The King had grown suspicious of his "trusted" advisors, so he presented them with an impossible dilemma. He wanted them to interpret a dream without telling them the dream! Daniel and his friends humbled themselves before God and were told both the dream and its interpretation. But the lesson here is not that God answers prayers because of our holiness. Rather, we pray because God answers prayer!

We live in evil and crooked times. Most are content to waste their lives. Others are intent on ruining their lives by running as far from the Lord as they can. When we, the redeemed, patiently bear with others and share the love of Christ with them, we are, "snatching them from the fire," according to Jude.  

Daniel and his three friends are among the first exiles deported from Judah to Babylon. They are remarkable young men, quickly elevated to leadership in the kingdom. But what most stands out about them is their faithfulness. Daniel's name means, "God is my Judge." He lives up to his name, as a faithful witness who served in the imperial courts of two of the most powerful kingdoms of all time.

The River of Life and Tree of Life feature in the new creation. This river of love is so vast and sweet that it turns even the Dead Sea into a lush oasis. We taste this sweetness of God's love in baptism, but can't even begin to imagine the joy that will fill our hearts when we see these things with our own eyes.

John's final epistle is not hard to understand. He wants nothing more than to be with his spiritual children forever in heaven. Every parent and grandparent understands this. May we, motivated by love, be used by God to fill heaven with those we touch with God's redeeming love in Christ Jesus.

Feasting has been a part of worship since the institution of animal sacrifice in the Garden. In heaven, even though all sin is already forgiven, worship will include feasting with God. All the savory succulence of a gourmet meal, mixed with the love and joy of a grand family reunion, barely begins to describe the joy we will know there.

The physical measurements of the restored Jerusalem make it about the sized of Washington DC. It's huge! It's perfectly ordered. But more impressive than its physical aspect is its character. As the place where God will dwell with humanity forever, it's a place of perfect peace, love, harmony and righteousness.

The work of God does not stop when we come to faith. The same love that brings us to faith leads us to love others as God loves us. May we be preserved from any theology that seperates faith and good works. Instead, let us see faith and love as the two sides of a true faith in Christ.

Interesting historical fact about Jerusalem, the Eastern Gate described in this passage as the place where God's glory will return to Jerusalem, has been walled shut a number of times. Most recently closed by Sulemein the Magnificent, it's rumored to be closed so that this prophecy can't be fulfilled. What if Jesus already fulfilled it on Palm Sunday? How will these stones hold if God Almighty decides this is the place to make His re-entry to earth?

The glorified Temple is a vision of heaven on earth. The complex is about a square mile, with over-sized versions of the Temple and altar. It is a place where God's glory will dwell with mankind forevermore!