The Closed Message

 

After the Lord revealed to Daniel the things that would come to pass from his time to the arrival of the Messiah, the Lord said, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end…” (Dan 12.4).

As you read Daniel 11 in particular, you will want to know what it is all about, but imagine being Daniel, for you would want to know even more.

However, we can now see from history how the words of that chapter have been fulfilled, but Daniel and his people could not see those things. They had an idea of what was coming, great trouble for the Jews, but they could not know names and events.

For the time the prophet had to be satisfied with what he had written.

Likewise, there are things we want to know about other parts of God’s word, including the Book of Revelation. Learn whatever you can, but also be satisfied that we may never figure everything out, until we see the fulfillment. DR

 

May the Lord Increase the Tribe of Gaius

 

Gaius showed hospitality to, and supported financially, preachers of the Gospel, and many spoke of this work to the church, “Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles” (3Jo 1.5–7).

In my opinion, the gift of hospitality to anyone, and the liberal support of preachers has diminished during my lifetime. May the Lord change that, and raise up more people like Gaius and his family, for we cannot preach unless we are sent (Rom 10.15). DR

Related Articles

• Bulletin Articles from December 1, AD 2013: “Sacrifices and Offerings” & “Time with the Lord” (grantspasschurchofchrist.com)