As I study the prophecy of Daniel, I’m reminded that the great theologian, John Calvin, said Martin Luther is “indulging his thoughts too freely” when referring to the AntiChrist in Daniel.
And I’m sitting here, thinking why did I pick Daniel to study and share?
I don’t want to indulge my thoughts too freely.
Daniel is hard. It’s about the past and about the future, and men have used the prophecies of Daniel for centuries to predict the year Jesus would return, only to be found very publicly wrong.
Most scholars believe, the book of Daniel has both near and far prophecies.
For example, Antiochus Epiphanes fulfilled many of the prophecies and is often called the AntiChrist of the Old Testament.
But there is also a coming AntiChrist. He will hate God’s people and set himself up as God (2 Thess 2:4)
And I want to know when and where and how the AntiChrist will come. More than that, when will Jesus return?
I wonder if the Lord will take His people home pre-tribulation, mid-trib or post-trib. I’m sure hoping for the “pre-trib“ scenario, but I’m not so sure about that.
I have so many questions. I look at our world and I wonder, “Lord, are You coming back soon?”
But notice, it was when Daniel was confessing his sin, the sin of the people, and earnestly PRAYING that Gabriel comes swiftly flying in to give Daniel the skill to understand. (Dan 9:20-23)
And, with that, I need to STOP and pray. I don’t want to move ahead in the study of the Word without confessing my sins and earnestly praying.
I desperately want and need to hear the Holy Spirit’s (the Helper’s) voice above my own or any other.
Again, I know, I’ve got nothing worth saying or writing unless He gives it.
And so, I’ll pause and do that now. Will you pray with me?
May God open our eyes to understand as we seek Him with all our hearts.
May He give us what we need for this day. May we be drawn to the One whose ways are so much higher than ours (Isa 55:9), Who is a marvelous mystery.
We seek to know the One who caused John to fall as dead when he saw Him on island of Patmos holding the stars in His Hand (Rev 1).
He is Holy! He is good! He’s coming again!
May He reveal Himself to us.
May we not approach His Living Word as a textbook, or a crystal ball, but with AWE and WONDER!
May we fall to our knees and worship the One who is calling the shots.
May our eyes daily be turned from useless things (Psalm 119:37) to behold and hold on to the goodness of our God.
May He fill us to overflow into the lives of those around us.
May we be more concerned about the condition of our hearts for Him, and for others, than we are for the circumstances of this world.
Oh, how I want to know the One who cannot be fully known. May I never think I have Him figured out. May I delight in Him, May my heart long for His coming!
May we behold Him in the very moments of this day.
What a Savior!!
Kim Jaggers Ministry 