SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/24/2023 10:04 AM
PT- 8 “Introduction to Daniel”
This will be the last introduction from this sermon
that John MacArthur did on Daniel, but he has one more sermon that is also a
part of his introduction to the book of Daniel and it is my plans to put that
sermon onto my blog, but will do it a little bit at a time just like I did his
first sermon. Once again I want to
explain why I am doing this, and that is so that people around the world can
look at what Daniel has to say as he is a very important prophet with things
that he has written a long time before Christ came to this earth that is very
important to the times that we are living in.
I believe since May 5, 1948 that we are much closer to the things that
Daniel wrote about that will happen.
Looking at this along with what the Lord Jesus Christ said to His
disciples in Matthew 24-25, and then what Paul wrote about in his two letters
to the Thessalonian church, and then of course what John wrote in the book of
Revelation are also most important to the things that are going on in our world
today and that is why I am taking the time to quote from sermons that help
explain what these men have written about.
On my blogs I have many Spiritual Diaries from the book of Revelation,
and also went over the letters to the Thessalonians, and right no on my other blog
I have just begin to write SD’s on Matthew chapter 24.
“Well, this is how it ended.
There was a remnant of Assyrians and they ran for their life to make a
last-ditch defense at a city called Carchemish. And at Carchemish was one of
the greatest battles in the history of the world, the Battle of Carchemish on
the banks of the Euphrates River. They were going to make what we would know as
Custer’s Last Stand. The Assyrians to defend themselves against Nabopolassar,
and the battle of Carchemish was one of the most decisive battles in all the
annals of human history.
”Down in the south was a group of –
of Egyptians. They had a ruler by the name of Pharaoh Necho. That also will be
on the quiz. Now, Pharaoh Necho looks up and he says, “Aha, the Assyrians have
had it and the Babylonians are going to be fighting the Assyrians. And if I’m
smart I’ll take my whole army up there, we’ll knock them all off after they’ve
knocked off the Assyrians and we’ll rule the world.” Now it is getting
interesting.
“In Israel there’s a wonderful
little king by the name of Josiah, a good king. Pharaoh Necho says, “Here’s my
opportunity.” Pharaoh takes his troops and starts to march to Carchemish.
Josiah’s had a good reign and things have gotten good so he’s filling his oats.
So he decides to stop Pharaoh Necho. You remember what happened? They killed
Josiah, slaughtered him and went on to the battle.
“But you know what happened.
Nabopolassar was old by now, and he – the Egyptians were coming and the
Assyrians were holding the fort. And the Babylonians, if they were going to
hold their Empire, had to get over there and do the whole job. But he was too
old to do it and too sick, so he called his son. He had three. But the one that
we know is Nebuchadnezzar. He said, “Neb,” – I guess. I don’t think he said
“Bu.” – “you’re my man, take the troops, wipe out Assyria, wipe out Egypt,
chase them back. And while you’re going through Israel wipe them out on the
way.”
“And you know what happened? That’s
exactly what he did. In 605 at the famous battle of Carchemish, the Babylon
troops under Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Assyrians and that was the end of
that Empire. There wasn’t a vestige left. In fact, Alexander the Great tromped
right over Nineveh and never even knew he was walking on it. They wiped out the
Egyptians. And believe it, folks, Egypt never rose from the dust of the battle
of Carchemish yet. It was the end of that great civilization. Assyria was
finished. Egypt was finished. And they even chased the Egyptians all the way back
to Egypt and on the way engulfed Israel, took the first group of captives which
included Daniel, and the captivity began.
“So now you understand where Babylon
is. Now you understand what’s going on in Judah and the world. At this point,
Babylon rules the world. And Babylon, like a veracious lion, wants to take
everything captive. And so it’s only a matter of time before Nebuchadnezzar
comes back again to Israel and takes the whole of that people captive. That’s a
fascinating story and that’s for next week. We really just got started tonight
and the best part is next time. I want to tell you about the captivity, how and
why. Let’s bow together in prayer.
“Father, thank You for this group of
people that have come tonight. It just thrills my heart that they have a desire
to know Your Word. And, Lord, these are hard things sometimes to hear, to sit
patiently and listen for an hour, and I’m thankful, Father, that they’re
willing and eager to do that because it’s Your Word. This is the story that
You’ve given us. This is Your history. Father, as we look back we see that
You’re the God of history, the Lord of history, the places and the period that
we’ve studied tonight were not in the whimsy of men.
“You raised up Nebuchadnezzar as You
raised up his father, Nabopolassar. You brought them all into the scheme of
history to bring Your own people to a captivity that was both a place of
judgment and a place of purging. Thank You for being the Lord of history. Thank
You for the authenticity of the book of Daniel. Thank You that as we study it
we’ll be affirmed in our hearts that this holy book is Your book because it’s
filled with miracles and prophecies that only You could do and say.
“So bless our study, Lord. We’re
excited already about next time, about learning about Daniel and his three
friends and why Nebuchadnezzar picked them, and how it was that a nation so
blessed of God could lose itself in disobedience and go out of existence as a
national entity. We want to learn the lessons, Father. The history of Israel teaches
us, and so with excitement we await what You have to teach us.
“Lord, help us to be defenders of
Your Word. Help us to hold the banner high for the truth of this sacred
revelation that in an evil day when the Bible is attacked and men are substituting
it with human philosophy we may affirm to the world that we believe it as the
very truth. We praise You, Lord, for this treasure. What a treasure it is, the
Word from You. And we thank You in Christ’s name. Amen.”
11/24/2023
10:14 AM
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