Jan. 21, 2024

Believe Again 

The Unseen Realm

Primary Text: Daniel 10:1, 10-21    

Last Week’s Teaching: Maker of Heaven and Earth

1)  Maker 

Revelation 4:11:  "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." 

Colossians 1:15-17:  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

DQ 1) Why is recognizing God as Creator essential to understanding the nature of life? 

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2)  Unseen Darkness

Revelation 12:7-9:  And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.  But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.  The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.  He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

DQ 2) What evidence exists of the demonic activity in the overall world, as well as in individual lives?

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This Week’s Teaching: 

1)  Heavenly Warfare

Daniel 10:1, 10-21:  In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar).  Its message was true and it concerned a great war.  The understanding of the message came to him in a vision….  A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.  He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.  Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel.  Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.  But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days.  Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.  Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”  While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.... So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you?  Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.)” 

DQ 1) Who actually touched and spoke to Daniel in verses 10-15 of chapter 10?

DQ 2) Who is the Michael described in verses 13 of chapter 10?

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2)  Angelic Spirits

Hebrews 1:14:  Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? 

1 Corinthians 6:3:  Do you not know that we will judge angels?

Revelation 7:11-12:  All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures.  They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!” 

DQ 3) Have you ever suspected angels were specifically at work around you?  When? 

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3)  The World to Come

1 Corinthians 2:9-10:  However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 5:  Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling….  Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 

Revelation 21:1:  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

DQ 4) What does the Scripture reveal to us about heaven? 

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