The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast

Abraham's almost sacrifice of Isaac in the land of Moriah (which means "Clear Vision") is the "mountain peak" of prophetic person-types of the redemptive work (the actual Sacrifice) of God's only begotten Son, which also occurred in the land of Moriah!  If you want to be genuinely confident about the Truth of Scripture, listen to this study on "The Gospel of Moriah," and think about the amazing prophetic truth spoken by Abraham when asked by Isaac, "... where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"  He said, "My SON, God will provide HIMSELF a Lamb" (Genesis 22:8)!  If you like Old Testament typology - WHICH YOU SHOULD and WHICH YOU SHOULD TEACH TO OTHERS - you will love this study!

The title for this lesson comes from the Hebrew meaning of the name Isaac - "laughter".  It was a time of laughter when the "miracle boy" was conceived in the womb of a barren and post-menopausal woman.  His birth foreshadowed the even greater miracle conception of Christ (born of a virgin).  In this presentation, we discuss the life-transforming experience of Hagar (Egyptian handmaid of Sarah) when she met the pre-incarnate Christ at a wilderness well.   We also discuss the contextual circumstances of God's first use of His name, "El Shaddai".  Then, there is the young lad, Ishmael (son of Abraham's relationship with Hagar), who mocked and persecuted his younger half-brother Isaac.  What happened with him?  Why are Ishmael's descendants not included in the Abrahamic Covenant?  What does this mean about the land of Israel today and to whom it rightfully belongs (per God's decree)?

This  lesson concerns the first written account of war in NOT JUST the Bible, but in all ancient literature!  Interestingly, this first recorded war in history involved an attack on five kings of the Dead Sea area of ancient Canaan (Israel) by a coalition of four kings from territories that, to this day, remain hostile to Israel!  The invading kings were led by a man from Elam (part of modern-day Iraq).  He was called the "Ravager of the West".  85-year old Abraham was the hero of this story!  (This war prophetically pictures mankind's last war called "The Battle of Armeggedon," which will be an all-out attack to annihilate Israel by another "Ravager" (the Antichrist). 

In Genesis 14, a tenth, very mysterious king suddenly appeared on the scene!  His name, Melchizedek means "King of Righteousness".  He was a Priest of the Most High God, and King of Salem or "King of Peace"!!  He is definitely a prophetic type of the Lord Jesus (and some even think he was the preincarnate Christ - an interesting debate discussed in this lesson).  Our Great High Priest Christ, Who is also the King of Righteousness and the King of Peace, will likewise appear out of seemingly no where at His Second Coming to save Abraham's descendants (through Isaac) from extinction!  There is SO MUCH TYPOLOGY in this lesson!

It would be difficult to imagine the resurrected Lord not mentioning Abraham or the covenant God made with him in His "Unrecorded Emmaus Road Sermon".  He very likely taught His two despondent disciples how the promises, blessings, and fulfillment of that covenant center on Himself (although His identity was not yet revealed to the two).  The Lord's initial call to Abram of Ur of the Chaldees (a Gentile!) was analogous in importance to the divine summons to Moses at the burning bush and to Saul on the Damascus Road.  It was a call of grace for the entire world, for the message of salvation is at the heart of that unconditional covenant, and the world's Saviour (and written Word of God) was to come from Abraham's loins!

For a solid understanding of the Abrahamic Covenant, this is a "must listen" message. 

Babel was the first "global" attempt to elevate man to God's level by way of the religion of self-effort.  It was the first experiment of man to have a world government and a one-world religion.  Disobeying God's way of salvation, which was to believe on His Promised Saviour, the Seed of the woman of Genesis 3:15, the Tyrant Nimrod (a picture type of the future Antichrist) introduced the world to Cain's alternate "works' approach" to Heaven and even replaced God as the Object of worship and Source of salvation.  Babel was only the beginning of things men would try to do in their effort to replace God.  All false religions and cults find their origin in Babel, which is MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT of the end-times.

Where did the nations and languages of this world originate?  Although profoundly ridiculed by Bible critics for centuries, the truth of "The Table of Nations" in Genesis chapter 10 (the 70 nation groups which resulted from the divine dispersion of families from Babel) has been abundantly supported by findings in anthropology, archeology, and linguistic studies on the origins of languages.  You can trust Scripture 100%.  Good TRUE history lesson all young people should be taught!  They would have a much better understanding of life if they knew the early chapters of Genesis.  Amen.

Learn truths about the Noahic Flood and the Ark you likely never knew before!  Not only do we mention 15 ways Noah served as a prophetic type of Christ, but we include 16 ways the Ark was a also a picture of Him! 

Did you know the Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat on the very day Christ, centuries later, would resurrect from "the waters of death"?  Did you know the Gospel message is hidden in the Hebrew meaning of the first 10 men of Christ's lineage (Adam to Noah)?

Don't miss the boat!  Hear this message and tell others to listen to Christ-centered ARKiology!

Why did God accept Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's?  This lesson explains, and it is vital to understand the answer!  Cain's problem is the problem of religious people all over the world who attempt to approach God "the way of Cain" (Jude 11), which is by their own works (fruit).  What made Abel's offering "a more excellent sacrifice"?  It pointed to Christ.

Isn't it interesting that Cain, who was too "dignified" to offer a blood sacrifice, quickly and angrily shed the blood of his own brother? Cain's life should be a strong lesson about the danger in trusting human "reason" rather than divine revelation; of continuing in human willfulness opposed to divine will; of human pride versus Christlike humility; of sinking to hatred rather than rising to love; of presenting fleshly excuses instead of seeking divine grace.  Wrong choices end in human loneliness instead of enjoying divine fellowship.  To be without God is the worst thing in this life, but it is worse in the life to come.

God's first proclamation of the Gospel message is recorded in Genesis 3:15, called by theologians, "The Protoevangelium".  It is a foundational matter to understand this amazing prophecy about a coming Saviour Who would defeat Satan.  That Promised Victor would be born of a woman's "Seed," and since women do not have "seed," this was a long ago "clue" as to Christ's virgin conception! 

The two despondent Emmaus Road disciples were upset because the One in Whom they had placed their faith and hope was gone.  He had been horrifically crucified.  Their despair was their own fault for not having correctly understood "The Gospel Seed" message of Genesis 3:15.  They should have known the Messiah/Saviour would indeed first suffer Satan's crushing, but not permanently fatal, blow before coming into His glory! 

This is a critical message for Christians and for non-Christians!  Everything in Scripture stems from and circles back to the divine declaration of Genesis 3:15.

 

Have you ever thought about the fact that although God created man sinless and innocent, he was not righteous?  That may sound strange, but think it through.  Righteousness is innocence maintained in the presence of temptation!  Adam failed to maintain his innocence in the face of indirect temptation (he was not directly tempted by Satan; Eve was Adam's temptation - Eve herself, not the fruit in her hand).  The Last Adam, the Lord Jesus, fully resisted all Satan's direct temptations. totally maintaining His sinlessness, even in a human body.  He proved His eternal, divine righteousness, as well.  Although that is a major difference between the two Adams, this lesson also presents some interesting ways in which Adam was a "type" of Christ.  There are many fascinating comparisons between the Edenic Tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the Calvary "Tree" (the cross) presented in this lesson, as well. 

This is a deep study, presented in clear, understandable terms.  It is foundational for a proper understanding of why God allowed evil into His perfect creation.  Knowing beginnings is vital to understand the present and to prepare rightly for the future.

"WOW!" is what the response has repeatedly been to those who listen to this very first lesson on finding Christ in the Old Testament, beginning with the Creation account!  Learn about the abundant "tri-une" evidence of the Tri-une Godhead throughout His creation!  Enlighten yourself about fascinating subjects the majority of Christians have never heard about:  the Jewish Targums, the "Memra," and the hidden "aleph's" and "tav's" in the Scripture!  Evidence to refute evolution?  This is it.

YOU NEED TO SHARE THIS MESSAGE, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE SAVIOUR!

This is the introductory lesson for an in-depth study of Old Testament Christology  (finding Christ in the Old Testament).  The "springboard" for this study comes from the Lord's unrecorded teaching in "The Emmaus Road Sermon".  To two disheartened disciples, returning from Jerusalem to their former, pre-Jesus lives, the "incognito" resurrected Lord cheered them up to the point of "spiritual heartburn" (Luke 24:32) by teaching why "the Christ" HAD to suffer (and die) before entering into His glory.  ". . . Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (24:26, 27).  

This is a superb one-hour "lesson" emphasizing the truth that Scripture is a divinely-inspired cohesive whole, with Christ and His redemptive work on the cross its central theme.  The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; the New Testament is the Old revealed.  Amen.  Learn about TYPOLOGY in this and the lessons to follow in this spiritual heartburn study, "CHRIST in GENESIS".

 

https://podnews.net/podcast/1500410875/episode-links 

In this lesson, we discuss the Lord's final week of His public ministry on earth.  It is commonly referred to as His "Passion Week," and it began on Palm Sunday.  We briefly talk about the events of each day of that most significant week, but the primary emphasis of this study is on the day of His crucifixion.  There are three main views on this debate.  They are the (1) Wednesday view, (2) the Thursday view, and (3) the Friday view (of which there are two).  We discuss each view and its pros and cons. 

The conclusion reached is that the Bible best supports a Thursday crucifixion.  Although the most important fact is that Jesus did, indeed, die for the sins of the world, it is still good for believers in Him and His Word to know why they believe what they believe.  Should we simply believe something because it has always been "the traditional" way of things, or should we search the Scriptures to find what best supports our view?  

 

Daniel chapter 12 is both the crowning and the concluding chapter of the book.  After a three-chapter long "vision" (series of revelations) that presented a lot of "gloom and doom" to the old prophet about his beloved Israel and a long line of egotistical, fighting Gentile kings, the last part of his fourth and final God-sent revelation told him (and Israel) there is light at the end of the tunnel!  There is "Hope for Tomorrow"!  There is the sure hope of resurrection and everlasting life in God's holy presence for those whose faith is in Him and His Saviour, Jesus Christ!

In this prologue to Daniel's final vision, we discuss the Tribulation of the last days, the resurrection and glorification of the saints.  We also discuss the various bodily resurrections of Scripture and when they took place or will yet take place.  Also discussed is the command to seal-up the Book of Daniel until the end times, and God's promise to preserve it.  The pre-incarnate Christ again appeared to Daniel and gave him some additional time frames regarding the last days (30 plus 45 days between Christ's Second Coming and the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom).  Find out what those extra days are "all about"!

Daniel 11:32-45  Learn about the vile Syrian king named Antiochus Epiphanes, who committed an abomination of desolation in Israel, on her Temple and God's Holy of Holies in the Second Century B.C., and how that event led to the rise of the Maccabees and the Maccabean Revolt (and, subsequently, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah).

The reason Scripture presents so much about Antiochus Epiphanes is because he served as a prophetic type of the future Antichrist.  Because so much of the Book of Daniel either foreshadows or reveals the Antichrist of the last days, it has often been called "The Revelation of the Antichrist".

Verses 36 to 39 contain prophecies about the final "fighting king," who is the most vicious king of any in history.  In this lesson, we discuss his character, his conquests, and his conclusion (meaning his "end" - how he will die).  Will the Antichrist be Jewish?  Gentile?  Islamic?  Roman?  Homosexual?  Listen and hear what Scripture says.

The Babylonian Captivity of Israel in the days of the Prophet Daniel was only the beginning of Israel's chastening process.  As a nation, even after 70 years in captivity, she had not genuinely repented of her continual disobedience of God.  It would be a long time before her ultimate "Time of Restoration" in the Millennial Kingdom would occur.  In Daniel chapter 11, Daniel receives a very long and detailed prophecy about a "parade of fighting kings" (Persian kings, Greek kings, Seleucid and ptolemaic kings, and a horribly vile king name Antiochus Epiphanes, who is a type of the final Antichrist).

Daniel chapter 11 is one of the most extensive prophetic sections of the Bible.  In just the first 35 verses of the chapter, there are over 135 prophecies given!  Every single one of them we now know came to pass precisely as predicted!  Fulfilled prophecy is one of the greatest proofs of the divine inspiration of Scripture, which is why Daniel chapter 11 is at the heart of the attacks against the entire book.  

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This important lesson, from Daniel 10:1 to 11:1 presents the prelude to Daniel's final vision, which sweeps over the time in history from Daniel's day to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation.  

Daniel received a special visit from the pre-incarnate Christ, which tells us that the prophetic vision Daniel would receive is of great importance.  The appearance of the Lord caused Daniel to be so stunned, he had no strength in him and collapsed in a faint.  The hand that reached down to lift him up belonged to an angel (possibly Gabriel), who then proceeded to tell Daniel about the 21 days of spiritual warfare he had in the heavenlies with "the prince of the kingdom of Persia" until "Michael, one of the chief princes" came to help him (10:10-13).

This is a very interesting lesson on the warfare that takes place in the atmospheric heavens, where Satan is "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), between the fallen angels and the holy angels.  Learn about the hierarchy that exists among the angelic host (i.e. principalities, powers, thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities) and why Ephesians 6:12 is definitely true, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places".

The saddest tragedy to ever occur for Israel was when she missed the prophetically foretold day of her long awaited Messiah's arrival.  It was not the day of His birth in Bethlehem.  It was not the day of His baptism in the Jordan.  It was not even the day He officially began His public ministry by suddenly appearing in Jerusalem, going straight to the Temple, and single-handedly cleansing it (another clear fulfillment of Messianic prophecy).  None of those events were specifically predicted to the very day of their occurrence by God through one of His prophets.  No, the super-tragic day for Israel was when she failed to "do the math" with Daniel's "Great 70 Weeks' Prophecy" and, therefore, missed the proof of His Identity as "Messiah the Prince" which He presented to her on Palm Sunday.  Because of her failure to receive Him as her spiritual King on Palm Sunday, she ended up crucifying Him on Passover Thursday (see our podcast on why Christ died on Passion week Thursday).

Not only does this great prophecy predict Messiah's arrival, but also His death, and Jerusalem's coming destruction following His death (which did, indeed, occur in A.D. 70).  Furthermore, we discuss the one remaining "week" of seven years for God's overall redemptive program for Israel.  That last "week" is the seven-year Tribulation Period (Revelation 6 to 19)!  Daniel's prophecy, given in the Fifth Century B.C., also predicted the horrific covenant agreement Israel will make with the Antichrist, the abomination of desolation he will commit in the Tribulation Temple, and, also, the destruction of the Antichrist (yeah!). 

This is the most important Old Testament prophecy for you to know - not only to strengthen your confidence concerning Christ's identity as we look back in history, but to strengthen your confidence concerning His plan for the future, which He will fulfill as assuredly and as literally as He assuredly and literally fulfilled all the prophecies relative to His First Coming.  Amen.

Did you know Jewish rabbis do not want their people reading "The Great 70 Weeks' Prophecy" of Daniel 9:24-27?  Listen to the words of an ancient rabbinic curse (Talmudic Law p. 987, Section 2, Line 28; also Talmud Sanhedrin 97b, Soncino ed, p. 659), "May the bones of the hands and the bones of the fingers decay and decompose, of him who turns the pages of the book of Daniel, to find out the time of Daniel 9:24-27, and may his memory rot from off the face of the earth forever".  Pretty harsh words of warning NOT to study this passage of Scripture!  Why?  Because "The Great 70 Weeks' Prophecy" is the GREATEST PROPHETIC PROOF that JESUS IS THE PROMISED MESSIAH of Israel . . . and Saviour of mankind.

In this lesson, we set the stage for this amazing prophecy.  Hang in there and listen attentively (and then procede to listen to Lesson #34).  This prophecy is so very crucial to a proper comprehension of eschatology (a study of end times).  A person should always "have a handle" on this prophecy before studying the Book of Revelation! A proper understanding of this all-important prophecy refutes the prevalent teaching of Replacement Theology (that God has replaced Israel with the Church; also called "Supersessionism")!  A proper understanding of this fantastic prophecy gives STRONG evidence for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church!  Furthermore, as stated above, this marvelous prophecy, given to one of the godliest prophets who ever lived (Daniel), provides irrefutable evidence as to the identity of the True Messiah, and He is the One Who presented Himself to Israel on Palm Sunday, which was the very day predicted in this INCREDIBLE PROPHECY (see also our 3 lessons on "The King's Triumphant Entry" on this podcast).

This study is from our "Caldwell Commentary" series.  "Daniel; An Extra-ordinary Servant of God in Extra-Ordinary Times, Extra-ordinary Prophecies" (available at www.scripturetruth.com).

Prayer is the believer's amazing privilege to get involved in God's program for man and history.  In Daniel's powerful prayer of chapter 9, he teaches by his example great truths about effectual, fervent prayer.  Learn how Daniel's entire prayer - his confessions, his praises, and his petitions - were all in complete harmony with Who God is.  He did not express any opinions or bring up any issues or needs that contradicted God's Person or purposes.

God's messenger angel, Gabriel, told Daniel he was "greatly beloved".  It is well worth the time to study the man Daniel - his person, passion, purposed-heart, and prayer life - for who among us would not love to hear the Lord call us His "greatly beloved"?

One of the greatest men of prayer in Biblical history was Daniel.  We can learn much about fervent, effectual prayer - as well as being a righteous "man" - from him.  He prayed faithfully three times daily, even when doing so meant a lions' den!  Daniel studied Scripture (e.g. the scrolls of Jeremiah) to align his prayers with the Lord's revealed will.  An interesting fact about the super-powerful prayer of Daniel (9:1-19) is 72% of it was confessional. In contrast, we spend about 72% of our prayers in making requests! 

Daniel knew he and his people had no one to blame but themselves for their shameful state as captives in Babylon.  He repeatedly acknowledged Israel at fault for turning from God and ignoring His many warnings of impending judgment if she didn't repent and turn from her wicked ways.  Her sins were worse because she knew better!  

Learn why Daniel's prayer received immediate results, though God's messenger was delayed by a spiritual battle in the heavenlies!  The amazing answer to Daniel's prayer was the most extensive prophetic prophecy in the Old Testament - one you must study: "The Great Seventy Weeks' Prophecy" (see this podcast for Daniel lessons 33 and 34 on that amazing prophecy).

 

This lesson on Daniel 8:15-27.  

IMPORTANT LESSON on the last fierce king of the last Gentile Kingdom, the Antichrist.

Learn what Hanukkah is all about - very fascinating!  

Who is the "Little Horn"?  Find out.

This lesson is on Daniel 8:11-14.  

This lesson is on Daniel 8:1-10.  With chapter 8, we begin to look at the third section of Daniel which we have entitled, "Daniel Prophetic History of Israel".  The prophetic vision of Daniel 8 begins with the conflict of the two world powers that would sequentially follow Babylon (Medo-Persia and Greece), but the focus then narrows down to the specific persecution to occur in a small place on the map called Judah.  In Daniel 7, we learn about the coming "little horn" of the last days - the Antichrist, who will arise from a revived form of Ancient Rome.  In Daniel 8, we learn much about another "little horn" who came out of the Greek Empire to serve as a prophetic type of evil character and actions of the end-times' Antichrist.

This lesson is on Daniel 7:15-28 and it deals with the divine interpretation of Daniel's God-given dream about the prophetic history of the Gentile nations (from the time of the ancient Babylonian Empire to the Revived Roman Empire of the Antichrist).  Daniel received the dream, but wanted to know more about it from the Lord!  When a person genuinely seeks to know and understand more about God and His plans and purposes, and when he sincerely wants to know Bible prophecy, the Lord honors that seeking soul.  The title for this lesson, "Seeking Truth" is on that very subject.

We look at Daniel's piercing reaction to the prophetic visions of his dream (7:15), his probing requests for further understanding of the dream (7:16-27), and his pensive response to the interpretive answers (from a heavenly sent messenger) he received (7:28).

Learn about the fourth beast and the ten kings who arise from his head - and the eleventh king (also called "the little horn").

The God-given dream of Daniel chapter 7 presents progressive revelation about that great day of transition from the kingdoms of men on earth to the Kingdom of God on earth.  That final Kingdom will differ from all others for it will be ruled by the perfect love, justice, righteousness, and grace of the KING of Kings.  It will be a benevolent Theocracy.

In Lesson 25, we discussed Daniel's introduction to his own dream (7:1-3) and then we looked at the dreadful invasion of the various beast of the dream, which represented the successive Gentile kingdoms from ancient Babylon to the final kingdom of the Antichrist.  In this lesson, we discuss what Daniel's dream prophesied about the future time of Divine intervention on the entire anti-God, anti-Christ, anti-Israel, anti-Christian world system (represented by all the beasts).

There will be justice at last!

Daniel 7:1-8  Another God-sent, very important prophetic dream, which was this time given to Daniel.  It corresponded to King Nebuchadnezzar's God-sent dream of chapter 2, but rather than the Gentile world empires being pictured in the sequence downward of the body parts on a giant statue, they are portrayed as four successive beasts.  The primary difference in the two dreams is that the pagan king (Nebuchadnezzar) was shown the course of the Gentile kingdoms as the world sees them - almost godlike in their power (with their massive armies, glorious monuments, impressive cities, and dazzling riches).  To the world, these mighty powers are titanic "idols" to be placed on pedestals and worshipped (which Nebuchadnezzar did in chapter 3 and as the Antichrist will do during the final Gentile world power).  So, Daniel chapter 2 saw the world powers from the humanistic view.

Daniel chapter 7, however, views these same world powers from God's perspective, and, to Him, they are like a procession of increasingly bloodthirsty beasts of prey, dreadful to behold in their immoral appetites, willful blindness to the truth, carnal, callous brutality toward their fellow man, and cruel animosity toward the Jewish people.  

The greatest "test" of Daniel's life was "The Lions' Den Test" - but perhaps the greater miracle of that true account was not his preservation from the lions, but his perseverance in prayer!  Knowing the consequence he would face (lion food) if he persisted in his daily routine of praying to El Elyon, the Most High God, yet he flung open his window, faced East toward Jerusalem, got on his knees, and prayed knowing his jealous enemies could see him.  How's that for a non-compromising, stedfast, courageous faith?

In a very real sense, Israel's destiny (as with America today) was decided in the prayer rooms of Daniel and the other faithful Jews in Babylon.  Human responsibility mysteriously works together with God's Sovereign will.  The great spiritual battle for Daniel took place and was won on his knees before an open window - not in the lions' den!  Daniel was willing to yield his body in the den, but, before an open window, he yielded his will (much like Christ in Gethsemane).

Remember:  God sometimes chooses to keep us safe in the lions' den, but not safe from the lions' den!  We, today, could substitute the words "Corona Virus" for "lions' den".  It brings the Lord more glory when He saves us in our troubles than when He saves us from our troubles!

No matter how often you may have read or studied your way through the true account of Daniel's in the lions' den, there are always new depths, insights, and personal applications to discover.  That will very likely be the case as you engage with us in this in-depth two-part study on the famous Daniel chapter 6.

The setting for the "lions' den" episode is in the new Medo-Persian Empire.  The "lion king" was Darius the Mede (vassal king over the city of Babylon).  Daniel was the pre-eminent president serving under the king, who liked and trusted Daniel - but allowed his ego to trap him by signing a decree that put Daniel in serious danger if he continued to pray to the Most High God, which he did (faithfully, three times a day, as he always did).  Daniel is an extra-ordinary man - we all can learn so much for his prayer life and his commitment to God!  His life definitely revealed the reality of his faith.  It is in this lesson that he really encountered his true enemies, and they weren't the ravenous lions; they were the ravenous liars (the tools of Satan)!

First John 5:13 is likely the most important verse in the entire epistle, for it is John’s summary statement as to the central purpose for it. He had other reasons (see Part 1 and Part II on our podcast), but his ultimate objective  is that every true believer be confident is his or her salvation.

Assurance of salvation is for the here and now; it is not something only attained when we leave this world and then find out we made it! Faith is not something we are always hoping to grasp "enough of" in order to “make it” in the end.  We can have confident faith right now. Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.  As God’s children, we are to know we have been saved. The word know means absolute assurance. The words “know, knoweth, or known” appear 38 times in this short epistle.

Can a believer really know the joy (abundant life) of the Lord without being perfectly certain he has eternal life – and cannot ever lose it?  Not really, for it is to live in doubt and even fear. As the Puritan Thomas Brooks wrote, “Assurance is the believer’s ark where he sits, Noah-like, quiet and still in the midst of all distractions and destructions, commotions and confusions . . .”  Isaiah 32:17 tells us that where God imputes righteousness in a believer, the effect of that righteousness is peace (“quietness”) “and assurance forever”.

There is no reason for a genuine believer to be on his way to Heaven in a kind of mist – hoping he or something or someone else doesn’t cause “the ark” to sink into the judgment waters of God’s wrath! The ark is Christ! If you entered it, He closed the door – and what He closes is secure and no one can open! He is the Good Shepherd Who promised “He that cometh to Me, I shall in no wise cast out”.

IMPORTANT STUDY! We examine many reasons for why believers doubt their salvation - including the fact that many have been wrongly taught that they can lose it!  Many many passages of Scripture teach the exact opposite and we look at a lot of them! 

Seventy percent of the world’s population today is non-Christian, and even among the 30% who label themselves under the broad umbrella of “Christendom,” only 7.9% are evangelical.  The Lord Jesus said, “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).  The tragic truth is that many who think they are “Christian” will one day hear Him say, “I never knew you; depart from Me” (7:23). This is why the Apostle Paul tells us in II Corinthians 13:5 we are to examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith. He says we are to prove or to test our own selves – if we are in Christ. That is likewise exactly what John essentially invites us to do in his first epistle.  He presents us with a kind of series of self-examination “tests” by which we may know that our salvation is genuine; whether it is authentic and not artificial; whether we truly "possess" the indwelling Holy Spirit or merely "profess" to know Christ. 

Presented from the epistle of First John are such self-examination "tests" as the 1. Belief in the Full Deity and Full Humanity of Christ Test, 2. The Life Test, 3. Fellowship Test, 4. The Sensitive to Sin Test, 5. The Obedience Test, 6. Reject Evil World Test, 7. The Maranatha Mindset Test, 8. Ministry of the Holy Spirit Test, 9. Love the Brethren Test, 10. Answered Prayer Test, and 11. Suffer Rejection Test. 

This self-examination series of tests may well be the most important introspection of yourself you ever make! Be absolutely sure you have eternal life through faith in the one way Divinely provided for man to be forgiven and thoroughly cleansed of sin, and that "Way" is Jesus Christ, the God/Man, our Kinsman-Redeemer Saviour Who laid down His life and shed His sin-atoning blood for our sake.

In this lesson, we discuss many interesting subjects regarding the first epistle of the Apostle John, including why he was called both a "Son of Thunder" and "The Apostle of Love," and how both titles are evident in his writing. We discuss why boldness for truth and compassionate love need to go "hand-in-hand" in every believer's life and testimony for Christ.

We take a jet-tour look at John's life before, during, and after his physical time spent with "the Word of life" - Jesus. We also speculate on the reason John outlived the other Apostles - as well as how each of those other men was so horrifically martyred for their rock-solid faith in the Gospel Truth of Christ's sin-atoning death, His burial, and third-day bodily resurrection!

We spend time explaining the various lies that false teachers had begun infiltrating into the Early Church, and why John was so intense in his warnings against such "antichrists". Included, also, is our discussion about having full-joy fellowship with God, His Son, and one another in spite of difficult circumstances. 

To explain up-front, this is not an exegetical (verse-by-verse) look at the Apostle John's first epistle; rather, it is an overview of the main purposes of the book (full-joy fellowship, holiness, discernment, salvation assurance). This study was done in a setting that was inter-active - meaning with questions and answers from the attendee/participants. Since their readings of Bible passages, answers to my questions, and other comments could not be heard on our audio recording, we had to make some "cuts" and "pastes," which accounts for the rougher places in this audio.  Sorry,  

Daniel chapter 5 contains the downward spiritual journey of the last king (Belshazzar) of the ancient Babylonian Empire - it is also a microcosmic, prophetic picture of the downward spiritual journey of the whole anti-God, Israeli-oppressive world system.  As the proud young king rejected the testimony of his grandfather (Nebuchadnezzar) about the truth of Daniel's Most High God and had not sought wisdom from God's true "wise man," Daniel during all the years of his rule - preferring to trust in his false "gods" and the flattering false counsel of his foolish young peers, so has gone world history.  As Belshazzar, his lords and their women fulfilled the lust of their flesh and deceived themselves into thinking that "peace and safety" prevailed within their Babylonian fortress, the fact was that their enemies were in the very process of infiltrating the city!  

Since Babylon's fall the night of Belshazzar's foolish feast, the world's nations and people groups have likewise foolishly neglected to keep out the great thief, Satan.  They have fallen prey to his many "alluring tricks" that numb their minds from the truth of the perilous condition without God.  Every ruler, nation, and individual without Him in, like Belshazzar, "one hour" from sudden destruction.

The arrogant, degenerate young King Belshazzar of Babylon had directly challenged God by using the holy vessels stolen from God's House (the Temple in Jerusalem) to praise his worthless chunks of metal, wood, and stone that his pagan culture called "gods".  Putting his ridiculous "gods" against the all-powerful Supreme God was extremely foolish and met with an immediate, very frightening response!  Supernatural fingers appeared from out of nowhere to write a cryptic message on the candlestick illuminated plaster wall near the king's throne!  Belshazzar's drunken red face instantly turned deathly white.  His knees knocked together in total fear.  Not a single idol-worshipper in his kingdom could interpret the message.  So, finally the king met Daniel, whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar.  

Learn the mysteries of "The Handwriting on the Wall," for they are fascinating and rich in meaning.  Remember this: God not only numbers our days, He weighs our lives!  

In Daniel chapter 25, which is the record of events that took place 25 years after King Nebuchadnezzar's public testimony to the greatness of the Most High God (see 4:2, 37), we meet Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, Belshazzar.  He turned out to be the final king of the ancient Babylonian Empire.  He was a degenerate, drunken fool, who learned nothing from the experience of his grandfather.  He brazenly desecrated the Temple vessels of God in drunken toasts made to his false "gods" with all his young and equally foolish and immoral peers.  It marked the end of him and the end of the Babylonian Empire.  Everything ended abruptly in one night, just as Mystery Babylon the Great and the king of the final Gentile world empire will come crashing down in one day (Revelation 14:8; 18:8).

Will post a blurb on this lesson on Daniel 4:28-37 at a later time.

This lesson is about King Nebuchadnezzar's great humiliation, as he lived like an ox in the field for seven years, after he claimed for himself glory that belongs only to God.  It is also on the king's great humiliation, when he lived like an ox in the field for 7 years after having claimed for himself the glory that belongs only to God.

Daniel 4:19-27

Telling the most powerful man on earth he is about to be "cut down" is not the most desirable aspect of the "job description" of a prophet, who doubled as a prime minister, but that was exactly what God required of Daniel.  As soon as Daniel heard Nebuchadnezzar's second God-given dream, his God-given gift of dream interpretation "kicked in," for he knew what it meant.  It predicted great shame and disgrace for the king, and Daniel had come to love the king - as chapter 4 shows us. 

Learn about the meaning of the great tree of Nebuchadnezzar's dream and the significance of it being cut down and trimmed, but leaving the stump with the roots in the ground.  Find out the judgment, purpose, and  hope of the dream and listen to Daniel give personal counsel to the king; that counsel was essentially this: "King, you have one of two choices.  You can either humble yourself before the Most High God and accept His grace, or you can experience great humbling for 7 years".  

What did the mighty king decide to do?  Listen and find out.

 

Daniel 4:1-18.  It will surprise many to find that Daniel chapter 4 is one of the great love stories of Scripture!  How in the world can the account of the fall of a mighty king be considered a love story?  The answer is simple, for this is the record of God demonstrating His merciful, unconditional love on an arrogant king until that man was humbled and became a true believer in Him (YHWH)!  This is the climax of King Nebuchadnezzar's spiritual journey.  The first four chapters of  Daniel present (along with other great truths) the workings of Sovereign God in the heart of a lost man, who happened to be the most powerful man on earth at that time.  You will love this love story!

The grande finale!  You DO NOT want to miss this exciting end to the account of Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, who were cast into the fiery furnace for their steadfast obedience to God's command to not bow before any other "god".  Lo and behold, they were not instantly "turned to toast"!  In fact, they were so completely protected and preserved from the flames of great tribulation, there was not even the smell of smoke upon them!  Their greatest blessing, however, was that they enjoyed fellowship with none other than the preincarnate Son of God, Who was in the furnace with them!

Did you know those three Hebrews are picture-types of the 144,000 sealed, believing Jews of the "fiery furnace" Tribulation days?  Where was Daniel in this story?  Why wasn't he among the three who would not bow to an idol (the Antichrist will also set up an idol of himself and force the world to bow to it)?  For sure, if Daniel had been there, he would not have bowed or budged - and then, like his friends, he would not have burned.  Daniel was not present because he pictured believing Jews of the Church, and the Church will not be thrown into the fiery furnace of the Tribulation Period on earth (see our podcast on the Rapture, under the tag "Revelation and End Times").

This is the continuing account of the three brave, bold, and purposed-to-stand for the True God young men King Nebuchadnezzar tried to force to bow before the golden image (of himself).  Although literally thousands obeyed the king's command and bowed low before the colossal idol, those three alone stood tall.  Even when given a second opportunity to avoid the horrible consequence for disobedience to the king's decree, they refused to budge. 

Nebuchadnezzar went into a wild rage!  How could anyone dare to refuse his command - and do so in the face of being instantly turned into a crispy critter in a fiery furnace!  How could they possibly be so confident in their God that they could say to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king" (Daniel 3:16b, 17)?  There would be "No Budging" with these guys! 

 

This is the first of three messages on three VERY brave and VERY committed believers in Almighty God, and we like to use their godly Hebrew names:  Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael.  How often are our decisions, attitudes, and behavior determined by either external or internal pressures?  We do what we do and we say what we say based either on inner convictions or external pressures.  Most people yield to external pressures in order to "fit in" with their prevalent culture or their peers.  But these Hebrew young men functioned entirely on internal principle!  They did not care what external pressures were used to get them to compromise their convictions, they refused to cave (and the pressure was death in a fiery furnace - talk about extreme pressure).  

Thus, this first lesson on the true account of the three Hebrews in "The Fiery Furnace Test" is entitled, "No Bowing!".  The lesson to follow (Lesson 15) is called, "No Budging!" and the third in this series (Lesson 16) is called, "No Burning!"  They are informative and very convicting lessons, and you will absolutely admire these great examples of Christlikeness in times of crisis.

In concluding his interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's God-given dream prophecy, Daniel spoke of the Stone cut out without human hands that came from the sky and smashed the colossal image on its feet and toes.  The entire statue, representing the whole godless world system, came crashing down, broken into pieces that became like chaff which the wind carried away.  The Stone then became a great mountain that filled the whole earth.

The Stone is the Lord Jesus at His Second Coming.  The great mountain is His Kingdom on earth, known as the Millennial Kingdom.

Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan, was overwhelmed with all he heard from Daniel, and he fell on his face before him!  He even acknowledged that the God of the Hebrews was greater than "the gods" of Babylon, who were unable to help their "wise men" at all when it came to revealing and interpreting the dream.  Daniel was given the position of chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon!  It was the equivalent of being made Prime Minister!  Thus, at a young age, and a recent stranger to and captive of the great golden Babylonian Empire, Daniel was exalted to the highest position of honor that could be conferred on a subject of the king.  He was going to have a tremendous influence on the king.

nKing Nebuchadnezzar learned from Daniel that his God-sent dream of a huge image represented successive kingdoms, beginning with him (Babylon, the head of gold).  The various body parts and metallic substances perfectly symbolized each of the four Gentile kingdoms directly involved with Israel in the period of time known as "The Times of the Gentiles".  From Daniel's time in the Sixth Century B.C., all the kingdoms of the image except Babylon were yet-future; from our time in history, there is only one kingdom represented on the statue (by the feet and toes) that yet awaits fulfillment - that final Gentile kingdom is the subject of this lesson on Daniel 2:41-44.

We discuss some very interesting things in this lesson, such as the connection between the ancient Roman Empire and a Revived form of it in the days of the Antichrist (the most dreadful beast this world will have ever seen).  We discuss the push today for A New World Order (by such global think-tanks as the Club of Rome, the Trilateral Commission, the Committee of 300, the Bilderberg Group, the European Union), which is why there is such a demand for globalism and a growing disdain for nationalism (nations with border).

This is the beginning of Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's God-given prophetic dream.  The colossal image of the dream corporately represents the whole, anti-God world system; the various parts of the image represent four successive now-past Gentile Kingdoms - which were yet-future (except for the head of gold, representing Babylon) at the time of Daniel.  The four Gentile kingdoms are: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.  The feet and toes of the image represent the yet-future kingdom of the Antichrist.

The image represents what is called "The Times of the Gentiles"; the timeline of this amazing dream-prophecy is from the Babylonian Captivity to the Return of Christ at the end of the Tribulation!  This prophecy perfectly aligns with the Book of Revelation, which is yet another proof of the Divine Authorship of the entire Scripture.

If you want God's perspective on history, you really need to have a good understanding of this very important prophetic dream!  History comes alive when it is seen from God's eyes!

Daniel reveals the content of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which presents the blueprint for all Biblical eschatology!  Concisely stated, the dream is about "A Statue and A Stone"!  In this lesson, we look at the statue's description, the statue's devolution, the statue's destruction, and the Stone's dominion!

Learn how the giant colossus of Nebuchadnezzar's God-sent dream disavows (refutes) the evolutionist's worldview of science and history!

In this lesson on the Prophet Daniel and his providential intervention the night King Nebuchadnezzar had a (God-given) disturbing dream, which nobody could interpret (because he did not tell them what it was), we learn incredibly important lessons on being "Christlike in a Crisis".  It truly was a crisis; Nebuchadnezzar threatened to cut into pieces all his "wisemen" and turn their homes into dunghills if they could not interpret his dream.  Daniel and his 3 Hebrew friends were included among those to be "diced" and "dunged".

What do we learn from Daniel?  Well, we learn about having honorable courage in a time of crisis.  We learn to face a crisis with not only courage, but prayer!  Before going boldly, but reverentially, before the raging king, Daniel and his fellow believers communicated their dilemma to Almighty God.  

Daniel kept close to the Lord even in a foreign land, separated from family, and saturated in a pagan culture.  He kept close to the Lord in the face of grave danger, and the result was God gave him wisdom, discernment, peace, godly abilities, and courage in the midst of a crisis.  He will do so for us, too, when we live by faith.  Remember, God's best works are revealed in impossible situations because then He alone gets the glory!  

The questions answered in Daniel chapter 2 (which we discuss from this lesson through lesson 13) are questions mankind in general asks:  What does the future of the world look like?  Will there ever be a day of peace, harmony, and prosperity among the nations?  Will lawlessness, immorality, violence, wars, envies, and injustices always dominate the world scene?  Will there ever be a day when righteousness and a true spirit of brotherhood among men prevail?  Will peace on earth, good will toward men ever be a reality?

In Daniel chapters 2 through 7, the future and destiny of the nations are foretold.  In chapter 2, God revealed - through a dream He sent to King Nebuchadnezzar - that the Gentile nations will rise and fall, seeking always to dominate one another economically and militarily.  This will continue through the time of the Antichrist, who will dominate the entire world for a few years, until his global reign is abruptly ended by the Return of Christ to establish God's Kingdom on earth.

Learn of the dreamy insomnia of Babylon's king, the impossible demand he made of his "wise men" as a result of a disturbing dream, the defense those "wise men" tried to make to the irrational king as to how impossible his request was (tell him his dream and interpret it), and the incensed decree he then issued - that they would all be "cut in pieces" if they did not come through for him!

Lesson from Daniel 1:8-21, in which we discuss Daniel's daring proposal to have the king's "meat and wine" replaced (for him and his three friends) with "pulse and water" for ten days.  Daniel was so determined not to disobey God's dietary laws, he risked offending the king himself with his request.  He was confident the Lord would bless their obedience by making them healthier in appearance than all the other young captives who compromised by eating the Babylonian delicacies - and He did!  

If there is one thing this world (caught up in pandemic panic and fear of death and/or financial ruin) desperately needs, it is men, women, and young people like Daniel, the servant of the Most High God!  For centuries, Daniel has stood as an extraordinary example of solid faith, uncompromising spirit, steadfast conviction (based on God's Holy Word), boldness for his God, yet with kindness and compassion to all, even his enemies.  He remains an extraordinary example of Christlikeness to us today.  This study reminds us to stand tall for God, to speak out for God, and to absolutely trust God as we, too, "Dare to be a Daniel in Difficult Days"!

It may be hard to believe, but this entire lesson is on half of one verse in Scripture (Daniel 1:8a)!  Tune-in and learn how there could be so much to say about Daniel's "Purposed Heart".  Hopefully, you will also purpose in your heart to do that which is right in God's eyes, regardless of the popular trends or the potential danger doing so may bring!  The world needs a lot more "Daniels"!!

There are consequences to disobeying God's commandments, which is what Israel encountered in the Babylonian Captivity for having turned to the worship of idols, embracing "the queen of heaven cult," and disobeying the Law of the Sabbatic year.  The captivity was used to purge His people, and Babylon certainly had a way of sifting "the tares" from "the wheat" and causing the godly "wheat" to grow stronger in their faith!  

In this lesson, we discuss the clever indoctrination program of King Nebuchadnezzar concerning the teen-aged young men of Judah's royal family taken in the First Exile to Babylon.  His plan was to mold the youth of conquered nations into full-fledged Babylonian citizens, who would be loyal and dedicated servants to him and his kingdom.  Those who exhibited extra leadership and character skills were given special training in what we have called "The Babylonian Brainwashing Academy".  Among those selected for this 3-year school to melt-down and remold the captive, royal youth into palace administrators for the king were Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael.  The plan was to get the roughly 60 Hebrew lads to join the Babylonian lifestyle, because it is a huge step toward then succumbing to the Babylonian philosophy and religion.  

As we proceed in our study of the Book of Daniel, we will see how Daniel and his three friends "scored" in the Brainwashing Academy and in God's much more important Character/Compromise Test!

 

The Book of Daniel begins in the year 605 B.C. with the First Exile of Jews from Judah to Babylon, ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar.  Included in the first group of captives snatched from their families, homeland, and culture was the young teen, Daniel.   In this lesson, we discuss Daniel's Personal History.  We also again address an issue the critics of the Book of Daniel make regarding a seeming contradiction in the dating of the reign of King Jehoiakim's reign between Jeremiah and Daniel.  The matter is easily resolved!

We also take a look at Nebuchadnezzar, the Conquering King used by God to carry out His chastisement on Judah.  Then, we will also look at the Cultural Contrasts between Jerusalem and Babylon.  Concluding, we look at the Captives' Qualities (the characteristics of the young men, like Daniel, who were taken in the First Exile - and why they were chosen by the Babylonian king).