today's meditation (Dan.12) Having Certain Hope

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Daniel 12:1-13) “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. 8 But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” 9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time. 10 Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. 11 And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! 13 But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verses 1-2 briefly describes the judgement of nations which will occur at the end of the Tribulation (which is also the end of the Jewish Age) when Jesus separates the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25).  Right after that, all believers still alive will go with Jesus, and He will set up the Millennial kingdom and fulfill all covenants with Israel.  But before this can happen, Israel as a nation has to be believe in and accept Jesus as their Messiah.  And this will only happen during the seven years of judgments, which are the signs of Jesus' second coming (Matthew 24). 

For anyone to get into heaven, and for the Israelites to have all their covenants fulfilled - there has to be perfect obedience.  Because we have a sinful nature, it is impossible for us to be perfectly obedient.  This is why we need the Lord Jesus' salvation and help!  He is the only way!  It is His righteousness that covers us and protects us.

Notice in verse 13 that Daniel is basically told not to worry!  Because he was a believer, he would not be part of the desolations of the Tribulation.  Obviously, he wouldn't be, because there were many, many years before this would happen.  And it is still to happen.  But for all Israelites who believed in the Lord and have died already, they will - in their glorified bodies - see and enjoy what God has promised (along with all other believers before the "rapture").  And then those becoming believers in the Tribulation and dying before the seven years are finished, they too will - in their glorified bodies - see and enjoy what God has promised.

This certain hope should give all of us great encouragement. 

today's meditation (Is.54) Making Choices

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Isaiah 54:1-17) 

1   “Shout for joy, infertile one, you who have not given birth to any child;
     Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor;
     For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous 
     Than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord.
2   “Enlarge the place of your tent;
     Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not spare them;
     Lengthen your ropes 
     And strengthen your pegs.
3   For you will spread out to the right and to the left.
     And your descendants will possess nations 
     And will resettle the desolate cities.

4   “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;
     And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;
     But you will forget the shame of your youth,
     And no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood.
5   For your husband is your Maker,
     Whose name is the Lord of armies;
     And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
     Who is called the God of all the earth.
6   For the Lord has called you,
     Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
     Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,”
     Says your God.
7   “For a brief moment I abandoned you,
     But with great compassion I will gather you.
8   In an outburst of anger 
     I hid My face from you for a moment,
     But with everlasting favor I will have compassion on you,”
     Says the Lord your Redeemer.

9   “For this is like the days of Noah to Me,
     When I swore that the waters of Noah
     Would not flood the earth again;
     So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you 
     Nor rebuke you.
10 For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
     But My favor will not be removed from you,
     Nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,”
     Says the Lord who has compassion on you.

11 “Afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
     Behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
     And I will lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies,
     And your gates of crystal,
     And your entire wall of precious stones.
13 All your sons will be taught by the Lord;
     And the well-being of your sons will be great.
14 In righteousness you will be established;
     You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;
     And from terror, for it will not come near you.
15 If anyone fiercely attacks you, it will not be from Me.
     Whoever attacks you will fall because of you.
16 Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows on the fire of coals 
     And produces a weapon for its work;
     And I have created the destroyer to inflict ruin.
17 No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;
     And you will condemn every tongue that accuses you in judgment.
     This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
     And their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Israel was called by the Lord to be the missionaries to the nations, but they rebelled and turned away from God.  In this chapter we see that there is hope.  God has not forgotten them.  During the Tribulation, Israel will see the signs of Jesus' second coming and realize that He was and is their Messiah, and as a nation, they will believe.  Ridding the earth of evil, Jesus will set up the Millennial kingdom, taking Israel with Him, as well as all those who become believers during the Tribulation.

With the nation of Israel, God will not forget the covenants made with them.  Individually - once anyone becomes a child of God - our salvation and eternal life is secure because of God's grace!  But let us not take that for granted.  God still hates sin!  And He will discipline those He loves, because He wants a better life for us;  so He will allow us to experience consequences to our actions while we are still here on earth.

As far as where a person goes after we pass away, we must remember that God is just.  He gives everyone a fair opportunity to turn to Him.  For anyone who refuses His salvation and forgiveness of sins, they will be judged for the sins they have committed and will be sent to a place of darkness, completely void of God and His goodness.  For those who have received His salvation and forgiveness of sins, once in heaven, we will be judged and rewarded for the good deeds done with right motives.

Our choice reflects our desire - to do things on your own without God, or to want God in our lives for all eternity.