Daniel 11 Pt 1 The Divine Purpose of Bible Prophecy

 The Divine Purpose  of Bible Prophecy

To strengthen our  faith in our God

Before we enter into the study of Daniel 11 which describe history up to the end of the world lets look at the purpose of Bible prophecy so that a proper foundation is laid when we examin all the dates and characters involve.

Matthew 17:1-9

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

2 Peter 1:16-18

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

At the transfiguration God chose to give the followers of Jesus strong proof that he was the promised Messiah, that in their bitter sorrow and disappointment they should not entirely cast away their confidence.

These disciples were favored with a glimpse of the future glory of the Saviour, that they might be strengthened to endure the test and trial of their faith. They were to bear testimony to the other disciples concerning what they had seen, that their faith also might be strengthened.

If God gave the the disciples and eyewitness view to strengthen their faith, to aid them to endure the test and trial of their faith, What would prophecy  , being  more sure than that eyewitness view , do for our faith to endure trials of the future?

Answers : “Now we  ( you and I ) have a more Sure Word of prophecy 

Is Prophecy surer as an eyewitness account? No!   More sure!

What does the bible mean when it uses the word sure ?

Psalms 19:7

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 

Perfect ,Certain; unfailing; infallible.

Romans 2:2 When God is sure we know it is truth

2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

Bible sure is Doubtless ,

2 Peter 1:10

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.  

Prophecy is Love

So bible sure is : 

1. Perfect. Certain. Unfailing. Infallible.

2. You can have confidence in, Rest assured.

3. Doubtless.

Question : Who is : Perfect & Infallible ,You can have confidence in, Rest assured Rest Assured & Doubtless?

Answer : God is, Jesus is,The law is !

Is God love? Is Jesus Love? Is the law love? If prophecy shares the same characteristics As
God the father and God the son and as Love the character of Christ then can we say prophecy is love ?

It is out of Love that Christ sends us a letter (prophecy ) warning  us of the things to come. It is love that gives us waymarks so that we don't get discouraged, it is love for the church that God gives the events to come to ensure that the church ,you and I don't make the wrong decision.

Through the right understanding of the events past present and future Christ is beckoning us to come to Him . He can cleanse and purify us for citizenship above.

What does prophecy do for you if you take heed?

Prophecy is Light

2 Peter 1:19

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Connected to Prophecy is Light.

If the church receives Prophecy it receives what ? light !

If the church does not receive prophecy it rejects the light / the day star. 

First deal with the day star

What is the star that is seen in the day? It's the Sun! 

Who is the day star? 

Malachi 4:2 Christ

2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Luke 1:78-79 Tells us what the healing is,which will give us evidence of who the day star is

78 Through the tender mercy of our God;whereby the dayspring (anatole) from on high hath visited us,79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.

So when we take heed of prophecy the Sun of Righteousness brings healing.Even when death is hanging over us,

Prophecy allows the dayspring to give light to guide our feet in the way of peace.

So the Day star brings  to you and I, to the church light ,healing, restoration, remedy,life from death.

Isaiah 1:5-6

5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more:

the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it;but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

If the members of the church are sick in sin as Isaiah 5 says then what do they really need ?

Jeremiah 17:14 To be saved Salvation.

14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

Ezekiel 37:10 

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

• Prophecy is Light .

• So The Light in  prophecy is designed to do what ? Save us!

• Prophecy is an instrument of salvation.

• God gave us Prophecy to wake us up from slumber, revive us,

• Set us on the right path to the kingdom. The path of the just.

 

When the books of Daniel and Revelation are better understood, believers will have an entirely different religious experience. They will be given such glimpses of the open gates of heaven that heart and mind will be impressed with the character that all must develop in order to realize the blessedness which is to be the reward of the pure in heart.

Prophecy an instrument of perfection / sealing mechanism for the saints

  

Back to 2 Peter 1:19

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

What do we notice in “Light in dark place, day dawn, day star in the heart”

A progressive work!

What stage will you consider when the day star has risen  in your heart? End ! The goal accomplished, work finished in you ,perfection .

Colossians 1:27-28

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Let's look at what the light does some more as it shines into the heart.

Ephesians 5:13-14

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

What is the meaning of make manifest: to show, to take notice, to be seen.

Does the light of bible  prophecy make known to us what is wrong in our Christian experience? 

Does the light of the 3rd Angel's message manifest our position? Yes ! Our readiness or Not? Yes!

If the light of prophecy is blocked,hindered in the church what would happen ? our wrongs would not be seen ,the church would be unready,the members will be lost.

Proverbs 4:18,19 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the

perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

There is a boundary to the mercy of God, for He does not always strive with men. A record is kept of all the blessings offered and how those blessings are treated; and if we neglect our duty we shall soon see, as did the Jews, that the anger of God is not withheld but we shall be given over to the power of Satan. While it seems astonishing to us that the Jews rejected Christ, we ourselves will act out the same thing if we refuse the light for this time.

The light of prophecy still burns for the guidance of souls, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” It shines on the pathway of the just to commend, and on the way of the unjust to lead to repentance and conversion. Through its agency sin will be rebuked and iniquity unmasked. 

If those who have received the light will appreciate and respect the testimonies of the Lord, they will see the religious life in a new light. They will be convicted. They will see the key that unlocks the mysteries that they have never understood. They will lay hold of the precious things that God has given them to profit withal and will be translated from the kingdom of darkness into God's marvelous light.

Those who despise the warning will be left in blindness to become self-deceived. But those who heed it, and zealously go about the work of separating their sins from them in order to have the needed graces, will be opening the door of their hearts that the dear Saviour may come in and dwell with them.

Blessings and peace .