Do you want temporary victory or eternal victory? The Israelites have been defending themselves against physical enemies for centuries, but Christians have eternal victory against our enemies because of our faith in Jesus! (1John 5:4-5)

The Israelites had temporary victory

Key Bible Reference: Ezra-Esther; Daniel

Judges and kings ruled Israel for about 850 years until 586BC when the Babylonians conquered Israel, burned Jerusalem and destroyed Solomon’s temple.  The Israelites were warned by prophets for hundreds of years to turn to God or be turned over to their enemies, but they ignored the warnings.  The Israelites were held captive for 70 years, but God is merciful and loving, so He protected the faithful such as Daniel and his friends.  When they refused to worship the image of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, God worked some mighty miracles causing all to acknowledge Him as the true God.  The Babylonians were destroyed, Jerusalem was restored, the temple was rebuilt and the Israelites rededicated their lives to God. Unfortunately, many later abandoned their faith and were conquered by the Greeks and later the Romans, so their victory was temporary.

JESUS gives us eternal victory

Key Bible Reference: Matthew 24:3-44; Revelation 1-22

The prophecy in the book of Revelation warns us to turn to Jesus or suffer eternally.  In the last days, those who are not committed to following Jesus, the Christ, will be deceived into following the antichrist who speaks against God.  All who do not worship the image of the beast and take its mark will be killed, but God will protect the faithful just as He did Daniel and his friends.  Those who follow the antichrist will suffer terribly and eternally, but Christians will live in eternal victory with God and Jesus forever and ever. There will be a new Heaven, a new earth and a New Jerusalem with Tree of Life in the middle of the garden and Jesus as the temple. 

Connecting the Old & New Testament

Temporary Victory vs Eternal Victory

God warned the Israelites for hundreds of years but they ignored the warnings, so in 586 BC the Babylonians destroyed the temple and Jerusalem and took the Israelites captive for 70 years.  God is merciful and loving — He protected the faithful such as Daniel and his friends when they refused to worship false gods.  Through faithfulness to God, their enemies were destroyed and Jerusalem was restored, but it was only temporary.

Throughout the Bible, God tells us to make a choice between blessings and curses, life and death.  Those who don’t choose Jesus, the Christ, will suffer God’s wrath and be thrown into the lake of fire along with the beast, the false prophet and Satan.  Although the anti-Christ will be permitted to war against saints, God can protect the faithful just as He did with Daniel and his friends.  Christians can look forward to eternal victory in Paradise, with a river of water and the tree of Life, better than the Garden of Eden – no curse!

Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have ETERNAL VICTORY over this evil world!

CONTINUE READING…The Bible in Pictures

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