Are you confused by prophecy?

Are you confused by prophecy?

1Co 14:29  Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

1Co 14:30  If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

1Co 14:31  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

1Co 14:32  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

GOD is NOT the author of confusion.

God tells us this--

Mar_13:14  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) …

Let him that readeth UNDERSTAND.

We really can understand. God will enlighten us. The Holy Spirit will give us comprehension. When the scales fall from our eyes we will see truth!

So many want to hide from the truth thinking it will blind them, not knowing they are already blind. People are fearful of truth because once they have the knowledge they're accountable for that truth, that knowledge.  They need to realize that they are accountable for not accepting truth. We can't deceive God, it is impossible.

Please Father, please help us to know the truth, all of it! Reveal to us all we need to know.

You want us to read and to understand, so please help us as we continue to study the prophecy of Daniel and Revelation using all of history- something that is undeniable and factual- to open our eyes to your predictions of our future.

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back several days and read the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  God bless you! *******

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 Messiah 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)

Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen>

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.

Timelines

Satan is a deceiver, we've proven that through God's own word. Satan is our adversary and yet today many people are embracing Satan and all his evil under the guise of his being an angel of light.

2Co_11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

An angel of light.

Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

The gospel, the good news from our Savior- salvation by grace through His mercy, by His sacrifice, His death. Salvation, eternity with him. Salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord alone. 

So why study prophecy? Why not just cling to a verse such as John 3:16 and nothing more?

Because our Savior said this too--

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Rev 1:2  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

This is why we study prophecy. Our Savior wants us to study prophecy.  We long for instruction yet when we are given that we ignore it in favor of things that are more pleasing to our ears.

Study prophecy as instructed and NEVER ever lose sight of the reason. That reason being our Savior Jesus Christ our Lord would have us do this, that is the reason we study, we seek, we long for His truth in all the ways He can give it to us.  By His grace may we understand…. Though His love always!

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back several days and read the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  God bless you! *******

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).

Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artaxerxes_I_of_Persia>

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.

Jesus spoke of Daniel the prophet, we must study the book of Daniel.

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back several days and read the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  God bless you! *******

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 His 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 9:20  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.

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 wasn't given to him before he prayed his desperate prayer.  What does this tell us? Seriously? We can overlook 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.

They will TURN from truth.

Signs and symbols, the future cloaked in beasts, kingdoms, dragons, stars, sounds like a movie of the week doesn't it? And even in our movies of the weeks we expect comprehension. Bad movies get bad reviews - it never became clear what was going on, it was too confusing, I couldn’t understand. Those are only a few of the things that people might say about a bad movie. And with Biblical prophecy many might say the same things. It's too confusing, I can't understand it, it's not clear.  And when you tell people you can explain it they often become defensive. They say such things as- I should be able to understand it plainly, if God wanted me to understand He'd enlighten me, I'm not supposed to understand that stuff it's for Bible scholars not me. They also say if it were really important we'd be told it was by our church leaders.  Some say prophecy is for crazy sects, not true churches. People say all kinds of things and they ignore what they want to ignore. They remain blind because they want to be blind. They remain deaf because they want to be deaf. People will say they see, when in truth they are completely blind, completely!  Satan LOVES counterfeits and subterfuge. Satan LOVES to confuse and destroy. Why are people so incredibly deceived by Him when we are told he is a deceiver?

Gen 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gen 3:5  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

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.

2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Mat 5:37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Mat 13:19  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Joh 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

2Th 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

1Jn 2:13  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

1Jn 2:14  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1Jn 5:18  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

1Ti 3:7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

2Co 2:10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

1Ti 5:14  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

1Ti 5:15  For some are already turned aside after Satan.

1Ti 2:14  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

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.

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Exo 7:11  Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

Exo 7:12  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

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.

Mar 13:22  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Deu 13:5  And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Jer 23:26  How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart

Eze 13:6  They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

Eze 13:7  Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

Eze 13:8  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 13:9  And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

Eze 13:10  Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter

Mat 4:6  And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Are we going to be deceived? We choose.

May God bless us as we read the prophecies and keep what we read- opening our minds to His truth and only HIS truth. Guide us, Lord, guide us and keep us in You!

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back several days and read the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  God bless you! *******

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 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