During our weekend services, we are stepping off into one of the most difficult, yet important, challenges in the study of Scripture—exploring the book of Daniel. 

Daniel is to the Old Testament what the Revelation is to the New. However, we cannot truly understand the book of the Revelation apart from an appreciation for Daniel. In other words, Daniel is the key that unlocks God’s revelation of the future and the end of time!

But I should pause for a moment and mention that there is much more to Daniel than apocalyptic prophecies about the final days. This book tells a story about commitment, living in a culture that rejects your faith, taking risks for God’s Kingdom, and how God intervenes in hopeless circumstances and blesses our faith.

This study will take discipline, prayer, and even preparation before you come to the services. On the other hand, it promises you the tremendous rewards of peace, assurance, and hope. I encourage you to read chapter one this week; pray for God to give you insight and a willingness to take a stand in the midst of a hostile world.

Let me return again to the subject of prophecy since one half of Daniel is about prophecy. Although some people become overly infatuated with the subject, others ignore prophecy altogether. Try not to go to either extreme.

Why should you study prophecy? It gives you the understanding of God’s plan for the ages. God has a purpose and has worked toward that purpose since the beginning of time. Prophecy reveals that great plan! It also provides an anchor for your soul because it helps you see the hope that is all around us in Christ. In other words, the more you know about prophecy, the less you will fear the end. There are many other reasons to give yourself to the study of Daniel, so I encourage you to be faithful, prayerful, and open to hearing a fresh word from God.

I love being your pastor,

Dennis