Zechariah was one of three prophets who ministered after the Babylonian captivity (Haggai and Malachi were the other two.) Some of the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem came to Zechariah to inquire whether they should continue practicing fasting as they had during captivity. Zechariah used the occasion to rebuke them for their hypocritical fasting, without even being mindful of God. Ritual fast days are worthless. Fasting and prayer must be personal before the LORD. Do not stop fasting. Just do it properly.
Zechariah 7:5-6 - "When ye fasted and mourned ...did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?'"
PRINCIPALS - "Meet Ptolemy I Of Egypt, Seleucus Of Syria"
Meet Ptolemy I and Seleucus. Ptolemy I claimed Egypt when Alexander the Great died. Seleucus eventually joined him, but soon rose from there to conquer Gaza, Babylon, and Syria. His empire became larger than Ptolemy's. Two centuries beforehand, Daniel prophesied amazing details of their rise to power, which would not occur until about 325-281 BC. Such astonishingly accurate prophecies should make believers out of everyone!
Daniel 11:5 - "The king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion."
PRINCIPLES - "All Biblical Prophecies Have Purpose"
I have not found a more difficult chapter in the Bible than Daniel 11. But despite its apparent complexity and difficulty, it contains some of the most important prophetic information in the Bible. To ignore Daniel 11 is to deprive ourselves of several INDISPENSABLE pieces of the prophetic puzzle. If we want to understand what will happen in the last days, or accurately identify the coming Antichrist, we must understand Daniel 11.
Daniel 11:40 - "At the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him."
PROPHECIES - "Meet Berenice, Daughter Of Ptolemy II Of Egypt"
The successor of Ptolemy I in Egypt was Ptolemy II. The successor of Seleucus in Syria was Antiochus. Antiochus made war with Ptolemy II. To settle their differences, Antiochus married the daughter of Ptolemy II. That ended the war. Daniel prophesied it all by divine revelation, two centuries earlier. WOW!
Daniel 11:6 - "In the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm."
It Only Takes a Few |
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14 |
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You may be thinking, Can a few people like us actually change the whole nation? Let me ask you this: Can one demonic person change a nation for the worse? Definitely. Hitler did it in Germany, didn't he? Then if the devil's power resting on a man can change a nation for the worse, you can be sure that a group of men and women with God's power resting on them can change a nation for the better. No nation is so far gone that God can't change it. Israel proved that. Why, even when it didn't exist, the devil couldn't destroy it. God raised it back up before his very eyes. I want you to notice something in that scripture. It says, "If my people, which are called by my name...." God didn't say it would take everyone in the nation to get things turned around. He said, "If my people...." Notice also that He didn't say, "If My people will get out there and sign petitions and drum up a majority vote...." He said, "Pray." In other words, we're going to have to quit trying to work this thing out by ourselves. God Himself will do the healing in this land. Our job is to pray, to believe and to seek His face. Seek Him today. |
I love the history of Alexander the Great. I've dug deep into him. Did you know that when he passed through israel that one of the high priests showed him the prophecy that he eventually fulfilled? Also as he was passing through he told his army to leave the Jews alone to practice their Judaism. I guess he got a big head that he was prophesied over. Also since he was was so passive against the Jews, that every jew for the next year or so they named one of their first sons alexander after the great ruler. I am so into ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome. Thank God this good message, bro!
ReplyDeletePraise God! Because of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can now have the abundant life He preached about through being born again!
ReplyDeleteThe New Covenant/Testament received through the New Birth!
Amen! Thru the plan of salvation, we have indeed been given "POWER" beyond our imagination. 4 our Lord Jesus Christ, thought of everything 4 us and continues... 2 guide and direct us, in the path we must go. An helping us 2 overcome the obstacles of this world. "Thank u, Lord!"
ReplyDelete