Nov 29 Daniel 4:19-37, Daniel 5:1-16 2 Peter 3 Psalm 135:13-21

Dan 4:19

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

The dream that Nebuchadnezzar had here was not a good one. It was a dream that predicted coming doom for him, as a result of his pride.

But notice Daniels response to this. It doesn’t please him at all. He says to his king, may this dream not be about you. It actually grieves Daniel to say this. Why? Because, he has become invested in his adopted land. He has an affection for his king, even though he is a pagan idol worshipper who is enslaving his people. Daniel cared for the kingdom he was exiled in.

We too, should want to see our nation proser. Even when we have politicians and leaders that we do not agree with and we see no fear of God in them… we must not be wishing for their downfall. This nation may not be your home eternally, but it’s your home today. Care about it. Seek its welfare and don’t look for its downfall. Daniel sets a great example here.

2 Pet 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 

Just decades after Jesus ascended – people were asking why He was taking so long to come back. But God is not operating on your schedule – Peter explains one day is as a thousand years with the Lord. Now initially that sounds like an excuse… but Peter wants us to understand something about The Lord’s character.

Peter says He is not slow like we count slowness. His slowness represents His patience.

He loves us. He doesn’t want us to perish. He wants to give everyone a chance.

Why has it taken so long for Jesus to return? Could it be because the church has not yet finished the job it was given?

To those who say – He’s not coming, it’s been 2000 years and He’s not come! Yeah – but you know, the church hasn’t actually finished the job yet!

God knows all – God knows how long it would take us – nobody else has that foreknowledge. Peter didn’t know how long it would take for the Gospel to reach everyone. The angels don’t know – Satan doesn’t know – Jesus when He was on earth didn’t know. Who’d have thought it would take this long?

That’s why there’s no code to unlock the date. It’s not a date in the Calendar it’s a date set when the job is done.

I love smoking brisket in my BBQ. There are few tastes in the world more delightful than a well smoked brisket of beef.

But it takes a long time. How long…? Well I can’t say. I can give a guide. 4 hours… 5 hours… 8 hours… it’s not the time that tells you it’s correctly done. It’s when you put a thermometer in it and the internal temperature is around 87 degrees celsius. And even then you want to give it a few more hours to make it really good…

When will it be ready? When it’s done.

When will Jesus return? When the time is right. When the job is done. When things are ready.

God knows what date. He has the fore knowledge. Nobody else does. 

But it’s close. Closer than it’s ever been. We are at 86 degrees!

Hasten His return! Preach the gospel!

Peter then goes on to say count His patience – count the delay as salvation.

The delay is good! It gives us more time to get the job done!

Whilst the day delays – more people can be reached for salvation!

We can do good today – we can’t afterwards. We won’t have any opportunity to preach the Gospel after He comes back!

His delay shows His patience and His love.

2 Pet 3:14-15

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 

Peter tells us the best way to be ready for the Return of Our Lord.

It’s not, work out who the Anti-Christ is. It’s not, know what the mark of the beast is… It’s not to understand all the theories. It’s not the make sure you have the right idea about Pre-Tib, Mid Trip or Post Trib raptures.

It’s to live holy lives. To have godly conversations. It’s to be found, when He returns without spot or blemish.

I’m not saying don’t study the end times – but studying the end times is less important than living a holy life.

If you are into the theology and even have the correct interpretation of the prophecies… but not into holiness you’ve totally missed the point. You might call yourself rapture ready – but you aren’t.

Deal with your sin. Get closer to God. seek holiness. THEN – no matter how or when the end comes, you are ready.

God would rather your life was holy than your theories correct.

Live in holy behaviour and godliness. Wait for His coming – be ready for His coming.

Expect him to come. Be ready.

It’s easy to look at the way the world is going and be afraid.

It’s easy to read about the End Times and for fear to creep in.

But that’s not the way we should be living. Instead we keep focused on Him keep focused on pursuing Holiness.

As the world turns further away from Jesus – we must turn closer to Him. We must remain strong, we must remain pure – we must not compromise the truth.

THAT is how we are ready.

And we are commanded to be ready.

The question is, if you go today, of HE comes today… are you ready to meet Him? Seriously. Are you ready?

Because if the answer is no – you need to do something about it TODAY.

Because our lives are lived on that knife edge.

How should we live in the end times? We keep holy. We hasten the return of Jesus by preaching the gospel 

It’s not store up gold ready for the one world currency. It’s not stock up a shelter ready to hide from the one world government.

It’s not climb up a mountain and forget your duties.

It’s live a holy life. Be found spotless. And preach the gospel. 

The best way to be ready isn’t to be an expert in Eschatology. It’s not working out the timing. Jesus said to His disciples “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”

Sometimes we say that we don’t know the day or the hour but we will know the season. But Jesus said it’s not for you to know the times OR the season. That’s not the best way to be ready.

It’s to kick sin to the kerb in your life. It’s to get rid of compromise. It’s to make a stand in a lost generation.

If you are wrong about the timing of the tribulation, big deal as long as you are found spotless.

Wait patiently. Serve diligently. 

Expect – but not at the expense of the work.

The call is holiness. Holiness IS readiness.