GOOD LORD'S DAY, GOT ANY RIVERS YOU THINK ARE UNCROSSABLE? GOT ANY MOUNTAINS YOU CAN'T TUNNEL THROUGH? GOD SPECIALIZES IN THINGS THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE, AND HE WILL DO, WHAT NO OTHER POW'R CAN DO, "For with God nothing shall be impossible" Luke 1:37 The words to the song above are especially real to me personally. I met Oscar Eliason, the writer, in the early 1950s. His son, Victor, was a year behind me in seminary. As Victor's parents visited him, I learned the story around this song. Mr. Eliason had made a recovery from tuberculosis that could only be termed "miraculous". This song was a paean of praise. Did you realize that the word "impossible" is never used in the Old Testament? The reference above introduces the word in a period of miracles surrounding the birth of Jesus. The same miracle power is available to us today. Hallelujah! STATE OF THE UNION-We all watched and listened Tuesday night. As George W. Bush has improved as a speaker, his times with us have become more enjoyable. The events of 9/11/01 and the following four months have made him the most popular president ever. The general rule is that those numbers raise even more after this speech. Unfortunately, we see the "political animals" that rule our land. Even though I greatly admire him and his agenda, the other side of many matters must be heeded to achieve balance in these precarious times. Pray for our nation and those in authority. 1 Timothy 2:1-3. YOU CAN HAVE IT-Several of you have written to me this week to report snow. It seems that the mild winter had left you all brown. There was a sense of joy in your report. I am happy for you. For me?--I don't care if I never even see a picture of snow--ever. WELL, HERE GOES-You will not offend me if the balance of this writing is deleted. I am going to return to the Book of Daniel, because some of you have requested. "Ron, I want you to give me some ways to begin my study. I want to be able to know on a level that is for the ordinary believer below the level of scholar". On Tuesday morning, I talked to a regular reader (they are on AOL, so we used IM capability). I had received the letter that had been promised to me. I have no desire to rebut some statements, though I could do so. I was reading and studying in an effort to "get a handle" on what I wished you to consider. Five days later, here it is for what it is worth. We all have a headstart if you read chapter two with me this week. Let me make observations: 1. Daniel is basically a book about the Jewish nation. The references you have read in chapter two are pictures of the rule of Gentile nations as they rise against Israel. In chapters beginning with seven, it becomes even more Jewish. One theory finds a reference to a "gap" in time between sentences in 9:26. This undetermined time allows for the spreading of the gospel to all nations as described in Acts 15:14. 2. Much of the confusion in interpretation is settled by realizing the difference of Christ coming for his saints (rapture) or with his saints (revelation). Daniel is really only involved with the latter coming. The rapture is promised in John 14 and described in 1 Thessalonians 4. The revelation is described in Jude, verses 14 and 15. 3. I see Daniel 2,7,8, and 11 as "overlays" in time frames, particularly as we move to the latter parts of the visions. Certain elements are present a. Increased military and political pressures against Israel b. The rise of political powers in the form of a single ruler. As Antichrist, he leads in great wisdom and prosperity while claiming more and more divine power c. The rise of an everlasting kingdom evidently headed by one who is truly divine. A rolling stone that consumes and destroys this earthly king who is "broken without hand" 8 :25, "he shall come to his end, and none shall help him" 11:45. 4. You cannot always read on in the Bible and be content with chronology. Daniel 12 is a personal postscript to Daniel. He receives assurances about resurrections and a command to seal up the book until a later time. There are other mysteries. Don't you feel a little sorry for me? Trying to make things simple and failing miserably. TIE IT TOGETHER-If you wish to pursue your study, tie the events in Daniel to Revelation 19. The battle here at Armageddon is a total victory for Christ and His armies. DID YOU FIND-The United States? No, not in Daniel nor any place else in the Bible. The contention is that it is named in Daniel 11:45. There are only two plausible possibilities to me. 1.That this Antichrist actually sets up headquarters in Jerusalem. 2. The headquarters could be in rebuilt Babylon. My thoughts are that this city will be rebuilt as the economic hub of the earth during the time right after the church is removed. Look on my website under IRAQ to read my position paper. If you cannot do this, I can send it to you as a forwarded e-mail. NEVER TOO OLD-To learn. I hope this is true. A pastor friend and I had a discussion that went something like this. "Do you believe that all end-time events are set and established on God's timetable, or do you believe that we may adjust certain events by our actions." You need to know that we had just heard a plea to give generously in order to hasten the return of our Lord. I have always leaned toward the thinking that I would do better to trust God's timing than to depend on man's whims. Look at the end of Daniel 11:27 "....for yet the end shall be at the time appointed". I do not want to be guilty of "proof-texting", but I think I see a principle not a proof. Oh well, you could probably be justified in God's sight and disagree here and in lots of other places with me. His, Ron Krantz YES, I DID-Spend some extra time in Daniel 2 this week. After I FOUND, FERRETED and FILTERED here it is.----a FORGETFUL king with FRIGHTENED FELLOWS; FEARLESS Daniel with A FAITHFUL FATHER ; A FRIGHTFUL FORM with FAULTY FEET; A FLATTENING FLINT with a FOREVER kingdom. All fourth and fifth graders need to learn that Bible study can be fun. FINISHED----FINALLY----FAREWELL.. RAMS 21 PATRIOTS 6