Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
The Right to Rule
Today’s Audio Devotion:
The Right to Rule
Jesus taught His disciples to pray that God’s Kingdom would come and would be realized “on earth as it is in heaven.” “Kingdom” can be understood in two different ways in Scripture.
First, a kingdom can represent a geographical domain such as “the kingdom of Judah” (2 Chronicles 11:17). Christ’s Millennial Kingdom will one day cover the entire earth and will therefore be a physical Kingdom. Second, kingdom can refer to the right to rule rather than a place to rule. Psalm 22:28 says, “The kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.” Jesus told a parable about a noble who traveled to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself—meaning he was given the right to rule over an area by a higher authority (Luke 19:12). And when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, He said, “The kingdom of God is within [or among] you” (Luke 17:20-21).
Yes, pray for God’s physical Kingdom to be established on earth as it is in heaven. But until that happens, also pray for His right to rule to be established in your heart.
Before we can pray, “Lord, Thy kingdom come,” we must be willing to pray, “My Kingdom go.”
Alan Redpath
For Your Phone or Tablet
Official Mobile App and Lock Screens
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:
-
King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon
Daniel's words to the king are clear. "You are this head of gold" (Daniel 2:37–38).
-
Medo–Persian Empire
The Medo–Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BC and remained in power for approximately two hundred years (Daniel 5:28).
-
Grecian Empire
Greece's Empire succeeded the Medo–Persians (Daniel 8:21).
-
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).
-
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).