ENDURING AS A STUDENT OF GOD'S WORD

For Daniel, enduring to the end involved continuing to study and ponder deeply the thrilling promises of God.  We know that Daniel was a devout student of God's Word. Otherwise, how would he have known of Jehovah's promise  to Jeremiah that the exile would be 70 years in duration?  Daniel himself wrote:  "I . . .discerned by the books the number of years." (Daniel 9:2; Jeremiah 25:11, 12)  Without question, Daniels ought out the books of God's Word than extant.  The writings of Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel-whatever was available to him-surely provided Daniel with many pleasant hours of reading and meditation.

Studying God's Word, being absorbed in it, is vital in order for us to cultivate endurance today. (Romans 15:4-6; 1 Timothy 4:15) And we have the complete Bible, which includes  the written record of how some of Daniel's prophecies were fulfilled centuries later.  Further, we are blessed to live during "the time of the end," foretold at Daniel 12:4.  In our own day, the anointed have been blessed with spiritual insight, shining as beacons of truth in this bedarkened world. As a result, many of the deep prophecies in the book of Daniel, some of which mystified him, are rich in meaning for us today. Therefore, let us continue to study God's Word daily, never taking these things for granted.  Doing so will help us to endure.   

Next time: DANIEL PERSEVERED IN PRAYER

From the book:  PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999