MESSAGE TO DANIEL

“And he said, look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be” (Dan. 8:19 NKJV).

During the reign of Belshazzar, Daniel received a number of visions from God concerning the future. Our verse sums up the message given to Daniel in these visions: there is revelation, indignation, and termination - practical lessons for folks in every age.

Revelation – “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation.” Divine revelation is required if we are to know the future. However, unlike Daniel, we have God’s revelation to us in His Word, the Bible. Further, the word “look” is telling us that when revelation is given us, we need to pay earnest attention, because it is important. Revelation brings responsibility.

Indignation – “The latter time of the indignation.” Divine revelation has much to say about God’s indignation and wrath against evil. It is not a popular message, but we need to be well acquainted with this message, for it is a warning against sin. When a person rejects God’s warning against sin, he will experience the eternal indignation of God.

Termination – “At the appointed time the end shall be.” The obvious message here is that life does end. Heb. 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” We all have an appointment with death. Sometimes we say that a person who is near death is terminal. Actually, we are all terminal; we will all die if the Lord does not return soon. Are you prepared for that appointment?

(Adapted from Analytical Biblical Expositor)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Truth is never determined by majority opinion, but by divine revelation!”

Steven J Lawson (1951 -)

American Pastor, Theologian and Author

Word Study

End

In Heb. 9:26 we read, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself!” (NKJV).

End is the Greek word sunteleia (συντέλεια = soon-tel'-i-ah). It is made up of two words: “sun” which means together, and “teleo” which means to finish. Thus, the word describes the bringing of something to a successful finish. It carries the idea of completion, conclusion, close, end, consummation. In classic Greek sunteleia also carries the idea of consummation or completion in relation to time. In the Septuagint sunteleia meant completion, as well as the end of any period of time. In the New Testament, sunteleia appears only in eschatological (end of the age) settings, most of which are found in the Gospel of Matthew.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“And Joshua said unto them, fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight” (Josh. 10:25 KJV).

Did You Know…

According to Exodus 16:35, the children of Israel ate manna for forty years while they wondered in the wilderness, until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

Bible Quiz

How long was Moses on Mount Sinai with God to get the Ten Commandments?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: What was the Lord Jesus’ family’s first reaction to His teaching? They thought He was “out of His mind” or crazy (Mark 3:21).

Names For God Found in the Bible

“SHIELD”

"After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward” (Gen. 15:1 NKJV).

1. Meaning – SHIELD denotes protection and refers to God as Protector.

2. Insights – After the events in Chapter 14, Abraham was probably concerned that they might return with reinforcements and attack his camp. Eastern kings did not take defeat lightly. And suppose Abraham were killed? What would happen to God’s covenant and promise? God’s remedy for Abraham’s fear was to remind him who He was: “I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” God is our shield and our reward, our protection and our provision. Abraham did not have to worry about another battle because the Lord would protect him. And he did not need to regret losing the wealth offered him by the King of Sodom because God would reward him in far greater ways.

Did You Know...Christian History

Daniel Rowland was born in 1713, in Nantcwnlle, Ceredigion, Wales. He was a Welsh Evangelist and one of the foremost figures in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist revival.

Rowland parents gave both Daniel and his older brother John a good education, hoping that both sons would become ministers in the Church of England. After some time as a deacon, Rowland became a curate (clergyman) under the pastorate of his brother.

Rowland was ordained in the Church of England in early 1734 and was assigned to be a curate (clergyman) in South Wales. However, he noticed that his people were deserting his church to listen to non-conformist preachers (preachers who did not conform to the Church of England). Why? He wondered. What do they have that I don’t?

Rowland’s curiosity led him to listen to his rivals himself. Although a clergyman, he had never been converted to Christ. One day, he stood in a crowd listening to nonconformist, Griffith Jones. Jones was well-known for his charity school. Seeing Rowland’s restless expression, said to him, “Oh for a word to reach your heart, young man!” His concern deeply touched Daniel, who soon became a Christian.

Rowland became a powerful preacher, and his energy attracted others, but people left his sermons frightened and not knowing how to repent. Soon a more experienced minister taught Rowland to show his listeners how the blood of Christ could free them from the fear and guilt that his earlier sermons had inspired. For fifty-five years Rowland was one of the leading evangelists of Wales. So many people flocked to hear him that clergymen of the established church grew jealous. They threw him out of his church on the grounds that he didn’t restrict his preaching to his own parish. Rowland’s reply was that there were so few ministers preaching the gospel, he had to take the truth wherever people were.

Later, the Church of England withdrew its license from him. Rowland’s followers built him an independent church. Even after a mob beat him with sticks and stones; even after a man drew a gun on him and pulled the trigger (it misfired), Rowland kept preaching. Pastors who had been his friends withdrew their friendship. Nevertheless, Rowland kept preaching. 14,000 people once attended a communion service he led. People had to await their turn outside because his chapel held only 3,000. Such was his impact.

Rowland continued to preach until his death on 16 October 1790. Unlike other preachers, Rowland did not leave much documentation behind except a few hymns and sermons. However, his greatest legacy resides in the testimony he gave of the power of the gospel and the example he left for others to follow. One of the men that he led to Christ was Thomas Charles, who went on to found the British and Foreign Bible Society.

A Little Humor

Due to the recession, to save on energy costs, the light at the end of the tunnel will be turned off.

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Sin must be dealt with in one of two ways - punishment or pardon!”