Participants:
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW025293S
|
00:15 ♪[music ends]♪♪
00:20 >>John Bradshaw: There's a 2,500-year-old story 00:23 in Daniel, chapter 5 that speaks directly 00:27 to the final days of earth's history. 00:29 The story introduces us to a new king. 00:31 Nebuchadnezzar is dead by now, and his grandson, 00:34 now sitting on the throne, has a terrifying experience 00:39 when he sees the writing on the wall. 00:42 This story is the story of the downfall of Babylon. 00:48 [whoosh] 00:49 ♪[orchestral music swells]♪ 00:51 [tinkling sound of wind-blown sand] 00:52 [whoosh, distant bell rings] 00:57 [wind blowing, sand swishing] 01:00 Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by his son, Evil-Merodach, 01:04 which doesn't mean he was evil, although one historian 01:07 did write that the man reigned "unjustly and lewdly." 01:12 Evil-Merodach is an anglicized version of his name, 01:15 Amel-Marduk, "man of Marduk." 01:18 That means he was named after the supreme god 01:21 in Babylon's pantheon of gods. 01:24 Other than what we read about him in the Bible, 01:26 there isn't a lot known about him. 01:28 He's the man who released Jehoiakim, king of Judah, 01:32 after Jehoiakim had spent 37 years in a Babylonian prison. 01:37 Amel-Marduk was assassinated and was later replaced 01:40 by Nabonidus, who went to Arabia. 01:43 Now, for years critics of the Bible claimed 01:45 that the book of Daniel was in error 01:48 when it referred to Belshazzar as king, as Nabonidus was king. 01:54 Adding to the puzzle is that there's little to be found 01:57 about Belshazzar outside the Bible, 01:59 which shouldn't surprise anyone, 02:02 as any records would be 2,500 years old 02:05 and inscribed on clay tablets-- 02:07 not easy to find, especially given that Babylon 02:10 was systematically destroyed over hundreds of years. 02:15 Higher critics--ignoring Daniel 2, Daniel 7, 02:18 and Daniel 9, strong evidence for the veracity 02:21 of the book of Daniel--asserted that the name Belshazzar 02:24 was an invention and that the book of Daniel 02:27 was written in the second century AD. 02:31 And then, what do you know, the Cylinder of Nabonidus, 02:35 now in the British Museum, was translated, 02:38 and it states that Nabonidus entrusted the kingship 02:42 to his oldest son, which is Belshazzar. 02:47 Daniel was right. 02:49 Belshazzar was a co-regent with his father, Nabonidus. 02:53 Astronomer Carl Sagan is credited with saying, 02:55 the "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." 02:59 And it pays to remember that when dealing with archaeology. 03:02 Under Belshazzar's rule Babylon began to decline. 03:06 At the same time the Persian king, Cyrus the Great, 03:09 was growing in power. 03:10 Cyrus and his army marched towards Babylon 03:13 and were at the gates of Babylon 03:15 at the time the events of Daniel 5 unfolded. 03:18 The chapter starts, "Belshazzar the king made a great feast 03:22 "for a thousand of his lords, 03:24 and drank wine in the presence of the thousand." 03:27 A colossal mistake-- Belshazzar was partying 03:32 while there was an enemy literally at his gates. 03:36 His judgment was impaired 03:38 because alcohol impairs a person's judgment, 03:41 which leads to terrible outcomes. 03:44 Crime, immorality, lust, and anger--and more-- 03:48 are fueled by alcohol consumption. 03:52 Experts will tell you alcohol is terrible for your health. 03:55 The MD Anderson Cancer Center says, "About 5.5% 03:59 "of all new cancer diagnoses and 5.8% of all deaths 04:03 "from cancer are attributed to drinking alcohol, 04:07 according to the National Institutes of Health." 04:10 Didn't Jesus drink wine? 04:12 No, Jesus drank grape juice. 04:14 Didn't they drink wine in the Bible? 04:16 Yes, and some had multiple wives, and many owned slaves. 04:21 The fact that some drank wine then 04:23 doesn't mean Christians should do the same today. 04:26 Belshazzar was getting drunk. 04:28 Never wise, always harmful, and if that's you, 04:32 you can stop because God is able to give you the victory. 04:38 If you're thinking of cutting back, 04:39 keep in mind that the World Health Organization says, 04:42 "When it comes to alcohol consumption, 04:44 there is no safe amount that does not affect health." 04:48 In other words, if you're going to cut back, 04:50 cut back to zero, or else you're doing yourself real harm. 04:54 Belshazzar's drunkenness spurred him to make a reckless decision. 04:59 He "gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels 05:02 "which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple 05:05 "which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, 05:07 his wives, and his concubines might drink from them." 05:11 When Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem, 05:14 "The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, 05:17 "with some of the articles of the house of God, 05:19 "which he carried into the land of Shinar 05:21 "to the house of his god; and he brought the articles 05:24 into the treasure house of his god." 05:27 Now in a display of brazen defiance, 05:30 Belshazzar had God's own holy items brought out 05:34 so he and his friends could drink alcohol out of them 05:37 while they praised false gods, and God wasn't having it. 05:42 You know, this is really a serious warning. 05:45 You can play with God, you can keep God waiting, 05:48 you can ignore God, 05:50 but there comes a time when your decision is irreversible. 05:54 People can get bold when they insult God 05:56 and God doesn't seem to do anything about it. 05:59 The wise man wrote, "Because the sentence against an evil work 06:02 "is not executed speedily, 06:04 "therefore the heart of the sons of men 06:06 is fully set in them to do evil." 06:08 That's Ecclesiastes 8, verse 11. 06:11 That's Solomon saying, 06:13 because things carry on as normal when some folks sin, 06:17 they continue in sin, and they harden toward God. 06:21 And that's where Belshazzar was. 06:25 He knew better. 06:26 He abused the mercy of God and turned it into license. 06:30 He was shaking his fist in God's face in open rebellion, 06:35 and God said, "Enough is enough." 06:38 It was time for the prophecy in Daniel 2 to be fulfilled. 06:41 Remember how the head of gold gave way 06:43 to the chest and arms of silver? 06:45 We're about to watch that play out in real time. 06:48 "Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken 06:51 "from the temple of the house of God which had been 06:53 "in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, 06:56 "and his concubines drank from them. 06:59 "They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, 07:04 bronze and iron, wood and stone." 07:07 The holy things of God were being used to honor the devil. 07:12 Belshazzar was going to use vessels that had been 07:15 specially made for the worship of the Creator God 07:19 to worship Marduk, as well as the gods of air, 07:22 water, love, fertility, and on and on. 07:26 But God intervened. 07:28 Now, this wasn't a matter of God losing His temper. 07:30 God had extended mercy to Belshazzar and had given light 07:34 to Belshazzar, but the Babylonian king was stating 07:37 he just was never going to respond to God's mercy. 07:42 So, "In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand 07:46 "appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand 07:48 "on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; 07:52 and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote." 07:55 And now we see something for the third time 07:58 in the book of Daniel. 08:00 When Belshazzar's grandfather had a dream 08:02 in Daniel, chapter 2, Daniel interpreted the dream. 08:05 The same thing happened in chapter 4. 08:08 Now, there's the mysterious writing on the wall. 08:11 Just as Nebuchadnezzar needed someone to interpret his dreams, 08:15 Belshazzar now needs someone to interpret 08:18 this communication from heaven. 08:20 His wise men couldn't do it, so the queen, 08:23 who was likely the queen mother, given that she refers 08:26 to what happened in the past, recommended Daniel be summoned. 08:30 She said that "light and understanding and wisdom, 08:33 like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him" 08:36 and that "an excellent spirt, knowledge, understanding, 08:39 "interpreting dreams, solving riddles, 08:42 and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel." 08:45 Daniel is older now. He's about 80. 08:48 The monarch promises Daniel, 08:50 "If you can read the writing and make known to me 08:53 "its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple 08:57 "and have a chain of gold around your neck, 08:59 and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." 09:02 But Daniel says, "Let your gifts be for yourself, 09:06 "and give your rewards to another; 09:08 "yet I will read the writing to the king, 09:11 and make known to him the interpretation." 09:13 In other words, "I'll interpret the dream, 09:16 but you can keep your money." 09:18 For Daniel, serving God was not about financial gain. 09:23 Then Daniel explained to Belshazzar 09:25 the history of his grandfather, 09:26 the great sovereign Nebuchadnezzar, 09:29 how God had given him "a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor." 09:33 He referenced the seven years 09:34 Nebuchadnezzar spent in the wilderness, 09:36 bereft of his right mind, living like an animal, 09:40 "till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, 09:44 and appoints over it whomever He chooses." 09:48 And look at what Daniel says next: 09:50 "But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, 09:56 although you knew all this." 09:59 He knew. 10:00 Daniel said, "You have lifted yourself up 10:02 against the Lord of heaven," 10:04 before recounting Belshazzar's wicked deeds: 10:07 using the holy worship vessels from the temple of God 10:10 in Jerusalem to honor and worship 10:13 and praise "the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, 10:17 "wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; 10:22 "and the God who holds your breath in His hand 10:24 and owns all your ways, you have not glorified." 10:28 When Nebuchadnezzar was convinced that the God of heaven 10:31 was the true God, he humbled himself. 10:35 Belshazzar refused to. 10:39 Now Daniel interprets the cryptic script 10:42 written on the wall in the presence of the partygoers 10:45 by the hand of God. 10:46 "It said, 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.'" 10:50 He told the king that "MENE" meant, 10:53 "God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it." 10:56 When God looked into his case, He found that Belshazzar 10:59 had chosen to harden his heart against God. 11:02 His kingdom was finished. 11:04 "TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, 11:08 and found wanting." 11:09 It's important to recognize every one of us 11:12 is going to experience what Belshazzar experienced. 11:14 That is, the Bible says, "Every knee [shall] bow," and 11:17 "every tongue [shall] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." 11:20 Paul wrote that "we must all appear before the judgment seat 11:24 of Christ," in 2 Corinthians, chapter 5. 11:27 If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Savior 11:29 and surrendered your life to Him, you still have time. 11:33 Don't wait until it's too late, because one day it will be. 11:38 God wants you to invite Him into your life now. 11:42 Then, "PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, 11:46 and given to the Medes and Persians." 11:50 It's over for Belshazzar-- and over for Babylon. 11:54 And then the king does something absurd, really. 11:56 Daniel has just told him that his kingdom is finished, 12:00 that Babylon had fallen, 12:02 and the king still "gave the command, and they clothed Daniel 12:05 "with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, 12:08 "and made a proclamation concerning him 12:10 that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom." 12:14 That poor, confused, misguided, and, I expect, fearful ruler 12:21 honored the man who just told him his kingdom 12:24 was going to be ripped away. 12:26 It was one of the last things he would ever do. 12:31 "That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, 12:35 was slain." 12:38 Now, I want you to see something incredibly important. 12:42 The fall of Babylon in the Old Testament book of Daniel 12:46 prefigures the fall of Babylon 12:49 in the New Testament book of Revelation. 12:52 Revelation borrows heavily from the Old Testament. 12:55 Around 70 percent of the verses in Revelation 12:58 contain quotes from or allusions to the Old Testament. 13:01 The Tree of Life in Revelation 22, 13:04 John got that from Ezekiel, chapter 47. 13:07 It appears John got the imagery for the four horses 13:09 in Revelation 6 from Zechariah, chapter 1. 13:13 And all through Revelation are references 13:15 to the Old Testament sanctuary services. 13:19 Where Revelation talks at length about Babylon, 13:21 that's drawn from ancient Babylon in the Old Testament, 13:25 which tells us that Babylon in the end of time will contain 13:29 many characteristics of ancient Babylon. 13:32 If you want to learn about Babylon in the end of time, 13:36 study Babylon in the Old Testament. 13:39 The fall of Babylon features prominently in Revelation. 13:43 Now, look at these parallels. 13:45 In Jeremiah 51:13, Babylon dwelled "by many waters." 13:50 In Revelation 17:1, Babylon, 13:52 the great apostate power of earth's last days, 13:54 is "the great harlot who sits on many waters." 13:59 Again in Jeremiah, Babylon is "abundant in treasures." 14:02 In Revelation 17:4, Babylon is "adorned with gold 14:06 and precious stones and pearls." 14:09 In Jeremiah 51:7, "Babylon was a golden cup 14:12 in the Lord's hand." 14:14 In Revelation 17:4, Babylon has "in her hand a golden cup." 14:19 In Jeremiah 51, verse 8, 14:21 "Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed." 14:25 In Revelation 14:8, 14:27 Babylon in the last days "is fallen, is fallen." 14:31 In Isaiah 47, Babylon says, "I shall be a lady forever.... 14:36 "I shall not sit as a widow, 14:38 nor shall I know the loss of children." 14:40 In Revelation 18:7, "I sit as queen, and am no widow, 14:45 and will not see sorrow." 14:47 Back in Jeremiah 51, "My people, go out of the midst of her!" 14:52 In Revelation 18:4, God says to His people in Babylon, 14:56 "Come out of her, my people." 14:58 Jeremiah 51:48, when Babylon falls, 15:01 "Then the heavens and the earth and all that is in them 15:04 shall sing joyously over Babylon." 15:07 Revelation 18:20, "Rejoice over her, O heaven, 15:11 and you holy apostles and prophets!" 15:13 Jeremiah 51:64, "Thus Babylon shall sink and not rise 15:19 from the catastrophe that I will bring upon her." 15:21 Revelation 18:21, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon 15:26 shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore." 15:30 In describing the great apostasy of the last days 15:34 of earth's history, John reaches back to ancient Babylon 15:38 and draws parallels. 15:41 Ancient Babylon was pagan and deep into spiritualism, 15:45 sun worship, and idolatry, with a corrupt priesthood 15:50 and enormous wealth and influence. 15:53 The great apostasy of earth's last days 15:55 will have many of these same characteristics. 15:59 God did everything He could to reach Babylon back then. 16:04 In Jeremiah 51, verse 9, the prophet says, 16:08 "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed." 16:12 So how was it that a city as mighty, 16:14 as powerful as Babylon fell? 16:18 It was the greatest city in the world 16:21 and thought to be impenetrable. 16:23 Two chariots could pass by each other 16:26 on the top of the city walls. 16:27 That's how broad those walls were. 16:30 The Euphrates River flowed right through Babylon, 16:33 much like the Danube flows through Budapest 16:36 or the Nile through Cairo. 16:39 In 539 BC, Cyrus wanted to conquer Babylon, 16:43 but how do you enter a city 16:45 surrounded by those massive walls? 16:48 The people of Babylon knew Cyrus was on his way 16:52 but weren't the least bit concerned, 16:53 believing they could wait out Cyrus 16:55 by holing up in their invulnerable city. 16:58 Not able to enter Babylon, 16:59 the brilliant strategist diverted the Euphrates River. 17:04 When the water level dropped, his soldiers marched through 17:08 knee-deep water and into the city. 17:12 Here's another thing about this amazing story: 17:14 It was predicted that Cyrus would lead the armies 17:18 of the Medes and Persians 150 years before he was born. 17:24 The book of Isaiah was written around 700 BC. 17:27 Babylon fell in 539 BC. 17:30 Isaiah wrote, "Who says to the deep, 'Be dry! 17:35 "And I will dry up your rivers'; who says of Cyrus, 17:39 "'He is my shepherd, and he shall perform all my pleasure, 17:43 "'saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built," 17:46 and to the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid."'" 17:49 Cyrus, you know, allowed the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 17:53 "Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, 17:57 "whose right hand I have held--to subdue nations 18:00 "before him and loose the armor of kings, 18:03 "to open before him the double doors, 18:06 so that the gates will not be shut." 18:10 A century and a half before he was even alive, 18:13 God named Cyrus as the man 18:15 who would lead the overthrow of Babylon. 18:18 Now, if God had promised years before that Babylon would fall 18:22 and even named the man 18:23 who would lead the armies into the city, 18:26 was God really giving Belshazzar the opportunity to repent? 18:30 Oh, absolutely. 18:31 The fact that God knew what was going to happen in the future 18:34 does not mean that He didn't give the king every opportunity. 18:38 Belshazzar wasn't doomed by the will of God. 18:41 He simply wouldn't repent, and God knew that. 18:45 And that says a lot about God. 18:48 He knew the king had a hard heart, 18:50 but He appealed to him anyway--like Judas. 18:54 The betrayal of Jesus by Judas was prophesied 18:57 more than 500 years ahead of time. 19:00 But Jesus appealed to Judas, giving him evidence 19:04 that He read his heart, even washing his feet. 19:08 So, with the fall of Babylon, the head of gold in the image 19:12 of Daniel 2 gave way to the chest and arms of silver. 19:15 This prediction was made in Jeremiah 51, verses 36 and 37: 19:20 "Therefore thus says the Lord: 'Behold, 19:23 "'I will plead your case and take vengeance for you. 19:27 "'I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry. 19:31 "'Babylon shall become a heap, a dwelling place for jackals, 19:35 an astonishment and a hissing, without an inhabitant.'" 19:40 Which seemed impossible. 19:43 Mighty Babylon? Desolate? 19:46 That prophecy was read in Babylon 55 years 19:50 before the fall of Babylon by Seraiah, a Jewish priest. 19:54 And here's something interesting. 19:56 It is, it is possible--now, there's some speculation here, 19:59 but it's possible--the Bible says Seraiah, 20:03 who was commissioned by Jeremiah to read this prophecy 20:06 in Babylon, went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah. 20:10 It's possible Zedekiah went to Babylon at that time 20:15 to attend the dedication of Nebuchadnezzar's image 20:18 on the plain of Dura when Daniel's three young friends 20:22 were cast into a fiery furnace. 20:25 Jeremiah wrote that Babylon "shall be desolate forever." 20:29 He said, "When you...[finish] reading this book,... 20:32 "tie a stone to it and throw it out into the Euphrates. 20:36 "Then you shall say, 'Thus Babylon shall sink and not rise 20:41 from the catastrophe that I will bring upon her.'" 20:44 When Alexander the Great attempted to rebuild Babylon, 20:48 he could not. Within a few hundred years, 20:50 Babylon was a ghost town, and it still is today. 20:56 We learned several things in this story. 20:58 We learned that when the Bible says, "God so loved the world," 21:01 it means the whole world, 21:03 even people like Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. 21:06 He did all He could to give both men everlasting life. 21:11 We learned that prophecy will be fulfilled. 21:13 The destruction of ancient Babylon was predicted by God, 21:16 and it happened just as God said. 21:20 We know that the fall of ancient Babylon is a precursor 21:24 to the fall of modern spiritual Babylon, 21:27 which will take place not too far into the future. 21:30 And we learn again that God does what He does 21:34 because He wants people to turn to Him in faith-- 21:38 not because He has an ego, 21:40 but because He is the source of life. 21:43 Of course He is. He's the Creator. 21:46 There is no life outside of God, other than what you can squeeze 21:50 out of your few short years 21:52 during the few passes you make around the sun. 21:56 And then what? 21:58 These stories are hugely consequential. 22:02 They show you that God is real, present, 22:06 that He cares about this world and the people in it, 22:09 that He cares about you. 22:13 Are you going to live your life 22:16 without inviting God to be part of it? 22:19 The God who made this world, 22:22 who preserved these remarkable stories, 22:25 who allowed His Son Jesus to die for you on a cross 22:29 is appealing to you now. 22:32 He's asking for your heart, and you can give Him that. 22:35 He's the one who knows history before it happens. 22:38 It doesn't matter what others think or say. 22:40 Daniel 5 is evidence of God's love for you. 22:46 Belshazzar didn't just refuse to repent. 22:51 He refused to repent while having irrefutable evidence 22:54 of the love and providence of God. 22:57 ♪[soft reflective music]♪ 22:59 You have that, too--in the sunset you witness every day, 23:04 in the majesty of mountains, the splendor of creation; 23:08 in the laughter of a child; 23:10 in the remarkable machinery of the human body, 23:13 your heart beating every couple of moments, 23:15 your brain constantly sending chemical and electrical signals 23:18 throughout your body; 23:20 and then the Bible, with its remarkable predictions. 23:24 We've seen today many of them fulfilled. 23:27 This book is the Word of God. 23:31 And then? The cross, where Jesus died for you. 23:37 The cross is the greatest argument in favor 23:40 of surrendering to God. 23:42 Jesus gave His life for you. 23:44 You have to respond to that. 23:46 And Jesus is coming back soon, 23:48 to take the saved to be with Him forever. 23:51 And you can be part of that, if you'll believe 23:54 that God is who He says He is, 23:57 if you choose to believe that Jesus died for you, 24:00 and if you'll allow Him to live His life in you right now-- 24:06 and from now on. 24:08 Daniel 5 ends, "And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, 24:14 being about sixty-two years old." 24:18 How is your story going to end? 24:21 It doesn't matter what's been in your past. 24:23 Your future, if you'll invite Jesus to be part of it, 24:27 is bright and eternal. 24:31 And I've written something with you in mind to help you 24:33 in your journey into the future with Jesus in your heart. 24:38 It's a resource that accompanies these presentations 24:40 on the first six chapters of Daniel. 24:43 It's absolutely free, 24:45 and you can get it right now. 24:47 >>male announcer: To get today's free offer, 24:48 "The Stories of Daniel," 24:50 call 800-253-3000. 24:53 That's 800-253-3000. 24:56 You can request "The Stories of Daniel" 24:58 online at iiwoffer.com. 25:01 You can write to the address on your screen 25:03 or text "freedaniel" to 71392. 25:07 "The Stories of Daniel," 25:09 faith-building stories given by God 25:11 to prepare you for the major events of earth's last days. 25:15 "The Stories of Daniel," 25:16 call 800-253-3000. 25:19 Go to iiwoffer.com 25:21 or text "freedaniel" to 71392. 25:25 Grow your faith as you prepare for the return of Jesus. 25:29 >>John: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 25:31 exists because of the kindness of people just like you. 25:35 To support this international life-changing ministry, 25:38 please call us now at 800-253-3000. 25:42 You can send your tax-deductible gift 25:44 to the address on your screen, 25:45 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 25:49 Thank you for your prayers and your financial support. 25:51 Our number again is 800-253-3000, 25:55 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 26:00 >>male announcer: Loving well is a way of life. 26:02 ♪[soft reflective music]♪ 26:04 And loving well means wanting the very best for others. 26:08 "Go ye therefore" becomes "I'll go, send me. 26:13 "Send me across the world or across town. 26:17 "Work in me to impact lives for such a time as this. 26:22 "And if I can't go myself, I want to send others 26:24 who can take the everlasting gospel to the world." 26:29 It Is Written's Office of Planned Giving 26:31 gives you the opportunity to leave a legacy, 26:35 to make a major impact for Christ, 26:38 to lead others to faith in Jesus in preparation for eternity. 26:43 Let God use you to enable others to go. 26:48 To learn more, visit hislegacy.com. 26:51 That's hislegacy.com. 26:56 ♪[music ends]♪♪ 27:00 >>John: Let me pray with you now. 27:01 Our Father in heaven, thank You for evidence 27:03 the Bible is trustworthy, reliable, true--truth. 27:09 We thank You today for the Christ of the Bible, 27:11 who's coming back soon for those who have welcomed Him 27:15 into their heart. 27:16 Friend, Jesus is speaking to you right now. 27:19 If you've never said, "Jesus, be my Lord and Savior," 27:21 would you pray that prayer now? 27:23 "Jesus, be my Lord and Savior. Live Your life in me. 27:28 Guide me into my eternal future." 27:31 Lord, we thank You for Your Word; 27:32 we thank You that it is clear. 27:33 We thank You that the past illuminates the future, 27:36 and that shortly into the future, 27:38 Jesus is coming back to take us home. 27:40 Grant that we be ready now and ready then. 27:43 We pray with thanks, in Jesus' name, 27:46 amen. 27:47 Thank you so much for joining me. 27:49 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 27:50 Until then, remember: 27:52 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 27:55 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 28:00 ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪ 28:26 ♪[music ends]♪♪ |
Revised 2025-04-02