Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel, Day 31. Daniel's Revelation, Part Two

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel
Day 31
Daniel's Revelation
Part 2

An angel has been speaking with Daniel regarding things to come. Daniel deeply desires to know the future of his people. He's concerned not only with their return to Jerusalem but with God's eternal plan for them. The angel fought his way to Daniel through a spiritual war and is about to go back onto the battlefield. But first, because Daniel is "highly esteemed", he gives him a revelation of things to come.

"So he said, 'Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince. And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)" (Daniel 10:20-21, Daniel 11:1) Yesterday we spoke about the fact that God answered Daniel's prayer for revelation as soon as he started praying, but the angel sent to him was delayed in battle with the "prince of Persia", who was evidently a demonic entity assigned to the Persian kingdom when it conquered Babylon. This entity was probably there to entice King Darius, a viceroy of Cyrus of Persia, to harm the Jews. If this was the fallen angel's purpose, he was not successful in stirring up a spirit of anti-Semitism in the heart of Darius, for the king who once cast Daniel into the lion's den later praised the God of Israel and was filled with gratitude toward God for shutting the mouths of the lions. I think it's possible that Satan rushed in to try and use Darius the Mede against the Jews because Satan knew Cyrus was a proponent of religious freedom and that when he took charge of Babylon he would not hinder the Jews from practicing their religion. Furthermore, Satan knows the Scriptures even better than you or I do, and he knew the prophecies from the book of Isaiah regarding a king named Cyrus who would set the Jews free. 

Freedom for the Jews was the last thing Satan wanted. As soon as the serpent learned in the Garden of Eden that One would come from Eve's line who would bruise his head, Satan sought to prevent the advent of the Messiah. He tried to destroy the line of Judah both from within and without. From within he tempted them with idolatry, hoping God would reject them and abandon His plan of redemption. From without Satan attacked them by the nations on every side and incited racial discrimination against them. The angel speaking with Daniel must return and continue fighting against the evil entity at work in Persia, then the kingdom of Greece will come and he will fight against the entity assigned to it. By his side fights Michael, whom the angel calls "your prince", because Michael is the archangel in charge of protecting Israel.

Now we are about to enter a section that involves a great deal of ancient history. The revelations the angel gives to Daniel likely made no sense to him in his day, but from our vantage point we can clearly look back through time and see that these prophecies have been fulfilled. First the angel tells Daniel of the fate of Persia, "Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece." (Daniel 11:2-3) 

At the time the angel speaks to Daniel, Cyrus is the king of Persia. The revelation is concerned only with the four kings who follow him: Cambyses II, Smerdis, Darius I Hystaspes, and Xerxes I. Xerxes I is a perfect match for the king who will be far richer than the others and will stir the people up against Greece. This king spent four years amassing a great army to fight against Athens for siding with the Ionian colonies in their revolt against Persia. The ancient historian Herodotus says the army consisted of two million soldiers and four thousand ships. Xerxes I was defeated in a series of major battles and limped back home, where for the rest of his life he levied heavy taxes against the people for his extravagant building projects, sending the nation into recession and decline. He was eventually assassinated by one of his own ministers. (On a side note, Xerxes I is considered a good candidate for the king of Persia in the book of Esther.)

The angel does not concern himself with any Persian kings after Xerxes I but moves on to the next great empire on the world stage: Greece. "Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power it exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others." (Daniel 11:3-4) 

The mighty king is Alexander the Great, whose empire followed that of Persia. As the angel states, his empire did not go to his descendants. His sudden and untimely death left no clear heirs to the throne. His brother might have been up for consideration if he had not been mentally handicapped, but he was rejected on the basis of being unfit to rule. Alexander had a young illegitimate son but, since he was never married to the boy's mother, this heir was also rejected. At the time of Alexander's death his legal wife Roxana was pregnant with a son, but he too was rejected by the regents of Greece, who soon saw to it that both Alexander's sons were assassinated. His kingdom was then divided into four parcels by his generals. Cassander received the territory of Greece, Lysimachus received Asia Minor, Seleucus was placed over Syria and Babylon, and Ptolemy was to govern Egypt and Arabia.

Out of these four divisions of Alexander's empire the angel will only be concerned with the two that will have an impact on the holy land. In tomorrow's study he will provide Daniel with a prophecy regarding the kingdom of the south (Egypt) and the kingdom of the north (the Seleucid Empire). We will study the prophecies of these lands and their rulers and through it all we will have a sense of God's complete control over all world events. There have been periods of history when it seemed as if all was lost for the Jews, if one looked at the events without eyes of faith. But God gave these revelations to Daniel so they could be passed on to future generations, so that when a ruler like an Antiochus Ephiphanes or a Caesar or a Hitler afflicted the Lord's people they could take heart. God will keep His word concerning His people Israel. God will keep His word concerning the church. Kingdoms rise and fall, persecutions come and go, but God reigns sovereign forever. He is the only King who matters.

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel. Day 30, Daniel's Revelation, Part One

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel
Day 30

Daniel's Revelation

Part One

Now Daniel moves us farther in time and tells us of a vision he received during the reign of King Cyrus of Persia.

"In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding came to him in a vision." (Daniel 10:1) Daniel tells us this happened during the third year of King Cyrus; however, this is what happened during Cyrus' first year, "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: 'This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of His people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem." (Ezra 1:1-4)

Daniel is a free man. He can return to the place where his heart has remained all these long years of captivity. In Ezra 2 we learn that 42,360 left Babylon in the first wave of exiles, but Daniel does not go with them. As far as we know, Daniel spent the rest of his life in Babylon and is buried there. Why did he not return to Jerusalem? Was it because he was in his eighties now, too old to help with the work of rebuilding? Was is because he was faithful to his appointed government post in Babylon? Was it because God intended him to continue blooming where he was planted in Babylon, where he could remain a godly influence to both a pagan nation and to his own people who still lived in the land? Was it because he would not leave until the last person from Judah renounced the culture of Babylon and Persia and returned to the Lord? If it was the latter, he did not live to see such a thing. We find many men and women of Judah still in the land, assimilated into the foreign culture, when we get to the book of Esther, which I hope to study next. I tend to believe, though, that this latter explanation may hold true for Daniel. He didn't intend to leave Babylon until the last man, woman, and child from Judah was out. He would not leave them behind. Because he held such a high position in the government, he was a constant and visible example of godliness to the people. He was in a position to influence others and to give his testimony of the Lord. As long as one person from Judah still remained in the nation, I believe he purposed in his heart not to go home. But this doesn't mean he didn't long for Jerusalem and that his thoughts and prayers weren't with those who returned to rebuild. 

Daniel is a man of prayer and fasting, of mourning for the troubles of his people, of interceding for the people as a mediator in the style of Moses, and we find him in this type of spirit in Chapter 10. "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." (Daniel 10:2-3)

"On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude." (Daniel 10:4-6) The identity of this man has long been debated as to whether he is Christ or a very high-ranking angel. There are good reasons to believe this is Christ and good reasons to believe he is not. His description is similar to the Apostle John's when he received his revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared to John as "someone like a Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash around His chest. The hair on His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters". (Revelation 1:13-16) This description could certainly lead us to conclude the person who appears to Daniel is Christ; however, as we continue in Chapter 10 we find this person needing the assistance of the archangel Michael. We would not expect Christ to need anyone's help. This leads me to believe he is a very mighty angel, perhaps a top general in the armies of heaven, but we cannot be certain since Daniel himself does not appear to know. Daniel doesn't concern himself with identifying the man and since he didn't get hung up on the issue, we will try not to either.

"I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground." (Daniel 10:7-9) Daniel evidently faints at the sight of this man.

"A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, 'Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.' And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling." (Daniel 10:10-11) This unnamed person has been "sent" to Daniel. We get the feeling he is a messenger, an angel, and not Christ. When the Apostle John saw the Lord while in exile on the Isle of Patmos, he too fell to the ground like a dead man, and Jesus touched him and raised him up. But Jesus does not refer to Himself as having been "sent"; He comes to John on His own authority and clearly declares His identity by saying, "I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:17-18)

The man goes on speaking to Daniel. "Then he continued, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come." (Daniel 10:12-14) Daniel began praying twenty-one days ago, for he told us he mourned and observed a type of fasting for three weeks (twenty-one days). The very instant Daniel began to pray, an answer was sent out. This man, likely an angel, was dispatched as a messenger to Daniel. But another type of angel, a fallen angel, fought against him to hinder his work. The "prince of the Persian kingdom" is thought to be a demonic entity Satan placed in authority over the Persian kingdom to weaken the faith of the Jews there and to try and prevent Cyrus from allowing the captives to go free. While Daniel prayed for twenty-one days, waiting for a breakthrough, an angelic soldier of God was detained in a fierce battle on his way to Daniel. We so often think our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling when in truth God heard us the minute we started speaking. While we wait for our answer the forces of heaven are fighting for our victory. Battles are being waged in the spiritual realm. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

Daniel is still overwhelmed. "While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, 'I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.' Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. 'Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,' he said. 'Peace! Be strong now; be strong.'" (Daniel 10:15-19a) I can't tell you how many times that things have gotten me down to the point of giving up praying about them. I've become incapable of words, unable to make a sensible prayer come from my lips. Then suddenly I feel revived. I'm able to go on and fight another day. When we feel like this, could it be that an angel has touched us? Perhaps God has sent a messenger to whisper to us, "Peace! Be strong now; be strong."

Daniel feels revived. He's received a second wind. "When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, 'Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.'" (Daniel 10:19b) This reminds me of one of my favorite verses from the book of Isaiah, "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31) 

We need to divide Daniel's revelation into parts because it is quite lengthy and detailed, so we will continue with it tomorrow. But if you're feeling weary today, the Lord says to you, "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." As soon as you started praying the Lord heard you. Battles are raging in the spiritual realm, plus our answers are sometimes held up because mankind resists the will of God. But as the Apostle Paul said, our true battle is not against our fellow man. The unseen forces of wickedness in the spiritual realm influence those who are rebellious and ungodly to resist the will of God. But we need not fear any enemy whether mortal or spiritual. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4) Those who are with us are more than those who are with our enemy. (2 Kings 6:16) When it seems like our prayers aren't going anywhere, and when we are losing heart, that's exactly when we should take heart. When the prophet Elisha and his servant found themselves surrounded by enemies, his servant panicked, but Elisha knew the armies of heaven were on their side and he prayed, "'Open his eyes, Lord, that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." (2 Kings 6:17) We need not faint in the heat of battle: the Lord fights for us. As David said, "Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, You shield my head in the day of battle." (Psalm 140:7) We grow weary when we forget that the battle is the Lord's, not ours. Today let's draw our strength from Him, our Mighty Warrior. 

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel. Day 29, The Seventy Sevens

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel
Day 29

The Seventy Sevens

The second half of Chapter 9 contains one of the most mysterious, and most debated, prophecies of the book of Daniel. When we concluded yesterday we found Daniel engaged in prolonged prayer for the return of his people to Jerusalem. Before Daniel gets to the end of his prayer and says "amen", the answer comes. The Lord answers not only Daniel's questions for Jerusalem's immediate future, but for Israel's eternal future. 

"While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people and making my request to the Lord my God for His holy hill---while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice." (Daniel 9:20-21) The Lord sent the answer while Daniel was still praying. In Isaiah 65:24 the Lord predicted a day in which those who are called by His name will receive the answer to their prayers while they are still praying, "Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." Daniel gets a little foretaste of this type of divine intervention in today's passage. We also get a little foretaste of this in our own lives. There have been a few instances in my life of having my prayers answered before I ever got to the "amen". This must mean that God prepared the answers in advance, long before I started praying. If we ever needed any proof that God knew all things before He ever created mankind, the fact that He has our answers prepared before the need even arises should comfort us. As the Lord Jesus Christ assures us, "Your heavenly Father knows what you need before you ask Him." (Matthew 6:8b)

The angel Gabriel appears to Daniel while he is praying and he recognizes Gabriel as the man he saw in a previous vision. The word used here for "man" is the Hebrew "ish" which can also mean "servant". This servant of God comes so quickly to Daniel that it seems he must have flown to him. 

Daniel has spent nearly his entire life in Babylon and is about eighty years old by this time, but his heart is still in Jerusalem. We were told in Daniel 6:10 that he prayed three times a day with his window open toward that city, and now we see that he is still aware every day of the times of the proscribed sacrifices that were to take place at the temple, which now lies in ruins. Daniel takes note in his mind that Gabriel appears at the time of the evening sacrifice. Though long in exile, Daniel has never stopped thinking about God's laws and commandments. 

Now we take a look at what Gabriel has to say, "He instructed me and said to me, 'Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision." (Daniel 9:23) In Isaiah 66:2 we learn who it is that God esteems, "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at My word." The Lord is able to say, "You are highly esteemed," to all who have this attitude. Daniel was a man humble and contrite in spirit, and especially so in the first half of Chapter 9 when he fasted and prayed while confessing his sins and he sins of the people.

"Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place." (Daniel 9:24) Daniel has been praying to the Lord because he knows the seventy years of captivity are almost up. He asked the Lord to keep His promise of the return of the exiles to Jerusalem. Gabriel appears to reassure him that the return will happen, but he also takes Daniel much farther into the future than that. We must keep in mind that the prophecy of Chapter 9 is exclusively intended for Israel; the church is not in view here. Daniel has been praying about the future of his people and Gabriel has come to show him the future of Israel. 

Many opinions abound on the meaning of the seventy sevens. The most generally accepted theory is that these sevens represent literal years: seventy sets of seven years, though not occurring consecutively all the way through. When this time period is completed, sin and transgression will be no more, an everlasting kingdom of righteousness will be set up, and there will be no more need for vision and prophecy because the Messiah and King will reign on the earth and be with mankind. 

Gabriel goes on to say, "Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens' and sixty-two 'sevens'. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble." (Daniel 9:25) In the book of Nehemiah we find King Artaxerxes of Persia giving him permission to return and rebuild Jerusalem. This happened in 445 BC during the Passover month of Nisan during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, so the date for the decree is firmly fixed in history. This decree started the clock ticking on the seventy 'sevens' of Daniel. The rebuilding corresponds to the first unit of seven 'sevens' (forty-nine years). Nehemiah and his men rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem in only fifty-two days but the rebuilding of the city continued on and off for many more years. This was accomplished "in times of trouble", as we learn in Nehemiah 4. The enemies of the Jews were determined that the wall should not be rebuilt, so the men working on the wall had to work with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. Though the wall was completed in a short time, even late in Nehemiah's life the work in the interior of the city was not finished. It may well have taken around forty-nine years for the city to be fully functional and for its people to establish political sovereignty from the Medo-Persian Empire.

At the end of that time, the next period of sixty-two 'sevens' began. If we add these 434 years to the first period of 49 years we come up with a total of 483. The Jews had a 360 day calendar year, so by adding 483 to the year of 445 BC when Artaxerxes gave permission to restore Jerusalem we end up at the year of 30 AD, at Passover week in the probable year of Christ's crucifixion. Because of errors in the ancient calendar system, Jesus was likely not born in 1 AD, (which does not stand for "after death" but the Latin "anno domini": year of our Lord). Jesus was born in about 3 BC, making Him thirty-three years old in 30 AD, the generally accepted age He was at the time of the crucifixion. The total of 483 years lines up with what Gabriel says next, "After the sixty-two 'sevens', the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing." (Daniel 9:26a) Some ancient manuscripts present this verse as saying, "the Anointed One will be put to death, but not for Himself". Isaiah foretold Christ's death this way, "He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was punished". (Isaiah 53:8b) 

Gabriel predicts another destruction of Jerusalem, "The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed." (Daniel 9:26b) This destruction comes after the cutting off of the Anointed One, when Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. At this point the prophetic clock stops for Israel, with the final remaining 'seven' left unfulfilled. The church age began with the death and resurrection of Christ and the times of the Gentiles began. Jesus predicted the fall of Jerusalem and told the people, "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." (Luke 21:24b) 

The final 'seven' will be fulfilled in the days of the Great Tribulation. I believe this will begin when Christ removes His bride from the world, when we are "caught up together" to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) This is the passage from which we get the doctrine of the rapture of the church, from the Latin "rapio" which means to be "caught up, seized, carried away". When the Lord removes the church from the earth, Israel's clock begins ticking again. The final 'seven' begins to be fulfilled, the time of the darkest seven-year period the world has ever known, when Antichrist comes to power for a season. "He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven'. In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." (Daniel 9:27) The Antichrist will broker a seven-year peace treaty, probably between Israel and the Palestinians, which will allow Israel to rebuild the temple and resume sacrifice and offering. But in the middle of the seven years he will put a stop to the worship of God and desecrate the temple, insisting he alone be worshiped. This is the fulfillment of the words of the Apostle Paul, when Antichrist will set himself up in God's temple and proclaim himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4) 

But there is good news. A very specific time period is set for the Great Tribulation and then Antichrist himself will be cut off. An end is decreed for him. We find this end described in Revelation 19, when Antichrist and the kings allied with him attempt to make war against Christ and His army. The Lord accomplishes an immediate and decisive victory over him (after all, He has already conquered the world by rising from the dead with the keys of death and hell in His hand) and casts the Antichrist and all who followed him into the lake of fire. 

As Daniel has been learning in the revelations given to him through dreams and visions, perilous times will come upon the earth. Kings will reign and kings will be deposed. Nations will rise and fall. Wars and rumors of wars will abound. But God and His people win in the end. Evil will be banished forever. The enemy known as death will be destroyed. Christ will rule the world forever and we who love Him will reign with Him. He will "bring in everlasting righteousness". (v24) And we who are highly esteemed by our Savior will forever look upon His face. 

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel. Day 28, Daniel's Prayer

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel

Day 28

Daniel's Prayer

Daniel realizes from his study of the Scriptures that seventy years of captivity in Babylon were foretold for Judah. Those years are almost up. He goes to the Lord in prayer, confessing his own sins and the sins of his people, and asks the Lord to fulfill the prophecy of the return to Jerusalem.

"In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom---in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years." (Daniel 9:1-2) Earlier in our study of the book of Daniel we discussed the possible identity of Darius the Mede, not to be confused with later references in the Scriptures to a king called Darius who is Darius I Hystaspes. Daniel previously shared with us the two visions he had during the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon and now he tells us of something that happened after the fall of Babylon. 

The Jews had copies of the Old Testament books with them in captivity. This tells us that although many in Judah had turned away from the living God before their nation was conquered, there were those who still treasured and protected His word. There were those who valued it so much they wanted it with them wherever they were. We don't know if Daniel had always had access to a copy of the book of Jeremiah or whether it had recently come into his possession, but he has read it and he knows the years of captivity are nearly over. Daniel is an old man now and has spent almost his entire life in a foreign land, dressing and speaking and reading and writing according to the customs of that land, but he has never wavered in his faith. He knows what the Lord has promised. The captivity is about to conclude and Daniel, perhaps fearing his people have not repented enough, prays a beautiful prayer of repentance for himself and for his nation.

Because of the sins of the people of Judah, and the sins of the other lands Babylon would conquer, the Lord passed this sentence on them, "'This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt,' declares the Lord, 'and will make it desolate forever. I will bring upon that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations. They themselves will be enslaved by many nations and great kings. I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.'" (Jeremiah 25:10-14) 

In Jeremiah 29 the Lord instructed the people of Judah to settle down while in captivity, to marry and have children, to pray for the nation of Babylon while they lived there so they could live in peace. He commanded them not to listen to the prophets and diviners of that nation but to be faithful to Him. The Lord wanted the people to grow in number and in faith while in exile. They were to understand that their exile was punishment for sins and to repent of those sins, not add more sins to them. He desires to bring them out of Babylon in better shape than they were when they went in. "This is what the Lord says, 'When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill My gracious promise to bring you back to this place." (Jeremiah 29:10) The Lord goes on to say in Jeremiah 29 that the people who return to Jerusalem will seek Him and find Him. They will call to Him and He will answer. Daniel hopes the people of Judah have repented enough to be able to do this back in their homeland and he goes to the Lord in prayer for them, "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." (Daniel 9:3) 

"I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: 'Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from Your commands and laws. We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land." (Daniel 9:4-6) Daniel acknowledges his sins and the sins of his people. He knows God was righteous in His judgment. When bringing the children of Israel into the promised land, the Lord promised to keep them there if they would keep His laws and commands. They broke their side of the covenant and reaped the wages of sin. Daniel takes personal responsibility for his own sins and he prays in the form of a mediator for the people, just as Moses did. Daniel's prayer is a lovely example of how to pray for our own nation, confessing that we ourselves have made mistakes and that our citizens and leaders have made mistakes. 

"Lord, You are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame---the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where You have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to You. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against You. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws He gave us through His servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey You." (Daniel 9:7-11a) Daniel says something like, "We got ourselves into this mess. There's no one to blame but ourselves. You, Lord, are always holy and righteous. You were good to us but we went astray. Even so, Lord, You have not destroyed us, though You would be right if You had. As the prophet Jeremiah said, it's only because of Your mercy that we are not consumed, for Your compassion never fails." (Lamentations 3:22)

Daniel does the same thing King David did when David realized he was a sinner: he appeals to the mercy of the Lord. Daniel asks the Lord for mercy, even though he and the people don't deserve it. I had to ask the Lord for mercy for something yesterday. I had to admit to Him I didn't deserve mercy but that I was asking for it because of who He is, not because of who I am. I'm deeply ashamed of a wrong attitude I've held onto for some time and yesterday there was nothing left to do but ask God, on the basis of His unfailing compassion and love, to forgive me and to make my heart clean of this thing. I'm not telling you about my experience in order to make anything of myself, because I'm nothing. I want to make a great deal out of the One who is everything, the One without whom my life would have no purpose, the One who so lovingly forgave me and showed me such compassion even though I don't deserve it. No doubt, if I live long enough, I will have to go to Him again and again to repent of wrong attitudes and wrong actions, but I will be going to Him because He is a merciful God and because He loves me even though I'm not worthy. 

"Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us a great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to Your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything He does; yet we have not obeyed Him." (Daniel 9:11b-14) Daniel is in agreement with what David said to the Lord when he repented of his sins, "You are right in Your verdict and justified when You judge." (Psalm 51:4b)

"Now, Lord our God, who brought Your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for Yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, turn away Your anger and Your wrath from Jerusalem, Your city, Your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and Your people an object of scorn to all those around us." (Daniel 9:15-16) How it must have shamed Daniel and the other godly captives to know that the Gentiles looked down on them and on their God, believing He had abandoned them forever. The nations of Assyria and Babylon who conquered Israel and Judah scorned the name of the God of Israel, believing He was just one God of many, and a powerless one at that.

Daniel isn't sure the people of Judah have truly repented in captivity. Daniel himself, though a godly man, was not a perfect man. He fears he and the people will go on making the same old mistakes as before. So he asks the Lord to defend His own holy name. Daniel thinks the Lord may look on the people and find them lacking, but perhaps He will act on their behalf in order to show the world that He is the one and only God. "Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, Lord, look with favor on Your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name." (Daniel 9:17-19)

Living lives of purpose will include repenting of personal sins and national sins, just as Daniel did. When going to God in prayer for our nation, we should first confess our own sins, then the sins of our people. We need to get our own hearts right with God before we can intercede for others. Daniel has set a pattern in Chapter 9 that we can easily follow. This man was so faithful to God that a book of the Bible is named after him, yet he was a fragile human being just like the rest of us. Daniel was not sinless, but he knew what to do when he sinned: he appealed to a merciful and loving God for forgiveness and help. What if we began each day on our knees, asking the Lord first to forgive us of all our own mistakes and shortcomings, then asking Him to forgive the sins of our nation? What great things would we see happen in our personal lives? What awesome and godly changes would we see in our country? It's such a simple thing to do, yet such a powerful thing. I would like to challenge myself and all of you to try it on a daily basis, as much as we possibly can. If we do this, I believe we also need to prepare ourselves for amazing blessing from the Lord. I believe He will make our lives seem more purposeful than ever before.

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel. Day 27, The Interpretation Of The Vision

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel

Day 27

The Interpretation Of The Vision

Daniel had a vision involving a ram and a goat, symbolizing two ancient world powers. A fearsome king would arise from the remnants of the goat's kingdom and he would persecute God's people. Daniel is puzzled. The kingdom of Babylon is on the downswing, but he doesn't understand the meaning of the conquering ram and goat or the sinful man who will be an enemy of God and of His people. "While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling, 'Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.'" (Daniel 8:15-16)

One "who looked like a man" appears before Daniel. In the Scriptures the angels look like humans when they make appearances, leading some to "entertain angels unaware", not knowing they were angels. (Hebrews 13:2) In this case Daniel senses there is something special about the one standing before him. He knows this being looks like a man but is not a man. Then he hears a voice commanding this being to explain the vision to him. Since Gabriel is such a high-ranking angel, (the one who will later be tasked with the privilege of telling Mary she will be the mother of God's Son), I think it's likely that this voice belongs to God. Some scholars believe the voice may belong to the pre-incarnate Christ, and that is also possible.

"As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. 'Son of man,' he said to me, 'understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.' While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet." (Daniel 8:17-18) Gabriel calls Daniel ben adam: human being. Daniel is not the only prophet to be addressed this way; the prophet Ezekiel was also. When applied to the Lord Jesus the title is capitalized, emphasizing both His humanity and His deity. Daniel is so overcome by this visitation that he faints, but Gabriel touches him and strengthens him so that he can stand. Some cultures and denominations give the ministry of angels too much emphasis while others do not give them enough credit. The angels are used as messengers of God and as servants of mankind. They minister to us, attending to us just as they attended to Christ after His forty difficult days in the wilderness. They strengthen us just as they strengthened Christ in His night of distress in the garden before the crucifixion. 

"He said: 'I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end." (Daniel 8:19) Like many prophecies of the Bible, the one found in Daniel's vision is twofold. Yesterday we studied Antiochus Ephiphanes, persecutor of the Jews, who was a "little Antichrist". The day before that we studied the man of lawlessness of the last days, the actual Antichrist. These two are connected because the same spirit of wickedness is at work in them. The same spirit that yearns to be worshiped in place of God, and that blasphemes the name of all that is holy, and that hates believers is found in both these rulers. 

"The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power." (Daniel 8:20-22) The empire of Alexander the Great was divided into four by his generals following his death at the young age of thirty-three. These four did not have the same power that Alexander wielded, but from one of these divisions rose the Seleucid Empire and Antiochus who attained the throne through murder.

There is some disagreement among scholars as to whether the remainder of Chapter 8 regards only Antiochus Epiphanes or whether it encompasses both his wicked reign and that of the Antichrist. I tend to agree with the latter interpretation. I think Chapter 8 takes us on up to the time when the rock not cut with hands smashes all the kingdoms of the world and establishes an eternal kingdom. (Daniel 2:44-45) I think Chapter 8 shows us both the death of Antiochus by God's hands and the judgment and punishment of the Antichrist by God's hands. Mystery surrounds the death of Antiochus and the location of his tomb is not known. Some ancient accounts state he was suddenly afflicted with a horribly painful physical ailment; others claim he became unhinged in his mind and died in a state of madness. The Jews actually changed his name (among themselves) to Antiochus Epimanes which means "madman". 

"In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise." (Daniel 8:23) The historical fulfillment of this is found in Antiochus Ephiphanes, who emerged in the latter part of the reign of the four divisions of Alexander's kingdom. The idea of rebels having become completely wicked may indicate sin having reached such a limit that God steps in. In the Bible we find other instances of God waiting for the cup of sin to be full before He steps in and cuts off wickedness. In Genesis 15:16 the Lord sent Israel into Egypt until the sins of the Amorites reached their full measure, at which time He would command Israel to drive the Amorites out. The Lord speaks of the cup of His wrath in Job 21:20, Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15, Revelation 14:10 and Revelation 16:19. These references suggest to us that there is a tipping point, a day in which the cup is filled and the consequences of that sin are meted out upon the offender. The acts of Antiochus were so wicked that he reached the tipping point and God stepped in and changed the course of history, taking this sinful man out of the way. The acts of the Antichrist will culminate in him persecuting believers and actually waging war against the Lamb of God. The Lord will then pour out the cup of wrath on the one who has tormented mankind since the Garden of Eden, cutting him off forever. 

Gabriel tells Daniel of the Greek king who will overthrow many and of the lawless man of the end times. "He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power." (Daniel 8:24-25) Satan's battle has always been against God, but since he cannot harm God, he seeks to harm God's people. His is the spirit that thinks itself superior even to God. His is the spirit that causes deceit to prosper on the earth. In the last days, when Antichrist brokers a peace deal, God's people will feel secure, but that is when the evil man will strike. He will persecute God's people as never before, but that is when God will say, "Enough! The cup of My wrath is full and I am about to pour it out on the enemy of mankind's souls." The evil one will be destroyed, not by human hands, but by the One whose hands were nailed to the cross for us.

The angel concludes, "The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given to you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future." (Daniel 8:26) Daniel stood in a place in history from which he could not possibly fathom the enormity of God's plan. He is told to seal the prophecy. But in the book of Revelation, which is actually a companion book of Daniel, the Apostle John is told not to seal the prophecy. (Revelation 22:10) The book of Revelation unlocks the book of Daniel. Only after the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ could Daniel's prophecies be understood. So in the church age the Lord tells John not to seal his book. In the church age the time is at hand. Nothing remains to be fulfilled before Christ takes His bride out of the world. We are living on borrowed time, with the clock of this world winding down, and so the Lord doesn't want the book of John's prophecies sealed. The Lord wants the book of Daniel unlocked by the book of Revelation. Time is short. The cup of God's wrath against wickedness is almost full. 

Daniel's human body is exhausted by these revelations. "I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding." (Daniel 8:27) These prophecies are now no longer beyond understanding and we must do what Daniel did: get up and be about our King's business. Time is short and we must work while we can. Our work is kingdom work and while there is time we are to bring as many into the kingdom with us as we can, sharing the gospel of Christ and showing His love to a world that is dying for love and acceptance and mercy. I hope I can fulfill these duties even half as well as Daniel fulfilled them. What a wonderful example Daniel is of how to live a life of purpose!

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel. Day 26, Daniel's Vision

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel
Day 26

Daniel's Vision

The Lord Jesus called Daniel a prophet in Matthew 24:15. The book of Daniel appears in our Bibles right in the middle of the books known as "the prophets", and rightly so. He received his visions in an unusual way, most often through his own dream or that of others, but he was no less a prophet than any other in the Scriptures.

We were told he had his first vision during the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon. The second one took place about two years later. "In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal." (Daniel 8:1-2) Some historians believe Susa was not under Babylonian control at the time, but Daniel is not literally there in the flesh and only sees himself there in the vision. Susa was the ancient capital of the Elamites and would become the capital city of the Persians in the nation of Babylon. Since Daniel's vision regards the Persian and Greek empires, it's fitting he should see himself at the future capital rather than at the current one. By the time the events in the book of Esther take place, we find the Persian king ruling from Susa.

"I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later." (Daniel 8:3) Archaeological artifacts dating from the time of the Persian Empire depict the images of rams on coins and on headdresses. Daniel sees the empire as a ram with two horns, representing the alliance of the Medes and the Persians. The longer horn symbolizes the Persians, who came to power later than the Medes but whose power surpassed that of the Medes. 

"I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great." (Daniel 8:4) The major battle campaigns of the Medo-Persian Empire were to the west, north, and south. None of the kingdoms of those territories were able to withstand the onslaught of such a powerful army.

"As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground." (Daniel 8:5) In Chapter 7 the Greek Empire had four wings on its back, symbolizing its swift rise to power. Alexander the Great swooped in from the west, charging against the Medo-Persian Empire, conquering it in several decisive battles even though Alexander's troops were vastly outnumbered. Daniel sees this king coming so swiftly it seems as if his feet don't touch the ground.

"It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it, and none could rescue the ram from its power. The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven." (Daniel 8:6-8) At the height of his power, following some very heavy partying, Alexander fell ill with a fever and died several days later at the age of thirty-three. Some accounts say he was sick for ten days, others say twelve, but there is no doubt he died in the prime of his life and in the prime of his empire. After his death, his generals divided the kingdom into four. So we see his horn broken off and four horns coming up in its place, as in Daniel's vision.

"Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land." (Daniel 8:9) The Beautiful Land is Israel and this horn is one that will persecute the Jews. Sinclair Ferguson, in his book Daniel: The Preacher's Commentary, says of this passage, "One of the four horns (or divisions) of the Alexandrian Empire was that of Syria, which was governed by one of Alexander's generals, Seleucus Nicantor, progenitor of the Seluicid dynasty. Antiochus Epiphanes emerged within this dynasty bearing all the demonic characteristics of the little horn of Daniel's vision." He is speaking here of the little horn from Daniel's vision in Chapter 7, the little horn (the Antichrist of the end times) that boasted itself against God and was destroyed by Him, after which the eternal kingdom of Christ began. Antiochus Epiphanes was a form of antichrist in the ancient world. This is Antiochus IV, formerly known as Mithridates, who assumed power by declaring himself co-regent with the infant heir to the throne, later murdering this child and taking the crown for himself. He then added to his name the word "epiphanes" which means "god made manifest", proclaiming himself to be Zeus in the flesh. He persecuted the Jews unmercifully after a rumor went out that he was dead and the deposed high priest at Jerusalem, named Jason, led a charge against Menelaus who had been appointed high priest by Antiochus. Antiochus believed the Jews were in full revolt and he brought the force of his power down on them, slaughtering forty thousand men, women, and children. He then sold another forty thousand into slavery.

Antiochus forbade the Jews to practice their religion and commanded them to worship his god Zeus, the god he claimed to be a manifestation of. He ordered them to stop bringing sacrifice and offering to the Lord at the temple. He eventually set up an image of Zeus in the temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar to desecrate it. He took articles from the temple and burned copies of the Torah. As we discussed yesterday, if Satan cannot entice mankind to openly worship him, he will give mankind something or someone to worship in place of God. Kings have commanded worship for themselves or for their gods throughout history. We have often attributed this to their overweening egos, but behind this lurks the gigantic ego of Satan himself and his desire to be worshiped in place of God. He disguises himself. He masquerades. Since the beginning of time, many citizens of the earth have bowed to kings and to idols, believing they were declaring their allegiance to a leader or to the gods, when in truth they were bowing to Satan. 

Daniel says of Antiochus, the horn that persecutes the Jews, "It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord, and His sanctuary was thrown down. Because of rebellion, the Lord's people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground." (Daniel 8:11-12) We can see why Daniel wrote the account of his second vision following the account of his first vision. In the first he saw the literal Antichrist; in the second he saw a little antichrist, a forerunner of the exceedingly wicked one who is to come in the last days. History has seen a number of little antichrists. Adolf Hitler is a good example of one of these. All have been under the influence of Satan (whether they knew it or not), and Satan is the one who will presumably indwell the man of lawlessness of the last days. Just as the little antichrist known as Antiochus persecuted God's people, so also will Antichrist. Just as the little antichrist desecrated the temple and set up an image to be worshiped, so will Antichrist. Just as the little antichrist referred to himself as a god in the flesh, so will Antichrist. Just as the little antichrist trampled the holy city and its people underfoot for a time, so will Antichrist.

"Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, 'How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled---the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord's people?' He said to me, 'It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.'" (Daniel 8:13-14) If these are literal days they would add up to nearly seven years of persecution. Some scholars count the "evenings and mornings" as the number of daily sacrifices that were missed. Since there would be two per day, this gives a calculation of 1,150 days, indicating a time period of just over three years. There has been much debate over these numbers and whether to take them literally, but we see a correlation here between the time period when the true Antichrist will be in power (the seven years of the Great Tribulation) and of the time period when the persecution by the Antichrist will be in full swing and he will desecrate the temple and set himself up as a god (three and a half years). 

We can see why God gave Daniel a vision of the end times and Christ's eternal kingdom before giving him this vision of a terrible time to come for the Jews. I think Daniel needed the encouragement of knowing everything works out in the end. I'm not sure he could have withstood this second vision if he hadn't gained hope from the first. Even knowing that God's people will inherit the kingdom, when we get to the end of this second vision in tomorrow's study we will find that Daniel was so troubled and exhausted by it that he had to lie in bed for several days to recover. He will say he was appalled by the vision.

If God had not given us the hope of eternal life in Christ we would be, as the Apostle Paul says, "of all men most miserable". (1 Corinthians 15:19) The darkness and turmoil of this world would overpower us. But instead we worship the One who overcame the world, who made us co-heirs with Him, and who will share His eternal kingdom with us.

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel. Day 25, The Interpretation Of Daniel's Dream

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel

Day 25

The Interpretation Of Daniel's Dream

Daniel's dream has troubled him. He saw four beasts in it, with the fourth being terrible in appearance, and he saw God seated on the throne and giving the kingdom of the world to the Son of Man. Tens of thousands stood before the throne, attending the Lord. Daniel tells us, "I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this." (Daniel 7:15-16a) He now becomes an active participant in the dream, approaching one of those who attends the Lord to ask for an explanation.

"So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things. 'The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever---yes, forever and ever.'" (Daniel 7:16b-18) Daniel has seen some scary things in his dream and this figure (probably an angel) hastens to assure him everything turns out alright in the end. The Lord Jesus warned us, "in this world you will have trouble", but He also tells us "Take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) The holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom because it belongs to Christ and we belong to Him. What's His is ours. Because we are His forever, the kingdom is ours forever. Daniel is not to let his heart be troubled because, though wars may rise and kingdoms may fall, there is a kingdom that has no end.

"Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws---the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell---the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom." (Daniel 7:19-22) Bible scholar David Guzik compares Daniel's vision of the four kingdoms with Nebuchadnezzar's vision of the four kingdoms, and he finds a difference in them because Daniel "sees the kingdoms from God's perspective, not man's. Nebuchadnezzar saw the present and future world empires in the form of a stately and noble statue of a man. Here God shows how He sees them: as ferocious and wild animals who devour and conquer without conscience". 

Daniel hears the angel's assurance that God's people will inherit the kingdom, but in the meantime he sees them being persecuted in his dream. The little horn, so blasphemous and boastful, wages war against them. For a time during the Great Tribulation, it may appear to human eyes that God's people are losing the fight. Those of you who studied Revelation with me some time back know I ascribe to the theory of a pre-Tribulation rapture of the church. Though I believe Christ will come for His bride before the worst darkness this world has ever seen falls on it, the Bible tells us that there will be many who come to Christ during the Tribulation and they will have a deadly enemy. The Antichrist will "wage war against God's holy people" and there will be a time of religious persecution worse than any in history. (Revelation 13:7) He will even dare to fight against the Lord Jesus Christ and the armies of heaven. (Revelation 19:19) But all is not lost. The One who conquered the grave has also conquered the enemy of our souls. The kingdom of this world belongs to Christ and He will share it with those who are His.

The angel answers Daniel. "He gave me this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it." (Daniel 7:23) The ancient Roman Empire certainly tried to devour the earth but instead ended up broken in pieces, with Western Rome being divided into ten parts from 351 AD to 476 AD. We can see how this might relate to the ten horns of this kingdom, but a portion of the prophecy remains to be fulfilled. Another kingdom will arise from this one in the last days and ten kings will give their authority to the Antichrist. (Revelation 17:13) He will control them. He will devour the earth, trampling it down and crushing it, in a manner that ancient Rome was never able to achieve. We know the remainder of the prophecy is for the last days because the kingdom of Christ follows immediately after. The kingdom of Christ did not follow the fall of Rome.

"The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress His holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time." (Daniel 7:24-25) In Daniel 9 we will learn of one who orchestrates a peace covenant for seven years. It is believed by many modern Bible scholars that this will be a treaty the Antichrist brokers between Israel and the Palestinians, possibly the two-state solution. This will be a seven-year ceasefire agreement in which the states are to live peacefully side by side. Israel will at last be allowed to rebuild the temple, likely right beside the Dome of the Rock, and sacrifice and offering will be reinstated. But in the middle of those seven years, Antichrist himself will break the treaty and put a stop to sacrifice and offering, setting up an abomination in the temple that defiles it. (Daniel 9:27) This corresponds with what the Apostle Paul says about the Antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." It would appear that Antichrist either literally takes over the temple and sits enthroned in it, insisting he be worshiped, or he places an image there that represents himself. 

Satan's motivation has always been to be worshiped in place of God. If he cannot inspire worship of himself, he will do everything possible to rob worship from God. Throughout the ages he has influenced rulers to force their people to worship either the king or the gods of the king, to worship anyone or anything but the living God. (Nebuchadnezzar and Darius in the book of Daniel are good examples of this.) At last the day will come when Satan, through his man the Antichrist, can reveal his true intentions and give the world's citizens the choice of worshiping him or going to their death. And a great number of them will choose death. They will be martyred for their faith, feeling as the Apostle Paul did, "To live is Christ, to die is gain". (Philippians 1:21) We find the souls of these martyrs in heaven in Revelation 6:9-11 and are told they had been slain "because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained". The persecution of believers will take place in the last half of Antichrist's seven-year reign, which is Daniel's "time, times and half a time" in verse 25 (three and a half years).

The interpretation of Daniel's dream is frightening. He sees fearsome things for the world and for God's people. He's troubled in spirit over these visions. The angel now concludes with a very important word: "but". Things look bad, but God will not allow Satan to prevail. God will not give His glory and authority to another. He will hand over the kingdom of the earth only to the Lord Jesus Christ and to those who have believed on Him. This pretender, the Antichrist who is inhabited by Satan, will not be able to hold onto it. "But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him." (Daniel 7:26-27) The angel wants Daniel to always remember that God and His people win in the end. The world may look dark now but a bright eternity is ahead of us.

"This is the end of the matter, I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself." (Daniel 7:28) Like Mary the mother of Jesus, Daniel quietly ponders these things in his heart. On the night of Christ's birth, Mary could not fully understand everything God the Father intended to do through Him, so she treasured and pondered and mulled over the wonderful things said about her Son. Daniel cannot yet fully understand God's plan or the exact identity of the One to whom God the Father will hand the kingdom, so he keeps these things in his heart, meditating upon them. He is resting on God's promises. He may not understand everything he's been told, but he believes. He won't see these things happen in his lifetime, but he knows God will bring them about. He is troubled by the scary visions he saw, but he has faith that God will destroy every enemy of His saints. Daniel won't be on the earth to see these things come to pass, but he believes anyway, and as the Lord Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:20b) There is an extra special blessing upon the one who walks by faith and not by sight. Daniel was looking ahead to the advent of Christ the Messiah. He would not see Him in person but he believed on Him in faith. In our times we are looking back to the advent of Christ the Messiah and though we didn't see Him in person we believe on Him in faith. The Lord Jesus says blessed are we who believe what we have not seen. We believe and we treasure and ponder these things in our hearts and we rest on the promises of God, just like Daniel. And someday we will rejoice with Daniel in the kingdom of our Lord.