This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Word Reveals Jesus", 3/31/2013

THE WORD REVEALS JESUS TO US

Luke 24:13-21, 28-35

 

SUNDAY A DAY OF CELEBRATION

V:13. "And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs." (7 miles)

 A. The "same day" is the first day of the week.

     1. Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week.

     2. The Church began it's celebration of the Good News of resurrection of Our Lord

          and Savior on the first day of the week.

     3. All the requirements of the Law which celebrated the Sabbath was fulfilled with

         death of Christ on the cross.

 B. Two  disciples of Jesus was returning home from Jerusalem where the feast of

     the pass over had been celebrated.

      1. It is good for believers to come together to comfort and encourage each other.

      2. It is good to celebrate with other believers.

V:14. "And they talked together of all these things which had happened."

 A. There is no better conversation than one which focuses on Jesus Christ.

     1. They had been to a feast, but the results were tragic.

     2. They had witnessed the death of their leader, Jesus Christ.

     3. They had witnessed the crowd shouting crucify Jesus an innocent man and the 

          release of  Barabbas, a guilty man.

 B. They must have been in awe at the cruel injustice.

     1. They were shocked and in grief.

     2. They must have been disturbed by what their religious leaders had done to Jesus. 

     3. They must have been confused of how the God they served allowed this to

          happen.

     4. They must haven been even more confused by the news that Jesus had risen.

 C. They were walking and talking about Jesus.

 

WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED

V:15. "And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them."

 A. You can't have church without Jesus.

     1. Jesus said where two or more are gather in My name, I will be in the mist.

     2. Jesus shows up when you start discussing Him.

 B. When you start meditating on the Word, you got a helper on the inside to guide

     your understanding.

     1. Jesus will drop in on your conversation.

     2. All you have to do is have the courage to talk about Jesus to some one else and

         church will begin.

V:16. "But their eyes were holden that they should not know him."

 A. You are not going to understand everything you read in the Word immediately.

     1. Sometimes God withhold the meaning so you can study more.

     2. Some times He withholds the understanding so you can meditate more.

 B. They were talking about Jesus, but they were have trouble understanding all that

      happen.

     1. Don't get weary in your studying, because the master is close by.

     2. You might not understand it right away, but God has a way of opening your eyes

          to his word.

 

KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD BRINGS JOY

V:17. "And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?"

 A. Watch how Jesus works with you.

   1. The first thing He does is stirs you up with questions.

   2. Jesus cause you to think through His Word.

   3. He causes you to keep your focus on Him.

 B. Jesus is aware of your walk and your talk.

   1. Your walk and your talk ought to match up.   

   2. He is aware of who you are talking too.

 C. He is aware of  your emotional state.

   1. He knows weather you are happy or sad.

   2. The Lord you serve gets all involve with you.

   3. He can use your emotional state to cause you to search Him out.

       a. Have you ever been lonely and needed a Word?

       b. Have you ever been hurt and needed a Word?

       c. Have you ever been lost and need a Word?

       d. Have you ever been discouraged and needed a Word?

   4. The disciples were sad and they needed a Word.

       a. There are sometimes in your life when you need to call on Jesus.

 

V:18. "And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?"

 A. Jesus is so involved with us, that He knows us by name.

    1. Cleopas's is written down in this book of life so everybody can know him.

    2. The Lord takes notice of your service.

 B. You can feel free to talk to Jesus any time.

    1. You can talk to Him about anything.

    2. He knows everything that have taken place, so you don't have to bring him up to

        date.

    3. Jesus can go back as far as you want to go in the past, and He is still up to date.

    4. Jesus want you to talk about everything that concerns you.

 C. You are no stranger to Jesus, so you don't have introduce yourself to Him.

     1. He knows where you came from and where you are going to.

 

DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

V:19. "And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people."

 A. See the question is, do you know Him?

   1. Do you know that He was from town called Nazareth?

   2. Do you know that He was a prophet.

       a. He could tell you what was going to happen before it happen.

   3. Do you know He can do miracles?

   4. Do you know that He is the Word?

   5. Do you know that He is God?

   6. Do you know that before Him every knee shall bow.

 B. His disciples knew who He was, but they didn't know His plan of redemption.

 

V:20. "And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him."

 A. This was the disturbing part.

     1. He was God, but Church folk turned on Him.

     2. He was God, but Church folk lied on Him.

     3. He was God, but Church folk condemned Him to death.

 B. Don't think, that just because you are good and do the right things, that Church

      want turn on you.

    1. Don't think that just because you are good, that some bad stuff want happen to

        you.

    2. They did it to Jesus. And Jesus said they will do it to you.

    3. Everybody that call themselves a Christian may not be for you.

    4. Good thing we know Jesus. He can watch our backs.

 

OUR TRUST IN JESUS

V:21. "But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done."

 A. One thing you got to do, is trust Jesus.

      1. You got to trust that He is going to do just what He said He was going to do.

          a. He told them that He was going to be crucified.

          b. He told them that He would be delivered up to the Chief Priest.

          c. He told them that He was going to die.

          d. He told them that on the third day, He would be raised from the dead.

      2. What Jesus told them happen, yet they still didn't believe.

          a. He told them that who ever believed in Him would be save. And that is

              redemption.

          b. They didn't take Jesus seriously. If they had, they would not have been

              confused.

       3. They questions are ; do you believe Him, will you trust Him, is He your hope?

 B. They walked home confused on the third day , because what Jesus said would be

      done was done.

     1. What is your state of mind about the Word of Jesus?

     2.  You don't have to be confused. The solution is to trust Jesus.

 

V:22. "Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre."

 A. Good News, Greater Macedonia, we have a testimony from some women.

    1. Some women went to the tomb and came back with astonishing information.

    2. They knew the women.

    3. They could trust the women.

    4. But they still was in a state of disbelief.

 B. Brothers, some time you just got to lesson to the women.

     1. The testimony of others about Jesus is as valid as yours.

     2. They got up early, so they had the first testimony.

     3. They got up early to serve Jesus so they confirmed the Word of Jesus.

 

V:23. "And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive."

 A. The women went to the tomb early in the morning.

     1. While the men were sleeping and hiding out, the women were up and serving.

     2. The Lord rewards busy folk.

 B. The women had a vision from some angel.

     1. They trusted the Word from the angels that Jesus was alive.

     2. They proclaim the Word that Jesus was alive.

 C. The men  heard the Word, but still didn't believe.

     1. The men heard the Word, but they still couldn't rejoice.

     2. The men heard the Word, but it was just women that told.

     3. Their disbelief left them sad.

 D. Your unbelief can leave you sad.

     1. Your unbelief can leave you confused.

     2. They were walking and talking about Jesus, but they were still confused.

     3. They had the Word, but they  wouldn't believe.

 

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

V:28. "And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further."

 A. Jesus will go with us as far as we will take Him.

     1. We have to make sure He is always in our hearts.

     2. There are some places we may not want to take Him because we have too many

          skeletons in the closet.

     3. Our relationship with Him ought to more important than anything else.   

 B. It is His intent to be wherever we are.

 

V:29. "But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them."

 A. Jesus said, That if you abide in me and my word abide in you, I will abide in You.

    1.You have set your mind against the world to seek Jesus.

    2. You have set your mind on Jesus to learn of Him.

 B. If you want a closeness to Jesus, you have to invite Him into your heart.

    1. Jesus don't just want week end devotion, but full time dedication.

    2. The disciples had spent the day with Jesus, but they were moved to

        to have dinner with Him.

    3. Anytime you study the Word, your are having dinner with Jesus.

V:30. "And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them."

 A. The Word is the bread of Jesus.

      1. In the Word, there is life.

      3. You ought to make the Word your living.

 B. The word "meat" is the Greek word "kataklino" which means to recline down or

      take a place at a table.

      1. Jesus want a place at your table.

      2. Jesus is the head of your table.

      3. You can't get a better meal than the one Jesus has prepared.

 

JESUS GIVES US SIGHT

V:31. "And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight."

 A. Until you come to know Jesus, you are blind to the righteousness of God.

     1. When you start studying the Word of Jesus, you will come to know Jesus.

     2. On the way from Jerusalem to their home, these two disciples hear a word

          from Jesus.

         a. They didn't know He who was, but the Word He spoke affected their minds.

         b. The Word changes you from the inside out.

B. When Jesus broke the bread, their eyes were opened.

    1. Jesus took the place of Master at the table.

       a. That is when they recognized him as Jesus as their master.

       b. That is when the women's report of His resurrection become true to them.

       c. That is when the Word of Jesus to them of His resurrection on the third day

           became a reality.

 C. Immediately when He recognized Jesus He vanished.

     1. The just live by faith and not by sight. 

     2. One you have faith, you don't need to see Jesus to follow Him.

     3. The disciples now believed in His resurrection.

 

V:32. "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"

 A. There ought to be a burning in your heart when study the Word of Jesus.

     1. It is the Holy Spirit that opens the Living Word to you as you study it.

 B. You will find Jesus in the Old Testament.

     1. The Old testament foretold His coming in the flesh.

     2. The Old Testament foretold the redemption that is in Him.

     3. The whole Bible is God's plan of redemption for man through Jesus Christ.

 

OUR TESTAMONY

V:33. "And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them."

 A. Once you know Jesus, you ought to run and share the Good News with some one

      else.

    1. You never know when some one is troubled and need a word from you about

         Jesus Christ.

 B. Time is not on our side.

     1. Jesus could return any day.

     2. You ought to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus every time you get a chance.

 

V:34. "Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon."

 A.  The Good News, Jesus is not dead, He is alive.

     1. Mohammed is dead.

     2. Buda is dead.

     3. Jesus is alive.

     4. Because Jesus lives, we live.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Lord's Supper", 3/24/2013

THE LORD'S SUPPER

 

Luke 22:14-30

 

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING

V:14. "And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him."

 A. There is a time and place for every thing.

      1.The hour was the Pass Over feast prior to Jesus going to the cross.

         a. The Pass Over was a commemoration of the day the death angel passed over

             the first born sons of Israel and brought death to the first born sons of all

             Egyptians.

          b. This act of God prompted the Egyptian Pharaoh to release the Israelites from

              hundreds of years of slavery in Egypt.

          c. This act of God showed His love and mercy for Israel.

      2. Jesus is our Pass Over.

          a. His death on the cross atoned for our sins and enabled us to escape death and

              enter into the eternal heaven.

      3. Jesus came to this prepared place with His inter circle; the twelve disciples.

 

V:15. "And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer."

 A. Jesus, the great Pass Over for all believers, ate His last meal with His disciples.

     1. A good leader observes all the laws that are in place.

     2. Jesus observed all of His laws and commands.

 B. The disciples of Jesus became His immediate family.

    1. He showed His constant love for His disciples with fellowship. 

 C. Jesus proclaimed His upcoming death on the cross to His disciples.

    1. Jesus makes the future plain to those who love and study Him.  

    2. A close relationship requires the truth.

    3. Those who study Jesus gain incite to the trouble they will face.

 D. Jesus comforted His disciples in His suffering so they could take comfort in their

      suffering.

  E. Jesus desired to eat the Pass Over with His disciples because the Father would get

     the glory in His death and the redemption of man.

     1. Jesus was delighted to do His part in the will of the Father making Him the

         mediator  between the Father and man.

 

V:16. "For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

 A. The death of Jesus on the cross established the kingdom of God in the hearts of all

      believers.

     1. The death of Jesus on the cross made heaven the hope of all believers.

     2. The shed blood of Jesus is the only atonement for the sins of man.

     3. Faith in the death of Jesus as our Lord and Savior is the pass over for all

 

        believers.

 B. The death of Jesus on the cross fulfilled the promise of God for a redeemer for

      mankind.

THE FIRST ORDIANCE OF THE CHURCH

V:17. "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves."

 A. The head of the household traditionally gave thanks before any meal began.

     1. Jesus gave thanks not for the literal bread but for the spiritual bread which the

         literal bread represented.

     2. Jesus blessed and ordained the channel of spiritual nourishment.

     3. With this cup, He gave thanks for the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt and the

          preservation of the first born.

         a. This is not the sacramental cup which would be taken later.

         b. This first cup represented the traditional paschal cup which would be

 

             abolished.

 B. This traditional paschal cup was divided among the disciples, giving them some

      responsibility for their souls, in accepting the new cup offered in the blood of

 

      Jesus.

      a. The disciples would now have to reject their tradition in favor of the new

 

          covenant in Jesus.

 

V:19. "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."

 A. Jesus established the first ordinance of the new Church; The communion.

   1. Again, Jesus gave thanks to the Father ( I suppose) for the opportunity to complete

       His will in the redemption of man.

   2. It is the duty of the believer to express His gratitude to the Father for this great

       love in the sacrifice of His Son.

 B. The bread represents the flesh of Jesus wounded for the sins of men.

    1. The disciples were commanded to eat the bread in remembrance of Jesus

 

        completed  work on the cross.

       a. Jesus who knew no sin became a sin offering for the sins of mankind. Rom 8:3.

    2. Jesus voluntarily offered Himself up as a sin offering for man.

       a. It is good to remember that Jesus is our sin offering.

       b. It is good to remember that eternal life comes through faith in Jesus. John 5:24

 

V:20. "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."

 A. Jesus made a new agreement with Himself that His shed blood would be the

     atonement for the sins of man for all time, past, present and future.                              

    Heb 9:26, 10:12 

       1. The old covenant, the Law did not have the power to save but was a tutor until

        the death of Christ on the cross. Gal 3:11,24

   B. Jesus death on the cross fulfilled all the requirements of the scripture and the Law

        concerning redemption.  John 19:28.

      1. Jesus shed His blood for us, not for Himself.

      2. Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life as a substitute for our sins.

 

THE DEVIL IN  THE MIST

V:21. "But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table."

 A. In the middle of the mission, Satan is always busy.

     1. Satan can easily enter the minds and the hearts of those who follow Jesus and

         distract them from their focus on the Lord.

     2. One of the problems with Judas was greed.

          a. He was more concerned about money than Jesus.  John 12:6

          b. Judas was a thief.

          c. Anytime we refuse to worship God, we are stealing His glory.

 B. All of our actions and our thoughts are open before the Father.

     1. The Father knows those who will betray Him before they do it.

 

V:21. "But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table."

 A. Those who are against you, may be the ones close to you.

     1. Satan may show up as a friend, and at the same time plot to bring

         you down. 

 B. There is a consequence to those who refuse to worship the Lord.

     2. The ever lasting consequence of disobedience to God is eternal death.

       a. After Judas betrayed Jesus, he could not recover.

       b. Judas did not have the mind to come to Jesus and ask forgiveness.

       c. He did not have the mind to come to his fellow disciples and confess

           his sin.

       d. Judas took the easy way out and hung himself.

 

V:23. "And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing."

 A. It is human nature to be concerned about the welfare of friends.

      1. We should hope that our brothers in Christ stay focused on the Lord.

      2. When we know  one is astray, we can council with him and pray

           for him.

 B. In this case, it was God's plan that the mind of Judas not be known to

      the other eleven disciples.

     1. Jesus knowing Judas plan, did not reveal it to the others.

     2. There are some things God hides from us to keep us from getting in the

         way.

 

HOW TO BE GREAT

V:24. "And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest."

 A. Notice the disciples could not stay focus on the important issue before them; the cross.

    1. Their conversation turned to their selfish desires of greatness.

    2. Jesus our redeemer was discussing His death and they turned their attention

        to foolishness.

 B. We must be careful not to waste our time on selfish motives, but rather the

       righteousness of God.

 

V:25. "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors."

 A. A good teacher uses every opportunity to teach godly attitudes.

     1. Jesus used their worldly conversation to contrast the ways of the world

         against the ways of God.

     2. The worldly kings rewarded their soldiers with a portion of the bounty

          they recovered from their expeditions.

           a. The soldiers gained worldly benefits from their service.

           b. A soldier could become rich and great based on his service to the king.

 

A SERVANTS HEART

V:26. "But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve."

 A. The way of the world is to become rich or great because of service.

      1. The way of God is to humble ourselves and serve without worldly gain.

      2. The reward of the believer is not worldly gain from men but spiritual

          gain from the Father.

      3. The reward of a believer for his service is treasures stored in heaven.

 B. Greatness before the Father is humble service.

 

V:27. "For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth."

 A. In the Kingdom of Heaven, greatness is not the one who sits at the

      head of the table, but greatness is the one who serves the table.

     1. The greatest among Christians is the one who serves others the most.

     2. In the Kingdom of Heaven, the first will be last and the last will be first.

 B. Jesus used Himself as the example for us to follow.

    1. Jesus said, "I did not come to be served, but to serve."

    2. Jesus is the greatest servant of all, because He laid down His life for our sins.

 

V:28. "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations."

 A. A good leader values His followers.

     1. Jesus commended His disciples for their service with Him.

     2. Even though the times have been tough, the disciples stayed with Him.

 B. Men will stay when things are going well, but will run when it is tough.

     1. The disciples weathered the storm with Jesus.

        a. They endured with Jesus to the end.

 

A KINGDOM REWARD

V:29. "And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me."

 A. Jesus gave His humble submission to the Father for appointing Him to establish

      the Kingdom of Heaven in the hearts of His disciples.

    1. Jesus appoints His disciples to establish the Kingdom of Heaven in the hearts

        of all believers.

       a. The disciples are commissioned to establish the Church of Jesus Christ through

           faith in Him.

       b. The disciples would become great in the eyes of the Father for their faithful

           service and their sacrifice.

 B. Jesus the Chief Corner Stone, established His disciples as the building blocks of

 

      His Church.

      1. Jesus recognized that the task before them would require faith and endurance.

      2. Like Him, all the disciples would endure trials and persecutions at the hands of

          the world for His sake.

 

V:30. "That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

 A. The disciples reward for their humble and faithful service on earth will be held in

      heaven.

      1. They will have glory with Jesus in Heaven.

      2. They will be rewarded a position at His table.

      3. They will be given authority with Jesus to judge the tribes of Israel.

 

B. All believers will have a reward in heaven for their faithful service on earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

A VISION FROM GOD

 

Daniel 8:19-26

 

V:19. "And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be."

 A. God has planned all the events of our lives.

     1. God knows the end from the beginning.

     2. Nothing that happens catches God off guard.

     3. God knows the good and the bad events that will happen in the future.

         a. God knows because He knows the heart of man.

     4. God is not the author of evil.  Evil is the result of man's sins.

     5. God exercises His right to chastise us as He chooses.

 B. Daniel was given a vision through the Angel Gabriel concerning a series of foreign

      kings who would inflict hardship on Israel because of their sins. 

    1. Through out the Bible, God reveals His visions and promises to us.

    2. Some parts of His visions have been fulfilled and some are waiting

        to be fulfilled.

  C.  The word "indignation" is God dissatisfaction with our sins.

     1. There is an appointed time when God will put an end to sin.

     2. There is an appointed time when God will restore His creation to it's original

          state of holiness.  

 

V:20. "The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia."

 A. Daniel was serving God under a pagan king of the Babylonian empire.

     1. Babylon would fall and Cyrus of Persia would establish the Persian Empire

         ( Modern Iran).

      2. The two horns represented two kingdoms that collapsed into one with Cyrus as

           King.

 B. God allows nations to rise and fall in His plan to redeem man to himself.

     1. Any nation that rejects God will become it's own down fall.

     2. Israel suffered a long period of captivity and ruin because they refused to follow

         God's commands.

 

V:21. "And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king."

 A. One King came forth and took control of the Medo-Persian Empire.

     1. This King is identified as Alexander the Great who came to power 194 years

          after the vision was given to Daniel.

     2. Alexander the Great ruled for 33 years.

 B. God knows man and his pride.

      1. The pride of man eventually brings him down.  

      2. God hates the proud.

 

V:22. "Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

 A. After the death of Alexander the Great, his kingdom was divided into four kingdoms

       established by his generals.

     1. None of the generals matched the power of Alexander.

     2. God allows rulers to exist for a time according to His divine pleasure.

 B. No one is guaranteed a life span on earth.

    1. We should make the best of the time we have.

    2. Our time should be spent giving God the praise and glory.

 

 

V:23. "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up."

 A. Another King more fierce and evil took charge.

     1. This kingdom was the Roman empire.

     2. Antiochus Epiphenes ruled from 175 to 164 BC.

         a. He attacked the people of God in their homeland.

  B. God's punishment of man for his sins can extend for many years according to His

       divine plan.

    1. God gives power to world kings to chastise His people for their sins.

    2. We must be careful to worship God and not man. 

 

V:24. "And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people."

 A. God allows vile and wicked people to have charge over His people to bring them to   

      their senses.

     1. Antiochus defiled the temple of God and wage war against God and His people.

     2. Antiochus derived his power from God to lay waste the holy city of God.

     3. He was under the control of God to inflict punishment on God's people.

 B. God is just and merciful in what ever He does to bring us back to Himself.

 

V:25. "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."

 A. Antiochus was allowed to prosper in his evil ways for a time.

     1. He persecuted Jews who resisted his policies.

     2. He killed Jews for reading the scriptures and honoring the Sabbath.

 B. We must be careful to protect the freedom we have by obeying God's commands.

      1. It is easy to neglect the freedom we have to worship God freely.

      2. Satan never rests in his efforts to distract us from God.

 C. This king prided himself in his ability to do evil.

      1. He prided himself in his freedom to have many people killed at his word.

      2. He rose up against God by defiling the temple in Jerusalem.

 D. His end was promised by the divine and invisible power.

      1. According to history, Antiochus died of grief and remorse in Babylon because

 

          his forces were defeated.

      2. There is no power on earth that supercedes the power of God.

      3. God uses many ways to bring down those who opposes Him and

          His righteousness.

      4. We must remember that God is always in control and be encouraged by this

           fact.   

 

V:26. "And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days."

 A. This part of the prophecy was fulfilled and is sealed in the records of history.

      1. God keeps his promises.

      2. Man does not always receive the promises of God because of his disobedience.

      3. God is in no hurry to fulfill all of His promises to us.

 B. Israel, God chosen people was restored to the promise land from their 70 year

      captivity in Babylon.

     1. They obeyed God for a while, but soon return to ways that displeased God.

     2. As a result of their continued disobedience, Israel was repeatedly subjected

         to the chastisement of God through evil nations.

     3. God is merciful to redeem us from our sins when we repent and follow

         his commands.

   C. Like Israel, we may experience a series of trials and tribulations to be shaped and

        equipped to serve God.

      1. Like Israel, we are promised redemption through our faith in Jesus Christ.

      2. Like Israel, we have a prepared place in heaven.

      3. Like Israel, God is tolerant with us even in our sins and disobedience.

      4. Like Israel, God will chastise us because of His great love for us.

      5. Like Israel, God has a purpose for our lives.

      6. Thank God for His grace and mercy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DANIEL  CHAPTER 8

 

VISION OF KINGDOM THROUGH GABRIEL

 

 

DATES                VISION              KINGDOMS                                     ACTUAL KING

 

540 BC                 Ram                    Two Kings

                                                           Medes Persia                                   Cyrus

 

360                       Rough Goat       King of Grecia                                    Alexander

                                                        Alexander dies and his 4 generals

                                                        become kings

 

                             Great Horn         First King                                           Cassander

                                                                                                                    Lysimachus

                                                                                                                    Seleusicus

                                                                                                                    Ptolemy  

 

 

168-30                 Fierce King        Rome                                                   Antiochus IV

 

                            Fight the Prince of Princes

 

                            Fierce King destroyed   

 

 

33 AD                 The Cross,  Christ the Redeemer

 

2013 AD              Church Age

 

 

AD Future           Second Coming

 

                            Resurrection of The Saints

 

                             Judgment of world

 

                             Lake of Fire

 

                             New Heaven and New Earth

 

                             Eternity