Crosstalk: August 12, 2016

Ron Rhodes – President of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries, a teaching and resource ministry that specializes in defending Christianity against atheists, agnostics, skeptics, the cults, world religions, and any group teaching false doctrine.  Ron is the author of over 70 books most of which deal in the area of apologetics, and also some Bible study books.  One of his latest books is "40 Days Through Daniel: Revealing God's Plan for the Future" .

Often people enjoy the first part of the Old Testament book of Daniel, with its stories of the three Hebrew Children who wouldn't bow to a golden image, but God enabled them to survive the fiery furnace, Daniel and the lions' den, and Belshazzar’s Feast with the handwriting on the wall.  But when they get to chapter 7, and the writing turns to prophecy, often the book is closed because they cannot understand it.

But even in the first chapter, it is clear that when Babylon took Israel captive (including Daniel), it was God that ordained it as a punishment for Israel's rebellion against God.  The purpose was to convince Israel to repent and turn back to God, after they had refused to repent despite God's invitation and warnings.

America is not Israel, but the principle of God's judgment remains for any people who turn from God to immorality.  Ron says the question is whether America is now being turned over for judgment.

The message of Daniel is that God proved Himself superior to the false gods of Babylon, and then revealed to Daniel prophecies about future empires that show the God is also superior to the most powerful governments man can create.

Ron discusses the symbolism in Daniel and other apocalyptic literature, stating that symbols still represent something that is real.  In addition, there is a connection between Daniel and the New Testament book of Revelation, which also presents a number of very similar symbols.

Questions and comments by callers dealt with how to study understand prophecy, and specific items in Bible prophecy as they might relate to today.