Let’s start with a recap of yesterday’s lesson. Please list the three additional names/titles for the ‘little horn.’
“Man of Lawlessness
“Beast
“Antichrist”
Perhaps nothing is more dangerous than an evil genius. Why do you suppose evil and intelligence form such a deadly combination?
“Dumb or even average evil will only get so far before it trips itself up and gets caught. Intelligence, with good or evil, moves things forward and gets things done. Paired with evil, it moves rapidly in a harmful direction.”
Let’s turn our attention now to the antichrist’s (the little horn’s) treatment of the saints. What does Daniel 7:25 specifically say will happen to the ‘saints’?
“He will oppress them. They will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.”
Daniel 7:27 offers the most helpful generalization. The saints are the people of the “Most High”
How does Satan attempt to oppress you as described in this definition?
“Someone once told me ‘if the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.’ Between actual housework, self-made chores, stockpiled TV shows, games with deadlines, and a (very) part-time job, I stay very busy. I probably should be getting out into some fertile secular group, events, etc., on a more regular basis.”
Have you ever felt harassed by the enemy until you were miserable? If so, what form did this harassment seem to take?
“Conflict with another person: Mrs. Beaumont, school dean, etc.”
We also learned from Daniel 7:25 that the antichrist will ‘try to change the “set times” and the “laws”’
What impact would the elimination of your most meaningful religious holidays mean to you? Really give this question some thought and then offer your answer.
“I wonder if he would eliminate Christmas entirely or just insist on it being strictly Xmas, and I bet he’d keep Halloween. I would be sneaking around and breaking the law a lot. I’d have to be extra careful about not absentmindedly singing carols or Easter related hymns that popped into my head.”
Dearest Rachel –
While I can’t remember whether it refers to “an idle mind” or “idle hands,” your bringing up the idea that Satan will make us busy if he can’t make us bad reminds me of the saying that idleness is “the devil’s playground.” To be sure, neither aphorism is actually scriptural, but they both make a measure of sense; as long as we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing (whatever that may be – it’s not always obvious, thereby making it that much easier for us not be doing it), he can use us for his purposes, or at least remove us from being useful for his Enemy who we’re supposed to be serving. Still, the combination of proverbs appears to skewer us on Morton’s Fork, whether we’re lazy or busy; we can be, quite literally, be damned if we do or damned if we don’t.
Because it’s just that easy to be doing the devil’s work (or at least, not God’s), I have to admit to being guilty of very much the same thing you claimed to be here; I keep myself busy, or at least occupied, but it’s rear echelon stuff at best, and more often, just outright distractions. You won’t see me on the front lines, getting involved with other people personally and trying to win them over like I’m supposed to. I may have been able to convince myself that the logistical side of the spiritual battle it’s what I’m best suited for, but we all represent the only Jesus some people will ever see, and I wonder if I’m not falling down on that part of my job.
I hear about those around the world being oppressed for their faith – indeed, one of our pastors is stuck overseas (granted, he’s a native of the country he’s ostensibly ‘stuck’ in, so that may not be the correct word for it) in a particularly dangerous country, unable to return to the States because of various issues between his and our country – and realize that we here really don’t know what it is to be oppressed. As the song goes, our trial is which car to buy; our temptation is that extra dessert; we have no idea what it’s really like to be challenged for what we believe, even in this increasingly polarized society.
Nor, let’s face it, do we wish to, given the choice. There may be glory, even eternally so, in facing the hordes of hell for the sake of the One we serve and follow, but if it’s possible not to, we’d just as soon avoid it. Fortunately, that’s not entirely to our discredit; even Jesus Himself asked if His cup of suffering couldn’t be taken away from Him to drink, and if there was some other way for Him to save humanity. Although, the fact that He still went through with it suggests that – regardless of the fact that people want to believe that there are “many ways to God” – there really wasn’t, and isn’t any other option, when it comes to salvation.
Hmm. I seemed to have strayed rather some ways afield in musing about this topic you covered, honey – and I didn’t even touch on your answer regarding the danger of intelligence in the service of evil (which, to be fair, should be mostly self-evident; you certainly put it well enough that further commentary should be unnecessary). In any event, it’s time to get on with my day, for which I’ll still ask you as always to keep an eye on me, and wish me luck. After all, I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 