The Ancient of Days with Glory, Everlasting Dominion, and an Indestructible Kingdom
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14 (emphasis mine)
On the last drive up to Phetchabun, Pastor Big and Nini said they were going to make a surprise stop. UNESCO had recently declared an ancient location at Si Thep a World Heritage Site. Fee into the park for the weekend was free and they wanted me to see some of Thailand’s history. We spent a good amount of time walking around the crumbling temples and stones marking where buildings once stood in their glory. Now, carved statues are missing body parts, plants are growing out of the cracks, and birds have made their nests in the crevices. Being someone who enjoys learning history, my mind went to work imagining the people who once walked among these stones and how they lived, worshipping their false gods.
Thailand has a rich history going back to ancient years. The worship of their false gods continues to this day. The ancestors of the remains viewed at the site are in as much need of knowing the Son of Man as those who lived back then. The kings of ancient Si Thep passed away and the current king and his successors will pass away, but Jesus is eternal and His dominion is everlasting. His dominion will never crumble or decay. It will never pass away. The Si Thep ancient city is destroyed, only pieces of it remain. The kingdom of Thailand could be destroyed at any time, but Jesus’ Kingdom can never be destroyed. Representatives of all peoples, nations, and languages are currently serving Him. Jesus has sent me as his messenger to tell His Gospel story so that more representatives living here in modern Thailand will also bow down in service to the King of kings, the Ancient of Days.
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?…faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:13-14, 17). Oh Lord, may the Thai people turn from their dark and wicked gods! That they will instead be enlightened with Your Truth and by Your Light! May they meet the King of kings and serve their Maker whose Kingdom is indestructible and whose Dominion is everlasting!
Nini and I visiting Phetchabun church members’ new home.
WMM missionary Abigail Bishop and I riding a songthaew to lunch.
Jose, Eloisa, & I standing in line at immigration in the 5 o’clock hour of the morning.
Praises
• I’ve finally moved to Phetchabun!
• My first time preaching with an interpreter went well. Thanks Pastor Big!
• My Jenny taxi! Jenny is the worship leader at Phetchabun and because she has a car, she transports me to town to do laundry and shopping. Thank you Jenny taxi!
Prayer Requests
• Pray I will finish getting my room in Phetchabun set-up.
• Building relationships—pray that I can form solid bonds with others.
• Pray that God will continue to use me for the purposes for which He has called me here.
Sincerely,
Raeha Butler
