Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
Sweet and Sour
Today’s Audio Devotion:
Sweet and Sour
It has happened in most families’ experience—a toddler consumes way more candy than a parent would have allowed. And the aftermath results in a sour stomach or worse.
In the apostle John’s vision in Revelation, the angel that held a scroll told John to consume the scroll—but with a warning: It would be sweet to the taste but sour to the stomach. While the Word of God is always sweet to the taste (Psalm 119:103), its contents can sometimes be troubling. Such would be the contents of the scroll John would consume, for it foretold trouble and suffering that would come upon the earth. But whether the subject is blessing or trouble, all of the Word of God must be consumed and applied. We are to preach not only the parts of the Bible that are sweet to the taste but also the parts that trouble the soul.
Let us imitate the Berean Christians—they searched the Scriptures daily to glean their truths and apply them to their lives (Acts 17:11).
Any part of the Bible can only be properly explained in reference to the whole Bible.
F. F. Bruce
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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).