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Daniel 8: 1-27
(1) In
the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king a vision appeared to
me, Daniel, subsequent to the one which appeared to me previously.
This is a second significant dream that Daniel had, two years after the first visionary dream. It is very similar in its message, with some important differences.
Daniel has been writing the last few chapters (2-7) in Aramaic, and now he goes back to using Hebrew again for the rest of the book.
This is because he wanted those chapters to be understood by all of the residents of the whole Babylonian Empire, because the subject matter pertained to the entire citizenry, and Aramaic was the lingua franca of the people in that day.
Now Daniel goes back to Hebrew to give the Jewish people God's message for them, specifically.
(2) I looked in the vision, and while I was looking I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision and I myself was beside the Ulai Canal.
Daniel dreamed that he was in Susa, where he no doubt had previously visited sometime in all his years of serving the kings in the Empire, so he recognized where he was in his dream.
(3) Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was standing in front of the Canal. Now the two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, with the longer one coming up last.
This ram corresponds to the bear in his other revelation.
(4) I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power, but he did as he pleased and magnified himself.
Westward toward Lydia, Ionia, Thrace, and Macedonia; northward toward the Caspians of the Caucasus range, and the Scythians east of the Caspian Sea, and the Oxux Valley all the way up to the Aral Sea; and southward toward the Babylonian Empire, and later to Egypt, too.
(5) While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole Earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.
This male goat corresponds to the leopard in the previous vision. He was traveling so rapidly that his feet barely touched the ground. He came from the west, from Macedonia and Greece, as Alexander the Great did.
(6) He came up to the ram that had the two horns which I had seen standing in front of the Canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath.
(7) I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power.
Alexander's victories at Granicus (in 334), Issus (in 333), and the final contest at Arbela (in 331) is fittingly portrayed by this crushing attack on the ram, which he is unable to resist.
Alexander's conquest of the entire Near and Middle East within three years stands unique in military history and is appropriately portrayed by the lightening speed of this one-horned goat.
(8) Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly.
This may refer to Alexander's thrust beyond the borders of the empire he had conquered, even into Afghanistan and the Indus Valley (in 327); or it may suggest the growth in arrogance that led him to presume the pretensions to divinity, as the Egyptian priesthood had solemnly announced that he had descended from Zeus-Ammon.
But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of Heaven.
This predicts that he would be cut off at the height of his power; Alexander died of a sudden fever (unless he was poisoned!) at the young age of 33.
And the division of his empire was unquestionably fourfold, with Cassander holding Macedonia and Greece, Lysimachus holding Thrace and the western half of Asia Minor as far as Cappadocia and Phrygia, Ptolemy consolidating Palestine, Cilicia and Cyprus with his Egyptian-Libyan domains, and Seleucus controlling the rest of Asia all the way to the Indus Valley.
(9) Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.
Now we have another small horn, this one on the Greek identity, rather than the future Roman. This is specific to Israel.
It looks to the career of Antiochus IV Epiphanes: as he usurped the Seleucid throne and succeeded in invading Egypt (170-169 BC); his expeditions against rebellious elements in Parthia and Armenia "to the east;" and his brutal suppression of Jewish worship at Jerusalem in his determination to impose religious and cultural uniformity on all his domains. This came to a head when he erected an idol of Zeus in the Temple and sacrificed swine to it, desecrating the altar.
This became known to the Jews as "the abomination of desolation," which served as a type of the future abomination that will be set up in the Jerusalem sanctuary to be built in the Last Days (see Jesus' prediction in Matthew 24: 15).
(10) It grew up to the host of Heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the Earth, and it trampled them down.
Since a mere human man cannot pull the stars or holy angels down to the Earth, the same words are also used for the host of God's people He rescued from Egypt as the Lord of hosts, and Daniel says in 12: 3 that the Lord's people will "shine like the stars of heaven" when we have also been Glorified.
So this must refer to when Antiochus overpowered the Jews and "walked all over them."
(11) It even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down.
(12) And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper.
This all happened when he desecrated the Lord's altar.
(13) Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, "How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?"
(14) He said to me, "For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored."
The number 2,300 may not refer to 24-hour days, but the number of evening and morning sacrifices that would not be allowed, until they could be properly restored. This is what happened, as the abolition of the sacrifices (the tamid) took place in 167. Then the sanctuary was reconsecrated on 25 Chislev 164, which all Jews everywhere still celebrate as Hanukkah.
(15) When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man.
This is no animal, he looks human.
(16) And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, "Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision."
No more animals, these are Heavenly angels; and we meet Gabriel here, who is the messenger God sent to announce to Mary that she was to be the mother of the Lord. Here, someone else commands Gabriel to speak to Daniel.
(17) So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face;
This is a common reaction to the approach of one of God's holy angels. These angels must really be amazing creatures!
but he said to me, "Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end."
Gabriel assures Daniel that these things aren't scheduled to happen until the time of the end.
(18) Now while he was talking with me I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright.
Amazing how powerful a simple touch can be. I don't know if some kind of power was communicated to wake him and stand him up on his feet, but I wouldn't doubt it. I also know how a simple touch of another person can encourage and calm and reassure in a time of stress.
(19) He said, "Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur and the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.
Gabriel is telling Daniel the human future history that God has planned out for this Earth and Mankind upon it, from his days forward.
(20) "The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.
The vision didn't include what was already past for Daniel as he was compiling his writings at the end of his life, only what was present for him and future. So it starts with Media and Persia, which he has experienced by this time.
(21) "The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
He's telling him that Alexander will be the solitary king of this domain, not a compound character, like Media and Persia.
(22) "The broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.
Alexander's authority did not pass down to his generals who divided up his kingdom into four distinct areas, each had to establish his own authority in each of their domains.
(23) "In the latter period of their rule,
"When the transgressors have run their course,
God always gives enough time for sinners to repent.
"A king will arise,
"Insolent and skilled in intrigue.
In other words, crafty, and skilled in double-dealing.
(24) His power will be mighty, but not by his own power,
"And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree
"And prosper and perform his will;
"He will destroy mighty men and the holy people.
(25) "And through his shrewdness
"He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence;
"And he will magnify himself in his heart,
"And he will destroy many while they are at ease.
"He will even oppose the Prince of princes,
"But he will be broken without human agency.
All this accurately describes Antiochus IV Epiphanes, in his character and in his modus operandi.
And he died of a sudden malady. Ancient sources have somewhat diverse accounts of his fatal illness; what is agreed is that he met his end by a nonhuman agency.
(26)"The vision of the evenings and mornings
"Which has been told is true;
This vision is about the evenings and mornings, specifically, the evening and morning sacrifices.
"But keep the vision secret,
"For it pertains to many days in the future."
Daniel is told to not share this prophesy with his cohorts, for it will not come to pass for a long time.
(27) Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days.
This dream was so emotionally draining for Daniel in his old age, that he literally got sick from it, and had to take to his bed for several days.
Then I got up again and carried on the king's business;
He was still in the employ of King Belshazzar, even if this king didn't pay any attention to him, and hadn't even met him yet (see 5: 16).
but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to explain it.
This dream overwhelmed him emotionally, and since he was the one who had the gift of interpreting dreams, there wasn't anyone else he could ask for help with it anyway, even if he hadn't been warned to keep it secret.
This revelation about Antiochus IV Epiphanes shows that this "monster" is only a foreshadowing of the "antichrist" who will appear on the world scene to force satanic attitudes and rituals on the populace as leader of the one-world government that every despot has desired to rule. This man will succeed in the power of the dragon (Revelation 13: 1-18), but only for a very short time.
O my Father, thank You for telling us what to expect. We see the world around us, we see what our national leaders are doing, and how the press misrepresents what is real. It looks like the truth has been cast to the ground, and is being trampled upon.
But, Father, Your Truth is what sets us free! We live, not to be enslaved by a tyrant, but to know true liberty in Christ. Even if we are to sit in a prison, we will still be free in You.
O Father, strengthen Your children, send us out to broadcast Your Truth and Your love and compassion to every nation. Let every living person hear and understand how You have loved all of us, and have used all the choices and decisions of all Your created beings to bring about what You have planned before time.
My Father, please let us be Your hands and feet to bring every inquiring mind to the knowledge of how You have done everything possible, and even impossible, to redeem us all, if we only will turn to You. Give understanding to every person, to bring Your children to the birth into Your family, and leave the rebels no excuse for refusing Your gracious, generous offer.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Friday, May 1, 2020
Daniel's Answer
Daniel 7: 15-28
Daniel has dreamed a vision, and it was a very involved and complicated revelation that he wrote down as soon as he woke up from it.
(15) "As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.
While he was still in the dream, he was extremely upset by what he was shown.
(16) "I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:
So he turned to one of those who were standing by and asked for an explanation of what it was all supposed to be about. And he got the answer.
(17)'These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the Earth.
(18) 'But the saints of the Highest One will receive the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom forever, for all ages to come.'
The angel summarized the whole dream very succinctly. He didn't waste any words.
(19) "Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet,
(20) "and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates.
Daniel asked specifically about that strange and frightening fourth beast, and the details concerning its horns that acted so strangely.
(21) "I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them
He just couldn't understand how some human person would be allowed to war against and overpower God's own saints! This was extremely distressing.
(22) "until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the Kingdom.
And then the divine judgments and reapportionment of the power ...
(23)"Thus he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the Earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole Earth and tread it down and crush it.
The angel answers his question, this fourth kingdom will be unlike any other, its government will be run differently from how governing has always been done before, it will be new. But its influence will extend into the whole world and undue and destroy the ancient traditions of all the nations.
(24) 'As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise, and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.
Out of this worldly cultural influence will come a confederation of ten powers. After the confederation of these ten, some inconsequential upstart comes on the scene, and maneuvers to obtain so much political power that he takes over three of these kings, and the rest of them are forced to go along with him.
(25) 'He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
This sounds like the "antichrist," the "man of sin," the "beast," "that Wicked [one]," who is described in I John 2: 18, 22; II Thessalonians 2: 1-12; and Revelation 13: 1-18.
We learn here that he will speak out against the Most High, which is "anti-Christ," against our Lord Jesus Christ. He will wear down the people of God, the people who want to do right; he will whittle them down little by little with constant wearing, like wearing out a pair of shoes, over time.
And he will try to change the way we measure time itself, and our very concept of the purpose of law.
(26) 'But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.
When he faces judgment, all his power will be stripped from him, and done away with permanently.
(27) 'Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole Heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His Kingdom will be an everlasting Kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.'
After that, then all the glory, all the riches, all the majesty and power of every king who ever reigned will be presented to the people who will live under the rule of the Resurrected saints of the Highest One, who is our Lord Jesus Christ, Messiah, Redeemer, sovereign King. And this eternal Kingdom will never end.
This is showing that we, as God's saints, will be sitting with King Jesus on His throne just as He sits with the Father on His throne! We are His children, His own family. So we have a lot to look forward to.
(28) "At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself."
This is the whole dream. He woke up at this point. He was still so upset and unsettled that he was physically affected. He may have even been ill for some days in his terror. He knew it was real, that's what made it so scary and frightening, because he knew it would really happen.
And we also can know that it will really happen. It may be starting to happen even now, today.
With the governments doing what they are doing and the environmental pollution and human disregard that has decimated the crops and forests and water supply; and now this plague, this pestilence that has become a pandemic over the whole world; it looks, to me, at least, like what the first four Seals and the first three Trumpets reveal in Revelation 6: 1-6; and 8: 7-11.
But we don't have to be afraid. Jesus said to not fear, because He is with us. Even when we see people falling all around us, God's wrath will not touch us, because the wrath we deserve was put on Jesus on the Cross.
Just as the Psalmist said, "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked" (Psalm 91: 7-8 KJV).
God has given us the whole story of Mankind, from before the beginning to after the end, in the 66 books of Scripture. It's all one story. And the Star of the Show is Jesus, the Lord God Almighty.
He created mankind to be His own children, to be the body of Christ to do His work in all the Universes He wants to build in all of future eternity. So He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance, and admit they are the criminals who deserve execution, and let Jesus take their death on the Cross as the Lamb of God (II Peter: 3: 9).
O my Father, You are so good! And You are so good to us! You want to lavish Your bountiful blessings on us, even more than we can hold! Your Love is unconditional, because You love what You made, especially us, as the pinnacle of Your Creation! Your own children!
O Father, please send us out, to broadcast Your Word to every nation of the world, that all who are seeking You will hear of Your Love and be able to turn to You through Your Son. Draw all of Your embryonic children to the birth into Your family, Father, and use our hands and feet to do your work. Fill Your great House with Your uncountable family, to surround Your great Banquet Table, having sweet fellowship with You and one another for all eternity!
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Daniel has dreamed a vision, and it was a very involved and complicated revelation that he wrote down as soon as he woke up from it.
(15) "As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.
While he was still in the dream, he was extremely upset by what he was shown.
(16) "I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things:
So he turned to one of those who were standing by and asked for an explanation of what it was all supposed to be about. And he got the answer.
(17)'These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the Earth.
(18) 'But the saints of the Highest One will receive the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom forever, for all ages to come.'
The angel summarized the whole dream very succinctly. He didn't waste any words.
(19) "Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet,
(20) "and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates.
Daniel asked specifically about that strange and frightening fourth beast, and the details concerning its horns that acted so strangely.
(21) "I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them
He just couldn't understand how some human person would be allowed to war against and overpower God's own saints! This was extremely distressing.
(22) "until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the Kingdom.
And then the divine judgments and reapportionment of the power ...
(23)"Thus he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the Earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole Earth and tread it down and crush it.
The angel answers his question, this fourth kingdom will be unlike any other, its government will be run differently from how governing has always been done before, it will be new. But its influence will extend into the whole world and undue and destroy the ancient traditions of all the nations.
(24) 'As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise, and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.
Out of this worldly cultural influence will come a confederation of ten powers. After the confederation of these ten, some inconsequential upstart comes on the scene, and maneuvers to obtain so much political power that he takes over three of these kings, and the rest of them are forced to go along with him.
(25) 'He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
This sounds like the "antichrist," the "man of sin," the "beast," "that Wicked [one]," who is described in I John 2: 18, 22; II Thessalonians 2: 1-12; and Revelation 13: 1-18.
We learn here that he will speak out against the Most High, which is "anti-Christ," against our Lord Jesus Christ. He will wear down the people of God, the people who want to do right; he will whittle them down little by little with constant wearing, like wearing out a pair of shoes, over time.
And he will try to change the way we measure time itself, and our very concept of the purpose of law.
(26) 'But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.
When he faces judgment, all his power will be stripped from him, and done away with permanently.
(27) 'Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole Heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His Kingdom will be an everlasting Kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.'
After that, then all the glory, all the riches, all the majesty and power of every king who ever reigned will be presented to the people who will live under the rule of the Resurrected saints of the Highest One, who is our Lord Jesus Christ, Messiah, Redeemer, sovereign King. And this eternal Kingdom will never end.
This is showing that we, as God's saints, will be sitting with King Jesus on His throne just as He sits with the Father on His throne! We are His children, His own family. So we have a lot to look forward to.
(28) "At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself."
This is the whole dream. He woke up at this point. He was still so upset and unsettled that he was physically affected. He may have even been ill for some days in his terror. He knew it was real, that's what made it so scary and frightening, because he knew it would really happen.
And we also can know that it will really happen. It may be starting to happen even now, today.
With the governments doing what they are doing and the environmental pollution and human disregard that has decimated the crops and forests and water supply; and now this plague, this pestilence that has become a pandemic over the whole world; it looks, to me, at least, like what the first four Seals and the first three Trumpets reveal in Revelation 6: 1-6; and 8: 7-11.
But we don't have to be afraid. Jesus said to not fear, because He is with us. Even when we see people falling all around us, God's wrath will not touch us, because the wrath we deserve was put on Jesus on the Cross.
Just as the Psalmist said, "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked" (Psalm 91: 7-8 KJV).
God has given us the whole story of Mankind, from before the beginning to after the end, in the 66 books of Scripture. It's all one story. And the Star of the Show is Jesus, the Lord God Almighty.
He created mankind to be His own children, to be the body of Christ to do His work in all the Universes He wants to build in all of future eternity. So He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance, and admit they are the criminals who deserve execution, and let Jesus take their death on the Cross as the Lamb of God (II Peter: 3: 9).
O my Father, You are so good! And You are so good to us! You want to lavish Your bountiful blessings on us, even more than we can hold! Your Love is unconditional, because You love what You made, especially us, as the pinnacle of Your Creation! Your own children!
O Father, please send us out, to broadcast Your Word to every nation of the world, that all who are seeking You will hear of Your Love and be able to turn to You through Your Son. Draw all of Your embryonic children to the birth into Your family, Father, and use our hands and feet to do your work. Fill Your great House with Your uncountable family, to surround Your great Banquet Table, having sweet fellowship with You and one another for all eternity!
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Daniel's First Vision
My study of this passage took a longer time than usual, but I wanted to be sure to give you the best blog entry I could.
Also, I want to share with you dear readers, that I have put I Corinthians into a 40-day study, and have published it on Amazon. Since this epistle appears to be like a constitution for the Christian faith, I want to market my first book to those who have a religion with no power, as I grew up with, so I have titled it, "Why Christianity Isn't Working For You." I would encourage you to go to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086XHFFJL to download it or purchase the paperback for your personal study to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And please go back and give me an honest review. Thank you.
Daniel 7: 1-14
Now that Daniel is retired, he's going back to some writings he did to put them all in order.
(1) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it.
He says back when Belshazzar was king, Daniel had a dream and wrote it down then, when he woke up. Now he's going back to it to lay it all out.
(2) Daniel said, "I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.
The "four winds of heaven" are mentioned also in Revelation 7:1, where four angels are holding them back so they won't blow. Here Daniel sees them blowing and stirring up the sea. This is probably the Mediterranean Sea, and it represents the ever-changing Gentile world.
(3) "And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.
From this sea of nations are emerging in succession four fearsome beasts, that correspond to Nebuchadnezzar's dream statue (in chapter 2).
(4) "The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it.
The lion corresponds to the golden head of the statue, which represented Nebuchadnezzar. The wings being plucked and dropping him to the ground would refer to his period of insanity, when he was then "lifted up" and given back his mind and his majesty (in chapter 4).
(5) "And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much meat!'
This second beast would correspond to the silver chest and arms of the dream statue, the "raised up on one side" would indicate the alliance of two powers, one stronger than the other. This describes the Medo-Persian Empire, the Persian element dominating the Median. The three ribs that it was encouraged to feast on correspond to the three major conquests the Medes and Persians made: the Lydian kingdom in Asia Minor (which fell to Cyrus in 546), the Chaldean Empire (which he annexed in 539), and the kingdom of Egypt (which Cambyses acquired in 525).
(6) "After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, 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.
The third beast would correspond to the bronze hips and thighs of the statue, and it has four wings and four heads. This represents Alexander the Great and his conquests being divided among his four generals. This Greco-Macedonian Empire was the largest empire of ancient times, and it lasted about 300 years.
(7) "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
This fourth beast kept his fascination for its complexity. It was terrifying in its power and ferocity with its "large iron teeth," to be more crushing in its military power, exploitation, and repression than the other three. It "trampled down" everything that was left, whatever survived the other three empires.
This beast was nothing like any of the others that went before, and unlike any predator known to natural history. And it had ten horns; these correspond to the ten toes on the feet of the statue.
(8) "While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.
This looks like some inconsequential upstart that grows in political power and authority to destroy three of the ten in the federation of powers, and is a man who lives "bigger than life" with a huge ego.
(9) "I kept looking
"Until thrones were set up,
"And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
"His vesture was like white snow
"And the hair of His head like pure wool.
"His throne was ablaze with flames,
"Its wheels were a burning fire.
(10) "A river of fire was flowing
"And coming out from before Him;
"Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,
"And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
Daniel kept watching until the Ancient of Days appears, and this looks just like what Ezekiel saw in his vision in chapter 1 of his book; and also John saw and recorded in Revelation 1: 13-16.
"The court sat,
"And the books were opened.
This looks like what will transpire as the King over all Creation sets up His Kingdom on the Earth, when the "stone was cut out of the mountain without hands" and it crushed and destroyed all the governments that went before it (Daniel 2: 45). We see also in Revelation 19 and 20 the thousand-year Golden Age of the world, and the final end of the Earth and judgment of all.
(11) "Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.
Daniel saw that this boastful egotist is still running his mouth, until he is finally destroyed (Revelation 19: 20).
(12) "As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.
The remnants of the world powers that will precede the final Last Days will come under judgment. Then follow these curious words, that an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. There is no agreed idea of what this might mean among theologians.
I, like Daniel, am perplexed, I also have questions that have not been answered yet. (But I'm not distressed in not knowing, I trust God has it all in hand!)
(13) "I kept looking in the night visions,
"And behold, with the clouds of Heaven
"One like a Son of Man was coming,
This is the only place in the whole Old Testament where the term "Son of Man" is used of a divine personage rather than a human being. Jesus used this term for Himself more often than any other. And coming "with clouds" describes how His second coming will appear (Mark 13: 26; Matthew 24: 30; 26:64; also Revelation 1: 7). Frequently in the Old Testament God is said to come from Heaven in a chariot of clouds to execute judgment (Psalms 18:10; 97: 2-4; 104: 3; Isaiah 19: 1; Nahum 1: 3).
"And He came up to the Ancient of Days
"And was presented before Him.
This looks like an official, ritualistic process of coming before a monarch. Since Jesus is our Lord God Almighty, the Most High God, and I John 4: 12 says that "No one has seen God [the Father] at any time," I take this "presentation" as an official joining of the human Jesus (Son of Man) with the divine Christ the Lord (Ancient of Days), the True God and True Man who is our Savior and Redeemer and King.
(14) "And to Him was given dominion,
"Glory and a Kingdom,
"That all the peoples, Nations and men of every language
"Might serve Him.
"His dominion is an everlasting dominion
"Which will not pass away;
"And His Kingdom is one
"Which will not be destroyed."
Here Daniel was shown that the final Kingdom that is headed by our Lord God Himself will never end or be destroyed or superceded by any other forever!
O my Father, You have planned out everything before You ever made anything! That's why You could tell Daniel way back so long ago what will be happening in the world even today.
We are seeing today how our past history has borne out the fulfillment of most of what You told Daniel, and he faithfully recorded for us to read today.
Now we are living through the Last Days of all that You revealed here, so that we could be prepared to face what is coming upon us in these days. Please help us understand what we are seeing in the world in the light You have given us in Your written Word. Let us recognize Your hand in all that is transpiring before our very eyes!
O Father, strengthen us to rely only on You in these days that are coming and that are upon us already. Give us understanding of Your care for us through the even more difficult times that will come. Draw us into Your strong and gentle arms of compassion and protection, Abba Daddy, as we curl up in Your lap!
Show us how to reach out to others who are hurting around us, to help them to know Your great Love and compassion, to rescue and redeem all of Your children. And deprive all those who refuse Your gracious and generous offer of any excuse at all for their rebellion.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Most High, Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, please come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Also, I want to share with you dear readers, that I have put I Corinthians into a 40-day study, and have published it on Amazon. Since this epistle appears to be like a constitution for the Christian faith, I want to market my first book to those who have a religion with no power, as I grew up with, so I have titled it, "Why Christianity Isn't Working For You." I would encourage you to go to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086XHFFJL to download it or purchase the paperback for your personal study to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And please go back and give me an honest review. Thank you.
Daniel 7: 1-14
Now that Daniel is retired, he's going back to some writings he did to put them all in order.
(1) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it.
He says back when Belshazzar was king, Daniel had a dream and wrote it down then, when he woke up. Now he's going back to it to lay it all out.
(2) Daniel said, "I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.
The "four winds of heaven" are mentioned also in Revelation 7:1, where four angels are holding them back so they won't blow. Here Daniel sees them blowing and stirring up the sea. This is probably the Mediterranean Sea, and it represents the ever-changing Gentile world.
(3) "And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.
From this sea of nations are emerging in succession four fearsome beasts, that correspond to Nebuchadnezzar's dream statue (in chapter 2).
(4) "The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it.
The lion corresponds to the golden head of the statue, which represented Nebuchadnezzar. The wings being plucked and dropping him to the ground would refer to his period of insanity, when he was then "lifted up" and given back his mind and his majesty (in chapter 4).
(5) "And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much meat!'
This second beast would correspond to the silver chest and arms of the dream statue, the "raised up on one side" would indicate the alliance of two powers, one stronger than the other. This describes the Medo-Persian Empire, the Persian element dominating the Median. The three ribs that it was encouraged to feast on correspond to the three major conquests the Medes and Persians made: the Lydian kingdom in Asia Minor (which fell to Cyrus in 546), the Chaldean Empire (which he annexed in 539), and the kingdom of Egypt (which Cambyses acquired in 525).
(6) "After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, 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.
The third beast would correspond to the bronze hips and thighs of the statue, and it has four wings and four heads. This represents Alexander the Great and his conquests being divided among his four generals. This Greco-Macedonian Empire was the largest empire of ancient times, and it lasted about 300 years.
(7) "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
This fourth beast kept his fascination for its complexity. It was terrifying in its power and ferocity with its "large iron teeth," to be more crushing in its military power, exploitation, and repression than the other three. It "trampled down" everything that was left, whatever survived the other three empires.
This beast was nothing like any of the others that went before, and unlike any predator known to natural history. And it had ten horns; these correspond to the ten toes on the feet of the statue.
(8) "While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.
This looks like some inconsequential upstart that grows in political power and authority to destroy three of the ten in the federation of powers, and is a man who lives "bigger than life" with a huge ego.
(9) "I kept looking
"Until thrones were set up,
"And the Ancient of Days took His seat;
"His vesture was like white snow
"And the hair of His head like pure wool.
"His throne was ablaze with flames,
"Its wheels were a burning fire.
(10) "A river of fire was flowing
"And coming out from before Him;
"Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,
"And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;
Daniel kept watching until the Ancient of Days appears, and this looks just like what Ezekiel saw in his vision in chapter 1 of his book; and also John saw and recorded in Revelation 1: 13-16.
"The court sat,
"And the books were opened.
This looks like what will transpire as the King over all Creation sets up His Kingdom on the Earth, when the "stone was cut out of the mountain without hands" and it crushed and destroyed all the governments that went before it (Daniel 2: 45). We see also in Revelation 19 and 20 the thousand-year Golden Age of the world, and the final end of the Earth and judgment of all.
(11) "Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.
Daniel saw that this boastful egotist is still running his mouth, until he is finally destroyed (Revelation 19: 20).
(12) "As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time.
The remnants of the world powers that will precede the final Last Days will come under judgment. Then follow these curious words, that an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. There is no agreed idea of what this might mean among theologians.
I, like Daniel, am perplexed, I also have questions that have not been answered yet. (But I'm not distressed in not knowing, I trust God has it all in hand!)
(13) "I kept looking in the night visions,
"And behold, with the clouds of Heaven
"One like a Son of Man was coming,
This is the only place in the whole Old Testament where the term "Son of Man" is used of a divine personage rather than a human being. Jesus used this term for Himself more often than any other. And coming "with clouds" describes how His second coming will appear (Mark 13: 26; Matthew 24: 30; 26:64; also Revelation 1: 7). Frequently in the Old Testament God is said to come from Heaven in a chariot of clouds to execute judgment (Psalms 18:10; 97: 2-4; 104: 3; Isaiah 19: 1; Nahum 1: 3).
"And He came up to the Ancient of Days
"And was presented before Him.
This looks like an official, ritualistic process of coming before a monarch. Since Jesus is our Lord God Almighty, the Most High God, and I John 4: 12 says that "No one has seen God [the Father] at any time," I take this "presentation" as an official joining of the human Jesus (Son of Man) with the divine Christ the Lord (Ancient of Days), the True God and True Man who is our Savior and Redeemer and King.
(14) "And to Him was given dominion,
"Glory and a Kingdom,
"That all the peoples, Nations and men of every language
"Might serve Him.
"His dominion is an everlasting dominion
"Which will not pass away;
"And His Kingdom is one
"Which will not be destroyed."
Here Daniel was shown that the final Kingdom that is headed by our Lord God Himself will never end or be destroyed or superceded by any other forever!
O my Father, You have planned out everything before You ever made anything! That's why You could tell Daniel way back so long ago what will be happening in the world even today.
We are seeing today how our past history has borne out the fulfillment of most of what You told Daniel, and he faithfully recorded for us to read today.
Now we are living through the Last Days of all that You revealed here, so that we could be prepared to face what is coming upon us in these days. Please help us understand what we are seeing in the world in the light You have given us in Your written Word. Let us recognize Your hand in all that is transpiring before our very eyes!
O Father, strengthen us to rely only on You in these days that are coming and that are upon us already. Give us understanding of Your care for us through the even more difficult times that will come. Draw us into Your strong and gentle arms of compassion and protection, Abba Daddy, as we curl up in Your lap!
Show us how to reach out to others who are hurting around us, to help them to know Your great Love and compassion, to rescue and redeem all of Your children. And deprive all those who refuse Your gracious and generous offer of any excuse at all for their rebellion.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Most High, Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, please come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
The Lions' Den
Daniel 6: 16-28
We saw yesterday how Daniel's co-workers were jealous of his abilities, and feared that he would overshadow them, so they forced the king's hand to get rid if him, and thought they'd won.
(16) Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions' den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you."
This king Darius already realized how valuable Daniel was as an employee, a high official over a third of his domain. And he knew that Daniel depended on his God to help him. So, even if Darius didn't believe in God, he knew that Daniel did, and he voiced his tremulous hope.
But he still had to have him thrown into the lions' den, at about the age of eighty three.
(17) A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.
Then when the stone was laid over the mouth of the cave, moist clay tablets were attached to the chains holding the stone in place, into which the king and the nobles rolled their cylindrical seals to make it official.
(18) Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.
Darius walked back to his palace a troubled man. Where could he find another minister of such integrity and judgment? The more he thought about Daniel's peril, the more anxious Darius became. He couldn't eat anything, and couldn't abide by any kind of entertainment at all. Then he tossed and turned in his bed, and never did get to sleep at all.
(19) Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions' den.
Finally, at the first grey light of dawn, without eating breakfast, he rushed back to the lions' pit.
(20) When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?"
He must have already ordered for it to be unsealed, for by the time he got there, he immediately called to Daniel, hoping against hope for an answer. His emphasis on Daniel's God being "living" would mean that if He really existed, then He would be able to rescue Daniel. Unless He was just another unproved supposition, like all the deities everyone else worshiped. This would be the test.
(21) Then Daniel spoke to the king, "O king, live forever!
Then Daniel answered--he was alive!
(22) "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime."
Daniel testified that God had vindicated him as innocent before both God and man, proving that God is real.
(23) Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted his God.
Then Darius was so relieved, he could breathe again! So he had Daniel lifted out of the den and examined thoroughly for any injuries. Not a scratch was found on him. The evidence was incontrovertible: the God Daniel had remained faithful to had kept him safe.
So through his reliance on Yahweh, Daniel introduced his king to his God, and gained his place among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11: 33.
(24) The king gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the lions' den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
Then God caused the weapon that they had fashioned against Daniel to be turned upon his accusers (Isaiah 54: 17).
They had no scruples against disposing of their whole families, so there would be no avengers to rise up and cause any problems later. And the starved lions made quick work of them all.
(25) Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land: "May your peace abound!
Now Darius, like Nebuchadnezzar, wrote to the whole world that was known in that day. Every people group, every nation, every language everywhere.
(26) "I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel;
He is commanding everyone to honor and respect Daniel's God.
"For He is the living God and enduring forever,
He had to be alive to do what He did, so His life must last forever.
"And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
He is not human, so no human could replace Him or destroy His rule.
"And His dominion will be forever.
God's rule is eternal and will never pass away, as do empires built by human power.
(27) "He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders
"In Heaven and on Earth,
Daniel's God is alive and shows that He lives by the way He acts in history, responding like a real Person, to the requirements of justice and the needs of His people.
"Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."
And God miraculously rescues His true worshipers, performing wonders both in Heaven and on Earth. He has furnished objective proof of His eternal power and Godhead, in contrast with all other deities, whose existence is at best conjectural and traditional.
And God once again encourages His people, as He prepares them to return to their own land soon. He is still the same God that He was in the days of Moses, and He will again bring His people back home.
(28) So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel's position as Prime Minister was now secure, and he apparently continued in it until his retirement a few years later.
Darius was a Mede, and he "received" the royal authority (5: 31), as from one who was empowered to invest him with it, presumably, Cyrus the Persian.
"Darius" may not have been his personal name, but rather a title of honor, as "Caesar" became in the Roman Empire later. He could have been Gubaru, Cyrus' trusted general who he appointed official viceroy of the Medo-Persian Empire, the honorific title of "Dara" ("king" in Avestan Persian) from the Old Persian, "Darayavahush" ("The Royal One") being applied to him.
Daniel 9: 1 states that he "was made ruler" (Hebrew: homlak) over the realm of the Chaldeans, a term never applied to one who seizes the sovereignty by force of arms but rather to one who is appointed to kingship by a higher authority.
It would seem that after he had taken care of more pressing concerns elsewhere, Cyrus himself later returned to Babylon and formally ascended the throne in an official coronation ceremony. It was in the third year of Cyrus' reign, presumably as king of Babylon, that Daniel received the revelations in chapters 10-12.
Yet it is also evident from cuneiform records that Gubaru continued to serve as governor of Babylon even after Cyrus' decease.
So Daniel served Darius and Cyrus, who may have both been reigning concurrently, with Darius subordinate to Cyrus.
After this, Daniel apparently retired again from public service and gave himself to Bible study and prayer and writing.
O my Father, please help Your children to trust You like Daniel trusted You even when he was thrown into a den full of lions and sealed in all night. We don't see him resisting, and we see You using him even in his old age, in serving in an official capacity, then retiring to seek You even more with his increased available time.
And You honored Daniel, and blessed him with years and service and usefulness, and You used his testimony and his witness in the lives of several kings, pagan kings who were able to know you through him.
O Father, help Your children today to seek you as single-mindedly as Daniel did. Honor Your sons and daughters who are immersing themselves in Your word, and use them (us) as Your witnesses to the ungodly world around us, our lives and testimonies revealing You and Your ways to them.
Father, grow Your children, and grow Your family, so we will grow up into the full stature of the Son of God. Enable us to broadcast to every living person how much You love each one of us all, and bring your gestational ones to the birth into Your own family, and let none of the rebels have any excuse for refusing Your gracious, generous gift of Salvation and Redemption.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Son of the Father, the Most High God, Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
We saw yesterday how Daniel's co-workers were jealous of his abilities, and feared that he would overshadow them, so they forced the king's hand to get rid if him, and thought they'd won.
(16) Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions' den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you."
This king Darius already realized how valuable Daniel was as an employee, a high official over a third of his domain. And he knew that Daniel depended on his God to help him. So, even if Darius didn't believe in God, he knew that Daniel did, and he voiced his tremulous hope.
But he still had to have him thrown into the lions' den, at about the age of eighty three.
(17) A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.
Then when the stone was laid over the mouth of the cave, moist clay tablets were attached to the chains holding the stone in place, into which the king and the nobles rolled their cylindrical seals to make it official.
(18) Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.
Darius walked back to his palace a troubled man. Where could he find another minister of such integrity and judgment? The more he thought about Daniel's peril, the more anxious Darius became. He couldn't eat anything, and couldn't abide by any kind of entertainment at all. Then he tossed and turned in his bed, and never did get to sleep at all.
(19) Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions' den.
Finally, at the first grey light of dawn, without eating breakfast, he rushed back to the lions' pit.
(20) When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?"
He must have already ordered for it to be unsealed, for by the time he got there, he immediately called to Daniel, hoping against hope for an answer. His emphasis on Daniel's God being "living" would mean that if He really existed, then He would be able to rescue Daniel. Unless He was just another unproved supposition, like all the deities everyone else worshiped. This would be the test.
(21) Then Daniel spoke to the king, "O king, live forever!
Then Daniel answered--he was alive!
(22) "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime."
Daniel testified that God had vindicated him as innocent before both God and man, proving that God is real.
(23) Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted his God.
Then Darius was so relieved, he could breathe again! So he had Daniel lifted out of the den and examined thoroughly for any injuries. Not a scratch was found on him. The evidence was incontrovertible: the God Daniel had remained faithful to had kept him safe.
So through his reliance on Yahweh, Daniel introduced his king to his God, and gained his place among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11: 33.
(24) The king gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the lions' den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
Then God caused the weapon that they had fashioned against Daniel to be turned upon his accusers (Isaiah 54: 17).
They had no scruples against disposing of their whole families, so there would be no avengers to rise up and cause any problems later. And the starved lions made quick work of them all.
(25) Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language who were living in all the land: "May your peace abound!
Now Darius, like Nebuchadnezzar, wrote to the whole world that was known in that day. Every people group, every nation, every language everywhere.
(26) "I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel;
He is commanding everyone to honor and respect Daniel's God.
"For He is the living God and enduring forever,
He had to be alive to do what He did, so His life must last forever.
"And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed,
He is not human, so no human could replace Him or destroy His rule.
"And His dominion will be forever.
God's rule is eternal and will never pass away, as do empires built by human power.
(27) "He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders
"In Heaven and on Earth,
Daniel's God is alive and shows that He lives by the way He acts in history, responding like a real Person, to the requirements of justice and the needs of His people.
"Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."
And God miraculously rescues His true worshipers, performing wonders both in Heaven and on Earth. He has furnished objective proof of His eternal power and Godhead, in contrast with all other deities, whose existence is at best conjectural and traditional.
And God once again encourages His people, as He prepares them to return to their own land soon. He is still the same God that He was in the days of Moses, and He will again bring His people back home.
(28) So this Daniel enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel's position as Prime Minister was now secure, and he apparently continued in it until his retirement a few years later.
Darius was a Mede, and he "received" the royal authority (5: 31), as from one who was empowered to invest him with it, presumably, Cyrus the Persian.
"Darius" may not have been his personal name, but rather a title of honor, as "Caesar" became in the Roman Empire later. He could have been Gubaru, Cyrus' trusted general who he appointed official viceroy of the Medo-Persian Empire, the honorific title of "Dara" ("king" in Avestan Persian) from the Old Persian, "Darayavahush" ("The Royal One") being applied to him.
Daniel 9: 1 states that he "was made ruler" (Hebrew: homlak) over the realm of the Chaldeans, a term never applied to one who seizes the sovereignty by force of arms but rather to one who is appointed to kingship by a higher authority.
It would seem that after he had taken care of more pressing concerns elsewhere, Cyrus himself later returned to Babylon and formally ascended the throne in an official coronation ceremony. It was in the third year of Cyrus' reign, presumably as king of Babylon, that Daniel received the revelations in chapters 10-12.
Yet it is also evident from cuneiform records that Gubaru continued to serve as governor of Babylon even after Cyrus' decease.
So Daniel served Darius and Cyrus, who may have both been reigning concurrently, with Darius subordinate to Cyrus.
After this, Daniel apparently retired again from public service and gave himself to Bible study and prayer and writing.
O my Father, please help Your children to trust You like Daniel trusted You even when he was thrown into a den full of lions and sealed in all night. We don't see him resisting, and we see You using him even in his old age, in serving in an official capacity, then retiring to seek You even more with his increased available time.
And You honored Daniel, and blessed him with years and service and usefulness, and You used his testimony and his witness in the lives of several kings, pagan kings who were able to know you through him.
O Father, help Your children today to seek you as single-mindedly as Daniel did. Honor Your sons and daughters who are immersing themselves in Your word, and use them (us) as Your witnesses to the ungodly world around us, our lives and testimonies revealing You and Your ways to them.
Father, grow Your children, and grow Your family, so we will grow up into the full stature of the Son of God. Enable us to broadcast to every living person how much You love each one of us all, and bring your gestational ones to the birth into Your own family, and let none of the rebels have any excuse for refusing Your gracious, generous gift of Salvation and Redemption.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Son of the Father, the Most High God, Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Monday, April 27, 2020
Even When There's No Way Out
Daniel 6: 6-15
When Daniel's districts out-performed all the others, so that the king considered letting him have authority over all the rest, too; then the others were so jealous of him, and felt their power threatened, that they wanted to get rid of him.
(6) Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: "King Darius, live forever!
All these high appointed officials came by agreement, which means a conspiracy! Every time you see, by agreement, think, "conspiracy"! They have all conspired to trick the king into doing something that will make him destroy Daniel, and get him out of their way!
(7) "All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together
This is a lie, because "all" the commissioners weren't consulted! Daniel was a commissioner, too. They told the king that "all" his officials agreed.
that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions' den.
This would sound reasonable to this pagan king. This suggested mode would compel every subject in the former Chaldean domain to acknowledge the authority of Persia over them now. Purely political.
(8) "Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked."
(9) Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.
We learn here the rigidity of "the law of the Medes and Persians" that it was so indelible, that not even the king himself could change it once it had been signed. No mistakes allowed. No erasures. No changes at all. Ever.
(10) Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
Daniel's habit was to pray three times a day in fellowship with God, which gave him his advantage in wisdom. Even when he knew that this edict was in force, he couldn't give up his faith, knowing God as he did. So he courageously took the chance to maintain his daily routine.
(11) Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.
Here they are again by agreement carrying out their conspiracy. They knew about Daniel's schedule, so they were lying in wait, to catch him in prayer. I imagine them storming into his upstairs room to accost him like Nazi storm troopers!
Whether they arrested him then and there is not clear, but they did report immediately to the king.
(12) Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king's injunction, "Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions' den?" The king replied, "The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked."
First they made sure the king realized the full import of this rule, and that it was still in force.
(13) Then they answered and spoke before the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day."
They brought the same charge that had been brought against Daniel's friends years before, in 3:2, "[They] pay no attention to you, O king!"
They represented Daniel's praying as willful disrespect to his king, discounting his devotion to his God entirely.
(14) Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed
This is when he probably realized it was a plot they had devised specifically against Daniel. He was the only one who would be seriously affected by this edict, as everyone else were worshiping multiple gods, and it didn't matter if they left off a few for a short time.
and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him.
So he did his darndest to try to exempt Daniel; all day long he did everything he could to try to let him out of the requirement this law exerted.
(15) Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, "Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed."
Finally the conspirators confronted the king to force him to destroy Daniel. They made him follow through, forcing his hand. They had succeeded in getting rid of this outsider who threatened their political aspirations.
O my Father, You have said that "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper" (Isaiah 54: 17), and these men have decided to destroy Your witness to this empire and its king. They did not realize Your power, Father!
My Father, sometimes even Your own children aren't fully aware of Your great power in their own lives! We sometimes say, "Yes, He delivered from fire and lions and let a rock kill a giant, but I'm just little me, I'm no Daniel or David!"
Father, Daniel and Hananiah and Azariah and Mishael and David were only people, just like us! And You are still God! And even Peter walked on water, until he took his eyes off Jesus (Matthew 14: 29-30).
Help us to keep our eyes on You, Father, and trust You even when we don't see an out. Even when we can't figure how it could work out if we do it Your way, strengthen our trust in You to still obey and let You have the situation. Grow our faith, to be able to trust You, like Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael did when they said, "Even if He does not" deliver us, they were still willing to face the fire (3: 18).
And Daniel knew that he was vulnerable when he decided to continue to worship You. And he worshiped You anyway.
Father, help us to worship You by obeying Your will for us, whether it be in our emotions, or our thought life, or even in our finances. We are vulnerable to the enemy's lies that we "don't have enough" time or money or resources to share. You have promised us to give us everything we need, and You are our Source of everything, no matter what it is: health, time, money, food, emotional margin, whatever. We always have "enough" to give You Yours as well as help our family and neighbors with what they need, and still have enough for ourselves, too.
It's Your promise, and You always are true to Your Word!
And when we trust You even when we can't see, You grow our faith in meeting our needs and wants according to Your generosity from Your great treasures and riches in glory! (Philippians 4: 19).
O Father, You are good! And You are so good to us! You want to shower more blessings on us than we can hold! You lavish Your love upon us in more ways than we can imagine! Please open our eyes to see Your immensity in our daily lives!
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
When Daniel's districts out-performed all the others, so that the king considered letting him have authority over all the rest, too; then the others were so jealous of him, and felt their power threatened, that they wanted to get rid of him.
But he was so honest and ethical, there was nothing they could accuse him of to bring him down. The only thing they could think of was how he so irritatingly stuck to worshiping only his own God, and no other!
Ah-ha! Here's something he won't compromise on! Nothing wrong with it, but maybe they can think up something that will make it wrong ...?
(6) Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: "King Darius, live forever!
All these high appointed officials came by agreement, which means a conspiracy! Every time you see, by agreement, think, "conspiracy"! They have all conspired to trick the king into doing something that will make him destroy Daniel, and get him out of their way!
(7) "All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together
This is a lie, because "all" the commissioners weren't consulted! Daniel was a commissioner, too. They told the king that "all" his officials agreed.
that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions' den.
This would sound reasonable to this pagan king. This suggested mode would compel every subject in the former Chaldean domain to acknowledge the authority of Persia over them now. Purely political.
(8) "Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked."
(9) Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.
We learn here the rigidity of "the law of the Medes and Persians" that it was so indelible, that not even the king himself could change it once it had been signed. No mistakes allowed. No erasures. No changes at all. Ever.
(10) Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
Daniel's habit was to pray three times a day in fellowship with God, which gave him his advantage in wisdom. Even when he knew that this edict was in force, he couldn't give up his faith, knowing God as he did. So he courageously took the chance to maintain his daily routine.
(11) Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.
Here they are again by agreement carrying out their conspiracy. They knew about Daniel's schedule, so they were lying in wait, to catch him in prayer. I imagine them storming into his upstairs room to accost him like Nazi storm troopers!
Whether they arrested him then and there is not clear, but they did report immediately to the king.
(12) Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king's injunction, "Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions' den?" The king replied, "The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked."
First they made sure the king realized the full import of this rule, and that it was still in force.
(13) Then they answered and spoke before the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you signed, but keeps making his petition three times a day."
They brought the same charge that had been brought against Daniel's friends years before, in 3:2, "[They] pay no attention to you, O king!"
They represented Daniel's praying as willful disrespect to his king, discounting his devotion to his God entirely.
(14) Then, as soon as the king heard this statement, he was deeply distressed
This is when he probably realized it was a plot they had devised specifically against Daniel. He was the only one who would be seriously affected by this edict, as everyone else were worshiping multiple gods, and it didn't matter if they left off a few for a short time.
and set his mind on delivering Daniel; and even until sunset he kept exerting himself to rescue him.
So he did his darndest to try to exempt Daniel; all day long he did everything he could to try to let him out of the requirement this law exerted.
(15) Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, "Recognize, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be changed."
Finally the conspirators confronted the king to force him to destroy Daniel. They made him follow through, forcing his hand. They had succeeded in getting rid of this outsider who threatened their political aspirations.
O my Father, You have said that "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper" (Isaiah 54: 17), and these men have decided to destroy Your witness to this empire and its king. They did not realize Your power, Father!
My Father, sometimes even Your own children aren't fully aware of Your great power in their own lives! We sometimes say, "Yes, He delivered from fire and lions and let a rock kill a giant, but I'm just little me, I'm no Daniel or David!"
Father, Daniel and Hananiah and Azariah and Mishael and David were only people, just like us! And You are still God! And even Peter walked on water, until he took his eyes off Jesus (Matthew 14: 29-30).
Help us to keep our eyes on You, Father, and trust You even when we don't see an out. Even when we can't figure how it could work out if we do it Your way, strengthen our trust in You to still obey and let You have the situation. Grow our faith, to be able to trust You, like Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael did when they said, "Even if He does not" deliver us, they were still willing to face the fire (3: 18).
And Daniel knew that he was vulnerable when he decided to continue to worship You. And he worshiped You anyway.
Father, help us to worship You by obeying Your will for us, whether it be in our emotions, or our thought life, or even in our finances. We are vulnerable to the enemy's lies that we "don't have enough" time or money or resources to share. You have promised us to give us everything we need, and You are our Source of everything, no matter what it is: health, time, money, food, emotional margin, whatever. We always have "enough" to give You Yours as well as help our family and neighbors with what they need, and still have enough for ourselves, too.
It's Your promise, and You always are true to Your Word!
And when we trust You even when we can't see, You grow our faith in meeting our needs and wants according to Your generosity from Your great treasures and riches in glory! (Philippians 4: 19).
O Father, You are good! And You are so good to us! You want to shower more blessings on us than we can hold! You lavish Your love upon us in more ways than we can imagine! Please open our eyes to see Your immensity in our daily lives!
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Known To Be Faithful
Daniel 6: 1-5
We now have a change of administration in Babylon. Darius has conquered the capital city, and Belshazzar has lost the kingdom of his father Nabonidus.
Now Darius needs to establish his government.
(1) It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom,
So he's appointing district governors to administer the king's edicts over the various areas under his control.
(2) and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss.
And over these 120 satraps he set up three emirs or presidents, so that the order of authority would be orderly. And Daniel, even in his eighties, came out of retirement and became one of these emirs.
(3) Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.
Now the presence of God with Daniel helped him to make extraordinarily wise decisions on behalf of his satraps under him, and King Darius is noticing the difference of how much better his districts are doing, and is considering giving him authority to also administer the whole kingdom.
(4) Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs;
The other officials are noticing, too, and they are jealous of Daniel. They know they can't compare with his wisdom, so they want to get rid of him.
(Sounds like stuff that's going on politically today! People never change.)
but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.
Oh-oh, there wasn't anything wrong with any of his methods or dealings, what can they do to bring him down?
(Today they just make something up!)
(5) Then these men said, "We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God."
They knew that he was a Jew and would not compromise his faithfulness to his God. Even though he'd lived his whole adult life immersed in the idolatry of the society in Babylon, he had never wavered in his faith.
Can people say the same about us? Even when we aren't as engulfed with the worldly culture we live in as Daniel was, are we as faithful as he was, and known to be? Do our neighbors even know that we're Christians?
Have we been neighborly enough to let them know who we are, and that we are willing to help when needed? This is more necessary now than ever before. Many people today do not even know who their neighbors are!
If your church is broadcasting services online, have you shared this with your neighbor? Or with anyone else? (Mine is, and has been for several years already, so they have a head-start with all that is going on now; it's at fcfamily.org and they broadcast live on Sunday mornings at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 Central Time USA, or replay the recording on-demand.)
We as God's children are called to be Jesus' witnesses, to tell others what He has done for us. Every Christian should do the work of an evangelist, even if they don't think they have the gift of evangelism (in II Timothy 4: 5, Paul tells Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist" even though his gift was to be a pastor).
Jesus leaves us here after He saves us as His witnesses so that we will do His work, until His Return. He wants to build His Kingdom, both qualitatively and quantitatively--both in maturity and in numbers.
O my Father, please help us to be good children in Your royal family. Help us to help one another, and to love one another as You have loved us.
Send us out, Father, into all the nations of the world, casting abroad Your good seed of the Gospel, so that every living person will hear clearly to understand how much You love us all, and sent Your own Son to be our Savior and Redeemer.
Bring all of Your children to birth into Your family, Father, and fill Your great house with Your uncountable children; surround Your Great Banquet Table with Your chosen ones, to all enjoy eternal fellowship with You and with one another.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
We now have a change of administration in Babylon. Darius has conquered the capital city, and Belshazzar has lost the kingdom of his father Nabonidus.
Now Darius needs to establish his government.
(1) It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in charge of the whole kingdom,
So he's appointing district governors to administer the king's edicts over the various areas under his control.
(2) and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss.
And over these 120 satraps he set up three emirs or presidents, so that the order of authority would be orderly. And Daniel, even in his eighties, came out of retirement and became one of these emirs.
(3) Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.
Now the presence of God with Daniel helped him to make extraordinarily wise decisions on behalf of his satraps under him, and King Darius is noticing the difference of how much better his districts are doing, and is considering giving him authority to also administer the whole kingdom.
(4) Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs;
The other officials are noticing, too, and they are jealous of Daniel. They know they can't compare with his wisdom, so they want to get rid of him.
(Sounds like stuff that's going on politically today! People never change.)
but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.
Oh-oh, there wasn't anything wrong with any of his methods or dealings, what can they do to bring him down?
(Today they just make something up!)
(5) Then these men said, "We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God."
They knew that he was a Jew and would not compromise his faithfulness to his God. Even though he'd lived his whole adult life immersed in the idolatry of the society in Babylon, he had never wavered in his faith.
Can people say the same about us? Even when we aren't as engulfed with the worldly culture we live in as Daniel was, are we as faithful as he was, and known to be? Do our neighbors even know that we're Christians?
Have we been neighborly enough to let them know who we are, and that we are willing to help when needed? This is more necessary now than ever before. Many people today do not even know who their neighbors are!
If your church is broadcasting services online, have you shared this with your neighbor? Or with anyone else? (Mine is, and has been for several years already, so they have a head-start with all that is going on now; it's at fcfamily.org and they broadcast live on Sunday mornings at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 Central Time USA, or replay the recording on-demand.)
We as God's children are called to be Jesus' witnesses, to tell others what He has done for us. Every Christian should do the work of an evangelist, even if they don't think they have the gift of evangelism (in II Timothy 4: 5, Paul tells Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist" even though his gift was to be a pastor).
Jesus leaves us here after He saves us as His witnesses so that we will do His work, until His Return. He wants to build His Kingdom, both qualitatively and quantitatively--both in maturity and in numbers.
O my Father, please help us to be good children in Your royal family. Help us to help one another, and to love one another as You have loved us.
Send us out, Father, into all the nations of the world, casting abroad Your good seed of the Gospel, so that every living person will hear clearly to understand how much You love us all, and sent Your own Son to be our Savior and Redeemer.
Bring all of Your children to birth into Your family, Father, and fill Your great house with Your uncountable children; surround Your Great Banquet Table with Your chosen ones, to all enjoy eternal fellowship with You and with one another.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, April 25, 2020
He Should Have Known Better!
Daniel 5: 13-31
King Belshazzar, the son of Nabonidus who had claimed the throne through his marriage to Nebuchadnezzar's daughter, had been left in Babylon to insure order and safety while his father fought battles elsewhere.
Even while Cyrus' army was besieging the city, they knew that the fortifications could not be breached, so they ignored it, having several years provisions stored up for just such a time; and Belshazzar was having a party.
But he brought in the gold vessels from Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, and mocked the Lord God by drinking wine in them and praising the gods of Babylon.
Then the hand wrote the words that no one could read (see yesterday).
(13) Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my [grand]father the king brought from Judah?
Belshazzar has never even met Daniel before this.
(14) "Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you.
He has only heard about him, but never saw his face before now.
(15) "Just now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not declare the interpretation of the message.
(16) "But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Now if you are able
Okay, he's heard about Daniel, that he is able. But then says, if you are able. He is still skeptical of this old man.
to read the inscription and make its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom."
And he makes the same promise he gave the rest of the wise men.
(17) Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else;
Daniel doesn't want any of this falderal.
however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him.
He is willing to give God's message to this foolish monarch. But he will first review some of this king's own history.
(18) "O king, the Most High God granted sovereignty, grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your [grand]father.
(19) "Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every language feared and trembled before him; whomever he wished he killed and whomever he wished he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated and whomever he wished he humbled.
(20) "But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him.
(21) "He was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of Heaven until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes.
All this is recorded in Daniel 4 that is covered April 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 on this blog.
(22) "Yet you, his [grand]son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this,
Belshazzar has heard all the history of his mother's father and the world-wide edict he published as king.
(23) "but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of Heaven; and have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways you have not glorified.
Even though he knew the whole story, he evidently didn't believe it.
(24) "Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription written out.
Now this Most High God is responding to him. And this is what He says:
(25) "Now this is the inscription that was written out: 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.'
These are the words: MENE means a counting, like counting money.
TEKEL means to weigh a coin to find out its worth; money again.
UPHARSIN is the plural form of PERES, which means "to divide."
Now he'll tell him what God is saying to him.
(26) "This is the interpretation of the message: 'MENE'--God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.
God has already counted out his whole kingdom, and has come to the end of it.
(27) 'TEKEL'--you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.
Belshazzar himself has been weighed, and he's been found to be wanting, lacking, deficient.
(28) 'PERES'--your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians."
Daniel uses the past participle, and is telling him that it's too late; his kingdom has already been taken from him and divided up between Medes and Persians.
(29) Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.
Belshazzar did what he said he would, in front of all his nobles, as though it would do Daniel any good. Daniel didn't care. And it was all over with, anyway.
(30) That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain.
They had no idea of the out-of-the-box plan Cyrus' men had devised: to divert the very river itself to expose the formerly underwater sub-structure of the fortifications and sneak in all the troops necessary to take the whole city.
And this cowardly monarch was executed.
(31) So Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.
And the next section of Nebuchadnezzar's dream statue became a reality. (See about this statue on April 5, 6, and 7, 2020.)
God has planned it all out. He knows who will turn to Him, and who will work against Him. And He uses us all and all of our choices, whether good or bad, to work out what He has planned for us all. Even the bad, He works for our good. And He will get all the credit, all the glory.
O my Father, You are God, and only You. And You are good! Everything You do is good, even when it looks bad to us.
O Father, please help us see things with Your eyes, to understand with Your understanding, and to trust You more and more with all of the things we face daily.
Father, You have told us that these things would come: that there would be pandemics and climate changes and even astrological anomalies. There will always be tyrants who want to politically enslave the people for their own benefit, and leaders of nations who want to rule the whole world. Show us how to recognize these things as You bring them to pass, and to not be blind to them until it's too late.
Prepare us, my Father, to be ready to face Your wrath as You pour it out all around us. Keep us strong in spirit, and encouraged emotionally, and safeguarded in our physical health. Prosper us materially and financially to assist those who have needs. Let us be Your compassionate angels to help those who find themselves caught up in the deceptions of the evil one and this world he rules.
My Father, send out Your Good News to all the nations of the world, so that every living person will be able to hear how much You love us all, and sent Your Son for the salvation of the world, and everyone in it who will.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come even now, Lord Jesus!
King Belshazzar, the son of Nabonidus who had claimed the throne through his marriage to Nebuchadnezzar's daughter, had been left in Babylon to insure order and safety while his father fought battles elsewhere.
Even while Cyrus' army was besieging the city, they knew that the fortifications could not be breached, so they ignored it, having several years provisions stored up for just such a time; and Belshazzar was having a party.
But he brought in the gold vessels from Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, and mocked the Lord God by drinking wine in them and praising the gods of Babylon.
Then the hand wrote the words that no one could read (see yesterday).
(13) Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my [grand]father the king brought from Judah?
Belshazzar has never even met Daniel before this.
(14) "Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you.
He has only heard about him, but never saw his face before now.
(15) "Just now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not declare the interpretation of the message.
(16) "But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Now if you are able
Okay, he's heard about Daniel, that he is able. But then says, if you are able. He is still skeptical of this old man.
to read the inscription and make its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom."
And he makes the same promise he gave the rest of the wise men.
(17) Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else;
Daniel doesn't want any of this falderal.
however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him.
He is willing to give God's message to this foolish monarch. But he will first review some of this king's own history.
(18) "O king, the Most High God granted sovereignty, grandeur, glory and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your [grand]father.
(19) "Because of the grandeur which He bestowed on him, all the peoples, nations and men of every language feared and trembled before him; whomever he wished he killed and whomever he wished he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated and whomever he wished he humbled.
(20) "But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him.
(21) "He was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of Heaven until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes.
All this is recorded in Daniel 4 that is covered April 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 on this blog.
(22) "Yet you, his [grand]son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this,
Belshazzar has heard all the history of his mother's father and the world-wide edict he published as king.
(23) "but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of Heaven; and have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways you have not glorified.
Even though he knew the whole story, he evidently didn't believe it.
(24) "Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription written out.
Now this Most High God is responding to him. And this is what He says:
(25) "Now this is the inscription that was written out: 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.'
These are the words: MENE means a counting, like counting money.
TEKEL means to weigh a coin to find out its worth; money again.
UPHARSIN is the plural form of PERES, which means "to divide."
Now he'll tell him what God is saying to him.
(26) "This is the interpretation of the message: 'MENE'--God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.
God has already counted out his whole kingdom, and has come to the end of it.
(27) 'TEKEL'--you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.
Belshazzar himself has been weighed, and he's been found to be wanting, lacking, deficient.
(28) 'PERES'--your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians."
Daniel uses the past participle, and is telling him that it's too late; his kingdom has already been taken from him and divided up between Medes and Persians.
(29) Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.
Belshazzar did what he said he would, in front of all his nobles, as though it would do Daniel any good. Daniel didn't care. And it was all over with, anyway.
(30) That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain.
They had no idea of the out-of-the-box plan Cyrus' men had devised: to divert the very river itself to expose the formerly underwater sub-structure of the fortifications and sneak in all the troops necessary to take the whole city.
And this cowardly monarch was executed.
(31) So Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.
And the next section of Nebuchadnezzar's dream statue became a reality. (See about this statue on April 5, 6, and 7, 2020.)
God has planned it all out. He knows who will turn to Him, and who will work against Him. And He uses us all and all of our choices, whether good or bad, to work out what He has planned for us all. Even the bad, He works for our good. And He will get all the credit, all the glory.
O my Father, You are God, and only You. And You are good! Everything You do is good, even when it looks bad to us.
O Father, please help us see things with Your eyes, to understand with Your understanding, and to trust You more and more with all of the things we face daily.
Father, You have told us that these things would come: that there would be pandemics and climate changes and even astrological anomalies. There will always be tyrants who want to politically enslave the people for their own benefit, and leaders of nations who want to rule the whole world. Show us how to recognize these things as You bring them to pass, and to not be blind to them until it's too late.
Prepare us, my Father, to be ready to face Your wrath as You pour it out all around us. Keep us strong in spirit, and encouraged emotionally, and safeguarded in our physical health. Prosper us materially and financially to assist those who have needs. Let us be Your compassionate angels to help those who find themselves caught up in the deceptions of the evil one and this world he rules.
My Father, send out Your Good News to all the nations of the world, so that every living person will be able to hear how much You love us all, and sent Your Son for the salvation of the world, and everyone in it who will.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come even now, Lord Jesus!
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