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Get the latest important news each day on our A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE A King Dreams... A King Is Confused DANIEL 2:1—13
Perhaps at some time in your life you’ve had a dream that was so unnerving and perplexing that it kept you from sleeping through the rest of the night. You tried to figure out what it might mean and may have even asked others to help you with an interpretation that made sense. If this has happened to you and me, we know it’s happened to people throughout history. In the year 603 B.C., King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream so bizarre that he marshaled his wisest men to his chambers to give him a reasonable interpretation. Not only did the crafty king want an interpretation of the dream he could understand, but he went one step further: He demanded a recital of the dream itself. Unreasonable? Of course. But Nebuchadnezzar was the king, and just as the gorilla sleeps anywhere it likes in the jungle, so the king could make up his own rules—which he did with an impish look in his eye, I’m sure. Nervous Coughs and Furtive Looks Did the king really forget the content of his dream? I doubt it. I think this was Nebuchadnezzar’s way to test the wisdom and alleged supernatural powers of his magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers. Heavy has been the head that has worn the crown throughout history, and Nebuchadnezzar’s crown must have weighed a ton. Kings come and go; their enemies are forever nipping at their heels. What if Nebuchadnezzar’s dream were to portend evil for his realm? Superstitious as he was, he demanded an interpretation. But there was a risk that one of the palace sorcerers might give the king information he didn’t want to hear. So what does a wizard do? Equivocate? Beat around the bush? Try to buy some time? After all, the wrong information would produce disastrous results for the wizards—like being cut to pieces and having their houses made into a dunghill. But if they could state the dream and give Nebuchadnezzar an interpretation he could live with, then all manner of blessings would fall on the necromancers. So the stage was set. I can almost hear the nervous coughs and see the furtive looks as one magician after the other would say something like, "0 King, that’s a marvelous idea, our telling you your dream— not that it will be easy. Say, would you mind running that dream by your servants just one more time, and then I’m sure we’ll be able to come up with just the right interpretation." Paranoia Abounds The king didn’t bite. He knew he had his magicians and wise men trapped, and he accused them of stalling. Finally, probably with perspiration pouring from their brows, the wizards and astrologers came flat out with the truth, saying that such an assignment was impossible—certainly too great a job for the wisest person in the realm, and one that could only be accomplished in cooperation with the gods—whose "dwelling is not with flesh". An interesting comment from savants who were supposed to be able to predict the future and come up with detailed—and accurate—answers to life’s most perplexing problems. Yet, when push came to shove, they figured hearkening to the gods might not be such a bad idea after all. But the king didn’t buy their delay and became furious. In a fit of rage he demanded that all the wise men of Babylon be rounded up and destroyed—something we’ve seen again and again throughout secular and religious history. When frustration mounts in the palace, scapegoats are found, and these innocents are often summarily done away with. It happened when a paranoid King Herod, intent on finding an alleged usurper to his throne, put out a decree to kill all Jewish baby boys in the land. We saw it with Hitler who, in his cruel attempt to create his Third Reich, killed six million Jews, burned all books that threatened his reign, and more than decimated all non-Aryans under his control. We saw it again just a few years ago, in the mid-to late 1960s, when an equally paranoid Chairman Mao threw all of China into convulsions with his demented "Cultural Revolution"—a nationwide witch hunt that was only an official excuse to kill and maim millions of dissidents, destroy any semblance of ancient tradition that flew in the face of his hybrid communism, and put China on a crash course with history. Will tyrants ever learn? Now, the net was thrown wide throughout the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar to bring all the men of wisdom to their knees and ultimately to their collective death. Although it appears that Daniel and his friends were not in this shouting session with the king, they were, in fact, to be included in the king’s order. The great irony of the king’s manifesto as it related to Daniel was that once again God was setting the stage for a display of His sovereignty over the affairs of men. Meanwhile, the hunt was on.
Daniel’s Strategy We’ve now begun to see the sterling character of Daniel. Though still young, he was wise beyond his years; though relatively inexperienced in the affairs of life, he demonstrated how God can use a servant who gives his absolute loyalty to the Father. Now, it was again Daniel’s turn to settle uncontrollable waters. Here’s where we as believers need to take careful note of Daniel’s spiritual strategy.
Daniel’s "Model Prayer" Now I want you to pay special attention to Daniel’s prayer— just one of the many prayers of this great man of God we will discover in the pages of this amazing prophecy. Remember, Daniel already believed that God would give him the answer he’d need when he would soon stand before the king. He’d already conferred with his friends and received their counsel. But Daniel knew that unless he prayed earnestly to his God for divine insight and wisdom, he would never be prepared for his daunting assignment with a paranoid king. For years, I’ve felt this prayer of Daniel should be a model for our own time with God—a prayer that moves me anew as I read it again, perhaps for the thousandth time. Daniel blesses God for His wisdom. He acknowledges that earthly kings are just that—as common as dirt—and that God alone sets up rulers and brings them crashing down from their man-made thrones. He recognizes that only His God—not Marduk, or any other Babylonian idol—gives wisdom to the wise and has the necessary resources to bring light to that which is shrouded in darkness. Then, in a final burst of praise, Daniel thanks God for the wisdom and might He’s given to His servant. Daniel thanks God — giving no credit to himself — for the answers he now has to King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Can’t you just hear Daniel’s prayer build with confidence as he moves toward his final crescendo—his glorious amen to his God? Ready to Meet the King Daniel has done his homework. He’s been patient. He’s prayed. Now he’s ready with an exuberance and confidence that can only come to a believer in the one true God. Only after this serious, pre-audience preparation does Daniel finally say to Arioch, "All right, now’s the time. I’m ready to enter the presence of the king . . . and by the way, make sure that the king spares the lives of the wise men of Babylon. There’s now no reason for them to die." Daniel, a young man with limited life experience, is now used by God to shape the destiny of an entire kingdom. The apostle Paul, hundreds of years later, would say to another young man, Timothy, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). In God’s eyes, age has little significance when it comes to being a wise servant. Just as He did then, all God demands from His people is obedience. This spirit would be the hallmark of the man Daniel to the end of his days. We will go into the details of the king's dream in our next newsletter. CHANGED LIVES-one at a time Dear Jack and Rexella, I wanted to write you to let you know how much my husband and I both appreciate the work you do. My husband and I met in 99 and married in May of 2002. From day one since we got together, we have watched you. You have brought us closer with one another and also with our God. We NEVER miss your show. You bring such a comfort and reassurance to us. I want to thank you for being there for us, for bringing us even closer as a couple and better yet closer to our Savior. D. S.
Ever since I started to listen to your program on Radio Newspaper in Panama, my life has completely turned around, and I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. Thank you for bringing the Word to our homes. M. R. HIGHLIGHTED PRODUCT OFFERS Learn about the Holy City's central role in the latter times! Jerusalem is a city of destiny ... of blessing ... of distress ... of violence. This amazing teaching video from Dr. Jack and Rexella Van Impe will help you finally understand the history -- and future -- of Jerusalem. An incredible tool to share with your loved ones to explore Jerusalem's timetable for the future!
The Rapture: Hope or Hoax Grieved by the chaotic confusion within Christendom regarding the biblical truth of the Pre-Trib Rapture, and the heretical teaching of amillennialism, (the big lie), Dr. Jack and Rexella Van Impe have created this video. In it, Dr. Van Impe presents proof positive that the triumphant call "Come up hither" will reach every living Christian and rapture us before the Tribulation begins. He also proves that Christ will reign on this earth for 1,000 years. Some major Protestant denominations and at least one noted Catholic theologian have mocked and denied the truth of the Rapture and the Millennium. Now it is time to turn to Dr. Jack Van Impe, a noted authority you know and trust, for the truth from the Bible, and then share this video with a seeker who is concerned about the future and Bible prophecy. WE ACCEPT PRAYER REQUESTS HERE We receive prayer requests from far and wide via the mail, fax, phone, email and now through the prayer section of our website. FEEDBACK: Please help us with your valuable input. Let us know if you enjoyed this electronic newsletter. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! CONTACT INFORMATION: E-MAIL: jvimi@jvim.com PHONE: (248) 852-5225 (8am-4:30pm Eastern Time) FAX: (248) 852-2692 MAIL: Jack Van Impe Ministries JVIM FAMILY OF WEBSITES: JVIM PROPHECY PORTAL ON THE WEB Privacy Notice: Jack Van Impe Ministries is a non-profit, religious corporation registered in the state of Michigan in the U.S.A. and a registered charity in the province of Ontario in Canada. Our policy has been and will always be to never sell, rent, or barter the names and/or information about those who contact our international ministries. Stewardship: Independent CPA reporting confirms that only 5% of JVIM income is used for fundraising and only 7% is used for administrative costs, including all salaries. A full 88% or more of JVIM income is used directly to fulfill its non-profit mission to share the Good News of salvation and Christ's soon return with the world. |
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