Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
From Bad to Worse
Today’s Audio Devotion:
From Bad to Worse
If you feel your problems are going from bad to worse, you have lots of company in the Bible. Joseph went from keeping his father’s sheep, to a cistern, to slavery, and on to an Egyptian prison (Genesis 37–39). In the book of Ruth, Naomi’s situation deteriorated until she called herself Mara, meaning “bitter” (Ruth 1:20). We all know how Job’s problems multiplied (Job 1–2). And the apostle Paul’s third missionary journey led to him being arrested in Jerusalem, stalled for two years in Caesarea, placed aboard a ship headed into a hurricane, shipwrecked, and bitten by a viper (Acts 26–28).
Trials and suffering are the common lot of all humanity, and sometimes things seem to go from bad to worse in our lives. But don’t give up! Look again at all the examples above. Joseph ended up as prime minister of Egypt, Naomi became a beloved grandmother, Job received twice what he had lost, and Paul’s troubles led to the writing of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon—the Prison Epistles.
Commit your troubles to the Lord. Trust Him. He will save you from them all.
We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.
Charles Swindoll
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).