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“Are you involved in the fourth of July celebration in Glide?” It was my long time Health Insurance Agent, John, on the phone. I wasn’t sure where this was going. Was there an insurance problem with it? Maybe he was going to tell me that there was a lawsuit pending. Nah! It seemed odd to get a phone call from John of all people, about it. “We have helped some in the past, but I am not on the planning committee.” “Why not?” That was blunt! “If you do decide to get involved I will make a donation to help support it!” How funny that I should be thinking negative when God is moving in the positive! How exciting to think that the work the churches in Glide have done has made such an impression. “I love what the churches are doing up there! I want to do something to express my appreciation!” God is good.
Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 24; Zephaniah 3; Luke 9:1-29
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.podbean.com
Today’s thought comes from Luke 21:12 "But before all these things… 20 when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 "For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The times of the Gentiles… what is it? There are numerous ideas. “It’s the church age” say some. “It’s the time up until 70 AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem” say others. There are more thoughts on the subject… “The times of the Gentiles ended June of 1967 when the Jews took control of the Temple Mount.” And more… “they ended in 1917 with the Balfour Declaration mandating a new nation for the Jews in the Holy land.” Jesus statement is helpful. The Times of the Gentiles will be characterized by the trampling of Jerusalem by Gentiles. The idea of trampling is “desecration, insult, contempt… to crush with the feet.” It is the picture of conquest. In the BC days when kings conquered a country, they would place their feet on the necks of the enemy kings in a symbolic display of superiority and conquest. The idea is that Jerusalem will be under foreign rule during the times of the Gentiles. The book of Daniel is a chronicle of the Times of the Gentiles. Daniel 7 prophesied four worldwide kingdoms ruling Jerusalem comprising the times of the Gentiles. These successive Gentile powers are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. Think back… When David became king he was promised that one of his descendents would sit on the throne of Israel perpetually. That unbroken chain continued through the Kings of Judah. They along with the northern kings reigned sovereignty over the nation. But that all came to an end. No longer do we have a King in Israel! The times of the Gentiles began after the Northern Kingdom was sent into exile into Assyria and after the Southern Kingdom, Judah was sent into exile, by God, to Babylon for their sinfulness. At that time Jerusalem came under Gentile rule. Only for short periods of time has it ever been back under Jewish rule… only to be trampled once again by the Gentiles. The last Gentile dominion is described in Revelation 11:2 “…but exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.” That is describing the coming Great Tribulation! Once again in the future the Antichrist will trample the holy city. The times of the Gentiles will only end when Christ takes up the rightful throne of David and sets up a worldwide, eternal kingdom of peace.
Dear Lord Jesus. We await your Kingdom of Peace with hope and anticipation. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Until then, as we deal with our world rulers, may you grant them wisdom and may they honor you. We ask that you will grant us peace that we may share the good news of the gospel with all men.
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
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