KING OF THE SOUTH, KING OF THE NORTH DANIEL 11: 5 - 13

KING OF THE SOUTH, KING OF THE NORTH
DANIEL 11: 5 - 13

map courtesy of www.timemaps.com

   Daniel 11: 2) "Now then, I tell you the truth:  Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others.  When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.  3) Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.  4) After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.  It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.

   Daniel 11: 5  "The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.  6) After some years, they will become allies.  The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last.  In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.

7) One from her family line will arise to take her place.  He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious.  8) He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt.  For some years he will leave the king of the North alone.  9) Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.  10) His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

11) "Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.  12)  When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant.  13) For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

H.A. IRONSIDE'S COMMENTARY

   There is quite an interval between verses four and five, which is passed over in silence in order to connect the invasion of Alexander with the effort of Xerxes to conquer Greece.  Alexander's kingdom was parceled out after the Battle of Ipsus.  From verse 5 - 35, we have the wars of the Seleucidae (kingdom of the North - that we will refer to as "North") and the Ptolemies (kingdom of the South - that we will refer to as "South"):

  First of all,  South (Ptolemy Lagus) was stronger than North (Seleucas Nicator)  from the beginning, but after the original South died, the roles were reversed. (Ptolemy Soter succeeded him.)  So now, North > South.  North annexed Babylon, Media, and the surrounding nations.  He threw off his allegiance to Egypt and ruled independently.

 In verse 6, we read that they shall join themselves together.  So, a peace treaty was arranged and the daughter of the South, Berenice was given to the grandson of the North, Antiochus.  North divorced his wife at the time (Laodice) and married Berenice.  I have to tell you, man, do not mess with a wife.  "Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned."  We will hear from Laodice again!

   Laodice managed to stir up her friends against the king; and as a result, Berenice and all her attendants were put to death. North (Antiochus) reinstated his divorced queen, who shortly thereafter poisoned him and had her son Seleucas Callinicus (also labeled North) was crowned in his stead.

   Then here comes the dead second wife's brother, Ptolemy Euergetes (South). He stormed across the land of Palestine spreading desolation everywhere, actuated by the desire to avenge the murder of his sister and to wipe out the dishonor inflicted on Egypt.  He was successful, utterly defeating Callinicus (North) and reaping immense spoil.  But he received word of a sedition back in Egypt, so he hastened back there, carrying with him an immense number of captives, their "gods", their princes, and their precious vessels of silver and gold.  Every Southern boy will tell you, "don't mess with my family!"  North died shortly afterwards of a fall from a horse. South did not return to Syria (kingdom of the North).

   Verse 10 finds the sons of North (Callinicus), Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus the Great.  These guys assembled a great force to inflict retribution upon the Egyptians.  Ceraunus died in less than two year, leaving Antiochus to wage war.  And he did.  Antiochus led an army of 75,000 against the reigning house of the North, but the King of the South (Ptolemy Philopator) won due to recruiting Egyptians for the first time in his army.  He reconquered all that had been wrested from him, returning to Egypt crowned in military glory.
   South gave himself up to out-and-out wickedness and licentiousness, and upon a revolt soon after occurring in Syria, concluded an ignoble peace with Antiochus (North), because he was too depraved and indolent to follow up on his victories. Upon his death, Egypt sank lower than it had been in years.
  

   We will leave history here for now and pick it up in our next post.


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KINGS OF PERSIA DANIEL 11: 1 - 4

KINGS OF PERSIA   DANIEL 11: 1 - 4

   Chapter 11 covers history from the time of King Cyrus to almost 200 years of wars that desolated the land of Palestine after the death of Alexander the Great.  It declares the absolute unerring precision of God's Holy Word, as it is a prophecy given to Daniel; today we see how precise the prophesy was, bolstering our confidence in His Word.  The angel's reference to the "Scripture of Truth" is clearly a record kept, not on earth, but in heaven; the omniscient God having outlined, long before it comes to pass on earth, the events to occur in the kingdoms of men.
    I will cover this chapter a little different from previous chapters, inserting commentary from H.A. Ironside in italics as we go along.

   11: 1  And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)  After the overthrow of Babylon, this angel had stood to strengthen Darius the Mede from his first year.

   2)  "Now then, I tell you the truth:  Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others.  When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

   Cyrus's son, Cambyses was the first.  Pseudo-Smerdis was the second.  Not Cambyses's son, but an imposter, thus "Pseudo" Smerdis.  The third was Darius Hystaspes.  The fourth, who was far richer than all of them, was Xerxes the Great.  He was not the last king of Persia, and it was not stated in Scripture that he would be.
   Xerxes the Great had a massive army, over two and a half million, according to historians.  He invaded Greece with it, but the very size of his army defeated his own purpose and was driven back into Asia.

   3) Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.  This refers to Alexander the Great.  4) After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven.  It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.  (NIV)

   Alexander the Great had two sons:  Hercules and Alexander.  One was killed before Alexander the Great died; the other after his death.  So, neither inherited the kingdom.  We saw in Chapters seven and eight, that his kingdom was parceled out to four of his generals.  
   We now follow two of those generals and their successors:  Ptolemy Lagus, ruler of Egypt; and Selucas, Satrap of Syria.  Their wars cover about two centuries.  Ptoloemy was King of the South; Selucas, King of the North.  
   The reason the other two kingdoms do not appear in scripture is that the angel is showing Daniel what was in store for "his people", the Jew.

MY THOUGHTS

   The record keeping in heaven is something to contemplate {Daniel 10: 21) but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.}.  It was written in the "Scripture of Truth" when I would be born.  It was written that my maternal grandfather would get sick and die as we were traveling to see him.  It was written that he would never see me.  All the days of my life are written in that book.  He knows how many beats my heart has, He has numbered the hairs on my head.  He knows the time and day of my death.  Oh, that I knew Him as intimately as He knows me!

   Dear friend, please make your life matter.  Seek God's Face.  Study His Word.  He loves you so much He sacrificed His Son so you could be in His presence forever.  If you have not accepted His salvation, please visit our "Pathway to Salvation" page (click here:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.)  and leave us a comment when you accept His gift.

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DANIEL AND THE ANGELS DANIEL 10: 10 - 11: 1

DANIEL AND THE ANGELS   DANIEL 10: 10 - 11: 1

   When we left Daniel, he had fallen into a deep sleep after seeing the angel:

   10) A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.  (11) 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.

   12)  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.  13)  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.  14)  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."

   15) While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.

   16) Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak.  I said to the one standing before me, "I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my  lord, and I feel very weak.  17) How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord?  My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe."

   18) Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.  19) "Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed," he said.  "Peace!  Be strong now; be strong."

   When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."

   20) 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; 21) but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.

   Daniel 11: 1) And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.  New International Version (NIV)

H.A. IRONSIDE COMMENTARY

   We have been introduced to a messenger angel, a ministering angel, and Michael the Archangel. We have seen angels before, who protected children of God during the siege of Dothan.  When Elisha prayed for God to open the eyes of the prophet's servant, he saw the mountains full of fiery chariots with the angelic host camping around Elisha.

   The timeline when this conversation takes place is when the Medes were still in power.  After the Medes, Greece ruled, so we have been given a glimpse into the spiritual world that corresponds with events taking place in the physical realm.  Understand that the battles are real!

   

   Here is our take away from this:  We, too, need our eyes opened.  Then we would see the angelic host camping around us for our protection and watching over us for good.  Then, maybe, we would fight on with new courage, clad in the whole armour of God, knowing that against Christ's Church, founded upon Himself, the gates of hell shall not prevail!

MY THOUGHTS

   When we walk by faith, we trust in The Lord.  We see, in this chapter, how God is with us.  He was with the prophets even before Jesus.  How much more is He with us now, since we have The Holy Spirit!  So, "peace!  Be strong!"

   Dear friend, we see the effects of evil daily.  Wicked spirits are determined that your soul will be damned.  They will use every effort known to fiends to hinder your salvation and seal your doom.  Today, we need to learn the lesson that in ourselves, we have no strength or power; we are poor, weak, easily-deceived souls led by Satan and imposed upon by his wicked hosts.

   Only One can deliver us; One can strengthen us.  He died upon the cross to set us free.  Death has no hold on us.  Please click here http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html. for more information on taking the first step to obtain your freedom.

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DANIEL'S VISION OF A MAN - DANIEL 10: 1 - 7

DANIEL'S VISION OF A MAN - DANIEL 10: 1 - 7

   10 (1)  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. (2) At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.  (3) I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

   (4) On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, (5) I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.  (6) His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

   (7) I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.  (8) So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.  (9) Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.  (NIV)

H. A. IRONSIDE COMMENTARY

   This is the final vision for Daniel. It has been two years since King Cyrus has released the Jews to return to Jerusalem.  The few who had gone up to Jerusalem had failed from the beginning in carrying out the mind of God in its fullness.  They went up with a measure of enthusiasm, but slothfulness and indifference to God's glory soon began to eat away at them like a cancer.  Alliances were formed with the strangers surrounding Jerusalem.

   The masses who remained in Babylon felt at ease and were indifferent.  They were quite content with the measure of liberty they enjoyed.  They had no "fire" for God and His purpose.  They had lost their "passion"  for their "first love", God.  They had become lukewarm.

   That was not so with Daniel.  He mourned the "lukewarm" state of his people, so we find him fasting and abstaining here for three weeks.  He is old, so his fast is a "partial" fast.  He fasted from pleasant bread, flesh (meat), and wine.  He abstained from anointing himself with lotions.

   Verses 4 - 7 reveals that only Daniel saw the vision.  Have you ever sensed things you cannot see; experienced a "creepy" feeling or a "terrible" feeling?  Those with Daniel sensed the presence of the angel Daniel saw.  They were frightened, so they ran and hid themselves.

   Know that when you embark upon a mission to get God's attention, the results are powerful.

   We also learn something of the way the spirit world functions here in the Book of Daniel, as he was told that the word went out but was delayed in reaching him.  We will see in verse 12, that "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."  The angel who was sent to Daniel was delayed because he was battling a fierce spirit, "the prince of the kingdom of Persia".  The angel had to have the help from Michael, one of the chief angels.   So, when you pray, know that your answer may also be delayed, so don't stop praying and believing!

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SEVENTY SEVENS DANIEL 9: 20 - 27

SEVENTY SEVENS    DANIEL 9: 20 - 27

   Daniel 9: (20)  While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to The Lord my God for His holy hill--(21) while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.  (22) He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.  (23) As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.  Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:

(24)  "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

   (25)  "Know and understand this:  From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens,' It will be rebuilt with the streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.  (26) After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.  The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.  The end will come like a flood:  War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.  (27) He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.'  In the middle of the seven he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.  And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.

COMMENTARY

   Verse 25:  the seven sevens is 490 years.  It took that long to build the second Temple on the Temple Mound in Jerusalem.  After the  sixty-two sevens (62 years), Jesus was crucified.  7 + 62 = 69.
   The people of the ruler (of this world) who will come.  "The end will come like a flood", like a tsunami without warning.  We have already received the warning, none other is required
   At some point, which is not identified in the commentaries I have read, God will restart the clock that was ticking off the "seventy sevens", which only have sixty nine accounted for.  According to verse 27, the antichrist confirms a covenant with the masses in Israel for 7 years but breaks the covenant in three and a half years.  This is the last of this prophecy.

MY THOUGHTS

   Maybe when the Church is raptured, God restarts the clock.  We are looking toward the last of the four blood moons this year.  God has told us repeatedly that the end will come.  Are you ready?

   Consider verses 20 through 23.  When Daniel opens his mouth to begin praying, the word went out to go to him to bring him wisdom and understanding.  That is powerful right there!

   If you have not accepted Jesus as your own personal Savior, please visit our "Pathway to Salvation" page by clicking here:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.  Leave us a message if you accept Jesus and we will try to help you on your "path".

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DANIEL'S PRAYER DANIEL 9: 1 - 19

DANIEL'S PRAYER    DANIEL 9: 1 - 19

   Chapter nine of the Book of Daniel has been called "the backbone of prophesy".  This chapter details the prophetic 70 weeks, which we must understand properly.  If the 70 weeks are misunderstood, we will try to twist other prophesy to fit that narrative.  Therefore, it is imperative that we get this right.

   Chapter 9 (1)  In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom--(2) in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the Word of The Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.  (3) So I turned to The Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

   (4)  I prayed to The Lord My God and confessed:
"Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, (5) we have sinned and done wrong.  We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from Your commands and laws.  (6) We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your Name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

   (7) "Lord, You are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame--the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to You.  (8) We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against You.  (9) The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him; (10) we have not obeyed The Lord our God or kept the laws He gave us through His servants, the prophets.  (11) All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey You.

   "Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You.  (12)  You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster.  Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.  (13) Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of The Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to Your Truth.  (14) The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for The Lord our God is righteous in everything He does; yet we have not obeyed Him.

   (15)"Now, Lord our God, Who brought Your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and Who made for Yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.  (16) Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, turn away Your anger and Your wrath from Jerusalem, Your city, Your holy hill.  Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and Your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

   (17) "Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant.  For Your sake, Lord, look with favor on Your desolate sanctuary.  (18) Give ear, our God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your Name.  We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy.  (19) Lord, listen!  Lord, forgive!  Lord, hear and act!  For Your sake, my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your Name."  (NIV)

H.A. IRONSIDE COMMENTARY

   Daniel was a student of prophesy.  It is noted here that even though Daniel did not have the complete Bible as we know it today, he did have the Book of Jeremiah.  Twice Jeremiah wrote that God would accomplish seventy years in the desolation of Jerusalem.  So, Daniel added it up and realized the 70 years were about to end.

   It is amazing that rather than being excited and happy, Daniel accepted responsibility in his relationship with God.  He prostrated himself before The Lord and cried out.  When he realized that the time was upon them, he begins by exercising His people that they may be restored in soul if they have wandered from Him; and thus blessing would result upon their being brought into the place of self-judgement and humiliation before Him.

  Dr. Ironside writes, "...if these things we have been going over, all that God has been bringing before us, shall result in casting us down in lowliness before Him, and causing us to cry, 'O Lord God, we have sinned, we have much reason to be before Thee in confession and brokenness, because of the failure of Thy people, the Church of which we form a part:'  I say if it has this effect upon us, yea in us, it will be indeed for God's glory and our blessing."

   He says that when we look around us and see the failure in the Church, the fleshliness and the worldliness that prevails on every hand, let us not assume the "holier than thou" posture, because we too are part of that Church that failed.

   We are to ask, "Who are we to judge another man's servant?  To his own master he stands or falls."  So, let us be exercised about individual holiness and faithfulness to God; concerned, too, about corporate righteousness and freedom from unholy associations.

MY THOUGHTS

   How powerful is Daniel's prayer!  While Daniel refers to the Jew and Israel, let us keep in mind that the gentile has been grafted to The Vine.

   America was founded on God's Word.  Don't you think we have enjoyed His blessings because of that?  Today, America is in trouble spiritually, because we have "forgotten our first love".  

   Let us prostrate ourselves before our God and seek His face.  We need to be repentant, receptive, and available for Him to use us for His purpose and glory.

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#jointhemovement

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

   Christians everywhere are preparing to bring attention to the persecution of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ in July.  We will be wearing our "prison garb" each Sunday, as we stand in solidarity with Christians worldwide who are being killed or imprisoned for their faith.  Wearing the prison orange is symbolic, much like tying a yellow ribbon was in the past.  It is a religious statement as well as a political statement, but it is mostly a humbling experience.

   It is our hope and prayer that our Lord will notice the sea of prison orange around our country and around the world.  It is our prayer that as we choose to wear a t-shirt in place of our fine clothing and jewelry to church, that we will humble ourselves in many areas of our lives.  Our Lord says that "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7: 14  (KJV)

  To the angel of the church of Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God says this:  'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.  So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.'    Revelations 3: 15, 16  (NIV)  Let us ignite a revival like the world has never seen!  Let us catch on fire for Christ, and "remember our first love"!  Today is that day!  #jointhemovement.  

   Our country is very sick.  Our politicians at every level are enslaving us; they are passing laws that slap our God in His face.  Christians are being persecuted.  How can we, God's soldiers, be so impotent?  We need Him to hear us from heaven!  Then, as we "blow our trumpets and march and shout"  He will cause walls to tumble.  (Joshua 6: 3 - 5)

   If you have been studying with us about fasting, you already know the type of "fast" that God wants:  Isaiah 58: 9 - 14 (NIV)

9)..."If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

   with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10) and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

   and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

   and your night will become like the noonday.

11)  The Lord will guide you always;

   He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

   and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

   like a spring whose waters never fail.

12)  Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

   and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

   Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13) "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

   and from doing as you please on My Holy Day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight

   and The Lord's Holy Day honorable,

and if you honor it by not going your own way

   and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

14)  then you will find your joy in The Lord,

and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land

and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."

FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.

   Brother, it doesn't get any better than this!  So, #jointhemovement.  Let God see us humbling ourselves.  Let us pray for our Brothers and Sisters who are being persecuted.  Let us ask God to guide us and forgive us.  God has promised these things to us.  Goodness and mercy are ours for the taking.  Praise God!

   It starts with a prison orange shirt.  You can order yours today at www.booster.com/prisonorangeforChrist.   Let us be united as we take a bold, unmistakable stand for Christ.  You only have a short time to order these shirts for them to be delivered in time for July. So, #jointhemovement.

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