Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
Remain Fixed in Place
Today’s Audio Devotion:
Remain Fixed in Place
When Jesus and His parents went up to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, His parents left the city at the conclusion—but Jesus “lingered behind in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:43). On his second missionary journey Paul left Berea, but Silas and Timothy “remained there” (Acts 17:14). Both these phrases—“lingered behind” and “remained there”—are translations of the Greek word that is elsewhere translated “endure.” In other words, “endure” means “to remain fixed when others are leaving.”
When Jesus taught about the troubling times that will come in the future, He said that the love of many will grow cold—their faith will fail, and they will fall away. But He said, “the one who endures”—the one who remains fixed in place when others are leaving the faith— “will be saved.” That’s what it means to endure—to remain in place, in the faith, in the face of persecution and tribulation.
The time to be committed to enduring is before the trouble begins, whether now or in the future. Make firm today your commitment to endure to the end for the sake of Christ.
Endurance is the ability to stand up under adversity.
Jerry Bridges
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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).