Daniel – Chapter 12

Great Times of Trouble

Verse 1 – “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.

The second half of the seven-year period of tribulation is going to be a horrific time for all man-kind. However, all those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be delivered. God knows every name; He knows every person who will be saved, beforehand. (Revelation 13:8; 17:8, says all those whose names are not written in the Book of Life, will marvel at the beast.) Revelation 20:5 – and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Verse 2 – And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.

This particular resurrection not only refers to those saved during the tribulation period and kept their faith, but the ones who “Pierced Him,” these are the ones that are raised in shame and contempt (Revelation 1:7 and 14:13). The first resurrection is the one found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (verse 17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

The second death for all those who have died and are not found in the Book of Life, are resurrected after the thousand-year reign and stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

Verse 3 – Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

Those who are wise – those who teach the Gospel about Christ and live their lives as examples who follow Christ.

Verse 4 – “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

In Hebrew, to “close up the words” and seal the book, is a reference to preservation until the end times. This was necessary because in the end times many will run to and fro seeking answers that will be found in the Book of Daniel. Knowledge will increase as these events begin to unfold. Understanding will come in like a flood when all these predictions begin to happen.

Verse 5 – Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank.

Verse 6 – And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”

Verse 7 – Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

Daniel saw two others – Two was the minimum number of a witness necessary for an oath (Deuteronomy 19:15). One of the men answered that the time of the great tribulation (the second half of Daniel’s seventh week), would be for a time, times, and a half time, or three and one-half years. By the end of the great tribulation, the power of the holy people, Israel, will be shattered, causing them to turn in faith to their long-rejected Messiah, Jesus, ( Zechariah 12:10). At that time, Jesus will return and deliver them and all these things will be complete (Zachariah 14:1-21).

Verse 8 – Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”

Verse 9 – And he said, “Go your way Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Verse 10 – “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

1 Corinthians 2:14 – But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

If you are not born-again, blood-bought, you don’t have “God’s Spirit” living on the inside of you, therefore the things of God seem foolish to you because you lack truth and understanding. This all makes perfect sense to the righteous.

Verse 11 – “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

This verse can be very confusing because there hasn’t been daily sacrifices in a temple in Israel for centuries. However, there has to be a third temple built, so when it is, they could possible start sacrificing again but the Antichrist will set up an image of himself to be worshiped.

Verse 12 – “Blessed is he who waits, and come to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

The great tribulation, three and one-half years, is only 1,260 days (Revelation 12:6; 13:5). The 1,290 days, may include the time for judging the nations (Matthew 25:31-46).

Verse 13 – “But you, go away till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Daniel was reassured that he would be laid to rest for a while, but would live again to a great reward, and so shall all those who are in Christ!

Daniel – Chapter 11

There is no break between chapter 10 and 11. The conversation between Gabriel and Daniel continues. Now we will see what the vision is all about.

Verse 1 – “Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.

Although Gabriel visited Daniel “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia,” he revealed to Daniel that he had stood up to strengthen and protect Daniel since the first year of Darius.

Verse 2 – “And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.

The word “yet” in Hebrew means besides, still, henceforth. So there is yet three kings after Cyrus. These were Cambyses the son of Cyrus (530-522 B.C.). False Smerdis an impostor who impersonated the real Smerdis to obtain the throne. The real Smerdis was killed by his brother Cambyses, (522 B.C.), Darius Hystasphes or Darius 1 who married a daughter of Cyrus (522-486 B.C.)

This was Xer or Ahasuerus, which was richer than all before him, see Esther 1:4-7.

Verse 3 – “Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

Verse 4 – And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.

Alexander the Great finally defeated the Persians in 331 B.C. He conquered all the way to the border of India and south to Egypt. His empire was far greater than Persia had been. On his way back to Babylon he came across a funeral of a man, Hephaestion, who was dear to him. In showing respect to the dead , it was customary to drink to intoxication. After two days a fever was in his system and grew worse and in a few days he died. He divided the kingdom among his four generals before he died.

Verse 5 – “Then the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion.

The king of the South-Ptolemy Soter, who had Egypt, Palestine and part of Syria in the south. One of the princes – Seleucus Nicator who now has three-quarters of Alexander’s kingdom.

Verse 6 – “And at the end of some years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her authority, and neither he nor his authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times.

Ptolemy II of Egypt made an alliance with the king of the North, Antiochus, by giving his daughter, Bernice, in marriage. So Antiochus divorced his wife and married Bernice. Bernice had a son, but when her father died Antiochus took back his first wife, Laodice, and she had Bernice murdered. Instead of the kingdoms being united, Ptolemy III took the throne when his father died and declared war to avenge his sister’s death.

Verse 7 – “But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail.

Bernice’s brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes, marches toward the North with a mighty army and succeeds.

Verse 8 – “And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North.

Verse 9 – “Then the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land.

Verse 10 – “However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife.

The sons of the North, Seleucus Callinecus’ sons, Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus Magnus. These two sons gathered an army to avenge their land being taken by the king of the South avenging his sister.

Verse 11 – “And the king of the South shall be moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude, but the multitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy.

Verse 12 – “When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail.

Verse 13 – “For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.

The king of the North may have been Antiochus III the Great. He defeated many cities in Egypt and established himself in Israel. He was later defeated by the Romans at Magnesia.

Verse 14 – “And in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South; also certain violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall.

Verse 15 – “So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist.

Verse 16 – “But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will , and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his power.

Verse 17 – “He shall also set his face to enter with strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him a daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, or be for him.

Antiochus III would make Israel a possession of the Selecuid kingdom in 198 B.C., and force a peace agreement on the Plolemies. Antiochus III would give his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V as a wife, hoping to control the Ptolemaic kingdom through her. This attempt failed because Cleopatra helped her husband instead of her father.

Verse 18 – After this he shall turn his face to the coast-lands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him.

Verse 19 – “Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

Antiochus III would then turn his attention to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea but would be defeated by the Roman commander Lucius Cornelius Scipio in 191 B.C. And then Magnesia in 190 B.C. this would cause Antiochus III to focus on his own country, being killed by a mob defending the temple Zeus in Elymais.

Verse 20 – “There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or battle.

The king who would arise in his place is Seleucus IV Philopator (187-175 B.C.), who sent his tax collector, Heliodorus, to collect money to pay Rome. Seleucus IV was killed by poison from his tax collector.

Verse 21 – “And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.

Verse 22 – “With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant.

Here is where it might get confusing because Gabriel may be talking about two different time periods. Some references say the prince of the covenant is the high Priest Onias III, who was assassinated by Menelaus in 170 B.c. Others relate this event and prince of the covenant to the Messiah in 26 A.D. I think both are right because of the following verses.

Verse 23 – “And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people.

Verse 24 – “He shall enter peaceable, even into the richest places of providence; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers; he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.

Flash back to Antiochus IV would increase in power by shearing the wealth with all his followers. Also, Rome protected all their provinces by showing kindness and leniency.

Verse 25 – “He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him.

Verse 26 – “Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall fall down slain.

Verse 27 – “Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time.

These two treacherous kings were probably Antiochus IV of Syria and Ptolemy VI of Egypt. Antiochus IV (King of the north), having plundered Egypt, would return to his land with his heart set against the holy covenant. On his way home, he would attack Israel, kill 80,000 Jewish men, women, and children and plunder the holy temple (169 B.C.).

Verse 28 – “While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.

Also another time in the future, under Vespasian, in 66 A.D., the Romans invaded Judea, and took the cities of Galilee, Chorazin, Bethesda, and Capernaum, where Christ had been rejected. They destroyed the inhabitants, and left nothing but ruin and desolation. The only reason why some Jews could escape was because Vespasian was called back to Rome. On his returning to Rome he was made emperor and his son Titus took up the work of subjugating Jerusalem. Titus came upon Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and in five months destroyed it and the temple. 110,000 Jews perished and 97,000 were taken captive. So these verses could refer to either times and events.

Verse 29 – “At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter.

Verse 30 – “For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.

Verse 31 – And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.

Antiochus IV would launch another attack against Egypt, but this time ships Cyprus, the Roman fleet led by Gaitus Popilius would force him to retreat. On his way back he plundered Jerusalem. He stopped the daily sacrifices and slaughtered pigs on the altar erected in honor of Zeus. This happened in 168-167 B.C.

Verse 32 – “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

Verse 33 – “And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering.

Verse 34 – “Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue.

The Maccabees would be this little help, but would experience much suffering in the battle with Antiochus IV. In the end , the Maccabees would defeat Antiochus, rededicate the holy temple in Jerusalem and establish the festival of Chanukah, which Jewish people still celebrate today.

Verse 35 – “And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purge them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

Verse 36 – “Then the king shall do according to his own will; he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, an shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.

Now the vision goes to the end times, when people with understanding, believers, will be persecuted for their belief in God. They will be beheaded because they did not worship the best. The Antichrist will magnify himself and speak great blasphemies against the true God of Israel. He will claim to be God.

Verse 37 – “He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor desire women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above them all.

In other words: The Antichrist, beast, won’t recognize any deity or religions of all, not even pagan ones, instead, will proclaim himself to be the ultimate power.

Verse 38 – “But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.

Verse 39 – “Thus he shall act against the strong fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

Verse 40 – “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.

The Antichrist, from this point through the end of Daniel, is the main focus. The Northern nations and the nations of the South will attack the Antichrist, but he will go through them like a flood and not be defeated.

Verse 41 – “He shall also enter the Glorious Land (Israel), and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand; Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon.

Verse 42 – “He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

Verse 43 – “He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.

Verse 44 – “But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.

Verse 45 – “And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

The Antichrist will establish his military between the Mediterranean Sea and the city of Jerusalem. There the nations of the earth will gather (Zechariah 14:2) at Mount Megiddo to begin the campaign of Armageddon  (Revelation 16:13-16). At that time, when all nations have come against Israel, they (Israel) call on the Messiah, Jesus. He will deliver them and the Antichrist meets his end.

Jesus told His people in Matthew 23:39, “For I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you  say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” There will come a day, at the end times, when all of Israel will recognize the Messiah as Jesus and call on Him, and that defines His second coming!

 

Daniel – Chapter 10

Verse 1 – In the third year Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar. The message was true but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.

Assuming Daniel was around 15 when he was taken captive, he would be 84 when he received this vision, 536 B.C.

Verse 2 – In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.

Verse 3 – I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Verse 4 – Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,

The Tigris River is about 20 miles from Babylon. Evidently, he hadn’t returned to Jerusalem with the rest of the captives. He had stayed behind, for some reason, and was now fasting and praying.

Verse 5 – I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!

This description of this man is almost the exact same description of Christ in Revelation.

Verse 6 – His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

Verse 7 – and I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

Verse 8 – Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength.

Verse 9 – Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

The presence of God All Mighty is so over-powering, that no one is able to stand. Have you ever been praying, and you felt His presence so strong that your body felt like jello? Daniel laid on the ground face down!

Verse 10 – Then, suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.

Verse 11 – And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

We can look at other passages in scripture, Daniel 8:16-19 and 9:21-23, and now see this is Gabriel that is speaking.

Verse 12 – Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

Verse 13 – “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I have been left alone there with the king of Persia.

This prince of Persia had to be a supernatural force to have opposed Gabriel. Therefore, we can conclude that it was a demonic spirit seeking to influence the affairs of Persia and oppose God’s purpose. He was able to overpower it with the help of Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, and who is the designated archangel in the New Testament (Jude 9).

Now let me encourage you when your answer to your prayers are delayed. There are principalities, evil demonic spirits that are always opposing God’s purpose for the Christian’s life and things He wants done on earth. As Daniel continued to fast and pray for 21 days, there was a battle taking place in a realm that Daniel was not aware of. We too need never give up on an answer to our prayers because we have no ideal when or how things have to line up or the battles that are fighting to bring about our answers.

Verse 14 – “Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

Verse 15 – When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless.

Verse 16 – And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before, me “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength.

Daniel starts describing another that comes and touches his lips; Christ is either standing with Gabriel or Gabriel is the one who gave strength because in 9:21, Gabriel appeared to Daniel as a man, however, Christ is the One who gives strength.

Verse 17 – “For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.”

Verse 18 – Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.

Verse 19 – And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

Verse 20 – Then he said, “Do you know why I come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.

Verse 21 – “But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.

Both Persia and Greece were represented by angelic “princes”, or demons. Greece would follow Persia as the next world power. This book of “Scripture of Truth, is God’s heavenly decrees about the future of all nations.

Daniel – Chapter 9

Verse 1 – In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans –

The vision of chapter 9 takes place during the same time as chapter 6. Daniel is about 81 years old.

Verse 2 – in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord, given through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy-years in the desolation’s of Jerusalem.

Daniel was studying the writings of Jeremiah and realized that the 70 years of their captivity was almost up. He also knew that it would be under the Medes and the Persians that they would be allowed to return to Jerusalem.

Verse 3 – Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Verse 4 – And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,

Verse 5 – we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.

Verse 6 – “Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.

As Daniel read through Jeremiah’s writings, he saw how many times God had tried to bring His people back to Him through the prophets. God still speaks today through His word, pastors, and other Christians, but some still ignore. Sometimes the truth hurts, and its easier to think it doesn’t apply to us. Daniel included himself in this confession.

Verse 7 – “O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day – to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all countries to which You have driven them, because of unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.

Verse 8 – “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.

Verse 9 – “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.

Verse 10 – “We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets.

Verse 11 – “Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice, therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.

The Law of Moses that Daniel was referring to is found in Leviticus 26:27-33 and Deuteronomy 29:63-68. God plainly states: Blessed will you be if you… and cursed you will be if you…

Verse 12 – “And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such never has been done as what has been done to Jerusalem.

Verse 13 – “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.

Daniel mentions the curses in Deuteronomy 28. Israel was disciplined harshly because they were God’s chosen to show the rest of the world who He is. The bigger the position, the bigger the responsibility. When we call ourselves a Christian, child of the Most High, then we are to act like it! We adopt His will for our lives through His precepts and principles. Israel failed to do that, so they were judged.

Verse 14 – “Therefore the Lord has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice.

God still uses circumstances, other people, and His word to bring people back to Him. Some will have to hit rock bottom before they cry out and return to God.

Verse 15 – “And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day – we have sinned, we have done wickedly!

Verse 16 – “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all who are around us.

Verse 17 – “Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate.

Verse 18 – “O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolation’s, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.

Verse 19 – “O Lord, hear! O Lord forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Wonder what would happen to our own nation if we prayed as Daniel did for Israel? He prayed with such passion for himself and God’s people as a whole. So many times our own prayers are self-centered and selfish. I’m guilty of not praying enough for my country too. Do we take the time with the same compassion to pray for even the lost?

Verse 20 – Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord God for the holy mountain of my God,

Verse 21 – yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about he time of the evening offering.

Verse 22 – And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.

Had the temple still been standing, the evening offering would have made it around 3:00 or 4:00.

Verse 23 – “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:

Notice what Gabriel said: “At the beginning of your supplications!” Before Daniel even finished praying, an order was given to come to him with understanding. Wow! James 5:16 – Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Don’t ever doubt that God is not listening to your prayers, because He is!

Now what vision is Gabriel talking about that he has come to give Daniel understanding for? There is no vision in this chapter so we go back to chapter 8. The only part of the vision that Daniel said he didn’t understand was the cleansing of the sanctuary with the 2300 days, he neither understood it nor was given the interpretation. The cleansing of the sanctuary refers to the judgment.

Verse 24 – “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.

Seventy weeks – 70 periods of 7 years, or 490 years. Christ’s death came at the end of the 69 weeks (483 years later). One interpretation places the 70th week as the seven years of the great tribulation, still in the future.

Verse 25 – “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again and the wall, even in troublesome times.

There will be a period of 49 years followed by 62 weeks (434 years), making a total of 69 weeks from the decree to the coming of the Messiah the Prince.

Verse 26 – “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, the end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolation’s are determined.

The book of Daniel, written in the sixth century B.C., predicted not only the precise date of the Messiah’s coming, but that the Messiah would be put to death sometime before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, which was done by the Romans. There appears to be a time gap from the end of the sixty-ninth week to the beginning of the seventieth week. Almost as if the clock of time stops for a good while.

Verse 27 – Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of this week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abomination, shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”

The final seven-year period, or the seventieth week, will begin when the ( coming prince) will make a peace treaty with Israel. This prince is the Antichrist, who will desecrate the future temple and put a stop to worship. After the first 3 and one-half years, the Antichrist will break this covenant with Israel, leading to a time of great persecution of he Jewish people and followers of Jesus. This will last for another 3 and one-half years. This Antichrist will declare himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Revelation 13:5-7 states that he will exalt himself to be God and speak great blasphemies. Daniel’s description was perfect. Whether you believe this or not, it will come to pass!

 

Daniel – Chapter 8

As with chapter 7, this chapter precedes chapter 5, chronologically. This dream probably occurred when Daniel was around 70.

Verse 1 – In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me – to me, Daniel – after the one that appeared to me the first time.

Verse 2 – I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.

Belshazzar only reigned for 3 years, and it was under his reign that the Babylonians fell to the Medes and Persians. So this vision is in the final year of Belshazzar and the Babylonian empire. Also, this vision is after the one he had in chapter 7. Elam’s involvement was prophesied by Isaiah, 21:2.

Verse 3 – Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.

These two horns were the kings of the Medes and Persians. The higher horn represented the growing dominance of Persia in the Medo-Persia empire.

Verse 4 – I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no beast could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.

The Medes were under Darius and the Persians under Cyrus, united together to bring about the downfall of the Babylonians. Darius only ruled for two or 3 years and then died at the age of 64. Persia then took the throne through Cyrus the nephew of Darius. The kingdom was eventually known as the Persian kingdom. No nation could stand against them.

Verse 5 – And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

This goat is none other than Alexander the Great. This conquer, swept across the entire Near East in only three years. This was amazing because Greece was not yet considered a power when this prophecy was given.

Verse 6 – Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power.

Verse 7 – And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand.

Shattering both horns symbolized Alexander breaking both parts of the Medo-Persian empire. Alexander’s empire covered Greece and Macedonia in the west, and east almost to the Indus River, through Synia in the south, Palestine, and Egypt.

Verse 8 – Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.

At the height of Alexander’s power, being only in his thirties, he died. His kingdom was split into four parts by his generals. Four winds of heaven – north, south, east, and west (Jeremiah 49:36).

Verse 9 – And out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.

This little horn came out of the four winds, the four generals provenances, so it was not the Grecian empire. It was moving towards Israel. In the second century B.C., Antiochus IV, the eight ruler of the Seleucid empire (Babylonia and Syria) overthrew the high priest, looted the temple, and replaced worship of God with a Greek form of worship. A further fulfillment of this prophecy of a powerful horn will occur in the future coming of the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Verse 10 – And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.

Antiochus brutally trampled and persecuted the Jewish people from 170-164 B.C. He blasphemously presented himself as the prince of host, stopped daily sacrifices and defiled the holy temple.

Verse 11 – He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.

We know of another who fits this same description, Satan, the beast, the Antichrist.

Verse 12 – Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.

Verse 13 – Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under-foot?

Verse 14 – And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”

An angel announced that Antiochus’ defilement of Israel would last 2, 300 evenings and mornings, until the temple was rededicated by Judas Maccabeus in 164 B.C. This even is still celebrated today during the festival Chanukah.

Verse 15 – Now it happened, when I Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man.

Verse 16 – And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”

Gabriel, is one of two angels mentioned in scripture, the other being Michael. Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11). and the Messiah (Luke 1:26).

Verse 17 – So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”

The time of the end,” refers to the whole period from the end of Israel’s exile to the second coming of Christ. We know these events predicted took place between the sixth and second centuries B.C. These verses have a double-fulfillment of the vision because it also pertains to the Antichrist.

Verse 18 – Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright.

Verse 19 – And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.

Verse 20 -“The ram which you saw having the two horns – they are the kings of Media and Persia.

Verse 21 – “And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king.

Verse 22 – “As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.

Verse 23 – “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.

This description describes both Antioch IV Epiphanes and the Antichrist at the end of history.

Verse 24 – His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.

Verse 25 – “Through his coming he shall cause deceit to prosper under his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human hand.

This verse has to be referring to the Antichrist. This parallels to Daniel 2:34, where the stone cut out without hands will destroy the last earthly kingdom and establish the eternal kingdom of Christ.

Verse 26 – “And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.

Gabriel tells Daniel t seal it up, not for hiding, but to preserve it and secure it. These events didn’t take place for four hundred years and the future hasn’t happened as of yet.

Verse 27 – And I Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.

There are people today with such an insight to the full understanding of these visions and many more. They have the ability to relate current events to certain prophecies that make total sense. Our God does want us to know what is about to take place or He wouldn’t have put it in scripture. He wants us all to be ready for the second coming of His precious Son. Don’t let it take you by surprise.

Daniel – Chapter 7

Keep in mind: This chapter precedes the events in chapter 5.

Verse 1 – In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts.

Verse 2 – Daniel spoke saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.

We can see from Jeremiah 25:31-33, that when a great wind is raised up it wreaks death and destruction. These winds are a symbol of war, strife, and bloodshed. And the sea is usually symbolic of Gentile humanity in other Biblical passages (Isaiah 17;57; Revelation 13; 17).

Verse 3 – “And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

A beast is a symbol of a king or a kingdom and so is a horn. Strife, war, and bloodshed is upon the nations as kingdom conquers kingdom to rise to world supremacy. Each was different – different laws, and customs.

Verse 4 – “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

The lion represents the Babylonian empire. The Babylonian empire used a lion to represent itself, and statues of winged lions were common there. Wings often represent swiftness (Habakkuk 1:6-9). The wings being plucked refers to a change taking place in Babylon’s power. The courageous lion was replaced by a weak and wicked heart of a man.

In the time of Belshazzar’s reign (after Nebuchadnezzar) the kingdom was reduced to the walls of Babylon itself.

Verse 5 – “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’

Another beast – the next kingdom rising to power. This is a good description of the Medo-Persian empire. They were cruel and vicious (Isaiah 13). Darius and Cyrus his nephew, came together to go up against Babylon. The Persians were much stronger than the Medes, hence the bear raised up on one side, with the Persians ruling the kingdom for the majority of the time. Three ribs in its mouth – three kingdoms that they were devouring – Lydia, Egypt, and Babylon.

Verse 6 – “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

We can see now that this is an in-depth description of Daniel chapter 2 of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed. Prophecy works on repeat and enlarge.

A leopard is very good at catching its prey off guard especially by ambushing it. Greece, under Alexander the Great, was this leopard because they were swift in moving his great army and catching his prey off guard, unsuspecting. It took Alexander and his army 12 years to subdue the world. Alexander’s strength rose very quickly to power, but at the peak of his power he died in a drunken stooper at the age of 31 in 323 B.C. Four heads – at Alexander’s death, his generals asked who was to take the kingdom and rule. Alexander replied, “to the strongest.” Through much fighting the kingdom was divided among the four remaining generals. Thus the four heads: Cassander – Macedonia and Greece. Lysimachus – Thrace, parts of Asia, Hellespont and Bosporus in the north. Ptolemy – Egypt, Libya, Arabia, Palestine, and Coele-Syria in the south. Seleucus – Syria eastward. The Grecian empire reigned from 331-168 B. C.

Verse 7 – “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

This fourth beast points to both Rome and the end times. Rome ruled from 168 B.C. – 476 A. C. Many scholars believe that the ten horns are ten kings who will reign shortly before God sets up His everlasting kingdom. Rome also had ten divisions at the time of their rule.

Verse 8 – “I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, and a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

A little horn, started out small and rose to great power. It spoke arrogantly and blasphemous against God.

Verse 9 – “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a burning flame, its wheels a burning fire;

Here the prophecy shifts to end times. The Ancient of Days is God All Mighty, who assigns power to kingdoms and will judge those kingdoms in end times. We also see His throne has wheels and can move as Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10 also showed us.

Verse 10 – A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him, a thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.

These that stood before Him and ministered are angels and living creatures as John describes in Revelation 5:11 – “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,”…

Verse 11 – “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.

Verse 12 – “As for the rest of the bests, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

The slaying of this beast; the fall of the Roman Empire and future, the Antichrist destroyed. Now, for the rest that were allowed to continue for a season; Babylon’s territory was made subject to Persia, but the subjects lived on. Same thing when Greece conquered Persia and when Rome took over Greece.

Verse 13 – “I was watching in the night visions and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.

Verse 14 – Then 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 the one which shall not be destroyed.

“The Son of Man” is none other than Jesus Christ! Coming with the clouds of heaven, angels brought Christ into the presence of the Father. Christ comes to the Father to receive His kingdom, which is an everlasting kingdom that shall not be destroyed. All peoples, nations, and languages: Revelation 21:24 – And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

Verse 15 – “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

Verse 16 – “I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:

Verse 17 – ‘Those great bests, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.

Verse 18 – ‘But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.

This can be a comfort to us as it was to Daniel; This kingdom that our beloved Savior rules and reigns will be filled with those who love Him and are looking to His coming forever and ever. No matter what happens in-between, we believers end up with our King of Kings. Don’t let the opportunity pass before you make the decision to become His, because after you draw your last breath it will be too late.

Verse 19 – “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet;

Verse 20 – “And about the ten horns that were on its head, and about the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.

Verse 21 – “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,

Verse 22 – “until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in ts to possess the kingdom.

Verse 23 – “Thus he said: “The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces.

Verse 24 – The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings.

These ten horns, kings, are also mentioned in Revelation 17:2. There were also ten toes on the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision. These kings will make war against Christ and the saints, but he Lamb conquers. The other king mentioned here in verse 24, is the future Antichrist of 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4.

Verse 25 – He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.

This Antichrist will be characterized by blasphemy, anti-Semitism, religious corruption by changing religious festivals and laws. He will oppress the Jewish people, three and one  half years, or the second half of the future tribulation period (Revelation 7:14). But when the heavenly court convenes, the Antichrist will be destroyed forever.

Verse 26 – ‘But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.

Verse 27 – Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominion shall serve and obey Him.’

In Romans 8:14-17, Paul tells us if we are being led by the Spirit of God then we are the sons of God and adopted into His family. Thus we have become joint heirs with Christ. Jesus received a kingdom which is everlasting, thus we being joint-heirs with Him also receive this kingdom.

Verse 28 – “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

 

Daniel – Chapter 6

Verse 1 – It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;

Verse 2 – and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.

Verse 3 – Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.

In the previous chapter, Babylon was overthrown by the Medes and the Persians. Darius was the first king ruling for only two years. During his reign is when this chapter takes place (538-536 B.C.).

Verse 4 – So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.

Daniel had made enemies because the king showed him favor. What’s wrong with people who envy and dislike others only because they do a good job?

Verse 5 – Then these men said, “We shall not find any charges against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

Daniel had been promoted above all others, so there was strong jealousy among them. The were going to have to criticize something concerning Daniel’s faith in order to trap him into doing something wrong. This happens again in Revelation 13:8, 12, 14, 15, where laws are made contrary to God’s laws, that the people of faith must follow or be killed.

Verse 6 – So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever!

Verse 7 – “All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisers, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Verse 8 – “Now, O king, establish the decree and according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not altar.”

Verse 9 – Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Look what Proverbs 26:27 says, “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. Darius had some pride in him that showed when he signed a decree that made the people worship him for 30 days. He made himself a god. These men who did this knew Daniel well enough to know that he only worshiped his God. The king had been deceived by only seeing glory and honor being brought to himself. This decree could not be broken, even by the king himself.

Verse 10 – Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home, and in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

Daniel prayed not out of rebellion toward the king but out of obedience to his Supreme God. If he changed his habit of praying, it would show a lack of faith in his God. He would also be showing to others a lack of authority of the One and only True God of Israel.

Verse 11 – Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplications before his God.

Verse 12 – And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”

Verse 13 – So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

Verse 14 – And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

When the king realized the true reason these men wanted this decree signed into law, he knew it was only to trap Daniel. He’d admired Daniel and respected him to the point of making him over all the others, but now the king was in anguish because of this stupid law.

Verse 15 – Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

Verse 16 – So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”

Verse 17 – Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den (could also be a pit), and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet’s of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

Verse 18 – Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.

Verse 19 – Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.

Verse 20 – And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, delivered you from the lions?”

Verse 21 – Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever!

Verse 22 – “My God sent His angel and shut the lions mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

Verse 23 – Then the king was exceedingly glad for him and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

Do you, as a Christian, trust God to deliver you from situations that seems to be no way out? We should, because what He does for one He will do for another. He may not do it in the same way that He delivers another, but if you put all your faith and trust in Him, He will turn it around for you, because you love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Verse 24 – And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions – overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

This Psalm comes to mind: 105:15 – “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.” What these wicked men tried to do to Daniel, came back on their own heads, and not only theirs but their families also. Take this as a warning: Be very careful whom you accuse and of what. If they are God’s child, He will protect them with a vengeance!

Verse 25 – Then King Darius wrote; To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

Verse 26 – I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end.

Verse 27 – He delivers and rescues and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

Verse 28 – So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

 

Daniel – Chapter 5

Sixty-six years have elapsed since chapter one. Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C. after a reign of 43 years. His son, Evil-Merodach, then ruled from 562-560; his brother-in-law Neriglissar reigned four years from 560-556 B.C. then Nabonidus and his son Belshazzar co-reigned from 553-539 B. C. Nebonidus was Nebuchadnezzar’s son, and Belshazzar therefore his grandson.

Verse 1 – Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.

Verse 2 – While he tasted the wine Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father (ancestor) Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.

Verse 3 – Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and concubines drank from them.

Verse 4 – They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

Verse 5 – In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

This was not just seen by the king, but everyone who was there. This may be where the phrase, “The handwriting is on the wall,” came from.

Verse 6 – Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.

Verse 7 –  The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed in purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

They are all drinking and using the holy vessels that belong to God and that were used in His temple. Their partying turned into a night of fear when God decided to write a message on the kings wall.

Verse 8 – Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.

Some scholars seem to think this message was written in Aramaic, which was the Babylonian language, but the Bible clearly states, “They could not read the writing!” I believe it was a heavenly language that only God knew and gave the understanding to Daniel alone.

Verse 9 – Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.

Verse 10 – The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. And the queen spoke, saying, “O king live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change.

Verse 11 – “There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father – your father the king – made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.

Verse 12 – “Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting, dreams, found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.

Daniel was approximately 80 years old at this point and was either retired or just forgotten. This queen was either the wife of Nabonidus or even perhaps Nebuchadnezzar’s wife.

Verse 13 – Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you the Daniel who is one of the captives of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

Verse 14 – “I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.

Verse 15 – “Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation, of the thing.

Verse 16 – “And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

Verse 17 – Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

Doing what is right should be our first priority, as it was for Daniel, regardless of gaining power or rewards.

Verse 18 – “O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor.

Verse 19 – “And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down.

Verse 20 – “But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.

Verse 21 – “Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like beasts and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.

Verse 22 – “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this.

This was a strong rebuke for this king. Belshazzar knew the history of his grandfather, but Daniel just put it in his face. In other words, “How dare you have a drinking party with the holy vessels that belong to God the creator and challenge Him!”

Verse 23 – And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.

I would be crawling under a table by now if I had been this king. Belshazzar had desecrated the vessels of God through their pagan worship.

Verse 24 – “Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.

Verse 25 – “And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

Verse 26 – “This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it;

Verse 27 – “TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;

Verse 28 – “PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

MENE – God has finished the ruling days of the kingdom of Babylon.

TEKEL – Wanting in righteousness. 2 Peter 3:11, 14, Let us not be found wanting in the day of our visitation.

PERES – This is the singular root word for Upharsin. When used in the plural form it means pieces. The kingdom is broken in pieces. God had finished with Babylon and broken it between the Medes and the Persians.

Verse 29 – Then Belshazzar gave the command and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Verse 30 – That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain.

Verse 31 – And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

Darius and his soldiers entered Babylon by diverting the river that ran through the city, then walked in on a dry riverbed. This Darius the Mede, is not o be confused with Darius II the Persian, mentioned in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah. Darius the Mede is only mentioned in the Book of Daniel. There is no record naming a king between Belshazzar and Cyrus.

 

Daniel – Chapter 4

Verse 1 – Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all peoples, nations and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

Verse 2 – I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.

Verse 3 – How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.

Just as Nebuchadnezzar, many people will use the right spiritual language, but their obedience to God’s principles and standards don’t match their behavior.

Verse 4 – I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.

Verse 5 – I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

Verse 6 – Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

Verse 7 – Then the magicians, the astrologers, and the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.

I guess, he forgot that his wise men couldn’t interpret anything. The king was all secure in his palace, that false security in wealth and power, but this dream he had, scared him. Have you ever had a foreboding in your spirit? I have, and they are very uncomfortable. You know that something is about to happen, but don’t know what.

Verse 8 – But at last Daniel came before me, his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God, and I told the dream before him, saying:

Verse 9 – “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

Verse 10 – “These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold a tree in the mist of the earth, and its height was great.

Verse 11 – The tree grew and became strong; its height reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.

Verse 12 – Its leaves were lovely, its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, the birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

Verse 13 – “I saw in the vision of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

Verse 14 – He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, and the birds from its branches.

Verse 15 – Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze. In the tender grass of the field let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.

Verse 16 – Let his heart be changed from that of a man, let him be given the heart of an animal, and let seven times pass over him.

Verse 17 – ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.’

This may be hard to understand, especially those in leadership and authority, but God is sovereign over all, everything. He limits the power and authority of all governments, businesses, and religious leaders of the world. We may live in freedom to choose, but He controls it all.

Verse 18 – “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”

Verse 19 – Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!

Daniel couldn’t respond immediately, because this dream was not good news for the king. He had no idea how the king would react after hearing what the dream meant. However, the king reassured him  to not be afraid of his reaction, just tell him the meaning of the dream.

Verse 20 – The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,

Verse 21 – whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and on whose branches the birds of the heaven had their habitation –

Verse 22 – it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

Verse 23 – And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass over him;

Verse 24 – this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:

Verse 25 – They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.

Daniel told the king that he would go insane and become like an animal in the field eating grass for seven years. God was about to show the king that a prideful self-centered life was going to bring punishment from an all-powerful God. Pride may be one of the most dangerous temptations you will ever face. Don’t let your accomplishments cause you to forget God!

Verse 26 – And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.

Verse 27 – Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

In God’s great mercy, He had placed Daniel in the king’s life to show him who Daniel’s God is. The king was being warned to repent and he could avoid the insanity that was about to come . At one time or another, we’ve all been warned to change our ways, or disaster was in our near future. That’s what usually brings us to the Savior.

Verse 28 – All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

Verse 29 – At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.

Did you notice that there was no response from Nebuchadnezzar when Daniel was finished? None! Our loving God will place people in each of our lives to draw us to Him and its up to us to ignore or receive that drawing.

Verse 30 – The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

Nebuchadnezzar emphasized himself as the source of majesty. This is a spirit of pride to the max. “Look what all I have accomplished!” We don’t get one thing in this life unless our heavenly Father chooses to give it or make it happen. But always remember, it is His good pleasure to give His children gifts! All good things come from Him and He deserves the honor and glory!

Verse 31 – While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven. “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!

Verse 32 – And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and give it to whomever He chooses.”

Verse 33 – That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

When I read this, I always wondered what he was thinking that entire seven years, if anything other than what an animal thinks. The Bible says it happened while his words were still in his mouth so I don’t think he had time to blink.

Verse 34 – And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.

Verse 35 – All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You don?”

Do we question God? Sure, we all have at one time or another. Did you get an answer? Did God All Mighty ever explain Himself to you?

Verse 36 – At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me, my counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.

Verse 37 – Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to abase.

A lot of people know that God is able to work miracles, but nothing will ever change in us until we acknowledge Him as Lord. Most believe, as I, that Nebuchadnezzar died as a converted man.

Daniel – Chapter 3

Verse 1 – Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

In the Babylonian culture, statues were often worshiped. Instead of a statue with only the head being gold, he made the entire thing in gold, perhaps in defiance that his kingdom would never end.

Verse 2 – And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps , the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasures, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the province, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Verse 3 – So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasures, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

The king was making a big production of this dedication, so he wanted all of his chief officials to be gathered in one place to pay tribute to him. Idolaters are generally very committed to their religion.

Verse 4 – Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,

Verse 5 – “that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;

Verse 6 – “and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

Verse 7 – So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Music can have a huge influence over a person. It plays a big part in our worship of the Lord, so we should be cautious of what type of music we listen to. Let’s not forget, Satan was created with musical instruments in him, thus he uses it to his advantage (Ezekiel 28:13). If the people did not fall down and worship the king’s image, he had furnaces set up to put them to death. Forced religion is the system of the false religion, as Babylon was at the head of it. Whereas with God, it is a matter of choice.

Verse 8 – Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.

These Chaldeans were obviously revengeful for being exposed as liars when they couldn’t tell the king his dream or the interpretation.

Verse 9 – They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!

Verse 10 – “You O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image;

Verse 11 – “and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Verse 12 – “There are certain Jews whom you have set over affairs of the province of Babylon; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”

These Chaldeans wanted to remind the king that he was the one who had placed these Jews in their position, and now they were belittling the king by not following his authority. They knew this would make the king furious. We don’t know if there were other Jews who didn’t bow to this image, but these three were singled out.

Verse 13 – Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.

Verse 14 – Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?

Verse 15 – “Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

Nebuchadnezzar, trying to save face, gives them another chance to worship the image. Then the king declares there is not a god anywhere that can deliver them from this furnace if they choose not to bow down to it.

Verse 16 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

Ha! In other words: “Don’t bother to give us a second chance, we have already made up our minds not to worship you!”

Verse 17 – “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.

These young boys were steadfast in their confidence that their God was able to deliver them. Do you not know that every fiery trial that we go through, only makes us stronger in our faith towards God?

Verse 18 – “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

This is one of the strongest examples of steadfast faith in the Bible. They had set their hearts to obey God rather than man. They would rather die then disobey God. In the end times, many will have to have this kind of faith, (Revelation 20:4).

Verse 19 – Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Therefore he spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

Verse 20 – And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Verse 21 – Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Verse 22 – Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.

What’s ironic, is that the men who took them up to the furnace died, but yet they still managed to throw the three in the furnace before they died.

Verse 23 – And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

This furnace was built on a small mound with openings at the top and side, so the three men fell into the furnace from the top, and the king was able to see through the opening in the side.

Verse 24 – Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

Verse 25 – “Look!” he answered, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

How would Nebuchadnezzar even know what the Son of God was like? Because the Hebrew captives had represented righteousness, thus teaching those around them of the God whom they worshiped and they had told of Christ, the Redeemer to come.

Verse 26 – Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.

Verse 27 – And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their heads was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

No human can bind us when God wants us free. The power that is available to each Christian, is the same power that delivered these three Hebrews and raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-20). There are eternal reasons for temporary trials. You might come out of your trials or time of testing with some battle scares, but you’ll know the One which delivered you!

Verse 28 – Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!

Verse 29 – “Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no God who can deliver like this.”

The king didn’t tell his people to throw away all of their idols or not to worship them anymore, he was simply adding this God to their many gods.

Verse 30 – Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

We all go through trials and times of testing, some are bigger than others, but whether God delivers us or not, He’s still God!