Category Archives: Morning Thoughts

Philip Conley's Morning Thoughts

Morning Thoughts (Daniel 8 – “Scripture Validation”)

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“Scripture Validation”

This morning, the devil works relentlessly to confuse God’s children of the right way to go in this world. We understand from Scripture that God is not the source of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33), but confusion seems to be a daily hindrance due to our adversary and the frailty of the flesh. The world of today creates a cauldron of confusion by having a multitude of options. When talking to people at work or in the community about the Bible and the church, it becomes clear that many good people do not understand why a certain Bible “version” or church type is better/worse than another. After all, we all worship the same God right? Having a plethora of Bible and church choices today serves to confuse God’s people at the basic root point: the source material of God’s Book and God’s House. However, a greater confusion that some of God’s children face is the idea that the Bible is truly Divine and without error.

Over the last few weeks, I have talked with a man at work about various theological subjects that are quandaries in his mind. One of the first conversations we had to have was to get his mind centered on the point that the Bible is Divine and without error. He needed “proof” that such was the case. As I travelled over the ground with him, it dawned on me that to actually prove the Bible Divine using the Bible itself was perhaps the most powerful point for its defense. Surely, we could point to history, textual criticism, and even manuscript authenticity. However, the internal proofs that the Bible provides are astounding when seen for what they really are. Therefore, today we would like to investigate one of my favorite – and I believe strongest – internal proofs of the Bible’s authenticity.

The portion of our Bible divided as Daniel Chapter 8 gives Daniel’s account of a vision that God gave him. This vision was not all that different than other things that Daniel was blessed to expound – such as Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2. However, the level of specific detail sets this vision in a place to itself. The Lord unfolds hundreds of years of human history for Daniel through this section. Not only does it unfold for Daniel, but it is also described to him. The vision is given in Verses 3-12, and the description of the vision is declared in Verses 15-25.

Through the vision Daniel sees a form of the Medo-Persian empire through the image of a ram with two horns. This empire pushed where others had never gone, and the strongest part of the empire rose towards the end just as the greater horn came up in his head last. Afterwards, this ram was killed by a rough he goat with one notable horn, and this goat is declared to be Grecia. History records the name of the great horn in its head: Alexander. Afterwards, this horn falls off in its prime with 4 other horns coming up in its stead but none as strong as the one horn. From this rises another great empire that would stand and make craft to prosper until it stood against heaven and the Prince of princes. By this last empire would the holy people have their daily sacrifice taken away with the desolation of the holy place and the sanctuary trodden under foot.

What is also needful in this vision is how it begins and ends. Daniel specifically puts his authorship on this writing and dates it specifically. This was given to him while Babylon still reigned supreme under the rule of Belshazzar. The end of this chapter shows Daniel fainting at the sight of it with no man (Daniel included) understanding the fullness of the vision. The reason it is important that Daniel and the time of his writing be identified will be discussed later while answering the critic’s assertion of this chapter.

Consider what was just given. Hundreds of years of world human history laid out in detail with places, names, sequences, and events before any of it happened. Not only had it not happened yet, but many of the places that were mentioned were at that time just mere images of what they would become as this vision came to fruition. The declaration at the end of the chapter that no one understood the vision is not surprising seeing that Media, Persia, Greece, and ultimately Rome were only shadows of what they become. How can one look at hundreds of years of history declared through a vision before the fact without reaching the conclusion of Divine Inspiration?

The critic of the Bible hates Daniel 8 as it provides a death knell to his thinking. The best the critic can muster – or has mustered to this point – is that Daniel 8 was inserted by an imposter years after the fact. The fact that Daniel identifies himself twice and the time period shows the wisdom of the Holy Ghost to inspire it this way. This chapter has the same writing and linguistic style of the rest of the book, and the reception of the book in its entirety by the Jewish nation (who were meticulous in their record keeping) testifies that the critic’s last ditch attempt to deny the Divine authorship of this portion is a poor and vain effort.

Now, some might say, “Thanks for the history lesson preacher, but what’s the point for today?” The point friends is that the devil is cunning and crafty to get us to doubt the things of God. He will foster any shadow in our minds to try to convince us that the Bible is a fake, church is a farce, and Godly living is for the fool. When I was on a college campus not that many years ago, I was stunned to observe that the professing Christians on campus were less knowledgeable of the Bible than avowed atheists and agnostics. When the enemy of the Bible knows it better than the soldier that should be armed with it as his sword, the battle will go awry for the child of God very quickly.

We need ready armaments at our disposal to answer the naysayers and the critics. If we are not armed and prepared, then doubts creep in. Doubts lead to denials, and denials lead to spiritual coldness, apathy, and eventually rebellion. Who outside of God could declare centuries of history in such a way? Who outside of God’s infinite knowledge could describe the next 3 world empires by name and detail, coupled with the advent and rise of His Son, and the vision ending ultimately in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem? The Bible answers its own defense as the evidence within it screams to us, “God wrote this!” When I read Daniel 8, I am not only interested in all the wonderful history contained in it, but I also derive a lot of comfort knowing that God in heaven breathed, and this Book is the result. When I hold it in my hands, I am comforted knowing that it is God’s declaration to me of what He has done, is doing, and will continue to do for His children of which I feel to have a blessed part. Friends, let us hold our convictions on the ground that God has provided us ample evidence that this our faith is not blind or senseless, but rather, our faith is the only thing that is truly sensical and worth holding on to.

In Hope,
Bro Philip

Philip Conley's Morning Thoughts

Morning Thoughts (Revelation 2:10 – “The Duration of Warfare”)

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“The Duration of Warfare”

Revelation 2:10, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

This morning, life seems to follow a pattern of one of the famous literary lines, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” To the disciple of Christ trying to adhere faithfully to His injunctions, it seems so dark and distressing at what the world is propagating these days. To that same individual, today is the closest we have ever been to the 2nd coming of our Lord. Truly, this day – with all of its sorrowful circumstances – is still the best in the regard of being nearest to the blessed end. Till that blessed day arrives, much needs to be done in combating the problems that cross our path as diligent and faithful soldiers of the cross. While we will always have problems as long as we dwell in a sin-cursed plane, that does not necessitate our falling prey to them. So, the question that any soldier must ask is, “How long must this fight endure?”

As we launch into this mode of thought, please note dear reader that the only portion of our study verse that we will consider is the expression “be thou faithful unto death.” There are many more good things in this verse and the immediate context regarding the address to the church at Smyrna. However, our scope is more broad than the focus on one church as this lesson is primarily directed. Since the answer to the soldier’s question is readily apparent from the expression itself. Consider this quote from a famous American general as we go into this, “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” — General Douglas MacArthur

The injunction on warfare’s duration is simple and straightforward. As long as we have breath, we should stand and war a good warfare faithfully. In the workforce, people look forward to one thing seemingly more than any other: retirement. I must confess that at my relatively young age, I think about it. Most of my thoughts revolve around how I much I could do that I want to do if retired. However, it should not be so for the disciple’s life of service. Our “want to” should align with our “ought to.” We may have times and seasons where we want to quit the fight or take a sabbatical. But, faithfulness should know no season and cessation of conflict with the world should never occur, as this world is not our friend.

In recent days, I have seen the rise of the retirement mentality in some Christian circles regarding their service and faithfulness to God’s kingdom. In the denominational world, preachers are retiring (mind boggling thought!), and even in our own churches, people are semi-to-fully retired in their efforts worshipping the Lord. While I am all for encouraging younger, fresher people in churches to take responsibilities as they grow and develop, there is no discharge in this war and service of ours. Prayers should stay most fervent. Worship should remain passionate and heart-felt. Daily life should still look as bright and refulgent as a shining light in a cold dark world. Years ago, a much older minister confessed to me that he had not really read or studied his Bible in years. His preaching was basically a re-presentation of things preached in years past. He said with shame that he had been brought to his knees by the Almighty to pick his sword back up and war again.

Let us transition this thought to our highest Example. Jesus Christ the Lord was faithful unto death. While this question does not apply to us with the same weight it does to Him, what are the ramifications of not being so? Had Jesus Christ not been faithful all the way to death, we would be yet in our sins and of all men most miserable. Thank God and bless His name that our faithfulness unto death does not carry such eternal ramifications! However, consider how our faithfulness in this regard does affect us, and more pertinently those around us. Most people are going to remember what portion of someone’s life? More than likely, the thing that will stand out the most is how they finished their course.

When runners run in a race, a fast starter that fades down the stretch will be a mere footnote as a participant in the race. Though he may have led the first half of it, his effort will not endure. There have been ministers I have known in the past that were great blessings for many years to God’s people. Their preaching was mighty and powerful, but down the stretch they either faded to a moral problem or theological error. All most people remember about them is not the years of faithful service but the reprobate or heretical behavior that came forth at the end. The greatest legacy we can leave for our children and those following after us is not money, land, possessions, or even seasons of faithful examples. Rather the greatest legacy we can leave those we love is the example of finishing our course with joy, rejoicing in hope even until the end, and steadfastly holding on to those things that bring lasting peace and joy to the soul.

Getting back to the quote from the beginning, every one of us should have the prayer of peace first and foremost in our hearts. Not peace with the world but peace from out of his world. We will be at peace one day with a full cessation of hostilities for evermore. That discharge will come from either death or Christ’s coming. Until one of those two events transpire, faithfulness should be our primary course: in all seasons, in all situations, and no matter the price that it costs. Faithfulness to His Divine will occurred for our Lord all the time, no matter what He was faced with, and even at the cost of His life for us. May our course follow the same direction and path. May our best days of faithful service be those before us. As the world grows darker, may we grow brighter. As death nears, may we rejoice in hope with all faith even more. As another memorable character said during a great time of conflict, “This was their finest hour.” May people remember the end of warfare as being our finest hour of service, thanksgiving, and praise knowing that our arms would be laid down forever to rest in peace and at home.

In Hope,
Bro Philip