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

How’s Your Prayer Life

Lions are featured regularly throughout the Bible, both in symbolism as well as historical reference. In Judges 14, Samson killed a lion with his bare hands. In 1 Samuel 17, David testified that he killed a lion while protecting his father’s sheep. In 1 Kings 13, a disobedient prophet was killed by a lion. Lions are referenced over 150 times in the Hebrew Bible.

Lions are also a metaphor in the Bible for someone who has great power. For example, the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” in Genesis 49:9 and in Revelation 5:5 are references to Jesus Christ. In 1 Peter 5:8-9, Peter compares the devil to a roaring lion who “prowls around looking for someone to devour.”

Daniel probably never imagined that his prayer life would lead to victory over hungry lions and a worldwide proclamation by a king of God’s goodness. Daniel kneeled three times per day while in prayer before God.

“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.” Daniel 6:1-3

King Belshazzar had promised to make Daniel a third ruler over Babylon after Daniel accurately interpreted the words that the hand of God wrote on his palace wall. Belshazzar was executed that night by the Medes and Persians. He was unable to fulfill his promise to Daniel, but the Lord saw fit to honor Belshazzar’s promise by moving King Darius to appoint Daniel into a similar position. An excellent spirit was in Daniel. It was God’s Spirit. Now, Darius was considering to appoint Daniel over the whole realm.

“So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, ‘We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.’ So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: ‘King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors, and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for 30 days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.’ Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.” Daniel 6:4-9

They looked for “dirt” on Daniel that they could use to have him removed from his position. His reputation was squeaky clean. God is the one who helped Daniel to live above reproach so they needed to pass a law that would come between Daniel’s religious practices and his compliance with the government’s laws. They made a law that whoever petitioned any god or man for 30 days, except the king, be cast into a lion’s den. Daniel could not of good conscience obey this law. Sound familiar? It’s called religious persecution... making laws that criminalize faith in a particular God. The penalty for breaking their anti-Biblical law was death by being torn apart and eaten by lions.

In Rome, “damnatio ad bestias” or “condemnation by beast” was a known punishment for various criminals and was applied to Christians who refused to renounce their faith. It was considered one of the most severe forms of execution in the Roman Empire, alongside others like crucifixion and burning alive.

In 2 Timothy 4:17, Paul testified that the Lord delivered him from the mouth of the lion.

Did this law deter Daniel from talking with God...

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” Daniel 6:10

Daniel not only prayed he gave thanks to God. How many of us would be thanking God under these circumstances?

“Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: ‘Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within 30 days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?’ The king answered and said, ‘The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.’ So they answered and said before the king, ‘That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.’” Daniel 6:11-13

They had King Darius backed into a corner. He was bound to keep the law. What could he do?

“And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, ‘Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.’ So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.’ Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.” Daniel 6:14-17

What did King Darius do? He believed God. He made a profession of faith in God, saying, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” But he did even more than that. He denied himself food, music and sleep.

“Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also, his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Then Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.’” Daniel 6:18-22

The king lamented for Daniel. Laments, tears and cries are powerful demonstrations of love for people. He asked Daniel, “Has your God... delivered you from the lions?” Yes, Daniel could testify that God’s angel shut the lions’ mouths so that they could not hurt him.

“Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So, Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.” Daniel 6:23-24

“No injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.” But this was not so for his accusers. They, their children and their wives were thrown to same the lions. This time the lions killed them instantly.

“Then King Darius wrote: to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: ‘Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.’” Daniel 6:25-27

God took the attempts of Daniel’s enemies to destroy him and turned them into a worldwide proclamation of His glory. King Darius testified of the Lord’s ability to deliver and rescue. He spoke of the God who does signs and wonders. He spoke of the God who delivered Daniel from lions. The worldwide leader professed faith in God. .

“So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” Daniel 6:28

Daniel was a man of prayer. Three times per day, he stopped everything to kneel in prayer to God. It has been said that “a man who kneels before God can stand before anyone.” Hans Von Staden wrote, “When man works, man works; when man prays, God works.”

Daniel remained close with God via prayer. When Daniel had no hope of survival except for divine intervention, God came through for him. God shut the mouths of hungry lions to preserve his life.

Daniel’s private practice of daily prayer led to a worldwide proclamation of God’s goodness.

Praise the Lord!

Rich Toward God

King Belshazzar inherited a rich and powerful kingdom from his father. He had a wonderful opportunity to do much good for God and others. Was he a good example for us to follow? What happened to him? What about us? Are we on the path the leads to joy forevermore?

“Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a 1,000 of his lords and drank wine in the presence of the 1,000. While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood, and stone.” Daniel 5:1-4

The gold and silver vessels from which Belshazzar drank wine had been dedicated to God’s service. He and his lords, his wives and his concubines were disrespecting the God who created and sustains the universe when they drank from these vessels and praised material gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. They were behaving proudly against the One who created them and gave them life.

In Leviticus 8:11, Moses set a precedent for the generations that followed him by dedicating items used in worship to God alone. Moses also set a good example for people to follow. In Hebrews 11:24-26, the Lord said of him, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Moses put others before himself, knowing that someday God would reward him for doing so.

“In the same hour, the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened, and his knees knocked against each other. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, ‘Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.’ Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king its interpretation. Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.” Daniel 5:5-9

The hand of God crashed the king’s party! The hand wrote undecipherable words on the wall where a lampstand was shining brightly. Belshazzar’s face, hips and knees were visibly impacted by the sight of this. God showed up in the blink of an eye. He was caught off guard. He could not read the writing on the wall. He called in his go-to people for interpreting signs, but none could decipher it. His offer of gold, garment and great promotion had no takers. His interpreters of signs did not have a relationship with the God of the words.

King Belshazzar had a great army and a great wall around his city. But this hand entered the room where he was behaving shamefully and shook him to the core.

“The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, ‘O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.” Daniel 5:10-12

The queen of all people is the one who calms the king down and assures him that a man exists in whom God’s Spirit dwells. She testifies of him saying, “light, understanding and wisdom were found in him.” He is chief of the king’s interpreters of signs. The queen adds that he has an “excellent spirit” for “interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas. She urges King Belteshazzar to call Daniel. She confidently declares, “He will give the interpretation.”

“Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, ‘Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. And I have heard of you that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel 5:13-16

According to Daniel 2:48, Daniel was already a ruler over the province of Babylon, and chief administrator over the wise men of Babylon. He sat in the gate of the king which meant that he was privy to much of the king’s business. Why would he want to have an extra duty of being third ruler over Babylon’s kingdom? King Belshazzar was likely the kind of leader who dumped his responsibilities on his staff and spent his time partying. Daniel probably had more on this plate than any one man could handle. He likely had little time to enjoy the perks of his position.

“Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, ‘Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory, and honor. And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men and appoints over it whomever He chooses.” Daniel 5:17-21

God had a purpose in letting King Nebuchadnezzar experience seven years of insanity. It was so that he would know that “the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men and appoints over it whomever He chooses.”

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

In John 3:26-27, when an argument developed between a certain man and the disciples of John the Baptist, and the man told John about Jesus and His disciples baptizing people, and that everyone was leaving John to follow Jesus. John’s reply was, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.” John read the proverbial writing on the wall. In John 3:30-31, He added, “This joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” Then, in John 3:36, John preached the Gospel to the man saying, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

King Nebuchadnezzar erred and his son erred by failing to direct all glory to God.

In Acts 12:21-24, there’s a similar testimony of God taking down a king who received the glory that belongs to God alone... “So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied.”

In Revelation 13:11-12, 15, the Lord revealed to John the Apostle two beasts. The second beast “causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast.” He “causes as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” What happens to this pair of rulers? Revelation 19:20 says, “These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

The Lord gave a word to King Belshazzar via His servant Daniel. Daniel told him...

“But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, hear, or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. ‘And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.’” Daniel 5:22-25

Belshazzar failed to keep the first commandment which is to love the one true God. He failed to humble himself before God as the tax collector did in Luke 18:13-14. I like what C.S. Lewis wrote about humility. He wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” The Lord did not have a good word for King Belshazzar. The hand from God wrote...

“This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom and finished it; TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; PERES: Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” Daniel 5:26-28

The Lord’s longsuffering and patience with Belshazzar’s ran out. Proverbs 29:1 says, “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

“Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel 5:29

He rewarded Daniel, but to what avail? Babylon was conquered by the Medes and Persians that very night. Belshazzar was executed. A new government took control of Babylon.

“That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about 62 years old.” Daniel 5:30-31

In Luke 12:14-21, Jesus told a parable about a certain rich man. The richer he became the more treasure he put aside for himself. He said to his soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease! Eat! Drink and be merry!” Like the prodigal son in Luke 15:11, Belshazzar “wasted his possessions with prodigal living.” “God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’” “So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Belshazzar is a good example for us NOT to follow.

In Matthew 25:14-27, Jesus told a parable in which two men cultivated and multiplied what God had given them, and one man did not. To the two, the Lord said, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” But to other, He said, “You wicked and lazy servant.” He was cast into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

May each of us look to the Lord for grace and help to do His will with what He has given to us. May we keep our eyes on the Lord and live to glorify HIS Name!

Glory Be To Christ Alone

In Daniel 3:25, King Nebuchadnezzar witnessed One like the Son of God appearing in a fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Afterwards, in Daniel 3:29, he issued a decree that “any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap.” His profession of faith in their God was a step in the right direction, but his behavior towards people needed to change.

In Daniel 4:1-27, 34-35, King Nebuchadnezzar declares to the nations how the Lord helped him to change his behavior... something only God could bring about.

In Daniel 4:16, God forewarned Nebuchadnezzar that he would “be given the heart of a beast” if he continued in his self-boasting. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water He turns it wherever He wishes.”

A year after Nebuchadnezzar was forewarned by God to break off his sins by being righteous, and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, he was still boasting... “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling, by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” In that same hour, he lost his reason (מַנְדַּע man-dah – power of knowing).

According to the Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary, “An inscription in the East India Company’s Museum is read as describing the period of Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity [G. V. Smith]. In the so-called standard inscription read by Sir H. Rawlinson, Nebuchadnezzar relates that during four years he ceased to lay out buildings, or to furnish with victims Merodach’s altar, or to clear out the canals for irrigation. No other instance in the cuneiform inscriptions occurs of a king recording his own inaction.”

According to an article entitled, “Nebuchadnezzar The King of Kings, Part 3” on the website of Amazing Facts.org, “Clinical lycanthropy is a rare disorder in which a human believes that he is turning into an animal. There came a time when the most powerful ruler in the world actually found himself in this very state.”

In Daniel 4:32, 34, 36-37, Nebuchadnezzar regained his reason, his honor, his counselors, his nobles, and his kingdom. Then, he declared to the nations, “Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.”

Below are the details from God’s own Words, the Bible...

“Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: peace be multiplied to you. I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me. How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:1-3

He wanted everyone in every land to know the miracles which the Most High God had done for him. He greeted them kindly. He declared to them that God’s kingdom is everlasting.

“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: ‘Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.’” Daniel 4:4-9

Nebuchadnezzar resided in a city that was renowned for its massive building projects, including the Ishtar Gate and famous the Hanging Gardens. He was resting in his house when a dream made him afraid and troubled his mind. His Chaldean advisors could not interpret his dream’s meaning so he turned to Daniel... “Because” he says, “I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you.” He told Daniel about his dream.

“These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong; its height reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. Its leaves were lovely, its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, the birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.” Daniel 4:10-12

According to the Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary, “The ‘world tree’ was a common motif in many ancient religions. It was an image of the totality of the world. Its top reached heaven, it was in the earth, and its roots sunk to the underworld.” In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed, which “is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Jesus was saying to His listeners that His Kingdom is the one that sustains all life.

“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, and the birds from its branches. Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven and let him graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth. Let his heart be changed from that of a man, let him be given the heart of a beast, and let seven times pass over him.” Daniel 4:13-16

God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to rule over the kingdoms of the world for a season, but as he took for himself the glory that belongs to God, God humbled him.

“This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the Word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” Daniel 4:17

God was telling Nebuchadnezzar that he was not the highest. He was the lowest. He needed to realize the grace that God had shown him.

“This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.” Daniel 4:18

I like that he knew that Daniel could interpret his dream because God’s Spirit helped Daniel.

“Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So, the king spoke, and said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.’ Belteshazzar answered and said, ‘My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!’” Daniel 4:19

Daniel had to proclaim bad news to his king. He wished that he could say that the king’s dream pertained to his enemies who hated him, but that was not the case. Here’s the interpretation...

“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home—it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;’ this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: they shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He chooses. And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.” Daniel 4:20-26

Nebuchadnezzar with his mighty army, superior weaponry and great wealth falsely assumed that his position was secure, but no one should assume that they are so secure in a high position that no one can bring them down. It only took one watcher, one holy one, from heaven to chop his mighty tree down and turn him into a branchless and fruitless stump of a man.

The Spirit of God helped Daniel to foresee what was about to happen to his king. Daniel advised Nebuchadnezzar with wisdom from God, saying...

“Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.” Daniel 4:27

But Nebuchadnezzar held onto his pride...

“All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the 12 months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’ While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He chooses.’ That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen. His body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.” Daniel 4:28-33

The Hebrew word for “times” is עִדָּן which according to Brown-Driver-Briggs (Old Testament Hebrew-English Lexicon) is technically a year. For seven years, he behaved like a beast which eats grass. His hair was long and clumped together in bunches so that his hair looked like feathers. His finger and toe nails looked like the talons of a large bird. His inward craziness was now revealed in his outward appearance. In Revelation 13:1-17, the antichrist and his false prophet are described as beasts. Perhaps, they too will lose their human mannerisms.

“And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” Daniel 4:34-35

After seven years, Nebuchadnezzar’s understanding returned to him. I have heard people testify of how after experiencing years of depression, the depression left them with no obvious explanation or trigger. This is God’s mercy. In Job 1:12, 2:6, the Lord placed limits on Satan, as to how much He would allow Job’s faith to be tested by the devil.

Praise God for limited tests! In Revelation 2:10, the Lord allowed the Smyrna Christians to be tested by the devil for ten days. He told them to be faithful until death, and He would give them a crown of life.

No matter what comes our way, we should always hold tight to our profession of faith in Christ.

After experiencing humble circumstances in Hong Kong for a while, I assumed that my witness for Christ had failed. But to my surprise, one day, a spokesperson for many said to me, “We know that God is with you because you go through so much and still keep witnessing for Christ.”

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:30, “If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.” In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul’s response to the Lord in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 was, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” In Galatians 6:14, Paul, who once prided himself in his religiosity, wrote, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

After so many experiences with God, Nebuchadnezzar also redirected his boasting to God...

“At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me. I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” Daniel 4:36-37

What about us? Who do we talk about more? About Christ our Savior, or about ourselves? The culture of heaven is about proclaiming the worthiness of Christ to receive all the glory, honor and blessing. His glory is not about powerful weapons and making people kill others. His glory is about forgiving sinners, and filling us with love, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.

Glory be to Christ alone!