We have less than a month to go. If you are caught up, that
is amazing. If it has been "hit-and-miss" for you, you've still
probably read more of the Word than you did last year, and you have some ideas
going into the new year of what you'll have to do to stay on target. But let me
ask, why are you doing this? On a superficial level, there is no difference
between you and someone who hardly picked up their Bible. But if you are
pursuing the Lord, what you're doing makes all the difference in the world. Remember
Hebrews 11 and the words, By faith.
All of those people pursued God by faith and God blessed them, but that
blessing was often only in that they grew closer to God. The verses that drive
me on are John 14:21-23,
“Whoever
has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me
will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to
him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you
will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him,
"If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
Since you are finishing up Daniel today, you might treat
yourself to a peppermint something.
Daniel 11:36-12:13
Daniel 11:36-45
Vs. 36-39 At this point the words regarding this ruler,
Antiochus Epiphanes (AE), begin to directly mirror the future attitude and behavior
of the antichrist (AC) in the latter part of Israel's history. Though it was
still in the future for Daniel, what is mentioned here happened in 170 B.C.
with Antiochus Epiphanes; and yet in the future, during the 70th week, the
antichrist will do the same thing. Notice the expression of arrogance and
self-exultation that happens here. Not only will the antichrist walk into the
temple, as Antiochus Epiphanes did, and set up an abomination, but he too will
exalt himself above God. Apparently Antiochus Epiphanes was helped by Jewish
traitors who helped him do this, whom he later rewarded. It appears the
antichrist will do something similar and through this treachery will also kill
the two witnesses before he defaces the temple.
Some of the references to the one beloved by women and the god of fortresses may not make sense to us, but they will be clear
to the people who have to go through this worldwide Tribulation.
Vs. 40-45 Not all nations will follow the AC, and since he
can't be in more than one place at one time, they will rise up against Israel.
Eventually there will be a worldwide showdown in the plain of Armageddon.
Remember too, that the conditions of those future days will look very desperate
and primitive. There is no reason to believe that oil refineries will be
working and that there will be gasoline available for these military ventures.
According to Revelation, the king of the east will cross the Euphrates with 200
million foot soldiers to join the party. It is possible that some of these will
be on horseback.
V. 41 The area of these countries is present-day Jordan and
the area around the Dead Sea. This is important. Jesus said that when the
people living near Jerusalem saw the "abomination that makes
desolate" in the temple, which the AC will put there, the people were to
flee into the mountains. In Revelation, the description of this flight and the
pursuit of Satan is scary, but God will save the people in the wilderness. The
area of these countries is where the people will go to hide. It's about 15
miles from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. We see how people in mountains can hide
now from the mighty, high-tech U.S. military. Imagine how much better they will
hide from the AC if God is helping them and if the world has been reduced to
very primitive low-tech warfare.
V. 44 And then the AC will hear about these approaching
armies from the north and east and decide he has other fish to fry. Still, he
will kill many followers of Christ, in Israel and in all other nations. The
slaughter of God's people will be a test of the hearts of men and women, and it
will confirm the justness of the wrath of God upon mankind.
Daniel 12
Vs. 1-4 This is a summary of the final 3.5 years of the
Tribulation and the judgment that follows. Verse 2 is one of the clearest
verses in the OT regarding the resurrection. This sounds like what Jesus said
in John 5:28-29. And v. 3 sounds like Matthew 13:43, Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Vs. 5-7 It is significant that this number of days is given
and that the angel gave it by raising his hands and swearing by God. If you
were trying to hang on during that time and knew the day those last 3.5 years
began, you'd be happy to know an exact number. That the angel swore by God
makes this a very solemn declaration. We don't grasp this.
Vs. 8-12 Daniel's heart was so big toward God and his
people; the more he heard, the more interested he became.
V. 9 Shut up and
sealed means you will have to be there in that time to understand what is
going on. We are not supposed to fully grasp it.
V. 10 During this Tribulation, those who love God will
become more purified, and the wicked will become more wicked. It is a time of
testing and revealing.
V. 11 The 1290 days extend from the defiling of the temple
up to the cleansing of the temple and reestablishment of worship in the temple.
Jesus will arrive in about 1260 days, but I'm sure there will be some business
to take care of first, like the judgment of the nations. And I think rather
than Him just cleaning up supernaturally, there will be people employed to
clean and repair the temple and have it ceremonially rededicated. There will be
a lot to do in 30 days.
V. 12 Blessed is
the person who is there at this celebration. Jerusalem will be cleaned up and
the King will officially, before the world, take His throne in Jerusalem and
begin ruling the world.
V. 13 Just as it says in Ezekiel that the resurrected David
will govern the people of Israel, I wonder if the resurrected Daniel will
govern the people of Iraq from Babylon. If so, it will not have been the first
time.
But for now, we work in the harvest as the clouds approach.
When it all comes down, we'll have great seats to see how Jesus will justly
judge the world, and we'll be at the celebration of His thousand-year kingdom.
1 John 4
In chapters 1 and 2 John has talked about walking in the
light and truth of Christ. Even Christians can walk out of the light. In
chapter 3 John began talking about abiding in Christ's love as the evidence
that we know that love. Now John begins to talk about the guidance of the
Spirit in knowing and living the love of our Lord.
When Jesus told the disciples about what the last days
before His coming would look like, He warned them regarding false prophets and false messiahs.
(Matt. 7:15, 24:11, 24:24) I'm sure John and the others were surprised how
quickly error and false teachers began to come into the church. In the days of
the Tribulation it will be far worse.
Note that there is a lot of "love" going on in
this chapter. Laura found 27 forms of the word love within just 15 verses. I
don't know if that's a record, but it is something to observe and think about.
Vs. 1-6 Up until 3:24 John had not mentioned the Holy
Spirit. Notice that the confession of Jesus as God the Son who became flesh is
a mark of the Spirit. Anyone could say Jesus came in the flesh without being
truly saved, but keeping the commandments of God in the Spirit of God means
understanding who Jesus truly is. A false understanding of Jesus springs from a
false spirit and leads to a warped walk. As disciples, our obedience and walk
are directly connected to our love and understanding of Jesus. Just like in
Romans 8 and in John 14-17, it is the Spirit who guides us into a proper
balance of understanding. All of this becomes visible by our love for the Word,
our obedience to Christ in our walk and in the harvest, and by our love for one
another.
Vs. 4-6 Anyone led by the Spirit continues in the teaching
of Jesus and the apostles, and in our case, the Word.
Vs. 7-12 The evidence of the work of the Spirit in us is
knowing the love of God and loving
one another. Verse 8 is not stating evidence of salvation, but evidence of
knowing God relationally. The true understanding of the love of God is that we
love. Even though no one has ever seen God, by loving one another because of
the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of God's love, we can show that we have a
relationship with Him. Notice what Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:5, The aim of our charge is love that issues
from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Even in 1
Timothy, the context for this verse is false teaching and teachers.
Vs. 13-18 The evidence that we abide in God is that His love
is alive in us and is seen in our love for one another. If we are fully living
in the love of Christ, there is no fear of what will happen when we stand in
His presence, because there will be no judgment for us.
I know this all sounds like circular reasoning, but here is
the simplicity in our walk with Christ that is very visible. You even see this
simplicity of the Christian life in Paul's prayer at the end of Ephesians 3.
The most important thing for us to be growing in is the love of Christ. This
love is grounded in His Word, understood in His Spirit and poured out in His
mission. Working together as His people, we express His love to one another
inwardly and His love for a dying world outwardly, and we are strengthened in
our work for Him. But it all flows out of knowing and showing His love. Love is
the key word and the key for our lives in Christ. But, love is not without
definition. Love is defined by God and Jesus and their effort to save a lost
world. And where do we know this love? Through His Word and by His Spirit. And hope does not put us to shame, because
God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been
given to us. (Romans 5:5)
An example of what is being said here is that a husband is
told to love his wife as Christ loved the church. It is fair to say that if a
believing man doesn't do this, he really doesn't know the love of Christ. It
doesn't make him unsaved, but it really shows his lack of knowing Christ and
his lack of maturity in Christ. This is the point that John and the Spirit are
making here, using love for one another as the example of relationship and
maturity.
Vs. 19-21 According to John and the Spirit, this is an
absolute. We really do kid ourselves and treat God's truth lightly when we
claim to love God but cannot get that love to connect to loving others,
including the lost and the people of God. I think a lot of churches don't work
because they are not following Christ in the harvest. It is appropriate not to
feel at home in a group like that. However, in a church that is working to
reach out and make disciples, we need to love one another as Christ loved, and
maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and love.
Psalm 123
Vs. 1-2 As the worshipers walked up those roads leading to
Jerusalem on Mount Zion, it was really the Lord they were approaching. It was
really the Lord they were seeking. I like v. 2, that they will persist in
prayer until the Lord shows them mercy. When the disciples finally asked the
Lord to teach them to pray, He restated the Lord's Prayer to them and then
added what they had never heard before: the parable of the friend knocking on
his friend's door at midnight. Perseverance is necessary and natural; after all
we are praying to our Father who loves us. We are appealing to His kindness and
love.
Vs. 3-4 It is a truth that we often seek God because outside
circumstances show us we need Him. It is also true that God allows these
circumstances to come to us to drive us to Him.
Proverbs 29:2-4
Sometimes, just
for the fun of it, try taking a triad of verses like this and restating them.
For example:
When the righteous increase, when children love wisdom and the king
builds his land with justice, the people rejoice and fathers are glad. But when the wicked rule, when children live
in passion and rebellion and when bribes are common, the people groan and the
wealth of a land is squandered.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One
Year Bible, click on this link http://oneyearbibleonline.com/weekly-one-year-readings/?version=47&startmmdd=0101. This version is set to the ESV but you can reset this to a different
version or different language.I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.
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