A masterwork on biblical prophecyA masterwork of core teaching on biblical prophecy from Dr. David Jeremiah

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Living in the Age of Signs

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Today’s Audio Devotion:
Speech Lessons

It has been said that people don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care. Whether we are talking to fellow believers or to non-believers, the way we speak has a lot to do with how others hear us. 

First, our speech must be courteous—or in Paul’s words, “always be with grace.” Graceful speech is kind, gentle, helpful, and edifying. Think of God’s grace toward you and let your speech be the same. Second, our speech must be compelling—that is, “seasoned with salt.” We salt our food because it makes the taste appealing; the right amount of salt makes us want to eat more. Our speech should make our listener want to hear more. Third, our speech must be compassionate—we should “know how to answer each one.” That is, we must be able to read the room, to know what another person needs to hear. The Holy Spirit will enable us to meet others’ needs if we follow His lead.

We must know what to say (1 Peter 3:15); equally important is knowing how to say it. 

We have all felt the brazenness of words without emotion, the hollowness, the unaccountable unpersuasiveness, of eloquence behind which lies no love. 
Henry Drummond

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:

The Colossus
  1. King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon

    Daniel's words to the king are clear. "You are this head of gold" (Daniel 2:37–38).

  2. Medo–Persian Empire

    The Medo–Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BC and remained in power for approximately two hundred years (Daniel 5:28).

  3. Grecian Empire

    Greece's Empire succeeded the Medo–Persians (Daniel 8:21).

  4. 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).

  5. 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).

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1:37 / 3:48