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A Daily Thunder Series with Eric Ludy
Spiritual Lessons from
the Time of Nero
The times of Roman Emperor Nero mark in the annals of history a season of unprecedented difficulty and trial for the Christian faith. But, this time was no less challenging for the Jewish people that had chosen to refuse, rather than accept, their long-awaited Messiah.
This study focuses on a period of time between two massive events in first century world history between AD 64 (The Burning of Rome) and AD 70 (The Fall of Jerusalem). To understand what happened in this stretch of time greatly increases a believer’s comprehension of the New Testament and God’s very nature as a good Father. It puts into context the writings of the New Testament and helps to better understand the audience and the spectacular intent behind the Scriptures.
Nero was a terrible man who architected terrible things against God’s people. But out of this outrageous and horrific trial, a triumphant New Testament Church sprang forth — one ready and even eager to die for their precious Lord and Savior with a smile on their lips and a song in their hearts. Simultaneously, the clear fulfillment of Christ’s Word of awful judgment upon the Jews who refused to repent and receive heaven-sent grace was radically set before the nations for awe-inspiring contemplation.
Part 1: A Most Fantastic Event
The time of Nero was an incredibly dark time in history; a time when people suffered under the rule of a madman and sadistic mass murderer. But there is also something that happened in the time of Nero that is absolutely extraordinary—something that can cause a believer’s soul to be stirred with great hope. The time of Nero was not just another oppressive memory on the calendar of antiquity—it was a profound season of punctuation to the work of Christ Jesus on the Cross. It was a time of fulfilled prophecy; a time when the Church of Jesus Christ emerged as an unstoppable force in this world. This is the first episode in this exciting Daily Thunder summer series. Let the adventure begin!
Part 2: I Work at Starbucks
In this episode, Eric lays the foundation for understanding this extraordinary time period of history (from 64 to 70 AD) and the way that knowing this human history can actually impact the lens that a student of Scripture wears in interpreting the text of the Book of Revelation. Utilizing a humorous misunderstanding regarding his possible employment at Starbucks, he unpacks the very real schism the Body of Christ today experiences over this apocalyptic vision. He also shows how it is actually quite reasonable to come to differing viewpoints on the matters in question inside this mysterious book.
Part 3: Great Balls of Fire
In this episode, Eric investigates the history of the Temple and explains how the work of Christ on the Cross was a clear departure from one temple system in order to establish a far superior temple system in the bodies of those that believe in Jesus Christ.
Part 4: When Michael Stands
In this episode Eric dives into the deep end of Scripture and wrestles with the prophecies of Daniel, demonstrate how they set the stage beautifully for the arrival of the Mercy-Seat-sitting Jesus Christ. But, not just that—it’s the arrival of the Altar-Standing Jesus Christ, as well.
Part 5: The Art of Trembling
In this episode Eric discusses the profound nature of God’s Holy Presence and how there is a right and a wrong way to enter into it. He also shows how the presumptive entry into this Almighty Presence has led to many catastrophic outcomes throughout history.
Part 6: The Ash of Antioches
In this episode Eric demonstrates throughout the Biblical record (and even in the history of the Jews unrecorded in the Biblical record) a clear pattern of God’s divine purposefulness in allowing weakness in the men and nations He favors. And He does this in order to showcase His strength in and through that very weakness. With a Gideon-esque intentionality, He often will shrink down our earthly forces before He marshals His heavenly ones to fight on our behalf. And in so doing, He never fails to bring beauty out of ash.
Part 7: Clear as Mud
In this episode Eric addresses the hard-to-understand style of prophetic and apocalyptic writings in Scripture. Why did God give us these strange and challenging books, and how, as the Body of Christ, are we supposed to approach them? Because, for many, these pieces of divine communication are as clear as mud.
Part 8: The Puzzling End
In this installment Eric explores the concept of “The End.” There seem to be two kinds of ends mentioned in Scripture—1) The ends of eras, times, and temporary systems of government, and 2) The end of all things. This distinction matters. And it’s very easy to confuse the two—unwittingly thinking that an ending which refers to the conclusion of a particular epoch of history is instead a proclamation of the end of the heavens and the earth. This message is, like its name, a puzzle—and a rather fun one at that.
Part 9: The Golden Chariot
In this message Eric takes us one step further into the puzzling territory of the End, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the Son of Man coming in the clouds. This message will send both a holy thrill and a holy trembling through your spiritual being. There is a “golden chariot” described in and throughout Scripture upon which God rides. And, it is on this chariot that the Almighty comes to bring judgment. But, this same chariot that should elicit awe and fear in those soon to be trampled beneath its wheels—elicits awe and joy in those that have gained the amazing privilege of actually sitting with the Almighty Charioteer when He comes in power.
Part 10: Mr. Sneaky
In this episode Eric discusses the “culture of silence” that religious communities are prone to establish as the means of protecting the integrity of their denominational identity. Like caution tape, certain topics or ideas become “roped off” and “inaccessible” to the laymen. “We don’t talk about that in this church” or “we don’t ask those questions around here” become either the spoken or the unspoken messages. But, inevitably, cordoning off these topics leads to a weakening and never a strengthening of the Body of Christ. Like Nicodemus, we must go to Jesus with our questions, even if it be “sneakily” at night.
Part 11: The Great Cover-Up
In this episode Eric discusses the historical agenda of the Devil to distort the working of God, to twist the words of God, and to obscure the Good News from clear sight. The Devil works to bury the amazing accomplishments of God while the Holy Spirit works to reveal them. But who is going to win? It is a well known fact that when Light and Dark battle it out head-to-head, that Light always comes out the victor.
Part 12: Classic God
In this episode Eric puts out on the table his most important puzzle piece for the series. It’s the puzzle piece that most clearly demonstrates his goal in putting this all together and the one that has given him passion to actually systematically address all these awkward and difficult matters pertaining to the End. It’s all summed up in what he describes as the Principle of the Here-and-Now.
Part 13: The Tangled Jungle
In this episode Eric gives an overview of the arduous task it is to understand and make sense of the Book of Revelation. Many scholars have concluded that it is a waste of time to even try to comprehend the meaning of this apocalyptic masterpiece. But the Book itself declares that there is a blessing waiting for anyone that dares to read it, hear it, and keep its words. If we genuinely believe in the purposefulness of every single word in the Scriptures, it only makes sense that at the far side of this tangled jungle, is a glorious reward—a greater understanding of the Person of the Jesus Christ.
Part 14: The Bionic Ear
In this installment Eric discusses the unique phrase in Scripture, “He who has an ear let him hear.” It’s an odd statement and responsively many of us think, “Wait a minute! Don’t we all have an ear?” Yes, we do have physical ears, but not all of us possess spiritual ears. And spiritual ears are what is necessary to be able to hear and understand what God is saying to His Church. To understand and comprehend the mysteries of Scripture demands the presence of the “Bionic ear.”
Part 15: On the Spectrum
In this episode Eric labors to parallel today’s modern church with a child “on the spectrum.” Strangely, it is much easier to give grace, patience, and understanding to someone known to be injured, malnourished, and/or otherwise neglected in their development, than it is to someone deemed privileged. And that is why it is important to note that much of the Church today has been stunted in their development and is showing serious signs of social backwardness because of that stunting. The majority of Christians in the West are used to an undernourished diet of unhealthy filler food and have not gained an appetite for real spiritual substance. If we can understand this “spiritual stunting” that surrounds us, it ought to make it easier to show grace and patience to the strange “spectrum” behaviors we are presently encountering in the Church.