Prophecy - 23

Prophecy -

proph·e·cy
–noun, plural -cies.
1.
the foretelling or prediction of what is to come.
2.
something that is declared by a prophet, especially a divinely inspired prediction, instruction, or exhortation.
3.
a divinely inspired utterance or revelation: oracular prophecies.

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Divinely inspired predictions.


Daniel was given divinely inspired predictions and told to write them down. Jesus referred to Daniel's predictions. We are studying Daniel's predictions in an effort to understand all that our Savior would have us understand.


First we were given an overall picture- the broad picture- the wide view.
Secondly we were given a deeper understanding.
Thirdly we were given an even deeper understanding.
Fourthly … it is safe to say that all through the book of Daniel we are being given more understanding of the future He has planned for us. A future that ultimately ends with us living with Him in a world without any sin, in the purest love ever.


Sin had a beginning, sin will have an end. We have to believe that. We have to believe that we aren't suffering under the curse of sin without any hope. If we truly believed that there was no hope of a life without sin then how depressing life would be. How senseless life would be. If there were no hope then when God sent the flood to destroy all of mankind but 8 people, He would have left the 8 to perish as well. But with the creation of the world, with the creation of humanity there was a plan for our salvation. A great plan that would once and for all and undeniably reveal the depths and horrors of sin and the reason for it to be eradicated. No question would remain anywhere in anyone's mind about God's love and from that love the need for obedience.


Predicting that sin would have an end, that all the earthly kingdoms would be completely destroyed and God's kingdom set up, was a gift to us from God. Unwrapping this wondrous gift and putting the pieces into place as they've been revealed through history is an amazing thing.


Remember how I mentioned we have been putting together a prophecy timeline? Well I'm going to try and set it up for us now in a picture timeline.

This basically shows the things we've studied concerning the prophecies we've found in Daniel.

Yesterday we left off with the realization that our 2300 year prophecy would have it's fulfillment in 1844 AD.

So what happened in 1844? Here's one very remarkable thing--


October 22 – This second date, predicted by the Millerites for the Second Coming of Jesus, leads to the Great Disappointment.

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I say it's remarkable because of this--

Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
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.


We've looked at this Revelation prophecy before. That little book we remarked about then and are going to remark about now is the fact the little book of prophecy that goes hand in hand with Revelation IS the book of Daniel. Now let's read these verses again…


Give me the little book. Help me understand this little prophecy book finally. It's the time of the end, it's been a couple thousand years since the prophecy was given, it is time for understanding. Let me have this and eat it… understand it.


The angel said- Take it and eat it- it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.


Take it, eat it- it'll make your belly bitter, after you've eaten it you're going to feel sick, but ohhhhhhhhh while you're eating it you'll taste the sweetness of it just like honey.


The ability to suddenly piece together the prophecy of Daniel has hadn't been so fully done before was amazing leading up to the year 1844. There was a great, great movement as more and more people- learned people too not just silly fanatics, not the lunatic fringe, not the feeble minded, not the sad, ignorant people that everyone wants to imagine people who believe in prophecy movements must be. In fact we just recently had a man and his followers predicting the world would end in May of this year 2011 and that didn't happen. People sat back and laughed, they ridiculed these people, the press really gave it to them making them laughing stocks, and yes- those crazy people. At this time in 1844 people weren't aroused to that sort of belief there were many, many believing in this prophecy only it ending up that the understanding of the prophecy was wrong. While William Miller was predicting Christ would come in 1844, and people were believing Him whole-heartedly there was a HUGE disappointment so much so it is known as the Great Disappointment.


'The Great Disappointment was a major event in the history of the Millerite movement, a 19th-century American Christian sect that formed out of the Second Great Awakening. William Miller, a Baptist preacher, proposed based on his interpretations of the prophecies in the book of Daniel (Chapters 8 and 9, especially Dan. 8:14 "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed"), that Jesus Christ would return to the earth during the year 1844. A more specific date, that of October 22, 1844, was preached by Samuel S. Snow. Thousands of followers, some of whom had given away all of their possessions, waited expectantly. When Jesus did not appear, October 22, 1844 became known as the Great Disappointment.'

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This describes PERFECTLY the sweet honey taste of the believe that the Savior was going to come soon to the bitterness in the belly after it is realized that no, this isn't what this prophecy was predicting at all.


Sweet to bitter. A perfect prophetic interpretation of those verses in Revelation.


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.


So this begs the question- what was meant by the 'Sanctuary being cleansed'? Because this is such an amazing prophecy it needs a study all it's own and we'll start that tomorrow.


By the grace of God we will be able to understand more and more and in understanding more and more we will grow ever closer to our Savior. His love is in all these prophecies for us, His amazing love.


By His grace always!!!!


Amen.

Prophecy - 22

Recap time. Putting pieces into place. We've already discussed how we've arrived at these conclusions so we're not going to discuss this again at any great length. Please, go back and read any of the prophecy posts you might have missed if you find this confusing. It's by the grace of God that we can understand at all. So pray, pray, pray!

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.

70 weeks- 490 years

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.

457 BC to 27AD
(483 years)

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.

From 483 years to 490 years we have 7 years (one week)

After those 483 we have 7 years left, during those 7 years the Messish would be cut off.

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.

Here is that week that 7 years we are discussing now.

The covenant would be confirmed for one week (7 years) and in the midst of that 7 years the sacrifice and oblation will cease. Did this happen?

Here we are at 27 AD add half of that 7 years to that number and we get 31 1/2 AD. Do you remember our earlier study about Jesus' death? What year did we arrive at? 31 AD ! The prophecy is fitting into place! Yet again we can see how the great prophecy puzzle pieces fall into place.

So when we say He (the Messiah) would confirm the covenant with many for one week and Jesus died after half that time, what happened at the end of the next 3 1/2 years?

Acts 6-7 describe his trial. He was stoned to death (c. A.D. 34–35) by an infuriated mob encouraged by Saul of Tarsus.[2] Stephen's final speech was presented as accusing the Jews of persecuting prophets who spoke out against their sins:
"Which one of the Prophets did your fathers not persecute, and they killed the ones who prophesied the coming of the Just One, of whom now, too, you have become betrayers and murderers." (7:52)

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Not a coincidence! After Stephen was martyred what happened?

Act 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

Act 8:1 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 Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Act 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Act 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Act 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Saul became Paul an undisputed champion of God! And Paul was the man of God who brought the word of God to who? The Gentiles!

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Until Stephen's death the gospel was exclusively being given to the Jewish people, not the Gentiles. When Stephen was stoned to death the Jewish people as a corporate whole sealed their fate- denying the gospel. The gospel was then to go to the Gentiles. The covenant had been confirmed for one week (7 years), in the midst of that 7 years Jesus was crucified, at the end of that 7 years the Jewish people ultimately denied the gospel of our Savior and that covenant was over. The new covenant, the new Israel, those being grafted onto the True Vine were under way.

This prophecy fits perfectly into our history! Perfectly!

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Now we need to remember that Gabriel came to Daniel to explain what? The 2300 year prophecy. We know beyond a doubt it was 2300 years not literal days or half days etc, because that time passed between Gabriel giving that vision and His return to explain that vision that had Daniel so consumed with the need to comprehend. Daniel wanted it to make sense! Jeremiah's 70 years was coming to a close, that had been a prophecy given and understood over Daniel's lifetime, and Daniel wanted this new prophecy to be understood. Daniel understood the previous vision of Nebuchadnezzar's dream statue and he lived to see Babylon overthrown by the Medes and Persians, he could comprehend this prophetic succession of ruling kingdoms. If one part of the prophecy had come to pass then the rest of it would as well beyond a doubt. Daniel knew from another vision that Grecia would over throw the Medes and Persians and He wasn't lacking understanding with that - not one bit. The rest of the vision was what Daniel just couldn't fathom because he wasn't being asked to simply understand that one kingdom after another would come into play, but he was being told this--

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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

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.
Dan 8:24 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.
Dan 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.
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.

Now we know from previous studies that the Roman Empire would come after Greece and out of that Roman Empire- part of what would remain of the Roman Empire- would be the Roman Papal rule. We learned that this power would live until Christ's second coming. We learned that the Papacy fit all the prophet markers of this little horn power- and we know that the papacy still exists today as a unique power. We know that Satan would be in control of this very deceptive power - for deceit is just that something that is all but undetectable in its ability to trick. It would do NO good for Satan to have a hand in something that wasn't deceptive. Satanists prove that, don't they? Satan deceive more people by appearing as close to the truth as he can, not by announcing his evil. We know that Daniel was given visions and that so much of his prophetic visions have come true that there is NO way that the rest of his visions will fail. We know that so far in our study that we've been able to account for 490 of the 2300 year prophecy. So let's do some more math.

Of the dates we've been given that match perfectly what has been prophesized we've been able to arrive at 34 AD. Our starting date beyond a doubt is 457 BC. 490 years are accounted for up to the 34 AD.

Taking our 2300 and subtracting 490 we are left with 1810 years.

Add that 1810 years to the 34 years we come up with the final date of the 2300 year prophecy and that is 1844 AD.

As we've done in the past we have to look at history along with our Bibles for an answer as to what happened in 1844.

We'll begin that study tomorrow, again taking this little bit by little bit.

It's fascinating how all this fits together so perfectly.

Maybe we can't understand every thing, maybe we're are not meant to understand every thing. We are meant to understand all we need to in order to be saved. Some might argue at this point that all we need is the gospel and no more. It is true that we are only saved through the forgiveness, through the sacrifice of our Savior. And if we accept the sacrifice of our Savior then we have to accept all of Him don't we? We have to accept all He says, not pick and choose what is pleasing to our senses. We can't just accept the feel-good parts and ignore that it was Jesus Himself who told us to WATCH and PRAY.

This studying is part of that watching Jesus wants us to do.

Mat 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:)

Those were Jesus' words! Jesus talking about Daniel the prophet! We can choose to ignore this, it is our right to do so, or we can choose to take heed and study- watching and praying.


By His love!
By His mercy and grace!
In His righteousness forever!
Through His forgiveness!


Amen.

Prophecy - 21

Today we're going to be undertaking a lot of prophetic time- in fact creating a sort of prophetic timeline.
We need all the prayer we can get, all the enlightenment the Holy Spirit can give us as we delve into these times, figuring the numbers. We need to do this NOT in order to pinpoint the day of Christ's return! NOT to do that ever! But because we were given these times to figure for a reason. God wants us to know beyond a doubt that HE is in control of all things. God knows the BIG picture. God has a timeline and it's NOT a timeline of our making but a timeline that He has allowed so that ultimately all sin will be wiped out and God's love and truth will prevail. There is an end to the insanity of life and NO ONE can tell me there isn't an insanity to our world the way it is now with sin reigning. And again, no one can tell me sin isn't reigning in our world- just pick up a newspaper, just open a news browser, just listen to the news for a short while and you'll know beyond a doubt that sin is paramount, ruling and running this world.

There is a plan for ridding the world of all evil. God's plan. And God has outlined that plan so we can know all along the way that He is in control. Especially now when we are living in the end time had people have come to believe that Christ will never return because it's been close to 2000 years since His death. We are blessed by these prophecies, blessed to be allowed to see how God's plan is unfolding, knowing if so much has already unfolded then NOTHING will stop the rest from unfolding, nothing!

So let's just do an overview of things then by the grace of God start putting pieces together.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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We are told this- KNOW therefore and UNDERSTAND from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem.

There would be a commandment given as a starting point. Does our Bible tell us when that happened?

Ezr 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.
Ezr 7:12 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.
Ezr 7:13 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.
Ezr 7:14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
Ezr 7:15 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,
Ezr 7:16 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:
Ezr 7:17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
Ezr 7:19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
Ezr 7:20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
Ezr 7:21 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,
Ezr 7:22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
Ezr 7:23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
Ezr 7:24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
Ezr 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.
Ezr 7:26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Ezr 7:27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
Ezr 7:28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

So…. When did this happen?

Ezr 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
Ezr 7:7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
Ezr 7:8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
Ezr 7:9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

In the 7th year of the king (Artaxerxes)

Ezra thereby left Babylon in the first month of the seventh year (~ 457 BC) of Artaxerxes' reign, at the head of a company of Jews that included priests and Levites. They arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month of the seventh year (Hebrew Calendar).

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457 BC

We have a starting point for the 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.

Seven weeks and three score and two weeks-

7 weeks = 7 * 7 = 49
60 weeks = 60 * 7 = 420
2 weeks = 2 * 7 = 14

49 + 420 = 469 + 14 = 483

So jumping from BC to AD let's see where that brings us.

483 - 457 = 26

26 AD but… we have to account for the transition year don't we? Seriously. Transition year being the 0 year. We have the year 100, 200, 1000, 2000 and we consider the year 2000 a millennium year, yes? But it's not 2000 years if there was never a zero year- a transition year. Our birthdays highlight this fact really. When we are 1 year old we've already lived 1 year and are entering our 2nd year. Anyway, people will contest this and have, but it makes sense, it really does in a 'time' sense going from a BC to an AD. We counted down to 1 and went right to 1? Even in our numerical lines there is the -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1+ 2+ 3+, right? This isn't a ludicrous idea here at all, so let's continue.

For the sake of this prophecy let's look at both 26 AD and 27 AD and note any momentous events concerning the Messiah.

In 27 AD our Savior was baptized by John and began His ministry. Our Savior was anointed. The Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove came down upon our Savior.

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Does this fit with 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.

Jesus began His ministry in 27 AD.
God said this--

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

This was a MOMENTOUS occasion! Jesus had come! Jesus had begun His work for the salvation of mankind! What could have been more notable in that year? Nothing!

So if this prophecy is figured out correctly and the date is 27AD- it fits like a glove doesn’t it? And if this part fits the rest should fall into place too, right?

We'll study more of this tomorrow though, bit by bit is how it has to be, digesting it all slowly.

It's my sincere prayer the Lord continues to bless us fully as we strive to understand the messages He has for us who are living in the time before his second coming. We have to watch, we have to pray!

In His love!

Amen.

Prophecy - 20

Dan 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
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.


Gabriel touched Daniel as he prayed right about the time of the evening oblation. Gabriel was familiar to Daniel, it was Gabriel who came to him at the beginning. It was Gabriel who had been told to give Daniel understanding before, and stopped short of giving a full understanding because time needed to pass to suit the Lord's design.


How much time passed between the vision and Gabriel RETURNING to bring more understanding?


Various historians have come up with different answers to this over the many, many years since that time. Some believing that it was a quick succession from Belshazzar and Darius-


Dan 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.
Dan 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


But the truth is Cyrus took over directly after Belshazzar/Nabonious. This is history here and we MUST look at history. History cannot be rewritten. History cannot be altered to suit OUR purposes. History is what it is and God's design is perfect in His prophecies and their fulfillments.


Factually from all I could discern in my own studying using the vast internet resources available this is what I found--


550 BC - 3rd yr Belshazzar
521 BC - 1st yr Darius


Between those two happenstances were 29 years.


Now like I said, others have come up with 11 years and still others no time at all, just 3rd year of Belshazzar and then immediately 1st year of Darius. When we read the Biblical account and then history it's not readily discerned how they go hand in hand, but we need to remember that for the sake of prophecy here what comes to pass DOES come to pass. What was said to have come to pass, came to pass.


There is only one pinpoint here of concern about the time passing and it's not really a concern so much as an interesting point to look at.


The 2300 day prophecy in Daniel 8 that Daniel was unable to comprehend and left sick after not understanding is something that we need to discuss.


Is that 2300 days literal- 2300 days?
When we read about the vision in the case of the 2300 days it means- evening and mornings NOT evening to evening. Evening and morning is a half day not a full day. So are 2300 days really 1150 full days which equals 3.194 years? Or are they 2300 literal days which equals 6.38 years? OR… are they 2300 prophetic days- a day for a year being 2300 years?


Looking back at history with the passing of years between Daniel's vision and Gabriel returning to give understanding 3.194 years AND 6.38 years passed and that vision of 2300 days was NOT fulfilled. Daniel was still captive in Babylon, Jerusalem was still desolate, the sanctuary was still not rebuilt to even be cleansed. Daniel was looking at Jeremiah's prophecies and knew that it wasn't time for the 70 years to be up yet. Daniel knew that and he wanted understanding about that 2300 days, and you know I don't blame him. It troubled so that it made him sick for a bit. Then there were several years between the angel Gabriel's visits. Remember the angel Gabriel was the angel that herald Jesus' birth! This was an important angel, and this was a VERY important prophecy. So many things point to its importance and we have to pray earnestly for understanding, just as Daniel prayed. Let's continue on now and read what Gabriel came to reveal to Daniel about the prophecy.


Dan 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.
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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


Did you read all that? If not please go back and read it, it's soooooo important!


Just for the sake of doing so jump now to verse 26 and read that again --


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.


'SHALL THE MESSIAH BE CUT OFF'


The MESSIAH! We know who the Messiah is, we know that He was 'cut off and not for himself'. Gabriel was revealing this to Daniel in the year 521 BC!!! The very angel who would in the future herald the Messiah's birth was prophesying of His death!


There is so much incredible information here! So much and we can understanding it by the grace of God.


What year was Jesus 'cut off'?


Date of the Crucifixion- let's look at some scriptures.


Joh 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem
Joh 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Joh 6:4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.


Going up to Jerusalem for the Passover feast was something very important for the Jews. There is mention in the book of John of four Passover feasts. At the last Passover, our Savior was crucified.


Jesus began His ministry in 27 AD then there was--
1 Passover John 2:13
2 Passovers John 5:1
3 Passovers John 6:4,
4 Passovers John 13:1.


27 AD- Ministry began
1st 28 AD
2nd 29 AD
3rd 30 AD
4th 31 AD


Christ was crucified in 31AD


Now because there is so incredibly much for us to comprehend here we are going to take this in baby steps.

For now we've seen that this prophecy of Daniel's is super important. The angel Gabriel the same angel who was there to announce the Savior's birth was the angel bringing the understanding to Daniel. The message Gabriel was bringing contains a lot of time references and one of those reference was the Messiah being cut off- the Savior's death. We need to find some time references to figure this all out and that is one of them.


Tomorrow when we continue our study we will delve deeper into this VERY important prophecy, all by the grace of God.


It's the love of God that matters above all and God would have us know His love, know His will. People think that life is just a fluke, that things that happen do so willy nilly without any rhyme or reason. God has a purpose for us all and I know, I know that people will start citing occurrence after occurrence of things that make absolutely no sense to them, no reason they can fathom for them happening and so because they don't know the reasons they believe there can't be a reason. God knows. God has all the reasons and because we don't means nothing at all whatsoever. What God allows us to know is very important and if we choose to ignore it we do so at a risk to ourselves.


Please Lord help us! Help us to understand your will in all things! We need your love, your forgiveness, your mercy, your grace! Please Lord, please.



Amen.

Prophecy - 19

Praying as Daniel prayed. Can we do this? Can we understand the fullness of our unworthiness? We do not deserve God's love. We are wretched sinners and if anyone shakes their head to this and denies it, all the more reason for them to fall to their knees and pray for enlightenment to man's state before God. Too often people focus on their self-worth, they'll even say that God loves them and that makes THEM worthy. God loves us all- sinner and saint - but He does hate the sin we commit.


'For God so loved the world…'


It's Christ's worth that matters not our own. God loves us and that love gave us Christ Jesus. We find worth only as HE is worthy. Our dependence upon the Lord is all we are called to, not to dependence upon ourselves. If we are good at all it is Christ in us that is good. Our good actions will not mean a thing. Sinners have a lot of good actions. The stereotype for a sinner is someone committing outward acts of evil. But I think it's safe to say that there are many, many, many sinners that don't seemingly sin at all. In fact we are all sinners aren't we? That person we look up to as an example of one leading a Christian life- that person is a sinner too. That pastor we listen to who speaks amazingly, that singer singing such a heart felt, touching, life changing song, they are sinners. We aren't to look to each other for an example in holiness because we will forever be disappointed. We have to look to our Savior and in Him alone we find the PERFECT example, in Him alone we find forgiveness.


Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God


Only Jesus is sinless. Only Jesus has worth. By His grace we are forgiven. Only because of HIS worth are we saved. If we had to rely upon our own worth we'd have nothing to rely on. Only by faith in HIM, in HIS worth are we saved. If we wait to be transformed into one worthy, we'll forever be waiting. We must learn dependence now because without that dependence upon Christ we will never be His, fully His.


Daniel prayed earnestly.

'And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession,'


Daniel made his confession - to who? The LORD his God. The 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'


Obey and live. Disobey and die. Mankind was created and given this command. A simple command really. That choice given to the first parents is given to every one of us- daily, hourly, minutely. We might be quick to say that we would never had taken that bite from the forbidden fruit, but in truth we don't really know what we'd have done, do we? God keeps the covenant and gives mercy to those who love Him, and to those who keep His commandments. This is truth. Love and obey.


'We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments'


We are sinners. ALL are sinners. ALL have committed iniquity. ALL have done wickedly. ALL have rebelled. ALL have departed from God's precepts. All have departed from God's judgments. When we sin we do all that. The sin we've committed isn't just a non-consequential act, harming only us, but it's wicked. That little tiny sin is WICKED. That little tiny sin is REBELLION. That little tiny sin is us DEPARTING from God's precepts, and God's judgments. That one bite, that one tiny, delicate bite that barely took the tiniest nibble from the fruit, that first touch of teeth piercing the flesh of the fruit, the touch of lips pressed briefly against the pleasing fruit, that was WICKEDNESS, REBELLION, DISOBEYING. It was a tiny sin- in our perception. It wasn't murder. Yet it was the worst of all sins- the first. And that's all it took. God didn't give us three strikes and we're out. God didn't need to give us three strikes. One strike was enough. Introducing sin, that first inclination to disobey God was all that was necessary to bring the flood of sin into the world, to put SELF first, to put SELF before God came in that tiniest of seemingly harmlessness of sins. We CANNOT let Satan deceive us into believing the tiny sins don't matter. We HAVE sinned and whether small or great any sin at all is wicked, is rebelling, is leaving God's precepts, leaving God's judgment. We are guilty.


'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.'


Prophets warned- Jeremiah, Daniel couldn't help but recall Jeremiah's prophesying because Daniel's own captivity was proof of Jeremiah's prophecy coming to pass. Daniel KNEW that God's people chose NOT to listen to God's prophets. Daniel knew that God's prophets had spoke to all- warning all from greatest to the least in the land and still they chose not to heed the prophets.


'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.
O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.'


We deserve to be confused, to be shamed because of our guilt!


'To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him'


God alone can give mercy and forgiveness- even though we have rebelled. God can STILL forgive! God's mercy can STILL be felt. We are sinners and God alone has the power of mercy and forgiveness, it is HIS to give or not give. But no where else is mercy of forgiveness found, no where.


'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.
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.
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.
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.'


Even when the results of the sinning was made manifest and the punishment begun- there was NO turning from the sinning- no prayer- no REAL sincere prayer of repentance being prayed. There was no TURNING from the sin, no forgiveness sought- no forgiveness given. No understanding God's truth because of the refuse to truly repent.


'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.'


No blaming God for what transpires as a result of sinning. The guilt lies with the SINNER! God is righteous in ALL His works! We are the ones who refuse to obey Him. Too many want to blame God. Too many want to point at the innocent ones affected by the wrath of God and then blame God. Too many do NOT want to take any responsibility for the innocent ones affected by their sinning and their forefathers sinning. It's easier for people to blame God than themselves. People don't want to believe that the innocent blood spilled under the various punishments enacted by God are the fault of anyone but God. They want God to be a fictional persona who doesn't hold any accountable, who won't allow any innocents to perish. The truth is, our actions bring about results that affect all. Adam and Eve's sin brought about the death of their second son. Abel was innocent in that he fully obeyed God, yet he was allowed to die. Many are the innocent youth too young to even be accountable, many are those who have sincerely accepted Christ as their Savior and they died in that forgiven state, yet they did die and some in very torturous ways- ways we call inhumane. Their deaths, their agonies, their abuse isn't God's fault- it's a result of sin.


'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.
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.'


According to God's righteousness!
According to God!
God forgives, God leads out of captivity, God's anger and fury can subside by HIS righteousness. For the sake of having a people that are His, sinners though they are, the need for God's anger and fury to be turned away is desperately desired, and here Daniel is pleading for that very thing. As we need to plead.


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.


Hear the prayer.
Hear the supplication.
Cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for Your sake.


'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.'


Incline Thine ear!
Open Thine eyes!
Behold our desolations!
Not for OUR righteousness.
FOR THY GREAT MERCIES!


'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.'


Lord hear!
Lord forgive!
Lord harken!
Lord do not defer!
God for YOUR name!
God for YOU!
God for YOUR righteousness!
This is our prayer too, Lord! This is our supplication! For Your righteousness Lord! For Your people- people called by Your name! For Your city, the heavenly new Jerusalem! Please LORD! We are sinners, we are in need of Your mercy, Your forgiveness, help us Lord to understand Your will, Your word, Your prophecies for us. Open our eyes, open our understanding! By Your righteousness, by Your grace!
This is our prayer!


We need understanding.


We are to watch, and we need to know what we are to watch for. It does a watchmen no good to watch if he hasn't a clue what He is to watch for, right? Jesus would have us watch and pray. Jesus gave us many a sign to watch for. Jesus gave us prophecies that had yet to be fulfilled- to watch for. If we close our eyes and ears to all this and just hope God will understand that we love Him and that's enough, then are we truly loving Him by refusing to study to shew ourselves approved unto God…


2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


…rightly dividing the word of truth! No need to be ashamed at all. But we should be ashamed, just as Daniel prayed-


'O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.'


Confusion of face- shame! Shame belonged to the people - kings, princes, fathers- shame belongs to us for sinning against God and we DARE not add to that shame by refusing to study God's word.


We can spend a lifetime studying the soothing words of the Bible, we could. We could soothe our consciences with the Bible and study only that which pleases our ears. But is that what we are supposed to do? Pick bits and pieces that suit us? No. We are to study as God would have us study. We are to study as the Holy Spirit guides us. We are told to WATCH and PRAY and the Bible tells us what to watch and how to pray. If we neglect the parts we don't want to hear because they take a bit of mental wrestling to truly understand we are only hurting ourselves. This is the meat of the Bible, the meat we have to chew and chew before we swallow. This isn't the milk of a newborn we are forever wanting to suckle on because then we don't have to chew, this is the meat. Chewing meat takes a lot more effort than merely sucking and swallowing. And everyone who has ever chewed meat knows that some meat is tender but other meat is tough and the tough meat takes even more effort to chew. The meat of the Bible needs to be eaten by us, because we cannot allow ourselves to remain babes not if we are wanting to follow God's will. God wants us to get to the meat and no longer be fed milk.


By the grace and mercy of our Savior we will feast on His word and by the Holy Spirit's enlightenment may our understanding be opened and may we full see what we are to watch for as the time of the end grows closer and closer and ever closer.


In the most amazing love of our Savior now and forever!!!!


Amen.

Prophecy - 18 - Desperate Prayer!

Dan 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;
Dan 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.


Daniel understood that Jeremiah prophesized that the Lord had to accomplish the 70 years in Jerusalem's desolation. But now Daniel wanted understanding that he didn't get earlier when the Angel interpreted things to him. Sure he understood a lot of it clearly just as you and I can through history, however Daniel was dealing with a future not a past. Daniel isn't alive now and looking back, Daniel was alive then and looking forward. Clearly he lacked understanding in something… remember this--


Dan 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.


What part didn't he understand? Seriously. We know he had to understand that Medes and Persia had conquered Babylon- We know that he understood that Grecia would be next to conquer. It's a surety that Daniel would never forget that unique statue dream of Nebuchadnezzar's. He knew another power would come and then another and so on.


Yet, Daniel also understood that he'd been told stuff that he couldn't quite fathom and as such perhaps it bothered him. He did FAINT. He was sick for a number of days. He was astonished at the vision. Just as you and I would be astonished at what we didn't comprehend. So when we pick up just a short while later Daniel is wanting understanding yet again and as we know by the words of Jesus- sometimes fasting and prayer is necessary when we are seeking God's will, God's help. Let's continue reading...


Dan 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
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;
Dan 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:
Dan 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.


Daniel already mentioned Jeremiah the prophet- a prophet that his fathers failed to heed, a prophet that went unheeded in Daniel's youth leading to his captivity. Daniel was a part of those who sinned, a part of those who had done wickedly, who rebelled against that precepts and judgment of God. Daniel was assuming the guilt because He understood that there was corporate guilt, not just individual. As part of that corporate guilt He was praying and seeking forgiveness corporately.


Dan 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 trespassed against thee.
Dan 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.
Dan 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 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.


Dan 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.
Dan 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.
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.
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.


Remember this--


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.
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.
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?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.


And remember this--


Dan 8:24 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.
Dan 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.
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.


Is it NO wonder at all that Daniel had been left without understanding? Now here in Daniel 9:17 he says- 'Cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate'


Daniel understood the importance of the sanctuary, and from the vision he'd been given he knew horrific things were to occur and he wanted to understand more fully for all concerned.


Dan 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.
Dan 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.


Dan 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;


What made the holy mountain of God holy? God's presence made it holy. The sanctuary built there in and of itself was only holy because God's presence was there. When the holy city, Jerusalem was chosen as the place of the holy temple it was all holy because of God's presence there. And God's presence was there why? For His people. When His people turned on Him, sinning against Him, rebelling against Him, He allowed the holy temple to be destroyed signifying what? That He was not pleased with those who called Him their people because they'd turned from His ways, from Him. Yet here we have Daniel praying - fasting in sackcloth and ashes- wanting desperately to have his prayer heard by God and he was praying for this- 'for the holy mountain of my God' - Jerusalem. He wanted God's presence to reside once more with His repentant people. After having the visions he'd had perhaps there was a fear that ultimately God's presence would not fully return to His people, in Jerusalem.


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.
Dan 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.


Gabriel has returned.
Now Gabriel has come forth to give skill and understanding.


There was more information that Daniel needed. More information we would need if we were to understand. Daniel knew this book would be shut, the vision would be sealed, and that didn't stop him from realizing that more explaining was necessary for him and us who would be alive when the vision had been unsealed, the book open. Yet, Daniel didn't just get the information as you KNOW he wanted it. Daniel did not easily get the understanding. The revelation didn't come to him simply. Understanding was given to him before he prayed his desperate prayer. What does this tell us? Seriously? We can over look this and just jump to the rest of what was said, what was revealed but there is a HUGE lesson here for us and if we don't understand that then we might as well face up to the fact that we are not among those who will be God's very elect. God's elect will be FASTING in SACKCLOTH and ASHES- if not LITERALLY, then FIGURATIVELY at the VERY LEAST!


Those who desire this understanding and need it to be a HEART understanding, a SPIRIT understanding , very REAL understanding need to pray a prayer of desperation and they need to do so with all they are, not just a few words whispered, a few words of gesture for enlightenment, but a DESPERATE prayer! You know what I'm talking about! I know you know! And this is the truth! We need to do this! We need to seek our God with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, with all we are! We need to admit to our unworthiness and rely solely upon our Savior's mercy and grace, His forgiveness, His WORTH!


I just can't stress this enough, I just can't. We need our understanding opened! We need that eyesalve so we can see! We need that white raiment so we are clothed in our Savior's righteousness! We need that gold tried in fire, the faith, the belief beyond doubt! Yes, I'm shouting and have been for a bit here but we need to understand, we need know, we need the truth, the pure unadulterated truth so desperately.


The key to understanding prophecy isn't how well your internet browsing skills are to search out history. The key isn't in being the best puzzle solver ever. The key isn't in being able to decipher difficult words. The key isn't in any reference material you may possess, or find. The key to understanding prophecy is the HOLY SPIRIT! The key to understanding prophecy is GOD's GRACE, GOD's MERCY! The key to understanding prophecy is JESUS!


No, we might not have an angel come to open up our understanding as Daniel had, but that doesn't matter! We have to have a love of God and God will provide the means for us to have comprehension in Him. All necessary understanding will come from HIM and we need to pray for this like we've never prayed before!!!!!!!


By His love!


Amen.

Prophecy - 17

A ram with two high horns, one horn higher than the other, the higher coming up last.
Media and Persia.


A he goat, a notable horn between his eyes.
Grecia.


Four horns from broken notable horn.
Four generals of Alexander.


Little horn.
Rome Pagan and Papal.


This is all history. We're recapping it again because it warrants recapping. Re-read Daniel 8 and while you're reading it take a moment or two to realize that this prophecy that was given to Daniel to write down and then given to us- preserved by the holy spirit's power, was given for a reason! To think that anything our Lord has given us to read is invaluable is to do a great disservice to our God, and to put ourselves at risk of losing out on the messages He has given us in His word.


Personally I don't know many people who love the Lord that don't receive personal messages through the Lord's holy word. What do I mean? I mean that opening God's word to read it hoping to gain wisdom we are rewarded by the infinite wisdom present in the most holy word of God, all by the grace of our Lord. The wisdom, the messages written were written for all of mankind since the moment they were given. The holy word could NOT remain hidden, could NOT remain in seclusion. Scribes expounded on the written word and Jesus Himself rose up in the synagogue to read from the scriptures given- opening God's word to all who had an ear to hear. Then men of God inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote down all they could about Jesus and the message He brought to them, to US.


Part of that holy word is PROPHECY. The very prophecy we are undertaking to understand. We have to believe that God will give us understanding, and bless us as we read His word.


Let's reread Daniel 8 in its entirety, with a heart filled with love for our Savior, with hope for understanding, for wisdom, for the Holy Spirit's guidance in all truth.


Dan 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.


Dan 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.


Dan 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.


Dan 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.


Dan 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.


Dan 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.


Dan 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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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?


Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.


Dan 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.


Dan 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.


Dan 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.


Dan 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.


Dan 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.


Dan 8:20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and 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 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.


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.


Dan 8:24 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.


Dan 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.


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.


Dan 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.

*

Isn't that amazing. Really amazing. Daniel fainted. Daniel was sick for a number of days. After those sick days Daniel rose up and went about the king's business. Daniel was astonished at the vision he'd been given and even with the interpretation-- he did NOT understand it.


This was a POWERFUL vision! Powerful. And WE have to understand how powerful because this vision was shut up so that not even Daniel fully understood it and no one would understand it until the vision was opened up. If it was shut, then there would have to come a time for it to be open.


We've gone to another book in the Bible to help us in understanding Daniel before and that book was Revelation. These are two prophecy books that go hand in hand in many ways. Let's look at these verses for a moment--


Rev 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
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
Rev 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Rev 10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
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.
Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
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.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.


These verses are incredibly enlightening. Daniel is a 'little book' of prophecy. Think about it! Daniel wrote a little book of prophecy and that book was 'shut up'. Revelation talks of a little book that had to be taken and eaten, a book that would taste sweet and then make the belly bitter.


There is NO other book that is shut up in the Bible, not a one.


The book of Daniel was meant to be open at the time of the end, it was sealed until God wanted it to be understood.


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.


Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.


We are MEANT to understand and understanding is coming to us through the Holy Spirit.


We know that the pieces are falling into place perfectly. We might not want to admit how perfectly if we are stubborn but I pray to God that we set aside all preconceived notions and let the Holy Spirit lead us. I've said it before and I'm going to say it again- the Little Horn power is the papacy- yesterday, today, and tomorrow. That Little Horn power is controlled by the dragon. This means the papacy is controlled by the dragon. The papacy is controlled by Satan.


Some may grow outraged at this point and refuse to read anything further, not willing to even consider this could be true. They don't believe Jesus. Turning away from truth is denying the words of our Savior and our Savior said this…


Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.


God says this…


2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.


People don't want to hear truth they want fables.


This is truth.


People look at the Papacy today and they wonder at it in awe, they extol its virtues, they praise its marvelous good works. People find it hard to ever imagine that anything that LOOKS so wondrous, anything that APPEARS so marvelous could ever be controlled by evil.


There is much more to study on this, much more and it is all amazing how the Bible explains so much to us, so much!


By the grace of God may we open our hearts to our Savior's truth, all truth!


By His love and His forgiveness! In His mercy and grace!


Amen