II Corinthians 2:14

DANIEL 11:32

“The people that do know their God”

Daniel 11:32 says, “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

The World is heading towards the end of the age of grace. This means that grace is increasing in the world. As the grace of God increases so too shall increase, “The people that do know their God.”

A person either knows God or does not know God. To know God you must repent of your sins to Jesus Christ. I John 5:20 says, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

Even though it is the age of grace and not the 7 year time period of the great tribulation there are some similarities between the perilous times of the last years and days of the age of grace and the great tribulation. Daniel chapter 11 verse 32 is a verse in the Bible in which the first half of the verse refers to the antichrist and those that listen to his lies and the last half of the verse refers to those whom listen to the truth of the Word of God.

In talking about those that turn away from the truth the key word to notice here is the word, “flatteries.” A flattery, a blandishment is a way of lying to someone and lifting a person up with pride a way of luring them away from the truth, a way of appealing to their sinful selfish nature.

Most people in this world are very susceptible to flatteries because human beings are sinful and selfish by nature. In talking about the antichrist one should talk about the devil because the antichrist is a person who will be demon possessed by the spirit of the devil whereas a Christian is a person possessed by the Spirit of God.

For those whom have a sincere love for Jesus Christ it can be a great travesty to see so many souls in this world which so easily turn aside from the glorious everlasting gospel and turn to flatteries. However in thinking about flatteries what Christians should remember is that God is a jealous God. And therefore God loves judgment.

Concerning those that turn aside to flatteries the Bible says Psalms 35:6 says, “Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.” In the Hebrew Old Testament the word for slippery comes from the same word as the word for flattery. Flatteries are something God uses as judgment upon those whom turn away from the truth.

Regarding those that turn away from the truth of the Word of God, “Let the angel of the LORD persecute them.”

And for those who do not turn away from the truth of the Word of God such shall be strong and do exploits. Daniel 11:32, “but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

Considering that the Word of God and the teaching of the Word of God has been around since the time of Moses some 3500 years ago and even since God first spake to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden about 6000 years ago those that have turned from their sins to Jesus Christ should indeed be a people that do know their God.

God’s Word, God’s truth is eternal, and therefore over the course of 6000 years none of His truth has been lost. It has been passed down from generation to generation and is kept persevered in His written Word. You will recognize the Christians, the church, the people that do know their God because they are strong and do exploits.

In talking about some of the great exploits of the people that do know their God the Bible says in Hebrews 11:33-39 “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:”

The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. They shall wrought righteousness and obtain promises that they might obtain a better resurrection.

In this world of internet, satellite, radio, television, hidden camera’s, media, computers, Hollywood and global networking, those who are praised and given fame are most often the foolish and vilest of men. The world praises and uplifts such things that man often does in His own strength be it mountain climbing, or sky diving, or become a famous movie actor, or being a leader of a country but such exploits of the world are not what the Word of God calls exploits.

When the Word of God mentions exploits it mentions the sufferings and the sacrifices of those whom have lived by faith in Jesus Christ and those whom have done their part in the work of the glorious everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.

Tis true we can thank God that we live in the age of grace especially here in the United States. However we do live in perilous times of grace. The spiritual warfare is increasing in the world. It is Jesus verses the devil in this world. Ife you want to live for Christ then you need to be strong. If you want accomplish exploits of biblical proportions in this world then you need to be strong.

During the days of the great tribulation those that are believers in Jesus will certainly need to be pillars of faith because of as Jesus said in Matthew 24:21, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Even though God’s grace is increasing in the world in this age of God the perilous times shall continue to increase too because it is drawing nearer the time period of the great tribulation. Therefore as opposition against the Word of God increases, and as persecution against believers increases, Christians will need to increase in the strength of their faith.

Isaiah 41:13 says, “For I the LORD Thy God will hold Thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might.”

Wither goest thou? We whom by grace through faith believe in Jesus Christ are these that go too and fro upon the earth preaching the everlasting gospel of forgiveness of sins and eternal life and the everlasting love of a Holy God who loves judgment.

The great exploits of this world are not the things which the world praises but which God praises. To God the great exploits of man are those things which are done living by faith in the promises of God and done for the glory of Jesus Christ the king of kings.

Those whom live by faith in the promises of God are those whom subdue kingdoms and do not accept deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. Those whom live by faith both quench the violence of fire and are slain by the sword. Those that live by faith in the promises of God and rely upon the righteousness of Christ shall be tempted and tortured yet shall not accept deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. The people that do know their God shall do be strong and do great exploits; exploits of faith in Jesus Christ.

In talking about exploits think about some of the many exploits of God. The word exploit is simply a word that means to do.

Genesis 1:7 says, “And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.” Genesis 1:26 says, “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

What great exploits God has done. God has created this world and all that is therein. God has created man and given him life. God has sent His Son Jesus born of a virgin, born in a manger dying a cross and rising from the grave. To speak of exploits, O to see an image of Jesus bleeding on His Cross. We cannot crucify to ourselves the son of God afresh because Jesus already died on the cross 2000 years ago and rose from the grave but we can remember the great exploits of our Saviour.

Malachi 3:16-17, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”

Jesus bled on His cross. Jesus died on His cross. Jesus defeated death. God is truly a jealous God. From thralldom to the gospel light the love of God brings us.

Dear Jesus, Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?” In that day when the LORD maketh up His jewels those that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name shall be His.

The word of the Lord is precious in these days. There is the sound of the abundance of rain for behold thy time O United States, thy time O world, Thy time O my kingdom of the fall of splendor, thy time is the time of love. In the day of thy visitation thou art made strong to do exploits for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We the people of the world whom do know our God, of whom the world was not worthy shall glorify God in the day of our visitation. We the people of the world whom do know our God, of whom the world was not worthy shall obtain a better resurrection. We the people of the world whom do know our God shall be strong in the LORD and do exploits of faith.

Turn from your sins to Jesus Christ and from the weakness of sin into the strength of grace through faith shall you be made strong.

Daniel 11:32 says, “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

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