DANIEL

Daniel was taken captive to Babylon as a boy. He was selected for duty in the king's service. This was a high honor requiring physical and mental excellence. The prophecies in Daniel are so detailed and accurate that it probably has been attacked more than any other book. The amazing and very detailed accuracy of the prophecies which have already been fulfilled should cause us to study it very carefully. Daniel has many keys to other prophecies. God made many of the end time prophecies in Daniel impossible to understand until the time of the end. When God lifts the seal from Daniel's end time prophecies it will be understandable for anyone who would seek to know. There is every reason to believe the seal has been removed. It will also help understand many other difficult end time prophecies. Try to memorize Daniel 11:32 and do exploits.

 

Daniel 1:1-2 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

COMPARING THESE VERSES WITH JEREMIAH 36:1-3 WE SEE THAT IT WAS A YEAR AFTER NEBUCHADNEZZAR HAD DEFEATED JEHOIAKIM AND TAKEN CAPTIVES AND TREASURES BACK TO BABYLON THAT GOD TOLD JEREMIAH TO WRITE THE SCROLL WITH ALL OF THE PROPHECIES. GOD WAS GIVING THE REMAINING PEOPLE OF JUDAH AND KING JEHOIAKIM A LAST CHANCE TO REPENT. IN HIS ABSOLUTELY HOPELESS SITUATION JEHOIAKIM INSULTS GOD AND BURNS THE SCROLL PERSONALLY PAGE BY PAGE.

Daniel 1:4 Children in whom [was] no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as [had] ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

THE BABYLONIANS WERE RUTHLESS. YET THEY WERE WISE EMPIRE BUILDERS. THE KING SOUGHT OUT THE BRIGHTEST AND STRONGEST OF THE CHILDREN WHO WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE AND SOUGHT TO PREPARE THEM TO BE VASSAL RULERS OF THE CAPTIVES. THIS IS A TIME PROVEN MEANS OF QUELLING POSSIBLE INSURRECTION.

Daniel 1:6-7 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.

AMONG THESE OUTSTANDING YOUNG CAPTIVES WERE DANIEL AND HIS THREE FRIENDS SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO OF FIERY FURNACE FAME.

Daniel 1:9-10 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king.

DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS KNEW THE WORD OF GOD. THEY DID NOT WANT TO DRINK THE KING'S WINE or EAT THE PORK AND OTHER NON KOSHER FOODS. THE PRINCE OF THE EUNUCHS WAS GOING TO LOOSE HIS LIFE IF HE DID NOT FOLLOW ORDERS TO SEE THAT THESE CHOSEN CHILDREN BE PROPERLY INDOCTRINATED INTO THE BABYLONIAN CULTURE INCLUDING DRUNKENNESS AND RICH FOODS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN AND HELD TO BE ABOMINABLE BY THE JEWS.

Daniel 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

DANIEL PROPOSES A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. JUST CHECK US OUT AFTER 10 DAYS AND SEE IF WE HAVE NOT GAINED MORE WEIGHT AND ARE IN BETTER PHYSICAL CONDITION THAN THE OTHER PRIVILEGED CHILDREN WHO WERE IN COMPETITION WITH THEM.

Daniel 1:15-17 & 19-21

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm.

And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of king Cyrus.

GOD HONORED THE OBEDIENCE OF DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS. THEY EXCELLED IN EVERY ASPECT BEYOND THEIR PEERS. WHENEVER WE ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN OBEYING GOD OR OBEYING MEN WE SHOULD CHOOSE TO OBEY GOD. WE SHOULD ALSO NOTICE HOW DANIEL GAVE A DIPLOMATIC AND CREATIVE ALTERNATIVE CHOICE TO THE AUTHORITY PLACED OVER HIM. HIS WAY WAS NOT THAT OF DEFIANT REBELLION. HE OFFERED A CREATIVE ALTERNATIVE AND AVOIDED REBELLION. REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT AND MUST BE AVOIDED.

Daniel 2:4-5 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR KNEW THE CHALDEAN WIZARDS WOULD COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF ANSWER TO INTERPRET HIS DREAM. HE KNEW THE DREAM WAS IMPORTANT. THE DREAM MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPRESSION ON HIM. THE IMAGE WAS PROBABLY MADE IN HIS LIKENESS. HE TOLD THE MAGICIANS THAT THEY MUST BOTH TELL HIM THE DREAM AND THE INTERPRETATION. HE WANTED A SURE ANSWER FROM GOD REGARDING THE INTERPRETATION OF THIS DREAM. HE ALSO KNEW THAT IF THE DREAM WAS FROM GOD THAT GOD WOULD REVEAL THE DREAM TO SOMEONE TO GIVE HIM THE INTERPRETATION. IF SOMEONE KNEW THE DREAM THEN AND ONLY THEN COULD HE TRUST THE INTERPRETATION.

Daniel 2:9-12 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, [there is but] one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore [there is] no king, lord, nor ruler, [that] asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

And [it is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon.

THE KING, IN HIS WISDOM, REALLY GOT TO THE CHALDEAN WIZARDS. HE KNEW THAT SUPERNATURAL POWER WOULD BE INVOLVED IN INTERPRETING THE DREAM CORRECTLY. THE WIZARDS COULD EASILY FAKE ANY KIND OF INTERPRETATION. THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD FAKE TELLING THE KING THE DREAM ITSELF. THE KING KNEW THE ONLY WAY TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THE INTERPRETATION.

Daniel 2:16-20

Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise [men] of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

NOTICE HOW DANIEL SOUGHT HIS FRIENDS TO PRAY WITH HIM. WE SHOULD SEEK FAITHFUL PEOPLE TO GO TO GOD AND BE IN PRAYER AGREEMENT. NOTICE HOW CAREFUL DANIEL IS TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY. WISDOM AND POWER ARE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD. NO WISDOM CAN COMPARE WITH GOD'S WISDOM. NO POWER IS COMPARABLE TO GOD'S POWER.

Daniel 2:25-30 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise [men], the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came [into thy mind] upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for [any] wisdom that I have more than any living, but for [their] sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

THE KING GIVES DANIEL A GREAT CHANCE TO PROMOTE HIMSELF - ARE YOU ABLE TO TELL ME THE DREAM? DANIEL SAYS THAT ONLY GOD CAN DO IT AND IT IS GOD WHO HAS GIVEN HIM THE DREAM. DANIEL IS SO VERY CAREFUL TO GIVE ALL GLORY TO GOD.

Daniel 2:31-33 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness [was] excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof [was] terrible. This image's head [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

AT THIS POINT THE KING IS CERTAIN OF AN ACCURATE INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM BECAUSE OF THE ACCURACY OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DREAM ITSELF WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN DANIEL. HOW MUCH MORE CERTAIN CAN WE BE OF THE ACCURACY OF DANIEL'S INTERPRETATION HAVING ALMOST 2600 YEARS OF HISTORY PROVING THE ABSOLUTE ACCURACY OF DANIEL'S PROPHETIC INTERPRETATION. PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS AND ALL OF DANIEL'S PROPHECIES BECAUSE IT IS INDEED LIKELY THAT IT IS OUR GENERATION WHICH WILL WITNESS THE CULMINATION OF DANIEL'S PROPHECIES. NO GENERATION WHOSE FEET HAVE EVER WALKED THIS PLANET ARE WITNESSING PROPHESY BEING FULFILLED MORE THAN OURS. DANIEL'S PROPHECIES HERE AND IN THE REST OF DANIEL'S BOOK MUST GET OUR ATTENTION.

WAKE UP!! GET READY!! MOST IMPORTANTLY - STAY READY!!!!

Daniel 2:34-35 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet [that were] of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

LET'S TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT ELSE THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THIS STONE.

Psalms 118:22 The stone [which] the builders refused is become the head [stone] of the corner.

Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Zechariah 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Matthew 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Mark 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

Luke 20:17-18 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];

I Peter 2:4 To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious,

I Peter 2:6 -8 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe[he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

WE MAY BE CONFIDENT THIS STONE OF WHICH DANIEL SPEAKS, IS JESUS CHRIST. JESUS IS COMING SOON TO PUT DOWN AND DESTROY FOREVER THE WORLD GOVERNMENT OF ANTICHRIST.

JESUS WILL RULE AND REIGN OVER THE WHOLE EARTH FOR 1000 YEARS AFTER HE DESTROYS ALL OTHER WORLD GOVERNMENT.

Daniel 2:36-38 This [is] the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, [art] a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou [art] this head of gold.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR WAS THE KING WHO BROUGHT BABYLON TO BE THE FIRST GREAT WORLD EMPIRE. THUS IT WAS NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S BABYLON WHICH WAS THE HEAD OF GOLD.

Daniel 2:39-40 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all [things]: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

THE SUBSEQUENT WORLD EMPIRES WERE THE SILVER EMPIRE OF THE MEDO-PERSIANS. THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY THE BRASS EMPIRE OF THE GREEKS UNDER ALEXANDER THE GREAT. THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY THE MIGHTY IRON RULE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. ITS DIVISION inTO THE EASTERN AND WESTERN EMPIRES BEING SIMULATED BY THE TWO LEGS OF THE IMAGE.

Daniel 2:41-44 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And [as] the toes of the feet [were] part of iron, and part of clay, [so] the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

THE FEET AND TOES LIKELY REFER TO THE WORLD EMPIRE TO CONTROL OUR GENERATION. THE REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE OF A 10 NATION CONFEDERACY WILL FORM THE NEW WORLD ORDER UNDER ANTICHRIST. DEMONIC UNIONS AND A TREMENDOUS REVIVAL OF DARK AGE OCCULTISM WILL MARK THIS FINAL WORLD EMPIRE WHICH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDES THE RETURN OF MESSIAH KING JESUS.

GOD WILL FINALLY KICK SATAN AND THE ONE THIRD OF ALL FALLEN ANGELS OUT OF HEAVEN DOWN TO EARTH. THESE DEMONS ARE SPIRIT BEINGS WHO WILL INDWELL THE LEADERS OF THIS NEW WORLD ORDER AND SUCK IN ALL NEW AGE MOVEMENT FOLLOWERS WHO WILL BE GETTING THEIR INSTRUCTIONS FROM THEIR SPIRIT GUIDES AND/OR ASCENDED MASTERS. THESE PEOPLE WILL BE KEPT IGNORANT OF THE FACT THAT THESE SPIRIT ENTITIES ARE ACTUALLY DEMON FALLEN ANGELS. THIS SYSTEM WILL PROSPER AND WAGE WAR ON THE SAINTS WHO ARE INDWELT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. BUT GOD HIMSELF IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST WILL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN AND TOTALLY CRUSH THIS NEW WORLD ORDER OF ANTICHRIST. JESUS CHRIST WILL THEN ESTABLISH AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE.

Daniel 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream [is] certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

IF THE KING COULD BE CONVINCED OF THE CERTAINTY OF THE INTERPRETATION, HOW MUCH MORE CERTAIN SHOULD WE BE. WE HAVE SEEN THE EXACT FULFILLMENT OVER THE SPAN OF HISTORY OF THE FIRST FOUR WORLD EMPIRES. WE ARE SEEING THIS MIXTURE OF MEN AND DEMONS WORKING TO ESTABLISH A NEW WORLD ORDER OR world EMPIRE IN OUR TIME.

Daniel 2:46-49 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth [it is], that your God [is] a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise [men] of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel [sat] in the gate of the king.

DANIEL WAS MADE A GREAT MAN. HE DID NOT FORGET HIS FRIENDS AND PRAYER PARTNERS. KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR KNEW THE TRUTH OF DANIEL'S PROPHECIES. HE FELL ON HIS FACE. WE SHOULD BE ON OUR FACE IN REPENTANCE FOR OUR SINS AS WE SEE THIS FINAL NEW WORLD ORDER WHICH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDES THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST BEING FORMED. CHRISTIANS MUST BE IN THE WORD DAILY IN ORDER TO AVOID BEING SUCKED INTO THE DEMONIC NEW WORLD ORDER AND NEW AGE MOVEMENT OF ANTICHRIST. IF WE ARE IGNORANT OF THE BIBLE WE WILL LIKELY BE SUCKED INTO THIS SYSTEM OF TYRANNY, CONFUSION, AND ULTIMATE DESTRUCTION.

Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

RECALL THE DREAM GOD GAVE TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR THAT ONLY DANIEL WAS ABLE TO INTERPRET. KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR WAS THE HEAD OF GOLD WHICH REPRESENTED THE FIRST AND GREATEST WORLD EMPIRE. THE BREASTPLATE OF SILVER REPRESENTED THE EMPIRE OF THE MEDO-PERSIANS. KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR MADE THE WHOLE IMAGE OF GOLD. HE DID NOT WANT ANY OF THE OTHER EMPIRES OF THE IMAGE TO SUCCEED HIS EMPIRE. HE WANTED HIS GOLDEN BABYLONIAN EMPIRE TO LAST FOREVER. BY NOW DANIEL HELD THE HIGHEST POSITION IN THE EMPIRE AND HIS FRIENDS SHADRACH, MESHECH, AND ABED-NEGO HAD HIGH POSITIONS AS WELL. NO DOUBT MANY BABYLONIAN NOBLES WERE JEALOUS OF THE HIGH POSITIONS WHICH THESE JEWS HAD IN THE EMPIRE.

WORSHIPPING THE GOLDEN IMAGE OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR WAS A LOYALTY OATH. THE BABYLONIAN NOBLES KNEW THE JEWS COULD NOT GO ALONG WITH THIS TYPE OF LOYALTY OATH AND IT WAS A SLICK WAY FOR THEM TO GET RID OF THESE JEWS WHO WERE HOLDING COVETED POSITIONS IN THE EMPIRE. IT WAS EASY FOR THEM TO GET NEBUCHADNEZZAR TO IMPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY FOR NOT GOING ALONG WITH THE LOYALTY OATH BECAUSE NEBUCHADNEZZAR SAW IT AS A WAY TO HELP KEEP THE PEACE IN THE EMPIRE AND PERHAPS BE A WAY TO QUELL POSSIBLE INSURRECTION AND REBELLION.

Daniel 3:2-3 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

ALL OF THE RULERS FROM ALL OVER THE EMPIRE WERE BROUGHT IN FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE IMAGE AND TO WORSHIP IT AND TO PLEDGE THEIR LOYALTY TO THE KING.

Daniel 3:4-6 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

THE DEATH PENALTY WAS ON ANYONE WHO WOULD NOT PROVE THEIR LOYALTY TO THE WORLD GOVERNMENT OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR. LOOK FOR THIS SAME SORT OF WORSHIP OF THE IMAGE OF THE ANTICHRIST TO HAVE A DEATH PENALTY TIED TO IT. JEWS AND CHRISTIANS WILL BE THE TARGET THEN AS IT WAS WHEN BABYLON RULED THE WORLD.

Daniel 3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

THE BABYLONIAN ASTROLOGERS WERE QUICK TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET RID OF THE JEWS WHO WERE HOLdING COVETED POSITIONS IN THE EMPIRE. IF WE ARE CHRISTIANS WE NEED TO EXPECT THIS SAME TYPE OF TREATMENT AT THE HANDS OF OUR PEERS IN THE WORKPLACE.

Daniel 3:14-15 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, [Is it] true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

HOW WOULD WE ANSWER THE MOST POWERFUL KING IN THE WORLD? WE NEED TO MEDITATE ON EXACTLY HOW THESE MEN ANSWERED THE KING.

Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.

FIRST OF ALL THEY DID NOT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT. THEIR ANSWER WAS IMMEDIATE. WOULD WE BE ABLE TO ANSWER SUCH A QUESTION OF LIFE OR DEATH SO READILY WITHOUT HAVING TO THINK ABOUT IT AT ALL? MEDITATE ON THEIR PERFECT ANSWER.

Daniel 3:17-18 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king.

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT THAT OUR GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER US OUT OF THIS SITUATION. MY GOD IS MORE THAN ABLE TO DELIVER US FROM ANY DIFFICULTY. AND HE WILL DELIVER. NOW WE SEE THE GREAT FAITH OF THESE MEN. OUR GOD WILL DELIVER US. THEY DID NOT ONLY KNOW THAT GOD WAS ABLE BUT THEIR FAITH TOLD THEM THAT GOD WOULD DELIVER THEM. HOW MANY BLESSINGS DO WE MISS BECAUSE WE FAIL TO BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL DELIVER US?

BUT IF GOD DOESN'T SAVE US WE STILL WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE CERTAINLY WOULD RATHER DIE THAN TO DISOBEY OUR GOD. THEY STILL WERE LETTING GOD BE GOD. THEY WERE NOT DEMANDING OR COMMANDING GOD TO DELIVER THEM. THEY HAD TOTAL CONFIDENCE THAT GOD WOULD DELIVER THEM BUT THEY WERE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY. THEY WERE TOTALLY WILLING TO DIE RATHER THAN TO DISOBEY GOD. THEY WOULD OBEY GOD RATHER THAN TO TRY TO SAVE THEIR LIVES BY OBEYING THE KING. WOULD WE BE THIS BRAVE WHEN OUR LIFE IS ON THE LINE?

Daniel 3:19-22 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

THE KING WAS FURIOUS. HE COMMANDED THE FURNACE TO BE MADE SEVEN TIMES HOTTER THAN IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE. THE KING'S MEN WERE SO NERVOUS OVER HIS FURY THAT THE MEN WHO WERE STOKING THE FURNACE WERE KILLED BY THE FLAMES.

Daniel 3:23-25 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

THE FURIOUS KING KNEW WHO WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FURNACE WITH SHADRACK, MESHACH, AND ABED-NEGO. THE KING SAID tHAT HE WAS LIKE THE SON OF GOD. HE WAS RIGHT. THAT IS EXACTLY WHO IT WAS. JESUS HIMSELF WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRE WITH SHADRACK, MESHACH, AND ABED-NEGO. WHAT TREMENDOUS ENCOURAGEMENT THERE IS HERE FOR US.

WHEN WE ARE IN TRIBULATION, JESUS, IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT, PROMISES TO BE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR TRIBULATION. IF GOD IS WITH US, WHAT SHOULD WE FEAR? IF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ANTICHRIST THREATENS TO KILL US IF WE WILL NOT WORSHIP HIS IMAGE, WILL WE BE LIKE THESE MEN? WILL WE BE STRONG, COURAGEOUS, AND FAITHFUL IN TRIBULATION?

Daniel 3:26-29 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

SEE HOW GOD WAS PROTECTING HIS PEOPLE. THE JEWS HAD BEEN TAKEN CAPTIVE AND WERE DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THEY WERE NO DOUBT BEING PERSECUTED FOR THEIR PECULIAR CULTURE, SABBATH WORSHIP, AND DIET. THE KING'S DECREE GAVE THEM PROTECTION AND TOTAL FREEDOM TO BE OBEDIENT AND OPENLY WORSHIP the one true GOD. THE REPRISALS WERE ENDED FOR THEM.

Daniel 3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.

WHAT A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR THE LORD HAS. HOW DID THE BABYLONIAN ASTROLOGERS LIKE IT WHEN THE FIERY FURNACE MEN GOT PROMOTED?

Daniel 4:1-9 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying], O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR IS DOING THE TALKING DANIEL IS JUST DOING THE WRITING. THE KING HAS INDEED COME TO KNOW THE TRUE GOD AND HE IS TELLING THE WORLD ABOUT HIM.

Daniel 4:13-37

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth: Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It [is] thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

While the word [was] in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' [feathers], and his nails like birds' [claws].

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:

And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

DOES KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR HUMBLE HIMSELF AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD, OR WHAT? REMEMBER THIS KING OF THE WORLD IS DOING THE TALKING AND DANIEL IS JUST DOING THE WRITING. FANTASTIC!

Daniel 5:1-6

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which [was] in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

KING BELSHAZZAR HAD GONE TOO FAR WHEN HE DECIDED TO USE THE VESSELS WHICH WERE TAKEN FROM THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD IN JERUSALEM TO USE IN HIS DRUNKEN PARTY. A HAND APPEARED JUST A HAND) AND WROTE ON THE WALL. THIS FRIGHTENED THE KING TO THE POINT THAT HIS LEGS GAVE WAY AS HE FAINTED IN FEAR. IS IT TIME FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO SEE THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL?

Daniel 5:23-31

But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and [put] a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, [being] about threescore and two years old.

HAVE NOT THE RULERS OF AMERICA DONE AS BELSHAZZAR WITH THEIR ANTICHRIST POLITICAL CORRECTNESS? HOW ARROGANT ARE AMERICA'S RULERS WHO SET THEMSELVES AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD? GOD HAD NUMBERED THEIR DAYS OF PREEMINENCE AND THEY WERE FINISHED. GOD'S JUDGMENT WAS UPON THEM. THAT SAME NIGHT BELSHAZZAR WAS KILLED AND THE MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE BEGAN.

Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

DANIEL'S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WISDOM WERE LEGENDARY.

Proverbs 11:30 - The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.

He served UNDER AT LEAST 4 KINGS WHO LITERALLY RULED THE

WORLD OF HIS DAY. HE BECAME THE TOP MAN IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIONS. HE SHARED THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS GOD WITH ALL OF THEM. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT NEBUCHADNEZZAR AND DARIUS CAME TO ACCEPT DANIEL'S GOD AS THE TRUE GOD. THE CAPTAIN OF THE IMPERIAL GUARD WHO WAS SENT TO SEEK OUT AND CARE FOR JEREMIAH AMONG THE CAPTIVES OF JUDAH HAD COME TO BELIEVE IN DANIEL'S GOD. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT KEY TO UNDERSTANDING HOW THE BOOK OF DANIEL APPLIES TO CHRISTIANS AS WELL AS JEWS IN THE LAST DAYS. DR. FRANKLIN D. WATTS SAYS THAT ALL HUMANITY CAN BE PLACED IN THE 3 CATEGORIES OF JEW, GENTILE, AND CHRISTIAN. ANYONE WHO ACCEPTS JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD BECOMES A SAINT, A CHILD OF GOD, a PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, A CHRISTIAN. THE JEW OR GENTILE WHO ACCEPTS JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD BECOMES A SAINT. IF DANIEL WERE ASKED IF NEBUCHADNEZZAR, THE CAPTAIN OF THE IMPERIAL GUARD, OR DARIUS WAS ONE OF HIS PEOPLE, A CHILD OF GOD, OR A SAINT, HE WOULD MOST DEFINITELY HAve SAID YES. UNDERSTANDING THIS WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT DANIEL'S

END TIME PROPHESIES HAVE MUCH BROADER APPLICATION THAN

JUST THE JEWS AND NATION OF ISRAEL. THERE IS INFORMATION WHICH WE MUST UNDERSTAND. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT

NOT ALL JEWS WERE DANIEL'S PEOPLE. DANIEL'S PEOPLE WERE THE PEOPLE OF HIS GOD. THE ANGEL WHO TOLD DANIEL WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO "THY" PEOPLE WAS TELLING WHAT WILL BE FOR US IF OUR GOD IS DANIEL'S GOD. ONE SHOULD NOT LIMIT THE APPLICATION

OF DANIEL'S or any other END TIME PROPHESIES TO ISRAEL. WE SHOULD KEEP OUR MIND OPEN AND SEEK THE GUIDANCE OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT IN THE INTERPRETATION OF DANIEL'S END TIME PROPHESIES.

Daniel 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find [it] against him concerning the law of his God.

EVERYONE WAS JEALOUS OF DANIEL'S POSITION. ALL OF THE KING'S OTHER LEADERS CONSPIRED TO GET RID OF HIM. THE ONLY POSSIBLE WAY THAT THEY COULD ENTRAP HIM WOULD BE IN REGARD TO HIS GREAT LOYALTY AND FAITHFULNESS TO HIS GOD.

Daniel 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

DANIEL'S ENEMIES ENTRAPPED THE KING TO HARM DANIEL BY A VERY DEVIOUS PLOT PLAYING UPON the king's PRIDE AND EVEN HIS CONFIDENCE IN THEM.

Daniel 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

IT DID NOT TAKE LONG FOR THE CONSPIRATORS TO BRING THE DEATH PENALTY CHARGE AGAINST DANIEL.

Daniel 6:13-14 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which [is] of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was

sore displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

THE KING REALIZED THAT HE HAD BEEN ENTRAPPED BY THE CONSPIRATORS. HE WAS DISPLEASED WITH HIMSELF FOR FALLING INTO THE TRAP THESE CONSPIRATORS HAD SET JUST TO KILL HIS MOST TRUSTWORTHY FRIEND AND SERVANT.

Daniel 6:16-20 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: [and] the king spake and said to Daniel,

O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God,

whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

THINK ABOUT WHAT THE KING SAID WHEN DANIEL WAS PUT IN WITH THE LIONS. "THY GOD, WHOM THOU SERVEST CONTINUALLY, HE

WILL DELIVER THEE." THIS KING HAS GREAT FAITH IN DANIEL'S

GOD. DO WE EVEN HAVE THIS MEASURE OF FAITH IN GOD AS THE KING EXPRESSES HERE. THIS KING WAS A SAINT. THIS KING HAD COME TO KNOW THE TRUE GOD FROM HIS FRIEND DANIEL. HE WAS ONE OF "THY PEOPLE" THOUGH HE WAS NOT A JEW. THE KING SEALED THE LION'S DEN WITH HIS SIGNET TO BE SURE THE CONSPIRATORS WOULD NOT DISTURB THE LIONS OR KILL DANIEL TO

HELP THE LIONS. EARLY IN THE MORNING, AFTER A SLEEPLESS NIGHT

OF CONCERN AND POSSIBLY PRAYER FOR DANIEL, THE KING COMES TO THE LION'S DEN. "DANIEL, OH DANIEL, SERVANT OF THE LIVING GOD, IS THY GOD, WHOM THOU SERVEST CONTINUALLY, ABLE TO DELIVER THEE FROM THE LIONS?"

Daniel 6:22-24 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of

the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them,

their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces

or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

ALWAYS CAREFUL TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD, DANIEL REPORTS THAT

GOD HAS DELIVERED HIM. THE KING WAS EXCEEDING GLAD. IN VERSE 23 WE FIND WHY DANIEL WAS NOT HURT BY THE LIONS - BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN HIS GOD. WE CAN BE SURE THAT DANIEL KNEW THE PROMISE GOD GAVE TO NOAH AND HOW THAT PROMISE WOULD APPLY TO HIS PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCE WITH THE LIONS. RECALL WHAT GOD PROMISED NOAH AFTER THE FLOOD IN Genesis 9:2 - And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth [upon] the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. DANIEL KNEW THAT GOD HAD PUT THE FEAR OF MEN

IN THE HEARTS OF ALL ANIMALS. DANIEL WAS NOT AFRAID OF THE

LIONS BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT FAITH IN THE INTEGRITY OF GOD's

word. IF DANIEL HAD HAD ANY FEAR THE LIONS WOULD HAVE SENSED HIS FEAR IMMEDIATELY. THE ANGEL WAS PROBABLY SENT

SO THAT DANIEL COULD GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP. IF WE KNOW

THIS PROMISE OF GOD AND DO NOT HAVE FEAR, WE CAN BACK

DOWN EVEN A LION. THE PROBLEM IS WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE ANY FEAR BECAUSE MOST ANIMALS SEEM TO BE ABLE TO SENSE FEAR. IF WE HAVE FEAR, WE EITHER DON'T KNOW OR BELIEVE THE

PROMISE OF GOD AND WE WILL BE IN TROUBLE. THIS COULD BE

VERY IMPORTANT DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION WHEN ANIMALS MAY EVEN BE POSSESSED BY DEMONS.

Daniel 6:26-28 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the

lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of

Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

IS KING DARIUS A BELIEVER, A CHILD OF GOD, ONE OF DANIEL'S PEOPLE? HE WAS NOT A JEW BUT HE WAS ONE OF "THY PEOPLE" MORE THAN THE PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN JEWS AND HAD REJECTED

THE GOD OF THEIR FATHERS. THOSE WHO HAD OBEDIENT FAITH IN DANIEL'S GOD WERE DANIEL'S PEOPLE. DANIEL'S END TIME PROPHESIES APPLY TO THE SAINTS. THERE IS EMPHASIS ON ISRAEL BUT IT IS UNWISE TO SAY THEY ONLY APPLY TO ISRAEL TO ASSUAGE FEAR OF GREAT TRIBULATION. WE NEED TO CAUSE OUR FAITH TO

GROW TO ASSUAGE OUR FEAR OF TRIBULATION.

Romans 10:17 - So then faith [cometh] by hearing,

and hearing by the word of God.

THE PERIOD OF GREAT TRIBULATION PROMISES TO BE THE MOST EXCITING TIME IN WHICH ANY BELIEVER HAS EVER HAD

OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE. THE PEOPLE LIVING DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION WILL SEE THE BLESSED HOPE OF THE LORD'S TRIUMPHAL RETURN IN GREAT POWER AND GLORY. WE WILL LIVE

SUPERNATURALLY BY GOD'S MIRACULOUS PROVISION. IT WILL REQUIRE GREAT FAITH. THAT IS WHY WE MUST ALL MAKE STUDY OF GOD'S WORD OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY. THIS IS THE WAY TO GREAT FAITH THAT ASSUAGES FEAR OF GREAT TRIBULATION.

Daniel 7:1-3 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, [and] told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

DANIEL'S PROPHETIC DREAMS ARE SO ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE THAT MEN HAVE HAD TO TRY TO RESORT TO SAYING THEY WERE WRITTEN AFTER THE FACT. VARIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY IN WHICH JEWISH SCRIPTURES GAVE SO MANY NAMES OF VARIOUS CONTEMPORARY RULERS FIRMLY FIX THE ACCURACY OF THE DATE OF THESE PROPHECIES AT 552 BC. IT IS OUR GENERATION WHICH IS MOST LIKELY TO SEE THE LAST PIECES OF DANIEL'S

PROPHECY FULFILLED. REMEMBER THAT JESUS HIMSELF TOLD US TO PAY PARTICULARLY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECIES AS THEY RELATE TO HIS RETURN. SEE Matthew 24:15 AND Mark 13:14 WHERE JESUS SOLEMNLY WARNS AND ENCOURAGES US TO GET UNDERSTANDING OF DANIEL'S PROPHECY. AS WE SHALL SEE, SOME PARTS WERE TO BE SEALED UP FOR A GENERATION SUCH AS OURS AT THE TIME OF THE RETURN OF THE KING OF KINGS. NO GENERATION

IN HISTORY HAS EVER HAD GREATER INCENTIVE TO CAREFULLY STUDY THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES. READ THEM OVER AND OVER WITH PRAYER. MEMORIZING THEM WOULD BE WORTHWHILE. GET UNDERSTANDING OF THESE SCRIPTURES. THERE IS NO LONGER

REASON FOR THEM TO BE SEALED.

Daniel 7:4-28 The first [was] like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and [it had] three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of

a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it [was] diverse from

all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before

whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes

like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white

as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set,

and the books were opened.

I beheld then because of the voice of the great words

which the horn spake: I beheld [even] till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the

Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations,

and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is]

an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.

I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of [my]

body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

I came near unto one of them that stood by, and

asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

These great beasts, which are four, [are] four kings,

[which] shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast,

which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth [were of] iron, and his nails

[of] brass; [which] devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that [were] in his head, and [of] the other

which came up, and before whom three fell; even [of] that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look [was] more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to

the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and

shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

And the ten horns out of this kingdom [are] ten kings

[that] shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak [great]

words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until

a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his

dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end.

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness

of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Hitherto [is] the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

DANIEL SAW HOW BABYLON WOULD BE SUCCEEDED BY THE MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE. THEY WOULD BE SUCCEEDED BY ALEXANDER THE GREAT ESTABLISHING THE GREEK EMPIRE WHICH WAS DIVIDED BY HIS FOUR GENERALS. THEY WERE SUCCEEDED BY ROME. IN THE LAST DAYS THERE WOULD FINALLY BE ANOTHER WORLD EMPIRE OF THE SHORT REIGN OF THE ANTICHRIST, WHO WOULD MAKE WAR ON THE SAINTS. PRAISE GOD! THE KING OF KINGS RETURNS

TO SET UP HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS SAINTS SHALL BE PART OF THIS GLORIOUS WONDERFUL EVERLASTING KINGDOM. PLEASE GET UNDERSTANDING OF THIS. IT IS QUITE LIKELY FOR OUR GENERATION TO SEE THE CONCLUSION. IT IS SO IMPORTANT AND SO OPEN TO DECEPTION THAT WE MUST SEEK THE ANSWERS FOR OURSELF. PRAY AND ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LET YOU SEE THESE FANTASTIC TRUTHS FOR YOURSELF. DISCUSSING AND SHARING THE REVELATIONS CONTAINED IN THESE SCRIPTURES IS A SOURCE OF TREMENDOUS JOY AND ENCOURAGEMENT. LOOK FOR THE WORLD TO SEE THE RISE OF 10 GREAT NATIONS OR TO BE DIVIDED INTO 10 REGIONS. LOOK FOR SOMEONE TO OVERCOME THREE GREAT NATIONS OR WORLD REGIONS. MOST OF ALL LOOK TO SEE HOW NEAR IS THE RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO PUT DOWN THE WORLD

RULER WHO MAKES WAR WITH HIS SAINTS. LOOK UP FOR OUR REDEMPTION DRAWS NEIGH.

Daniel 8:1-27 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, [even unto]

me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I [was] at Shushan [in] the palace, which [is] in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had [two] horns: and the [two] horns

[were] high; but one [was] higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither [was there any] that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat [had] a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had [two] horns, which I had seen standing before

the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the

south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant [land]. And it waxed great, [even] to the host of heaven; and it cast down [some] of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

Yea, he magnified [himself] even to the prince of the

host, and by him the daily [sacrifice] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain [saint] which spake, How long [shall be] the vision [concerning] the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

And it came to pass, when I, [even] I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

And I heard a man's voice between [the banks of]

Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this [man] to understand the vision.

So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end [shall be] the vision. Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.

And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time

appointed the end [shall be]. The ram which thou sawest having [two] horns [are] the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat [is] the king of Grecia: and the great horn that [is] between his eyes [is] the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the

transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce

countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and

shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

And through his policy also he shall cause craft to

prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told [is] true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it [shall be] for many days.

And I Daniel fainted, and was sick [certain] days;

afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and

I was astonished at the vision, but none understood [it].

DANIEL WAS GIVEN MORE DETAIL TO REVEAL THE SAME PROPHECY MOST OF WHICH IS NOW HISTORY. THERE WOULD BE WORLD

EMPIRES OF BABYLON, MEDO-PERSIA, GREECE, ROME AND FINALLY the New World order of ANTICHRIST. WHEN WE REALIZE WE

ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS TOTAL WAR OF ANTICHRIST ON THE SAINTS WE SHOULD KNOW IN THAT IN LESS THAN 2300 DAYS JESUS WILL BE BACK TO PUT AN END TO ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. IT BRINGS TO MIND THE RUSH LIMBAUGH DAILY COUNTDOWN OF THE DAYS REMAINING IN THE CLINTON PRESIDENCY. UNDERSTAND THIS, IF JESUS IS YOUR LORD, YOU WIN. THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO WILL RIDICULE AND PERSECUTE YOU FOR KNOWING THE TRUTH. THE APOSTLE JOHN GIVES MORE LIGHT TO THE SHORT REIGN OF ANTICHRIST IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAYS IN Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk

naked, and they see his shame. Revelation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Daniel 9:20-23

And whiles I [was] speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel,

and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;

Yea, whiles I [was] speaking in prayer, even the man

Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

And he informed [me], and talked with me, and said,

O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and

understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to

shew [thee]; for thou [art] greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

WHEN WE READ DANIEL'S PRAYER IN VERSES 4-19 IS EASY TO SEE WHY DANIEL WAS ADDRESSED BY THE ANGEL GABRIEL AS GREATLY BELOVED. GOD SENT THE ANGEL GABRIEL TO GIVE DANIEL UNDERSTANDING. DANIEL HAD ASKED GOD TO GLORIFY HIMSELF BY RESTORING ISRAEL BECAUSE THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE WERE THE

CITY AND PEOPLE OF JEHOVAH. DANIEL WAS NOT ASKING ANYTHING FOR HIMSELF. HE WAS JEALOUS FOR GOD'S GLORY. HE NEVER LEFT THE LAND OF CAPTIVITY WHERE HE WAS THE HIGHEST RULER UNDER THE KING WHETHER THE KING BE BABYLONIAN OR MEDE. PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THIS FANTASTIC PROPHECY WHICH GOD SENT

TO DANIEL BY THE ANGEL GABRIEL.

Daniel 9:24-27 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth

of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

70 WEEKS ARE DETERMINED TO WRAP UP EVERYTHING (HEBREW = SEVENTY 7'S = 490 YEARS). FROM THE GOING FOURTH OF THE COMMAND TO REBUILD JERUSALEM UNTIL MESSIAH WOULD BE 7 AND 62 WEEKS (7'S) OR IN EXACTLY 483 YEARS. WHAT WAS TO HAPPEN 483 YEARS FROM THE GOING FORTH OF THE COMMAND TO REBUILD JERUSALEM? MESSIAH THE PRINCE WOULD COME! THIS PROPHECY PREDICTED, ALMOST TO THE DAY, WHEN JESUS WOULD ENTER JERUSALEM ON THE FIRST PALM SUNDAY. THAT IS WHY JESUS TOLD THE PHARISEES EVEN THE VERY ROCKS WOULD CRY OUT IF THE PEOPLE WERE TO REMAIN SILENT. WHAT WAS MESSIAH GOING TO DO? MESSIAH WOULD MAKE AN END OF SINS! MESSIAH WOULD MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY! MESSIAH WOULD BRING EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS! CAN YOU SEE IT? HAD THE PRINCES OF THIS

WORLD KNOWN, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY. THEY DIDN'T SEE IT BUT WE CAN. HE WHO KNEW NO SIN, WAS MADE TO BE SIN FOR US. CAN YOU SEE IT? WE ARE FREE FROM SIN - ALLELUIA! JESUS MADE AN END OF SINS. THERE IS NO PENALTY FOR US BECAUSE MESSIAH MADE THE RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY WHICH NONE OF US COULD EVER MAKE NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRIED! ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS AGREE WITH GOD AND ACCEPT HIS FORGIVENESS AND THAT SIN IS THROWN INTO THE SEA OF FORGETFULNESS AND WE ARE JUSTIFIED. "JUST AS IF I'D" NEVER SINNED." WE NEED A TIGHT hOLD ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT GABRIEL GAVE TO DANIEL? MESSIAH WAS KILLED 483 YEARS AFTER THE COMMAND WAS ISSUED BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF. HE DID IT FOR US. THAT IS THE BIG UNDERSTANDING THAT WE MUST GET.

THERE IS ANOTHER UNDERSTANDING WHICH WE ALSO MUST GET.

We are POSSIBLE MEMBERs OF THAT GENERATION WHICH WILL JOIN THE pRINCE (LITTLE p pRINCE SIGNIFYING ANTICHRIST) IN MAKING WAR ON THE SAINTS. IF WE DON'T BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE WORD OF GOD WE WILL BE SUCKED INTO THE ANTICHRIST'S GLOBAL NEW WORLD ORDER AND NEW AGE MOVEMENT. WE WILL BE GUIDED AND CONTROLLED BY A DEMONIC SPIRIT GUIDE, ASCENDED MASTER, MASTER OF WISDOM, OR WHATEVER ELSE YOUR HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS LEADER DEMON DIRECTS. THE TRIBULATION PRECEDES THE RAPTURE AND ONLY JESUS AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WORD CAN KEEP US AND MAKE US AN OVERCOMMER IN TRIBULATION. WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING OUR FAITH GROW STRONG. HOW DO WE GET MORE FAITH? FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD. CLINTON BROUGHT YASSER ARIFAT TO WASHINGTON TO MAKE A PEACE TREATY WITH ISRAEL. WATCH OUT IF THE TREATY IS BROKEN NEAR THE END OF CLINTON'S FIRST TERM.

Daniel 10:5-6

Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a

certain man clothed in linen, whose loins [were] girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also [was] like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

WHO WAS THIS THAT DANIEL SAW? WAS IT JESUS? COMPARE THIS DESCRIPTION WITH JOHN'S DESCRIPTION OF JESUS ON THE ISLE OF PATMOS. Revelation 1:13-15 And in the midst of the

seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. COULD IT

BE THAT DANIEL WAS SO BELOVED OF GOD THAT JESUS HIMSELF WOULD COME TO GIVE HIM THE ANSWERS TO HIS PRAYERS?

Daniel 10:10-14

And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and [upon] the palms of my hands.

And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words

were heard, and I am come for thy words.

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief

princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision [is] for [many] days.

COULD IT BE THAT JESUS HIMSELF HAD PERSONALLY BEEN WORKING TO SOFTEN THE HEART OF CYRUS FOR 21 DAYS SINCE DANIEL BEGAN HIS earnest PRAYER. IT SEEMS LOGICAL THAT DANIEL HAD SHOWN CYRUS THE SCRIPTURES OF ISAIAH. PERHAPS CYRUS' INITIAL REJECTION OF THOSE SCRIPTURES IS WHAT CAUSED DANIEL TO BEGIN HIS MOURNING AND earnest PRAYER. PERHAPS CYRUS WAS RESISTING AND JESUS HIMSELF WAS REASONING WITH CYRUS

DURING THOSE 21 DAYS? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Daniel 10:18-21

Then there came again and touched me [one] like the

appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace [be]

unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he

had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and [there is] none

that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael

your prince.

FEAR NOT, PEACE BE UNTO THEE, BE STRONG, YEA BE STRONG.

GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO FEAR. HE WANTS US TO BE STRONG.

Daniel 11:2-4 And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than [they] all: and

by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

THE LORD TELLS DANIEL OF THE RISE AND FALL OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE WHICH WILL BE OVERTHROWN BY ALEXANDER THE GREAT WHO WILL FALL AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS CONQUESTS AND HAVE HIS KINGDOM DIVIDED IN FOUR PARTS. ALEXANDER WAS REPORTED TO HAVE ONLY ABOUT 35,000 SOLDIERS AND ABOUT $75,000 TO START THE WAR WITH PERSIA WHILE THE PERSIAN KING HAD AN ANNUAL INCOME OF ABOUT $11,000,000 AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS. ALL OF ALEXANDER'S 3 WIVES, 2 SONS, HIS BROTHER AND HIS MOTHER WERE MURDERED. PTOLEMY, ALEXANDER'S GENERAL, KING OF THE SOUTH, BECAME STRONG BY ADDING CYPRESS, PHONECIA, CARIA AND CORINTH TO HIS KINGDOM OF EGYPT. THE WARS BETWEEN THE NORTH (SYRIA) AND SOUTH (Egypt) ENDED BY THE MARRIAGE OF BERENICE, WHO WAS PTOLEMY II'S DAUGHTER, TO ANTIOCHUS II, KING OF SYRIA. THE MARRIAGE REQUIRED ANTIOCHUS TO DIVORCE HIS WIFE LAODICE. AFTER THE MARRIAGE ANTIOCHUS BROUGHT BACK LAODICE. LAODICE THEN POISONED BOTH ANTIOCHUS AND BERENICE AND PUT HER SON SELEUCUS II ON THE THRONE. THE EGYPTIAN WOMEN WHO HAD COME WITH BERENICE TRIED TO DEFEND BERENICE WHEN SHE WAS KILLED, AND MANY OF THEM WERE KILLED. THEN BERNEICE'S BROTHER PTOLEMY III INVADED SYRIA. HE KILLED SELEUCUS WHO WAS ALSO KNOWN

AS ANTIOCHUS. THIS WHOLE SECTION IN DANIEL 11:5-30 WHILE RATHER CONFUSING IS ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE IN EVERY

HISTORICAL DETAIL.

Daniel 11:21

And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

MANY BELIEVE THAT THIS VERSE STRONGLY INDICATES THAT THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE A SYRIAN. THE HISTORICAL PERSON IN THIS VERSE WAS ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES. WHEN ROME MADE HIM

STOP SHORT OF CONQUERING EGYPT ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES ATTACKED JERUSALEM. HE KILLED 40,000 JEWS AND SOLD MANY

AS SLAVES. HE BOILED PIGS AND SPRINKLED THIS PIG SOUP IN THE TEMPLE AND ON THE ALTER. HE BROKE INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES AND LOOTED THE GOLDEN VESSELS. HE STOPPED THE JEWISH WORSHIP AND DEDICATED THE TEMPLE TO JUPITER. HIS CONTEMPTIBLE AND ABOMINABLE DEEDS CAUSED THE

MACCABEEAN REVOLT OF THE JEWS.

Daniel 11:32-39

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits].

And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and

by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days.

Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a

little help: but many shall cleave to them with

flatteries. And [some] of them of understanding

shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make [them] white, [even] to the time of the end: because

[it is] yet for a time appointed. And the king shall do

according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god,

whom he shall acknowledge [and] increase with

glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many,

and shall divide the land for gain.

HERE IS WHERE THE TRANSITION IS MADE TO END TIME LAST DAYS PROPHECY WHICH HAS NOT HAD HISTORICAL FULFILLMENT. WE NEED TO BE CAREFULLY WATCHING TO SEE THE DETAILS OF THESE

PROPHECIES UNFOLDING. THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD WILL BE STRONG AND DO EXPLOITS. CAN WE BE CORRUPTED BY FLATTERIES? DOES WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF US MAKE MUCH

DIFFERENCE TO US? DO WE SEEK THE PRAISE OF PEOPLE OR THE APPROVAL OF GOD? WILL WE BE CORRUPTED BY FLATTERIES AND BE SUCKED INTO THE GLOBAL NEW AGE GOVERNMENT AND RELIGIOUS SYSTEM? WILL WE GET SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING SOULS FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? THEY THAT HAVE TRUE UNDERSTANDING AND WISDOM WILL TRY WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT TO INSTRUCT MANY IN THE WAY OF SALVATION. IT WILL COST THEM THEIR FAMILIES AND POSSESSIONS. IT WILL COST THEM THEIR FREEDOM. IT WILL COST MANY OF THESE SAINTS THEIR LIFE. THOSE WHO HAVE TRUE WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING WILL BE TRIED AND TESTED IN GREAT TRIBULATION. ALL THE SAINTS, NOT JUST ISRAEL, WILL EXPERIENCE GREAT TRIBULATION UNLESS PERHAPS THEY ARE NUKED. FEAR NOT,

BE STRONG, AND DO EXPLOITS IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. DO NoT FEAR IT, GET HOLD OF GOD'S PURPOSE AND POWER TO DO EXPLOITS FOR HIS GLORY. ANTICHRIST WILL EXALT HIMSELF AND MAGNIFY HIMSELF ABOVE EVERY GOD. HE WILL SAY UNHEARD-OF THINGS AGAINST ALMIGHTY GOD.

Daniel 11:44-45

But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall

trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great

fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between

the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

FOR A TIME ANTICHRIST WILL APPEAR TO BE INVINCIBLE. BUT HE

WILL BE TROUBLED BY REPORTS FROM THE NORTH AND EAST. THE KINGS OF THE EAST, RED CHINA, TODAY BOASTS OF AN ARMY

OF 200,000,000 SOLDIERS. THIS IS THE EXACT SIZE OF THE EASTERN ARMY JOHN TELLS US ABOUT TO COME AGAINST ANTICHRIST. THE TIME IS DEFINITELY AT HAND. ANTICHRIST WILL SET UP HIS PALACE

IN JERUSALEM. OUR BLESSED HOPE, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL DESTROY HIM AND HIS ARMIES WITH THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS GLORIOUS POWERFUL RETURN.

Daniel 12:1

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same

time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

WHO ARE DANIEL'S PEOPLE AT THE TIME OF THE END? THEY ARE JEWS WHO KNOW MESSIAH JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR. WHAT ABOUT NEBUCHADNEZZAR, CYRUS, Darius, AND NEBUZARADAN ARE THEY NOT ALSO DANIEL'S PEOPLE? THESE PEOPLE WERE NOT JEWS BUT DANIEL WON THEM TO HIS GOD BY HIS WITNESS. THEY TOO ARE DANIEL'S PEOPLE. EVERYONE WHO SHALL BE FOUND WRITTEN IN

THE BOOK SHALL BE DELIVERED. WHAT BOOK IS THIS?

Philippians 4:3 ......and [with] other my fellowlabourers, whose names [are] in the book of

life.

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth

shall worship him, whose names are not written in

the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of

fire.

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

MUCH MORE THAN ISRAEL IS REFERRED TO IN THESE VERSES. WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT IN REALITY IS THE BODY OF CHRIST. JESUS

SAID HE WOULD ALWAYS BE WITH US TILL THE END AND EVEN THE GATES OF HELL COULD NOT PREVAIL AGAINST HIS CHURCH. WHEN

ANY JEW ACCEPTS JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD HE

BECOMES PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST AND HIS NAME IS THEN ENTERED INTO THE LAMBS BOOK OF LIFE. CHRISTIANS, MUST BE MADE AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY AND PROBABILITY THAT WE WILL EXPERIENCE THE GREAT TRIBULATION. IS OUR NAME WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE? WILL THE GREAT TRIBULATION CAUSE IT TO

BE BLOTTED OUT? HOW WILL ANTICHRIST WAGE WAR ON THE SAINTS? YOU CAN'T VERY WELL WAGE WAR ON SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN RAPTURED OUT. THE RAPTURE WILL OCCUR AT THE END OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION COINCIDENTALLY WITH THE GLORIOUS POWERFUL RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. IS OUR FAITH GREATER THAN OUR FEAR OF TRIBULATION? IS OUR FAITH GROWING OR SHRINKING? WILL WE BE STRONG, COURAGEOUS, AND DO EXPLOITS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD BY THE POWER OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT? WILL WE BE SUCKED INTO THE GLOBAL NEW AGE GOVERNMENT AND RELIGIOUS SYSTEM OF ANTICHRIST?

Daniel 12:2-4

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the

stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of

the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

THE APOSTLE PAUL TOLD ABOUT THIS MYSTERY WHEN THE DEAD IN CHRIST WOULD RISE. IT HAPPENS AT THE TIME OF THE END JUST BEFORE THE RAPTURE COINCIDENT WITH OUR BLESSED HOPE THE

POWERFUL GLORIOUS RETURN OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. IT IS HIGH TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING SOULS. WE MAY BE THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO COULD EVER FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ENTIRE BOOK OF DANIEL. DANIEL WAS TOLD TO SEAL UP THE BOOK UNTIL THE TIME OF THE END. DON'T PUT TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE IN OLD COMMENTARIES ON DANIEL. PARTS OF DANIEL'S BOOK WERE SEALED TO ALL BUT

THOSE READING IT WHEN IT WAS THE TIME OF THE END. READ IT FREQUENTLY ASKING GOD BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO OPEN IT. IT WILL BE OPEN AND BEAUTIFULLY SIMPLE IF IT IS THE TIME OF THE END. AT THE TIME OF THE END MANY SHALL RUN TO AND FRO AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED. THAT IS MORE TRUE TODAY THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN.

Daniel 12:8-12

And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things]?

And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed [is] he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

THE WORDS ARE CLOSED AND SEALED UP TILL THE TIME OF THE END. WE ARE TO BE TRIED AND PERHAPS GIVE OUR LIFE TO TRY TO BRING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE WAY OF SALVATION. WHEN ANTICHRIST SETS UP THE ABOMINATION IN THE TEMPLE THERE WILL BE a maximum of 1290 DAYS left. GOD WOULD HAVE US NOT FEAR AND BE STRONG AND PATIENT IN TRIBULATION.

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