Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
Rousing Send-Offs: The First Missionaries
Today’s Audio Devotion:
Rousing Send-Offs: The First Missionaries
In 1793, William and Dorothy Carey were commissioned as missionaries to India in a great church service in which the congregation sang Benjamin Beddome’s hymn: “And must I part with all I have, Jesus, my Lord, for Thee? This is my joy, since Thou hast done much more than this for me.”1
Have you ever been in a service in which missionaries are commissioned and sent off? It began in Acts 13 when the Paul and Barnabas became the first missionaries sent out by a local church. These events are too rare today. Jesus told us to “pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2).
This weekend steal away for a few moments to your “prayer closet” and ask the Lord of the harvest to send off more laborers. Let’s return to the glorious days of missionary commissioning services.
Savior of souls, could I from Thee a single smile obtain, though destitute of all things else, I’d glory in my gain.
Benjamin Beddome
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Some 2,600 years ago, God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a dream. In this dream, the king saw a five–part statue made of five different metals (see Daniel 2). Each section represented an empire, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. Four of these empires have already risen and fallen in history—a clear fulfillment of Daniel's prophetic interpretation. The fifth and final empire indicates a future Europe—a ten nation coalition that will unite under the Antichrist's rule.
You can read about the King's dream and Daniel's interpretation in Daniel 2, but let's take a quick visual look at what you will find:
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King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon
Daniel's words to the king are clear. "You are this head of gold" (Daniel 2:37–38).
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Medo–Persian Empire
The Medo–Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BC and remained in power for approximately two hundred years (Daniel 5:28).
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Grecian Empire
Greece's Empire succeeded the Medo–Persians (Daniel 8:21).
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Roman Empire
When the Grecian empire was conquered by Rome, all the lands and peoples of the previous kingdoms were assimilated into the Roman Empire through the strengths of the "iron legions of Rome" (Daniel 2:40).
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Future European Coalition
This empire has not yet risen. Daniel foretells a time when the Roman Empire—Europe—will consist of ten kingdoms or leaders. The future Roman Empire will be present on the earth when God sets up His earthly kingdom (Daniel 2:44).