Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
The Summer Retreat: God’s Presence
Today’s Audio Devotion:
The Summer Retreat: God’s Presence
The teacher of a large women’s Bible study in a major metropolitan city decided to take the summer off: no quiet time, no Bible reading, and no prayer life for the entire summer. When September rolled around, she found herself more miserable than she had ever been in her life.
Summer can be a great time for restoring strength and energy. But what is the best way to do that? When the psalmists were burdened and busy, they found rejuvenation by spending time in the presence of God, not by avoiding His presence: “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Psalm 84:2). “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [elsewhere]” (Psalm 84:10). If you have lost your joy and the pleasures of the Christian life, consider David’s words: “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Consider this summer as an opportunity to accept Jesus’ invitation: “Come to Me...and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Anxious care is out of place in a heavenly Father’s presence.
Kenneth Wuest
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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).