Daniel
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DANIEL
“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.” Daniel 12:4
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Table of Contents DANIEL ............................................................................................................................................................................................. i Table of Contents................................................................................................................................................................. ii Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Author and Title .............................................................................................................................................................. 1 Date....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Theme .................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Key Themes ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Distinctive Features ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose, Occasion, and Background ..................................................................................................................... 18 History of Salvation Summary................................................................................................................................. 32 Outline ............................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 1 – A Captive in Babylon’s Royal Court / Daniel’s test to be Prophet ........................................ 34 Captivity of Jerusalem | Babylonian Captivity (1-2)....................................................................................... 34 Babylonian Education (3-7) ..................................................................................................................................... 43 Test of Daniel and Three Hebrew Friends (8-16) ........................................................................................... 52 Honor of Daniel and His Friends (17-21) ........................................................................................................... 58 Chapter 2 – The King Dreams of Empires ............................................................................................................... 62 Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream (1-13) ........................................................................................................................... 62 The Dream ....................................................................................................................................................................... 70 The Interpretation ........................................................................................................................................................ 70 Dream Revealed to Daniel (14-30) ........................................................................................................................ 72 Telling the Dream (31-45) ........................................................................................................................................ 80 Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God (46-49) ................................................................................................ 110 Chapter 3 – Faith of Daniel’s friends (the Fiery Furnace) ............................................................................. 113 Nebuchadnezzar forces worship of golden image (1-7)............................................................................ 115 Daniel’s friends refuse to worship (8-12) ....................................................................................................... 124 Punishment by Fiery Furnace (13-23) ............................................................................................................. 126 God’s protection of Daniel’s friends (24-27) .................................................................................................. 133 Three Faithful Hebrew Boys Delivered (28-30) ........................................................................................... 135 Chapter 4 – Nebuchadnezzar’s Conversion (Testimony) .............................................................................. 141 Purpose of Writing His Testimony (1-3).......................................................................................................... 143 Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a tree (4-18) ............................................................................................... 144 Interpretation of the Dream (19-28) ................................................................................................................. 147 Fulfillment of the dream (29-33) ........................................................................................................................ 151 Nebuchadnezzar praises and acknowledges God (34-37) ....................................................................... 154 Chapter 5 – Destruction of Babylon (Babylon’s Close of Probation) ........................................................ 156 Belshazzar’s feast (1-4) ........................................................................................................................................... 163 Writing on the wall (5-6) ........................................................................................................................................ 166 Search for interpretation (7-17) ......................................................................................................................... 167 Daniel explains purpose for words (18-23) ................................................................................................... 169 Daniel gives interpretation (24-29) ................................................................................................................... 170 Medo-Persia conquers Babylon (30-31) .......................................................................................................... 171 Chapter 6 – Infallible Decree against Daniel ....................................................................................................... 183 Daniel made first president (1-3) ....................................................................................................................... 183 Plot and decree against Daniel (4-15)............................................................................................................... 183 Daniel thrown in lion’s den (16-19)................................................................................................................... 190 God delivers Daniel (20-24) .................................................................................................................................. 191 Darius decree to acknowledge God (25-28) ................................................................................................... 194
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Chapter 7 – Judgment & the Little Horn ............................................................................................................... 196 Four beasts and the little horn (1-8) ................................................................................................................. 197 Judgment and God’s kingdom (9-14) ................................................................................................................ 231 Further explanation on the little horn (15-28) ............................................................................................. 241 Chapter 8 – The 2300 Day Prophecy...................................................................................................................... 248 Vision at Shushan (1-2) ........................................................................................................................................... 249 The Ram (3-4) ............................................................................................................................................................. 249 The He-goat (5-8) ...................................................................................................................................................... 250 The Little horn (9-12) .............................................................................................................................................. 251 Cleansing of the sanctuary (13-14) .................................................................................................................... 275 The Interpretation of the prophecy (15-27) .................................................................................................. 280 Chapter 9 – The Seventy Weeks ............................................................................................................................... 293 Daniel’s Prayer (1-20) ............................................................................................................................................. 293 The coming of the Messiah (21-27) ................................................................................................................... 298 Chapter 10 – Spiritual warfare for rebuilding of Jerusalem ......................................................................... 334 Vision of Hiddekel (1-9) .......................................................................................................................................... 334 The Great Controversy (10-13) ........................................................................................................................... 337 Explanation of the vision (14-28) ....................................................................................................................... 339 Chapter 11 – The King of the North ........................................................................................................................ 341 History of Medo-Persia (1-2) ................................................................................................................................ 342 History of Greece (3-15) ......................................................................................................................................... 346 History of Pagan Rome (16-30) ........................................................................................................................... 353 Transition from Pagan to Papal Rome (30-31) ............................................................................................. 358 Papacy | A.D. 538 – 1798 (32-39) ....................................................................................................................... 363 The Papacy restored | 1798 A.D. – End of time (40-45) ............................................................................ 368 Chapter 12 – Establishment of God’s kingdom .................................................................................................. 392 Close of probation and Second Coming (1-3) ................................................................................................ 392 Seal up the words (4-10) ........................................................................................................................................ 399 1290 and 1335 day prophecies (11-13) .......................................................................................................... 403
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Introduction Author and Title The book of Daniel, named after and written by Daniel in the sixth century b.c., records the events of his life and the visions that he saw from the time of his exile in 605 (1:1) until the third year of King Cyrus (536; 10:1). Daniel, whose name means “God is my Judge,” was a young man of noble blood who was exiled from Judah during the time of King Jehoiakim (609–597 b.c.) and lived thereafter at the Babylonian court. After the fall of the Babylonian Empire, he served the Medo-Persian Empire that succeeded it.
Date Both Jewish and Christian (cf. Matt. 24:15) tradition have held that the author of this book is Daniel, a Jew who lived during the sixth-century b.c. Babylonian exile. Many of the chapters are dated and range from the first year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign (605 b.c.; Dan. 1:1) to Cyrus's third year (536; 10:1). Some have doubted the ligitmacy of the date of Daniel, because it so accurately predicted the future of succeeding empires. In the first place, current knowledge of sixth-century b.c. history is far from complete, and there are plausible harmonizations that explain the alleged discrepancies. Second, the Bible asserts clearly that the Lord announces ahead of time his plans through his prophets as a means of vindicating his sovereignty and encouraging his people (see Isa. 41:21–24; 44:6–7), and there is no reason in principle why such prophecies should not be detailed and precise. Some people, who allow in principle that God can foretell events, nevertheless suggest that such detailed foretelling is unparalleled in the rest of the canonical prophets, and that it cannot be reconciled with the usual purpose of prediction (namely, that the first audience should be faithful to the covenant). In reply, note that Jeremiah did give a specific amount of time for the exile (Jer. 25:11). Further, the high degree of specificity in Daniel's prophecies does serve its first audience as well as those to follow: this shows how carefully God has planned events and governs them for his perfect ends; therefore the faithful can recognize that none of their troubles take God by surprise, and none will derail his purpose of vindicating those who steadfastly love him. This is quite relevant to the people of God in Daniel's day, who are on the verge of horrendous devastations and persecutions; they must be assured that the story will continue to its appointed fulfillment, so that they do not lose heart.
Theme The central theme of the book of Daniel is God's sovereignty over history and empires, setting up and removing kings as he pleases (2:21; 4:34–37). All of the kingdoms of this world will come to an end and will be replaced by the Lord's kingdom, which will never pass away (2:44; 7:27). Though trials and difficulties will continue for the saints up until the end, those who are faithful will be raised to glory, honor, and everlasting life in this final kingdom (12:1–3). The theme comes from the name. ‘Dan’ = Judge ‘iel’ = God. Put together it means God is my Judge.
Key Themes 1. It is possible to live a faithful life in exile, surrounded by pagan influences and propaganda, if one sets one's mind to serving the Lord wholeheartedly (ch. 1). 2. God can vindicate his faithful servants in front of pagan rulers by giving them unusual wisdom and insight into divine mysteries and by miraculously protecting them against the
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enmity of their pagan neighbors (chs. 2; 3; 6). Nevertheless, divine rescue from martyrdom cannot be assumed (3:16–18). 3. God humbles the proud and raises up the humble; even the hearts of the greatest kings are under his control (chs. 4; 5). 4. This world will be a place of torment and persecution for the saints until the end, getting worse and worse rather than better and better (chs. 2; 7). Yet the Lord will judge the kingdoms of this world and bring them to an end, replacing them with his own kingdom that will never end. This kingdom will be ruled by “one like a son of man” who “comes with the clouds,” a figure who combines the distinctive traits of humanity and divinity (7:13). 5. God is sovereign over the course of history, even over those who rebel against him and seek to destroy his people (ch. 8). 6. The exile was not the end of Israel's history of rebellion and judgment. In the future, Israel would again transgress against the Lord, and Jerusalem would be handed over into the power of her enemies, who would trample her temple and do abominable things (chs. 8; 9; 12). Eventually, though, the anointed ruler would come to deliver her from her sins (9:24– 27). 7. These earthly events are mirrors of a great cosmic conflict in the heavenly realms between angelic forces of good and evil (ch. 10). Prayer is a significant weapon in that conflict (9:23). 8. God rules over all of these conflicts and events, he limits their scope, and he has a precise timetable for the trials of the saints to be completed, when he will finally intervene to cleanse and deliver his people (ch. 12). 9. In the meantime, the saints must be patient and faithful amid a hostile world, looking to the Lord alone for deliverance (11:33–35).
Distinctive Features Studying the Book of Daniel This book contains essential messages specially for the last generation. As we study the book of Daniel, we will see the present and future events in the history. We will see the prophecy fulfilled, fulfilling, and to fulfill. And before we get into the book, we will look on some tools that will be helpful throughout our studies. Right tool can help us to be most effective. Most of the text you see in this report is displayed as text flowing from one line to the next across the page, within the margins of the page, such as the text in this paragraph. RH November 10, 1896 As a people and as individuals we need to have a deeper sense of our duty to God and our responsibility to the world. There should be more earnest study of the Scriptures. I have been deeply impressed with the importance of studying the book of Daniel in connection with the smaller prophets, especially Malachi. And we need to give careful attention also to the lessons taught in the building of the tabernacle and the temple, and in the temple service. Through the prophets God has given a delineation of what will come to pass in the last days of this earth's history, and the Jewish economy is full of instruction for us. RH February 4, 1902 In the night season I was in my dreams in a large meeting, with ministers, their wives, and their children. I wondered that the company present was mostly made up of ministers and their families. The prophecy of Malachi was brought before them in connection with Daniel, Zephaniah, Haggai, and Zechariah. The teaching of these books was carefully investigated. The building of the temple, and the temple service, were considered. There was close searching of the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Scriptures in regard to the sacred character of all that appertained to the temple service. Through the prophets, God has given a delineation of what will come to pass in the last days of this earth's history; and the Jewish economy is full of instruction for us. TM 112 The light that Daniel received from God was given especially for these last days. The visions he saw by the banks of the Ulai and the Hiddekel, the great rivers of Shinar, are now in process of fulfillment, and all the events foretold will soon come to pass.
Ulai = Dan 8, Hiddekel = Dan 10 There are many misconceptions and misapplications on this book; this chapter will go through what God is wanting to say to us through the book of Daniel. Matt 24:14, 15 [14] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. [15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Jesus is speaking. He is recommending to study Daniel in order to understand this prophecy. “Whose readeth” – Whoever is searching for the true meaning of the Bible. Those who are seeking to understand what God has for them in the future. These will understand. This is a similar statement as to in Revelation. Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Blessings to those who read, hear, and keep the words of the prophecy. We should then read, hear, and study. People say we’re not supposed to understand Daniel and Revelation; they say it is too mystical and we cannot really understand but Jesus recommended book of Daniel and also gives us a similar blessing in Revelation. “Let him understand” – special meaning behind this Rev 13:18 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.
Jesus mentioned for those who have “understanding” to count. Understanding is closely related to the word “hear.” Rev 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Same as “he that readeth, let him understand.” Is it unusual for someone to have an ear? It is pretty common. Everyone has an ear and everyone should understand what the Spirit has to say. Does everyone understand spiritual things? No, you need spiritual discernment to understand spiritual things. God wants those who are searching after spiritual understanding—this is why He puts in as if it is hidden. He wants to reveal these things to those searching after it. This is a crucial condition to understanding the books of Daniel and Revelation. Jesus makes it clear for those who read will understand. Those who read, hear, and keep will receive a blessing. Those who have understanding will count. Those who have an ear to hear what God is saying. It is a searching spirit within to understand! http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Matt 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Same as in Revelation. What kind of situation did Jesus use this? Parable instructions. These contain symbolic terminology. Jesus is saying if you are really searching for spiritual discernment, you will understand and be able to hear what He is saying. This is the preparation to understand the books of Daniel and Revelation. Matt 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Why did Jesus speak these in parables? #1—To protect the truth from the people whom He is rebuking. The books of Daniel and Revelation are full of symbols to protect truth from His enemies. #2—Easy to remember/understand. If you have spiritual discernment and know the meaning behind it. Without spiritual discernment, you will not understand What is the problem of Daniel and Revelation? They’re easy to understand if we have spiritual discernment and right tools to unlock the mysteries. We can have confidence in reading Daniel and Revelation! Some people object, saying that we cannot be sure how to understand these books. How can you be sure you’re right? Why cannot people understand these books? They don’t desire to search them or they don’t have spiritual discernment. Ellen White says if we study these books rightly, we would have spiritual revival in our church. Studying these books are vitally important for our church. We have the responsibility of giving the right interpretation of these books to the people. Let’s look at book of Daniel; only an overview or big picture. Daniel has 12 chapter. Six chapters contain stories the other six contain prophecies. There is one chapter, however, which has a prophecy in the first 6 (chapter 2) and there is one chapter which has a story (chapter 10), but basically, you can cut the book in half. Revelation is not formatted this way. There is no story of John so where to get his story? In the Gospels is his story and his epistles and in the Acts of the Apostles. So the writer or characteristics of him is as important as the prophecies of the book. We need to understand Daniel to understand the prophecies in Daniel. We need to understand John to understand the prophecies in Revelation. Of course, we need to understand Jesus—this is what these are about. The six stories are very important not just bedtime stories. In some ways, they are more important than the prophecies. Prophecy will tell you WHAT will take place in the future. The six stories will tell you HOW they will take place and fulfilled in the future. This is a very important format—example of preaching: You cannot just preach on what truth is. You need to give how to experience the truth we need to know how to know truth. There has to be analytical, intellectual aspect and practical, personal application in your sermon, then it is complete. So as in Daniel, it is intellectual—foretelling the future in details, pinpointing them; then the stories tell of the experience of Daniel in Babylon and Medo-Persian—it explains what kind of experience we will have when these prophecies will be fulfilled. In one way, all of the chapters are prophecies. Stories have prophetic meaning in terms of history repeating itself. Ecc 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
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What took place in the past will take place in the future. Nothing new with what happens. Everything repeats itself—history repeats itself. Ecc 3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
God requires something from us—what is it? The past.This doesn’t mean that we should go back to our past sins and grieve over our lives and be sorrowful. Jesus is saying study the history of what took place in the past because it will happen again in the future. What is now has already happened in the past. So we can look into the future by looking at the past history—it becomes PROPHETIC HISTORY; if we don’t know the past we are blind to the future This is why Daniel and Revelation requires the study of history—we will be able to appreciate it more as you study it through Daniel and Revelation—we will understand WHY and HOW things took place this makes history exciting. Many people tell history of what happened, but usually they ever tell why. We have a very important tool we can apply in the stories of chapters 1 – 6: HISTORY REPEATS. In chapter one, two—we can almost see future events taking place Jesus used this method: Matt 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Jesus is giving us a classic example of what will happen in the future. What took place in the days of Noah will take place before the coming of Christ. What took place? Matt 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
People eating, drinking, giving in marriage this was daily routine. When these things happened, Noah entered the ark, and probation closed while people were doing everyday activities seven days later, the rain came. The coming of the rain is like the Second Coming in some ways. We’ll look at days of Noah and see how we can apply them to the Coming of Christ. Who is Noah? (Start thinking of the connection of Daniel and Revelation—take what Jesus said and apply to Revelation). Thee 144,000, overcomers, preachers of repentance. Noah was a preacher, he preached about repentance. The Bible calls him a preacher of righteousness 2 Pet 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
What else did Noah do? He built an ark, preached righteousness, had a family. These 3 things tell us about Noah, how can we apply his life to the book of Revelation? where do we have preaching righteousness and repentance? The three angel’s message. This is the message of righteousness. Rev 14:6-13 [6] And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, [7] Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. [8] And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. [9] And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, [10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: [11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. [12] Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. [13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
“Hour of judgment is come” – the reason why, the warning of judgment to come “Patience of the saints” – Noah was patient “Faith of Jesus” – did Noah have faith? Yes Who is Noah at end of time? Noah is like those who give the three angel’s message. The work of the third Elijah is turning hearts of children and fathers. Heavenly Father to earthly children but union in the home this is a family matter. Noah built an ark which means to “gather.” Jesus while ministering in the Most Holy Place for us before ark of covenant. When you think of this, the ark represents something about the sanctuary message, the antitypical Day of Atonement. Noah is represented as those who give the 3 angel messages. What were the other conditions during the time of Noah? Eating and drinking which refers appetite. Giving in marriage has to deal with passions. At end of time, people will be under control of their appetite and passions. People will not know when probation has closed, they will not be prepared. Righteous won’t know, but only they will be prepared when the last door of mercy is shut. They won’t be under control of their appetites and passions. In the story of Noah the door was shut, seven days later the rain came. In Revelation after probation closes, then 7 last plagues and then Jesus comes back. What happens in days of Noah (characteristics) will be repeated in last days. Not exactly but there will be similar characteristics. Preaching righteousness by faith, warning the world and Prepare for the gathering (ark). In this way, history will be repeated Question: How much of the details will take place in the future for application? Remember, the book of Daniel gives you history but the Bible itself doesn’t give you every detail at that time. The Bible is chosen and selects the important detail. If every detail of history was written, the Bible would be very long. Daniel wrote those things which were essential to you and I. Not every detail will specifically repeat at the end of time. The history the Bible that has been collected and recorded will be repeated but not in exact order. Literal Babylon won’t be conquering the world. We won’t bow down to statue, but some will give honor to the “image of the beast.” We may or may not be thrown into lions’ den. Similar characteristics will take place and we must understand these things God tells us these stories first to prepare our minds to study and understand the prophecies of Daniel. God tells them to us first. So the answer is that many things and much things. Certain key words which tell us: Daniel was taken to Babylon in the first captivity in 605 B.C. According to EGW, Daniel was a captive in Babylon at the age of 15. It was a long way from Israel to Babylon and it took about 6 months to travel across the desert. On the way to Babylon, they were castrated. How do we know? Because they were to be eunuchs. Why were they chosen? They were descended from royal blood. 2nd Captivity was 597 BC and 3rd captivity was 586 http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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BC. Daniel lived through 2 eras – Babylonian and Medo-Persian as we will see whilst we study later chapters. Daniel and Revelation are closely tied together. Daniel is the only book in the OT that God says to shut up – Daniel 12:9 and Revelation is the book in the NT where God says to seal not the sayings of prophesy for the time is at hand – Rev 22:10. So whilst the prophecies of Daniel were sealed until a certain time, God used Revelation to the explain Daniel and vice versa at the appointed time. Many times, the name of the book has a lot of meaning and sometimes contains the main theme. The name Daniel in Hebrew has 2 parts – ‘Dan’ = Judge + ‘iel’ = God. Together it means God is my Judge. The theme of Daniel is judgment. All throughout it reveals God as the judge. Babylon means confusion or mixing. This judgment is a distinction between good and evil. Jesus also said “God is my Judge”. 1 Peter 2:23. Means He will not do the act of revenge. The theme is best summed up in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. We will come back to this text from time to time. Comparisons between Daniel and John the revelator: DANIEL Prophet of OT Part of old kingdom of Israel Called by God at a young age Reveals overview of prophecy till end of time
JOHN Prophet of NT Part of Israel, the church Called by God at a young age Expands and reveals more detail at the end of Daniel’s prophecies
Textbooks You don’t have to read every single book. But these are the recommended books to help you in your further studies.
KJV Bible
The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White
The King of the North by Louise Weir
Daniel the Prophet by Stephen N. Haskells
Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith
Sanctified Life by Ellen G. White
Prophets and Kings by Ellen G. White
Daniel and Revelation by Ellen G. White (Compiled)
Daniel and Revelation Compilation (Bible texts with blank pages).
Bible Dictionary
Sacred Chronology by Sylvester Bliss
The Great Empires of Prophecy by A.T. Jones
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You don’t have to read every single book. But these are the recommended books to help you in your further studies. 1. Bible – Make sure you get your Bible read. Make sure you read the Bible first, then go to SOP second. 2. SOP – You can’t get any better than prophet telling you what it means. 3. Other References – Ellen White primarily she is dealing with character. Very rarely would she ever get into dates, names, and places. But like Uriah Smith, he is a historian. Naturally he will get into dates, names, and places. You need the history. It’s the fulfillment of prophecy. Prophecy cannot be fully understood without the history. Get the balance of two.
Making a Daniel Commentary It will be helpful to use Daniel and Revelation Compilation. Instruction below is given in assumption of using Daniel and Revelation Compilation. 1. Segmenting – Segment the Bible verses by topic. You can have several texts that holds the same topic or theme together. Then, put your subtitle for it. For example, v 1-2 Attack of Babylon. 2. Commenting – Then on the blank page, under the subtitle, you can write your own comment regarding to the verses. Major points from your class note can be written there. Or if you have other thoughts, or insights, you may also write that down. 3. SOP Quotations – Along your SOP reading, take powerful statements regarding to the verses, and write down the book, page, and summary of the quotation. If the quotation is short enough, you may write the whole quotation down. 4. Other sources – If you have historical background or other useful information, write down the book, pages, and summary of the information. BSM: There are some verses that just don’t need to be commented on; it’s so obvious, so plain. Then there are other verses that are significant, they are saying something. “Daniel purposed in his heart.” How do we know what is the key text? It will be so obvious from the context of the story, and whatever the Holy Spirit impresses you to do. As you go on the SOP, when she stops and explains on the text, that tells you something. You better pay attention.
Purpose in Studying Daniel To Establish the Correct Historical School Historicism is the only true means of understanding the prophetic writings of Daniel. There are several types of schools of prophetic understanding, but only one is right. Don’t get the idea that you can simply glean little from of this and little from of that trying to blend together and trying to make it right. There is no such thing in gleaning from truth and error and trying to put it together and still have the truth. That does not happen! Truth only comes from unadulterated truth! One of the great issues we are having in our church today is over prophecy. Adventist are being hooked, sunk, and lying, and sinker into this false concepts of prophecy. Personally I believe that one of the reasons why we are having this problems are first of all, we lost our identity as a people. We don’t even know who we are anymore! We claim to be Seventh-Day Adventists, but we don’t even have understanding of what that means! Some people say that we as a Seventh-day God’s people, we are http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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not the remnant, remnant is God’s people all over the world in other churches. That’s ridiculous! There is no way in the world they can be the remnant. Rev 12:17 dragon was wroth with the woman…, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev 19:10 having the testimony of Jesus Christ = Sprit of Prophecy. Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints… keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. Isa 58:12,13 …Keeping the Sabbath. Mal 4:5 end time movement = talking about the Elijah movement.
The remnant is that those who Keep the commandments of God and having the spirit of Prophecy and keeping the Sabbath and there will be an Elijah movement! Don’t tell me that the church out there, the people out there are that!!! There is no way!!! We as a church lost our identity, we’ve forgotten who we are!!! WE ARE THE REMNANT!!! God is trying to prepare us that in our life will be ready to be straight so we can give calls those out there to come out of the Babylon. And once they come out and join the rank, they may become the remnant, but not until then! We lost our identity. We as a SDA church, we are born out of prophecy, did you know that? Our mother is prophecy and we’ve got only one father. It’s either Historicism, or Futurism, or Preterism. And one that can conceive us is Historicism. But Adventists, we don’t know that we are loosing it! It’s because we lost our identity! Because we lost our message! Very few SDA’s can explain our message. And if that’s the case, then why are you a Seventh-day Adventist? Isn’t it foolish to join something you don’t even know what you are joining and why you are joining? Would you get married to someone you don’t know why you are getting married to? “Why are you getting married with her?” “Well, I don’t know. Um…well, I just thought it’s nice thing to do.” That’s not going to help you any. Being an Adventist, you do as well as what others do, that doesn’t save you! Like Jews, “My father is Abraham!” Jesus says, “Oh, is that right? Do you see those stones? I can raise them make the seed of Abraham.” Matt 3:9. So our desire in this course is to establish the correct historical school or prophetic school of interpretation which is historicism. Once we establish that we can proceed in our investigation. Specially when you deal with the theology, whatever subject you are dealing with, you have a cause and effect relationship. And your effect is based on the cause. Whatever premise you work off of, I don’t care how slightly in error you may be, but inevitably some point in time that error will show up somewhere in your effects as you go on in your theology. So we should spend as much time as possible to establish our feet on the correct premise. And from that point on, we proceed the investigation.
To Have a Deeper Religious Experience We used bullets instead of numbers when making points involving no particular progression. TM 114 When the books of Daniel and Revelation are better understood, believers will have an entirely different religious experience.
That experience is based on the correct understanding. I have seen people having totally different religious experience, but that doesn’t mean that they had the right experience. You may have totally
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different religious experience but that doesn’t mean that experience is right. We want the correct experience, and the way that happens is by the correct understanding. It’s sad that we got many people in Adventist church that they are hook in line and sunk into this Futurism. And they are having different experience, totally different than what they had before. But dominating spirit that we see in lot of this people is almost fanatical and radical. And it’s almost as if they cannot reason from cause to effect. It’s tragedy! When you begin to give your mind over to another spirit, you cannot reason correctly. And the plainest statement can be put before your face, some how you just don’t see it. We just got to be careful, and pray to God that we don’t fall into that track. We want to gain this entire different religious experience, but the right one! And it comes by the correct understanding of Daniel and Revelation.
To Share What We Believe Many people don’t know why they believe and what they believe. Right now if I would ask you what is the mark of the beast in the Bible, you would say “the Sunday law.” Now, could you prove that from the Bible? The answer is correct. But the evidence is not there to base that answer. Therefore you only know what you know not by your own experience, but because you only heard from someone else. That kind of knowledge is not going to help you. That’s superficial knowledge. That’s surface believers anchored nowhere when the storm comes. The anchor needs to be established. 1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 2T 634 Many who profess to believe the truth for these last days will be found wanting. They have neglected the weightier matters. Their conversion is superficial, not deep, earnest, and thorough. They do not know why they believe the truth, only because others have believed it, and they take it for granted that it is the truth. They can give no intelligent reason why they believe. Many have allowed their minds to be filled with things of minor importance, and their eternal interest is made secondary.
Hopefully by the grace of God, you will, for yourself, experience in the truth in the book of Daniel. Once you do that, you can share with ease and conviction. Don’t simply repeat the words of another person! You got to do the study! You got to do the investigation! You got to do the thinking! You got to start explaining what does this book mean! I can say this is true and this is false, and yes, that’s good and fantastic, but you don’t learn anything! You got to know yourself why this is right and this is wrong! And you got to be able to explain it. You got to know! It’s time for us to know what we believe from the Bible and SOP! It’s time, it’s time! Our school system nowadays is literally pathetic! They are not educating our students! You go back to the old pioneer stuff and look up how they educated academy students. If I showed it to you today, you would have problem and say, “We can’t handle it!!” They used to teach their children with the Bible and Scriptures, and in Academy little deeper. By the time they got to their college, they were learning really deep things! The Protestant Reformation & 3 Schools of Bible Interpretation This chapter covers some prophetic principles of interpretation. This will give a background. You have three main schools of interpretation. They are historicism, futurism, and preterism. These are the three basic schools that are in the religious world, in Christianity. And this describes how they approach there understanding of prophecy. (Or how they interpret prophecy.) We will not get into the minute details of these things. We will as time goes on. Three schools of prophetic interpretation. Historicism,Futurism, and Preterism. As you look at history, you see interesting things developing in church history in regards to prophecy. This http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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happened during the 16th century. Two men dominated the world at this time in a sense and their influence is felt to this day. We are laying the ground with that led up to the captivity of the Babylon. This is what brought up the captivity. It helps us to see the full picture, the full impact of the prophecy of the book of Daniel. You don’t get lost in your house. Because you lived enough that you know well about it. But you do get lost sometimes in other people’s house. You open the door and it’s a closet. You get embarrassed. Same thing, more you know about the Bible, less chance you will get lost. If you don’t know the Bible enough, you open the door, and it’s a closet, and you get embarrassed. We need to know people, where they were, what they did. The more we can learn, the better we will know the Bible, better it will help us to understand the message. There are three major schools in interpreting the Bible prophecy.
Historicism* – reinforced by Martin Luther
* Martin Luther the German Reformer is not the founder of Historicism. Early Church Fathers who learned if from the apostles already used this method. For example, in 2Thes, the prophecy of “the man of sin.” Paul describes that there is someone withholding the man of sin to come up, and when he (that someone who is withholding) is taken out of the way, the anti-Christ can appear. And early church fathers over and over again recorded that they saw that hindering power to be Pagan Rome. Once Pagan Rome is fall, they knew that anti-Christ would come. (1) Martin Luther (German Reformer) – It is attributed to him as being the founder of the historicist school of interpretation. But in reality Luther re-discovered the doctrine of historicism. The church at large lost it, like many other truths have been lost. Note: It is interesting when you look at many of the church fathers… Book Source: Romanism and Reformation from the standpoint of prophecy by Ginnis(church father, protestant Author from England) Deals with the prophecies of Daniel, John, and Paul (first part). Interpretation of the church fathers before the reformers (second part). Interpretation of the reformers, then those who came after the reformers (third part). And he documents that Luther is not the founder, he just re-discovered what the early church fathers had already seen in a historical way of looking at it. Ex. 2 Thess the prophecy of the man of sin, and Paul says someone is hindering or withholding the man of sin from coming, and when he – the one who is withholding man of sin from coming, when he is taken out of the way then antichrist can appear. The early church fathers recorded over and over again that they saw that hindering power to be pagan Rome. They knew that once Pagan Rome would fall, they knew Antichrist was coming. They knew that. Ginnis says many of the early church fathers prayed for the Caesars to continue their reign to postpone the rise of antichrist. They were of the historical school of understanding, not the futurism or preterism.
Futurism – found by Francisco Ribera & Robert Bellarmine
Preterism – found by Luis De Alacazar
** Both Futurism and Preterism were found by Jesuits. In that sense, Ignatius Lussian, who is the founder of Jesuit, is the father of two. These two men (Marin Luther/Ignatius**) literally changed http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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the world. You and I live on repercussion based on what these men have done. The whole social, political, economical, religious realm of this world rotates around the concept of these two men. One person can make profound difference, which can affect people for century to come. Futurism & Preterism. (2) Ignatius DeLoyola (came from this town, not his last name). He didn't develop these views, but he was the founder of the institution that brought these views out. He established the Society of Jesus known as the Jesuits. These two men have literally altered and changed the world. We live today based upon the repercussions of what these two men have done. Society rotates around the concepts of these two men. The whole social, economic, political, and religious realm is a product of these two men. Protestant Reformation. There are two principles that caused the reformation to be born. Christ and His salvation (Gospel). Antichrist. Martin Luther had a great problem with guilt and relieving his conscience. He tried to relieve it by many means such as affliction. He couldn't find salvation through this. He was afflicted severely for the rest of his life. God lead him to the Bible where he began to investigate Romans, Galatians, and Psalms. And he discovered the gospel. This is the first way God worked in the protestant reformation. Luther began to discover Christ and His salvation. This was before 1517 when he nailed the 95 thesis on the door of the cathedral at Wittenberg. No true reformation can truly succeed unless Jesus is the foundation. If Christ is not the pillar you build upon, even if you have truth it is wrong. You can establish truth, but if it is not built upon Jesus, it is truth taken out of context in it’s proper relation to Jesus. The second aspect was the Prophecies of Antichrist. On these principles, the gospel and the prophecies antichrist the reformation was born. The prophecies of antichrist without Jesus is nothing more than a bunch of facts and figures and names, dates etc. Unless you have Jesus as the foundation of these prophecies then you see the true nature and function and purpose of these prophecies, and then you see why God talks about it so much. He came across Revelation 17. Here we see a prostitute or the harlot. It is symbolic. She is mingling in fornication with the kings of the earth. Fornication is an unholy alliance between two parties. Here you have a woman the church uniting with the state. God has never sanctioned the church uniting with the state therefore it becomes spiritual fornication. The papacy has the classic setup of the uniting of church and state. Through this union they enforced the dogmas of the church upon the people. Luther saw this and saw her being robed in purple and red, the colors of the bishops and cardinals. She was decked with precious pearls. He saw the bishops being rich by consuming the wealth of the people. V.6 says she is drunk with the blood of the saints. And she saw her sitting on seven mountains. So Luther looked at the gospel and the prophecies of antichrist and said you don’t match up with the gospel. You match up with the prophecies of antichrist. And he nailed the Catholic Church as the antichrist of Bible prophecy by using the prophecies of Daniel, Paul, and John. Rev 17 was one of the most powerful prophecies that the reformers ever used to prove it. Rev 17 & 18 must be read together. After you finish with the harlot woman, it says (in Rev 18:1-5) come out of her. And this is what Luther began to preach. Not at first because he didn’t have any attention to leave the Church of Rome, but by the year 1520 he clearly saw that the RCC was the antichrist, there is no question from the writings we have from historians he said at one point “I can’t doubt it any longer.” He didn't believe this at first but as time went on he preached this. And Luther with other Protestant reformers began to call people out of the Church of Rome.
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It wasn't until God revealed the prophecies of Antichrist that would cause the people to leave Rome. Under the concept of the gospel they could not see clearly the importance of leaving Rome. Because Rome taught that salvation is found in the church. So if you leave the church you cannot be saved, you are dammed to hell. This is what Catholics believe today. If we don't become Catholics we will be lost there is not hope for us. But as Luther began to peach the gospel their minds were opened to the truth of salvation. The people rejoiced but the Church of Rome didn't. This attacked one of the pillars of their faith, known as the doctrine of indulgences salvation by works. They began to get furious and persecute Luther. And he couldn’t figure it out at first, why am I being persecuted? And it wasn’t until he was led to the prophecies of Daniel, John, and Paul, and the he could see why. When these prophecies were preached the people in the Church of Rome could conscientiously leave the Church of Rome knowing they still had redemption. All of Northern Europe was affected and left the Church of Rome. With the true understanding of the gospel and the prophecies of antichrist as they related to the Church of Rome they could leave the church without having guilty feelings, and understand they weren’t leaving salvation they were leaving Babylon. Gospel (Jesus, the center) and Prophecy (School of Historicism) When the Protestant Reformation was born, it was based on two principles: 1. Gospel in Christ and His Salvation 2. The prophecy of anti-Christ. Lutherans in studying his Bible, found the salvation of Christ. No true reformation can succeed or have the stamp of God’s approval upon it unless Jesus is the foundation. If God is not there, if Christ is not the pillar upon which you build upon, you are wrong. Even you have the truth, if it’s not built upon Christ, it’s not truth; the truth has been taken out of context in its proper relationship with Jesus. Based upon these two, gospel of Christ and the prophecy of anti-Christ, the reformation was born. Prophecies of anti-Christ without Jesus are not more than bunch of facts, figures, dates and names. Unless you see the Christ, the foundation of those prophecy, then you see the true nature, function, and purpose of the prophecy. Then you see why God talks about anti-Christ so much. Luther, as he study the prophecy of Daniel, and Revelation, started to understand something. Specially in Rev 17, he saw a woman, committing spiritual fornication, combining church and state together. He saw she was clothed in purple and red, and he saw the clothing of cardinals. He saw she was having gold and precious stones, and pearls, and he saw how they were swallowing the wealth of the wealthy people. He saw her drinking of the blood of the saints, and martyrs, and he saw the persecution of the church. He saw all these things and compared to the church. Church did not line up with the gospel, but it rather lined up with the prophecy of anti-Christ. Then he did realize that Catholic was the anti-Christ, and started to preach. Prophecy does not end there, Rev 18 says, “come out of her my people.” First he did not want to live Rome, because they taught that out of the church, you are damned to hell. But as he continue study, it came to the point where he could no longer doubt. He nailed 95 lists, and started to call people out of the Babylon. That’s when people felt safe to come out of Rome, because they were not coming out of salvation, but coming out of the Babylon. Catholic was furious of this, and they persecuted reform movements. Many people fail to see the relationship of the gospel to prophecy. Many people say that you don’t preach Jesus. Every doctrine should reveal Jesus. Don’t blame the doctrine if you don’t put Jesus there. You are the one is fault, not the doctrine. People say, we don’t need to read prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, we need to read gospels, and how to be saved and so on. They say as if the prophecy is over here and gospel is over there. My Bible tells me that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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righteousness:” 2Tim 3:16. That means all scripture is to reveal righteousness. Righteousness is result of the gospel. Therefore, all scriptures reveal the gospel including Daniel and Revelation. What you have to do get on to your knees and plea with the Lord to show you Jesus in this prophecy. Stop blaming the prophecies and doctrines, if we can’t see Jesus in it, it’s not their fault, but it’s our fault. You cannot separate these two from each other. They go together. Doctrine is to reveal Christ. All scripture is given for instruction in righteousness including the prophecies. 4 Points to show that the gospel affects prophecy and vice versa. This is the protestant view of the nature of the gospel in relation to prophecy. The first two deal with the nature of the gospel, and the last two deal with the prophecy.
Protestant View on Nature of Gospel in Relative to Prophecy (mainly AntiChrist) 1. Salvation by faith that works by love and purifies the soul. 2. Salvation is free and found only in Christ on the score, not a church. 3. Therefore, antichrist can arise in a church, for the church is not the storehouse of God’s grace. 4. So, antichrist has already come, namely, in the church of Rome. We don’t limit redemption to a church. That’s ridiculous. We put redemption in Jesus, not a church. Protestantism teaches that individual’s relationship to church is depended upon the individual relationship with Jesus. Catholicism teaches that individual’s relationship to Jesus is depended upon the individual relationship to the church. The church is not a bunch of plaster boards, buildings and bricks. Church constitutes, Matt 18:20 where two or three gathered in my name. AA 11 that those who are faithful and royal throughout the ages constitutes God’s church. UL 315 It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments.
Protestant View on the Nature Of the Gospel Relative to Prophecy (namely antichrist). Salvation by faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Salvation is free to all and found only in Christ not the church. We believe salvation is for everyone. We don't believe in predestination that the gospel is for a selected few; it is for every person on this planet. Whosoever will let him come take of the water of life freely. Based on these two principles how do the Protestants view the prophecy of antichrist? Therefore, antichrist can arise in a church. For the church is not the storehouse of God's grace. We don't limit redemption to the church. We place redemption in Jesus not the church. Protestantism believes that the individual's relationship to the church is dependent on his relationship to Jesus. Catholicism teaches that the individual's relationship to Jesus is dependent upon the church. So antichrist has already come. Namely the Church of Rome. Why? Antichrist can arise in the church, the church is not the storehouse of God's grace, therefore the devil can if he wants to appear in the church. e up the church.
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Conclusion
Gospel and Prophecy have to go together. These 2 must be intertwined together otherwise it is just a collection of dates and symbols. There are at least 4 points that show that gospel and prophecy go together. Protestant View on the Gospel and Prophecy (Antichrist)
Five Fold Aspect of Counter Reformation When this thing happened, Catholic wouldn’t just sit down and relax. They started what so called as “Counter Reformation.” And this Counter Reformation is basically made up of five things. 1. The formal recognition of the society of Jesus – the Jesuits. It was actually organized in 1534-1536 in themselves as a group, but it wasn’t until 1540 by Pope Paul III that he officially sanctioned them to be a part of the Church of Rome as an organization. 2. The Council of Trent (1545 – 1563) 18 years, not consecutively, but held on and off. The most powerful, influential council ever held in the Catholic Church until this very day. They really defined their Catholic doctrine: what would they accept or what would they not accept. 3. The Catholic counter-systems of prophetic interpretation. They developed the school of futurism and preterism to counteract the historicism interpretation. 4. The establishment of the Roman index of forbidden books. Printed pages began to go like the leaves of autumn in the days of Reformation. Protestants were printing out all kinds of books, pamphlets about the Catholic church exposing them who there really were. They were attacking doctrine after doctrine of the Catholic church. And this was drawing people away from the church of Rome. So what they did was to “protect themselves and their people,” they developed the book listing authors and titles of books that were anti-Catholic. 5. The Spanish inquisition
The Bible Vs. Tradition Counsel of Trent (1546) In the 4th council of Trent, April 8, 1546, they dealt with the issue of “scripture vs. tradition.” Protestants were saying, “Bible, Bible, and Bible,” and Catholics were saying, “Fathers, Fathers, and Fathers.” So they conclude in this way; scripture and traditions are held equal, but where there is a conflict between scripture and traditions, traditions of the Fathers should precede the scripture. On the same council, they voted that the Latin Vulgate would be the official Catholic version, and they condemned all other versions. “Bible is Bible!” some people say. If Bible translation is not issue at all, then why in the most important council ever held in the history of Catholic church had to officially say that every other version is heretical? Because the Latin Vulgate was of a corrupted text, and it upheld the Catholic doctrine such as purgatory, indulgences, and many of these doctrines. But the protestant Bible, the Greek text held by Urassimus, because it was accurate and clear to the original, it did not uphold the Catholic doctrine.
Oxford Movement (1830) http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Oxford University is very prestigious University even today, of course it’s worldly University nowadays, but one day it used to be one of the most popular Christian University in all over the world. First there was Lautenberg in Germany, Luther and Melanton taught there, became the most popular and most powerful university. But when they went down the history, University of Geneva in Switzerland became the next dominating, powerful university in all over the world. Then Oxford and Cambridge University came. They taught the same way we teach prophecy in the university of Oxford. Jesuits could not allow that university to continue, they were graduating 500 to 800 clergymen a year. And England was the world dominating power at this time of 1800s; “Sun never set on the United Kingdom.” Because they were in every nation all around the world having some kind of ruling power. They were very missionary minded people, and you graduate 500 to 800 clergymen every year! In ten years, it becomes 8,000! Jesuits could never allow that to happen. They began to infiltrate Oxford University, and began Oxford Movement. Jesuits were no fools, they mastered several languages, sciences, law, theology, politics, economics. They studied the theology of protestants, they knew exactly the same phraseology, terminology. They became the students, they were the brightest, most sharp-minded and most intelligent. Soon after they graduate, they became the professors. President of the University cannot rule forever, as soon as he resigned, these Jesuits became the highest position of the administration of the university. Now they control the university. And over 50 year period of time from 1830 to 1881, Oxford University no longer taught the way they taught the prophecy in the past. Now they were teaching Preterism and Futurism, mixed with little Historicism. In 1881, they decided to revise the King James Version saying that it’s getting out of date. From 1881, we’ve hundreds of different Bible versions. It’s simply given to confuse the people. It’s the Jesuits behind the scene to confuse the people. If you have distorted translation, you cannot correctly understand what’s really being said. It’s like a manual. And it tells you certain principle of how to operate the machinery. But if the manual is distorted, you can wish, pray, hope, dream, every day of your life, but you will never operate that machine correctly until you understand the correctly principles of the manual. If translation is not a big deal, why did Catholic church had to officially stamp their Bible, and say “This is ours, and every other version is radical?”
Catholic View On Nature of Gospel Relative To Prophecy In the council of Trent, in the 6th session, January 13, 1547, Jesuits and Catholic churches condemned the gospel taught by the protestants. They came up with this view on nature of gospel relative to prophecy. 1. Salvation by faith in your works, namely the sacraments administered by the priesthood.* Notice that they say that the salvation is not in “Christ” but in “your works.” “Priesthood,” they locked you up in to the church. 2. Salvation is free to all who pay and found only in the church of Rome. That means, you go outside of the church, you are lost for eternity. 3. Therefore, the church of Rome cannot be the antichrist because she is the storehouse of God’s grace. 4. So, antichrist must already have come or will arise in the future. Based on these two http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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principles, you find the two systems known as Futurism and Preterism. These are two systems that Jesuits developed.
Development of Preterism It’s founded by Luis De Alacazar (1554-1613). The very word Preterism is the definition of the system. “pre” means “before.” They teach that the antichrist comes before the Papacy ever seen in the history. They lock it in to Nero Diaclusian (AD 68) in the book of Revelation. In Daniel chapter 8, they lock it into Antiochus Epiphanes. Preterism is endeavoring to locate the antichrist prior to the fall of Rome, before the existence of the papacy. But when they developed this concept, even the Jesuits themselves said that this doesn’t hold the water, it’s too weak, Protestants are going to kill us on this. So they just put this on the shelves, they did not throw it away. Because the Catholic church are careless of what you believe just as long you don’t believe the truth. Jesuits knew that this had two many wholes that protestants will literally destroy. So they didn’t bring it to the forefront, at least in the beginning.
Development of Futurism Francisco Ribera (1537-1591) developed the concept of Futurism. Futurism is endeavoring to locate the antichrist in three and half years to the end of time. Through this, antichrist was put so far out of the sight that you don’t look at it anymore. Out of sight, out of mind. After that, Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) developed the polistic concept of Futurism by Francisco to such an extent that in the Catholic history, to this day he is considered one of the foremost authority of defining the Catholic doctrine. These systems were developed for only one reason; they were developed to destroy the protestant reformation. They were not invented to encourage you to have a closer walk with Jesus. They were not invented so you could discover what the truth is about the prophecy. It is absolutely impossible for you and for me to take Historicism and mingle with any way, shape, or form of Futurism/Preterism and still come up with truth. Light and darkness just don’t mix! I don’t care if you have 99.99999% of truth, and just slightest dust of error and you put it in there and say, “Here is the truth,” no, you don’t have truth! You will not believe how many SDA are sunk up into this stuff!
Conclusion These 2 systems were created to destroy Protestantism. When we share this in the church, you may would be accused of being a Jesuit, unchrist-like, condemnatory. They will say “You are dividing the whole church!” But brothers, the straight testimony will do it! The problem is, don’t blame the message, it’s the heart of those who don’t want to receive the message. Praise God! This is what the shaking is all about, we need to shake out as this message goes forth! God is going to shake and purify the church! We too many times think, “It’s organized general conference versus self-supporting and any one against the church must be good.” The issue is not the organized church versus self-supporting, it’s truth versus error! If some in the organized church stand faithful in truth, I am going to stand right next to him, and say “Alright buddy! I am with you 100%!” If someone in the self-supporting does it, I am going to stand right next to him! But if someone in the church is apostasied, and is in rebellion, I am not going to stand with him, I am going to expose the error and heresy in doctrines! If someone in the self-supporting is doing the very same thing, I am going to stand up and expose it! Error is error, doesn’t matter who it comes from, where it comes from, it must be exposed! And we must stop this idea, over church versus self-supporting. Somehow they are the bad boys, and somehow being self-supporting is OK. That’s not the issue! The issue is truth vs. error! http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Purpose, Occasion, and Background The book of Daniel is made up of two halves, each of which has its own genre. The first half (chs. 1– 6) contains narratives from the lives of Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These court stories exemplify faithful living in exile and provide models of how God's people should live as strangers and exiles in a world that is not their home (Heb. 13:14). They show Daniel and his friends serving their pagan masters loyally, as Jeremiah 29:5–7 had commanded, yet without compromising their greater loyalty to God. The second half of the book (Daniel 7–12) contains apocalyptic visions, which are designed to reassure God's people that in spite of their present persecution and suffering, God is in control and will ultimately be victorious. The Lord is aware of the suffering of his people and will bring their trials to an end on the day when he establishes his kingdom. The final victory belongs to the Ancient of Days and his representative, the Son of Man (ch. 7). When they triumph, the powers and authorities of this world will be defeated and judged, while the saints will be vindicated and rewarded (7:26–27). The two parts of the book are linked by a variety of literary features: (1) the dates attached to the visions locate them during the same period of history as the narratives of chapters 1–6; (2) the book begins in Hebrew, switches into Aramaic from 2:4–7:28, and then returns to Hebrew for chapters 8–12; (3) the vision of the four beasts in chapter 7 mirrors in a number of ways Nebuchadnezzar's dream in chapter 2; and (4) the message of the visions of chapters 7–12 reinforces the message of the narratives in chapters 1–6: God's ultimate victory over the powers and authorities of this present evil age is sure, so the wise will be faithful to the Lord in the meantime, whatever pressures are brought to bear upon them. We are laying the ground with that led up to the captivity of the Babylon. This is what brought up the captivity. It helps us to see the full picture, the full impact of the prophecy of the book of Daniel. You don’t get lost in your house. Because you lived enough that you know well about it. But you do get lost sometimes in other people’s house. You open the door and it’s a closet; you get embarrassed. Its similar when studying the Bible. The more you know about the Bible, less chance you will get lost. If you don’t know the Bible enough, you open the door, and it’s a closet, and you get embarrassed. We need to know people, where they were, what they did. The more we can learn, the better we will know the Bible, better it will help us to understand the message. In this chapter we are covering the groundwork that lead up to the captivity of Babylon. We will discuss about Manasseh and Josiah. Hab 1 & 2 is covered also. Sermon: "Images in the Groves" Explaining the parallels of Manasseh and Josiah, the book of Habakkuk and how we need to exercise faith. Note: Could use Habakkuk 1 and 2 when explaining how to exercise faith, which ties with Rev 14:12 too. Quiz: 1. What Major prophet was killed under Manasseh? Isaiah 2. As an earnest what did God do if they didn't repent? The king went into captivity (Manasseh) 3. Who was the son of Manasseh and how long did he reign? Amon 2 years 4. How old was Josiah when he began to reign? 8
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5. Name the two prophets that gave messages during the time of Josiah? Habakkuk and Zephaniah. 6. What form of worship did satan use lead the people of God into wickedness? Paganism Now let’s discover the historical background from Hezekiah to Josiah. 1. Hezekiah a. Re-instituted the temple services and Passover. b. Not since David had a king done such a work to up build a kingdom in the time of apostasy. PK 340 c. God added 15 years of life. 2 Kings 20:4-6 2. Manasseh a. 2 Chron 33:1-18 b. Longest reigning king in Judah (55 years) and the most wicked. c. Instituted sun worship. d. 2 Chron 33:11 – Prophecy of what would take place. e. PK 382-383 “earnest of what would befall” 3. Josiah a. 8 years old when he began to reign b. Reforms instituted by Josiah (finds book of the law) c. Prophets who God raised up during his reign. d. Last 5 kings of Judah e. God raised up three prophets: Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah. i. See chart f. Habak 1:6-10 He speaks about the Babylonian captivity. 4. Principles of Study a. Study Daniel with Smaller Prophets -- As a people and as individuals we need to have a deeper sense of our duty to God and our responsibility to the world. There should be more earnest study of the Scriptures. I have been deeply impressed with the importance of studying the book of Daniel in connection with the smaller prophets, especially Malachi. {RH, November 10, 1896 par. 11} b. Study Daniel with these prophets -- In the night season I was in my dreams in a large meeting, with ministers, their wives, and their children. I wondered that the company present was mostly made up of ministers and their families. The prophecy of Malachi was brought before them in connection with Daniel, Zephaniah, Haggai, and Zechariah. The teaching of these books was carefully investigated. The building of the temple, and the temple service, were considered. There was close searching of the Scriptures in regard to the sacred character of all that appertained to the temple service. Through the prophets, God has given a delineation of what will come to pass in the last days of this earth's history; and the Jewish economy is full of instruction for us. {RH, February 4, 1902 par. 13} Objective: Cover the historical background from Assyria to Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar.
Outline of the Kings We are dealing with the historical background that led up to captivity. By this time the 10 northern tribes of Israel had already been dispersed and taken into captivity into the kingdom of Assyria. And the only tribes left were the southern tribes of Benjamin and Judah, and they were known as Judah. For sometime Judah stayed more faithful than the northern tribes, but eventually they fell http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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into apostasy. We had King Hezekiah who was a God fearing man, and while he reigned God’s people prospered. When he died his son Manasseh came on the scene and he was extremely wicked. The background is in 2 Chronicles 32-34. It is outlined in Prophets and Kings. Mannasseh was 12 years old when he began to reign. PO: This chapter corresponds well with Middle Old Testament History. These are the last 5 kings of Judah. The duration covers 53 ½ years. 1. Josiah a. Josiah = " whom Jehovah heals" b. 8 years old when he began to reign c. 2 Chronicles 34 & 35; 2 Kings 22 – 23:30 d. Reforms instituted by Josiah (finds book of the law) i. 2 Chron 34:8, 14 18th year finds book of the law ii. 2 Chron 35:1, 18 – No Passover kept like this since Samuel. e. Last 5 kings of Judah f. God raised up three prophets: Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Jeremiah. i. 13th year of his reign Jeremiah began to prophesy. 628 B.C. ii. 12th or 13th year of his reign Habbakkuk began to prophesy. 629-628 B.C iii. During the days of his reign Zephaniah began to prophesy. 640-623 B.C. g. King of Judah 640 to 609 B.C. h. Reigned for 31 years i. PK 32 Manasseh & Josiah j. The only good kings of Judah, along with Hezekiah, in the last part of the history of Judah. 2. Jehoahaz/Shallum a. King of Judah 609 B.C. b. Jehoahaz = " Jehovah has seized" c. Shallum = “retribution” d. Reigned for 3 months e. First son of Josiah. He was captured by Pharaonecho, king of Egypt. f. 2 Chronicles 36:1-3 & 2 Kings 23:31-34 g. He got carried into Egypt h. His name is also called Shallum 2 Kings 23:31 margin.& Jer 22:11 3. Eliakim/Jehoiakim a. 1st siege – Nebuchadnezzar came in 606 BC. Daniel, his companions and all the king’s seed were taken captive, this was in the 4th year of Jehoiakim’s reign b. King of Judah 609 B.C. to 598 B.C. c. Eliakim = “God raises” or “God sets up” d. Jehoiakim = “Jehovah raises up” e. Reigned for 11 years f. Second son of Josiah. His name was changed by Phraonecho. He died during the first attack of Babylon on 11th year. BC 596. g. Necho king of Egypt changed his name and made him king. h. 2 Chronicles 36:4-8 & 2 Kings 23:35-24:6 i. Nebuchadnezzar came during the 4th year of his reign. 606 B.C.
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4. Jehoiachin/Jeconiah a. King of Judah 598 to 597 B.C. b. Jehoiachin = “Jehovah establishes”1 c. Grandson of Josiah. He was taken captive in the second captivity. BC 597. He was taken captive during the second attack of Babylon. d. Reigned 3 months e. 2nd siege – Nebuchadnezzar came in 597 BC. Ezekiel taken captive. f. Nebcad took him at the end of the year and made his brother king. g. 2 Chronicles 36:9-10 & 2 Kings 24:7-16 i. (typo: V.9 says he was eight, 2 Kings 24:8 says he was eighteen.) h. Ezekiel taken during this siege in 597 B.C. (8th year of Nebuchadnezzar reign 2 Kings 24:12). i. Ezekiel began to prophecy on the 5th year of Jehoiachin captivity. 593 B.C. j. Moedecai was taken captive. Esther 2:6 k. He was in captivity for 37 years 2 Kings 25:27. l. Became a king in Babylon, and ate the diet of the king until he died. Jeremiah 52:3134. 5. Zedekiah/Mattaniah a. King of Judah 597 to 587 B.C. b. Mattaniah = “gift of Jehovah” c. Zedekiah = “Jehovah is righteous” d. Reigned 11 years. e. Third son of Josiah. Nebuchadnezzar changed his name. He died during the third attack Babylon on 9th year. BC 586. * f. * Third attack of Babylon began in BC 588, on the 9th year of Zedekiah. 2King 25:1. Because of Egypt, Babylon unfolded siege for a moment, but soon came back and in two years Jerusalem was destroyed. July of BC 586, 11th year of Zedekiah. 2King 25:8, this was the 3rd siege. g. 2 Chronicles 36:11-13 & 2 Kings 24:17-25:7 h. 2 Chronicles 36:14-21 & 2 Kings 25:8-21destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. i. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 Decree by Cyrus to return 536 B.C. 6. Gethaliah** – king for the remnant. He was killed by Ishmael. a. ** After captivity, there was no king in Israel. Gethaliah was appointed by Babylon empire. But Gethaliah was murdered by a man named Ishmael. And there were afraid they will get trouble for that and decided to flee to Egypt. So scum of the scum were left in Jews just to watch the lands. A brief summary of the kings of Judah from Hezekiah to Zedekiah. Name
Age
Dates
25
Length of Reign 29 yrs
726-697 BC
Scripture Reference 2 Kings 18:1-3
Hezekiah Manasseh
12
55 yrs
697-642 BC
2 Kings 21:1-2
Summary of Reign Did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did Did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children
1Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Amon
22
2 yrs
642-640 BC 640-609 BC
2 Kings 21:19 2 Kings 22:1,2
Josiah
8
31 yrs
Jehoahaz
23
3 mo
609 BC
2 Kings 23:31,32
Jehoiakim*
25
11 yrs
609-598 BC
2 Kings 23:36,37
Jehoiachin
18
598-597 BC
2 Kings 24:8,9
Zedekiah+
21
100 days (3 mo/10 days) 11 yrs
597-587 BC
2 Kings 25:17-19
of Israel Did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord as his father Manasseh Did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of avid his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left Did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done Did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done Did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done Did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done
*Jehoiakim – This was Eliakim, the son of Josiah, but his name was changed to Jehoiakim when Pharoah-Necho placed him on the throne in place of Jehoahaz. Jehoiakim means, Jehovah raises up. +Zedekiah – Name changed from Mattaniah by King of Babylon when he placed him on the throne instead of Jehoahaz 7. 3 sieges of Jerusalem a. 606 B.C. Daniel taken among the cream of the crop. b. 597 B.C Ezekiel taken c. 587 B.C. Jerusalem Destroyed
Reign of King Manasseh Prior to this time, the Northern tribes were already taken into captivity. The only tribes left were Southern tribes; Judah and Benjamin. Even though some times they stayed more in favor than Northern tribes, but like the Northern tribes too, they fell into the deep apostasy. Hezekiah, the father of Manasseh, for the most of the time, was God-fearing man. During his reign, God’s people prospered greatly. But when Hezekiah passed from the scene, his son Manasseh was one that extremely wicked. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. 2 Chron 33:1 Manasseh [was] twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
For the most part of his life was wicked reigning king and brought Israel into the numerous apostasy. He was the longest reigning king in Judah. He reigned over Judah for 55 years, and the most part of his reign was in apostasy. 2 Chron 33:2-3 [2] But did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. [3] For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
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This man was worshipping the sun, moon, and stars. When you worship Baalim that is really what you are worshipping, the heavenly bodies. This is where we get sun worship. This is what Baal worship is all about. The host of heaven is the stars. This man was introducing sun worship into the children of God. This is like our leadership commanding us to worship the sun, to go to church on Sunday. This is what he was doing. He was commanding Sabbath keepers to worship the sun. PO: Heb 1116 ‘high places’ = places of worship. PK 381 Manasseh's wicked reign, when paganism was revived, and many of the people were led into idolatry.
What form of worship did satan use lead the people of God into wickedness? Paganism. 2 Chron 11:15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
Barnes: The high places - i. e., the two sanctuaries at Dan and Bethel. 1 Kings 12:25-33 [25] ¶ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. [26] And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: [27] If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. [28] Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [29] And he set the one in Beth–el, and the other put he in Dan. [30] And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. [31] And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. [32] And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth–el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth–el the priests of the high places which he had made. [33] So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth–el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
These verses make it clear that high places refer to pagan sanctuaries. 1 Kings 12:31 …house of high places… 2 Chron 33:4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
He built pagan images and brought them in the house of the Lord. No man did what this man did. Prior to this his father was a righteous king. The most prosperous reign in the history of Israel was under David and Solomon. After they passed it was never the same. There was never a consistent reign of righteous kings in Judah. It goes on to describe what Manasseh did. 2 Chron 33:6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
It talks about what he caused the people to do.
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2 Chron 33:3-7 [3] ¶ For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. [4] Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. [5] And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. [6] And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. [7] And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
It lists the sins and apostasies that came. These are some of the wicked things Manasseh promoted: 2 Chron 33:2-9.
Built again the heathen temples which Hezekiah had broken down for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped idols.
He built altars for idols in the two courts of the Temple of God.
He burnt his children in the valley of Hinnom.
He encouraged observing times, enchantments, witchcraft, spiritualism, and wizards.
He set carved idol in the House of God.
He made the nation to do worse than the heathen. 2 Chron 33:11 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
When king did not repent, as an earnest (down-payment), he was bound up with fetters and carried in the Babylon.* 2Chr 33:11. Why was he carried to Babylon when Ninevah was the capital of Assyria? Because Babylon was the temporary location that they were using as their capital. Furthermore this was a small prophecy that was predicting what would happen to Judah, it was also fulfilled exactly. PK 383 Faithfully the prophets continued their warnings and their exhortations; fearlessly they spoke to Manasseh and to his people; but the messages were scorned; backsliding Judah would not heed. As an earnest of what would befall the people should they continue impenitent, the Lord permitted their king to be captured by a band of Assyrian soldiers, who "bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon," their temporary capital.
It was a down payment of God what He will do to Israel nation. It was a prophecy of what would come to them.
Faithful People Standing Up King Manasseh being an earnest for what to come. Prior to this, God had many righteous people with 55 years of the reign of Hezekiah. Those people who came during this years, were still remembering the ways of what Hezekiah has told them to live. So during this wicked reign, many were standing up against this apostasy and giving straight testimonies. How did the king and the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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leaders react to this? PK 381 Yet those evil times were not without witnesses for God and the right. The trying experiences through which Judah had safely passed during Hezekiah's reign had developed, in the hearts of many, a sturdiness of character that now served as a bulwark against the prevailing iniquity. Their testimony in behalf of truth and righteousness aroused the anger of Manasseh and his associates in authority, who endeavored to establish themselves in evil-doing by silencing every voice of disapproval. "Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another." 2 Kings 21:1 There were this God’s people standing up, calling up the straight message to the people, and those one in the authority, but those one in the authority did not want to hear the message, so they did everything possible to silence the message. Lot, the heritage of the Christian church, always has been persecution, affliction. This is something that you inherit, as you become a Christian. History keeps repeating. “There is no new thing under the sun.” Eccl 1:9. In our days, the same thing happened with Manasseh and leaders are happening again. What happened in the past is mere reflection of what will happen for the future. But as we are going to see things intensifying, not get easier, but only to get worse. Here is king Manasseh, and there were people faithful in truth standing up saying, “Thus saith the LORD, this is the right way.” Many people were accusing those, as we hear the voices today, accusing those of being the trouble in Israel, those who are causing the discord and disunion, “If you just keep silent, we will have more unity, more peace among the brethren.” Often those who accuse those who are in rebellion because they are bringing the message to them, are really not the ones in rebellion, they are really the righteous. And those who accuse those who are the righteous to be rebellious are they themselves really are rebellious. Statement is often made that they are very critical towards the leaders and those in authority. I am sure that Manasseh may have given such a speech. “How do you dare criticize me?! Don’t you know I am the king? Don’t you know my father has appointed me? Don’t you know I have right to the throne? There has been mistaken identity in relationship to criticism versus concerns. Often those in error, made corrected, view someone who brings the counsel as being critical. When in reality, they are not critical; they are just concerned about what’s taking place. And they need to bring the counsel so that those who things concerned may be corrected. “Every one of us, some time in the future, are going to have to answer for the faith last in us. We are to testify before the court. We may have to stand separately and alone.”
If we cannot stand up to our friends and say the truth, we will never do it to our enemies. If we as God’s people, cannot stand up and give the truth to the Seventh-day Adventist, you will never give it to the world! It will never happen! And God has given to you and I the message for the final last generation. If you study about the schools of prophet, how and why they were established, is to hold back the tide of apostasy and to train young people to go into the camp of Israel and to be the faithful standardbearers to them, to bear testimony and witness to them, then they will lead others to the truth. The LORD has raised up this institution to be the pattern after the schools of prophets. And to train the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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young people to stand in the gaps during the time of crisis of apostasy. What have been said to the prophets of old and faithful people of God back then is our same lot! Because “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2Tim 3:12. We are not to anticipate persecution, and look for it, but we are to quietly do our work to give the message. Prophet Isaiah was sawed in half. Can you imagine this Manasseh who killed all these thousands of people, and yet in the resurrection morning, Isaiah and Manasseh are going to see eye to eye? Manasseh was truly converted when God brought him under the captivity, and he is going be there in the resurrection morning! We may see people in the church that are absolutely apostate to the max, but we don’t understand all things, we don’t understand all the circumstances, and we must be very careful in judging others. I don’t agree with the apostasy, neither agree with it nor stand with it. But if God can convert a man like Manasseh after so many years of doing what he has done, then there is a hope for everyone. Let’s never forget that what the LORD can do no matter how much we may found this people are apostasy, so let us continue to pray for them.
Reign of King Amon Amon was 22 when he began reign and reigned only for two years. 2Chr 33:21. But he did worse than his father Manasseh. He was assassinated and Josiah took the throne.He was disaster to the nation. So disaster that all God could do through the reforms of Josiah who brought about greater reforms than Hezekiah, did not bring about a permanent repentance and revival in Judah to make possible the reversal of the prophecy of the warning of captivity. Babylonian captivity came about because God’s people rejected truth and light to the point where this was the only remedy left that God could use to save His people that would be willing to hear. Those in authority did not want to listen to the straight message. Remember that history repeats itself. We even see this today. We don't believe that these events will take place. We don't face reality. Isaiah was sawed in two by Manasseh. The apostasy is getting greater and greater. He was assassinated after two years, than his son Josiah took the throne Some times hard trials in our lives are God’s instruments to turn us around, to prepare us for the last possible way that God has to save us. Someday we are going to thank about that trials. The people of Judah were able to realize that they really had reason to thank God for Babylonian captivity. Among everything, this captivity totally wiped out idolatry which had been problem from the very beginning.
Reign of King Josiah Josiah was eight years old when he began reign. 2Chr 34. It’s amazing if you read what EG White has to say about Josiah at such that age in life, and what he did being eight years old is absolutely incredible! PK 384 Born of a wicked king, beset with temptations to follow in his father's steps, and with few counselors to encourage him in the right way, Josiah nevertheless was true to the God of Israel. Warned by the errors of past generations, he chose to do right…
Why does she put it like this? She says he was born and beset. This is talking about the hereditary traits of Josiah that were passed to him by his father. He has besetting temptation at the age of 8. And he has few counselors to tell him what to do right. He was running a nation, but he was faithful. His father Amon committed more sins than Manasseh. This shows us that if an 8-year-old boy can do right with this type of pressure, and hereditary traits that were passed to him, there is no excuse for us not to do right. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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We are talking about the hereditary tendencies, the evil tendencies that passed down to him. His father was wicked more than his grand father Manasseh, and if you really look down what Manasseh’s sins were, it is incredible. And yet, his son Amon did worse than he. Here is Josiah born of this father, and he got besetting temptations, eight years old! And he got few counselors that are trying to encourages him to do right. And yet eight-year-old boy determines he is going to do right. That is incredible, absolutely incredible! This young boy was running a “nation,” millions of people. Somehow this young boy was communicated to the truth. If an eight year old boy can stand faithful and true to God, with such hereditary tendencies that were passed down to this boy, at such a young age in such pressure, with very few people ever encourage him to do right, and yet he follows and does the right, you know there is no excuse for you and I not doing right. People are afraid of warning messages. They say this is not the message of love. Read in Steps to Christ that God sends warning messages to get you on the right path. The love of God should be our motivation. But fear gets us on the right path. We can be eternally lost, and this should get us on the right path. God will use whatever it takes to wake-up us up. The fearful judgment that was given to Manasseh saved this man's soul. PK 384 Warned by the errors of past generations, he chose to do right, instead of descending to the low level of sin and degradation to which his father and his grandfather had fallen. He "turned not aside to the right hand or to the left." As one who was to occupy a position of trust, he resolved to obey the instruction that had been given for the guidance of Israel's rulers, and his obedience made it possible for God to use him as a vessel unto honor.
Some people are very fearful as you bring the message of warning. Some how they feel like that’s not a message of love. They say, “All you need to do is to preach the love of God, and never talk about the judgments. You see this, your motivation is not right, why are you serving the LORD? Of fear for judgments?” But if you read the Steps to Christ, God sends warnings of the judgment to come, to get you on the right path. Our motivation should be the love of God, but sometimes fear can get you on the right track realizing what you are walking in is actually dangerous, that unless you repent you will be lost throughout eternity. That’s a fearful judgment, that’s a fearful warning. And that doesn’t move you, your heart is pretty hard. Don’t misunderstand, thinking God only uses this one realm of teaching His people. God will use everything possible, whatever it takes, to get you to accept Him. And God uses fear to waken you to a reality where you are at!! That brings the motivation of the love. God loved you so much to call you that you are in brink of eternal lost. That is a love message that was sent! You have to realize that, and out gratitude and love for what the message has been sent, you thank God for it!!! But people don’t realize that! They think that the message of straight testimony is not love! Josiah understood that message was not a condemnation in the sense of giving no hope. Manasseh looked in that way in the beginning of his life, so the Amon. But when God has taken Manasseh straight into the captivity, that fearful judgment saved that man’s soul! Josiah saw what has been done in the past, and he determined to follow God. Josiah brought a great reform in the church.
The Message of the Prophet Habakkuk During the reign of Josiah we had Habakkuk and Zephaniah who brought messages. They spoke of the judgments to come. Isaiah lived during the reign of Hezekiah and Manasseh. He talked of beautiful things that God wanted to do for the church, but he also spoke about judgments. Micah who was a contemporary prophet with Isaiah spoke of the same thing judgments to come. They http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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had prophets speaking of the judgments to come, and other beautiful things, and now here comes Josiah. And we have people who are faithful and they are wondering is God ever going to fulfill what He promised, or if they would be destroyed. These prophets, Isaiah, Amos, Micah all of them talked about the beautiful promises of God, but also the judgment of God. Here in Josiah’s reign, those who were faithful and true are wondering in their hearts, is God ever going to fulfill what He has promised? Or are we going to be fluked out? Prophets were describing that they will be literally destroyed and plowed like farmer plowing the ground, upside down. The prophets prophesied and said Jerusalem would be plowed up like a field. Micah 3:12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. Jer 26:18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.
And here we have the beautiful prophecies of Habakkuk. PO: This all ties in with Latter Old Testament History. Hab 1:1-5 [1] The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. [2] O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! [3] Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. [4] Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. [5] ¶ Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
He identified with the people. He was asking why is this always happening. Hab 1:6-10 [6] For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. [7] They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. [8] Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. [9] They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. [10] And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
In these verses he talks about the Babylonian captivity. What will take place with God’s people. Then he makes a statement that seems out of context. Habakkuk is asking the same questions. In Hab 1:6-9 talks about the captivity, what will take place to God’s people there. But notice verse 12, Hab 1:12 [Art] thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die.
What was he doing? Habakkuk was exercising faith. Even though he knew they would go into captivity, God gave them a promise of restoring them to their glory. And in the midst of uttering this prophecy of destruction, he says 'we shall not die. THIS IS A POWERFUL POINT! He got his theme from Habakkuk. Habakkuk doesn't stop here. This is a powerful book! Do you realize Apostle Paul, when he wrote the book of Romans, was reading Habakkuk? Do you realize that Paul got his theme from Habakkuk?
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Hab 2:1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
He is saying I will stand up and watch and see, and I want to see how God will answer me over this. God tells him to write it on tables and make it plain. Hab 2:3 For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
How should the just live? 'by his faith' Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk is living in a time where he just had two reigning king that has been absolute apostasy, he knows judgment is coming, he remembers that God gave promise of giving glory to Israel and now he wonders, “is ever going to take place? Is ever going to happen?” and as he make that statement “We will not die!” He was actually taking the step of faith and say “We won’t die, God is going to fulfill His promise. I am going wait, I am going to see how God answers me.” LORD then answers him, “Habakkuk, look! Write upon tables! Make it plain! Though tarry, it shall come! But you need to wait for it.” And He goes on and says, “Just shall live by faith!” He is living in the time when they had two reigning kings that were in absolute apostasy. He knows judgment is coming, and he remembers about the promise of God about giving glory to Israel. Now he wonders will it ever happen, will it ever take place? and he says 'we will not die' he was taking a step of faith and saying God will fulfill His promise. Then he says I will wait and see how God answers me, and He does. He says write it on tables make it plain. It is for an appointed time. He says through it tarry it will come, but you need to wait for it. Then he says the just shall live by his faith. (*PO this can be taught with Faith, what is it, explaining how we receive, how we understand. This shows how we exercise it!) This is the essence of the gospel right here. We live in a time of crisis, and it will get worse. We will see apostasy accelerate like we never have. We have NLP, New Theology, FUTURISM, CELEBRATION. And this is nothing compared to what will be. We have images set up in the groves right now! We have Easter sun-rise worships in the SDA church now. The same sins that were in Manasseh's and Amon's reign are here now. We need some righteous Josiah's right now. But we have the promises right now. And we must wonder how can God save this church. Will he be able to find 144,000? How could God save this church the way it is going right now? It will be a miracle. This was happening just prior to Babylonian captivity, the people were wondering, God how can you save us. So Habakkuk clings by faith to the promise. How could he have made the statement we will not die? He couldn't have said we will not die without a promise. It would have been a lie. This was a statement of faith. And God tells him to write it down (the visions and glories of what will be) and make it plain. And God says the Just Habakkuk must live by faith. And we who anticipate the Lord's return and the future glory of this church, we cannot figure out how it will happen, but we must wait. The vision is for an appointed time. It will happen. But in God's time. And we must learn how to exercise faith. Faith doesn't live by sight. Faith sees the things around it, and the circumstances appear to discouraging, but faith is not built on the circumstances
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around us. Faith is built upon the promises of God, and God's promises are not dictated by circumstances that surround it. God's promises will be fulfilled no matter what appears to be. Zephaniah PK 389 His prophecies of impending judgment upon Judah apply with equal force to the judgments that are to fall upon an impenitent world at the time of the second advent of Christ:
(BSM: When you read Zephaniah and he speaks about the judgments to come upon Judah, here you have a direct parallel with what will come on the world for those who refuse to repent.) PO BSM: Catch this principle. Judah when in apostasy and rebellion represent the world. Judah, Jerusalem, when it obeys God and keeps His law represent His true people.
Influence of Josiah’s Reform Josiah's reform was based upon him finding the book of the law. What happened? He gathered all the people and read it. Why? The message was preached publicly to show them where they went wrong, and he made greater reforms. Where did this lead Josiah? After this great reform, the Lord told him the Egyptians where there and not to fight. The Egyptians sent messages and said we are not worried about you. God told him not to, but he did anyway. What we are doing is laying the ground work that lead up to the captivity of Babylon, and of course Daniel is then given a vision. All of this happens prior to the captivity. The great apostasy, especially Manasseh’s, and his son Amon encouraged it even more, and then Josiah brought great reforms. After him it goes straight down, they were all in apostasy. Josiah’s reign is marked by miraculous event called “the discovery of the book of law.” Josiah gathered all the people and had public reading of that whole book. The message was preached public to all God’s people to show them where they went wrong, and made great reforms. Daniel was about eighteen when he was before the king, which is after three years later: UL 83 Daniel was but a youth when carried away captive into Babylon. He was about fifteen or sixteen years old, for he is called a child, which means that he was in his youth. 4T 570 Daniel was but eighteen years old when brought into a heathen court in service to the king of Babylon.
Daniel was just a boy, an adolescent! Imagine that! We know when he was taken captive BC 605, Bible is clear on that. If we figure it back than, Daniel’s birth is BC 620. The book of the law (Deuteronomy) was found in BC 622: that is two years before. That tells me that Daniel’s parents were part of the spiritual reformation brought about by renewal of studying of the Bible. These are the words his parents heard: * When you read Zephaniah, and you realize that the judgment is about to come upon Judah, you got the direct parallel of what will come upon the world, to those who refused to repent. See PK 389. Deut 6:6-9 [6] And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: [7] And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. [8] And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. [9] And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
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If they had not been involved with this reformation, Daniel wouldn’t had been that kind of committed young person that purposed in his heart not to defiled himself before he went to Babylon. There is no way that he would just sort of come out with this idea from no where in the blue sky somewhere: had to be from the foundation of the God’s word and solid home training. During those backsliding surroundings, you can imagine the pressure that Daniel and his friends had on them. Knowing that young people in Israel did study under the prophets and spiritual leads of the nation, Jeremiah was probably one of Daniel’s teachers. He is little bit older than Daniel. He was already called to be a prophet in Judah, before and during and after the reformation. After Daniel was taken captive,* I can imagine Jeremiah thinking, “I wonder if my students, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah will remain faithful…” * In the first captivity, Babylonians took the best captives, such as Daniel, prince and royal, and precious people. Second captivity, they took every one that is useful, any one that has any goods. Third captivity, they took every one that is the best of those that are left. So after that there were really only the worst of the worst were left. And Jeremiah was with them. An approximate chronology of the events of the book of Daniel: 606 BC – Daniel 1 - Daniel taken into Captivity 604 BC – Daniel 2 - Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (approximate date) 602 or 601 BC – Daniel 3 – Nebuchadnezzar builds the golden image 595 – Daniel 4? – 12 months after the dream, the fulfillment, which lasted 7 years 550 – Daniel 7 547 – Daniel 8 539 – Daniel 5 539 – Daniel 9, 11, 12 533 – Daniel 10
History of World Kingdoms Fall of Assyria 610 BC – United powers of Media, Babylon and Egypt conquered Assyria. Zephaniah 2:13 – prophecies how Babylon will take over. North = Assyria. Nahum 3:7 – prophecies that Nineveh which is capital of Assyria will follow. The general of Assyria who had been given rulership of Babylon previously, but he then created an alliance to attack Assyria. To create an alliance, Babylon and Media gave their son and daughter. The son was Nebuchadnezzar and the daughter was from Media. Assyria was divided into 3 parts: West – Necho, King of Egypt. North – Cyaxares King of Media. Southeast – Nebopolazzar, King of Babylon. 3 Fold Alliance Against Assyria (Egypt, Babylon, Media) 2 Chron 35:20-27 – King Josiah dies http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Jer 46:2 Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh–necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.
Prophesied the overthrow of Egypt by Babylon at Carchemish 606 B.C. 2 Kings 24:7 And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
Took the possessions of Egypt. CONCLUSION: Babylon at the time of Daniel was the only Universal Kingdom. Nebopolazzar and Nebuchnezzar invaded Jerusalem in 3rd year of Jehoiakim (607 BC). Historians like to point out the discrepancy between Jeremiah and Daniel. But this discrepancy is because Jeremiah dates from the beginning of the siege whereas Daniel dates from the end of the siege, 1 year later. Jeremiah 46:2 – Egypt was overthrown at battle of Carchemish.
Prophets during captivity
Jeremiah – He was older than Daniel. He was prophet in Judah for the remnant.
Daniel – He was taken captivity in the first captivity BC 605. He was prophet in Babylonian court to show God’s power to Babylonian people.
Ezekiel – He was younger than Daniel. He was prophet in Babylon for the captives.
They all three lived at the same time. In the chart, most prophets were right before the captivity, during the captivity, and after the captivity. Of the all major prophets (Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel) and most of the minor prophets are in this time. * Babylon was a temporary place using as a capital, that’s why they did not carry him into the capital city, Nineveh. It shows us a lot about God’s character and the way He deals with His people. God sends the most help and the most messages during the time of crisis where there are most needs. Why did God wait until 1840s to send His messages? 1844 was a significant and critical time in this world history. Before the flood, God sent Enoch and Noah. These are some of the major points that will help us in understanding the book of Daniel.
History of Salvation Summary The people of Judah could have interpreted their exile to Babylon as the end of their special relationship with God. But not only does the book of Daniel show them that it is possible to be faithful to God even away from the Promised Land, it also shows them that God has not abandoned his plan for the whole world: he controls all of history, even the most dire conflicts, to bring his Messiah's rule to all nations.
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Outline 1. Daniel and the Three Friends at the Babylonian Court (1:1–6:28) a. Prologue (1:1–21) i. Daniel and his friends taken into exile (1:1–7) ii. Daniel and his friends remain undefiled (1:8–16) iii. Daniel and his friends promoted and preserved (1:17–21) b. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great statue (2:1–49) i. The dream and Nebuchadnezzar's threat (2:1–13) ii. Daniel's response and prayer (2:14–24) iii. Daniel interprets the dream (2:25–45) iv. Nebuchadnezzar promotes Daniel (2:46–49) c. Nebuchadnezzar builds a great statue (3:1–30) i. The nations worship Nebuchadnezzar's statue (3:1–7) ii. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego preserved in the fiery furnace (3:8–29) iii. Nebuchadnezzar promotes Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (3:30) d. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a toppled tree (4:1–37) i. Nebuchadnezzar's dream and its interpretation (4:1–27) ii. Nebuchadnezzar's humbling (4:28–33) iii. Nebuchadnezzar's exaltation (4:34–37) e. Belshazzar's feast (5:1–31) i. An idolatrous feast (5:1–4) ii. An unreadable message (5:5–9) iii. A forgotten interpreter (5:10–12) iv. A message of judgment (5:13–31) f. The lions' den (6:1–28) i. Daniel promoted (6:1–3) ii. The administrators plot to remove Daniel (6:4–15) iii. Daniel preserved in the lions' den (6:16–24) iv. Darius acknowledges the power of Daniel's God (6:25–27) v. Daniel preserved until the end of the exile (6:28) 2. The Visions of Daniel (7:1–12:13) a. The vision of four great beasts and the heavenly court (7:1–28) i. The four great beasts (7:1–8) ii. The Ancient of Days judges the beasts (7:9–12) iii. The coming of the Son of Man (7:13–14) iv. The interpretation of the vision (7:15–27) v. Daniel's response (7:28) b. The vision of the ram, the goat, and the little horn (8:1–27) i. The vision of the ram and the goat (8:1–14) ii. The interpretation of the vision (8:15–26) iii. Daniel's response (8:27) c. Daniel's prayer and its answer (9:1–27) i. Daniel's prayer concerning the 70 years (9:1–19) ii. Gabriel's answer: 70 sevens before the promised redemption (9:20–27) d. Daniel's vision of the final conflict (10:1–12:13) i. A heavenly messenger brings news of heavenly conflict (10:1–11:1) ii. A detailed vision of future earthly conflicts among nations (11:2–45) iii. The promise of resurrection to glory or shame (12:1–4) iv. How long until the end? (12:5–13) http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Chapter 1 – A Captive in Babylon’s Royal Court / Daniel’s test to be Prophet This chapter lays two lessons: 1) Principle versus preferences, and 2) Health laws. As we look at the history of Daniel and his three friends, we will find these principles as the most crucial principle in Christian walk. And we will also see the principles for true successful life. Historical Background: 2 Chron 36:3-8; 2 Kings 23:34-24:7 Jehoiakim was the third king among the last five kings of Judah. He reigned for 11 years. In the third year of his reign 607 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. This is the first siege of three and the one in which Daniel was taken at the age of 15. Daniel dates the beginning of the siege while Jeremiah dates it from the end of the siege. Three Nations were fighting for supremacy during this time: Egypt, Babylon, Media. Babylon made an alliance with Media through the marriage of Nebuchadnezzar with the daughter of the Median king, and Egypt was subdued in 606 at the battle of Carchemish (See ATJ Excerpt). Jeremiah was also prophesying during this time. Jer 1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
Principles: Typology; Transferring of the Covenants; Literal Local vs. Spiritual Worldwide. Questions 1. Who is the founder of the Jesuits? Ignatius De Layola 2. What year, and what Pope officially organized the Jesuits? Pope Paul in 1540 3. Name two systems invented by the Jesuits and who are the founders? Futurism Francisco Ribera and Preterism Louis DeAlcazar 4. What did the new names of Daniel and his companions represent? Chapter Outline
Captivity of Jerusalem (1-2)
Babylonian education (3-7)
Test of Daniel and Three Hebrew Friends (8-16)
Daniel and his friends found ten times better (17-21)
Captivity of Jerusalem | Babylonian Captivity (1-2) VERSE [1] In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king* of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. [2] 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. * The third year of the reign of king Jehoiakim - BC 606 or 605.
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1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Remember when studying the Bible you have to look for principles, not in detail. Sometimes numbers will play a role—seven days, seven last plagues; but not every time. For example in verse 1 you cannot say 3rd year of president of US, new world order; and captivity—you’re going into time and can’t date when spiritual captivity will take place. Stay within the realms of the concepts and principles—what’s happening here? “the reign of Jehoiakim” – Who is Jehoiakim? He was a king—political leader and at the same time a representative of a leader of a religious nation. So we see the minglement of political nation with religious aspect. Babylon just comes and besieged it “besieged” “Jehoiakim” Jer 22:18-19 [18] Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory! [19] He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem. Jer 36:30-31 [30] Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. [31] And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.
Prophecy of his death. Jer 25:1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;
Fourth year Neb came Jer 26:1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,
First year of his reign God said if they would hearken Jerusalem wouldn't be destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar Jer 25:9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. Ezek 26:7 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.
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King of the North Jer 46:2 Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh–necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.
Became the first worldwide power. Conquered Egypt. Besieged = God's people will again be besieged in the last days. “In the third year…came Nebuchadnezzar…unto Jerusalem, and besieged it” - When was the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim? 606 B.C. some say 605 B.C. What is the key word? Besieged— first interpret the word: it literally means to take over. But in what way? by force and surround the city and/or barricade it so no one can go in or go out in tight force or control. Another word for besiege is to invade or capture. If you look up this word besiege in the Old Testament it will give you literal meaning usually; but if it exists in Revelation it will be spiritual meaning but we don’t see the word directly in Revelation so it is in principle. Captive, capture, control, surrounded, now stop and think for a moment. Where else does Bible talk about a city being surrounded? The story of Jericho. However Jericho is an opposite scenario, we want one where God’s people are being surrounded. Elisha and the enemies of Samaria angels came and protected God’s people. In Revelation when Satan is surrounding New Jerusalem—this is AFTER 1000 years. We have the story of Jerusalem being surrounded in AD 70, this has the closest link to this event in Daniel After 1000 years, there is no chance for the enemies so we must look for a similar situation to when the enemies succeeded and literally destroyed the city. What did Jesus say about AD 70? Matt 24:15 When you see the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place then you know the time is near for its destruction
When you study Revelation, what is it? Abomination of desolation is talking about National Sunday Law. So the word besieged has connection to capture and surround. This happened in AD 70 and Jesus used this event to describe what will take place in the future regarding the National Sunday Law. THEREFORE, what took place in Dan 1 has a prophetic message regarding what will or might take place when Sunday Law is past What will be our test? By reading this will help us to understand how we are to be like Daniel and his friends in order for us to go through our captivity. All of this application is based upon the word, besieged. Question: Is the word besieged positive or not? Another question, is it totally positive? Negative? It has a two-fold purpose. #1 Negative because God’s people are destroyed. #2 Positive because God chastised them for their revival and reformation. So National Sunday Law has both negative and positive. Positive is that it will purify God’s people. Negative is that we will be persecuted. You can transfer over to national Sunday law and see if it also has the same characteristics as the story. So Babylonians besieged Jerusalem to cut off their food supplies. Prevent them from getting sustenance. City becomes like a sewerage place. There were 2 destruction of the Jewish temples – http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Babylonians and Romans. TYPE OF FUTURE EVENTS: Also points to abomination of desolation (destruction of Jerusalem in the future) PA: This besieging is to cut of the life supply of God’s people. That is why EGW said these books were more for us then for their time. Revelation 13: 16, 17 talks about the mark of the beast. This means that God’s peoples’ life support will be cut off in the end times. Like Daniel and his friends were captured, God’s people will also be captured and we can find out what will happen through Daniel. 2 reasons why God allowed his vessels to be taken: (1) Hezekiah boasted about the treasures of God and God told Him that he would lose all of it. (2) According to Ezekiel, the spirit of God had departed from the temple. 2 things being taken away: (1) God’s people and (2) the sanctuary. These 2 things are also referred to in: Dan 8:13 – Sanctuary and Host (People) and Dan 9:26 – City (People) and the sanctuary. Application: In the same way, the devil will attack the sanctuary and God’s people in end times. God’s sanctuary and worship mentioned in Daniel 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12. Pagan sanctuary and worship mentioned in Daniel 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12. Constantly you see a clash of God’s sanctuary vs Satan’s sanctuary. NOTE: Nebuchadnezzar tries to mix the holy things of God with his pagan things. That is the intention of spiritual Babylon – mixing the things of God with pagan things. 3 things mentioned in this verse: King Nebuchadnezzar – political power. “vessels of the house of God” – religious power. “treasure house” – economic power. Principle of history repeats to show the future application from this text. Besieged means to surround. Nebuchadnezzar came to surround and barricade the city he cut off its life support. End-time application: Satan will surround God’s people so that they cannot support themselves in terms of livelihood. Rev 13, issue of mark of the beast—no buying and selling; this is like besieging them to cut off their life support. So in Dan 1 – 6 we are reading about history which took place long time ago (about 3000 years); but studying this history we can know how it will repeat again in the last days. Daniel’s captivity is almost like how and when we are taken away and imprisoned when our freedom is taken away.
The Life of Daniel This will be a study on Daniel himself the author of the book is closely related to what he writes in the book. Dan 1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
Daniel’s background. Daniel was of king’s seed and princes. He had a high-class or royal family. Now none of us from royal family, but Bible calls us royal priesthood, spiritually—we are in some ways kings and princes.
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Dan 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.
Quality of Daniel: Daniel was not a normal kid in his day. He was around age 15 – 17 when taken, he was very young. We can imagine that Daniel was trained well before Babylon came and captured the city and took him away. Based upon the history, we can see Daniel had a good education Education of Daniel: He was Prepared physically, mentally, and spiritually with a well-balanced education. EGW says Daniel walked straight good posture. He had no bad breath. So physically, mentally, and spiritually he was well-balanced. Main theme in book is Judgment: One with this name writes about this by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When you connect Daniel with the Revelation you will see the life of Daniel is like the 144,000. Daniel learned to say God is my judge; God judges who judges righteously. Laodicea means PEOPLE JUDGED, Not lukewarm which is the condition of the Laodicea church. The meaning is people judged. This period began 1844, time of investigative judgment until the end of time. People who live in this period should have characteristic of Daniel, God is my judge. The 144,000 are out of this church period Now let’s notice the 144,000 characteristics. Rev 14:1-5 [1] And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. [2] And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: [3] And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. [4] These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. [5] And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
They are without fault and guile. Daniel has these kind of characteristics. Now let’s look at the connection. Some of the things which Daniel went through the 144,000 will also go through in the last days. It is not just the Antichrist power which connects the books of Daniel and Revelation. But the concept of righteousness by faith was experienced by Daniel and 144,000 need to experience this also. Spiritual eyesight is needed also, not just prophetic eyesight. Preaching prophecies without righteousness by faith is dead. It is just mere what, when, and who, but we must bring out the gospel even in the messages about the beast and little horn power there is good news behind those messages. Now let’s compare Jesus and Daniel. It is more interesting that Daniel has the same characteristics of Jesus. How do we know? In Daniel 6, the wicked tried to find fault in Daniel but couldn’t find any. When Jesus stood before Pilate, Pilate couldn’t find fault in Him. The 144,000 have no fault before throne of God. So if you plan to be apart of the 144,000 God has given us the life of Jesus and Daniel to model our lives after. Daniel represents 144,000 and Jesus in some ways. In all the stories of Daniel (chapter 1, 2, 6, 9, 10), we learn that he is a man of prayer. Here is text which shows clearly that Jesus had a characteristic of Daniel:
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1 Pet 2:21-23 [21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: [23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Jesus committed Himself to Him that Judges righteously. Jesus experienced what it means to depend upon the Father for righteous judgment. The 144,000 will also have this experience—how do we know? Rev 15:3, 4 [3] And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. [4] Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
The 144,000 are singing about God’s ways, the song of Moses and the Lamb. They learn to sing this way because of the experience of depending and committing to God who Judges righteously To summarize: Jesus, Daniel, 144,000 have characteristic of God as their Judge. The concept that Bible characters are types or examples for us becomes a reality. Daniel becomes very exciting as you study it more deeply. Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
The Bible calls the 144,000 the children of Israel. Rev 7:5-8 [5] Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. [6] Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. [7] Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. [8] Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
These verses go through all the tribes. These aren’t literal but spiritual. The list given is not the same as given in book of Genesis. Two tribes are missing: Dan and Ephraim. Why is Ephraim missing? Hos 4:13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
They are joined to idols, leave them alone and idol-worship.Why is Dan missing? The word Dan means JUDGE. In Genesis 49, he has characteristics of backbite. You backbite with words and your mouth and tongue. Jesus has no guile, 144,000 has no guile but Dan has guile in his mouth. Dan learned to judge, but never learned to allow God to judge. This is why tribe of Dan is not mentioned there. Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
The 144,000 are standing with Lamb on mount Zion What kind of mountain is Mount Zion? It is
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talking about the holy hill of God Who is standing there? 144,000 Psa 15:1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
According to Rev 14:1 the 144,000 can abide and dwell Psa 15:2, 3 [2] He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. [3] He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Who will not be able to stand there? Those who backbite. We need to NOT become like Dan, we need to be like DANIEL. So its safe to conclude that studying book of Daniel will prepare people to be 144,000. The big picture is that the Great Controversy cannot be finished until God has His 144,000 to prove that by the grace of God, human beings (weak and sinful we are) can obey all the commandments of God. God is waiting for the 144,000 to show that God’s law is just, His judgment is true, and His mercy and grace is fair. What should you remember when you study book of Daniel? Beasts are not the main point. The point is to prepare a people of God to be 144,000. What is climactic chapter of Revelation? Revelation 14 talks about three angel’s message to bring about a group of people, the 144,000. Those who preach and receive this message will bring this about. Prophecies now become more meaningful—it’s more than just revealing the antichrist. It’s better to ask how does antichrist fit into prophecies? The Antichrist wears out the saints and he is against God’s people but ultimately against 144,000 Before going to Daniel we need to understand the spiritual aspect of this book—why and main purpose of why it is written. It is not to only reveal little horn power—you miss the whole picture and the whole point. Little horn power is against the 144,000 movement and the judgment of God and the sanctuary Satan will attack the 144,000 at the end of time Zeph 3:13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
This remnant has characteristics, similar to who? No guile, no lies—144,000. The remnant church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church. But the remnant who will survive until Jesus comes back—this remnant will be attacked by Satan. Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The remnant here contextually is 144,000. Those that keep commandments of God and have testimony of Jesus. We as a church have this but not all SDA’s will keep this, many will apostatize. So again, who are the remnant? Only those who keeps commandments of God and testimony of Jesus. Do no iniquity and no guile in their mouths. This is the big picture in Daniel and Revelation. Every Passage in Daniel points to that direction. Preparing people for the final movement of this earth’s history—telling us what things will take place before the last movement or crisis. You will also see that before God can prepare this final group, He has to do the last ministration in the Most Holy Place http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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1:2 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.
Notice who gave Jerusalem to Babylon. The Lord gave it. Nebuchad could have thought that he did it, But it was God who allowed it. All the greatness, wealth and power came from God. He allowed it. Why did God allow Babylon to come? Because of the people being in apostasy. “house of God…house of his god” 2 Chron 36:7 …temple at Babylon…
Heb 1964 palace, sanctuary. From 3201 to prevail, prevail over or against, overcome, be victor Dan 5:3 …temple of the house of God…
Heb 1965 palace, temple. Can be either God's temple or pagan temple. PK 479 The fact that these men, worshipers of Jehovah, were captives in Babylon, and that the vessels of God's house had been placed in the Temple of the Babylonish gods, was boastfully cited by the victors as evidence that their religion and customs were superior to the religion and customs of the Hebrews."
So already we can expect to see two sanctuaries in the book of Daniel God's Sanctuary and a Pagan sanctuary. From these two verses we can see two characteristics of Babylon. Political 'king of Babylon.' Religious 'house of his god.' It is shown as a political and religious entity. And this is a pagan king that has a pagan religion. When you say King of the North it includes both of these elements. Dan 1:2 …treasure house of his gods…
Treasure shows ‘economy.’ At this time King Nebuchadnezzar has complete religious, political, and economic power. He is the super power of the earth. And he is the king of the North. Now that term includes 3 aspects: political, religious, and economic. Why is this mentioned after Jerusalem being besieged? It is like saying that their gods are greater than God of Israel. Where was the house of God, where? The sanctuary and temple but a pagan, heathen king took sacred and holy vessels and put them in the house of his god, pagan idols. Application: Chapter one in some ways is preview of whole book of Daniel. You will see this almost every book of the Bible: Revelation, Hebrews, Romans, Ephesians etc. The very first chapter is the overview of the whole book. This is also seen in the first chapter of the Desire of Ages. So here in chapter one of Daniel are hidden messages to tell us what the whole book is about. By looking at verse 1, we see captivity and book of Daniel will be about this. Verse 2 is about pagan taking instruments of God’s sanctuary and into his unholy sanctuary. So Daniel is essentially about God’s enemies destroying God’s sanctuary and making them into their own. For example: Dan 8:13 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? http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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What two things mentioned? Sanctuary and host. The host are the people of God which are trampled under foot—stepped on, destroyed, defamed, persecuted. In Daniel 1, first two things are about God’s people besieged and then instruments of God’s sanctuary taken to pagan temple— God’s people and His sanctuary Dan 9:16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
Daniel praying for Jerusalem and his people Dan 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
His people and sanctuary Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
2300 days then sanctuary is cleansed. We are going to see sanctuary and the concept of God’s people as very important. Dan 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.
Finishes with this note, all of God’s people are delivered. So what we see is that what took place in Daniel 1 is important (every text) and a close relation of God’s people with His sanctuary. “The Lord Gave” – God gave warning after warning but Israel kept in their apostasy. God had no choice but give them up. God used Nebuchadnezzar to punish His own people. Sometimes God will use pagans or unbelievers to punish us if we won’t listen. But it wasn’t Nebuchadnezzar who destroyed the Jerusalem; it was the Lord who permitted to be so. The lord gave it. Nebuchadnezzar had a thought of “I conquered, I ruled, I reigned,” but God permitted it to be so. All the greatness, the wealth and power of Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon really was because of God; it’s God who gives it. Manasseh was a little object lesson or little prophecy of what will be. Just like Manasseh became to the sense of repentant, God was hoping Israel to come to their sense of repentant. God has given to them the promises of the coming Messiah and all the blessings. God chose Israel as a vehicle to communicate to the world. But the problem with the Jews: when they were in Egypt, they were apostates for four hundred years. When came out of the Egyptian bondage, God gives them the sanctuary, Ten Commandments, miracles. God told them clearly that they should not be partakers of the sins of Egypt; idolatry, heathen worship. So what they did was exclude themselves to the point not giving it to others. God tried to tell them to give to the others, yet they would not do it. Because of their rebelliousness, refusal to give the gospel, and their gross iniquity, God had to allow this to happen. God would accomplish many things through this: 1. Judgment must fall to their sins. 2. Come to point of repentant. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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3. Spread gospel to the world – I am going to bring world dominating power to take you and bring you to the world. Chastisement is love. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Rev 3:19. 5T 463 The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most discouraging, forbidding circumstances.
God was actually using Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon as a vehicle of chastisement. They were worldwide power. They would take the captive into all around the world. They were actually accomplishing God’s will. Jesus told Jews once, “God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Matt 3:9. If we won’t do it, God will use someone else to accomplish His will. God is not dependant on human. Whether you and I want to do it or not, God’s will be done. If we don’t want to do it, He is not going to force us to do it, He will going to have his will done, somehow, somewhere, somebody is going to do His will and accomplish His task. When they failed to learn the lesson from Babylonian captivity, there comes Mede-Persian. They did not learn the lesson from Mede-Persians, there comes Greece. Not learned the lesson, here comes Rome. Century after century after captivity. Finally they rejected Christ, and covenant was taken away from them. “Part of the vessels…to the treasure house of his god” – He did not take everything. This is the vessels that king Belshazzar used later in Dan 5:2.
Babylonian Education (3-7) VERSE [3] And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; [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. [5] And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. [6] Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: [7] 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 Abednego. Education is more of an application. Babylonians are trying to reeducate or reestablish the captives. What area is described the most? Daniel’s test, therefore the theme of this chapter is the test of diet—appetite. We can safely use the principle of whatever God emphasized the most we should emphasize also. When teaching or preaching, this aspect must be strongly emphasized. Now think—what relationship does this chapter have with the rest of the book of Daniel? What is one word to describe this chapter? Appetite? That’s too specific; trial? That’s too broad—pick a title that is not used in other chapters. What does the diet test or appetite have to do with the rest of the book. Cause and Effect—Because Daniel was faithful to God’s diet and honoring God, not defiling himself with idols, God granted him understanding in visions and dreams; they had understanding, http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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wisdom and skills in science. At the end, visions and dreams were they given for understanding. Conclusion—when you are faithful to God in little things like diet, God can help you to understand great things of God, His secret things. By looking at whole chapter, you can understand the bigger picture of the lesson God is trying to communicate to you. Lessons in each test but you need to look at the bigger lesson from the whole chapter—because Daniel was faithful with his diet, God was able to grant him understanding in visions and dreams. How does this apply to us? Broader term—faithfulness in small will enable God to give us greater things. More specific—What’s going to happen if we allow God to work in us to be faithful to His diet? Spiritual discernment to understand the prophecies. Chapter one is giving us a menu or recipe to enable us or help us to understand the prophecies of Daniel. God gave us instruction on diet through EGW to help us to understand the prophecies for these times. Understanding Daniel is not just understanding time prophecies and symbols—but to have spiritual discernment which affects our Christian life. God is telling us we need to have this diet of Daniel before we get into the prophecies—simple diet or vegetarian diet—EGW says time will come where we will not be able to use eggs, milk, and butter but should partake of a vegan diet. We need to come up higher. God is trying to help us have a clear mind so we can understand the deep things of the Bible. We should have a cooking school and give health message before giving Daniel seminar so their minds can be clear to understand the messages. How does this apply to the church? Heath evangelism, medical missionary. What about church members or diet of our young people? Come up higher and always look for what is better. What about family or national application? Jesus said days will be like Noah’s day before He comes. Problem of appetite and passions—because of this, they knew not the prophecy to that which Noah gave. People didn’t discern message of 120 years of warning because they were slaves to their appetites and passions. If you want spirituality within yourself—consider changing your diet. What about your family? Start with changing their diet. Same with church, nation, and world-wide, etc. 1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring [certain] of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
Satan is aiming at the cream of the crop. The very elect. God’s people at the end are the best, God’s people are elect of the elect. So when you are developing yourself for the Lord, remember that the devil is after you.He had greater ability that can be developed and molded exactly way you wanted. “The king's seed and of the princes” – Why? Babylonian king wanted the best to serve him in his palace. God and Satan are seeking to use the best to do their service. Satan is thinking he can use these boys to become Babylonian to serve satanic purpose but God is greater. Remember, Daniel is in royal family. PK 487 It tells us that Daniel and his friends were royal blood. Notice verse 4: these were not just ordinary young people. They were the brightest mind they could capture from every nation in the world. They had intelligent, but they At the court of Babylon were gathered representatives from all lands, men of the highest talent, men the most richly endowed with natural gifts, and possessed of the broadest culture that the world could bestow;
Daniel’s Age: Daniel was brought to Babylon when he was about 15 years old.
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4T 570 Daniel was but 18 years old when brought into the court to serve.” UL 83 Daniel was but a youth when carried away captive into Babylon. He was about fifteen or sixteen years old, for he is called a child, which means that he was in his youth.
Training Young Minds – The reason why they did not take adults who were already highly trained and skilled, is that when you train young minds that are not yet fully trained, you can mold and shape and train them in exactly the way you want, while you have to retrain the minds of adults. This is an excellent principle on education. When you are a secondary teacher, what an awesome position you are in to realize that you have the absolute precious opportunity to mold the mind of that person after the image of Jesus and develop the skills of that individual after the principles of God. You must pray to God everyday, you got to have closer walk with Jesus everyday. This is the danger; teacher can mold the minds of the students in the class. Students seat there and they don’t even know what’s happening. You almost want to shake them, “Aren’t you alive in this world?!” That’s why Nebuchadnezzar chose young minds. Jesuits has learned this principles extremely well, and they have mastered and skilled this position. They know that if they get the young people, they’ve got the future generations: presidents, mayors, and leaders. When they are old, they are nothing more than robots carrying out your will. They will do whatever you tell them to do, and they think they are free in their own minds, when they are nothing more than slaves to other person. Documents shows that when you become a Jesuit, you have an white object front of you and your mind says that’s white, then the professor says the object is black, and you surrender all your reasoning and what you think, and you think now it’s black regardless of what your senses tell you: you don’t have your process of thinking for yourself, you must think according as your superior think. Catholic church believes in the philosophy that it is better to have no education, because in this way, people are ignorant, dumb, and blind in the sense now superstition can reign, therefore they have the captivation of the people. That’s exactly what they did in the Dark Ages. If you are totally ignorant, how are you going to know what I am saying is wrong? South American countries and another Catholic countries, the education is absolutely pathetic! 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.
These young were sent to stand before the king—why? Story of Daniel and friends walking across from Israel to Babylon. It was 6 months according to history that they were bound in chains, becoming eunuchs on the way during 1000 miles walk. Now image that you are away from home country, going to new, pagan country. You lose your gender, going there as a slave. How would your faith be, perhaps wondering where is God? How would you feel? Emotionally and psychologically, you are at the bottom—the desert feeling going to your mind and heart. But these Hebrew boys went through because of true education—taught by their parents; God was teaching them as they went through End-time application: We will go through great disappointments, trials, and temptations—it takes more than average faith, dedication, and consecration to be able to stand when national Sunday law comes. To prepare our young people, our parents need to train our youth. We are training our http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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young people to stand in those days or we are training them to receive mark of the beast. This shows the necessity value of home education like Daniel and John the Baptist. “no blemish” – no deformities. Their body is strong. They walk like kings. Strong appearance. Don’t want people who are not healthy in body, mind and soul. Men behave like men of God and women, be women of God. “Well favored” – everyone likes them. Bible says, that if you are wise, God will make even your enemies respect you. Socially speaking, they are good. “skillful in all wisdom” – mentally capable. “cunning in knowledge” – knowledgeable and well versed. “understanding science” – scientific. “such as had the ability in them to stand in the king’s palace” – able to act in the right manner at the right time. APPLICATION: For you to get yourself ready in the last days, you have to be well balanced physical, social, mental, spiritual person. Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Christ increased in stature, wisdom, favour with God and favour with man. Christ was well balanced physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. Some people who have difficulty expressing which gives miscommunication have to ask God to help them work on this and seek training and counsel. By learning the language of Chaldeans, the Babylonians were trying to influence their mind. When you want to learn to speak Chinese, you have to think like Chinese. Babylonian Education has three phases: #1—Mental Education which is the language of the Chaldeans. This involves the thoughts. By teaching this, they were teaching to THINK like Babylonians. Daniel already had education—skillful in all wisdom and understanding science. 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
Through the diet, the Babylonians were trying to change the Hebrew boys physically to Babylonians. They also changed their names to Babylonian names, after their gods. Daniel and his friends used to have names which reminded them of God, but in changing their names, the Babylonians took away a reminder for them, of God. King’s food was honorable diet in those days. By the statement of Daniel, it was unfit for him to take #2—Physical Education which included the Babylonian diet. This is more of food and diet because this is what is more important perhaps than exercising. “wine” – Babylonian wine. Habakkuk talks about Babylonian wine causing transgression = sin. Every influence was given to cause God’s people to sin. 1:6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
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1:7 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 Abednego.
With their Babylonian names, they changed their identity and influenced them spiritually. No longer were they reminded about God when they were called. They also tried to change them socially because they mixed them with other Babylonians. So in the last days, the devil is trying to destroy God’s people by trying to change their minds, bodies, soul. So we need God’s social, spiritual, mental education instead to prepare ourselves. #3—Spiritual Education which was names of Babylonian gods. So mental, physical, and spiritual education was the three phases of Babylonian education. This biggest problem was physical. This is the area to which one would be affected the most. The name is not as bad neither is the education— you can control your thoughts and not much problem being called a different name. Physical is most affected area. Satan used similar method to destroy our first parents: Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
“eat” – physically “be as gods” – spiritual “knowing good and evil” – Mental Satan was trying to destroy body, mind, and ultimately the soul of man, this is how Eve was deceived. Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
“Good for food” – physical “Make one wise” – mental Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
“Eyes were opened” – spiritual, recognized their disconnection from God. This is no new thing. Now let’s discuss how Jesus grew and was educated: Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
“Wisdom” – mental “Stature” – physical “Favor with God” – spiritual
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“Favor with man” – social We are made up of four things: physical, mental, spiritual, social. However the most important is spiritual—you cannot forego God. Now’s lets how Jesus worked for the people: Matt 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
“Cities and villages, mingling” – social “Teaching” – mental “Preaching” – spiritual “Healing” – physical So this concept of social, mental, spiritual, and physical is all right in the Bible. Let’s notice what Jesus said: Mark 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
“Soul” – spiritual “Mind” – mental “Strength” – physical Body, mind, and soul is loving with all your heart Mark 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Social. Now let’s discuss the creation of man. The work in the garden for true physical education. Then, to name animals was mental to be creative and use his mind. The need of woman was social and the Sabbath was for spiritual education. Before sin, God provided physical, mental, social, and spiritual. This is God’s balanced education. Satan’s plan for education: is his philosophy, his food, his god, his social peer pressure. Now notice what Paul says regarding our sanctification: 1 Thes 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Spirit” – also means mind; mental “Soul” – spiritual
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“Body” – physical The Bible keeps on emphasizing the whole of man. What about our messages? Rev 14:6, 7 [6] And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, [7] Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
“Fear God” – which is the (beginning of wisdom) mental with spiritual aspect. Cannot separate between body, mind, and soul they’re all connected. The way you treat your body will determine your mind and the way your mind is will determine your spiritual aspect. “Give glory” – character but also physical 1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Your life is based upon what you do, so fearing God is mental, giving glory is physical and worshipping is spiritual. So the 1st angel’s message has mental, physical, and spiritual aspects. In Daniel chapter 1, Babylon is trying to change the Hebrews to their education. End of time—Satan is trying to prepare the world to have mind of Babylon—how? Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
“worship” – spiritual “forehead” – mental “hands” – physical The mark of the beast has its own physical, mental, and spiritual. So there are two balanced educations at the end of time the true and the false. False education is preparing to receive mark of the beast and to go against the 1 – 3rd angel’s message. In Daniel chapter 1, Satan was also trying to capture the Hebrews not only physically but spiritually. Slowly he was trying to educate them but Daniel stood firm for God’s education. Despite this even his enemies became his friends. In Daniel 1 we see that Daniel’s physical education was his pure, simple, cleaner diet. We need holistic or complete education. That’s why God gave EGW to the SDA church to gives us a physical, spiritual and mental message. In fact, Jesus ministry also covered all aspects. He went into all villages – social. Taught in the synagogues – mental. Preached the gospel – spiritual. Healing them – physical. In Proverbs, it says that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom – mental. Give glory to Him – physical. Worship him – spiritual. Jesus was also tempted in all areas. Daniel and his friends were trained 3 years to allow them to pick up the language and allow the Babylonians to change their diet and their ways. Hebrew Name versus Babylonian Name – One of the first things Babylonian did was to change the name of these Hebrew boys. Names were changed as below:
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Hebrew Name Daniel Hananiah Mishael Azariah
Meaning God is my judge. Gift of the Lord. Who is what God is. Whom Jehovah helps.
Babylonian Name Belteshazzar Shadrach Meshach Abednego
Meaning Prince of Bel. Servant of Sin.* Who is what Aku** is. Servant of Nebo.
* Sin is the moon god of Babylon. ** Aku is Sumerian name of Sin. There was a purpose of the changing the name of these Hebrew boys. Name was given to denote the character of child in relationship with God. Babylonian names that were given to them were representing Chaldean deities. PK 481 The names of Daniel and his companions were changed to names representing Chaldean deities. Great significance was attached to the names given by Hebrew parents to their children. Often these stood for traits of character that the parent desired to see developed in the child… The king did not compel the Hebrew youth to renounce their faith in favor of idolatry, but he hoped to bring this about gradually. By giving them names significant of idolatry, by bringing them daily into close association with idolatrous customs, and under the influence of the seductive rites of heathen worship, he hoped to induce them to renounce the religion of their nation and to unite with the worship of the Babylonians.
There was no cohersion, no forcing. Why not compel? Why not force them? Why not just simple put them in a direct, straight position and say, “You will do what I tell you!” King Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t fool. Looking at the history, he was extremely bright individual; both militarily, politically. He knew exactly how to do it. He manipulates. He gradually bring about; you are imperceptibly don’t know what’s happening; you don’t know you are being changed. Papacy is gradually bringing back to power and yet imperceptibly everybody doesn’t even know. Jesuits are molding the minds of the humanity to think this way. “Catholic? What? Isn’t Papacy a nice organization? Look at all the goods they do.” What’s happening is they are banning their own religion for Catholic religion; they are not doing it by cohersion, they are gradually brining it about; little changes here and there over period of time. Babylonians used “the influence of the seductive rites of heathen worship” in renouncing their captives’ faith. The worship service of Catholic, the organs, choirs, and music, absolutely beautiful. Beautiful buildings, statues; this is breathtaking to the sensory. You keep hanging around that stuff, your senses become numb. Satan knew that he can captivate people by the senses; what they see, what they hear, it literally draws people. TV, music, can be so dangerous. When they are so rapped up with it, they can’t even hear when someone calls them. “eunuchs” – Two types: Those that serve God & those who serve the sun god, Satan. Is 56:3-5 [3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Daniel and 3 boys will have an everlasting name.
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“wine which he drank” – What kind of wine is it? The wine of Babylon. What happens when you drink wine? You get drunk. App: Do you know of any place in the Bible that speaks about people being drunk with the wine of Babylon? Only four out of all the children of Israel did not get drunk with the wine of Babylon. And they were all Sabbath keepers. You know what this shows about the last days? The majority of SDA’s will drink the wine of Babylon. BSM: Prophetic Application Watch what the wine of Babylon does? Hab 2:5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, [he is] a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and [is] as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people.
“transgresseth” – Sin is the transgression of the law. Wine of Babylon leads to transgressing or breaking the law of God. “heapeth” – consolidation of the nations, happened at Babel. Happened during Daniels time and it’s happening right now. A new world order. Nations coming together through the wine of Babylon. Hab 2:7-8
Media Persia is being predicted here. It is clearer in Isaiah. But God is prophesying their fall. Hab 2:15 God didn’t forget what Babylon did to His people. He says woe unto them for giving this wine. Hab 2:13-14
All the people were not wicked. His people would labor in persecution, under trials, etc. Who? Ezekiel, Daniel, Ester, Nehemiah, Ezra, Zerubbabel. For what reason? “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Rev 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
This verse shows the last day fulfillment. So the the language changed: How you speak, how you think. So this is dealing with the mind. It is a mental change. Diet changed: Physical change. Names changed: Spiritual . All 3 of these are connected with worship. They are connected with the sanctuary. So God is emphasizing something here. What is that? Change. So God wants us to understand change in the book of Daniel. Daniel 2 Babylon changes to Media Persia, etc. Dan 7 Think to 'change' times and laws. Dan 8 'truth' GC Sabbath. But who is doing the changing? Pagan King and Pagan Religion. The prophetic chapters are just explaining the pagan power and what it is trying to accomplish. Daniel 1 shows how it will accomplish its agenda. How is that? Through Babylonian education. Why is it that the 7th day is apparently changed? Because of Babylonian education.
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Test of Daniel and Three Hebrew Friends (8-16) VERSE [8] But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. [12] Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. [13] Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. [13] Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. [14] So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. [15] 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. [16] Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
When they had been traveling, they probably did not have much food. Probably starved for food. Thus the magnitude of the temptation was greater. Temptation for Adam/Eve and Jesus were also appetite. Also, notice, they did not coerce them with weapons to become Babylonians. Instead the king welcomed them and treated them to the king’s food. But Daniel purposed in his heart. He had been planning this all the 6 months while on his way to Babylon. EGW says Daniel purposed on his way that he will not be defiled with things of Babylon. Even though he was castrated and hands bound. We can see that Daniel and his friends had already foreseen the temptations. As a result, because Daniel and his friends were faithful in the little test, this built up their faith to be faithful in the big things when their lives were on the line. Do you think Daniel purposed in his heart at the palace? He is going as if he has no will but to obey all the instructions—he has no independency, he will lose his life if he goes against the king, EVEN THEN he purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. “purposed in his heart…defile” – This is the climatic verse in chapter 1. It shows the preparation that we need to survive the siege of the last days. The word 'defile' is all-inclusive. It is more than just physical defilement. Physical defilement will lead to mental and spiritual defilement. It shows the importance of diet. Bad food leads to bad blood, and ultimately bad blood decreases spiritual stamina against temptation. “Daniel purposed in his heart” – This was no preference, this was conviction. Their life was on the stake. You got to be really convicted to be wiling to sacrifice your life for the principle. They did not know what the consequences would be had been they faithful. But they were willing to pay the price, no matter what consequences would be, to stand faithful and true to God. Purpose in your heart means to promise, commit, choose but it is solidifying your choice to fix. So Daniel fixed his heart. Now is there any word in Revelation with this word relation to FIX or concept of it? SEALED which is not without preparation, when crisis comes you won’t be prepared if you don’t plan ahead. This takes place BEFORE crisis comes and BEFORE temptation comes. We must prepare our hearts and FIX them. Sealing is settling into the truth both intellectually and spiritually that you cannot be moved
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Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; Mar 200
Daniel was sealing his heart that he will not sin against God. He purposed in his heart—it was already done. Crisis NEVER prepares you but tests your preparation. True education should prepare our people in the highest knowledge, skill, and science—in the things of God, wisdom of God, and science of God—and not for money. Many institutions of our day is about money not the knowledge of God. Why were these young people sent? They were sent to win the heart of Babylonian king and by God’s grace Nebuchadnezzar was converted. It is my belief that he will be in heaven. PA: Some of us will be sent to kings palace and testify before them about 3 angel’s message and people of high places will accept the message. EGW said so, example from Nicodemus, other places in Bible, and in Daniel with Nebuchadnezzar. But what kind of people does God need? People like Daniel PK 483 The approval of God was dearer to him than the favor of the most powerful earthly potentate – dearer than life itself. He determined to stand firm in his integrity, let the result be what it might.
Here is the word of God, and here is the situation. God’s word is principle, it will never move or change; it doesn’t altar. Often cases, we are too prone to let the circumstances dictate the word of God. Therefore we go for circumstances and say, “Well, we got to do this now,” when we should let the word of God dictate the circumstances and say, “Lord, I don’t how in the world you are going to get me out of this when I follow your word. But Lord, I will be faithful to your word, Lord.” Then God says, “Step backward. I am going to show you what am I all about.” “purposed” – Definition Psa 78:1-7 [1] Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. [2] I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: [3] Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. [4] We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. [5] For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: [6] That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: [7] That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: Prov 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. Prov 20:18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. Psa17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Psa 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Job 17:11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
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“Thoughts of my heart” – Definition Psa119:59-60 [59 ] I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. [60] I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. Prov 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
“Commit” Definition – Psa 31:5-8 [5] Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. [6] I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD. [7] I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; [8] And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room. Psa 37:3-5 [3] Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. [4] Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. [5] Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. [6] And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Job 22:21-22 [21] Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. [22] Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
In order for Daniel to purpose in his heart not to defile himself, it was important that his parents knew God’s laws “and declare them to their children” (Psalms 78:1). It says in Proverbs 15:19 and 20:17 that godly purposes are established in the presence of a “multitude of counsellors”. We can thus presume that Daniel’s parents had taught him God’s word and helped to establish God as the center of his life.This in turn helped Daniel to purpose in his heart “that my mouth shall not transgress”. He put God first before himself and God helped him to be unmovable in his dedication to God’s precepts. To purpose can also be equated to thoughts of the heart. (Job 17:11). And in Psalms 119:58, it says that if we commit our works to the Lord, our thoughts will be established on Him. To commit thy works is also to trust in the Lord and to submit oneself to Him. How do we trust in the Lord? By acquainting ourselves with him through receiving the law from His mouth and laying up His words in our hearts. “Defile” – stain or pollute or make it unholy. Daniel represents 144,000. Likewise, the 144,000 will not defile themselves with women. To be part of the 144,000 we need to look to Daniel and Jesus as examples. In Revelation 7:4 – lists characteristics of 144,000. 12 tribes of Israel…..some are missing – Ephraim and Dan. Ephraim is left out and God calls them like cake half baked which means ‘lukewarm’. Dan means judge. Gen 49:16 – 17. Left out because he back bites in revenge. Revelation 14 – 144,000 standing there with the Lamb. What qualified them to stand with Him? Psalm 15:1 – 3, says that those who back bite will not stand abide. Joseph is one of the tribes added – incidentally Joseph means God has added. Two reasons why they didn’t eat the food: (1) Defilement of Levitical law. Disobeying God’s law. (2) Much of the food was already offered to Babylonian gods. Importance of Health Laws – Why did they have to stand up for that “little” thing? Did they really have to stake their life just for diet?
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PK 481 At the very outset of their career there came to them a decisive test of character. It was provided that they should eat of the food and drink of the wine that came from the king's table. In this the king thought to give them an expression of his favor and of his solicitude for their welfare. But a portion having been offered to idols, the food from the king's table was consecrated to idolatry; and one partaking of it would be regarded as offering homage to the gods of Babylon. In such homage, loyalty to Jehovah forbade Daniel and his companions to join. Even a mere pretense of eating the food or drinking the wine would be a denial of their faith. To do this would be to array themselves with heathenism and to dishonor the principles of the law of God.
Some people think, “That’s pretty dumb thing to do; willing to die just for the piece of meat? What they could done is just eat the vegetable, and just push the meat back.” I am sure they could have thought of a real good one of why not to do this thing. “I like this king, he is pretty nice fellow. Sure hate to offend him and tell him “No, I can’t eat that you’ve put before me.”” I want to save this king. So I am not going to say anything. Maybe have a little bit. I am thinking about them! I don’t want to hurt person’s feeling! I am concerned about his salvation!” There is principle involved here; God’s health laws. They don’t move or altar or change. I don’t care what the circumstances appear to be. You do not interpret the principles of God by circumstances; the circumstances are to be dictated by the principles of God. These fellows, because of their young training of principles of being faithful to God in little things, when the great trials came, they were faithful, true and loyal. Their life was on stake. Here they are, 15 years old, making stand like that. 15 years old having that kind of reasoning factor to calmly go through these things and make stand for God. That was the result of the health message and true education. He who honors God, God will honor them! If you don’t honor God in the times of peace and prosperity, don’t you ever get the idea that God will honor you in the times of perplexity. Prov 1:25, 26 [25] But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 1:9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
“Favour and tender love” – Shows Daniel had a good personality and compassion. There was a reason for the and tender love. This is social development. YI 1907/11/29 This officer saw in Daniel good traits of character. He saw that he was striving to be kind and helpful, that his words were respectful and courteous, and his manner possessed the grace of modesty and meekness. It was the good behavior of the youth that gained for him the favor and love of the prince.
Because Daniel purposed in his heart God moved on the heart of the Prince of the eunuchs to help him to carry out his impulses. App: When we purpose in our heart to follow God, when we say we will follow Him not matter what the cost. He will change circumstances so that you can obey Him. The eunuch didn’t realize that he was under the influence of God. He was a pagan. Does God move upon pagans? Yes, but He needs to have someone to stand for Him. BSM: What word in verse 9 is associated or has a direct reference to a word in verse 8? Love and heart. This is the second time that we have the Work of God being manifested. He is working imperceptibly behind the unseen veil. Dan 1:2 …Lord gave Jehoiakim into the hand Dan 1:9 Daniel…favor… http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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In other words God is trying to teach us, God is in control of everything. He is over the affairs of the world in relation to His people. APP: Watch what doors will open if you obey God. And it also teaches that God will humble His people, and exalt His people depending on how they obey Him. SOP says we should study the work of God among the nations. 1:10 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.
Even those these were their masters, tyrants, and yet Daniel and his friends still respected them in the spirit of authority. It’s heavy to do. If someone took you into captivity and all of a sudden now you got to respect them. The reason why they were in favor and love was because they were kind, courteous, and respectful. And this was totally unusual. The prince of the eunuchs was impressed; “Here are these captives, slaves, treating me in respect?! Who are these young people!” Their kindness toward others, courteous. Out of all the Hebrews, only 4 stood firm for God’s laws. Countenance must be good to serve the King. If the servant had a sad face to serve the king he would be given the death penalty. Imagine, when Babylonians feasted, they had orgies. So the women would have walked around with very little clothing. The temptation would have been great for Daniel and his friends. But he kept his mind on God. Prov 16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
Don’t give up when it comes to obeying God. If the top guy refuses, try the next in command “Then said Daniel to Melzar” – The prince of the eunuchs is not Melzar. First, Daniel made a request to the prince of the eunuchs. But when prince was afraid to accept it, Daniel went to Melzar, “whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hnanaiah, Mishael, and Azariah.” PK 484 Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah – “Daniel then appealed to Melzar, the officer in special charge of the Hebrew youth… 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
“Ten days” – This proves that Daniel and his friends new the important of health. Don’t get the misunderstanding that it was a poor diet. It was vegetables from the king’s table. Good vegetarian food. Daniel’s 10 day vegetarian plan. Some people argue that this is not literal days, because that cannot happen in ten days. Even if it would said “ten seconds,” I don’t care! Who are we to put God in a box and say, “God you cannot do this in ten days”?! Even I don’t understand all the body scientific reasons and chemistries, if the Bible says I believe it. God’s ways and world’s ways; there are two different days! Our problem is to use our “scientific reasons.” “Well, scientifically that cannot be…” Who cares what the scientists says. Science doesn’t govern the Bible, the Bible
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governs the science! True science only can told by the Bible. We got this professors, scientists, all these things, thinking somehow they supercede the word of God. In reality they are to be subjection to the word. The Bible says ten days, it’s ten days. Sometimes, logically we think that we could never make a difference if I do something what God has said. The problem is that you are using your logic over God’s word. God sometimes requires us to lay aside the circumstances that surround us and simply obey based on faith and faith alone. “Lord, you said it, I believe it, I can’t figure it out how it’s going to happen, but I am going to do it.” Faith vs. Presumption – Wasn’t Daniel presumptuous when he said “ten days”? Daniel and his companions did not bring these circumstances about. God has allowed this thing to be brought into Daniel and companions. Nebuchadnezzar was forcing the issue between God and Nebuchadnezzar. “Who are you going to obey, God or men?” Daniel and companions knew about the healthy diet. They learned the lesson of Nadab and Abihu; they knew exactly what alcohol would to do them. They were not being presumptuous, because they were obeying the will of the law of God, and they did not bring this circumstances about. They simply had to choose God or men. If you are not a vegetarian become one for 10 days. If you are not a vegan do the same allowing God to show you the blessing of good health. “Pulse” – vegetables 1:13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
On our faces is where we show our health. Daniel was confident of God’s diet. What would you do if you were in Daniel’s position? He was courageous, the prince didn’t say yes or no, so he talked with Melzar. Courageous to fulfill God’s command—this shows a characteristic of Daniel, ready to obey God’s will. Confident that God’s will is the best. 1:14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
What influenced him to take a chance? Because Daniel had great integrity and influence. Also, they only asked for 10 days. Not an unreasonable request * Pulse – seed-bearing vegetable. 1:15 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.
“Fairer and fatter in flesh than all” – Shows you can gain weight with a vegetarian diet. After ten days, it was proven that God’s diet is superior than the best diet the king of the entire world could offer. We think becoming vegetarian or vegan, that we would become skinny, weaker, and look sick—but even with vegan diet, you can increase your weight. Fatter than all the children which ate of the king’s meat—Daniel and the 3 weren’t the only ones out of Judah—the others were eating the king’s food. Daniel was willing to obey God even if it meant the loss of their lives—because they were faithful in little things, they were faithful in bigger things like not worshipping the great image of Babylon. We need this courage—physically fit, mentally strong, spiritually connected with God, socially peaceful, quiet attitude and cheerful in countenance but courageous and strong to follow God’s will.
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PK 485 The Lord regarded with approval the firmness and self-denial of the Hebrew youth, and their purity of motive; and His blessing attended them. He "gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." The promise was fulfilled, "Them that honor Me I will honor." 1 Samuel 2:30. PK 487 At the court of Babylon were gathered representatives from all lands, men of the highest talent, men the most richly endowed with natural gifts, and possessed of the broadest culture that the world could bestow; yet among them all, the Hebrew youth were without a peer. In physical strength and beauty, in mental vigor and literary attainment, they stood unrivaled. The erect form, the firm, elastic step, the fair countenance, the undimmed senses, the untainted breath - all were so many certificates of good habits, insignia of the nobility with which nature honors those who are obedient to her laws.
If you obey the health law, God is going to bless you physically, mentally, spiritually. One of the greatest ways to develop the character after the character of Jesus is the health message. The health message is the one of most powerful means, which God has bestowed to His people to develop the character. What you put in your body will affect the whole system and you cannot perceive God’s will clearly, you cannot discern clearly, thus you are going to make wrong choices. 1:16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
Melzar had confidence to give them vegetarian diet
Honor of Daniel and His Friends (17-21) VERSE [17] 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. [18] Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. [19] 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. [20] And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. [21] And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. 1:17 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.
Daniel’s obedience prepared him to understand visions and dreams. If you are intemperate in your diet, you will not understand God’s word or prophecies. Skill in all learning and wisdom—faithful to God’s balanced education: mental and spiritual not only physical. Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. History repeating, looking backward—anybody receive a special gift to understand visions and dreams? Joseph. There are similar characteristics between Joseph and Daniel. Joseph had characteristics of our Savior, he was rejected but then became kind of like a savior for those who rejected him. Daniel was captured and a slave but in the process of the movement of delivering God’s people God wants us to strive to be the best intellectually, spiritually and morally. You should strive in your academics to do your best. If you can’t spell learn to spell, math, reading, grammar, do your best. God is not against education. He is against education that is separated from Him. FE – some want to http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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be in legislative halls that is ok. This chapter is really highlighting true education. What will help us stand in the last days? True education. What will cause us to fall? Babylonian education. 1:18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
“end of the days” – At least after three years. Dan 1:5 …three years...at the end thereof they might stand before the king…
Day = Year 1:19 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.
“The king communed with them – Nebuchadnezzar was the one who ultimately judging these young men. That shows you how intelligent man he was. Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t fool. For you to personally examine the most intelligent, brightest minds of the world, you better have some upstairs. Nebuchadnezzar himself would do it. He wouldn’t trust someone else to do it. “stood they before the king” – The book begins with Daniel standing before an earthly king and it ends with Daniel standing before the Heavenly King. He was being judged and examined by an earthly king. It ends with Daniel being judged by the Heavenly King. Conclusion: Overall theme is diet. Diet comes up again in chapters 4 & 10. 1:20 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.
God is asking us to come up higher. We can all be like Daniel and his friends. Don’t be discouraged if it takes pain to train ourselves “Ten times better than all” – These guys weren’t just “smarter.” They were “Ten times” smarter than any body in the entire realm of Babylon! They were the smartest people in the world! In acquiring the wisdom of the Babylonians, Daniel and his companions were far more successful than their fellow students; but their learning did not come by chance. They obtained their knowledge by the faithful use of their powers, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They placed themselves in connection with the Source of all wisdom, making the knowledge of God the foundation of their education. In faith they prayed for wisdom, and they lived their prayers. God has got certain prerequisites that you must meet. So you pray for it, and live out your prayers. Cooperate with God and fulfill it. They didn’t just pray; they actually lived out their prayer. Lot of times we pray, and assume that God is going to do it all. And we wonder why we don’t get the victory when we fail to realize that we have a part, and God is not going to do our part for us. PK 485 They placed themselves where God could bless them.
They were not being presumptuous. They were actually cooperating with God, fulfilling the conditions that He required of them, in so doing, they placed themselves where God could bless them.
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Last minute rush: here comes midterm, here comes final, and somehow 30 seconds prayer ascends to heaven, “Now, God bless me.” That’s presumptuous. We need to “place” ourselves where God can bless us. They avoided that which would weaken their powers, and improved every opportunity to become intelligent in all lines of learning. “I will just eat whatever I want to eat, do whatever I want to do, and listen to whatever I want to listen to. God is still going to bless me though.” It doesn’t work that way. PK 486 Constantly praying, conscientiously studying, keeping in touch with the Unseen, they walked with God as did Enoch. True success in any line of work is not the result of chance or accident or destiny. It is the outworking of God's providences, the reward of faith and discretion, of virtue and perseverance. Fine mental qualities and a high moral tone are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them. While God was working in Daniel and his companions "to will and to do of His good pleasure," they were working out their own salvation. Philippians 2:13.
Today, somehow, if you bring out that kind of concept, “We have to work out our own salvation,” automatically they will say, “Uh-oh, you are a legalist.” It would be true if all we stated were that you and I have to do it, and not give other part. But read Philippians, after Paul says, “work out your own salvation,” then it goes on and says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:13. Humanity and divinity combined, there is a power and victory. PK 486 Herein is revealed the outworking of the divine principle of co-operation, without which no true success can be attained. Human effort avails nothing without divine power; and without human endeavor, divine effort is with many of no avail. To make God's grace our own, we must act our part. His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort.
You can never gain victory, you can never obtain true success in Christian life, unless you learn the principles of cooperation with God. That was the success of Daniel and his three companions: they knew and understood the concept of cooperation with God. They knew that they could never succeed in life unless God’s principles are given, the conditions to meet the principles of success, they knew they had to cooperate with them, then God would bring them blessings. PK 487 A noble character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors or endowments of Providence. It is the result of self-discipline, of subjection of the lower to the higher nature, of the surrender of self to the service of God and man.
Somehow, this lie is going on; “We are going to sin until Jesus comes. You can’t help, don’t you? You got a fallen nature. When He comes, our character will be changed, then, we will be like Jesus.” What they are saying is that character is not result of God-man cooperation, but it’s simply God’s gift when He comes. 1:21 And Daniel continued [even] unto the first year of king Cyrus.
This is over 70 years. This chapter is giving an overall picture of who Daniel is—how he was honored and remain in high position, all because he purposed in himself that he wouldn’t be defiled by the king’s food. Ten times better than all the best people of Babylon—these were powerful in all things. We can be the head and not the tail. How to help young people to be the head? Be faithful to God in little things and He will make you great. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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You can see a sermon from this chapter: Global application: Great Controversy; Gen – Jesus – Paul – Revelation, the whole Bible. Try to look at the concept and look it up throughout Genesis to Revelation and you can see the whole picture—beginning to the ending. God laid this Foundation: Before you can properly understand Daniel, you must have balanced education. To be spiritually effected in terms of growth and development, we need to experience how Daniel lived.
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Chapter 2 – The King Dreams of Empires Daniel chapter one was about the test of diet in the Babylonian palace. This chapter is another test to which Daniel will face. When studying book of Daniel chapter two, keep in mind, the biggest focus when you study, is to study the character and the life of Daniel. And what kind of things or test he had to go through. So remember that. Because whenever you study a book like this (Daniel 1 and 2) and when Daniel is the main figure or character, you must study his life. And always have this in mind. Always look for a list. When I say list, meaning, by studying Daniel 1, you can have a list of things that describe the character of Daniel. Daniel is like this . . . Daniel is like that . . . so 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . . make a list. And sometimes, you may not know this, but many times in the Bible God describes one thing with different ways. So you need to be able to catch those things. So make a list. So in Daniel 2, what do we know about Daniel in Daniel chapter 2? First of all, verse 1. The second chapter of Daniel is fundamental to an understanding of the rest of the book and of the book of Revelation. In the kindness of God it is remarkably pleasant to read and easy to understand. Like the first chapter, its profound message is delivered to us as a story. It is best read in one sitting. We will have comments following. Throughout the book of Daniel, there are many death decrees. We can also expect that this will also be the case in the last days. Chapter Outline
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream and Death Decree (1-13)
Dream Revealed to Daniel (14-30)
Dream Revealed and Interpreted to King (31-45)
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God (46-49)
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream (1-13) VERSE [1] And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. [2] Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. [3] And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. [4] 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. [5] 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. [6] But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. [7] They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. [8] The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. [9] 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. [10] 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. [11] 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. [12] For this cause the king was
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angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. [13] And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. From this point to the end of Daniel 7, the record continues in Chaldaic, the language spoken by the king. Homework: Take the dream and then the interpretation and list the verses that go with the dream on one side and list the verses of the interpretation on the other side side-by-side. You can also do this with chapter 7, 8, etc. Last page. 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
Daniel was able to stand before Nebuchadnezzar in his ‘2nd’ year of reign after 3 years because the first year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign was considered the Ascension year in Babylonian history. Thus his first year of reign was Daniel’s second year of training. Now the Bible says in the what year? Second year. Now what does that mean? Second year of his reign. But we know that in the same chapter, Daniel was standing before the king of Babylon, right? So it should be third not second. Do you understand my question? Because, remember, Daniel was trained for how many years? Three years. So that should sound like, before Daniel can even come to the king, it has to be after the third year of his reign, we think. So how do you reconcile this? (The ascension year wasn’t counted) The year when he came to Jerusalem to destroy Jerusalem and to drag him away, that year was his ascension year or we can call it, the campaign year. And it was considered . . . he was perhaps called the king of Babylon, but it was like a preparation, so to speak. Or it was called the zero year. And then he began to reign as official king the year after. So when it says “in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar,” that means what? It was three years after Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. Do you understand that? So don’t get that confused. Now the Bible says. Do you know what it’s like to wake up in the middle of the night because the dream was so terrible? This was the kind of experience that king Nebuchadnezzar had. Verse 2. 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
It’s interesting that serpent = enchanter and in latin language means “to sing”. Also of note is that Daniel was not there when the king gathered all the wise men. One reason may have been that Daniel was not called. So only the elite and their own people were called in their time of emergency. Now, he called what kind of wise men of Babylon? Magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers, and the Chaldeans. But the very first thing the Bible mentions is magicians and astrologers and sorcerers. Why? Because it was common back in those days to interpret dreams, to see some prophetic meaning in dreams. I don’t know about America, but in Korea it is well known. We call them the dream-interpreters. That’s right. So that’s probably from the pagan ways. But also, we know that God gives dreams to foretell future events. So there are false dreams and there are true dreams that we know is from God. But we know from
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chapter 2 that it is God giving this dream to Nebuchadnezzar. So he called these people first because probably magicians, astrologers, and the sorcerers are perhaps more spiritualistic. They understand the pagan religion and the spiritualism of the Babylonian time. They know, they are used to interpreting dreams like these. 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Why did God take away the dream from king Nebuchadnezzar? FE 412 ...the dream was taken from him, that the wise men by their claimed understanding of mysteries, should not place upon it a false interpretation.
God gives dream to Nebuchadnezzar and immediately takes away in a sense that he cannot recall. The Lord is arranging circumstances in such a way to show Nebuchadnezzar, the folly of trusting in men, and to show that the true source of success in life and honor is bestowed upon God, and also to communicate their responsibility to God. Otherwise the wise men would have taken the credit, “Yes, we know what we are talking about,” but God humbled them to the dust. And simply exalted the knowledge of God, and showing clearly to the king of then known world, that God is the true source of all wisdom and understanding. God is clearly demonstrating the folly of this world versus the wisdom of God. He is going to humble them to dust “the wise men” of the world. 2:4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
You know I believe that I can do that too. Just tell me the dream. You know I can make up any interpretation. Any interpretation to make the king happy and jolly so that he will be happy with you. But it is very interesting, the Bible says in the next verse. Let’s ask a question. Why did God give the dream to Nebu and then take it away from him? Why couldn't he remember the dream? FE 412 The historic events related in the king's dream were of consequence to him; but the dream was taken from him, that the wise men by their claimed understanding of mysteries, should not place upon it a false interpretation. The lessons taught in it were given by God for those who live in our day. The inability of the wise men to tell the dream, is a representation of the wise men of the present day, who have not discernment and learning and knowledge from the Most High, and therefore are unable to understand the prophecies. The most learned in the world's lore, who are not watching to hear what God says in His word, and opening their hearts to receive that word and give it to others, are not representatives of His. It is not the great and learned men of the earth, kings and nobles, who will receive the truth unto eternal life, though it will be brought to them"
The wise men would have taken the credit, but God humbled them to the dust and humbled the wisdom of the wise men of the day, and God exalted the true knowledge of God, and showing to the King that God is the true source of wisdom understanding. 2:5 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.
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Not a reasonable request asked of them. He wanted the dream and the interpretation. The reason why he said it that way is because he had been wondering the validity of his magicians and wise men. He was fed up with their lies and deceptions and this was the perfect opportunity for him to test them. Found in EGW, also in verse 9 – “for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed” Now wait a minute. Do you think the king is very reasonable here? We can see that he is very unreasonable. I mean how can you expect other people to know what you dreamed? That’s almost an impossible request. And we can almost see that he is making an extreme requirement and an extreme punishment. That if you don’t tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut in pieces and your houses will be made a dunghill. Why do you think that he came to such an extreme solution for those who can’t tell him the dream, why? (so emotional, so troubled . . . because he was so emotional he makes extreme decisions . . . ) So the king expected these astrologers and magicians and the sorcerers that they should know everything beyond the level of the human knowledge—the supernatural area. And perhaps when you read PK (Prophets and Kings), I am paraphrasing it, but king Nebuchadnezzar somehow knew that these astrologers, sorcerers, and magicians were false. So this was a great opportunity for the king to test if they are true or not. And perhaps he knew that these men were just lip-servers. So this was a great chance to get back to them. And because of that, that is one of the reasons why he made such an extreme solution. (why would there be any such thing as a soothsayer if they were all false?) The thing is, they do claim having these wisdoms and supernatural powers, and perhaps some of these things maybe come true, and there are many of people who are ignorant of these things and they believe them and follow them. And perhaps the king already had an experience with them knowing that they are there to deceive him. So he is trying to test them. (these people are part of Satan’s people in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom but Satan couldn’t help him at this point) That’s right, only God can give dreams and Satan cannot falsify God’s truth. (verse 9 says lying and corrupt words) That’s right, so verse 9 says, tells you what was in king Nebuchadnezzar’s heart. 2:6 But if ye show the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore show me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
If you don't show me this is what will happen, and if you show me it this is what will happen. The kings of that day would not tolerate rebellion or if they didn't carry out their task. He would have killed them all and replaced them. It was nothing for them to kill. Remember this story when we come to Daniel 3. 2:7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it.
So they are waiting for what? Somehow the king to remember because they know that they cannot interpret the such dream that they cannot even recall, the king cannot even recall. Verse 9 2:8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Nebuchadnezzar was no fool. He even knew that if these people would gain time, they will easily agree on some interpretation which would not endanger their reputation: “Look, let us all get http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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together and just plan some, and tell him the dream. He knew what they were trying to do. The Lord was bringing about a situation to show these people the folly of their nation and their so-called great wisdom. 2:9 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 show me the interpretation thereof.
He knew that they would lie to him. God gave the dream to Nebuchadnezzar and took it away so that the wise men of Babylon would confess they could not do this, so that they would recognize the power and sovereignty of God. So he is saying, Now I know you are a bunch of liars. So he thought this was a great chance. So this really . . . so who was tested first? The wise men of Babylon. Their wisdom was tested now. You see, my friends, God made the situation a certain way that only God and His wisdom and His servant will be glorified. Not the wisdom of the world, not the Babylonian counselors. Only God will be glorified. It’s like this, do you remember in Egypt, how those wise men of Egypt were able to perform similar so called miracles as what Moses performed? Do you remember throwing down the cane; it became a snake, right? In other few plagues, they were able to copy. But there was a point in time that they could not even counterfeit. Do you remember that? So right here God made it for sure that they could not counterfeit God’s truth, God’s word. So in some ways, my friends, listen, in some ways the reason why God gave the dream and startled him but at the same time He took the dream away, so that why? God was protecting his truth from lying and false teachers. God was protecting the truth. (Satan can’t read the thoughts) That’s right, it happens in man’s mind. That’s right. So Satan cannot read the thoughts, he can suggest thoughts, but he cannot read thoughts. So here we see God give the dream and take it away, and Satan cannot read what God has said. And God is protecting the truth. Only to be interpreted by who? Daniel, that’s right. This is the reason why in the book of Daniel, much of the prophecies are in symbolic language. And why many of the things in the book of Revelation are in symbolic language. It’s almost like reading those prophecies but the people cannot understand them, only who can understand them in the true sense? Only God’s people. So, listen, there’s more principle here. God made the situation so that king Nebuchadnezzar will come in contact with who? With Daniel, with God’s servant. So sometimes God will create the situation where you will meet kings and the leaders of the world perhaps because you are the only one who can interpret the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. (does Satan know the prophecies?) Yes, Satan, he knows, especially because they are written. I am sure. He is a diligent Bible student. But perhaps he doesn’t know everything. But he knows the things we know, because we talk about them and he hears us talking. And he can easily misinterpret the prophecies to fit his own plans. So, we know first of all, who was tested? The wise men of Babylon, right? And then the reason why God gave the dream and then took it away was to protect His truth. Two, God took it away so only His servant can interpret. Three, to bring in connection between the king and the people of God. Do you understand that? Do you understand? Did you get it? The list? http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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One, to protect His truth. Two, only His servant can interpret. Three, bring together or bring the king in connection with God’s people or God’s servant, like Daniel. 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter: therefore [there is] no king, lord, nor ruler, [that] asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
They didn't understand the true source of where to get the knowledge from. 2:11 And [it is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
This text is loaded with information. Powerful POINT! Capture the scene: Neb has a dream, and it goes from his mind. The Lord gives the dream and then he takes away in the sense that he cannot recall. The Lord is arranging the circumstances in such a way to show Neb to show him 1.) The folly of trusting in man 2.) That the true source of success in life is bestowed upon men by God. 3.) Their responsibility to God. True success depended upon what they would do with God in relationship to His ways and His laws. God rose up the kingdom and gave them prosperity not so they could live to themselves, but He raised them up to show them that they had a responsibility to God to fulfill His ways. God was going to do all this through this dream. So these astrologers conclude, and the wise men of Babylon conclude that only who can interpret or give the dream and interpret? Gods, of course they do not know the God of heaven. Do they? No. They know gods, but what’s the description of these gods? Whose dwelling is not with flesh, meaning the word flesh means what? Men, that’s right. So what they’re saying, the way they believe in god, is that God is so distant from man. But that’s not the same kind of God we serve, do we? The Bible says let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. The Bible says the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. We believe in a God who dwells with us, who inhabits with us because our God is a God of love. “Except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh” – Here is the concept of Babylonian gods. This is the Babylonian lie that God doesn’t dwell with flesh. They were saying the gods (with a small g), not our God, but their gods, in that sense their gods didn't dwell with flesh. They believed in gods in the heaven, but not Jehovah. Their gods didn't dwell with flesh, but I know a God who does dwell with flesh. This was Babylon making this statement. The doctrine of the humanity of Jesus is a controversial issue in the Adventist church. 1 John 4:1-2 [1] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. [2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Here is how you can testify if something is the spirit of God or not. This is one way. 1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,
*PO (Here we see why The papacy is called spiritual Babylon in Rev 17. The same spirit that existed in literal Babylon is being duplicated in spiritual Babylon. They said the gods don’t dwell in our http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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flesh, and the papacy teaches that Jesus didn't dwell in our flesh, it was another.) One of the identifying marks of the antichrist of Bible prophecy is denying that Jesus came in not the flesh, but our flesh. This is difference why It said 'confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh'. It said 'the flesh' not a flesh or flesh. It said 'the flesh.” One of the identifying marks of the antichrist to the prophecy is denying that Jesus came in “the” flesh, not “a” flesh. Does antichrist (Church of Rome) state that Jesus was a man? Of course they do, they don’t believe that Jesus was a ghost. They teach that Jesus was a man. They believe that Jesus came in “a” flesh. But they don’t believe that Jesus came in “the” flesh, meaning sinful flesh. They teach that Jesus did not have our nature because of the concept of original sin. If you have a false concept of sin, then you have a false concept of human nature, then you have a concept of Immaculate Conception saying that somehow Mary was born sinless, and Christ was protected. Who is the antichrist of bible prophecy? The church of Rome. Does the Church of Rome state that Jesus was a man and came in the flesh? Yes, they teach that He was a man. But they teach that Jesus didn't have our nature, and this was taught because of the belief of Original sin. Once that false idea of sin came in, you have the false concept of human nature, then you have a false concept of the nature of Christ, and they developed the idea of the immaculate conception, that Mary somehow was born free from sin, and she conceived Jesus and He was perfect. So they were simply teaching that Jesus didn't come in 'the flesh' and what flesh did Jesus come in? They are simply teaching that Jesus did not come in “the” flesh (sinful flesh: Rom 8:3). Some argue with “likeness” saying that it means “similar, but not exactly the same.” Some take the word likeness and say it doesn't mean exactly like it, it means similar but not exactly. If you take that to be the case go to Phil 2 the same Greek word is used in. If that’s the case, we have some problem. “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Phil 2:7. It’s the same Greek word “likeness.” So, if you take Rom 8:3 as “not exactly, but almost similar to,” then therefore, you have an interpretation of “Jesus wasn’t a man, he was almost similar to man or something like man.” Greek word for “likeness” is “homoioma” meaning “of the same order.” Jesus took our sinful nature. It is the same greek word in Romans 8:3 so if you take the word likeness in Rom 8:3 to mean not exactly, but similar to, then you must have the same interpretation for this verse. So that would mean Jesus wasn't really a man, He was something like a man. Either you are a man or not. Jesus took our fallen humanity. Resource: Word made flesh by Ralph Larson. Resource: SOP compilation 1901 (Author Unknown). 17MR 338 The nature of God, whose law had been transgressed, and the nature of Adam, the transgressor, meet in Jesus--the Son of God and the Son of man.
Adam the transgressor, which nature does that place us? Before the fall or after? After. Jesus took the nature of Adam after the fall. Fallen humanity. Why is this so crucial is there any significance at all? MS 141, 1901 The nature of God whose law has been transgressed, and the nature of Adam, the transgressor, met in Jesus, the son of God, the son of Man. Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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The nature of Christ has to deal with the atonement. This is a salvational issue. Don’t allow anyone to tell you that it doesn't have anything to do with your salvation. This is a fabrication from the devil himself. REMEMBER THIS...Notice where this lie originated. That lie that says 'gods don't dwell with the flesh' It came from Babylon. It is a Babylonian teaching. When you hear the doctrine being taught in the SDA church or anywhere that says Jesus didn't take our sinful nature, they are telling you that the gods don't dwell in the flesh, this came from Babylon! It is a Babylonian lie! If Jesus had a crossbreed nature, we would have the best argument to place before God in the judgment. If God says we were guilty and we were condemned we could say you said God was our example, but how could He be my example if Jesus couldn't experience what I have been tempted with when He had a different nature than me. Why Is “Fallen nature of Christ” so important? In Hebrew 2:14-18 and 4:14-16, the nature of Christ has to do with atonement; this is salvational issue. Don’t let anyone fool you saying this has nothing to do with the salvation. That is total favertation of the lie of the Devil himself. Notice where this idea originated that God don’t dwell with the flesh, this is a Babylonian church. When you hear this teaching that Jesus did not come in our nature, they are telling you that “God don’t dwell with the flesh!” That came from Babylon! If Jesus did not take our nature, He cannot be our example. If that’s true, if I got lost, I have the best argument against God that He can never come against me. In the judgment, if He tells me that I am guilty, I will be waiting, because I have my arguments already. “Well, God…since you condemned me, I would like to ask few questions. You told me that Jesus is our example and we can follow in His footstep. Problem is Lord, how can you tell me Jesus is my example when Jesus never knew and understood exactly what I went through in humanity when Jesus had different nature than me??” Jesus inherited same body that Adam’s descendants inherit. If He came in other nature, He cannot be our true high priest. The only difference between Jesus and us is that we sinned, and He didn’t. Physical, Mental, and Moral. They say that Jesus took the mental and physical nature of man after the fall, and that he took the moral nature before the fall. But Ellen White shows us that all 3 were after the fall. DA 49 and 117 – She includes all 3 in saying He took this nature 4,000 years after the fall. DA 117 For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power, and in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation.
Jesus inherited exactly what you and I inherit from Adam. There is not difference. If there was a difference He could not be our example, and He could not be our HP and He could not mediate in behalf of us to bestow on us God's righteousness and grace. The difference between Jesus and us is simply this, we sinned but Jesus didn't. But He was tempted in all points like as we are in our nature. DA 49 It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity.
It’s a Babylonian lie that God doesn’t dwell with flesh. Their pagan god, they may not. But I know the God of heaven does. The hope of glory, Christ in you! ‘ Col 1:27 …which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Jn 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. Ex 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
New Theology does not accept the concept of “Christ be in you”. Because if Christ dwell in you, you can have total and complete victory over sin. We see the Babylonian lie that says God can't dwell with flesh. Their pagan gods may not dwell with flesh, but the God of heaven does. What is the hope of glory? Christ in you the hope of glory. Jesus said abide in me and I in you. Over and over we have the concept that God does dwell with flesh. The sanctuary was made for God to dwell among His people. In the very midst of them. And now we are the spiritual temple, and Christ dwells in us if we will let Him. The NT does not accept the concept of Christ dwelling in you. If He did we can have victory over sin. The concept of the Nature of Christ in which they said Jesus didn't take our nature is a Babylonian lie. Daniel 2 Dream & Interpretation The Dream V.31 " 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." V.32 " This image's head [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,"
V.33 " His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay."
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The Interpretation V.37 " Thou, O king, [art] a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory." V.38 " 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." V.39 " And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth." V.40 " 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." V.41 " 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
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V.34 " 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"
V.35 " 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."
clay." V.42 " 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. " V.43 " 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." V.44 " 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." V.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." V.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."
2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon.
Now he’s going too far. He says all the wise men of Babylon. Now he’s getting to his hot temper. I wonder how many people were wise men at that time; probably thousands, all to be slain and die. And that includes who? Daniel. If you were Daniel and heard that decree just passed by the king, probably after midnight, what would you think of your life, about your future hopes? What would you think, your natural reaction? God, why did you send me to Babylon? Isn’t that right? Why did you put me in this kind of situation? God, I am a king’s seed, a prince, why did you put me in this kind of dilemma? But you know something, sometimes God will let you think you are pushed to the corner, you come to the very dead end, why? Because in those times will be the time when you will only depend upon God. God will lead you in such a way that you cannot depend upon yourself.
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This is humanly speaking what? Impossible, but yet God says, I have a plan for you, a great plan. So when you live your life as a Christian, whenever you come to a point you think impossible, just wait. God is going to demonstrate something great that you didn’t even imagine or thought about. Continue reading, verse 13 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise [men] should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
“To destroy all the wise men of Babylon” – The decree went out and they start killing all the foreign, slave wise men first. So in doing that, they came to Daniel first and this saved all the other wise men. Some have severely censured Nebuchadnezzar in this matter, as acting the part of a heartless, unreasonable tyrant. But what did these magicians profess to be able to do? – to reveal hidden things, to foretell events, to make known mysteries entirely beyond human foresight and penetration, and to do this by the aid of supernatural agencies. There was therefore nothing unjust in Nebuchadnezzar’s demand that they should make known his dream. When they declared that none but the gods whose dwelling was not with flesh could make known the king’s matter, it was a tacit acknowledgment that they had no communication with these gods, and knew nothing beyond what human wisdom and discernment could reveal. Nebuchadnezzar saw that he and all his people have been deceived; and king would be no party to dishonesty or deception. 2:14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise [men] of Babylon:
This verse should catch your attention. It says Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom. Daniel used tact. He was cautious about what he was doing. PNA: When difficulties come be wise about what you will say and how you will say it. this was a life or death situation and how he handled this situation determined if his life would continue or not. EGW has a lot to say about how we meet objections and so forth. I am sure even Arioch thought, man, this is crazy. Just because these wise men cannot show and interpret a dream, this is just outrageous, how can he do such a thing? But he has to follow and do what the king commanded him to do. But somehow he came to Daniel. And instead of right away killing Daniel, he had a little conversation with him. It says.
Dream Revealed to Daniel (14-30) VERSE [14] Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: [15] He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. [16] Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. [17] Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: [18] 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. [19] Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. [20] Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: [21] And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that
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know understanding: [22] He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. [23] I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. [24] Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. [25] 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. [26] 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? [27] 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; [28] 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; [29] 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. [30] 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. 2:15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why [is] the decree [so] hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
It’s like, brother Daniel, you know, the king . . . yeah, he just woke up, again he’s into his hot temper, you know the king sometimes he’s and maybe he began to . . . I don’t know what he says, but maybe this man was kind of sympathizing with these men who were about to die. So he began to explain. Verse 16 This is not the case to die. He has not been called to sacrifice his life for God. So he asks why so hasty. The captain answered because he respected Daniel. He was somebody respected and well liked. Such was the character of Daniel. Notice how Daniel answered; with counsel and wisdom. Daniel was discrete, and very cautious about how he was going to ask and approach it. Here is the life and death situation. How do we deal with errors? How do we deal with objections? We have to learn the tact and skills to approach in a most effective way. 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
Now tell me, how did Daniel receive his time? In other words, remember the king would not give more time to the other wise men, right? Why was Daniel given the time? The wise men were waiting for the dream. But Daniel says what? I will show you the interpretation. Because this is what the king really wanted, right? I will tell you the interpretation. Now right there, what you see is that Daniel is the kind of person who doesn’t move easily by crisis or excitement. But he is always, he is always, in a state of mind that he can think and reason and judge. He didn’t get all excited, Oh there coming to kill me, let me run away! Do you know what I am talking about? He says, Why is this decree so hasty by the king, please tell me the reason. Are you easily moved by excitements or discouragements or crisis? Or is your character as http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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firm as a rock, nothing really shakes you but just firmly fix you in the foundation of Jesus Christ? But not only that, you see the stability of Daniel. Daniel is very calm and he has good judgment. But not only that. Now how can Daniel claim such a promise? How? Faith! So right there we see what? Daniel’s incredible faith, faith is based upon what? Promise, what promise? Is there a promise before Daniel’s time that God can interpret dreams? Is there? Joseph! That’s right. So I’m sure somehow, you know, Daniel grew up with the book of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, you know. In the book of Genesis it talks about Joseph interpreting dreams, but, listen, Joseph was told of the what? The dream, but here the dream isn’t told. So Daniel’s faith is not, watch this, Daniel’s faith depended upon what God did before and his faith is more than that. Yeah, his faith is depended upon what God can do even those things He has not done in the past. Who else in the Bible had a similar faith? Abraham! Abraham believed, he had a faith to believe that Isaac would be raised from the dead. Was there any resurrection before the days of Abraham? No resurrection at all. But, you see my friends, our faith should be so strong that we should believe that God can do even those things He didn’t do before, the impossible things! All things are possible with God! We must have such a faith like Daniel. So what do you know about Daniel? In chapter one, you know about Daniel as one that is in . . . no blemish and is physically fit. And his commitment, his fidelity to God is incredible. But now we see him as stable, calm, we see his faith, but not only that. See Daniel’s courage and faith. However, He based his boldness on the story of Joseph. Having learnt the story of Joseph from young, he knew that God would aid him in interpreting the king’s dream Daniel took his life in his own hands when he did this. Where did he go? Before the king, you just didn’t do that. But he still used much tact and wisdom he could have died. He knew that God somehow would reveal it to him. Remember the lesson from chapter 1, those who honor God, God will honor. 2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
What do you see in Daniel when he made that move? Daniel was not the kind of person who is selfconfident, that’s right. He didn’t trust himself, even though he had faith. But you see, my friends, true faith leads you not to trust yourself. And Daniel knew, you know, I’m sure about this time the Psalms, the book of Solomon was probably available, you know, because these things was before their time. There is wisdom in the multitude of counselors. So Daniel took time to pray with his companions. But what kind of companions? Christian, spiritual companions? He knew how, so Daniel was a man of prayer. That man who would not depend upon himself. Remember these characteristics because we need these characteristics in the last days and today. Verse 18, the Bible says Daniel doesn’t trust in himself and gathered his fellow brothers to unite in prayer. Not an independent, glory seeker. He prayed with his friends. Daniel was humble and sought support with his brothers
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When troublous time comes, and you got perplexing situation before you, that’s the when you get those who you know God-fearing people and commit with prayer. When we get in to trouble, we do not pray, we do not earnestly seek the Lord. Gather those who you know; Jas 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
When the crisis comes, we come as a group and pray. The first thing we do is to seek the Lord. Appeal to the brothers and sisters to pray to God for you. We can learn something from this text. When troublous times come, and you have perplexities before you. This is the time to get those you know who are God fearing people and start committing it to God in prayer. He straight to them told them the situation and they all went together in prayer. This should teach us something about prayer. Usually what we do is not earnestly seek the Lord in prayer. But we should gather those who are God fearing and take it to God. 2:18 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.
This is very interesting. Observe. Was Daniel ready to die in chapter one because he decided not to defile himself, was he ready to die, refusing the king’s meat? Chapter two, was he ready to die? No! Why? Why in chapter one he is ready to die and chapter two he is not ready to die? Because it’s not worth it to die. Do you know what I’m talking about? It’s not worth it to die here. He has to die because this dumb decree by the king Nebuchadnezzar that all wise men should die because no one can tell him the dream. What kind of decree is this? What kind of death decree? Hasty and unreasonable decree. So, my friends, Daniel knew, he is not a modern fanatic. He’s not the kind of person that, if you know what I am talking about, he knew when to die and when not to die. (verse 16 he didn’t say he will show the dream then the interpretation) Was he pretending? I do not know if he was pretending. First of all, he asked for time promising that he would show the interpretation. You know, even though the king made a hasty decree, but God gave the dream in such a way that the king really wanted to know the interpretation. So he is requesting it, why not because he is not going to lose anything, if he does, it will be all the wise men, so why not give him a chance because he promised to give the interpretation, which would mean that he would also know the dream. 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Notice that Daniel was then given the vision. This is a key text, what is the first thing that Daniel did after it was revealed? He gave glory to God he thanked and praised God. He didn't go straight to Nebuchad.. When God delivers us and answers our prayers how many times do we thank him? They learned that when God answered their prayers to give Him thanks. The Bible says what? Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So this secret was revealed to Daniel. Why Daniel? God blessed him with understanding in all visions and dreams and not the other three? Remember, who was it that stepped out and said I will show you the interpretation? Daniel. Not that the other three are lacking faith, but Daniel is the one who had http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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courage to step out and say, I know God will tell us the dream, give us the time. Also, because Daniel got to know the dream first so he was the first one to say something. Daniel was not with the others when he found out about the decree. Also, Daniel is the one who is taking the first and initial step that he will not defile himself and this kind of gave a good influence to his companions. We see Daniel as a leader. And remember, we see a good leadership here because in Daniel 3, we don’t know but Daniel is not mentioned but we see the three Hebrew boys and we see their faith. We’ll talk about that later. But in chapter two, verse 20 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
“The secret revealed unto Daniel…then Daniel blessed the God of heaven” – When he got the vision, Daniel didn’t get up and straight went to Nebuchadnezzar. The first thing that Daniel did was to thank and praise God. When God answers our prayers, how many times do you pray? How many times do you pray in the car and when we got to the destination, we just walk straight out of car? How many times you said, “Let’s stop and thank to God. He has protected us safely”? How many times have you thanked Him? Daniel learned that when God answers, give thanks and glory to God. We have to learn to get habitual frame of mind of giving God praise and glory every time He answers our prayer. 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
“He changeth times and seasons” – So right there, Daniel summarizes the king’s matter. And what is it? God changes times and seasons and He removes kings and sets up kings. But let’s summarize that: God removes kingdoms and He sets up kingdoms, and ultimately He will set up what? His kingdom of God. That’s the whole summary, right there in verse 21. (why wisdom and might in verse 23?) Actually Daniel is giving the interpretation. He is telling you what dream is all about. Daniel is summarizing the interpretation. The essence of Daniel 2 is; It’s God who changes the times and seasons. It’s God who removes kings. It’s God who sets up kings. It’s God who gives wisdom to the wise. He is actually in a nutshell telling you what the vision is all about. People often think, “Well, I got here because of me. I am pretty wise, pretty good.” We fail to realize that it’s God who gave us the wisdom. It’s God who exhorted us! Overall picture of Daniel 2, we see that it’s God who sets up the kingdom. It’s God who puts down the kings. Young people, it’s not you high and mighty. It’s God who put you in that position, don’t you ever get the idea “Look at my talent, I am pretty good.” When that happens, God will humble you fast. Daniel right here is actually giving the interpretation. He is summarizing the whole vision. He is giving you the jest of what the vision is about. What is the essence of Daniel 2? God changes the times and seasons. It is God who sets up kings and takes them down. It is God who has wisdom and gives wisdom to those who are wise. He is in a nutshell telling you what the vision is all about. PNA: People often feel this way, I got here because of me, I am pretty wise, and I'm pretty good. We fail to realize that it was God who gave us wisdom and God who exalted us. What is the overall essence to this chapter? God is the one who sets up kingdoms and puts them down. God gives wisdom and God gives glory and honor to kings. In Daniel 4 when Neb got proud he should have remembered Daniel 2. So we should not get proud when God puts us in a position. Don't ever think it is because of your talents. God will humble you fast.
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2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
I don’t care how difficult the Bible text maybe, I don’t care how difficult the subject maybe, He knows the deep things! He knows what is in the darkness, the light is with Him! Go always to Jesus, not to men! When you study prophecy you come to the difficult text. You don’t know what’s in there; have no idea. Go to God, and God has the wisdom and true understanding. Go to Him. It does matter how difficult the bible or a subject may be, he knows the deep things, He knows what is in darkness the light is with Him. That should encourage to go always to Jesus and not a man. What were the dark things in relation to? The prophecies. Have you ever come across a prophecy and you don't know what it is? It becomes dark to you, so go to God. 2:23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast [now] made known unto us the king's matter.
I don’t know but looking at it, I never thought about studying the word might right there, but looking at it I think it’s more spiritual, going along with the term wisdom and might in terms of the power and wisdom of God he received. (might like enduring the death decree because of it being a test to him). Daniel recognized were the wisdom came from. Perhaps, we’ll have to look into that. In his praise to God, Daniel reveals what he discovered in the vision – 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise [men] of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise [men] of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the interpretation.
Right there, you know Daniel is not a man of violence or revenge. He is not a man of looking for opportunities to destroy his enemies. I mean if you were Daniel and you know these wise men of Babylon are just false, what would you do? Oh king kill all these wise men, they’re no good, they can’t even tell you the dream and its interpretation but I know what it is, and, of course, you can kill all of them, and just reserve my friends here. Did you know that right there God gave grand opportunity to the wise men of Babylon to recognize that the God of Daniel is a Saviour of those wise men? Did you see that? Stop! Don’t slay them. (see it as a negative in verse 18 . . . foolish people to perish with) I don’t know, take it as should not perish with the rest of the wise men. He’s not part of them but at the same time he knows that as far as possible he needs to save lives because they still need time to accept the Saviour. And this is probably a good opportunity for them to see the power and the might of the true God. Daniel did not make any requests or look for ways to revenge. Instead he looked to save all wise men and looks to redeem. Christ-like actions 2:25 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.
Daniel went into Nebuchanezzar and asked him to give some time. Here is Arioch, saying that he
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“found” the man that will make known the interpretation. If that was true, Arioch would have uplifted to high position, well honored, riches would have been bestowed upon this man. But God wasn’t let Arioch steal glory from Him. It wasn’t Arioch that found Daniel. It was God moving on Daniel, and putting him in the right position. This man Arioch is trying to get a piece of the pie. What did he say? I have found, king, guess what? Your good servant, king, I have eagle’s eyes and know exactly what to look for. He’s trying to get the credit. Shame on him. And he is trying to put down Daniel. He calls him what? Slave of Judah. That tells you how the Babylonians talked to each other about the Jews. How did they do it? They’re slaves! No good thing! Arioch made it seem like he found the man. He put himself on the line. Daniel went in to Nebuch. and Arioch then said he found him. If it were true Arioch would have been exalted. But God didn't let Arioch steal any glory. It wasn't Arioch who found him, but God moved on Daniel and placed him in the right position. 2:26 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?
Very interesting when Daniel talks to his friends, their names are Hebrew. But when the king talks to them their names are pagan. He wanted to know both, because if he could tell the dream he knew he could tell the interpretation. 2:27 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, show unto the king;
Daniel knew that Nebuchanezzar already knew that that was the case. But what was Daniel trying to do? Now what is Daniel trying to do? Reminding the king of Babylon, look, king, your men, your wise men of Babylon, so educated, so smart, but they cannot show you the dream and the interpretation, do you know that? That’s what Daniel is trying to say. But the king asked for what? Are you able to do it? But Daniel didn’t even answer it. He turned around and said your men are not able to do it. To clearly demonstrate the wisdom of the wise men versus the wisdom of God! Daniel was determined to give glory and witness of God in heaven. This slave is standing before the greatest king monarch in the world! Standing before the powerful figure and testifying God of heaven, and at the same time humbling him to the dust his cabinet, his wisdom. You are not trying to insult or put down someone. What he is trying is to put before him the clear concept between the two. Too often times, Nebuchadnezzar trusted in the wisdom of men instead of wisdom of God. Daniel already knew Neb knew that, but Daniel was clearly demonstrating the wisdom of the wise men versus the wisdom of God. Here was an opportune time to give witness and glorify the God of heaven. He was standing before the greatest monarch in the world. Today the USA is the most powerful nation in the world. It is like standing before president Bush and testifying for the God of heaven and at the same time humbling his whole cabinet to the dust where he seeks wisdom. It is like saying can't the secretary of defense tell you. Or the secretary of the treasury. To make the point there is no one. You are not trying to insult, but you are showing a clear contrast, because Daniel knew Neb to often trusted his wise men more than God. And this is why God brought his captives to Babylon. What you could have done in the time of peace and prosperity you will do under trial. 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar
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what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
He didn't say there is a god, a little stature. He said there is a God in heaven to distinguish between all other gods, and this is the one God that Neb didn’t know. There is a what? God in heaven. Right there, Daniel, in terms of not being able to understand the dream, Daniel is putting himself in the same category of the wise men. Not in character or true wisdom or anything like that. He’s just simply saying, look, I am a man, I don’t have the secret, I don’t have the wisdom, I don’t understand the mysteries. But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets Right there, stop right there. You know, see we’re going into interpretation of the dream, the prophecy. The prophecy is about what? Removing kingdoms and setting up kingdoms, and the prophecy is about what? The latter days, that means it’s in the future, that’s right. So, as the king was falling into sleep, he was thinking about what? What’s going to happen in the future? He had that thought. It was bothering to him. He was wondering, what’s going to happen to the destiny of Babylon? You know, even an unrequested prayer was answered. God reading his thoughts gave him that dream. Why do you think that the king has such a privilege? Why? Do you think God has concerns for the leaders of the world? The presidents of the world? Yes. Do you think God is also . . . you know, ultimately speaking, God was trying to save his soul, wasn’t He? And God comes to Nebuchadnezzar to meet his need. Which was to what? To know the future, right? By meeting his need, God is telling Nebuchadnezzar, you also need Me because I am the King of kings and Lord of lords. “secrets” – Why did he say that? Because there was something given to Neb that no one knew the secret to except for the God of heaven. “But there is a God in heaven” – Daniel didn’t say that God was in little statues or something like that. He said that there is a God in heaven! One God that Nebuchadnezzar did not know. Distinguishing between all the other gods. “In the latter days” – or the last days.Take note of “latter days.” This prophecy is pointing Nebuchadnezzar to our time, rather than his. This prophecy is more for us than it was for Nebuchadnezzar. So where is the dream to take you? – To the latter days. If the Bible says last days, it is last days. I believe it will take to our days. Underscore this part. In verses 27 to 28 he gives a clear distinction between the wisdom of the Babylonians verses the wisdom of God. How far down in time does this vision take us? The Last days. It either comes down to the last days or it doesn't. And this refers to our day. “thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these” – This commences the telling of the dream. V.28 marks the beginning of the dream. 2:29 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.
As Nebuchadnezzar was going to sleep he was thinking about what would happen to his kingdom. “Come to pass Hereafter” – Daniel said the dream would come to pass “hereafter.” Indicating that the vision is to begin from the days of Babylon. Here in these two verses are told the beginning and the end: it begins from the days of Babylon and ends in the last days. Notice what is said from http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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verses 28 and 29. We know that the vision is going to take us down to the last days, but where does it begin? During the days of Babylon until the last days. These two verses tell us where it begins and where it ends. You should clearly get that it begins with Babylon and it is going to end in the last days. Dan 2:28-29 [28] God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days…[29] …should come to pass hereafter and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. “Not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living” – If Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself and asked of God, God would have certainly answered him. Daniel is saying “King, God is not respect of person. Don’t think I have some great understanding that I got this. God gave it to me!” 2:30 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.
“But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for [any] wisdom that I have more than any living” – So he makes it clear, king it is not me. That shows what? Daniel is very humble, that’s right. The humility of Daniel. So do you see stability of Daniel, the faithfulness of Daniel, selflessness of Daniel, love of Daniel when he says do not kill those wise men of Babylon; do you see his humility? Notice what Daniel is saying, God is not a respecter of persons. If Neb would have humbled himself before God and asked for the explanation God would have revealed it to him. If anyone would have sought the Lord the way Daniel did, He would have given it to him.
Telling the Dream (31-45) VERSE [31] 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. [32] This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, [33] His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. [34] 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. [35] 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. [36] This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king [37] Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. [38] 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. [39] And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. [40] 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. [41] 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. [42] 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. [43] 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. [44] And in the days of
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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. [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. While your studying look for things being repeated over and over again; and look for definitions (ex: sin IS; or all Thy commandments ARE); look for description (WHICH, THAT); look for conclusion (THEREFORE, FINALLY); comparison (compared to another); contrast; emphasis (how or what is the Bible emphasizing the most). Now, so the dream that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed, was a dream of what? Image. Why do you think God described future events with an image of gold, silver, brass, iron, and iron and clay? (a lot images in Babylon; worshiping of idols) He is using familiar language. Something to which they can relate to. Not that He is compromising, saying that it is okay for Nebuchadnezzar to worship images. No, no. But God was speaking familiar language to him that he may understand. (another god speaking to him when he saw the image) Yes, but it is very interesting, you know images we know is idol worship, but very interesting that very image in his dream was broken into many pieces. That has a lot of message, doesn’t it? When I say a big picture, that’s a big picture. Image is broken to pieces by the stone. That’s probably the reason why the king woke up sweating. Because he saw destruction, incredible destruction. Take the image completely out of sight and then that very stone became a great mountain. It’s like something is taking place, something, then he woke up and he forgot it. Very interesting, when Daniel dreamed, when he received visions in his dream, God revealed future events with what kind of images? Animals, right? Lion, bear, leopard, dreadful beast, why? Because Daniel was familiar with those languages, especially lion. Because in the book of Jeremiah, Daniel grew up perhaps reading the teachings and instructions of Jeremiah. And Jeremiah uses what? Animal languages to describe kingdoms to come and to destroy Judah. So God speaks familiar language to us that we may understand God’s teaching. Now the next hour, we are going to interpret that dream and you will see that dream contains a history. This is probably, in terms of length of time, this is probably the longest prophecy that was given. It starts from Babylon all the way to when? Not only Second Coming but New Jerusalem. It’s an incredible prophecy. And when we study this, every other prophecies is based upon this prophecy in Daniel and in Revelation. 2:31 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 is the most important prophecy in Daniel. In terms of foundation—laying the foundation for all other prophecies in Daniel.
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God used an idol to speak to a heathen king. God speaks our language. 3 descriptions for this image, which should only belong to God. If you look up great or terrible, you will see that it is used repeatedly to God. Therefore, this image is acting like God. 1. Great, 2. Excellent, 3. Terrible (wonderful) 2:32 This image's head [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
The image is an image of a human being. This is an image of a man trying to be like God judging from the description in previous verse. 2:33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
The value of the elements are going down as we go towards the feet. EGW says that this means that moral value is going down with each element. But the strength of each substance/kingdom is increasing as we go down. Sin, iniquity and political power are growing stronger. Strength is increasing with each kingdom 2:34 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.
“…without hands” – means that it is done without man’s hand. Done by God. Speaks about 2nd coming of Christ. “Image” – gold, silver, brass, iron and clay—these are elements and precious metal. Gold is more expensive than silver; silver more expensive than brass; brass more expensive than iron; iron more expensive than iron and clay—there is a decreasing of value. Silver is stronger than gold; brass is stronger than silver; iron stronger than brass; iron and clay is stronger than iron. The trend is decreasing in value but increasing in strength. In some ways, iron and clay is stronger than the iron. 2:35 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.
“Then” – talks about another event. Moving past the 2nd coming to the 3rd coming. The stone is described with greatest detail. It is of greatest importance as God has spent more of the chapter describing it. Only when Jesus comes the third time will everything be destroyed. When the rock hits the clay = 2nd coming. When it breaks and falls, this represents the final judgment. 2 reasons why you will have a problem explaining the prophecy as ending at 2nd coming. (1) Wicked are not raised till after the 3rd so the gold, silver, bronze and iron cannot be destroyed till the 3rd coming of Jesus. (2) The kingdom of God is established after the 3rd return. “chaff of the summer threshingfloors” Psa 1:4 The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
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Chaff = Ungodly that the wind driveth away. Life of Christ Matt 3:12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Fan. Greek 4425 = winnowing shovel Winnow. Web 1828 = To separate and drive off the chaff from grain by means of wind. Grain is winnowed by a fan, or by a machine, or by pouring it out of a vessel in a current of air 2. To examine; to sift for the purpose of separating falsehood from truth 3. To separate, as the bad from the good. Fan. Has a twofold purpose 1. to separate chaff from grain. 2. to blow away the chaff after the final separation. Floor Greek Def 257 = a ground plot or threshing floor, i.e. a place where grain was threshed out. Jesus will burn up the chaff, who are they? Ps 1:4 the ungodly, who are they? Daniel 2:35 the iron, clay, brass, silver, and gold. After they are burned the wind will drive them away. Note: This also shows that Hell's fire will not burn forever because Matthew 3:12 shows us that the chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire, but Daniel 2:35 says they will be blown away. When? After the fire accomplishes its work. They will be stubble or ashes. (Mal 4:1 says the wicked (or ungodly) shall be stubble, and they shall be burned up). 2:36 This [is] the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
Verses 28-36 is the dream. The dream is given, but what is the interpretation? * Remember that he is saying same phrase as V21. Let us do some observation—things repeated over and over again. And also look for definition—if the Bible says “is” or “are” (commandments are righteousness)—look for description—which, that—then conclusion—therefore or finally—and then look for comparison—one is being compared to the other—then look for contrast. This is how you can observe the Bible. One more, look for emphasis, how or what is the Bible emphasizing the most. This is very important. Now we are going to observe this dream—gold, silver, brass, iron, and iron and clay. First of all, these are elements which are precious. What is more expensive between gold and silver? Gold. The reason to ask this is because why is it gold, silver, etc? Why the difference and the change? Silver is less expensive; brass is less; iron is less, etc. What do you see here? The value is going down, it is decreasing. There is a characteristic of this image telling you something about value is going down. Do you see that? Between gold and silver, which is stronger? Gold. Between silver and brass? Silver. (Go through the metals) Iron and clay? The trend is that it is decreasing in value but increasing in strength. This is the basic evaluation or observation of that image—why? And is it that iron and clay stronger than the iron? In some ways, yes. Now, let’s go into the interpretation of this image, verse 37. 2:37 Thou, O king, [art] a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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strength, and glory.
This is the same as Dan 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise.
This is a parallel verse “Thou art this head of gold” – Interesting that he uses adjectives used to describe Christ to address king Nebuchadnezzar meaning it was the greatest of all the kingdoms Head of gold represents the Babylonian empire (BC 605-538). So right there we that the head of gold represents what? Babylon. It is very interesting that the Babylonians are known for using the art of gold. And then the Bible says thou art the head of gold. How many verses? 37 and 38—but just one sentence. And then it describes why it is (verse 37 and 38a). In the Bible head represents what? Col 1—leadership. So Babylon is a leader of all other kingdoms which will come after. We already know that this image is about God removing kingdoms and setting up kingdoms. This is the prophetic history of kingdoms from this time to the 2 nd coming and after 1000 years. So if Babylon is the head, then the whole image is Babylon. The Bible says You are what you think— as a man thinketh in his heart so is he. So there may be another kingdom coming after Babylon but because of the head, it is still Babylon. (purpose to show king his king not last forever?) God was showing that Babylon would not last forever. But God is showing one image with different levels. Spiritually speaking, the whole image is Babylon, like one kingdom or philosophy of Babylon. The big picture is this—the image, is it positive or negative? Negative or evil. How? The stone destroys the image. God only destroys that which is evil. So the whole image is evil and has the characteristic of Babylon. Can’t be clearer than this! We know that this is not exclusive to Nebuchadnezzar himself, but referring to the kingdom. Next verse tells us that another “kingdom” will arise after him. In 2Thess, “the man of sin” is not referring to the person, but the whole system. Even though the text is saying, “thou art this head of gold,” but the essence of it is that he is representing the kingdom. Jer 51:7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. Isa 14:4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 2:38 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.
Kingdom of Babylon used lots of gold, Medo-Persia used a lot of silver, Greece used a lot of brass and Rome used a lot of iron. The Bible is to be its own interpreter. Here is the interpretation. Daniel said he was going to give the interpretation, here it is. The head of gold represents, not just Nebuchaddnezzar, but he was the head, the king of the Babylonian empire.
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History of Babylonian kings Neboploazzar 625 B.C. to 604 B.C. (reigned 21 years) Before the Babylonian Empire of the Bible and of Nebuchadnezzar arose to power, the empire of Assyria ruled the world, as described in Eze. 31:1-6. Ezek 31:1-6 [1] And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? [3]Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. [4]The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. [5]Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. [6] All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
2. In 625 B. C. there was a revolt of the countries of Media, Babylon, and Egypt, all at once. The king of Assyria in person subdued the revolt in Media; while he sent his trusted general, Nabopolassar, to bring Babylon into subjection again. Both were entirely successful, Nabopolassar performing his part so well as to merit and receive from his sovereign the honorable title "king of Babylon." This Nabopolassar was the father of Nebuchadnezzar. 3. Affairs in the government of Assyria want from bad to worse, so that in 612 B. C. there was another grand revolt on the part of the same three countries, led this time by Nabopolassar himself (who had now for about fifteen years been consolidating and strengthening his power at Babylon, determined to possess that province, in his own right.)2. This one was completely successful: Ninevah was made a heap of rains; and the Assyrian Empire was divided into three great divisions, -- Media holding the northeast and the extreme north, Babylon holding Elam and all the plain and valleys of the Euphrates and the Tigris, and Egypt holding all the country west of the Euphrates. The sea of this alliance between Babylon and Media was the marriage of Amyitis, the daughter of the King of Media toe Nebuchadnezzar, son of Nabopolassar. 4. It was in the performance of his part in the alliance against Assyria that Pharaoh-Necho, king of Egypt, west up against the king of Assyria to first against Carchemish by Euphrates, when King Josiah of Judah went out to fight with him, and was slain at Megiddo.3 15. The king of Media was only too glad of such a golden opportunity to complete the enterprise from which he had been turned by the Scythic invasion; and, without a moment's delay, he accepted the proposition. More closely to bind the alliance, the king of Media gave in marriage his daughter Amyitis to Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nabopolassar. In the year 610 B. C. these united powers invaded Assyria…4 5. Pharaoh-Necho, however, was not left very long to enjoy his share of the vanished empire of Assyria. In the year 607 B. C., Nabopolassar associated Nebuchadnezzar with himself as ATJ TEB Chap 26. pg. 379 ATJ GEP Chap. 1 4 ATJ TEB Chap 26 2 3
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king, and sent him on an expedition in invasion of the territory of Pharaoh-Necho. Thus it was that "in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim [607 B. C.] king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it;" and took part of the vessels of the house of God, and a number of captives, among whom was Daniel, and carried them to Babylon. 7. Not long after the destruction of Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire, there was war between Media and Lydia; but during a great battle there occurred an eclipse of the sun, which so awed both armies that they ceased fighting. This lull was seized upon by Nabopolassar to intervene and ask both kings to come to an agreement, out of respect to the gods that had so manifestly shown their displeasure by darkening the sun. He was successful. Peace was established, and the agreement was sealed by the marriage of the daughter of the king of Lydia to the son of the king of Media. Thus Babylon, both by the prestige of her ancient and mighty name, and by the good offices of Nabopolassar, strengthened herself in the position to hold a controlling influence over the two strong kingdoms of Media and Lydia. And when, shortly after this, Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nabopolassar, conquered Necho of Egypt at carchemish by the Euphrates, drove him back to Egypt, and took possession of all his territories even up to the River of Egypt itself, Babylon secured the decidedly predominant power over all. 8. Thus matters stood when, in 604, Nabopolassar died, and was succeeded immediately by Nebuchadnezzar, who had already been associated with him in the rulership of the kingdom. Nebuchanezzar 604 B.C. to 561 B.C. (reigned 43 years) Evil-Merodach 561 to 560 B.C. (reigned 2 years) 2 Kings 25:27-30 EVIL-MERODACH was the son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar, and reigned two years -561-560. A tradition has been recorded in explanation of this kindness of Evil-Merodach to the captive king Jehoiachin, to the effect that during the time in which Nebuchadnezzar was absent from his throne and kingdom on account of his malady, Evil-Merodach was in charge of the affairs of the empire, and that he conducted himself so badly that when Nebuchadnezzar had recovered, and again took his throne, he imprisoned Evil-Merodach in the same prison where King Jehoiachin was confined. Then when Nebuchadnezzar died and Evil-Merodach succeeded to the actual possession of the throne and kingdom, he remembered his own fellowship with Jehoiachin in prison, and now raised Jehoiachin to fellowship with himself in the throne. 4. This is not only the first, but indeed the only, important act recorded of the reign of EvilMerodach; for he proved to be so very profligate and so altogether vicious that his own relations conspired against him, and put him to death at the end of his second year's reign: his sister's husband being one of the chief conspirators. Neriglissar 559 B.C. to 556 B.C. (reigned 4 years) Neriglissar was the name of this brother-in-law to Evil-Merodach. The name is the same as the Nergal-sharezer, the Rabmag, of Jer. 39:3; but whether he was the same person is not http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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certainly known, though it is possible that he was. In the first year of his reign, Media revolted, and was joined by Persia. Three years were employed by Neriglissar in forming new alliances and renewing old ones, and making preparations for the inevitable war. In the fourth year the war came; and in the fierce first battle Neriglissar was slain. Laborosoarchod 556 to 555 B.C. (reigned 9 months) 6. Laborosoarchod, the son of Neriglissar, succeeded his father in the throne of Babylon. He "let himself loose in the utmost excess, without any manner of restraint whatsoever, as if the regal office which he was now advanced to were for nothing else but to give him privilege of doing without control all the vile and flagitious things that he pleased." Therefore even "his own people conspired against him, and slew him, after he had reigned only nine months." -- Prideaux. 4 These nine months all fell in the year 556 B. C., the first three months of which were the beginning of the fourth year of Neriglissar, so that the death of Laborosoarchod occurred about the end of the year. Nabonadius 555 B.C to 538 B.C (reigned 17 years) 7. Nabonadius, or Nabonidos, was raised to the sovereignty over Babylon, at the beginning of 555. B. C., by the conspirators who accomplished the death of Laborosoarchod. He was a man of rank, for in one of his own inscriptions he relates that his father had held the important office of Rab-mag. Even in his first year he was invited by the king of Lydia to an alliance with that power, which was then on the eve of a war with the rapidly rising power of Media and Persia. He accepted the invitation; but the king of Lydia rashly began the war without waiting for the forces of Babylon, and was defeated. His kingdom was overrun, and he himself was captured by the forces of Media and Persia, before Nabonadius really had any opportunity of fulfilling his part in the alliance. Yet that which he had done in consenting to the alliance was, of course, held as a cause of war against him, though the war, in fact, did not occur till fourteen years later. NOTE: READ ARGUMENT OVER WHO BELSHAZZAR WAS. SACRED CHRONOLOGY PG 144. & Plates that show hs age. AT JONES GEP pg 29-31 Chap.3 Belshazzar 540 B.C. to 538 (date of co-regency ??) Belshazzar was the eldest son of Nabonadus. He shared co-regency with his father. 540 shows when Dan 7:1 commenced; 539 or 538 commenced Dan 8. 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
This is all it says about the second kingdom. Did you see that? Don’t let people trip you— Nebuchadnezzar is the head because it says You are the head. But it says KINGDOM in this verse, not king. Both Daniel and Revelation have prophecies. But Daniel uses more political language. Revelation uses more church language—seven churches, trumpets, seals, three angels. Revelation has greater connotation of church. But Daniel’s is more political—why? God’s people in OT times was a nation and a church in NT times. So this is why it is predominantly political language. So you can see that the second kingdom—which is? http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Inferior to thee—meaning? Less in value but yet it is stronger. So how do we know what kingdom came after Babylon? From history is obvious but let’s show from the Bible. “After thee” – The king had written on his tablets, now uncovered: “Babylon – the city which is the delight of my eyes, and which I have glorified; may it last forever.” But the prophet declared: “After thee shall arise another kingdom. The kingdom came after Babylon is Medes and Persia. Go to the last night of Babylon. Some kingdom is going to come after Babylon. Objection: Charles Wheeling (Manuscripts Prophetic Concepts Pg. 21) on Daniel 7 (but Daniel 2 and 7 are parallel chapters you can't get around it.) Can we use the Bible to show what the silver, brass, and iron represent? Yes. What kingdom came after Babylon? Medo Persia. Daniel 5 shows us which kingdom comes after Babylon. This chapter is the last night of Babylon. Belshazzar's feast. He grabs the holy vessels of God and fills it with the wine of Babylon, the handwriting appears on the wall. Dan 5:25-26 [25] And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN [26] This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it "
Notice that he says God has numbered the kingdom and finished it. Remember it is God who sets it up and takes it down. Dan 5:27-28 [27] TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. [28] PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
You cannot get any clearer than this. Who gave it to the Medes and Persians? God, He sets them up and takes them down. Dan 5:31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom.
You cannot get any clearer evidence than that. Daniel chapter 5 gives us the clearest evidence as to who the silver kingdom is. What is the order of the metals in Daniel 2? Gold, Silver, Brass, and Iron. Watch this in Daniel 5 POWERFUL!! Referring to the last night of Babylon. Right there we see from the Bible that which kingdom took over Babylon? Therefore, the silver of arms and chest is MedoPersia. It is very interesting in Daniel 2. Notice the order of the metals which parallels with the order of the image: Dan 5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
The same kinds of metal that are mentioned in Daniel 2. This is the same order. And remember in Daniel 2 it said that another kingdom of silver will come and overtake the gold. Now look at what happened after the handwriting on the wall, probation is closed and Babylon is going to be destroyed. Dan 5:23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven…thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone,
The gold is switched with silver. Silver now supercedes the gold. Don’t tell me that just happened to be there! Don’t tell me that it just happened to be the same metal as in Dan 2 and it just happened to switch at the close of probation of Babylon! God was giving clear evidence that now the king of http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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silver is taking over the gold. What switched? The Gold and Silver!! The silver now superceded the gold. Don't tell me that just happened to be there. Don't tell me is just happens to be the same metal in Daniel 2 and just happened to switch at the close of probation for Babylon. God was given clear evidence that the kingdom of silver was going to take over. So the second kingdom represents the Medo-Persia empire. Here we are able to see that the dream is about kingdoms, not kings. So when Daniel describes king Nebuchadnezzar, he is talking about him as the representative of his kingdom. Dan 2:32
Breast and arms of silver, giving the idea of two. But how much description? One sentence. Who has more description? Babylon. In terms of just interpretation, verse 39 doesn’t say Medo-Persia—it is still future. God is saying that another kingdom will take over, but I will not tell you. So Babylon has one sentence, but the silver has just a little more—inferior to thee. “And another third kingdom of brass which shall bear rule over all the earth” – Who came after Medo-Persia? Greece, how do we know from the Bible? Daniel chapter 8 talks about Ram and He-goat, how the he-goat killed the ram. Who is the third kingdom of brass? Greece. Where would you go? Daniel 8. You have the Medo-Persian empire being represented by the Ram with two horns. In Daniel 2 he has the two arms of silver. In Daniel 8 there are two horns representing the MedoPersian empire. The third kingdom of brass is Greece. Go to Dan 8:20, 21. Dan 8:20, 21 [20] The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. [21] And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
The he-goat destroyed the ram. So what took over Medo-Persia? Greece. So from the Bible alone, we can see the history of the world. God told this many, many years before. Greece was never heard from this time before. When proving that God’s word is truth, this is the best place. Why? Because God foretold many hundreds of years before the history of this world. And then, go back to Daniel 2. How much description for the brass—a little more than the second kingdom before. Bear rule over all the earth—this is Alexander the Great—died of drunkenness, when arrived in India, he began to cry because there is not more countries to conquer—he conquered all of them. This fits the description—ruleth over all the earth. Verse 40. Please, don’t tell me that Mede and Persia is Iraq and Iran. This text is already an interpretation, but a dream. Some people try to reinterpret the interpretation. You should make decision whom you will listen to: God’s interpretation or man’s interpretation. Two arms, two horns, two shoulders of the bear, representing the Medo-Persian empire. “rule over all the earth” – God is talking about worldwide kingdoms. Remember this. Order of Kingdoms 1. Babylon -- 605 B.C. to 539 B.C. 2. Media Persia – 539 B.C. to 331 B.C.
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3. Greece – 331 B.C. to 168 B.C. 4. Rome – 168 B.C. to 476 A.D. We have the scriptures teaching us what these empires represent. What is the fourth empire? (First Way!-verse 40 -bruise) * Remember that he is saying same phrase as V21. 2:40 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.
Out of all, which has the most description? The fourth—so God is saying which Kingdom to study the more? The 4th, can you see the increase of information? Which kingdom is this iron kingdom? Rome—you may not be able to show it clearly that it is Rome. But everyone knows who conquered Greece—look in history books. But why is this not mentioned in the Bible? The reason is because God knew they were the fiercest persecutors because if they knew they were predicted in the Bible by name that they would be destroyed, guess what? They would do all they can to destroy all the Scripture there is. Persia likes the Scripture—Cyrus is mentioned in Isaiah about him conquering. But if you are the enemy of God—you would be against it. So we see an increase of information— Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. “And the fourth kingdom” – The amount of detail given to each kingdom increases incrementally and the most attention is given to the last kingdom – feet and toes. Pro 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he.
Meaning even though the body consist of different kingdoms, all parts think like the head Babylon. It is possible to prove which kingdom represents which part through the Bible – up to Greece. How to prove each empire emerging from the scriptures: Daniel 5 proves Medo-Persia came after Babylon. Daniel 8 proves Greece came after Medo-Persia. Cannot prove Rome took over from Greece from Daniel, but you can use: First way to prove that Rome is the fourth kingdom. “Shall…bruise” – Underscore this word. The fourth kingdom is going to bruise something or someone. Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Bruising the head represents the destruction of Satan. Once you crush the head he is dead. It is a fatal blow. The bruising of the heel represents that it is an affliction, but it is not a deathblow. What does the bruising of the heel represent? The crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Notice he says I will put enmity between thee and the woman. Between thy seed, the seed of the serpent, and her seed. Satan is going to bruise His heel. Which empire bruised Jesus? Pagan Rome bruised Christ.You can find this in Revelation 12. Rev 12:3 …great red dragon…
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This verse talks about the dragon. Here we have the dragon, who is the dragon? It represents Satan primarily. Who does he use? Rev 12:2 …with child cried…
What child is this? Jesus Rev 12:4 …dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Who tried to destroy Jesus when he was born? Herod, pagan Rome. But who crucified Jesus? Pilate, pagan Rome. Daniel 2:40 gives you identifying marks of the fourth kingdom that would bare rule over all the earth and it would BRUISE. It would fulfill the prophecy of Gen 3:15 that Christ would be bruised. This kingdom would carry out the will of Satan in bruising Christ's heel. So the here, the Bible tells us that Rome was the world wide power. Therefore, Pagan Rome is the fourth ruling empire. This is the only world ruling power that came after Greece. Another way to prove that this kingdom is Rome, Gen 3:15 – “bruise”: Talking about the crucifixion of Christ. The fourth kingdom of Iron would be the kingdom to crucify Christ. Notice that the fourth kingdom is going to bruise something of someone. Bruising of the head means death. But bruising of the heel is an affliction, but it’s not an ultimate death. It represents the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Which empire bruised Christ? The Pagan Rome! Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Who was this king that tried to kill Jesus? King Herod at the time of Pagan Rome. But Pilot ultimately crucified Jesus. The Pagan Rome. The fourth kingdom is to fulfill the prophecy that Jesus said in Gen 3:15 in carrying out the will of Satan to bruise the heel of Christ. Second Way to prove that this power is Rome Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
What does this tell us about Caesar Augustus? He ruled the world. You cannot tax the entire world unless you rule all of the world. Rome 168 B.C. to 476 A.D.. That will be covered next class. Remember that when Daniel wrote the book, Greeks were in existence but were not a powerful nation. No one believed that they would become a world power. However, Romans did not exist at the time and probably were not known on the world stage. Also, Romans were a vicious nation and could have destroyed the Bible if they found out what would happen. Thus, to interpret the “legs of iron” historical data is required. The word Rome means strength. Use strong evidence – Bible – first before using weaker evidence. There are lots of characteristics about this image which are Christ like because it is anti-christ in nature. Psalms 2:9 and Revelation 19:15. Shows similar powers. Revelation 2:27. “breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things” – signifies persecuting and desolating power. The other kingdoms were much more gracious. Babylon treated their prisoners good. Medo-Persia in http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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high places, Greece were thinkers. But Rome demanded 100% submission. “Bruised” – mentioned for the first time in Gen 3:15. Satan used the Roman empire to bruise Jesus Christ. Now, there are people argue that the Bible doesn’t say the kingdoms are Babylon, Mede-Persia, Greece, and Rome. They call it “assumption.” Can we prove from the Bible? I wonder SOP is an assumption! ED 177 Prophecy has traced the rise and fall of the world's great empires - Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. With each of these, as with nations of less power, history repeated itself. Each had its period of test, each failed, its glory faded, its power departed, and its place was occupied by another.
Don’t tell me that that’s an assumption. That’s fact! ED 179 Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: . . . exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him. Ezekiel 21:26,27. The crown removed from Israel passed successively to the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. God says, "It shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him."
Different Metals of Statue Babylon (606 BC – 539 BC) Medo-Persia (539 BC – 331 BC) Greece (331 BC – 168 BC) Rome (168 BC – 476 AD)
Characteristics Idolatry, esp sun god – Dan 3, Eze 8:16 Infallible laws – Dan 6 and Esther. Human philosophy – 1 Cor 1:22 Persecution / Destruction
Moral value is decreasing with the value of each metal. Proven from SOP as well as Bible. Gold is often compared to moral character. Political / military might is increasing with the strength of each metal. Spiritually speaking the kingdom of iron and clay is stronger. Each kingdom reigns progressively longer, especially Rome. Therefore, the kingdom of iron and clay must reign even longer. Each kingdom’s territory gets larger with each new empire. Likewise, the kingdom of iron and clay must be larger. BSM: (41-44) Listen, we want to help you in this class. The number one thing you need to do in this class is read your Bible. PLEASE! Don’t pass up the scriptures. Make sure you read your Bible first. Then go to the SOP second. And if you just don’t have time to beyond that, then ok. As long as you have the Bible and SOP that is all that matters. But I’m not saying you don’t have to worry about what Uriah Smith said. I’m not saying that. Why do I recommend this order for your resources? Oh some points he didn’t have the correct position of the Bible stance, but you can’t get any better than the prophet telling you this is what it means. So always go to the SOP. When we speak of Ellen White in relation to the Bible, primarily, primarily, she is dealing with character. Over and over she is dealing with character, and the nature of God, how His character is. Rarely does she get into dates, names, places, etc. Facts of that nature. But Uriah is a historian. Naturally he will get into dates, places, and names, of course. But you need that. History is the fulfillment of prophecy. Prophecy cannot be truly understood unless you have history, it is that simple. So I want to give a balance of the two. Don’t lean too far to the left or right. You need to understand both and don’t be unbalanced. Review: http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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The head of God represents Babylon, how do you show that from the Bible? Daniel 2:38 "thou art this head of gold" These are kingdoms. 3rd kingdom will bear rule over all the earth. It is talking about a kingdom Man of Sin in 2 Thess, is this talking about a person or a system headed by a man? A system headed by a man, a succession of men. So you can look at the word king in Daniel 7, man of sin in 2 Thess, or thou art this head of Gold. Even though he is talking about a person, that man represents the kingdom. So he was symbolic of the whole kingdom. Babylon reigned from 605 B.C. to 539 B.C. What is the kingdom of silver? Medio Persia Daniel 5:2528. The kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and the Persians. Where would you go to show what the third kingdom represents? Daniel 8:20-21 V.20 the ram represents Medo Persia. This is the interpretation not the dream. It is the interpretation of the dream. (objection: Some are trying to reinterpret the interpretation. Will we believe God or man?) V.21 The He-Goat represents the Greecian Empire. The third kingdom represents the Greecian Empire What is the fourth kingdom that would bruise? Rome Luke 2:1 Ceasar Augustus taxed the whole world. You cannot tax the whole world unless you rule the world. Ellen White confirms this… Education "History and Prophecy" 177 " Prophecy has traced the rise and fall of the world's great empires--Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. " (Objection: Wheeling says this is an assumption on someone's part, is it an assumption on her part? She is a prophet, it is not an assumption. It is not an assumption it is a fact.) Ed 179 Thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: . . . exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him." Ezekiel 21:26, 27 The crown removed from Israel passed successively to the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. "
God is going to overturn kingdoms, He overturned Babylon, MP, Greece, and Rome. 2:41 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.
There is a lot of confusion in the prophetic teaching about the feet. Common interpretation points to Europe. This cannot be because: The pattern being followed is that each successive kingdom in the image is getting larger in territory. In Revelation, 3 of the kingdoms that arose after the fall of Rome were destroyed, but when the rock strikes the toes there are still 10 toes, and “the kingdom” is singular in verse 41. “The kingdom shall be divided” – Ten toes representing the Western Europe. The Bible distinguishes between feet and toes. Clay and iron represents mixture of church and state. Don’t say
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Europe, it’s Western Europe. When Rome broke up and divided in Western Europe, there were ten kingdoms. They tried to mingle themselves together but no avail. We are not going to see Europe united in a sense of all nations falling under one nation. This is classic interpretation. Ten divisions of the Roman Empire are: AngloSaxons
Franks
Alemanni*
Burgundi
Ostrogoths
Lombards
Heruli
Visigoths
Suevi
Vandals
England
France
Germany
Swiss
Yugoslavia
Czech
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Africa
* Huns were one of the dramatic tribe from the North that came and were the part of dissolving of Western Europe. But Huns never established a kingdom. When the leader of the Huns passed away, they became so weak and dispersed throughout. But they never established a nation that existed. There was a debate between Uriah Smith and A. T. Jones. Jones was on Alemanni rather than Huns. And Uriah Smith eventually yielded to the fact that he didn’t know as much historical data as Jones. Then Jones made an insult Smith, and Ellen White rebuke Jones for it. “Part of iron, and part of clay” – I don’t disagree or do not believe that these ten toes are equivalently parallel to ten horns in Dan 7. But there are some things that we overlooked. In Daniel 7, beasts are used to represent the kingdom, government or the state. But in Dan 2, metals are used to represent the kingdom: Dan 2:38-40. If metal is used to represent the kingdom in Daniel 2, looking at the verses 38 to 40, iron is a metal and it must represent the state. Therefore, same must be applied to the feet. Iron in the feet is state. Now when we come to the word “clay,” what does it represent? Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
God used potter to represent Himself, and clay to represent His people. Acts 7:38 clears that it’s not just referring to Israelites. SOP conforms it with this statement: MS 63, 1899 The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Thus, Dan 2:41-43 could be read in this sense: [41] And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of church, and part of state, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the state, forasmuch as thou sawest the state mixed with miry church. [42] And as the toes of the feet were part of state, and part of church, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. [43] And whereas thou sawest state mixed with miry church, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as state is not mixed with church.
A church that loses the Holy Spirit has only one source left to convict people of what they believe is true; it’s the state. God doesn’t need the state, it’s got the Holy Spirit to enforce the truth. This feet are trying to unite the church and the state and put it together, but in God’s eyes they can never be united! Lk 20:25 Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
The separation of church and state was the fundamental principle Jesus taught. Men will try to unite these two together, but God will never accept it. In the Bible, God’s people moved through 3 phases of governing .
Phase 1 = Patriachs (Abraham, Isaac) Phase 2 = Theocracy (Governed by God directly – Israel after Egypt) Phase 3 = Nation (Kings of Israel). This last phase was not good as shown in the history of Israel’s kings.
When Jesus came, he preached separation of church and state. Whatever is Caesar’s give under Caesar, whatever is God’s give unto God. Psalms 40:2, Ps 69:1-4 – Miry clay comes from horrible pit. Horrible pit of confusion. Babylon means ‘confusion’. Also represents those that hate God’s people and want to destroy them. Everything ties back to Babylon. 2 different types of clay mentioned: In the beginning the feet was mixed with good clay, but at the end the clay represents a church which has been rejected by God and of no use to the Potter – the apostate church. Revelation says that the apostate church moved from among those who were disciples of Christ. It goes along with 7 churches in Revelation. 2:42 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.
“toes of the feet” – extra description regarding the toes of the feet; toes are a part of the feet (can be separated); it could be separated in time-line but it has the same characteristics; the feet is still mixture of iron and clay, the toes is still mixture of iron and clay; from the ankle to the toes=iron and clay. The Bible specifically mentions the toes—how many toes? 10! Rev 17:12, 13 [12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
“kingdom” – (not kingdoms), ten kings receive no KINGDOM and have ONE mind]. “Partly strong and partly weak” – because when the church depends on state for power then this http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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weakens the power of the church. Also becomes righteousness by works. “toes” called “kingdom” – shows that this is one kingdom. The feet and toes represent the 2 phases of the papal Rome. NOTE: This kingdom will be: Part iron and part clay. (v41) Partly strong, partly broken. (v42) The word “part” and “partly” = interpreted in v41 as “divided” Therefore, v42 explains what the word “divided” was referring to. Not division of the kingdom, but the characteristics of iron, clay, strong, broken. Kingdom of iron and clay we can say; the Bible specifically mentions the toes of the feet, then the kingdom of God—so after 5 kingdoms, God will set up His kingdom! These 5 kingdoms persecute God’s people because of church/state combined; each kingdom is decreasing in value—in moral standard, they are getting more wicked; and their strength in military or political power is increasing (even their religious power); Iron and clay is stronger in some ways. Why? From Babylon – Rome, God’s people persecuted in the name of pagan gods. When we come to iron and clay, God’s people persecuted in the name of Christian God—that’s why it’s more strong, because there is more power because of more deception! Now they can use the name of Christian God to destroy God’s people—that’s why it has more power. When the stone comes to destroy the feet, it sounds like all the other kingdoms still exist. Literally, these kingdoms were destroyed long time ago (Medo-Persia des. Babylon; Greece des. Medo-Persia; Rome des. Greece; Barbarian tribes conquered the Roman Empire). So politically speaking, none of these exist. But the Bible makes it sound like they all exist at the coming of Christ. Why? Their philosophy, their religion, their ideas, their political methods, all exist and all lay down to the feet of iron and clay. Even though Babylon was destroyed (politically), the religion and philosophy stuck around and combined with Medo-Persia. So Medo-Persia is a combo of Babylon and Medo-Persia. When Greece destroyed Mede-Persia, it contained Babylon, MedePersia, and Greece. When Rome destroyed Greece, it contained Babylon, Mede-Persia, Greece, and Rome. When the Roman Empire was turned into the iron and clay, Babylon, Mede-Persia, Greece, and Rome were all put together in the feet. [Dan 7 (four beasts: lion, bear, leopard, and dreadful beast). Rev 13:1,2 (lion, bear, leopard, and dragon w/ ten horns in Rev 12, similar to the dreadful beast in Dan 7); this beast has all these put together because it has characteristics of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome all put together! This is the anti-christ beast. Anti-christ has all these characteristics. Mouth of lion—Babylon (Matt 12:34 out of the heart the mouth speaks; the heart is the mind), this beast has Babylonian mind (Dan 2— head of gold—Babylonian mind)] This anti-Christ power has characteristics of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome all together. But which characteristics? 1.
Babylon—persecute God’s people by idol worship (Hebrew boys given names of idols)Dan 3
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2.
Persia—persecute God’s people by decrees (decrees could not be changed, not even the king himself; Babylon king can change his law—Dan 1 and 2; Persian kings cannot change because they say their law is infallible)Story of Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Dan 6
3.
Greece—persecute God’s people with their thinking, their philosophy (Paul in Mars Hill; prepared the Jews to not accept Christ; in this way Satan attacked God’s people; when Jesus came into the world, Rome ruled but Greek language spoken, it was worldwide, it was a language of thought—reason and intellectualism)
4.
Rome—persecute God’s people, period! (known for their military power; used to kill Jesus)
All these characteristics continue to the iron and clay—idol worship, infallibility, Greek philosophy, and persecution with political military power. All these are put together at the feet. 2:43 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.
Intimate relationship between church and state – fornication. Not mixed – though there is a union it will never truly be united. Every kingdom in the image is a mixture between church/religion and state. The previous kingdoms were a combination of pagan state and pagan religion. But the final kingdom is a combination of so-called Christian state and Christian religion. In the Bible, people were stoned because of fornication. InS this prophecy, this image is stoned because of: fornication (marriage of state and church) blasphemy teaching false doctrine breaking the Sabbath. worshipping idols. Also, God says He will revenge upon those who persecuted His people. He is the only who can cast the stone because He is the only one without sin. Questions: Why is feet of iron and clay stronger than the other kingdoms? With all the other kingdoms, when they persecute God’s people, they do so in the name of their heathen gods. But with the last kingdom, they will persecute God’s people in God’s name. Where did the papacy begin? In the feet, because the Roman Catholic Church was a mixture church and state – Papacy. Where are we currently in the image? Probably in between the feet and the toes because there is no unification of church and state at the moment. In 1798, the papacy ceased to be united when the political power of the Roman Catholic church was broken and there was a separation of the church and state again. Therefore, the construction of the image was stopped. However, the construction of the image will resume when again they unite church and state. This is when Satan will have http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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absolute power of every kindred, tongue and people except for those that hold the seal of God in their hearts. Why did God wound the beast and break the unification of church and state? When the beast was wounded, God used the time to raise up the SDA church so that the remnant could be prepared to preach the message and to fight with the beast – truth, health message, etc. This is why EGW says that when you study the books of Daniel and Revelation there will be revival and reformation. 10 represents worldwide. Relates to Revelation 17 = 10 horns. Summary: Even though the political power has moved to each conquering kingdom, the characteristics still continued in the next kingdom. So the feet is a combination of all these. Babylon = idolatry, Medo-Persia = Infallible decrees, Greece = human philosophy, Rome = Persecution. Idol worshippers use infallible decrees with human philosophy to persecute God’s people with Christianity. Now before we move on let’s do some observations. Tell me, which kingdom has the most description out of five? Iron and clay, so what kingdom does God want you to study the most? Iron and clay, do you see that? Now, let’s do some other observations. (Medo-Persia known for their usage of silver, Greece for brass, and Rome for their iron—the characteristic is interesting of how these metals fit into their nations) What do we know about these kingdoms? They are WORLDWIDE kingdoms, worldwide kingdoms. Therefore . . . now which aspect of the prophecy is the climactic picture? The stone destroying. So think carefully: God wants you to know more about kingdom of iron and clay—and this is also a worldwide kingdom. And the trend is all the kingdoms are getting weaker and weaker in value—what kind? Moral value. It is getting more wicked. There is degeneration happening to all these kingdoms— Babylon was bad but Medo-Persia was worse. It increases in its power of evil, but the moral value is decreasing. It decreases so much that all God can do it is destroy it in the end. It is decreasing in moral value because it is increasing in strength of sin. This explains why these metals are stronger than their predecessors. Now why is it that iron and clay is stronger than iron? Later on. Why are these nations mentioned? They were directly connected to God’s people, Israel and spiritual Israel (iron and clay) What is the common denominator? They conquered God’s people, there was some kind of captivity going on. So what was the big reason why God destroys this image? Because it is persecuting His people and capturing His people. What else? This image . . . images in Babylon, do they have political or religious connotation? Religious connotation—now this makes it even more interesting. So the image alone has both religious and political aspect—church and state: political because it says kingdom and religious because it is an image.
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Simple: when you put these together, you get persecution. That means God’s people through Babylon – Iron and Clay, God’s people were persecuted through all these kingdoms politically and religiously. In Daniel 1, you see political and religious attack. This is so important, why? This aspect is blown up In Daniel 7 and 8 and in Revelation, it is a great picture—this is the end-time mission. Therefore, this image from top to bottom, head to toe, it has religious entities. How do we know when you add church and state, you have persecution? Well, how was Jesus treated, or how did Jesus die on the cross? It was a combination of religious leaders and the political leaders. When Jesus stood before the high priest—their main concern was blasphemy, is this political or religious? Religious, and in what way? Make yourself God and forgive sins. “Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But when Jesus stood before Pilate, what was the accusations? Are you the King of the Jews? This is political. What was Pilate’s concern? Is Jesus a man who would cause insurrection—rebellion against the gov’t. So Jesus had 2 accusations—blasphemy but the religious leaders were not able to do this, so they had to go to the political power to do this. But they cannot go here with just religious accusations. So they had to say You are not friend of Caesar, meaning politically. This is what did it—but it was religious and political put together. And when this happens, you have the cross and persecution. Let us now study about iron and clay. What does iron represent in the Bible? Political—but it says iron—so it has characteristic of who? So at the feet the broken iron represent broken Roman empire. But it says iron and clay. What does clay represent? Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
So clay is God’s people or church. So clay is the churchcraft, iron is state-craft. So it is clear that the feet is the combination of church and state. And when you have this, it is persecution. So God is destroying this image because it persecutes God’s people. Why stone? Why not fire? Why not melting away? Why not another image—like a lion or something to destroy this whole image? Simple question: when a stone is thrown at someone, what does this represent? Guilty of breaking God’s law or is condemned. Story of woman caught in adultery—stone represents condemnation. So God will judge the whole world, when? After the iron and clay. One tricky question—where is ancient Babylon today? Non-existent; where in Persia? Same; Greece today as a great nation? Not as a great nation; where is Rome as a great nation? Not today. So we should only have the feet in terms of time. But in the time of the prophecy, the stone came and destroys the whole image. Why is it? Because the characteristics of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome is in the iron and Clay—this is the whole reason why. The whole image is being set up. So, if we set up this image according to time, the whole image is missing what part? As we study the big picture, it is missing the toes. The time will come when the toes will be formed and the whole image will then be set up and the whole world will worship it. And this same image is going to destroy who? God’s people. And then who will come? Jesus. We will continue to look into the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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interpretation of this image. Out of 5 kingdoms—the kingdom of Gold . . . Silver . . . Brass . . . Iron . . . and Iron and Clay: Why call feet of iron and clay a kingdom? We think it is the broken up kingdom of Roman Empire . . . but why call it a kingdom? The Bible calls it this. Yes, there is a broken up; there is no one worldwide kingdom after Roman Empire (literally) BUT philosophically and spiritually there is one kingdom. Dan 2:42 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.
It says KINGDOM not Kingdoms . . . so politically speaking they are all divided, but the Bible says ONE KINGDOM—why? Keep reading . . . “and as the Toes of the feet” – are given an extra description; this cannot be separated but are a part of the feet, so it is not separated in terms of being a different kingdom but has same characteristics as the feet (iron and clay); in terms of timeline they may be separated. Characteristics of iron and clay still are existing; before the toes, the feet is still iron and clay and the toes are iron and clay—so from the ankle down on is iron and clay. But the Bible specifically explains the toes of the feet. “The KINGDOM” – how many toes do we have? 10 toesa connection verse Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Ten horns like the ten toes . . . received no KINGDOM (not kingdoms) Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
They have one mind so they are ONE kingdom—this becomes more clear when studying Revelation 17. So therefore, we can say Kingdom of Iron and Clay—but The Bible specifically emphasizes the TOES of the feet—KINGDOM. So how many kingdoms do we have? 5—but after these, we have what kingdom? God’s kingdom; so after 5 kingdoms God will set up His kingdom Quick Review: The Bible says that these 5 kingdoms persecute God’s people because of church and state combined, political power and religious power put together, when you put this together, you have persecution Then these kingdoms are decreasing in value—why? Because they are decreasing in moral standard, they are getting more wicked as they go down. Then their strength politically is increasing and their religious power is increasing BUT it was hard to see how iron and clay is stronger than iron—why? From Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome: they all persecute God’s people in the name of pagan gods. BUT when you get to the Iron and Clay they do this in the name of Christian God—that’s why it’s more strong, it has more power because it has more deception— they now use the name of the Christian God to destroy God’s people. When the stone comes to destroy the feet, it sounds like all the kingdoms still exist—it’s as if they are finally destroyed at the 2nd coming of Christ. But we know that these were literally destroyed long time ago—MP destroyed B; G destroyed MP; R destroyed G; and barbaric tribes conquered R http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Empire. So politically speaking, today, none of them exist—but why does the Bible make it sound like they exist at the coming of Christ—why? Because their philosophy, religion, ideas, political methods—all exist all the way down to the feet. So even though B was destroyed, politically speaking it was destroyed, BUT its religion and philosophy was carried on in MP; same with G—it was combination of B MP and G; when G was destroyed it was combination of B MP G and R; when Roman Empire was destroyed and continued in Iron and Clay it consisted of B MP G and R all put in the Iron and Clay, the Feet Daniel 7 comparison: L=B; B=MP; Lep=G; DB=REmpire; when you come to Revelation 13:1 Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Beasts=kingdom; a kingdom rise up out of the sea— Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
This beast has four different characteristics—what are they? Lion, Bear, Leopard, and Dragon; and the Dragon in Rev 12 has 10 horns (like the dreadful beast in Dan 7); why all these characteristics together? Because it is a combination of B MP G and R—it is anti-christ: It has all these characteristics Mouth of Lion—so mouth of Babylon, and according to Matt 12:34 says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks—this means whatever comes out of your mouth you are speaking your heart and your heart is your mind So, really, since this beast has mouth of a lion, it has what kind of mind? Babylonian mind; but in Daniel chapter 2, who is the head, the mind? Babylon So we have similar characteristics of B MP G and R all put together; so what kind of characteristics of B and MP and G and R that this power contains? (religious philosophy). Okay, listen, there are many different characteristics—so which one can we say that applies to this power? Idol worship— from the Bible: We are looking at the whole image and the kingdoms that persecuted God’s people; so in what way did B persecute God’s people? In chapter 3idol worship! So Babylon is idol worship . . . How about MP? Decrees, why? Story of Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel 6 all have one thing in common, it was DECREES—what kind of decrees? Decrees that cannot be changed, not even the king himself change them; Babylon can change his decrees (chapter 2 and 3) . . . but not so with MP (Daniel in lion’s den)—when do you not change things? When it is infallible: so their laws are infallible. So Babylon=idol worship; Medo-Persia=infallibility—what about Greece? Not much said about it, but it has a lot to play in this. What do we know about Greece from the Bible? In what way did they persecute God’s people? Persecution is not only physical but it is also mental. Example from Paul on http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Mars Hill—Greek is known for the philosophy, the thinking, the way human beings should think— in many ways, their philosophy prepared the Jewish people to reject Christ; and in this way they persecuted God’s people. What kingdom ruled in Christ’s time? Roman Empire, but what language? Greek—why? Because it was a language of thoughts . . . Greek was the worldwide language because the Greek philosophy was so strong that it maintained . . . B idol worship was so strong . . . it maintained . . . the decree system was so strong it maintained in some ways How about the Roman Empire in the Bible? What do we know about Rome in the Bible? Persecution—“break in pieces”; Rome was known for their military power—how do we know this? Jesus died through means of Roman military power, the persecution of Roman Empire. So all these characteristics continue to the Iron and Clay—it has idol worship, infallibility, Greek philosophy, and persecution, the political military power, put it ALL together is in the feet . . . it’s getting stronger and stronger and stronger (do we need to go to Dan 7 and Rev 13 to understand and show the connection?) [When you give this Daniel seminar, and let’s say you are giving Dan 2 on the image, there is a layer—think of picking onions . . . some people can take only 1 layer peeled off, some 2, and some 3 layers—it depends who you’re talking to—if speaking to non-Adventist or non-Christian, maybe 1 or 2 layers and just explaining from within the chapter and from the history; So it depends on who you’re talking to—if peel too much, that’s the end of the meeting. In order to explain chapter 7, you have to explain the beasts, in order to explain Rev 13, you have to explain this chapter—you don’t want to jump ahead; but when you get to this chapter, you can refer them back and so on and they can see the magnification and the big picture . . . now let’s go back to Daniel chapter 2—so do we understand the iron and clay better now? they have the characteristics of B, MP, G, and R all put together. How do we prove this? The concept of the stone coming on the feet, it destroys the whole thing. Now you understand when Daniel interpreted the head, it was very short but information increases—but go back to legs of iron] Dan 2:40 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.
Break in pieces keep on repeating—now let’s look at something with this Ps 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Who has rod of iron to break in pieces? Jesus! But in Daniel 2 who has this? Rome. When you see this, you conclude that before Iron and Clay, Rome has similar characteristic of who? Jesus. So it already has characteristic of Anti-Christ. Anti-Christ is both against and like Christ—Roman Empire is against Christ (destroy Jesus and His people) but the Papacy is likeness of Christ (destroying God’s people and Christ but with Christian image) characteristic of iron will increase in chapter 7— more interesting . . . Dan 2:40 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.
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What’s the very last word? “Bruise”. Remember when this was first used in the Bible? Genesis 3 Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
It says bruise—who’s heel will be bruised? Jesus and bruising the heel of Jesus is His crucifixion and who bruised His heel? Roman Empire, so now there’s a prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion. So now the term BRUISE has connotation of persecution of Jesus, the cross—break in pieces . . . and very interesting when Christ comes back the stone comes and breaks the image into pieces—it is paying back for what they did . . . now come back to Daniel chapter 2 again Dan 2:41 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.
How is the kingdom divided? Iron and clay—so Iron belongs to kingdom and the clay belongs to the kingdom. So this kingdom is made up of what? Iron and Clay—so they are trying to united but in God’s eyes they cannot be united. Who can only have church and state put together and not have persecution? Only Christ can have this . . . what we are going to see is characteristic of Anti-Christ (being LIKE Christ in this instance). Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Prince is political aspect and Saviour is religious aspect. Who is the head of the kingdom and the church? Jesus, only He can safely unite them Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Prince of the kings is political; washed us from our sins is religious; so Jesus has political and religious aspect . . . now what is He going to do with us? Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Kings is political and priests is religious, so only who can make us church and state put together? Jesus Christ. So this unity only belongs to who? God and not man. Jesus said to Pilate MY Kingdom is NOT of THIS world. In this world, we may respect and honor this government but we can only have the church in this world. God did have both before in this world—it was a controlled theocracy, but what did they do? Ask for an earthly king and by their third king, they went straight down into apostasy and division. So the Babylonian captivity is saying that this punishment is letting them know that what they asked about a king was foolishness . . . God had many, many, years of patience with them, so now they were in captivity on and on and on . . . when Israelites was rejected as God’s people, God raised up the church—not as a political entity—but as a church Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Lord God Almighty is religious and King of Saints is political. Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
King of Kings is political and Lord of Lords is religious. But, but, from the head of gold (B MP G and R) they are already somewhat church and state but not in name of Christian church or God, they were in name of pagan gods. But when you get down to the feet it became worse, the political aspect is the same with the other kingdoms but now the religious aspect is still pagan gods but under cover of the Christian God. There is a switch of plan . . . of agenda . . . of method—before Satan used only pagan state and religion to persecute God’s people, but now in end of time, he uses pagan political and pagan religion which is called Christian to persecute God’s people. This has to be emphasized so clearly, why? Because in the end, the issue is church and state. Now, going back to Daniel 2, so can you see the feet of iron and clay having the concept of church and state trying to unite? Although they cannot be united, but they try to united being part of the feet, having one shape—they are trying to be like Jesus. This is why it is anti-Christ, it is counterfeit Christ. Dan 2:43 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.
The word “Cleave”, when was it used the first time? Marriage—Adam and Eve, you will leave your parents and cleave to your wife. You leave and cleave. This means to be united, so there’s a concept of uniting but they really can’t unite. This is true, they cannot really unite in terms of politically but they can unite religiously. This concept will be clear later. What kind of clay in verse 43? Miry clay—verse 41 what kind? Potters clay, why the difference? What do we know about miry clay? Ps 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Miry clay is negative. What does horrible pit mean? It says a pit of noise in the margin. What’s this, a pit of noise? It is confusion. So miry clay is connected to Babylon. And the word miry clay is not the same Hebrew word but same connotation—it is not the same Hebrew word in Daniel 2—but same concept. In Daniel 2, the Hebrew definition is to be sticky, or the idea of dirt or to be swept away. What we know about dirt? Remember the king that was so fat and when he was stabbed, what came out? It was dirt that came out. (It is Judges) So miry clay is bad connotation and we see concept of confusion which is Babylon. How about potters clay, it is good connotation so then we see the transition from good to bad. What is this trying to say? We are talking about time of Anti-Christ—remember II Thes chapter 2?
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2 Thes 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
So before man of sin be revealed what needs to take place? Falling away which means Apostasy— and what does this mean? Departing from true faith. So what do we see switching from Potter’s clay to Miry clay? There is a concept of apostasy and it makes up the Anti-Christ. There is much more than this . . . look at one more last thing Dan 2:44, 45 [44]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. [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.
Iron, brass, clay, silver, and gold—what’s in the middle? Clay. Why in the middle? Because all of this is really one. The Second Coming and Third Coming: Dan 2:34 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.
This is about the Second Coming . . . THEN Dan 2:35 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.
No place was found for them is the Third Coming, what happens at this coming? They are all destroyed. When will God set up His kingdom on earth, at the Second Coming? No but at the Third? Yes. 2:44 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.
This will happen at the 3rd coming of Christ. It does not mention the 2nd coming of Christ in great detail, because this prophecy is about the establishment of kingdoms. And God’s kingdom will only be established on earth after the 3rd coming. In the book of Daniel, the 2nd coming of Christ is not mentioned much at all. What is mentioned the most is the succession of kingdoms in relation to judgment? How do we know Jesus is the rock? This stone represents Christ: the fifth kingdom, the kingdom of Christ. 1 Cor 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 1 Pet 2:3-5 [3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. [4] To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, [5] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
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Isa 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.
“In the days of these kings” – The Bible says “in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom.” In the days of what kings? In the day of uniting of state and “miry” church. “These kings” cannot be the kings from Babylon down to the feet for they did not live in same period of time. Rev 17:1, 2 [1] And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: [2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
These kings are committing fornication with woman. Woman representing the church in the Bible. Jer 6:2; Isa 51:16; 2Cor 11:2. If it’s a virgin, it’s a pure church. If it’s a harlot, it’s apostate church. The woman is sitting on the beast (state: Dan 7:17-22). State is supporting the church: church is uniting with the state. That’s exactly what Daniel 2 is telling us. But this woman is a harlot, the apostate church. Notice the word “miry” in Daniel 2. It’s miry church that unites with the state. It’s an apostate church uniting with the state. Fornication is “an unholy alliance between two party.” But this is spiritual fornication. What is fornication spiritually being committed? It is the uniting of church and state; the union that God forbidden that should ever take place! He has never sanctioned the union of church and state. Therefore, the prophet looked at it, and he said it’s fornication. It’s unholy alliance between church and state. Church and state is actually uniting together, but God doesn’t approve it. They will unite in the common fact of doctrine, therefore other points of the doctrines they cannot agree on they put away and forget about it. That’s what ecumenical movement is all about! Do you know what’s happening today? Do you see church and state are mingling together? Do you realize where we are? Do you understand how close we are to the setting up of the kingdom of God? “In the days of these kings…” said the Bible. In the days of uniting church and state. Here is the problem. We are not agitating the people anymore! You better preach the word when you get up there in the pulpit. If you are not convicted, if you are not willing to preach the Word, don’t you dare get up in that pulpit! If you are a teacher, no matter how small they are, you got to preach the Word. You need to have different methods with the audiences you are meeting with, nevertheless, you can learn. You better preach the word straight, and get away from the humanistic way of teaching. The time has come we have reached the fulfillment of Daniel 2 saying “in the days of these kings.” Brother and sisters, the next thing, I know for fact, Christ is going to set up His kingdom soon. Are you ready for Jesus to come? Have you committed your life to Christ fully and completely? Or are you having experience saying “Oh, just take every day, who cares!” God has never guarantied you tomorrow. He has guarantied peace for now. Jesus is coming. Where is your life with Jesus? God has called you for this purpose. Not just to get the nice diploma. “I got PHD!” “That’s nice. But what do you know about the Bible?” “I don’t know, but I got all A.” If you commit your life completely to Jesus, and do everything that God has told us to do, I guaranty you will success. I have never seen righteous people fail. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom" – What do these 10 toes represent? We do have a historical position that says the 10 toes parallels the 10 horns of Daniel 7. We don't deny this fact. We don't take away from this…(*PO I don't agree 100%). When Rome broke up and divided in Western Europe, there were 10 kingdoms. This is what it represents. It says they will try to bring them together. In history how many people have tried to unite Europe in the past? Under Charles the V and others they tried to be the ruler over one nation. We are not going to see Europe unite where all the nations will unite under one nation. . During WWII Leslie Harding (from England) when Hitler was bombing Britain, he went down in the subways were people were hiding with his Bible prophecy chart, and said Hitler will not rule Europe, and he took them to Daniel 2. There is more "in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom” – Iron & Clay. In Daniel 7 the beast are used to represent kingdoms or governments. But in Daniel 2 we have metal, which represents kingdoms. When we look at verses 41-43 we need to look at something. What does the Iron and Clay represent? If metal in Bible prophecy represents kingdoms, governments, or states. Then when we look at the feet of iron and clay. Iron is a metal, so iron must represent the state. We have Bible evidence to prove that metal represents kingdoms, government or state. We use verses 38-40. So the iron in the feet represents the state. Repeat: Here we have iron in the feet and toes. Iron is a metal. If the metal prior to this represents governments, kingdoms, or the state, then the same must apply to the feet. Therefore the Iron in the feet and the toes represents the state. (note: The word government is synonymous with kingdom) Now we come to the word clay, what does this represent? Quote " The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. " {15MR 39.2} Also (MS 63, 1899). {4BC 1168.8}
You can find it in the Study Bible too. This covers Daniel 2:41-43) Right here you have the pen of inspiration confirming what it teaches. But we can't use this with non-adventist. Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay [is] in the potter's hand, so [are] ye in mine hand, O house of Israel."
Note: (This is using the proof text method). God used the potter to represent Him, and the clay to represent the people. Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.
You can't get any simpler than this. Now let's go back to Daniel and replace the word clay with the word church, and the word iron with state. Dan 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay (church), and part of iron (the state), the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron(state), forasmuch as thou sawest the iron (state) mixed with miry clay (church)."
Miry in the Hebrew means dirty and mucky. This is not a holy church. This is an apostate church. Dan 2:42 And [as] the toes of the feet [were] part of iron (the state), and part of clay (the church), [so] the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
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The Hebrew word for broken means brittle. This church cannot stand on its own. A church that looses the Holy Spirit has only source left to convict people of what they believe truth is. That is the state. God's church doesn't need the state it has the Holy Spirit to enforce the truth. Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron (the state) mixed with miry clay (church), they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron (the state) is not mixed with clay (the church).
“mingle themselves” – They will try to come together and unite. The principle that we see here that they would try to unite the church and the state and bring them together. But in God's eyes they can never be united. Why? How come they could never be united? Because when Jesus was establishing His kingdom He said render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar and unto God the things that are God's. What was the fundamental thing that Jesus was teaching? A separation between church and state. Men will try to unite church and state, but in the eyes of God He will never accept it. He will reject. Now read the next verse. IN THE DAYS OF THESE KINGS. Shall the God of heaven set up His kingdom. Which Kings? In the days of uniting church and state shall God come back and set up His kingdom. Dan 2:44 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.
“in the days of these kings” – In the days of what kings? The church and the state uniting together. What kind of church? A miry church. This represents an apostate church. Recap: We have the uniting of church and state foretold in Daniel 2. We have bible evidence and the SOP supporting us. In the days of these kings Christ is going to set up His kingdom. What kings? In the days of the uniting of church and state. We see the same phrase being used in Rev 17. Rev 17:1-2 [1] And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: [2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
In the days of these kings…they are the same kings as Rev 17:2. (*PO this defines what the miry clay is. The miry represents the apostate or catholic church.) The kings of the earth are committing fornication with the woman. A woman in Bible prophecy represents a woman. 2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Jer 6:2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. Is 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
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Hos 1:2 The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
The kings are united with this woman, and a woman is a church, she is a harlot, she is an apostate church. SHE IS THE MIRY CLAY. She is sitting upon a beast, and a beast represents a kingdom, government, or state. Daniel 7:17-23 shows this. What do we have? The state supporting the woman, the woman and the state united together. This is exactly what Daniel 2 says. Rev 17:2 ….fornication…
What is fornication? It is an unholy alliance between two parties. But this is spiritual fornication. What is the fornication that is being committed? The uniting of church and state. This is a union that God forbids that should ever take place. He has never sanctioned the union of church and state, therefore the prophet looked at it and said its 'fornication'. It is an unholy alliance between church and state, they are never to be united. In Daniel 2 when we see the iron and the clay mixed together. They are uniting together, but they shall not cleave even as iron is not mixed with clay. But what will happen is that we will see a unity, or all coming together. EGW says about the Catholic church and other denominations as time goes on, that they will unite upon common points of doctrine. Therefore there are other points of doctrine that they cannot agree upon, so what do they do? Put them aside and forget about them. This is what the ecumenical movement is all about. Today we see the church and state coming together. Ex. April 1990, the Paody Case with the American Indians. Antonio Scalio was the presiding judge over the case. He took away our liberties and mentioned SDA's in the article. He said the supreme court will not comply with the minority with the civil laws conflict with the religious convictions. He said we should appeal to congress. The (congress legislates laws, but) congressman are put in there by the majority of voting power. Those who have the majority of votes can vote the congressman in. The congressman vote what their local people want voted for. They are the voice of the people. How can the minority appeal to congress when they don't have the voting power. That is crazy. They said don't come to the supreme court, but the supreme court was established for the minority. This is the whole of the supreme court is for the minority, so that the majority would not dictate or rule over the minority. Antonio Scalio is a Roman Catholic. He was interpreting the first amendment, which guarantees the separation of church and state, and the RCC hates that. They believe in the uniting of church and state, and that the state should support the church. We are not educating our people anymore. Preach the word straight and get away from humanism. Conclusion: We have reached this point in Daniel 2 where the church and the state are uniting together. Are we prepared for him to return today! 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.
“Without hands” – tells us that this power is not of this world. Image is going to be destroyed by kingdom not of this world. The only kingdom that is not of this world that will destroy the image is the Coming of Christ. Dan 8:25 …he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken
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without hand.
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God (46-49) VERSE [46] Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. [47] 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. [48] 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. [49] Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. 2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. 2:47 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. 2:48 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. 2:49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel [sat] in the gate of the king.
Humility of Daniel. Shared the honor with his friends. God gave the dream to Nebuchadnezzar and took it back to prevent his message from being wrongly interpreted. It was also to reveal Himself through His people.
Application/Interpretation/Description Nail in a wall Description = hard, iron, strong Interpretation = what is it? A nail. Application = How many ways and in what ways can the nail be used? There can only be 1 interpretation and many applications based on the correct interpretation. There are 6 categories of interpretation: Personal Family Church Nation Whole world God vs. Satan, the great controversy. A sermon can be enhanced or made applicable to all audiences by addressing all these 6 categories. You can do a week of prayer just on the character of Daniel and his friends.
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Quotes: Iron & Clay (Church & State) -- We have come to a time when God's sacred work is represented by the feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay…The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God's forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves (MS 63, 1899). {4BC 1168.8} Not one in 20 – "It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner.--ChS 41 (1893). {LDE 172.1}" Larger portion than anticipated – LDE 174 "When the law of God is made void the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." Not one in 20 youth – "The young want just what they have not; namely, religion. Nothing can take the place of this. Profession alone is nothing. Names are registered upon the church-books upon earth, but not in the book of life. I saw that there is not one in twenty of the youth who knows what experimental religion is." MYP 384 Gold Represents Prosperity – “God exalted Babylon that it might fulfill this purpose. Prosperity attended the nation until it reached a height of wealth and power that has never since been equaled-- fitly represented in the Scriptures by the inspired symbol, a "head of gold." Daniel 2:38. {Ed 175.4}” A Dual Representation.--The image revealed to Nebuchadnezzar, while representing the deterioration of the kingdoms of the earth in power and glory, also fitly represents the deterioration of religion and morality among the people of these kingdoms. As nations forget God, in like proportion they become weak morally. Babylon passed away because in her prosperity she forgot God, and ascribed the glory of her prosperity to human achievement. The Medo-Persian kingdom was visited by the wrath of heaven because in this kingdom God's law was trampled under foot. The fear of the Lord found no place in the hearts of the people. The prevailing influences in Medo-Persia were wickedness, blasphemy, and corruption. The kingdoms that followed were even more base and corrupt. They deteriorated because they cast off their allegiance to God. As they forgot Him, they sank lower and still lower in the scale of moral value (YI Sept. 22, 1903). {4BC 1168.7} Iron and Clay-Mingled Churchcraft and Statecraft.--We have come to a time when God's sacred work is represented by the feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay. God has a people, a chosen people, whose discernment must be sanctified, who must not become unholy by laying upon the foundation wood, hay, and stubble. Every soul who is loyal to the commandments of God will see that the distinguishing feature of our faith is the seventh-day Sabbath. If the government would honor the Sabbath as God has commanded, it would stand in the strength of God and in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints. But statesmen will uphold the spurious sabbath, and will mingle their religious faith with the observance of this child of the papacy, placing it above the Sabbath which the Lord has sanctified and blessed, setting it apart for man to http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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keep holy, as a sign between Him and His people to a thousand generations. The mingling of churchcraft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God's forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves (MS 63, 1899). {4BC 1168.8} Note: Iron = Statesmen (mingling their faith); Partly Strong = Power of the State; Partly Broken = Union weakens the power of the churches. And by that it is Divided Dan 2:41-42. Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men Mixed and mingle are synonymous. Hosea 7:8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. Many found wanting – "Many who profess to believe the truth for these last days will be found wanting." 2T 634 Many Adventist will receive plagues – " Those who have had opportunities to hear and receive of the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal churches, will receive the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who oppose the law of God." LDE 172 Adventist Join Babylon – GC 608 "As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side." God to work for many Catholics – LDE 197 "Among the Catholics there are many who are most conscientious Christians and who walk in all the light that shines upon them, and God will work in their behalf." Greater part of the followers in protestant churches – " In the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon. According to this scripture, many of God's people must still be in Babylon. And in what religious bodies are the greater part of the followers of Christ now to be found? Without doubt, in the various churches professing the Protestant faith.-GC 383 (1911). {LDE 197.4}"
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Chapter 3 – Faith of Daniel’s friends (the Fiery Furnace) This class covers chapter 3 and the how misinterpreting the prophecies originated with Babylon. And that Satan will repeat the history of the Jews in how they misinterpreted prophecy with the SDA with the books of Daniel and Revelation. And the issue of church authority verses God's authority. Review: Daniel 2:41-43 We have the Iron and the Clay. It is true that the feet represent the 10 divisions of Rome. The feet refer to Western Europe. The iron and clay represents the union of church and state. Metal in bible prophecy represents kingdoms, and you go to verses 38-40 to show that. If God can use beast in Chapter 7 to represent kingdoms, how come He can't use metal in Bible prophecy? In Jer 51:7 The bible shows that Babylon is represented as being a golden cup in hand. You have the same type of metal being used. Metal in bible prophecy represents governments, kingdoms, or state. A political power. So the iron in verses 41-43 represents the state. Then where would you go to show what the clay represents? Jer 18:6 & Isa 64:8. What you have in Daniel 2 in the latter verses is a picture of end time events. Daniel 2:28 shows that this vision would take you to the last days. Introduction: There is so much in this story. There are so many issues in this chapter. We are going to study Daniel chapter 3—turn to Daniel chapter 3. Before continuing, we will mention a few things about the image, regarding the kingdom of Iron and Clay of Daniel chapter 2. Review of Daniel 2:41 – 43: Dan 2:41 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.
We discovered that iron represents the Roman Empire. Now when you come down to the iron in the feet, it is broken Roman Empire, it has the characteristics of the Roman Empire. And the characteristic of the iron is breaking in pieces and this means persecution. So the broken up iron in the feet is a political entity with persecution characteristics. Dan 2:42 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.
Now we mentioned that opposite of broken is whole or together, but it says strong to indicate that’s opposite. But putting it this way, opposite of strong is weak and the word broken means weak because of the margin saying brittle—easily broken or fragile. Iron=political power; clay=religious power—so the political power is strong, and the religious power is broken, brittle, or fragile or weak, now why is that so? The last line of verse 41: Dan 2:41 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.
An attempt to mix iron and clay, but it says miry clay which represents what? http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Ps 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Miry clay=pit of noise, which has characteristics of Babylon because of confusion; so it became weak, why? Because the religious power is depending on the political power for its strength and prosperity. Whenever church depends upon state to carry out its agenda, the religious power becomes weak and fragile. Dan 2:43 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.
Mingling with men is through intercourse or union of man and woman. The Bible says they will not cleave together because it is forbidden by God in terms of it is an evil entity. This is part of the image of the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had. And Jesus comes to destroy this image. So this cleave between iron and clay is with the seed of men, so it gives idea of fornication. Fornication between church and state—interesting in Revelation 17:1, 2, spiritual fornication is talking about union of church and state. They shall not cleave one to another—Europe never really cleaved one to another, historically speaking. But this is more in terms of spiritual. The big picture is (verses 41 – 43) the concept is repeating of divide, mix; strong, broken; mingling, but not cleave—so a coming together but they will not. In the eyes of man they are together but in the eyes of God, it is not true unity, although they will come together, but their union is not long lasting, and in Revelation you will discover that—end of Review, Let’s now go to Daniel chapter 3:What we’re going to do is read this chapter verse by verse and apply them immediately to their prophetic end-time prophecy. So this chapter becomes a prophetic message—and you will see how many concepts and words really apply to Revelation. Daniel 3 is a little snap shot of Revelation 13. We have Nebuchadnezzar, representing the state, enforcing the religious law: the uniting of church and state. In so doing, he makes an image. He enforces the law that everyone must worship against their conscience. Those who refuse to worship, they will be put to death; death decree. Here are three Hebrew boys refusing to worship the beast and law of the state. Religious liberty is the main theme of this chapter. In Revelation 13, we have USA enforcing the religious law, therefore it makes an image. Those who refuse to worship the image, a death decree. Paul has told us that not to commit sin that they committed in the wilderness. Because everything is an example for what will happen in the end time. 1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
When the history is rightly understood, history then becomes prophetic. Eccl 1:9, 10 [9] The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. [10] Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
History keeps repeating itself in the sense that the characteristics of history find itself parallel with the records of the future. We need to realize that even though this chapter is history, it becomes a little picture of what will be. Therefore, you don’t just stop looking this chapter in the historical http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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setting, but find highly significant relationship with the future. Therefore, what we are actually looking at is prophecy. You got to understand the history first. History keeps repeating itself. The story in this chapter itself is quite straightforward, but there is a lot of prophetic application that can be taken from this chapter. Again in this chapter we see another death decree. Chapter Outline Nebuchadnezzar forces worship of golden image (1-7) Daniel’s friends refuse to worship (8-12) Punishment by fiery furnace (13-23) God’s protection of Daniel’s friends (24-27) Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God (28-30)
Nebuchadnezzar forces worship of golden image (1-7) VERSE [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. [2] Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. [3] Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, 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. [4] Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, [5] That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: [6] And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. [7] Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 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.
The king’s name is Nebuchadnezzar—what does that mean? Look this up in the original language and see the meaning of the name of Nebuchadnezzar—and we know he is the king of Babylon. And he made an image of gold. So two characteristics: king is political and image is religious. So this king is both leader of political aspect of nation and religious leader put together—what do we see? Concept of church and state from verse 1. The stage is already being set up for us to see. He made an image of what? Gold. Perhaps Nebuchadnezzar was trying to say that he doesn’t like the idea that his kingdom is just the head . . . it will be destroyed . . . an inferior kingdom will come to destroy him. Amazing, he acknowledged God because Daniel was able to give him the dream and interpretation—so he acknowledged the God of Daniel. But now he is turned around and almost forgot all about the dream and is like trying to deny what God had said. He makes an image of gold all the way. He is trying to say His kingdom will last forever—but he cannot make a golden stone.
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What is he trying to do here? God gave him true prophecy (B MP G R IC and SC); but Nebuchadnezzar denies this by making this image gold from top to bottom—so what is he trying to do? He is giving false prophecy. So we see two things: 1. church and state and 2. false prophecy. Will this be a problem at the end of time? False prophecies will come from spiritual Babylon. They will say it will last forever so you shouldn’t worry about anything or that the kingdom of Babylon will be destroyed, just have peace and safety. Peace belongs to religious aspect—no peace to the wicked because of guilt but peace with God when justified. So peace belongs to religious connotation. Safety belongs more to the political connotation. So when people say religiously peace and politically safety, church and state united and then destruction will come. “Height was threescore cubits” – 60 cubits in height and 6 cubits in breadth: so 60 X 6. When you go to Revelation, the number of beast is 666, so there is a parallel between the size of this image and the number of the beast. And they both use number 6, why? Because it represents incomplete. It is a number of a man or beast—why? Man and beast were created when? On the sixth day—very interesting when you look up the number 6 in a dictionary it is connected to some evil or Satan or serpent. We see two things in this verse. One he made the image of gold, where did he get the gold from? From the wealth of all the surrounding nations. The height? The number 6 and 60, we get our time from Babylon, they developed seconds, minutes, and hours. It is interesting how in Rev 13:18 that his number is 666 (interesting observation) Another application is the gold to make the image. You would have to have lots of wealth, when you go to Rev 17, you can see that spiritual Babylon also has lots of gold—wealth. You have to be an economical leader to have this kind of wealth to make this image. So political, religious, and economical leader of the world enforcing worship! Where did he get the gold from? SL 36 From the treasures obtained in war he made a golden image…
How big was the image? SL 37 This statue was about ninety feet in height and nine in breadth…
Interesting to notice that the number Sixty and six is mentioned. We get our time system from the Babylon. They are the one who really developed the 60 minutes, 60 seconds. No wonder in Revelation 13:8 God calls number 6 as the number of the beast. Made an image of gold: God’s interpretation vs. Man’s interpretation – Why did king make the image in all gold? There is no question that Nebuchadnezzar is greatly influenced by the demonstration of the dream God gave through Daniel. For a moment he was under the influence of the Lord. But this didn’t last long. He was going back to his pagan way. And wise men of Babylon were envy of Daniel and his companions, and they saw a great opportunity to bring Nebuchadnezzar back to the religion of Babylon. They are the one who suggested the idea. “Why don’t you make an image and let everybody see that you are the head of the gold? And instead of putting those other silver, brass, iron, and so on, why don’t you make it all gold?” Here we had God’s interpretation. But in doing this, in reality Nebuchadnezzar was denying and rejecting the historical interpretation of God. He reinterpreted the dream; instead of gold, silver, brass, and iron, he put it all gold. It is a rejection of historical interpretation, he is reinterpretating the prophecy.
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PK 504 Pleased with the flattering suggestion, he determined to carry it out, and to go even farther. Instead of reproducing the image as he had seen it, he would excel the original… The symbolic representation by which God had revealed to king and people His purpose for the nations of earth, was now to be made to serve for the glorification of human power. Daniel's interpretation was to be rejected and forgotten; truth was to be misinterpreted and misapplied.
Somebody was misinterpreting and misapplying the historical process. Notice where it came from: the Babylon! And they say it’s new. They didn’t like the historicism of Daniel did they? Now you know why the Jesuits invented this, because it came right out of the Babylonian concept. And some people try to tell us it’s new light. PK 504 The symbol designed of Heaven to unfold to the minds of men important events of the future, was to be used to hinder the spread of the knowledge that God desired the world to receive. Thus through the devisings of ambitious men, Satan was seeking to thwart the divine purpose for the human race. The enemy of mankind knew that truth unmixed with error is a power mighty to save; but that when used to exalt self and to further the projects of men, it becomes a power for evil.
Those people will come and say, “Well, but we want to give an end-time application. We want people to be prepared to be ready for Christ to come.” The original interpretation was to do that very work! Yet, when they misinterpreted and misapplied and rejected historical interpretation, they are hindering the work that they professed to do. By reinterpretation of the dream, they misinterpreted and misapplied the whole thing, Satan was to thwart the God’s purpose for mankind. Truth when only unmixed with error has a power mighty to save! Satan knows it! So he can just twist here little bit, then that’s it! Satan will never expose himself saying “Here am I, the error!” He will mix the truth and error combined. Because he knows that you are going to look at some of the truth and say, “Oh, see, truth there! Truth there!” but somehow they overlook the error! Image was same, gold was there, but he changed little bit. They profess to be an Adventist, but they are not! Rejecting the historical interpretation, reinterpreting and misapplying it comes from the Babylon! When there was an misinterpretation of prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar wanted people to bow down! You better believe there that kind of stuff will lead you to! If you reject the Biblical historicism and hang on to this futuristic idea of interpretation, I guarantee you, you will be among those who will worship the beast and his image, you will receive the mark of the beast! You cannot hold on to error and truth at the same time, and still serve God of heaven. If you are not aware of you are holding an error, that’s different story of course. Even Jews when Jesus came first time, they expected Him to come in certain way. They expected Him to come as a ruling king and to destroy the nation and set up a new kingdom. What they were doing was misinterpreting and misapplying the prophecy. Desire of Ages 29,30 makes it clear: they were taking the prophecy of the second coming and applying to the first coming. When Jesus came as a peasant down from Nazareth claiming to be the Messiah, people thought He couldn’t be the Messiah. They looked at the prophecy of the second coming, and said “No way! He is to come as the Lord of Lord, the king of king. Ruling nations with the rod of iron! You? You are the one?! There’s no way!” So they rejected Jesus. Simple as that: they had misunderstanding of the prophecy. 2SM 111 The very same Satan is at work to undermine the faith of the people of God at this time. There are persons ready to catch up every new idea. The prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation are misinterpreted. These persons do not consider that the truth has been set forth at the appointed time by the very men whom God was leading to do this special work… The very same Satan is at work to
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undermine the faith of the people of God at this time. There are persons ready to catch up every new idea. The prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation are misinterpreted. These persons do not consider that the truth has been set forth at the appointed time by the very men whom God was leading to do this special work. 1 Cor 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
“gathered together” – Two gatherings: Satan is gathering together the Kings of the earth, the important People. If the leaders follow everyone will follow. Rev 16:12. Describe what he will use to gather them together. 3 unclean Spirits. 2.) God’s people are being together by the 3 angel’s messages. “gather together…to come to the dedication” – gathering the world leaders. National and prophetic application. This is repeated both in verse 2 and 3. This was the day of dedication, notice also Rev. 6:15; 13:16 Pay attention to the list of leaders: Princes – kings Governors – statesman Captains – military leaders Judges – jury leaders Treasurers – economical leaders/banks Counsellors – social workers Sheriffs – law enforcers Rulers of provinces – mayors, prime ministers. So who did he gather? All the important politicians, leaders, and rulers of the world will gather together. It is very interesting that the Bible does not say priest, High priest, worshipers—do you know what this means? There is perhaps religious leaders as well, but the Bible only mentions political leaders to come together and worship the image. In Revelation 17, the kings of the earth commit fornication with her. And Revelation 13 says ALL the world will worship the beast. Let’s go there: Rev 13:14-18 [14] And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. [15] And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. [16] And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: [17] And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [18] Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Do you see similar characteristics between Daniel 3 and Revelation 13? They are. One is adding to the other. Going a little deeper: Gather together—this phrase belongs to the mystery of God:
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Eph 1:9, 10 [9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: [10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
It says gather together in ONE in Christ Jesus, but Babylon is trying to gather together in one— where? At this image! So this is not the mystery of God but the counterfeit of the mystery of God. This is part of the MYSTERY of Babylon, Rev 17 calls her the Mystery. And what were they doing? These all have ONE MIND—being gathered together. Very interesting in Rev 10 (from 1844 and onwards), it says the Mystery of God should be finished. But Satan is trying to finish his mystery—to gather together in one under his supreme authority. Now verse 3. “Set up” – key words that keep being repeated. Means that in the last days an image will be established. It was built in the plain of Dura. Must have been a lot of materials being taken there. This will be a warning sign to God’s people when they see materials being gathered to build such an image, that a death decree will come out for those who don’t worship the image. It gives us a picture of how the “image of the beast” will be set up in Revelation 13. 3:3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, 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.
Now, verse 3 repeats of what in verse 1 and 2? The political leaders—how many? Princes, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, all the rulers . . . 8 of them! Why is God repeating this? He is emphasizing this point! What is God trying to say? Just about all the political leaders of the world will be gathered together to worship the image. This means that many of them will be deceived—this is the reason why we need to love them, have a burden for them, to warn them, and help them to understand that there is only one God to worship, not an idol which man has set up. One thing keeps repeating, Nebuchadnezzar has set up, Nebuchadnezzar has set up 3:4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
“herald” – What is herald? Shouting or PROCLAIMING A MESSAGE with a LOUD CRY and it goes to PEOPLES NATIONS AND LANGUAGES—this sounds just like 3 angel’s message. What is this? A COUNTERFEIT of the THREE ANGEL’S MESSAGE right in the end of time. So we should be able to see the future when reading this chapter. This is Babylonian’s “3 angels message”—and what is their message? Worship the image! The reason we get this concept is by taking the words (herald aloud peoples nations and languages). So the message given. This is similar to Revelation 14:7, 9 – “Saying with a loud voice….” and Revelation 18 – the loud cry “And he cried mightily with a loud voice…”. “Commanded..” is decree by church and state. The devil will have his own counterfeit loud cry in the last days, to gather together the whole world. How do we know the loud cry in verse 4 refers to a counterfeit loud cry in the last days? Because it is similar to the words used in Revelation. This is an example of what will happen when the Sunday law is passed. Texts to show that history repeats itself:
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Ecclesiastes 1:9 Ecclesiastes 3:15 – God asks us to know our history because it repeats itself. Matthew 24:37-39 – Jesus uses the past to show the future.
Therefore, even the history in Daniel has prophetic applications 3:5 [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:
This verse talks about the sound of music. When the music was played this was the sign to go down. Why did he use music? How come he just didn't say kneel? The devil knows how to manipulate. In Isaiah 14, and Ezekiel 28 it talks about Lucifer in heaven, the verses and SOP indicate that Satan was in charge of the choir. He knows music. History proves that empires used music to destroy other kingdoms and to subdue people. Ex. The Catholic Church knows how to use music to mesmerize people. In the Russian revolution they used music to hypnotize people. Daniel Chapter 3 has a direct parallel with Rev 13. 1 Corin 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them (meaning the Jews) for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
The word ensamples in the Greek means type. What Paul is saying to the brethren in Corinth was simply don't commit the very sins that the Jews committed in the wilderness, because all of this is an example or type of what will be in the end of time.So Daniel Chapter 3 even though it is a historical account (a lot of people don't see much in it), but to rightly understand history, history then becomes prophetic. Eccl 1:9-10 [9] The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: [10] and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun.
History has a lot to do with what will take place in the future. History is repeating itself (not prophecy repeating itself, but history repeats itself) in the sense that the characteristics in those days find themselves paralleling with the future. So we must realize that even though Daniel 3 is history and then we find that history keeps repeating itself to the point that history now becomes a type or a little picture of what will be. Therefore when you look at this in its historical setting, you don't stop there, you then see that it has a highly significant relationship to the future. So what I am really looking at is prophecy! But you must understand history first, why? Because history keeps repeating. Daniel 3 has a direct parallel with Revelation 13. Why is the music emphasized? Because at the end of time the devil will use music to destroy people, and to get their mind accustomed to the point where when the image is formed people will be ready to bow down. Music is going to be one of the tools of the devil to destroy people at the end of time. And today what do we have? Music coming in among us that is abominable and we have the celebration movement and the devil is working to deceive, and all except for the remnant are preparing to bow down to the image is when it is formed. There are only two kinds of music: God's and the devils, and this was not God's. “That at what time…” – means that the Sunday law will happen at a specific time. Leaders are already thinking about it and music will play a big part in bringing all this about at the end of time. The music will create an environment to make it easier to worship the image. When you hear music, you fall down. In Chapt 6, when Daniel falls down, he is worshipping God. This cry is a loud cry and it is commanded, which means it is a decree or a law. And there is a time with this law. (not that we http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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know when the Sunday Law will pass) But in the decree, in terms of Babylon, they are making a decree of when you hear the music you must bow down. So how were the people to know when to worship? It is when they hear the music. How do we apply this to the end of time? There’s no music mentioned in Rev 13. Let’s go to Rev 13 and watch this: Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Now, we know that this is talking about the second beast, an evil entity, bringing fire down from heaven in the sight of men—do we know of any story of bringing down fire from heaven to show man? Elijah! So this beast is doing this and acting as though he is a prophet Elijah, but it is a false Elijah or false prophet. Jesus said Elijah the prophet will be here before the end of time. So there is a false Elijah and a true Elijah. This is also the false prophet because of Revelation 19: Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Wrought miracles also done by lamb-like beast—it is false Elijah. So if you take back to Elijah story, this belongs to false prophet—and they were trying to bring down fire. So lamb-like beast is a false prophet— true prophet brought down fire by humble prayer, but the false ones tried to do this by dancing and shouting, and you have dancing by music—so is there music in the end of time? The bringing down fire from heaven has connection with music and shouting—what do you call that these days? The Charismatic movement—dancing and shouting with music controlling the minds of men—so after these things, what is next? The decree about worshiping the image will come forth. So music has a vital part in chapter 3 of Daniel. And all these instruments are mentioned three times. They are mentioned by their name—why? Because God is saying that the music is important at the end of time, it can cause you to prepare you for worshiping the image or worshiping God. “ye fall down and worship the golden image” – This is a golden image of Neb. So in essence Neb was saying fall down and worship me. And Satan was the power behind Babylon. Where else in the Bible do you have a picture of someone saying fall down and worship me? Matt 4:9 …if thou wilt fall down and worship me…
Satan speaking to Jesus. History repeats here you have Literal Jews facing Literal Babylon over worship. That scenario was repeated with Jesus facing Satan over worship, and the Spiritual Jews will face Spiritual Babylon over worship. 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
You can see what the results would be if they did not bow down. “burning fiery furnace” – So this is complete destruction. Also used to describe the end of the
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ungodly at the end of time. So the Devil is using this as a counterfeit. So if you don’t worship the image, there is only one decree for you—which is? Persecution, which is? Burning death decree. And in Rev 13, it says if anyone doesn’t worship the image and beast will be killed, same characteristics. So God is giving us a preview of Rev 13 in Dan 3 in real life. Burning fiery furnace—does burning have connotation with fire? . . . fiery? . . . furnace? Why not call it fire fire fire? It’s going to be a complete destroying of God’s people who will not worship the image. “same hour” – Immediately. A lot of pressure. The Image (Side Note). When we look at the image in Daniel 2 the image was made up of Gold, Silver, Brass, and Iron. Why did the king make it all of gold? In Daniel 2 there is no doubt that the king was greatly influenced by the dream that God gave Daniel, and we see the that the king was under the influence of God for a little while, it even influenced his life, but this didn't last long. He went back to his pagan ways. And the wise men of Babylon were envious and jealous of Daniel and the 3 Hebrew boys, and they saw a great opportunity to bring Nebh back again and to exalt the religion of Babylon. So they were the ones who instigated that he build this image, and he thought why should I make them silver, and brass, I'll make it all gold. Notice what EGW says in Prophet's and Kings. Here we have God's dream, God's interpretation, we have Gold, silver, brass, and iron. But what we have Nebuchadnezzar doing in reality was that he was denying and rejecting the historical interpretation of prophecy. And he reinterpreted the dream. Instead of gold, silver, brass, and iron, he put it all gold. Notice what she says. PK 504-505 Pleased with the flattering suggestion, he determined to carry it out, and to go even farther. Instead of reproducing the image as he had seen it, he would excel the original.
Here was the original interpretation the original dream, but he said no, I am going to go beyond that. PK 504The symbolic representation by which God had revealed to king and people His purpose for the nations of earth, was now to be made to serve for the glorification of human power. "
“symbolic” Notice this, she says the symbolic representation how gold represented Babylon, silver MP and so on… PK 504Daniel's interpretation was to be rejected and forgotten; truth was to be misinterpreted and misapplied.
Somebody was misapplying and misinterpreting historical prophecy, and notice where it came from. Babylon (And they say it is new). Someone was misinterpreting Daniel's interpretation, they didn't like the historical position. PK 504The symbol designed of Heaven to unfold to the minds of men important events of the future, was to be used to hinder the spread of the knowledge that God desired the world to receive."
Those who come to us today with the reinterpretation of prophecy like Wieland, Larry Wilson, Marion Berry, and others. They say they want to give an end time application and prepare people for the second coming of Jesus. And yet the original interpretation was to do this very work. Yet
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when they reinterpret misapply the prophecy and reject the historical interpretation they are discarding and doing away with the very thing they themselves say they are doing. PK 504-505 Thus through the devisings of ambitious men, Satan was seeking to thwart the divine purpose for the human race.
By reinterpreting the dream and by reapplying and misinterpreting the whole thing, Satan was seeking to thwart God's purpose for mankind. And they are trying to say that they are preparing you and I for heaven, they are not doing this! PK 504 The enemy of mankind knew that truth unmixed with error is a power mighty to save.
Truth when it is unmixed with error is a mighty power to save. Satan knows that, so he can just twist it around a little bit and he has it. The image was all the same, the gold was still there, a little bit of the historical and he put a little twist in there. Truth mixed with error. The devil is not going to come openly to you, this is how the devil works. He knows you will look at some of the truth, and somehow we overlook the error. PK 505 …but that when used to exalt self and to further the projects of men, it becomes a power for evil.
When you take truth and twist it around to use for ambitious ends, it becomes a power for evil. Neb was misinterpreting and misapplying the prophecy. He was reinterpreting prophecy! And he rejected Daniel's interpretation. Summary: Those who come to you today professing (And they are professing, they are not true SDA's) They come with new interpretations, the origin of these new interpretations, reinterpretations, misapplying prophecies, and rejecting the historical interpretation COMES FROM BABYLON!! What was involved? A misinterpretation of prophecy, Neb wanted the people to bow down and worship that image, you better believe where this will lead you to, from the Bible and SOP I can guarantee (no, if, ands or buts) that if you (speaking in a general sense) hang on to these futuristic ideas of interpretation and reject the historical position, you will be among those who will worship the beast and his image, you will receive the mark of the beast. This is a guarantee. You cannot hold on to error and still serve the God of heaven. Now if you are naïve that is a different story. The Jews when Jesus came the first time expected Him to come in a different way. They expected Him to come as a conquering king and to destroy all of the nations and set up Israel as the greatest nation of the earth. What they were doing was misinterpreting and misapplying the prophecy. DA 29 and 30 makes it clear as to what they were doing. They were taking prophecies of the second coming and applying it to the first coming. When He came He looked liked a peasant, and when He said He was the Messiah, the people said no way, He is not coming like this. So what did they do? They rejected Jesus. We are not exempt, 1 Corin 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 2SM 111 Satan is working that the history of the Jewish nation may be repeated in the experience of those who claim to believe present truth…The very same Satan is at work to undermine the faith of the people of God at this time. There are persons ready to catch up every new idea. The prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation are misinterpreted.
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EGW makes it clear that Satan wants to repeat the history of the Jews regarding the first coming of Jesus with those who believe present truth with the second coming of Jesus. Who believe present truth? The Seventh-day Adventist people. We have present truth. And she says in this passage that what satan is attempting to do is get the SDA's to misinterpret the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. And today Daniel and Revelation is being misinterpreted. 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
This text correlates perfectly with Revelation 13:7-8. “At what time ye hear the sound…ye fall down and worship” – Time when the music was played, that was the time to go down. Why music? Why not set a time and do it? Because the music captivates the senses. I am sure that the band played the beautiful tune. Devil knows how to manipulate. In Isa 14, and Ezk 28, talks about Lucifer in heaven. We are told in SOP that Satan was in charge of heavenly choir. If anybody knows music, he does. It’s an approving fact in the history that empire had used music to literally destroy the kingdom and subdue people such as Russian revolution. Catholic church knows how to use music to mess around the people. Why this record has been emphasized? At the end time, devil is going to use music to destroy people to get those mind come to the point when the image is formed, princes will bow down. Music is going to be one of the devil’s tool to destroy at the end time. What do we have today? Celebration movement, Christian rock, and so one: that’s absolutely abominable. Devil is working hard. Everybody is preparing themselves, except the remnant, to bow down to the image when it forms. I don’t know how in the world we can call, when the music of the Babylon coming into the church, “This is holy, sanctified music.” There is only two kinds of music. God’s or devil’s. The music played in the plain wasn’t God’s. That means it was devil’s.
Daniel’s friends refuse to worship (8-12) VERSE [8] Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. [9] They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. [10] Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: [11] And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. [12] There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 3:8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
Application: You see the word accused? Who are the Jews spiritually? The people of God. And they were accused—you find this in Rev: Satan is the accuser of God’s people. He will set up the stage a certain way that he will accuse God’s people and condemn them to death—it is like setting up a booby trap to capture God’s people. When National Sunday law is passed, God’s people will be accused. Because the devil has caused the whole world to do the same thing, it will cause God’s http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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people to stick out and it will be very easy to accuse His people 3:9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
This is a flattery—their words will not make the king immortal. They say live for ever, so they believe the king can live for ever. What do you call this? Immortality—is this a characteristic at the end of time, spiritualism? I am sure they mean as long as you can, but you can take this and connect it to spiritualism. Some time later after his dream in Chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar did not like the fact that Babylon would not reign forever and built another image out of full gold. Worshipping the image was a direct attack to God’s prophetic image. The golden image represents false prophetic teaching. Thus, the coming of the National Sunday law will be supported by false prophecies “live forever” – The NSL is going to be supported by false prophecies. This shows that Babylon believed in the immortality of the soul. One false doctrine that will support the NSL is the immortality of the soul. 3:10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
How many times are musical instruments mentioned so far? THREE times—and again in verse 15 . . . FOUR TIMES—is this enough to let us know the important role of music and worship and receiving the mark of the beast at the end of time? Yes! 3:11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, [that] he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
These Chaldeans are reminding the king of the decree. Those who did not bow would be put in the fiery furnace. 3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
“Certain Jews” – prejudice. They accused the 3 hebrew boys. “Have not regarded thee” –not respecting the king, when in fact it was the image they were not respecting. Notice there are 2 accusations here, (1) political (have not regarded thee) and (2) religious (not worshipping gods or golden image). Serve not thy gods, religious, nor worship the image—what will people say at the end of time? Don’t you know these people are so loving? You don’t love us? Just come to worship with us on Sunday. There is a revival, come join us—there is a psychological attack, religious attack, and political attack. These name are Babylonian names, they only know the gods of Babylon. They have not regarded the king—so what are the accusers trying to do? The boys broke the political law which has religious aspect but now they are accusing them of not regarding the king—meaning? They don’t care about you. So they are attacked politically, religiously, and socially—were they rebellious to him? No.
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Punishment by Fiery Furnace (13-23) VERSE [13] Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. [14] Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? [15] 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 musick, 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? [16] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. [17] 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. [18] 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. [19] Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. [20] And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. [21] 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. [22] Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. [23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
“rage and fury” = wrath. This goes along with Revelation 12:17 – “And the dragon was wroth with the woman…” and Revelation 14:8. The king was with rage and furious—he was angry or wroth: the dragon is wroth with the woman because they will not receive the mark of the beast. This is Revelation 12 – 14 in mini-picture form. “Dragon” who is that? Satan working through the government powers, ‘wroth with the woman’ why? They had the testimony of Jesus and they kept the commandments. The 3 Hebrews had the Testimony of Jesus and kept the commandments. 3 Hebrew represent the remnant. Neb was made and he called the Hebrew boys before him, and he gave them a second chance why? He knew that these men were different from the other wise men, He knew that they were unique in his government. There was a selfish motive, he didn't want to loose someone so valuable in his kingdom. 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, [Is it] true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
There’s a bit of kindness from this king. He wants to make sure, Is it true? It is giving place of doubt. Perhaps your legs are tired, maybe you just needed to stand for a while . . . this could be a temptation: you are faithful to your church, I know, but we’ll work things out, we’ll give you possessions and raise your salary if you come with us, don’t starve to death, we understand . . . just come—what would you do? It’s going to be a trial.
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3:15 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?
There is reason why Nebuchadnezzar gave them a second chance. Nebuchadnezzar knew that these three men are faithful in their duty above all other wise men. He believed these men were unique in their kingdom and sure hate to lose them. He wasn’t giving them a second chance out of compassion. Now, again, the musical instruments are mentioned again. And now the king is going to do the ceremony all over again and saying because he loves them this is why he will re-start the program for them to obey. The king probably really love these young men, he is sincere. The boys were charming, kind, intelligent, some of the best of the nation. The king wants them to have another opportunity. What would you say? Pretend to bow down to the image but really, in your heart, you are worshiping God and face Jerusalem. And at least you helped out the situation not to be so much in trouble. But these Hebrew boys were not even going to do this kind of thing. The most important thing to them is to worship God and give glory to Him and honor Him in the sight of God and sight of men, even though their lives would. This is a key text for the chapter theme. Here is shown the faith of Daniel’s friends. Committed to God totally even unto death. Faithful unto death.Our prayer should be to ask God to give us the conviction to lay our lives down for our faith “We are not careful to answer thee in this matter” – They are saying that they don’t need the second chance. Because they had habitually in their life formed the pattern to obey the Lord in small things, thus when things came in the dissents position, they didn’t have to think twice on this matter. That was a bold, bold statement. But when they answered, they did not answer with disrespect. They answered with respect but with boldness. SL 37 They look with calmness upon the fiery furnace and the idolatrous throng. They have trusted in God, and He will not fail them now. Their answer is respectful, but decided: "Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up" (Dan. 3:18). SL 39 These three Hebrews possessed genuine sanctification. True Christian principle will not stop to weigh consequences. It does not ask, What will people think of me if I do this? or, How will it affect my worldly prospects if I do that? With the most intense longing the children of God desire to know what He would have them do, that their works may glorify Him. The Lord has made ample provision that the hearts and lives of all His followers may be controlled by divine grace, that they may be as burning and shining lights in the world.
These men had a big position in the government. He will lose his money, his home, reputation. How about be lost. We need to have this kind of determination and dedication and commitment in the end of time to serve God in the last days. Nebuchadnezzar says who is the God that will save you? He is now challenging God—is this antiChrist characteristic? Yes! He gave them a second chance
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Where was Daniel at that time? Since the Bible and SOP is silent, we better to be silent. I don’t care where he was at that time, point is not there. 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.
“careful” – What does that mean? We are not careful—what does that mean? One way is that if we look rebellious, it is not our intention. If we are looking like to go against you, it is not our intention. We are going to say it as kind as we can but we are going to look rebellious. We don’t know how to say this carefully, but we are going to say it anyway. Have no need to tell you about this matter. Because the king already knew their decision. What did they mean by that? They didn't have to answer him. They were saying king you don't have to give me a second chance. We don't need to think twice about this, we thought about it along ago. This was a bold statement. They didn’t' answer with disrespect, but with firmness. SL 39 These three Hebrews possessed genuine sanctification. True Christian principle will not stop to weigh consequences. It does not ask, What will people think of me if I do this? or, How will it affect my worldly prospects if I do that?
These men had big positions, they didn't say we are going to loose a lot of money, nice home, reputation we better think this over, or what are our friends going to think? There were many Jews there thousands were there. But they made the decision long before this event. IT was faithfulness in the little things. They honored God during the time of peace and prosperity, and now in the time of adversity God honored them. If you read Prov. 1 you see what happens to those who don't honor God during the time of peace and prosperity when the time of trouble comes they say God help me, and God says in that day I will laugh and mock. 3:17 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.
So they made it clear that if God could deliver them out of the fire and from the king. If this is what you want. This was powerful! They were 3 slaves, and Neb is there with all of his generals and all the high men of the kingdom looking on, and they were being respectful, but firm. 3:18 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.
Other friends? King even if God doesn't deliver us, we will still not bow. Just like Job, though He slay me yet will I trust in Him. There were thousands of Jews there. But these men have been trained long before for this event; that is faithful in little things. They honored God in the time of peace and prosperity, and when the time of adversity came God honored them. But for those who do not honor God in the time of prosperity, when they call upon God in the time of adversity, God will laugh and mock at them. Pro 1:24-28. “But if not…We will not serve thy gods…” – Nebuchadnezzar, the world emperor, seating on the high throne with all of his general and high leaders in the kingdom, and here are three slaves, the captives saying, respectful but firm as a rock. Nebuchadnezzar when heard the respond, was astonished. It reminds us of Job.
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Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. PK 508 In vain were the king's threats. He could not turn the men from their allegiance to the Ruler of the universe. From the history of their fathers they had learned that disobedience to God results in dishonor, disaster, and death; and that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the foundation of all true prosperity. Calmly facing the furnace, they said, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so [if this is your decision], 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." Their faith strengthened as they declared that God would be glorified by delivering them, and with triumphant assurance born of implicit trust in God, they added, "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."
State Versus God – Here is the issue of the state, and the law of God. The state is to be within the law of God. But when state walks out of the boundary, three Hebrew boys had to choose whom to serve: God or man. In the eyes of man, it was rebellion, but in the eyes of God it wasn’t rebellion. In reality, the state was the one rebelling against God. What about the church? We are to receive this word as supreme authority. We are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine appointment, and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its legitimate sphere. But when its claims conflict with the claims of God, we must obey God rather than men. God's word must be recognized as above all human legislation. A "Thus saith the Lord" is not to be set aside for a "Thus saith the church" or a "Thus saith the state." AA 69. Whether it’s church or state or whatever, once that walk out of the sphere, we just don’t obey; bottom line. Because they are forcing on authority that they don’t have right to: the authority that belongs to God. That is blasphemy! Those are the one in rebellion, not those who are against the false authority! In the time of Acts, all the church leaders had council, “the General Conference Session,” and had agreed that these disciples of Jesus should not preach. They were telling disciples that they cannot preach because they didn’t graduate from “Andrews,” they didn’t have license, they are not ordained! They don’t have right to preach, they don’t have authority from the church! And this is what inspiration says: AA 80 The God of heaven, the mighty Ruler of the universe, took the matter of the imprisonment of the disciples into His own hands, for men were warring against His work.
The Religious leaders of the day were warring against God! Some say, “But that wasn’t God’s church!” This chapter 4 and 5 of Acts is before Jewish nation was rejected, AD 34. Therefore legally, definitely, they were the church leaders of God’s church. God has told disciples to preach in the Jerusalem for 3 years until AD 34, that they might turn back and repent. But it didn’t happen and they were cast off. AA 80 By night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and said to the disciples, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." This command was directly contrary to the order given by the Jewish rulers; but did the apostles say, We cannot do this until we have consulted the magistrates and received permission from them? No; God had said, "Go," and they obeyed. "They entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught."
We don’t need to counsel with anybody, we don’t need permission from anybody when God says you to preach, you preach! You don’t need to say, “But the church authority didn’t allow me to do this.” You don’t even need to counsel! By doing it, you are being disrespectful and rejecting God’s authority. You are consulting with someone else when the matter was already made clear that God wants you to do it. When God has said go into all the world to preach the gospel only when we have http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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the permission: that’s not what God has said. I’ve already got the Head of the church telling me to preach, I am going to preach. This is so sadly mistaken in SDA churches. But it doesn’t mean we go around disrespectful, arrogant attitude, putting down the leadership. No, No. Disciples were respectful, and loved the church. As long as the church is within the legitimate sphere. When the church ask you to do something, as long as it doesn’t conflict with the laws of God, you obey. But when the claims of man conflict with the word of God, no “if” or “but,” just like these three men, we are not careful to answer this matter, we will not think twice over this matter. You should not think twice whether you will obey God or man. If you do, you got a problem. 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
Angry this time because there was a personal challenge. He was insulted before all his people. The first time, it was not so much a personal challenge but breaking a decree. This is similar to the lamb like a beast but with the fury of a lion. He was angry when he heard that they will not worship the image but when the king was talking to them he was a bit nice and giving them another opportunity—but now his face is being changed: anywhere in Rev? lamb-like beast spake as a dragon—what’s dragon? Persecution. “heat the furnace one seven times more than it was” – How many times hotter? Seven times hotter—why? Because this king . . . did he know something about the number of Babylon? Yes, the image is 60 X 6 cubits—does he know about God’s number? Yes, because these people were keeping God’s Sabbath. He is saying I want to see if your God will save you out of my hand, I will burn you according to the number of your God—seven times hotter. The fire was created for who? 3 boys or Babylonian men? In Nebuchadnezzar’s eyes it was for 3 Hebrew boys. But in the end, who was it for the Babylonians. So who receives heat seven times hotter? Who shall receive the 7 last plagues? The spiritual Babylonian.The number of your God, to see if He would deliver them out of the furnace. God allows this event to happen to completely purify His people. Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 3:20 And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace.
“most mighty men” – He was furious and he grabbed the strongest men, why? He had a funny suspicion that something was about to happen. (EGW says). The firey was so hot that it leaped out and consumed those men alive. Satan will use the most mighty men to capture God’s people. Who is going to bind us in the end of time? Military . . . there will be a military involvement at the end of time. Do you think God wastes His words? Do you think He doesn’t know how to tell us? This story is more than a bedtime story . . . it is not baby food, it is meat when you search into the Bible. Can you see the phrase burning fiery furnace which keeps repeating? Why is it? Is there burning fiery furnace in Revelation?
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Rev 1:15 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Who’s feet is burned in a furnace? Christ’s feet. What does fire or burned in a furnace represent? 1 Pet 4:12-14 [12] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. [14] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
What does feet of Jesus being burned in a furnace mean? Suffering and trial of Jesus. What does the boys going into burning fiery furnace means? They are going through a fiery trial. This means that at the end of time, God’s people must go through—what? A fiery trial . . . we will be reproached because of Jesus’ name’s sake. Jesus already said this . . . Matt 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Will we go through persecution and hatred and affliction at the end of time from all nations because we bear the name of Christ or God? Very interesting, the 144K has Father’s name written in their forehead. Will 144K be hated by all nations? They will be hated because of Christ’s name’s sake . . . 144K have name of Father and Jesus says you have seen Me you have seen the Father—so it is synonymous. Rev 7 talks about something else going on the forehead of 144KSeal of God . . . and this is the Sabbath. Therefore we will be hated by all nations because we bear the name of the Father—in what way? by keeping the 7th day Sabbath—because this has the name of our God, the Creator. What are we talking about here? Last generation will go through fiery furnace like three Hebrew boys. And this trial is based upon whether you will worship the man-made image or idol or will you worship God. Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
This is speaking to the Laodiceans. They must buy gold tried in—what? Fire. Why? 1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
So when you are tried . . . What is being tried? Your faith, but the Bible Illustrates faith as gold— precious gold. And to have pure gold, what kind of process you have to put it through? Fire process to burn up the dross and take away all the elements which cannot take the heat. The only thing that really burned when 3 boys went into fiery furnace was the ropes put on by Babylonians. So these ropes belong to Babylon. Nothing on the boys really burned which was theirs. Why? They were already prepared, committed, purified, and refined. Their faith was already standing. This is the reason why Jesus is speaking to the Laodiceans to buy gold tried in the fire in
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order for them to go through the final fiery trial that they may be able to stand in the fire. What is you natural reaction when you see fire? Run away When you see a problem, what do you do? Solve it or hide from it? The greatest problem people won’t want to face is the trial of self, recognizing true self. This is a personal application. The big picture is now becoming personal, local, individual. The Laodicean message is to the church but can also be applied to the personal level of commitment to God. So the fiery trial of faith, so the Laodiceans must be prepared. Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
When your faith is going through a fire, it will produce more patience. So Laodiceans need to buy gold tried in the fire to have stronger faith so that they may also have—what? Patience. In Rev 14:12, the Last generation is described with Patience. Why do they have patience? Their faith has been tried in the fire. What kind of fire? The fire of receiving the mark of the beast or else they will lose their lives. What’s the great trial at the end of time? To compromise with traditions and commandments and customs of men; but to deny that to follow God will be a trial. This is the reason why we need to have patience and faith. This is the reason why before we face the greater fire, we must go through smaller fires to prepare for the greater trial. Final exam comes only at the end. But you have quizzes to prepare you. So God sends quizzes to us to prepare us to be able to stand when we have a great test. Now we understand Daniel 3 keeps mentioning burning fiery furnace. But who went through it already in Rev 1:15? Jesus Christ. His feet are like brass, burned in a furnace. So if we follow Jesus He will help us walk through the fire. Who was in the fire in Daniel 3? Jesus Christ. What was the great trial for Jesus? Gethsemane and the Cross. And this was His fire. And the 144K will go through a similar fire as what Jesus faced. 3:21 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.
“Then these men were bound” – When they were bound and thrown to the furnace, the only thing that burnt was the Babylonian cord. PK 509 Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth before the vast multitude, showing themselves unhurt. The presence of their Saviour had guarded them from harm, and only their fetters had been burned.
Trials comes to us, sometimes though seems hot, and you wonder when the heat ever going to be turned back. But remember this, God only allows trials to His faithful people, because if we are faithful and true through the trial, the only thing that’s going to burned of out character are the things that ties to this world. Prov 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
The only reason of trial is to perfect our character; to burn off the unchrist-like character, to consume all that. In the time of trouble, there will be nothing in this earth to hold on. Faith and faith alone, will we http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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hold unto. Remember the vision of Early Writing. Every ounce of earth support is going to be taken away from us, and only by pure faith will we stand. 3:22 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 Abednego.
When the king is angry he will pass a more urgent command. Satan wants God’s people to die as fast as possibly. How will the devil make the people angry enough to kill God’s people fast? National Sunday law will be the main deciding factor. In the last days, the death decree will become—what? URGENT. The leaders of the world will try to hurry up the commandment to kill all God’s people— URGENT . . . “The flames of the fire slew those men that took up” – These men had to be so strong. Explaining what hot fire can do. Heat rises and because of smoke and heat so you should crawl under it. The fire is so strong that it would just knock you down. So people become struck down very hard and die instantly of the fire. Like a mac truck coming at you 70 miles an hour. And the fire was 7 times hotter. These men had to be strong to throw them from a good distance. But what happened? The flame of the fire killed them. The word flame simply means spark. What does this mean? They prepare the mark of the beast, the fire, for God’s people to be destroyed, but what happens? They will be destroyed. The Bible says the dragon is wroth with the woman . . . but there’s another wrath in Revelation 14— to drink of the wrath of God. So which wrath do you want? Wrath of Dragon or Wrath of God? wrath of Dragon is preferable. The very men who bound the three Hebrew boys and threw into the fiery furnace, they were the one who were destroyed. At the end, those who is trying to destroy the righteous, they will be the very one who will be destroyed. 3:23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
God’s protection of Daniel’s friends (24-27) VERSE [24] 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. [25] 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. [26] Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. [27] 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. 3:24 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.
At the end of time when we go through the fiery trial—who will be with us? Jesus Christ Himself http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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will be with us, He will go with us into the midst of the fire with us. This is comforting, right? He looks in the fire and is beside himself, he saw 4 men and they were walking, not on fire, but in fire. How did king recognize the image of the 4th one is like the image of Son of God, how? The three boys have been witnessing to him. They were telling him—there’s no other way for the king to recognize—telling him about their Saviour. But did the boys before Jesus came into the world know how He looked like? Why did the king say this? Even seeing Jesus in the fire, the king was able to recognize the character of Jesus Christ. When you read this story—only those who reflect the character and image of Jesus Christ will be able to stand in the fire with Jesus Christ. 3:25 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.
“I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire” – Hebrew boys represent those who are standing on the three angel’s message to refuse to worship the image of the beast. They are going to be thrown to the fiery furnace. They will go through the time of trouble never was since there was a nation. Believe me, it’s going to be seven times hotter. But I know, from history, God will not forsake His people, because Jesus is going to stand with His people in the crisis: that’s a loving God! Heb 4:15 …was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus has been afflicted in every way we have been afflicted and God is not going to forsake His people when they are afflicted. Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The king was able to recognize the Son of God through the lives of the Hebrew boys. The ropes were burnt but they were not. The Hebrew boys were not hurt thus the 144,000 will not die at the end "Son of God" – How did he know that this was Jesus? The testimony of their lives, the way they lived every day. They way they dressed, talked, walked, respected authority even though they were slaves and not of the same religion, the way they ate, the way they were faithful in little things, etc. They gave a daily demonstration of Jesus in their lives. If I never showed you a picture of another person, and when they walk in the room you say that has to be Him. What a testimony. He calls them out. “The fourth is like the Son of God” – How did Nebuchadnezzar know what the Son of God would be like? Jn 14:9 he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
When Jesus was on earth, He resembled the Father in His word, action, and character, that whosoever saw Christ, could see the Father. When Christians reflect Christ in every details of their lives, people will see Christ through us.
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The testimonies of their lives; the way they lived, the way they talked, the way dressed, the way they ate, the way they were faithful in little things, the way they honored those are in authority. This daily demonstration of Jesus in their lives showed Nebuchadnezzar that He was the Son of God. If I never showed you a picture, but told you how I live, how I talk, how I eat, how I dress, when you meet me, you will say, “That’s gotta be him!” PK 509 The Hebrew captives filling positions of trust in Babylon had in life and character represented before him the truth. When asked for a reason of their faith, they had given it without hesitation. Plainly and simply they had presented the principles of righteousness, thus teaching those around them of the God whom they worshiped. They had told of Christ, the Redeemer to come; and in the form of the fourth in the midst of the fire the king recognized the Son of God.
Four pace of Sunday Law:
Economic – close business on Sunday. It’s going on right now.
Religious – Let’s worship in Sunday. But you still can worship on Sabbath too.
Enforcement – problem getting worse, they say that the problem is we gotta keep the Sunday holy and no other days. This stage, you have to keep Sunday in the place of the Sabbath.
Death Decree – Still problem grows. They finally conclude that unless they eliminate this little group who are refusing to obey, it will get worse. Once eliminate this group, they will be OK.
When we look at Daniel 3, stage 4 is the time, the time of trouble. But friends, when the trials come, I know that God will be with me! History tells me so! And Jesus is same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and forever. If He did it for the people in the past, He will do it for people today! We got to remain faithful and truth! There will be many martyrs in the stage of 3 and 4. PK 513 As in the days of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, so in the closing period of earth's history the Lord will work mightily in behalf of those who stand steadfastly for the right. He who walked with the Hebrew worthies in the fiery furnace will be with His followers wherever they are. His abiding presence will comfort and sustain. In the midst of the time of trouble – trouble such as has not been since there was a nation – His chosen ones will stand unmoved. Satan with all the hosts of evil cannot destroy the weakest of God's saints. Angels that excel in strength will protect them, and in their behalf Jehovah will reveal Himself as a "God of gods," able to save to the uttermost those who have put their trust in Him.
Three Faithful Hebrew Boys Delivered (28-30) VERSE [28] Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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. [29] Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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. [30] Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
They did not come out till the king called to them. They would rather be with Jesus than the world. Again burning fiery furnace Why did he call them servants of the most High God? does Revelation talk about servants of God? Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
So who shall receive the seal of the living God? the servants of our God Rev 22:3, 4 [3] And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: [4] And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Right there . . . who are these servants? The 144K—so in Daniel 3, the Hebrew boys represent who? The 144K. And very interesting, Rev 7 speaks of 144K to go through great tribulation. Did Hebrews go through tribulation or fire? Did they die? They went through without seeing death. What about 144K? will they go through without seeing death? Yes. This is history repeat—global application. What does this tell you about the boys? They were obedient to the king as far as possible without compromise. They only came out when the king says to come out. They were willing to stay in the fire with Jesus until as long as possible. This shows that—when we go through, what is our greatest desire? We want to get out, we don’t like this situation, the environment, the person, the task, the job—you just want to get out of it. But if Jesus is with you, you should be happy wherever you are. This shows their character, they are firm. Where is the safest place to go? Wherever Jesus is . . . no matter where: water, fire, prison, poverty, affliction, wherever He is it is the most safe place in the world. “Came forth of the midst of the fire” – They came forth from the very center of the trial. They didn’t try to escape the fire by standing in the corner of the furnace. They were willing to go through it with the faith of Jesus. Manual labor will give you this kind of patience. You can tell someone’s personality and character by their work. This is why God gave us manual labor (inside or outside) to give us diligence and preparation. Why these boys being so young? The reason is that in the last days, it will be the young people to be in the majority. This is why we need to be equipped spiritually, mentally, physically, socially. So when Satan attacks us, he will have no place to shoot his fiery darts—fiery trial; and we block these by the shield of faith (Eph 6). 3:27 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.
Nothing, not even their clothes were burnt. We saw the Babylonian counterfeit 3 angel’s message— but where is the three angel’s message itself here in Daniel 3? Right here! The people SAW THESE MEN . . . how did they preach it? By their lives and actions. What kind of action or life? Ones that is willing to go through fiery trial without compromise! How will 3 Angel Message go forth in the last days with power? When God’s people with their lifestyle and commitment to God are willing to go through trials yet still have the character of Jesus Christ. In this way, the people will see you. What was their loud cry? When the boys were standing and everyone else is bowing http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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down. This was their silent loud cry. Perhaps all the other boys were saying to get down—you’re going to burn! But they didn’t do this. Human flesh may burn but my love for God will burn hotter in the fiery furnace. In this way, they gave the loud cry because of their lifestyle. This is how 3AM will go with strength. Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
How do we witness? Through our lifestyle, and THEN shall the END come. If they compromised, would they be able to give the 3AM? Would these be gathered together to see them? In Rev we go, but here they came—why? Because of their standing for God. Fire had no power. –this is such an incredible thing for Babylon. Why did God send frogs, kill all the cattle, make river to blood? The Egyptians were worshiping these things. He is saying that He is more powerful than these other gods. One of the Babylonian gods was FIRE. They had proven before the eyes of all the leaders of Babylon that the God of gods is the one who is the maker of the fire and protector of God’s people. No hair singed.—it was not burned. Even a heat from the match can burn your hair very fast. Not even A hair was burned. God can number all your hair and make sure it is the same. So Can God protect you if He can protect your hair? This means that persecution may come, but it can not destroy us or our connection with God. Clothes not changed.—not even a change of color. No smell of fire.—not even smoked or a smell of fire. It had no power in what way? no hair was missing or burned; clothes weren’t changed, not even a smell—they were completely covered with divine protection. God promises a thousand will fall and ten thousand on your left but it will not come nigh to thee.— complete protection is what God’s people will have! 3:28 [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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.
Look at this: sent His angel and delivered His servants—what kind of servants? Trusted in God; changed king’s word with God’s word . . . so they trust in Jesus and proclaiming the word of God and YIELDED their bodies. 3:29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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.
“I make a decree…shall be cut in pieces” – Is this a good move? A good thing? Should he have done this? What issue is involved here? The issue of religious liberty or the uniting of church and state. It was right for him to confess that God was the true God. But it was wrong for him to go to the next step and to coerce all to worship the true God of heaven. This is the issue of religious liberty.
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No. his heart was changed, but he is still using political force to worship the true God. and because God is love He doesn’t use force to worship Him. So Nebuchadnezzar was half-way converted or half-way on the way to be converted. Can you see something interesting? In Daniel 1, Daniel and his friends were greater . . . then in Daniel 2, king makes confession about Daniel’s God being the true God . . . Daniel 1, he recognized superiority of Daniel . . . chapter 2, recognized Daniel’s God is above or superior of other gods—still accepts that there is other gods . . . chapter 3, there is no other God which can deliver . . . it almost sounds like there is no other gods . . . So this is the progress of Nebuchadnezzar coming to the knowledge of God, see it? Another area: this is looking at the big picture . . . now look at 1 – 3 and see the progression and find common denominator/combination/likeness: Chapter 1, First Angel’s Message: Test on diet; give glory to Him (eat and drink); Worship Him Chapter 2, Second Angel’s Message: wine-false doctrine, the wise men truly fell in terms of their deficiency of God’s prophecy; 2nd angel about not receiving false doctrine of fornication; wise men tried to give king false interpretation Chapter 3, Third Angel’s Message: worshiping image; don’t receive Mark of the beast PK 511 It was right for the king to make public confession, and to seek to exalt the God of heaven above all other gods; but in endeavoring to force his subjects to make a similar confession of faith and to show similar reverence, Nebuchadnezzar was exceeding his right as a temporal sovereign. He had no more right, either civil or moral, to threaten men with death for not worshiping God, than he had to make the decree consigning to the flames all who refused to worship the golden image. God never compels the obedience of man. He leaves all free to choose whom they will serve.
Nebuchadnezzar tries to support God by passing more death decrees. Not yet learned his lesson The issue is religious liberty. We, as a Seventh-day Adventist would have to oppose the legislation if they enforce the Seventh-day Sabbath. The principle involved here is the freedom of the conscience. Individual have the God-given right to exercise his mind through his own choices. Even they do wrong we can’t force them. God doesn’t do to them, who are we to do it? Recap: Here we have the state saying honor the decree (back tracking) and when they didn't obey was that rebellion? The issue was State vs. God. Man vs. God. The issue was who will you obey, God or man? There was no rebellion when they said no to the state. It was not rebellion in how God looked at it, but based on how the world looks at it, yes, it was rebellion in their eyes. They were loyal to the God of heaven, and they were still respectful to the state, but when the state walks out of its sphere of authority they were then the ones in rebellion. What about the church? Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. AA 69 We are to receive this word as supreme authority. We are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine appointment, and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its legitimate sphere."
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When they move out of this sphere you don't obey bottom line. Why? Because they are usurping an authority that they don't have a right to, and that authority belongs to God. That is blasphemy, they are in authority not those who disobey the state. Same with the church, if they stay in their sphere we are to obey, but if the church moves out of its sphere and says obey us instead of God usurping the authority of God will you obey the church then? No You obey God, are you rebellious? No, they are the real ones in rebellion. AA 68 But when its claims conflict with the claims of God, we must obey God rather than men. God's word must be recognized as above all human legislation. A "Thus saith the Lord" is not to be set aside for a "Thus saith the church" or a "Thus saith the state."
In Acts 5 they arrested Peter and put him in jail, and the angel said get out and preach and the church authority said you don't preach anymore you don't have authority because we told you that you can do it. You are not ordained you have not gotten your ministerial license, you haven't graduated out of our universities. After they said that, an Angel came and told them to preach, talk about a catch 22, what do you do? EGW comments AA 79 The God of heaven, the mighty Ruler of the universe, took the matter of the imprisonment of the disciples into His own hands, for men were warring against His work.
The religious leaders of the day were warring against God's work. Some say that this wasn't God's church, but this even in Acts 4 and 5 happened BEFORE 34 A.D. Before the Jewish nation was rejected as God's people. Therefore they were still the church leaders. AA 80 By night he angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and said to the disciples, "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
The religious leaders saying you don’t have my authority we have already had a Jerusalem council. (This does not refer to the on in Acts 15, they had on in chapters 4 and 5) all the leaders were there. And they said they could not speak anymore. Today it would be like a GC session in which they have officially decreed that we cannot preach anymore. You have the church authority saying you can't preach you haven't been ordained and the angel of the Lord saying preach. What do you do? AA 80 This command was directly contrary to the order given by the Jewish rulers; but did the apostles say, We cannot do this until we have consulted the magistrates and received permission from them? No;"
Did the disciples look at the angel and say we can't do this, we don't have the authority from the church, we haven't even sought permission yet, or even consulted. LISTEN YOU DON'T NEED TO CONSULT ANYBODY, YOU DON'T NEED TO SEEK ANYBODY'S PERMISSION, WHEN GOD TELLS YOU TO PREACH, YOU PREACH!! To consult is disrespectful to God. You are consulting when the matter has already been made clear as to what God told you to do. We don't need to seek permission. God has said go into all the world and preach the gospel only when we have asked permission from the church, is that what it says? No. We already have the head of the church saying go preach it doesn't matter what the church tells us. This is affecting the SDA church today. This doesn't mean to go around disrespectful with an arrogant attitude towards the church. We are to have respect show love for them. When the church asks us to do something as long as it is in harmony with the law of God we obey. But when the claims of men conflict with the word of God, no ifs, ands, or buts, we are not careful to answer you in this matter, we have it cleared. We should not have to think twice about obeying God or man.
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March 30, 1990 SDA Paper called "The Messenger" from the British Isles. It is an editorial. Do you believe in new light? It is called new light because we don’t preach it from the pulpit anymore. It is only the historical Advent position. 10 Questions to address those who claim to bring new light. (He covers 3) 1.) Are you members of good and regular standing in the SDA church? It depends from whose viewpoint. If you were to ask the church authorities about Peter and Johns, they were said they were rebellious, but in the eyes of God, they were in good and regular standing. That question shouldn't be asked. It should be are you obeying all the counsel from God from the bible and SOP. 2.) Are you critical of the church and its leadership? There is a difference between criticism and concern. Was Jesus critical when He denounced the religious leaders in Matthew 23? Were Peter and John critical in Acts 4 & 5 when they told the religious leaders of being guilty of the blood of Jesus. They were concerned. 3.) Are you authorized by the GC? Are you authorized by the GC to preach new light? They are implying that God cannot give you new light until it has been authorized by the GC. So God has to go through the GC to get their approval then He has to go to us. 3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
King was trying to set up the image in the province of Babylon BUT he ended up putting God’s people in the province of Babylon. It began with wicked agenda, but at the end it ends with God’s people being glorified; so with us, we shall be glorified because of the glory of Jesus at the end; we need not vindicate ourselves, God will do this for us, we only need to vindicate Jesus Christ in our commitment Three Hebrew boys—Revelation is 3 Angel’s Message and in Rev 18, the 4th comes to give greater power . . . and the 4th Man gave power to the 3 Hebrews . . . it completes the work of proclamation at the end of time . . . the latter rain which is pouring of Holy Spirit, the presence of Jesus Christ
Conclusion Three Hebrew boys (is very significant) = 3 angels message. Before the fire, they are preaching the 3 angels message. They are proclaiming the 3 angels message by standing still, but when they are in time of trial, the 4th angel’s message will be preached. Promise to those preaching the 3 angels and 4th angel’s message is that during the time of trouble, God will protect his people and not a hair will be singed. Conclusion: Daniel 3 is a powerful chapter on religious liberty and the image of the beast for end time events.
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Chapter 4 – Nebuchadnezzar’s Conversion (Testimony) Review: Daniel chapter 3 is the parallel chapter to Revelation 13. In Daniel chapter 3 you have Nebuchadnezzar who represents the STATE enforcing RELIOUS laws, therefore you have the uniting of church and state. In so doing he makes an image. And he then enforces a law that everyone must worship against his or her conscience. Those who refused to worship had to face the death decree. Then you had the 3 Hebrew boys who refused to worship the image, and obey the laws of the state. (And one of the main issues involved in Dan 3 is religious liberty. When you look at this chapter religious liberty should scream at you. This is what you are dealing with.) Now Daniel 3 is parallel directly with Revelation 13. In that chapter we have the United States of America (the state) enforcing religious laws, and therefore it makes an image. Those who refuse to worship the image, it even says, there is a death decree in Rev. 13. So what you have is even though Dan 3 is a historical account, a story (It's amazing so many people say what is so big about Dan 3) but when you fail to realize the significance of history in the Bible, history really in one sense becomes prophecy. You must look at Dan 3 as more than just a bunch of history. When you read this chapter you see prophecy. You see what is going to be, because history repeats itself. And Dan 3 is really a snapshot picture of Rev 13. I know that the day is coming when church and state is going to unite and enforce the dogmas of the church upon the consciences of man those who refuse to worship the religious laws enforced by the state will have a death decree put upon them. There is going to be a time of trouble that there never was since there was a nation believe me it is going to be heated 7 times hotter. And the 3 Hebrew boys represent those standing under the 3 angel's messages who refuse to worship the image of the beast. And they are going to be thrown into a fiery furnace, but I know from history that God is not going to forsake His people, because Jesus is going to stand with His people in the crisis!! (NOW THAT IS A LOVING GOD). You know what I get out of the text that says the Son of God is standing in the fiery furnace? Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin. Jesus was afflicted in every way we have been afflicted, and God is not going to forsake His people when they will be afflicted because Jesus ever lives to maker intercession on behalf of His people. And therefore we can come boldly to the throne of grace. So in the last part of that chapter I get so much encouragement and strength to know that as the trials come I know God is going to be with me. History tells me so. And Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He did it for His people in the past, He'll do it for His people today, but we have to remain faithful and true. 4 Phases to the National Sunday Law: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Economic Religious Sunday usurps the place of the Sabbath Enforcement of the Sunday Law/ Death Decree
First you have the economic stage. (And we have these right now) In this stage you will see people closing shops on Sunday, and they think this will solve all the political, economic and social problems, but this will not solve a thing. So because of this we have the second stage. Second: Because this doesn't help the problems they have to tighten things up in the religious element, and they say look the problem is we have to keep Sunday. So now everyone will have to go to church on Sunday. But in the second stage you will still have liberty to go to church on Sabbath (The seventh day of the week). There is no coercion. But in the third stage.. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Third: In this stage things are getting worse economically, politically, socially, etc. So the religious leaders go to the political leaders and saying look, we are telling you the problem. You must keep Sunday holy and no other day holy. In the third stage the Sunday law then usurps Sunday in the place of the Sabbath. Then you have the fourth stage (Then finally you have the enforcement of the Sunday law. They say you will obey the Sunday law. You will keep that day and no other day!!) Between the third and forth stage people will be put to death. Ellen White says in Mar 199 "Every individual in our world will be arrayed under one of two banners. The two armies will stand distinct and separate, and this distinction will be so marked that many who shall be convinced of truth will come on the side of God's commandment-keeping people. When this grand work is to take place in the battle, prior to the last closing conflict, many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in standing in defense of the truth. {Mar 199.2}" She says there will be many martyrs. And Rev 20:4 that those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast they will be beheaded. Fourth: This is the ultimate decision. They say look there is only one thing that we can do, we have this one little group that refuses to obey, listen, we just have to eliminate them from the face of the earth, once we eliminate this little rebellious group, then every thing will be okay. THAT IS THE DEATH DECREE! Keep in mind that stage 4 comes after the close of probation. Before this time Satan can kill, but after that time satan can't take you out of God's hands. None of God's people can be killed during this time. (*PO In stage 3 they anticipate that they will pass a death decree, but before it is actually passed, they kill the saints of God.) But in Dan 3 when you look at the 3 Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace, this is Jacob's time of trouble. This is when we will go through a time of trouble that never was since there was a nation. This is what Ellen White tells us in Prophets and Kings (In the fiery furnace 512-513)!! This chapter, says Adam Clarke, “is a regular decree, and is one of the most ancient on record; and no doubt was copied from the state papers of Babylon. Daniel has preserved it in the original language.” It is written by Nebuchadnezzar, not Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar is writing his own testimony. Now Nebuchadnezzar, being the most powerful man in the world, is giving his personal testimony: not Daniel. You can’t be unconverted and writing the scripture. This is Nebuchadnezzar’s personal testimony of his conversion. Question: Who wrote Daniel 4? King Nebuchadnezzar. Is he a prophet? No Why is his testimony in the book of Daniel? Can we put our testimonies in the Bible and it would be equal to the Bible? Prophet’s spiritual discernment. All true knowledge and true wisdom is from God. A man may share something who is not a prophet which comes from God. Note: The testimony of Nebuchadnezzar in God’s eyes is true. Not all testimonies are true conversion testimonies. So this is in the Bible, showing us that God recognizes this testimony as true. The words and wisdom came from God. Therefore God can use this for His own purpose. Summary: Daniel 1—Nebuchadnezzar. acknowledging the 3 Hebrew boys being 10 times wiser. Daniel 2—only God can give dream and interpretations. Daniel 3—only God is the God (but not fully http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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converted yet; heart not fully changed). Daniel 4—His conversion. Note: So Daniel 1 – 4 is about Nebuchadnezzar. This is very interesting. Chapter 1 mentions Daniel and his three Hebrew friends. Chapter 2 mentions Daniel and his three Hebrew friends. Chapter 3 Daniel is missing – we don’t know any good reason from the Bible of why he wasn’t there (if any have a good reason, please tell!). Chapter 4, the three Hebrew friends were not there. Note: All had a part to play in the conversion of king Nebuchadnezzar. Comparison of chapter 4 with all other chapters: Chapter 4 about Nebuchadnezzar conversion. Came because of his dream and his experience after. This is the 2nd time God gave Nebuchadnezzar a dream with prophetic meaning. He also always had His prophet and servant explain His dream. How do we need to communicate to the last-day people? Interpreting prophecies. This is based upon comparing 1, 2, 3, and 4 of chapters in Daniel. Chapter Outline
Nebuchadnezzar’s introduction to all people (1-3)
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a tree (4-18)
Daniel’s interpretation and warning (19-28)
Fulfillment of the dream (29-33)
Nebuchadnezzar praises and acknowledges God (34-37)
Purpose of Writing His Testimony (1-3) VERSE [1] Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. [2] I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. [3] 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. 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
“Peace be multiplied unto you” – We find similar expression in the epistles of Paul. There is no question that Nebuchadnezzar is converted. The king’s tone has changed. Through the lives that he had witnessed in the Hebrew boys, God had seen God’s character. Testimony is being written to everyone. This is part of the three angel’s message. Will some leaders or politicians join to proclaim 3AM in last days? Yes, based upon this testimony. What is peace connected to? Gospel of peace. He is preaching the gospel to every nation, tongue, and people. 4:2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. “signs and wonders” – We are told in Matthew 24:24 that there will be false Christ’s and false prophets that will work with great signs and wonders to deceive many. Nebuchadnezzar is going to show true signs and true wonders which was worked towards him which brought conversion. True signs and true wonders results in true conversion.
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Note: At the end of time there will be false signs and false wonders, but true signs and wonders is true conversion. And this would be that which goes along with the three angel’s message. 4:3 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.
Nebuchadnezzar finally recognizes that God is the everlasting and that the Babylonian kingdom will not last forever. He has been converted. Never could the Hebrew boys have thought that they would help to share God’s message and be a part of the conversion of the king of Babylon. So don’t give up or complain when going through trials. God can use your trials to be a witness to others around you. Recognized that only true kingdom is the kingdom of God.
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a tree (4-18) VERSE [4] I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: [5] I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. [6] 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. [7] 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. [8] 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, [9] 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. [10] Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. [11] The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: [12] The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. [13] I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; [14] 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: [15] 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: [16] 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. [17] 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. [18] This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee. 4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
Even for a heathen king there is danger in resting and flourishing in peaceful times. This is pretty sad! #1—Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream that he remembers and he brought it the wise men of Babylon. He didn’t learn his lesson yet from previous chapter. He just discovered these wise men were liars and foolish men. The wise men are really exercising wisdom because they kept silence when asked about the dream. Perhaps they didn’t want to go through another death decree or they http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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didn’t know. These Babylonians could not discern God’s message, they don’t have spiritual discernment Note: At the end of time there will be people who have prophecies explained to them but they will not be able to understand. 4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 4:6 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.
Once more, these “wise men” were laid in the dust. Now, even though he was converted when he was writing this story, but he is telling the story of the past when he wasn’t converted. 4:7 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. 4:8 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],
Daniel seems to be always last to be called. Likewise, the remnant shall be the last to stand before the end. “at the last Daniel came in before me” – When it is time to kill, Daniel is the first man; when it is time to interpret, Daniel is the last man. Satan is so cunning and evil—ready to kill the saints of God but also ready to put them in the corner not able to do God’s work in the right time. “according to the name of my god” – Belteshazzar is name of Babylonian god. 4:9 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.
He still didn’t recognize that there is only one true God. Chapter 3 it sounds like it. It is difficult for those who worship many gods to worship just one God. We can see God is very patient with King Nebuchadnezzar. If God is patient with him, how much more do we need to be patient with those who are slow to understand and slow to accept God’s truth. King Nebuchadnezzar should have learnt his lesson in chapter 2, but he chose to be stubborn. God was long suffering with Him and continually gave him chances to realize and repent. It was only after the 3rd time before Nebuchadnezzar was converted and bowed to God’s will. 4:10 Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof [was] great.
“a tree” – Who is that tree? Babylon but at the same time it also represents Nebuchadnezzar. He is a representative and ruler of Babylon. So tree can represent a kingdom but at least in this case is also used to represent a man Ps 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“Tree” – man “Water” – water of life We need to be planted by water, our relationship with Christ. Jesus healed a man who said now he sees—a man walking like a tree. Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
“Tree” – people or man. Wind not blowing upon trees “in the midst of the earth” – What does this mean? The central focus. Babylon was the center of the earth at this time “the height thereof was great” – The growth and magnificence. Babylonian kingdom was great, the center of the earth. Even the king himself was great, he controlled and ruled the greatest kingdom at that time. 4:11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 4:12 The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
Beasts represents kingdom; many kingdoms came under him. “the fruit thereof much” – Able to produce much things “fair” – Strength “fowls of the heaven … all flesh was fed of it” – This is a great, Powerful worldwide kingdom. Leaves, fruit, meat. Beasts, fowls. 4:13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 4:14 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:
There is a sudden change to the tree. What’s happening to the tree? It is being cut down and destroyed. 4:15 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:
“leave the stump” – If you cut a tree and leave the root or stump, it will grow again. This is not the total destruction of Babylon. It is receiving a great loss, but it can grow back. This is the main http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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concept here. Once it was great but it will be cut down but yet it is not totally destroyed. 4:16 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.
“heart be changed…beast’s heart be given…seven times pass over” – We see a change taking place here. Man is becoming a beast. What is this? A humbling process taking place here. You’re higher and then you became lowered Contrast this with what we just read. Now Nebuchadnezzar became one of those beasts—he was high then became low. “seven times pass over him” – What is seven times? Seven years. When Daniel uses time—it is 1 year. ½ time—1/2 year. Times—more than 1 year. This is how to interpret times, time, and half time (Daniel 7) 4:17 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.
Now the king is telling Daniel that the wise man can’t tell him. 4:18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou [art] able; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee.
Calls Daniel by the name Belteshazzar. The king kind of already knows what this dream is about. “A band of iron and brass” – Iron and brass represent powerful, strength, symbolizing that it will not be done away with it.
Interpretation of the Dream (19-28) VERSE [19] 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. [20] The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; [21] 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: [22] 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. [23] 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; [24] This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: [25] 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. [26] And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be
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sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. [27] 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. [28] All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 4:19 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.
Daniel was astonished because he didn’t know how to relate it to the king. Finally the king encourages Daniel to tell him. Daniel here found himself in a little straight situation. Here was Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the then known world, and Daniel now have to tell him the truth. Daniel could have pulled himself out somehow in someway and just could modify that thing. You got to tell the truth, even if it hurts other people. Not that you are intending to hurt other people, but sometimes truth hurts! It proves into your pride, and it hurts! It’s not an easy thing for someone to come to you and say, “You are wrong!” Nevertheless, even if our life is on the line, we are going to have to cultivate in our life a principle of always telling the truth, with love and compassion, even it hurts. If can’t tell the truth with one another, don’t ever get the idea that you will tell the truth to a heathen who has got a gun pointing at you. If we don’t have the moral backbone to stand up and tell the truth to the church and to one another today, we are not going to have a moral attitude to tell the world. Because no body in the church, at least for now, has threatened your life. And if you can’t do it now, you will never do it when you are faced with life and death situation. 4:20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
“tree” – Represents a man. Tree represents Nebuchadnezzar. Some aspects it represents kingdom of Babylon but more for king Nebuchadnezzar. 4:21 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:
“beasts of the field” – A beast according to Dan 7 represents kingdoms or nations. The kingdom of Babylon had conquered many other nations and were subject to it. 4:22 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.
“fruit” – Fruit of the spirit. God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to be a righteous man and to bear much fruit. 4:23 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;
“band of iron and brass” – Even though king Nebuchadnezzar was not there, the kingdom would be protected by the gates of brass and bars of iron. Why is the stump banded with iron and brass? http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Isa 44:27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
Prophecy regarding the river Euphrates Isa 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
Named hundreds of years before God knew by name of the person who would conquer Babylon Isa 45:1-2 [1] Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
This is exactly what happened when Cyrus came (more in chapter 5 of Daniel) “gates of brass … bars of iron” – Brass and iron used for gates and bars. What do you use gates and bars for? To keep the enemy out, protect the kingdom. The stump was banded with iron and brass. Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom will be in tact and be sure, it will not be destroyed. There will be great loss because of 7 year absence but he will go back as a king again. Written after his conversion “eat grass” – Nebuchadnezzar problem was pride and self-sufficiency. At the end of time, the biggest problem will be pride and self-sufficiency. Application: Pride and Self-sufficiency Rev 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Sin of Babylon was pride and self-sufficiency. King of Babylon had this same sin. Is there hope for people in Babylon? Yes, Babylonian king was converted. Pride and self-sufficiency is the characteristic of the beast, an animal. Note: Spiritually speaking, who will receive the mark of the beast? “Beast” not only to tell it is a nation but to show the lowness of man. When we have pride and self-sufficiency we are degrading the image of God in a form of animal and beast. When you act like a beast, God make you live like one. And you will recognize something. 4:24 This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 4:25 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.
“Seven times” – 1 time = 1 year. This refers to 7 years. How do we know?
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Dan 7:25 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.
3 ½ times mentioned. Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
3 ½ times also mentioned. This is the same time period mentioned in Dan 7. Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
This is talking about the same woman as in verse 14, but it uses a different time measurement 1260 days. 1260 equals 3 ½ yrs. Therefore, 1 time = 360 days = 1 year. How can we prove that 30 days = 1 month in Jewish calendar? Gen 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Note: 17th February Gen 8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
Note: 17th July Gen 8:3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.
Note: 17th Feb to 17th July = 150 days. Gen 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. Gen 8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
Both verses calls this 150 day period 5 months. Gen 8:3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.
This verse mentions 150 days.Therefore 1 Jewish month = 150/5 = 30 days. But there is Another way to show times = years
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1 Chr 29:26-27, 30 [26] Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. [27] And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. [30] With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.
What were the times that went over him? 40 yrs Therefore “times” is synonymous to “years”. 4:26 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. 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
Key text on the gift of prophecy and time prophecies. “break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor” – Today we need righteousness and mercy. What is righteousness? Ps 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
Commandments of God. How to have commandments of God? Righteousness by faith. How do we have mercy? Jesus said be merciful as Father is merciful. The character of God, keeping His commandments. At the end of time, people need to break away from their pride and self-sufficiency by the message of righteousness by faith—which is message of Three Angel’s Message. Three Angel’s Message prepares people to destroy their pride and self-sufficiency, not to receive the mark of the beast but the seal of the living God this is the final test. Before this, God will teach those who has a problem with pride and self-sufficiency and are arrogant. God will humble them.If they still don’t learn, what more can God do? Nebuchadnezzar learned this lesson. How do you break off the sins and iniquities? By righteousness and showing mercy to the poor. This was a conditional prophecy. Nebuchadnezzar could have avoided punishment if he had repented of his sins and changed his ways. 4:28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
Fulfillment of the dream (29-33) VERSE [29] At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. [30] 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? [31] 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. [32] 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. [33] 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. 4:29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
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“the end of twelve months” – After one year you can forget the lesson you learned one year ago. 4:30 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?
Why was Nebuchadnezzar punished for 7 years? Pride. Pride is the cause of many problems, sometimes mentally disabling. It will help if you to start looking at pride as a mental disease. Spiritual Application Rev 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.”
The leaders of spiritual Babylon have the same problem. King was standing in the palace and can see the whole city. The hanging gardens, the magnificence of the city, the streets and buildings— imagine being a king in this kind of city and whole world is looking to you for knowledge and wisdom. We can fall into the same sin. **We need to be careful even with the knowledge of the wisdom of God (Bible). “I have built” – This is the problem. Daniel told him before (chapter 2) that it is God who sets up kingdoms and gave it to Nebuchadnezzar “might of my power…honour of my majesty” – Problem is “I, I, I” Lucifer had this same problem: I want to ascend, I want to be like, I will establish my kingdom. This is the problem with Babylon— this is the spirit of Babylon. 4:31 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.
This is when the king was alone. What do you say or think when you are alone or when no one is looking? You will know if you are self-sufficient or proud. We need to be humble even when we are alone. 4:32 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.
“seven times” – When Nebuchadnezzar mocked God in Dan 3, he never realized it would come back to him – the punishment was exacted for 7 years. The number 7 could also represent the completion of God’s work in Nebuchadnezzar to bring him to keep humility 4:33 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].
“Like eagle’s feathers, and bird’s claws” – Can you imagine being naked for 7 years? Hair grown? Long finger nails? Like an animal literally? Why God used the eagles or birds feather to describe Nebuchadnezzar? In Daniel 7, we got the lion with eagle’s wings. Don’t you tell me that it just happened that way. God is full of wisdom and beyond our comprehension. Here is another proof http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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that that first beast is none other than Babylon. “Seven times” – How do we know it refers to seven years? 1. Comparing the word “times” – This word “times” is mentioned twice in the Daniel, and five times in the Revelation: Dan 7:25 …they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Dan 12:7 it shall be for a time, times, and an half. Rev 11:2,3 [2]…shall they tread under foot forty and two months. [3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Rev 12:6 …they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Rev 12:14 …where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Rev 13:5 …power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Here, “time, times, and half time” is equal to 1,260 days, also equal to 42 months. Therefore we can figure it out as below: 1,260 days = 42 months 30 days = 1 months time, times, and half times = 1 year, 2 years, and 6 months = 12 months + 24 months + 6 months = 360 days + 720 days + 180 days = 1,260 days Therefore “time” means 1 year in the prophecy. 2. The Bible confirms it’s fact with these verses: 1 Chr 29:26, 27, 30 [26] Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. [27] And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. [30] With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries. Ezek 4:6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. Num 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
Therefore “time” is synonymous with “year.” Also see Ps 77:5, Gen 29:27. 3. Sister White confirms the fact with this statement:
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PK 520 For seven years Nebuchadnezzar was an astonishment to all his subjects; for seven years he was humbled before all the world.
Let’s just say that we could not all figure it out. If Sister White said it, I believe it even though I can’t figure it out. And I don’t care what anyone tells me. If someone comes with another interpretation that clearly contradicts the prophet of the Lord, I am not going with them, I am going with the SOP! I am going to patiently wait on God to reveal to me the Bible evidence to show me the confirmation of the pen of inspiration. Even though you can’t figure it all out, if you are faithful and true, obeying all His words, patiently wait on God, He will reveal it to you in His own time!
Nebuchadnezzar praises and acknowledges God (34-37) VERSE [34] 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: [35] 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? [36] 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. [37] 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. 4:34 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:
“lifted up mine eyes unto heaven” – Nebuchadnezzar’s complete conversion. Nebuchadnezzar finally acknowledged God. Understanding only returned when he acknowledged God. God is teaching Nebuchadnezzar humility. Here is the change before, his eyes were to himself, now they are to heaven—away from self. “blessed the most High … praised and honoured Him … everlasting dominion … generation to generation” – When the understanding came to Nebuchadnezzar at the end of 7 years. He lift up his eyes to heaven, he finally recognized and praised God the Most High. We don’t know if this is recorded in Babylonian history or not. Imagine 7 years like a beast, eating grass. If you want to be humble, become a vegetarian—there’s some truth to that (fighter doesn’t want to be fighter so much after being vegetarian; animals become tame when not eating meat). God teaching Nebuchadnezzar humility—it took 7 years. How many years do you need to learn humility? Note: If you don’t humble yourself, God will humble you. It is easier to bear when you humble yourself than when God humbles you. God can humble you in public. If you don’t learn the lesson, this is dangerous, very dangerous. God can use many things (friends, parents, people close to you … you have this problem but if you keep denying, that’s very dangerous!) How do you react when someone tells you about a problem you have? Even if your heart is telling you there is nothing, would you check it again? There’s nothing to hurt to check on it—be humble and examine again. You may try to live your life in all humility and then someone says to you that http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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you’re proud, you should praise God for the reminder—check your heart again. If you react defensively, it may show you are proud, but find out. When something is true—do something about it, don’t wait. When God speaks to us, we must learn to change when He does. Take the new way and new life. 4:35 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?
One of the biggest characteristics of Spiritual Babylon is speaking against the Most High God, acting like God in the Temple of God but Nebuchadnezzar learned the very opposite characteristic. Who can question God? Who can question God’s authority? 4:36 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.
“my reason returned unto me” – When you are proud or self-sufficient, you don’t have reason. Reason takes place in the mind. Seal of living God is sign you have right mind. Mark of the beast in forehead shows you don’t have right mind “excellent majesty was added unto me” – When you are humble and humble yourself, God will reward back to you with greater honor. Somehow it is safe for God to give you more honor because you are humble. 4:37 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.
What is the lesson? When you walk in pride, God will humble you. What is the remedy for insanity? Humility. Dan 7 tells us about the little horn power. If you compare the two—it is of a totally different and opposite character Application: Daniel 4 is telling us, compared to the whole picture of Daniel—What must we give up? What must Babylon give up? Pride How about in the home? The church? The nation? The last days?
Summary We have a testimony in this chapter. Note: Chapter begins with “Nebuchadnezzar the king”; the last word is “abased”—the king was humbled! Who gave us the example? Jesus Christ gave us the example of humility. The Gospel is clear and crisp in Daniel chapter 4. Jesus says Come unto Me, Take My yoke, Learn of Me for I am Meek and Lowly in heart and you shall find rest unto your souls. May God help us to follow the example of Christ in the pathway of humility, knowing that we are nothing
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Chapter 5 – Destruction of Babylon (Babylon’s Close of Probation) Turn to Ecc 1:9 “The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun. Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said, See, this [is] new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.” And Solomon repeats the same thing in Ecc 3:15 “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.” How come something in the past be now, and how can something in the future have already taken place in the past. You have a repeating of history. So what you really have is this. History is somehow some way is telling us what is taking place now and in the future. History keeps repeating itself over and over again. And notice the last part of verse 15 “God requireth that which is past” ‘past’ meaning history. God is requiring history. Why? What is so vital about history? And today many people are attacking the historical interpretation, Adventist, and they want to do away with history. But little do they know that history becomes the key to unlock the mystery of the present and the future. He knows that history keeps repeating itself. And when you look at history you don’t just see it as a bunch of names, dates, figures, and places. Now you see history taken on a prophetic role. History is not just confined to the things of the past. But that past, when you rightly understand the historical interpretation of the event that took place, then you can see a little something of what will be. But it is only when you see history in it’s proper setting and place, the story as it really happened, then you can see the clarity of the future. In other words, if your history is messed up and you don’t understand the original interpretation, how can you understand what will be? If your history is clear, then you will see something in the future. Paul adds to this in 1 Corinthians 10:6 “Now these things were our examples,” speaking of the Jewish nation. Examples in the margin means ‘figures’ V.11 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples:” ensamples means ‘types’ or object lessons. “and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” What happened to the children of Israel, history, is a type of the future. It is an object lesson of what is to be. This principle is taught over and over again in the Bible. Jesus used it. He said as it was in the days of Noah it shall be also in the days of the coming of the Son of man. Jesus appealed to history to show the future. He said as it was in the days of Lot so shall it be in the last days. Jude used it and Peter used it. When they talked about Sodom and Gomorrah said that they were an example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Eternal fire that is hell fire, and they under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost went to Sodom and Gomorrah to illustrate. History to show the future. The SOP teaches this way. Constantly EGW will go back to history to pull something out about the future. Ex. Dan 3. Fiery furnace she uses that to talk about the TOTR she went to history to teach about the future. People wonder what is the importance about Dan 5? Where is the significance of anything that is relevant for us today? Well in order for you to catch the essence of this concept you must understand your history. You must do this before you go any deeper.
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Daniel 5 this is what we have. Historically. Let’s get our history down. Key man is Belshazzar. The contrast b/w 5 and 4. 4 – Babylonian king converted and learned his lesson (Nebuchadnezzar). 5 – Babylonian king perished and didn’t learn his lesson from his grandfather and perished. This chapter is important because it tells us what caused the fall of Babylon and will be an indication of what will happen at the fall of the Babylon of the last days. This chapter is the fulfilling of all the prophecy that foretold of Jeremiah, Isaiah, about the destruction of the Babylon. 1 Cor 10 shows that things recorded in the past have a future application. For us to understand the future, we must accurately interpret the past. In all prophecies in the OT, God will give a literal people, kingdoms or objects but somewhere along the way, He will use it as an application for spiritual, worldwide, end of time events. Belshazzar threw a party as if to mock Darius the Mede king even though he knew that Darius was outside the wall laying siege to Babylon. Belzhazzar was being boastful, believing in the invincibility of Babylon. Due in part to the fact to its thick walls and the river Euphrates which maintained a luscious land and allowed the Babylonians to grow crops within its own city. Eccl 1:9, 10 [9] The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. [10] Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. Eccl 3:15 That which hath been(past) is now(present); and that which is to be(future) hath already been(past); and God requireth that which is past.
Why is God requiring history? History will tell us what takes place now, and what will be in the future. History is a key to unlock the mystery of the present and future. When you see a history, you see as an prophetic role. When you rightly understand the events in the past, you will see something of what will be in the future. But it’s only when you see a history in its proper function and place, then can you see the clearness of the future. In other words, if you got history messed up, if you don’t understand the original interpretation, how can you understand what will be? If the history is out of focus, the present and future will be out of focus. 1 Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples(figures), to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples(object lessons): and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
What happen to the children of Israel in history is the type of the future. It’s an object lesson to what is to be. Throughout the Bible, this concept is taught over and over again. Jesus taught it when He said: Lk 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. Lk 17:28 [28] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Jesus appealed to history to show the future. Jude, Peter, did the same thing, going back to Sodom and Gomorrah to illustrate the history to show about the future. Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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The SOP teaches in this way. Constantly Sister White will go back to history to pour out something about the future. She talks about the fiery furnace then she jumps to the time of trouble. Daniel 5, many people just somehow overlook this chapter, they think, “What’s so big about Daniel 5? Where is the significance of anything here that is relevant for us today?” In order to capture the essence, you got to know your history. Without getting into any further, deeper understanding, you first have to understand what really took place. Therefore let’s examine the history first. EXAMPLE: Isaiah 13:1-5 Literal, Local Babylon v. 9 wrath and fierce anger v. 10 sun shall be darkened…
Spiritual, Worldwide v. 11 (Babylon becomes) The World Rev 15 Seven last plagues Matt 24 End of the world
You have the story of Babylon the great. Babylon according to Jer 51:13 “O thou that dwellest upon many waters,” States that Babylon sat upon the waters, the rivers. And these waters were called the river Euphrates. It ran right through Babylon. And this was the support or lifeline of Babylon. And this is why it lasted so long under the Medo-Persian siege. Because the river ran right through it. It irrigated all of the land through there. It was the support of Babylon. It gave LIFE to the Babylonian kingdom. EAST of Babylon sat the Medo-Persian empire. PO. Is 13:1,17-19; 14:4; Habak 2:5-11 Are prophecies regarding the fall of Babylon. You two kings Darias and Cyprus. They were the kings of the Medo-Persian empire. Therefore they were the kings that came from the east. Cyrus was the nephew of Darias. And they invaded Babylon, and surrounded the city, and really what lead up to this was that that night Babylon was having a feast of defiance defying the kings that came from the east. Babylon was making a boastful claim. And they were mocking the kings that came from the east to their faces because they were outside of the city walls. Is 47 records this mockery. Is 47:7 And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: [so] that thou didst not lay these [things] to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it. [8] Therefore hear now this, [thou that art] given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I [am], and none else beside me; I shall not sit [as] a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
Notice that they were being careless this night. And notice that she says I am a lady forever, indicating that you’re never going to be destroyed. But God says you are dwelling carelessly, why? Because the inhabitants of Babylon were drunk with the wine of Babylon. They were dwelling carelessly. Is 21:2-4 this shows they were going to have a night of fear. The night of pleasure now becomes a night of fear. “I am” is a title used for God. “I [am], and none else beside” that is blasphemy. As they were drinking wine, they were speaking blasphemy taking upon one’s self the attributes of deity. They were saying we are not going to be destroyed by Medo-Persia. But finally they did something that God would no longer tolerate. Something that would seal their fate forever. Belshazzar the king. He was the ruler of the state. He gives a command. He passes the law. To bring in the holy vessels of God. These vessels were used for worship. They were holy vessels of worship. And he desecrates those holy vessels by pouring into them the wine of Babylon. So they pollute that which is holy used for worship. Once that happened probation closes on Babylon. The handwriting http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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on the walls comes. Little did they realize that outside these city walls. The kings that come from the east divert the river Euphrates and they dry up the support of Babylon. So the river Euphrates is dried up. This prepares the way for the kings of the east to come in and to conquer Babylon. The handwriting is on the wall probation closes. Moments later you have the kings of the east coming into Babylon. And then Babylon is fallen, is fallen. Babylon is destroyed in the sense of being taken down and eliminated as a world power by the kings of the east. But remember in reference to the kings of the east. In Ezra 6:14 It was the kings of the east the Medo-Persian empire that made 3 decrees for God’s people to go back home to the promise land. Not only did they destroy Babylon, they were to deliver God’s people and call them back to the promise land. They did it with 3 decrees. From the same empire that took down Babylon. This empire made 3 decrees. Historically that is all that happened that night. But I will show you that it is highly prophetic for end-time events. Let’s see how this history will teach us something about the now and the future. The Bible tells us in Rev 17 & 18 there is a spiritual Babylon. In Rev 14:8, and Rev 18:1-4. This tells us that this is a city. Rev 17:1 just as ancient Babylon sat upon the waters so the harlot woman sits upon the water. So she is supported by the waters. Rev 16 tells us that it is the river Euphrates. Belshazzar is the king. He is the head of a state. In there the state passes a law to call forth the holy vessels of the Lord. And remember there are kings that come from the east. Just like the type there must be an antitype. Rev 18 describes this night. V.5 says “For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” V.6 speaks about judgment. V.7 “How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” John is quoting Is 47. She is boasting and proud. She is having a feast of defiance, she is defying the Kings that come from the east. In Ancient Babylon the people were drunk with the wine of Babylon. Rev 17:2 “With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” Just like ancient Babylon were drunk with the wine. So the inhabitants of spiritual Babylon are drunk with the wine. What does wine represent? Is 29:9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
Not real wine, therefore it must be another type of wine. They are drunk, but not with alcohol, something else is making them drunk, some other kind of strong drink. Then he talks about how they cannot see. Verse 13 is the key. Why are they drunk? Why do they stagger back and forth? How come they cannot read? And notice that it is the book that is sealed. It is the book of Daniel. Is 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Why are they drunk? Why can’t they see or discern? It is because they are being taught by the precepts of men instead of a thus saith the Lord. This is a prophecy of Isaiah. In other words, this will happen in the last days. Has any one come up to you and say you can’t understand the books of Daniel and Revelation they are sealed books. This is exactly is what Isaiah said would happen. Notice it is a vision, a vision of prophecy. A book that has been sealed. There is only one book that has ever been sealed that is a book of prophecy and that is Daniel. Jesus quotes this prophecy in Matt 15:1-9. Verse 2-3. Notice he speaks of the tradition of the elders. The commandments of God verses the commandments of men. That is the issue in this story.
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Matt 15:7, 9 [7] [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying…[9]But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
The wine of Babylon is not just false doctrine, be more specific. The wine of Babylon is false doctrine taking the place of the commandments of God. It is false doctrine that usurps the place of the commandments of God. And in so doing you worship God in vain. As ancient Babylon called the vessels of God. Something holy used for worship. Holy and worship. Keep this in mind. And he made a commandment. You have the state enforcing a law bringing forth the wine of Babylon. The commandments of men now coming in the place of the commandments, usurping and desecrating, the commandants of God. Some commandment of God which is holy and used for worship. Which one is that referring to? The Sabbath. You have the State calling forth for a law to change the Sabbath. And the only way this can be done is by pouring the wine of Babylon into the holy vessels. Of all the commandments, which one is holy? All are holy. But which one is wholly used for worship? Sabbath. That is the sign that God’s forbearance is reached. That the angel of mercy has now taken her flight never more to return. Then what happens? Not a close of probation, but the close of probation. The wine of Babylon takes the place of the Sabbath and of course it is the commandments of men. Which doctrine is the classic doctrine of Babylon? Or the mark of Babylon? It is Sunday sacredness. The whole Babylonian religion rotated around Sun worship. So spiritually speaking you have the doctrines of men, Sunday sacredness, taking place of the holy vessels of worship, the Sabbath, thus you have a Sunday law being decreed by the state. The wine of Babylon constitutes all false doctrine. There are two major doctrines that satan will use at the end of time. Sunday sacredness and the immortality of the soul. You will find it in GC. This prophecy is foretelling one specific event. The commandments of men taking the place of the commandments of God. That is Sunday taking the place of the Sabbath. When this happens the close of probation is going to happen. We don’t know the exact time when the close of probation will come. But we can know the season. The event that brings about the nearness of that time. Note: There are 4 phases to the NSL. My deep conviction is that this is the 3rd phase when Sunday will take place of the Sabbath.. When Sunday absolutely takes the place of the Sabbath. And then everyone will have to decide and make a decision. (PO: I believe Dan 3 shows the 4th phase.) This act by the State is the very last act like Belshazzar, where God says ok that’s it. I’ve given you enough time that is the close of probation. Even EGW says the angel of mercy takes it’s flight never more to return. This act is the sign for God’s people to flee. Just like when Pagan Rome surrounded Jerusalem in 66AD. The people in the city knew destruction is about to come to this place. They Cestius fled, the people had to make a decsion. Will they leave? Titus came back over 4 million people died and not one Christian died. So for us the sign of the Sabbath being usurped by the National Sunday Law. God’s people can know that close of probation is soon to close even if we don’t know the day and the hour. Sign to God’s People -- By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to us that the limit of God's forbearance is reached, that the measure of our nation's iniquity is full, and that the angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to return. {5T 451.1} When that happens probation closes, but outside there are kings from the east. Someone is coming from the east. These kings dry up the river Euphrates spiritually speaking. And what does water represent? The multitudes of people. Rev 17:15. When they see this the realize they are lost, and then they go to the ministers, the ones who said these people are fanatics don’t listen, but they realize they are lost for eternity. And then they go to those who are responsible for them being lost, the ministers of Babylon (PO including apostate SDA ministers) and say you told us not to listen to them and now we are lost. What do the people do? They tare them to pieces, literally. The support, the people, is dried up. And that is found in Rev 16:12 “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.” This is during the 6th plague. Daniel 5 is speaking about the 6th and 7th plague. God said the same thing anciently about Babylon. Jer 50:38 A drought [is] upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it [is] the land of graven images, and they are mad upon [their] idols.” Jer 51:36 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.
God prophesied that He would divert and dry up the river Euphrates. The 6th plague shows the support being dried up. At that time all the world will wonder after the beast. So the water represents the whole world except for a little remnant. When they find themselves in a lost state they turn on Babylon. Rev 17:12-13 [12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”
They all come together in unity. These kings are supporting the beast that supports the woman. Rev 17:14, 16 [14] …They make war…[16] And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Now all of a sudden they turn on the whore. The very 10 horns that supported her now turn against her. This is the drying up of the river Euphrates. The support of the people is dried up. And this prepared the way for the kings of the east to come. Who are the Kings of the east? Cyrus Type of Christ Is 45:1 Cyrus is called the anointed one. Anointed in the Heb means Messiah. Jn 1:42 Jesus is called the Anointed one. Is 46:11 Cyrus comes from a far country. Luke 19:12 Christ comes from a far country. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Is 41:1-2, 28 Cyrus comes from the East Matt 24:27 Jesus comes from the East. Rev 19 He is known as the King of kings. So He is the King that comes from the East. Is 44:28 Cyrus called God’s Shepard Jn 10:11 Jesus is the Shepard Is 41:2 Cyrus called the righteous 1 Jn 2:1 Jesus called the righteous Is 44:27, 28 Cyrus chosen to dry up the river Euphrates Rev 16:12 King of the east, Jesus dries up the river Euphrates Is 45:13 Cyrus chosen to deliver God’s people Luke 4:18 Jesus was to set us free from bondage, sin When they dry up the river Euphrates, Babylon is fallen, is fallen
There were 3 decrees made by the kings of the east. Three decrees were made to send God’s people home. This was the opening of the 2,300 day prophecy. It was the third decree under Artaxerxes in 457 B.C. This established the beginning of the 2,300 day year prophecy. At the end of the 2,300 day prophecy you have 3 decrees the 3 angel’s messages calling God’s people back to the promise land. These three decrees were to call them out of Babylon and to restore the temple, Jerusalem, and the walls. And the 3 decrees at the end of 1844 call them out of Babylon and restore the temple, city, and it’s walls. We are now in the time when God has called His people out of Babylon, the 3 decrees have already been given, and we are to build the temple and it’s wall. Is 58:12 calls them the repairers of the breach. We are called to repair the breaches in the church, the walls in the church. The commandments and doctrines, and His law that have been taken down and torn away and we are to restore it as the days of old before it was desolated by Babylon. But there are too many Tobias in the camp. This happened in the days of Nehemiah, he tried to stop the work. People are trying to restore the walls, but some are trying to stop the work.. And we can do the same thing. WE can stop the work by gossiping and backbiting. Passing rumors around, down playing the doctrines, don’t’ talk about he nature of Christ, etc. Where are we? Are we the Ezra’s, Nehemiah’s or the Tobias’. WE have the opportunity to complete the work. Chapter Outline
Belshazzar’s feast (1-4)
Writing on the wall (5-6)
Search for interpretation (7-17)
Daniel explains purpose for words (18-23)
Daniel gives interpretation (24-29)
Medo-Persia conquers Babylon (30-31)
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Belshazzar’s feast (1-4) VERSE [1] Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. [2] 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. [3] 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. [4] They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
“made a great feast … drank wine” – what comes to mind when you think of feast? Celebration, etc. What is wine in the Bible? False doctrine. How to know this? Is 28:9. Wine is from grapes, this could be used to make drinks or juice. Wine is fermented or corrupted or impure juice. Jesus said eat My flesh and drink My blood. This means to take part of Christ’s life or teaching. Pure wine can be the pure teaching of Christ. Fermented is the teaching that became false. Therefore the wine represents the false teaching or false doctrine. Notice the keyword, they are having a great celebration in drinking false teachings. Why are they celebrating or having a feast? The History (Historical Interpretation) – Persians outside of Babylon at this time to conquer Babylon. Do you have a feast when you’re in war? Why did Belshazzar decide to have a feast? He knew enemies were outside ready to attack, he had no armies out there. He thought his kingdom is so strong that nothing could conquer and take over the kingdom to destroy. What do you call this? Self-sufficiency. This was already dealt with in chapter 4. This is the connection b/w 4 and 5. Selfsufficiency and Pride was the problem in 4 and the same is the problem now in 5. The reason he had a great feast is because he is saying that he is a king and nothing will destroy him—this is seen in Rev 18 (I am a queen and sit as one, I will not see any sorrow) “drank wine” – What kind of false doctrine is this? It will lead you to think of Peace and Safety and not being aware of the danger, not expecting destruction is coming or near—this is also selfsufficiency because they think no trouble will come. This is the message at the end of time that the worldlings will give “thousand of his lords” – Leaders of his kingdom come together for this feast. End Time Application: Leaders of the world come together. The destruction is the destruction of the world. They heard the 3AM and were told about the end, but they say nothing will come and destroy this world. 5:2 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.
Parallel to Rev 14, 2nd angel’s msg. Babylon made the nations drink of her wine. “tasted the wine” – shows that Belshazzar had not fully lost control. If he had been fully drunk, his http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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sin would have only been one of drunkenness. But because he was conscientious of what he was doing and fully understood the implications of what he was about to do – God punished him for defiling His treasures. Tells us he is drinking but perhaps not yet fully drunken. Why take the vessels of Jerusalem? They had plenty of their own cups. He is trying to defy the God of heaven. Most likely Belshazzar heard about the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar. The king gave the letter to everybody. Everybody knew about the 7 years of being like a beast. Yet Belshazzar did not even then learn the lesson, he wanted to dishonor God What helped him to do this? Wine Why is this mentioned again? Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Babylon is fallen, is fallen. Fall of Babylon in Daniel 5. Why does she fall? Spiritual wine for spiritual Babylon. Wine for literal Babylon. It is the same. True reason is that his heart did not acknowledge the true God in heaven “wine” Isa 29:9-13 [9] Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. [10] For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. [11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: [12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. [13] ¶ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Contextually, wine = precepts of man. Can’t understand the words of a book that is sealed (Daniel, the only book in the Bible that was sealed), BECAUSE of the precepts of man (Matt 15:1-9). Teaching for doctrine the commandments of man. Conclusion: wine of Babylon = false doctrines, taking place where we are usurping the commandments of God with the commandments of man. Here is another way too explain wine is false doctrine (Dan 1:5). The king nourished the captives with wine. Paul says that a good minister is one that nourishes himself on the words of faith and good doctrine (1 Tim 4:6). Therefore, to nourish yourself with wine is to nourish yourself with false doctrine (opposite of good doctrine). Application: Babylon or the woman is sitting on waters just as physical Babylon was sitting on the river Euphrates. “commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels … taken out of the temple” – Holy vessels of the sanctuary are used to pour Babylonian wine. This is a mixing of holy cup with unholy wine. What made God destroy Babylon? Mixing of holy and unholy. This is the wine which will lead people to mix church and state at the end of time because of false doctrine. They will call the unholy day (Sunday) as the holy Sabbath. This is mark of the beast—mixture of holy and unholy put together. This is the characteristic of Mt 24:15. Destruction is coming when you see this (abomination of desolation standing in holy place). Note: http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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We are seeing the Second Angel’s Message in Daniel chapter five. 5:3 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.
Ancient Babylon vs. Spiritual Babylon Ancient Babylon
Spiritual Babylon
Is a city Supported by water King is celebrating with feast, debauchery Drunk with wine
Is a city (Rev 14:8, Rev 18:1-4) Supported by water (Rev 17:1, Rev 16:12) Rev 18:5-7 Drunk with wine (Rev 17:2)
5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
How many things are mentioned? 6 things. This number belongs to Babylon. Note: They use holy cup to pour impure, unholy wine and use this to celebrate or praise other gods. This is the exact characteristic of the mark of the beast. They use holy Sabbath name to call a day which is not holy and to worship the image of the beast. This is the same characteristic as Daniel 5 Mixture of holy and unholy in their feasting. In the future, the Sunday law will bring about a mixture of holy and unholy. EGW calls this national apostasy which will ultimately lead to national ruling. This mixing caused the fall of Babylon. Application: In the last days, there will be a mixture of holy and unholy. Sun worship taking the place of Sabbath of God. Primary doctrines of Babylon: Sun worship and Immortality of the soul. 5T 451 By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to us that the limit of God's forbearance is reached, that the measure of our nation's iniquity is full, and that the angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to return. The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress which prophets have described as the time of Jacob's trouble. The cries of the faithful, persecuted ones ascend to heaven. And as the blood of Abel cried from the ground, there are voices also crying to God from martyrs' graves, from the sepulchers of the sea, from mountain caverns, from convent vaults: "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" GC 588 Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss
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to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.”
Writing on the wall (5-6) VERSE [5] ¶ In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. [6] 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. 5:5 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.
“Fingers of a man’s hand” – represents judgment. This finger is used to judge Babylon Ex 8:19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Wise men of Egypt tried to counterfeit the plagues but they could not all of them they said this is the finger of God. Exo 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Ten commandments are written by the finger of God. John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
Jesus wrote in the sand with His finger. Even today, when judging people, we shake our fingers. Notice the words are written “over the candlestick.” In Revelation 1:20 the candlestick represents the church. This prophesies that in the future, God’s church will give the message of judgment. This is a prelude to the 3 angels’ message. What are seeing here? Who will tell the spiritual Babylon about judgment of God? The church will tell them, those who shine the light of God. Writing of this judgment is the 1st Angel’s Message. Rev 14:6 Fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come 5:6 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 trembled and feared because of the message on the wall. End Time Application. Spiritual Babylon will be stirred by the message of judgment the church will give the First Angel’s Message. Dan 11:44 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.
This will be spoken about later.
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Search for interpretation (7-17) VERSE [7] The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. [8] Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. [9] Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. [10] ¶ Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: [11] There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; [12] Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. [13] Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? [14] I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. [15] And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing: [16] And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. [17] ¶ Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 5:7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
The kingdom is divided in 3 and the interpreter of the dream was promised the position of ruler over the 3rd part of the kingdom. Who will give the true interpretation and reading of message of judgment? God’s people. They will be rewarded by God but not by man. 5:8 Then came in all the king's wise [men]: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
The wise men of Babylon in Chapt 2 could not reveal or interpret dream; Chapt 4 could not interpret the dream; Chapt 5 could not even interpret a visible message. They should recognize about this time that the wise men are useless. 5:9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
This spoils the party because the king is not having fun.
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5:10 [Now] the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: [and] the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: 5:11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, [I say], thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, [and] soothsayers;
According to the history this was his mother, she knew about Daniel, he was well-known. Belshazzar was probably a young person. Keeps repeating “thy father” to remind him that he should have listened to his father. 5:12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.
The queen did not have to mention Daniel’s Hebrew name but he was so famous, most people knew his Hebrew name. Characteristics of Daniel, excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting of dreams, etc. 5:13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. [And] the king spake and said unto Daniel, [Art] thou that Daniel, which [art] of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
“then was Daniel brought in” – He was not in this feast. “which art of the children of the captivity” – Reminding him from where he came from. 5:14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods [is] in thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. 5:15 And now the wise [men], the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not show the interpretation of the thing: 5:16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. 5:17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
Let us study about the wise men. Chapter 1 – ten times worse. Chapter 2 – a bunch of liars. Chapter 4 – dream is told and cannot give interpretation. Chapter 5 – they can see the writing with their own eyes but they cannot interpret it. This is worldly education’s end-result, this doesn’t prepare us to be truly wise. Who are the wise men at the end of time? Daniel, people like him. You have to have wisdom in order to be wise. They fear God (this is the beginning of wisdom), this is First Angel’s Message. Those who preach this are the true wise men. 1st coming of Christ, it was the wise men from the east who understood. So these wise men of Babylon should be called foolish men http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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There is no record of Daniel asking for time to pray. As soon as he read it, he knew what the words meant. Daniel is getting better.
Daniel explains purpose for words (18-23) VERSE [18] O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: [19] And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 20But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: [21] And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. [22] And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; [23] 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: 5:18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
Whose name keeps showing up? Belshazzar should’ve learned from his own grandfather. 5:19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
Rehearsal of Neb’s dream regarding the image of Daniel 2. The wise men would remember this 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
Talking about chapter 4, conversion of Nebuchadnezzar 5:21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling [was] with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and [that] he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. 5:22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
Daniel is reminding Belshazzar that God gave Nebuchadnezzar and other Babylonian kings their power and yet Belshazzar chose to insult and mock God. Now he is committing the same sin. Let us learn from the mistakes of our parents! We should honor and respect them but not repeat their mistakes. Belshazzar knew about the history 5:23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house
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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:
“lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven” – This is characteristic of antichrist. People will still know the history of this antichrist yet still follow it. “see not, nor hear, nor know” – Three things idols cannot do. Worshiping lifeless idols but your breath is in God’s hands. What kind of message is this? The Creator is the only one who can give you this breath. There is a concept here of the Creator Ps 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
False gods made by hands, true God made all things. We can see message of who is the Creator and also 1AM (worship Him who made … )
Daniel gives interpretation (24-29) VERSE [24] Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. [25] ¶ And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. [26] This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. [27] TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. [29] 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. 5:24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 5:25 And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 5:26 This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
“numbered and finished it” – means God has judged him and finished it. What kind of message is this—numbered? Message of judgment 5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
You are judged and then you are found guilty. 5:28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Process of judgment divided into 3 stages:
Investigation
Pronouncement
Punishment
These relate to the 3 angels messages. As part of the punishment is the division of the kingdom. This is similar to the division between the faithful and the unfaithful that happens at the coming of
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Christ. 5:29 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.
Medo-Persia conquers Babylon (30-31) VERSE [30] ¶ In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. [31] And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. 5:30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 5:31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, [being] about threescore and two years old.
How come Daniel was not killed? One reason is that his fame went out to other countries. This fulfills the promise If you are wise, you make friends of your enemies. What do we have in Daniel 5? What brought destruction of Babylon? Mixture of holy with unholy What caused her to do this? Pride. Self-sufficiency. Where does Daniel fit? Giving the Three Angel’s Message PA: What will bring the end of the world, the final destruction against the world? National apostasy will bring national ruin. International apostasy will bring international, worldwide ruin
History Of Media & Persia Kings - Darius The Mede And Cyrus 3 Kings of Persia: Cyrus King of Persia Cyrus ( ). [Heb. and Aramaic ; Old Persian ; Babylonian ]. King and founder of the Persian Empire; son of Cambyses I. He became king of Anshan in 558 B.C., ruling over Persian tribes as a vassal prince of the Medes. Greek historians name Mandane, the daughter of Astyages, king of Media, as his mother. After c. 559 B.C. he united the various Persian tribes into one nation, and between 553 and 550 B.C. defeated his grandfather Astyages and took over the Median Empire with its capital, Ecbatana. A few years later, in 547, B.C., he defeated Croesus, king of Lydia, and conquered Sardis, the “impregnable” Lydian capital. He thus became ruler of all of Asia Minor in addition to Iran (Persia) and the territories lying north of Mesopotamia that he already possessed. Since he was now the most powerful ruler of his time, a clash with the weakened Chaldean empire of Nabonidus was inevitable. In 539 B.C. the forces of Cyrus crossed the “Median wall” erected by Nebuchadnezzar, defeated the Babylonians in the battle of Opis on the Tigris, and shortly afterward captured Sippar and Babylon, the latter city falling without a real battle. Belshazzar, who had ruled in Babylon as coregent, was slain. His father, Nabonidus, fled, but later surrendered to Cyrus and was sent into exile. By bringing to an end the Babylonian Empire and by allowing the exiled Jews to return to their homeland and to rebuild their Temple at Jerusalem (2 Chr 36:22, 23; Ezr 1:1–4; 6:3–5), Cyrus fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah (Is 44:28 to Is 45:4).
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The Jews were not the only beneficiaries of Cyrus’ favors. From the long cuneiform inscription on the famous Cyrus Cylinder (now in the British Museum), we learn that he allowed various other nations exiled by the Babylonians to return to their homelands and to rebuild devastated sanctuaries. He also returned to their former temples cult objects, such as statues of divinities (ANET 315, 316), in the same manner as he returned to the Jews the sacred vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had carried to Babylon from the Jerusalem Temple. When he died in a campaign against some tribes in eastern Iran, in 530 B.C., the world lost one of its greatest monarchs. He had been not only a great warrior but also a wise organizer and a tolerant and broad-minded ruler. His empire, reaching from the Aegean Sea in the west to India in the east, and from the Caucasus Mountains in the north to the border of Egypt in the south, was the largest the world had ever seen. His son Cambyses, who followed him on the throne, added Egypt to the empire, which Cyrus himself may have planned. See The Persian Empire Under Cyrus, Darius I and Xerxes. Lit.: A. T. Olmstead, History of the Persian Empire (Chicago, 1943), pp. 34–58; R. Ghirshman, Iran (Penguin Books, 1954), p. 128–136.5 Darius the Mede: Uncle of Cyrus King of Persia Darius is another name for Cyaxares II, the son of Astyages, who according to the Greek writer Xenophon was Cyrus’ uncle and father-in-law, and whom Cyrus might have retained temporarily as a figurehead king to please the Medes. The fact that the Persian account of the fall of Babylon to Cyrus begins Cyrus’ reign in Babylon immediately, without any intervening reign of Darius the Mede, does not contradict the Biblical narrative. Darius was evidently recognized as a ruler in Babylon by courtesy of Cyrus, while it was Cyrus who actually held the power (see Is 45:1). It was natural that Daniel, in direct contact with Darius, should speak of him as the “king” and mention his “first year” (Dan 9:1). It seems evident that we are to consider the accession year and 1st year of Darius the Mede as coinciding with the same years of Cyrus. For full discussion of this Darius see SDACom 4:814–817. The lack of conclusive evidence as to the identity of Darius the Mede must not lead one to question the Bible statements concerning this ruler, for future finds may clarify the problem, as archeology has already done for *Belshazzar, who puzzled earlier historians.6 Darius Hystaspes I: King to issue 2nd Rebuild Decree(cousin of Cambyses) Darius I Hystaspes, or Darius the Great, king of Persia (522–486 B.C.). Through his father Hystaspes, Darius belonged to the Achaemenid family, as did Cyrus and his son Cambyses, but to a different branch of this family. When Cambyses was in Egypt, during the last year of his reign, a certain Gaumata usurped the throne by pretending to be Smerdis, Cambyses’ brother, who had been assassinated secretly before Cambyses started out for his Egyptian campaign in 525 B.C.. When Cambyses learned of this usurpation he immediately set out for Persia, but on the way, while in Syria, he died (July, 522 B.C.), as the result of either an accident or suicide, leaving no heir. Darius, a distant cousin of Cambyses, at once set out to gain the throne for himself. With some helpers he slew the false Smerdis in September, 522 B.C., and assumed the kingship. However, he had to fight against a number of other pretenders and rebels for many months longer before he finally emerged from the struggle the undisputed ruler of the Persian Empire. The story of his successes was engraved in three scripts and languages (Persian, Babylonian, and Elamite), accompanied by a sculptured relief, into a high rock wall of the Behistun mountain, which lies on the main highway 5Horn, Siegfried H., Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1979. 6Horn, Siegfried H., Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1979. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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between Iran and Iraq. This trilingual Behistun inscription, copied by Henry Rawlinson more than a century ago, became the first key to the decipherment of the cuneiform scripts used in ancient western Asia. Darius proved to be a strong and wise ruler. He was tolerant toward other religions and cultures, promoted learning, agriculture, forestation, and the construction of highways. He also built the great palace cities of Susa and Persepolis. However, he made an extremely unwise choice when he began a war against the mainland Greeks, which ended in the defeat of the Persian army at Marathon (490 B.C.). This battle was the beginning of a series of defeats the Persians suffered under Darius’ successors. When Darius came to the throne the building of the Temple at Jerusalem had been suspended by the false Smerdis because of complaints against the Jews by their jealous neighbors. With the change of government the Jews took heart, and encouraged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, resumed their building activity. When the matter was brought to the attention of Darius by the deputy satrap Tatnai, who had visited Jerusalem, the king had the whole case investigated, and after finding that the Jews had legal rights to rebuild their Temple, he issued a decree that favored the Jews even more than the decree of Cyrus had done some 18 years earlier (Ezr 4:24 to 6:15). A number of prophetic utterances and visions of Haggai and Zechariah are dated in terms of regnal years of Darius (Hag 1:1, 15; 2:1, 10; Zec 1:1, 7; Zec 7:1).7 Artaxerxes Artaxerxes (
) [Heb. ; Aramaic and ; Old Persian ; Babylonian . The name is spelled variously in these ancient languages, and the foregoing are only representative spellings. Best known is the Greek form .] Artaxerxes I Longimanus (465–423 B.C.), king of Persia, 3d son and successor of Xerxes. Three kings bore the name Artaxerxes in Persian history, but only the 1st is mentioned in Biblical history. Like his father, he was a weak ruler, easily influenced by courtiers and women, and spent most of his life in his various palace cities while the empire was ruled by trusted friends and relatives, and his military campaigns were carried out by his generals. According to Ezr 4:7–23, Artaxerxes once prohibited the rebuilding of Jerusalem. For a discussion of the problems involved in this narrative, and whether Artaxerxes I Longimanus is referred to, see SDACom 3:347–35. According to ch 7, Artaxerxes in his 7th regnal year (457 B.C. according to the Jewish civil year running 6 months later than the Persian) sent the Jewish scribe Ezra back to Jerusalem with extensive privileges to reorganize Judah’s judicial and administrative structure as a Jewish state within the Persian Empire—in harmony with the Laws of Moses. Ezra also received generous financial support from the king, and a permit to lead back to Palestine all Jews who desired to return to their homeland. Several thousand exiles made use of this opportunity. Artaxerxes later appointed his Jewish cupbearer, Nehemiah, as governor of the province of Judah, and sent him to Jerusalem to complete the city wall, the rebuilding of which had run into difficulties because of the antagonism of Judah’s neighboring nations (Neh. 1; 2). This permit was given in the 20th year of Artaxerxes (444 B.C. by the same Jewish calendar). After Nehemiah had served as governor of Judea for 12 years he was recalled to the Persian court but later was allowed to serve a second term (chs 5:14; 13:6, 7). The arguments in favor of identifying the Artaxerxes of Ezr 7 and Neh 1 and 2 with Artaxerxes I are discussed in SDACom 3:369–374, 399, 400.8 7Horn, Siegfried H., Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1979. 8Horn, Siegfried H., Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1979. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Between the last dated events of the book of Esther (spring, 473 B.C.) and the next recorded happening of the book of Ezra (spring, 457 B.C.) lay 16 years, concerning which there are no known records that can throw any direct light on the history of the Jewish nation. Xerxes had in the meantime been murdered, and his son Artaxerxes had come to the throne. The empire lived under the cloud of the grave defeat at the Eurymedon, to which soon was added the loss of Egypt through the rebellion of Inarus in 463 or 462 B.C. Since it was important that Judea, lying on the road to Egypt, remain loyal and friendly toward the Persian administration, especially when the campaign against Egypt would get under way (in 456 B.C.), Artaxerxes lent a willing ear to the petitions of Ezra (ch. 7:28), whose title indicates that he was “referee of Jewish affairs” in the chancellery (see on Ezra 7:12). He petitioned the king to grant the Jews a greater measure of self-government than they had possessed hitherto, and to allow the reintroduction of the Mosaic law as the law of the land in the province of Judea. By royal decree Artaxerxes appointed Ezra to return to Judea with far-reaching authority, and called on all Jews who desired to return to their old homeland to do so. The decree further commissioned Ezra to reorganize the whole judicial system in Judea, and to install judges and magistrates with power over life and death, who should use “the law of the God of heaven” as the basis of their work (Ezra 7:11–26). The historicity of this decree has frequently been attacked, since it seemed incredible to many modern scholars that the Persian king or his counselors should have concerned themselves with details of Jewish ceremonial as the decree in Ezra 7 claims. Yet, one of the Elephantine papyri, to be discussed in Section VII, the so-called “Passover Letter” of Darius II, gives such a close parallel that the opposition to the genuineness of the decree of Artaxerxes I has lately become silent. The “Passover Letter” of Darius shows clearly that the Persian chancellery probably had a department in which experts in Jewish law and customs advised the king in legislative matters. These experts were doubtless Jews. The chance discovery of the Phoenician Eshmunazar inscription shows that Artaxerxes appreciated the help he received from Sidon in his campaign against the rebellious Egyptians, and rewarded the Sidonians by giving them certain fertile grain lands in the region of Dor on the Palestinian coast. This historical parallel strongly suggests that the important decree by which exceptional privileges were granted to the Jews one year before Megabyzos began his expedition against Egypt was given to create good will among the Jews, and to ensure their continued loyalty in this time of political crisis. To the Jews this decree meant much, because it gave them virtually a semi-independent status. All civil and judicial powers were now returned to the local leadership, and the law of Moses became once more the law of the land. The only matter reserved by the Persians for themselves was the department of revenues. Generous royal gifts and grants from the tribute of the province for the support of the Jewish religious service were probably designed to reconcile the Jews to the fact that foreign tax collectors would remain in their country for an indefinite time. After seeing his requests granted, Ezra made an appeal to Babylonian Jewry to accompany him to Judea. On the 1st day of Nisan all those who were willing to follow Ezra met “at the river of Ahava.” When the census was taken it became apparent that no Levites were present. After a special effort was made to secure some Levites, the congregation of probably more than 5,000, including women and children, fasted and prayed for divine protection during their long and dangerous journey. Ezra had not dared to request an escort for fear of revealing to the Persian authorities that he lacked faith in the protective power of his God (Ezra 8:1–23). The caravan set out Nisan 12, on or about April 7, 457 B.C. (according to the table on p. 108), and after some 4 months arrived at Jerusalem about July 23. There they rested for 3 days. Then they handed over all the royal gifts for the Temple and the official decree to the proper authorities, and celebrated their safe arrival by a great thank offering (Ezra 8:24–36). The actual work of reconstruction authorized by the decree began some weeks later, in the autumn of the year. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Little is recorded about Ezra’s activity in Judea during the next 13 years until Nehemiah arrived at Jerusalem as newly appointed governor. Ezra must have carried out all provisions of the decree, but no record is left of his work, with the exception of one describing his reform work with regard to mixed marriages. The report of this affair covers almost one fourth of the entire book of Ezra (chs. 9, 10), thus showing the importance of this reform. A public meeting was then held in the ninth month (approximately December). If this was soon after Ezra’s arrival, it was in 457 B.C. The gathered congregation, shivering from the cold and rain, and anxious to return home, gave Ezra full powers to carry out the proposed reform. Little opposition was voiced against this popular decision, because only a small percentage of the people—112 men out of the tens of thousands of Jews who inhabited Judea—were involved in this affair. A committee worked then from December, 457, to April, 456 B.C., and decided every case. A list of all transgressors involved was appended as part of the permanent record of the event. It shows that 27 ecclesiastical workers, among whom were 13 priests and 4 members of the highpriestly family, besides 86 laymen, had foreign wives. The evil had not yet spread far among the people, which explains why the measures taken were so strongly supported by the people, and so easily carried out. It is generally held that Ezra continued on in Jerusalem into the time of Nehemiah. Hence he faced, at some time preceding Nehemiah’s coming (in 444 B.C.), the destructive opposition of enemies who broke down “the wall of Jerusalem” and “burned with fire” its gates (Neh. 1:3). Scholars who equate the Artaxerxes of Ezra 4:7 with Artaxerxes I see in the narrative of . 7–23 a reference to this attack upon the walls and gates. They thus find in the narrative a Biblical account of the reason for the damaging of the wall as reported to Nehemiah. This view of vs. 7–23 requires a temporary reversal of Artaxerxes’ favorable attitude toward the Jews as shown in his dealings with Ezra a few years before.9 AND Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old;"1 and reigned two years, 538-536 B. C.10 Dan 5:1 & 9:1 places you at 538 Cyrus 536 to 529 (regned 8 years) 13. "Cyrus the Persian" succeeded to the throne of the Medo-Persian Empire in the year 536 B. C. The angel of the Lord stood by Darius the Mede "to confirm and to strengthen him;" and had held Cyrus by the right hand in executing the Lord's purpose and device against Babylon to destroy it. Darius had been brought to the knowledge of the true God; and now the Lord would do the same thing for Cyrus. For "there is no respect of persons with God." As we have seen, the Lord had called Cyrus by name about one hundred and seventy-four years before that king was born. And when Cyrus became sole ruler of the empire, if not before, the scriptures relating to himself were shown to him by Daniel. Dan 10:1 534 B.C. 3rd year of Cyrus chapter 10-12 were shown to Cyrus Cambyses 529 to 523 B.C. (regned 7 years).
9Nichol, Francis D., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1978. 10
ATJ GEP CHAPTER IV
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History of Babylon “Sat upon Euphrates” – The capital city of Babylon sat upon the river Euphrates. It went right through the city of Babylon. Jer 51:13 O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.
This was the lifeline of the Babylon. That was the reason why Babylon could last so long under the Mede-Persian siege. “King from the East” – East of the Babylon sat the Mede-Persian empire. Darius and Cyrus(nephews of Darius) was the king of the empire. Therefore, these kings came from the east. They invaded Babylon, surrounded the city. “Drunk of with the wine of Babylon with blasphemy” – That night in Babylon, they were making a boastful claims and feast of the defiance for the kings came from the east. They were mocking the kings that came from the east, because they were outside the city walls. All inhabitants of the Babylon that night, were being drunk of the wine of Babylon. The Bible records of this mockery. Isa 47:7, 8 [7] And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it. [8] Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
They were careless. “I AM” is the title used for God. That’s blasphemy! They were drinking the wine and speaking blasphemy! Taking upon itself the attributes of deity. They were keep saying that they will never be destroyed. “We will not going to be conquered by Mede-Persians. But that pleasure turned into the fear. Isa 21:2-4 [2] A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. [3] Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. [4] My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
Desecration of the vessel that is used for worship – Finally, they did something that God would not tolerate. Something that will seal their fate forever. King Belshazzar, the ruler of the state, passes a law, to bring in the holy vessels of God. These vessels were used for worship. They were holy vessels for worship. And he desecrates the holy vessels by pouring into those sacred vessels of God, the wine of Babylon, therefore pollutes that which is wholly used for worship. Once that happened, probation closed immediately; the handwriting on the wall. Drying of the river Euphrates – Little they realize that outside the city wall, the kings of the east diverts the river Euphrates and dries up the support of Babylon. This prepares the way for the kings that come from the east to come in and to conquer Babylon. Babylon is Fallen, is Fallen – It was the handwriting of the walls that probation was closed. Moments later, we have the kings of the east coming into the Babylon. The Babylon is fallen, is fallen. The Babylon is destroyed in the sense of being taken down and eliminated as a world power by the kings of the east. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Kings of the East Delivering God’s People – But, remember it was the kings of the east in Ezra 6:14 that made three decrees for God’s people to go back home to the promised land. Ezra 6:14 [2] A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. [3] Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. [4] My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
Not only were they to destroy the Babylon, but also to deliver God’s people from the hand of Babylon, and call them back to the promised land. Kings that destroyed the Babylon were the kings of the same empire that delivered God’s people.
Babylon vs. Spiritual Babylon This history is extremely, highly prophetic for end time event. Now let’s take this history and see the future. John, in Rev 17,18, did not create the idea of Babylon. But the Spirit led John to OT prophecy about the fall of ancient of Babylon to be picked up as an illustration of what Spiritual Babylon would be like. Babylon is Fallen, is Fallen – As you have ancient Babylon falling, you have spiritual Babylon falling. Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Rev 18:1-4 [1] And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. [2] And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. [3] For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. [4] And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Sat Upon Euphrates – As it sat on the water of river Euphrates, the spiritual Babylon sits upon the waters of Euphrates. Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: Rev 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Drinking of the wine of the Babylon – I know one day, the Spiritual Babylon is going to have a feast. The feast of defilement, defiling the king of the East; the King of kings, the Lord of lords. Belshazzar, the head of the state, passes a law to call for the holy vessel of the Lord. She is proud and boasts and is having a feast of defiance to the kings of the east. Isa 47. Same as Belshazzar, the spiritual Babylon will reach its limit.
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Isa 47:5, 6 [5] For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. [6] Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
As whole inhabitants were drunken of the wine of Babylon, all nations are made drunk of the wine of the fornication of the spiritual Babylon. Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Wine represents “man’s commandments taking place of God’s commandments.” Isa 29:9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
They were drunk, but not with wine, not with strong drink. There is another wine that made them drunk. Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
They were drunk because they are taught by “Thus saith the man,” than “Thus saith the Lord.” They can’t see, they can’t discern because they are being taught by the precepts of man. Jesus quotes this text in Matt 15. Matt 15:1-3, 6, 9 [1] Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, [2] Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. [3] But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?...[6]Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition...[9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
The wine of Babylon is not just false doctrine. The wine of Babylon is the false doctrine of man taking place of commandments of God. In so doing, you worship God in vain. Be very specific! Desecration of the vessel that is used for worship – Belshazzar called forth the holy vessels of God that was used for worship by the state law. And brought the wine of the Babylon to pour into the holy vessels of God: commandment of man usurping and desecrating the commandments of God. Some commandments of God, that is used for worship is called forth: The Sabbath. You have the state calling forth for the law to change the Sabbath. The Sunday law being decreed by the state. That is the sign that God’s forbearance is closed. That the angel of mercy is taken her flight never more to return. The limit of this world has reached. Then, not “a” close of probation, but “the” close of probation. We do not know the exact time when the close of probation will come. But we know the season of events that will bring the close of probation. Handwriting on the Wall – Handwriting of Wall. AD 66, Cestus came and planted banners of the Roman pagan images outside the city walls of Jerusalem on the holy place of Mt. Moriah. That was the sign for the God’s people inside the city, they knew the destruction is about to come to that place. Matt 24:15. Mysteriously Cestus returned. And that gave opportunity for God’s people to flee out of the city. Decisions were to be made; whether to obey God or not. 4 years later, in AD 70, Titus comes back and desecrates and literally levels the city of Jerusalem down to the ground. Over millions of Jews perished, but not one Christian perished during that siege. As that was the sign for http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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God’s people back then, so the Sunday Law is the sign for God’s people today. When you see the Sunday Law taking place of Sabbath, you may don’t know the day or the hour, but I know probation is soon to close for this world. It’s over. Not any act prior, but that specific act of pouring the wine of the Babylon into the vessels of God, brought about the close of probation. Therefore, this act of Sunday taking place of the Sabbath committed by the spiritual Babylon, is going to bring about the close of probation. 5T 451 By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to us that the limit of God's forbearance is reached, that the measure of our nation's iniquity is full, and that the angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to return.
Drying up the river Euphrates – When that happens probation closes. But there is someone coming from the east. This kings dry up the river Euphrates. The inhabitance of the Babylon who are rejoicing, now they realize that they are lost. Isa 50:38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. Isa 51:36 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.
These scene will take place to spiritual Babylon on the sixth plague: Rev 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Waters represent the multitude of people: Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
The inhabitance of the spiritual Babylon, they realize that they are lost for eternity. They go to the ministers who told them not to listen to those “fanatical” people, and they literally tear these people into pieces. The people who were supporting, no longer support them anymore, the support is dried up. Rev 17:12-16 [12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. [14] These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. [15] And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. [16] And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
The very people who supported the whore, now turn against the whore. This is the drying of the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Euphrates. The king of the East: Cyrus symbol of Christ Cyrus was called as “anointed one.” Isa 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
Christ was called as “anointed one.” Jn 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
Cyrus coming from far country Isa 46:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Christ coming from far country Lk 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
Cyrus coming from the East. Isa 41:2,28 [2] Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. [28] For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
Christ is the king come from the east. Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Matt 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Cyrus is known as God’s shepherd. Isa 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
Christ is the Shepherd. Jn 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Cyrus being called righteous. Isa 41:2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? He gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
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Christ is the righteous. 1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Cyrus was the one chose by God to dry up the river Euphrates. Isa 44:27,28 [27] That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: [28] That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
Christ is the one who diverts the river of Euphrates. Rev 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Cyrus is chosen by God to deliver God’s people. Isa 45:13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
Christ is to deliver us from the captives. Lk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Three Decrees by kings of the East – Three decrees were made to send God’s people home to the Promised Land. And the third decree, BC 457, was the opening of the 2,300 days prophecy. At the end of the 2,300 days prophecy, you have three decrees calling God’s people back home to the Promised Land. These three decrees made by Persian kings, were to call people of God out of the Babylon to restore the temple, Jerusalem, and the wall. The three decrees at the end of 1844, they are calling God’s people out of the Babylon, the second angel’s message. And to restore the temple, city, and its wall. Do you realize where we are in history? We are in the time when God has called His people to come of out Babylon and the three decrees has already been given and now commissioned to restore the temple, city and its walls; the temple, city, and its walls applies the church today. Isa 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Now God has called us to repair the breaches in the churches, the walls of the church. The commandments of God, the doctrines and principles of God that had been taken down. We are now to restore and build up the church. To restore like the days of OLD, before it’s desolated by Babylon when it stood glorious, untouched, and untarnished! The problem is that there are too many Tobiahs in the camp. In the days of Nehemiah, a heathen man named Tobiah was sending out letters to the kings of Persia and tried to stop the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Today, we’ve got people trying to rebuild the walls, fix the walls, and bring it back to its original conditions. But we’ve got Tobiahs in the camp trying to stop the work! http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Those who are trying to stop God’s work today from going forward and restoring the truth as it was in Jesus when we originally had, they are the Tobiahs of Nehemiah’s day, they are the wicked. I don’t care if they claim to be Seventh-day Adventist, I don’t care what position they hold, I don’t care who they say they are, they are the wicked. But remember that you and I could be just guilty as, we may stop the work of God, by gossip, passing rumors around, somehow deemphasizing the doctrines(“We are not to worry about the nature of Christ. Don’t be too controversial!”). We are in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra restoring the walls and temple of Jerusalem. Who are we today? Are we the Nehemiah and Ezra? Or are we the Tobiahs in the camp? Where do we stand? God has called His church now to rebuild and restore the temple. Friends, you and I have the privilege and opportunity to complete the work. May God help us to stand faithful and truth!
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Chapter 6 – Infallible Decree against Daniel This chapter shows us how the princes of Medo-Persia plotted against Daniel and more importantly how God’s people will be plotted against in the last days. There are very similar parallels between Daniel 3 and 6. Daniel 6 talks specifically about the closing days of earth’s history because Daniel has been sealed and is protected so that nothing is able to hurt him. Chapter Outline
Daniel made first president (1-3)
Plot and decree against Daniel (4-15)
Daniel thrown in lion’s den (16-19)
God delivers (20-24)
Darius decree to acknowledge God (25-28)
Daniel made first president (1-3) VERSE [1] It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; [2] And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. [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. 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 6:2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel [was] first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
Daniel was greatly honored during kingdom of Medo-Persia. He was in very high position. Application: When faithful in small area God will bless us with higher responsibilities. The Setting of Story: Jewish captive has a great part ruling in the kingdom. 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.
“excellent spirit” – appears repeatedly and refers to his character and demeanor. Uriah Smith brings up this point – Dan 3, Daniel was probably in Shushan. Because of Daniel’s dealings in that region, this is probably why the Medo-Persian empire was familiar with him. And they must have heard of all the other things he had done. What do you think others were thinking about the king about to make Daniel one of the greatest rulers? Jealousy
Plot and decree against Daniel (4-15) VERSE [4] Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. [5] Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion
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against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. [6] Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. [7] All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the aboredrs, 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. [8] Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. [9] Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. [10] Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. [11] Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. [12] Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. [13] 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. [14] Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he abored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. [15] Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he [was] faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
“Sought to find occasion against Daniel” – When Darius took over the Babylon, he knew that he had to reorganize the government. Now the Daniel becomes the prime minister of the kingdom, sitting on the head of all the three presidents and all the 120 princes. Now, here is the captive in charge of all the rulers of the nation. We can see the reason why jealousy set forth. Daniel did not politic for the position. God directed him and gave him the position. God establishes and sets down. Remember how God led these Hebrew boys in chapter 1 and 2. God exalts and humbles down. Remember how God worked out with Nebuchadnezzar. It is the Lord that gives the glory and takes away. It was God who gave the glory to Daniel; it was God who put Daniel in that position. Sometimes we as human beings, become jealous of other people. We are jealous because they may have been more favored more than you and I. Why can’t I do this and do that? Why can’t I do the Sabbath schoolteacher? Why can’t I be the RA? Why can’t I be the person to preach this week? Jealousy is a wicked device. When a person is jealous, they have no reasoning factor. Their motivation and common sense is all gone. In that now jealousy runs like a passion. When you are filled with passion, you cannot think clear. You will do things that under normal circumstance with common reason that you would never do. We should learn to be content what so ever state we are in. If God ask you to sweep the floor, if God ask you to empty the trash, if God ask you to cut the grass, whatever, I don’t care what it is, we got to learn to be content. Remember the lessons in Dan 1; those that are faithful in little things, are faithful in big things. God is not going to hand over to you great and big things until you’ve learned to master the responsibility of the little.
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Ed 61 The lesson is for all. None can know what may be God’s purpose in His discipline; but all may be certain that faithfulness in little things is the evidence of fitness for greater responsibilities. Every act of life is a revelation of character, and he only who in small duties proves himself “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” (2 Tim. 2:15) will be honored by God with weightier trusts.
It’s often the case that those who are jealous who make accusation against the innocent, the accusation is not even truth. PP 714 When Satan controls the minds of men he will excite envy and suspicion which will misconstrue the very best intentions.
There are three presidents, two other than Daniel. And all of a sudden you got among the ranks now permeating envy, jealousy, backbiting, and you got confusion and division in the ranks. You got 122 fellows against one. That’s exactly how Satan did it. PP 651 What untold mischief has this evil trait of character worked in our world! Envy is the offspring of pride, and if it is entertained in the heart, it will lead to hatred, and eventually to revenge and murder. Satan displayed his own character in exciting the fury of Saul against him who had never done him harm.
Often we have the same trait of character. “Why didn’t they choose me to preach in that place? I am just as good preacher as he is!” And you have wrinkle going through the ranks; murmurs, complain, jealousy, backbite, character assassination. Let me tell you something. If God wanted you to be there, God would have chosen you. God may call you to go through Moses’ experience; 40 years. Because you need to learn some things that God needs to teach you to do something later in your life. I want you to understand friends; God has all things worked out. And that if you will be learn to trust the Lord, learn to yield to Him, we will comment, “LORD, all things work together for good. I don’t understand why. I am in this situation. I don’t know why I am still here. Lord, there got to be a reason according to your plan. Help me to learn the lesson that I might be faithful in this that when You ask me some greater things in the future Lord, I may be able to carry it out according to Thy will.” End result of jealousy, if you permeate and consistently keep in your heart, you are going to end up like these princes, you will end up like Saul, you will end like Judas, you will end up like Satan. You are going to be destroyed. It will kill you. When you hear something, or see something going on, ask Lord to give you wisdom and guidance, that you may do His will and not yours. “concerning the kingdom” – In the last days God’s people will be scrutinized for what they do in regard to the law of the land, even in the little areas of life: Render unto Caesar’s what is Caesar’s – we ought to obey the laws of the land. There was not even one little thing that they could find against Daniel. This characteristic is similar to 144,00: Rev 14:5 – And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. “But they could find none occasion nor fault” – Connect with 144,000 who also have no fault. Daniel did not have to play any politics to get to his position. There was no back room dealing, jostling. God had put Him there. What a powerful, powerful testimony! This testimony came from those who were jealous. This was the testimony of his enemy! That makes even more powerful. If it was a friend, it may be possible to make such a comment. But when it comes to an enemy who despise you and hate you, and who wants to persecute you and one who is jealous of you ends up with a testimony, “Man, he is perfect! Where we can find the thing wrong with that fellow!” That is a powerful testimony! And that’s exactly what came out of their mouth. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Daniel is an example for you and me of what it really means to live a holy life in the sight of God even in the midst of rebellion, in the midst of corruption, in the midst of apostate kingdom. Right there in Babylon and Mede-Persia, Daniel was a slave, but he determined in His heart that he would live by principle and that he would not allow the circumstances around him to sway his conviction of true that he would rather have the word of God determined and really dictate the circumstances of what he ever deal with. 3T 497 There are men who flatter themselves that they might do something great and good if they were only circumstanced differently, while they make no use of the faculties they already have by working in the positions where Providence has placed them. Man can make his circumstances, but circumstances should never make the man. Man should seize circumstances as his instruments with which to work. He should master circumstances, but should never allow circumstances to master him. Individual independence and individual power are the qualities now needed. Individual character need not be sacrificed, but it should be modulated, refined, elevated.
Against Daniel concerning the kingdom – this means they were trying to find anything against the state. Daniel was Prime Minister, so they looked at all his business transaction, they looked how he handled his affairs of the state, but they couldn’t find anything wrong. The time is going to come when we will go to court, and they are going to scrutinize us up and down, all over around, not just in our religious beliefs, but how we obey the law of the land; little things in our life. If they had one thing they could get their hands on, they would use it. But they couldn’t find anything. I believe that when Jesus said render unto Caesars, He meant, “obey the laws of the land.” Now, when the laws of the land conflicts with the laws of God, it’s obvious you just don’t obey. That doesn’t mean you are rebellious. You are choosing who are you to obey; God or men. In reality you are royal and true, the One who is asking you to be royal and true doesn’t belong to them: they are the ones who are rebellious! 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.
“Except…concerning the law of his God” – There was one area that they could get Daniel on; it would be concerning the law of God. They chose that because they knew one thing about Daniel that Daniel was not a hypocrite, and that Daniel lived by conviction and principles that he would always obey the law of the Lord. They thought themselves, “Alright, we can’t find anything politically wrong with this man, therefore there is only one thing left. We know he is going to follow out the dictates of the law of God. We know that! Therefore, we are going to use this against him.” The other princes were spiritually jealous of Daniel. In the same way, the ungodly in the last days will be spiritually jealous of God’s people. These people will not be outsiders but other Christians not keeping God’s commandments. Persecution will come from within – those claiming to be God’s people. Only the “law of his God” will allow them to trap Daniel. 6:6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
“these presidents and princes” – What kind of picture is this? The kings of the earth will be gathered together to go against the people of God. “assembled together” – Rev 17 says these have ONE MIND. For what reason? To destroy Daniel and then the 144k http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the aboredrs, 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.
Notice that “all” the leaders in the government consulted together. They go to the king and flatter him. Sure enough king Darius pride got hold him just like king Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3. And he goes forth and makes the law. The law of Mede-Persian was unchangeable; once it’s set, not even the king could change it. Now they knew they got Daniel. They knew that Daniel would ask of God and obey the Lord. They knew it! Daniel’s enemies did not have a problem with his religion. However, they used it to trap him. They knew that Daniel petitioned to God everyday, so they made a decree against something that they knew he would certainly disobey They lied to the king because they had not consulted everyone. Daniel, the most important person in the kingdom other than the king was not consulted. I wonder people know us in such a way that they know no matter what circumstances come around us, we are going to follow God. I wonder that would ever be said to us. What a powerful testimony. This was flattering to the king. Making the king as if he is God, this is flattery. Who are gathered together? All the presidents, governors, princes, etc. Who was not there? Daniel was not there so this was somehow an illegal act but the majority was getting the advantage and rule here so this was not a fair decree. “decree” – a political law but a religious connotation because of prayer. What result of decree? Death decree. Now let’s notice the progression, #1 – political decree, #2 – religious, #3 – death result. What are we seeing? The exact characteristic of mark of the beast. Political, religious, and death decree in the mark of the beast. What is the motive of this decree? To destroy Daniel. So the Mark of the Beast will be to destroy God’s people at the end of time. “for thirty days” – Can you take a vacation from God for 30 days? No. They are trying to make it okay to worship God but just for 30 days only. They are making it in a way for Daniel to be easily give in. What kind of decree? “firm decree … royal statute” – One that could not be changed. “petition” – God’s people send up their petitions to God. It is a both a political and religious decree. Interesting to see how the Sunday law will be established. 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
“which altereth not” – Characteristic of Medo-Persia – infallible laws. 6:9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
“Windows being open…prayed, and gave thanks before his God” – Daniel was the prime minister. He knew full well what’s going on. There is a death decree on this law if he doesn’t obey. Daniel is a prime minister. Daniel could have said to king, “O King, I think I need to go to check the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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other parts around the kingdom just for 30 days. I will be back in one month.” King would have said, “Well Daniel, it’s a good thing that you take care for my kingdom. I like this guy.” And he could just packed and stayed in other places for one month. Or he could have said, “Well, I can stay in the kingdom and pray and I will closed the window that no one could see. Why should I speak aloud? I will just speak to myself.” Or Daniel could have said that, “Well, death decree is around, I know that God hears my prayer no matter if I am walking or eating. I will just pray like that. Sure hate to offend people. There is no need to get into this dispute. No one knows I am praying! And I am still praying to God...^____^ There is many ways to work out. I am still worshipping God and yet I am not offending the laws of the land. You need to be wise as a serpent, pure as a dove. God will understand. He knows my heart.” What will you do…? There in this verse, there is a powerful, powerful passage: Daniel refused to even give the appearance that he was going to disobey the law of God. Daniel kept on doing the same thing that he always did. Daniel did not change his life. Daniel lived for God and was faithful to God in times of peace and prosperity as he was in times of adversity. He was the same Daniel. Daniel didn’t change because the time got little straight, little tough, little hard. Daniel was at peace with God, one with the Lord in the time of adversity as he was in the time of peace. Daniel wasn’t not being an antagonistic in a sense that he opened the window when he closed in the past, and saying, “Well, I am going to show the king how dare he can make that kind of law!” He opened the window, because that was always his custom. “aforetime” – This was something Daniel had been doing for a long time. It’s a lifestyle that is done all the time. It would have been unnatural for him to change. It would be like changing his character. This word is linked to the sealing message – his heart has been fixed. Final message is about proving you are ready. Daniel knew about the signing of the decree and in the same way God’s people in the last days will know what about the Sunday law before it is decreed. Daniel was sealed. He would not waver or change in his commitment to God. Yes, we have to use wisdom. When the national Sunday law is passed it is foolish to cut grass and wash clothes. We should use this day as a missionary day, to work for God. Daniel’s spiritual commitment was not altered. This shows his steadfastness, his solidification, and his fidelity. This is a characteristic of being sealed. Settled in the truth both spiritually and intellectually, you are fixed. Why did Daniel’s enemies made such a decree? Verse 5 says concerning the law of his God – were they trying to make Daniel go against his God? No. They knew that Daniel was always faithful, that he would not go against his God. By this, they would make a law against this and then they would find fault. This shows how totally dedicated was Daniel Application: God’s people must be ready by the time the test comes. The final test is not to prepare you, but to test your commitment. It is the final division between those who are ready and dedicated and those who are not. Daniel’s test was his personal devotion not the Sabbath law. Personal Application: What are we doing with our personal devotion time? Are we offering Cain’s sacrifice or Abel’s sacrifice? If your prayer life is only before a meal, you have no prayer life. Those who do not have a dedicated personal time with God will hate those who do. They will be ready to smite in jealousy and hatred as soon as they are provoked. Daniel did not change anything about his habitual practice of devotion everyday. 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
“these men assembled” – Who are these men? All political leaders of the whole world. Represents http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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whole world Dan 3:3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the aboredrs, 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. Rev 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.
“found Daniel praying and making supplication” – How did they know this? He was praying out loud so others could hear. Daniel had nothing to fear (about 80+ years) Note: In time of darkness, when God’s people have to go through persecution, they have to shine the most. Perhaps no one really recognized what Daniel was doing until this point. End Time Application: No one will recognize SDA or Sabbath keeping until national Sunday law is passed, then the message will go all over. The message will go all over. We will be recognized. Eyes all over will be upon us to see how we would react. When the decree is passed, they went to spy on Daniel. God’s people will only be noticed worldwide when this decree is passed. They will stick out like a sore thumb. 6:12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask [a petition] of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing [is] true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Note: All of this was so that they could destroy Daniel and gain political power. Giving the king a reminder. In Medo-Persia, laws that were made, could not be changed – infallible. In making such a practice they are almost claiming that they are like God who is the only one able to make infallible laws Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
APPLICATION: After the Sunday law is passed, there will be national statesmen and they will not understand the implications until it’s too late. “Shall be cast into the den of lions” – Satan was afraid of Daniel. Satan was panic. He would had gathered his angels and say, “Look, we got to get rid of this guy! We are going to have get rid of him! He is too much treat to us!” I want that said to me. I want Devil to look at me and say to his fellows, “Look, we got to get rid of this fellow! He is just causing too many souls in our kingdom to go over to the other side! He is influencing too many people!” That’s the testimony we need to give. 6:13 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.
“children of the captivity” – After 80 years, they still call him this. Trying to put him down as just a slave. “regardeth not thee” – Like Daniel 3. Making it seem like Daniel is personally going against the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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king. Psychological, emotional attack, we should be true only to God. “three times a day” – They were probably there the whole day or at least at the times Daniel would be praying. 6:14 Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he abored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
“Was sore displeased with himself” – Before king heard this, he thought that they made this decree because they honored the king. Then their motives were exposed when they came up to him and exposed it. Some officials who make decrees in the last days to aid the cause of the beast and find out they have been deceived will try to change these decrees and may themselves be converted. Praise God for such a king. He made a mistake in passing such a law because of flattery. In the last days there may be political leaders who may pass the decree of mark of the beast, but then they hear the 3AM and some will realize their mistake and join God’s ranks. “deliver him” – Working as a mediator. This is a little bit about the character of Jesus but it is too late. Why did this king “set his heart on Daniel?” He had an excellent spirit. Even those in the world would like you. They will feel pleasant with you because of the way you act, your character. God will use pagans and unbelievers to protect us. 6:15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians [is], That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
“Know, O king, …no decree…may be changed” – All day long, Darius was trying somehow, someway to get Daniel out of this. Then this men comes right back to the king and say, “Look buddy, I know you are the king. But on this, you can’t do it. Remember, you made the decree, and the laws of the Medes and Persians don’t change. Forget it buddy, it’s over. You are going to have to make the decree to put Daniel in the lion’s den.” There was nothing Darius could do.
Daniel thrown in lion’s den (16-19) VERSE [16] 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. [17] 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. [18] Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. [19] Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 6:16 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.
“continually” – Very important word. The king knew about Daniel’s God. Darius had a high regard of the God of the Hebrews. 6:17 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.
“sealed it with his own signet” – they sealed it, like no one can change it. This is like a sign of http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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triumph. Mark of the beast is like a sign of triumph to Satan. “not be changed” – infallibility. 6:18 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.
Passed the night fasting…and his sleep went from him” – It tells you something about Daniel. It wasn’t just because Daniel was a great state man that Darius worried about Daniel. Even one great state man die, eventually other great state man comes in and takes the place. But Daniel was such a living witness to Darius in his life example of how he lived every day and how he carried out the duties of the kingdom, they became friends. Someone that he began to respect greatly and reverence in a sense that he had a great deal of honor for Daniel and he really felt terribly bad. Of course Daniel knew that this wasn’t Darius doing this thing. God allowed them to throw Daniel into the lion’s den that God’s name will be glorified among them. Why God allow faithful ones to go through trials? Why God allow them to go through difficulties? First reason is to perfect the character, no question about it: gold tried in the fire. Second reason is that the world around us, although we may not think they are watching us, God has allowed this to happen that His name will be glorified among the heathen. Paul tells us that “I rejoice in tribulation.” Our problem is we are too tunneled in the issue. All we can see is just right before us. But we have to see the big picture why it’s happening: God wants to see you in His kingdom. All these trial from Daniel 1, Daniel 3, Daniel 6, affected all the Hebrews in that kingdom. God has designed that if they could be faithful in this situation, they would always be faithful to Him and would follow Him out when He calls them out of the Babylon. But there were but few remnants came out of the Babylon: estimate 5,000 among the millions of Jews. Because during these trials, they were the only ones who stood faithful and true to God, and they were habitually learning to obey and listen to the voice of the Lord. Therefore, when God called them out, they went out. 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
King had some hope that Daniel would survive somehow
God delivers Daniel (20-24) VERSE [20] 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? [21] Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. [22] 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. [23] Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. [24] 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. 6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: [and] the king spake
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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?
“servant of the living God” – Daniel is called one. Same phrase used in Dan 3 when Nebuchadnezzar calls the 3 Hebrew boys out of the fiery furnace. Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: He is the Creator
Living God is the Creator. So this people are having the sign of the Creator. This is also the same phraseology is used in Revelation 7:1-3. Again, connect Daniel and 144,000. 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 6:22 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.
“God hath sent his angel” – I believe the same One who came down to deliver the three Hebrew boys, came down to deliver him again. Jesus is the Archangel. Dan 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him...
That teaches us about God that God is not going to let us go thorough the trials and temptations without Jesus going with us. Friends, He is with us. I don’t care what the trials may be. I don’t care what the temptations may be. It’s true that sometimes we feel like Jesus would never know what we are going through. But don’t think that Jesus doesn’t know what it’s like to go through the temptations that you and I have gone through, because Jesus was one with us that He took part of our humanity; the fallen humanity. Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
In this story, teaching us that Jesus was tempted in all point as we are. How would He know the sufferings and afflictions of fallen humanity unless He was one with us to be afflicted with us? Sister White tells us that whenever the child of God suffers, Jesus suffers: PK 545 Heaven is very near those who suffer for righteousness’ sake. Christ identifies His interests with the interests of His faithful people; He suffers in the person of His saints, and whoever touches His chosen ones touches Him. The power that is near to deliver from physical harm or distress is also near to save from the greater evil, making it possible for the servant of God to maintain his integrity under all circumstances, and to triumph through divine grace. DA 528 To all who are reaching out to feel the guiding hand of God, the moment of greatest discouragement is the time when divine help is nearest. They will look back with thankfulness upon the darkest part of their way. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly,” 2 Peter 2:9. From every temptation and every trial He will bring them forth with firmer faith and a richer experience.
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During the last days, God’s will also send angels to protect the righteous living, the 144,000 . Psa 91:10-11 [10]There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. [11] For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psalm 91 is a prophecy about the end of time. Talks about 7 last plagues. Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
“wrath of God” = 7 last plagues. During that time according to Rev 14:12, God’s people will show the faith of Jesus. In Bible, lions also represent the devil. 1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Christ is also referred to as the lion of Judah. “innocency” – One government is accusing Daniel. The other government is saying Daniel is innocent. God will prove and state His people to be innocent, justified by His righteousness. This is about religious liberty. Any time the law of God conflicts with laws of land, we are to obey law of God. 6:23 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.
According to law, Daniel was cast into the den but it did not say that the lions should eat him. So they brought him up out of the den because he had served his punishment. 6:24 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.
“Their children, and their wives” – God destroyed the Sodom and Gomorrah with everybody even the children. God has foreknowledge, and He knows that when these children grow up, it would be curse to others; He had to eliminate. The lions have already been prepared for the devil and his angels. However, the devil is trying to bring as many people with him as possible. 1 Thes 1:4-6 [4] Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. [5] For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. [6] And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
Because Daniel survived the lion’s den, it gave the king freedom to now recompense to the men who had tricked him. Likewise, God will use the 144,000 to open the door for Him to bring judgment on Satan, his angels and the wicked. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Darius decree to acknowledge God (25-28) VERSE [25] Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. [26] 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. [27] 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. [28] So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian 6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 6:26 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. Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: He is the Creator
Living God is the Creator. So this people are having the sign of the Creator. Issue in the last days will be to worship the living God or a man. 6:27 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. 6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
NOTE: the progression.
Dan 3 – Three Hebrew boys. (3 angels + 4th)
Dan 6 – Daniel faces persecution alone. (Later Daniel faces persecution alone – 144,000 after probation closes and Jesus is on His way.
Parallel between Daniel 3 vs. Daniel 6, and End Time Events If you have close look to this chapter, Daniel 6 have similar situation with Daniel 3. This chapter, again, is highly symbolic of future. Again the issue is the religious liberty, parallel to Daniel 3. It’s the same story:
Daniel was gone in Daniel 3, now his three friends are absent in Daniel 6. We don’t know where he was in Daniel 3, but he would have done the same thing for he was faithful and true.
Just like enforcing the worship of the golden image in Daniel 3, you have the state law enforcing the religious law to worship no other than the image of Darius. Notice that it is direct oppose to the law of God. At the end time, the Sunday law will usurp the law of God.
Just like you have all the princes, governors of the kingdom coming together to worship the image, you have all the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, consulting together to establish a royal statute. At the end
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time, all the head of the state will consult together to make this decree.
You have both death decree: the lion’s den instead of fiery furnace. At the time of trouble, you will have death decree on not keeping Sunday.
The men that bound three Hebrew boys were destroyed, just like the princes who accused Daniel and tried to kill him were put to death. At the end, those wicked ones who will try to destroy the righteous, they will be the one to be destroyed.
Just like you have the Angel of the Lord came to deliver the three Hebrew boys, you have the Angel of the Lord coming to save Daniel. At the end, righteous will be protected by the Angels of God.
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Chapter 7 – Judgment & the Little Horn This chapter is loaded with all kinds of things. Today we will go over the chapter and as the days go on we will highlight certain areas. Like the sanctuary, the beast, and the littlehorn power, etc. We are covering the symbolism. This chapter is loaded with information. First, we will go over the verses, then we will see in deeper light. In Chapter 5, you have the fall of Babylon. In Chapter 6, you have the rise of Mede-Persians. But then in this Chapter 7, he goes back to sometime between Chapter 4 and 5. Daniel 7 is a repetition and enlargement of Daniel 2. It’s interesting that the repetition goes horizontally across, but magnification goes downward in time. Because the enlargement is for the last time. Focal point of repetition is to magnify the second coming event of Christ. As you get closer, as thing being magnified, you see the details that you didn’t see before, yet you can’t see some other things that are not in the focus as you would standing back. The closer you get in your magnification, you are getting to see things dropped off. Chapter 7 and 8 should come before Chapter 5 chronologically speaking. Most likely, the editors who put together Daniel wanted to have stories first and prophecies later. Because verses 2-14 is the revelation of the dream. We have to establish that this dream is referring to the same time period as Daniel 2. There are at least 4 reasons why the dream in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 is talking about the same thing:
Both are talking about kingdoms.
Both begin with Babylon. How do we know? Historically speaking, Babylon made figurines and statues of lions with eagles wings. Also, in Daniel 2, Daniel calls Nebuchadnezzar king of kings. Lion is the king of the beasts. In addition, Jeremiah 50:43-44 and 50:17 refers to Babylon as the lion.
Both end with the kingdom of God.
4th kingdom has same characteristics.
Therefore Daniel 7 is a repetition of the prophecy in Daniel 2. So why did God have to give the same vision again?
Notice, 1st vision was given to a pagan king
2nd vision directed to Daniel as a servant God, representing God’s people.
This is called repetition and enlargement. The part that has been expanded is the area concerning the judgment which in Daniel was the rock hitting the image. Remember stoning was part of the execution of the judgment.
Verses 17 & 18 is a summary of the whole vision. God’s emphasis was judgment, but Daniel’s focus was on the 4th kingdom and the little horn. 19, 20 – question of Daniel again 21, 22 – same matter of vision but extra information So verses 23-27 was an explanation to Daniel’s concerns. However, God went back to judgment after that. Daniel was concerned about the 4th beast and little horn because it was the only beast that seemed to persecute God’s people and he was worried for his people. Spiritual Application – you can only receive a vision when you have a burden for God’s people. 28 – conclusion of receiving the visions.
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What did Daniel see in the dream? Lion, Bear, Leopard, and Dreadful Beast, and Little Horn, then Judgment scene. What questions did Daniel ask about in this chapter?15, 16 – what is the truth of all of this?—a general question. 17, 18 – answer about four beasts and saints possessing the kingdom. 19, 20 – fourth beast … 10 horns … and little horn? 21, 22 – explains what happened to the little horn. 23 – explains the fourth beast. 24 – explains the 10 horns, then little horn 25 – more about little horn. Where is the most emphasis? Little horn. This aspect has been repeated at least 3 times. This little horn power is related to judgment. So this chapter about Little Horn power and the judgment scene, this is where God concentrated more on explaining. All are important, but the most important is the Little Horn and then the judgment scene next to it. All this was just showing how to observe. No interpretation yet. Just looking at it as it reads and gives to see what is more important. The Book of Daniel has 12 chapters, but not all chapters is written in the same language. Chapters 3-7 is written in Aramaic. The rest is written in Hebrew. Significance of knowing this is that in Aramaic the word “times” means 2. Thus there is no confusion about the prophetic interpretation. Hebrew is also important in Chapter 8. Chapter Outline
Four beasts and the little horn (1-8)
Judgment and God’s kingdom (9-14)
Further explanation on the little horn (15-28)
Four beasts and the little horn (1-8) VERSE [1] 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. [2] Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. [3] And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 7:1 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.
In chapter 5 you have the fall of Babylon and the rise of Medo-Persia. In chapter 6 you have the Medo-Persian empire established. And now in chapter 7 he goes back some where between chapters 4 & 5. He goes back to the first year. This chapter occurred in 553 B.C. in the first year of Belshazzar. It depends on the chronologist. There may be variations. 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
We are already getting into symbolism, but we will come back to this. Note:(BSMPI) To help you out always remember the outline. When you have the dream and the interpretation line them up side-by-side on a piece of paper with the parallel verses. He gives it to you. He tells you the dream, then he talks to the angel, and the angel gives the interpretation. So learn how to parallel. Ex. Verses 3-5 is talking about this, the interpretation is parallel with verses 20-23.
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It will help you quickly and give you more clarity when you are trying to understand these things. Dream
Interpretation
“four” – earth (north, east, south, west), the four corners of the earth. Isa 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Acts 10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
“Four winds” – Usually “winds” in Bible represent “Strike, violence, bloodshed, or war.” Prov 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Now we have 4 winds striving on the great sea. What do winds represent in bible prophecy? (this is not the only passage) Jer 25:32-33 [32] Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. [33] And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
Note: This is destruction or strife between worldwide kingdoms. This is the contextual interpretation. Winds represent strife, bloodshed, violence, and war. We see the same thing in Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
What would happen when the winds blow? Listen 'blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.' Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
When the angels let go of the four winds they are going to hurt. They are going to bring strife, bloodshed, war, and violence. Are these four winds the same as Daniel 7? Ellen White says in GC 613-614 that they are not the same winds. The 4 winds in Revelation 7 represent the human passions of men. The Holy Spirit is restraining people. God's Spirit is literary withdrawn, and now
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demons possess everyone who is not sealed. And the passions of men are totally let loose now. When we look at the Halocaust, and World World I, WWII, and the Civil War God's Spirit was still restraining these people. What will happen when God's Spirit is withdrawn? You have the 4 winds striving upon the sea here in Dan 7. But the four winds of Daniel 7 is different than the four winds of Revelation 7. Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
In Revelation 7, angels are holding back the four winds. When the saints are sealed, the probation will close, then the angels will let loose of the winds. Sister White says the winds in Revelation 7 are the human passion. GC 614 As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.
When the Holy Spirit is withdrawn, the devil will possess every man who is not sealed. And the passions of men will let loose then. When we examine World War I and II, and all these things, we realize that still the Holy Spirit was restraining these people. Can you imagine what’s going to happen when the Holy Spirit is totally withdrawn? You are going to see blood-bad-horror stories you ever have dreamed of. “Upon the Great Sea” – Sea represents “multitude of people.” Rev 17:15 The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Note: Daniel was seeing strife among the great nations to come. Therefore, you see here in this verse, the strife, bloodshed, violence and war in the multitudes of people. "sea" – What does sea represent in Bible prophecy? Note: Get the symbolism down with the verses. Winds represent strife, war, bloodshed, and violence. What does the sea represent? Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Waters are, this shows definition. You can't get any clearer. Water represents the people. The multitude of the people. So in verse 2 what you are beginning to see is strife and war among the multitude of the people. There is war, bloodshed, and violence among the masses of the people. And from this bloodshed, war, and violence among the masses of the people we have four beasts coming up. 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
“Four great beasts came up from the great sea” – These four great beasts are coming up from “the sea.” Therefore these four beasts came out of the multitudes of people that were in bloodshed, strife, war and violence. So these beasts came to power through bloodshed, war; they are conquering power. “Beast” represents “kings, government, state, nation or political power” in the Bible. Notice where the beast came up from, from the masses of people that were in http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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bloodshed, war, and violence. These beasts came to power through bloodshed, war, and violence. They were conquering people. What does a beast represent in Bible prophecy? How do we know? Dan 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth*.
I thought that they arose out of the sea, one verse says they arise out of the sea, the other says they arise out of the earth. Which one is it? Why “earth” and not “sea”? The first one is dream. And this verse is the interpretation of the dream. So you have four kings rising up from the “earth” where the multitudes of people are. Dan 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth…
So Beasts = kings (7:17) or more specifically kingdoms (Dan 7:23). Verse 23 confirms that beasts are kingdoms. Clearly we see that beasts in Bible prophecy represent kings, or kingdoms, governments, or states. They represent political powers. Then we have verse 4, so far we have the introduction in verse 1, verses 2 and 3 we have symbolism. Therefore, there has to be destruction in order for a nation to come out of a location where there are already nations. Is there any other kingdom which came up out of water literally? When Moses brought the Israelites out of Egypt, they literally came out of the water through the Red sea. There was a battle for this to happen (God and the Egyptians). If a nation comes out of the earth not the sea, then there has to be less destruction in comparison to those coming out of the sea. Important because when studying Revelation 13, talking about the beast that came out of the earth, it points to America because it is the only country in the modern era that come about with relatively little destruction and strife. * The first year of Belshazzar is BC 553. We will now define the symbolism. Symbolism. The first beast has wings, and so does the third beast, it has 4 wings. What do wings represent in Bible prophecy? (Dan 7:4,6) Speed. Hab 1:6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces [that are] not theirs. "
Verse 6 (gives the context) Chaldeans, who are the Chaldeans? The Babylonians. It is not strange. We live in the USA but we are called Americans. They lived in Babylon and they are called Chaldeans. Hab 1:7 They [are] terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. "
*PO ‘terrible and dreadful’ Dan 7:7 “a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible” Notice the same characteristics of Babylon have been transferred to the fourth beast. That is why Dan 7:12 “lives prolonged for a season and a time.” Hab 1:8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle [that] hasteth to eat.
“hasteth” what does this word mean? Quickly. They will come like the eagle who quickly comes to eat. Swiftly, flying. Wings represent speed. The first beast has two wings, and the 4th beast has 4 wings meaning enormous speed.
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What do heads represent? (Dan 7:6) Kingdoms. Rev 17:9 The seven heads are seven mountains .
You must go here first. It says the 7 heads are 7 mountains. Then go to Jeremiah. Jer 51:24-25 [24] And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD. [25] Behold, I [am] against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.
Heads = Mountains; Mountains=Kingdom. Mountains represent kingdoms just like heads. Remember the Jesus said He is the head? Meaning that He is the leadership, He is the one in charge. So heads represent not just kingdoms, but the leadership, the rulership, or rulers. What do horns represent? (Dan 7:7). It speaks about the non-descript beast, and it says it was diverse from all the beasts before it. Horns represent kings. Again we see that one verse is the dream, and the other verse is the interpretation of the dream. Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom [are] ten kings.
So the 10 horns represent 10 kings or 10 kingdoms, governments or powers. We got the symbolism down. We know what winds, sea, beasts, heads, wings, and horns represent. And as you get the interpretation of the symbolism down then you can rightly understand what is being said and clearly discern. Now back to verse 4. 7:4 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.
“Lion” – Who is this talking about? Babylon. The Babylonian Power BC 605-538. The lion = king of beasts, eagle = king of birds. Signifies it had power over all beasts and its influence over all other kingdoms. Lion is quick and powerful, the king of the jungle. It stocks out the prey. The figure of lion and eagle is used to describe the Babylonian power. Jer 4:7 The lion* is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
What power is he describing? If you the chapters before and after you will find that it is the Babylonian kingdom. Jer 4:13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.
* In Jeremiah 4, God is warning Israel to return, for Babylonians will come up and take them into captivity. Are there any other prophecies which talk about kingdoms in Daniel? Daniel 2 *PO from here I would cross reference to Jer 50:17 “Israel [is] a scattered sheep; the lions have driven [him] away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones”
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What about Daniel 4? As Neb went into the wilderness, he is described as having eagles feathers and claws. When you put all of these passages together you find out that this could be non other than the Babylonian empire headed by Nebuchadnezzar. Note: Compare Daniel 2 and 7 to see if they are similar. In order to explain Daniel 7, we need to explain Daniel 2. Without Daniel 2 you cannot really explain Daniel 7. We need to see the similarities between the two chapters to lock those prophecies as one—they both talk about the same line of prophecy. Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
Daniel 2 is about kingdoms. Daniel 7 is about four kings or kingdoms (Dan 7:23). Kings and kingdoms are synonymous in Daniel 7. Note: There is political connotation in these prophecies. Daniel 2 begins with “gold” (represents Babylon). How does it describe the gold? Dan 2:37 Thou, O king, [art] a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
In other words, “You are the best kingdom” What beast is the first one in Daniel 7? Lion, king of the beasts or jungle. In Dan 2:37, it says “king of kings.” So in animal language, head of gold would have to be a lion. Babylon is believed to have many images with lions, and also with wings Note: We can see similar characteristics between the head of gold and the lion—“king of kings” is their connotation. Prov 30:30 A lion [which is] strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
It is the strongest, meaning, the best. Note: The other kingdoms are stronger in evil. Do we have any text that shows lion to represent Babylon? Note: Jeremiah is the prophet before Babylonian captivity and even during the captivity. Jeremiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel are the 3 prophets for this time of captivity. Jeremiah in Jerusalem for God’s people, Ezekiel in Babylon for God’s people, and Daniel in Babylon for Babylonians; and these three lived at the same time. Jeremiah is foretelling the coming destruction from Babylon. Jer 4:7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; [and] thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
According to history, Babylon came and destroyed the city. Babylon is called a lion. Why did God give image to Neb and beasts/animals to Daniel? Babylonian king is more familiar with idols/images. Daniel more familiar with beasts and animals (especially lions) because Jeremiah used this. Jer 50:17 Israel [is] a scattered sheep; the lions have driven [him] away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
Lion represents Nebuchadrezzar, but Assyria is also mentioned but it is applied more to Babylon. Jer 50:44 Behold, he shall come up like a lion … http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Who will come up like a lion? Jer 50:43 The king of Babylon
Clear that lion represents Babylon Jer 51:38 They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps.
Who?
Jer 51:37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
Note: So we have clear texts that lion represents Babylon. Hab 1:6-8 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans**, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to posses the dwelling places that are not theirs. [7] They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. [8] Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
** “Chaldeans” is another name for “Babylonians.” It’s just like we live in USA, but call ourselves “American.” Dan 4:33 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.
“eagle’s wings” – what does this mean? What do we know about eagle’s? They are the king of the birds or the leader Observation: Lions are kings of the beast and Eagles are kings of the birds. These are describing the leaders or the best of the best in the animal kingdoms. Daniel 2 – head (leader) and gold (best element). Daniel says “king of kings.” “Plucking Out of Wings” – “Wing” represents “speed” in the Bible. Hab 1:6-8 …they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
Here we have two wings, but the third beast (v3) has four wings, representing enormous speed. When you have these two wings plucked out, you don’t conquer with speed anymore. In the history, Babylonian Empire ceased to conquer with swiftness when Nebuchadnezzar died. After him, the Babylonian Empire began to fall down. So we can safely say, “plucking out of wings” is “death of king Nebuchadnezzar.” “Plucked” – its power was diminished. So the speed of this kingdom became less and weaker. How did the kingdom of Babylon become weak? After Neb, the kingdom politically became weak because of his unwise successors. From Daniel 1 – 5 we can see the change, especially with 4 and 5. So politically and spiritually (but more politically) the kingdom became weak. Some say that this represents the passing of Nebuchadnezzar, and the empire declines. The wings represent speed, and if they are plucked they don’t conquer with swiftness. Neb was the king who established http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Babylon, and after him Babylon just went down. Some say the plucking of the wings represent the death of Neb after he passes from the scene they no longer have the ability to conquer as he did. Others say that it refers to his conversion. “lifted up” – pride “man’s heart” – wicked. If you look up the word heart it means understanding or reasoning. This was given back to him, and it goes with the plucking of the wings. Personally as I look at the context of the verse. I see a blending of both views in relation to the reasoning factors being given back to Nebuchad, but after that Neb would no longer conquer in the sense that he did before. The plucking of the wings, Neb death, and the Babylonian kingdom was no longer superior like it was before. And this is the description given of Neb and the fall of Babylon, and it’s swiftness and ability to conquer is taken away. How long did they reign? 606-538 B.C. PO plucking of the wings encompasses his conversion experience up to his death. Jer 17:9, 10 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
This description of man’s heart. Who is more wicked between lion and man? Man. The kingdom is losing power because it began to walk like a man and have man’s heart, morally weak. Moral weakness, and this brings about national weakness. We saw this in Daniel regarding Babylon. The kingdom of Babylon became so wicked that it led to its downfall. Note: This is not a parallel with Neb becoming a beast. Therefore, its power was taken away when Belshazzar disobeyed God. Cannot be conversion of Nebuchadnezzar because the kingdom became stronger after that. Note: There are other places where “lion” represents Jesus and the devil. Why do we not call this lion Jesus or the devil or anything else? Can Jesus have eagle’s wings? Yes. So why is this not Him? Comparing Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 is about kingdoms with similar characteristics of each other. The characteristics are being matched. Therefore, we know that this is the same prophecy (in terms of history) with a different look at it. God is repeating the history to Daniel with more information. Note: Contextually speaking, the lion has to be a kingdom. Later on, it shows that it is a negative connotation, not a positive one. Jesus cannot be negative. Ex: the dominion is being taken away— Jesus’ dominion cannot be taken away. (Satan is too broad, it is Babylon to be more prophetically correct) Three Characteristics are the Same #1 both are about kingdoms. #2 The 1st kingdom (gold or head; and lion) is Babylon. Note: They both start with the same kingdom. Daniel 2 ends with setting up God’s kingdom. Big picture: Daniel 7 Ends with God’s kingdom or the kingdom of God Dan 7:14 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.
The end of the dream given to Daniel is with the kingdom of God. The finishing thought is the kingdom of God. It is not chronologically the same in terms of time as in Daniel 2 (the 2 nd coming). http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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In Daniel 7 Christ is receiving the kingdom as opposed to setting up a kingdom. Same idea as Daniel 2 but different aspect #3 – it matches: Daniel 2 ends with kingdom. Daniel 7 vision ends with concept of a kingdom. Recap: 1st – both are about kingdoms, 2nd – begins with Babylon, 3rd – ends with the kingdom of God But there is more: Dan 2:40 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.
Characteristics of the legs of iron—it breaks in pieces. The fourth Beast (or kingdom): Dan 7:7 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.
Iron and brake in pieces are 2 characteristics which are matched up with the legs of iron in Daniel 2. Therefore, the fourth kingdom in Daniel 2 and 7 is about the same kingdom. What does it mean to stamp the residue with the feet of it? In Daniel 2 it says it “subdueth all things” or destroying it. How many points are similar?
1 – kingdoms 2 – begins with Babylon 3 – ends with God’s kingdom 4 – the fourth kingdom is the same
Can anyone doubt these 2 prophecies? No God repeated the same prophecies twice but gave more information. Repeat and enlarge principle: Gold has more information; Silver has more; Brass has more; Iron has more; Iron and Clay has more; Stone has more. Note: Give Daniel 2 first, then Build on it with Daniel 7. If you cannot show Daniel 7, you cannot explain ten horns and little horn power. If you cannot explain little horn power you cannot explain judgment. If you cannot explain judgment you cannot explain sanctuary message in Daniel 8. Note: There is a progression. One explains the other. Kingdom of lion So far we already know: Lion=Babylon, Bear=Medo-Persia, Leopard=Greece, 4th Beast=Rome. This is already solved … without this, how can you show bear=Medo-Persia? Or Leopard=Greece? The only way to show this is by matching Daniel 2 and 7. 7:5 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.
“…another beast, a second…” – “a second” (also mentions “first” when talking about the lion … “fourth”). So these beasts are consecutive. So we know that they will come in this order. Daniel 2 doesn’t mean that the whole thing will happen before Daniel 7, as if Daniel 7 is separate one altogether. Ex: Rev 12 (apostolic church, birth of Christ, Dark Ages, War in heaven, etc).This isn’t consecutively in its order because the controversy didn’t begin in heaven after birth of Christ. How http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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to know when it is consecutive? When it states 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th you can know that it will come in this order. “Bear” – Bear is inferior to a lion, yet it conquered Babylon because Babylon became morally weak. The whole story is that they had a feast and this gave Medo-Persia a chance to conquer them. MedePersian Power BC 538-331. Bear overpowers, overwhelms, pulverizes and literally crushes its prey to death. “Bear” that came after the Babylonian power is Mede-Persian power. Dan 5:28 Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
“Raised up itself on one side” – That is an identifying mark. What power was this that came after Babylon, and was raised up higher than the other on one side? Medo Persia. How do we know? (Dan 5:25-30 is good) Dan 8 is the best. Remember that in chapter 7 one side is raised up higher than the other. This bear had “raised up itself on one side.” Daniel 8 shows the direct parallel with Daniel 7. And in Daniel 8, we see this power is Mede-Persian power. Dan 8:3 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.
Whose the ram? Dan 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
Notice now Dan 8:3 “and the [two] horns [were] high; but one [was] higher than the other, and the higher came up last.” In Dan 7 it said that the Bear had one side raised up, higher than the other. You parable that with Dan 8:3 with the Ram, two horns representing Medo-Persia. Both horns were high, but one was higher than the other. At first the Medes were above the Persians. But who was the greater of the two? The Persian empire. The whole nation was together the Medo-Persian. Darius was the uncle to Cyrus. Darius was a Meade, Cyrus was a Persian. They united together to take down Babylon. But the military strength and power came from Cyrus, and the Persians, but because they were relatives they reigned together. The uncle reigned first, and when he died Cyrus took over and the Persians dominated, and they were the more powerful of the two. That’s why it talks about one being raised up higher than the other, and how both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. Meaning the last one would be the more powerful of the two, and that it would be stronger. The Persians were more powerful than the Meads. Cyrus came up after Darius. He came up last. At first Mede started to rule first than Persia. But later, Persian became far greater than Medes. Darius was Mede, and Cyrus was Persian.* When Darius died and Cyrus took over, Persians became far greater. That’s why “one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last,” meaning that the last one will be more powerful and stronger than the first one. *Darius is the uncle of Cyrus. Cyrus conquered the city of Babylon, yet Cyrus in honor of his uncle, gave the victory to Darius. Darius took kingdom being 62 years old. “three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it” – Take a special notice when the Bible mentions this number. Notice the sequence of events. It raises up then we see 3 ribs. The lion’s wings are plucked up THEN he is lifted on 2 feet with a man’s heart given to it. These sequences are important to notice. So 3 ribs found in its mouth when rising to power. What does this represent? The 3 territories that that Medo-Persia conquered. When you look on a map and see the territory http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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you will see the territory. Ribs represent people or nations. Look at the end of the verse. What picture does this give? Conquered. What is a rib? A bone; the only way to get this rib, there has to be tearing and dying—3 ribs. So this bear, Medo-Persia, has a conquering or tearing or destroying of 3 of something. Note: Remember four beasts are coming up out of the same area or place. Contextually, this bear is conquering other kingdoms. Rib has to come from other animals, so it is conquering kingdoms. Three ribs were “between the teeth of it;” and were told to “Arise and devour much flesh.” Therefore, three ribs symbolize the flesh that will be devoured. Isa 45:1-2 [1] Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; [2] I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
“and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh” – What is it talking about? Conquering, but conquering who? People, nations. Who are the ‘they’ that said to the Bear go ahead and devour much flesh. Who does that refer to? Conquering characteristic. God is telling us this to let us know this is Medo-Persia. Not much information because it is like He really wants us to know about 4th beast, 10 horns, little horn, and the judgment. We need to know these other things so we know when the important aspect will be fulfilled. Telling someone where you live is similar (your house is most important, signs help you along the way so you can go where you really need to go so this is Medo-Persia. Therefore, “three ribs” represent “the people or the nations” that Mede-Persian power will conquer. There were three territories that the Mede-Parisian power took under: 1. Babylon – Cyrus conquered on BC 539. 2. Lydia – Cyrus conquered on BC 547. 3. Egypt – Cambyses conquered on BC 525. Note: There is a somewhat limitation to describing this kingdom. So gathering all we can from the history we can compare it with Daniel 2. History of Medo-Persia will help. Cannot be proven Biblically that 3 ribs = 3 kingdoms, but you can see it historically. Babylon, Lydia and Egypt. It is God who told Cyrus what? To devour much flesh. Subdue the nations and the 3 ribs symbol the nations he would conquer. The bear had the 3 ribs between it’s teeth. He said devour much flesh, so he does it with his teeth. He destroys the nations. PO These kingdoms are suppose to devour nations, etc. But now the 4th kingdom and especially the little horn they are devouring God’s people. This also shows that God gives the kingdom of men to whoever He wants. As you go to history there are 3 nations that the Medo-Persian empire conquered: Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt. This is just a known fact in history. If you look at a map when they reigned you will see that they cover those territories. When they conquered those 3. They conquer all flesh. And everyone came under his domain. Medo-Persia ruled from 538-331 B.C. 7:6 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.
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“Leopard” Leopard: Greek Empire BC 331-168. This is a quick animal. Here we have a kingdom. As you look at these beasts, if you have seen any of them capture it’s prey it’s unbelievable. A lion is powerful. It is the king of the jungle. He is quick, but not as quick as a leopard. A bear overpowers it’s prey. It pulverizes it with his claws, and powerful muscles. But a leopard relies on its speed; it’s cunning and craftiness. It’s accuracy to hunt down its prey. That is the dominating skill. He is powerful, but the emphasis is the speed. But it is not just a leopard. It has 4 wings. That means this kingdom is extremely fast in conquering, it is so powerful, cunning, and wise that it moves faster than a leopard. Enormous speed. What do we know about leopards? The leopard is powerful but relies on the speed, quickness and accuracy in hunting down its prey. But it’s not just leopard; it also has four wings. That means this kingdom is extremely quick and fast in conquering. It is so powerful, so cunning, so wise, that it moves faster than a leopard; enormous speed. Which kingdom comes after Medo-Persia? Dan 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Dan 10:20 I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
Any other way to prove? Dan 7 shows that the leopard had 4 heads Dan 8:8 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.
He goat meaning the Grecian empire. Horns represents kingdoms, governments, powers, and leaders. Kings, etc. You have a direct parallel. Dan 11:1-2 Speak of Medo-Persia. End of verse 2 speaks of the kingdom of Greece. Dan 11:3-4 “shall stand up” meaning of the kingdom of Greece. Again you have the same parallel. The Leopard with 4 heads. The notable horn of the he-goat. When it is broken 4 horns come out. Here you have the Grecian empire the mighty king when he is taken down 4 more come in it’s place. The same characteristics are mentioned. It can be none other than the Grecian empire. Notice Dan 7:6 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.
“dominion was given to it” cross reference that with Dan 11:3 “And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion.” Who are the 4 heads? The 4 kings that ruled with Alexander the great died. When Alexander the great died his son was suppose to have inherited the kingdom, but the other generals were too powerful, they wiped out his family, and you have 4 left. Anyone who is accurate in their history will see the same thing. Lysimachas, Cassander, Seleucius, and Ptolemy. The power that came after the Mede-Persian is Greek Empire. This Leopard represents the Greek Empire. “Four Wings” – “Wing” represents “speed” in the Bible. Hab 1:6-8 …they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
This power has four wings with leopard body, he is really moving fast. This is a great description of Alexander the Great in terms of how long it took for him to conquer the world. Alexander the
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Great, within 12 years, in his age of 33, conquered the whole entire then known world. The history records in “Ancient History,” by Rollin, Alexander, sec. ii. end: “…we shall find that Alexander, in less than eight years, marched his army upward of seventeen hundred leagues (5,100 miles = 8207.65km), without including his return to Babylon.”
He was a man of Providence; and what a pity he did not profit by his opportunities as did Nebuchadnezzar! “Four Heads” – “Head” represents “leadership, or kingdom” in the Bible: Eph 5:23 …Christ is the head of the church… Rev 17:9 …the seven heads are seven mountains… Jer 51:24, 25 [24] And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD. [25] Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.
We have direct parallel in Daniel 8: the four horns of goat. Dan 8:8 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.
These four heads represents four divided powers after the death of Alexander. When Alexander died, it supposed to be given to his son, but other generals were too powerful and just wiped off his family. There were great confusion in the empire, but after some transition, these four generals divided up the territory exactly into four:* 1. Cassander – Macedonia and Greece in the west. 2. Lysimachus – Thrace, parts of on the Hellespont and Bosphorus in the north were Turkey is now. 3. Seleucus – Syria and all the rest of Alexander’s dominions in the east. 4. Ptolemy – Egypt, Lydia, Palestine, and in the South. *“By the year BC 301, with the death of Antigonus, the division of the kingdom of Alexander into four parts was completed by his generals.” Daniel & Revelation by Uriah Smith.
History will tell you all this. What do we know about Lion? Strength Bear? Devouring and conquering Leopard? Speed Four heads also represent leaders. We are the body of Christ and Christ is the head of the church. “Dominion was given to it” – We have direct parallel in Daniel 11: four winds. Notice the word “dominion was given to it.” Dan 11:3, 4 [3]And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. [4]And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven;
Again, comparing to Daniel 11, we can confirm that this power indeed is Greek Empire. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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NOTE: spots on a leopard represents sin. (Jude 1:12) Tip: When you remember that Chapter 7, 8, and 11 parallels together, you will easily find the identifying marks. 7:7 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.
Resource Question: Where do you get the historical data? Where do you find stories about Alexander the Great, etc.? You go to the Pioneer's and as they trace the history, they quote where they get the historical data. So you make a mental note of the data that they quote the names, information, dates, people, places, names, etc. Then you go to the book stores and start gleaning. This is how you buy history books (how Ray does it). If they support our position, and you go through their material and they have Babylon, Medo-Persia, etc. And you find the details, places, dates, exact names of who the pioneers used, along with the Bible and SOP then you know that they have accurate history. So once you have the historical data collected, go to encyclopedia, and ancient history books, and start looking up these things: The death of Alexander, search on Cassander, Books on the empire of Greece, look in the index and look for these people. And you will find out all kind of information. EGW says that historians are going to challenge us on our positions Observation: More information is given for this one than the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. This is the same as Daniel 2 . “Fourth beast, dreadful and terrible” – This beast refers to the Roman Empire which lasted from BC168 - AD476. Remember the image in Daniel 2? Gold represented Babylon, Silver represented Mede-Persians, Brass representing the Greece, then the iron representing the Pagan Rome. Dan 2:40 …the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron… Dan 7:23 The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth.
We can clearly see that this fourth beast is same power as the fourth kingdom, iron kingdom, in the image of Daniel 2. “dreadful and terrible” – This phrase belongs to someone else Dan 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God
God has similar term as used for the 4th beast Why? It has characteristics of God so therefore it is antichrist, meaning against Christ. In Daniel 2, the iron has characteristic of Jesus ruling with rod of iron—it is against Christ
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Mal 1:14 But cursed [be] the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.
Great King and Dreadful is God Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Great and dreadful belongs to God. This phrase is used for God but the 4th beast has it, so we are seeing how the antichrist is forming already in this 4th beast Dan 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful
So this description is very important because it is repeated twice. Who else is used with similar terminology? Hab 1:6-7 [6] For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces [that are] not theirs. [7] They [are] terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
This Roman empire has characteristics of the kingdom of Babylon. We are looking at the same spirit which was in Babylon. 1 Pet 5:13 The [church that is] at Babylon, elected together with [you], saluteth you; and [so doth] Marcus my son.
In Isaiah, it said that Babylon would not be inhabited. Peter is calling Rome Babylon, not literal ancient Babylon because it was destroyed. He wrote from Rome. So lion is Babylon and the 4th Beast is Roman Empire but with strong characteristics of Babylon. Therefore, in between the whole thing is Babylon. The image in Daniel 2 is similar in that the whole image is Babylon because of the head (you are what you think. Dan 2:31 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 whole image has similar characteristic in general to Babylon and the 4th kingdom in Daniel 7. It is quite detailed but it is really connected; God keeps using these similar terms Deut 10:17 For the LORD your God [is] God of gods, and Lord of lords a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
In Daniel 2, king of kings really belongs to God. Babylon is trying to be like God, Daniel was only acknowledging that they were the most powerful kingdom at that time. Great and Terrible belongs to God Joel 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp [is] very great: for [he is] strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD [is] great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
Day of the Lord is great and terrible—2nd coming is the big picture here http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Again, great and terrible day of the Lord is about 2nd coming of Christ. The 2nd coming of Jesus is great and terrible. Remember in Daniel 2. Iron says break in pieces. Stone came and also broke in pieces. Stone=2 nd coming. 4th beast=dreadful and terrible … similar characteristics between 4th kingdom and 2nd coming in Daniel 2 and similar characteristics with 4th beast in Daniel 7 and 2nd coming. Roman Empire (Iron) persecutes God’s people; the Stone breaking in pieces is about vindicating God’s people and punishing the wicked—so the beast is dreadful and terrible because it persecutes God’s people; 2nd Coming is like this too because it is punishing those who persecuted God’s people “iron teeth” – We come to the forth power. What is the first identifying mark? What were the four metals mentioned in Daniel 2? Gold -------- Babylon, Silver ------- Medo-Persia, Brass -------- Greece, Iron ---------- Pagan Rome. Iron stands for pagan Rome! Here we have the fourth beast, and remember what the Bible says in. Dan 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron…
The fourth beast is mentioned here in Daniel 7, and in Daniel 7:23 " The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth " the fourth beast is the fourth kingdom upon the earth. This is one identifying mark. “stamped the residue” – Some have said to us, like Charles Wieland, this cannot refer to Pagan Rome, because it says that it will stamp the residue. Well, what does residue mean? It is synonymous with the word remnant. So he is saying how can Pagan Rome stamp the remnant with his feet? How can he do that? When we think of the remnant who do we think about? The last day generation. But was there ever a remnant before the last day remnant who lived during the days of the Roman Empire? Matt 22:1-5 [1] And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, [2] The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, [3] And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. [4] Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. [5] But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Read through Matt 22:6-7 [6] And the remnant took his servants, and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them]. [7] But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
What event is this? The destruction of Jerusalem that happened in 70 AD. Who were the armies that came and destroyed this city? It was Titus, it was pagan Rome. It was Cestius in 66 A.D. who came the first time and surrounded Jerusalem and then mysteriously he turned away. 4 years later in 70 AD, Titus came back and leveled the city and destroyed the temple. 1 million plus Jews were killed. They crucified so many people outside the city walls that you could hardly squeeze through the
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crosses. If you read this parable in Christ's Object Lessons 307-319. There are 3 calls given in this marriage feast. The first two were given to the Jews, and the third was given to the gentiles. They rejected Jesus, and then you have the 34 AD. Then you have the destruction of Jerusalem. Because verse 6 is referring to Acts 8:1 after they stoned Stephen and then great persecution broke out. Matt 22:4 …my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready.
Who is this referring to? This is speaking of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Notice how V.6 speaks about the remnant, and then in V.7 it says someone came and destroyed this remnant and their city. It was Pagan Rome. Who is the remnant in this passage? The Jews. Who are the servants? The apostles and disciples. Just read Acts 7 and 8 it parallel's exactly. So in Daniel 7:6. It says the fourth beast stamped the residue with the feet of it. Didn't Pagan Rome persecute the early church, the Jews, and God's people? Yes. Notice what the Bible says Dan 7:23 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.
"the whole earth" – This is the second identifying mark to who this beast power is. It devours the whole earth. So it must be a worldwide power. Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Once again 'all the world' Caesar Augustus, Pagan Rome. The only kingdom that can meet all the identifying marks is the pagan roman empire. Then the beast has ten horns. Psa 35:16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
Gnashed upon me with their teeth is talking about destruction Psa 37:12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
Teeth in terms of for the wicked is used for plotting against the righteous Psa 57:4 My soul [is] among lions: [and] I lie [even among] them that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Idea of persecution Lam 2:16 All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed [her] up: certainly this [is] the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen [it].
Persecution Matt 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Mocking at Jesus
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Acts 7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with [their] teeth.
“Teeth” – persecution (when used by the wicked). Dan 7:19 …whose teeth [were of] iron, and his nails [of] brass…
“Iron and brass” – Iron and brass were used to chew with teeth and then stamp upon whatever fell off. What he cannot bite with his teeth, he will stamp with his feet, so this is total destruction. Roman Empire would kill everyone and take everything away and plow the whole place when they hated others, there was nothing left of that nation. Where else do we see iron and brass put together? The gates of Babylon—so we see, again, the same characteristics of the 4th beast with Babylon Lev 26:18-19 [18] And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. [19] And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: Iron and brass is used for punishing or judgment. Dreadful beast, with characteristic of antichrist, use iron and brass for punishing God’s people. In Daniel 2, the iron will break in pieces and BRUISE (connection with crucifying Jesus). But when Jesus died for our sins, heaven was like iron to Him and earth as brass, this was the punishment for our sins. The earth was forsaking Him and heaven felt like it forsook Him. Psa 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, [being] bound in affliction and iron;
Iron is connected to affliction. Roman Empire known for giving of affliction. This has characteristic of being against Christ because of its teeth of iron (beasts rule with their teeth) but Jesus rules with a rod of iron Ps 2:9, Rev 2:26; 12:5; 19:15. “Stamped the residue with the feet of it” – The iron beast had 2 stages of destruction: 1. Mouth and second Feet. It also is a desolating destructive power. “Residue” = remnant. Iron and brass when combined. Again it has the meaing condemnation (Rev 1:15). Feet of Jesus is like brass, thus it is antichrist. “stamped” – Interesting may not be a strong point but if with a Bible text it is important. But without one is just good observation: Daniel 2, Roman Empire is legs of iron—you have to use this to stamp upon Deut 9:21 And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, [and] ground [it] very small, [even] until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.
“Stamped” – similar connotation as breaking into pieces. Complete destruction, “as dust” “Brass nail” – This belongs to the foot of the 4th beast. This characteristic also belongs to Christ (Roman Empire is NOT Antichrist, but Roman Empire gave occasion for antichrist to rise up; so many characteristics with Christ characteristics but it is antichrist: dreadful and terrible, iron, brass feet)
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Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass
Similar as 4th beast Dan 10:6 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.
We are seeing how the 4th beast has characteristic of antichrist even though it is NOT antichrist, it is simply preparing the way for antichrist “Residue” is synonymous to “remnant.” Some people bring out this text and argue that it can’t be the Pagan Roman Empire. “How in the world Pagan Rome can stamp the “last day remnant” with the feet of it? Is “remnant” always meant “last day remnant?” Matt 22:4, 6, 7 [4] Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. [6]And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. [7] But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
This text is prophesying the event of death of Christ in verse 4. Marriage is uniting between Divinity and humanity. The robe is the righteousness of Christ. And everything was prepared that everyone can partake the benefits of this feast. Read the Christ’s Object Lesson 307-319: there are three calls given in this marriage feast. The first call was for the Jews, and the third call was for the Gentiles. Remnants are the Jews, and servants are the apostles and disciples. Verse 6 describes the “remnant” stoning Stephan and starting great persecution in Early Christian church. Verse 7 describes the remnant being destroyed: the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. And it was Pagan Rome that destroyed the city of Jerusalem.* * In the year of BC 66, Cestus came to siege the city of Jerusalem. Mysteriously he left the city and went back. In BC 70, Titus came back and destroyed the city. “Shall devour whole earth” – For the fourth best, we got more detailed explanation later in the chapter. Dan 7:23 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.
We know that this power should be worldwide power. “diverse” – This means that it was unique … similar to the others but unique. Why? 10 horns but much more: It is made or formed in such a way that it actually reveals … (lion says nothing about destroying God’s people, Bear, Leopard—although all these persecuted God’s people) but the Roman Empire persecuted even more than before. When studying about 10 horns and little horn we will see how this beast is still alive and well.
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“and it [was] diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns” – Here we have the fourth beast, now it has ten horns. This parallels with the 10 toes of Daniel 2. (*PO I don't agree completely with this.) “Ten horns” – Ten kingdoms of Western Europe AD 476 – to second Coming. These Ten horns parallels with ten toes in Daniel 2; after the forth kingdom, it was divided into ten kingdoms. Information on 10 horns are not mentioned with great information. Dan 7:7 and it had ten horns…
Very short and simple Dan 7:20 And of the ten horns that [were] in his head…
The 2nd time this is mentioned Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom [are] ten kings [that] shall arise…
This is all the information we have regarding 10 horns, simply, they are 10 kings. Compared with little horn power, there is much more. Verse 8 (a long verse); verse 20 (most of it) and 21; verse 25 (the whole text). God is emphasizing the most the Little Horn power. Out of lion, bear, leopard, dreadful beast, 10 horns, little horn—there is more about little horn power. God is wanting us to pay attention to this power. Ten kingdoms arising out of the 4th beast (Rome). According to history, some of the barbaric tribes came and settled in the Western Roman Empire. Then they eventually conquered from within. Note: Although the literal Western Roman Empire was destroyed by the barbarian tribes, the characteristic of the Roman Empire still continued throughout them all. This characteristic carries into the Little Horn power. Why? 4 beasts were shown to Daniel (Dan 7:17) by God. In other words, the 4th beast has 10 horns and out of it a Little Horn came. Note: We should be able to see them separately and then as a whole. The Bible separates them 4th beast, 10 horns, Little Horn—3 times in Daniel 7. We should be able to interpret them separately but also as a whole So the Roman Empire was fallen but yet its spirit and characteristic continues throughout the 10 kings and also in the Little Horn power. The beast in some ways and somehow is still alive.This becomes much more clearly in verses 11 and 12. This becomes very important when studying Daniel 8 “Horn” represents “King” in the Bible: Dan 7:24 …the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings…
These ten horns represent Western Europe, not Europe.* * Because when Rome broke up, it broke up to East and West Roman Empire. Ten horns out of this kingdom are not Eastern, not both, but it’s Western. Because the antichrist rose up in the Western Europe, not Eastern.
History of the 10 horns Western Rome fell in 476 AD. Around 350 AD, Western Rome started crumbling and dividing into pieces. Constantine changed capital from Rome to Constantinople. Rome was divided in half – west and east. Constantine moved to make east more Christian and west more political. But the main power was still in Rome. From the head 10 horns came out. The head, the leader is in Rome. Thus western Rome was broken into 10 parts. Western Rome was running out of soldiers so they hired http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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them from barbarian tribes. They offered them Roman citizenship and therefore the 10 tribes were already in Rome when revolt and rebellion happened. In 476 AD, the 10 tribes revolted and the capital was taken away. 476 completed the 10 divisions. However, the breaking up of the kingdom was gradual. The 10 tribes that represented the 10 kingdoms – Ostrogoths, Burgundians, Suevi, Vandals, Visigoths, Franks, Saxons, Lombards, Alamani, Heruli. The 3 kingdoms that were destroyed were: Vandals (first to be destroyed), Heruli, and the Ostrogoths.
History of the arian tribes (ecclesiastical empire) All the other barbarian tribes submitted and joined the church of Rome as they were incorporated into Rome. But it was the Arian tribes that refused to join. However, it was not their religious differences that initiated their destruction. Heruli: Odoacer was king of Heruli and he ruled Rome at later stages of Western Rome’s history. During his reign over Rome, he tried to prevent the bloodshed and bribery that accompanied election of a new pope. He did this by imposing civil authority over the proceedings and preventing the use of papal owned lands for bribery. This served angered the pope into plotting against Odoacer.The pope called on the Eastern emperor Zeno to permit King Theodoric of the Ostrogoths to come and destroy the Heruli. This happened in March 5, 493 AD. Theodoric had defeated Odoacer in three separate engagements and Odoacer finally tried to negotiate surrender through the papacy. However, in a banquet, Theodoric killed Odoacer and proceeded to exterminate the Heruli. Ostrogoths 1: King Theodoric of the Ostrogoths was without land and his people roaming Eastern Rome. He was called by the pope to come from Eastern Rome to Western Rome and destroy the Heruli. King Theodoric wrote Zeno and asked permission to do this. If he won, he asked that he be allowed to rule Western Rome as a representative of the emperor. Zeno gave his consent and the Ostrogoths proceeded to attack the Heruli. King Theodoric tried to maintain religious freedom for all religions, but the doctrinal differences between Arians and Catholics would eventually lead to armed conflict between the pope and the king. In 533 AD, fearing persecution by Arian Ostrogoths in Western Rome and Arian Vandals in North Africa, Justin and Justinian emperors issued a decree for the Catholic faith to become the number one faith. This began the persecution of Arians throughout the empire. Ostrogoths sent bishop of Rome to ask Justinian to put a stop to the persecution of Arian religion and as pope came to Constantinople. Justin and Justinian came to meet him 10 miles before Constantinople and worshipped him. The pope was executed when he went back because King Theodoric found out what had happened. Vandals: Justinian first sent his general (Belisarius) to destroy the Vandal empire in North Africa (533-534 AD). This was achieved in Spring 534 AD. Ostrogoths 2: Then Justinian turned his attention the Ostrogoths (536-555 AD). However, although Belisarius only completely liberated Western Rome in 555 AD, papal supremacy was begun in 538 AD with the first liberation of Rome and Justinian removing pro-Arian pope (Silverius) and putting in his place pro-Catholic bishop (Vigilius). It was in 538 AD that for the first time since the fall of the empire half a century before, the Ostrogoths were expelled from Rome. For the first time since http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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there were no more emperors in the city of Rome, the pope could be free from the Arians who promoted their faith and opposed the influence of the Roman bishop. Justinian did not appoint another emperor to rule in the west, thus allowing the papacy to assume this position. Justinian gave the head of the bishop of Rome (pope) the power to rule over the church and the state. He did this because he thought the only way the unite Rome was to use ecclesiastical power. AngloSaxons Englan d
Frank s Franc e
Alemanni *
Burgund i
Ostrogoth s
Lombard s
Herul i
Visigoth s
Germany
Swiss
Yugoslavia
Czech
Italy
Spain
Suevi Portuga l
Vandal s Africa
7:8 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.
This class is going to cover the little horn power in detail. There is much to cover. We will cover the identifying marks of the little horn power. Review: When you look at the fourth beast, which is the fourth kingdom, it is pagan Rome. Then you have the ten horns, where do they arise? In WESTERN Europe. “another little horn” – "I considered the horns." What horns? The 10 Horns. He goes down he saw Babylon, MP, Greece, Rome, now he is looking at these 10 horns. Here is the great antichrist of Bible prophecy. Note: Even the Catholic church in their Duay Bible, when it comes to this verse they say it is the antichrist, they don't tell you who it is, but they say it. You show it out of the protestant and catholic commentaries. They just disagree on who it is. Now we must have identifying marks. This is not a guessing game. There must be a definite way to determine who this antichristian power is. Daniel talks about him, Paul, John and others talk about him. It is the great power that Satan has developed against God and His people. Who is the antichrist? Let's cover some identifying marks. When horn refers to God, it is power of God. When refers to animal, it is their power or strength. In Daniel, it is political power. What are we seeing here? We will go through 9 different points about the Little Horn and be able to identify exactly what that Little Horn is all about. We are going to study about TIME and PLACE. Little Horn is political power, so we are seeing rising of political power, not rising of a church Is there anywhere in the Bible talks about horns and eyes together? Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The Lamb of God has horns and eyes put together. So little horn power has characteristics of Jesus Christ but it speaks against God later on in the chapter. Therefore, this little horn has religious aspect because it is LIKE Christ
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Luke 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
Referring to Jesus Christ So this little horn has characteristics of Jesus Christ, it is Antichrist
Identifying marks of little horn power: antichrist* *Even the Catholic church in the Duway Bible, says that this is the Antichrist. They don’t tell you who it is, but they tell you that this is the Antichrist. Everybody agrees that this is the antichrist. The only thing that they don’t agree is who it is. We need to first to through the identifying marks. This is not a guessing game. Daniel talks about it; Paul talks about it; John talks about it. It is the great power that Satan has developed against God’s people. 1. Among them (v8) – What does this teach us? It will arise in the geographical location of Western Europe. He is not going to appear in China, or India, or Japan, or USA. The antichrist is going to appear in the Western Europe. 2. After them (v24) – It would come up after the other 10 horns. When did the ten horns arise? 168 B.C. to 476 AD. So it comes up after them that means some time after 476 AD. It will come up some time after 476 AD. This is when the Western Roman Empire officially came to an end, and the 10 nations developed. Note: the establishment of this time will be scene based upon the time he reigns. 3. Three…plucked up / political power (v8, 24 ) – He uproots 3 kings. That means it’s going to obliterate three nations. Has to come up after 476 BC because it came up among the 10 horns (Daniel 7:24). There was a time when the 10 horns didn’t exist. They only all came into existence in 476 AD. When studying prophecy you have to know the location and the time. This is like the latitude and longitude to help pin point exactly what the prophet is talking about: As the little horn was coming up, 3 of the horns were destroyed to make place for the little horn. Cannot be before 3 horns were destroyed because then there would be 11 horns. The 3 tribes were Heruli, Vandals, Ostrogoths. 2 Reasons why the 3 tribes were destroyed:1. All of them were Arians and they believed that Jesus was created. This was important because when the pope was came into being, he was the vicar of Christ. If the Arians believed that Christ was created, they would look at the pope as being created – no big deal. 2. They always tried to conquer Rome and did have some reign over Rome at certain periods. As rulers, they tried to use civil authority to control the papacy. This was not acceptable to the pope. So before Little Horn comes up 3 horns have to be plucked up “by the roots” – means it was totally taken out of the way, it cannot come back again. From these texts it is clear, (1) that the ten kingdoms first appear; (2) that after that, three of these are "plucked up by the roots;" and (3) that only three are so plucked up. It is evident, therefore, that the ten are all in sight before any of the three are "plucked up." Also, the one that subdues these three comes up "among" the ten. Therefore the ten must all be there at http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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one time, before this other "little horn" comes up, and must all be there when it comes up. Now the three that were plucked up by the roots were the Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths; and the date of the plucking up of the first of the three, is March 5, A. D. 493, and of the last, March, A. D. 538. 11 Also, in the prophecy of Daniel, it is related that there would come up among these ten another one; and that by it three of the ten would be "plucked up by the roots." Dan. 7:8, 20, 24. The three which were plucked up, were the Heruli, who occupied Italy, in 493; the Vandals, who occupied North Africa, in 534; and the Ostrogoths, who had been instrumental in rooting up the Heruli, and who occupied Italy in their place, in 538. 12 This period of time began in A. D. 538, and, continuing twelve hundred and sixty years, reached to A. D. 1798. It began in A. D. 538, because in that year was rooted out the last of the three powers that were plucked up by the roots, before the establishment of the papacy, not simply as a Church, but as a world-power; and ended in 1798, when the papacy was led into captivity, by the capture and imprisonment of Pope Pius VI, under order of the French directory.13 Dan 7:20 …before whom three fell…
So before Little Horn can come up, 3 horns have to fall Dan 7:24 …subdue three kings…
Says the same thing in the latter part of the verse. This little horn power is going to uproot, when it says uproot, that means he is going to obliterate. Gives idea of taking over 3 kingdoms. This is the interpretation. What are these three kings? Little Horn cannot come up before 10 horns. Ten horns have already been existing at least by 476 AD. So little horn cannot exist before 476 AD. Therefore, it is in Europe and it is AFTER 476 that it arises. Again, it says 3 horns have to be plucked up … 3 horns gone and then little horn comes up … who are the 3? Three Barbaric tribes 4. Eyes like the eyes of man / speaking great things (v8) – What does this mean? Idea of man being a leader or key figure. There would be a man at the head of this organization. This little horn power represents a system. But this little horn power is headed up by a man. Remember 2 Thess 2 he is called the man of sin. Then you go to Rev 13:18 and the number 666 belongs to a man. There is no question that a man is at the head of this institution. Not that he is the institution, but he leads out in this institution. Prov 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Never satisfied Prov 16:2 All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
“The Great Empires of Prophecy” p. 680 Alonzo Jones “Great Nations of Today” p. 58 Alonzo Jones 13 “Great Nations of Today” p. 164 Alonzo Jones 11 12
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Thinks he is clean—self-justification, thinks he is right when he is wrong. Prov 21:2 Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Every way (all the ways in 16:2) Prov 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Think you are wise if you have man’s eyes. Either you have wisdom in your own eyes or fear of the Lord. You don’t fear God and no depart from evil. Prov 12:15 The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is] wise.
Considered a fool. Remember the parable by Jesus. Matt 7:23-29
Those who build on rock are wise; those on the sand are fools. One hears and not obeys (fools), the other hears and obeys (wise)—this is the difference. Those on the sand, it fell Therefore, little horn power is a fool. In Revelation, little horn power is called Babylon. So Babylon is a fool. Ps 14:1
Fool also says there is no God Rev 14:8 …Babylon is fallen, is fallen …
Babylon is being destroyed. Jesus said fool builds house on a sand and falls because could not stand in the storm So in his own eyes means in his own understanding. Hos 13:2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, [and] idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
Idols are from what source? Made from man’s own understanding. Idols are meaning human understanding, depending upon it or using it. It is called EYES of MAN. Connected to idol worship So the eyes of man represent… Never satisfied Clean in his own eyes, right in his own eyes Does not depart from evil Fool Idols Remember, eyes of man=wise in his own eyes, depending upon his own understanding.
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Idols is according to his own understanding. Eyes of man is really worshiping yourself or man—idolatry (covetousness in NT). Application: Do you have these “Eyes of man”? Can you be like this? Can you be wise in your own eyes? Never satisfied in your selfishness? In your own ways? In your own understanding think you are always right? You can have the characteristic of this little horn power. At then end of time, you are going to worship or follow this little horn power. Isa 5:21 Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Again, this is showing that men depend upon their own understanding or their own wisdom 1 Cor 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
God calls the wisdom of the world foolishness. In other places it is the depending upon man’s understanding. What wisdom is Paul talking about when he says “wisdom of this world”? Greek philosophy was the wisdom in the days of Paul. The whole world was under Roman Empire, but they had Greek philosophy. What is Greek philosophy? Humanism—wisdom is found within your self, this is idol worship. God calls this wisdom (within your own self) foolishness. So Little Horn power has the eyes of man, which means it has Greek philosophy. The ingredient that makes up the papacy, historically is: Pagan ceremony, Jewish ritualism, and Greek philosophy. This is the problem with having “eyes of man” Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.
“number of a man” – can be connected to “eyes of man.” Six belongs to man because he was created on the 6th day of the week. Neb’s image in Daniel 3 is 60 X 6—number 6 again. 6 will also sometimes tell you it is confusion or serpent. So man is confused by the serpent “Speaking great things” – What is this? 2 Thes 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who is man of sin? Inorder to find out we need to understand what sin is first. 1 John 3:4
“Sin” – breaking God’s law. This characteristic is already in Little Horn power. He changes and breaks God’s law. “Man of sin” – Eyes of man which changes God’s law or Eyes of man is committing sin, breaking God’s law. This is how Daniel 7 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is connected 2 Thes 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
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Key text: who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God Dan 7:25 …speak great words… Dan 7:8 …mouth speaking great things…
These two powers are the same in Daniel 7 and 2 Thessalonians 2 Thes 2:3 …son of perdition
Who else is named this? John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
This is Judas, he is called son of perdition. Little horn power and Judas are similar in character. Judas held the money. Rev 17, the papacy has gold, she is wealthy (Rev 18). This is how to connect Daniel 7 and 2 Thes 2. Let’s go a little deeper (Speaking Great Words): Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
Who speaks great words? Murmurers, complainers, walk after their own lusts (similar to eyes of man). Little Horn has these characteristics because of speaking great words. Anyone in the Bible murmuring, complaining, and walking after their own lusts? The children of Israel. Although they are Babylon. They had the sins of Babylon many, many times. So the Israelites were murmuring, complaining, and walking in their own lusts Heb 3:13, 16-19 [13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. … [16] For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. [17] But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? [18] And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? [19] So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Unbelief 1 Cor 10:6-10 [6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. [7] Neither be ye idolaters, as [were] some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. [8] Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. [9] Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. [10] Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Israelites had this problem because of unbelief (Heb 3). Unbelief will not help you to enter God’s rest Murmuring, complaining, walking after your own lust means = speak great things + no faith
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(unbelief) = cannot enter into God’s rest. Little horn power is the same (speak great things—murmuring, complaining, etc). They have no faith. Therefore they cannot enter into God’s rest. Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
Little horn power is admired “walking after their own lusts” Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. “Carnally minded” – lust (Romans 7 talks about this).So walking after their own lusts=carnal mind Jas 3:14-16 [14] But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. [15] This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. [16] For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work.
“Sensual” – lust. Confusion=belongs to Babylon. So Babylon=confusion and confusion=envy and strife and envy and strife=earthly mind and sensual and sensual=lust. Jude says this is speaking great words Daniel 7 says Little Horn speaks great words
Lust
Sensual
Devilish
Earthly mind
Envy, strife
Confusion, Babylon
Phil 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Who are the enemies of the cross of Christ? Phil 3:19 Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Destruction also means perdition. Mind earthly things=enemy of the cross of Christ. Who has earthly mind? Jas 3:15-16 [15] This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. [16] For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work.
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All the texts together show us the biggest problem of this little horn power is selfishness. This is why it says “eyes of man” and “speaking great words” Conclusion: We should attack the problem of this little horn power based upon the Scripture, this is how righteousness by faith comes in. We should not just identify the Little Horn power. We should also identify the foundation of this power. Meaning, the sins, the iniquities, the wrong character, the unrighteousness of this little horn power. We might not BE this power, but if we have the characteristics of it, we are no better than they. We should also identify the deep sin of this power so that we won’t have this likeness in our characters. God is saying PRIDE, WEALTH, LOVE OF MONEY, HUMAN UNDERSTANDING. These are the root of the problem. Do not forget to mention these things when speaking of book of Daniel. People’s heart needs to be changed. 5. Greater sphere of power (v20) Dan 7:20 …more stout than his fellows…
It is little in the beginning, but then it will become exalted somehow 6. Diverse from the first (v24) – He is diverse – A religio/Political power. He is diverse from the horns. Diverse means different. He is different from the 10 horns. What are the horns? They are civil power that is all that they are. (10 horns out of this kingdom are 10 KINGS!). Now they are civil power, but this little horn is going to be different from the, but how? It is a little horn, so we know that it has some type of political power, but this is not all that it has. Revelation 13 is a parallel to Daniel 7. Rev 13:1 shows us a beast. What is a beast? A political power. But if you read verses 4 and 8 it demands worship. That shows us that it is also a religious power. So it is both a religious and political power. It is diverse. These 10 were political powers and that is all they were. But this horn is going to be a religious and political power combined. Horns are civil power. Since this is also a “horn,” it should have political power, yet that’s not all that it has. Revelation 13, which parallels to this chapter clarifies it. “They worshipped the dragon.” Rev 13:4. That means it also has religious power. Therefore it’s religious and political power combined. 7. Speak great words against the most high (v25) – What does it mean to speak words against the Most High? You must go to Revelation 13:5 " him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies." When it says it speaks great words. It means it speaks blasphemy. Now we must define what that is. What is it? This “great words” are blasphemy against God. “A mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.” Rev 13:5. The Biblical definition of blasphemy is: Lk 5:21 Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
Any man that claims to have the power and authority to forgive sins is speaking blasphemy. Get the context when you read it to other people. Jesus was healing and He said son thy sins be forgiven thee. They were mad at Jesus they wanted to take up stones, and Jesus said http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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why? They said for blasphemy, who can forgive sins, but God alone…So any man who claims to have the power or authority to forgive sins is speaking blasphemy. Mark 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? Jn 10:33 For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
The Jews couldn't believe the statement that He made and they said He spoke blasphemy. A man claiming to be God. Jesus was speaking blasphemy because He was God. Any man that take upon himself the attributes of deity is speaking blasphemy. Ex. If you give yourself the title King of Kings, the Great Shepard, or Lord of Lords, you are speaking blasphemy. Any man, who takes upon him the attributes of deity, is speaking blasphemy. 8. Wear out the saints of the most High (v25) – Dan 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
So the little horn persecutes God’s people Dan 7:25 And he shall speak [great] words against the most High
“great words” – Is connected to commandments. How does he speak against the Most High God? Dan 7:25 ...and shall wear out the saints of the most High
“wear out” – means constant mental harassment. How can you do this constantly and mentally. Inquisition – it is persecuting as well as trying to mentally harassment. So the little horn has mental persecution There are many ways this little horn power speaks against God and this is one of the ways. It’s a persecuting power. “It was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.” Rev 13:7. You must go to Rev 13:7 "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints," He talks about how he would persecute the saints. And if you go to Rev 17:6 "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints." It says the woman is drunk with the blood of the martyrs of the saints, she is killing them. It is a persecuting power. “The woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” Rev 17:6. 9. Think to change times and laws* (v25) – This power is going to attempt to change God’s Ten Commandments. It says think because in reality you can't do it. Note: Laws can include the laws that govern the earth, from sunset to sunset, or the Sabbath. Some translations say the Law. 10. They shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (v25) – Saints will be persecuted for 1260 years. Dan 7:25 …and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
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Who are the they? The saints of the Most High. They will be given into 'his' the little horn's hand. You see this time frame 7 times in the bible. 2 in Daniel and 5 in Revelation. Dan 7:25 …they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Dan 12:7 it shall be for a time, times, and an half. Rev 11:2, 3 [2]…shall they tread under foot forty and two months. [3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Rev 12:6, 14 [6]…they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [14]…where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Rev 13:5 …power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Here, “time, times, and half time” is equal to 1,260 days, also equal to 42 months. Therefore we can figure it out as below: 1,260 days = 42 months 30 days = 1 months time, times, and half times = 1 year, 2 years, and 6 months = 12 months + 24 months + 6 months = 360 days + 720 days + 180 days = 1,260 days Day represents year in the Bible prophecy: Ezk 4:6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. Num 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. Dan 4:23 …till seven times pass over him; 1 Chr 29:26, 27, 30 [26] Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. [27] And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. [30] With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.
If literal, then it is 1260 days. How do we know from the Bible, contextually? Babylon – 605-539 BC (around 66 years) Medo-Persia – 539-331 BC Greece – 331-168 BC Roman Empire – 168 BC-476 AD (600+ years) Little horn power seems greater than the others. If it is literally 3 and ½ years and still be greater than other world kingdoms, it doesn’t make sense. Many times it takes more than 3 and ½ years just to come up. It must be 1260 years How about the text in 2Peter 3:8 “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years”? With the context, Peter is making emphasize on the fact that God is eternal.
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Hebrew poetry confirms it; Synonymous parallelism. You find this type in 40% of OT Hebrew poetry. They make a statement, then come back and make the same statement but reword it in different way. The classic example is in Psalm 77. Ps 77:5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
Therefore it will persecute the saints for 1260 years. When you look at Rev 12:6 it tells us that the woman goes in for 1260 days, in Rev 12:14 it speaks of the same time event, the woman goes into the wilderness for a time, times, and a ½ of time. It is the same as 1260 years. In Rev 13:5 it talks about the beast reigning for 42 months. 42 X 30 = 1260 symbolic days. It all comes out the same. We calculate according to the Jewish calendar. We talked about times being years. 1 Chron 29:26-27, 30; Daniel 4:16, 34. PN: After this he goes back over all the identifying marks and shows how the identification points to the papacy. They are also in the crusade notes. * In AD 533, Justinian, the Eastern Roman emperor, made a decree that Papacy will have both political and religious power over the churches of the West. But that decree didn’t go unto effect because of the oppose of Osthrogoths. Osthrogoths didn’t want anybody to rule over them. In AD 536, Belazzars, the general of Justinian of the East, went down to city of Rome and attacked the Osthrogoths and pushed out of the city. But Osthrogoths came back in AD 537, and laid year-long siege on that city cutting off all avenues to escape. Finally, in AD 538, Belazzars decided to try one good attack. Surprisingly they pushed the Osthrogoths, thus giving complete freedom now to rule supremely. There is only one power in the entire world that can match all these identifying marks. You are not going to find any other power in the entire history of the earth. You can’t have eight of the nine and say this is the power; you got to have all of these nine identifying marks. The only power is the Roman Catholic Church. It is the great antichrist of Bible prophecy. It is the great system of Bible prophecy that has opposed God’s people. Daniel called it “the little horn power” “king of the North”: Paul called him “the man of sin”: it was John called him “the beast” “the antichrist” “the harlot woman”: it’s the Roman Catholic Church. Let’s go over the identifying marks: 1. Arise in Western Europe (Among the 10 horns) V.8 – Roman Catholic Church is sitting in Rome! In fact, it sat right on the capital of Rome! 2. After AD 476 (He comes up after the horns) V.24 – Papacy existed long before AD 476. But it’s relationship to when they will reign over the people of God when they will have jurisdiction over them: “They shall be given into his hands.” Dan 7:25. They officially established complete control over the churches in AD 538. 3. Uproot three kings (He uproots 3 Kings/Horns) V.8, 24 – there were three kingdoms defying its command. Because they were Arians. They believed religious freedom. They did not accept the Catholic religion; they had their own religion. These three kingdoms are: 1) Heruli, 2) Vandals, 3) Osthrogoths. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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4. Man at the head (There would be a man at the head of this organization) V.8 – no question who is the head of this organization, but the Roman Pontiff. “Eyes of man”: They call the holy city and Pope, “Holy See.” Indicating that he sees, he is the eye of all Christianity. 5. Religious Political entity (He is diverse (Religio/Political power) V.24 – no one question about this. Catholic is religious political entity. The kingdom of Vatican. 6. Claim to have power to forgive sin (Blasphemy) V.25 – anyone who got the common sense knows the indulgence. Man who claims to be “God” on earth – there is no question that he claims that he is god almighty on earth. He takes the title, “Prince of Prince, King of Kings, Lord of Lords” which only belongs to Jesus. Early Protestants used to teach this: Three crowns on Pope’s head represents that he is above the hell, earth, and heaven. But every time that he wears that crown, it’s the identifying marks that he uprooted three kings. He is wearing three crowns; he has uprooted three. Every time they saw that crown, they said, “Here he is. That’s the little horn power!” 7. Persecuting Saints (Persecuting power V.25 (Rev 13:7)) – anybody knows the history remember the Dark Ages. Catholic has slain tons and tons, millions of Christians. What they have done, the bloodbaths, horror stories are unbelievable! Catholic Church is the greatest persecuting power that have ever existed. It makes out of Hitler and Herlacus look like a picnic! The Pope has committed more crimes than all the world combined in the history of this world. It is so wicked, so demonic, that it is nothing more than the seat for Satan himself to exist in this world. 8. Attempt to change the Law of God (thinks to change times and the laws) V.25 – Here is what they have done to God’s Ten Commandments: They took out the second commandment, and pushed it forward. Then since they have Nine Commandments rather than Ten Commandments, they split the last commandment into two. “You may read the Bible from the Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day we never sanctify.” Faith of Our Fathers, by James Cardinal Gibbon, p.86.
“The reason for changing the Lord’s day from Saturday to Sunday lies in the fact that to the Christian church the first day of the week had been made doubly holy. It is the day in which Jesus conquered dead by His resurrection from the death and gives assurance of future glory...(after he gives all the Bible examples and reasons why they keep the Sunday, concludes this way)…Nothing is said in the Bible about the change of the Lord’s Day from Saturday to Sunday. We will know the change only from the tradition of the church… That’s why we find it so illogical the attitude of many non-Catholics who says that they believe in nothing unless they can find it from the Bible and yet continue to keep the Sunday as the Lord’s Day on the say-so of the Catholic Church.” Faith Explained, by Rheo Thracy, p. 242. “The church received the authority to make such change. But since Saturday, not Sunday, is specified in the Bible, isn’t it curious that non-Catholics who profess to take their religion directly from the Bible and not from the Church, observe Sunday instead of Saturday? Yes, of course it is inconsistent, but this change was made about fifteen centuries before Protestantism was born, and by that time http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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the custom was universally observed. They have continued the custom, even though it rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church and not upon an explicit text in the Bible. That observance remains as a reminder of the Mother Church from which the non-Catholic sects broke away – like a boy running away from home but still carrying in his pocket a picture of his mother or a lock of her hair.” Faith of Millions, by John O. Brian, p.473
9. Attempt to change the times – During the Dark Ages, when the Protestants came upon them and exposed this 1260 years.* To counterattack this concept, Catholic developed Preterism and Futurism teaching that it should be 1260 days. They changed the times to three and half years. Futurism and Preterism is simply exactly opposite of Historicism. 10. 1260 years of persecution – History show us that Papacy had persecuted God’s people from AD 538 to AD 1798. That’s exactly 1260 years. During this time Protestants came up with this 1260 years. Protestants built that 1260 years based on the “day = year” concept of Bible prophecy. * Protestants didn’t have the date right, but had 1260 years right. But they didn’t have the date set down. This system of prophetic interpretation was known as “Historicism.” The Roman Catholic Church had to do something to stop Protestants from putting the prophetic finger on the Papacy because all of the Northern Europe was leaving the Catholic Church. So Catholic Church started the Counter Reformation. And they developed these Catholic counter systems of the prophetic interpretation: Preterism by Luis De Alacazar, Futurism by Francisco Ribera and Robert Bellarmine. Therefore, Protestants believed that antichrist is not a person, but a system for man cannot live for 1260 years. And Catholic believed that antichrist is a person, not a system because the Bible says “the man of sin.” They failed to see that the four beasts in the Daniel 7 were four kings, yet it was not just referring to the king, but the whole system. Isn’t it amazing that even among Seventh-day Adeventists, there are people who are caught up in this “changing of times”? There are only two systems: Historicism based on the Protestant principles or Futurism and Preterism based on Catholic principles. Anyone reads the history will know Who led that reformation. Please don’t tell me that God has invented Jesuits. It’s the Devil himself that gave birth to the Jesuits. You’ve got two systems: one came from God, and one came from Devil. Now when you come to me and start telling me that 1260 days are not 1260 years and Ellen White didn’t know what she was talking about, but not it’s three and half years at the end of times, don’t tell me that you are a Protestant! You may say you are Protestant, but you are Catholic in your faith! We’ve got Adventist-Catholics. Not even the way they look at the prophecies, but even the way they look at the church! What constitutes a church? What is church? Time has come for God’s people to wake up! It’s time for us to be the Protestants all over again! Tip: You go to the pioneer’s book first, and then you will see the books that they quoted from. And you go to the old bookstores, and start gleaning. If they support the position of Bible, SOP, pioneers, you know that you got the accurate history. Keep this historical data, then go to encyclopedias and ancient history books, and start looking up those names and dates and events in the index: you will find unbelievable insights and all kinds of information on those topics. What will you going to do when you are brought before the trial? Sister White tells us that they will use historians to challenge us. These historians, they know the history upside down, inside out. If they come against us, we better know our history! Try to establish everything by yourself!
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Judgment and God’s kingdom (9-14) VERSE [9] 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. [10] 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. [11] 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. [12] As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. [13] 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. [14] 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. We will cover more detail in Daniel 8 and 9, but we will start here. And we will look at a text that Charles Wheeling and others have used to say that Daniel 7 cannot refer to Babylon, MP, G, and Rome. They say the lion in America, Bear Russia, and other things. This is nonsense. We covered in detail the antichrist in Daniel 7, but there are other identifying marks that we didn’t cover like Rev 13, 2 Thess, 1 Tim 4, Rev 17, I John 4:1-4, but we don't have time. 7:9 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.
“thrones were cast down” – doesn’t mean destroyed. Means to set up or to begin, establish. When the thrones were cast out Daniel no longer sees the little horn. After the little horn disappears, he sees the judgment scene. According to prophecy, the reign of the little horn lasted 538 – 1798. So this means the judgment began some time after 1798. “The Ancient of Days” – Referring to God the Father. Who is the ancient of Days? God the Father, what text? Dan 7:13 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.
“Son of Man” – Jesus Christ came to the Ancient of days=God the Father. Called by this name to indicate God was before all these kingdoms because he setteth up kings and bringeth them down. Ps 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
“garment was white as snow” – Interesting that Daniel describes what He is wearing and the texture of His hair. Recommend to study the word “garment and snow” “hair and wool” and “white as snow.” This will give you an understanding of God and what these things have to do with His throne. “Wool” – meekness or mercy http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“Fiery flame” – judgment which brings justice when God is the judge. Big picture: Mercy and Justice put together, this is about God’s throne. His throne is established by mercy and justice together “Wheels as burning fire” – Don’t you ever dare let the New Theology ever put you in a corner and say, “The throne is stuck right here”! Bible teaches clearly right here that it has wheels; it’s movable; it’s transferable. The Bible teaches clearly right here that it has wheels it is moveable or transferable. Again in Revelation 4 and 5 we see again the throne room concept, and you have the 7 candlesticks being mentioned right here. And in GC 414, 415. EGW quotes this verse and says John saw the HOLY PLACE!! There is a throne in the HOLY PLACE. The Adventist church originally taught this. You have throne room and have seven lamps mentioned in Rev 4:5. Throne of God is able to move itself. EGW herself saw this happen where God and Jesus moved from the holy place to the most holy place on chariots of fire. That means the throne was in the Holy Place: GC 414, 415 He beheld there "seven lamps of fire burning before the throne." Revelation 4:5. He saw an angel "having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne." Revelation 8:3. Here the prophet was permitted to behold the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven;
There you see a throne in the Holy Place. Desmond Ford brought this idea: “When Jesus ascended to heaven, the Bible says that he sat on the right hand of God. And the Bible tells me there is only one throne! The most holy place is the throne room. Therefore, Jesus went into the Most Holy Place, not Holy Place in AD 31. Therefore 1844 is nonsense! Who cares about 1844? What is so significant to Investigative Judgment? Everything is done at the cross! Therefore, for you and I to do anything like stop eating meat, wearing jewelry, make-up, keeping the Sabbath-day “holy,” is all legalism because you are adding to the cross!” That’s not what my Bible tells me. They use the Sanctuary to prove their position, but why don’t they understand that the Sanctuary teaches the Day of Atonement? Atonement was never done just with the sacrifice of the lamb! When the lamb was slain, they took the blood and sprinkled on the veil representing that the sins are not transferred to the Sanctuary. And that happened every day! Lev 4, and Jer 17:1. But you still have sins recorded in your heart according to Jeremiah and the record in heaven. The cleansing of Sanctuary is to cleanse the record of sin in the Sanctuary, but also in relationship to this temple of God on this earth: you and me the sanctuary in our hearts. That’s what the blotting out of sin is all about! Your sins are not blotted out at your conversion. Because that means the moment you are converted, you are saved; you are sealed for eternity! That’s exactly the predestination: once-saved-always-saved concept! We believe in the freedom of will; we can have our sins forgiven, but that doesn’t mean that the This subject sheds great light on our present position and work, and gives us unmistakable record of the sins have been removed. God is seeing whether you are truly repented or not. Note: The reason why our people are so confused today is because they do not know what we originally believed in the first place. James White and others use to teach a concept known as the TWO THRONE ROOM Concept. James White wrote a little book called the Two Thrones. And had our people kept this concept alive during through the Adventist church, Desmond Ford would have never gotten us.
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This is a classic text, verse 9. You take this text and emphasis the wheels on the throne and crossreference this over to Revelation 4 and 5. You got to Revelation 4:5 and show the 7 candlesticks, then you cross-reference it over to the GC 414, and 415, and this ices it. Note: The NT and Ford says that when Jesus went to heaven He sat on the right hand of God, and my bible tells me there is only one throne room, and this is not what our bible tells us. The wheels show that the throne is transferable this is the idea. In other words wherever God sits, that is His throne. Note: Jesus when He entered into heaven He sat on the right hand of God. The NT says you have the sanctuary, and the throne room is in the MHP, therefore Jesus went into the MHP in 31 AD. So if this is the case what happens, who cares about 1844, what is that? The Investigative judgment. It has no significance whatsoever and everything was done at the cross, so they say. And therefore for you and I to do anything like stop eating unclean meats, and not wearying jewelry or makeup, and keeping the Sabbath Holy and even keeping Sabbath is legalism, because you are adding to the cross of Christ, so they say. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. It is interesting because if they use the sanctuary to prove their point, then how come they don't understand that the sanctuary teaches the Day-Of-Atonement. And that the atonement was never done with the slaying of the lamb. How come they don't understand that when the lamb was slain they took the blood and sprinkled it on the veil and on the horns of the alter of incense, representing that the sins were transferred into the sanctuary now recorded. This happened everyday, and was known as the daily service, this is show in Leviticus 4, and cross-reference over to Jeremiah 17:1 that shows the blood was put on the horns of the alter, and that was their sins, but the sins were also recorded in your heart. You see there is a record of every sin that you have committed in your heart from day one until today, and there is a record in heaven. The cleansing of the sanctuary is to cleanse the record of sins in the sanctuary, but also in relationship to the temple of God on this earth, you and I. The sanctuary in our hearts to cleanse the record of sin, this is what the blotting of sin is all about. It is to remove the record. That is why our sins are not blotted out at conversion. Why is it incorrect to say this? Parable: The King who forgave a debt of a man, but he didn't forgive, so the record of his debt came back and he had to pay it, and now judgment was passed on him. Ezekiel 18 teaches it too. If at conversion your sins are blotted out, that means when you are converted you are sealed for eternity. This is once saved, always saved, predestination, and we don't believe this. We believe in the freedom of the will. You can have your sins forgiven now, but that doesn't mean the record of your sins has been removed. Because you are still on probation, and God is seeing if you are truly repented or not. And if you are truly repented, and all the sins are kept covered when this day comes, they will then be blotted out. God cannot blot out your sins when you are converted (at the cross), because you know what the danger is? What is the big deal about 1844 the cleansing of the sanctuary, so what? There goes that one. Don't let anyone fool you to make you think that when you are converted your sins are blotted out. If you fall for this, eventually you will abandon 1844, the cleansing of the sanctuary, the perfection of the saints, the vindication of God's character. It is a domino affect. The cleansing of the sanctuary or blotting out of sins happens on the Day-Of- Atonement.
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Class question: How do you bring in RBF into these prophecies? When you look at the prophecies in Daniel (you can see this in Revelation too), they are historical accounts of delineation of events transpiring from Babylon to the end of time. But in Daniel and in Revelation, the main subject that is central in these books is the sanctuary. And the sanctuary teaches RBF. Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. You confess your sins, and by faith you follow the priest into the MHP and have your sins removed, all of this is taught, and how you rely on the sacrifice to be the means upon which your sins are forgiven and so forth. So when you get to Daniel 7,8, and 9, it thrusts the sanctuary subject into focus. Why does God show the historical events corresponding with the sanctuary? In 1844 Jesus went into the MHP, and on earth you had two groups of people. One group followed their Lord by faith into the MHP, and the other group kept praying to the Holy Place, and satan came and answered their prayers and he breathed his spirit on them. They lost sight of where Jesus was and what was happening, but the other group saw Jesus, and they saw Him through the sanctuary. So when you study the prophecies, 1.) Get the historical event, which shows you where you are in the stream of time in the history of this world. But corresponding to where Jesus is in relationship to the mediatorial work that Jesus is doing in behalf of mankind. So you are getting both. I am following Jesus by faith, I know where He is at, when I see the sanctuary revealed through prophecy. But at the same time I know where I am in the history of this world, I know that the history of this world is almost over, I know it is almost done, and Jesus is in the MHP, and it is over, the next thing is that it is done. This shows me 1.) What work must be done for me individually for me to appropriate the merits of Christ in behalf of my life. And in relation to the history of this world we are in the antitypical Day-Of-Atonement. And this shows me what my part is in redemption and the plan of salvation. I have a part to play. We are not in the era of the daily service. We are in the yearly service, the Day of Atonement. Keep this in mind, why is the sanctuary subject mentioned in the books of Daniel and Revelation? EV 222, 223 As a people, we should be earnest students of prophecy; we should not rest until we become intelligent in regard to the subject of the sanctuary, which is brought out in the visions of Daniel and John. proof that God has led us in our past experience.
She mentions the books of Daniel and Revelation and she says this statement. She is talking about the subject of the sanctuary in reference to these books. And this subject is to unlock the mystery of the work of Christ in behalf of man, and what our work is in relationship to this. Once you establish the everything-done-on-the-cross concept, then you deny the 1844, you deny the Investigative Judgment, you deny the Day of Atonement, then you deny the vindication of God’s character. Class question: Do the other protestants have an understanding of the sanctuary? When you look at evangelical Christianity they have no more of an idea of what is happening in heaven, then the man in the grave. They talk of Christ being your high priest, but they have no idea of the significance of what they are saying. The reason why it is like this is because (NT as well teaches this) at large they teach that every thing is done at the cross. Once you establish this premise, there is no need for an investigation or judgment. Another doctrine that affects the judgment is the state of the dead. That when you die you are judged, you go to heaven or hell this is your reward, heaven, hell, or purgatory. So this removes any vision they can have of work being done in the heavenly sanctuary. Class question: "I am he that blotted out thy sins." The point of this text is just that God is only the one who can blot out our sins. When we repent we don't blot out our sins, God does this. All true glory in relation to God blotting out our sins goes to God not us. Class question: Why type of experience did others have in the Holy Place? Before 1844 no one could have this type of experience. They had an experience in relationship to what Jesus was doing in the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Holy Place, because once Jesus was in the MHP there is a difference experience for us, this is the blotting out of sins. In the Holy Place they experienced having their sins being forgiven. Acts 3:19 shows when the blotting out of sins will occur. When you enter into the MHP. In the HP your sins are just being put on record, but in the MHP they are not just on record, they are not being examined to have them removed. This is the difference with the final generation. This is the difference. Hebrews 11 – This chapter has a powerful list of God fearing men and women, who lived God fearing lives. They were given the promise of eternal life, but did they obtain eternal life? No. In Hebrew 11:39, 41: Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
They have received not the eternal life yet. They lived by faith, they were righteous, and forgiven, but they went into the grave not receiving the eternal life. They lived by faith, therefore they received a good report. The promise of what? Salvation, eternal life. In other words, they lived by faith they received a good report, they were righteous, they were forgiven but they went into the grave not receiving the promise. Now watch. Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
“for us” not them. But for us. The awesome responsibility of the final generation, the 144,000 who are the first fruits of every nation, kindred, tongue and people who fell asleep in Jesus. That the final generation is actually going to vindicate and bring to reality the character of God, and the fulfillment of the promise that those who died in the grave had hope in. This is the awesome responsibility of the final generation. That the destiny of previous generations lies in our hands. If God doesn't have a final generation that completely and fully reveal the image of Jesus in their lives, number one God is not coming, and the people in the grave will still have to wait in their graves. Recommended book: 1844 Pioneers and Sanctuary by Paul Golden. Pioneer’s position on Sanctuary during 1844. In Paul's Gordon Book 1844, the sanctuary, and the pioneers. He wrote the pioneers position on the sanctuary and 1844. In the section when Jesus entered heaven He did not enter into the MHP, it covers this. 7:10 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.
“thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him” – Who are these that stood? Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Angels “books were opened” – When is the timing? Until the thrones were cast down. Therefore, after the 1st reign of the little horn (papacy) which is 538-1798 AD. So the ancient of days sat. God’s throne came and judgment began. Idea of judgment is mentioned in verse 10. So what books? The books used in the judgment contain the life history of every person. A number of texts mention these http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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books: Book of Life: Rev 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. Phil 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Contains the names of all who have professed Christ and are His fellow workers Rev 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.
The book of life will ultimately contain only the names of those who are destined for heaven because they are overcomers through Jesus. Book of Remembrance: Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. Neh 13:14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.
The book of remembrance records the spiritual life and good works of a person. Book of Sins: Isa 65:6, 7 [6] Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, [7] Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.
Even our sins are written in God’s books. Book of Environment: Psa 87:4-6 [4] I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. [5] And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. [6] The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
The book of environment considers where a person was born and the privileges they’ve had to learn truth. When the Lord writes up His people He will consider if they were born in a godly environment (Zion) or in an ungodly (Babylon). He will see if they knew truth and obeyed it. (James 4:17.) In Matt. 7:21-27, there are a lot of people who call themselves Christians who do not truly follow Christ. God can’t let them into heaven because they would bring their unconverted hearts and spoil heaven’s peace. During the investigation it is established who the genuine followers of http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Christ are. In the investigation phase of the judgment God examines the life record of everyone as recorded in His books. He looks to see if those who profess Christ have truly given their lives to Him and love Him with all their heart. Jesus referred to the need to do this in. Timeline: This judgment comes after the Little Horn. So it takes place some time after this Little Horn. The timing of Little Horn is 538-1798. Therefore, this judgment has to come some time AFTER 1798. After the reign of Little Horn power after 1798. 7:11 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.
“I beheld [even] till the beast and slain…destroyed….given to burning flame” – After looking at the judgment scene THEN he sees this …When he heard the little horn speak, he looked at the beast. But why did he look at the beast? Because, that beast with the 10 horns is still considered the little horn. Politically, the Roman Empire fell. But when the little horn came up, it was no longer the Roman Empire, but the Papal Rome. That beast has had 2 faces: 1. Pagan (without little horn) 2. Papal (after little horn came up). Thus, the 4th beast is still in existence today. Note: Verse 8, the first word is “I considered”—more than just glancing or looking at it. It is concentrating on it, taking, it is taking extra notice about this particular scene. Note: Verse 9, “I beheld”—He is watching the Little Horn until thrones were cast down. So he was looking at the Little Horn, THEN he saw judgment. He was captivated by judgment scene for a while then he was brought back to see … The judgment concept is mentioned and in front of it and back of it is the Little Horn power. Judgment is very closely linked up together with the Little Horn. These 2 things are very important here. What is the connection? Daniel is about judgment. Daniel is seeing how God will defend His people in the time of judgment and at the same time how God will revenge and destroy the wicked power because of the judgment of God. In other words, Who is our defender? God. In Daniel 1-6 God ended up defending Daniel and 3 Hebrew boys. Daniel means God is my judge. So God will judge this Little Horn, this judgment belongs to God and not us. God is revealing to Daniel what power will destroy and persecute God’s people but at the same time God is saying I AM THE ONE WHO WILL JUDGE AND DESTROY THIS POWER. Again, all through the other chapters (1-6), you see judgment of God. “till the beast was slain … body destroyed … given to the burning flame” – Three Stages of Destruction. The papal Rome will go through 3 stages of destruction 1. “slain” → 2. “body destroyed” → 3. “cast into burning flame”. “slain” – Jesus ministry was 3.5 years = 1260 days and was slain, meaning wounded. This is similar characteristic of Jesus Christ Similar in likeness to Jesus Christ. It is antichrist, a counterfeit Christ. Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Daniel 7, it says “slain” about the beast. So similar to antichrist because of Jesus being slain for our sins, our transgressions. Jesus was wounded for our sins – Rev 13, beast was “wounded” or slain (1798). Thus, the antichrist also copied and was slain after 1260 days in 1798. As if it had been http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“slain” “body destroyed” 2 Thes 2:3-7 [3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. [5] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? [6] And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. [7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
“Wicked” means the papacy’s body will be destroyed at the 2nd coming of Christ. 2 Thes 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
“Wicked…..destroyed” – Ultimately Satan “cast into burning flame” – This happens at the 3rd coming of Christ after the 1000 yrs in Rev 20. All this correlates to the 3 stages of judgment: first the beast is slain before investigative judgment. Then the body destroyed at pronouncement, and is then cast into burning flame as final punishment. These three stages are seen in Rev. 17. “beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast” – He looked at the HORN, then the BEAST. 4th beast and Little Horn power is together in terms of characteristic and purpose of its power. It doesn’t say 5th beast. So the Little Horn is a political entity but the description is more religious characteristics. He speaks great words against God, persecutes God’s people, changes God’s time and God’s law and very religious. We see more political characteristics in the beast and more religious in the horn. Horn itself is political but gives us religious characteristics. So the main idea is the 4th beast with the Little Horn=church + state 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
“rest of the beasts” – Includes Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece their dominion was taken away. To God, it doesn’t matter whether it is political or papal Rome, God still considers it Rome. Pontius Maximus was the title given to the emperor of Rome and this same title was given to the pope – it means the most high official. “Yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time” – People bring this text to argue that the beasts cannot be Babylon, Mede-Persian, Greece and Rome*, for they have been destroyed. Although their governmental power was taken away, the characteristics still continued in the successive kingdom. That is why in Revelation 13, the beast is talking about is a composite of all the beasts but is controlled by the dragon. But look at Revelation 13. * Isn’t the fourth beast that was slain Rome? Looking at context, it’s talking about the little horn power. Horn and beast are synonymous: both represents kingdom. That’s why you see composite http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“beast” in Revelation 13, which is papacy. So the rest of the beast must include Roman Empire. Rev 13:1-2 [1] And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. [2] And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged through the Papacy. Papacy kept alive Babylon’s religion. Papacy kept alive Mede-Persia’s law that neither will not altar nor change. Papacy kept alive Greece’s swiftness. Papacy has stamped with its feet and iron teeth as we see in the Dark Ages. Papacy is nothing more than baptized Babylon, Mede-Persia, Greece and Rome. Their kingdoms are gone, but they still live through the little horn. Thus all the characteristics have been passed down through to the current papal Rome and they exist in the embodiment of the final beast. Using this text to prove that the beasts cannot be Babylon, Mede-Persia, Greece, and Rome is nonsense! Don’t let them try to fool you! You can’t separate Daniel 7 and Revelation 13. Where do you think John got this idea of the beast of Revelation 13? Daniel 7. It goes hand-in-hand. TM 114 The things revealed to Daniel were afterward complemented by the revelation made to John on the Isle of Patmos. TM 115 The book of Daniel is unsealed in the revelation to John
So it you really want to know what’s happening in Daniel, go back to Revelation. No prophetic time application for “season and time” also. 7:13 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.
Continues from v. 10. Why does it seem out of order? The only the way to understand it is because of the judgment. It shows the judgment of each beast after it is mentioned. It follows Daniel’s concern after God shows each beast and God reveals how the 4th beast with the little horn (papal Rome) will be destroyed and then how God’s kingdom will be set up in v. 13. That is through the investigative judgment. Jesus comes to the Father. Where is the Ancient of Days? God is in judgment. So Jesus went to the Father to participate in the work of the judgment. “Son of man came with the clouds of heaven” – The scene described here is not the second coming of Christ, for the Ancient of days is not on this earth, and the coming here spoke of is to the Ancient of days. “There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom.” Christ receives His kingdom before His return to this earth: Lk 19:10-12 [10] For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. [11] And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. [12] He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
Therefore, this is a scene which takes place in heaven. Which tells us that there will be a judgment in heaven before the second coming. In Daniel 7:25, you have “time, times, and dividing of the time,”
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which is 1798; in v26 you have judgment, and in v27, you have “kingdom given to the saints of the most High,” the second coming of Jesus. That tells us that there got to be a judgment sometime after 1798 and before second coming. When we to go Daniel 8 and 9, he tells you the specific year of the judgment. It’s referring to 1844. It’s the marriage ceremony. Making up of the kingdom and making the subjects of the kingdom. The marriage is taking place right now. That’s the point of Matt 22, the parable of wedding feast. King found a man without the robe, and cast him out. That’s exactly what’s going on now. God is going through the list of the name starting from the dead from the beginning: Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel… Those who had not made right with God, cast out their sins, they are cast out of the kingdom; they are not subjects. Then, it will transfer over to the living. But no one knows the time for transferring to the living. GC 390,391. Very soon, we are going to see the events taking place. God will come to your name, my name, and He will see whether we are fit to be subject of His kingdom. 7:14 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.
“there” – means place where Father and Jesus was doing judgment. Before Jesus comes again, He has to receive the kingdom from the Father in order to bring God’s kingdom to the earth. What does it mean for Jesus to receive the kingdom? In order to establish a kingdom you have to have 3 things. 1) A King = Jesus, 2) A City = New Jerusalem, 3) A People = still being determined in the investigative judgment. Investigative judgment allows Jesus to decide which people has the right to be part of His kingdom. It is necessary because we are all a part of the citizenship of this world, so heavenly beings have to help in determining which people may be allowed to join Christ’s kingdom. God’s people are transferring their citizenship from this world to heaven. How are they transferring? Walk by faith in Christ – justification and sanctification. By beholding Christ we become changed. After the transfer, Jesus will come, God’s people will judge God in heaven (millennium) and then the new kingdom will be set up after 1000 years. “given him … a kingdom” – Time of judgment is when Jesus receives a kingdom Talks about Christ receiving a kingdom when He goes up to heaven. “which shall not be destroyed” – Goes along with Daniel 2, stone comes and sets up kingdom and lasts forever but before Jesus can come back to set it up, He needs to receive the kingdom first. Kingdom of world will become kingdom of God. At the close of probation, it will be decided who is in this kingdom. Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Note: During the time of judgment is the time to select who will be a part of Kingdom of God. God is judging, investigating to see who is worthy of the kingdom of God. Matt 24:14 …this gospel of the kingdom…
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Why gospel of the kingdom? 3 angels message prepares people to be citizens of the kingdom of God. So it is the time to gather His people for the kingdom. This is what Jesus is doing in the heavenly sanctuary, in the judgment. The city is already there but He doesn’t receive it because nobody is there yet. Time of Judgment is the time of Wedding (New Jerusalem is called the Bride) … or preparation for the wedding. Many parables has many connotations of a wedding. Sequence: So Daniel 7, Jesus enters into Judgment to receive a Kingdom—to select His people for His kingdom Daniel 2, before stone comes, He has to receive the kingdom in order to set it up. So judgment takes place BEFORE 2nd coming. Why? Daniel 7 says judgment is set after little horn power at this time Jesus receives a kingdom. Daniel 2 doesn’t show this, it just says He comes with it, so He already received it before He came. Since He receives this in time of Judgment, and He receives this before the 2nd coming. Therefore, the judgment is before the 2nd coming of Christ. This is one way to prove judgment is before 2nd coming of Christ Note: People say this judgment is after or at His coming. Jesus said I come with rewards. Judgment is already finished and determined. You have the same event being spoken of that was previously mentioned in verses 9 and 10. This coming, the Son of man coming what is this speaking of? It is not referring to the second coming. This is the marriage ceremony, it is the making up of the subjects of the kingdom. This is what is happening. God is making up His bride right now. This is what Matthew 22 is speaking of. The King has a feast for His Son, and He calls in guests, and He provides robes for everyone so they could be fit for the ceremony, and then He goes out and investigate the guests, and He notices that one doesn't have a garment on, and He wonders how he got in, and he is speechless, he is cast out of the marriage feast, he cannot be a subject of the kingdom. He doesn't have the provisions made, he is cast into outer darkness. This is what is going on now. God is doing this. He is going through the list of names starting with the dead from the beginning of time. Adam, Eve, Abel, etc. Those who have not made things right with God by putting away their sins are cast out of the kingdom. But those who have put away the sins make it. Then it transfers over to the living, and according to GC 390, 391, no one knows when it transfers over to the living. And it is going to happen sooner than we think. This is the investigative judgment. We will cover the specifics as to when it begins and the time aspect next class.
Further explanation on the little horn (15-28) VERSE [15] ¶ I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. [16] 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. [17] These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. [18] But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. [19] 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; 20And 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. [21] I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; [22] 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. [23] Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms,
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and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. [24] 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. [25] 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. [26] But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. [27] 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. [28] 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. 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of [my] body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Two words, grieved and troubled. Mentally and physically affected by the vision. Why was he so sick or grieved and troubled? His thought was for his people, but there’s no mentioning of God’s people 7:16 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. 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, [are] four kings, [which] shall arise out of the earth. 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
“But” – after these 4 kingdoms, THEN the saints shall take THE kingdom (of God). Take and possess for ever and ever. God knew what Daniel was wondering. He was thinking about his people. When will God’s people possess the kingdom, before or after? Some aspect is before 2nd coming. The actual, literal taking of the kingdom is after 2nd coming “saints take kingdom” – because of investigative judgment. Dan 2:44 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 kingdom will be left to other people. Who is the other people? The saints. Repeat and enlargement. So the Angel gave Daniel the big picture. Four beasts are the four kingdoms. 7:19 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; 7:20 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.
“look more stout” – strong began little and became stout (grew). Still little kingdom, but his religio-political power has increased. He now has complete power. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
“I beheld” – He wants to know more about his people. Every time he asked something, the answer was always about God’s people, His saints. “war with the saints … prevailed against them” – God’s people will be overcome by this little horn power. 7:22 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.
“Judgment given to saints” – Is the 3rd Judgment during the millennium. This is talking about 1000 years Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. So verses 21 and 22 tell us what the angel showed Daniel (vision) and verses 23-27 tell us what the
angel is telling Daniel (explaining it).
7:23 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.
Verbal explanation to Daniel about the prophecy. “speak great words” – blasphemy “wear out” – persecution “changing the law” – heresy. All these involve the kingdom of God. “time, times and the dividing of time” – If they don’t believe the Arabic language, you can use Revelation 12:6 to prove the this passage will be equal to 1260 days. Ezek 4:6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. Num 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
These verses both say that a day = year. For obvious reasons it cannot be only 3.5 years. No kingdom can be established within such a short amount of time. Refer to Dan 8:13 to find about the trodden under foot. Good point! But I would use Dan 7:7 “fourth beast...stamped the residue” Same as Dan 8:10 “and it cast down [some] of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.” Dan 7:25 “And he[Little Horn or Papacy] shall speak http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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[great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High,” Same as Dan 8:13 “daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?” Therefore the Daily = Fourth beast (Pagan Rome) and Transgression of Desolation = Little Horn (Papal Rome) 7:24 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. 7:25 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.
This class covers how the papacy changed the times in Daniel 7:25 from symbolic to literal using the Catholic Counter system of prophetic interpretation. And the second part covers the judgment in Daniel 7. Review: We covered the all the identifying marks, but we are going to go back to that verse. We looked at the word times, and we know the biblical reckoning of time can refer to sunset to sunset, and now we use midnight. And we looked at the word time in reference to the law of God specifically the Ten Commandments. But there is more. All of these things have to do with how the little horn is attacking the kingdom of God by: 1. Changing laws (kingdom without law is anarchy)2. Speaking against Most High (speaking against the King) 3. Wear out the saints (attacking God’s people) Note: continue to study this verses connection with Dan 7:13-14. The little horn power is attacking the very same things that are needed for the kingdom of God to exist. “time and times and the dividing of time” – This is the 1260 years of Papal Supremacy, and during this time God's people were given into his hand, and God's people fled into the wilderness. This time frame began in 538 and lasted until 1798. You have the 1260 years. He shall think to change times and laws. And remember that this time frame is a time, times, and dividing of times. The Roman Catholic Church during the dark ages, when the Protestants came and exposed this time frame… Note: The Protestants back then didn't have the actual dates correct, but they had the 1260 years correct. The Protestants built this position upon the day year concept. That a day equals a year in Bible prophecy. This system of prophetic interpretation is known as Historicism. This is known as the Historical school of prophetic interpretation, it is the Protestant School. The Roman CC had to do something to stop the Protestants from placing the prophetic finger on the Papacy. They had to come up with some way because all of northern Europe was leaving the Catholic Church. So the Catholic Church began the Counter Reformation. It was split up into 5 areas: 1. 1540 – Pope Paul the III the formal recognition and organization of the Society of Jesus or the Jesuits. In 1534 or 1536, they were together, but they were not recognized as an official organization of the Catholic Church until 1540.
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2. The Council of Trent: 1545 – 1563. 18 years on and off, this was the most important council to be held in the history of the Catholic Church. They came together to define Catholic doctrine, and to settle the issues, what are we going to do with these Protestants and protestant doctrines. It wasn't until a couple of years after the council of Trent that they developed the 3rd phase of the counter reformation, which was 3. The Catholic Counter System of Prophetic Interpretation. The Catholics (or Jesuits) developed a counter system to prophecy to go against the historical view of prophecy. They came up with two views: But they came to the 1260 years and said this doesn't refer to the papacy. The protestants established the doctrine of the antichrist on two points Preterism = Louis De Alcazar invented this concept. The world itself gives the definition to this system, Pre means before. In other words, the antichrist rose up before the papacy especially during the times of Nero and Diocletian, and when they come to Daniel 8 they say it was Antiochus Ephiphanes. Futurism = Francisco Riberia invented this, and the co-founder is Robert Bellamine. It is the very opposite that Antichrist would arise in the future. The Antichrist (Point 3): The nature: Who is antichrist? If you examined what is it? They looked at it as a system, but it was an apostate system in the church. They did not see the nature of antichrist as a single man (underscore this). The Protestants did not. They saw it as an apostate system. The duration: They began to study Daniel and Revelation and they saw 7 times a time frame, time, times, and a half time, 42 months, 1260 days. And every time they saw this timeframe it applied to the antichrist. They said we know the nature of what antichrist is, it is an apostate system that has invaded the Christian church. We look at this time frame and we know it can only mean 1260 years. Now can as system exist for 1260 years? Of course. Counter System. The nature: The RCC took the same things, the nature and the duration of antichrist. When they came to the nature, they said it is not an apostate system, antichrist is a man, and they developed the single man theory in relation to the nature of antichrist. What is antichrist? He is nothing more than a man. The Protestants saw the pope as the head of the system, and that he was not the antichrist alone by himself. He represented that system so in a sense he was antichrist, but not by himself, he headed the system. The Duration: They came to the concept that the Protestants were teaching. Remember: The Protestants established it based upon the day year concept. They saw the 1260 years and said it can't apply to the pope. He is a single man, so they took the 1260 years, and they changed the times, and made it a literal 3 and ½ years. Why? To be consistent with the nature of the antichrist. No one man can live 1260 years, but can a man live for 3 ½ years? Yes. They came to this time frame and attacked the day year principle, and they changed the times. Class question: In Daniel 4 a time equals a year, so why does times in Revelation and Daniel 7 equal 360? Because the 3 ½ years (or time, times, and a half of times) in Daniel 7 is 3 ½ years, but it is not literal years like in Daniel 4. They are symbolic years. And a literal year in the Jewish reckoning of time is 360. So it is symbolic not literal. The seven times are 7 literal years, not symbolic years. That is how we get that.
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The Protestants looked at the man of sin (or antichrist) as a succession of men in this system, they didn't see it as stuck in mud as one man. But the Catholics saw it turned it around and said no. What is the bottom line between Historicism and Futurism? Futurism is the very opposite of historicism. Historicist looks at the nature of the antichrist as a system, and they look at the duration as being 1260 years built on the day year principle. But the Catholic Church reverses this, it is not a system it is a man. That is the very opposite. It is not 1260 years, it is 3 ½ years, the very opposite. It is not a day equals a year it is a literal year. And the papacy changed the times. The bible prophesied that the papacy would be the inventor of the 3 ½ year end time period. And it is a tragedy that we have so called Adventist caught up in changing the times. They say it is not 1260 years, it is 3 ½ years at the end of time so they say. You have two systems: One is historicism built on the protestant principles. And we know God lead this reformation. And God didn't create the Jesuits. The devil himself invented them. You have two systems one came from God, one from the devil. When we have SDA's coming and telling us that the 1260 years are no longer 1260 years and that EGW didn't know what she was talking about, and it is 3 ½ years at the end of time, don’t tell me you are a protestant. You may say you are a protestant but you are Catholic in your faith, this is how it is. We've got Adventist Catholics, not just in how they look at prophecy, but also how they look at the church, what constitutes the church and makes us a member. The time is come for God's people to wake up and become Protestants all over again. 4. The Roman Index of forbidden books 5. The Inquisition 7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end.
“judgment shall sit…they shall take away his dominion” – What judgment is this? this refers to “they shall take away his dominion” – they refers to the saints. The saints will take away the beasts dominion. The possession of the kingdom exists from the 2nd coming. The saints could be the 144,000. How will they take away dominion? Through the 144,000. God cannot destroy the Little Horn. God cannot destroy this power unless God’s people demonstrate the character, obedience, love, righteousness, and faith of God. This is in 2 Thes 1. They will be the ones that show the earth God’s dominion when close of probation happens and the 7 last plagues are falling. Their character and protection from God will demonstrate that the little horn and Satan has been defeated. 7:27 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.
Concept of little horn’s dominion taken away. To consume and destroy it unto the end. Then God’s people will possess the kingdom of God. Saints of God will possess the kingdom of God, this is the end of Daniel 7. What has to take place first for this to happen? Judgment. What is this judgment? This is repeated again in Daniel 8 7:28 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 had the same experience of not understanding. Remember, before saints can receive the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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kingdom of God, there has to be a judgment. The 1000 year judgment is spoken about too, but the judgment from 1844-probation closes is the most important judgment. In verse 26, judgment shall sit—this is talking about investigative judgment. How to know this? Because of verse 14 of Daniel 7.
10 characteristics of little horn 1. “Came up among them” (Dan 7:8) 2. “Shall rise after them” (Dan 7:24) 3. “little horn” (Dan 7:8) 4. “three of first horns plucked up” (Dan 7:8) 5. “eyes like eyes of a man” (Dan 7:8) 6. “a mouth speaking great things” (Dan 7:8) 7. “made war with the saints” (Dan 7:21,25) 8. “diverse” (Dan 7:24) 9. “think to change times and laws” (Dan 7:25) 10. “time, times and dividing of time” (Dan 7:25)
Must come up in Europe where the 10 horns appeared. Comes up after all 10 horns appear. Germany tribe existed only after 476 A.D. This little horn must appear after that time. This kingdom is small. This power plucked 3 kingdoms. (Heruli, Vandals, Ostrogoths) A man is the head of this kingdom. 666 is the number of the man. Speak great things = blasphemy. Claim to be God and claim to forgive sins. Little horn persecutes God’s people. Different from all other kingdoms. It is a union of church and state. The world’s only religious-political power. This power will change God’s law. Will rule for 1260 years.
This vision goes from literal Babylon to spiritual Babylon at the end of time.
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Chapter 8 – The 2300 Day Prophecy In this chapter, all you are going to see is these four: ram, he-goat, little horn, and 2300 days. That’s Daniel 8. And it’s split into two major segments: first 14 verses dealing with the visions, and later verses dealing with the interpretation. Again, the repetition goes horizontally across, but magnification goes downward in time. Because the enlargement is for the last time. Focal point of repetition is to magnify the second coming event of Christ. As you get closer, as thing being magnified, you see the details that you didn’t see before, yet you can’t see some other things that are not in the focus as you would standing back. The closer you get in your magnification, you are getting to see things dropped off. In this chapter, Babylon is dropped off. Because the time was imminent for the destruction of Babylon by the Medo-Persians. And the focal point is now transferring from literal Babylon to spiritual Babylon. You got transition taking place. The ancient Babylon is no longer the focal point for God’s people. When you get into the vision of Ulai and Hiddekel, it’s the spiritual Babylon that is in focus. In this chapter, we have the same history but put in a different way. It is essentially divided into 4 main parts: 1. Ram 2. He Goat 3. Little Horn (pagan and papal Rome) 4. 2300 day prophecy You have 14 verses of vision, and 13 verses of interpretation. You can almost lay them side by side. But the only interpretation that is missing is the vision of 2300 days. And you find it in chapter 9. Focus on Sanctuary – Why is there such a contrast between the beasts in Dan 7 and 8? Daniel 7 focuses on the political changes of the kingdoms, but Daniel 8 focuses on the religious changes of the kingdoms. God also wanted Daniel to focus on the importance of the sanctuary in the role of judgment. Babylon not Mentioned – Why is Babylon not mentioned? Because it is about to leave the world scene of that time. Daniel 2, 7 and 8 tell us that the Roman empire never really was destroyed. It lives on through papal Rome and politically through the political systems of many countries. In addition, the He-Goat which the little horn came out of is never destroyed, and it means that the influence of Greece lived on in the Roman Empire. Chapter Outline
Vision at Shushan (1-2)
The Ram (3-4)
The He Goat (5-8)
The Little horn (9-12)
Cleansing of the Sanctuary (13-14)
The Interpretation of the prophecy (15-27)
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Vision at Shushan (1-2) VERSE [1] 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. [2] 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. 8:1 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.
There is about 3 years of gap (or 2 years) between chapter 7 and chapter 8. So Daniel 7 and 8 is before Daniel 6. God gives Daniel another vision. This one is similar to the one given in Daniel 7 8:2 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.
“I was by the river of Ulai” – Why does God mention Shushan, Elam and Ulai? He is giving the geographical details necessary for working out what is “westward”, “northward” and “southward” in verse 4. TM 113 The light that Daniel received from God was given especially for these last days. The visions he saw by the banks of the Ulai and the Hiddekel, the great rivers of Shinar, are now in process of fulfillment, and all the events foretold will soon come to pass.
“The visions of Ulai and Hiddekel” are the visions of Daniel 8 & 9 (Ulai), 10, 11, and 12 (Hiddekel). People bring out this quotation saying that the vision cannot be referring to past events. Therefore they bring this nonsense idea saying the ram is Iran and Iraq, the he-goat is USA, 2300 is not 1844. But people need to understand this: not everything projected in the vision has come to pass yet. In Daniel 2, is the stone come yet? Is the prophecy has been completed? Daniel 7, have we seen the destruction of the little horn and setting up the kingdom? Daniel 8, have we seen Papacy destroyed without hand (v25)? She is simply saying that soon everything will be completely fulfilled!
The Ram (3-4) VERSE [3] 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. [4] 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. 8:3 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.
Medians were stronger, but eventually the Persians came and took over the Medes 8:4 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. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“The ram” – Comparing this verse with verse 20 we learn that the Bible tells us that this ram is “Mede-Persia. Parallel to the bear with one side raised, “one horn was higher than the other.” There is no doubt that this represents Medes and Persia. “westward” = Babylon “northward” = Lydia “southward” = Egypt. Therefore, this beast has to be coming from the East. We looked at the history already. It comes from the east (look at map). Represents king of the east. Like Jesus coming from the East. Same countries that were mentioned in Daniel 7.
The He-goat (5-8) VERSE [5] 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. [6] 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. [7] 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. [8] 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. 8:5 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.
“an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth,” – Alexander the Great starting from Greece, marched towards the extremes of east conquering as he went. Now remember, the Ram is coming from east. The He-goat coming from west which causes a head on collision, head-tohead. “touched not the ground” – swift. “notable horn” – Alexander the Great 8:6 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.
Comparison with Daniel 7. So the Ram represents Medo-Persia and the He-goat represents Greece. Daniel 8:3 says 2 horns yet one became higher on the Ram this like the bear in Daniel 7. Dan 7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side
Raised up (became higher) on one side this is similar to horn coming higher.
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The He-goat with leopard. Dan 8:5 says the leopard touched not the ground, it is flying with great speed. So the Leopard has 4 wings, super speed, flying in mid-air. This is similar to He-goat. So Daniel 2 helps you to understand Daniel 7; Daniel 8 helps you to understand Daniel 7—both chapters (2 and 8) helps you to understand Daniel 7. Keep this in mind. Interesting language when he-goat comes over to the ram. Daniel 2 and 7 doesn’t give us these kinds of pictures. Daniel 2 doesn’t show the picture of one kingdom destroying the other. They conquer, but there is no picture of the actual destroying. It just lists them successively. But in Daniel 8, we get a picture of actual destroying. Similar language is applied when talking about little horn power 8:7 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.
“cast him down to the ground, and stamped” – Destruction, almost total destruction. Keep this in mind. The he=goat cast down to the ground and stamped upon the ram. Why did God have to repeat the same history again in Daniel 8? What’s the difference? Daniel 7 is lion, bear, leopard, and dreadful beast. Daniel 8 is ram and he-goat and Babylon is not mentioned. Why Babylon not mentioned? Vision is given in 3rd year of Belshazzar, but God is saying Babylon is gone already off the scene. He is now emphasizing Medo-Persia, Greece, and the kingdom after it. Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 are different types of beasts, why? Similar—both are beasts, therefore, both are kingdoms so what’s the difference. Daniel 7 beasts are wild and very aggressive, destructive characteristics. Daniel 8 (ram and he-goat), these were used for sanctuary services. They are still beasts (kingdoms) but with more religious connotation. So Daniel 8 and 7 is same history but Daniel 7 is more political while Daniel 8 is more religious. Daniel 7 main emphasis is changes of political entities. Daniel 8 is religion is changing. The little horn power makes this very clear. Note: Daniel 2 and 7 is emphasizing 4th kingdom, 10 horns, and little horn and kingdom of God. Daniel 8 is similar emphasis on 4th beast, little horn, and kingdom of God (judgment). So Daniel 8 is more religious. 8:8 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.
So we see Leopard characteristics, this is the same history, again. The first kingdom = great, the next kingdom = very great – Each successive kingdom becoming greater in strength.
The Little horn (9-12) VERSE [9] 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. [10] 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. [11] Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down. [12] 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.
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From Bible prophecy, the ram=Medo-Persia, He-Goat=Greece, Little Horn=papacy. If this is so, we have a problem. Where is pagan Roman empire? This can be explained by saying that the little horn represents both phases of Rome. Thus, when it first comes up it is pagan Rome and when it grows it represents papal Rome. Therefore, the little horn in Chapt 8 includes 4th Beast and little horn in Chapter 7. 8:9 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].
“Out of one of them came forth a little horn” – Could mean it came up out of one of the horns. There was cooperation with the Romans and the Greeks from the north. This little horn is not the same horn in chapter 7. The little horn in chapter 7 was exclusively the papacy. But the little horn in this chapter is the Rome in its two phases: Papal and Pagan. It’s the same power that Moses prophesied in Deut 28, which is the Rome in its two faces: Pagan and Papal Rome. Notice there are Three Stages of Development Getting stronger, stronger, and even more stronger. Ram – great He-goat – very great Little horn – exceeding great “pleasant land” – This is Jerusalem. Where is this directionally? West If this is pushing toward south, east, and west, then it must be from the north. Little horn is coming from the North. Later on we will discover that Daniel 11 talks about the King of the North. However God is King of the North so this is Antichrist like characteristics. Psa 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, [is] mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
God is the great King on the sides of the north. He is the King of the north. Lucifer wants to be on the sides of the north in Isaiah 14. Isa 14
Sides of the north represents divine side. The Table of showbread was on north side in the sanctuary. Table of presence sometimes it is referred to as the presence of God. Historically is it believed that a sign was on each side of the sanctuary East – lion picture South – man’s face West – lamb or ox North – eagle Jesus fulfills these 4 aspects King – east Servant – west Human – south Divine – north So side of the north is where God dwells. Little horn power comes from the north, the “king” of the north. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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8:10 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.
“host of heaven” – God’s people or God’s saints. Similar characteristics as he-goat did to the ram “stars” – represents God’s leaders or messengers for/to His people (Dan 12:3; Rev 1:20). So the little horn comes from the north and persecutes God’s people. 8:11 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.
Little Horn: Some say the little horn is Antiochus Ephiphanes. Here are the reasons why he cannot be: Remember that the ram became GREAT; and He-Goat became VERY GREAT. The ram represents Cyrus and Darius. The He-Goat represents Alexander the Great. The Little Horn power became EXCEEDING GREAT! He surpasses Medo – Persia and Alexander the great. If you look at the history, Antiochus Ephiphanes was a weak kneed, jelly fish backbone type of man. When he went up against Rome and one of the generals drew a circle around him, and told him don't get out of the circle. And if he did that would be the end of his life. This shows how weak that he was. How come he can't be the little horn power? But the reason why they try to use him is because of what he did to the Jews. AE went to Jerusalem and started to kill people, and he demanded that they sacrifice pigs on the altar (this was an abomination), and he did this, and in this sense he defiled the sanctuary. So some say look here we have the little horn power, he takes away the sanctuary, the daily, and he desecrates the sanctuary and he is the little horn power. But when you look at the historical context, it doesn't add up. There is no way he could be greater than Darius, Cyrus, and Alexander the great. This is talking about the little horn. AE lived 164 years before Christ, so how could he come up against Jesus? This is speaking of Christ's persecution and crucifixion. How could he have come up against Jesus? He couldn't. This verse clearly shows that there is no way you can get AE to represent the little horn. Class question: (How do you prove that when it says V.11 "he magnified himself even to the prince of the host" that this is referring to the death of Jesus on the cross?) Answer: You must look at V.25 it says "he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes" and from here you cross reference over to Acts 4:26 "" and it goes on to talk about Herod and Pontus Pilate. What did Herod do? Tried to kill Jesus when He was a baby. And Pontus Pilate crucified Christ. He passed a decree to do it. This is why we say persecution and death, Herod persecuted Him, and Pilate actually passed a decree and did it. Little Horn: The little horn power is Rome in its two phases: Pagan then Papal. The little horn is both pagan and papal Rome. YOU CANNOT FORGET THIS!! THIS IS A KEY POINT TO UNDERSTAND THE DAILY!!It is both pagan and papal Rome.It is the Roman Power in its two phases.
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(Note: Don’t get confused, some feel it is strange to use one symbol to represent two powers. It is nothing strange because it is a parallel to Chapter 7. There was the 4th beast then rose up 10 horns and among the 10 came a little horn. Cross-reference this over to Revelation 13:2. It says that the dragon gave him his power, seat, and great authority. The dragon being Pagan Rome, gave to Papal Rome its power, seat, and great authority. [You can also cross reference to 2 thess 2:3-8]. It is trying to show that Papal Rome has come from Pagan Rome, it is showing that it is a pagan entity.) It is one symbol used to represent two powers.
Two Main Views for Daily Note: We have gotten away from our historic position. The daily is crucial in understanding the 1290 and 1335. Dan 12:11 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.
The starting point of these two time periods is ESTABLISHED upon the taking away of the daily. RESOURCE: GET THIS! IT IS A CLASSIC AND YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED: THE SANCTUARY, 1844, AND THE PIONEERS. (IT HAS A PICTURE OF J.N. ANDREWS, JAMES WHITE, AND URIAH SMITH ON THE COVER) AURTHOR IS Paul GORDAN. These 3 men, out of the history of the Adventist church, constituted 65% of all articles and books and periodicals on the sanctuary. Of all the sanctuary concepts these three men covered this much. They have developed our concepts, with help from others. In here you don't find any SOP. Paul Gordon said Desmond Ford said we can't prove our position from the Bible alone, and we always had to go to EGW. He took the main arguments of Desmond Ford and refuted them from the pioneer articles. They used only the bible. He did two things: He destroyed the NT, and brought our people back to our original position. And he established it upon scripture. At the end of each chapter he gives references in the SOP. Showing that EGW confirmed the truth that was presented. With this book you can contact the white estates and get a book 3 inches thick by Paul Gordon that is full of articles from the pioneers from the 1840's to 1915. Articles that are written on the sanctuary subject. Once again, so the little horn is pagan Rome at the start then it changes into Papal Rome. God used little horn to describe the rising of Pagan Rome and then the rising of Papal Rome with the same object. Daniel 7, little horn came out from 4th beast, therefore, connection between little horn and 4th beast of Daniel 7 as one entity, as together. Daniel 2, 4th kingdom is legs of iron which is connected to iron and clay (iron is in the feet, this is the connection). So Rome—Pagan and Papal Rome—is together throughout the prophetic chapters of Daniel 2 and 7. This is the same as Daniel 8 the little horn which is pagan at first then Papal. It may sounds like the little horn is just Papal Rome, not Pagan, because of Daniel 7 being just Papal Rome but the characteristics of the little horn in Daniel 8 apply to both Pagan and Papal Rome. Pagan Rome persecuted God’s people. Papal Rome did the same. Pagan Rome magnified itself against Christ by crucifying Him. Papal Rome did the same. Vicar of Christ, it made itself God as it were so we see the very same characteristics.
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Interpretation of the Ram and He-goat (Dan 8:20-22) Verses 23-25 is the interpretation of the little horn. Ram and He-goat is straight interpretation but little horn is not a straight interpretation, it gives more information about it. Based upon history and Daniel 2 and 7, Roman Empire comes after Greece. So little horn in the beginning is Pagan Rome, then it becomes Papal Rome Note: Both Daniel, John, and Paul, when they are talking about Rome, they don’t straight out say it is Rome. Daniel was straight in pinpointing who is the head of gold—Babylon, Ram (Medo-Persia), He-goat (Greece). When it comes to Rome, God is putting this interpretation behind so that only true seekers will know what this is. There’s a time when Paul should’ve said it was Rome but he didn’t (II Thes 2). Peter said the same thing, called it church in Babylon, not Rome. Even John (in Rev 12), dragon power=Satan and Pagan Roman Empire, but John didn’t mention Pagan Rome. God is trying to protect His people as much as possible and His word for the sake of unnecessary persecution. So Daniel 8, when it comes to the little horn, it just gives more information. It doesn’t interpret plainly like the other kingdoms. Dual application: This means it has interpretation but a prophetic application which God ordained. It means that the prophecy has 2 applications. 1st to what it means or interprets. 2nd is the characteristics of the interpretation repeating in the future event (Matt 24:15, abomination of desolation, AD 70/Sunday law) Jesus was speaking about the sign which will foretells the soon destruction of Jerusalem. Also applies to the national Sunday law. Little horn (based upon previous chapters) cannot be just pagan Rome. Sanctuary comes right after, where would sanctuary cleansed be? Before 538? Little horn cannot be only papal Rome Pagan Rome? Roman Empire? This destroys the sequence God intended. Repeat and Enlarge (God repeating the same history in prophetic language). Every time He repeats He adds more information. Daniel 7 – political. Daniel 8 – religious. Both have these elements but one is emphasizing the other. With all of this we should be able to determine that Little Horn when it comes up (because it is after Greece) is Pagan Rome. Therefore in Dan 8:0 – “waxed great”, this is pagan Rome. Characteristics: Stamped upon them (the stars to the ground) and persecutes the host of God’s people. Roman Empire persecuted God’s people even before the birth of Jesus “Stars” – angels, messengers, or sometimes leaders. Pagan Rome persecuted Israel even before time of Jesus. Israel was God’s people before their probation closed. Rev 12 has great red dragon (Satan) stands before woman to devour the child when he is born, then the child goes up. Historically, this was King Herod (king of Pagan Rome). Satan used Pagan political power to destroy Christ. Before this it says dragon drew 1/3 of the stars and cast them to the earth. So this is a Dual application. Roman Empire also did this before coming of Jesus (Dan 8:10-11) Stars then Prince
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Rev 12:4-5 [4] And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. [5] And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
Stars and man child. This is talking about Pagan Rome also.One more evidence: Dan 8:23 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.
This is about little horn power (it has similar language like it destroys God’s people) Deut 28:49-50 [49] The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, [as swift] as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; [50] A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the young:
Only one place in the Bible that has this phrase other than Daniel 8. They are connected because of the setting and both are coming to destroy God’s people. Deut 28:51 And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which [also] shall not leave thee [either] corn, wine, or oil, [or] the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.
Destroys everything and leaves the place desolate. This nation is known for complete destruction Little horn power has this too casting them to the ground and stamped. Daniel 7 (4th beast), iron teeth and brass nails, stamps with its feet. Complete destruction and desolation. Deut 28:52 And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
“Besiege” – surround Deut 28:53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:
This is exactly what happened in destruction of Jerusalem. When you besiege a city, you surround it, notice: Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
“Compassed” – besieged or surrounded “Desolation is nigh” – we saw this in Deut 28—nothing is left behind Who is this nation of fierce countenance that will besiege the city of God’s people? Luke 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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This is talking about AD 70, the destruction of Jerusalem. Application is for the end of time while the interpretation is AD 70. Conclusion: Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. This was prophesied in Deut 28, but it calls this power “a nation of fierce countenance”—this phrase is also in Daniel 8. Therefore, this king of fierce countenance is Roman Empire. Dan 8:10 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.
Says it is Little horn, therefore, the Little Horn power=king of fierce countenance; fierce countenance=a nation of fierce countenance; nation of fierce countenance=Pagan Roman Empire. Tracing backward, this Little Horn power=Pagan Roman Empire Interpretation is Pagan Rome. Dual application: All the characteristics (persecution, magnifies himself to God) still apply to Papal Rome. The subject of “the Daily” has been so much confusing subject. It’s crucial in relationship with the 1290 and 1335 days in Daniel 12. Dan 12:11, 12 [11] 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. [12] Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
There are two main views on the daily in our church, and as time goes on that the minority view will become the majority view. Because one view is more dominating in our church. The two views are: The Daily represents the High Priestly ministry of Jesus Christ. His mediatorial work. This is the number one view in mainstream Adventism. The Daily represents paganism. Note: This has a direct bearing on the 1290 and 1335. once you see it in its true concept, then you see the significance of the 2300, 1290, and 1335. Dan 8:13 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?
Of the four entities there are two groups. Note: this shouldn't be anything strange: Ex. Of the people that are dead we have the wicked dead, and righteous dead. Of the people alive we have the wicked and the righteous. Same here we have four entities and only two groups. What are they? The question is "How long shall be the vision concerning …BOTH (referring to the sanctuary and the host)" right within the verse itself it divided the groups. It did not say to give all three or one, it said to give both meaning two. Which of the two? The sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot. Therefore the text itself says that 3 and 4 go together. The text tells you that. Not only that, notice that is says how long shall be the vision concerning the daily AND the transgression of desolation, putting those two together, then it says the sanctuary AND the host, putting last two together. So you have the daily connected with the transgression of desolation, and the sanctuary and the host connected together. The first two powers are troddening under foot the last two powers. Of the two groups you have one that is evil and one that is holy. But in order to understand that you must have some definitions. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Starting point of 1290 and 1335 days is established upon the Daily. There are two main views in SDA: 1. High priest ministry of Christ 2. Paganism One of them is true and one of them is error. There is no pluralism here! Four Entities and Two Groups Dan 8:13 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?
With in verse 13, we have 4 entities: How long shall be the vision concerning: FIRST GROUP 1. Daily 2. Transgression of desolation SECOND GROUP: 1. Sanctuary 2. Host Of these four entities, there are two groups just like you have wicked dead, righteous dead, wicked alive, righteous alive, you got four entities, yet only two groups. These two groups you can find in the context. “The daily sacrifice and the transgression of desolation,” “to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot.” So, what we have is “daily sacrifice” connected with “the transgression of desolation”; “the sanctuary” connected to “the host.” Of these two groups, you have one that is treading, and that is being trodden; one holy, and one that is unholy. Then which one is holy and which one is unholy? Dan 8:11 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.
“magnified himself even to the prince of the host” – Who is “himself”? Pagan Rome. Cannot say it is papal Rome for interpretation, although application is papal Rome. “Host” – that is being trodden under foot is God’s people. Rev 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
“Sanctuary” – Pagan sanctuary was cast down. What are we seeing here? Pagan Rome is taking away the daily. Note: Sacrifice is not really supposed to be there. So read it without the “sacrifice” http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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word there. So Pagan Rome is taking away the daily and the place of his (Pagan Rome) sanctuary is cast down. What is being destroyed and cast down? Pagan sanctuary and the daily is taken away. So daily has something to do with Pagan sanctuary. Why is it Pagan Rome? The word “take away”, the meaning of this is “lift and lift.” What does lift and lift mean? Higher and higher. Is referring to the heavenly sanctuary. You have only two kinds of sanctuary: earthly and heavenly. You got the ram (Mede-Persia), goat (Greece), Pagan Rome; during these times you had Levitical sanctuary. But after AD 70, earthly sanctuary was literally obliterated and it’s not in the surface of earth anymore. Therefore, after “a little horn,” you got only one sanctuary left: the heavenly sanctuary. Transgression of desolation is the Papacy. Pagan Rome sure was desolation. Matt 24:15. Papacy sure was desolation power. But the word “transgression” is the key word. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” IJn 3:4. “He shall think to change times and the law.” Dan 7:25. “The man of sin.” 2 Thes 2:3,4. Who are the host to be trodden under foot? God's people – Revelation 11 (They were trodden under foot for 42 months). Which Sanctuary is this? You have two options: It either refers to the earthly sanctuary or the heavenly sanctuary. Which one? It is the heavenly, but how do we know? We need to look at the prophecy in this chapter. First we have the Ram, which represents Medo-Persia. Was the earthly sanctuary still being used? Yes. During the Greecian empire was the earthly ministry or levitical priesthood was still in tact? Yes. During the Pagan Roman empire the answer is yes and no, why? Because it existed up until 31 AD when Jesus died on the cross. Then came 70 AD. Pagan Rome destroyed the earthly sanctuary and it is not on this earth anymore. By the time you get to verse 13 you are beyond pagan Rome, you are into Papal Rome, and there is only one sanctuary are left and that is the Heavenly. So for the Second Group, the sanctuary that is being spoken of is the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY. What about the Transgression of desolation? What is it? Note: How do we know this is the papacy? Was pagan Rome a desolating power? Yes, Matthew 24:15 referred to the destruction of Jerusalem by Pagan Rome. But was the papacy ever a desolating power? Yes, it is the abomination that maketh desolate. Here is the key: What is transgression? What constitutes transgression to God's law? Sin; Sin is the transgression of the Law. Dan 7:25 …think to change times and laws…
Cross reference this text over to 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; he is known as the man of sin, sin the transgression of the law. He is the transgressor of God's law He is the man of transgression. Again: Sin is the transgression of the law; Dan 7:25 he shall think to change times and law; he changes the law of God, how? In 2 Thess 2:3-4 he is known as the man of sin, the man of transgression, and there is no question that he is a desolating power, he is the transgression of desolation, he is the papacy. So far: First Group: Daily = ? and the Transgression of desolation = The Papacy Second Group: The Sanctuary = The heavenly sanctuary and the Host = God's people. Now what is the daily?
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“Daily” – there is only two choices: the mediatory ministry of Christ or the paganism. We will try to put all those three definitions together and re-read the text with each choice. Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the high priest ministry of Christ, and the Papacy, to give both the heavenly sanctuary and God’s people to be trodden under foot?
Is this sound logical? Something doesn’t make sense. Then, let’s try the other way. Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the Paganism, and the Papacy, to give both the heavenly sanctuary and God’s people to be trodden under foot?
We can clearly see that there are distinct two groups. Does it sound logical? No; we have problems with this. (1) If the daily is the high priestly ministry of Jesus, how can it come against itself? How can it fight against itself? There are 4 entities and two groups. One is holy and one is evil, and we can see which one is good. Christ said a house divided against itself can't stand, and if you are for me you can't be against me. (2) Since there are 4 entities and two groups, one holy and one evil, how can something holy link up with something that is wicked to go against something that is holy? The bible says that light and darkness can't mix. You can't have light and darkness mixing to do away with something good. Look at Daniel 8:12 "And an host was given [him] (meaning the little horn) against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression," Look at this text on the handout that is a Hebrew commentary on this text. A host shall be given against the Constant (this means the daily, it is putting it in the noun form to give it a subject matter) in what? Iniquity. The constant or the daily is an evil entity. Other translators say it could be said as the daily in wickedness or the daily in rebellion. You can get this from the context in verse 13, two holy, and two evil. The DAILY IS LINKED UP WITH THE PAPACY, IT MUST BE EVIL!! (3) The word sacrifice is italicized. This means that this word has been supplied. It is not in the original Hebrew. Question: Is the word daily a noun? No, Ex. If I say I go to the store daily, what is that saying? It is describing how often I am doing it. It is not a noun the way it is phrased. They had an adjective, but no noun that the adjective was trying to describe. So the translators noticed that the daily was used in connection with the sanctuary so they used the word sacrifice. But this word does not belong to the text. If the word sacrifice meaning sanctuary doesn't belong to the text, therefore the daily cannot refer to the sanctuary. EW in 74-75 confirms what was just stated. Reasons for Daily not being Christ’s Ministry 1. If the “daily” is Christ’s ministry, how can it come against itself? 2. Since there are four entities and two groups, how could something holy link up with something evil to fight against something holy? 3. The daily is evil.
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Dan 8:12 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.
In original Hebrew direct translation “by reason of transgression” is translated as “in iniquity” or “in rebellion,” or “in wickedness.” 4. The word “sacrifice” added by men’s wisdom. “Daily” is not a noun, it’s an adjective. So this adjective didn’t have any noun that the adjective was trying to describe. So the translators, when they looked at the Hebrew, the word “daily” was used a lot in reference to the sanctuary so they just concluded that the word “daily” must describe the sanctuary. Therefore the word “sacrifice” is added as a noun that “daily” was trying to describe. But the fact that the “sacrifice” was not there tells us that this “daily” cannot be referred to the sanctuary. To this SOP confirms. EW 74, 75 Then I saw in relation to the "daily" (Dan. 8:12) that the word "sacrifice" was supplied by man's wisdom, and does not belong to the text and that the Lord gave the
correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry.
Right here in this statement, anybody can see that “sacrifice” is a wrong view, and there is a correct view. Therefore the “sacrifice” in relationship to “daily” is a wrong view. Therefore the “sacrifice” was not the subject matter of “daily.” Then what was the subject matter of “daily”? It must be evil entity, cannot be holy. Verse 13 confirms it by breaking it up in two groups: unholy and holy. One power is coming against another power. And again verse 12 confirms the fact that “daily” is an evil entity, in rebellion, in wickedness. Repeat: The translators saw the word daily in the Hebrew, and said all they can think of is that this word refers to the sanctuary service, the daily sacrifices. And they looked at this in relation to Antiochus Epiphanes, who sacrificed a pig on the alter desecrating the daily services. So they put the word sacrifices there because the word daily by itself is not a noun, so they had to put a subject matter there. And they thought it referred to the sanctuary. But the word sacrifice was supplied by man's wisdom and doesn't belong to the text. So the word sacrifice in reference to the word sanctuary is not the subject matter of the daily. What is the subject matter? Whatever it is, it has to be an evil entity it cannot be holy. V.13 confirms it because it has two groups broken up, the daily and transgression, linked up to tread underfoot the sanctuary and God's host. The last two are holy powers; the first two are wicked. The daily is in rebellion, it is not holy. Back to the quote. 5. The 1843 chart If those who gave the judgment hour cry had the correct view all we have to do is to go back and follow their view. EW 74, 75 I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as He wanted them; that His hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until His hand was removed…
Then I saw in reference to the daily, the previous was in regards to the 1843 chart. From this statement we can see that she says there is a wrong view and the correct view. Sacrifice does not belong to the text and the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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judgment hour cry. So therefore the word sacrifice in relation to the daily is the wrong view. Note: Once we see this statement, we just need to see what those who gave the judgment hour cry said. And he went back. And all he shared was what he got from the pioneer's said. This is what we originally taught. If you see the 1843 chart, “the daily” is right between the Pagan Rome and the Papal Rome. Transition between the Pagan Rome and the Papal Rome, you got the “daily taken away.” In 1850, she saw another vision that they need to make another chart. So Holy Spirit moved brother O’ Nickel put the chart together. In this chart, concerning the “daily taken away,” it notes: “Pagan dominion or the Daily taken away.” The chart of 2300 from the Great Controversy shows that in BC 508, “the Paganism” was taken away. She has locked you down in a chronological time frame. Before 1844 those who gave the cry had the correct view. So you just need to find material before 1844 find out what they had, and you have the correct view. She says the majority had it. So find the view that the majority had. Those who embraced a view besides what the pioneers taught before 1844 were part of darkness and confusion. The 1843 chart shows the interpretation of the powers going horizontally. But right inbetween pagan rome and papal rome, it shows the taking away of the daily, it shows the transition. In 1850 EGW had a vision and was told that the people needed to make another chart. O. Nichols made a chart. It is the same chart that is clearer. If you look at the 2nd column you have a picture of Daniel 7. Under the 4th beast it says the daily was taken away, and it says pagan dominion or the daily taken away. EGW said those who gave the judgment hour cry, God gave the correct view. When you look at the older pioneer views, this is what you see. In the GC there is a chart and it shows that in 508 AD the daily was taken away. He ended with the chart that is in the GC… 6. Pioneer’s Correct View (continued) …and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the "daily"; but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed.
All you got to do is find what the pioneer’s view was before 1844, you got the correct view. But not every view, but the view of the majority: “nearly all.” Review: The daily is the key to unlock the 1290 and 1335. Once you understand the daily you will see more clearly the importance of 1290 and 1335. Within this prophecy you have a lot of symbolism, and it difficult to read the symbolism and understand it if you don't have the interpretation. So what we want to do first is define the symbolism. Once you do that you take the symbolism out and put the definition in. Ex. Daniel 7:3 "four great beasts came up from the sea." Four great world empires came up from the masses of the people in the old world. That is definition. Then we understand it.
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Dan 8:13 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?
This first shows us 4 powers. How long shall be the vision concerning the daily… 4 powers are seen: The daily, the transgression of desolation, the Sanctuary, and the host. Who is the host? God's people. You get this from Revelation 11:2 (they were trodden under foot.) "holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." Who was trodden under foot for 1260 years? The church, the woman fled into the wilderness. So we become the host trodden under foot. Which sanctuary is this? The heavenly. How do we know? Stay in the context of the chapter. Meda-Persia, Greece, the little horn, which represents Rome in its two phases: Pagan and Papal Rome. Class question: Review of how we got these interpretations in reference to the little horn power. When we look at Daniel 8, keep in mind, that Daniel, 2, 7, 8, and 10-12 are all parallel chapters. Meaning that these visions parallel side by side. You have Babylon, Medio – Persia, Greece, and Rome in Daniel 2 and the same thing in Daniel 7. But when you get to Daniel 8, we see something come to play. Outline of the book of Daniel: 2 Babylon Medio – Persia Greece Pagan Rome
7 Babylon Medio – Persia Greece Pagan Rome
Ten Toes 2nd Coming
10 Horns Little Horn Judgment 1260
8,9 Medo-Persia Greece Pagan Rome Papal Rome (Both in the little horn power)
10-12
This is how the prophetic visions are broken down. Daniel 2 is the standard for everything else. Daniel 7 is built off of Daniel 2. Daniel 7 is nothing more but a repetition of Daniel 2. But it is not just a repetition it is also an enlargement of Daniel 2. It begins to magnify. He repeats Babylon, MP, Greece, Rome and the toes. And he also repeats when Jesus will come and destroy. But where does he magnify? The judgment, do you see the judgment clearly revealed in Daniel 2? No, you don't see that clearly. But is it talked about in Daniel 7? Yes. What about the 1260 years? That wasn't clearly seen either, that is a magnification. But is the time frame covered in Daniel 2? Yes it is. So there is a repeat and an enlargement. And it keeps going this way. The repetition goes horizontally. But the enlargement heads downward in time. When you see the prophecies repeating, they repeat going horizontally. But a magnification, that which is revealed in Daniel 7, which is not seen in Daniel 2 heads downward in time. Why? Because the whole point of the book of Daniel is to reach those who live in the end times. And so the magnification keeps heading downward in time. What happens when you get to Daniel 8? The progression goes on as there is a repetition and an enlargement, the enlargement is heading down in time. Why? Because the focal point is to magnify the second coming and the end time events. But as the repetition and enlargement goes on there is a dropping off. Ex. It is like looking at a large picture and you want to zoom in and focus your eyes http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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on a particular item. Once you get closer and closer, and magnify things you see things that you cannot see afar off. So the closer you get in your magnification things begin to drop off. So what drops off in Daniel 8? Babylon, it is not there. And it keeps heading downward and downward. But do we see MP? Yes, do we see Greece? Yes. Now you know that there must be a parallel with Daniel 2 because it is the standard. Now you have the little horn power mentioned here in verses 9-14. But the little horn power is two powers in one. It is using the little horn as a symbol to represent two powers. And V.13 is the key to show you that it represents two powers. Because in V.13 you have 4 powers: Daily, Transgression of desolation, the sanctuary and the host. Of the 4 powers you have two groups. How do you know that there are two groups? The word both is the key that puts them together. You could read it like this. "…to give both or the two meaning the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot." You have 4 powers divided into two groups. The sanctuary represents the heavenly sanctuary, the host is God's people. The transgression of desolation is the papacy. They are the ones that transgress the law, and no question he is a desolating power. Remember that Daniel 8 is divided up into 4 main areas: The Ram, the He-goat, the Little Horn, and the 2300 days. Then he gives the interpretation for 3 of the 4. The only thing that is not revealed into an understanding is the 2300 days. The daily is linked up with the papacy therefore it is an evil entity. And V.12 in the actual Hebrew shows that it is the continuance in rebellion, transgression, or wickedness. The daily is an evil entity, it is not a holy entity. V.13 makes it clear. Holiness and evil does not link up to do away with a holy power. Class comment: You can use Rev 13:6 shows that the tabernacle and the sanctuary are the same. Sanctuary 1844 and Pioneers, by Paul Golden, Paganism, the Papacy and the Sanctuary p. 8184. The pioneers did not ignore or denied the concept of 8:13,14. In fact they worked with it, seeing Paganism removed by the Papacy. They recognized that God’s sanctuary and his church and the host were trodden under foot, persecuted, by both powers. J. N. Andrews drew attention to William Miller’s exposition under the heading, Two desolations are paganism and papacy: “I could by no other case in which if the daily was found but in Daniel. I then, by the aid of concordance, took those words which stood connection with it “take away.” “He shall take away the daily,” “from the time that the daily shall be taken away,” etc, I read on. I thought I should find no light on the text. Finally I came down to 2Thess 2:7,8, “[7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. [8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:” and when I had come to that text, Oh, how clear and glorious the truth appeared! There it is, that is the daily! Well, now, what does Paul mean by “he who now letteth will let,” by “the man of sin”, and “the wicked,” popery is meant. Well, what is it that is hindering popery from being revealed? It is paganism. Well then, the daily must mean paganism.” (Second Advent, by William Miller). Josiah Reech, “I must refer the readers to the second chapter for full proof that “the daily sacrifice” means “the daily sacrifices” or “abominations of Paganism” or “daily abominations of Paganism ceased in the world empire taken away.” Bester Bliss Chronologist and writer for Advent Movement, 1843 “Paraphrase of Daniel 11 and 12 blistate that the daily was clearly Paganism.
J. N. Andrews, Joseph Bathes, Hiram Edson, James White, all believed that the daily was paganism. Class question: How do you make a distinction between pagan and papal Rome? What makes it a distinct power? In the taken away of the daily or paganism, in verses 10-13, the Bible is clearly trying to show you the transition from pagan Rome to papal Rome. The word take away does not mean to remove. The Hebrew word for take away is Room, it means to take in and absorb. Take in to the one that is taking away. Ex. We have the little horn power, Pagan and Papal Rome. The Daily
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or paganism was taken away by the little horn (the papacy), and the papacy absorbed paganism. The Papacy is nothing more than a pagan entity (baptized paganism). Once the pagan Roman empire was taken away it prepared the way for the setting up of the papacy. And this is what the little horn is making reference to. The idea of the daily being “high priestly ministry of Christ,” was suggested by Con Radi, who used to be a conference president, who did not believed Spirit of Prophecy. Which is one of the reason why we have problems in Europe today. He ended up leaving the church in 1937 and became a Seventh-day Baptist. He influenced brothers Prescott and A. G. Daniells, General Conference President about his view of “the daily.” These two men got excited with his idea, and began to preach it everywhere forcing people to accept their view. Thank God we still had few pioneers left around that time, they did not accept it. Sister White, concerning his view on daily, wrote this letter to Daniells and Prescott. Their view of daily was “the high priestly ministry of Jesus.” This is what Ellen White said receiving the vision from God. The Pioneers who gave the judgment hour cry Josiah Litch – "I must refer the reader to the second chapter for full proof that the daily sacrifice means the daily sacrifices or abominations of paganism. Or the daily abomination of paganism ceased in the roman empire was taken away" Sylvester Bliss (Chronologist and writer for the Advent Movement) 1843 – "Paraphrase of Daniel 11 and 12, Bliss states that the daily was paganism." Joseph Bates – J.N. Andrews – Hiram Edson – James White – "The daily sacrifice and the transgression of desolation represent Rome in its Pagan and Papal forms " Bible Adventism Sermon No. 8 They all agreed that the daily was paganism. Other view – Daily represents the high priestly ministry of Jesus. Conradi German – Over the conference in Europe. He didn't believe in the SOP. He knew EGW personally, and he talked to her too. We have problems in Europe today because of him. In 1937 he left the church and became a 7th Day Baptist. He influenced brothers Prescott and Daniels. Daniels was the GC president during that time, and Prescott was a leader in the GC. He influenced them to believe that the Daily was the high priestly ministry of Jesus. He was writing a book on Daniel at that time, and when he came to this passage, he said that the "daily" represents the high priestly ministry of Jesus and that it made more sense. He shared this with Prescott and Daniels and they began to preach it everywhere, and tried to force the ministers to accept his view. (AT Jones eventually believed this too). EGW has a statement about this concerning the daily, she wrote this letter to Daniels and Prescott. Their view of the daily was the high priestly ministry of Jesus. MS 1425, 1910 “I copy from my Diary. The truth as it is in Jesus--talk it, pray it, believe every word in its simplicity. What would you gain if mistakes are brought before the men who have departed from the faith and given heed to seducing spirits, men who were not long ago with us in the faith? http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Will you stand on the devil's side? Give your attention to the unworked fields. A world-wide work is before us. I was given representations of John Kellogg. A very attractive personage was representing the ideas of the specious arguments that he was presenting, sentiments different from the genuine Bible truth. And those who are hungering and thirsting after something new were advancing ideas [so specious] that Elder Prescott was in great danger. Elder Daniells was in great danger [of] becoming wrapped in a delusion that if these sentiments could be spoken everywhere it would be as a new world. {20MR 21.2} Yes, it would, but while their minds were thus absorbed I was shown that Brother Daniells and Brother Prescott were weaving into their experience sentiments of a spiritualistic appearance and drawing our people to beautiful sentiments that would deceive, if possible, the very elect. I have to trace with my pen [the fact] that these brethren would see defects in their delusive ideas that would place the truth in an uncertainty; and [yet] they [would] stand out as [if they had] great spiritual discernment. Now I am to tell them [that] when I was shown this matter, when Elder Daniells was lifting up his voice like a trumpet in advocating his ideas of the "Daily," the after results were presented. Our people were becoming confused. I saw the result, and then there were given me cautions that if Elder Daniells without respect to the outcome should thus be impressed and let himself believe he was under the inspiration of God, skepticism would be sown among our ranks everywhere, and we should be where Satan would carry his messages. Set unbelief and skepticism would be sown in human minds, and strange crops of evil would take the place of truth. Ms 67, 1910, pp. 1-8.
What was Daniels and Prescott’s view of the daily? “A Search for Identity – the development of Seventh-day Adventist Beliefs” – George R King (p226-227) Their view was that the daily was the high priestly ministry of Jesus Christ. John Kellogg brought to this church spiritualistic concepts, pantheism, that God is in everything and everywhere in the brick tree etc. This is Hinduism, and what the Mormons teach. She was shown this matter, what does this mean? In vision she was shown. She is talking about the view that Prescott and Daniels and had concerning the daily being the high priestly ministry of Jesus. EGW says they keep preaching that she saw the results, confusion in our ranks, we would accept the lies of the devil in place of the truth. This is what we are being taught in the academies and universities of the SDA church. After this who can explain the 1290 and 1335? Maxwell Godcares when he gets to 1290 and 1335 he said we don't know what this means. And he is from Andrews, he is one of the professors from Andrews. Today we are dealing with the after results of what took place. How was the daily taken away? The result of this false idea will be confusion in our ranks, we will accept the lies of Devil in the place of truth. When that happens, who then could explain the 1335? God Cares by C. Mervyn Maxwell, p. 303 In Daniel 12:11, 12 the Angel speaks of 1290 days and of the blessedness of a person who waits to the end of 1335 days. Inasmuch as the Angel does not provide any event for the close of the 1290 days, and none for either the beginning or the ending of the 1335 days, it is not yet possible to state with certainty the manner in which these two time prophecies were to be fulfilled.
Daily is the critical point in establishing the beginning point of 1290 and 1335 in Daniel 12:11, 12. We are having after-results of this very false concept. We got people confused on daily. In SDA, they don’t understand what 1290 and 1335 means. Then now all these people coming in saying, “See, the church can’t tell you, but I can. Let me tell you what it means.” Adventists for the first time, who have never heard about 1290 and 1335, caught up and say, “Wow, this is great! This got to mean this!” Friends, our pioneers used to teach 1290 and 1335 days just like 2300 days! A little by little the Devil got us.
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“Daily [sacrifice] was taken away” – The word “daily” (ha tamid) means “continual.” So it’s referring to something that has been continued. The Jews in Babylon saw paganism to be a continual affront to the sovereignty of the Lord. Ha tamid had reference to the continual scourge of politically powerful paganism. Isa 51:12-15 [12]I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; [13] And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? [14]The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. Isa 52:4-6 [4] For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. [5]Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. [6]Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. Isa 65:1-3 [1]I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. [2]I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; [3]A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
The word “taken away” it doesn’t necessarily mean “removing,” in Hebrew means, “to absorb, to take in to the one that is taking away” or “to exalt.” The “daily,” or Paganism was continued by the Papacy and the Paganism was absorbed or exalted by the Papacy. Papacy is nothing more than a pagan entity. Understanding that this little horn is two different powers is crucial point. Dan 8:12 And an host(God’s people) was given him(little horn: Pagan and Papal power) against the daily sacrifice(Paganism) by reason of transgression(Papacy), and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. Dan 8:10,11 [10]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. [11]Yea, he(little horn) magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him (margin: from him) the daily sacrifice(Pagan Rome) was taken away(absorbed into), and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.
From a little horn, which is two power, one face is absorbed into the other: Paganism was absorbed into the Papal Rome. It’s the transition from the Pagan to Papal Rome. The word “sanctuary” in this text is totally different word used in 13, and 14. In this verse, “Miqdash” is used, while in 13 and 14, the word “Qodesh” was used. The word “Miqdash” can both refer to either God’s sanctuary or the Devil’s temple (Isa 16:12; Ezk 28:18). Context will decide which it is. But the word “Qodesh,” the only interpretation that can ever be mean is “God’s sanctuary.” Did Pagan Rome ever have their temples? When Pagan Rome fell, Papacy occupied their pagan temples. All the idols and statues are right there. All they did was to baptize the paganism into Christianity. For example: http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Recommended book: Great Controversy Illustrated by James Elbidoo. It shows you all the pictures how Papacy absorbed the Pagan Rome. There is video too.
Christmas – When it reaches to December 25, the sun is farthest from the earth. As pagan people noticed that, they feared that their god is drawing away from them. So on that day they sacrificed and worshipped for Sun to come back. It was crucial feast for paganism. So the Papacy just brought it in and simply said, we will just keep this day as the birthday of “the Son” instead of “Sun.” So the pagans didn’t care as long as they could worship the Sun, went into the same temple, which is now called as Cathedral and worshipped.
Easter – that was the Pagan worship of god of fertility. So the Papacy simply brought that into the church and called it “Easter Sunday,” the day Jesus was resurrected.
Pontimus Maximus – it was the title for Caesar. The title just transferred over to the bishop of Rome.
Paganism always has been plague for God’s people from Old Testament; God’s people always fell on this evil power. But by the time the Christian church came about, God’s people in the Roman Empire despised Paganism and they hated. So Satan knew that he couldn’t use Paganism to get God’s people. So he changed his tactic. Satan still kept the evilness of Paganism and brought it in to God’s church through Papacy. For the ancient church, Paganism was the enemy of God. But for Christian church, the Papacy is the enemy of God. You worship on Sunday, you go to mass, and you say prayers to the priest, it’s nothing more than but worshipping paganism! I don’t care what you call it! Conclusion: 3 things that the Roman Empire did: 1. Magnify themselves against Jesus 2. Took away daily. 3. Took away sanctuary. Who is this little horn? Coming from the North, persecutes God’s people, and speaks and makes himself go against the Prince of the host. Who is the Prince? Jesus Christ Prince is the Messiah, which is Jesus Christ. Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince
So little horn power goes against God’s people and against Jesus Christ. What is this little horn power? Don’t conclude it is the papacy yet because the papacy didn’t come right after Greece. So where is Rome? Roman empire went against Jesus – Matthew 2. Pontius Pilate himself made the final denouncement of Christ. Observation: Little horn is attached to the 4th beast in Daniel 7. The 4th beast and little horn power is one entity, same characteristics. When little horn is mentioned, the beast has to be there because it came up out of the beast. Little horn power cannot stand up on itself without a beast, so they are together. Note: You can have the beast without little horn, but you cannot have little horn without a beast. Pagan to papal Rome transition: The name has changed but it is still Rome. The phase changed. So Daniel 8, there is not another beast, but we see a little horn. This little horn is BOTH Pagan and Papal Rome. So therefore…
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Dan 8:9 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].
Is this Pagan or Papal? Pagan Since they are together, one becomes a direct interpretation, the other becomes a dual application. This verse is talking about Pagan Rome but application is Papal Rome. Why? Because this little horn is both it has a dual meaning. Interpretation is pagan Rome but it is also Papal Rome. Both are coming from the north. King of the north is the title for both. There is one point where it changes to Papal Rome … Dan 8:10-13 [10] 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. [11] 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. [12] 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. [13] ¶ 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?
In these verses you have the little horn power exercising but there is a transition also. The same little horn (pagan) which transitions to Papal. How can the little horn come out of Greece? Daniel 7 helps us to see that pagan and papal Rome are together. Daniel 8 is repeating this sentiment. The 4th beast and little horn is together in Daniel 7. Little horn has both in Daniel 8. Meaning, pagan and papal Rome is together. Little horn is attached to the he-goat—how can this be? Revelation 13 gives you the BIGGER Picture. The beast has 10 horns (like the 4th beast – Pagan Rome). Also has lion, bear, and leopard (Babylon, Persia, and Greece) but it says the body is like a leopard. What is God trying to say? Politically, the power is coming from Pagan Rome (Daniel 7), but Daniel 8 looks like Greece Note: Remember Daniel 8 is more religion, dealing with the mind, your soul. Papacy has much of Greek philosophy, ideas, and religion. Roman Empire spoke Greek language. Language is for your mind. Philosophy and religion spoken in Greek. This was the main language. God is repeating once more. Development of picture: Daniel 7, papal Rome has characteristics of Pagan Rome. Daniel 8, papal Rome has characteristics of Pagan Rome and Greece. Revelation 13, papal Rome has all the characteristics. Image in Daniel 2 is the whole thing combined together. God is trying to explain the one power in many different angles so God can give you the whole picture so we can identify what it is and we can live in harmony with God and not this power. God used a goat which is somewhat religious, but it is false religion. Sheep and the goats so God is developing a picture as He goes along. So little horn is pagan and papal Rome. Notice verse 10, it refers to pagan Rome Dan 8:10 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.
Pagan Rome destroyed and persecuted God’s people. Papal Rome did the same thing
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“cast down … stamped” This is similar language in Daniel 2 but much more in Daniel 7 (the 4th beast). Dan 7:19 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;
This beast was exceeding dreadful, like exceeding great and stamped the residue. Therefore, little horn in Daniel 8 is talking about pagan Rome. It also persecuted God’s people and crucified Jesus. Papal Rome did do the same thing so we see similar characteristics. Daniel 2 says “bruise”—Jesus’ crucifixion, “wounded.” Dan 8:11 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.
Did pagan Rome magnify himself to the prince of the host? They crucified Jesus Christ, the Roman Empire. Daniel 2, legs of iron breaks in pieces. So the lineup is that the ram represents Medo-Persia. The he-goat represents Greece and the Little Horn in the beginning phase represents Pagan Rome (v. 10, 11) but characteristics go over to Papal Rome, the same power. 8:12 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 practiced, and prospered.
“an host was given” – army. What does this mean? In the margin, it says, “an host was given over for the transgression against the daily” What is happening here? Don’t interpret right away—try to understand the story first: Little Horn is taking away daily and his sanctuary. An host was given him to do this. Something was given to him to take away this. Daily is connected with sanctuary which is religious. Something about religious aspect is being taken away. What is this host given? Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
“arms” – connotation of army or military power. What will help to take away the daily? Military power will be an aide to go against the daily and the pagan sanctuary and it causes the papacy to rise up with strength and power. For what reason? Reason of transgression. What does this mean? Taken away FOR transgression, FOR transgression. This makes it sound like transgression is an identity, a subject, or an object. It is SOMETHING, transgression is not an idea, it is SOMETHING, “reason of transgression” OR “FOR the transgression” An army was given unto the Roman empire against the “daily”. “transgression” is used here as a noun. Transgression means to break the law and the only entity that was mentioned in the previous chapters that broke God’s law was the papacy. The word signifies the transition from pagan Rome to papal Rome. Thus, pagan Rome was given an army to take away “daily” for papal Rome to be brought up. Who is this transgression? Transgression is breaking God’s law (I John 3:4)—sin. Based upon previous chapters of Daniel, who is this being breaking God’s law? Based upon Daniel 7, it is the Little Horn. It thinks to change times and laws. Therefore, this power can be interpreted as a transgressor. Who is this transgression? One that breaks God’s law in Daniel 7, it is Papal Rome. This daily and pagan sanctuary was taken away for what reason? FOR the transgressionPapal Rome in Daniel 7. So pagan sanctuary was taken away for Papal Rome to be
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established. Is “transgression” political or religious? Religious. So we see a transition from pagan Rome, pagan sanctuary (this is religious) … so pagan religion is taken away for Papal religion to be established. This is the transition. What happens after the daily is taken away? Dan 8:12 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 practiced, and prospered.
“an host was given [him] against the daily” – Given to whom? The little horn. BSM: You must keep in mind that the little horn is two powers. It will talk about one phase of the power in relation to the little horn, meaning the other part. Go back to verse 10 Dan 8:10 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.
And it (the little horn) waxed great, even to the host of heaven (meaning Jesus); and it cast down some of the host..and stamped upon them. It could not have gone to heaven, cause it is bringing them down and stamping on them so the stars and the host represent God's people. Daniel 12:3 The Stars represent God's people. Which power persecuted Christ? Pagan Rome. And pagan Rome persecuted God's people. Nero was an emperor who persecuted God's people. These are characteristics of what the little horn power would do. Also Diocletian persecuted them. Dan 8:11 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.
He? The little horn "by him" what does it say in the margin? From him. So we have two options. Either it was taken away from Jesus or the little horn. If the little horn was one entity then you have a problem, but it is TWO DIFFERENT powers. And the daily was taken from the little horn. “taken away” – The daily (paganism) was taken away, meaning to absorb. Not literally taking away. You are not taking it away to dispose of it, you are taking it away to bring it in, to absorb it into you. Note: We who have the western mindset we think of taken away meaning to remove completely. But in the eastern mindset or the Hebrew it means to take it in and absorb it. You are getting the transition from pagan to papal Rome. The papacy is now absorbing all the paganism into itself. “sanctuary” Hebrew 4720 = . The word sanctuary here in verse 11 is totally different from the word sanctuary in verses 13 and 14. (Quodesh) The word sanctuary in verse 11 can mean two things, either God's sanctuary or the devil's. Note: The context alone also explains which sanctuary it is. But in verses 13 and14 the word sanctuary in the Hebrew the only interpretation that can ever be correct means God's sanctuary. It can never be interpreted to mean the devil. Note: But V.11 can be either God's or the devil's. The context determine whether it is God's or the devil's. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“sanctuary was cast down” – (*PO Cast down means to set up like in Daniel 7). Did the pagan religion ever have sanctuaries or temples? Yes. When these temples fell, who occupied these temples? The papacy If you go to Italy you will see the old pagan temples, the statues are there for the 10th century. They are still in the churches. The only thing they did was take Paganism and baptize it into Christianity. Ex. Dec 25, the day they used to worship the sun, they said because the pagan religion is falling apart we must bring it in to Christianity, now we will say that Dec 25 is the birthday of the Son of God. So the pagans went to the same temples, and they said we don't mind as long as we can still worship like pagans. Ex. Easter the worship of the goddess of fertility. The Catholic Christians said we will bring this in to the church, Easter Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead. Resource: GC Illustrated version has all the pictures that show how the papacy absorbed all of the paganism. They took over all of the temples were the pagans used to worship, and then baptized it into Christianity. Note: Paganism/heathenism was the plague for God's people in the OT. This is what the devil used and they fell for it. But by the time the Christian church came about they hated paganism. And so Satan knew he couldn't get the Christians back into paganism, so he changed his tactics. And now he uses the same agency of paganism and he brought it in through the papacy. So in the ancient church, paganism was the enemy of God, but for the Christian church, the enemy of God is the papacy. He changed his tactics. Note: When the people worship on Sunday, do mass, and say prayers to the dead saints, they are practicing paganism. This is a clear transition, you have the pagan temples that were used by worship by the pagans, this religion was taken away, and the papacy occupied the previous temples used for paganism, and they brought it into the Christian church. Pontificus Maximus was the title for the Caesars that transferred over to the Bishop of Rome. Note: No one can deny that the papacy has substituted the priesthood of Jesus with the mass. When it did this it was usurping the high priestly ministry of Jesus. You say prayers to them and they are your mediators not Jesus. But the point is this, in this vision that did not occur from verses 9-12. The substitution of the high priestly ministry of Jesus did not occur in verses 9-12. Where did it occur? In Verse 13. It is there that the Bible is revealing that the papacy was substituting the high priestly ministry of Jesus with the mass. The daily and the transgression of desolation is Rome in two phases: pagan Rome and papal Rome. It is clearly distinguishing the two powers, but the second one is absorbing the other. It is showing the transition a changing of the powers. This is also taught in Daniel 7 in Daniel 7 you have the fourth beast, 10 horns rise up out of this fourth beast, and among them comes a little horn. The little horn has some origin that comes from the fourth beast. Revelation 12 & 13 teach the same thing, you have the dragon that represents pagan Rome. Revelation 13:2 it says the dragon gave him its seat, power, and great authority, here is the same transition from pagan Rome to papal Rome. It is just showing you that it is not a holy entity, or good. It is an evil entity. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“daily” – Is only mentioned 3 times in Daniel. First Dan 8:11-14 second Dan 11:31 – daily together with pagan temples would be taken away and replaced with abomination of desolation = papacy. Third Dan 12:11 – 1260 prophecy will not start until the daily is taken away. The word itself simply means continual. So throughout the prophecy the religion that continued throughout was paganism. In the beginning of the rising of the papacy all the religions had to be wiped so that the papacy could establishment itself as god. On top of that, the Roman empire and its gods had to be taken away in order for the papacy to rise. Therefore, “daily” refers to paganism. The daily is lifted up and taken away by incorporating it into the Roman Catholic church. That is why Roman Catholicism is called baptised paganism. 3rd time “daily” is used in Daniel Dan 12:11 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.
Daily being taken away is connected with 1290 days. We need to understand daily being taken away in order to understand the 1290 day prophecy. These are the three times the book of Daniel mentions “daily” What is this? Based upon verses 11 and 12, it is more of a religious aspect. Is it evil or good? Other Views. Some say it is the daily ministration of Jesus Christ taken away by papacy by establishing mass service. Problem with this: This means the papacy by instituting the mass service (like sanctuary service but one on this earth), it takes away the understanding of Jesus Christ ministering for us in the heavenly sanctuary. This concept itself make sense. This concept does exist in Daniel 8 but in Daniel 12:11 it says when daily is taken away, 1290 days begins to count. This is the beginning point. So there needs to be a date from the taking away of the daily. From the taking away of the daily is when you can begin the 1290 days. The daily taken away is the event indicating the 1290 day prophecy. If this daily is the mass service, we have a problem. Where is the date that says this is the date which institutes the mass service? Mass was instituted in three hundred something (need to check this!). If there is a date for this, then it would be clear, but there really is no date that is clearSo what is daily?Remember in Daniel 11, military force was given to take away the daily
What year was “daily” taken away? 508 AD. Remember, there was an army (host) that took away daily. The Story of Clovis: In 476 AD, the Roman empire crumbled to 10 kingdoms. That was a sad sight for eastern Rome. As Western Rome was crumbling to 10 kingdoms, each of the kingdoms were claiming that they were now in charge of the western Roman empire. In some ways, they wanted eastern Rome to recognize them as the true ruler of western Rome. So there was hope that there would be a unification. But the only way that would happen would be through ecclesiastical power. In 476 AD, the Catholic church was concentrated only in Rome. And they were surrounded by pagans and Arians. At the same time, pagan France was one of the most powerful nations in the empire. They had a king named Clovis who married a princess from Burgundians called Claudius – a Roman catholic. One time, Clovis was in a battle with the Suevians and was losing and he cried out if his wife’s god saved him, he would worship him. He won the battle and became the first pagan king to turn from paganism to Catholicism. Clovis was baptized in 496 AD. Now, when he went on a http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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political crusade, it was also a religious crusade. Every kingdom that he conquered he also established churches. 508 AD was the year that Clovis received an official honorary title, insignia of consul, Protector of Rome – given by Emperor of the eastern empire, Anasthesius. From then on, Clovis made it part of his campaign to stamp out paganism when he was conquering other kingdoms. INTERESTING NOTE: France was the kingdom that gave power to Roman Catholic Church and later France took away its political power. So whilst eastern Rome gave power to the Roman Catholic church, western Rome paved the way for its beginning. “it” – refers to the transgression of desolation which is the papacy. “truth” – political or religious? Religious. We keep seeing religious character, religious character, religious character. So because daily was taken away, his sanctuary was taken away. Transgression cast down the truth. When transgression increases, you go against God’s truth, you are destroying it. EGW mentions in Great Controversy that Sabbath is one of the truths. “Cast down the truth to the ground” – It’s description of instituting Sunday worship in the place of Sabbath. GC 65 As foretold by prophecy, the papal power cast down the truth to the ground. The law of God was trampled in the dust, while the traditions and customs of men were exalted. The churches that were under the rule of the papacy were early compelled to honor the Sunday as a holy day. GC 55 In the sixth century the papacy had become firmly established. Its seat of power was fixed in the imperial city, and the bishop of Rome was declared to be the head over the entire church. Paganism had given place to the papacy. The dragon had given to the beast "his power, and his seat, and great authority." Revelation 13:2. And now began the 1260 years of papal oppression foretold in the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation.” GC 65 As foretold by prophecy, the papal power cast down the truth to the ground. The law of God was trampled in the dust, while the traditions and customs of men were exalted. The churches that were under the rule of the papacy were early compelled to honor the Sunday as a holy day. Amid the prevailing error and superstition, many, even of the true people of God, became so bewildered that while they observed the Sabbath, they refrained from labor also on the Sunday. But this did not satisfy the papal leaders. They demanded not only that Sunday be hallowed, but that the Sabbath be profaned; and they denounced in the strongest language those who dared to show it honor. It was only by fleeing from the power of Rome that any could obey God's law in peace.”
This verse is showing you that one of the things they absorbed from Paganism is Sunday worship. “practiced, and prospered” – It grew. So one goes down and the other is coming up. Pagan religion is going down. Papal religion is coming up. So Daniel 8, we see a transition from paganism to papalism
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Cleansing of the sanctuary (13-14) VERSE [13] 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? [14] And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. 8:13 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?
This text tells us that God’s sanctuary and the host (God’s people) are to be trodden under foot (persecuted). We can understand host to be God’s people, but when it says “sanctuary” to be trodden underfoot, how can this really trod God’s sanctuary underfoot? God’s sanctuary is in heaven at this time. Before Jesus died on the cross, up to this point, the earthly sanctuary was considered to be God’s sanctuary (even though the glory was departed). But after the death of Jesus, it indicated the earthly sanctuary was no longer valid. It was only a type. The true sanctuary (according to Hebrews 8:1, 2) is in heaven. So after Jesus died, we know that this sanctuary is the heavenly sanctuary. So this word Sanctuary is mentioned in verse 13. The timing is of the transgression of desolation. Who is this? Daniel 7:25 says it is the papacy—transgression (thinks to change time and laws) and desolation (wear out the saints of God, it persecutes them). So papacy=transgression of desolation. So we are talking about the sanctuary of God in the time of the transgression of desolation, which reigned from 538-1798 (Daniel 7) Where is God’s sanctuary during this time? Heavenly sanctuary Cannot be earthly. Rejected AD 31, no longer God’s sanctuary. So transgression of desolation trod under foot God’s sanctuary. But how can he do this when God’s sanctuary is in heaven? How? Dan 8:12 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 practiced, and prospered.
In what way will he trodden underfoot the sanctuary? Cast down the truth of God’s sanctuary to the ground. He diminished it, he destroyed it. How? By setting up earthly sanctuary and establishing earthly ceremonial type of services. We can see this in their mass. They have priests, incense, candlesticks, wafer (bread)—all this is resembling the Holy Place service in the sanctuary. So by establishing earthly priest, earthly intercessor (confession), false communion service (says Christ is in the bread), combo of earthly priest doing intercessory ministry (say they forgive sins). By establishing this kind of earthly ministry which only belongs to Jesus (He is our High Priest, Mediator and Intercessor). It caused people to look away from heavenly sanctuary and to look at earthly sanctuary. This is how they trodden underfoot God’s sanctuary. So the question in verse 13 is How long will this last, will the truth of God’s sanctuary be destroyed, how long? Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
The angel or saint should’ve said that the understanding of the sanctuary shall be restored, but it says cleansed. Again, answering the question but adding extra aspect—cleansing of the sanctuary, God’s sanctuary. This wasn’t the question. They asked for How long … not when it will take for sanctuary to be cleansed. What does this sanctuary being cleansed mean? What does this has to do
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with the people of God being persecuted? It doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of connection BUT there is … Make sure to remember the big picture. Daniel 7 is Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome, then Papal Rome, then Judgment scene. Daniel 8 is Medo-Persia, Greece, Little Horn (Pagan then Papal Rome), then sanctuary. Notices the parallels of Daniel 7 and 8. Medo-Persia; Greece; Pagan and Papal Rome; Judgment and Sanctuary. Therefore sanctuary message is connected to judgment message. This is how we know that the sanctuary message is connected to the judgment message because they line up this way Also, in the Jewish mind, the cleansing of the sanctuary, it is connected with Day of Atonement. Throughout the year, they had a daily service (sacrificing and confessing sins to transfer sins to the sanctuary). Only 1 day out of the whole year (Yom Kippur) is the Day of Atonement. All sins which were transferred would be cleansed from the sanctuary. So cleansing of the sanctuary=Day of Atonement. Jewish people call this a Day of Judgment. So cleansing of sanctuary=the judgment. Before the coming of Christ. So what happened? This time prophecy was fulfilled in 1844. What happened in 1844? Did persecution cease then? It ceased before this. How about the understanding of the sanctuary? Was it restored in 1844? Yes. They thought the earth was the sanctuary and Christ would come back to this earth. But they discovered that there is a heavenly sanctuary. Until 1844, the sanctuary message was in darkness for a long time, but now it came in the light. People began to see and understand there is a heavenly sanctuary. At the same time the angel is saying that the understanding of the heavenly sanctuary will be restored after 2300 years. God’s people being persecuted will be ceased by this time. When 2300 years is ended, the sanctuary shall be cleansed as well. So what do we see in Daniel 8? A lot of religious characteristics even though ram and hegoat is used for sanctuary service, they are still political. Little horn is also somewhat political but the emphasis is: Persecuting God’s people, Magnify against God, Taking away the daily, Take away his sanctuary, Cast down the truth and prosper, Transgression of desolation. These terms are all religious. So what we see from the beginning is more political, but at the end is more religious is being portrayed. So Daniel 8 is emphasizing more of the religious aspect of the prophecy. Daniel 7 is more political aspect. “the vision” – is talking the entire vision. “How long….Sanctuary and the host trodden under foot” – Is this sanctuary good or bad? What is this talking about? It says how long will the sanctuary and the host be trodden under foot by who? Transgression of desolation. This is evil, therefore, the sanctuary and the host has to be good because they are being destroyed by transgression of desolation. Transgression of desolation is putting them down under its feet. So sanctuary and the host are good entities. Where is the daily associated with, good or evil? Evil Why? Daily is put together with transgression of desolation. So daily is evil and daily is religious. And daily is connected to pagan sanctuary. All this together, with the emphasis on religious theme. The daily is paganism…Why do they call it daily once again? The word means Continually. Up to the point of papal Rome, it was paganism that continually persecuted God’s people. Now it is changed to transgression of desolation, meaning, it belongs to the papacy (Daniel 7). And papacy has same characteristics of Roman Empire and paganism, but outward appearance is Christianity. Satan used paganism to destroy God’s people, but now he is using Christianity to destroy God’s people. This is the BIG PICTURE we are seeing Question: Daniel 8:11 talks about “of his sanctuary was cast down” and there is “sanctuary” is verse 13. One belongs to Paganism – verse 11. One belongs to God – verse 13. “Sanctuary” is 2 different http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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words in Hebrew language. In verse 13, it can ONLY apply to God’s sanctuary. In verse 11, it can refer for BOTH (either God or Satan) Ezek 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries …
This word for “sanctuaries” is the same as in Daniel 8:11. This can either be for God or for pagan use. But “his sanctuary” in verse 11 is referring to pagan Rome sanctuary or religion. So now we know the clear transition is from Paganism to Papacy. The question of How long will this transgression of desolation trod under the sanctuary and host of God’s people, how long? This is talking about how papacy by setting up mass service destroys God’s sanctuary message from the minds of the people. How long will people continue not knowing the understanding of God’s sanctuary because papacy is destroying it by setting up earthly sanctuary? The answer is 2300 days then the sanctuary shall be cleansed. This answer was not for the question of how long they will be trodden underfoot? This means that 2300 days, then the understanding of the sanctuary shall be restored. What’s happening today? The overall picture with us is this: the reason why God’s people don’t know the truth, the reason why they accept all the heresy under the sun is because we’ve never been taught the truth as it originally was in the beginning. Of course we’ve got some, such as Sabbath, the state of the dead, Millennium, but there are other issues that we just left them untouched. Even though it’s difficult to understand it, if someone doesn’t educate your mind to think, you will be no better than a sack of potatoes just sitting against the wall! I know some are difficult, some thinking to do. But you got to agitate your mind, you got to learn to dig in. This is very important. Get the pioneers books and study what we originally taught and come back to the old path. 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
We got to understand this prophecy point by point, inside out, upside down. For it is the foundation and the central pillar of the seventh-day Adventist faith: GC 409 The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Daniel 8:14.
That means if you don’t understand Daniel 8:14, which is the foundation and the central pillar of Adventist church, why are you a Seventh-day Adventist? “Two thousand and three hundred days” margin says “evening and morning.” People say that evening and morning, that’s just the half of the day. So some Bible translation even say “1150 days.” But KJV translation saying “day” is correct. “Evening and morning” means “a day.” *In Italy, Catholic Church was to put out another version of the Bible. They have been doing that since 1881 with the revised versions. And they came to this text and were going to translate it “1150 days.” But there was faithful Adventist minister who knew about Hebrew, and went to them and showed them how it could not be translated in that way, but had to be “2300 days.” After considering the information, and evaluating the fact, they changed the text to 2300 days. Gen 1:5 …the evening and the morning were the first day. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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People get confused with the “morning and evening” sacrifice: notice the order of two words. When the Bible talks about the sacrifice, it’s “morning and evening.” But when it talks about “a day,” it’s “evening and morning.” There was darkness, and He created the light. So there was evening (darkness), and morning (light). The beginning time = 457 BC (See Daniel 9) until 1844 AD. Starts from Medo-Persia. The teaching of the heavenly sanctuary was taken away in 457 BC and was restored in 1844. Captor Egypt Babylon Ceremonial laws Papal
Delivery Passover Belshazzar Christ Beast wounded
Earthly Sanctuary Earthly Sanctuary Heavenly Sanctuary Heavenly Sanctuary
Preparation For Canaan The Messiah
For 2nd coming
“then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” – The Bible mentions the sanctuary after talking about the little horn. Why? If you compare with chapter 7 you will see that there is judgment right after the little horn, so we can say that the judgment in chapter 8 will occur in the sanctuary.
What does it mean for the sanctuary to be cleansed? Let us start at earthly sanctuary: Ex 25:8-9 [8] And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. [9] According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. Heb 8:1-2 [1] Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; [2] A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
It was a pattern of heavenly sanctuary. What event is most similar to the cleansing of the sanctuary: Lev 16:16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
Atonement for the holy place. Holy place = (STRONG H6944) qodesh. Atonement = (STRONG H3722) kaphar – meaning appease, cleanse, disannul, forgive, reconcile. Lev 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
Purpose of cleansing of the sanctuary was so that people would be clean from all their sins. Lev 16:33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
Day of Atonement was time when the sanctuary would be cleansed. How often did Day of Atonement take place? http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Lev 16:34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Once a year. How important was this Day of Atonement for Jews? Lev 23:28-30 [28] And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. [29] For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. [30] And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
Very important. The people were to afflict their souls and do no work. If they did any work, they would be cut off and destroyed. What happened after sanctuary cleansed? Sins were put on scape goat and released into wilderness. What was the significance of putting the sins on the goat and releasing it to the wilderness? Cleansing = (STRONG H6663) Tsadaq – means to justify or turn to righteousness. Is 43:25-26 [25] I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. [26] Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
To be justified = sins will not be remembered anymore. Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
If we allow Jesus to turn us to righteousness, He will remember our sins no more. Ps 51:1-2, 9 [1] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [9] Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Blot out my transgressions, cleanse me from my sin. Deut 25:19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.
Blot out = not remember. When was the remissions of sins to take place? Heb 9:23-25 [23] It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. [24] For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: [25] Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
This is really speaking of a high priest going into the most holy place once a year.CONCLUSION: Signifies no more remembrance of sin. However, they still remembered their sins because they kept on sinning. This is why God talks of a new covenant in Heb 10:1-3. But before the sanctuary can be cleansed, judgment must happen, otherwise you cannot determine who’s sins will be blotted out. Therefore, part of the process of Day of Atonement is a judgment process.
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What happens after day of atonement? Lev 16:23 And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:
The priest shall take off his priestly garments. Isa 59:15-18 [15] Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. [16] ¶ And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. [17] For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. [18] According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
Jesus will take off His priestly garments and put on garments of vengeance. When? Dan 12:1 – After probation has closed, Jesus will come again.
Comparison of the prophecies: Daniel 2 Gold Silver Bronze Iron Iron and Clay Cutting out of stone
Daniel 7 Lion Bear Leopard Dreadful and terrible beast Little Horn Fiery Throne
Second Coming
Stone hitting the image
Kingdom of God
Stone becomes mountain
And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom Saints of the Most High Shall take the kingdom
Babylon Medo-Persia Greece Pagan Rome Papal Rome Judgment
Daniel 8-12 -Ram He-goat Little Horn Little Horn Cleansing of the Sanctuary Michael stands
They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament
The Interpretation of the prophecy (15-27) VERSE [15] 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. [16] And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. [17] 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. [18] 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. [19] 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. [20] The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. [21] And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. [22] Now that being broken,
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whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. [23] 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. [24] 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. [25] 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. [26] 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. [27] 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. 8:15 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. 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between [the banks of] Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this [man] to understand the vision. 8:17 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.
“For at the time of the end shall be the vision” – There is big difference between “the time of the end” and “end of time.” “The time of the end” is after 1798, and we are living in the end of “the time of the end.” We are still in “the time of the end,” and yet we are in “the end of time.” We will go deeper in Chapter 11. Gabriel was simply saying, “Daniel, you are not going to understand this 2300 days, it will be understood after 1798. But I want to you to know that this vision will take down to the end.” No one prior to 1798 understood the vision of 2300 days. Only after 1798 did they begin to understand it until finally reached to 1844 movement. This vision is for the time of the end. Refers to the period after 1798. 8:18 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. 8:19 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]. 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having [two] horns [are] the kings of Media and Persia.
Notice that the Bible spends very little time on the explanation. This means that the Bible wants to spend more time explaining something else. 8:21 And the rough goat [is] the king of Grecia: and the great horn that [is] between his eyes [is] the first king.
“The rough goat is the king of Grecia” – The Bible again tells us that this power that is overthrowing the Mede-Persia is the Greek Empire. The expression, “Touched not the ground” parallels with the leopard with four wings in Daniel 7 representing its swiftness, and the fact that nothing on this earth can stop this power. “The first king” is Alexander the Great. “It came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven” – “Winds” here are not strife or http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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war, but looking at the context and comparing it to paralleling visions, it must be the four general that came after the death of Alexander the Great. Dan 11:4 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.
But these four generals was “not in his power”: They will not have power as Alexander the Great. 8:22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
“Mighty, but not by his own power” – The success of the Romans was owing largely to the aid of their allies, and divisions among their enemies, of which they were ever ready to take advantage. Papal Rome also was mighty by means of the secular powers over which she exercised spiritual control. 8:23 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.
Verses 23-25 are describing the little horn. And they apply for both Pagan and Papal Rome. God is interested to describe them distinctly in Daniel 7 (4th beast, Pagan Rome, little horn, Papal Rome). God is telling again that they are pretty much the same because of the same characteristics. So description of the little horn (23-25) can be applied to both Pagan and Papal Rome. “A king of fierce countenance.” – Often the Scriptures use the words king and kingdom (nation) interchangeably; thus Daniel 7:17 refers to the four beasts as kings, but Daniel 7:23 specifies that the fourth beast represents a kingdom. But why not come out and identify pagan or papal Rome. To protect God’s people from persecution, which would happen if He was identified it. A examples is 2 Thess 2:3-6: papacy is not openly identified again. According to Deut 28, it says a nation This is Pagan Roman Empire. This king of fierce countenance also applies to: Dan 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
Full of fury and his visage was changed—this is a king of fierce countenance. An act of persecution. So king of Babylon is also called a king of fierce countenance. Revelation also has spiritual Babylon, so king of Spiritual Babylon—the papacy. Deut 28:50 A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:
No people made a more formidable appearance in warlike array than the Romans. The nation* of fierce countenance spoken of by Moses was also described in Daniel’s previous vision. Dan 7:7, 19 [7]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… [19]Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others,
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exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
“Understanding dark sentences” Deut 28:49 The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou [the Jews] shalt not understand;
This could not be said of Babylonians, Persians, or Greeks, in reference to the Jews; for the Chaldean and Greek languages were used to some extent in Palestine. This was not the case, however, with the Latin. It’s not just Pagan Rome; it’s not just Papal Rome. Both the Pagan Rome and Papal Rome has stamped star (God’s people: Dan 12:3); Pagan Rome by persecuting Christians in the times of Nero, and Papacy during the bloody persecution. Then why only one entity was used to symbolize two powers? Paralleling to Daniel 7, the little horn(Papal Rome) was rising up in the fourth beast (Pagan Rome); Revelation 13:2, you have dragon(Pagan Rome) giving him(Papal Rome) the power, seat and great authority. It’s just trying to show you that the Papal Rome comes from Pagan Rome. “stand up” – Refers to end of a kingdom.
Reason why it can’t be Antiochus Epiphanes Some people say that this little horn is Antiochus Epiphanes. What he did to the Jews was that he went to Jerusalem and he began to kill people and demanded them to sacrifice a pig on the altar which was absolute abomination, in that sense he defiled the temple. That’s why some people assert that he took away the daily service, and desecrated the temple. But when you look at the context, there is no way that you can hold that position. “To avoid the application of this prophecy to the Roman power, pagan and papal, the papists have shifted it from Rome to Antiochus Epiphanes, a Syrian king who could not resist the mandates of Rome. See notes of the Douay (Romish) Bible on Dan. 7;8; 11. This application is made by the papists, to save their church from any share in the fulfillment of the prophecy; and in this they have been followed by the mass of opposers to the Advent faith. The following facts show that” 1. The four kingdoms into which the dominion of Alexander was divided, are symbolized by the four horns of the goat. Antiochus Epiphanes was one of the twenty-five kings that constituted the Syrian horn. How, then, could he, at the same time, be another remarkable horn? 2. Context – Ram became “great” (v4), and the he-goat became “very great” (v8), then it comes to the little horn “which waxed exceeding great” (v9). The ram, according to this vision, became great; the goat waxed very great; but the little horn became exceeding great. How out of place is the following application of this comparison: *Great. Very Great. Exceeding Great.** Persia. GRECIA. A N T I O C H U S. How easy and natural is the following: *Great. Very Great. Exceeding Great.**
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Persia. GRECIA. ROME. 3. The Medo-Persian Empire is simply called great. Verse 4. The Bible informs us that it extended Esth 1:1 …from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred seven and twenty provinces."
This was succeeded by the Grecian power, which is called VERY GREAT. Verse 8. Then comes the power in question which is called E X C E E D I N G G R E A T. Verse 9. Was Antiochus exceeding great when compared with Alexander, the conqueror of the world? Let an item from the Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge answer: "Finding his resources exhausted, he resolved to go into Persia, to levy tributes and collect large sums which he had agreed to pay to the Romans." Surely we need not question which was exceeding great, the Roman power which exacted the tribute, or Antiochus who was compelled to pay it. 4. The power in question was "little" at first, but it waxed, or grew, "exceeding great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land". What can this describe but the conquering marches of a mighty power? Rome was almost directly north-west from Jerusalem, and its conquests in Asia and Africa were, of course, toward the east and south; but where were Antiochus' conquests? He came into possession of a kingdom already established.It came out of the north horn because it came toward the south, east and pleasant land = west. The fact that it came out of the north is very significant because it is the king of the north. In scripture, Isa 14:12 says that Lucifer wants to be king of the north and Psalms 48:2 refers to God as the King of the north. 5. Crucifixion of Christ – You can find another evidence in v11, 25: “he magnified himself even to the prince of the host,” “he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes.” This text is direct reference to Jesus’ crucifixion (Acts 4:26; Rev. 1:5; 17:14; 19:16.). Now, Antiochus Epiphanes lived 165 years before Christ. Then how can he come up against Jesus? It is settled, therefore, that another power is the subject of this prophecy. 6. The Hebrew text – The pronoun them(v9) and the noun winds(v8) are both masculine in gender, and in Hebrew they must be of matching gender; but notable ones(v8) and horn(v9) are feminine; therefore “one of them” means “one of the four winds.” In many Scriptures the four winds of heaven symbolize wars. Rome began its conquest of the world by conquering the western kingdom of Macedonia in 168 BC. 7. The 1260-day Prophecy – This same time period is presented a number of times in the Revelation, which was written three centuries after Antiochus Epiphanes. See Rev 11:2,3; 12:6,14; 13:5. 8. Fulfilling time of the vision – Final proof that Antiochus Epiphanes could not fulfill the prophecy of the little horn is given by the angel Gabriel, who emphasizes that the vision concerns the time of the end. Dan 8:17, 19 [17] 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. [19]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.
Rome is the power in question 1. This power was to come forth from one of the four kingdoms of Alexander's empire. Let us remember that nations are not brought into prophecy, till somehow connected with the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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people of God. Rome had been in existence many years before it was noticed in prophecy; and Rome had made Macedon, one of the four horns of the Grecian goat, a part of itself B.C. 168, about ten years before its first connection with the people of God. See 1 Mac. 8. So that Rome could as truly be said to be "out of one of them," as the ten horns of the fourth beast in the seventh chapter, could be said to come out of that beast, when they were ten kingdoms set up by the conquerors of Rome 2. It was to wax exceeding great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. (Palestine. Ps. 106:24; Zech. 7:14.) This was true of Rome in particular. Witness its conquests in Africa and Asia, and its overthrow of the place and nation of the Jews. John 11:48. 3. It was to cast down of the host and of the stars. This is predicted respecting the dragon. Rev. 12:3, 4. All admit that the dragon was Rome. Who can fail to see their identity? 4. Rome was emphatically a king of fierce countenance, and one that did understand dark sentences. Moses used similar language when, as all agree, he predicted the Roman power. Deut. 28:49, 50. 5. Rome did destroy wonderfully. Witness its overthrow of all opposing powers. 6. Rome has destroyed more of "the mighty and the holy people," than all other persecuting powers combined. From fifty to one hundred millions of the church have been slain by it. 7. Rome did stand up against the Prince of princes. The Roman power nailed Jesus Christ to the cross. Acts 4:26, 27; Matt. 27:2; Rev. 12:4. 8. This power is to "be broken without hand." How clear the reference to the stone "cut out without hand" that smote the image. Dan. 2:34. Its destruction then does not take place until the final overthrow of earthly power. These facts are conclusive proof that Rome is the subject of this prophecy. The field of vision, then, is the empires of Persia, Greece, and Rome. 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
“He shall destroy wonderfully” – Both Pagan Rome and Papal Rome. The Lord told the Jews by the prophet that they will be delivered to men who were “skillful to destroy.” Ezek 21:31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.
The slaughter of 1,100,000 Jews at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army, and the millions of martyrs by the Papal Rome, was a terrible confirmation of the prophet’s words. Both pagan and papal Rome tried to destroy God’s people. 8:25 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. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“Through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand” – Rome has been distinguished above all other powers for a policy of craft, by means of which it brought the nations under its control. This is true of both pagan and papal Rome. Deception. Similar characteristics used to describe little horn. Thus by peace it destroyed many. “craft” – what is this? deceit or deception. Casting down the truth and transgression to be prospered. This has application to both Pagan and Papal Rome. Constantine called his nation Christian, Pagans and Christians come together, Deception. In Revelation, they call this (in Pergamos, a time of apostasy). In 2 Thessalonians 2, it says a falling away first, meaning, apostasy. So Constantine began to bring in apostasy and this prepared the way for papacy to rise. Note: So 2325 is about Little Horn (both pagan and papal Rome). Therefore, all these apply for both pagan and papal. “by peace” – Pagan Rome made a pact with the Jews to protect them initially, but later came and destroyed Jerusalem. Applies to both Promising safety, yet at the same time destroying many. This is also in Pagan Rome, Constantine destroyed more Christians (spiritually) when he became one than when he wasn’t one. More people were saved before Constantine converted, and then when he did, they became lax. Likewise papal Rome at first looked to make peace with the Christians, then later persecuted and also went again the Prince of princes. “against the Prince of princes” – Roman Empire did this (Rev 12)—standing up against Christ. Papacy did this too. “he shall be broken without hand” – Every nation of the past, including the Roman Empire, has fallen under the hand of man. Babylon fell to Darius, the Mede; Medo-Persia fell under the military thrust of Alexander the Great; Greece itself was to fall under the marauding armies of Rome. But Papal Rome will fall, not by man’s hands but by God’s own acts. God will destroy them. Medo-Persia, Greece, 4 kingdoms out of Greece, then Little Horn (both Pagan and Papal) and at the end will be destroyed. The word “broken” is taking us back to Daniel 2. This prophecy is the same as Daniel 2. Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Job using the second coming language (Matt 25:6) described thus: Job 34:20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. 8:26 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.
“The vision of the evening and the morning” – We can easily see that this vision of “the” evening and morning is referring to the vision of 2300 days. “I was astonished at “the” vision, but none understood it. Now, don’t tell me that Daniel didn’t understand the ram, he-goat and little horn! The only vision that he didn’t understand was the vision of 2300 days because he fainted. When he got the glimpse of what the little horn power was doing, he fainted; he couldn’t believe his eyes what’s happening to God’s people! Daniel, being fainted, did not receive the interpretation, because just at the point where Gabriel was just introducing the subject, Daniel fainted. We don’t know exact reason why he had to faint. But we can imagine Daniel looking at this vision, specially the little horn http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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and how God’s people are being persecuted, he could not handle what was being said. Where else does the Bible use this phrase? Genesis. Listen and notice VERY carefully Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
God called it the 1st day. Gen 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Repetition of evening and the morning (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, etc.). If it kept on going, it would be 8th, 9th, 10th. So 2300 days (evening and morning) is the 2300th day. The difference. One is cardinal (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, etc). One is ordinal (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc). Example of 5th day after Christmas, December 30 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th is counting but it is in segments. So 2300th day (in segments). Why would God put evening and morning? Didn’t say evening and morning 1 day, 2 days, 3 days … it said 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Therefore, 2300th day—why is this important? 2300th then the sanctuary shall be cleansed. What event is sanctuary cleansed? Day of Atonement. So it is 2300th Day of Atonement. This is once every year. So it is like 2300th x’s Atonement (once a year) is 2300th year. In the Jewish mind in the OT, this is how they can tell it is October 22. We get this from the cleansing of the sanctuary. “wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it [shall be] for many days” – Which vision out of Daniel 8 was shut up? 2300 days. Not the ram, he-goat, 4 kingdoms, little horn. Vision of evening and morning (2300 days), this was shut up or sealed up, no one can understand until God’s appointed time for people to understand it when He opens it. 8:27 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].
“astonished at the vision” –2300 days. He heard it but the meaning was shut up and sealed. He could not understand it. Gabriel did explain to Daniel what was meant by the symbols of the beasts and of the horns, but did not in this vision explain to him the 2300 days and the sanctuary. Hence, Daniel tells us at the end of the chapter that he "was astonished at the vision, but none understood it." But there are several facts that will give us some light on this matter. 1. It is a fact that 2300 literal days (not quite seven years) would not cover the duration of a single power in this prophecy, much less extend over them all. Therefore, the days must be symbols, even as the beasts and horns are shown to be symbols. 2. It is a fact that a symbolic or prophetic day is one year. Eze. 4:5, 6; Num. 14:34. Hence, the period is 2300 years. 3. The period must begin with "the vision;" consequently it commences in the height of the Medo-Persian power. But the angel has not yet explained the "manner of time," or given its date to the prophet. If Gabriel never did explain this subject to Daniel, he is a fallen angel; for he was commanded in plain terms thus to do. Dan. 8:16. But he is not a fallen angel as appears from the fact that some hundred years after this, he was sent to Zacharias and to Mary. Luke 1. Gabriel did explain to Daniel at that time http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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more than he could bear (verse 27), and at a later period, as we shall now show, he did make Daniel understand the vision. Gabriel explains in dan.ix what he omitted in chap. Viii. As we have seen, the charge had been given to Gabriel to make Daniel understand the vision. Verse 16. But in the last verse of the chapter we learn that "none understood" the vision. This must refer particularly to the 2300 days, and to the sanctuary, as the other parts of the vision had been clearly explained. But in the first verse of chapter 10, he informs us that a thing was revealed to him; "and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long; and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision." Hence, it is evident that between chapters 8 and 10, he must have obtained the desired understanding of the time. In other words, the explanation must be found in chapter 9. Dan. 9 commences with the earnest, importunate prayer of the prophet, from the reading of which it is evident that he had so far misunderstood the vision of chapter 8, that he concluded that the 2300 days of treading under foot the sanctuary would terminate with the 70 years' desolation of the city and sanctuary predicted by Jeremiah. Compare verses 1 and 2 with verses 16 and 17. The man Gabriel is now sent to undeceive him, and to complete the explanation of the vision. "While I was speaking in prayer," says Daniel, "even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning [here he cites us back to chapter 8:15, 16], 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 show thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision." Verses 21-23. Note these facts: 1. In verse 21, Daniel cites us to the vision of chapter 8. 2. In verse 22, Gabriel states that he had come to give Daniel skill and understanding. This being the object of Gabriel's mission, Daniel, who at the close of chapter 8 did not understand the vision, may, ere Gabriel leaves him, fully understand its import.3. As Daniel testifies at the close of chapter 8 that none understood the vision, it is certain that the charge given to Gabriel, "Make this man to understand the vision", still rested upon him. Hence it is that he tells Daniel, "I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding," and in verse 23, commands him to "understand the matter, and to consider the vision". This is undeniable proof that Gabriel's mission in chapter 9 was for the purpose of explaining what he omitted in chapter 8. This is seen in Daniel 9:24-27. DETERMINED, IN VERSE 24, MEANS CUT OFF Should it be inquired why a tropical sense has been attributed to it, such as 'determining' or 'decreeing,' it may be answered that the reference of the verse (in which it occurs) to Dan. 8:14, was unobserved. It was therefore supposed that there was no propriety in saying 'seventy weeks are cut off', when there was no other period of which they could have formed a portion. But as the period of 2300 days is first given, and verses 21 and 23, compared with Dan. 8:16, show that the ninth chapter furnishes an explanation of the vision in which Gabriel appeared to Daniel, and of the 'matter' - (the commencement of the 2300 days) - the literal (or rather, to speak properly, the only) signification demanded by the subject matter, is that of 'cut off.” The word rendered "determined" (verse 24), literally signifies "cut off". 2. "The vision" which Gabriel came to explain, contained the period of 2300 days; and in the explanation he tells us that "seventy weeks have been cut off" upon Jerusalem and the Jews. This is a demonstration that the seventy weeks are a part of the 2300 days. Hence the commencement of the seventy weeks is the
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date of the 2300 days. And the fact that the seventy weeks were fulfilled in 490 years, as all admit, is a demonstration that the 2300 days from which this period of 490 days was cut off, is 2300 years. “sick certain days” – why? It is the 3rd year of Belshazzar. Close to the end of the 70 years of Babylonian captivity. God said after 70 years that God will restore . Daniel would be expecting to hear message of deliverance of Babylonian captivity and go back to Israel, Judah, Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple—going back to his own country. Now it is toward the end of the 70 years, expecting to go back to restore the city. But he heard 2300 days (years), he thought that God was not going to be restoring earthly sanctuary in Jerusalem until 2300 years. Daniel thinking God not going to let the Israelites go free. Restoration would be delayed and postponed. For this reason Daniel was sick. Up to this point, Daniel heard 2 things: God’s people will be persecuted. He also heard that the sanctuary will be trodden under foot. So sanctuary wouldn’t be restored until 2300 years . Daniel misunderstood that this was going to take so long for God’s people to be set free. 2300 years to 70 years is much, much more. Notice the 2300 days emphasis this is related to Little Horn power. Putting down God’s sanctuary and His people. This is an easier and faster way of explaining 2300th Atonement, and this comes once every year. Daniel got sick at the end of this prophecy because he thought that the Israelites would only be allowed to return to restore the temple after 2300 days rather than the 70 yrs that God had told them. Daniel got sick and fainted before God could explain to him.
Vision on the Banks of Ulai EGW Quotes Quotes for introduction: 1.) TM 112 "God's Spirit has illuminated every page of Holy Writ, but there are those upon whom it makes little impression, because it is imperfectly understood. When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness. . . . Daniel and Revelation must be studied, as well as the other prophecies of the Old and New Testaments. There is need of a much closer study of the word of God; especially should Daniel and the Revelation have attention as never before in the history of our work." 2.) Hellish Torch of False Prophecy – TM 409-410 "Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan" 3.) Vision of Ulai in process -- TM 112 " The light that Daniel received from God was given especially for these last days. The visions he saw by the banks of the Ulai and the Hiddekel, the great rivers of Shinar, are now in process of fulfillment, and all the events foretold will soon come to pass." 4.) Safe from delusion - 8MR 320 (3SM 84) "As the points of our faith were thus established, our feet were placed upon a solid foundation. We accepted the truth point by point, under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit….All these truths are immortalized in my writings….Men may get up scheme after scheme, and the enemy will seek to seduce souls from the truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken through Sister White, and has given her a message, will be safe from the many delusions that will come in in these last days." ({MR760 23.3}Shows Ballenger's False views of the sanctuary could not be accepted.) 5.) Safety in ancient Landmarks - CH 459 "Our only safety is in preserving the ancient landmarks. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20". http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Quotes on the Daily: 6.) Sacrifice Supplied Word – EW 74-75 " Then I saw in relation to the "daily" (Dan. 8:12) that the word "sacrifice" was supplied by man's wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the "daily"; but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed." 7.) Position of Prescott & Daniels – 20 MR 21.2 " I copy from my Diary. The truth as it is in Jesus-talk it, pray it, believe every word in its simplicity. What would you gain if mistakes are brought before the men who have departed from the faith and given heed to seducing spirits, men who were not long ago with us in the faith? Will you stand on the devil's side? Give your attention to the unworked fields. A world-wide work is before us. I was given representations of John Kellogg. A very attractive personage was representing the ideas of the specious arguments that he was presenting, sentiments different from the genuine Bible truth. And those who are hungering and thirsting after something new were advancing ideas [so specious] that Elder Prescott was in great danger. Elder Daniells was in great danger [of] becoming wrapped in a delusion that if these sentiments could be spoken everywhere it would be as a new world. Yes, it would, but while their minds were thus absorbed I was shown that Brother Daniells and Brother Prescott were weaving into their experience sentiments of a spiritualistic appearance and drawing our people to beautiful sentiments that would deceive, if possible, the very elect. I have to trace with my pen [the fact] that these brethren would see defects in their delusive ideas that would place the truth in an uncertainty; and [yet] they [would] stand out as [if they had] great spiritual discernment. Now I am to tell them [that] when I was shown this matter, when Elder Daniells was lifting up his voice like a trumpet in advocating his ideas of the "Daily," the after results were presented. Our people were becoming confused. I saw the result, and then there were given me cautions that if Elder Daniells without respect to the outcome should thus be impressed and let himself believe he was under the inspiration of God, skepticism would be sown among our ranks everywhere, and we should be where Satan would carry his messages. Set unbelief and skepticism would be sown in human minds, and strange crops of evil would take the place of truth.--Ms 67, 1910, pp. 1-8" {20MR 21.2} Pioneer's Position on the Daily 1.) Sylvester Bliss (Chronologist and writer for the Advent Movement) 1843 – "Paraphrase of Daniel 11 and 12, Bliss states that the daily was paganism." 2.) Josiah Litch – "I must refer the reader to the second chapter for full proof that the daily sacrifice means the daily sacrifices or abominations of paganism. Or the daily abomination of paganism ceased in the roman empire was taken away" Conradi, Prescott, and Daniells View of the daily Excerpts from Volume 6 Chapter 19 of the Biography of Ellen White by Aurthur White. 1.) (2) Prescott influenced Daniels -- Soon after becoming leader of the church in 1901, Elder Daniells was brought into close association with W. W. Prescott, former president of Battle Creek College. As editor of the Review and Herald and vice-president of the General Conference http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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during the period of 1901 to 1909, Prescott worked closely with Daniells. Early in their association, Prescott brought to Daniells' attention what was termed the "new view" of the "daily" of Daniel 8. His own study and association with workers in Europe had led Prescott to question the presentation in the widely read Uriah Smith book Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation, which came to be known as the "old view." 2.) (1) Prescott believed the daily was high priestly ministry -- In 1847 O. R. L. Crosier had expressed the view that the daily refers to the high-priestly ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. Uriah Smith in 1854 briefly expounded this position (RH, March 28, 1854). But Smith, rising to prominence shortly afterward, in his Thoughts on the Book of Daniel (1873 ed.,p. 163), went back to the view of William Miller. Smith's became the accepted position until the turn of the century, and thus was known as the "old view." Prescott's position was similar to Crosier's, but nevertheless acquired the less-than-accurate designation as the "new view." 3.) (3) Conradi believed "new view" the high priestly ministry -- The Review and Herald of April 4, 1907, carried an article from the pen of pioneer worker J. N. Loughborough, entitled "The Thirteen Hundred and Thirty-five Days," which, while not making reference to it as such, upheld the old view. As the months passed, Review editor W. W. Prescott found it difficult to refrain from introducing the new view of the daily, which to him carried great light. He was aware that while still in Australia, Ellen White had received a letter from L. R. Conradi, leader of the church's work in Europe, stating that he could not harmonize his views on the question with Smith's and that if she had any light on the subject, he would appreciate receiving it. If she had no light, he intended to publish his view--the new view. 4.) EGW Counsels Prescott not to advocate his view – Before Prescott left for the East on February 6, Ellen White spoke to him about the problem, telling him not to publish anything at that time that would unsettle the minds of the people regarding positions held in the past…. She spoke of a tendency on his part "to sway from clearly defined truth and give undue attention to some items which seem to require hours of argument to prove, when in reality they do not need to be handled at all.".." I am instructed to say to you, Let there be no questions agitated at this time in the Review that will tend to unsettle minds… It will prove to be a great mistake if you agitate at this time the question regarding the "daily," I have been shown that the result of your making this question a prominent issue would be that the minds of a large number will be directed to an unnecessary controversy, and that questioning and confusion will be developed in our ranks.… My brother, let us be slow to raise questions that will be a source of temptation to our people.. I have been instructed that the Lord has not placed upon you the burden you are now carrying regarding this matter, and that it is not profitable for you to spend so much time and attention in its consideration… *God has not placed upon any of His ministers the work of sowing seeds that will produce confusion and unbelief… You suppose that a mistake has been made in the view that has been held by some of our brethren in regard to the sanctuary question. . . . There have been different opinions regarding the "daily," and there will continue to be. If the Lord has seen fit to let this matter rest for so many years without correcting the same, would it not be wisdom on your part to refrain from presenting your views concerning it? *I advise you not to present your ideas before our churches, but to let this matter alone," (*Letter 226, 1908 Full letter is in 12 MR 224) Church Gradually Leaves the Correct Position of the Daily The compilers of the writings of the Pioneer's CD explained 7 reasons why the writings of the Pioneers needed to be written. And their fourth reason was:
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(4) To gain more insight on the pioneers’ view of “the daily” which was later generally given up in favor of Conradi’s “new view.”
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Chapter 9 – The Seventy Weeks This chapter doesn’t stand alone. This chapter is seen in relationship to the chapter 8. Because in the vision of 2300 days, Daniel fainted without receiving the interpretation: chapter 8 is not in complete form. And chapter 9 comes in. This whole chapter is the magnification of the vision of 2300 days. In Daniel chapter 8, you have this vision divided into 4 main areas. The Ram, He-Goat, the Little Horn, and the 2300 Days. In Daniel 8, you are only given the interpretation of 3 of the 4. When it came to the 2300 days he did not have an understanding. You can show that in Daniel 8:27 he fainted. In Daniel 8:14 you have 2300 Days. In Daniel 9 we now have a time frame of 70 Weeks. You and I know that the 70 weeks are connected with the 2300 days, but a lot of people don't. How do we know that the 70 weeks have any relation to the 2300 days? In Chapter 9, Daniel is praying this prayer out of misunderstanding because he thinks that the Israelites will not be able to return after 70 yrs of captivity after receiving the 2300 day prophecy. Through Daniel’s misunderstanding of the prophecy, God withheld the interpretation to test Daniel’s Christian character. Verses 16 and 17 are the key text that indicate that Daniel had totally misunderstood the prophecy. Daniel was confused because he thought there would not be another day of atonement until another 2300 days. The language used to describe cleansing of the sanctuary is the same as the day of atonement. Two parts. #1 – Prayer of Daniel. #2 – Gabriel gives understanding of the vision. Understanding the time the vision begins and what would happen to God’s people. This was Daniel’s concern. Why was Daniel praying this prayer? Chapter Outline
Daniel’s prayer (1-20)
The coming of the Messiah (21-27)
Daniel’s Prayer (1-20) VERSE [1] In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; [2] In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. [3] And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: [4] And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; [5] We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: [6] Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. [7] O LORD, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. [8] O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. [9] To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; [10] Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which
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he set before us by his servants the prophets. [11] Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. [12] And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. [13] As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. [14] Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. [15] And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. [16] O LORD, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. [17] Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. [18] O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. [19] O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. [20] 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; 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus” – Chapter 8 was given during the time of king Beltshazzar, Babylonian kingdom. But chapter 9 is given during the time of Darius, Mede-Persian Empire. Really you can put chapter 5 right in the middle; because it’s the transition from Babylonian Empire to Mede-Persian Empire. 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
“To seek by prayer and supplications” – During this time, Daniel was the prime minister, the highest-ranking official. Dan 6:1-3. Now, Daniel is reading the 70 years prophecy in Jeremiah 25:11. Then he begins to set his “face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer.” The purpose of his prayer is that Daniel realizes soon God’s people are to go back to the Promised Land and God will remember the promise. And Daniel is now setting himself out an intercessory role in behalf of the children of Israel. Daniel understood, according to Jeremiah, that 70 years was given for Jerusalem to be made desolate, But this time was about to be expired Daniel is pretty old at this time. As long as we are in this world, we are in captivity. We look at the signs of the times that tell us that it’s time for God’s people to go back to the Promised Land. Now is the time for us to set our face unto the Lord and to plead in behalf of God’s people that God of heaven would remember His http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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covenant with us. 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
Why is he praying like this in confession? Daniel 8 – he is thinking that God has perhaps changed the prophecy. We know God doesn’t change. Now let’s talk about conditional and unconditional prophecies. Death of Christunconditional. Coming of the Messiahunconditional. Preaching of Jonahconditional, 40 days city will be destroyed, People confessed/repented and had a great revival, Conditional based upon the condition of the people. So Daniel understood that God can have conditional prophecy, 70 years of desolation. If people are still wicked, then God can stretch it out to 2300 years. So Daniel is thinking that based upon 2300 days/years that God has changed because of their sins and iniquities—God is going to prolong the captivity. He is reminding God that He keeps His covenant and shows mercy to those that love Him and keep His commandments. Now we know why he is praying this way. “We have sinned against thee” – Even though Daniel didn’t sin, according to the book of Daniel yet he puts himself as one. This shows true sanctification. You still regard yourself as a sinner and intercede for others. In Daniel’s prayer, he connects himself with the children of Israel: “We have sinned against thee.” While we can’t see one record of sin in the record of Daniel, he is placing himself with sinners. When you take the part of mediatorial role, you are standing in the place of that individual. You are now taking the place of that person where you recognize that in that intercessorial role, you are not holier, better than they, only by the grace of God you are what you are. Just because we are not partaking in the celebration music or NRP, doesn’t mean that we are holier than those. We are never to think ourselves “holier than others.” We are sinners. Daniel didn’t say, “Thank God that I am not like them.” It was pleading to God to remember His covenant and to have mercy. The role of God’s people in the last days just before the return of Christ, they are taking the very same role as Daniel did just before God’s people went home to the Promised Land. The role of intercession. Ezk 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
BSM: Study Daniel’s prayer with the book “Sanctified Life: Daniel’s Prayer Chapter.” 9:6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
Asking forgiveness for sin, not listening to the prophets 9:7 O Lord, righteousness [belongeth] unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, [that are] near, and [that are] far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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trespassed against thee.
The reason why they are scattered is because of their trespasses and sins 9:8 O Lord, to us [belongeth] confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 9:9 To the Lord our God [belong] mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
Reminding that even though they sinned against God, yet He is still merciful 9:10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
We despise your mercy, and even then your merciful and forgiving 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
“the curse” – the desolations/captivity. Remembering the chapter on the blessings and curses (obey or disobey). “the oath” – talking about oath of blessing and curses in Deut 28. 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 9:13 As [it is] written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 9:14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God [is] righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
He is saying that after all these things, we have rebelled—goes through the history of rebellion. We don’t deserve your forgiveness or your mercy, we have sinned again and again against God. Why is he praying this prayer? 2300 days vision. Daniel is praying for repentance, forgiveness, mercy, and God’s grace. Daniel putting himself with the other people, not that he sinned or rebelled, but is representing the whole nation of Israel “we” – as a nation, as one entity, have sinned. Some may not have, but as a whole they have. This prayer was for the whole nation of Israel. Why is Daniel praying this prayer? 9:16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people [are become] a reproach to all [that are] about us.
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God. His name would be reproached because of the heathen looking at the weak and beaten down city 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
Daniel praying for the city of Jerusalem, God’s people included and the sanctuary Dan 1:1, 2 [1] In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. [2] 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.
The city was besieged and the holy vessels taken to the gods of Babylon. In Daniel’s time, the city and sanctuary was destroyed. This means his people too, Israel. So the whole book of Daniel is about God’s sanctuary, God’s people, and its relationship to His judgment. Clearly applying this to the end time as well. When book of Daniel is open in 1798, Daniel begins to be understood and the Bible understanding begins to be increased. God’s people in understanding His truth is restored. Those who would lead and moves for 2nd coming of Christ, then Sanctuary is restored. So Daniel is praying for the city Jerusalem and the Sanctuary. 9:18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
“desolations” – Daniel 8 and Little Horn—it desolated God’s sanctuary and God’s people. These 2 things are exactly what Daniel is praying for. This is what Daniel misunderstood when he heard the vision of 2300 evening and morning “for thy great mercies” – Not because of our righteousness, we are not worthy to ask of You this great blessing of restoration. Because of Thy great mercies. 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
“hear…hearken and do” – Pleading for God to restore and to do it. Hear us, forgive us, listen to us, and grant us the restoration. “thy people are called by thy name” – Praying in behalf of his people, the city, and the sanctuary. Those 3 things are very important. 9:20 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;
He wasn’t even finished speaking yet “confessing my sin” – Bible says all have sinned. When God is not responding to His promise, perhaps Daniel sinned (we don’t know), but it is unlikely (based upon the book and his character)—why would he say this? When God doesn’t answer or His promise is not fulfilling, we think it is because of our sin. He is searching his heart to confess whatever might be there. But it is mostly because of his people. This is the Big Picture. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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The coming of the Messiah (21-27) VERSE [21] 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. [22] And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. [23] 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. [24] 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. [25] 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. [26] 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. [27] 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.
The Linking Bridge of Chapter 8 and 9 You may say, where is the connection from chapter 8 so far? But when you come to these verses, you will notice something very important. These verses are called as “bridge verses” that cross you over chapter 8 to chapter 9. Many people in Christendom do not see the linkage between chapter 8 and 9. They only see the 2300 days as one prophecy, and 70 weeks as another and totally separate. Keep in mind that Daniel did not receive the interpretation of 2300 days. Right at the end of his prayer, Gabriel comes in. Here are some key verses that will link you up to chapter 8. 1. “Gabriel whom I have seen in the vision at the beginning.” (v21) 2. “Understand the matter, and consider the vision” (v23) There must be some vision before this that Gabriel appeared to Daniel, and that Daniel haven’t received the full understand of. There is only one chapter that Gabriel is mentioned; chapter 8. There is only one vision in chapter 8 that Daniel did not understand; 2300 days. These few verses keep away people from futuristic views and misunderstanding of 2300 days.
Relationship between 2300 days and 70 weeks Before we go deep into 70 weeks, we must understand where it comes from. Once we establish the relationship between other prophecies, then can we truly and correctly understand the interpretation thereof. So before go into the interpretation of the vision, we will spend some time in establishing the relationship with other visions. 70 Weeks are linked with 2300 days prophecy 1. It has to be the vision that Gabriel was.* * Verse 21 and 23 are the key text, bridge text to lock down the vision to chapter 8. If you overlook these texts, we will have difficult time finding the vision. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Dan 9:21 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.
The only vision that Gabriel attended so far is the vision of chapter 8. So we have to look for the vision in chapter 8. 2. It has to be the vision that Daniel did not understand.* Dan 9:23 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.
“The vision” here cannot be referred to the vision of chapter 2 or 7, for he already understood them. It cannot be referred to the visions of ram nor he goat, nor a little horn for Gabriel already explained it. The only vision that Daniel did not understand is the vision of 2300 days in chapter 8 for Daniel fainted before angel tells him the interpretation. Dan 8:26, 27. 3. It has to be the vision that deals with time. Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined…
The word “determined” comes from the Hebrew word, “Hataq,” meaning “to cut out of, take out of.” Time can only be taken out of time that is larger than itself. In the vision of chapter 8, the only time prophecy ever mentioned in chapter 8 is the prophecy of 2300 days. Dan 8:14. Therefore according to those three evidences, we can safely conclude that the seventy weeks comes from the 2300 days. They must have the same beginning point: Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
It does express what will happen at the end. But does not specify the beginning. Two things you can get out of this text is: 1) allotment of time – 2300 days, 2) What will occur at the end – cleansing of sanctuary. But the beginning point is missing. In the time prophecy, you got to have beginning and the ending point; it cannot be guesswork. When God gives prophecy, He is specific even down to the very year, sometimes into the very date! Therefore one thing Daniel has to understand, if Daniel wants to understand the 2300 days, is the beginning point. So in the vision of 70 weeks, there has to be a beginning point, for the beginning point lacks in 2300 days prophecy. Dan 9:25 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.
Therefore, you know that the 70 weeks and 2300 days have to begin at the same time! Because Daniel could have never understood the time prophecy until God establishes the starting point. Based on that starting point, he can cloak out the time and understand what goes on. So one of the main purposes of God in chapter 9 is to give Daniel the starting point of the vision that he did not understand – 2300 days.
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9:21 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.
“fly swiftly” – Orion is many millions of light years away. Can you imagine Gabriel being sent so fast? Let’s just say in 20 minutes was this prayer—so Gabriel was flying many, many miles (beyond speed of light), this was super, super fast 9:22 And he informed [me], and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show [thee]; for thou [art] greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
These two texts become key passages that link you back Daniel 8. Clearly it says the vision at the beginning. He wanted to understand the matter. The vision at the beginning was not Daniel 7. He understood those events. But in Daniel 8 there is only one aspect that he didn't understand. The Ram, He-goat, and little horn he understood, but he didn't understand the 2300 days. He fainted. So verses 21 and 23 are keys passages that lock you back down to Daniel 8. These are the connecting verses. Without them you will have problems showing the connection. These are bridge text or connecting texts. They give you the linkage. Right here it becomes very important. “therefore understand the matter and consider the vision” – what matter and what vision? The vision that Daniel had concern about – Daniel 8:27 (“astonished about the vision”) – the vision of the 2300 days. When explaining, ask the student if there is any vision that Daniel didn’t understand that God had to send Gabriel to explain it to him. So there was a particular vision that he didn’t understand, plus he misunderstood. Gabriel comes to make Daniel understand. Which vision is this? Dan 8:26 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. Daniel 8:27 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].
Verse 26 talks of 2300 days (verse 14). So Gabriel comes down to help Daniel understand the area Daniel misunderstood regarding 2300 days. Notice how Daniel is praying: Dan 9:18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations,
Why mention desolations? Dan 8:13 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?
What was he thinking when he heard this? God’s sanctuary on earth, the one in Jerusalem, and the people of literal Israel. For 2300 days/years. So Gabriel came to show him not the fulfillment but when it is to begin—it begins with the restoration of Jerusalem 9:24 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.
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Gabriel's Explanation of the Sanctuary – But the most important question in the mind of the reader is this: How did Gabriel explain the sanctuary to Daniel? Did he point out to him the transition from the "figure," or "pattern," to the "greater and more perfect tabernacle," the true holy places? We answer, He did. 1. Gabriel explains to Daniel what portion of the 2300 days belonged to Jerusalem and the Jews. "Seventy weeks have been cut off upon thy people, and upon thy holy city." Dan. 9:24. - Whiting's Translation. Then the whole of the 2300 days does not belong to Old Jerusalem, the place of the earthly sanctuary, nor do they all belong to the Jews, the professed people of God in the time of the first covenant. 2. For in that period of 70 weeks, the transgression was to be finished, that is, the Jewish people were to fill up their measure of iniquity by rejecting and crucifying their Messiah, and were no longer to be his people, or host. Dan. 9:24; Matt. 23:32, 33; 21:33-43; 27:25. 3. Gabriel showed Daniel that the earthly sanctuary should be destroyed, shortly after their rejection of the Messiah, and never be rebuilt, but be desolate till the consummation. Dan. 9:26, 27. 4. The angel brings the new covenant to Daniel's view. "He [the Messiah] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week." Dan. 9:27; Matt. 26:28. 5. He brings to Daniel's view the new covenant church, or host, viz.: the "many" with whom the covenant is confirmed. Verse 27. 6. He brings to view the new-covenant sacrifice, viz.: the cutting off of the Messiah, but not for himself. Verse 26. And also the Prince, or mediator, of the new covenant. Verse 25; 11:22; Heb. 12:24. 7. He brings to Daniel's view the new-covenant sanctuary. Gabriel informed Daniel that before the close of the seventy weeks, which belonged to the earthly sanctuary, the Most Holy should be anointed. That this "Most Holy" is the true tabernacle in which the messiah is to officiate as priest, we offer the following testimony: 'And to anoint the Most Holy;' kodesh kodashim, the Holy of holies." - Adam Clarke. Dan. 9:24. " 'To anoint the Most Holy.' Hebrew, literally 'Holy of holies.' Heaven itself, which Christ consecrated, when he ascended and entered it, sprinkling, or consecrating, it with his own blood for us." - Litch's Restitution, page 89. "And the last event of the 70 weeks, as enumerated in verse 24, was the anointing of the 'Most Holy,' or the 'Holy of holies,' or the 'Sanctum Sanctorum.' Not that which was on earth, made with hands, but the true tabernacle, Heaven itself, into which Christ, our high priest, is for us entered. Christ was to do in the true tabernacle, in Heaven, what Moses and Aaron did in its pattern. See Heb. 6; 7; 8; 9. And Ex. 30:22-30. Also Lev. 8:10-15." - Advent Shield, No. 1, page 75. The fact is plain, then, that of the vision of 2300 days concerning the sanctuary, only 490 pertained to the earthly sanctuary; and also that the iniquity of the Jewish people would in that period be so far filled up that God would leave them, and the city and sanctuary would soon after be destroyed, and never be rebuilt, but left in ruins till the consummation. And it is also a fact that Gabriel did present to Daniel a view of the true tabernacle (Heb. 8:12), which about the close of the 70 weeks did take the place of the pattern. And as the ministration of the earthly tabernacle began with its anointing, so in the more excellent ministry of our great High Priest, the first act, as shown to Daniel, is the anointing of the true tabernacle, or sanctuary, of which he is a minister. Ex. 40:9-11; Lev. 8:10, 11; Num. 7:1; Dan. 9:24. It is therefore an established fact that the worldly sanctuary of the first covenant, and the heavenly sanctuary of the new covenant, are both embraced in the vision of the 2300 days. Seventy weeks are cut off upon the earthly sanctuary, and at their termination the true tabernacle, with its anointing, its sacrifice, and its minister, is introduced. And it is interesting to notice that the transfer http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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from the tabernacle made with hands, to the true tabernacle itself, which the Lord pitched, and not man, is placed by Gabriel at the very point where the Bible testifies that the shadow of good things to come ceased, being nailed to the cross. Col. 2:14-17. Where the offering of bulls and goats gave place to the great sacrifice (Heb. 9:11-14; 10:1-10; Ps. 40:6-8; Dan. 9:27); where the Levitical priesthood was superseded by that of the order of Melchisedec (Heb. 5-7; Ps. 110); where the example and shadow of heavenly things was terminated by the more excellent ministry which it shadowed forth. Heb. 8:1-6. And where the holy places, which were the figures of the true, were succeeded by the true holy places in Heaven. Heb. 9:23, 24. In the first part of this article, we saw that Gabriel did not explain the 2300 days and the sanctuary in Dan. 8. We now see that in Dan. 9, he explained both. With Gabriel's explanation of the sanctuary and the time, we are entirely satisfied. Verse 24 gives Daniel an overview. Things to transpire within the 70 weeks. Something to do with the Messiah and the city and holy people Why God tells about the 70 weeks vision? – What we have in this vision of 70 weeks is simply braking down of the 2300 days, in a most systematized and categorical in each point. Sometimes it’s easier to break down and put in category and systematize the whole thing; that’s exactly what God is doing. 1. To make it much easier for God’s people to understand the overall picture of 2300 days. 2. To bring out several points: In regard to the Jews that their probationary time is now 490 years. To help them to see that God, in great love for the world, is going to send His son, the Messiah. “determined” – means cut off from some longer time. This time is cut off for God’s people and the city of God’s people. It is part of a longer time. 70 weeks = 490 days = 490 yrs. cut off, from what? You can only understand this only based upon the understanding that the 70 weeks are cut off from 2300 days. This is why Gabriel came down—to let Daniel know about 2300 days “the vision.” "Seventy weeks are determined…" – The word determined in the Hebrew means 'cut off'. Or taken out of, cut out of a segment of time. Notice that 70 weeks are cut off. Time can only be taken out of time. When you go back to Daniel 8 you find the Ram, is there any time connected with the Ram. For example in Daniel 7 when we look at the little horn power, is there any time connected with this? Yes, the 1260 years. But when you get to the Ram, do you see time? No, He-goat? No, Little horn, no. All we are doing is a process of elimination. 1.) You know from verses 21 and 23 that it has to be the vision at the beginning where Gabriel was. 2.) You also find that it was something that Daniel didn't understand. 3.) You go back and find out what Daniel didn't understand had to do with time. And the 70 Weeks have to be cut out of something larger than itself. And the only time prophecy mentioned in Daniel 8 is the 2300 day prophecy. Therefore you must conclude based off of all the evidence that the 70 weeks came from the 2300 days. Also we see at the end of Daniel 8 that Daniel fainted, in Daniel chapter 9 he began to study the book of Jeremiah, he was studying because he wanted to know more. And in reference to the sanctuary in Daniel 8 all that he saw he didn't understand. He fainted and Gabriel didn't have a chance to explain it. So he draws his attention back to it because Daniel wanted to know more. When he heard in Daniel 8:14 that the sanctuary was going to be cleansed he thought to himself, could this be when the temple is going to be restored? But it wasn't until he was earnestly praying that Gabriel came back to give him understanding.
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Recap: You make the connection between Daniel 8:14 (The 2300 Day prophecy, and the 70 weeks) based upon Daniel 9:21, 23, you know that it was a vision at the beginning that Gabriel was going to give Daniel skill and understanding in. So this takes you back to one vision. And it is not Daniel 2 or 7, it is Daniel 8. You go down to Daniel 9:24 you see that 70 Weeks are determined, which means cut off, taken out from. Time can only be taken out of time. Now you begin the process of elimination. You know it has to be the vision before Daniel 8. And it is dealing with time. So you go right down the list. It is not the Ram, He-goat, or little horn. You then realize that that time that was taken out of time, can only refer to the 2300 day prophecy. We know very clearly that the 70 weeks are taken from the 2300 days, whether it is the beginning, middle, or end, this is what we have to solve. Daniel 8:14 simply establishes an allotment of time. It does express what will happen at the end. But it does not specify the beginning. You get two things from Daniel 8:14: An allotment of time (2300 years). And what will occur at the end. (the sanctuary will be cleansed). But you are never, never given any indication of the beginning. Time prophecy doesn't mean anything if you don't understand when it begins. Because if you don't understand when it begins, you will never understand what will happen at the end. What is missing out of this verse? A beginning. So therefore one thing that Daniel needs to understand in order to understand the 2300 days is the beginning point. (BSM: It is a matter of evaluation. Once you look at the facts, you go through it. You have what will happen at the end of the 2300 days, you have that it is an allotment of time, but you have no indication of the beginning) Now your attention is drawn to Daniel 9 where you have an allotment of time (the 70 weeks), taken from the 2300 days. Therefore we must conclude based upon the evidence, because Daniel 8 doesn't give you any indication of the beginning. And when finding the beginning of time it is not a guessing game. You must have specifics. Especially when you are dealing with time segments. Example. If I tell you 8 years then something will happen, you have to tell me specifically when it begins. In the exact year. You must be specific. Example when you are looking at 1260 years we don't just guess and say it begin in such and such a year. We say specifically that it started in 538 AD. Not in 537, 38 or 39. What does that do at the end? It leaves you some time between 1797, 98, 99. And this leaves you open to many interpretations. God didn't give us time prophecy for us to guess. God is specific when He gives time prophecy, it is specific, the beginning, and the ending, and by the year. And sometime He will give the specific day that it will start. 70 Weeks, which part is it taken out from? So now when we look at Daniel 9, we know clearly that it will have to give you an understanding, not of what goes on during or what happens at the end, because at the end we know the sanctuary will be cleansed. This time segment of time has to give you some indication of the beginning because Daniel 8:14 lacks the beginning point. Therefore when God establishes in Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment…
You know that the 70 weeks, and the 2300 days have to begin at the same point.
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(*PO This is the only beginning date that he gives. If they were different he would have shown two starting points, but he only shows one.) The logic based upon Daniel 8:14 demands this, and also when you look at this text in relation to Daniel 9:25 you can only come to this conclusion. It has to determine the beginning. Because Daniel could have never understood the time prophecy until God establishes the starting point. Based on the starting point, Daniel could then clock out the time and understand what goes on. So one of the main purposes of God in Daniel 9 is to give Daniel the starting point of the 2300 days. Repeat: Once you go to verses 21, and 23 (in chapter 9), it is just a domino effect. Because the next thing your eyes turn to is Verse 24, you have an allotment of time (70 weeks), the word determined means cut off. You go back to the previous vision you find where the time is, you are locked in to Daniel 8:14. Then you evaluate this verse it gives you two things: 1.) An allotment of time (2300 years) and 2.) What will happen at the end (cleansing of the sanctuary). It never establishes the beginning point. Therefore we must conclude that when we come to Daniel 9:25 that this is also the beginning point of the 2300 days. It could only be this. The 70 weeks, and 2300 days begin at the same time. Now let's look at the vision. “Upon they people and upon they holy city” – Seventy weeks has direct reference to the Jews as a nation. 2 things again. People and Holy city. This is what Daniel was asking for—what’s going to happen to the holy city? Let’s go back to the time when they were in captivity. Through the prophecy Isaiah, Micah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah talked about the coming restoration. Now God was saying, “I am going to cut off a segment of time for you. I did with the people in the past. In these times, 70 weeks, 490 years are going to be segment out for Jewish nation. God’s people will be given another 490 yrs of probation and then they will be cut off if they won’t repent. Conditional prophecy.490 represents complete forgiveness – Jesus said forgive 70 x 7. According to this prophecy, this 490 days is only added after many years of receiving abuse and persecution. Only then, add another 490 days. The end of this verse seems like it is pointing to Jesus and His crucifixion. So the 70 weeks prophecy = death of Jesus. Verse 24 IS REALLY AN OVERVIEW OF THE 70 WEEKS. HE GIVES YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW. He shows the purpose of the 70 weeks and what will occur during this time frame. When you get to verses 25-27. He breaks down the 70 weeks. “determined” – cut out, taken out from the 2300 days. “upon they people and upon thy holy city” – What do you see right here? The 70 weeks have a direct reference to the Jews. You must go back in time to when they were in captivity. The prophets: Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and Daniel. They talked about the coming destruction, but also the coming restoration. God had put up with His people for centuries, but now God was saying, now I will cut off a segment of time for you. I have done it during the time of Noah, and with others in the past. Now I will cut out a time frame just for you. And during this time the 2300 days, 490 years are for the Jewish nation. Now what is to happen during this time? “To finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins” – “To finish…” Here God tells us the purpose of this segment of time. During these 490 years, they were to put away their sins, not just the Messiah, but whole Israel. They were to stop the transgression of the law of God, because if they http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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persistent and continue in their rebellion till the end of 70 weeks, they will be cut off. So it tells us that it is referring the probationary time for the Jews as a nation. This is in reference to the Jews, not just Jesus. They were to put away their sins during this time, and they were to stop transgressing against the Lord. Because if they persist in their rebellion at the end of the 70 weeks they are cut off. So this proves that this is referring to probationary time for the Jews. The 490 years are given as probationary time for the Jews. During this time they must cut off their transgression and sinning. They must stop rebellion. If they persist, at the end of this time, it will be over for you as a nation, as the chosen people of God. Note: Luke 13:6-9 The parable of Jesus also comes to in to show the probation offered to the Jews. In the parable of the vinedresser one said let's cut the tree down. It had been up for 3 years, and the other man said let's wait 1 more year. 4 years were given to it. The 4 years represents the ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. John the Baptist was born 6 months before Jesus, he started his ministry 6 months before Jesus. Jesus had a ministry of 3 ½ years plus the ministry of John the Baptist is 4 years. God was allotting 490 years probationary time on the Jewish nation, to determine if they would or would not come to Him. Now God is asking them as a nation do you want to be my people. As a nation, probationary time has been segmented out. Prior to this God never allotted time to them. But now He does. He says 490 years I have given to you. This time was conditional probation. If they would have repented God would have spared them. Just like Ninevah. All of this was suppose to happen during the 490 years. God is going to make the greatest provision for them to put away their sins, and this is where the Messiah comes in. “To make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness” – During the 70 weeks, they had to put away their sins and turn back to God. But God is going to make the greatest provision for them to do that. That’s where the Messiah comes in. The word “reconcile” means “to atone.” No body can make reconciliation for their iniquity except Jesus Christ. All they can do is to put away their sins, but cannot atone for their sins. Nobody can atone for their own sins. But by the grace of God you can put away your sins. The first part of this text is in reference to the Jewish nation, the second part is referring to Christ the Messiah. No body can bring in everlasting righteousness except the One who is righteous. Christ was to bring in everlasting righteousness to the world. God was telling them, “You got to put away your sins during this time and turn back to me. But specially I am going to send you the Messiah, so that you can really do it!” Could the Jews make reconciliation for iniquity? Nobody could make reconciliation for sin except for Jesus Christ. What does reconcile mean? To atone. “To anoint the most Holy” – There are two views on this: 1. Referring to Jesus – people assert this view saying that the description of “anoint” is often referred to the Messiah, the “anointed” One. And the most Holy can no doubt be referred to Christ. 2. Inauguration of the sanctuary in heaven – The word used for “the most Holy: Qodesh” is never referred to a person, but only to the things and places. Exodus 29:37; 30:10,29,36; Leviticus 6:17,29; 7:1; 27:28. On the other hand, in the case of anointing for service, the term is applied to the tabernacle itself, as well as to all its vessels. Ex 30:22-29. Anointing of the tabernacle was the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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inauguration of the institution of the beginning of their services in the sanctuary. Earthly sanctuary is a type of the one in heaven. Hebrew 8:5. Sure Christ, during these 70 weeks, after His ascension to heaven, His inauguration has started and it was accomplished on the day of Pentecost – after 40 days + 10 days of His resurrection. AD 31. AA 38 Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing…The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven's communication that the Redeemer's inauguration was accomplished.
Some say this refers to Jesus, and other refer it to the inauguration of the sanctuary in heaven. Ray believes it is the second. In his studies from the URS, others, the Hebrew, not once is the term 'most holy' speaking of a person. It is always in reference to the sanctuary. (*PO Daniel 9:25 'Messiah' means anointed one. Jesus comes in right there. In V.24 'reconciliation for iniquity is speaking of Christ, and then afterwards it talks of anointing the most holy) I believe this too. URS Daniel & Revelation Chapter 9 page 218, 237 "And the "most holy" was to be anointed; the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. In the examination of the sanctuary, on chapter 8:14, we saw that a time came when the earthly sanctuary gave place to the heavenly, and the priestly ministration was transferred to that. Before the ministration in the sanctuary commenced, the sanctuary and all the holy vessels were to be anointed. Ex.40:9,10. The last event, therefore, of the seventy weeks, here brought to view, is the anointing of the heavenly tabernacle, or the opening of the ministration there. Thus this first division of the 2300 days bring us to the commencement of the service in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, as the whole period brings us to the commencement of the service in the second apartment, or most holy place, of that sanctuary. *NOTE. - That the expression "to anoint the most holy" refers, according to remarks on verse 24 of this chapter, to the anointing of the heavenly sanctuary previous to the beginning of Christ's ministry therein and not to any anointing of the Messiah himself, seems to be susceptible of the clearest proof. The words translated "most holy" are (kodesh kodashim), the "holy of holies," an expression which, according to Gesenius, applies to the most holy place in the sanctuary, and which in no instance is applied to a person, unless this passage be an exception." 'most holy' 6944 Qodesh…. Daniel 8:13, 14 the word Qodesh refers to the heavenly sanctuary. This is one thing that we better know. The sanctuary issue. Ellen White makes a plain straightforward statement in reference to the sanctuary. The implication cannot be overlooked GC 409 The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Daniel 8:14.
This tells us something about this bible text. This text is just not the foundation of the Adventist church, but it is the CENTRAL PILLAR AND FOUNDATION OF THE ADVENTIST CHURCH. This means that if you don't understand Daniel 8:14, which is the central pillar (not just the pillar, but central pillar, this means that everything else hinges on this.). If we don't understand the central pillar and foundation of the Adventist church, then why are we SDA's? (*PO The sanctuary message is the central pillar among the seven pillars that we have. The state of the dead was given to us from another denomination.Other churches advocate the law and keep the Sabbath, other churches claim to have a prophet, and the there would be no 3rd angel's message http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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without the understanding of the sanctuary. It is the central pillar by which all our other doctrines rotate around.) Recap of Daniel 9:24 "most holy" Dan 9:24 …anoint the most Holy…
People look at this passage in two ways. One: to anoint Jesus Christ. The word anoint in the Hebrew is the same word for the Messiah. There is no question that Jesus is the most Holy. But you must look at it in the context. Two: "Most Holy" refers to Jesus anointing the heavenly sanctuary before He began His ministration in the first apartment. (*PO This is also very clearly put in Paul Gordan's book The Sanctuary, 1844, and Pioneer's pg. 4345 Chapter 3 Entering the Most Holy Place in 1844.) The phrase 'make reconciliation for iniquity' refers to Jesus. This is where He comes in on the scene. Then after this you have to 'anoint the most Holy'. In Uriah Smith's book Daniel and Revelation pg. 205 he shows this very clearly with scripture evidence. When the sanctuary service began, what did Moses and Aaron have to do before their ministration begin? They had to anoint it. Ex 30:22 Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
He is talking to Moses very cleary we see God speaking. Ex 30:24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:
He was suppose to have olive oil with him. Ex 30:25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
Then you go to the next verse. Ex 30:26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony…
He had to anoint the tabernacle. And the anointing was the inauguration of the beginning of the ministration in the earthly sanctuary. Hebrews 8. The earthy sanctuary is a 'shadow' it is a type of the one in heaven. What you have here in Daniel 9:24 is the inauguration of Jesus. Jesus entered into heaven. When Jesus was resurrected, He had not gone to the Father, and Mary came to touch Him, but He said don't you touch me. I have not yet ascended to My Father (John 20:17). He was to see if the sacrifice was accepted in His Father's sight, and there was a special resurrection of those who died from Adam's time to Jesus' day. Then He came down and spent 40 days with His disciples talking about His kingdom, and then He ascended up again into heaven. Conclusion: This is what you have when Jesus was resurrected. He ascended up to the Father to see if the sacrifice was accepted. Then along with that you have the special resurrection from every generation from Adam to His day, typifying the final resurrection at the end from every generation that will be raised up at that day who would die in Christ. They were the first fruits. We see a little harvest right here. In Daniel 9:24 anointing the most Holy is in reference to the inauguration at the http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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beginning of the priestly ministry of Jesus in the Heavenly Sanctuary. In other words when He would commence His ministry in the sanctuary. Review: Daniel 8:14 only tells you what is going to happen at the end of the 2300 days but nothing is established at the beginning. Then you go to Daniel 9:25 know and understand from the "going forth", the beginning, so this establishes the beginning point of the 2300 days. You must conclude based upon the evidence that when you put it altogether, that this 70 weeks, since it is a part of the 2300 days, you must conclude that because no evidence prior to this verse is given to establish a beginning, therefore it must be the same time. You cannot look at it any other way. Evidence prior to this make it clear and leaves this conclusion. The only evidence is when you come to Daniel 9:25. It is just a process of elimination. You evaluate the text. Daniel 8:14 tells you two things: 1.) The duration of time. 2.) And what happens at the end. It leaves you an opening for the beginning and you just link the texts up. Christianity at large doesn't see the connection between the 70 weeks and 2300 days. They see it as totally separate from the 2300 days. That is why it is important that when you go to Daniel 9:21, 23 you show that these verses key you in back to Daniel 8:14, just bring them over. These verses give you all of the identifying marks for you to see that it has to be Daniel 8:14 that he is referring to. Dan 9:24 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."
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins” – 7 X 70 = 490 days (which mean years) are 'determined' cut out from the 2300 year prophecy and are given specifically to the Jews. For what reason? To stop sin, and put away the transgression. In other words it is probationary time that is allotted to the Jews. Prior to this God never allotted time to them as a nation. It was His purpose to always have them as His people. But now He said He will allot them 490 years. God has done this all throughout history. He has always comes to the point of allotting time to certain nations and people. We saw it during the days of Noah. God never intended to destroy this world, but as time went on, God said I will now give you 120 years. And really the allotment of time is His last appeal. This is a message of love. He is trying to wake up the people to realize that unless you put way your sins you will near be my children. And this is love. When you have one last chance you ask yourself a question, do I want this or not? The reality hits home. “to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness” – This refers to Jesus Christ. He alone can make reconciliation for iniquity, which means to atone. Nobody can make atonement for sin except Jesus. Bring in Everlasting righteousness. This was the whole purpose of Jesus coming to this earth, was to bring eternal life and righteousness to this world. “anoint the most Holy” (The Danish Bible translates this verse and says anointing the Holy Sanctuary. This is what URS and others are trying to say. That the Hebrew word applies to the sanctuary, and it is never in reference to a person. It is employed to the vessels in the sanctuary. So in this context it refers to the inauguration.) This is referring to anointing the vessels in the Sanctuary prior to the beginning of His ministration in the Holy Place. You find this in Exodus 30 he talks about olive oil, and this was called anointing oil. Exodus 30:22-29 is the segment of anointing.
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Ex 30:26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,
The ark was in the MHP. So he anointed both compartments. He had to anoint the ark. Then he anointed all the vessels and tables, etc. Ex 30:29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy"
The word Sanctify means to set apart for a holy use. The vessels were to be anointed with the oil, to set apart for holy use that they may be most holy, for a holy service. God is simply telling Moses that this oil was to anoint the vessels for a holy purpose, they were set aside. This was the purpose of anointing. The purpose of anointing was to consecrate them (this is what the word sanctify means) to set them apart for a holy purpose. And what was the holy purpose of this sanctuary? To minister in behalf of God's people. And for the ministry of the priest to begin in the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. So there was a holy consecration. What does the oil represent? The Holy Spirit. Now we have type and antitype seen. The Holy Spirit has to have some means of anointing the Sanctuary. This is where the inauguration of Jesus' ministry comes in. You must have the anointing first then the ministry begins. The inauguration. (By the way, if you read Exodus 29 Aaron had to be anointed as priest.) When we get to 27 A.D. Jesus was anointed, and His heavenly ministry was anointed. Powerful! It all fits to a tee. When was Jesus anointed? The inauguration happened in 31 AD not in 34 AD. Not at the cross but once He ascended to heaven. See quote. Remember you go back to Exodus 30, you have the oil, which represented the Spirit, anointing the services. Aaron was to be anointed with oil and it locks you in. Of course Jesus the great High Priest was anointed for service, then the sacrifice was given, and the ministry in heaven began in 31 AD. Therefore during this time it had to be anointed. Then we get the quote from the chapter called "Pentecost" AA 38-39 Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing.
His ascension – this is based upon Acts 1. After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, how long did He stay with His disciples? 40 days. From the day of the Passover, the crucifixion of Jesus, 50 days extended to the day of Pentecost. Pentecost means 50. Jesus is crucified He is raised from the dead, He spends 40 days with His disciples, He then ascends into heaven. 10 days later is what event? Pentecost. The Holy Spirit ascends. This is what she is referring to. AA 38-39 Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven's communication that the Redeemer's inauguration was accomplished.
What was the promised blessing they were to wait for? The outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Therefore we can conclude that when He ascended into heaven after 40 days, during the 10-day period His inauguration began and it ended at the day of Pentecost. The inauguration began at the end of the 40 days when He ascended into heaven, and it was a 10-day ceremony, His inauguration ended on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Some people say Jesus entered into the MHP and began His ministry. Well we know that in 31 AD He did enter into the MHP, He had to anoint it. Ex 30 said the ark was anointed. So Jesus anointed it, all the vessels and came out. It was a 10-day period, after it was commemorated and completed. The Holy Spirit came down to share with the people that the inauguration was done. But remember you could not begin in the HP before you anoint the MHP. Otherwise, you would say I have to enter into the MHP and anoint it first before I can begin. It doesn't fit. Everything had to be set aside at the consecration because the HP ministry, the daily service is first then the yearly the day-of-atonement in the MHP, and all of it has to be set aside at one time for consecration then the ministry can begin and go all the way through. Dan 9:25 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.
Sometime after 69 Weeks the Messiah will appear. It doesn't give a specific time as to when after the 69 weeks. It just says after 69 weeks Messiah is going to appear on the scene. It means He could appear anytime after that. Then it says specifically when He will appear. He just gives a general overview and then he gets specific. “going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” – When is that? You have 4 decrees, but really there are only 2. You have many decrees, now which one is this verse referring to? Ezra 6:14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished [it], according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
In this verse you find the 3 decrees by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes. Which decree is this referring to? Artaxerxes, and which year was that? 457 B.C. Note: In the older bibles you have dates in the margin, but in the older bibles you have 457 B.C. in the margin. When you get to Ezra 7, 8, and 9. But the modern Bibles don't have dates anymore. Now let's look at the difference of all of these decrees. Cyrus and Darius began this decree. But Artaxerxes brought in something that these other decrees did not. GC 410 The 2300 days had been found to begin when the commandment of Artaxerxes for the restoration and building of Jerusalem went into effect, in the autumn of 457 B.C. Taking this as the starting point, there was perfect harmony in the application of all the events foretold in the explanation of that period in Daniel 9:25-27.
If you take the other decrees and use them as the starting point, none of them don't point to anything specific at all. There was a complete harmony in 457 B.C. Note: Something similar is mentioned in PK 698-699. Both of these references she details out the 2300 day prophecy. Point by point she breaks it down.
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Ezra 7 and 9 show clearly the starting point for this decree. What made 457 B.C. different? Ezra 7 reveals the completed aspect of the decree that we see in Ezra 6:14 that Artaxerxes gave. It is not just talking about the restoration of the temple, but the restoration of the Jews as a nation. Ezra 7:11, 13, 25 [11] Now this [is] the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, [even] a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. [13] …I make a decree…[25] And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that [is] in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that [are] beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know [them] not.
"We are informed in Ezra 7:11: 'Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel.' The letter then follows, written not in Hebrew, but in Chaldaic [or the Eastern Aramaic], the language then used at Babylon. At the 27th verse, the narrative proceeds in Hebrew. We are thus furnished with the original document, by virtue of which Ezra was authorized to 'restore and build Jerusalem;' or, in other words, by which he was clothed with power, not merely to erect walls or houses, but to regulate the affairs of his countrymen in general, to 'set magistrates and judges which may judge all the people beyond the river.' He was commissioned to enforce the observance of the laws of his God, and to punish those who transgressed, with death, banishment, confiscation or imprisonment. See verses 23-27. No grant of powers thus ample, can be found in the case of Nehemiah, or in any other instance after the captivity. That the commission given to Ezra authorized him to proceed in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, is evident from the fact that in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, Nehemiah, who was then in the Persian court, received information that 'the remnant who were left of the captivity, then in the province, were in great affliction and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and the gates thereof burned with fire.' See Nehemiah 1:1-3. The fact is, that Ezra and his associates met with continued opposition from the Samaritans, so that during the whole of the seven weeks, or forty-nine years, from the time that Ezra went up, to the last act of Nehemiah in obliging the Jews to put away their strange wives, the prediction of the prophet was verified - 'the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.' After Nehemiah reached Jerusalem, he examined the city by night. The result of his examination is thus stated, Nehemiah2:13: 'And I went out by night, by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon-well, and to the dung-port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.' It is evident that 'the walls and gates' which had been destroyed, were the works of Ezra. The impropriety of referring the language of Nehemiah to the destruction of the city by Nebuchadnezzar will be seen at once, if we recollect that he reduced it to ruins on the capture of Zedekiah, B.C. 588, one hundred and forty-four years previous to the time when Nehemiah went up to Jerusalem."This is the key as to why we choose this date. What is the implication of this statement? What is he restoring? What does the word "Magistrate" mean? It means government. He gave them permission not only to restore the temple. But he is restoring their ability to function as a nation. It is the completion of the decree. The first two decrees where just physical decrees, they were just to rebuild the temple itself, and this third decree he restores their sovereignty as a nation. He completed the whole thing. The decree started back then, but Artaxerxes completed it overall and gave back to the Jews the restoration, not just of the temple, but as a nation that they could govern themselves. Magistrates refers to political powers, and this clearly distinguishes them from the other decrees. You don’t see this in the other decree. There is something else that established the point of 457 B.C. Dan 9:25 …the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
You see the word 'wall'. Underscore this word, and cross-reference over to Ezra 9:9. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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That Ezra understood that power was conferred upon himself, and upon the people of Israel, to rebuild the street of Jerusalem and the wall, is certain from his own testimony recorded in chapter 9:9. 2. The second point in the evidence which the Herald has adduced, is this: the seventh year of Artaxerxes, from which the decree is dated, is fixed beyond dispute in B.C. 457. 3. The commencement of Christ's ministry in A.D. 27, is clearly established, being just 69 weeks, or 483 prophetic days from the decree in B.C. 457. 4. The crucifixion in the midst of the week is proved to have occurred in the spring of A.D. 31, just three and a half years from the commencement of Christ's ministry. 5. And it further demonstrates that the remaining three and a half years of the seventieth week ended in the autumn of A.D. 34. Here the seventy weeks, which had been cut off upon the Jews, in which they were "to finish the transgression," close with the Jewish Sanhedrin's act of formally rejecting Christ by persecuting his disciples, and God gives the great apostle to the Gentiles his commission to them. Acts 9. These important dates are clearly and unequivocally established by historical, chronological, and astronomical testimony. Sixty-nine of the 70 weeks from the decree in B.C. 457 ended in A.D. 27, when our Lord was baptized, and began to preach, saying, "The time is fulfilled." Mark 1. Three and a half years from this brings us to the midst of the week in A.D. 31, the period of 70 weeks terminates in the autumn of A.D. 34. Or, to be more definite, the first three and a half years of the seventieth week ended in the first Jewish month (April) in the spring of A.D. 31. The remaining three and a half years would therefore end in the seventh month, autumn of A.D. 34. Here then we stand at the end of the great period which Gabriel, in explaining the 2300 days to Daniel, tells him was cut off upon Jerusalem and the Jews. Its commencement, intermediate dates, and final termination, are unequivocally established. It remains then to notice this one grand fact: the first 490 years of the 2300 ended in the seventh month, autumn of A.D. 34. This period of 490 years being cut off from the 2300, a period 1810 years remains. This period of 1810 years being added to the seventh month, autumn of A.D. 34, brings us to the seventh month, autumn of 1844. And here, after every effort which has been made to remove the dates, all are compelled to let them stand. For a moment let us recur to the events of 1843 and 1844. Previous to the year 1843, the evidence on the going forth of the decree in B.C. 457 had been clearly and faithfully set forth. And as the period of 457 years before Christ, subtracted from the 2300, would leave but 1843 years after Christ, the end of the 2300 years was confidently expected in 1843. But if the 2300 years began with the commencement of B.C. 457, they would not end till the last day of A.D. 1843, as it would require all of 457, and all of 1843, to make 2300 full years. But at the close of 1843, it was clearly seen that as the crucifixion occurred in the midst of the week, in the spring of A.D. 31, the remainder of the seventieth week, viz.: three and a half years, would end in the autumn of A.D. 34. And as the seventy weeks, or 490 years, ended in the seventh month, autumn of A.D. 34, it is a settled point that the days began, not in the spring, with Ezra's starting from Babylon, but in the autumn, with the commencement of the work at Jerusalem. Ezra 7. And this view, that the days begin with the actual commencement of the work, is much strengthened by the fact that the first seven weeks, or 49 years, are manifestly allotted to the work of restoration in "troublous times." And that period could only begin with the actual commencement of the work. Dan. 9:25. When it was seen that only 456 years and a fraction had expired before Christ, it was at once understood that 1843 years and a portion of 1844, sufficient to make up a full year when joined to
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that fraction, was required in order to make 2300 full years. In other words, the 2300 days in full time would expire in the seventh month, 1844. And if we take into the account the fact that the midst of the seventieth week was the fourteenth day of the first month, and consequently the end of the seventy weeks must have been at a corresponding point in the seventh month, A.D. 34, we perceive at once that the remainder of the 2300 days would end about that point in the seventh month 1844. It was with this great fact before us, that the 2300 days of Daniel, which reached to the cleansing of the sanctuary, would terminate at that time, and also with the light of the types, that the high priest in "the example and shadow of of heavenly things," on the tenth day of the seventh month, entered within the second vail to cleanse the sanctuary, that we confidently expected the advent of our Redeemer in the seventh month, 1844. The prophecy said, "Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." The type said that at that season in the year the high priest should pass from the holy place of the earthly tabernacle to the most holy, to cleanse the sanctuary. Lev. 16. With these facts before us we reasoned as follows: 1. The sanctuary is the earth, or the land of Palestine. 2. The cleansing of the sanctuary is the burning of the earth, or the purification of Palestine, at the coming of Christ. 3. And hence, we concluded that our great High Priest would leave the tabernacle of God in Heaven and descend in flaming fire, on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the autumn of 1844. It is needless to say that we were painfully disappointed. And, though the man does not live who can overthrow the chronological argument, which terminates the 2300 days at that time, or meet the mighty array of evidence by which it is fortified and sustained, yet multitudes, without stopping to inquire whether our conceptions of the sanctuary and of its cleansing were correct or not, have openly denied the agency of Jehovah in the Advent movement, and have pronounced it the work of man. Ezra 9:9 is Ezra's prayer, Artaxerxes gives him the decree, they are to go back, not just to continue to restore the temple, but to be able to function as a nation. Now Ezra is praying with all the people that want to go back. They all come together so they could be consecrated in prayer to this work. Ezra 9:8 And now for a little space grace hath been [showed] from the LORD our God, to
leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. [9] For we [were] bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. “were bondmen” – They were now free, not just in religious services, but politically in one sense. They did not escape the whole yoke of the Persian empire, but they had jurisdiction to govern themselves. “kings of Persia” – This refers to Ezra 6:14. “wall in Judah and in Jerusalem” – This prayer was given in 457 B.C. (can find in commentaries or the margin of the Bible.)
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Note: Ezra 7:8 "And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which [was] in the seventh year of the king. This verse also shows when he came to Jerusalem. It was in 457 B.C. Resources: Books on Chronology. 1.) Sylvester Bliss – "Sacred Chronology" You can find it at the Leaves of Autumn. 2.) Edwin Felix – Number of the Kings (He was an Adventist. There were apparent discrepancies or contradictions in the chronology of the Kings, people were saying the bible could not be relied on and they were using it against us as a church, and that the bible could not be relied upon. He did massive research and harmonized all of the stories in the Bible and put them chronological order of the history of the kings in the year it happened. IT IS CONSIDERD THE FOREMOST BOOK EVER WRITTEN ON THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE KINGS. IT IS USED NOW AS THE STANDARD WORK IN CHRISTIANITY. You can find these book through the Leaves of Autumn. The end) 9:25 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.
“know therefore and understand” – Emphasis on you BETTER KNOW this. “from” – key word in this text—from what point? When God gives us prophetic time (1260, 2300, 1335, 1290) He always gives us the beginning point. Without this how can we understand the end point. Dan 12:11 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.
Beginning point is FROM this time and onward you can calculate Dan 7:25 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.
God’s people will be persecuted for time, times, and dividing of time. It is a diverse power because it combines church (Christian) and state power. So when was the duration for this little horn power as political plus ecclesiastical put together? 538-1798, church became political power and political power taken away. Bible gives us indication how the beginning and ending points will be. Revelation 20 talks about 1000 years. Begins with taking saints to heaven and then it will finish with resurrection of the wicked and they will be destroyed. If God doesn’t give us the end point He will give us the beginning point. He also tells us what will happen at the end of this time prophecy. He will tell us the event of the beginning and the event of the ending point. The beginning is more important. So how do we know when 70 weeks of prophecy will begin? Gabriel reveals the starting point of the 2300 day and 70 week prophecy. How do you know that it is the starting point of the 2300 day prophecy? Because Gabriel came to explain the 2300 day prophecy to Daniel. The beginning event to help us mark the beginning point of this 70 weeks of prophecy. When the decree goes forth to restore Jerusalem. When this is made then the 70 weeks begins. The problem is Daniel 8:14, 2300 days then sanctuary cleansed—where is the beginning point of this?One way to show this:
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Dan 8:13 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? (don’t read the italic words)
How long the vision (in whole) or of the daily? If it is the whole thing, then it counts from ram (Medo-Persia), he-goat, little horn (Pagan Rome and Papal Rome till 1798) until the time when people of God be persecuted—how long? Approx. 2300 years (from Medo-Persia to 1798). This is one way to give a close calculation to help us understand from what point 2300 years begins. So 2300 days we can almost guess it will begin in time of Medo-Persia Daniel 9 mentions 70 weeks=490 years. Given to God’s people. Peter said I forgive 3 times. Jesus said 7 x 70, which is 490. God is giving them the perfect opportunity to repent—490 years. 7=perfection. 10 x 7=70, 10=judgment, so they had the perfect amount of time to repent and at the same time they were being judged. This 70 weeks only belongs to Jewish people. So what do we have here? 70 weeks of prophecy. Begins when the decree goes forth to restore and rebuild Jerusalem So because Gabriel comes to Daniel to help him understand the 2300 days vision, the time prophecy regarding 70 weeks and giving him beginning point, this beginning point of 70 weeks now becomes the beginning point of 2300 days. So this 70 weeks will help Daniel to understand and have a relief of mind knowing God’s people will be restored. Beginning of this event is to restore Jerusalem, this beginning point belongs also to 2300 days Beginning point of 70 weeks is the beginning point of 2300 days. Based on how Daniel is praying, he is misunderstanding the 2300 days. Gabriel came to help him with this misunderstanding and explain. At the same time, God gave to Daniel the beginning point of 2300 days—this was all He has done. So after 70 years of Babylonian captivity, some time after this, there will be a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. At that decree the 70 weeks prophecy begins. “Commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” – There were three decrees “to restore and to build Jerusalem.” Decree 1st 2nd 3rd
King Cyrus Darius I Artaxerxes I
Year BC 536 BC 519 BC 457
Proof Text Ezra 1:1-4 Ezra 6:1-12 Ezra 7:1-6
Accomplishment None Temple completed. Civil rights restored as a nation, City completed.
Three Decrees that went forth. #1 – Cyrus (536-530 BC) Jerubabel to go back to Israel to start restoring. No decree yet to restore the whole nation.This was just to go back and restore the Temple.Daniel 9 says Jerusalem has to be restored—the whole nation. This was a decree just to restore the Temple only Cambysses (530-522 BC) Called Ahashures (Ezra 4:6) Disruption regarding the building of the Temple. Samaritans hindered (this is why they hated each other). False Smerides (claimed to be king, but was not, reigned only 7 months). #2 – Darius I (520-486 BC) Still working on the temple. Simply just restored the decree by Cyrus.
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#3 – Artaxerxes (457 BC) Gave full decree to restore the nation Ezra 7. This king made the full decree to do more than rebuilding the temple but the walls and the nation itself. The whole city was restored in a decree in 457 BC (Spring). 457 BC was the beginning year of the 2300 days prophecy How do we know which one is the right one? 1. Harmony with other events GC 410 The 2300 days had been found to begin when the commandment of Artaxerxes for the restoration and building of Jerusalem went into effect, in the autumn of 457 B.C. Taking this as the starting point, there was perfect harmony in the application of all the events foretold in the explanation of that period in Daniel 9:25-27.
You take each decree and try to establish it, it’s that simple! None of them point to anything, except the decree of Artaxerxes on BC 457, which makes perfect harmony. 2. Accomplishment of the decree. It was to “restore” and to build the Jerusalem. That means to “bring back to original state” which is a separated nation. First two decrees cannot satisfy that, for only the temple was barely rebuilt. It was on the third decree that their full civil rights were restored, and the entire city rebuilt. There were other decrees that went out before this. Cyrus sent a decree in the first year of his reign to restore the temple. But the decreed was only sent out for the whole of Jerusalem (political system, city wall, etc) to be restored under the reign of Artaxerxes. Other kings after Cyrus took back the decree and it was not fulfilled until Artaxerxes. In non-SDA commentaries (Adam Clerk Commentary) it says that the wall built 457 BC. Recommended book: The Sacred Chronology by Salbaster Bliss. Excellent book on the Chronology of the Bible. (Leaves of autumn). Mysterical Number of the Hebrew Kings by Edward Thiele. It is considered as the foremost book ever written on Chronology ever. He puts all the confusing dates of the kings and harmonizes all of the stories and puts them in sequence in order. It’s used as the standard in Christianity. Ezra 7:11,13, 25 [11] Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. [13] I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. [25] And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. GC 326, 327 In the seventh chapter of Ezra the decree is found. Verses 12-26. In its completest form it was issued by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, 457 B.C.
That means prior to the third decree, it was incomplete. Prior to this decree, decrees by Cyrus and Darius, it was not given in its completest form. That’s the reason why we don’t go to BC 536 or 519; but in BC 457 we find it in its completest form, “restoring and rebuilding.” (continued) But in Ezra 6:14 the house of the Lord at Jerusalem is said to have been built "according to the commandment ["decree," margin] of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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king of Persia. " These three kings, in originating, reaffirming, and completing the decree, brought it to the perfection required by the prophecy to mark the beginning of the 2300 years. Taking 457 B.C., the time when the decree was completed, as the date of the commandment, every specification of the prophecy concerning the seventy weeks was seen to have been fulfilled. The reason why we take the third decree is because it’s the decree in its completest form. Other decrees were not in its completest form, in which we cannot consider as “real decree.” 3. Restoration of Wall “The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times,” was the prophecy. Now, we find the fulfillment in the prayer of Ezra after he received the decree from Artaxerxes. Ezra 9:8, 9 [8] And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. [9] For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
Thus, we have now established the beginning date of this prophecy: BC 457. If the Jews would have been faithful He would have brought the earth back to the same state that it was in Eden. (FIND IT). Review: In reference to the decrees this is what EGW has to say. We had: 536 B.C. 519 B.C. and 457 B.C. By Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes. Why do we take 457 B.C.? She tells us right here. Of course you must go back and see what she was previously talking about. She is talking about Daniel 9:25 "going forth" etc.. this is what she is talking about. GC 326 – 327 " In the seventh chapter of Ezra the decree is found. Verses 12-26. In its completest form it was issued by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, 457 B.C. " She tells you where you can even find it. In Ezra 7:12-26. Catch the word that she used in its 'completest' form. This means that prior to this, it was in an incomplete form. Catch that. The key is completest form, prior to this the decree by Cyrus and Darius was not given in its completest form. That is why we don't take 536 B.C. or 519 B.C. It was not in its completest form. But in 457 B.C. we find that completest form. Remember V.25 alluded to this. The magistrates were setup. Not just to rebuild Jerusalem, but they had to also restore Jerusalem. Both in its two phases restoring Jerusalem, and rebuilding it. She goes on to say.. Ezra 6:14 the house of the Lord at Jerusalem is said to have been built "according to the commandment ["decree," margin] of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia."
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Notice it said commandment and not commandments! And notice it didn't say kings of Persia, but king of Persia. In reference it is really saying that this decree is looked at as being one, but in its completest form it was found in the decree of Artaxerxes. Then she goes on to say… "These three kings, in originating, reaffirming, and completing the decree," Get this! How many kings is there that made the decree? 3 Who originated the decree? Cyrus Who reaffirmed the decree? Darius Who completed the decree? Artaxerxes. " brought it to the perfection required by the prophecy to mark the beginning of the 2300 years." Notice it was brought to perfection or the completed form. And this was found with Artaxerxes. " Taking 457 B.C., the time when the decree was completed, as the date of the commandment, every specification of the prophecy concerning the seventy weeks was seen to have been fulfilled. {GC 326.3}" 'completed' she brings it right back again. Once you see the completion of that decree in 457 B.C. you begin to clock out the seventy weeks and you see how every event corresponds directly and the events of prophecy is relation to history fulfill identically. Why do we take 457 B.C.? And not 536 or 519 B.C.? Why? It is the decree in its completest form. (Know the three phases of the decree started by Cyrus, Darius, and the completion by Artaxerxes. You have Cyrus doing what? He originated the decree. Darius did what? Reaffirming that decree, then you have the completion by? Artaxerxes.) We take the decree in its completest form because this is the only way it could be fulfilled when we look at Daniel 9:25, how do you know? Because not only does it has to rebuild Jerusalem but also restore it it must be in its completest form. 457 B.C. is the decree. Right here she gives you all of the identifying marks and why we take 457 B.C. Right there. “Unto the Messiah the Prince shall be Seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” “Messiah” – Meshach, in Hebrew – used 39 times and out of that 37 times, it is used to mean the anointed one to anoint the most Holy. Thus, we can assume that this points to the anointing of Jesus as the Messiah. This occurred at His baptism in 27 AD. 7 weeks = 49 days = 49 years BC 457 – 49 = BC 408 Completion of the wall Neh. 13 62 weeks = 434 days = 434 years BC 408 – 434 = AD 27 Baptism of Christ Messiah means “Anointed One.” Which means Jesus wasn’t called as Messiah until he was anointed. “seven weeks” – This brings you how many years? 49. This brings us to 408 B.C. What happened in this year? Completion of the wall. Or the wall was completely rebuilt. Where do you find this? Nehemiah 13 the whole chapter shows you this. It is broken up into two parts. 7 weeks and 62 weeks. Altogether you have 69 weeks. At the end of the 69 weeks, Messiah will come on the scene.
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So when you count it, it goes down in time. And then when you cross over you add 1. You come down to the year 27 AD. To the Messiah. What does the word Messiah mean? To anoint. Was Jesus born Messiah? No! He had to be anointed and set aside. There was a specific time when He was set aside for this work. Where do we go to show this in the Bible? Acts 10:37, 38 [37] That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; [38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
When did God anoint Jesus with the Holy Ghost? At His baptism, when He was baptized. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus and anointed Him. That is what the word Messiah means in the Hebrew. The anointed one. You can see John 1:41 and Matthew 3:3. Note if you look in Uriah Smith's book on page 200 you will see a diagram of the 2300-day prophecy with the Bible text. Seventy weeks begin at the decree or command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Not just the Temple but the whole thing, the whole government. This took place in 457 BC under Artaxerxes Ezra 7:11 Now this [is] the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, [even] a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
“copy of the letter” – what letter is this? Ezra 7:12-13 [12] Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect [peace], and at such a time. [13] I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
“decree” – Is the same as commandment. It is like God is commanding this in Daniel 9 that Jerusalem be restored after 70 years in Babylon. Levites and whoever wants to go Ezra 7:14-16, 21 [14] Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which [is] in thine hand; [15] And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation [is] in Jerusalem, [16] And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which [is] in Jerusalem: . . . [21] And I, [even] I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which [are] beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
Keep on reading and it shows it is the restoration of the whole nation. Ezra 7:25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that [is] in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that [are] beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know [them] not.
This decree is clear that the government are being restored in Jerusalem. It is not only the Temple being restored … it is also political as well as spiritual restoration. This is why Artaxerxes decree is the one to which we take—this is in 457 BC. 2300-457=1843. This is where the Pioneers made mistake. They counted the 0 in their reckoning of the calendar dates. It goes from 1 BC to 1 AD (no 0 year). By adding this one year=1844
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So 2300 days begins from 457 BC and ends in 1844, THEN the sanctuary shall be cleansed. This is the Day of Atonement (sanctuary cleansed). 1844=antitypical day of Atonement. The judgment. Lev 16 is an investigative judgment to see who is worthy to be part of God’s people. This is what happens at the end of 2300 days, Dan 9:25 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.
“from the commandment … unto the Messiah … seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” – 7 and 62 weeks, 69 weeks total. When will Messiah come? After 69 weeks “unto the Messiah the Prince” Gap between the decree and Messiah the Prince, 69 weeks between this gap. This is 483 years 69x7=483. The last week is 7 years, 490-7=483. 483-457 (remember to add 1 more year)=27 AD Jesus was baptized this year. Jesus was the Messiah when He was born. Many people recognized this. But this was not the time when it was revealed that His work as the Messiah began. At His baptism was when He was revealed to the public as the Messiah. So this prophecy in Daniel points to when Jesus would present Himself as the Messiah publicly, as the Lamb of God. “seven weeks” – 7x7=49. So 49 years out of 490 years. This 49 years was given to complete the building of the wall in Jerusalem. “the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times” – This is not taking place at the end of 69 weeks but at the end of the 7 weeks. It says in verse 25 7 weeks and THEN 62 weeks. Two Time Charts 7 weeks and 62 weeks. So when 7 weeks is over, the street and wall will be built again. When 62 weeks is over, the Messiah will appear. So He gives 1st time (7 weeks) and its explanation; then He gives 2nd time (62 weeks) and its explanation. 9:26 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 after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself” – Sometime after 69 weeks, the Messiah will die, “but not for himself,” but for us. However, Jesus was baptised in 27 AD. This can be explained that they didn’t use 0 AD in transitioning between BC to AD. Thus they missed out a year. About to explain the 2nd part of the time mentioned in verse 25. It says “after”—so it is NOT the end but AFTER. So AFTER 27 AD. After 27 AD, He will be “cut off.” Some time after here, Jesus the Messiah is going to be cut off. But not for Himself. What does that mean? Did Jesus have to die for Himself? No, it was for us. It was not for anything that He did. He died for you and me; this is was it is referring to. (Here comes something that sounds strange and where the old fundamental Baptist come in and mess things up and twist up the 70th week.) Who is the subject matter here in Verses 25 and 26? Who is he constantly referring to? The Messiah. So He then becomes the subject matter. Now watch. Levi 23:28-30 [28] And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. [29] For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. [30] And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Cut off means to destroy or detached from God. So Jesus was separated from the people of God and His Father. It does not say that Jesus would be cutoff at the end of the 62 weeks. It says “after”. Christ’s death = 31 AD. Cut a covenant – Abraham story of making a covenant. God asked to cut the sacrifices in half. “Cut off” is related to us being cut off from God because of our sins Num 9:13 But the man that [is] clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
Because without the offering, he shall bear his sin. He will be “cut off” because of this. Cut off=bearing sin. So Messiah shall bear sin, He will be “cut off.” Psa 12:3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, [and] the tongue that speaketh proud things:
Flattering lips and tongue that speaks proud things=cut off. When the Messiah will be cut off (the death of Christ, bore our sins on the Cross), He was cut off from earth as well as heaven. It was like the people saying He is proud man, claiming He is the Messiah. Pride is sin and since Jesus bore our sin, He is cut off. Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD [is] against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
“Cut off” – totally forgotten and rejected. This is why Jesus said Why have You forsaken Me? This word “cut off” gives the understanding of what Jesus went through on the Cross. If the Jews understood this aspect, they would’ve been ready for the Messiah, not as a general but as one who would die for the sins of the people Psa 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
“Evildoer” – Jesus was treated as an evildoer. Psa 37:22 For [such as be] blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and [they that be] cursed of him shall be cut off.
Cursed by God Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:
Becoming a curse for us=cut off, based on Ps 37:22. This really belongs to the wicked Psa 37:38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
So this shows that Jesus bore and experience the 2nd death—He thought He was truly cut off from heaven and the earth. So cut off in relation to the Messiah means bear our sin, Rejected, and becoming a curse for us. So this prophecy points to the cross, so let’s review. “Messiah be cut off” – Simply—after 27 AD Jesus will die
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“not for himself” – He was cut off for the sin of the people, not His own “destroy the city and the sanctuary” - God is telling Daniel that 70 weeks and 2300 days will begin with restoration of the sanctuary, city, and the people. At the end, we have the city and the people being destroyed again. “the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” – It’s quickly referring to the destruction of Jerusalem. Some people argue that how could “the people of the prince” can refer to the Romans? We find the answer in the parable of Jesus. Matt 22: 1-2 [1] And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, [2] The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king (God), which made a marriage for his son(Christ), Who is the King and who is the Son? The king is the Father, and the Son is Jesus. He makes a marriage for Him. Matt 22:3-4 [3] And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. [4] Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed(sacrifice of Christ), and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
This is talking about the crucifixion of Jesus, His fatlings and everything has been sacrificed. Jesus the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world has been offered for every man, woman, and child, and He is inviting everyone to come. See COL: She gives all the details Matt 22:5-7 [5] But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: [6] And the remnant (Jews who came out from the Babylon) took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them (stoning of Stephen and great persecution of the church).
“the remnant” – Who is this? The Jews. Remember when they came out of Babylon after a call was made? They were referred to as the remnant. That is why they are called this. “took his servants…slew them” – Remember in the persecution of Acts 7. They stoned Steven, and there was a great persecution in the church. Listen to this in verse 7. Matt 22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
“his armies” – Did you catch that? Who came and destroyed the city? Titus, but God calls him, His armies. That is why in Daniel 9:26 He refers to Titus as 'the people of the prince'. Jesus used the Romans to accomplish His will in desolating and punishing the Jews. And you must cross-reference over to Matthew 22 to prove it. Don't let anyone get you hooked in, just go here real quick. KEY POINT: Here is a principle that you must understand to keep you from getting confused when you look at the latter part of Daniel 9:27. Notice that He calls Rome a desolating power. God uses these powers to accomplish His will sometimes in certain circumstances. They are known as desolating powers!! Did God use Babylon to desolate His people? Yes!! He used them to punish His people. What about Medo-Persia, and Greece? Yes and He used Rome. Listen! God used them as a desolating power. But listen every single time God raised up a kingdom (Daniel 2 should come back to your mind) He raised them up gave them glory. And that glory was not for self-glory, but it was for the glory of God, that they would be used to give glory to His name and spread the gospel to the world. This was the whole purpose. When God raised up a country, He gave them (in a sense of http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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glory), probationary time. What will you do with all of the glory that I have given you and the opportunity I have given you to spread the message. What will you do? Babylon came on the scene they were the desolating power, but they failed in their test, and what did God do? He desolated the desolator. He turned judgment now upon the desolating power. Babylon did not yield to God and His ways and demands so God said that is all right, I have given you an opportunity, you have failed in your task, I am going to now send another desolating power and it will desolate you. And so God desolates the desolater. He did it with Medo-Persia, with Greece. Now watch. When Rome comes on the scene, He uses them, and the Bible says they are a desolating power. They desolated God's people. When we come to Verse 27. It is going to talk about not just Pagan Rome, but it reaches all the way down to the end to another desolating power. Note: Let's stay on our subject matter. We will come back to the 70th week in a moment. We will look at the latter part of verse 27 first. This is talking about the crucifixion of Jesus, His fatlings and everything has been sacrificed. Jesus the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world has been offered for every man, woman, and child, and He is inviting everyone to come. See COL: She gives all the details. No doubt that Romans came and destroyed the Jews. Yet in this parable, God calls the Romans “His armies.” God used the Romans to accomplish His will in desolating and punishing the Jews. Many people become confused when they come to this verse 27 “…for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Now, God calls the Romans “the desolate.” How can desolating power become desolate? Similar language. In the verses before it shows that there were good and bad called to the wedding. Verse 11/12 – Investigative Judgement. In the same way, God could use his enemies (Romans) to execute his judgement. In the same way, papal Rome is also trying to destroy God’s people and the sanctuary. So Satan really hates the sanctuary message. To try to confuse and destroy the sanctuary message, he creates counterfeits – that is why in hindu, muslim, buddhist temples are so similar to the sanctuary of the OT. God uses these powers to accomplish His will; they are known as “the desolating power.” God used Babylon to desolate and punish His people. God used Mede-Persia, Greece, and now He used Rome. Each time when new kingdom is settled, God gave them the probationary period. The whole purpose of their kingdom was to glorify God’s name and to spread the gospel throughout the world. But when they failed to do this, God desolated “the desolater.” Romans failed their task. God is simply saying, “The day is coming, I am going to desolate you!” Verse 27 is referring to the downfall of Pagan Roman Empire. We see it magnified in detail in Seven Trumpets. Seven Trumpets actually shows you how this prophecy actually came to pass. “flood” – enemies of God’s people Isa 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
Water represents people, but flood represents persecuting people. “desolations” – desolations will be returned to those who desolate God’s people.
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Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
66 AD, the Roman army surrounded Jerusalem. In Matthew, why did Jesus consider the outside of Jerusalem as holy place? Because the old Solomon’s temple used to be outside the city, and place where Isaac was about to be sacrificed, and also there used to be a holy boundary outside the city wall on Sabbath. “abomination of desolation” – abomination is those who worship idols and desolation is caused by armies. So in the last days, when you see idol worshippers with political power decreeing the Sunday law, then you will know it is time to flee. 9:27 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.
What is happening in this one week? The confirming of the covenant. What does this mean? Fulfill the promise of the death of Jesus. Verse 26 and 27 is repeating the same thing but adding information “He shall confirm” – “He” is not referring to “the people of the prince,” for “he” is referring to one person. The subject manner of the context was the Messiah. Therefore, it’s referring to Jesus in relationship with the Jews. “In the midst of the week” – 1 week = 7 days = 7 years. Midst of the week = 3.5 days = 3.5 years. AD 27 + 3.5 = AD 31 Crucifixion of Christ. “He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease” – What will happen in this middle? Sacrifice and oblation to cease. The beginning of this week is 27 AD, add 3 and ½ years after this, you have the death of Jesus on the Cross. Jesus ministry was 3 and ½ years. What is this sacrifice and oblation? Jesus’ death put to a stop to the ceremonial and sacrificial offerings, also the services (oblation). When Christ was crucified, the veil of the sanctuary was torn from top to bottom, and He blotted out the ordinances nailing it to His cross. Sanctuary service came to an end at the cross of Jesus. Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
“oblation” – offering in Hebrew. Lev 7:29 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
Sacrifice and oblation is put together. They are connected to the ceremonial law.
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Deut 31:24-26 [24] And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, [25] That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, [26] Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
The writing Moses wrote was put on the side of the ark. Whatever Moses wrote in this book is not equal with what’s in the ark of the covenant (the Ten Commandments). This book contained the ceremonial laws “witness against thee” – Moses wrote this and put on side of the ark. Witnessed against the people. Why? If they didn’t it would bring a curse upon them. What happened to this book? Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
This book was blotted out—“handwriting of ordinances” (ceremonial law). It was “against” them. The book was nailed to the cross, it was done away with. So in the midst of the week, Jesus died and the ceremonial law ceased and stopped to be a symbol pointing forward to Jesus. So the Emphasis in verse 26 is Christ being cut off, and bearing our sins. In verse 27the ceremonial law is done away. What is the 70 weeks of prophecy talking about? Showing that when the Messiah will come and when He will die for all of humanity. It shows that when He comes, He will die for the sins of the world and the Jews included. Time line 70 weeks – 490 years 457 BC – restoring Jerusalem decree 408 BC – walls are rebuilt 27 AD – Messiah revealed publicly, baptized 31 AD – Jesus’ death 34 AD – Stephen stoned, indicating the close of the time for the Jews. Jesus standing=probation closed. End of 70 weeks given to Israel as God’s exclusive and special people Book of Acts 1-7 – God working in Judah and Jerusalem for Jews, His people 8-11 – Gospel going to Gentiles 8 – Philip to the Ethiopian 9 – Conversion of Saul who became Paul, missionary to Gentiles 10 and 11 – Peter’s dream of message to Gentiles So there is a transition taking place. So 490 years for God’s people, Israel and Jewish nation. In the beginning of 490 years is the same for the 2300 days. Dan 9:26 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.
Daniel 9:26-27 have similar terminologies http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Dan 9:27 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.
What are these talking about? Verse 27 makes it clear “for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” – Key Words Dan 9:26 …people of the prince … destroy the city and the sanctuary…
Who came and destroyed the people and the city and the sanctuary after Jesus died on the cross? Rome. Why does it say “people of the prince”? it is like calling these God’s people. Note: Sometimes God uses the enemies of Israel as His servants. Cyrus was a Shepherd, Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon – Servant. God uses these as instruments to punish His people. So God used Roman armies to punish Israel. In this sense the Roman Empire became His people: Matt 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
“King” – God the Father “Son” – Jesus Christ Matt 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
“call them that were bidden to the wedding” – Invitees were Jews (at this time). Who gave invitation? His servants, the prophets. So God the Father sent prophets to Israel telling them to come to God. Matt 22:4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready: come unto the marriage.
Oxen and fatling killed=Jesus the Messiah has died, come and accept this sacrifice Matt 22:5 But they made light of [it], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: Matt 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them].
“Servants” – messengers sent to Jewish nation calling the nation to be a part of this marriage. The apostles of Christ (first 7 chapters of Acts) giving message to accept Christ. Matt 22:7 But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
“His armies” – Roman Empire who came and destroyed the city of God. Daniel 9 says the people of the prince come and destroyed the sanctuary and the city. This is the Roman Empire. What’s going
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to happen to them? God will punish them for doing this (God is not double-minded). They should’ve learned what it meant to reject Christ by what happened to the Jewish nation but this didn’t turn them around—so what would God do? Dan 9:26 …end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined…
Whoever destroys the city and the sanctuary, desolations will be poured upon them Dan 9:27 …overspreading of abominations… even until the consummation…
Matt 24:15, Jesus was talking about this abomination. This is about Roman soldiers coming to destroy. “even until the consummation” – Whoever destroys the city, this destruction will be given back to the desolate. Roman Empire will be destroyed. This is magnified in Rev 8 and 9. This also goes to Papal Rome. Rev 13 – kill with sword, it will be done to it; captive will be done to it. Whatever you do, this is what you’ll get. So Roman Empire made Jerusalem desolate, it will become destroyed. God ended this prophecy mentioning this destruction of the Roman Empire. So the major point is that death of Christ is prophetically pinpointed the exact date. “Remaining Three and Half Years” – AD 31 + 3.5 = AD 34 Stoning of Stephen 8:1-2 At the very same time when Stephen was stoned, Christ stood up in heaven, signifying that the probation has closed for this nation. Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Acts 8:1-2 [1] And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles. [2] And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Jesus wasn’t just stretching tired of sitting down. Jesus wasn’t just standing to go for a walk for exercise. We find the same depiction at the end at the close of the probation of the world. Dan 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…
Standing signifies two things. 1) Mediation has closed; 2) It’s time to vindicate His people. So it was with the stoning of Stephen, 1) To indicate that their probation has closed: they were no longer God’s chosen people. They can no longer, as a nation, represent God. 2) God is going to vindicate Stephen. He is coming to Stephen’s defense. Jesus told His disciples to not go into the Samaritans before: Matt 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Why did Jesus tell disciples to wait in Jerusalem, and preach the gospel there? The probation has not yet closed for the Jews! What a love! After they crucified Him, He would still give them three and http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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half years! That’s love! When they rejected Christ and chose Barabbas, the nation of Israel had made its choice. That doesn’t mean that God was just waiting for time to pass until AD 34. Even though they made their choice in rejecting Christ, can you imagine God’s mercy for three and half more years pleading with them saying, “I still love you. I still want you as My nation!” But after AD 34, the close of probation for the Jews, God raises Paul, the Apostle for the heathen people. But even after AD 34, Disciples were trying to just stay in Jerusalem, because they still thought that the salvation was only for the Jews. That’s why Paul, in his letters, keeps explaining who is “the true Jews.” Peter was also given the dream of unclean animals, representing heathen (unclean) nations, just like Lion, Bear, Leopard, Dragon: unclean beasts. Peter realized that it was God’s message to go and give gospel to the heathen nations: it’s time. When they still didn’t do it, the persecution broke up and forced them to do it! Close of probation for the Jewish nation didn’t mean that they can’t be saved individually, but as a chosen nation to represent God, they are no longer His. Now rich, poor, black, white, free, bond, doesn’t matter who we are, any one accept Jesus as their personal savior, who has been baptized by water, filled with the Holy Ghost, circumcised in their heart, living by faith, they are spiritual Jews, the heirs of the promised kingdom. We as God’s chosen people, we are to go out and give the gospel. We inherit all the promises of the ancient Israel, and now it applies to God’s people. We are to go out and carry forth the work that ancient Israel should have done. If the ancient Jews had been truly faithful, Jerusalem would have been the capital of the world, and through the agricultural principle, God would restore this earth to like Eden. He would brought it all back through the witness of the Jewish people. (See the article: “Original Plan for Israel” SDABC). But they failed; now Jews have to become Christians. They must come into the fold. “After 70 weeks in 2300 days” – Completion of 70 weeks (490 years) gives us 1810 more years for “cleansing of the sanctuary.” AD 34 + 1810 = AD 1844 The Great Disappointment. Since 1844, the Investigative Judgment has been going on. Almost for 150 years, and this is the time we are living in. It’s the time that we put away our sins, it’s the time to make everything right. There were two things ancient Israelites had to do in this day. 1. Fasting – We are living in antitypical day, and it’s obvious that we cannot fast for years. But it’s spiritual fasting! That’s why God has given us this health message. Ellen White tell us that the vegetarian diet is true fasting for this days. Those who are still rebelling against the health message, they don’t understand what they are doing! They are actually rebelling to the preparatory work that needs to be done for the Day of Atonement. 2. Change the garment – we are to wear the cloth that is proportionate to the time we are living in. That’s the reason why God gave us dress reform. Why do you think we don’t allow people to walking around wearing shorts, pants, miniskirts? It’s because we realize that we are living in the antitypical Day of Atonement of what God requires. There’s health reasons involved. There’s moral reasons involved. Dress affects us in lot different ways! People just don’t understand that! They think it’s just a bunch of hardwash. Those who rebel against the standard, you are rebelling against the preparatory work of the Day of Atonement. Jewelry, make-ups… 3. Confessing their sins – it was the most important thing of all. They were confessing to one another, making things right, making restitution, and following the high priest by faith into the most holy place, as he worked in behalf of them to put away sins and blot out their record that they may be holy in the sight of God, that they may be His chosen people. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Those who refused to cooperate in the Day of Atonement, were kicked out of the camp of Israel, they lost their inheritance. That meant you lost the promise that was given to Abraham of the future life to come and all that was given to it. You are lost for eternity! We are living in the day of antitypical Day of Atonement. God is calling you and I to give our lives completely over to Him. He is asking us to stand for Him, to stand with Him in the time which we live in. Brothers and sisters, where do stand today? Have we given our lives to Him? Or it’s just lip service? God is asking us to live, to eat, to drink, to dress, to talk, to walk, do all things to the glory of His name! If you want to do that for Jesus, when I want you to kneel with me for the closing prayer. The last part of this verse is simply saying that the destruction will be poured back on the desolator – Roman empire. “Determined” also refers to the same determined in verse 26.
2 ways to calculate 2300 day prophecy 1. To calculate 2300 day prophecy, subtract 2300 from 457 and add 1 for missing out 0 AD. This equals 1844. Why did God separate the 7 and 62 weeks? Because Daniel was concerned about when the temple would be rebuilt. 2. Another way to calculate the prophecy: 2300 days is described as evening and morning. In Genesis, evening and morning equaled 1st day, 2nd day, 3rd day, etc. God did not say Day 1, Day 2, Day 3. So in using the same language to describe the 2300 day prophecy, we could say that it refers to the 2300th day/yr. This is the day that the sanctuary is cleansed or Day of Atonement. So, this becomes the 2300th day of Atonement. In Jewish calendar, the day of Atonement comes once every year, so it has to be 2300 years to the cleansing of the temple. This comes to Oct 22, 1844 as the Biblical 2300th day of Atonement. Not so good to use this way because you miss the death of Jesus and other details. Interesting fact: The length of the sanctuary is twice as long as the width of the sanctuary. That means you can cut it in half to have 2 perfect squares. You can find 2 centers in the 2 squares. The center of the 1st square is the altar of sacrifice representing the cross. The center of the 2nd square is the Most Holy Place where the Investigative judgement/Cleansing of the Sanctuary takes place. These 2 centers signify the death of Christ and the beginning of the Investigative Judgement. 2 most important things in the plan of salvation. The Investigative judgement has to be there to answer the Great Controversy, to lay everything out in the open. The 2300 prophecy is also a vision that begins with literal sending of Jews home for rebuilding to sending out the spiritual Jews out at the end to rebuild the breach in God’s wall. “and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” – In other words the desolating power is going to be consumed, and it too will be desolated. In other words, He is going to send another desolating power. Now listen! Pagan Rome came on the scene God gave this power
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probationary time. But they failed in their task, and God simply says to them, the day is coming when I am going to desolate you. And this is referring to the downfall of the Pagan Roman Empire. He is prophesying the fall of Rome. And where do we see it magnified in more detail? The Seven Trumpets!! The Seven Trumpets are showing you that what Daniel prophesied of here actually came to pass that the desolator was desolated by the northern tribes the Barbarian tribes of the north desolated the desolator. ALSO It doesn't only reach to Pagan Rome. But it also refers to another desolating power. Who else is the abomination of desolation? The Papacy! Repeat: You are getting a concept that is being taught right here. You must go back to Daniel 2 and you will see once again that the groundwork is laid there. But he brings it back right here. Pagan Rome is known as a desolating power, why? Because they desolated God's people. God was using the Roman power just like He used Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece to bring about judgments to God's people, and also to further His will. What was God's will for His people? To get the gospel out to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. This was the over riding principle. They refused to do it. They had the concept that we are the chosen one's of God, and every one else are a bunch of dogs. And God said unless you repent I will have to punish you, and whether you do it or not, my will – will be accomplished. I will have the gospel preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. What we fail to do during the time of peace and prosperity we will do in the time of adversity. The Jews failed to do it. They had it easy. They could have easily gone around and preached the gospel. They constantly refused, and God said fine I will use Babylon to accomplish my will. And God does that over and over. It is just a concept that God sets up powers and gives them probationary time, if they fail to do what God requires of them when He exalts them to such a position, God will simply turn around and do to them, what they did to God's people, He will simply desolate. This is what Daniel 2 taught us; this was the whole point of that chapter. God sets Him up and bring them down, sets them up and brings them down. God has the right to do that. God has a right to choose who He wishes to be exalted as a great nation. He can do that it is His will for accomplishing His purpose. The United States of America was set up, and you can't get around it, God has established this country as the greatest nation in the history of this world that anyone has ever seen. No one can deny that. History proves it. We are the most powerful nation that this world has ever seen. We are so powerful in many ways. God blessed this country. And when our fore founders established the principles of separation between church and state shows that this country was established in righteousness. But the day will come when God because He has given to this nation to be the very country to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, they won't do it. So what will happen? They will end up like Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. God will turn it around. And America will persecute God's people. And God says no you don't. Now I am going to desolate you, and America the false prophet is cast into the lake of fire with the beast. It is all in Revelation 19 and 20 it tells you right there. Another Repeat: God sets up a power to accomplish His will, and He calls them the desolating power. They refuse to yield to what God has given during probationary time to accomplish His will. He simply turns it around and says I am going to desolate the desolator. Dan 9:27And 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."
Here is where the Baptists and others throw it all off.
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“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” – Objection: Remember in V.26 it says the people of the prince shall come and destroy the sanctuary and city. And then it says and he shall confirm the covenant…cease. Objection: They say because V.26 talks about the prince of the people shall come and destroy the sanctuary, etc. And when it comes to V.27 and it says and He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. They say it has to refer to the antichrist because it is referring to pagan Rome, and the extension of pagan Rome is where the antichrist will come, therefore it is talking about the antichrist. But remember this…it is just like Daniel 8 when you talk about the daily was taken away from him. You had the little horn, which was the subject matter but he talks about him standing up against Jesus Christ, and then the daily was taken away from him. You only have one of two choices; either it was Christ or the little horn. Well who was the subject matter? The little horn or Jesus Christ? The little horn. It is describing to you what the little horn is doing. The main subject matter is the little horn, the daily being taken away is not being taken away from Jesus because He is not the subject matter of what the little horn is doing. It is the little horn that is the subject matter, the daily is taken away from him. And it is the same case here. You cannot assume that just because it comes right after when it talks about a power desolating God's people that the next power that comes and says he is referring to the same power. In V.26 you have two things mentioned, and it really goes back to V.25 because the main subject matter is who? The Messiah or the prince that will come destroy the city. Messiah is the subject matter. When you get to V.27 you must keep the context of the subject matter. It is not Titus. It is Jesus the Christ. “he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” – It fits so perfectly. After 69 weeks Messiah comes on the scene. He is anointed (baptized), but you have 70 weeks that means you only have one week left over, and it fits so harmoniously when you put it all together. It started in 27 AD when He was baptized. This last week refers to what? Jesus, but the last week of probationary time for the Jews. “and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease” – What text should you go to? In the midst of the week He shall cause sacrifice and oblation to cease. Matthew 24: When Jesus was crucified and as the priest was sacrificing the lamb at Passover, there was a great earthquake, the lamb escaped, and the temple veil ripped from top to bottom. Signifying that the sacrifice and oblation had come to an end. But Colossians 2 comes in and confirms this..in the midst of the week. 3 ½ years 31 AD this happened. Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross
Notice that Paul specifically mentions the crucifixion. In the midst of the week He shall cause sacrifice and oblation to cease. And Paul specifically mentions the crucifixion of Christ. So Jesus in the midst of the week in 31 AD, He is crucified and there the temple veil is rent from top to bottom, and Paul says He blotted out the handwritings and ordinances that were against..and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross. The temple services came to an end. Do we still have to offer lambs and sacrifice? No. Jesus paid the price and typified what all that the sanctuary services and sacrifices pointed forward to. And that is why John said behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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There he came on the scene in 27 AD at His baptism is when John said this when He was anointed as the Messiah, then 3 ½ years later He paid the price. He was sacrificed, slain from the foundation of the world. He gave His life that you and I might have eternal life. That is why it says in V.26 "" He didn't die for Himself, He died for the sins of the world. You have 3 ½ years left over. You come to 34 AD. What happened? Stephen was stoned. Where do you find it? Acts 7 the whole chapter, and at the latter point 55-60 he is actually stoned, and in Acts 8:1-2, once Stephen is stoned, the gospel moved out to the gentiles, and shortly after that Saul was converted and became Paul, and he was the great apostle to the Gentiles. Note: Remember Jesus was crucified and He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promise. And He even told them to stay in Jerusalem and preach the gospel first. Why did He say that? Because probation was not over for the Jews yet. God was merciful. What love, after He was crucified, He still gave 3 ½ years. That is love. He said stay there and the time would come when they would know. (*PO Jesus showed this by telling Peter to forgive his enemies 70 X's 7 or 490.) Even after they stoned Stephen they still had a problem with going out to the gentiles, because they kept going to Paul and saying we were told to stay here. They still had a false understanding, they thought that it was still to be the Jewish nation. But Paul clearly tried to reveal to them that it was now to be given to every man, woman, and child. That is why Paul in Romans and Galatians kept stressing that a Jew is not one outwardly, but on inwardly. He keeps talking about who is a true Jew, because even the apostles had a problem with what constituted the true heir of the promises. They thought it would keep going back to the Jewish nation, Paul says no. That is why Peter was given the vision in Acts 10 of the unclean animals. Why was he given this vision of unclean beasts? A beast in Bible prophecy represents people and nations. And they were unclean representing heathen nations. You ever wonder why in Daniel 7 you have Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome depicted as unclean beasts, never clean, because they were heathen nations. The reason why Peter saw all of these unclean beasts because to the Jew, the heathen were dogs. A dog is an unclean animal. God was trying to communicate to Peter the gospel. He said listen Peter go kill and eat these unclean animals, and he did 3 times, and then he realized that go kill and eat meant go preach the gospel. Go give the gospel to the nations that you consider unclean it is time. And Paul had to fight with this for a large part of his life. This prejudice and misunderstanding. Question: How do you show that probation closed on the Jews when Stephen was stoned? You show that probation closed on the Jews by showing that Stephen looked up and saw Jesus standing up. This shows a close of probation. Also you must read Acts 7 and 8. Acts 8:4 shows that now the gospel was to go to the gentiles. Also in Matthew 10:5 Jesus clearly tells them don't go into Samaria. Then in Acts 8 we see them going out. Signifying that the time had come for them to go preach it. Also by the way, He got them to do by allowing persecution to come on them. This forced them to do it. And it will probably happen to us as well. Conclusion: In 34 AD we come to the end of probation for the Jewish nation. This doesn't mean that they cannot be saved individually, but as a chosen nation to represent God they are no longer His. Now it is rich, poor, free, bond, black, or white it doesn't matter who we are. Anyone who accepts Jesus into their heart as their personal Lord and Savior, who has been baptized by water, filled with
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the Holy Ghost, circumcised in heart lives by faith they are a spiritual Jew, they are now heirs of the promises of the kingdom. And now we are God's chosen people, we are to go out and give the gospel and we inherit all the promises of ancient Israel. And now they apply to God's people. We are to go out and carry forth the work that they should have done. If the Jews would have been faithful. The bible says that Jerusalem would have been the capital of the world. Isaiah says that if the Jews would have been faithful through the agricultural principles that He would have restored this earth back to the state that the earth was in during Eden. This was His will originally. He would have brought it all back, His blessings would have been upon the land and His people. He would have taught them how to cultivate the land and restore it. (Go back and study all that God said He was going to do for Israel.) they were to conquer the whole world everyone was to be under subjection to them. Jerusalem would have been the capital of the world. He would have restored this earth back to its Edenic condition. And all would have known them, but they failed. If they didn't we would have had to come in through the Jewish nation as God's children, but they failed now we inherit the promises, and now Jews must become Christians. And they must come into this fold. We are not done. We still have 1,810 years. You just subtract 70 weeks from 2300. You come to 1844 and Daniel 8:14 comes in then the sanctuary shall be cleansed. The judgment. The cleansing of the sanctuary. Since 1844 in this world the judgment has been going on. For over 150 years it has been happening. This is the time in which we live. It is the time in which we put away our sins. It is the time to make everything right. They did several things during the day-of-atonement in the OT. They fasted during that day we can't fast because the time span is too long. We live in the antitypical day. It is a spiritual fast. It means by what we eat and drink today, this is why we got the health message. In Counsels of Diet and Foods she says the true fast in our diet the vegetarian diet is the true fast. Those who are rebelling against the health message have no idea of what they are doing. They are rebelling against the preparatory work that needs to be done for the Day of Atonement and blotting out of sin. Number 2 they were to change their garments on the day of atonement. That means we are to wear clothes that are proportion to the time that we live in. We have these standards because we know that we are living in the antitypical Day of Atonement and what God requires. There are health reasons involved, there are moral reasons involved. Those who rebel against these standards, we are rebelling against the preparatory work for the Day Of Atonement. You are so far gone that you cannot even see. That is why we preach against jewelry and makeup. The most important thing is that they were putting away their sins they were making things right with each other. And following the HP by faith in the MHP as he worked in behalf of them to put away their sins and to blot out their record that they may be holy in the sight of God to be His chosen people. The bible says that those who refused to cooperate during the Day of Atonement were kicked out of the camp of Israel and they lost their inheritance. That meant that if you lost your inheritance as a Jew, that meant you lost your promises that were given to Abraham of the future life to come and all that was given to it. That meant that you were lost for eternity. Where do we stand today? We are living in the antitypical Day Of Atonement. God is asking us to live, to eat, drink, dress, walk, to talk to stand for Him and with Him in the time that we are living in today. Have we given our lives to Him? God is asking us to live for Him.
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Chapter 10 – Spiritual warfare for rebuilding of Jerusalem Chapter 10, 11, and 12 really goes together. Chapter 10 is just a prelude to chapter 11 & 12. He receives the vision in this chapter and receives interpretation in Chapter 11 & 12. The quick outline of the book of Daniel for prophecy part will be: chapter 2, chapter 7, chapter 8 & 9, chapter 10, 11, & 12. Throughout this segments, you will see the Bible prophecy principle “repeat and enlarge.” Chapter 2 is the standard, the measuring rod. Everything that follows is simply based on chapter 2. Everything that follows after is a repetition of chapter 2. Chapter 7 is a repetition and magnification of chapter 2. Repetition runs horizontally across. But the magnification runs vertically heading downward in point of time towards the last days. For example, in chapter 7, you magnification is on the little horn. In chapter 8 & 9, your magnification is beyond that and goes into 2300 days. In chapter 10, 11 & 12, there is enormous magnification of the events of the last days. Theses three chapters are magnification of chapter 8 & 9. God is trying to enlighten those events that will take in the last days. That’s why when you get into chapter 10-12, it’s so detailed. TM 113 The light that Daniel received from God was given especially for these last days. The visions he saw by the banks of the Ulai and the Hiddekel, the great rivers of Shinar, are now in process of fulfillment, and all the events foretold will soon come to pass.
Daniel 10 is connected with chapters 11 and 12. So Daniel 10-12 is like one long story The setting: Daniel 10 is Daniel praying for his people for 3 weeks. Jesus and Gabriel came to him to show him that the vision will be for the latter days. Daniel 11 shows in more detail the things in Daniel 7 and 8 the same line of history. Daniel 12 ends with the concept of the kingdom of God. Same sequence of Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome, Papal Rome, and the kingdom of God. Rest of the chapter talks of how Daniel will be closed and when it will be opened. Daniel 10 and 11 is more dealing with the history. One purpose for these 2 chapters is to show there is a great controversy. Book of Daniel covers the personal preparation for the end of time. Daniel 1-6. Political and spiritual application. Now it is showing a great controversy within all these. God is trying to help His people, the final generation, to understand what’s really going on. Notice some of the connected chapters: Chapter 5 has some connection to Chapter 4. Chapter 8 and 9 are linked. Daniel 10, 11, 12 are all connected, and should almost be 1 chapter. God explains the most important things at the end and He uses 3 chapters to explain this. The most important verse is 14. It begins with a declaration of freedom, it ends with a declaration of freedom. Chapter Outline
Daniel’s vision at Hiddekel (1-9)
The Great Controversy (10-13)
Daniel strengthened before explanation of vision (14-28)
Vision of Hiddekel (1-9) VERSE [1] In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name
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was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. [2] In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. [3] I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. [4] And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; [5] 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: [6] 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. [7] And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. [8] Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. [9] Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing [was] true, but the time appointed [was] long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. 10:2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
“I was mourning three full weeks…” – Here Daniel is mourning three full weeks (21 days), eating no bread, neither flesh nor wine. Daniel is fasting in prayer! What was the prayer in chapter 9? The prayer that God will take His people back home for seventy years prophecy is almost been fulfilled. So we can safely conclude that the decree has not yet been established. Daniel was not a man who gave up easily. He mourned until he received an answer to his prayers. 10:3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
“ate no pleasant bread” – does this mean he ate meat? No. It just means that he did not have a feast. It was not a complete fast, but limiting the amount and type of food. 10:4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which [is] Hiddekel;
“The great river, which is Hiddekel” – This is the vision that Ellen White said that will come to pass along with the vision of Ulai. TM 113. 10:5 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: 10:6 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.
“A certain man clothed in linen…” – No doubt the man Daniel saw was the Son of God: Christ Jesus.
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Rev 1:13-16 [13] 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. [14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; [15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. [16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Daniel see Christ, can’t be any other person. It would be a great study to look at the characteristics of the image of Christ. Chapter 10 has a close coming together between Jesus and Daniel. Since Jesus came, this must be very important. 10:7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
Good application. These men had no spiritual preparation or ability to stand. This is like at the 2nd coming of Jesus. One group stands while one group hides. 10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
“remained no strength in me” – Good Bible text to show the physical condition of a prophet when he or she receives a vision. 10:9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
Identifying Marks to a True Prophet If you would see a prophet in vision, it would be one of the characteristics you will see: 1. Men that were with me saw not the vision v7 – no one around him/her can see the vision. 2. I retained no strength v8 – his/her strength is gone. He/she is not controlled by his/her own strength, but with supernatural strength. 3. I became dumb v15 – he/she has no conscientious. 4. Neither is there breath left in me v17 – you put the candle right before mouth or nose, it won’t move. We have to remember that this is a “local test,” meaning this test can only be applied while the individual is right before your eyes having vision. You cannot apply this test if you never met the person. So there is also “universal test” that anyone, anywhere, anytime can test the person, even if the person is dead. Do we have test we can prove whether it’s true of false? Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Matt 7:15,16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. 1Jn 4:1-4 Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh (sinful flesh) is of God.
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The Great Controversy (10-13) VERSE [10] And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. [11] 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. [12] 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. [13] 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. 10:10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and [upon] the palms of my hands.
Daniel had the same reaction as John in Revelation: Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last. 10:11 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. 10:12 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.
These being is Gabriel (verse 5 and 6 is Jesus; 10 and 11 is Gabriel). “I am now sent”—verse 11. 10:13 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.
“prince of the kingdom of Persia” – “The prince of Persia” referring to “Cyrus” yet primarily it is “Satan.” It’s just like the dragon in Revelation. Primarily dragon represents Satan, yet it also refers to the Pagan Roman Empire, because Satan was employing that system to accomplish his task. Likewise, Satan was behind Cyrus resisting Gabriel and Jesus. Cyrus had issued a decree to allow the Jews to go back to start rebuilding the temple. But when he saw so few respond to the decree to allow them to go, he wavered on his decision.What Daniel has been praying about, is related to Cyrus. There was a struggle inside Cyrus. He was hesitant for them to go. So going to Cyrus was part of Daniel’s prayer. The angel wanted to deal with that first before coming to Daniel. And at the end of 21 days, Michael (Jesus) came and helped the situation. “Withstood me one and twenty days” – For 21 days Gabriel was fighting with the king of Persia. It was actually the evil agents behind the kings of Persia. But he was working for the heart of the king of Persia. What picture is this? 21 days, there is a battle between Gabriel and the evil angels over the decision the king of Persia should make. Perhaps about releasing and freeing the captives of Israel. Daniel was praying during those 21 days. So on earth, Daniel was praying. About God’s people, about the deliverance of God’s people. Gabriel sent perhaps to answer Daniel’s prayer. So man is involved, the angel of God is involved, evil angels are here … and then Michael came over to help the situation. The issue is the decree to send God’s people back home. Very moment Daniel made the prayer it was heard, and Gabriel to answer that prayer went to Cyrus. While Gabriel was http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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persuading Cyrus to do it, Satan comes to hinder Cyrus from doing in. This is the snapshot of the great controversy. Every one of us, every single day, each moment, Christ’s holy angel is trying to persuade us to good. On the other hand, you got evil angels are persuading us to do evil. “Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me” – Gabriel, the mighty angel was persuading Cyrus, yet could not success. Finally Michael, Jesus* Himself had to come down to persuade Cyrus. People have problem with this. Sounds like there is more than one. Jesus is one of the prince of princes. So who are the other ones? Does that mean there are other princes in heaven? But its not. Which are other princes are mentioned? Cyrus. So this simply means that Jesus is being referred to as the heavenly chief of princes whilst Cyrus is one of the earthly chief of princes. So in the book of Daniel, Jesus is referred to as a political leader according to the writing of the book. Gabriel and Michael help impress Cyrus to allow God’s people to go back to promised land. Who is Michael? Strong H4317 = One who is like God. Jude 1:9 Ye Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
The word “archangel” = chief angel (Strong G743) 1 Thes 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Jesus is called the archangel here. The voice of the archangel will wake the dead at the second coming. Who is it that wakes the dead? John 5:26-29 [26] For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; [27] And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of Man. [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [29] And shall come forth they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. PK 571, 572 While Satan was striving to influence the highest powers in the kingdom of Medo-Persia to show disfavor to God's people, angels worked in behalf of the exiles. The controversy was one in which all heaven was interested. Through the prophet Daniel we are given a glimpse of this mighty struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. For three weeks Gabriel wrestled with the powers of darkness, seeking to counteract the influences at work on the mind of Cyrus; and before the contest closed, Christ Himself came to Gabriel's aid. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days," Gabriel declares; "but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia." Daniel 10:13. All that heaven could do in behalf of the people of God was done. The victory was finally gained; the forces of the enemy were held in check all the days of Cyrus, and all the days of his son Cambyses, who reigned about seven and a half years. This was a time of wonderful opportunity for the Jews. The highest agencies of heaven were working on the hearts of kings, and it was for the people of God to labor with the utmost activity to carry out the decree of Cyrus. They should have spared no effort to restore the temple and its services, and to re-establish themselves in their Judean homes. But in the day of God's power many proved unwilling. The opposition of their enemies was strong and determined, and gradually the builders lost heart. Some could not forget the scene at the laying of the cornerstone, when many had given expression to their lack of confidence in the enterprise. And as the Samaritans grew more bold, many of the Jews questioned whether, after all, the time had come to rebuild. The feeling soon
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became widespread. Many of the workmen, discouraged and disheartened, returned to their homes to take up the ordinary pursuits of life.”
Explanation of the vision (14-28) VERSE [14] 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. [15] And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. [16] And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. [17] For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. [18] Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, [19] 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. [20] 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. [21] 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. 10:14 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.
“What shall befall thy people in the latter days” – In verse 1, “the time appointed was long.” We find the clue in this verse, “understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for yet the vision is for many days.” It was referring to latter days. Gabriel is simply saying, “Daniel, what I am going to tell you is to reveal what will happen to your people in the last days!” That means this vision will take us to the last days. “thy people” – Literal Jews or Spiritual Jews? Refers to spiritual Jews because the end of Daniel 11 is talking about spiritual Babylon. The literal Jews are no longer God’s people in this time. The literal Jews stopped being God’s people after 34 A.D. This verse is the key verse to unravel the mysteries of the latter part of the chapter. Is “thy people” referring to literal Jews or the spiritual Jews? This key will determine who the king of the north is. It cannot refer to the literal Jews: 1. When we go back to chapter 2, the answer is there. Dan 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.
Here, we find the same expression, “what shall be in the latter days.” Daniel chapter 2 is the standard where we can unravel the mystery of Daniel 7 through 12. Since Daniel 2 is taking you to the last days (iron and clay: church and state), this vision also has to take us to the last days. 2. There is another evidence that it cannot refer to “the literal Jews: Conversation in below text is between Gabriel and Daniel: http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy (Daniel’s) people.
No one will apply this verse to the literal Jews. You know that this is talking about the spiritual Jews at the end time. Therefore, we can easily conclude that the word “Thy people” in this verse is NOT just talking about the literal Jews, but “the spiritual Jews.” Rom 2:28, 29 [28] For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: [29] But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Gal 3:28, 29 [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 10:15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. 10:16 And, behold, [one] like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 10:17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. “no strength, no breath” – characteristics of a prophet under vision. This is Jesus, because he is
continually being called my Lord, my Lord. 10:18 Then there came again and touched me [one] like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
Seems like Gabriel/an angel has come back 10:19 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. 10:20 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. “The prince of Grecia shall come” – Gabriel is already getting into the interpretation here. The prince of Grecia is about to enter the scene, this is a little bit of prophecy. 10:21 But I will show 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.
Daniel 10 is only an introduction of Daniel 11 and at the end of Daniel 10 it gives an introduction in the prophecy (after Medo-Persia then Greece). Daniel 11 may be a bit confusing. The words—who is this king and who is that king—can be confusing. But by going through and understanding the main frame-work it will help us to know who is this king and that king. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Chapter 11 – The King of the North Forty verses out of forty five verses are history (v1-40). Remaining five verses (v40-45) is unfolding events that are taking place now and what will be in the future. In the Adventist church history, verses 1 through 35, issues there has never been a controversy as the who this power are. The switch comes in verses 35 downward. Verses 1-30 are detailed description of the Mede-Persia, Greece, Pagan Roman Empire. Verses 31-40 are enormous magnification of the Papacy. Talking about Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome, Papal Rome. Understand the chapter outline. Every time there is a reign of new kingdom it says “stand up”. First part of Dan 11 – God wants us to understand the political the conquest of kingdoms, especially paying attention to the directions of conquest. Second part of Dan 11 – Shows the spiritual application of spiritual Babylon’s conquest of God’s people. Dan 11 is really showing us an enlargement of Dan 9. Transferring of the covenant – We see in Daniel 11 what is called a Transferring of the Covenant. Literal / Local Gen 12:1 Promise to Abraham – given for Jews in Palestine. It was supposed to fulfilled by the Jews.
OT – Holy Nation refers to the literal Jews.
Edom, Ammon, Moab, Syria – all enemies of God’s people. Situated on the outskirts of Babylon. But of all these enemies, Babylon is the most powerful. It’s the most powerful enemy that God’s people have, representing the papacy.
Spiritual / Worldwide Because they rejected the Messiah. Not only was Jerusalem destroyed, that was not the only thing that happened. The Jews stopped being God’s people. Probation closes on literal Jews and the promises now transfers to spiritual Jews. So in God’s eyes, his people are now the spiritual Jews – worldwide. The date for that is 34 A.D. But in NT, examples: 1 Peter 1 – Peter addresses strangers throughout the world. 1 Peter 2 – Peter uses the same terminology “holy people” to address the same Gentile Christians. Galatians 1:2 – “all the brethren that are with me that are in the churches of Galatia” Galatians 6:16 – “upon the Israel of God” Shift from Dan 11:31 to spiritual Babylon. Language does not change, the meaning changes. If you don’t understand the transferring of the covenant, you will not understand the prophecy shift. In these passages, there is no language change, you need to understand the context of events. Not only does the name change, geography is no longer important, because the covenant has transferred. Now when God refers to Edom, Ammon and Moab, God is not talking about their geographical location. He is talking about the relationship with God’s people. Because God’s people are worldwide now. They no longer have a specific geography.
Recommended reading:
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Uriah Smith – pg 233-280 (Dan 11:35)
King of North @Jerusalem by Lewis Weir, Chapter 10 and 14.
Sanctuary 1844 and the Pioneers – Paul A Gordon
Empires of the Bible – AT Jones
The Great Empires of Prophecy – AT Jones
Chapter Outline
History of Medo-Persia (1-2)
History of Greece (3-15)
History of Pagan Rome (16-30)
Papacy from 508AD to 1798AD (31-40)
Papacy restored (41-45)
History of Medo-Persia (1-2) VERSE [1] Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I (Gabriel), stood to confirm and to strengthen him (Daniel). [2] And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings (Cambyses, Smerdis, Darius) in Persia; and the fourth (Xerxes) shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. 11:1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, [even] I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
At 538 B.C. This is a continuation of vision of Daniel 10 which starts in 3rd year of Cyrus; refers back to God’s hand in the reign of Darius who is now dead and now Cyrus is reigning 11:2 And now will I show 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.
“stand up” – There is going to be a rise of a power – whether king or kingdom. From this we can see that as we get to know God more and more, the more clearly he will speak to us. The visions are in much more detail and clearer to Daniel now. This word “stand” is mentioned 13 times in the chapter. “three kings in Persia” – Beginning from Cyrus (chapter 10 is where the vision begins)
Cambyses (son of Cyrus),), Darius. PK 572 (529 – 522 BC)
False Smerdis, the false Smerdis (called Artaxerxes in Ezra 4:7) (522 BC)
He was Mede and only reigned one year.
Darius Hystaspes (called Darius in Ezra 4:24) (521 – 486 BC)
Xerxes (486 – 465 BC)
Mentioned in the book of Esther. Xerxes (486 – 464 B.C), who was the richest after Cyrus and fought with and was defeated by Greece; nine minor kings followed
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Xerxesal. Athough Xerxes is the last king mentioned in the vision which Daniel saw, yet God was still holding out mercy to the Israelites; and it was during the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, the successor of Xerxes that the final decree for the return of the Jews was issued.
Artaxerxes (465 – 423 BC)
Completed decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem, providing a starting point to begin both 70 week and 2300 days prophecy.
“the fourth” – The 4th king is Xerxes and was rich as well. Xerxes (Ahasuerus Esther 1:1) PK 572 This was a time of wonderful opportunity for the Jews. The highest agencies of heaven were working on the hearts of kings, and it was for the people of God to labor with the utmost activity to carry out the decree of Cyrus. They should have spared no effort to restore the temple and its services, and to re-establish themselves in their Judean homes. But in the day of God's power many proved unwilling. The opposition of their enemies was strong and determined, and gradually the builders lost heart. Some could not forget the scene at the laying of the cornerstone, when many had given expression to their lack of confidence in the enterprise. And as the Samaritans grew more bold, many of the Jews questioned whether, after all, the time had come to rebuild. The feeling soon became widespread. Many of the workmen, discouraged and disheartened, returned to their homes to take up the ordinary pursuits of life. During the reign of Cambyses the work on the temple progressed slowly. And during the reign of the false Smerdis (called Artaxerxes in Ezra 4:7) the Samaritans induced the unscrupulous impostor to issue a decree forbidding the Jews to rebuild their temple and city. PK 573 For over a year the temple was neglected and well-nigh forsaken. The people dwelt in their homes and strove to attain temporal prosperity, but their situation was deplorable. Work as they might they did not prosper. The very elements of nature seemed to conspire against them. Because they had let the temple lie waste, the Lord sent upon their substance a wasting drought. God had bestowed upon them the fruits of field and garden, the corn and the wine and the oil, as a token of His favor; but because they had used these bountiful gifts so selfishly, the blessings were removed. Such were the conditions existing during the early part of the reign of Darius Hystaspes. Spiritually as well as temporally, the Israelites were in a pitiable state. So long had they murmured and doubted; so long had they chosen to make personal interests first, while viewing with apathy the Lord's temple in ruins, that many had lost sight of God's purpose in restoring them to Judea; and these were saying, "The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built." Haggai 1:2.
History of Cambyses and False Smerdis Intro: This is a history of what happened from the time Cyrus died unto Darius Hystaspes. The one who confirmed the decree of Cyrus in 519 B.C. PK 572-573 EMPIRE OF PERSIA AND MEDIA -- CAMBYSES AND "SMERDIS." CAMBYSES, the son of Cyrus, succeeded immediately to the throne of the Medo-Persian Empire, near the beginning of the year 529 B. C. There was a second son, named Smerdis; but Cambyses caused him to be secretly murdered.
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2. The Samaritans, who had opposed the building of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israel in Palestine, and who had hired counselors to frustrate that purpose "all the days of Cyrus king of Persia," continued the same opposition in the reign of Cambyses; for "in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem."1 There is no known record that any notice was taken of their accusation; and the work of restoration in Jerusalem and Judea continued, though meeting many hindrances. 3. When Daniel saw in vision, about 539, the ram which the angel said represented Media and Persia, it was pushing westward, and northward, and southward. We have seen that before the capture of Babylon, Cyrus, in behalf of the united nations, had extended their power westward as far as the AEgean Sea and the river of Egypt. Now, 525 B. C., Cambyses carried their power southward over all Egypt, and as far as Ethiopia. "Vast warlike preparations preceded the expedition. The Greeks of Asia Minor, the Cyprians, who had just submitted, and the Phenicians had to furnish the fleet. A countryman of Herodotus, the mercenary captain Phanes of Halicarnassus, deserted from the Egyptians to the Persians, and made himself very useful in the conquest. It seems that only one great battle was fought, at Pelusium, the gateway of Egypt. The Egyptians, utterly beaten, fled to Memphis, which soon fell into the enemy's hands. Thus Egypt became a province of Persia; and a pretext was soon found for executing the captured king Psammenitus. This was followed by the submission of the neighboring Libyans and the princes of the Greek cities of Cyrene and Barca."2 4. He contemplated carrying an expedition against Carthage; but this could not be done with any prospect of success without a fleet, and as his fleet was largely made up of the Phenicians, who refused to take any part in any attack upon Carthage, because the Carthaginians were originally their own colonists, this scheme had to be given up. He sent an army of fifty thousand to make the conquest of No Ammon; but the whole company perished in the sands of the desert which they were obliged to cross to reach their intended destination. Personally, he led a much larger army toward the southern frontier of Ethiopia; but for lack of supplies, was obliged to return without having accomplished anything that he intended. But from the Mediterranean Sea to Meroe, "Egypt became for a full generation the obsequious slave of Persia, and gave no more trouble to her subjugator than the meekest or the most contented of the provinces." -- Rawlinson.3 Having thus reduced to subjection the whole of Egypt and Ethiopia, Cambyses started on his return to his capital. 5. When Cambyses caused the murder of his brother Smerdis, it was done with so much secrecy that the great body of the people believed him to be still alive. This resulted in the rise of a certain Gomates, who claimed to be the true Smerdis. Because of the general belief of the people that Smerdis was alive, and because Gomates bore such a close resemblance to Smerdis, this false Smerdis was readily received as the true. Cambyses having been long absent in the far-away country of Egypt, and even Ethiopia, under all the circumstances it was easy for Gomates to fix himself firmly upon the throne of united Persia and Media. 6. The original account of this is that "Cambyses, son of Cyrus, was king. . . . This Cambyses had a brother, named Smerdis (Bardiya), they had the same mother and the same father. Afterward, this Cambyses killed Smerdis. When Cambyses killed Smerdis, the people did not know that Smerdis was killed. Then Cambyses went to Egypt. The people became bad, and many falsehoods grew up in the provinces, as well as in Persia, as in Media, as in the other lands. And then a man, a Magian, named Gomates, from Pasargadae, near the mount named http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Arakadris, there he arose. On the 14th day of the month Viyakhna, thus he arose: To the people he told lies, and said: `I am Smerdis, the son of Cyrus, the brother of Cambyses.' Then all the people revolted from Cambyses, went over to him, and the Persians, and the Medes, and the other nations. He seized the kingdom. On the 9th day of the month Garmapada he took the royalty from Cambyses. . . . Gomates the Magian deprived Cambyses as well of the Persians, as of the Medians, as of the other nations; he did according to his own will, and seized the royalty over them." -- Darius.4 7. Cambyses, on his way back to Persia, had reached Syria, when he was met by one of the many heralds whom Gomates had sent "through all the land, to Egypt and elsewhere, to make proclamation to the troops that henceforth they were to obey Smerdis the son of Cyrus, and not Cambyses." The herald, "finding Cambyses and his army there, went straight into the middle of the host, and standing forth before them all, made the proclamation." -Herodotus.5 8. "Then Cambyses died, killing himself" (Darius),6 having "reigned in all seven years and five months, and left no issue behind him, male or female." -- (Herodotus.7 This was in the end of July, B. C. 522. 9. This Gomates, the false Smerdis, was a Magian, and was largely ruled by the Magian priests. He made it his chief purpose to make the Median influence, and also the Median religion, once more predominant in the united empire. This was a point which the Samaritans found to their advantage in their opposition to the restoration of the government in Jerusalem. Knowing that this false Smerdis, being opposed to the Persian influences, would be glad of whatever accusations he might receive; and it having been a decree of Cyrus the Persian which restored the Jews to their own land, and under which they had so far steadily carried on the work of restoration, in spite of all opposition; the Samaritans reckoned that now under the new order of things they should surely succeed in putting a stop to that work. 10. Accordingly, "in the days of Artaxerxes [the false Smerdis]8 wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: -- "Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time. . . . Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king; that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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thou shalt have no portion on this side the river. 11. "Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river: -- "Peace, and at such a time. The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 12. "Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem."9 13. As to his reign generally, though "he sent round to every nation under his rule, and granted them freedom from war-service and from taxes for the space of three years" (Herodotus), yet otherwise "the people feared him utterly. He killed many people who had known the former Smerdis. He killed many persons for the following reason, thinking: `May they not acknowledge me that I am not Smerdis, son of Cyrus?' " (Darius.) His career, however, was very short. In the eighth month of his reign, a conspiracy was formed by seven chief men, of whom the leader was Darius, the son of Hystaspes, a Persian. 14. Of this transaction "Darius the king says: There was neither a man in Persia, nor a Median, nor any one of our race who would have dispossessed Gomates the Magian of the kingdom. Nobody dared to say about Gomates the Magian, anything whatever, until I came. By the grace of Ormazd, on the 10th day of the month of Bagayadis, then accompanied by a few men, I killed Gomates the Magian, and with him the men who were his principal adherents. There is a fortress, named Sikhyuvatis, in the country called Nisaea, in Media; there I killed him, I dispossessed him of the royalty, by the grace of Ormazd, I had the kingly power, Ormazd gave to me the royalty. 15. "And Darius the king says: Intaphernes by name, on of Oeospares, a Persian; and Otanes by name, son of Sochres, a Persian; and Gobryas, by name, son of Mardonius, a Persian; and Hydarnes, by name, son of Megabignes, a Persian; and Megabyzus, by name, son of Dadyes, a Persian; and Ardumanes, by name, son of Ochus, a Persian; these men accompanied me, when I killed Gomates the Magian, who said: `I am Smerdis, son of Cyrus.' And henceforth these men were my companions. Thou, who wilt be king in future times, protect always that sort of men." -- Darius.10
History of Greece (3-15) VERSE [3] And a mighty king (Alexander the Great) shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. [4] And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven (Four kingdoms: the west: Cassander, north: Lysimachus, east: Seleucidae, and south: Ptolemy); and not to his posterity, nor according to
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his dominion which he ruled (Alexander’s descendants will get none of it. No one gets all his dominion like Alexander): for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. [5] And the king of the south (Ptolemy) shall be strong, and one of his princes (Seleucus); and he shall be strong above him (Ptolemy), and have dominion; his (Seleucus) dominion shall be a great dominion. [6] And in the end of years they (Ptolemy, Philadelphias, Anticus Thias) shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south (Ptolemy’s daughter: Vernis) shall come to the king of the north (Antichus Thias) to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm (Antichus’ Arm); neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she (Vernis) shall be given up, and they (Egyptian Attendants) that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times. [7] But out of a branch of her roots (the son of Vernis) shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north(Seleucus and his mother Leodais), and shall deal against them, and shall prevail: [8] And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he (Ptolemy) shall continue more years than the king of the north (Seleucus). [9] So the king of the south (Ptolemy) shall come into his (Seleucus’) kingdom, and shall return into his own land. [10] But his sons (Seleucus Simuranus, Antichus Magus) shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one (Antichus Magus) shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress. [11] And the king of the south (Ptolemy) shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north (Antichus Magus): and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand (Ptolemy). [12] And when he (Ptolemy) hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it. [13] For the king of the north (Antichus Magus) shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches. [14] And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south (Ptolemy): also the robbers of thy people (Romans) shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. [15] So the king of the north (Antichus) shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south (Ptolemy) shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. 11:3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
“A mighty king shall stand up” – Alexander the Great, who overthrew the Persians in 331 B.C. “stand up” – When the word “stand” is mentioned it gives an idea that a new power is about to rise up. This word becomes important later—12:1 Michael stands up. “do according to his will” – Died in 328 B.C. at Babylon. So only verse 2 is talking about the kingdom of Medo-Persia. Then verse 3 and onward is the kingdom of Greece. Notice … 11:4 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.
King of the North and King of the South go back and forth for the next few verses. “four winds of heaven” – generals: King of West = Greece – Macedonia, Cassander King of East = Syria – Babylon, Seleucus (312 – 280 BC) http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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King of North = Asia Minor –Thrace, Lysimachus King of South = Egypt, Ptolemy
Lysimachus conquered Cassander. Seleucus conquered Lysimachus. Seleucus owns North, East, West. He becomes to King of the North. (capital = Syria). Ptolemy is King of the South. (capital = Egypt). Exactly what happened to the kingdom of Greece, it was divided. South and North are in reference to where Palestine is located; Egypt is South; Syria and Macedonia are North of Palestine. We are not to “reinterpret” the interpretation. But the same characteristic that was shown in the history will be repeated in the future. Who can deny all these history? We are going to see all these 11:5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and [one] of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion [shall be] a great dominion.
1st SYRIAN WAR – Ptolemy II Philadelphus vs Antiochus I Soter “one of his princes” – Seleucus used to be one of the princes of Ptolemy when he was forced out of Babylon. “he shall be strong above him” – After Ptolemy helped him defeat his enemies, Seleucus was able to get back Babylon and later even more kingdoms to become more powerful than Ptolemy. SOUTH: Ptolemy I Soter died and was succeeded by Ptolemy II. NORTH: After Seleucus I was assassinated (280 BC) by the half brother of Ptolemy II (Ptolemy Keraunos, and was succeeded by Antiochus I Soter. (Seleucus who overcame Cassander and Lysimachus and took over ¾ of Alexander’s kingdom. Thus, King of North has greater dominion than King of South. BOTH: Ptolemy II in the 1st Syrian war. Later Antiochus I was killed in a different war with Eumenes I of Pergamos (261 BC) and Antiochus II succeeded him. Notice the transition of kings between verse 5 and 6: Ptolemy Philadelphus or (Ptolemy II) became the King of the South and Antiochus Theos became the King of the North 11:6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in [these] times.
This is based upon the 4 kingdoms broken up. Still about kingdom of Greece. The Big Framework (showing where the Roman Empire is) because this is given the most time in the prophecies of Daniel. 2nd SYRIAN WAR THEN ATTEMPT AT PEACE – Antiochus II Theos vs Ptolemy II Philadelphus Antiochus II continued with the 2nd Syrian war against Ptolemy II. Finally, both got tired of fighting and decided to make peace.
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“end of years” – after many battles “join themselves together” – agreement between Ptolemy Philadelphus (King of the South) and Antiochus Theos (King of the North). Berenice (daughter of Ptolemy) given to Antiochus, 249 B.C. Two years later (247 B.C.), Laodice, wife of Antiochus (King of the North), was restored after the agreement and subsequently poisoned Antiochus and killed Berenice (daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus, King of the South), her son (), and the Egyptian princesses’ who came with her. Then Seleucus Callinicus (son of Antiochus and Laodice) became king of the north “for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement” – P tolemy II Philadelphus (King of the South) sent his daughter (Berenice) to marry Antiochus II Theos (King of the North – Syria) in an attempt at peace. King of north (Antiochus II Theos) put away his wife and children – Laodice – as an agreement for peace with King of the South to marry his daughter Bernice. “but she shall not retain the power of the arm” – But after the death of Ptolemy Philadelphus (King Of the South), Antiochus brought his former wife (Laodice) back. “neither shall he stand” – Laodice ends up poisoning Antiochus for revenge. (246 BC) “but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times” – Laodice also assassinates Berenice, her son and the Egyptian servants who came with her. Transition of kings between verse 6 and 7: Ptolemy Euergetes became the King of the South and Seleucus Callinicus became the King of the North 11:7 But out of a branch of her roots shall [one] stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
3rd SYRIAN WAR – Ptolemy III Euergetes vs Seleucus II Callinicus “out of a branch of her roots” – Ptolemy III Eurgetes came to take revenge for his sister Berenice (her) (246-240 BC). This became the 3rd Syrian war also known as the Laodicean war. “army” – Talking about a military power. “shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north” – Ptolemy III ends up invading a large part of Syria, but before he can complete his conquest, he has to go back to deal with rebellion.Ultimately Seleucus II Callinicus would recover some of the lands because Ptolemy had to go back to deal with the rebellion. “shall deal against them and prevail” – Laodice is killed by Ptolemy Euergetes and Seleucus Callinicus (King of the North) is sent into exile. 11:8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, [and] with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue [more] years than the king of the north.
This verse shows how he prevails against the king of the North. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“King of the South” – Egypt. Ptolemy carries “captives into Egypt.” “gods” – religiously(the gods of Egypt-Ptolemy Euergetes recovered 40,000 talents of silver and precious vessels and 2,500 images of the Egyptian’s gods that had been stolen by Cambyses years earlier); “Princes” – politically “Precious vessels of silver and of gold” – economically “he shall continue [more] years than the king of the north” - Euergetes continued more years than king of north; Ptolemy Euergetes lived 4-5 years longer than Seleucus Callinicus, who died from a fall from his horse while in exile. REBELLION: King of the South, Ptolemy (Bernice’s brother), has to stop his war because there is rebellion back home, but before he does that he takes gold, images of gods, etc. PEACE: In the end, both kings would bring an end to their war in 240 BC. Ptolemy III would end up living longer (221 BC) than Seleucus II (226 BC) Conclusion: when a kingdom conquers another kingdom, they conquer in 3 ways – religiously, politically, economically. They always attribute the conquest to their gods. 11:9 So the king of the south shall come into [his] kingdom, and shall return into his own land.
King of south shall come into his (king of the North) kingdom, and shall return into his own land (Ptolemy Euergetes) would have conquered kingdom of King of North had not a domestic dispute forced him to return to Egypt 11:10 But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and [one] shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, [even] to his fortress.
4th SYRIAN WAR – Antiochus III Magnus vs Ptolemy IV Philopater “sons” – NORTH: Seleucus Callinicus II has 2 sons Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus Magnus who would start the 4th Syrian war to avenge the loss in the 3rd Syrian war – Seleucus III and a year later his brother Antiochus III Magnus (223-187 BC). They would regain all the land that they had lost during the 3rd Syrian war as well as the prized Coele Syria. “one shall certainly come” – Antiochus Magnus after Seleucus Ceraunus was poisoned to death; Antiochus Magnus recovered Syria and Seleucia that had been lost to king of South along with Egypt; made truce with Egypt and did not destroy Egypt. “great forces…overflow…pass through” – Showing conquests. Transition of kings between verse 10 and 11: Ptolemy Philopator (son of Ptolemy Euergetes) became the King of the South and Antiochus Magnus (son of Seleucus Callinicus) became the King of the North 11:11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him,
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[even] with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
“moved with choler” – Ptolemy IV (Euergetes) succeeded Ptolemy III Philopater (221-203 BC) his father and continued the 4th Syrian war with Antiochus III (Magnus). He built an even larger army and the 2 armies would meet near Gaza in 217 BC. Ptolemy IV fought with king of north (Antiochus Magnus); he (king of the north) sets forth a great multitude (army of 62,000 footmen, 6,000 horsemen) and king of south defeats king of north and this great army with 14,000 soldiers slain and 4,000 taken prison. 11:12 [And] when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down [many] ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened [by it].
“his heart shall be lifted up” – The king of the South is lifted up in pride because he believes it is because of his own strength that he has been successful. Ptolemy Philopator takes away multitude and his subjects rebelled against him for his cruelty. “but he shall not be strengthened by it” – Ptolemy IV’s army would end up defeating Antiochus III and his army, but would not press any further except to take back Coele Syria. Thus Ptolemy would not strengthen or increase his empire, but cautiously decided to retreat back to Egypt. Jews and Egyptians rebelled against him (he did not take political advantage of military strength); he made peace with Antiochus Magnus so he could enjoy self-indulgence instead of destroying king of North; he dies of intemperance; “cast down many ten thousands” – killed 40-60K Jews in Alexandria because Jews in Jerusalem wouldn’t let him worship in most holy place. Transition of a king between verse 12 and 13: Ptolemy Epiphanes (son of Ptolemy Philopator) became the King of the South 11:13 For the king trrtof the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.
5th SYRIAN WAR – Antiochus III Magnus vs Ptolemy V Epiphanes “king of the north shall return” – NORTH: Antiochus III would regroup militarily from years 212204 BC and attempt to renew his warfare with Egypt. He would seek to capitalize on the death of Ptolemy IV, who would be succeeded by a nearly infant 5 year old boy king Ptolemy V Epiphanes (203-181 BC).This started the 5th Syrian war (202-200 BC). BOTH: Antiochus III would ultimately succeed in defeating the Egyptian armies and driving them out of Coele Syria, ending the 5th Syrian war. 11:14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.
SOUTH: Weakened from defeat, Egypt would be attacked by its neighbours, thus ending the Ptolemaic Egypt. Ptolemy V also dies and leaves another young boy Ptolemy VI Philometor (181145 BC) to reign. NORTH: Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-163 BC) would launch successful invasion of Egypt that would later bring pagan Rome directly into Middle Eastern affairs and eventually lead to the demise of both Seleucid and Ptolemaic dynasties. NORTH: Antiochus IV decides to invade Egypt again later but this time Rome comes to the aid of Egypt.
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“In those times, many shall stand up against king of south” – Antiochus Magnus (king of North), Philip of Macedon (who entered into league with Antiochus Magnus to divide the dominion of Ptolemy Epiphanes). Also, Agathochles (the prime minister for the infant king (Ptolemy Epiphanes), was very proud and dissolute thus the Alexandrians rose up against him and killed him (Agathochles) because he was working seditiously against the infant king, and thus had risen against the king). Robbers of thy people – Roman empire; when founded, Romans were known as robbers and ultimately robbed the Jews of their kingdom. Robbers means destroyer or plunder. Ezek 7:3, 27 [3] Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. [27] My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
The robbers in Eze 7 refers to Babylon. In Dan 11:14, God refers to the robbers as the Romans. Romans are a type of Babylon. Both are the only powers to destroy Jerusalem. NORTH: Antiochus IV was so humiliated later on, that he decides to plunder Jerusalem when they decide to side with Rome. This makes him robbers of Daniel’s people. (168-167 BC) NORTH: Later the Jews would revolt and under the leadership of Judas Maccabaeus successful remove all Seleucid presence from Judea altogether. “Shall exalt themselves” – It was Rome in the pagan phase that exalted itself against God’s Jewish people and in the papal phase, thinks to change times and laws; in this sense it was Rome that established the vision that ultimately leads to cleansing of sanctuary. “They shall fall” – those who stood against the king of the south (Antiochus Magnus and Philip of Macedon are defeated by Rome who defended infant Ptolemy Epiphanes; ultimately this verse forecasts the fall of the Roman empire in A.D. 476. 11:15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither [shall there be any] strength to withstand.
“King of the north shall come” – Describes Antiochus IV’s conquest of Egypt and Palestine / Jerusalem. “fenced cities” – Romans sent a general Scopas to help defend Egypt but Scopas was defeated by Antiochus Magnus. Transition of a king between verse 15 and 16: Antiochus Asiaticus (son of Antiochus Magnus) became the king of the North Summary: Verse 5 Verses 6-9 1st Syrian war
King of South – Ptolemaic Egypt Ptolemy I Soter (323-282 BC)
King of North – Seleucid Syria Seleucus I Nicator (312-280 BC)
Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Antiochus I Soter
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(276-271 BC) 2nd Syrian war (261-252 BC) 3rd Syrian war (246-240 BC) Verses 10-13 4th Syrian war (219-217 BC) Verses 14-15 5th Syrian war (202-199 BC)
Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Antiochus II Theos
Ptolemy II Euergetes
Seleucus II Callinicus
Ptolemy IV Philopater
Antiochus III Magnus
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
Antiochus III Magnus
History of Pagan Rome (16-30) VERSE [16] But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. [17] He(Julius Caeser) shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women(Cleopatra), corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him. [18] After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince(Brutus) for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.(Caesar) [19] Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. [20] Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser(Agustus Caesar) of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. [21] And in his estate shall stand up a vile person(Tigurus), to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. [22] And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant(Christ will cruficified). [23] And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. [24] He(Rome) shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.(360 years) [25] And he(Agustus Caesar) shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. [26] Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him(Agustus), and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. [27] And both of these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. [28] Then shall he(Agustus) return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. [29] At the time appointed he(Constantine) shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 11:16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
“But he that comoeth…do according his own will” – Pompey from Roman Empire against him (Antiochus Asiaticus, king of the north) shall do according to his own will (king of the north defeated by Pompey). Rome forced Antiochus IV to retreat after its conquest of Egypt. Thus Rome
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would do according to its own will, and force Antiochus IV to acquiesce to Rome’s demands under the threat of military force and withdraw form Egypt. “none shall stand before him” – Refers to Pompey’s conquest and destruction of Seleucid empire in 64-63BC. “glorious land” – Palestine / Jerusalem, representing God’s people – literal Jews. Refers to when Pompey’s meddling in Judeo-Palestine affairs. The initial alliance in 161 B.C. then actual conquest in 63 B.C. when Pompey destroyed the walls of Jerusalem and killed thousands of Jews) “consumed” – Pagan Rome would “stand in” and “consume” the “glorious land” of Israel, as both Syria and Judeo-Palestine would become pagan Roman provinces. Also ultimately Jerusalem destroyed by Pagan Rome in 70 A.D. From this point on in Daniel 11; Rome becomes the king of the north, Egypt becomes the king of the south. Transition of kings between verse 16 and 17: Pompey became the king of the North, Egypt became the king of the South 11:17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand [on his side], neither be for him.
“He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom” –Pompey and Julius Caesar enter into Egypt. Julius Caesar comes on the scene. At first alliances himself with Pompey to take over the Roman empire, but later challenges and defeats him in battle to become the first official Roman emperor (48-47 BC). “upright ones with him” – Jews assist Romans in defeating Egypt. Daughter of woman” – Refers to Cleopatra (daughter of Ptolemy Auletes who died in 51 B.C.);. This is the second time a woman enters into the prophecy. Usually when a woman appears, something is about bad happens. Julius Caesar came to Egypt to help settle a dispute between Cleopatra and her husband (and brother) Ptolemy XII. “corrupting her” – Cleopatra was Julius Caesar’s mistress and had a son by him. “shall not stand on his side” – ultimately Cleopatra marries Mark Antony. “shall not be for him” – Cleopatra fights Rome with Antony and turns against Caesar. Eventually she would not side with him and Julius was eventually assassinated in 44 BC. 11:18 After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause [it] to turn upon him.
“shall take many” – Julius Caesar won over 50 battles “prince” – Marcus Antonius (Mark Anthony) protected Caesar’s political interests in Rome while he
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was away on provincial commands. “cause the reproach offered by him to cease” – Mark Anthony would avenge Caesar’s death by hunting down his assassins. 11:19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
“fort” – Includes temples, palaces, treasuries. “he shall stumble and fall and not be found” – Julius Caesar was betrayed and assassinated by Brutus (Roman Senate) in 44 B.C. 11:20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes [in] the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
“stand up” – Another kingdom rising up. “raiser of taxes” – Caesar Augustus. Luke 2 deals with this it also deals with the Birth of Jesus. This is the Roman Empire. Luke 2:1 …all the world should be taxed.
“within few days he shall be destroyed neither in anger nor in battle – 18 years after taxing he dies peacefully in A.D. 14 during time of Christ (during the glory of the kingdom). This is the clearest verse that shows that he talks about pagan Rome. The kingdom with the power of tax is the Roman empire. Tiberius came to the throne in 12 A.D. He co-reigned with Augustus. So around verse 20, the scene changed to Roman empire. One of the clear texts in Daniel 11 to show the pinpointed distinction about this kingdom being introduced, which is the Roman Empire. Where is Papal Rome? Dan. 11:30-31 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.
“in his estate shall stand up a vile person” – Next Caesar after Augustus was a vile person Tiberius Caesar. “obtain the kingdom by flatteries” – Refers to Tiberius. Note: Pagan Rome uses flatteries and peace. Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
This verse talks about the 15th year of his reign = 27 A.D. = Baptism of Jesus. 11:22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
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“and the arms of the flood shall be overflown from before him, and shall be broken” – Tiberius was suffocated with pillows after recovering from what appeared to be a deadly illness. Dan 9:26 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.
“yea, also the prince of the covenant” – Jesus, The Messiah is cut off (or broken) during the time of Tiberius Caesar in fulfillment of the prophecy of Dan. 9:24-27. So this is the crucifixion of Jesus. Pagan Rome puts Christ on the cross. Same parallel prophecy in Dan 8:11 Yea he magnified himself even to the prince of the hosts… Dan 8:25 …by peace shall destroy many…
Terminology for papal Rome also used for pagan Rome. “arms of a flood” – There is another verse that about the destruction of Jerusalem. Dan 9:26 …the end thereof shall be with a flood
NOTE: Gabriel has just walked through the 70 week prophecy in explicit detail. 11:23 And after the league [made] with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
Verse 23-31; take us back to 161 B.C. and proceeds to follow chronologically pivotal events that took place between Egypt and the Roman Empire. “league” – a league was created between the Jews and the Romans. The Jews were unhappy with being subjugated by Ptolemy and went to the Romans for help. “him” – pagan Rome, which is working deceitfully. Dan 8:25 …craft shall prosper… 11:24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do [that] which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: [yea], and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
Rome acquires many nations by offering to be their protector. Pagan Rome enters peaceably upon the fatest places of the province – Syria, Judea, Egypt. “even for a time” – This is a time prophecy at the end of the verse. A time = 360 days or 360 years. This tells us how long Rome would be in power in their city in Rome. Verse 25 gives us the starting point Dan 11:25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
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Transition of a ruler: Tiberius Caesar (Rome) now fulfills the office of the king of the North, Mark Antony (Egypt) fulfills the office of the king of the South (Dan 11:17). 11:25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
Describes sea battle of Caesar Augustus (king of the north) against Mark Antony (king of the south) and Cleopatra who was in Egypt. Caesar is triumphant after Cleopatra flees the battle and Antony in violent passion follows her. This battle was decided in 31 B.C. and is starting point of 360 year prophecy (cf. Dan 11:24). Dan 11:24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do [that] which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: [yea], and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. 11:26 Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
“they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him” – Antony’s ground forces turning on him after they saw he was so enraptured with Cleopatra that it caused him to lose the sea battle. Antony takes his own life in rage and despair when he sees his ground forces have declared for Caesar Augustus. The king of the south is not mentioned again until Daniel 11:40 at the time of the end in 1798 --> Dan. 12:4; 11:35-37; 7:25; Rev. 14:6,14; Dan. 7:7-8; 2 Thes. 2:1-12 11:27 And both these kings' hearts [shall be] to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end [shall be] at the time appointed.
“two kings” – Caesar Augustus and Mark Antony, putting pagan Rome vs. Egypt “they speak lies” – Caesar Augustus and Mark Antony originally had been friends under the pretense of both trying to gain the power of the whole world. Cleopatra had united with Mark Anthony to go against Augustus (Octavian). This Point in time when pagan Rome becomes a universal empire. “at time appointed” – 360 years after 31 B.C.R ome moves its seat of power to the south in Constantinople in 330 A.D. Look at Uriah Smith’s commentary on this verse. 11:28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart [shall be] against the holy covenant; and he shall do [exploits], and return to his own land.
“He” – Caesar Augustus returns to his own land twice, first after defeating Mark Antony and returns with great riches. The second time he is against holy covenant. In 66 AD they originally attack however Cestus comes back in 70 A.D. God’s people flee for 4 years. Over 1 million crucifixes were put up around Jerusalem. They plowed up the ground. This represents Rome destroying Jerusalem (land of the covenant) in 70 A.D. cf Dan. 11:14.
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11:29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
“at time appointed, he shall return” – 360 years after 31 B.C. Rome moves its seat of power to the south in Constantinople in 330 A.D. “not as former” – when Caesar Augustus defeats Mark Antony in Egypt (cf. Dan. 11:25) Dan 11:25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
“not as latter” – Rome destroying Judea in 70 A.D. This time Augustus goes to Constantinople, which leads to downfall of western Roman empire In 330 A.D. Constantine decided to change the capital from Rome to the east in Byzantine naming it Constantinople. The result of this is the weakening of the Roman empire. This leaves the pope in eastern Rome by himself.
Transition from Pagan to Papal Rome (30-31) VERSE [30] For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. [31] And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice (Pagan Rome), and they shall place the abomination (Papacy Rome) that maketh desolate. 11:30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
Gives the idea of something about Jewish nation and destroying God’s people. “ships of Chittim shall come” – land of Tyre. It’s referring to the invasion of Rome by Northern Barbarian tribes. And there were one tribe that conquered the sea and they even occupied the Northern Africa. That was the Vandals. Isa 23:1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.
“ships” – Ships being used in military warfare. Once Constantine moved his capital, the barbarian tribes came and attacked Western Rome. One tribe in northern Africa, the Vandals, they sailed their ships to Rome and destroyed Western Rome. Other tribes also attacking – Visigoths, Huns, Heruli. This brings us to 476 A.D. Carthage was center of Tyre; from this center of Carthage; Genseric, the Vandal, waged war against the western Roman empire. His career lasted from 428-477 A.D. The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D. “He shall be grieved and return” – refers to futile attempts to defeat the Vandals;
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“indignation against the holy covenant” – refers to hatred of papal Rome to the Bible. Vandals, Goths, and the Heruli were pagan nations that embraced the Christian Arian faith. The barbarian tribes caused the collapse of western Rome. Clovis helped the papacy establish dominance over these pagan nations by 508 A.D. when the daily (paganism) was taken away. In 538, Justinian gave power to the papacy to put down the Arian faith after the Arian Goths were defeated in 538 A.D., and who then held possession of Rome. Attack against God’s people, the early Christians. Why is it called holy covenant? Dan 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
Daniel’s prayer talks about keeping the covenant, they are the ones who kept the commandments. The people keeping in the covenant at this time are the early Christians. “intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant” – “he” = emperors of Eastern Rome. “Them” – God’s people who have forsaken the holy covenant. This is the beginning stages of uniting of church and state. This is the development of the man of sin, the abomination of desolation.
History of papacy (508-1798) Notice the warnings from the epistles of the apostles. These next few verse show how this intelligence was developed. Also explaining the transition from potter’s clay to miry clay. 2 Thes 2:1-3 [1] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, [2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. [3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Paul must have been studying Dan 11 when he wrote this. He points out that there must be a falling away first. “falling away” – apostasy in the original language. Paul quotes Dan 11:36 Dan 11:36 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. 1 Tim 4:1-5 [1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.[4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: [5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
In verses 2 through 5 Paul gives characteristics of the papacy. In Acts 20:17-31 Paul calls the elders and tells them in verse 28-31 a warning.
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Acts 20:29-30 [29] For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Paul understood the prophecies. Paul also called the elders bishops in other places. See Christ’s description of hireling (John 10). 1 John 4:1, 3 [1] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world…[3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
“whereof ye have heard” – John knew that they had heard of it from Paul. “even now already is it in the world” – He tells his audience that they have already come. 1 John 2:18-19 Tells us where the antichrist came from. 1 John 2:18-19 [18] Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. [19] no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
John indicates that the antichrist has already come. 3 Jn 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
Diotrephes was an elder. He loved “preeminence” – loved power. Biblically, Diotrephes is the first pope. 3 Jn 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
What did Diotrephes do? “malicious words” “casteth them out of the church” BEGINNING OF THE PAPACY 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
“And shall stand on his part” – Based upon Daniel 8 and 12 (we will see later), this is the papacy. Verse 31 is parallel to Dan 8:12. One little horn representing two powers. Dan 8:11,12 [11] Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down. [12] 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.
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On the verse 31, now tells us how the “daily” was taken away. “arm” – This word arm in this verse is the same word “an host” in Dan 8:12. The word means “military power and strength.” Military power came to its aid to take away the Pagan Rome. Papal decree in 508 declaring Clovis and his army to be the protector of papal Rome. Transition from Pagan Rome to Papal Rome. “arms” refers to army of papacy. The papacy needed a military presence. Remember that the armies were in Eastern Rome. Somebody has to come the Papacy’s aid. His name is Clovis. This is of course the same daily taken away in Dan 8. Pagan Rome was preventing Papal Rome from reigning supreme. The beginning part of verse 31 = 508 AD. (Papal supremacy in Western Rome). The ending part of verse 31 = 538 AD. (Papal supremacy in Eastern Rome). “They shall pollute the sanctuary of strength” – priests of Catholic church offering confession for sins; sanctuary in heaven and mediatorial ministry of Christ as High Priest polluted by this “Take away the daily sacrifice” – The daily is paganism, taken away by Papal Rome; starting date is 508 A.D. when Clovis conquers pagan nations thus turning the tide of Europe toward Papal power thereafter. Decree in 508 A.D. declares Clovis to be “protector of Rome”. AD 508 the daily taken away. In the territory of Gaul, the Visigoths were there, Alemeni, and also the governor of the Roman power reigned over there in the west. Even though the Roman Empire moved their seat to Constantinople did not mean did not have their influence there in the west. Their military force were still felt in that place but not as strong as it had been in the previous years. In AD 486, Clevus who was Frank, occupied the last visage of Roman rule in the west. But “taking away the daily” didn’t happen at once, it took a transition of time. That left three dominating power ruling in the west: Franks, Visigoths, Alemeni. Only two religions rules: Orthodox of Catholic and Paganism (Arianism). In the West, there was not one Christian king for the Catholic church. Every one were Arians. Neverthless, Clevus had a personal adviser, the catholic bishop of Limz. Clevus was persuaded by the bishop of Limz to marry a devout Roman Catholic. Clevus was not a Catholic. And when his child passed away, he was furious that the God of his wife did not save his child. He had another baby. And in AD 496, Clevus went out the war against Alemani and he was on the bulge of loose. It’s parallel experience of Constantine couple centuries before. Clevus vowed to God of his wife that if He gives him the victory, he and his soldiers will become the devout followers. After that vow, he wins the battle conquering Alemani. Keeping his words, he was baptized. Now, Clevus being the first Chrsitian king in the west, was given the title, “The most Christian king” by Anastasys, the bishop of Rome. From that point on, Clevus’ war took on a different viewpoint. They were not just going to be a military campaign, but now turn into “holy wars.” Clevus, being a powerful individual, after his so-called “conversion,” all the Catholics began to support him and join in his “holy wars” which gave him even more power and military strength. Historians said, “Wherever Clevus conquered, the Catholic church conquered also.” Finally in AD 507, Clevus went out to conquer Visigoths and he conquered them. That made him the sole ruler of the West, Christian king, Catholic king, leaving Catholic as the sole religion that would be worshipped by all. Those who refused to yield to Catholic baptism were driven out from their land. The “daily” was little by little being taken away. In AD 508, Anastasys (same name as the bishop of Rome), the emperor of the East, he felt the pressure of Clevus, and gave Clevus the title “Roman Counselor of the West” meaning “Roman Protector for the West.” Thus, Papal Rome was officially placed as the ruler of the West: “the daily taken away.” Frank, which later became France, became dominating supporters of the religions of the Catholic faith. They set up the Papacy, they prepared the way of AD 538. But the interesting thing is that they are the one who took him down in AD 1798. That shows you the true characteristic of Catholicism. It turns you into atheism. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“They shall place the abomination” – AD 508-538 Placing the Abomination. Taking away the “daily” sets up the abomination that make desolate, which is Papacy. 2 Thes 2:7,8 [7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. [8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
That power that was hindering the man of sin for coming was the Pagan Rome. The reason why Paul never mentioned the name Pagan Rome in the letter is: 1. Thessalonians already knew who he was talking about 2 Thes 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2. It would cause the obliteration of God’s church. Acts 17:6-8 [6] And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; [7] Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. [8] And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
If the priests could get the Apostles in charge of being insurrection, they knew that apostles would be put in death instantly. Anything that indicating the fall of Roman Empire would give them a chance to do that. That would bring a blood bed that would never be seen in the history. Therefore, Paul in godly wisdom did not say the word “Pagan Rome.” In the record of the early church fathers, this was the only interpretation ever given in the church. They said, “When Pagan Rome falls, then we can look for the antichrist.” They even wrote a letter to Caesar saying, “We, as a church, are praying for the prosperity and longevity of the kingdom of Rome.” Because they knew once Pagan Rome falls, the antichrist will come, which is worse than the other evil (Pagan Rome). Justinian, the emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire issued the decree in AD 533 that Papacy will have the sole authority both in religious and political over the Western churches. The decree did not go into effect until AD 538.* * When Belazzars and Pope were besieged by Osthrogoths in Rome, Pope realizing that he would lose the battle, sent a messenger to Osthrogoths saying that he would leave open the gate. Belazzar’s soldier caught the messenger before he reached Osthrogoths and stopped it. Belazzar after he won the war, dethroned the pope and elected new pope by himself. “Abomination that maketh desolate” – Is first fulfilled in 70 A.D when Rome destroyed Jerusalem. 2nd fulfillment is Clovis combining civil power of army with the religious power of Rome. End time application is National Sunday law that restricts God’s people’s ability to worship. Who’s Who in Christian History CLOVIS (c. 466–511) King of the Franks, 481–511; founded the Merovingian dynasty and led his people in accepting Christianity http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Clovis first learned of Christianity when he married Clothilda of Burgundy. She continually tried to convert him, but he did not become a Christian until 496, when the danger of losing a battle against the Alemanni inspired him to seek the aid of his wife’s God. After emerging victorious he consented to be baptized. Clovis then used his religious faith as an excuse to expand his political power, pushing the Visigoths, who were Arians and hence heretics, out of southern France. His apparent conversion did not diminish his willingness to use brutality and treachery against those who opposed him. Receiving church support, he appointed clergymen as envoys and governors and thereby secured wider territorial control. Thus Clovis established Frankish rule firmly in Gaul and created footholds for wider Roman Catholic influence in western Europe. C. HICKS14 Papal Rome is now King of the North until 2nd Coming Daniel 11:31 to the end of Daniel 12 have global and spiritual applications where as Daniel 11:1 through Daniel 11:30 have more so literal and local applications, this is because the probation of literal Israel as God’s chosen people (His representatives) closed in 70 A.D. (cf. Acts 7:55-56, Rom. 2:28-29), and the beginning of spiritual Israel as God’s people; thus the proceeding verses have spiritual applications for spiritual Israel and not literal Israel.
Papacy | A.D. 538 – 1798 (32-39) VERSE [32] 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. [33] 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. [34] Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. [35] 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. [36] 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. [37] 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. [38] 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. [39] 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. Persecution of the Dark Ages (32-35) 11:32 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].
“do wickedly” – those who followed decrees of popes and councils over the word of God. i.e. the majority of Christendom and the secular world after 538 A.D. “corrupt by flatteries” – Papacy’s method same thing as Rev 12 – deception by serpent first, then later becomes dragon (persecution) 14Douglas,
J. D., Comfort, P. W., & Mitchell, D. 1997, c1992. Who's who in Christian history. Illustrated lining papers. Tyndale House: Wheaton, Ill. http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” – Refering to the Waldensenes, Huguenots, and Albigenses, Paulians, Pitcards, during the period from 538-1798. 11:33 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.
Recommended book: Book of Martyrs by Fox. “They…shall…instruct many” – John Wycliff, Larlords, Waldenses training the young children to memorize the books of the Bible, and translating it by memory! It’s unbelievable. The only difference between they and us is we just became flat out lazy. We just don’t understand, that’s all, bottom line! But I am going to tell you one thing; I want you to know that we are going to have to tread the footsteps of the Waldensians that should have tread long ago. We are going to go over the same ground. It’s coming back! It’s all going to come back! Women would sell the jewels, and tell people that there is better jewel than this. Once they establish the trust, they would show them the piece of paper with scriptures on it, and instruct the people. Some would go into the Universities, and teach in the campus secretly, one by one. All these history are hid in this verse. One verse of the Bible may span in centuries. One phrase in the Bible may span decades. This refers to God’s people contextually speaking. The same group as above (Waldenses, Huguenots, and Albigenses) that gave instruction in righteousness, shows that all was not lost during Dark Ages. Average Waldensian pastors would die after 2 years. And yet they kept coming, going out into the world to educate. “yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil” – the four methods of the papacy to destroy the righteous during the 1260 years of persecution… Interesting the words used flame and spoil and many days. Revelation 13 the papacy uses captivity. So this is about Papal power. We may not be able to understand every detail up to verse 30 but we have to understand from after verse 31 because it becomes more relevant to us. “many days” –1260 days. The word many is supplied in KJV and is missing from some of the original manuscripts but SDA Bible Commentary, Vol 4, p. 874 suggests that the word “many” is in some Hebrew manuscripts adding weight to the argument that this is the 1260 days. 11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
“Now when they shall fall” – Not that they were apostasied, but through long ages of persecution, they were being eliminated from the face of the earth. “They shall be holpen with a little help” – Great Protestant reformation by John Huss and Jerome 15th century, Luther 16th century, John Wycliffe, 14th century Calvin, Knox, Zwingli, all the protestants for guiding, now come into the scene. They now help them with a little help. Rev 12:16, 17 [16] And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. [17] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
“But many shall cleave to them with flatteries” – “cleave” is marriage language. Iron and clay will
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mingle but will not cleave. There is an attempt to cleave but they will not. This is spiritual fornication, union of church and state. This is not the time of union of church and state but this is about other kings trying to cleave to the papal power after she received political power. It’s amazing when it’s a popular thing, how men just go join it and “cleave to them with flatteries.” Once Luther and all these men passed away from the scene, the faith that they really established began to change and shift over the years. Lutheran church today is no more what Luther established. Methodist church is not what Wesley established. Presbyterian church is not what John Knox established. It’s total mess! When the Reformation became popular, many embraced the cause with unworthy motives 11:35 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 some of them of understanding shall fall” – who are these people? “fall … try .. purge.” This goes with “wear out the saints.” This goes on till the time of the end. Out of all the countries of the world, in the history of reformation, England produced more than any we can imagine. When you think about all the great protestant reformers England ever produced, it’s unbelievable! The sad tragedy is nowadays, you go to England, they don’t really understand what it is. Even in Germany, you talk about Luther, they would say, “Uh, he was just a discrunal monk!” This is the persecution of Waldenses, Albigenses, Huguenots, and the Reformers till the time of the end or 1798; here we see connection with time of the end of Dan. 11:35 and the time, times, and half a time of Dan. 7:25 as the persecution of God’s people ends at both periods; thus the 1260 ends at the time of the end which is when the persecution of God’s people ceases; make sure you see the connection between Dan. 7:25 and Dan. 11:35. Why did they “fall” Because of the flatteries and compromise. Over and over again in papal history, they deceived and achieved compromises with their enemies and then eventually destroyed them. Language itself used in these verses gives us the definition of what’s being said. The reformers, Waldenses, Albegences, and persecutions. “To try them, and to purge, and to make them white” – All these trials and persecutions that God was allowing was to make them “white:” righteous. “Even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed” – Right in this verse tells us when is “the time of the end.” The time of the end has been appointed. Who shall persecuted these saints? What power? Papacy, notice…Notice the word “even.” Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
The word “even” is synonymous to the word “till;” meaning God’s people will be persecuted until “the time of the end.” When the time of the end come, then the persecution will cease. In verse 31, you have the establishment of AD 538, the starting point of the Dark Ages. The very next thing in the verse 32-35, he is talking about is the 1260 years persecution. That persecution will last “even(until) to the time of the end.” Therefore, “the time of the end” starts in AD 1798, when the persecution has ceased. You don’t have to go anywhere to prove it. The time of the end is not just one specific time frame; it’s a time period. It started in AD 1798. We are still living in “the time in the end;” yes, the end of “the time of the end.” Until verse 35, everyone agrees on its interpretation. But from this verse and on, people start to
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shift and bring out other opinions and so forth. These verses 36 to 39 is clearly are going to determine the understanding of the verse 40 to 45. Because you get this misunderstood (v36-39), you are going to be off, no man’s land! But once you understand one principle it cannot be misunderstood: You got verse 31, clearly establishing the Papacy. Verse 32 to 35, he sets the Papacy aside for a moment, and then focuses on the persecution of the saints. Then from verse 36, he is now picking up where he left off in verse 31 with the Papacy. Now he is going to specifically address that power. 11:36 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.
“And the king shall do according to his will” – Compare verse 36 with this statement: GC 50 This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of "the man of sin" foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan's power-a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will.
When Paul talks about “the man of sin,” who is this king? The Papacy. Paul was quoting this verse. 2 Thes 2:3,4 [3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
“he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods” – parallel language to Dan. 7:25, Rev 13:6 and the pomposity of the papacy So the papacy will persecute God’s people until the time of the end … Dan 7:25 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.
God’s people persecuted for 1260 years. The end of this is 1798. Persecution literally ended about 150 years before but papacy has power to do this until 1798. So Daniel 7:25, the saints will persecuted till 1798 but in Daniel 11:36 it says till the time of the end. Therefore from end of 1260 years=time of the end. So from 1798 and onward=time of the end. 13MR 393 We have no time to lose. Troublous times are before us. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated. In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that "shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant." [Verses 31-36, quoted.] Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place.
Notice that she quotes from 31 to 36, not 35. She includes verse 36 with this power at the end time. This power doesn’t stop at verse 35. She does not introduce a new power when she come to verse 36. Therefore, the power in 36-39 can be none other than the same power of verse 31-35. There is
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no question that the power in 31-39 is the Papacy. So the king is still referring to Rome. in the Hebrew the definite article precedes the word king, implying that he has been referred to before (i.e. in verses 31-35). This is papal Rome. Some believe king of the north is France; for that argument you can read Uriah Smith’s book. James White and Hiram Edson believed King of the North is Rome. Ellen White supports king of north as papacy if you read the Great Controversy carefully. “and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished” – persecution or scattering of God’s people till the time of the end or 1798. Or a reference to Rev 14:9 – cup of indignation = wrath of God = 7 last plagues. 11:37 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.
“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers” = papacy forsook the true worship of the God of heaven, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and essentially regard the pope as God on earth This is easily connected to demanding the practice of celibacy. This goes with the doctrine of devils. “nor the desire of women” – celibacy among the priests 1 Tim 4:1-3 [1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
“nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all” – same as above with respect to Dan. 7:25 Roman Catholic Church forbids marriage and certain days of the week they are to abstain from eating certain kinds of food. 11:38 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.
“But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces” – the persecuting power of the papacy instead of relying on the power of God’s word. “and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things” – the papacy who has committed fornication with the kings of the earth is the same the harlot who has gold and precious stones it’s the same entity. Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
No mistake this is about the papacy. Economic strength, military strength, spiritually strong in a wicked sense (Rev 18:11-19).
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11:39 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.
“Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god” – likely represents Roman worship of the saints, the mass, and the worship of the virgin Mary “strange god…to rule over many” – Referring to the sainthood instituted by Catholics to rule over every aspect of their lives. “and shall divide the land for gain” – papal domination over temporal rulers with the receipt of revenues from earthly rulers during the period of 538-1798
The Papacy restored | 1798 A.D. – End of time (40-45) VERSE [40] And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. [41] He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. [42] He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. [43] But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. [44] 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. [45] 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. Some of this is not even fulfilled yet. And the danger is this: specially when you have an unfulfilled prophecy, you must be very careful that you don’t become so dogmatic that you stuck yourself in concrete and now you can’t move. We can know the “skeleton” of the end time events. But the “meat” will not be actually known until they actually unfold, until the event actually transpass. Then we reflect and see some of the details. What we are looking at here is the “skeleton.” We cannot understand all the final details, but we see clearly a skeleton. All the Daniel has foretold in the previous chapters seems to be climax in this verse. Dan 11:41 – Dan 12:1 takes us from 1798 to close of human probation. These are unfulfilled verses. 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
NOTE: transferring of the covenant. “time of the end” – 1798. “King of the South shall push at him” – This power did not come “after” the time of the end, but “at” the time of the end, indicating that it will happen at the beginning, which will be AD 1798. It’s obvious by looking at latter verses that the king of the south is gone and never to be mentioned again. Who is this king of South? (similar picture in Revelation 11) … Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
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Verse 3 says they will prophesy 1260 days or years Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
“Sodom and Egypt” – can’t be literal because Sodom is destroyed so it must mean atheism. Pharaoh declared he does not know God of heaven. So in 1798 was the French Revolution; god of Reason was their god. Looking at the physical location, the king of the south is Egypt. Yet, in AD 1798, Egypt did not come against the Papacy. But we remember that the book that was closed will be open at the end of time in the light of Revelation. In reference to Revelation 11:8 you have Egypt name mentioned as a symbol of atheistic France. What you have is Egypt being employed as symbol to demonstrate France coming against the Papacy in AD 1798. That falls in harmonious relationship to what happen. GC 615 Romanism in the Old World and apostate Protestantism in the New will pursue a similar course toward those who honor all the divine precepts.
Atheism remember, Egypt was king of south (Dan. 11:17,23-24); now spiritual Egypt is the atheist power as the king of south towards the king of the north (the Papacy). Atheism in France was seen as a fulfillment of Bible prophecy (see Rev. 11, the 3 and ½ day prophecy; spiritual Egypt and Sodom; Pharaoh tells Moses, “Who is Jehovah that I should obey him?” and Sodom was known for its licentiousness and debauchery) when in 1793 the French Assembly abolished the Christian religion and set aside the Bible; the goddess of reason was worshipped in its place; This led to the demise of the papacy in 1798 when Napolean’s general Berthier takes Pope Pius VI captive and he dies in captivity; the pope tells Berthier he would like to die in Rome, and he is told that “you can die anywhere”. The king of the south pushing at the king of the north is parallel to the deadly wound in Revelation 13:3 of the papal beast. Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
In verses 1-30, king of south came from literal Egypt; in verse 40 spiritual Egypt (see Rev. 11 = atheistic France, but called Spiritual Egypt and Sodom) is now king of south. Because of the persecution of 538 – 1798. This created Atheism and Communism. Therefore, we are looking for a time for the papacy coming against Communism. The deadly wound will not be completely healed until Communism is removed – countries like China, Russia, North Korea, etc. After 1798, king of south continues as atheism is manifested in Communism/Socialism/Liberalism. Karl Marx manifested communism in 1844. There was the Russian Revolution in 1917 led by Vladimir Lenin. Joseph Stalin leader of Russia during WWII that became Soviet Union. Christianity was stamped out by atheistic Soviet Union and other communist countries such as China, North Korea, Cuba. So who is king of the south? It is like a kingdom. This represents atheism which swept over France and other parts of Europe. It says kingdom although it is a concept, yet this belief of no God became part of great nations which are communism countries. So the Big Picture is that king of the South is closely related to communism—why? Communism didn’t destroy the papacy in 1798. It was atheism which destroyed papacy in 1798. French government took away political power from papacy—they attacked papacy. This is interesting because it was France who gave the power and then it is France who took it away. This give-n-take aspect is repeated in Revelation. 10 horns or kings give support to Babylonian power but later on they fight against her. So we have the king of http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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South pushing at “him.” So in 1798, atheism (which later became Communism) attacked or wounded the papacy, in terms of politically. “him…the King of the North” - Is it Turkey? If you look at the physical map, the north of Palestine is Turkey. So people think this is the king of the North. Some futuristic view believe that this is Russia, for above Turkey is Russia. Uriah Smith did not always believe that the king of the North was Turkey. He used to believe for number of years. But then he changed his views around 1870. Around 1870, Turkey became dominating power and Uriah Smith began to take newspaper reports and tried to interpret the Bible, instead of let Bible interpret the history. He was letting the political situation around the world dictate the word of God. Around the same time, James White wrote articles in Review reputing the position. One of the proof was this: In Daniel 2, the last dominating power mentioned is Rome. Same in chapter 7, 8, & 9. Then when you come to 10 and 11, the climax of all the other prophecies, now it ends up with different power, the power that is not even hinted in the slightest way anywhere in regard to chapter 2, 7, 8, & 9! That’s inconsistency to work of such premise. It doesn’t fit at all! Period! in respect of what some may think or say. When you study the concept of repeat and enlarge, you can’t get around the fact. Daniel 2 is becomes the measuring rod whereby all other chapters fall in line. Daniel 7 is not something different and strange or out of a line from Daniel 2. It’s nothing more than repetition of Daniel 2, but there is a magnification downward in time. It’s not just Papal Rome. But it’s threefold union of apostate Protestantism, Spiritualism, and Roman Catholicism. Daniel and Revelation go with hand-on-hand. One cannot be fully seen without the other. What is hided in the Daniel, reveals in Revelation. If it’s turkey, show me in Revelation! In revelation, you have speaking of Turkey in only one phase; the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Other than that, you don’t get any other references about Turkey. If Turkey is to be the significant factor in the latter time, why is this mentioned only in Daniel, and not revealed in the book of Revelation when Revelation is unfolding of the book of Daniel? We will not find a book in this world that is infallible except the word of God. We think if someone made mistake in some point, we think the whole thing is corrupt. While we are on this earth, let’s remember that outside of Inspiration, there is no infallibility. If you don’t want to read just because there is some error somewhere, I feel really sorry for you. I am not saying that we have to pick up any books and read all those erroneous books. But what I am saying is that no one has all the lights. Daniel and Revelation of Uriah Smith is a monument work of the prophetic understand of this church; it’s a solid book! What makes this book so solid? There are three basic way to look at the prophecy basically. Through they eyes of Preterism, Futurism, or Historicism. And pair of glass that Uriah Smith looked at of is looking through the eyes of historicism. Even though there may be a question mark, just because there may be an area or two there, many people try to destroy and eradicate as though there is nothing to offer, and that’s foolishness! There are only two sources anywhere in the history of this world that you can pick up without wondering if there is any error, is the Bible and SOP. Other than that, you have to investigate constantly. 01MR 60,61 Especially should the book Daniel and the Revelation be brought before people as the very book for this time. This book contains the message which all need to read and understand… The great, essential questions which God would have presented to the people are found in Daniel and the Revelation. There is found solid, eternal truth for this time. Everyone needs the light and information it contains.
The Papacy – In the Bible, you can actually find the title, “the king of the North” referred to Ancient http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Babylon. So Who is the king of the north? There are two ideas. Some think it is Turkey, some papacy—this is the power. Why? Based on Daniel 2, 7, 8, there is not a single place where it talks about Turkey. People call it Turkey based upon literal location of the north of Palestine. This concept was very popular in the early days of our Pioneers. Why? Because at that time the Turkish power was strong. But even now it is not that much strong militarily. So the King of the North is the Papal power. The North is the side of God. Ps 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
All these things show the king of North to be more spiritual, not literal and local. The way verse 40 is understood will determine how to understand 41-45. After verse 40, it mentions “he” all the time—referring to the king of the north. If it is Turkey, then it has to be Turkish power, and viceversa. One thing we need to understand is that we can’t take everything literal in the prophecy. Just like “thy people” was not just referring to the literal Jews. So we can’t see ancient Babylon since they will never be rebuilt again according to Isaiah. So if not literal Babylon, it must be spiritual Babylon in Revelation 17 and 18: The papacy. Verse 45 is a direct parallel with Matt 24:15 Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
“and the king of the north shall come against him the king of the south a whirlwind” – Whirlwind means to storm, hurl as storm, be tempestuous, come like a whirlwind. Communism came out of French revolution in 1798. This verse has portrayed before us the downfall of communism. In the newspaper, Pontiff was taking all the credit for the downfall of communism: “I am the one.” This is the resurging of the wound being healed, coming back to great power in the last days. “He shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” He is not just satisfied with just the communistic concept, he is going all over. The Bible says that “all the world” would follow him. “with chariots, and with horsemen” – Syrian army (from the north) surrounds Samaria with an army with “chariots and horsemen” = military power 2 Kings 6:15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
“and with many ships” 2 Chron 9:21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. Prov 31:14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
These two verses connect ships with riches and merchandise. Rev. 18 connects Babylon (aka papacy or king of north) with merchants of earth, described as shipmasters and companies with ships and sailors who were made rich by Babylon (aka king of north) = economic power. The implication is that the king of the north (papacy) amasses military power and economic power to overthrow the king of the south (atheism, and the countries represented by this philosophy). The
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military and economic power used by the king of the north (papacy) to overcome the king of the south (atheism) is likely the 2nd beast of Revelation 13, which Rev 13:15 …causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed
The papacy received its deadly wound in 1798, and in Revelation 13 it is the United States of America which forms the image to the beast (papacy). In Daniel 11, USA helps king of north to heal from deadly wound (when king of south pushes at papacy in 1798) by providing military and economic power (chariots, horseman, and ships) to help king of north destroy king of south (communistic, atheistic countries) Historically this began in the administration of President Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) Read “The Holy Alliance” by Carl Bernstein, a 12 page article in Time Magazine, February 24, 1992; in this 12 page article Reagan is quoted as saying “one of earliest goals of presidency was to recognize the Vatican as a state and to make them an ally”; at least 4 of Reagan’s key cabinet members were Catholics; Reagan and Pope John Paul II met for the first time June 7, 1982; they developed strategy to take down communist Soviet Union by assisting solidarity movement led by Lech Walesa in Poland; they provided finances as well as infrastructure; a haven for democracy was created in Eastern Europe; eventually Pope and Reagan forced the Soviet Union into an expensive nuclear arms race called “Star Wars” that bankrupted the Soviet Union. “and he (king of north – papacy) shall enter into the countries (of the king of the south – likely communist Soviet Union and eastern Europe), and shall overflow and pass through” – Ronald Reagan is famous for his speech in Berlin where he says “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this (Berlin) wall”. The wall fell down in 1989 and communism was eradicated from Europe. Referring to the alliance between Reagan and John Paul II, that led to the demise of the Soviet Union, Richard Allen, Reagan’s first National Security Adviser (and is Catholic) says “this was one of the great secret alliances of all time”. “overflow and Passover” – Same imagery from Isaiah 8:8. Verse 40 is about papacy destroying Communism, especially Russia. Based upon this and Revelation 11, there is clarity that the papacy will destroy Communism. Why? There atheistic ideas are preventing Papacy to rule over them— they believe in no God. 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many [countries] shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, [even] Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
“he shall enter also” – the papacy enters Protestantism with spiritualism cf. Rev. 16:13-14. “He shall enter also into the glorious land – What does the "glorious land" mean? Goodly land or land of delight. Then what is the glorious land? It’s clear from the Dan 11:16 that it’s talking about the Philestine or Israel. Remember transfer of covenant principal. Represents spiritual Jews = God’s people in all the nations (worldwide) – Christian-dom. It cannot be US, because that would be a literal local NOT following transfer of the covenant principal. Dan 11:16 But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
In verse 45 the glorious holy mountain is Mt. Zion or Jerusalem.
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Dan 11:45 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. Ezek 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
This verse shows that Jerusalem is organization in which God’s people will be sealed in end time; thus Jerusalem = dwelling place of the remnant church and thus the glorious holy mountain is the remnant church. Now back to the “glorious land.” We can also find similar expressions throughout the bible concerning that land. Deut 4:22 But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.
The "good land" is referring to the land of Canaan. Jer 3:18-19 [18] In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. [19] But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
The exact same word is used. Referring to how the Israelites were to come out of the land of the north (Babylon) and inherit the pleasant land again. Ps 106:23-24 [23]Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them]. [24] Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word
“pleasant land” – referring to the land of Canaan. Anciently the glorious land is Palestine. Palestine (cf. Dan. 11:16), which surrounds Jerusalem and is where Jews lived; however at the end, being outside Jerusalem (God’s remnant church) is being outside the organization in which God’s people are sealed; thus glorious land likely the glorious land is Protestantism in which God’s people will be called out of Babylon (papacy or king of north) into God’s last day church “glorious holy mountain”; glorious land = 2nd Beast of Revelation 13 cf. notes on Dan. 11:44. United States is the protestant nation that is the 2nd Beast of Revelation 13 that is “entered into” by the papacy and forms the image to the beast. We need to understand the concept that literal and local now becomes spiritual and worldwide. In the old covenant sense, the weight of prophecies was given to the literal Jews (Israelites), local geographical location (Palestine). But they failed the covenant relationship with God. Now, what we have to do with the prophecies that were reference to God’s people back then into a local geographical location which were not fulfilled under the old covenant? Now then covenant transferred to the spiritual Jews. “Glorious Land” – Means “goodly land” and “land of delight.” The only goodly and delightful land is Canaan where Israelites settled after coming out of Egypt. Is this Israel literally? If so, then the papacy will enter into Jerusalem literally. When speaking of pagan Rome, the Bible is very literal in its terms. But after pagan, it seems to go spiritual language. It is more symbolic description when talking about papal Rome. Papal power is called a king in Daniel 11. He was not an actual king although he was treated like one. King of the south (if literally, then it is Egypt) but Rev 11 mentions city of Sodom and Egypt (and it says spiritually; and where Jesus was crucified—so this is symbolic
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terminology). There is a connection with Daniel 11—literally king of south=Egypt; spiritually=Atheism. For Israel, king of the north=Babylon—how? (the desert between Israel and Babylon, they come around the top of desert, the north). Literally, king of South=Egypt which spiritually is Atheism; king of the north=Babylon which is spiritual Babylon, and this is the papacy (Rev 14 and 17). If taken literal, then Egypt will attack Turkey and somehow this has to be related to God’s people—where is papacy? Up to verse 39, but after then it is Turkish power. Problem: Daniel 2 (iron and clay—papal power till Jesus comes), but in Daniel 11 it is not there, so what happened to it? There is a big difference taking these things literally or taking it symbolically. If literal, then everything is literal—Edom, Ammon, Moab, Jordan, Palestine, Ethiopia; this will be challenging. Literal to symbolic: So the glorious Land literally is Canaan; spiritually is spiritual Glorious Land or spiritual Israel. Who are spiritual Israel? Ex 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and [how] I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Eagle’s wings belongs to God. Daniel 7 it is in Babylon (they are trying to have characteristics of God). This is a side-point Ex 19:5-6 [5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
“Kingdom of priests” – political and religious. “Holy nation” – religious and political. Only God can put these together. Holy nation and kingdom of priests was God’s plan for literal Israel. Matt 21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
“Householder” – God “Husbandmen” – Jew “Vineyard” – Israel “Hedge” – Law of God “Tower” – Temple. This is about God’s people Matt 21:34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
“Servants” – prophets of God
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Matt 21:35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
Prophets persecuted and killed Matt 21:36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
John the Baptist Matt 21:37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
Jesus Christ Matt 21:38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
Death of Jesus Matt 21:39 And they caught him, and cast [him] out of the vineyard, and slew [him].
“Out of the vineyard” – without the camp of Jerusalem Heb 13:8. This parable is history of Israel nation. Matt 21:40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
Jesus is giving a parable to the Pharisees and the Scribes. They are following but somehow they are not rightly applying the story. So Jesus is telling them and asking them what they should do?—He is really asking what should God do to you? Matt 21:41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out [his] vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
The Pharisees and Scribes condemn themselves by giving the solution. The privilege should be given to someone else. Matt 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Jesus telling them He is the key stone which they are rejecting. Story of the Temple; the stone. Matt 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
That nation that Jesus was referring to is the Gentile Christian church. Kingdom of God taken from Israel and given to others. This is a prophecy of how the kingdom will be switched over from Israel to another nation. The Gentiles—spiritual Israel. Matt 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
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“Jesus” – the stone “Broken” – you are moldable and can be shaped. This is exactly with Daniel 2. So who is this kingdom taken from Israel and given to another? 1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
“Royal” – kingship “priesthood” – religious; holy nation These were for Israel, but now “ye” are chosen for this. Peculiar—so 3 characteristics were for Israel, and now Peter is speaking of another generation. Show forth fruit. The nation was not Egypt or Babylon, but the nation become symbolic. We become God’s nation though we don’t have a local geographical location. God’s people are all around the world: black, white, rich, poor, free, bound, no matter who you are, if you accept Jesus Christ in your life, He becomes your personal Lord and Savior. You are baptized in the water, circumcised in your heart, live by faith, you are child of Most High God; you are spiritual Jews. Now the terminology and phraseology that was once employed under the old covenant concept, must now be seen not in literal and local application, it must be now seen in the spiritual sense in the world-wide application. Therefore, the glorious holy land is not Palestine, it’s the Christian churches of Protestantism. 1 Pet 2:10 Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
“Not a people” – Gentiles were considered not part of God’s people. Now they are the people of God. This is about the Gentiles, spiritual Israel—how to know? Gal 3:28-29 [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
“In Christ” – spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham. So Israelites today are Christians; Israel is the Church of God. Spiritual Israelites are Christians. Spiritual Israel is the Church. So put together the Church and Christians. When did this take place? AD 34 … from this time Israel is made up of anyone who believes in Christ Jesus. So Daniel 11:41—“glorious land”, this is after AD 34, therefore, it has to be spiritual glorious land. It cannot be one specific location. Israel had a literal and local location. Spiritual Israel, the location=worldwide. So glorious land=church in a general sense … where? Worldwide (end time events are global events). Mal 3:10-12 [10] Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. [11]And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. [12] And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
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“delightsome land” – speaking of the Israel nation. Now which is the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Let me tell you what’s going to happen to you and I, young people. The next thing the Bible says in verse 41, guess where the Papacy is heading to… he is heading towards the church. He is not content with the nations of the world. There is one little object standing in Satan’s way to gain the whole world; it’s not a land, it’s the group of people known as “the remnant.” This means the shaking. It doesn’t necessarily mean Papacy himself comes in. Papacy has many ways to come in among God’s people. Doctrines of Rome can creep in, in that sense it’s coming in! We got few doctrines around our churches today that sure not are originated from the Bible. When you start hearing that Jesus didn’t take our nature, that didn’t come from the Bible, friends, that’s right out of Catholicism.
Transferring of Covenant When God made the covenant with Abraham concerning the Promised Land, it was a symbol of the spiritual inheritance that Abraham and his descendants would receive. God commanded that every tribe of Israel have their pieces of land, and everyone within that tribe would have a fair, equal share of land. It was to teach them that the salvation and the eternal inheritance are for everyone. That’s why the land of Israel was called a land of inheritance. In the book of Leviticus, God says that if you sell your land, you forfeit your inheritance, your covenant relationship with God. In Matt 21:33-43, Jesus makes this parable and tells the covenant with Abraham is now transferred from the literal Jews to the spiritual Jews. Matt 21:43 The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof…
Now, then the question is, where is the land of inheritance? It’s the whole world. God’s people no longer are made of a particular nation. Literal and local, both covenant and prophecies are transferred to spiritual and worldwide. When you understand the transferring of the covenant, you can’t say that the glorious land is USA. Under the new covenant, the glorious land, the land of inheritance is no longer literal and local. You have to interpret them spiritual and worldwide. To interpret them any other way is to deny the transferring of the covenant, meaning that the covenant was never transferred; the Jews are still God’s only chosen nation. Therefore, we are a people without a Saviour, and without hope. The whole house of cart crumbles down. “And many countries shall be overthrown” – “Countries” is not in the original Hebrew word. It’s supplied word; take that word out, that doesn’t belong there. Translators put that word there. So it should be read as “many shall be overthrown.” You better believe it. Many Christians in Protestant nations overthrown by deceptions of papacy (Sunday sacredness) causing them to receive mark of beast. This is happening today Orthodox, Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans, even visiting Jews. There is a gaining influence over many churches in the world. The papacy is trying to unite all denominations back under the Catholic church – using ecumenical movement and various other organizations. When the papal doctrines come in, many people will be overthrown. But thank the good Lord, this verse doesn’t stop there: “but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon” – Who in the world were they? Not all denominations will come under papacy. Some will escape its influence. The Edomites are the descendants of Esau. The Edomites persecuted Jacob and his descendants. Moab and Ammon were sons of Lot (nephew of Abraham) who conceived each son with his two daughters while drunk, committing fornication. So they are characteristics persecution and fornication. These prophecies are unfulfilled. Still have to study these. All 3 nations are “cousins” of Israel. All three are located on the outskirts of Palestine. Have to look at parallel
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prophecies that deal with Edom, Moab, Ammon. In Isaiah 11, these three nations are described as following God’s “remnant” who are recovered a second time by an ensign (the Sabbath) on their way to heavenly Canaan. Isa 11:10-16 shows the transfer of the covenant regarding end time prophecy. Ps 137:7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze [it], raze [it, even] to the foundation thereof.
The whole chapter is speaking about the Babylonian captivity. Zep 2:8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified [themselves] against their border
Notice they are magnifying themselves against their border. They have reproached his people. Zep 2:9 Therefore [as] I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, [even] the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my
people shall possess them.
“perpetual desolation” – same as the prophecy of Jer 25. “residue” – means remnant…remnant of my people shall possesses them. “shall spoil them” – From here I want to go to Is 11 Is 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Ethiopians are mentioned here. Keep in mind! Is 11:11-14 [11] And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people…[14] But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. Ezek 25:2 …set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them;
Find the time frame of Ezekiel, when was this prophecy given? What year? Ezek 25:3 And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;
Desolate – Historically it was 587 B.C. They went into captivity during three different sieges. 606 B.C., 597 B.C., 587 B.C. Ezek 25:4 Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.
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“Men of east” not clear. Could mean Babylon or Medo-Persia. Set palaces reminds me of Dan 11:45. From this verse it is clear that set palaces means to make their dwelling in them. Satan said he wanted to sit in the midst of the seas (Ezek 28:2) Ezek 25:6 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped [thine] hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;
Repetition of why God is punishing them. Ezek 25:7 Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD.
One thing is clear. God said that He would destroy them completely. That also let”s me know that after 1798 they may have not existed anymore. I”ll have to double check. Verses 8-14 are prophecies of judgment against Edom and Moab. He says they will be given for a possession to the men of the east, and they will be cut off. Jer 25:1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that [was] the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;
This happened in 607 B.C. Jer 25:9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
“this land” means glorious land same as Dan 11:16 “nations round about” includes Edom, Ammon, and Moab. They also would be desolate like Jerusalem. But they were not a part of the glorious land. Jer 25:12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.
After 70 years God punishes Jerusalem. Jer 25:13-15 And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, [even] all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations. [14] For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands. [15] For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of his fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. Jer 25:21 Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,
Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon, these 3 a part of all the nations that will drink this cup. Notice how it switches to a world-wide application.
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Jer 25:29-30 For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts. [30] Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread [the grapes], against all the inhabitants of the earth.
This reminds me of Joel 3:16 (Armageddon). Jer 25:31, 33 A noise shall come [even] to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them [that are] wicked to the sword, saith the LORD. [33] And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from [one] end of the earth even unto the [other] end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground
In this context Edom, Moab, and Ammon fall under the category of the inhabitants of the earth. The wicked. GC 656 In the mad strife of their own fierce passions, and by the awful outpouring of God”s unmingled wrath, fall the wicked inhabitants of the earth--priests, rulers, and people, rich and poor, high and low. "And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried." Jeremiah 25:33. Jer 40:11 Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;
Some Jews escaped to the land of Edom, Moab, and Ammon. Jer 48 is a prophecy against Moab. It ends like this, Jer 48:47 Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far [is] the judgment of Moab.
Jer 49:1-5 Prophecy against Ammon and it ends like this Jer 49:6 And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.
Jer 49:7-22 Is a prophecy against Edom Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Root of Jesse is Jesus. And there shall be a time when Gentiles will seek Jesus and they are going to find rest. But God will raise up somebody called “Remnant” to help them to find Jesus. Isa 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
God is going to gather the Remnants that are spread all over the world. Why does He bring them all together? http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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Isa 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
It’s to have the sign or seal for the nations. The sign that God is going to set up is Sabbath. It is the only sign that God ever set up for the world. God is going to raise up the Sabbath to be an issue. And this will be an issue whereby He is going to gather His people under His banner. Isa 11:13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim
Ephraim is the northern tribe and Judah is the southern tribe. There were enmity between northern tribes and southern tribes. But the days going to come in God’s church, that God will no longer have envy, bitter, backbiting, murmuring, complaining going on among His people. It’s going to stop. Internal bickering amongst God’s people will stop and spirit of Christ will be established. God is going to purify, shake, and cleanse His church, and when He does, we will see eye to eye. Isa 52:8. Isa 11:14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
“shoulder” – represents strength in the scriptures. The days are going to come when God’s people will conquer the enemy! Today they are beating us up. They are having hate towards you and I. But I want you to understand that the days going to come when God is going to turn these things around, then we will beat them up; spiritually speaking. Then, “they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.” These are the same group of people Daniel saw. When God cleanses His church, raises up the Sabbath for all the world to see, under this banner God then gathers His people together. He goes out and conquers the Philistine, and at the same time they lay their hand upon Edom and Moab and the children of Ammon, and they obey the remnant. These three tribes obey the remnant. At the very same time, the escape from the hands of the papacy. Amos 9:8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.
Sins are all over the church, but even though that the sins are being committed in the church, God has not forsaken His people. God is with His people, assuring them. I don’t care what’s being committed secretly in this church, no one is going to get away with it, because God sees everything that is going on. God is saying that He is going to destroy the church (sinful kingdom), except the somebody He is going to save out of it. And He is going to do this by the shaking of the church: Amos 9:9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
“sift” = shaking, taking place within worldwide churches. God will save his people. Those who will not be saved are those which say “The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us” (verse 10) It’s the beautiful promise! “Not the least grain fall upon the earth” that’s talking about the wheat, not tares. You give your life to Christ totally, completely, this promise guarantees to you and me, that no matter what happens to this church, no matter what crisis you find yourself in, if you give
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your life to Jesus, brothers and sisters, He will guarantee you He will take it through: you will not be lost. But He is going to destroy somebody: Amos 9:10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.
These are all God’s people, these are the church! These are the people calls by God’s name. But these are sinners. The difference between the sinners and saints are this: saints are those who keep the commandments of God. God is not coming back for sinners; He is coming back for saints! Sinner is the one who is transgressing God’s law. Let me tell you one thing, brothers and sisters, God is never going to save you as a sinner while you are violating God’s law. People in Amos’ time were saying, “My sins won’t bring the calamity!” The sin-and-live theology, “My sins won’t keep me out of heaven,” some theologian going around and teaching you this that you can live as you please and heaven is your home! But my Bible says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Heb 12:14. No one is going to heaven, unless he is going to heaven holy. “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” Isa 35:8. This is the only way to heaven. There is only one way to be saved. This is direct parallel with verse 41. You got many of God’s people being taking over by papacy. And you got Edom, Moab, the chief of the children of Ammon escaping out of his hand. Amos 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
“raise up the tabernacle of David” – symbol of God’s church. Isa 58 should come to your mind. There is no question that he is referring to the temple of God. But in the book of Acts 15, James quotes this prophecy right here and applies it to the Gentile Christian church. “tabernacle” here represents the church. Babylon in anciently came and desecrated the temple, driven into the ground. Spiritually speaking the Babylon has done the very same thing. You look at the pillars of the church, and you almost can’t even find them anymore! We are being plowed!!! We are turned upside down!!!! But the Bible says that even though it may appear that the church is about to fall, it will not fall, God is going to raise it back up!!! He is going to bring it back like the days of old: the day when God originally built the Solomon’s temple; that was glorious! Beautiful! Absolutely magnificent! We are going to come back to Apostolic period in this church. As God purifies the church, sinners leaving the church, saints stay in, notice what happens; Amos 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
“that they may possess the remnant of Edom” – God’s building up the church so that his people can come out of Edom back into God’s church. Zeph 2:8-9 [8] I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. [9] Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
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“remnant of my people shall possess them” – Moab and Ammon – God’s people will come out of them into His church. Acts 15:13-16 [13] ¶ And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: [14] Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. [15] And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, [16] After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Interpretation given of Zephaiah 2:8-9. Talks about the Gentiles coming out and coming back to God. Hos 1:10 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
God is referring to the group of people at that time who are not called as God’s people. But time is coming when they will be called God’s people. He was prophesying the conversion of the Gentiles. Hos 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. Jn 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Who is Edom, Moab, and chief children of Ammon? The Bible makes it clear that they are God’s people out in the world still left out there, but they will come out! Daniel is prophesying the shaking, the purification of the church, and these people are going to escape from the hands of the papacy. Edom, Moab, and Ammon likely represent God’s people of other faiths (apostate protestanism) called out of Babylon into remnant church through obedience to the Sabbath (the ensign in Isaiah 11) at end of time thus “escaping the hand of the king of the north” or the mark of the beast. Historicism Method: Principal of interpreting prophecy for unfolding of events in the past to see the future. Based on 2 principals: Highly symbolic. Events that have taken place in the past become historical in nature.Futurism Method: Reverses these 2 methods. 1. Look at symbolic and make it literal. 2. Look at something that should be literal / historical and make it future. 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
“He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries” – It happens simultaneously, it keeps going all along. There is an order. Just like shaking having three phases: false doctrine, straight testimony, and persecution. You will have all these things going on till Jesus come. “The land of Egypt shall not escape” – John Paul II visited Cuba, they had more religious freedom, Communism is coming down. Egypt spiritually speaking is atheism or communism. This likely represents the final demise of the remaining communist countries (China, North Korea, Cuba and http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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others who still uphold the principles of atheism as first embodied in Egypt) by submitting to the papal power down at the end of time. No power will escape the hands of Babylon. The term Babylon is not just exclusively papacy. Apostate Protestantism is involved in the concept of overall view of Babylon. 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians [shall be] at his steps.
“But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver and over all the precious things of Egypt” – same elements in image of Dan. 2, the idolatry of Babylon – see also the harlot decked out with the same jewels in Rev. 17. The king of north (with help of USA) has regained economic power and control over all of the communist countries. Economical power is one way the papacy is bringing down communism. Libyans and Ethiopians supporting him. “and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps” – notice in v. 41 king of north passes through glorious land “Palestine” and then in v. 42,43 passes further south to Egypt and then to Libya and Ethiopia, which are to the south and west of Jerusalem; symbolically at the end, king of north (papacy) is to the south and west of Jerusalem (remnant church). Ethiopians during this time were very rich, and the Libyans were very poor. Mentioned throughout the Bible. In Eze. 38, Libya and Ethiopia are associated with Gog, a power that comes “from the north” in Eze. 38:15 against Israel (God’s people); in Eze. 38 verses 19-23 the same elements describing the 7 last plagues are poured out on Gog, Libya, and Ethiopia. Libya and Ethiopia likely represent nations of the world or “the kings of the earth that join for one hour with papacy” in Revelation 17
Summary Verse 40 shows Papacy regaining military power. Verse 41 shows Papacy regaining religious power. Verse 42-43 – shows Papacy regaining economic power. So gaining of power over religious areas, political areas (verse 41, religious; 42, political; 43, economical … in Rev 17 and 18, it has religious, political, and economical power)—this is the Big Picture of the papal power in the last days. Cross ref with Rev 18 – look at downfall of papacy. It is destroyed politically, economically and religiously. 11:44 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.
“But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him” – The specific message that comes out from the east is the message of sealing in Rev 7. Great issue in the end of time will be the Sabbath. And papacy will not going to just seat back, they are going to be rampaging, “he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.” King of north is in Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia in quest to conquer world; Jerusalem is to the north and east of his geographical location. GC 604 "Come out of her, My people." These announcements, uniting with the third angel's message, constitute the final warning to be given to the inhabitants of the earth.
Where do you have Dan troubled by tidings out of east and north? Writing on the wall – Dan 5. What did that symbolize? God pronouncing judgment. God’s throne is in north Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
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“tidings” – the gospel. Means news – coming from 2 places – east and north. Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
“out of east” – Angel ascending from east having seal of living God Rev 7:2, 3 [2] And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, [3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Ezek 43:7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.
The seal is the 7th day Sabbath Ezek 20:12, 20 [12] Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. [20] And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised…
The message is sealing message from Jerusalem (remnant church) with global impact. “and out of the north” – The message specifically found in Rev. 18:1-4, which is 4th angel which swells with first 3 of Rev. 14 and the “earth is lightened with its glory.” This message denounces Babylon (papacy – king of north) as “fallen.” Sabbath message. All together this is 3 angel’s message in the messages from the east and from the north. This will trouble papacy. Belshazzar was troubled by writing on the wall; spiritual king of Babylon, 3 Angel’s message. “shall trouble him” – message of Sabbath as seal of God and Babylon as being fallen enrages king of north (papacy); same spirit as dragon in Rev. 12:17 who gives authority to papacy; see Rev. 13. “therefore he shall go with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many” – Revelation 12, “wroth” with fierce countenance. As loud cry of 3rd angel’s message is given under the power of the latter rain, Satan works through papacy to persecute God’s messengers and faithful people; this is know as the Death decree, trying to completely destroy or the time of trouble. Some of God’s people may be martyred during this time as close of probation is yet future (Michael stands up; Dan. 12:1).
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11:45 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.
“plant” = establish. What is He going to establish? “tabernacle” – religious component of papacy “palace” – political component of papacy Combined = church and state power. This is religious and political put together and wants to establish this. Most translations read “between the seas and the glorious holy mountain” rather than “in the glorious holy mountain.” “Between the seas (Mediterranean) and the glorious holy mountain (Jerusalem).” – What is west of Jerusalem and east of the Mediterranean Sea? Palestine (the glorious land cf. Dan. 11:41) Palestine = the glorious land = Protestant America = 2nd Beast of Revelation, which makes image to first beast or papacy. Thus tabernacle (religious phraseology) of palace (political phraseology) = National Sunday Law enforced in the Protestant nations (the glorious land) as the image (cf. Rev 13:15) to the beast (the papacy/king of north) and this National Sunday Law is set up between God’s remnant people (glorious holy mountain) and the people of the world (seas-Rev. 17:15). “between the seas in the glorious holy mountain” – Glorious land and glorious holy mountain (Jerusalem and Zion goes together at times). God’s church. God dwells in glorious holy mountain. “between the seas” – Satan wants to sit in our minds. He controls our thoughts in the last days by bringing together church and state and instituting his own mark. This is how Satan will do away with many – rich and poor… Ezek 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart [is] lifted up, and thou hast said, I [am] a God, I sit [in] the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou [art] a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
“Sit in the seat of God” – 2 Thes 2:5 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God
Sit in the temple of God. Where is seat of God? midst of the seas. “in the midst of the seas” – the heart of the people. Satan wants to sit in the seat of God. In the people is also referred as the temple of God. Papacy wants to sit in the heart of the people with uniting church and state. Result will be mark of the beast (forehead, the mind). Satan is saying I want to sit in the seat of God. God has sanctuary in heaven, but also in earth – our hearts. This is where Satan sits. “prince of Tyrus” – papacy.
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Ezek 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
“king of Tyrus” – Satan. “Seas” – Mediterranean sea geographically but in the Bible seas represent multitudes of people. Rev 17:15 The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
“glorious holy mountain” – Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. The glorious holy mountain representing the church. Joel 3:17 …God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: Isa 51:16 …say unto Zion, Thou art my people. Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Ezek 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Psa 48:1,2 [1] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. [2] Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. Dan 9:16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain
Jerusalem sat on mount Zion – represents capital of God’s people. King of the North is infiltrating into Christiandom, there are some who are going to escape (Edom, Moab, Ammon). But where will they escape to? Glorious holy mountain. Represents capital of God’s people = 144,000. Those who will be around, running from persecution, waiting for Christ’s second coming. Isaiah talks about same situation: Isa 8:7-8 [7] Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: [8] And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
“Neck” – neck of the glorious holy mountain. The papacy sets up a worldwide religious worship system (tabernacle) enforced politically (palace) “between the seas and the glorious holy mountain”. Many prevented from accepting the truth This will be the universal decree, everybody will be affected and we are not exempt, especially God’s church. When he does that, just like the handwriting of the wall in Daniel 5, it’s over for him! It’s over! When that happens, the angel of mercy takes her flight never more to return. It’s over! Yet Babylon is not destroyed right then. There is a time, just like ancient Babylon, for the destruction of the Babylon.
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“yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him” – enforcement of National Sunday Law against God’s people is abomination of desolation that leads to destruction of the papacy (see Dan. 9:26,27; 11:31) through the 7 last plagues (Rev. 16:10-11 cf. Dan. 7:11) and is simultaneous to the close of probation as seen in the next verse of Daniel 12:1 (Michael stands up). So papacy wants to establish union of church and state so that he can have authority over the minds of the people by enforcing the mark of the beast on their forehead upon God’s glorious people, yet he will be destroyed and none will help him. (Rev 18, none are helping). Daniel 12:1 at this time, Michael stands up!
Sequence of Last Day Events EGW Quotes Loud Cry – Latter Rain falls during 'little time of trouble' and this begins the Loud Cry. On page 33 is given the following: "I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God's dear, waiting saints. I saw that God had children who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They have not rejected the light upon it. And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully." {EW 85.2} EW 85 This view was given in 1847 when there were but very few of the Advent brethren observing the Sabbath, and of these but few supposed that its observance was of sufficient importance to draw a line between the people of God and unbelievers. Now the fulfilment of that view is beginning to be seen. "The commencement of that time of trouble," here mentioned does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary. At that time, while the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the "latter rain," or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out. Some called to be Martyrs who take stand 3SM 420 The worthies who refused to bow to the golden image were cast into a burning fiery furnace, but Christ was with them there, and the fire did not consume them. . . .Now some of us may be brought to just as severe a test--will we obey the commandments of men or will we obey the commandments of God? This is the question that will be asked of many. The best thing for us is to come into close connection with God, and, if He would have us be martyrs for the truth's sake, it may be the means of bringing many more into the truth.-- Manuscript 83, 1886. 3SM 421 Persecution cannot do more than cause death, but the life is preserved to eternal life and glory. The persecuting power may take its stand, and command the disciples of Christ to deny the faith, to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, by making void the law of God. But the disciples may ask, "Why should I do this? I love Jesus, and I will never deny His name." When the power says, "I will call you a disturber of the peace," they may answer, "Thus they called Jesus, who was truth, and grace and peace."--Letter 116, 1896.
Calls them out of fallen churches – I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and [1] before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them. He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them to think that God is still working for the churches. But the light
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will shine, and all who are honest will leave the fallen churches, and take their stand with the remnant. EW 271 The honest who had been prevented from hearing the truth now eagerly laid hold upon it. All fear of their relatives was gone, and the truth alone was exalted to them. They had been hungering and thirsting for truth; it was dearer and more precious than life. I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, "It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel."
God takes reins in His hands by simple means (what it is: Defined) Ev 118 There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness.--Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300. (1885)
Loud Cry given same time NSL degree goes forth (Counterfeit Loud Cry) 3SM 406 While Satan Works the Angel of Revelation 18 Proclaims His Message.--This false sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law. Satan and his angels are wide awake and intensely active, working with energy and perseverance through human instrumentalities to bring about his purpose of obliterating the knowledge of God. While Satan is working with his lying wonders, the time has come [that was] foretold in the Revelation, when the mighty angel that shall lighten the earth with his glory will proclaim the fall of Babylon and call upon God's people to forsake her. . . . Ev 234 None are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit sabbath, and the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast.
NSL Established: Ev 235 When Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion, for opposing which their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution, then will the papal sabbath be enforced by the combined authority of church and state. There will be a national apostasy, which will end only in national ruin. --Manuscript 51, 1899.
This is the image of Revelation 13:14 Protestant America established Lamblike beast. Sequence of Last Day Events Loud Cry & Close of Probation. Comes before close of probation Falling of Latter Rain commences the Loud Cry of Rev 18:1-6. Falling of Latter Rain comes at the time of the "little time of trouble" before probation closes on the world. EW 85 . Satan knows this and before Loud Cry he raises excitement in these religious bodies. What is it? Image of the beast(NSL Enforcement) formed before close of probation
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LDE 227 The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast(NSL Enforcement) will be formed before probation closes, for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided.--2SM 81 (1890).
Sunday Law test for God's people LDE 225 The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not.
At this time people come out of fallen churches and backslidden conditions before the close of probation. Close of probation is marked by the falling of the 7 last plaques. At the close of Christ's mediatorial work; time of trouble begin: CC 68 When Christ shall cease His work as mediator in man's behalf, then this time of trouble will begin. Then the case of every soul will have been decided, and there will be no atoning blood to cleanse from sin. . . 7 Last Plaques marks Time of Trouble(hour of temptation) for God's people. 7 Last plagues = Time of trouble EW 36 The nations are now getting angry, but when our High Priest has finished His work in the sanctuary, He will stand up, put on the garments of vengeance, and then the seven last plagues will be poured out. EW 36 I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus' work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. These plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would then be stayed. A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob's trouble. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit, and were delivered by the voice of God. The 144,000 triumphed. Their faces were lighted up with the glory of God. Then I was shown a company who were howling in agony. On their garments was written in large characters, "Thou art weighed in the balance, and found wanting." I asked who this company were. The angel said, "These are they who have once kept the Sabbath and have given it up." I heard them cry with a loud voice, "We have believed in Thy coming, and taught it with energy." And while they were speaking, their eyes would fall upon their garments and see the writing, and then they would wail aloud. I saw that they had drunk of the deep waters, and fouled the residue with their feet--trodden the Sabbath underfoot-and that was why they were weighed in the balance and found wanting. LDE 244 When Christ ceases His intercession in the sanctuary, the unmingled wrath threatened against those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark (Rev. 14:9, 10), will be poured out.
144,000 (see above paragraph). These go through 7 last plagues (alone): LDE 268 They sing "a new song" before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb--a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song, for it is the song of their experience-an experience such as no other company have ever had. "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth." These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living,
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are counted as "the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb" (Rev. 15:2, 3; 14:1-5.) "These are they which came out of great tribulation"; they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God's judgments.--GC 648, 649 (1911). LDE 269 It is not His will that they shall get into controversy over questions which will not help them spiritually, such as, Who is to compose the hundred and forty-four thousand? This those who are the elect of God will in a short time know without question.--1SM 174 (1901).
EGW Quotes 1. Intro Quote: 7 BC 983 – "Satan is to make most powerful efforts for the mastery in the last great conflict…The faith of individual members of the church will be tested as though there were not another person in the world" 2. Greatest Snares to come through the church – 5T 477 " Do not forget that the most dangerous snares which Satan has prepared for the church will come through its own members " 3. Hellish Torch of False Prophecy – TM 409-410 "Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan" 4. Daniel 11 almost fulfilled – LDE 12 " The time of trouble, which is to increase until the end, is very near at hand. We have no time to lose. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecies of the eleventh of Daniel have almost reached their final fulfillment.--RH Nov. 24, 1904." 5. A thousand masked batteries – LDE 147 " Satan has a thousand masked batteries which will be opened upon the loyal, commandment-keeping people of God to compel them to violate conscience." 6. Historians Scrutinize our position – Ev 69 " Every position of truth taken by our people will bear the criticism of the greatest minds.. Now we seem to be unnoticed, but this will not always be. Movements are at work to bring us to the front, and if our theories of truth can be picked to pieces by historians or the world's greatest men, it will be done." 7. Martyrs in the last days – Mar 199 " Every individual in our world will be arrayed under one of two banners… When this grand work is to take place in the battle, prior to the last closing conflict, many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be martyrs for Christ's sake in standing in defense of the truth."
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Chapter 12 – Establishment of God’s kingdom Close of Probation till Jesus coming. Verse 3 ends the vision that began in Daniel 11:2. After this is beginning of kingdom of God. Stand is a repeated word in Daniel 11. A new power is standing every time this word is used. Chapter Outline Close of probation and Second Coming (1-3) Seal up the words (4-10) 1290 and 1335 day prophecies (11-13)
Close of probation and Second Coming (1-3) VERSE [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. [2] 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. [3] 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. 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.
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince” – establishment of God’s kingdom and close of probation. So Michael will stand up at this time. Michael standing up means there is a new kingdom. The kingdom of God will be established and Michael will be the Prince of this kingdom. Who is Michael? “your prince” which is connected to Dan 9, “Messiah the Prince.” Description of Michael (Dan 10) same as Jesus in Rev 1 [not so clear]. “at that time” Dan 11:45 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.
Papacy attacks God’s people by unity of church and state. Mark of the beast enforced (Rev 13). When God’s people will be persecuted then Michael will stand up. “Michael is Jesus” 1 Thes 4:13-17 [13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
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first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Jude 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. John 5:28-29 [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
“thy people shall be delivered” – who is this? Everyone that shall be found in the book of life. Daniel 7 is the only other place that mentions a book. Therefore, we can conclude that these books were already opened in the day of judgment and during the judgment God decides whose names shall remain in the book of life. Investigative judgment is prior to the time of trouble. God reveals to Daniel what happens to his people and especially those at the end of time. Who shall be delivered? Every one found written in the book. This is introduced in Daniel 7, the judgment. These books opened in Day of Judgment and during this time God is deciding whose names will remain in the book of life. Therefore, since Michael stands up and time of trouble begins and Michael delivers only those whose names are written in the book of life. Therefore, names have been decided before He stands up. So judgment is related to the time of trouble. “standeth for the children of thy people” – Christ comes to save the 144,000, from utter destruction of God’s people. When probation closes, there is only one group of people alive – 144,000. God tells Daniel that his people will be delivered. This was Daniel’s main concern. Daniel does think that this is about his literal people. “And at that time shall Michael stand up” – Where did Jesus go when He went back to heaven after His death? Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus is sitting down at right hand of God. What is He doing? Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Jesus sat down as a high priest. What is the work of high priest? Heb 7:25-26 [25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.[26] For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Intercession. Jesus went to heaven, sat down at the right hand of God as a high priest, doing work of intercession . Therefore, What does it mean to stand up? Work of intercession is ceased Rom 8:34 Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
“Right hand of God” – work of intercession. Intercession is stopped when Michael stands up, no more intercession. The work of the high priest is intercession. Probation is therefore closed http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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CONCLUSION: So when Jesus stands, intercession will cease. 5T 451 As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to us that the limit of God's forbearance is reached, that the measure of our nation's iniquity is full, and that the angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to return. Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
The great sign is the Sunday Law. We don’t know exact date when the probation will close. But Jesus said we can know the seasons. And the signs will tell us the nearness of what will take place next. When you see the Sunday Law taking place, you can know the season, very soon destruction is going to come, probation is going to close, the angel of mercy will take her flight never more to return. Then the Jacob’s time of trouble* will introduce itself. * You have time of trouble prior to that, but it’s not the Jacob’s trouble. You have death decree going out, God’s people are rushed upon, but thank the good Lord that God’s people will be delivered! Dan 10:14 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.
He is taking us to the latter days, what will be for God’s people! It’s not the Jews, but God’s people! Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Jesus standing signified close of probation on Jewish people. This is AD 34, Jesus went to heaven AD 31—so at least 3+ years Jesus was sitting. This is to represent THE close of probation – so in Acts, it is A close of probation for the Jewish nation as the chosen nation. In Daniel, all this applies #1 – Michael stands up=a new kingdom. In Acts 7=new kingdom in terms of Gentiles. #2 – stand up=probation is closed. In Daniel, the whole world in Acts, Jewish nation. #3 – stand up=Michael stands FOR God’s people. Acts, stood up for Stephen; telling him He is the judge. Note: In Psalms, “stand” or “stand up”=standing for His people. So in Daniel 12, probation is closed and then there is a time of trouble. Stephen stoned in Acts 7 and then persecution arose in Acts 8 so history repeats. “at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” – Michael stand up, then time of trouble. During time of trouble people being delivered, only those written in the book. Books opened during time of judgment—Most Holy Place from 1844. 1844 onward books opened and judgment taking place. During this time, decisions made on whose names will remain in book of life. Judgment is finished, then Michael stands up and those only whose names are written in the book of life shall be delivered. Therefore, time of trouble comes after the judgment. The judgment comes before time of trouble. In between Michael stands up. What does this phrase mean? “time of trouble” – 7 last plagues. This is the destruction of spiritual Babylon. 12:2 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.
Key text for the state of the dead.
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“many of them” – Special resurrection between 6th and 7th plagues – not the main resurrection of the righteous. With other chapters (John 5, 1 Thes 4, and Rev 20)—there are 2 major resurrections. Righteous and Just. At the 2nd coming the wicked and unjust, at the end of 1000 years. Special resurrection before Jesus’ 2nd coming. Wicked Matt 26:63-64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven”
Jesus said to Caiaphas, “You shall see Me sitting on the right hand of power.” He will be resurrected and those who mocked Him, etc Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Those who pierced Jesus (Rev 1:7). How the righteous, those who died in the faith of 3rd angel’s message receive a special blessing (Rev 14:13,). Zech 1: 1-2, 10 [1] In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, [2] The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers. [10] And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
“sleep in the dust of the earth” –The dead are now sleeping in the dust of the earth. “many of them that sleep…shall awake, some to everlasting life” – There are two resurrections: First the righteous (1st resurrection), then “some to shame and everlasting contempt”, the wicked (2nd resurrection), but contextually this is referring to the special resurrection of the righteous and wicked. We know that saints will be resurrected at the second coming of Christ, wicked will be resurrected at the end of millennium. But here is one resurrection, two groups of people. It’s referring to the special resurrection before Christ’s coming. Those who died under the third angel’s message since 1844, will be resurrected. At the same time, God raises those who pierced him. Rev 1:7. Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. FLB 182 Graves are opened, and "many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth . . . awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Dan. 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel's message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. Those who had died in faith under the third angel's message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds. "They also which pierced him" (Rev. 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ's dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory, and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient. . . 12:3 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.
“They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament” – Glorification of God’s people at the second coming. Reward of immortal bodies.
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GC 640 Their countenances are lighted up with His glory, and shine as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The wicked cannot look upon them. And when the blessing is pronounced on those who have honored God by keeping His Sabbath holy, there is a mighty shout of victory.
Review Chapter 2 – Daniel saw total destruction Chapter 7 – Daniel saw kingdom of God given to saints but with lots of persecution Chapter 8 – Destruction of God’s people and temple restoration will be prolonged Chapter 9 – Restoration of Jerusalem but then city and temple destroyed again Chapter 12 – Shown what will be the last end of God’s people as the stars for ever and ever Repeat and Enlarge Chapters 2, 7, and 8 – same picture Chapters 11 and 12 – Medo-Persia, Greece, Pagan Rome, Papal Rome, and then Kingdom of God Therefore, God follows this pattern—He doesn’t go out of order The Little Book: There are many fearful things that are going to take place, and it is not tomorrow but today. Now as never before God is looking FOR MEN AND WOMEN TO STAND WHEN OTHERS ARE REFUSING TO STAND!! And today we are hearing so many things across God's sacred pulpit. And I am fearing for the people of God that today, just because it comes from here doesn't guarantee that is truth. We aught to be like the Bereans, we should search the scriptures daily to see whether those things are so. Just BECAUSE THE APOSTLE Paul WAS TEACHING, IT DIDN'T MEAN THAT IT WAS TRUTH. They said Paul we love you, but we are still going to check you out. This is how we aught to be. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men…
We need to go back and look at what the apostle Paul said, it is rather important because in order to capture the context of what we will focus on, we need to understand certain points that Paul is bringing out. In verse 11 Paul focuses on 'Grace.' Now today we are hearing so much about grace, and I am hear to say that so many times when we hear someone speaking about grace, it is not grace at all. Sometimes we hear the grace of God spoken of as if it is a license to sin. That is not grace, that is blasphemy. I WANT YOU TO NOTICE THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF WHAT GRACE IS AND WHAT GRACE WILL DO. So we want to be able to understand the biblical aspect of Grace. Notice what Paul says. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation” – Does what? You are only saved by Grace, Grace brings salvation. (and I am all for preaching grace, don't get me wrong, now as never before we should preach the grace of God, but not according to the commandments of men, but according to the commandments of the Lord.) And so the grace of God is the only element that saves you and I. Paul says by grace are you saved. “all men” – You and me. But now I want you to know that the apostle Paul gives a detailed description of what grace teaches, and does for the individual that receives the grace of God. Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world…
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“Teaching us” – What's teaching us? Grace is teaching us. What is grace going to teach you and me? (Do you want to know what grace is going to teach you and me?) Notice the next words “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts” – The word lusts simply means the natural inclinations or desires of the heart. Listen. The Grace of God is going to teach you and I to DENY ungodliness and worldly lusts. How are we going to live? Watch this. “we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” – When Jesus returns, then He'll change our characters? What does it say? In this present world. Bible grace is going to teach you and I, first of all that we are only saved by Grace, second of all it is going to teach you and I to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, when you and I do that we are going to live SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY NOW! The apostle Paul says in Hebrews 12:14. You and I are going to heaven Holy or we are not going at all! (long pause.). Notice something else that the grace of God is going to do for you and I. Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ…
“Looking” – Now the word looking is a rather interesting word. The word looking doesn't mean when you wake up in the morning and you go open your window and you say well I don't see Him coming yet. THAT IS NOT THE TYPE OF LOOKING THAT HE IS REFERRING TO! You must capture the context of what he is saying. What kind of looking is he talking about? Simply this. That those who live by Grace, they are going to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, they are going to live soberly, righteously, and Godly now, and by that friends THEY ARE LOOKING for the return of Jesus. It is not what you say! Looking in a physical sense is not what he is referring to. It is HOW YOU LIVE THAT DETERMINES whether you are looking for Jesus to return or not. And this is what the apostle Paul is referring to. So now if you hear someone saying you can live in sin and downgrade the law of God. They are not preparing you for heaven! (*PO The prophet Ezekiel (13.5) says those who are preaching peace, peace are not repairing the breach. They are not preparing the people to stand in the battle of the day of Lord. The prophet Micah (ch. 3.5) says you are preparing God's people to war against Him.) This is what Paul meant when he said Looking for, looking by the way you live. And all throughout the Bible God in His wonderful mercy has sent prophet, after prophet, after prophet, to His people to warn them and help them understand the things to come. Over and over, and over again our loving Father has not left us ignorant of the things that are lying near at hand. All through the bible you will find signs indicating where we are in the stream of time as to the nearness of Jesus' coming. There is no reason why anyone in God's church who claims to be a Christian should be ignorant of these things. If you are ignorant it is because you are not studying. Your eyes can't see, your ears don’t hear. Not that they can't, but because you refuse. You see what you want to see, you hear what you want to hear. The apostle Paul says in 1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…
Very clearly Paul says just before Jesus returns there will be those who will depart from the faith! The reason why they depart from the faith is because THEY GAVE HEED, the word heed means to
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yield to, to submit. Doctrines of devils, and by this they were sweep away. And he is not talking about those in the world they are already deceived, he is talking about those in the church. Anyone who studies their bible finds that there is a trend going throughout the Bible regarding the signs of the times. You find clearly that more signs in the Bible refer to the church, and not the world. Notice what Peter says will happen before Jesus returns. 2 Pet 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
Rather interesting what Peter is mentioning. These people, Peter says in the last days just before Jesus returns there are going to be SCOFFERS, RIDICULERS, MOCKERS, ACCUSERS, walking after their what? Lusts, see they are not living by Grace because if they were they would deny worldly lusts, but they are walking after their lusts. You have two groups of people. Paul said those who live by Grace would deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, they would live Godly, righteously, and soberly now looking for Jesus by the way they live. Here is the second group, and I am here to tell you that this is not the world BUT THE CHURCH. The next verse makes it clear.. 2 Pet 3:4 And saying,Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.
What were they scoffing about? The return of Jesus, and they were mocking and scoffing at those who were preaching that the coming of the Lord was nigh at hand, saying WHERE IS HE? WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE SECOND COMING FOR SO LONG WHERE IS HE? SCOFFING THE IDEA OF Jesus RETURNING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME LIVING IN SIN. If you hear someone scoffing about the second coming of Jesus you can know they are living in sin. IF ANYONE RIDICULES, DOWN PLAYS, OR MAKES FUN OF THE RETURN OF THE BLESSED LORD IT IS ONLY BECAUSE ONE THING, HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE HIM, AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE OF SIN. (*PO 4T 306 goes along with these verses, and this point) Now turn to Isaiah 30 and notice what the prophet Isaiah saw just before Jesus returns, another sign. Isa 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever…
“time to come” in the margin says 'latter days' or the last days, so you know very clearly that Isaiah is prophesying of the last days. What is going to take place in the last days? Notice Isa 30:9-10 [9] That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the law of the LORD [10] Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits…
Can you imagine that? This is talking about God's people. Just before Jesus returns God's own people will tell the seer and the prophets, the ministers. WHATEVER YOU DO, PLEASE DON'T TELL ME THE TRUTH, TELL ME A LIE! Isa 30:11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
Please, we don't want to see Jesus. And all through the bible we can see sign after sign, one after another. But I think that if you look at any signs in the Bible that are placed chronologically and in http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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such a precise and detailed manner, with the most pinpoint accuracy it would be the signs giving by Jesus Himself in Matter 24. Turn there. Isa 29:11-12 [11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which [men] deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it [is] sealed: [12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
Capture this, here is a book that is what? Sealed. A person comes and say excuse me sir you are intelligent will you please read this for me? he says I would love to, but it is sealed. Goes to another person could you please read this for me? Wish I could, but I am not intelligent enough. Now friends why? Why couldn't they read the book? Look at verse 9. Isa 29:9-10 [9] Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. [10] For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered "
Why were their eyes closed? Notice verse 13 Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men…
Why couldn't they read or understand? I'll tell you why BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING TAUGHT BY THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN AND NOT GOD. So God said all right you chose the path of worldliness, I'm going to close your eyes of understanding you shall not see thou you can see, you cannot hear although you hear. Question: This book that was sealed, what book is he talking about? Rev 10:2 …little book open…
Which book was it? Rev 10:11 …prophesy again…
It was a little book of prophecy. It is referring to the book of Daniel.
Seal up the words (4-10) VERSE [4] 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. [5] Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. [6] And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? [7] And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. [8] And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
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[9] And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. [10] 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. 12:4 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.
“seal the book…to the time of the end” – Not the whole book was shut up. At the time of the end (1798), people couldn’t understand Daniel 2, 3, 6, etc before this? Not everything in Daniel was sealed up. One thing for sure to which was sealed up is 2300 day vision. Dan 11:40 onward sealed till 1798, it is 1798 onward and Revelation magnifies this. Not the whole book of Daniel was sealed. Even Martin Luther was able to pin point the papacy as the little horn power before 1798. The last part of Daniel 11 has been sealed and also the 2300 days prophecy was sealed up until after 1798. “time of the end” – This refers to 1798. How to tell? Dan 11:33-36 [33] 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. [34] Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. [35] 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. [36] 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.
Time of the end begins when persecution stops for God’s people by the papacy. “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” – When? after 1798. What knowledge? Knowledge of the book of Daniel. Historically, technology, etc has increased. It’s true that we often refer this text to the scientific knowledge. But I want you to understand the context, it’s talking about the book of Daniel! The book will be unsealed in the time of the end, and many will then run to and fro through the books of the Daniel and Revelation through the portion that was sealed and closed up for the time of the end. And the knowledge will be increased about the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel will be unsealed and the knowledge and understanding of Daniel will be increased. Eph 4:14 That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Many will be tossed by winds of doctrine. But in this verse, running to and fro means that many will run to learn about God’s doctrines. False teachings toss them to and fro. The wind is leading them. We must run not be tossed to and fro. So the knowledge of the prophecies of Daniel will be increased. 12:5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
Daniel is still on the bank of the river from Daniel 10. Shows connection with Daniel 10-12. 12:6 And [one] said to the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, How long [shall it be to] the end of these wonders? http://breachrepairers.webs.com/
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“How long” – Same phrase is used when Daniel asks in Dan 8 how long God’s people will be persecuted for. This has been Daniel’s question since the beginning. Daniel has always been worried about 3 things – God’s people, Jerusalem and the temple. (Dan 8:13 sanctuary and host). Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
How long? Has direct relation to God’s people being persecuted. They will be persecuted for 1260 years. So Daniel will be sealed till time of the end—what time of the end? end of 1260 time … time of 1260. God repeats this in case you didn’t get it the first time. Same phrase. Dan 8:13 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?
Same phrase. 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that [it shall be] for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished.
“man clothed in linen” – Compare with Revelation 10 this is Jesus Christ. That is the only other time that “he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven.” Note the man is also upon the waters of the river. “time, times and an half” – Is the answer to how long: Mentioned in Dan 7, 12, Rev 11, 12, 13.1260 years. Refers to papal supremacy. The question is how long. The answer given is time, times, and a half. How many times in the Bible is 1260 years mentioned? Daniel 7, 12; Revelation 12 (twice), 13, 11 (twice). Without Daniel 12, all the other places use this on the same time period. Papacy ruled as religious and political power. So Daniel 12 must be the same time being described. No time prophecy from 1844 till Jesus comes back. This text is used by some to show Sunday law, probation closes, death decree, etc. So time, times, and half is about 1260 years. Similar question of how long was seen in Daniel 8. Question about God’s sanctuary and His people. How long? (refers to persecution many times). “scatter the power of the holy people” – We see persecution and God’s people will be dispersed. “He” that scattered God’s people for time, times, and half of time is the papacy. This is in connection to persecution. Dan 11:35—persecuted to the time of the end. 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things]?
Daniel still does not understand and asks again when these things will end. 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
But God asked him to seal the words up. God was saying, “Close up Daniel. Just close up. It’s all relevant to the people at the end. When the time of the end comes, it shall be opened 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of
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the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
“purified, and made white, and tried” Dan 11:35 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.
Repeated here. Persecution of God’s people during the time frame when the words of Daniel shall be sealed. Who shall understand the book of Daniel when it is unsealed? “but the wise shall understand” – The wise. Who is the wise man in the book of Daniel? Daniel. Chapter 1 tells us how we can be wise men. What is the beginning of wisdom? Fearing God. The wise will be able to understand. Beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. Those that fear God will be able to understand. Those people who understand Daniel are able to proclaim 3 angel’s message, “fear God and give glory.” Verse 10 is about who shall understand the book of Daniel. Specifically understanding that which was sealed when it was unsealed after 1798. The wise will be able to understand the things which were unsealed after 1798. Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. Prov 1:7,9,10 [7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. [9] For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.b [10] My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
The ones who understood the book of Daniel went and proclaimed the 3 angels’ messages. It began with the group that started proclaiming the first angel’s message in 1843. CONCLUSION: The book of Daniel is unsealed so that God’s people can be gathered together again at the end of time, BEFORE Satan gathers his people together, and then shall the end come. God gives even more clues as to when is the time of the end in the next few verses. “And none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand” – At the time of the end, when the book of Daniel is unsealed and opened, the wise would understand, because they are there to seek the word of God and to look through the books of Daniel and Revelation, but none of the wicked shall understand the book. Jesus names the prophet that will be relevant for the end time; He calls him Daniel. Jesus is pronouncing blessing in studying of Daniel. Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
But you got another group of people that they can’t read. Isa 29:9-13 [9] Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. [10] For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. [11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: [12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. [13] Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and
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with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
They go to one another to read the book yet they can’t read it. They only book that was ever sealed is the book of Daniel. Why they can’t understand it? It tells you the reason in verse 13; it’s because they were taught by the precept of men instead of thus saith the Lord! Jesus quoted this prophecy. Matt 15:6-9 [6]…Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. [7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, [8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
1290 and 1335 day prophecies (11-13) VERSE [11] 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. [12] Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. [13] But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. God has been telling that the book will be opened and wise will understand it, but when is the time of the end? God now gives the specific prophecy that unfolds the mystery of the time of the end more specifically. 12:11 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.
“from the time that the daily…shall be taken away” – By taking away the daily, it was able to set up the abomination of desolation. The beginning point of 1290 days is from daily being taken away, not when the abomination of desolation is set up. It says “FROM the time” is the same as in Daniel 9:25—“FROM the going forth …” So 1290 is mentioned after verse 10 says the wise shall understand the book of Daniel when it is fully opened at the time of the end. When is the time of the end? 1290 is there to indicate the time of the end. So 1290 indicates when the book of Daniel will begin to be understood among God’s people. Here is the starting point for the 1290 days. Pagan Rome is taken away in AD 508 by King Clovis of the Franks. And the abomination that maketh desolate set up in AD 538. So you have 30 years setting up the abomination. AD 508 to 1,290 years = AD 1,798 In AD 1798, book of Daniel will be opened. 1,290 time prophecy was given specifically for the book of Daniel to reveal to God’s people and to the world that the Daniel and Revelation is not sealed, it’s open now for every one to see what will be in the last days. By taking away the daily, it prepared for the set up of the abomination of desolation.Therefore, 1290 begins when the daily is taken away: This is the time of the end. (Beginning of time of the end). End of time = 1844. Heb 9:25-28 12:12 Blessed [is] he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
“Blessed is he that waiteth” – Waiting for the 2nd coming of Christ. Blessing was a result of studying the book of Daniel. God was going to raise up special movement, and that would be a great blessing. Great Millerite movement occurred on that year. Describing the time that His people needs to wait between 1290 and 1335 as well as through the Great Disappointments.
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Hab 2:2-4 [2] And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. [3] For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. [4 ] Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
“in my mouth was sweet as honey…my belly was bitter” – great disappointment. This represents the pre-advent, Millerite movement. CONCLUSION: This was God’s advice to the remnant to wait, be patient and hold on. The post millerite movement reduced in number from thousands of people to 50 people. These were the ones that held on and waited till the received an answer. “The thousand three hundred and five and thirty days” – Beginning point is in verse 11 because there is no beginning point in verse 12. Daily taken away is the beginning point for this prophecy. Daily taken away=508 add 1290 which equals 1798. 1798 Daniel opened, people began to study deeper. 508+1335=1843. 1843 was the climactic point of the advent movement, proclaiming the 1st and 2nd angel’s message. Main message=2nd coming. Within this verse, you find nothing, but a blot of time and the blessings that would come. Just like Dan 8:14, segment of time, and what happens at the end, but you don’t have the beginning. Time prophecy doesn’t mean anything unless you have beginning point. Therefore you have to must conclude in the context that this taken away of daily is not just beginning of 1,290, but also the 1,335 days. AD 508 + 1335 = AD 1843. This prophecy has the same start period as verse 11. What took place in 1843? This was the climax of the Advent movement – proclaiming the first and second angel’s message and Jesus second coming. Daniel is bringing us to the time of the first disappointment. What happened at the end of 1335? Investigative judgment begins and the sanctuary is cleansed. 12:13 But go thou thy way till the end [be]: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
“stand in thy lot at the end of the days” – “At the end of days,” the end of 1843, you come to 1844. Daniel should stand in his lot at the end of the days: 1290, 1335. Message will be sealed up until the end but your message will be reused again when the time comes after 1798. Daniel himself will be judged in investigative judgment in 1844. Daniel will stand in the time of the investigative judgment, he will be judged. This book ends with message of judgment—the theme of the book of Daniel. TM 115 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. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." It was the Lion of the tribe of Judah who unsealed the book and gave to John the revelation of what should be in these last days. Daniel stood in his lot to bear his testimony which was sealed until the time of the end, when the first angel's message should be proclaimed to our world.
Daniel couldn’t stand literally himself, but he stood in his lot and gave testimony at the time of the end through the book that bears his name. 2SM 109 All that God has in prophetic history specified to be fulfilled in the past has been, and all that is yet to come in its order will be. Daniel, God's prophet, stands in his place. John stands in his place. In the Revelation the Lion of the tribe of Judah has opened to the students of prophecy the
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book of Daniel, and thus is Daniel standing in his place. He bears his testimony, that which the Lord revealed to him in vision of the great and solemn events which we must know as we stand on the very threshold of their fulfillment Rev 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth…
Represents book of Daniel that was unsealed in 1798. You find the seventh angel. Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Seventh angel is the seventh trumpet. Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Investigative Judgment. Temple of God was opened in 1844 – cleansing of the sanctuary. Rev 11:19 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Ellen White confirms it. GC 488 The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God… Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days.
She just told you what would happen at the end of 1290 and 1335. We used to preach to advent people just like 1260 days. We just got too lazy and we forgot them. If you want to know go back to the pioneers how they preached! It’s crucial we understand this. Stand in thy lot refers to our life record standing in the investigative judgment and then the reward of eternal life at the end. God has been telling that the book will be opened and wise will understand it, but when is the time of the end? God now gives the specific prophecy that unfolds the mystery of the time of the end more specifically. Therefore let us read the book that has been unsealed after the time of the end.
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