► 1st Peter is focused primarily on encouraging believers in a time of intense persecution. • He encourages the believers to live well, love one another, leave behind all the negativity, and to become “living stones” as a part of God’s “spiritual house”. • He also reminds them in 1st Peter 2:11 that they are “aliens and strangers” • The current leader of the Roman Empire is Nero, and we all know what a whack-job he was. As Newborn Babes • What We Are To Do

► 1st Peter is focused primarily on encouraging believers in a time of intense persecution. • He encourages the believers to live well, love one another, leave behind all the negativity, and to become “living stones” as a part of God’s “spiritual house”. • He also reminds them in 1st Peter 2:11 that they are “aliens and strangers” • The current leader of the Roman Empire is Nero, and we all know what a whack-job he was. We are to live a life of progressive holiness

► Last time we looked at the life of Peter to see the Man, the Myth, and the Legend. • As an introduction to our coverage of 1st and 2nd Peter, we looked at the life of Peter, as recorded in the Gospels and the book of Acts, and also from what we know of him from history. ► The Man • Walking with Jesus → What was the character of Peter as a disciple? → In this section we discussed 3 episodes in Peter's life while living in the shadow of Jesus, as He traveled through Israel

► In section 1 of our study in the Gospel of John we looked at the 7 signs recorded, and referenced in John 20:30-31, where it says 30Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. • We also explored the 7 "I AM" statements that do not always correspond to the s

► In section 1 of our study in the Gospel of John we looked at the 7 signs recorded, and referenced in John 20:30-31, where it says 30Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. • We also explored the 7 "I AM" statements that do not always correspond to the s

► In section 1 of our study in the Gospel of John we looked at the 7 signs recorded, and referenced in John 20:30-31, where it says 30Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. • We also explored the 7 "I AM" statements that do not always correspond to the s

► Today we begin a new series covering both 1st and 2nd Peter. • We are going to start by looking at a few events from Peter's life as recorded in the Gospels and the book of Acts. • They won't be exhaustive (maybe exhausting) - just some snippets. ► The Man • Walking with Jesus → What was the character of Peter as a disciple? ► The Myth • Winning souls for Jesus → What was the character of Peter as a disciple maker? ► The Legend • Writing to encourage followers of Jesu

► The time of Daniel's last recorded vision is coming to an end. → In chapter 10 the dialogue set the stage for the actual vision. → In the first part of chapter 11, we discussed the "near" fulfillment of the vision, in that we correlated some of the information to represent Antiochus IV Epiphanes as the fulfillment of that part of the vision. He executed the "abomination of desolation" as it occurred during the inter-testamental period during his reign from 175BC to 164BC.

► Chapter 11, and for that matter chapter 12 as well, are a continuation of the episode in Daniel's life that started in chapter 10. → Daniel was burdened in the 3rd year of the reign of Cyrus in regards to (as is speculated on by several commentators) the conditions being faced by those who had returned to Jerusalem as permitted by Cyrus. → This permission, which actually was more like a mandate, is documented in Ezra 1:1-4 and 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, where those texts tell

► Today we move into what I believe is a three-part mini-series. ► Daniel, near the of his recorded history, is going to receive some specific info related to the future of not only Israel, but of the world. ► He will be given, what from his perspective must have seemed like an overwhelming cataclysm of world forces, but will wrap up with God's final and ultimate victory over evil. ► In today's section, we see Daniel receiving a "visitor", who will begin to walk him through t

► Great change has come over Babylon. The rule of the Chaldeans is over. The land is now ruled by the Medo-Persians, and their power is great. They have conquered lands as far to the west as Greece, and to the east as far as India. ► The dynamic has changed forever. Yet in the middle of all of this one thing remains unchanged. ► God, specifically the true God of Israel, is, and has always been, at work. ► And the future, as we will see, is through the nation of Israel. ►

► Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the importance of correct Bible teaching. → One should always endeavor, when teaching Scripture, to make sure they aren’t teaching error. → In my own teaching opportunities, I’ve always steered away from areas that I didn’t feel that I could analyze, and then communicate, clearly and with conviction. → That is why I’ve always stayed away from teaching prophetic passages, at least those that haven’t been fulfilled yet. → But in the Book of Dan

► I mentioned in a previous post that the Book of Daniel is basically divided into 3 topic based sections, rather than being laid out in a chronological fashion. ► This can seem somewhat confusing to those of us in modern times, as we are taught from our earliest educational experiences to understand history in a progressive, chronological order. ► But the Book of Daniel, while dealing with historical events, groups them by subject, rather than time. ► In a nutshell, there ar

Click the pic to see a larger copy. ► I mentioned in a previous post that the Book of Daniel is basically divided into 3 topic based sections, rather than being laid out in a chronological fashion. ► This can seem somewhat confusing to those of us in modern times, as we are taught from our earliest educational experiences to understand history in a progressive, chronological order. ► But the Book of Daniel, while dealing with historical events, groups them by subject, rather

► I mentioned in a previous post that the Book of Daniel is basically divided into 3 topic based sections, rather than being laid out in a chronological fashion. ► This can seem somewhat confusing to those of us in modern times, as we are taught from our earliest educational experiences to understand history in a progressive, chronological order. ► But the Book of Daniel, while dealing with historical events, groups them by subject, rather than time. ► In a nutshell, there ar

► For the 3rd time now, we are going to see King Nebuchadnezzar, puffed up with pride, be humbled by God. ► In chapter 2 he had a dream which he could not understand. → But wanting to be sure that he was given a correct interpretation, he mandated that, under the penalty of death for not fulfilling his request, that his wise guys tell him not only the interpretation, but also the dream itself. → They pleaded with him that he had given them an impossible task, requesting tha

► I think it's important to remember that the Book of Daniel is not presented to us in a chronological manner, but rather is laid out topically. ► When casually reading through the book, one can become confused when the dialogue will mention a particular king, then change to another one, then go back to a previously mentioned one, and so on. ► So in the way of a reminder, here is a layout of the book that references the various sections. Click on the chart to see a larger cop

► The book of Daniel takes place during the exile of Judah into Babylon. → Starting with the events of 605BC, when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, began his 3-phase process of exiling the Jewish people from Jerusalem to Babylon. • 1st wave - occurring in 605BC, only a select group were taken away at this time. Included were the current king of Judea, Jehoiakim, as well as Daniel, and his 3 friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (2 Kings 24:1-5; 2 Chronicles 36:4-8). • 2nd w

Introduction to Daniel ► The book of Daniel takes place during the exile of Judah into Babylon. → Starting with the events of 605BC, when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, began his 3-phase process of exiling the Jewish people from Jerusalem to Babylon. • 1st wave - occurring in 605BC, only a select group were taken away at this time. Included were the current king of Judea, Jehoiakim, as well as Daniel, and his 3 friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (2 Kings 24:1-5; 2

Introduction to Daniel ► The Book of Daniel takes place during the exile of Judah into Babylon. → The Northern Tribes (Israel), which comprised all of the 12 tribes with the exception of Judah and Benjamin, which had broken away into a separate sovereign nation known as Israel in the time immediately after the reign of Solomon, were taken away into exile by the Assyrians in 722BC, never to be heard from again. → The Southern Tribes (Judah & Benjamin), collectively called