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Vol. I Issue 7 October 26, 1997
Daniel 12
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth
for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as
never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy
people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the
book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and
they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time
of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this
side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the
river.
6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the
river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the
river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware
by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half;
and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people,
all these things shall be finished.
8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be
the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed
till the time of the end.
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do
wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall
understand.
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the
abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred
and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and
five and thirty days.
13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy
lot at the end of the days.
The signs of the end times are all around us. All we have to see is the rapid decay of our cities, the open proliferation of sin and debauchery, and the outward anger against everything that is righteous. Daniel spoke of these times in verse 10 where he wrote, ``The wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand.'' These days we are living in where there is a total lack of understanding of righteousness. The people of today desire and wallow in their sin, seeking all of the pleasures of the wicked. They spend their time filling the carnal desires of the flesh while hating righteousness. The days are filled with wickedness and evil desires. The understanding of many has waxed cold while they spend all of their time fulfilling the desires of the flesh. When things go awry for the wicked, they do not understand why. Though they may prosper for a time, their demise is soon at hand.
But the wise are the righteous. Their righteousness
will rise like a star that will never fade. Their
righteousness will be there when the unrighteousness of the wicked will
be burning in the lake of fire for all eternity.
Daniel 12:3
3 And they that be wise shall
shine as the brightness of the firmament; and
they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
The truly wise of this world are the righteous that are pointing others
to the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Their stars shall
shine for all eternity as the brightness of the firmament.
While the wicked of the world are busy heaping upon themselves wrath until
the day of wrath, (Romans 2:5) the righteous are busy treasuring up a
shining star that will never fade. A shining righteous
star is more precious and valuable than anything that the wicked of this
world can accumulate. An unfading star is more precious
than all of the gold that can be amassed. And there is only
one way to assure yourself of a shining star, and that is through the
righteousness of Jesus Christ the Lord.
Revelation 6:12-17
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great
earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became
as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth
her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every
mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the
chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid
themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face
of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
There are just two types of people in this world, those who are in the process of becoming an unfading star, and those who are in the process of trembling and crying out for the rocks to fall upon them. Look at who is crying for the rocks to fall on them. The kings of the earth, including the president of the United States, the Queen of England, and every country of the earth, for they have all had their hand in deception, lies, and wickedness. How many have wondered about the untimely death of Vincent Foster? How many have thought about the lies and deception that every politician has given, whether Republican or Democrat? Also the Bible clearly tells that there will be no liars in heaven!
Revelation 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.
Definitely we are living in the last days, and the wicked are becoming more wicked and dreadful. There is no understanding in the wicked for all their understanding has been consumed by their lusts. Just like the lusts of the participants of the Roman Coliseum, look at the men today with their total devotion to the sports and the games. Look at how the ``sports'' are getting more bloody today, just like in the days of ancient Rome. The signs of the times are all around us, pointing to the resurrection of the Church. Those who have built up stars of righteousness will shine for all eternity, while those who have filled their own bellies with the lusts of unrighteousness will have their part in the lake of fire.
The choice is yours and yours alone. Choose you this day who you will follow, Jesus Christ to a star of righteousness, or your own lusts and desires to the lake of fire. Jesus is calling you this day to make a decision. Open up your hearts and let the Lord come in. Jesus is calling all of the lost and sinners to come home and become a real star that will never fade or will be forgotten. Come home to Jesus today and He will give you rest.
3014 E Street Philadelphia, PA 19134 Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637 Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 389-5870
Services:
Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . . . . . . 12 NOON
Sunday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM
Wednesday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM