Christ did we bring angels into the conversation?

Well, we’ve already addressed how God spoke through the prophets. Now we look at another vessel God uses to relay messages.

Angels, the word means messenger.  

Angels are spirit beings created to minister. Heb. 1:14.

The Jews of that time esteemed angels as the highest beings next to God. There’s even talk that some drifted way out in left field far from sound Biblical teaching and claimed that the archangel Michael’s authority was equal to or surpassing that of the Messiah.

So, here and now, the preacher to the Hebrews sets the record straight. Jesus is “so much better than angels.”

Today two religions claim Jesus is equal to angels. Mormons (Latter Day Saints) and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Mormons, believe lucifer and Jesus are spirit brothers. According to Scripture, that’s nonsense. lucifer was a created being, that rebelled and was expelled from heaven. Mormons believe they are equal. I don’t recommend it, but you can read more at: LDS.org. 

Jehovah’s Witnesses at Watchtower.org claim Jesus is Archangel Michael. Joseph Smith alleged an angel named Moroni showed him golden plates that told him how the Christians had messed up and he was sent to straighten them out.

1 Timothy 4:1, Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

Galatians 1:8, But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Lord, give us discernment. Keep us clinging to Your Word, listening to Your Voice. None other.

Now the preacher of Hebrews drives home his angelic point that Jesus is superior to angels by quoting 7 Scriptures that they all knew. Lord willing we will look at that next time.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your powerful Word. We pray Your Seed planted in our hearts today will bear much fruit to the changing of eternal destinies, that of all those You’ve given us, none will be lost.

Thank You, Lord.

We love You, forever.

Amen.  

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Thank you for sharing.

 

 

Smooth Sailing After the Storm, Acts 28

 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta.

After two weeks tossed at sea they finally ran aground and escaped to the shores of of Malta. You can go there today and see where they landed, at St. Paul’s Bay on the north side of Malta.

The island is twenty miles long, and twelve wide. It’s between Sicily and Africa, furthest from the continent of any island in the Mediterranean; about sixty miles south of Sicily.

It became famous for the knights of Malta, who stood against the Turkish rampage against Christendom.

Malta means honey, or sweetness, fitting since the island is long known for beekeeping, and even to this day, the folks of Malta are known for their hospitality.

Another claim to fame is noted right here in the U.S. The American Kennel Club states that the Maltese breed of dog originated on the island of Malta. 

   Notice, only after they escaped the storm did they find out where they were.

But God knew all the while. He knows, dear child of God, where you’re at, in your storm. Even when you don’t. He knows and is right there with you walking on the water, like Peter, or in the belly of the fish like Jonah, or the lion’s den, like Daniel, or the fiery furnace like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

No matter the storm, there is a place of quiet rest just for you.

Where?

In His will, in His Presence, is the safest, most peaceful, most joyful place to be—no matter the storm. Psalm 91:1-2, Phil. 4:7, Psalm 16:11.

In all probability, they never would’ve come to this island, had it not been for the storm, yet we’re about to see God has work for them to do here.

 ² And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.

It was somewhere around November. They were soaked to the skin and cold to the bone.

So, the sweet folks of Malta have the survivors huddled around a fire, perhaps, sipping hot Malta tea with honey, petting cute, cuddly, little Maltese puppies.

An example for us to remember those around us exposed to the elements. Have pity on them, pray for them, and show them unusual kindness.

We mustn’t just say, “be ye warmed and filled” but must give those things that are needful. James 2:16.

Picture the shipwrecked, weathered, worn, weary, wrecked...  but smiling at the kindness of the islanders.

If this were a movie, this would be the perfect ending.

Rome drops all charges against Paul. He retires to Malta, becomes a beekeeper, has a Maltese pup named Grace, and lives happily ever after.

But the Bible isn’t a movie or a fairytale. Although it does end with a, happily ever after.

Just not yet.

Not until the villain, that ol’ serpent, and all those with him, are rounded up and thrown into the lake of fire.

Speaking of which...

 ³ But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 

We should never think ourselves above any task that needs doing.

Paul was wet and cold and tired, nevertheless, he pitched in.

Whoever enjoys the warmth of a fire should lend to the fueling of it.

But serpents and evil have no conscience, show no mercy.

The battle that rages.

Thus, we must be wary, vigilant, taking no time to be lazy or complacent.

We should be busy gathering branches (John 15:5), not for the fires of hell, but to be planted and fruitful for the Kingdom of God.

⁴ So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”

In the beginning God created man in His own image, male and female created He them. With God as our Creator, we all have built into their spiritual DNA a God compass, a sense of right and wrong and a desire for justice.

The Lord calls it the law of sowing and reaping.

The world calls it karma.

But they don’t see the big picture, so they make a snap judgement by only seeing a snapshot, of the circumstances.

This man must be a murderer. He escaped the sea, but Divine Justice will not allow him to live.

We must not  judge the content of one’s character by the color of their circumstance.

God specializes in taking what the enemy meant for harm and turning it around for good. He will use this snakebite to spark their faith and help many in Malta both physically and spiritually.

If you let Him, He will take your shipwreck, your snakebite, your imprisonment, your tragedy, and use it for good.

 ⁵ But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 

It is reported even to this day that after this no venomous snake ever lived on the island of Malta.

Pause and look at Paul standing there in front of the fire. A small man, bow legged, his baldhead still wet and shiny. Not too impressive on the outside, but what you’ve just witnessed is the actions of a seasoned spiritual warrior.

It’s as if Paul expected the strike from the serpent.

After so long in the battle you come to know the wiles of the enemy.

After a major victory, when you’re spent and ready to rest, after escaping the sea, after Jesus fasted 40 days and nights, when you’re weak, that’s when the serpent strikes.

Paul saw the viper hanging from his hand, and with no panic or shriek or fear, he calmly took the time to send the serpent to its demise where it would never harm anyone ever again.

A foreshadow of where the serpent of serpent’s will one day be sent.

Paul had already penned the following words:

2 Cor. 11:24-27, From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness...

After all of that, plus this newest shipwreck, he learned through faith and patience to shake off trial and temptation and say, “Get thee behind me satan, the Lord rebuke you!”

Dear saint, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you (1 Peter 4:12). Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (James 1:2).

Expect tests. Face them. Take them. They produce the spiritual muscle of faith and patience that you need to shake off the sin which so easily besets you, shake off the temptations that trip you, shake off the serpent that wants to kill, steal and destroy you.

Look at Paul standing there in front of the fire. The small man, bow legged, baldhead, shipwrecked, worn, weathered, weary, snakebit...

But still standing... perhaps smiling, petting a Maltese pup.

⁶ However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

They vilified him, then they magnified him. Don’t give popular opinion a second thought, it turns with the wind, to one extreme, then the other.

You must stay the course dear saint, not only for yourself, but also for others.

They’re watching to see if you fall.

Stay the course. Leave the results to God.

⁷ In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days.

Since he’s not a murderer, but a god, let’s have him and his friends over for dinner.

 ⁸ And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. ⁹ So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.  ¹⁰ They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.

To this day there’s something in that area called Malta Fever from a microbe in goats’ milk, with symptoms of fever and a bloody diarrhea.

The Lord blessed the islanders with healings, and we can be sure that Jesus was preached to them and many believed, as evidenced by how they blessed and honored and provided for Paul and the crew.

¹¹ After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island.

They wintered at the island then boarded a ship with the twin sons of zeus from Greek mythology, mounted on the bow as a figurehead.

 ¹² And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. ¹³ From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, ¹⁴ where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.

They sailed about 85 miles to Syracuse, then another 85 to Rhegium and then, around 200 miles to Puteoli.

Paul was given a lot of freedom.

 ¹⁵ And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

Some Christians traveled 40 miles from Rome to meet Paul at Appii Forum, others traveled 30 to Three Inns.

Wow! Talk about a welcoming committee. They didn’t just meet him at the door, or the edge of the city, they took a day or two journey to meet him.

That love, that commitment, had to impress everybody in that traveling party.

Jesus says it like this: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35.

Does our community see His love, by our love toward each other?

¹⁶ Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

He was under house arrest.

¹⁷ And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together.

These are Jews that are not Christians.

 So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, ¹⁸ who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. ¹⁹ But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. ²⁰ For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

The hope of Israel is the Messiah. They all agreed on that.

The Messiah is Jesus—they did not all agree on that.

²¹ Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. ²² But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”

So, the Jerusalem Jews evidently didn’t think it was worth pursuing the issue against Paul any longer since he was long gone.

Which makes sense, since they knew they didn’t have a case against him anyway.

²³ So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 

The whole Bible, points to Jesus. All the Law of Moses and the Prophets, the Scripture they read, and said they believed, it all points to Jesus.

Paul laid it all out for them.

²⁴ And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. ²⁵ So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, ²⁶ saying,

‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
²⁷ For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” ’

Isaiah 6:9-10, and Jesus referred to it in Matthew 13:15.

²⁸ “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” 

²⁹ And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

³⁰ Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, ³¹ preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

 

The end of the book of Acts.

But just the beginning of the Acts of the Holy Spirit through His Ekklésia... that’s you, if you are in Christ.

But what happened to Paul?

There’s no Biblical record, which is appropriate because it’s not about Paul, it’s about Jesus, and the Acts of His Holy Spirit.

However, for the inquiring minds who want to know. Tradition says during Paul’s house arrest (somewhere around 60-62 AD) he wrote Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians. In that order.

Then, he was released and went on a fourth missionary journey, perhaps to Spain, where he said he’d like to go. Romans 15:24, 28.

It’s believed around 64 AD Paul was arrested again when Emperor Nero raged against Christians.

Paul was put in prison—not house arrest.

Church historian Eusebius, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs records that Paul was led by Nero’s soldiers “out of the city to the place of execution, where he, after his prayers made, gave his neck to the sword” (chapter 1, section X).

When Paul knew his departure was at hand, he penned his final letter to his protégé Timothy: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6–8).

One last time picture Paul, the small, bowlegged, baldhead, shipwrecked, worn, weathered, weary, snakebit, prisoner—no more.

Now, he’s standing, tall and strong and smiling... wearing a crown of righteousness.

The mighty Emperor Nero, he’s hardly spoken of.

However, Jesus, through the writings of Paul, is still changing the world.

Let's pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing that we are indeed in a battle, help us to stay the course, fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith, shake off sin, and show unusual kindness, so all will know we are Your disciples by Your love shining through us. Keep us busy gathering in Your Presence, the safest, most peaceful, joyful, place to be, now and always. We love and long for your appearing.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

 

No Compromise, Daniel 1:1-7

Are you ready to enter the action packed, prophecy filled book of Daniel?

Pens out, notebooks ready?  

Lord willing, in just 12 chapters we'll walk with Daniel through the fiery furnace, the lion’s den, the rise and fall of empires, the first coming of Christ, and the rise and demise of the antichrist during the Great Tribulation.

In a way you might say, Daniel is a foundation to Revelation.

From start to finish we'll walk with Daniel for about 70 years (605-536 BC).

However prophetically, the Lord will carry us through thousands (605 BC through The Millennial Reign of Christ).

Of all the amazing events of this book, one thing that rises to the top is Daniel's unflinching, uncompromising faith, no matter what challenges or opportunities come his way. 

Written around 536 B.C. by Daniel.

Multiple times Daniel refers to himself in the first person. Yet, some faithless “higher” critics, say Daniel couldn’t have written Daniel because of the incredible accuracy of the prophecies.

That statement reveals their ignorance of the very definition of prophecy and who God is. He sees the end from the beginning and often reveals to man, things to come.

Then they ignore the fact that in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14, Jesus names Daniel as the writer: “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand).” Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11.

Daniel is called “The Apocalypse of the Old Testament.”

Daniel has a strong prophetic element. The first half is HIStory, the last half is prophecy.

Daniel prophesied how empires yet to come would follow the Babylonian empire. HIStory revealed them to be the Medo-Persian Empire and the Greek Empire.

Over 200 years in advance Danel told how Alexander the Great’s empire would break into four parts.

He prophesied the 1^st coming of the Messiah, to the very day.

He prophecies the rise of the Antichrist; the Tribulation period; and the end of the age.

Speaking of prophecy. 

We just recently closed the final pages of Genesis where Jacob and Joseph both prophesied about leaving Egypt.

From Joseph in Egypt to Daniel in Babylon we leap about 1,200 years and about 1,000 miles northeast.

Joseph, as a teenager, was taken against his will and turned into a servant in someone else’s kingdom, Egypt.

Daniel, as a teenager, was taken against his will and turned into a servant in someone else’s kingdom, Babylon.   

But God was with them and gave them favor and wisdom and understanding of visions and dreams and thereby elevated them to influence the course of HIStory.

From the times of Joseph, Israel grew in the incubator of Egypt from a family of around 120 to a 12 tribe nation of millions.

It was about 400 years from Joseph to Moses and the Exodus from Egypt.

Then, due to unbelief, they wandered in the wilderness with Moses for forty years until their children finally entered the Promise Land with Joshua.

From Joshua they had judges for about 400 years with God Almighty as their king.

Then, their idolatrous hearts lusted for things and kings like the pagan nations around them. So, God raised up kings, first Saul, then David, then Solomon.

For being the wisest man on the planet, Solomon acted like an idiot, taking 700 wives and 300 concubines, which turned his loyalty from the One True God to the many false gods of his foreign wives. 1 Kings 11:1-4.

Then, what happened is what always happens to any nation that turns from God.

A war began within.

They went from one nation under God to a civil war between north and south. Ten tribes in the north, called Israel; and two in the south, called Judah.

A house divided cannot stand.

Rather than worshipping God who gave them the land flowing with milk and honey, they committed idolatry by turning to false gods like Baal, Asherah, and Molech.  

Baal, the storm god, depicted with a raised lightning bolt, allegedly gave them good weather for health and wealth of crops and livestock.

Asherah, the goddess of sex and fertility, supposedly gave lots of healthy children. The attraction of Asherah, was “worship” involving ritual prostitution.  

In the name of Molech they sacrificed their very own children.

(Aren’t you glad our culture has progressed beyond worshipping sex and money, and our culture would never abort, I mean sacrifice, our very own children?)

But God is patient and rather than destroying them He sent prophets like Elijah, Elisha, Amos and Hosea to the gold calf worshipping tribes in the north.

But they wouldn’t listen, so in 722 BC the Lord allowed the Assyrians to drag most of the Israelites into captivity, leaving so few in the land that it came to be known as “Galilee of the Gentiles.”

Did their brothers in the south watch and learn, repent and turn, back to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

No, instead they ran to the child sacrificing evil of Molech.

But God is patient and sent prophets like Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk and Joel.

But they wouldn’t listen.

So, around 606 BC, God allowed Babylon to become the discipling rod of God.

And that brings us to Daniel.

Daniel
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.

The Biblical narrative switches from Jerusalem to the land of Shinar which was a territory in the Babylonian Empire that included the capital city of Babylon on the Euphrates River.

Like the U.S. is today, the Babylonian Empire was the super power of that day.

Located in modern Iraq, and westward, including Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan.

Nebuchadnezzar is a Babylonian name which means: Nabu protects the crown. They believed Nabu was the Babylonian god of wisdom.

This was the first of three times Nebuchadnezzar would lay siege to Israel. Each time trekking captives over 1,000 miles back to Babylon:

Ø 606 B.C. King Jehoiakim, Daniel and friends, among the captives.

Ø 597 B.C. King Jehoiachin (son of Jehoiakim) and Ezekiel among the captives.

Ø 586 B.C. King Zedekiah (last king of Judah) among the captives. In this siege, Jerusalem was destroyed.

Now that we’re in Babylon, let’s look around since we’ll be here about 70 years.

Notice, the Babylonians were not like the Assyrians who conquered the northern tribes of Israel. The Assyrians used domination by intimidation. The Assyrians were brutal, cruel, ruthless, they put hooks in the noses of captives and pulled them like fish on a stringer.

However, the Babylonians had an entirely different school of thought. Rather than domination by intimidation, they used domination by indoctrination.

Rather than conquering by annihilation, they used assimilation. They exposed them to the beauty of Babylon, the pearl of the world at the time. They’d seduce them through the splendor of Babylon.

Babylon was 10 times the size of New York City.

It had nearly 60 miles of walls, over 300’ high, over 80’ thick.

100 brass gates. 220 high towers. The Euphrates River was diverted through and around the city to form a deep moat.

From the center of the city rose a pyramid like structure, a ziggurat, containing a winding staircase filled with beautiful foliage and flowers. These Hanging Gardens of Babylon made the city one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World.

Thus, they’d capture the captive’s heart with awe and wonder.

Except, for Daniel and a few good friends.

How about you?

Are you drawn to the beauty of Babylon?

Dear Child of God, this world is not our Home, this world is our Babylon, it tries to seduce us away from our real Home, with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

But all of the pleasures of sin cannot compare to even one of the joys that await us in the city not made with hands, but whose Builder and Maker is God.

Daniel and friends were in Babylon, but Babylon was not in them.

How about you?

In Christ we’re called to be salt and light. Salt and light changes things.

Salt preserves and flavors.

Light chases darkness to illuminate what once was hidden.

Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.  5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.

They wanted the best and the brightest.

They were after all a very advanced society. Algebra, trigonometry, you can thank the Babylonians for that. The 360 degree circle, the twelve 30-day months, we got that from them too.

Yet for being so advanced intellectually, they were very backwards spiritually. They were immersed in occult rituals, demonic worship, stemming all the way back to the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11).

All occult today can be traced back to ancient Babylon and the tower of Babel.

Other than the occult stuff, you might be thinking it’s not so bad.

Israel already had more than their fair share of idol worshipping wickedness anyway.

It sounds like an intense college scholarship recruiting program for the best and the brightest.

Babylon U gives you a free ride with room and board, including food and drink fit for a king—literally.

Plus, you get an ivy league education, and training for three years, with a guaranteed job working with royalty.

See, it could be worse, right? It could be the Assyrians.

Before you answer, don’t miss the small print.

The king isn’t stupid.

Handsome teenage boys, wining and dining in a palace full of princesses, may whet their appetite for more than just the king’s bread and wine.

So, Ashpenaz, the master of the eunuchs is put in charge of the handsome boys.

Okay now, do the math, or is it algebra?

The football coach is put in charge of—football players.

The basketball coach is put in charge—yep, basketball players.

Thus, the eunuch coach is put in charge of—eu-nuch-onna like it.  

About 100 years earlier Isaiah prophesied to king Hezekiah this would happen (because Hezekiah showed off Israel's treasures).

“And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Isaiah 39:7.

So now how do you feel about the Babylon U recruiting program?

They forcibly take you from your family.

They take you over 1,000 miles from home.

They take your ability to make a family and home of your own.

Those young men had their whole life ahead of them, and then, just like that they have their whole world cut out from under them.

Yet, we're about to see, they don’t flinch. Their identity is not confused, they stand unwavering, uncompromising in faith in God.

Would you? What would you do if your whole world was cut out from under you? 

It's easy to know.

We can tell how we'll handle the big test by how we handle the little ones.

6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

Their Hebrew names were changed from reflecting God, to reflecting Babylonian gods.

Daniel: God is my Judge. Changed to Belteshazzar: May Bel protect my life.

Hananiah: The Lord is Gracious. Changed to Shadrach: Illuminated by the sun god, Rach.

Mishael: Who is like the Lord. Changed to Meshach: Who is like Aku.

Azariah: The Lord helps. Changed to Abednego: A servant of Nabu.

This is indoctrination in action.  Change their name, call them something they’re not, change their identity, their pronouns, transition them into who you want them to be, to promote your agenda, build your kingdom.

Doesn’t work for Daniel and friends, they're powerful as Popeye. No matter what you call me, I yam what I yam, a servant of I AM.

You say, “Sure glad nothing like that ever happens anymore.”

Really?

Let’s talk about Tommy, Johnny, Benny, Danny... 

I know, now they call you something else. What is it, Theresa or Janice or Emma, or Danielle?

Or perhaps it’s the other way around.

No matter, you’re still you.

No matter what they did to you.

No matter what you did to you.

You are still you.

The Lord says to you:

I STILL SEE YOU, FOR WHO YOU STILL ARE

God never makes a mistake, and He made you.  He sees you as someone He made and loves.

No matter what they call you, He sees you and loves you and calls you by name.

And what's He saying...  Come Home.

You'll never be happy as someone you’re not.

You'll never be content living where you don't belong. Come Home. 

Come Home, He's calling dear child, come Home.

Let’s pray.

Our gracious heavenly Father, thank You for calling us Home, help us to be salt and light, making a difference, illuminating the Way, for others to follow straight to You.

Thank You, Lord.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Lord willing, we'll pick up where we left off and find out why Daniel and friends refuse to eat the food fit for a king.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.