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:
The Great Outdoors: Nature Is for Enjoyment

National Geographic had a story with this title: “Letting Kids Run Wild Outside is Surprisingly Good for their Brains.” Harvard Medical School published a report entitled, “Six Reasons Children Need to Play Outside.” The Washington Post wrote on the same subject: “How Time in Nature Builds Happier, Healthier, and More Social Children.”

Many children spend too much time sitting on couches, looking at screens, and playing video games. How they need to be outside more, under God’s sky, climbing His trees, running across His grass, blowing the tufts off His dandelions!

But wait! It’s not just children that need more time outdoors. It’s you and me too! God has given us two sources of revealed truth—His Written Word and His world of nature. We can learn much about Him by looking at His manifold works, crafted with omniscient wisdom. The whole earth is full of His glory!

This summer spend more time outdoors—and if you have kids, take them along!

One of the central teachings of Scripture is that the natural world is not at all natural. It is the creation of a supernatural God. What we routinely call “nature” is in fact “creation.”
T. M. Moore

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