The Book of Daniel - Chapter 1 Pt 2

 We need this background on Daniel in order to comprehend the situation Daniel and his companions were in. Taken captive into a foreign society, forced from family and the lives they knew and planned on having. Told they were to learn of this foreign land, customs, language they were far out of their element. Just take a moment to imagine yourself in the situation they found themselves in. That they were able to conduct themselves in a way that pleased God is amazing! They prospered because of their steadfast faith in God. We need to know these were young men devoted to God even as they were held captive against their wills and forced to live a life contrary to most things they knew. Daniel was chosen to be a prophet of God, and he wasn't to prophesize from the comfort of his own land but where God needed Him to prophesize from. 

May God bless us as we study His word, may the Holy Spirit guide us to all truth, helping us to truly learn all we need to. All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! Now and forever!!!!!!! Amen!

Daniel Chapter One Continued 

Daniel Chapter 1 Pt 1  (Answers to fill in the blanks from yesterday)

1. Daniel Ezekiel 14:19, 20

2. Daniel Ezekiel 28:3

3. Daniel the prophet Matthew 24:15, 16

4. Desolation Jeremiah 25:11 

5. Jerusalem Daniel 1: 1

6. Hearken Jeremiah 17:24

7. Sabbath Jeremiah 17:24

8. Hallow Jeremiah 17:24

9. LORD Jeremiah 17:24

Continued…

The Hebrews captive in Babylon -- During those days of distress in Jerusalem, Daniel and his companions were fed well and taught in the palace of the king of Babylon; and, though they were captive in a strange land, they were in some respects more favorably treated than they would have been in their native country.

READ Daniel 1:3-5 -- 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 favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in (1)___________, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might (2)______ 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 (3)______ years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

Fulfilled prophecy by Isaiah --

READ 2 Kings 20:14-18 – ‘Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? And from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from (4)_________. And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house,and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into (5)________: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’

We read that these children (Dan.1:4) were already skillful in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and had ability in them to stand in the king's palace. Obviously they weren’t children as we think of them today. They were youth, thought to be between 18 and 20 years old.

There are a few facts that make King Nebuchadnezzar rather unique. He didn’t choose those men and women to fulfil his lusts, he chose young men to educate and help in administrative duties. He wanted to make good use of the captives, those that showed themselves to be exceptionally smart. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t give them substandard food either, but fed them from his own food. For three years these youth were treated not as captives but as favored youth.

READ Daniel 1:6,7-- Now among these were 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.

Let’s look at the meanings of their names before and after- Hebrew and Babylonian.

Daniel - God is my judge

Hananiah, gift of the Lord

Mishael, he that is a strong God

Azariah, help of the Lord.

Daniel renamed to Belteshazzar - keeper of the hid treasures of Bel

Hananiah rename to Shadrach- inspiration of the sun --which the Chaldeans worshipped

Mishael renamed to Meshach- of the goddess Shaca --Venus was worshiped using that name

Azariah renamed to Abed-nego- servant of the shining fire—something else they worshipped, fire itself.

So while they were being taught, and treated wonderfully they were also being indoctrinated towards the gods worshipped by the Babylonians. Indoctrinated, but not forced to worship the Babylonian gods, another boon by the benevolent Nebuchadnezzar.

READ Daniel 1:8-16 -- But Daniel purposed in his (6)_____ 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. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 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 (7) _________ my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 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. 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 (8)_______ and(9) _______ 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.

Why didn’t Daniel want to eat the kings meat? Probably because as most meat fed to the kings at that time it was first used as an offering and sacrifice to their idols, as well as being unclean by Jewish law. Daniel in all good conscience could not eat of this food so he asked that he and his companions be allowed to eat something else.

Asking this wasn’t something easy either. Here they are being treated like royalty, fed from the same food the king himself partook of, and he was trying to decline. The eunuch too had an obligation to his king to make sure the captives were fed well, how could he risk them failing in health by letting them eat what amounted to vegetables, legumes and little else?

Yet the eunuch agreed to the test, probably realizing that ten days wouldn’t do too much harm to the captives and then they could return to the food that would really do them justice. That’s not what happened though. After the ten days the captives were healthier than ever before, healthier than those on the diet consisting of the kings meat and drink. Daniel and his friends past the test with flying colors.

The Lord intervened for Daniel and his companions, showing them to be healthier after only ten days which kept them from defiling themselves, how glorious is our Lord.

READ Daniel 1:7-21 -- ‘As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all (10)______ and (11)______. 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. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them (12)___ times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. And Daniel continued unto the first year of king Cyrus.’

After Three Years Daniel was the only one that had an understanding in visions and dreams. But the Lord's dealing with Daniel like this doesn’t indicate the others were any less favored in his sight. Allowed to live in the midst of the fiery furnace (something you’ll read about later) was enough evidence of their divine favor. Daniel probably had some natural qualifications that peculiarly fitted him for this special work of understanding visions and dreams.

When three years were up, the king having not forgotten them calls them in to talk with them. During their meeting it’s obvious that the very learned king was testing them and in the end he found them ten times better than any others in his entire kingdom, how amazing is that.

The last verse mentions Daniel continuing on…a long, long time, far to the reign of another king.

This concludes our study of Daniel Chapter One

(1) knowledge Daniel 1:4

(2) teach Daniel 1:4

(3) three Daniel 1:5

(4) Babylon 2 Kings 20:14

(5) Babylon 2 Kings 20:17

(6) heart Daniel 1:8

(7) endanger Daniel 1:10

(8) fairer Daniel 1:15

(9) fatter Daniel 1:15

(10) visions Daniel 1:17

(11) dreams Daniel 1:17

(12) ten Daniel 1:20

The Book of Daniel Chapter 1 Pt 1

 I went to a series of Prophecy Lectures that were being given at a nearby church in 1982.  I don't have access to the actual material given back then, but there are other studies with a lot of the same information.  The study we are going to go through is more in-depth. We are living now, 42 years after the last known end time prophecy was fulfilled. There are more end time prophecies that have to be fulfilled and the majority of those it appears will happen very rapidly extremely close to our Lord returning. You read those words and what do you think about them? I hope they arouse your curiosity and don't dissuade you from seeking truth. The above facts can be proven, pray for God's guidance, God's grace, God's mercy, pray for the Holy Spirit to be your guide through all of these studies.  Please, open your Bible - whether an actual book of paper, or an online Bible, it doesn't matter- open your Bible and with a prayerful heart begin to study. 

Remember there are going to be blanks for you to fill in by reading from your Bibles- this is to reinforce what you are studying, giving you a real opportunity to look for yourself upon God's word, and not just read something I've put here for you to read.

Daniel Chapter 1

Let’s begin with a bit of historical background on the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel was written by Daniel Himself that cannot be disputed. Ezekiel, a prophet and a contemporary of Daniels has this to say--

READ Ezekiel 14:19, 20. "… though Noah, 1______, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness."

Daniel is ranked up there with who? Noah and Job, two very important Biblical figures.

Ezekiel also has this to say of Daniel--

READ Ezekiel 28:3 "Behold, thou art wiser than 2______; there is no secret that they can hide from thee."

And even Jesus recognized Daniel and did so recognizing him as a prophet of God. 

READ Matthew 24:15, 16. "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by 3_______ ___ ________, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand), then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains."

(The following may read as if you are a Bible scholar, or serious student who knows Biblical history- dates and whatnot. If you do not have this education, I don't, then you may have to pause and look up some facts if you don't want to just accept them as truth. Don't hesitate to do so now, or any time in the future of this study, research.) 

What we know of Daniel begins when he is taken captive in the first year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzer (Babylonian King). The first year that began the seventy years of enslavement, 606 BC when Habakkuk and Jeremiah were giving their prophecies. A short while after that Ezekiel began his prophesizing and then Obadiah, both finishing their prophetic work long before the end of Daniel’s prophesizing.

Three prophets went after Daniel—Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Both Haggai and Zechariah briefly prophesized in 520-518 BC and then Malachi for a short while in 397 BC. All Biblical history, documented well.

Jeremiah wrote the following prediction--

READ Jeremiah 25:11 -And this whole land shall be a 4___________, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

70 years of captivity was predicted and 70 years of captivity there were.

Daniel was taken captive during that time and at his peak he saw the kingdom decline and even go into other hands. Daniel was given by God knowledge which surpasses any man could have given him. He was honored and loved of God and his words are available to us today to study and learn much from.

He reveals history many centuries into the future to the end of all time. He offers us an account of the timeline of the coming of the Messiah as well. The prophecies of Daniel are amazing as you’ll soon discover.

Historical data tells us that Daniel is supposed to have died at Susa in Persia (today’s Iran), about the year 530 BC, at about 94 years old.

Let us begin--CHAPTER -- I

READ Daniel 1: 1 - In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto 5__________, 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.

Starting with an historical background, he states that Jehoiakim was the king of Judah at the time, that Nebuchadnezzer was king of Babylon and that Nebuchadnezzer besieged Jehoiakim’s reign. He also tells us that it was 3 years into the reign of Jehoiakim and that Jehoiakim was given into Nebuchadnezzar’s hands. Nebuchanezzer took some of the sacred vessels from the house of God into Shinar, the country of Babylon.

READ Genesis 10:10 ‘And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.’

Jerusalem’s capture was predicted by Jeremiah, and accomplished, in 606 BC.

READ Jeremiah 25:8-11-- Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words, 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. Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

Jeremiah places this captivity in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, Daniel is in the third. This seeming discrepancy is explained by the fact that Nebuchadnezzar set out on his expedition near the close of the third year of Jehoiakim, from which point Daniel reckons. But he did not fully capture Jerusalem till about the ninth month of the year following; and from this year Jeremiah reckons. (Prideaux, Vol. I, pp. 99, 100 -https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Old_and_New_Testament_Connected_in_t/dvKBrDj1bnAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22fourth%20year%20of%20Jehoiakim%22)

Jehoiakim humbled himself and was allowed to remain as ruler in Jerusalem, tributary to the king of Babylon. This was the first time Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar. 

Twice after that because the people revolted, it had to be recaptured by the same king, being dealt with more harshly each succeeding time. Of these subsequent overthrows, the first was under Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim in 599 BC when all the sacred vessels were either taken or destroyed and the best of the people along with the king were led into captivity. The second was under Zedekiah, when the city fought the most formidable fight for control except that by Titus, in 70 AD. During the two year siege the city dwellers had to endure the horrors of extreme famine. The king attempting to escape from the city along with his garrison, were captured by the Chaldeans. The sons of the king were slain before him. His eyes were put out, and he was taken to Babylon; and fulfilled was the prediction of Ezekiel who declared that he should be carried to Babylon, and die there, but yet should not see the place.

READ Ezekiel 12:13 - ‘My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.’

The city and temple were at this time completely destroyed, the entire population of the city and country, with the exception of few, were carried captive to Babylon, 588 BC.

Had the Israelites been faithful to God and kept his Sabbath, Jerusalem would have stood forever. READ Jeremiah 17:24-27 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently 6_______ unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the 7________ day, but 8_______ the sabbath day, to do no work therein; Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain forever. And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the 9 _____.  But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Search

 God said- close and seal the book until the time of the end.

The time of the end began in the early to mid 1800's.

The time of the end continues today.

How do we know the time of the end began? Because that book that was closed and sealed suddenly was unsealed and open. How do I know this?  Because simultaneously people in various places around the globe began to comprehend the writings within that book. What never made sense to any one before, was miraculously unfolding and making a lot of sense. 

Also, tell me why we could go from using horses as a main mode of transportation to having cars, planes, so on and so forth. The age of enlightenment occurred as a reality and a lot of advancements took off in the 1800's that for the prior 5800 or so years of the world's existence knowledge only increased very, very slowly. There came an increase in knowledge in such a way that there is truly no accounting for- such as why, why did it take so long? Why was it so rapid all of a sudden? How could mankind's mind be so dimmed they couldn't comprehend the scientific principles involved in so much? Yes, there were the occasional people who were brilliant and made crude designs of future technology. There were those who were so beyond their time in thinking that they were deemed wizards and witches, abnormal and frightening to the common person.  When mankind finally embraced the wellspring of knowledge given to them and the barriers were removed they gained knowledge at an inexplicable rate. KNOWLEDGE INCREASED. Not only in the secular world but in the spiritual/religious realm. 

The book was unsealed and opened to comprehension…   

JESUS told us to look to the book of Daniel. Do we look or when we read it without the intellectual/historical/Bible scholar's input, do we close the Book of Daniel quickly because it's a gibberish to us?  Where is our intense desire to search God's word as a hidden treasure we have to find? You say the Book of Daniel is Old Testament, I say JESUS POINTED US TO THAT BOOK! I say the Book of Revelations is a complimentary book to Daniel and the Book of Revelations is the last book in the New Testament!  You say, the Book of Revelations is incomprehensible as well? I say that Satan wants to keep us blind, to keep us from comprehension!  These books of prophecy are OPENED to understanding and it is our DUTY to read them! We have a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips today that forty years ago didn't exist. We can search in ways that it's all but impossible for anyone to not be able to find truth if they truly desire to know that truth.

Forty years ago I had my own understanding opened to the truth. When knowledge was given to me that I didn't quite believe, I went to my local library and I searched the books to make sure the things being told to me were true. I didn't just sit there and nod my head, smiling and taking in everything without any questioning. I didn't accept things said blindly, I didn't take them at face value at all. I searched for truth! I searched for comprehension and I PRAYED and PRAYED and PRAYED some more!

I'm asking you to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY right now and study! Be willing to read, to study, to search out the truth. Don't dismiss things before you do so, if you do it's at your own peril, your eternal peril. 

 Jesus' ministry and death were predicted by date. To get to the date however isn't a straight forward journey, but a prophetic one. This is a journey of faith, of digging into the word of God. This journey has a beginning, middle and an end and it is all tied in together so that we need to study, not just have it given to us and left at that. We shouldn't want just a single fact, but all the facts. All the truth.

To this end, I want you to have a very similar study to the one I went through which God used to open my eyes to truth.

Please, whether it takes a week or two or a month or two just to go through each of these studies… DO IT!  There are blanks for YOU to fill because you need to be in the Word, searching it for yourselves! Let the Holy Spirit work in you, please, please! By the grace of God may we please have understanding, please. All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior now and forever! Amen!

*******

The Sealed Book- Opened.

 A book was closed and sealed by God. Why? Why would God close and seal a book? Logic dictates that he didn't want us to understand what was written within. We could still read what had been written but to comprehend the meaning behind what was written was another story. God didn't want us to understand until the 'time of the end'.

Dan 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. 

Even to the time of the end.  Why not until the time of the end? Because the words within were specifically for the time of the end.

In 1844 something happened - 178 years ago - NOT a long time. I know you may disagree, because in some respects- it is a really long time ago, but in the grand scheme of things- it really is not a long time. Almost 6000 years this world has been around, 178 years out of 6000 is very little.  When sin entered the world and God told Adam and Eve there would be an enmity put between Satan and them - the plan for Salvation was fully underway. In the year 31AD Jesus was sacrificed on the cross, God's only begotten son was sacrificed for our salvation. About 4000 years after the prophecy of God was given in the Garden of Eden.  Think about that for a moment, the Savior was predicted- 

(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.) 4000 years before He came and bruised the head of Satan! For perspective 178 years truly is not a long time.  

Jesus told us during His ministry that He would return, and He gave various signs for us to note. He even mentioned Daniel the prophet.

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:) 

Jesus referred to Daniel's prophecies. Jesus knew that in those prophecies there was information we'd need.  The book was still closed at that point- it wasn't the time of the end just yet. As mentioned above - in the early 1800's there was a great religious revival, not just in the United States but elsewhere, independent of each other. Suddenly the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation were being understood after much in-depth studying! Their mysteries were unfolding…  the time of the end was at hand.  178 years ago. And how long would the time of the end last? We don't know. But to say it's gone on too long when we know how time can be in the grand scheme of things, is to be impatient. And yes, I long for my Savior to return! I long desperately for this! But I'm told this too…

2Pe_3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Our Savior isn't SLACK in returning, He is LONGSUFFERING! He wants all that will come to repentance to do so before mankind's probation is over. 

Jesus wanted us to look to Daniel, and 178 years ago a prophecy came to pass from the Book of Daniel! A very important prophecy, but how many today know this even occurred? Satan wants us blinded to truth, we can't let him keep us blind!  We will be studying more on the Sanctuary being cleansed…

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

This is what we'll be studying more on because we need to know what the unsealed Book of Daniel means for us in the end times. And whether or not those end times extend a 1000 more years or just 3 more years… we must be prepared and by the grace and mercy of our LORD we will be. 

All through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!!!!!!!

Amen!

My High Priest.

 My Savior is my High Priest right now in the Heavenly Sanctuary.

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; 

Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 

My Savior did away with the old sacrificial service covenant given to Moses- the ceremonial system that had been set up to point to the ultimate sacrificial service covenant- the one where HE sacrificed Himself as the last sacrificial spotless lamb- He was the Lamb of God that we would need.

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 

Heb 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 

Heb 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish 

My Savior puts His laws into our minds and writes them on our hearts.

My Savior will complete the heavenly reality of the example given on earth.  

In 1844 Christ began to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary. For those who don't know what that means you need to read the following Biblical passage about the earthly sanctuary and the Day of Atonement. But first, let me give you a quick rundown about what you're going to read.  One day of the year was set aside to be Day of Atonement. On this day a bull, two rams and two goats would be used for the sacrifices. This is the only day in the entire year the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. Every other day of the year all the other sacrifices and services took place outside of the Most Holy Place. This day the blood of the sacrifices was brought into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled there on the Ark's Mercy Seat.  This blood was to make an atonement, as ALL sacrifices are made for. Then symbolically the High Priest after he'd done this, would place his hands on the head of a live goat and symbolically place ALL the sins for the entire year, that had been made in the sanctuary, onto that goat and then the goat would be taken far, far away into the wilderness and let go, taking with it all the sins of all the people for an entire year!  Then it would begin all over again the very next day- the sin offerings sacrificed would begin to accumulate on the Sanctuary and would do so until a full year passed and the Sanctuary was cleansed once more. 

I know you want to know what this has to do with you, why should you care about this out dated, no longer in effect ceremonial sacrificial day? Because, our Savior- as the Lamb of God - Sacrificed Himself and returned to the Heavenly Sanctuary and it's there the rest of the symbolic of the earthly must unfold.  We know without a doubt that Satan represented by the scapegoat- the goat led off into the wilderness ladened with all the sins, and he has yet to be led off, has yet to have all the sins placed upon him. We know Satan still lives and we still sin, but this won't be how it will end.  We need to understand the order of things and they dictate a cleansing of the heavenly Sanctuary will take place. It won't be for just a day, because UNLIKE the earthly Day of Atonement which was continuous- year after year, this is a FINAL cleansing, the LAST cleansing and it deals not only with a year's worth of sin, but sin from the first sin committed right to the last sin committed for all time! 

The beginning of the cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary is a part of prophetic history, one of the pieces of the prophetic puzzle we've been given. Without going into details here- In 1844 the Heavenly Sanctuary cleansing BEGAN. The cleansing will not be complete until right before our Lord Returns, and in that short period of time all that who live and belong to our Lord will be sinless before Him.  When eternity deciding probation is up for all of mankind, Jesus will finish the cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary and return to earth for His people. 

So go on and read about the Day of Atonement in the Bible, and we will continue this study tomorrow- by the GRACE of GOD.

The Day of Atonement

Lev 16:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; 

Lev 16:2  And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. 

Lev 16:3  Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 

Lev 16:4  He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. 

Lev 16:5  And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 

Lev 16:6  And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 

Lev 16:7  And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 

Lev 16:8  And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 

Lev 16:9  And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. 

Lev 16:10  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. 

Lev 16:11  And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: 

Lev 16:12  And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: 

Lev 16:13  And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: 

Lev 16:14  And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. 

Lev 16:15  Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 

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. 

Lev 16:17  And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 

Lev 16:18  And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. 

Lev 16:19  And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. 

Lev 16:20  And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 

Lev 16:22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. 

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: 

Lev 16:24  And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people. 

Lev 16:25  And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar. 

Lev 16:26  And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. 

Lev 16:27  And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. 

Lev 16:28  And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 

Lev 16:29  And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 

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. 

Lev 16:31  It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. 

Lev 16:32  And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: 

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. 

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

May the Lord bless us as we seek to know the truth and only the truth. May the Lord guide us to all His truth, to all we need to comprehend so we can know Him and He know us! We know the work of our High Priest is now ongoing and the cleansing is continuing, but for how long? We don't know how long, but we've been given so many signs to know that it won't be much longer.  And regardless- either we will die from old age or other means or our Savior will return and we need to be ready, to be His always!

All through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!!!!!!! Amen!

We Need to Know.

 Knowledge. What do you know about the Sanctuary Services of old? For that matter what do you know about the Sanctuary in general? Does it matter if you know anything at all? Yes, it really does matter. Right now our Savior is in the Heavenly Sanctuary, and the earthly Sanctuary was modeled after the heavenly when it was built.  For many years the earthly Sanctuary existed- first, and a portable tabernacle the Israelites used as they traveled the wilderness for forty years and later in a temple built by Solomon, and since that temple was destroyed another was built by Herod the Great, and that temple was destroyed in 70AD and has never been rebuilt.  

For Christians, we recognize that on the Day of Pentecost in 31AD Peter spoke to the Jewish people saying this- 

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

They didn't repent. In fact they went on and sealed their fate the day they stoned Stephen in 34AD, there were no more calls to repentance for them, none. The gospel went to the Gentiles after that. 

Christians recognize that when our Savior was crucified the Veil in the Temple was rent in two halves from top to bottom. Christ was the last and ultimate Sacrifice that would ever be needed, not a single temple sacrifice made after His meant anything. He was the LAMB that was slain for us all. And when He died He returned to heaven to sit in the Heavenly Sanctuary with God the Father!  He went to the heavenly Sanctuary…

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; 

Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 

Heb 8:3  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 

Heb 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 

Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 

Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 

Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 

Heb 8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 

Heb 8:9  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 

Heb 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 

Heb 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. 

We do need the knowledge of the Sanctuary of old to comprehend more in full the Heavenly Sanctuary so we're going to study this for a bit, along with our continuing study on the following… (May God bless us and keep us in Him always, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!! Amen!)

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Resurrection of the Just and Unjust

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(EXCERPT)

The unjust will be resurrected, some object to this truth. The article we've been studying is vindicating the truth of the resurrection of the unjust- scripturally, logically. Pray for enlightenment through our Savior, by the Holy Spirit.

A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Unjust By J.H. Waggoner

CONTINUING STUDY….

Dan 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.

Now I appeal to the reader, Does Rev. 20 exceed the statements of the several scriptures here noticed? Is it not in perfect harmony with them all? I am willing to leave it with the candid inquirer for truth that Rev. 20 teaches no new doctrine; not even a single idea which is not clearly brought to view in other scriptures.

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 

Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 

Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 

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. 

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 

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. 

Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 

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

In these remarks I have intimated that it is objected that Rev. 20 should not be relied on as proof on this subject. I think I might safely leave it to the reader with the foregoing examination, yet I prefer to notice the positions of the objectors, and remove all distrust that has been placed upon that chapter.

It is assumed that, because Paul said he kept back nothing that was profitable, all that he did not say is unprofitable; and as he said nothing about a "second death" it is not profitable, and therefore not truth.  1.Paul also said he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God. He did not shun to declare it-he did not keep it back, as if unwilling to give all his testimony. But this certainly cannot mean that every statement in the Bible is unprofitable except those written by Paul. He was at Ephesus for "the space of three years," preaching and laboring among them; and it was of this labor he spoke, and not of what he wrote to them; for we know that he wrote but little to the Ephesians. If the objectors know just what he did, and what he did not, preach during those three years, then they are competent to say whether he ever said anything about the second death in his ministry at Ephesus; otherwise they are not. The prophets and evangelists and other apostles say many things that Paul did not write. Are they all unprofitable? Such a construction of Paul's language is a great perversion. Indirectly he taught a second death in such statements as this; "If ye live after the flesh ye shall die." If this refers to temporal death it is equally true that if we live after the Spirit we shall die! Then what force is there in his declaration? "They that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption." 

Now our opponents say the wicked have this fulfilled in them already; they have suffered their penalty; they have seen corruption. But Inspiration says, "David fell on sleep and saw corruption." Is he also numbered with them that fail of everlasting life, because he saw corruption? The truth is, all see corruption alike all die the first death; the righteous "reap life everlasting" in the resurrection; they are "raised in incorruption." The wicked "reap corruption" in their resurrection, because it is a "resurrection of damnation"-a resurrection whose partakers are subject to the second death. If we live after the Spirit, we shall escape that death we shall live. But if we live after the flesh, we shall die a death that they will not die who live after the Spirit. Living after the flesh or after the Spirit has no influence whatever over temporal death; therefore that is not the death to which our probation relates, and not the death referred to in these scriptures. Many quotations of like import might be given from Paul's writings. See also comments already made on "the day of wrath."

2. It is assumed that the first resurrection is not a resurrection first in order, but the "chief resurrection," as the word may be so translated. Life from the Dead, p. 70. Granting that it may, important considerations forbid its being so translated here. It is the word translated first when order is expressed, as in 1 Thess. 4:16: "The dead in Christ shall rise first." Acts 3:26: "Unto you first, God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you." Chap. 13:46: "It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you." And many others. And it is proved to mean first in order in Rev. 20:5, by the context. It is the

first resurrection in distinction from that of "the rest of the dead," who do not live again till a thousand years afterward. The connection also speaks of "the second death," which involves a second resurrection, inasmuch as that death has no power on those who rise in the first resurrection.

3. It is asserted that the first clause of verse 5 is apocryphal: "But the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished." But this sentence exactly corresponds with the connection in every respect. The Emphatic Diaglott remarks on the omission of this from the Vatican Manuscript, "These words were probably omitted by oversight by Vat. MS., as they are found in a, b, c,-though not in the Syriac." Griesbach, than whom there is no higher authority on such questions, says it should be retained. The evidence, both

internal and external, is in its favor. The application of this text by Elds. Storrs and Curry, I have noticed.

4. It is affirmed that the term "second death" is figurative, and refers, not to the wicked, but to "death and hell," and "the lake of fire." It seems unnecessary to say, I am astonished at such "criticisms." Thus I quote: "It may be answered, What and when' is the second death of death and hell, if  death and hell die not once? certainly not twice." Similar to this is the exposition I heard a preacher of that faith once give; "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This [the lake of fire] is the second death." And then he affirmed that it did not refer to the wicked, but to the lake of fire! If death and hell were cast therein, all who were under the dominion of death and hell were cast therein. The lake of fire is the second death-not to the lake of fire, which is nonsense, but-to whosoever was not found written in the book of life. If such declarations appear to partake more of the spirit of caviling than of

reverential reasoning, let us attribute it to the necessities of the theory; for I have never met with a teacher of that faith who I thought would willingly harbor such a spirit. But I must think they appreciate the necessities of their system when they write and speak thus. A more careful examination of the Scriptures would obviate the difficulty in their minds. Verse 6  says the second death has no power on the blessed an? holy. Of course it has power on such as are not blessed and holy. This determines who are the subjects of the second death. Also chap. 2:11. They who do not overcome will be hurt of it.

5. It is said again that no claim should be asserted on the phrase, "second death," as it is found only in the book of Revelation, a book so highly figurative that no doctrine should be based on it. I hope that reverence for the Giver of the book of Revelation may yet correct this impression in the minds of the objectors. His words are these: "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." It is the more surprising to read such an objection when made by those who claim to be "Adventists;" as it has long been a standing objection against their whole faith, and a valid one, too, if it is of any force whatever. What would William Miller have

done with such an objection? or what would he have accomplished had he  admitted it? "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." The book of Revelation is the only book that describes the seven last plagues; shall we therefore say they will never be? Many things might be noticed which it alone, of all the books of the Bible, expressly mentions. Considering the subject and scope of the book, to reveal the appearing of Jesus and the consummation of God's purposes towards this earth and its inhabitants, it is the book of all books to which we should look for information on judgment scenes and destinies.

One very important thing stated in this book is, that if any one takes away from its words, his part shall be taken out of the book of life. Let us then be careful how we take any position to discredit its testimony; for we might as well entirely take away its words, as to cause men to discredit them, or to take away their force and power. I will now examine the direct Scripture argument of those who oppose the doctrine of the resurrection of the unjust.

To be continued…

Remember,

 Remember- I remember. I remember many people through memories. Memories triggered by sight, sound, smells, touch, taste.  I see a cloud, I remember your love of clouds. You would have liked that example of remembrance. I hear a song and I remember your smile as it played when we were together. You would like that example of remembrance. I smell spaghetti sauce cooking, I remember your wonderful sauce, you would have liked that example of remembrance. I feel the softness of your fur and remember the unconditional devotion to me you had. Such a wonderful example of remembrance. I taste a sugar cookie and oh how the memories of you flood my mind. You would have liked that remembrance of you. So many things, so many people, so many leave the memories we cherish. 

I have no memory to cherish for any of my great, great grandparents, not one. I have nothing that I do that links me with their past as being a part of my life. I know of nothing they did that they passed to their children, my great grandparents to pass on to the future generations. I do have a few memories of my great grandparents and some things in my life that bring remembrance of at least one of them. Would they have wanted to be remembered by me, my great, great grandparents- my great, great, great grandparents? If I had grown up with traditions of remembrance that went way back into my family tree passed down from generation to generation- how wondrous that would be. Some people have this dating back many, many years. If they wanted to be remembered and then told their offspring to do something in remembrance, and that lasted through generation after generation- how amazing. 

We are told- Do this in remembrance of me. Not for any other reason but remembering Him, all of Him, only Him, everything about Him. Do this worthily. Do this believing. Do this with faith. Do this with the knowledge of why the blood had to be spilled, why the body had to be broken. Do this accepting the sacrifice. Do this in great solemness. Do this recognizing holiness. Do this knowing forgiveness. Do this in remembrance. Do this- never forget to do this. Never forget to remember Him!

 You can do this, I can do this, we need nothing but the bread, the wine. If we have no bread, no wine, we can do this with what we have rather than not doing it at all. We aren't to forget because we do not have. We were given food and drink as symbols we need food and drink to live, our food and drink consecrated simply by doing in remembrance of Him.  Make it hard, make it impossible, deprive yourselves in ways of remembrance He never intended -how utterly wrong! He came for the poor, the meek, the humble, the homeless, the sick… He would never want them to forget. He would never have wanted them to lament not being able to do this in remembrance of Him. Cry sacrilege! Cry foul! Cry blaspheme! He would be the first to understand- you Pharisee, you scribe, you of those who love to put Him out of reach for your own ceremonial laws, not His! 

Do this in remembrance of me, He said.

Take Eat. Sup With Him. Bread of Life. Word Made Flesh. Example- of the vine Jesus would not drink again from until He's with us in the Father's kingdom- Drink in remembrance. Flesh and blood- a sacrifice of both- example - remembrance. Do this in remembrance. Remember Jesus the Word made flesh. Remember Jesus the bread of life. Remember Jesus whose blood was spilled. Remember Jesus whose body was broken. Remember the Son of God Our SAVIOR!

Don't be LUKEWARM!

'And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art LUKEWARM and neither cold nor hot, I will SPUE THEE OUT of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 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. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches'  Revelations 3:14-22

Faith (gold tried in fire), Christ's Righteousness (white raiment), Holy Spirit Guidance to Truth (eye salve) - we NEED THESE THINGS we need to seek them as if they were something we HAD to buy at all cost! They will be given to us freely, but our desire for them has to be such that we want them desperately!

We are being rebuked and chastened because we are LOVED by GOD!

We must REPENT! We must OPEN THE DOOR and LET CHRIST IN TO SUP WITH HIM AND HE WITH US!  And supping is eating the bread of life, the WORD of GOD! We must devour the WORD of GOD we have the privilege of having access to! We must feast on the WORD OF GOD every day for our very eternal life sake! DO NOT starve your eternal life away!

All through the glory of GOD and our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, now and forever! Amen!!!!!!!