Married To God

In Matthew 22:35-40, a lawyer asked Jesus which is the great commandment? Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus divided the ten commandments into two categories. The first four call us to love God with all our being. The last six call us to love our neighbor as ourselves.

What are the first four commandments? In Exodus 20:3, the first commandment is to have no other gods before God. In Exodus 20:4, the second commandment is to not make images to be worshipped. God is a jealous God. In Exodus 20:7, the third commandment is to revere the Name of God. In Exodus 20:8-11, the fourth commandment is to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

In Hosea 1:2, the Lord gave the Prophet Hosea a harsh assessment of His people. He said...

“The land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord.”

The great harlotry the Lord speaks of is unfaithfulness to Him. They have other gods before Him. They have images that they enjoy more than His. They treat His Name shamefully. They don’t have dates with God one day per week to maintain a close relationship with Him.

“When the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: ‘Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord.’ So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Then the Lord said to him: ‘Call his name Jezreel, for in a little while I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu and bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. It shall come to pass in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.’” Hosea 1:2-5

The Lord calls Hosea to embody His unhappy relationship with unfaithful Israel. His wife Gomer bears him a son and he calls his name Jezreel. God’s plan is to avenge the blood that Jehu shed in Jezreel. Jehu slew the Ahaziah King of Judah and his 42 brothers. He slew the 70 sons of Ahab King of Israel. He slew all the priests of Baal. He urged the servants of Jezebel to throw her down from a tower which they did. God was going to take Israel down and rebuild her on a better foundation that bloodshed.

“And she conceived again and bore a daughter. Then God said to him: ‘Call her name Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away. Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen. Now when she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son.’ Then God said: ‘Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I will not be your God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, you are not My people, there it shall be said to them, you are sons of the living God. Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together and appoint for themselves head; and they shall come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel!’” Hosea 1:6-11

In addition to their son Jezreel, Hosea and Gomer have a daughter named Lo-Ruhamah and a son named Lo-Ammi. Lo-Ruhamah means “not an object of mercy” and Lo-Ammi means “Not My people.” “I will utterly take them away” refers to Israel being removed from their land and taken into exile and captivity. God promises to save Judah from being taken by the Assyrians which He did in the days of Hezekiah. Yet, there is hope for Israel. God promises to replenish their population, call them His people once again, and bring Judah and Israel back together.

“Say to your brethren, ‘My people,’ and to your sisters, ‘Mercy is shown.’ Bring charges against your mother, bring charges; for she is not My wife, nor am I her Husband! Let her put away her harlotries from her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts; lest I strip her naked and expose her, as in the day she was born, and make her like a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst. I will not have mercy on her children, for they are the children of harlotry. For their mother has played the harlot. She who conceived them has behaved shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink.’” Hosea 2:1-5

How hurtful for a father to say to children that their mother is not his wife. He is not her husband. That he is not going to have mercy on them because they are not his children. She sold him out for lovers who wined and dined her and gave to her the kind of clothes she preferred. The family has turned against him and against the core principles for which he stands. Though it hurts him, he must speak the truth that they are not his.

“Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and wall her in, so that she cannot find her paths. She will chase her lovers, but not overtake them; yes, she will seek them, but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better for me than now.’ For she did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold—which they prepared for Baal.” Hosea 2:6-8

The Lord had to corral her with hedges of thorns and walls to keep her from going astray. When she begins to suffer lack, she returned to him. She didn’t realize that her blessings, which she gave to false gods, had come from him.

“Therefore I will return and take away My grain in its time and My new wine in its season, and will take back My wool and My linen, given to cover her nakedness. Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall deliver her from My hand. I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her New Moons, her Sabbaths—all her appointed feasts. And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, of which she has said, ‘These are my wages that my lovers have given me.’ So I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry and went after her lovers; but Me she forgot, says the Lord.” Hosea 2:9-13

Though she returned to the Lord physically, her heart was far from Him. So, the Lord stopped her indulgent parties and made her sin known. She believed that her works of service to other gods were decking her with earrings and jewelry. So, the Lord sent beasts to devour her riches. The Lord wanted to revive her memory of Him.

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. And it shall be, in that day, says the Lord, that you will call Me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘My Master,’ for I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, and they shall be remembered by their name no more. In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, with the birds of the air, and with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, to make them lie down safely.” Hosea 2:14-18

What did the Lord to give her in exchange for her physical losses? He comforted her. He gave her vineyards. Jesus is the vine. As she abided in Him, good fruit came forth. The valley God gave her yielded everlasting hope. She sang to God again. She gladly owned God as her husband again. Once, the false gods, the evil spirits, were purged from her, she spoke of them no more. God called off the beasts, birds and creeping things from robbing her. These creatures are symbolic of war, famine and pestilence that God allows for people who stray from Him.

“I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.” Hosea 2:19-20

God wanted to be close with His bride so He made a way for her to be righteous, fair, loving, kind, merciful and faithful. He helped her to see her sin for what it was... ugly. He gifted her with the will to acknowledge and repent of sin. He gave her a new heart with an appetite to be holy and pure as the Lord is holy and pure.

“It shall come to pass in that day that I will answer, says the Lord; I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth. The earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil; they shall answer Jezreel. Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ and they shall say, ‘You are my God!’” Hosea 2:21-23

The Lord speaks to earth to bring forth abundant provisions for her. He identifies himself with her and she with Him. A work of God’s grace in her life has made her a new creation.

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.’” Hosea 3:1

In Hosea 2, the Lord prophesied to Hosea what would come about for Israel due to His careful husbandry of her, but it had not happened yet. So, in Hosea 3, the Lord instructs Hosea to pursue Gomer just as He, God, pursued Israel.

“So I bought her for myself for 15 shekels of silver, and 1 ½ homers of barley. And I said to her, ‘You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you. For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.” Hosea 3:2-5

So, here, Gomer is redeemed by Hosea. He pays the price to get her back. He hems her in so that she cannot wander from him. In due season, her heart turns and becomes for him.

“Hear the Word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: there is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing, and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away.” Hosea 4:1-3

God’s bride had departed from Him both by her worship of other gods and by her ungodlike behavior. She swore oaths that she did not keep. She lied, killed, stole, defiled her body sexually, and broke all restraints. This is why God took away her material blessings.

“Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; for your people are like those who contend with the priest. Therefore you shall stumble in the day; the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of My people; they set their heart on their iniquity. And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways and reward them for their deeds. For they shall eat, but not have enough; they shall commit harlotry, but not increase, because they have ceased obeying the Lord.” Hosea 4:4-10

They contended with the priests who were trying to help them. They rejected the knowledge and law of God. Thus, God was going to forget them. Their glory would turn to shame. Their faulty coping mechanisms would not help them. They needed to return to God.

“Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart. My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, and their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, and they have played the harlot against their God. They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, and your brides commit adultery.” Hosea 4:11-13

Sin enslaved their hearts to god that were no gods. Sin took them up mountains and through forests. It demanded much of them but yielded only trouble.

Preacher Adrian Rogers once said, “Sin will take you further than you want to go, it’ll take you longer than you want to stay, and it will cost you more than you want to pay.”

Hosea 1-4 is relevant for us believers today. Revelation 18 describes the behavior a harlot people during the end times. This harlot symbolizes God’s people who have joined themselves to the world. They justify the world’s rebellion against God by twisting God’s Word to mean what they want it to say. They bring to Scripture a preconceived idea of what it should it say and explain it that way, rather than looking to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to reveal its meaning to them. Scripture interprets Scripture so cross-referencing verses with other verses is important. Reading a text out of context is a pretext – putting one’s own spin on it. The Bible points to Jesus as God’s Messiah. Where do you see Jesus in the text?

In Revelation 18, Babylon the Great is symbolic of the world’s rebellious and self-gratifying ways, not a literal city. Christ calls His followers to separate from her to avoid sharing in her plagues. Merchants lament Babylon’s downfall because they grew rich by doing business with her. As Jesus overthrew the tables of the money-changers in Jerusalem’s temple, He will overthrow the denominations and organizations who use His Name to defraud people.

Babylon is a place of sexual immorality. Such behavior is a sign that something is wrong with one’s relationship with God. When we abide in Christ, we don’t sin.

Babylon is “drunk with the blood of the saints.” Though she pretends to be Christ’s Church she destroys those who speak God’s Word accurately and live by it. She is okay with people giving a nod to the Word of God, but she hates saints. Disciples conform their lives to the Word of God. They love God with all their being. No one, no thing is placed higher in their lives than God.

Revelation 18, like Hosea 1-4, warns against the disastrous outcomes of spiritual adultery.

What is the great commandment? It is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. When we are filled with love for God, we do what is best for ourselves, for our family and for our neighbors.

Little Lion, Big Lion and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

“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, everyone who is found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1

Michael means “like God” or in the image of God. This is likely a reference to Jesus Christ. He is the One who in Daniel 3:25 appeared to King Nebuchadnezzar like the Son of God with the three Hebrew men in the fiery furnace so that they were not harmed by that fiery ordeal.

Jesus Christ was with those three men. He was with the people of God who endured the Old Testament antichrist Antiochus Epiphanes. Antiochus demanded people to worship his false god Zeus. He set his image in the temple of God. This happened before Christ’s first coming. Another antichrist will arise and demand similar obedience before the second coming of Christ. Jesus will be in the fire with His saints in those days as well.

In Daniel 12:1, “Michael, the great prince, shall stand up” to deliver God’s people from the antichrist. Some think the antichrist will be a Jew. Revelation 11:8-9 says in the same “city where our Lord was crucified,” the antichrist “sits” which implies occupying the place of power and majesty in opposition to Christ.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:4, God describes the antichrist as one “who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

The words used of Antiochus Epiphanes, Paul implies, shall even be more applicable to the man of sin, who is the New Testament antichrist.

During the first coming of Jesus, Jerusalem’s priesthood joined with Rome against Jesus, and afterwards Jerusalem was destroyed by Rome. In Revelation, the Church becomes an “harlot” by joining itself with the “beast.” This harlot church will ride on the back of the political beast until that beast (the antichrist) betrays and destroys her.

Pastor Richard Würmbrand said that many pastors joined the communist movement in Romania when it seemed a harmless baby lion, but after that baby lion grew up (gained strength), it destroyed those pastors. The communists relied on the pastors to rally people to their ideology until they were strong enough to function without them, then, they destroyed them. Richard overcame the tortures that he experienced under the communists by relying on the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Jesus was with him throughout the fiery ordeal.

Idolatry of self, spiritual pride, and rebellion against God, are characteristics of the antichrist.

1 John 2:22 says, “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.”

2 John 7 says, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

Christ-worship, humility, and dependence on God, characterize Christianity.

In due season, the real Christ will dethrone the imposter. In Matthew 26:64, Jesus said, “I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2

Revelation 7:9 speaks of many coming to everlasting life during the end times tribulation. “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.” Revelation 20:15 says, “anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Those who reject Jesus shall not be saved.

“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:3

Those with God shine. They lead many to righteousness which literally means to “justify,” that is, convert many to justification through faith in Messiah.

The Lord said in Daniel 11:35 that some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end. The trials purge sin from God’s people as fire purges dross from metal. They shine brightly after being purged by God.

1 Peter 1:7 says, “So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus had said to Simon Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Job was considered blameless before God, but lest, he think he could be blameless without God’s help, the Lord allowed Satan to subject him to great losses and scrutiny of doctrine by friends who tested him with words. By the end of the book, Job knew 100% that everything good that he had was from God.

2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “It is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 2:14-15 says, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

Praise God for causing His amazing His grace to shine in and through us. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. In Him, we shine even when darkness surrounds us.

“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.” Daniel 12:4

Daniel is told to seal the book. John, on the contrary, is told in Revelation 22:10 not to seal his visions. Daniel’s prophecy refers to a distant time and is therefore obscure for the immediate future, whereas John’s was to be speedily fulfilled according to Revelation 1:1-3.

“Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 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?’ 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 12:5-7

Usually the right hand is held up in affirmation as an appeal to heaven to attest the truth. John sees a similar vision in Revelation 10:5-6, “The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer.”

In Revelation 12:6, “The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there 1,260 days” which is 42 months. In Revelation 12:14, these 42 months in the wilderness are called “a time and times and half a time.”

“When the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.“ The people will realize like Job did that apart from God’s saving grace that they will not be saved.

In Revelation 11:2, “the Gentiles tread the holy city underfoot for 42 months.” In Revelation 13:5, the beast “was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.”

Three and half years or 42 months links the tribulation of the Church with Israel which suffered famine and drought in Elijah’s days for “three years and six months.” In Luke 4:25, Jesus said, “I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land.

This is the same period of time that Antiochus persecuted God’s people before Jesus came the first time to earth.

“Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, ‘My Lord, what shall be the end of these things?’ And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” Daniel 12:8-9

Daniel “understood” the main features of the vision as to Antiochus, but not as to the times. 1 Peter 1:10-12 refers mainly to Daniel. For Daniel is he who foretells “the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.” He prophesied “not unto himself, but unto us.” He “searched what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in him did signify.”

Daniel’s desire of knowing more is thus deferred “till the time of the end.” John’s Revelation reveals more of which here is veiled.

In Matthew 24:15, Jesus said, “When you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place let the reader understand.”

“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. And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and comes to the 1,335 days. But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.’” Daniel 12:8-13

Until Christ returns wicked people will do wicked deeds and lack any sense of what God is about to do. But God’s people will be continually renewed day by day in the image of Christ. They will be preoccupied with and abiding in Christ. They will understand what is happening.

From the time that the antichrist desecrates the holy place in Jerusalem and defiles many people until the time that he is removed is 1,290 days or three and half years. Blessed is he that waits and comes to the 1,335 days. “The Lord adds a month and a half to the former number, signifying that it is not in man to appoint the time of Christ’s coming, but that they are blessed that patiently wait for his appearing.” (Geneva Bible Notes)

“For you shall rest.” Daniel would rest in the grave and resurrect to receive his inheritance from God before his prophecy was fulfilled. Hebrews 11:40 says, “Because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us [Gentile Christians] they [Messianic Jews] would not be made complete.”

The Lord concludes Daniel’s prophecy with imagery of both good and bad events that happen before He returns. He is with us now like a Good Shepherd faithfully attempting to guide us into His eternal and glorious kingdom of love.

Before The Lord Returns

Is it possible that a government would favor people who abandon God? Destroy places of worship? Yes, until Christ returns, agents of evil will seek to defile and ruin people who testify for Christ, but Christ gives to His own victory.

538 BCE is a significant year for the Jewish captives in Babylon. 538 BCE is the year that Cyrus proclaimed the restoration of Israel. This decree, known as the Edict of Cyrus, allowed exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This decree fulfilled a prophecy from Jeremiah and was divinely inspired. The proclamation not only permitted the return but also provided resources for rebuilding the Temple.

Imagine how happy the Jewish captives were to learn that they were free to return to their homeland! They were captured and forced to serve the Babylonian people. Their enemies destroyed their cities and their main house of worship. They abused and killed them. But now, that is history and a new day has dawned.

However, amidst good news, sad news continues. Their trials are not over. The Lord revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon back in Daniel 2 and then, to Daniel in Daniel 7 that three evil empires will follow the Babylonian one before God’s Kingdom appears and rules the world.

In Daniel 9, Daniel confessed and repented of his sins and of the sins of his people for not believing and honoring God. In Daniel 10, Daniel wept before the Lord because he wanted a understand the prophecies that God had given to him. Suddenly, an angel appeared to him. Chapter 11 is a continuation of an angelic message that started in chapter 10.

Below, I have placed the introductions of chapters 9-11 one after the other. I want you to see how God worked in Daniel’s life over a period of time to reveal important future events to him.

“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes [538 BCE], who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—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 through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish 70 years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” Daniel 9:1-2

“In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia [556 BCE] a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar.” Daniel 10:1 (Eighteen years prior to chapters 9 and 11.)

“Also, in the first year of Darius the Mede [538 BCE], I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him. And now I will tell you the truth. Daniel 11:1

The “I” in Daniel 11:1 is the angel speaking. He stood before Daniel and confirmed and strengthened him in the message that God previously gave to him.

In Daniel 11, God’s messenger reveals to Daniel the future when four generals of Greece will divide up the conquered territories among them. The four winds of 11:4 represent Alexander’s four generals who split up the rule of the conquered lands among them: Antipater (Greece), Antigonus (Asia), Ptolemy (Egypt), and Seleucus (Babylon and Syria). A fifth horn arises out of one of the four existing horns (general’s / kings). This horn is Antiochus Epiphanes. He was an antichrist. His aim was to replace the worship of Yahweh with the worship of Zeus. Hence, the need of prophecy to prepare people for Antiochus. (Jamieson Faussett Brown Commentary)

Daniel 11 outlines a long history of conflict between the “King of the North” (the Seleucid dynasty in Syria) and the “King of the South” (the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt), with the land of Israel situated between them. The chapter begins by describing the rise and fall of the Persian and Greek empires, specifically mentioning the expansion of Alexander the Great and the subsequent division of his kingdom among four generals. It then details the many wars, alliances, and betrayals between the Seleucids and Ptolemies, focusing on the actions of one particularly oppressive “king of the North” who desecrated the Temple. We now know with hindsight that this was Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The prophecy concludes with the end of this king and reassures the faithful that God is in control of history. [Google sources]

Why are these prophecies significant for us today. First of all, these prophecies came to pass showing that the God of the Bible is a true Prophet. What He predicts, happens. Secondly, they are a type of the tribulation prophesied about in the Book of Revelation. As there was a time of tribulation for God’s people before Christ appeared the first time, there will be a time of tribulation before He returns to earth the second time.

Amos 3:7 says, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”

“Also, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him. 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, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 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.” Daniel 11:1-4

The four kings of Persia are Cambyses, Smerdes, Darius, and Xerxes. Xerxes raised up all the east countries to fight against the Grecians. Though he had an army 900,000 men strong, yet he lost four battles and fled away with shame. Alexander the Great conquered them.

“Also, 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. 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 an 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. 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. 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.” Daniel 11:5-8

When this prophecy comes to pass, Egypt will be ruled by one of Alexander the Great’s successor, namely, Ptolemy Soter, while Syria will be ruled by another of Alexander the Great’s successor, namely, Seleucus Nicanor. This pre-history prophecy is important to God’s people because their country is situated between Egypt and Syria.

About 70 years after Alexander’s death, the kings of the north and south came together, but not in sincerity. Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, gave his daughter Berenice in marriage to Antiochus Theos, king of Syria, but Theos already had a wife named Laodice. Instead of uniting the northern and southern crowns, Theo divorced Berenice and took his former wife Laodice back again. Laodice poisoned him, and murdered Berenice and her son. She set up her own son to be king, who was called Seleucus Callinicus.

Seleucus Callinicus died miserably, but left two sons, Seleucus and Antiochus. They assemble a multitude of great forces to recover what their father lost. Seleucus was poisoned by his friends. He reigned only two years. His brother Antiochus succeeded him, Antiochus reigned 37 years.

The Lord gave to Daniel a prophecy about Antiochus IV Epiphanes long before he rose to power. And, yes, he did carry out atrocities against people who were faithful to God.

“Therefore he [Antiochus IV Epiphanes] will be discouraged and turn back [to Israel] …and show favoritism toward those [Jews] who abandon (break) the holy covenant [with God].

Armed forces of his will arise [in Jerusalem] and defile and desecrate the sanctuary, the [spiritual] stronghold, and will do away with the regular sacrifice [that is, the daily burnt offering]; and they will set up [a pagan altar in the sanctuary which is] the abomination of desolation.

With smooth words [of flattery and praise] he will turn to godlessness those who [are willing to] disregard the [Mosaic] covenant, but the people who [are spiritually mature and] know their God will display strength and act [to resist]. They who are wise and have spiritual insight among the people will instruct many and help them understand; yet for many days some [of them and their followers] will fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder. Now when they fall, they will receive a little help, and many will join them in hypocrisy. Some of those who are [spiritually] wise and have insight will fall [as martyrs] in order to refine, to purge and to make those among God’s people pure, until the end time; because it is yet to come at the time appointed [by God].” Daniel 11:30-35 Amplified Bible

Thankfully, Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his regime are no more. However, after the Romans defeated the Greeks, the Romans persecuted the people of God. Nero burned Christians alive to light his garden at night. He also fed them to wild animals. He forced Christians parents to watch their children suffer and die.

In Hebrews 13:3, the Lord says to, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.”

In Acts 12:5, 11, when the Apostle Peter was imprisoned, constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. In response to the church’s prayers, the Lord sent His angel and delivered him from King Herod and from the expectation of those who wanted him to die.”

Let us ask the Lord to mercifully intervene to rescue those of our brothers and sisters in Christ... and their families... from those who delight in abusing and killing them.

In Luke 18:1–8, Jesus urged us to continually come before God with prayers for justice.

In 3 John 1:2, John prayed for God’s people this way, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

“The people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits.” Daniel 11:32

Knowing God yields strength and notable works. How does a person come to know God? God reveals Himself to us in the Bible. God reveals Himself to people who believe in Jesus.

Why must a person come to God through Jesus His Son? Jesus Christ atoned for our sins on the cross. 1 Timothy 2:5 says that Jesus is the Meditator between God and humankind. He bridges the sin gap between a holy God and sinners by removing our sins from us and making way for God’s Spirit to come and dwell in us.

Before Jesus Christ came to earth the first time, God’s people were oppressed from without by foreign invaders and oppressed from within by performance-oriented legalistic religious leaders. Circumstances seemed highly unfavorable for them to know God and His strength.

But then, in Luke 1:15, God gave to Elizabeth a son who was filled with the Holy Spirit. In Luke 1:35, the Holy Spirit came upon Mary, and she conceived God’s Son. In Luke 1:41, 67, Elizabeth and Zechariah were filled with the Holy Spirit. In Luke 2:26, the Holy Spirit revealed Messiah to Simeon. In Acts 2, after Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit to fill all who believe in Him. Neither by power nor by might do God’s people overcome spiritual forces of wickedness in high places. No, it is by His Holy Spirit that we overcome evil.

So, what does an antichrist look like? The Lord reveals to us in Daniel 11 how such a man acts...

“There will arise in his place a despicable man not entitled to inherit the majesty of the kingdom, but he will come without warning and gain the kingdom by intrigue.” Daniel 11:21

“Large armies will be broken and swept away before him…” Daniel 11:22

“…Alliances will be made with him, but he will undermine them by deceit. …He will have but a small following, he will emerge and become strong.” Daniel 11:23

“Without warning, he will assail the most powerful men… he will reward them with plunder, spoil and wealth while devising plots against their strongholds…” Daniel 11:24

“…He will take furious action against the holy covenant, again showing favor to those who abandon the holy covenant.” Daniel 11:30

“His armed forces will profane the sanctuary and fortress. They will abolish the daily burnt offering and set up the abomination that causes desolation.” Daniel 11:31

“Those who act wickedly against the covenant he will corrupt with his blandishments, but the people who know their God will stand firm and prevail.” Daniel 11:32

“Those among the people who have discernment will cause the rest of the people to understand what is happening; nevertheless, for a while they will fall victim to sword, fire, exile and pillage.” Daniel 11:33

“Even some of those with discernment will stumble, so that some of them will be refined, purified and cleansed for an end yet to come at the designated time.” Daniel 11:35

“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt himself and consider himself greater than any god, and he will utter monstrous blasphemies against the God of gods.” Daniel 11:36

“He won’t show respect for any god, because he will consider himself greater than all of them.” Daniel 11:37

“He will honor the god of strongholds; with gold, silver, precious stones and other costly things he will honor a god unknown to his ancestors.” Daniel 11:38

“…He will confer honor on those he acknowledges, causing them to rule over many and distributing land as a reward.” Daniel 11:39

“Finally, when he pitches the tents of his palace between the seas and the mountain of the holy Glory, he will come to his end, with no one to help him.” Daniel 11:45

The Lord reveals to us a similar leader to Antiochus in Revelation 13. He will show up before the Lord’s second coming. Let us, therefore, be watchful, pray and be ready to testify for Christ.

Above All Else

“In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message and had understanding of the vision.” Daniel 10:1

Daniel 10-12 describe more fully the vision of Daniel 8 by a second vision on the same subject, just as the vision of Daniel 7 more fully explains more fully the vision in Daniel 2. Daniel 10 is the prologue, Daniel 11 is the prophecy itself, and Daniel 12 is the epilogue. Daniel 10 reveals the spiritual view of historical events. God’s angels aid the servants of God’s Word. [JFBC]

Five years have passed since Daniel’s vision of chapter 8. The vision would prove to be true in the future. Some portions of the vision would not be fulfilled until 300 years later, so thus, he wrote, “the appointed time was long.” It was, however, made as plain to him as if it had been a history rather than a prophecy. [MHC]

“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 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.” Daniiel 10:2-3

In chapter 8, Daniel fasted, put on sackcloth and ashes as an outward expression of his inward grief over sin. Here, five years later, he mourns for three weeks because wants to understand the vision. He abstains from meat, wine and desirable foods.

In Revelation 4:5-6, John “wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to remove its seven seals.” Thanks be to God for Daniel and John who mourned until God revealed to them what He was about to do. In Matthew 5:4, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Jesus is one reveals the meaning of God’s Word to servants of His Word.

“Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! 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.” Daniel 10:4-6

Daniel was by the Tigris River. Previously, he was taken by a vision of the night to the Ulai River. Ezekiel was given a vision of God by the Chebar River. Flowing rivers are symbolic of the flow of God’s Spirit in Psalm 46:4, John 7:38 and Revelation 22:1-2.

God gives Daniel a vision of a heavenly man. The man fits the description of Jesus in Revelation 1:13-15, “In the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.”

“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. 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. 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.” Daniel 10:7-9

The Lord Jesus gave Saul of Tarsus a similar experience when in Acts 9:7-9, “The men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.” “He was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.” Saul did not eat or drink for three days whereas Daniel abstained from certain delicacies for the three weeks after his vision. In Acts 9:10-17, God sent Ananias to Saul to further instruct him about the vision. In Daniel 10:10-21, God sends the angel Michael to help Daniel with his understanding of the vision.

The vision that God gives Daniel leaves him weak. He falls into a deep sleep with his face to the ground.

“Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 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.” Daniel 10:10-11

As he sleeps a hand touches him. He is trembling. Then, a voice tells him that he is greatly loved. The voice calls him to stand up and understand God’s Word. He stands up but is still trembling.

“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. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me 21 days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 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.” Daniel 10:12-14

The Lord affirmed Daniel. What did he do right? He set his heart to understand God’s Word. He humbled himself before God. He prayed to God. In Daniel 9:2, he testified that he mourned three full weeks. He was waiting for a revelation from God. The angel explains to him that from first day he prayed to God, God heard him, but there was no manifest answer to his prayer because “the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood” him for those three weeks. Daniel’s angelic messenger needed the angel Michael’s help to overcome the Prince of Persia.

In Matthew 17:19-21, 19, the disciples asked Jesus why they could not cast out a certain demon. At first, Jesus mentioned their “unbelief” but also added, “this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” So, there are some spiritual strongholds that require more patience and greater faith to get past than others.

Sometimes grief over sin is what is needed to break spiritual strongholds. In Joel 2:12-13, the Lord says, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. Rend your heart, and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He relents from doing harm.” In James 4:7-10, the Lord says, “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is, “A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.” Psalm 126:5-6 speaks of “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

“When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 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. 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.” Daniel 10:15-17

At first Daniel is face down and speechless. Then, one like the sons of men, the preincarnate Christ, appears to him. He touches Daniel’s lips so he can speak. It is only in Christ that we find our speech to speak with God frankly and honestly. Daniel tells the Lord that the vision has caused him overwhelming sorrow. He has no strength. He is out of breath.

“Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 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.’ Then He said, ‘Do you know why I have 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. But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. No one upholds Me against these, except Michael your prince.” Daniel 10:18-21

The Lord touches Daniel a second time and strengthens him a second time. He reminds Daniel that he is greatly beloved. He should not fear. He says to Daniel what Jesus said to His disciples after His resurrection from the dead... “Peace be to you.” Isn’t this what the Lord closeness does for us? He gives us peace that surpasses all understanding. As Paul wrote in Romans 8:31-32, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Yes, the world is cruel, but God is bigger and better than the world. He created it. He helps us to navigate through every trial and arrive safely at heaven’s shore.

The Lord leaves Daniel to go fight against the prince of Persia. Michael means “like God.” This could be a reference to Christ who is the very image of God. John Wesley's Explanatory Notes says of this verse, “Michael — Christ alone is the protector of His church, when all the princes of the earth desert or oppose it. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes says of this verse, “This angel was appointed for the defense of the Church under Christ, who is the head of it.”

How earnest are we to know what God has said about our future in the Bible? What is happening in our world now, and what is yet to come? What about eternity? How can we stand before a holy God? Is saving faith in Christ above all else to us? 


[JFBC] = Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary
[MHC] = Matthew Henry Commentary

Forgive Us Our Sins

Fourteen years have passed since God gave Daniel the vision of Daniel 7:2-8. In that vision Babylon was characterized by a lion, and the Medes and Persians were charactered by a bear. Prior to that vision, in Daniel 2:36-45, God gave to Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar a dream in which he was the head of gold on a statue, followed by the Medes and Persians, characterized by being a statue’s chest of silver. In Daniel 8:1-4, two years after Daniel’s first dream, God gave to Daniel another vision of the night confirming to him that the Medes and Persians would conquer Babylon. In Daniel 9:1, it has happened. Darius the Mede is reigning over the world.

Daniel testifies that he has read the Words of God published by Jeremiah. He believes Jeremiah’s prophecy shall be fulfilled. In 70 years the exiles shall return to the Promised Land.

“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—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 through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish 70 years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” Daniel 9:1-2

We do well too, to believe the words that God gave to His prophets. In Acts 26:19, 27, the Apostle Paul told a king that he was not disobedient to a heavenly vision. He asked the king, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.” Daniel 9:3

Prayer is a great response to God’s Word. In Daniel 6:10, we learned that Daniel knelt down on his knees three times per day to pray and give thanks to God. This was his custom since his early days. Extreme trials including enemies ready to destroy you tend to drive a person to his or her knees, but for Daniel, it was his lifestyle since his early days. He has put on the garments of repentance, smeared ashes on himself and is confessing his sins and the sins of his people before God.

I wish all my prayers and all the prayers of God’s people were as earnest as Daniel’s. A soldier taking incoming fire in a foxhole does not worry about how his prayer sounds to those around him. He cries out to God to save his life. In a sense, all our lives are under fire from the enemy. We should pray earnestly to the Lord.

King David cried out to the Lord. In Psalm 3:4, he cried to the Lord with his voice and God heard him from His holy hill. After really laying out his need for intervention to God, he testified in verses 5-6, “I lay down and slept. I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.”

“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, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. 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. 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 the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.’” Daniel 9:4-7

Daniel’s recognition of the greatness and goodness of God contrasted with the wickedness and rebellion of His people. If we seldom consider sin as an issue or hear it preached about in our gatherings, we are off track. The reason God sent His Son was to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Acknowledging, confessing and receiving God’s forgiveness of sin is what we need.

1 John 1:8-9, 2:2 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus told a parable to describe the difference between a man who trusts in himself and a man who trusts in the Lord. The man who trusted in himself told God all his good deeds and despised “sinners.” The man who trusted in God, acknowledged his shortcomings and said to God, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Jesus said that the second man “went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

When Daniel fasted and prayed, he was not doing it to impress himself or others. He was doing it because God granted him the gift of grief for his sins and grief for the sins of his people.

“O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. 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. 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. 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 has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem.” Daniel 9:8-12

Kings, princes and fathers need to be shamed-faced because of sins against God. We have all failed in some way or another in our roles as leaders, protectors and providers. Without grief, repentance and God’s forgiveness nothing changes for the better.

The curses written in the Law of Moses came upon Israel due to their sins. These curses are described in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and in Leviticus 26:14-39. These curses form the basis for the seven seal, seven bowl, and seven trumpet judgments of Revelation 6:1-16:21. The curses are waves of judgments with pauses between the waves to give the people opportunity to repent and turn to God.

“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. 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. 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!” Daniel 9:13-15

The Lord did amazing miracles to bring Israel out from Egypt. God has done even greater miracles in these last days to open His heavenly kingdom to all people... to whosoever will believe in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus, God’s Son, healed blind eyes, restored lame legs to mobility and made deaf ears to hear again. He died on a cross for the sins of Adam’s race and resurrected from the dead. No other founder of a religion did what Jesus did for us.

This Good News has been proclaimed all over the earth. There are many churches in many places. The Bible is widely available. What have we done with this good news?

Revelation 16:9 says, “Men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the Name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” This is the kind of attitude that Daniel grieved about. No matter what God did, people, like the Pharoah of Egypt, refused to repent and give God glory.

What would happen if more of us fasted and grieved for lost souls? Walter Brueggemann wrote, “Without grief there is no newness.” I believe there would be newness. We must be converted to God before we can help others be converted to Him.

David wrote in Psalm 126:5-6, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:10-11, “Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation... observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: what diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication!”

“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 are a reproach to all those around us. 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. O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, 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. 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.” Daniel 9:16-19

Daniel prayed, “According to all YOUR righteousness...” “We do not present our supplications before You because of OUR righteous deeds, but because of YOUR great mercies.” “Do not delay for YOUR own sake.” We need God’s forgiveness. We need God’s mercies to change.

We pray in the Name of Jesus because we trust in His righteousness not our own. Jesus said in John 14:13-14, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

“Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, 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 the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, ‘O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 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.” Daniel 9:20-23

God gave Daniel revelation into His Word after he repented and sought God’s forgiveness. In fact, God sent Gabriel to Daniel to assure him that he was greatly beloved of God and to help him understand the vision that he had received.

“70 weeks (sevens) 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.’ Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be 7 weeks and 62 weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the 62 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 desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.” Daniel 9:25-27

According to several commentaries and in this case below according to Verse By Verse Commentary.com, “The seventy sevens will begin with the ‘command’ (decree) to ‘restore and build Jerusalem.’ The Scripture records four decrees to rebuild Jerusalem by the Persians: 1) Cyrus’ decreed to rebuild the temple in 538 BC; 2) Darius I confirms the decree of Cyrus in 520 BC; 3) Artaxerxes Longimanus’ decree in 458 BC; and 4) Artaxerxes Longimanus’ decree authorizing Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem in 445 BC. [1]

Gabriel introduces Daniel to two consecutive time periods. First, seven sevens (49 years) and then sixty-two sevens (434 years) – ‘There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.’ The ‘street’ and ‘wall’ will be built in ‘troublesome times.’ This occurred in the days of Nehemiah when the streets were covered with debris and the wall broken down.

The ‘seven weeks and sixty-two weeks’ is 483 years. There will be 483 years until the ‘Messiah the Prince’ is ‘cut off.’ Jesus died on the cross 483 years later. 483 years brings us to the death of Christ.

This prophecy of seventy sevens does not end with the First Advent of Christ, but with the Second Advent and the establishing of the Millennial kingdom. Thus, Daniel divides the 490 years into three sections: 7 sevens (49 years) = the rebuilding of Jerusalem allowed by Artaxerxes. 62 sevens (434 years) = this is the period from the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem to the first coming of Christ. One seven (7 years) = this is the seven years of tribulation spoke of in the Book of Revelation.” [2]

In Jeremiah 1:12, God said to His prophet, “You have seen well: for I will hasten My Word to perform it.” God ensures that His Word comes to pass in due season. The Apostle Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:13, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

Until then, “Please O Lord, Heavenly Father, please grant us the grace to be humble before You, to be apt to confess our sins and repent of them, and to lift up Your Son Jesus Christ for all people to see Him. Thank You Father for giving Your Son for our salvation, and for us giving us Your Holy Spirit to help us know You and do Your will. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”


[1] 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4; 5:13; 6:1-12; 7:11-26; Nehemiah 2:1-8
[2] versebyversecommentary.com/2002/04/25/daniel-925

Where’s The Hope

“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.” Daniel 8:1

Two years have lapsed since Daniel’s last dream. Daniel 7:1 says, “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.” It is now the third year of Belshazzar’s fifteen year reign over Babylon. It is twelve years prior to Persia’s takeover of Babylon.

Amos 3:7 says, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” God gives us opportunities to repent before releasing judgments. Remember how Moses warned Pharoah prior to each plague on Egypt? In the Book of Revelation, God has revealed seven seal, seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments, followed by a great white throne judgment. Will we heed His warnings or take the path of Pharoah?

“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.” Daniel 8:2

Shushan was comparatively insignificant at the time of Daniel’s vision. It was destined to be the capital of Persia. Daniel was transported there. Shushan is the capital of the kingdom signified by the two-horned ram in this prophecy. The Province of Elam is west of Persia and east of Babylonia. Daniel was in the Province of Elam by the Ulai River via a divine vision. [JFBC]

In Ezekiel 1:1, Ezekiel was near the Chebar River when God gave him a vision. Psalm 1:1-3 says blessed is the man who meditates on God’s Law day and night. He will be like a tree planted by rivers of water that brings forth fruit in its season. In John 7:38, Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” As rivers of waters are to plants, so God’s Word and Spirit are to our souls.

“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. I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.” Daniel 8:3-4

The horn that comes up last and is higher than the other represents Persia. Persia was little compared to Media until the time of Cyrus, but then, it became greater than Media. According to Daniel 5:31, Darius the Mede was 62 years old when he began to reign. He only reigned two years before Cyrus the Persian took over.

The king of Persia wore a jeweled ram’s head of gold instead of a crown. The Hebrew for “ram” springs from the same root as “Elam,” or Persia. The “ram” corresponds to the “bear” of Daniel 7:5. The “one horn higher than the other” answers to the bear “raising itself on one side.” John Wesley's Explanatory Notes states, “the two horns are the kingdoms of Media and Persia. The higher being... Persia which rose last and became more eminent than that of the Medes.”

The ram (Persia) pushed westward conquering Babylon, Mesopotamia, Syria, Asia Minor. He pushed northward conquering Colchis, Armenia, Iberia, and the dwellers on the Caspian Sea. He pushed southward conquering Judea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and India, under Darius. [JFBC]

“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. 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. 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.” Daniel 8:5-7

The male goat symbolizes the Graeco-Macedonia empire headed up by a notable horn, namely, Alexander the Great. His “without touching the ground” speaks of the incredible swiftness of his conquests. Alexander’s armies overran the world in less than 12-years. This male-goat answers to the leopard of Daniel 7:6. The first king of Macedonia was said to have been led by goats to Edessa. He changed the name of Edessa to Aege which means “goat-city.” Alexander fought his first victorious battle against Darius the Mede at the Ulai River. [JFBC].

“Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable one’s came up toward the four winds of heaven.” Daniel 8:8

Alexander grew strong quickly but also died suddenly of a fever. His mother, his son and his brother were eliminated. The four winds represent his four generals who split up the rule of the conquered lands among them: Antipater (Greece), Antigonus (Asia), Ptolemy (Egypt), and Seleucus (Babylon and Syria). [JFBC]

“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.” Daniel 8:9

In Daniel 8:9, the little horn is not an independent fifth horn. It arises out of one of the four existing horns. This horn is described in Daniel 8:23 to be “a king of fierce countenance.” This is a reference to Antiochus Epiphanes. He was an antichrist. His aim was to replace the worship of Yahweh with the worship of Zeus. None of the previous world rulers, Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:31-34), Darius (Daniel 6:27-28), Cyrus (Ezra 1:2-4), Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:12), had systematically opposed the worship of Yahweh. Hence, the need of prophecy to prepare people for Antiochus.

Antiochus is the forerunner of the final Antichrist, standing in the same relation to the first advent of Christ that the last antichrist does to His second coming. The sins in Israel which gave rise to the Greek antichrist were that some Jews began to regard all religions alike. [JFBC]

“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.” Daniel 8:10

In Daniel 12:3, those who are wise shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Antiochus wants to humiliate these stars by trampling them under foot.

In Matthew 24:29, Jesus spoke of the end times, saying, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

In Isaiah 14:13, Lucifer boasted, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.” In Revelation 12:4, the dragon’s “tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.” Satan’s goal is destroy Christ and His followers, but he will fail.

“He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 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.” Daniel 8:11-12

The antichrist opposed the daily sacrifices because of transgression. He found fault with the people and their sacrifices, thus, he felt justified to cast the truth that they spoke to the ground.

They needed Messiah. Christ made the perfect sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” Thus, we trust in the merits of Christ for the forgiveness of sin and for victory over enemies.

One of the curses of the Law was to be defeated by enemies. Deuteronomy 28:25 says, “The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth.” This happened in Joshua 7:1 after Achan took of the accursed things of Jericho for himself. “The accursed things” were set apart and devoted to the God of Israel, whether for special ceremonial use or destruction. Thus, Israel was defeated before their enemies until Achan’s sin was revealed and dealt with in accordance with God’s Law.

Throughout the Book of Judges, from 1 Samuel to the end of 2 Chronicles, in the prophets, and even in the Book of Acts 5:1-11, God dealt severely with those who dealt falsely with Him.

According to 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, we are one body with Jesus Christ as our Head. The Lord asks us in 1 Corinthians 5:6, “Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?” The body of Christ as a whole is to be holy as He is holy.

Faith in the perfect sacrifice of Christ reverses the curse of the Law. Galatians 3:13-14 says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Christ took the curse we deserved and gave us the blessing that we did not deserve.

Romans 5:18-19 says, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

Revelation 12:10-11 says that the saints overcame the accuser of the brothers “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

“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 underfoot?’ And he said to me, ‘For 2,300 days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.’” Daniel 8:13-14

The Lord told His people that they would be in exile for 70 years. The Lord also told His people the exact number of days that daily sacrifices would stop. The 70 years of exile was to make up for the 490 years of unobserved Sabbath years, or 70 sets of 7 years (See 2 Chronicles 36:21). The 2,300 days without sacrifices on the altar were to cleanse it from defilement by apostate Jewish leaders and by Zeus-worshipping Antiochus Epiphanes.

“Then 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. And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, ‘Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.’ 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.’ 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. 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. The ram which you saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia. And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. 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.” Daniel 8:15-22

Today, we have the advantage of a fuller revelation from Jesus Christ than Daniel had.

“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. 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. Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt 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 means. 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.” Daniel 8:23-26

The Lord said to Daniel, “In the latter time... when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise.” A lawless society is a perfect breeding ground for an evil leader to be born. In 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, Paul wrote, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” Why is the restrainer taken out of the way? 2 Thessalonians 2:12 says, “That they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” People who had access to the truth of Christ rejected Him.

In Genesis 15:16, the Lord says, “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” In Matthew 23:32, Jesus spoke of people filling up the measure of their fathers’ guilt. In 1 Thessalonians 2:16, Paul wrote of people filling up the measure of their sins until wrath comes upon them to the uttermost. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God gave Pharaoh of Egypt ten opportunities to repent, but after each miracle, the proud king refused to humble himself before the Lord.

“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.” Daniel 8:27

He experienced loss of country. He was a captive. His kings and priests had failed. His future involves a succession of empires that will persecute godly people. Where’s the hope? Who could he cling to bring about a better world?

The answer to Daniel’s dilemma is Jesus Christ. In Colossians 1:26-28, Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit that the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations has now been revealed to His saints. God has made known among the Gentiles the riches of His glory, “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

In Christ there is safety and there is love, joy and peace. John wrote in 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” According to Ephesians 3:20 and my personal experience, God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Our hope is in Christ alone!


[JFBC] Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary

The Lord’s Return

Lions, Bears and Eagles! Names of NFL football teams! But also emblematic of nations who take on the spirit of the anti-Christ, which by the way, “anti” in this context refers to “instead” of Christ. Nations whose leaders and followers are deceived to think they can be the gods of this world! They prevail for a time, like that mighty tower of Babel that Nimrod built so long ago, but ultimately, crumble into dust before the Kingdom of Christ.

“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.” Daniel 7:1

Daniel dated the time of his dream by associating it with the first year of Belshazzar’s reign over Babylon. Belshazzar became a second king under his father Nabonidus in the year 556 BC. Nabonidus reigned from Teima in Arabia. Belshazzar reigned in Babylon. The Babylonian record indicates Nabonidus “entrusted the kingship” to Belshazzar as the de-facto king of Babylon. This is why Daniel would have been a third part ruler of Babylon in Daniel 5 if Belshazzar had not been executed. Belshazzar reigned over Babylon for 17 years. [1] All this to say that the events of Daniel chapters 5-6 happened after this vision of Daniel in chapter 7.

“Daniel spoke, saying, ‘I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. 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. 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! 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. 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. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.” Daniel 7:2-8

The Lord gave to Daniel a dream like Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel chapter 2. Four world empires appear to Daniel as beasts. To Nebuchadnezzar they appear as a man made of gold, silver, bronze, and iron mixed with clay. The Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary suggests that Nebuchadnezzar saw them from a human perspective while Daniel saw them from a spiritual perspective. The four empires represent Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome.

The “four winds of heaven” stirring up the “great sea” symbolize turmoil and upheaval among nations. The “sea” often represents humanity or the world. In Revelation 7:1-4, four angels are holding back the four winds of the earth from blowing. A fifth angel tells them not to harm the earth until the servants of God have a seal placed on their foreheads.

“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 fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A 1,000 1,000’s ministered to Him; 10,000 times 10,000 stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9-10

In Daniel 2:31-35, in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the appearance of the four empires is followed by the appearance of a little stone that destroys the human empires before it. It grows into a mountain that fills the earth. That stone represents Christ and His kingdom. In Daniel 7:9-10, In Daniel’s dream, he sees the Ancient of Days seated on a fiery throne with wheels aflame. Fire comes forth from Him. He has innumerable angels at His service. The books are opened.

This vision is described in greater detail in Revelation 20:11-15, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away... and books were opened... and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Thus, the prophecy of Daniel 7 is fulfilled by our Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ.

“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.” Daniel 7:11

In Revelation 19:19-20, John sees this prophecy fulfilled. “I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.” Daniel 7:12

In Revelation 20:8-10, John sees this prophecy fulfilled. “Now when the 1,000 years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” The beasts, namely the nations, that continue to defy the rule of Christ, even after the millennial reign of Christ, are finally gone and so is the devil.

“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. 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.” Daniel 7:13-14

In Revelation 21:1-4, John sees this prophecy fulfilled. “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’” Also in Revelation 21:24-26, “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. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.” The stone has become the mountain and it fills the all things. Revelation 11:15 proclaims, “The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ, and He reigns forever.”

“I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 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: ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’” Daniel 7:15-18

“The saints of the Most High receive the kingdom.” Jesus said in Matthew 5:3-10, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” These receive the kingdom of God.

“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; and the 10 horns that were on its head, and 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. I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.” Daniel 7:19-22

Daniel wants to back up and ask about the beast that is defeated by God. This beast is also mentioned in Revelation 13:1-7, whom God allows for 42 months to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. Like in the Book of Job, it is allowed to test the faith of the saints by making war against them and to overcome them. Revelation 13:10 says, “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” They will need patience like Job in those days, but the Lord will help them.

“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. The 10 horns are 10 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. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of 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.” Daniel 7:23-25

According to Revelation 12:17, Satan is at war with “those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” He wants to change the times and law that God would have people to follow for our well-being to follow times and laws that will destroy our souls.

Satan’s man is braggadocios. He wants to be everyone’s hero... or god. He speaks against God and God’s servants because we refuse to bow to him. Like wicked Haman in the Book of Esther, he is ready to destroy the entire group of anyone who will not bow to him.

According to Isaiah 14:12-13, “Lucifer” (the devil) said in his heart: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.. I will be like the Most High.” According to Ezekiel 28:14-15, the devil was “the anointed cherub who” was “on the holy mountain of God.” He was perfect in his ways from the day he was created, till iniquity was found in him. The global leader in the last days will be like the devil in human flesh. He only appears to be a messenger of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 says, “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”

This is why “love for another” is vital. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says, “Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” Love is opposite of hate. God’s love helps us to discern the error of the antichrist. 1 John 4:8 says, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Romans 5:5 says, “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” When Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners, He demonstrated God’s heart to forgive our sins and to make a way by His own self for us to be in fellowship with Him. When we believe in Christ, God gives us His Holy Spirit and helps us to live a new and better life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The Lord gives us a new nature, He converts our soul, so that we have love for Him and love for those around us.

“But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. 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 dominions shall serve and obey Him.” Daniel 7:26-27

In Luke 22:28-29, Jesus said to His followers, “You are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me.” From whom do saints receive the kingdom? From God! According to Revelation 1:5-6, the Messiah gives the kingdom to those who have brought their sins to Him to be washed away by His redeeming blood: “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

“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 7:28

Daniel seemed to gravitate in this text to meditate on the bad news about the global leaders who oppose God. I tend do the same, but Jesus urged us to keep looking up.

In Luke 21:26-28, Jesus said, “There will be signs... distress of nations... men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

The terrible events due to sin means that the Lord’s return is near. Keep looking up!

In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Paul wrote, “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. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

The devil and his henchmen have an expiration date. Their days will end. They have built their kingdom on a bad foundation. It will fall. It is just a matter of time. The kingdom of God is built on the rock foundation of Jesus Christ. Jesus died for our sins and resurrected from the dead to bring us to glory. The Lord is faithful. He will do it.


[1] Biblearchaeologyreport.com/2024/01/19/belshazzar-an-archaeological-biography