It’s All Part of the Plan

Today on Summit life with Judy Greer listen really closely on the details of these problems you're the sort of speak of Jesus as he begins to run from the quarters of history coming first to a manger in Bethlehem and ultimately to his place on the throne of the ancient of days, MetLife Bible teaching ministry of Pastor, author and theologian JD Greer.

I'm your host Molly benefits after JD is going to walk us through Daniel's visions of receiving warnings and capturing help will see that hardship persecution and suffering have all been decreed that they're not the only message from God. Thankfully, Jesus will reign forever and judge the living and the dead according to his righteousness, he will renew and restore all things and his people will dwell with him forever.

As we live in the and between Daniel encourages us that the things are dark and they are likely to only get darker. We don't need to despair. All part of the plan. So let's dive into the final chapters of the book of Daniel together. There's Pastor Janie. There is a scene that might want to be one of the most confusing bewildering moments I've ever encountered in literature now that all the movies on the books are out. It's hard to capture the shock of reading that lie when it first came out and I know some of your lightweight is this going to be a spoiler, but I feel like this is now part of our shared cultural knowledge like the fact that Darth Vader was Luke's father.

And if you like one that I got another website about okay but almost double door discount become battles, double doors, the wise sage of the Harry Potter series standoff, the Godfather, Santa Claus and Nicolas Cage all wrapped up in one has been severely weakened to a battle with evil Lord Baltimore to death eaters. As the battle is in the medias dangling from the top of the tower holding on for his life, Severus Snape, who is a teacher at Hogwarts Castle in Erie, who is the protagonist of his nemesis throughout the series is holding on Dumbledore, keeping him from falling.

You've always been a little unsure about Snape not sure where his loyalties lie.

I don't like him because Harry didn't like him, but she does not sure where he stands. Dumbledore makes eye contact Severus and says Severus please Severus instead of pulling him up, opens his hand and drops it.

It seems like the ultimate act of betrayal adoption to his death. By the way a moment with evil triumphs over good and everything is lost in the next book. However, you learn that Prof. Dumbledore had secretly confided to Snape that he was dying of a slow and irreversible curse, and that through his death he could grant to Harry a power that Harry would not have as long as Dumbledore was alive, a power that could defeat Lord Baltimore Dumbledore makes a promise that when the moment comes when the moment comes, Snape will let him die. Suddenly, that meaning of Dumbledore's plea there on that tower. The pleat Severus. Please just reverse Dumbledore's death was not an act of chaos or betrayal. It was all according to plan.

Many great stories many great stories involve chapters where the characters go through something that at the time feels chaotic, tedious or tragic, only to learn later that it was all part of the plan.

I'm thinking occasional I got totally not try to bury part of a I think of Daniel LaRusso's training at the hands of Mr. Biaggi Luke's exile on the date of a system lightning McQueen for getting stranded in radiator Springs. I would even say that this week and some of the weird strategies of some of our Olympic athletes on the commentator comes on, you seem things like this would commentator comes on as is now now just because were in the seventh of eight laps and are runner is still importing place. That doesn't mean you shall lose know this is all part of her Erwin plan to sprint past everyone at the last second. Sure enough, that's exactly what happens. Just so you know, if I were an Olympian. I would never have the discipline to pursue that strategy.

I would go out hot and if I got ahead I would try to stay as far ahead of everyone as I could for as long as I could, which is probably reason number 424 why I never made it as an Olympic athlete coming in last is the USA's JD Greer who actually led for the first three seconds of the race deployment support is a lot of things that turn out white well have sad confusing chapters but they're all part of the plan. That is Daniel's message to us in the last three chapters of his book, things are dark. He says they're about to get a lot darker, but don't despair.

It's all according to plan to go to Bible Daniel chapter 10 is where were going to be I will be in the last three chapters 10, 11 and 12. We called this series shining in Babylon because the book is about stymieing with the light of an uncommon hope in an increasingly dark world. Make no mistake, the backdrop of Daniel's book is somber and heavy and the world for the foreseeable future is not to get much better. Daniel says impact is getting a lot worse, several prophetic visions in Daniel teach us that very thing. And I know everybody today wants to think that the world is the opposite. It's gradually progressing toward a utopia where we got no more political or economic problems where everybody lives in abundance and prosperity were all united holding hands across the globe in one and one multiethnic village. But that's not where Daniel says the world is going, nor is it where Jesus said it was going to go in Matthew 23 and 24, where the apostle John says in Revelation of the world is that it Bible writers consistently tell us that the world is going to get a lot worse before it gets any better, so be encouraged gray closing for not getting gender Bible Daniel chapter 10 what you look at the bad news. The good news. Daniel uses to conclude his book. These last three chapters. Daniel's record of his final visions now is a lot of details in here let me warn you, some of you totally want to geek out on the details and we are going to touch on a few of them to focus mostly on the bigger picture of the bigger point Daniel try to make matters why he is telling us these things, love what Martin Luther, the reformer said about this passage, he said and I quote Daniel concludes the record of his terrifying visions and dreams on a note of joy, pointing to the coming of Christ eternal reign of glory whoever wants to study Daniel's visions profitably. They're not focuses attention on the details of the visions of the dreams okay will will touch a little bit were not gonna focus on, but instead he says you should seek comfort in the Savior Jesus Christ, whom they portray in the deliverance that he brings from sin and its misery. See if you listen really closely this weekend, and the details of these prophecies you hear the footsteps so to speak of Jesus as he begins to run for the quarters of history coming first to a manger in Bethlehem and ultimately to his place on the throne of the ancient of days.

Bad news first. Daniel 10 verse one in the third year of King Cyrus of Persia emergent message was revealed to Daniel, then I Daniel Moran for three full weeks. The message was so heavy. The Daniel Moran for three entire weeks. During that time, he says, verse three, I did not eat any rich food nor minimum meat or wine entered my mouth and I didn't even put any oil on my body. You know it's bad when you're too overwhelmed even to rub in your essential oils Daniel to make across the room to flip on his lavender diffuser verse for an angel comes to comfort him.

He puts a little put a little dab a chamomile behind his ear, I focus on the lavender diffuser and he begins to explain the meaning of his vision to him. A lot of things in this second vision of Daniel overlap with the previous visions that we studied in Daniel. In fact, learn this.

All the visions and dreams of Daniel whether they are given to pagan kings or to Daniel himself, all of them are about a series of world kingdoms that are going to rise each one oppressive and hostile to the gospel after Babylon came Persia after Persia was Greeks and after Greece was Rome. Now to Rome as a final kingdom that's headed by someone we now call the Antichrist. Daniel explains to us that certain elements of the first few kingdoms of Greece and Persia Rome.

First, as certain elements are good to give us a foretaste of what that final kingdom of the antichrist is going to be like for example chapter 7 and eight we studied out a few weeks ago we saw the Daniel prophesied that a ruthless king was going to arise out of Greece who was going to be particularly hostile toward God's people that practice. He explained he was fulfilled 300 years later by a leader of greasepaint Antiochus epiphanies came to power. Around 160 BC I showed you when we study Daniel seven and eight that just like Daniel prophesied Antiochus epiphanies was particularly blasphemous for God, and he was particularly vicious for God's people is been called the Hitler of the Old Testament. He slaughtered in cold blood, tens of thousands of Jewish men, women and children desecrated the temple by sacrificing pigs on the altar and enforcing the Jewish leaders to eat pig flesh even committed what Bible writers called the abomination of desolation by setting up a statue of himself in the holy of holies and making the Jews bow down to I told you to read about all that in first and second Maccabees which are historical books are written by Jews who lived right before Christ's first coming as books contain a lot of helpful historical information. Although they are not Scripture and explain you why. Okay Daniel explains, though, that Antiochus epiphanies was a type a prefiguring of a future world King was going to be everything that Antiochus was but much, much worse. I was going to be the antichrist. I share all that because the first part of Daniel 10 is again about Antiochus epiphanies and Daniel is describing the devastation that Antiochus is going to bring to the Jews devastation. We bury going over him, and suddenly in verse 36 in chapter 11 he switches from talking about Antiochus the prophesied about a future king. Another came way off into the future king. He calls the king of the North the antichrist that switch happens in verse 36 week did you take a look at a verse 36 then this king, he says, is to do whatever he wants, he will exalt and magnify himself above every God you will say outrageous things against the God of gods, you will be successful until the time of wrath is been completed because what has been decreed will be accomplished. He will not show regard for any other God because he will magnify himself above all.

Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses, strength, and he will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign God how I showed you again 07. The Daniel says the antichrist has the eyes of a man when you look at then you see something at work behind. And that's not human that's what Daniel is saying. Again, here the antichrist losing a man is a man but is empowered by a foreign God, namely Satan himself.

He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him and he will make the antichrist will make rulers of many and distributing land as a reward for serving and following him.

Chapter 7 and eight, Daniel had said three things really characterize the rule be antichrist will review those really quickly because we see echoes of these here again in these verses. Remember, remember to get your notes out the back of cities or things that is. He devours much less that was in chapter 7 verse 25's aim is to destroy all the slick talking and all the flattery and the rewards hatred, prejudice, genocide, slavery, human trafficking, the commoditization of the vulnerable abortion militarism are all tools in his arsenal. Secondly, we said after devouring much/he doubts God's word and chapter 8 verse 25 he publicly undermines what Scripture teaches about things like humanity, sexuality, salvation even uses supernatural power from Satan to do miracles to deceive people into believing what he says third 30 exalt man that was also verse 25. The first one is in exalt. Daniel says again here. Chapter 11 is himself, but is also going to get people to do the same thing with themselves to focus on themselves and glory in their capabilities and accomplishments. He's kind of the ultimate humanness that we saw in chapter 7 and this is really really important. Right is that even though the antichrist himself is not here yet the spirit of antichrist is burst onto a team diversely looked at percent to 18 children. It is already the last out and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, and he is even now already. Many antichrists have come, we can see the spirit of antichrist at work all around us, but you know we went over this in detail, but just because such offer. What happens next look at where he is devouring flesh and all of our progress in all of her civilization.

The last 100 years have been the bloodiest century at all of human history. More people have been killed by genocide and war and abortion. Any other century in history is at work. I told you in your life to destroy your flesh. Some of your experience and are you coming here and I will have to persuade you of that alcoholism and addiction to pornography and materialism and narcissism.

He is working to erode and destroy the foundation of everything good in your life and your marriage is in shatters into relation with your kid is in shatters and everything in your life is being destroyed because he is come to devour much flesh and he deceived you into that he is working to make you doubt God's word is always where everywhere and in recent mood setting presentation saves every little God says I'm not sure that's really what I'm sure that's pretty outdated so I told you some of your light well I'm just questioning what the Bible says about about sexuality and I'm just trying to find myself and I'm like no you're not, you are dabbling with.

Hell, that's what you're doing or enemy begins every attack by making you question God's work explained that he is at work trying to get you to exalt yourself think that your agenda is the most important you know best for your life through things as benign as Facebook and Twitter and Instagram reels and consumer driven commercials and leadership seminars is trying to get you fixate on yourself. It whispers in your ear that you know what's best for your life that no one's ever unlock your potential, but nobody appreciate you write that you better look out for you, because nobody else is going to but you can only be happy when when your kingdom comes in your will is done.

Make no mistake about it, my friend, the spirit of antichrist is all ready here. Daniel tells us that he employs the powers of the state and the machinery of cultural and media to promote those three things is basically in control of politics and media and an end culture that I mean everybody working in those things was a lot of people like Daniel on that are going to be in there that are witnesses for Jesus, but the general control of that, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is at work in the unbelieving world.

He is already here meet already using those things to shape the world know the bad news is that things are only going to get worse as the antichrist coming years.

Daniel says at the beginning of chapter 12 about the in chapter 12 verse one there will be a time of distress such as never occurred. Since nations came into being, until that time. The worst is yet to come. Critics often say that evangelical Christians have a persecution complex. We always imagine everybody's out to get us can honestly say that that's a valid critique by just just watch cable news. We can be a little paranoid and way oversensitive but but we might be like that sometimes because we understand who is at work in the world and what is game actually is.

Daniel tells us was it was me.

Under no illusions persecution against Christians in the world is as high as it is ever been, and it is likely only only going to get worse. Open doors agreed that our church and I have partner with for many years as a ministry that helps persecuted Christians around the world tells us today. Get this that over 340 million Christians today. Right now, this weekend, 340 million Christians live in places where they are experiencing high levels of persecution, not sideways. Looks are not job affliction, but like going to jail losing your life right. That is the highest in history. Last year, almost 5000 believers. They say were martyred because of their fate, not just 5000 believers, but their dying because of their faith in Christ 4000 Christian churches were burned another 4000 Christians were imprisoned. Most of them without trial because of their faith and even right here in our own country where we supposedly have a guaranteed freedom of religion we are seeing the steady erosion of those things already in some places, if you hold what Scripture teaches about sexuality or gender, or the way of salvation or the preciousness of life from the womb to the tomb.

You can be labeled as a bigot and canceled or fired Dr. George Yancey was an African-American professor who taught here at our church about overcoming racial strife is a new book out on anti-Christian discrimination in America points out in this book that 32% get this regional at the sink it 32% of all Americans identify theologically conservative Christians as their least favorite group in society liking them significantly less and raiding them is more dangerous than other groups. By comparison, only 31% identified Muslims that way. So it is fair. Dr. Yancey says it is fair to say that if we are concerned about anti-Muslim prejudice and we should be. We should also at least be aware of anti-Christian prejudice. Dr. Yancey documents with a pretty impressive compilation of statistics that being a professing Christian who holds to what Christians I believe the last 2000 years about sexuality and gender in the way of salvation will hurt you significantly in the academic world the journalistic world the political world the artistic world the medical world and increasingly even the business world. So yes, I'll say it, we can be a little paranoid, but you will forgive me if we see a trajectory in those things that Daniel warns us about this and I do not want to contribute to conspiracy theories.

If you click this on YouTube. Equip this part to I would document say the spirit of the enemy is every bit as much at work in you and on as he is in the ACLU is a work in every culture shaping institution seeking to foster eight doubt God's word and exalt man.

Make no mistake, we are sending our kids out into a hostile world and we gotta prepare them for that little real cute little songs and little habits and am I learning to say the right words. That's not going to cut it in the world us to come.

We have got to teach them that there is something worth living for and dying for that is stronger than all the opposition of the world that's better than any of the world's affirmation another, never going soup they're never going to be applauded by the world of the dead hold fast to their confession of faith and it's okay because Jesus is worth it. That's what we gotta move beyond just the sort of lazy, discipleship were content with job Christian children who don't have sex and noble way to vote.

We gotta teach them to be overcome, or shoot love Jesus enough to give their lives for him now a sale that is I read this I read this and you should to Vanessa will no wonder Daniels grieving dark view of the future right, we should grieve. Also, all the world. Generally speaking, is a tragic place. God's people suffer and are sometimes tortured and slain again and again.

Just as never comes on earth.

And it's only getting worse. He says this is like a handmade or donate to be assured.

John 16 in this world you have tribulation, sometimes in church were in such a hurry to rejoice.

We overlook the grief that some people coming in are feeling some of you coming in this weekend you're facing pressures your job to conform your suffering from the scorn of friends for the sake of godliness.

Or maybe you're just suffering the world can be a dark place and we want to grieve with you and not get so close to that happy songs we don't take time to spread knowledge. I know that it's dark.

I know that is painful and that's exactly what Scripture tells us we should expect service or survivor.

What is the good news. I thought you'd never ask of them waiting to tell you and you have an answer. We go with you three elements of hope that the Daniel gives you a bright and shiny and awesome number one this is the suffering is limited. Suffering is limited. What stands out to me as I read this is how in control, God seems to be of all of us. Daniel drops all hints about that along the way. Look at 1136, which read a second ago. I look at it again you will be successful the antichrist to be successful until the time of wrath is completed because what has been decreed by him about God.

What is been decreed will be accomplished time of wrath is completed. What is been decreed, is accomplished. In other words, this is all part of the plan.

Persecution is real, and it's painful.

It's all been decreed by God but time has been set and not an ounce more than comes that God has intended and determined like a terrible scene where where was Snape and Dumbledore looks bad.

Looks Babbitt is all according to the planet.

One day the meaning of these tragic events going to be reversed when my favorite aspects of the book of Daniel is how specific God is about where it's gonna come from and how long it lasts. By the way if you never see what I'm about to show you it will blow your mind. Okay once you go back, hold your finger. Chapter 12 the back to jump in on the quick tighten your belt and put on your nerd glasses your need of every minute for 24 Daniel nine. Once this 70 weeks are decreed.

God says the Daniel through the angel about your people and your holy city to bring the rebellion to an end.

The sandwich term for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place decreed something, even something that will happen because he's in charge. But what looks like bad news will be reversed to good news in his time. Daniel helps us see it all a part of the plan. You're listening to Senate life.

The Bible teaching ministry of pastor, author and theologian JD Greer. We are so glad that you joined us, like Daniel we learn as exiles in a hostile culture as we live our lives in our own battle line should pray for its security and welfare as it thrives.

We thrive, we have a Bible study designed specifically to help us process. This book of the Bible to help us examine the Scriptures and then apply them to our lives. This Bible study comes with our thanks when you get a suggested donation of $35 or more when you support Senate life today you are supporting your fellow listeners by providing access to resources that will help them to die deep into the gospel message so call us today at eight 663-3550 T20 will replace the work that when you get online and see clear.com you can also sign up for our letter to get ministry on information about resources and castigating the latest one is delivered straight male and not sign it when you go to Jamie clear.com I'm not even events join us next week when dictating teaching theories Daniel Monday on my career by JD Greer ministry