There is a God in Heaven Who Reveals Mysteries

"Daniel answered before the king and said, 'As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place'" (Daniel 2:27-29). Current events in our world—financial upheaval, nuclear tensions between Iran and the West, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process—continue to cause many to wonder what the future holds. Will there be peace or will there be war? Too many, it seems a mystery. Thankfully, God has not left His people in darkness. Daniel reminds us, "There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries." When it comes to prophecy, Daniel is to the Old Testament what Revelation is to the New Testament. It reveals God’s plan for the future, particularly when it comes to Gentile world powers ruling over Israel. The mysteries revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2 concern five world empires in succession that would rule over Israel. The fifth world empire is really a revival of the fourth. Daniel 2 presents these empires as parts of a statue while Daniel 7 presents them as four great beasts. These empires are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and a revived form of Rome. Chapter 2 describes a stone picturing Christ at His second coming. This stone destroys the fourth empire in its revived phase with sudden and unexpected destruction (see 1 Thess. 5:3). It is also interesting to note that Daniel describes a world leader who will arise out of this revived Rome in the last days. According to Daniel 9:27, this leader will seemingly do what no other world leader has been able to do—bring peace to the Middle East, between Israel and her enemies.

Amazingly, we see this scenario unfolding today. We see the old Roman Empire literally ascending from the ash-heap of history as nations who were once under her influence come back together in an economic, political, and soon to be military alliance. This area of the world is referred to today as the European and Mediterranean Unions. Not only that, but the whole world seems to be interested in Jerusalem, Israel and the Middle East. Furthermore, the recent economic upheaval, and the recent meetings of world leaders at the U.N. have clearly shown that the nations of the world are marching lock-step towards globalism and some form of global governance. Even the one world leader indicated his willingness to bring one country under some form of a world governing body (with himself at the helm, of course) when he said, "In an era where our destiny is shared, power is no longer a zero-sum game. No world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will succeed." This is the same individual who said, "We have been speaking directly to people around the world, including our friends across the Muslim world, with whom we launch new beginnings based on mutual interests and mutual respect … This spirit of partnership is a defining feature of our foreign policy." Bill Koenig, speaking of this, said, "This spirit of partnership seems a lot like the spirit of the Antichrist in paving the way for a new one-world order based on a utopian idea of serving the idealist for his ideals." This is amazing, as the "God in heaven who reveals mysteries," tells us in Daniel 7:24-25, that such a leader that will arise among other leaders in the last days. This is not to suggest that this particular individual is the long awaited Antichrist of the last days. The Scriptures are clear that when he comes on the scene, he will arise out of the old Roman Empire—Western Europe of today. But it does illustrate how mind-bogglingly close we really are to this period of history.

So what does all this mean? First of all, we see that God not only knows the future but He controls it. Therefore, as believers, we need not worry or lose sleep over the things that are coming upon this world—we just need to preach Jesus! Secondly, and this is the best part—at some point before this last days leader arises, the Bible tells us that Jesus will come for His own—the Church: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:15-17). This event, known as the Rapture, may very well happen today! Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air? If not, then forsake your sin and embrace the free gift of eternal life Christ offers to all who will believe. Time is quickly running out!