Pastor Buddy’s Blog

Who placed a curse on the book of Daniel…

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Journal,

Nathan and Patrick are finishing? up the first part of their mission trip. Three new Christians Sharing Christ ministry film teams will be in place in the Philippines. Next country is Nepal by way of Hong Kong. From Nepal they will be in India. They are looking to have twelve teams in place before heading back to the States.

You can keep up with their travels and also see some magnificent pictures at Nathan’s blog. Go to: http://nathanmartin.blogspot.com/

This Sunday morning I’ll fill in for Nathan. My subject of ministry is entitled ‘Received Up Into Glory.’

At the beginning of the ministry I’ll share a curse that the rabbis placed on the reading of Daniel. Here is the curse itself:

“May the bones of the hands and the bones of the fingers decay and decompose, of him who turns the pages of the book of Daniel, to find out the time of Daniel 9:24-27, and may his memory rot from off the face of the earth forever.” — Talmudic Law. p.978, Section 2, Line 28.

Why under God’s blue heaven would the rabbis place a reading curse on any of the Hebrew Old Testament books?

The reason is because Daniel actually foretold the time of the coming of Messiah, and that the Messiah would be cut off. Daniel was also shown that city of Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed after Messiah was cut off. The rabbis knew that this prophecy of the Messiah being cut off had to have happened before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 a.d. This left only one person who could have fulfilled the prophecy, Jesus Christ himself.

The curse was to keep the true knowledge of Jesus Christ away from the peoples. (Of course we know who is behind that.) The fact is that the writings of Daniel along with Isaiah 53 have been responsible for more Jews, including many rabbis, actually receiving Jesus as the true Messiah of Israel, than any other Old Testament Scriptures.

Of course there is more to the story. Sunday morning I’ll be sharing how the glorification of Jesus Christ was made the very cornerstone of our Christian faith.

Daniel has more to say about this subject. Daniel even had a vision of the ascension of Jesus. Listen:

“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13,14 nasb

I’ll cover Sunday morning’s ministry with three primary areas. A World Without Excuse. The Ascension and Coronation of Jesus.? The Glorified Church.

Then Sunday at 6 p.m. we will have our second Sunday evening Bible study. In that study I’ll be talking about what Jesus actually meant, when He said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (Jn8:31,32) There is much more to this statement than many realize.

The Greek word for truth (alethia) literally speaks to an unveiled reality at the base of an appearance. Jesus was not simply speaking of the Jews coming to know who He really was and why He came. An extended meaning has to do with a walk of reality.

This is where I’ll share from Paul’s writings foundin 1 Corinthians 2:9-16. The apostle spoke of a special spiritual protection given to all true believers that will protect them from the works of darkness. I’ll conclude the study by sharing four basic principles on how to arm yourself against religious deception.

The point is that both Jesus, the apostles, and even the prophets spoke of a worldwide deception that would take place in the final days of the church age. This deception would literally take place under the name of Jesus. Always remember that not everything that says, ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ is actually speaking for the Lord.

So how do we learn to deal with such a deception? We’ll talk about that Sunday evening.

Well, what else can I share? Here’s a good one. Saw an interesting short article in my Biblical Archaeology Review, July/August edition. The summary had to do with a survey taken with more that a thousand physicians. Over a third of the respondants said that religion and spirituality helped prevent specific medical events like heart attacks, infections and even death.

Nothing new there. What the doctors are telling us is what the Bible already states as fact.

David said, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” (Psalm 103:2-5)

Much love coming your way,

Buddy