There are two books in the Bible that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself especially urges us to give special attention to:
(a) In Matthew 24:15 Jesus is speaking and He says of the Book of Daniel, "Whoso readeth, let him understand."
(b) Jesus went out of His way to single out that one book as worthy of our special attention.
(c) The Book of Revelation is the only Bible book that carries a special blessing for the person who reads it, "Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein" (Rev. 1:3).
(d) This is clear evidence that the book can be understood! Jesus is honest with us; He would never say things like that about a book which doesn't make sense to us!
(e) The two books are complementary--the one explains the other.
(f) Even if you and I think that we may have been brought up on reading those two books, let us not let them become "sealed books" to us.
(g) The Great Second Advent Movement began in the 1840's in an understanding of these two books; time has not changed the importance of the two books.
(h) The understanding of these prophecies which the Holy Spirit gave to the "pioneers" is also valid today; in fact, it was the Lord's full intention that all the prophecies should have met their fulfillment in the latter years of the 19th century; Christ wanted to come then ... before the horrors of the two World Wars! The Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of all the nations--no way did He want those horrible events to happen.
(i) Are the Books of Daniel and the Revelation suitable for "bedtime reading"? Yes, but in context; let them speak fully--the message is always encouraging and uplifting.
(j) For example: "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Daniel 12:3). Can you think of more happy "bedtime reading"?
(k) And, "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him who hears say, Come. And let him who is thirsty, come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).
Yours for some happy "bedtime reading"!
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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