DANIEL

DANIEL COMMENTARY

A LOOK INTO THE PROPHECIES OF DANIEL

Daniel is one book in the Bible, which has merited controversy and debate. According to scholars, Daniel did not write the book of Daniel in the sixth century B.C. but in the first-second centuries B.C. They base this on the fact that there was no documented account of Daniel the person other than the Bible and the prophecies contained in the book about Persia, Greece, Rome are so accurate that they think that it had to have been written after the events prophesied occurred.

However, I believe there was a Daniel and that he wrote his book in the sixth century B.C. for several reasons: Jesus Christ alluded to Daniel in his ministry, Daniel was in the Septuagint (Greek Translation of the Old Testament) when it was completed in 285 B.C. Josephus (Jewish historian in the first century A.D.) alluded to the fact that the book of Daniel was written in 573 B.C. Jaddua the High Priest in 332 B.C. showed the prophecy in Daniel about Alexander the Great to Alex the Great and he spared the city (Jerusalem). Finally, Ezekiel (a contemporary of Daniel) mentioned Daniel in EZEKIEL 14:14,20; 28:3. A more detailed analysis of the historical authenticity of Daniel will be provided on the site later and to anyone who requests it.

Daniel is a book of twelve chapters. The first six chapters are historical while second six chapters are prophetical. There is however three important prophesies in the historical part of the book of Daniel. So those three prophecies and the second half of Daniel will be looked at in this exposition of the prophecies of Daniel.

The first prophecy in Daniel is King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. He had a dream that troubled him and in a daring move which no king ever done, he asked the seers to tell him what he dreamed and to interpret it. Even the seers themselves said that this is an impossible task and that no man can do this only the gods who don't live among men. Of course this angers the king but then Daniel later says that there is a God in heaven the Almighty God who can reveal mysteries. Here is the dream:

You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue - an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing flour in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. DANIEL 2:31-35

The large statue symbolizes THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES. There are four important world empires that come on the scene. The Book of Daniel talks about the commencement, character, course and consummation of the Times of the Gentiles. This is what the large statue portrays. To summarize briefly, the gold head stands for Babylon, the chest and arms of silver stands for Media-Persia, belly and thighs of bronze stands for Greece, and the legs of iron stand for Rome. Some people might ask, "How come each part of the statue which stands for the next successive kingdom which conquered the former, the latter is inferior to the former kingdom? This is because though the military strength in the next kingdom is obviously better (because they conquered them), the government of the latter is inferior to the former kingdom. I'll explain.

Babylon's government was an absolute monarchy in which a sovereign ruler ruled over all the people. Nebuchadnezzar was an absolute monarch. He had unlimited power. He wasn't responsible to a senate, parliament, jury, or judge and he had the power of life and death. So Babylon was likened unto gold.

The Media-Persia kingdom was that of a limited monarchy. The laws of the land limited the king. Look at Darius and Esther's husband Ahasuerus (Xerxes). They couldn't touch or change the law only counteract with a new law. Nobles were equal to the king in rank not in office. So Persia was likened unto silver, which is inferior to gold.

Greece's government was a military government, which was divided amongst four military generals. Alexander the Great ruled Greece not because of his nobility (he didn't have "divine right" nor was he noble) but because of his power, influence, and military genius. So Greece was likened unto bronze, which is inferior to gold and silver.

Rome's government was that of a dictatorship. The emperor was chosen by a popular, military election. The emperor was not of nobility but would rise up from the ranks of the common people. But those emperors ruled with an iron rod. So Rome was likened unto iron, which is inferior to gold, silver, and bronze.

It is worth noting that Babylon was a single (unit) empire, Media-Persia was a dual empire, Greece was a quadruple empire, and Rome in its final form will be a ten-kingdom empire. This is evident by the ten toes mixed of iron and clay. The iron and clay signify that the revived Roman Empire will be a democratic dictatorship. Iron stands for dictatorship rule while clay represents the will of the people or democracy. Democracy is a great form of government if godly people run it but when evil people run it, then democracy (freedom and liberty) is in the hands of the devil and gives rise to sin and all of its constituents doing their own thing not God's will. This is what will happen in the Seven Year Tribulation that is to come. This revived Roman Empire can only come when the INFLUENCE of the Holy Spirit through the church is taken away in the Rapture. The Holy Spirit cannot be taken away for he is God and is omnipresent and how would the Holy Spirit save anyone through the witnessing of the Tribulation Saints and the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists and the conviction of the sinner during the Tribulation?

A comforting thought is that God will come and set up a kingdom, which will never pass away. The smiting stone is Jesus Christ himself who will end THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES and the stone will become a mountain and fill the whole earth. Jesus Christ will rule as the ruler of his millennial kingdom and the government will be a THEOCRACY. A theocracy is a government in which God is recognized as the supreme ruler. It will perfect and no corruption will exist.

The second prophecy in the historical section of Daniel deals again with Nebuchadnezzar. After all, this is his second dream.

Daniel 4:9-17

I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me.

These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.

The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.

Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

"In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

He called in a loud voice: `Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.

But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. "`Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth.

Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.

"`The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'

Nebuchadnezzar had another dream in which it troubled him so he called Daniel and he told the dream to Daniel. After this, Daniel would give his interpretation. The dream was that he saw a tree and it was enormous and everything about it was beautiful. But one day, the tree was cut down with its leaves and its stump was chained to the ground. And it will live among animals for seven times (or seven years). Daniel interpreted the dream in Daniel 4:19-27 and he said that the tree is King Nebuchadnezzar and that his power and greatness has grown until it reaches the sky. One day, Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom will be taken away from him and he will live like an animal for seven years if he doesn’t repent of his sins and pride. Only when Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that God is in control of all the kingdoms of the earth and gives them to anyone he wishes then his kingdom would be restored to him. Twelve months later, Nebuchadnezzar said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Verse 30) Then a voice came from heaven and told him that his royal authority has been taken away from him and that he will live with wild animals for seven years. There is lived and even looked like an animal by his long hair, long nails and eating grass. But then Nebuchadnezzar realized his sin and praised God and acknowledged him as being sovereign over the nations and does as he pleases with them. When he came to a realization that God ultimately is in control, God had grace and forgave him and restored his kingdom to him and became even greater than before as the scriptures says.

Daniel 5:25-28

"This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN

"This is what these words mean:

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

King Belshazzar held a feast of great magnitude and even dared to use the instruments of the Jewish Temple to drink out of. This was pride on the part of the King and a lack of regard for the Most High God that even his grandfather King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged as supreme. Then they praised all of their gods, and though it is not mentioned in scripture, they were probably praising their gods for the glory of Babylon and the nation’s power in bringing all other nations and gods under their feet.

But God will not be subordinate to any idol or nation for he stretched out his hand and wrote, “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.” (Verse 25) This frightened every guest at the banquet and the King’s knees knocked together and his legs gave way. The words meant that the reign of King Balshezzar has been numbered and that it will be given to the Medes and Persians. Despite the fact that King Balshezzar put a purple robe and a gold chain on Daniel and made him the third highest in the kingdom, that very night the King was slain and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom of Babylon.

Daniel 7

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.

The first part of Daniel is historical while the last half is prophetical. This prophecy was given around the time of Daniel 4 – 5 but was put in chapter 7 by Daniel to express the division of the book of Daniel – first six chapters are historical while the last six chapters are merely prophetical. We are then told that Daniel has a dream.

Daniel said: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea.

The great sea in scripture can mean a multitude or even the Mediterranean Sea. In this sense it is the Mediterranean Sea and we can see that something is brewing for the four winds of heaven are churning up the great sea. Why? Because its going to introduce the four great beasts, which are world empires that are to come upon the scene. The four winds of heaven could also represent the providences of God allowing us to believe that God is ultimately in control of all the kingdoms and nations of this world and gives to whom he wishes. Other people say that the four winds refers to Satan who rules over the Powers of the Air, which cause unrest among the nations of the earth and that the sea is the nations and the waves of it the unrest and tumult of the nations.

Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

This vision is identical to the dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had in Daniel 2 with the same theme – THE FOUR WORLD EMPIRES but with different views. The Statue in Daniel 2 represented what natural man thinks of empires and government. The King’s vision represented the empires as noble, stately, and magnificent. Daniel on the other hand being a spiritual man saw it from God’s own viewpoint. God sees empires as beast, ravenous and monstrous depicting the moral character of the nation. Remember: God’s ways are not man’s ways. For example when we are without Christ, we are blinded by our sin but when we turn to Christ, he opens our eyes and lets us see that us sinning was really hurting ourselves and God. It is through the conviction of the Holy Spirit that we can see our sin and be sorry and ask forgiveness from Jesus Christ, our mediator.

"The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.

The first beast that looked like a lion was Babylon. The wings of an eagle and the lion is a perfect fit for Babylon since if you look at old pictures of Babylon, you see the winged lions, caved in stone, which symbolically guarded ancient Babylon. The lion is ferocious as well as majestic. It is also swift in conquering other nations and its power reaches even the sky. The fact that its wings was torn off is symbolic of Babylon’s decline after Nebuchadnezzar was driven in the fields where for seven years he lived as an animal. But it was lifted from the ground and it stood and the heart of a man was given to it refers to the fact that Nebuchadnezzar in his remorse over his sin praised God and acknowledged him as ruler and in control and God by grace gave and restored Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom to him.

"And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, `Get up and eat your fill of flesh!'

The second beast, which looks like a bear is Medo-Persia. It was raised up on one of its sides refers to the fact that the larger and stronger of the two – Persia dominated the Medes. Clarence Larkin in his book DANIEL explains the three ribs stood for the three kingdoms of Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt, who formed a triple alliance to check the Medo-Persian power. But unfortunately they were destroyed and soon it devoured much flesh. You notice that with each successive beast, it becomes inferior to the former just like in the vision of Daniel 2 in terms of government, wealth and magnificence. But with each successive beast, the later is much more stronger and terrible in terms of military strength and brute and terror than the former.

"After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

The third beast, which looked like a leopard was Greece. The four wings of a bird probably symbolizes the speed of conquest since Alexander the Great conquered much of the world by the time of his death at the young age of thirty-three. The four heads symbolize that the Grecian Empire after the death of Alexander the Great was divided into four by his four generals – Cassander (Macedonia and Greece), Lysimachus (Thrace and Bithynia), Ptolemy (Egypt), and Seleucus (Syria). Notice that the leopard is inferior to the bear and the bear is inferior to the lion but not in terror for as these beasts progress, they become more terrible.

"After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast--terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

The fourth beast, which has no identity with a beast because it is so terrible that it is indescribable, represents the Roman Empire. Notice that more verses are devoted to this last terrible beast than to the other ones. During the reign of the Roman Empire they devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. They wouldn’t tolerate rebellion so they crushed and brought every nation to its knees and burned cities and treated its subjects living in other lands like Judea like dirt. They subjugated all to obey their laws and worship their gods or death. The killed a great deal of Christians and those that didn’t get killed lived a life of a fugitive. They burned the Temple and the city of Jerusalem and destroyed the city of Carthage in Africa along with many others not mentioned. Just look at a history book and you’ll see this prophecy about Rome fulfilled.

This beast had ten horns. There are obviously two phases in the Roman Empire. There will be a future Roman Empire called the Revived Roman Empire. The ten horns are the ten kings that will rule the Revived Roman Empire in the End-Times. Revelation 17:12,13 identifies the ten horns as ten kings who have not received a kingdom but for one-hour rule with the Antichrist until they give their power and authority to the beast (i.e. the Antichrist).

"While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

The little horn that sprang up from the ten horns is the Antichrist. Evidence of this lies in the fact that he speaks boastful words and in Revelation 13:5 it says, “The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.” The three horns that are uprooted will object to the rise of the Antichrist and they will be removed and probably killed. This little horn is the same person as the rider on the white horse in the first horseman of the apocalypse in the first seal judgment.

"As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

The Ancient of Days is none other than Jesus Christ for this is clearly a judgment scene. Remember: Scriptures says that the Father has committed all of the judgment unto the Son. This means that Jesus Christ is doing the judging. How do I know because in Revelation 1:14, Christ has hair as white as snow and he has a robe. Daniel 7:9 is similar in language to that of Revelation 1:13-18 revealing the glorified son of man – Jesus Christ. This judgment is the end of the TIMES OF THE GENTILES. Instead of man ruling, it will be God with his church, which by the way was not seen by Daniel but revealed to us by Jesus Christ.

A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.

This is the Judgment of the Nations after the Glorious Appearing. Jesus describes this judgment in Matthew 25:31-46.

"Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.

Evidence that this is not the GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT, which is after the Millennium, is this verse. We see that the little horn, which is the Antichrist, is saying boastful things until he is slain, his body destroyed and thrown into a blazing fire. This verse goes along with Revelation 19:20,21. In this verse in Revelation, the Antichrist was thrown alive in the Lake of Fire, which corresponds to “the blazing fire.” Remember: Revelation reveals many of the things that are in the Book of Daniel. Daniel is a SEALED book while Revelation is a book of REVELATION or revealing the events in the future – Church Age, Tribulation, Millennium, and New Heaven and Earth.

(The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

We can see that after the final beast – the Revived Roman Empire, there is Judgment but not so with the other beasts. Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome (the first Roman Empire not the Revived Roman Empire) are not around today but their culture, gods in other forms, literature, and law are still around. Even though these beasts were stripped of their authority when conquered, they were allowed to live a short time. Evidence of this lays in the next few proofs. Daniel even though Babylon was conquered still lived in Babylon. Babylon was still a city in New Testament times because Peter preached there. Persia wasn’t destroyed fully because Zoroaster, a pagan prophet, influenced many people and his influence is seen today in the religion of Zoroastrianism or Parsis in India. Greece was still around in Roman times and its people taught the Romans their gods and influenced their government and taught the people to read and write. Greek democracy is still seen today in the United States and Greek philosophers like Philo, Socrates, Plato, and more will live in the hearts of many so-called enlightened people. And the stories of the Odyssey and the Iliad by Homer still captivate people. Rome was destroyed from within and the outside. The uncivilized Germanic peoples were a threat but the Roman Catholic Church survived Rome and the Holy Roman Empire with King Charles V Occupied much of Europe in the Renaissance until it was dismantled by independence. Only the Revived Roman Empire (ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT OF THE ANTICHRIST) will be judged and not allowed to survive for a time.

"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

Daniel looked and saw and saw the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. WAIT! If The Ancient of Days in verse nine is Jesus Christ then how can Jesus be approaching himself? This can only be solved by the fact that the ANCIENT OF DAYS in verse thirteen is God the Father. Still Not Convinced? Jesus said in John 10:30, “I and my Father are ONE.”

He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

In this scene we see that God the Father is giving his authority and throne to his Son, Jesus Christ who is the Son of Man. Evidence of this is in Luke 1:32 where he will give Jesus the throne of David, Psalms 2:6 where the Son is placed upon the Holy Hill of Zion, and Psalm 110:1 where God the Father will make Jesus Christ’s enemies his footstool. The Millennium is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and it will not be destroyed though Satan will attempt to do so after he is released after 1000 years. It will be great seeing people of every nation, culture, and language worship Jesus Christ. Glory be to God.

"I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.

If I was in Daniel’s shoes, I would be troubled and confused at these visions because of their majesty (Son of Man), terror (Four beasts), and Judgment (Nations). I would have asked someone for his or her interpretation and that is exactly what Daniel does when he approaches an angel that was standing there.

I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. "So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:

God is so good that he doesn’t want us to be confused so he provides someone, an angel to interpret the visions that Daniel saw.

`The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.

The four kingdoms are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome (in two phases – Rome and the future Revived Roman Empire)

But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever--yes, for ever and ever.'

The saints of the Most High are obviously Jews for Daniel is concerned about the future of the Jews and he doesn’t foresee the Church. The saints of the Most High are the God-fearing Jews that escape destruction by the Antichrist during the LAST half of the Tribulation. They will be head of the nations during the Millennium (Deuteronomy 28:13).

"Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws--the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.

Daniel also wanted to know about the last beast, which no doubt perplexed, confused, and scared him. So he sought the interpretation and the true meaning of this indescribable beast. This is obviously referring to the Old Roman Empire of antiquity and history.

I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell--the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

Daniel was confused about this last beast because it had ten horns, another horn rose up, and then three horns fell. This is obviously referring to the future Revived Roman Empire. The ten horns are kings and the little horn is the Antichrist. Three horns that fall are three kings that rebel because of probably jealousy over the power of this little horn and they will be removed by probably death. The Antichrist will also speak boastfully saying that he is GOD and deceive many.

As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them,

The Antichrist will rage war against the saints, which I identified them earlier as Jews who have faith in God and Jesus Christ. Many will be killed but many will survive in hiding (remember the vision of Revelation 12 where the woman – Israel is protected for 1260 days). Since Daniel did not foresee the Church, he probably did not foresee the Tribulation Saints that are Gentile.

until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

The Ancient of Days here is Jesus Christ. This is describing the Judgment of the Nations where Jesus will separate the Sheep (Good nations) with the Goat Nations (Bad nations) and ask them whether they dealt with the Jews (Saints of the Tribulation) in a right way. Then after this the Jews will possess the kingdom. Once again, Daniel did not foresee the Church, to whom God the Son promised that we will reign with him in his kingdom.

"He gave me this explanation: `The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.

This I referring to the Roman Empire, which ruled the world from 146 BC to AD 476.

The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.

This is referring to the future Revived Roman Empire.

He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.

The Antichrist will say that he is God and will curse the Most High and say that he is above him. This reminds me of those Lucifer passages in Isaiah and Ezekiel. He will try to change the set times and the laws refers to that he will break his covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27) at the midpoint of the Tribulation. SET TIMES AND LAWS refers to the Festivals and the Hebrew Sabbaths (Times) and (Laws) the Levitical Law. The Antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel guaranteeing them protection and a right to their land. The Temple will be already built by the time of the midpoint of the Tribulation. During the FIRST half, Jews will sacrifice to God the way they did in the Old and New Testament before Rome destroyed the Temple in AD 70. The priests will be set up and the instruments placed and the Sabbath and the Festivals reinstituted. At the midpoint, the Antichrist will proclaim that he is God and perform the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION. Out of his hate for Israel, he will cease sacrifices, stop the Sabbath, and attempt to annihilate all Jewish institutions. He will also kill many saints (Jews but the Tribulations Saints that were Gentile were not foreseen here) for three-and-a-half-years.

"`But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.

The court is Jesus Christ and the Antichrist’s power will be taken away from him and be completely destroyed forever. No traces of the Antichrist’s kingdom will be found anywhere in the Millennium.

Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.'

The people of the Most High are the Jews and they will lead the nations in the millennium according to Deuteronomy 28:13. Jesus’ kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom and all the rulers will worship and obey him.

"This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself."

Daniel was troubled and his face turned pale but he kept the matter to himself. This reminds me of Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” This also shows that Daniel was troubled because of the future of his people – Israel!

Daniel 8

In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me.

This vision should be placed between Daniel 4 – 5 and after Daniel 7. Here is the proper order of all the chapters in Daniel according to the dating of each:

DANIEL 1,2,3,4,7,8,5,9,10,11,12,6

But Daniel separated the first six chapters that are historical and the last six that are prophetical to indicate a division within the Book of Daniel. This vision is after the vision in Daniel 7 as I said earlier.

In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal.

In this vision, Daniel was transported from Babylon to Persia into its capital Susa, which is in the province of Elam, which is beside the Ulai canal.

I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later.

Daniel sees a ram with two horns, one of which is longer than the other. The Ram represents Medo-Persia. The two horns symbolize two kingdoms – Media and Persia. The longer horn, which grew later, is Persia while the shorter horn, which grew earlier, is Media. Some people say that the shorter horn is Darius the Mede while the longer horn is Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II). Darius was a Mede while Cyrus was ultimately Persia though he had a Mede mother. So both these kings represent their respective kingdoms – Media and Persia!

I watched the ram as he charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and none could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.

The ram (Medo-Persia) charged toward the west, north, and south. Why not the east? Because Media-Persia came from the east. The triple alliance being destroyed is proof of this verse for the ram charged toward the west (Lydia), the north (Babylon), and the south (Egypt). No animal can stand against him refers to kingdoms since earlier in Daniel 7 we saw kingdoms as beasts in God’s eyes. So “animal” has to refer to other nations and kingdoms, which could not stand against the brute of Medo-Persia. Further proof that the ram is Medo-Persia is that the emblem of Persia was a ram and Persian coins were discovered depicting rams. Persia did as he pleased and became great.

As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground.

Now Daniel sees a goat with a prominent horn. The goat is Greece and proof of this lies in the fact that the national emblem of Macedonia (Greece) was the goat, the goat was found on the coins of that country, the city Aegae was called goat city while the adjacent Aegean Sea was called Goat Sea. Alexander the Great’s son by Roxana was called Aegus, the Son of a goat. The prominent horn is Alexander the Great and crossing the whole earth without touching the ground could refer to the fact that Alexander never saw defeat but brought the entire world under his rule. A horn on a goat will never touch the ground unless he falls down or is sleeping but we see from history that Greece under Alexander the Great never falls down (gets defeated from the outside) or falls asleep (defeated from the inside). Further proof that the goat is Greece is that it comes from the west and that is where Greece is – to the west (of probably Persia where Daniel was at the time of the vision).

He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at him in great rage.

He refers to either Alexander the Great or the goat, which is Greece. It is probably Alexander for he defeated Persian forces with rage. Here are the important battles he fought with Persia:

1. Alexander at the banks of the Granicus defeated a Persian army in 334 BC.

2. Alexander at Issus defeated the Persian army led by Darius III in 333 BC.

3. Alexander at Arbela defeated the Persian army again in 331 BC.

Alexander from 330 BC to 327 BC seized the cities of Susa, Persepolis, and Ecbatana as well as the rest of the outlying provinces of the Persian Empire. So you can see that verse six is fulfilled in history, which is why many people view these prophesies of Daniel were written much later after these events were fulfilled.

I saw him attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him; the goat knocked him to the ground and trampled on him, and none could rescue the ram from his power.

If you look at history, you will see that Alexander the Great defeated the Persians in three distinct battles and Persia was powerless against the goat and its prominent horn. No one could rescue Persia because there was no kingdom that could stand up to the Grecian Empire and its prominent horn – Alexander the Great.

The goat became very great, but at the height of his power his large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.

In this verse you see the large horn, which is the same as the PROMINENT HORN in verse five was broken off. This is true when you look at history. At the height of Alexander’s career and conquest, he died in Babylon because of a fever (probably marsh fever), exhaustion, intemperance and dissipation. He died at the young age of thirty-three. In his place were four prominent horns. These were his four generals who divided up the empire among them. As I said earlier, Cassander took Macedonia, Thessaly, and Greece; Lysimachus took Thrace, Cappadocia, and Asia Minor; Seleucus took Syria, Babylonia, and Media-Persia; and Ptolemy took Egypt and Cyprus. Note that Macedonia is the west; Thrace is the north; Syria is the east; and Egypt is the south so the four prominent horns did in fact GREW UP TOWARD THE FOUR WINDS OF HEAVEN.

Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.

Daniel sees another horn that comes out from the four prominent horns. Some people view this as a prophecy for Antiochus IV Epiphanes but I don’t see this because this horn started small. Antiochus IV was the son of Antiochus III so this would hardly seem that Antiochus IV started small for he succeeded his father. Even though Antiochus IV probably fits some of the descriptions in verses 9 – 14, it is clear that these verses talk about the Antichrist. Even though some of these verses were fulfilled in Antiochus IV, he is clearly a type of the Antichrist even though the context of these verses point to the Antichrist. So the Antichrist will start small and grow in power to the south, east, and toward the beautiful land, Israel.

It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them.

The Antichrist’s power will grow (the fact that the horn is growing in verse nine reaches its climax in verse ten) until it reached the host of the heavens (God himself). If you turn to Daniel 8:24, you’ll see that the Antichrist will become very strong but not by his own power. He will be empowered by Satan, the master conspirator in the End-Times. He will seek out the man who is going to be the Antichrist and probably offer him all the kingdoms of the world if he only worship him just what Satan used to tempt Jesus. But Jesus was more wise and said to Satan to only worship God. Thus the False Christ will not be wise as Jesus for he will seek out a kingdom and when he bows to Satan, he will go forth and conquer as Revelation 6:2. IT THREW SOME OF THE STARRY HOST DOWN TO THE EARTH AND TRAMPLED ON THEM reminds me of Revelation 12 where the dragon (Satan) swiped a third of the stars from the sky and flung them to the earth (Revelation 12:4). When Satan is thrown from heaven, he indwells the wounded Antichrist and performs a counterfeit Resurrection in which the Antichrist will rise from the dead. Satan can do this because he is capable of performing signs and wonders to deceive as you can see with the False Prophet. The Antichrist with Satan in his body literally just like Judas Iscariot will perform the Abomination of Desolation where we see the Antichrist proclaim himself to be God. This brings us to the next verse.

It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low.

The Antichrist will try to say and appear that he is greater than the Messiah, Jesus for he will claim that he is God in the Abomination of Desolation. The place of his sanctuary was brought low because the Antichrist performs the Abomination of Desolation. What is the Abomination of Desolation? At the midpoint of the Tribulation when the Antichrist rises from the dead, he will enter the rebuilt temple of Jerusalem and proclaim that he is God and will even put an idol in the Most Holy Place. This will be an abomination to God for God is a jealous God and only he should be worshipped as the True God. It is also an abomination because he defiled the Temple of his chosen people Israel. Isn’t it ironic that on two occasions Jesus Christ cleansed the Temple by driving out all the dealers, tax collectors, brokers, bankers, and marketers and yet the Jews rejected him for they though he was causing trouble. Jesus Christ meant well but the Antichrist will do the opposite – defile the Temple while Jesus cleansed it. After the Abomination, daily sacrifice will cease because of the defilement of the Temple. After the Antichrist pollutes the Temple, no one can perform sacrifices until the True Messiah, Jesus Christ cleanses the Temple again and reconsecrates it. The Antichrist takes away the daily sacrifice could also mean that because he changes the set times and laws, he attempts to abolish all the Jewish institutions and even try to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth, which Hitler tries to do. But the Antichrist will be worse than Hitler for Hitler hated the Jews and wasn’t afraid to hide it. But the Antichrist will be like Judas Iscariot. He will be the best of friends with Israel just like Judas to Jesus but when Satan entered Judas’ body, he betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ. In the same way, Satan will enter the Antichrist’s body and he will betray the Jews and show his hatred for them.

Because of rebellion, the host [of the saints] and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.

The rebellion refers to the open defiance of God by the Antichrist and the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. The Jews will be at the merciless hands of the Antichrist and many will be killed. Revelation 13:7 says, “He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.” The Antichrist will be successful to a large degree even though many Jews will escape into the wilderness and the mountains for he will kill many saints as well – Jew and Gentile. TRUTH WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND. Many people will be deceived by the Antichrist and worship the image of the beast (Antichrist) and take his mark (666). II Thessalonians 2 speaks of a great falling away, a rebellion. During the Tribulation many will feed their own lusts and participate in anything that is contrary to God. It will be as in the Days of Noah where people were drinking, killing, committing adultery, fornicating, homosexuality, orgies, and fits of rage, drunkenness, and addictions. Revelation 18:2 says, “She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.” Chapter 18 of Revelation describes the capital city of the Antichrist – Rebuilt Babylon and many of her inhabitants will perform many abomidible acts before God. If you thought New York, the Liberal capital of the world is bad, the future CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, Babylon will be worse! You can see that in the LAST half, the truth will be thrown to the ground.

Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, "How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled--the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?"

Daniel saw two angels talking for holy one refers to angels. An angel was speaking first then another angel asked him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled?” Daily Sacrifice refers to when the Jews start sacrificing in their Rebuilt Temple. The rebellion that causes desolation refers to the Abomination of Desolation by the Antichrist. The host that will be trampled underfoot either refers to saints that the Antichrist will conquer or it refers to Daniel 8:10 and Revelation 12.

He said to me, "It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated."

The other angel said to Daniel, 2300 evenings and mornings then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated. The sanctuary is the Rebuilt Temple. G.H. Pember in his book THE GREAT PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE GENTILES, THE JEWS, AND THE CHURCH OF GOD (Page 104) says, “The words of the angel in regard to the two thousand three hundred days are mysterious. The literal Hebrew expression is, not “days,” but “evenings mornings,” which proves that actual days of four-and-twenty hours are intended. And we should note that seven full prophetic years would contain two thousand five hundred and twenty days; that is, that the time mentioned by the angel is two hundred and twenty days short of seven years.” So 2300 days is intended in this verse even though some people believe it to be 2300 years as the Millerites and the Seventh Day Adventists uphold or 1150 days (half of 2300 days). After 2300 days, the Temple will be reconsecrated.

While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man.

Daniel was trying to comprehend the vision and while he was there, he saw a person that looked like a man.

And I heard a man's voice from the Ulai calling, "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision."

Another person is speaking with a man’s voice asking the man in verse 15 who in verse 16 is identified as Gabriel. The person that speaks with a man’s voice is either an angel or the Son of Man himself, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I think it might be Jesus for he commands Gabriel to speak the meaning of the vision unto Daniel.

As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end."

Gabriel approached Daniel and he was terrified and fell prostrate on his knees. Gabriel said, ‘Son of man, understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.” This is further proof that the prominent horn that came out of the four horns of the He-goat is not Antiochus IV but the Antichrist for this vision deals with the End-Times. You ask me how is the Antichrist going to come out of the four prominent horns of Greece? Daniel in chapter 7 spoke of the ten horns, which are the ten kings that give their authority over to the Antichrist (little horn). This is just a theory but the four horns that were the four divisions of the Grecian Empire after Alexander’s death will appear in the End-Times again as the four of the ten kings during the end of the days. These four kings today in terms of world geography are going to be from Greece, Turkey, Syria, and Egypt. These nations are independent countries right now and we can see a preview of what is about to transpire in the End-Times. It is no accident that Egypt, Israel, Turkey, India, and other countries under British, French, and Russian rule became independent countries in the 20^th century. The stage is set and we can probably see some of these prophecies come into play. The BIG QUESTION is who are the other six horns? That is the question; I’d like to know.

While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.

Daniel was probably so terrified that when he fell prostrate before Gabriel, he fell asleep. God probably made Daniel fall asleep temporarily in order to calm his fears and prepare him to receive the interpretation of the vision. Then Gabriel touched Daniel and helped Daniel to his feet.

He said: "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.

The time of wrath is obviously the Tribulation period, which in Daniel 9:27 it is revealed that it is going to be seven years. The above vision represents the time of the end, proving that the events are still future even today in the year 2000 for Antiochus IV never was in a time of wrath. The horn in the last few verses overcame the saints but Antiochus IV, though he set up an idol in the Temple, defiled it and killed many Jews, was stopped by Judas Maccabees.

The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.

The ram represents Medo-Persia with the longer horn Persia and the shorter Media.

The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.

The goat represents the kingdom of Greece and its first king was none other than Alexander the Great.

The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

The four horns are provinces or kingdoms of which was divided into after Alexander died (broken off). They are – Macedonia, Thrace, Syria, and Egypt. It is clear that no one in Greece that arose that ever was as great as ALEXANDER THE GREAT. They will not have the same power is fulfilled in history.

"In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise.

Just like the vision of the fourth beast, which has two phases – the OLD ROMAN EMPIRE of history and the REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE, the vision of the goat, which is Greece, has two phases. The first phase is Alexander the Great and the four provinces, which constitute the Empire of Greece. The second phase is “in the time of the end.” The Antichrist will be a stern-faced king and a master of intrigue. He will intrigue everybody and as you can see from Revelation 6, the Antichrist will conquer by negotiation and his charm. Notice in the first horseman of the apocalypse, the one on the white horse has a bow but no arrows so he will conquer peacefully. The moral condition will deteriorate so much that there will be a need for a stern-faced king who will bring order to the world after the perilous times and the mass disorder after the rapture. Note that before the revealing of the Antichrist, there will be a great falling away or rebellion.

He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people.

The Antichrist will become very strong but not by his own power, which suggests that he will be empowered by someone else. Now who could empower such an evil and deceptive being – Dana Carvey who used to be on Saturday Night Live and did the Church Lady said it best. IT’S S-A-T-A-N, SATAN! Satan will empower the Antichrist and he will make this human being the FULL EMBODIMENT OF EVIL AND DECEPTION for he will be SATAN INCARNATE. He will perform the Abomination of Desolation and wreck havoc on Judea and many Jews will flee to the mountains and the wilderness. Many Gentile Christians will have to form an underground network and black market of food and supplies because they can’t buy or sell with the MARK OF THE BEAST! But of course Daniel did not have the Church or Gentile Christians in view in this vision. The Antichrist will even be permitted to conquer some of the saints (Revelation 13:7). The holy people are the Jewish saints and the mighty men, I’m not sure, is probably politicians or even angels for Satan knocks a third of them out of the sky in Revelation 12 and in Daniel 8:10, they were trampled upon.

He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

Under the Antichrist, the moral condition will deteriorate. Just look at the sinful condition of Babylon the city in Revelation 18 and the condition during the days of Noah of all the sinful people. He will consider himself superior for he will mouth boastful words and will proclaim himself to be God. Israel will feel secure but the Antichrist will break his covenant and destroy many Jews – faithful and unfaithful. He will take his stand against Jesus Christ when he sees THE SON OF GOD descending with his holy ones (the Church). He will make war against him but the word of God, which is sharper than any double edged sword, which comes out of the mouth of Jesus will destroy all who oppose Christ in the Battle of Armageddon. The Antichrist will be destroyed but not by human power for he will be defeated by Christ and thrown into the LAKE OF FIRE.

"The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future."

The vision of the 2300 days (evenings and mornings) is true according Gabriel so he wishes Daniel to seal up the vision (preserve for the future) for the time of the end is not at hand in Daniel’s time for it is the distant future for it is THE END TIMES! Christ even revealed that the Abomination of Desolation is future so the prominent horn of Daniel 8 is not Antiochus IV but the SON OF PERDITION, THE ANTICHRIST!

I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

Daniel, just like in the previous vision in Daniel 7, was exhausted and lay ill for several days (though not to the same degree in Daniel 7 for his face was pale). Then after his illness, Daniel went up and went and did his job. He was still appalled by the vision for it was beyond understanding.

Daniel 9

In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom—

The first year of Darius is probably after he conquered Babylon and its king Belshazzar. This puts Daniel 9 after the events of Daniel 5.

in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.

Daniel the prophet also had the scriptures and he studied them for he was concerned about the future of Israel. He turned to the prophet Jeremiah for he prophesied that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. Jeremiah 25:11 says, “And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations (Judah and the surrounding nations) shall serve the King of Babylon SEVENTY YEARS.” Jeremiah 29:4-10 also says that Israel will go into captivity for seventy years. The seventy years was almost to an end and Daniel wanted to know the plans that God had for Israel (Jeremiah 29:11).

So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

Daniel turned to God and prayed and fasted in petition. He put on sackcloth and ashes. This shows that Daniel was concerned about his people and its future. Note: Daniel FIRST prayed to God. Prayer is very important and God does hear our prayers.

I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands,

God never breaks a promise and always keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey him. He is also a great and awesome God. Remember the song, OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME, HE REIGNS FROM HEAVEN ABOVE, WITH WISDOM POWER AND LOVE, OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!

we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.

Daniel acknowledges that Israel had done wrong in the sight of God and that they rebelled. They even turned away from God’s laws and commands. Daniel is including himself in there for he is a Jew and as a part of the nation and as such, he associates himself with the sinning Israel. In any case, Daniel acknowledged his own dependence on God by humbly identifying with the sins of those around him – i.e. Israel. By looking at this prayer, we can see an order to which we pray. First there is the PRAISE (Great and awesome God), then the PROVISION (keeps his covenant of love meaning that he will take care of his people by keeping his promises), then the CONFESSION (we have sinned and done wrong). We see this order in the LORD’S PRAYER. The Praise is OUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. The asking of Provision is GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. The Confession is FORGIVE US OUR TRESSPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESSPASS AGAINST US. The next three orders of prayer after the confession is DELIVERANCE, WORSHIP, and THE AGREEMENT! In the Lord’s Prayer, the asking of Deliverance is LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE. The Worship is FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOREVER AND EVER. The Agreement is AMEN! So here is the ORDER OF PRAYER:

PRAISE then PROVISION then CONFESSION then DELIVERANCE then WORSHIP then the AGREEMENT.

We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

Daniel identifies and associates himself with Israel who has not listened to the prophets and their warnings. The Prophets went boldly before the kings, princes, fathers, and people of Israel and yet most of them did not even listen to God’s servants – the Prophets!

"Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame--the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.

WORSHIP. Daniel is worshipping God and proclaiming he is righteous. Back to CONFESSION! Israel is covered with shame because of their unfaithfulness to God, which has wrought the scattering of God’s people – Israel for their sins.

O LORD, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.

Again, Daniel says that Israel is covered with shame because they have sinned against God. Sin separates us from God and through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we as sinners see our sin and we are brought to shame. That is what conviction does – it causes us sorrow and shame. But through this sorrow and shame, we turn to God asking forgiveness of our sins and we repent and ask him to change us. That is what Daniel is doing here.

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;

Daniel is asking for forgiveness in the previous verses and then he says that God is merciful and forgiving even though Israel sinned. This reminds me of two verses. The first is I John 1:9, which says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” The second verse is Romans 5:8, which says, “But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinner, Christ died for us.”

we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.

Daniel again says that Israel (we) did not obey God or kept the laws through the prophets.

All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. "Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you.

Israel have sinned against the law, which is the law God gave to Moses. If Israel does not follow these laws then all the curses and swore judgments written in the Law of Moses will be poured on the disobedient Israel because they sinned against God.

You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.

The prophets warned Israel that if they disobeyed God then God would punish them and bring disaster upon them at the hand of the Babylonians. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem refers to when in 588 BC, Nebuchadnezzar’s armies laid a siege to Jerusalem for eighteen months. Jerusalem was eventually looted. The Palace and Temple that Solomon built were burned and the walls and fortifications were burned also leaving the city no defense. Daniel calls this in verse 2 the desolation of Jerusalem.

Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.

Daniel just like in verse 11 refers to the Law of Moses and the judgments and curses that accompany should Israel disobey God by worshipping idols and turning away from God. Daniel acknowledges the fact that despite the warnings from the Prophets and in the Law of Moses, Israel still did not turn from their sins and recognizing the truth until it was too late.

The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

God never hesitates in bringing disaster among his elect in order to chastise and cause them to see the error of their ways. The Lord is righteous in everything he does for he is God and he is perfect. Despite his warnings, Israel still disobeyed God.

"Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.

The Lord did many wonders when he brought his people out of Egypt but however the people of Israel still done wrong. Many times in Israel’s history they got into a comfort shell causing them to be complacent even though God has done so much for them. God made a name for himself means that God kept showing Israel his provision. This was not enough for Israel still sinned and done wrong.

O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

Daniel now asks God to remove his wrath from Jerusalem even though the sins and iniquities of Israel made Jerusalem and Israel an object of scorn and ridicule.

"Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary.

Daniel now asks God to hear his prayer and to look with favor on Jerusalem, God’s desolate sanctuary. Daniel could have meant Israel as God’s desolate sanctuary also.

Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.

Daniel asks God to hear and see the desolation of Jerusalem. Daniel also talks humbly when he says that we (Israel) don’t make requests (prayers) because of their righteousness (because Israel wasn’t righteous and even if they were righteous their righteousness was as filthy rags) but because of God’s mercy on the sinful Israel.

O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."

Daniel asks God not to delay for Israel and Jerusalem bear His name meaning that they belong to God.

While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill—

Daniel was speaking and praying and confessing his sin and Israel’s sins and making a request to God for to restore his holy hill, Zion and the city that stands on it – Jerusalem. While he was doing this he sees a man in verse 21. Daniel is building up to the next scene.

while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.

While Daniel was in prayer, Daniel sees the same man he saw in Daniel 8 – the angel, Gabriel. The earlier vision is the one he saw in Daniel 8. Gabriel came to him in swift flight to Daniel indicates that God answers prayers and he sent Gabriel as soon as possible to bring understanding and revelation to the future of Daniel’s people – Israel and its holy city, Jerusalem.

He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.

Gabriel was sent to bring insight and understanding to Daniel about the future of Daniel’s people.

As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision:

As soon as Daniel started praying, God answered his prayer by sending Gabriel to bring insight and understanding (verse 22). Daniel is highly esteemed by God for he seeks understanding by searching the scriptures (verse 2) and praying to God (verses 4 – 19 and Daniel 6:10) daily. Daniel’s delight was blessed because as the Psalmist said in Psalms 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

"Seventy `sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

This prophecy is called the SEVENTY-WEEKS PROPHECY, which has caught a great deal of attention from students of prophecy. What the Seventy-Weeks Prophecy is is a timeline of future events in Israel’s program. The “Seventy Weeks” are weeks of years not days that is why seventy-weeks is rendered in the NIV “Seventy-sevens.” At the end of this timeline, Gentile rule will end. The last Gentile ruler will be the Antichrist and his kingdom will end with the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ to defeat the Antichrist and establish his millennial reign of peace and righteousness. Jesus in Luke 21:24 says, “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Daniel 9:24-27 talks about the end of the TIMES OF THE GENTILES and the relationship of the TIMES OF THE GENTILES to God’s people – Israel. God promises Israel two sets of three accomplishments that will highlight the end of the age. The first set deals with sin:

1. To finish transgression
2. To put an end to sin
3. To atone for wickedness

Israel's sins as a Nation will be ended when they repent and turn back to God. Revelation 1:7 says, “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” They will see their Messiah whom they have pierced and a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness. Zechariah 13:1 says, “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.” The Messiah will return to finish what he stated and will cleanse Israel from her sins as a nation and draw them back to Him. This is God's purpose in these three future accomplishments - redeem Israel. The second set of accomplishments deal with righteousness:

1. To bring in everlasting righteousness
2. To seal up vision and prophecy
3. To anoint the Most Holy

This second set of accomplishments cannot occur until the first set has occurred. After that happens the Lord shall confirm a "New Covenant" with the House of Israel. Jeremiah 31:33-34 says, “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it in their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.” The transgression of Israel will end and there will be communion with God so there will no longer be a need for vision and prophecy.

The Most Holy is the new temple, which will be consecrated and will be the center of worship in the millennial kingdom (Ezekiel 40 – 48). Some people say that the Most Holy is the Messiah but it can be rendered as Most Holy Place or Most Holy One. The probable is Most Holy Place for this Most Holy will be put into place during the Millennium. It can’t be the Messiah for the verse says TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY. We see in verse 25 that the Messiah is already anointed (probably when baptized by John the Baptist). The MOST HOLY’S anointing is STILL future while the Messiah was already anointed in verse 25. So the Most Holy is the Most Holy Place or the MILLENNIAL TEMPLE.

"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven `sevens,' and sixty-two `sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

Then the Seventy-Weeks Prophecy goes into the beginning of the timeline. The first point of the timeline is the "issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem." We have to look for a command from a ruler to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Here are four possible decrees:

1. Cyrus - 536 BC - Ezra 1:1-4 & 2 Chronicles 36:22-23
2. Darius - 519 BC - Ezra 6:1-12
3. Artaxerxes - 458 BC - Ezra 7:11-22
4. Artaxerxes - 445 BC - Nehemiah 2:1-8

The first decree by Cyrus gave Israel the right to rebuild the temple. The second decree by Darius reaffirmed the Cyrus decree to rebuild the temple without any difficulties or dangers. The third decree by Artaxerxes gave Ezra the command to collect Gold and Silver to purchase bullocks, rams, and lambs for offerings in the Temple. The fourth decree by Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah the command to rebuild the walls. The fourth decree is the winner. 445 BC is our starting point. After seven weeks and sixty-two weeks after 445 BC (decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem), the Messiah will come. Since the Seventy weeks is rendered as seventy-sevens (490 years) it would be safe to assume that after seven sevens and sixty-two sevens (49 and 434 years) the Messiah will come. So after sixty-nine weeks (7 + 62 = 69 X 7 = 483 years) the Messiah will come. The meaning of "Messiah will come" will be explained later. Where do we get a week being seven years? From Numbers 14:34 where it says

After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities even forty years (KJV).

This judgment was literally fulfilled for the Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years, a year for every day that the spies searched out the land of Canaan. See also Ezekiel 4:6. God says to Ezekiel, “After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.” So if a day is a year then it is safe to assume in this prophecy that seven days (one week) is seven years.

We know the starting point for the seventy weeks but what about the end of the sixty-nine weeks. The event most associated with the presentation of the Messiah is found in Zechariah 9:9.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.

So we now do a mathematical calculation. The starting date is March 14, 445 BC. According to Jewish tradition, that decree to Nehemiah by Artaxerxes was done on the first day of the Jewish month of Nisan, which is the first month of the religious Jewish year (They have two calendars – one political, one religious). So the first day is the Jewish New Year – Nisan 1 or March 14. So the corresponding date is March 14, 445 BC! A prophetic year is 360 days so 360 days X 483 years = 173,880 days. When we divide 173,880 days by 365.24219879 (an earth year today) or 365.25 days, we get 476 solar years. So 476 years from 445 BC is AD 32, which was the year Jesus was crucified. Note that for this first explanation we turn to Sir Robert Anderson’s classic book on the 70 weeks THE COMING PRINCE for these calculations. So: 476 years X 365 days = 173,740 days. Between this period there are 116 days coming as a result of leap years. 173,740 days + 116 days = 173,856 days. Then when we add 24 days to get to 173,880 days, we have the date April 6, 32 AD. So 173,740 days + 116 days + 24 days = 173,880 days or 483 prophetic years or sixty-nine weeks. Note: Sir Robert Anderson in his book counts 1 BC and AD 1 as one year not two. So the Messiah is none other than JESUS CHRIST for he is the only one around that time to have ridden on a donkey!

In Luke 19:41-44, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem after His Triumphal Entry saying (I’m paraphrasing here but it doesn’t take away from the meaning) "If you only knew on this day the things that make for your peace." Jesus wept because the people didn’t recognize the significance of this day – The Triumphal Entry, which was a fulfillment of Daniel’s Seventy-Weeks prophecy. The same Jews who praised Him on that day would cry that Jesus be crucified. And for this Jerusalem’s utter destruction was divine judgment for failure to recognize that DAY. Jesus said in verse 24, "They did not know the hour of my visitation." Five days later on Good Friday, Jesus was crucified or cut off but not for Himself. But on Sunday, He resurrected from the grave and is now seated at the right hand of the Father awaiting the day He will lead the armies of heaven and destroy the armies of the Antichrist (See Daniel 7:13,14 & Revelation 19:11-16). Jesus dying on the cross brings us to verse 26.

After the sixty-two `sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

After this presentation, the Messiah will be cut off or suffer a death penalty. The text says, "The Anointed One (or Messiah) will be cut off and will have nothing." This could mean that since the Jews rejected him and wanted him crucified then the Messiah wasn’t going to have kingdom just yet. Paul himself said in II Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” Other texts say THE MESSIAH WILL BE CUT OFF BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF. This is another clue, which points us to Jesus Christ. Jesus died not for Himself but for the sins of mankind. He died for us. The streets, walls, and the Temple will be still standing. After the Messiah is cut off, the "people of the prince who is to come" will destroy the Temple. These are the Romans. This is another proof that the Jesus is the Messiah for he died before the Temple was destroyed in AD 70. I’m now focusing on the events between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks. The seventieth week hasn’t started yet so after the sixty-ninth week, there is a gap of almost 2000 years. Verse 26 shows us this gap. Verse 26 tells us about the Temple being destroyed. In AD 70, Prince Titus led the Roman legions and destroyed Jerusalem because they rebelled. Jesus spoke of this event in His famous Olivet Discourse speech. Jesus says:

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:20-24).

Look closely at the last sentence in verse 24: "And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." When you look closely at history, Jews were scattered around the world and were often persecuted by Catholics and Protestants as well as other races and religions. Rome, Muslim Arabs, Crusaders, the Ottoman Turks, and Britain have trampled on Jerusalem. The Jews never had a foothold in Jerusalem or Israel until May 14, 1948 when under the leadership of David Ben-Gurion; Israel belonged to the Jews. It may seem that the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled because Israel is a nation again. But remember that Arab have a foothold and are currently in control of some of the city of Jerusalem so its not fulfilled yet. The TIMES OF THE GENTILES will be fulfilled after the SEVENTIETH WEEK. It’s only a matter of time before the seventieth week begins.

He will confirm a covenant with many for one `seven.' In the middle of the `seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."

THE SEVENTIETH WEEK is still future. The gap is the church age and it’s almost 2000 years and counting. Daniel did not foresee the Church age. The deadline for the seventieth week is approaching. In Luke 4, Jesus read Isaiah 61 in the Synagogue and he omitted the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD while leaving TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD'S FAVOR. The Lord's favor is the dispensation of grace (the Church). That’s why Jesus omitted the later part of the Isaiah 61 verse for the time of salvation was at hand because Jesus (being the Messiah) was going to die for the sins of the world and resurrect and usher in the church age when he sends his Holy Spirit. The Seventieth week is for Israel so the church must not be around because that will be conflicting with Israel's program. Remember: In Daniel 9:24 it says that the 70 weeks are for Israel and Jerusalem ONLY. I don’t see the Church for Daniel did not foresee the Church.

"Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering (NKJV)." The person ("he") is none other than the Antichrist. The same prince in verse 26 is the same person in verse 27. Verse 26 is ironclad proof that the Antichrist is Roman descent because it says "the people of the prince who is to come." The people – the Romans – destroyed Jerusalem. Many people think that the prince is Titus but the prince who is to come is still future. So the Antichrist is of Roman descent. The Antichrist will enter into a covenant with Israel. As soon as it is signed the seventieth week will start. The texts say "confirm" so a covenant already exists. This is logical because in order for a covenant to be confirmed, some form of the covenant has to exist. The covenant is God’s protection of Israel, which He has done because the Jews still exist. No one can successfully wipe off all the Jews because he or she will fail for GOD WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS ISRAEL AND CURSE THOSE WHO CURSE ISRAEL. So by confirming the covenant, the Antichrist is assuming God’s responsibility and role in the protection of Israel. The Jews will rely on a human being that is the personification of evil for their protection rather than God. The Antichrist will deceive many including Jews. The Jews will believe their Savior and Messiah had come.

But in the middle of the week (7 years / 2 = 3½ years) or after 3 years and 6 months passed, the Antichrist will turn his back on the Jews and bring an end to sacrifice and offering. If there is no Temple now then there will be a new Temple built in Jerusalem by order of the Antichrist because for sacrifice and offering to cease, there will have to be a Temple to already exist. So in addition to Israel’s protection, the Antichrist will throw in a bonus – a new Temple to the gift package, which is the "confirmed covenant." In the middle of the seventieth week, the Antichrist will have an indwelling of Satan himself. After he suffers a head wound, which kills him, he will resurrect and will be EVIL. He will be Satan incarnate. He will set up an idol of himself in the rebuilt Temple and will perform the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION! He will proclaim to be God Almighty. The Antichrist will cause abomination against the Jewish religion by putting an idol in the Temple. The wings of abomination are an expression of protection in an idol or system. Many people will be deceived and worship the idol so that they won’t die by Guillotine. Another wing of abomination would be the MARK OF THE BEAST – 666. Many will be deceived and because of their fear of starvation will take the mark in order to buy or sell. The Mark would be a protection but these two "WINGS OF ABOMINATION" lead to HELL. It’s not worth taking it. Jesus said that those who try to save themselves will lose their life and whoever loses his life will gain it. 666 IS A FALSE SECURITY.

Many will flee to the mountains (Ancient City of Petra) where God will protect with His angels for 1,260 days or 3½ years during the "GREAT TRIBULATION." During this time God will release His Vials of Wrath to punish the unsaved and the partakers of the Mark of the Beast. This is the "consummation which is poured on the desolate" in verse 27. But Jesus will come back as King and as the Messiah. The Jews will look upon Him whom they pierced and will repent as a nation and Jesus will make a new covenant with Israel. The seventieth week is approaching and the only way to escape it is to let Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him Lord of your life. That way of escape is Jesus and His passage to escape is through the "BLESSED HOPE," which is the rapture of the church.

Daniel 10

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

The Revelation that Daniel was going to get was concerning a great war. It was in the form of a vision. It was given to him in the third year of Cyrus. So we can assume that Daniel is a retired man for in Daniel 1:21 he says, “And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.” This means that Daniel was a ruler or advisor until the first year of Cyrus. He worked for Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus. Cyrus in 536 BC lets the Jews go and rebuild their temple according to Ezra 1, which was in the first year of Cyrus. But Daniel didn’t go with the 42,360 people that went (Ezra 2:64) probably because of old age (he was about ninety years old) or because God had more revelations to show Daniel so he was restrained from going.

At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.

Daniel mourned for three weeks.

I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

He refrained from eating the best foods in his Jewish diet but he still ate. This was a partial fast diet and he used no lotion, which probably he used to moisten his skin for he was an old man and his skin was old. This was his expression of mourning.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,

The first month is Nisan, which is around March – April. The twenty-fourth day is probably in April for Nisan starts towards the middle of March. The year was 533 BC. He was standing near the great river Tigris when he saw a man.

I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist.

Daniel was probably praying then I can only guess that he felt someone there looking at him. Daniel looks up and sees a man dressed in linen with a belt of gold around his head.

His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

The man’s body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of the multitude. This man is very similar to the description of the Son of Man in Revelation 1:12-18. Here is a chart comparing the two people:

I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.

Daniel was the only one who saw the vision for the men with him fled in fear and hid even though they didn’t see THE MAN. The men with him are probably Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; his three friends are they could be his other friends or even prayer partners or bodyguards or anybody close to him that he knows.

So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.

Daniel was the only one to see the vision and he was alone. He had no strength left probably because of his partial fast diet taking a toll on him for his ninety and his face was pale and was helpless. Don’t get me wrong fasting is good. It denies your flesh and it makes you spiritually stronger. But the flesh will be weakened. That is why after Jesus fasted for forty days and was tempted, the angels came, helped and comforted him. Daniel was helpless when he saw this man!

Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

Daniel heard the man speaking and as he listened to him and Daniel fell into a deep sleep with his face to the ground.

A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

A hand touched Daniel and set him trembling on his hands and knees. We can see that the man who is the Lord of Glory, the Son of Man is not alone for Gabriel is with him. Look at verse 11.

He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

I said earlier that this man bears a similar resemblance to the glorified Son of Man in Revelation 1. Some believe that this man is Gabriel for in verse 13, he was detained by the king of Persia and was helped by Michael. I believe there are two people besides Daniel here. This is the same scenario as in Daniel 8:16, which says, “And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, ‘Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.’” In that vision there were two people there – the man commanding Gabriel to tell the meaning of that vision and Gabriel himself. This could be the same scenario for the man in Daniel 10:4-6 bears the same resemblance to Jesus in Revelation 1. The man in this verse is Gabriel for in Daniel 9:23 he tells Daniel that he is highly esteemed while in this verse he says the same thing. There are two people intended here.

Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

Gabriel said to Daniel and reminded him that ever since Daniel set his mind and prayed for understanding in the visions he received, God answered his prayer and sent Gabriel to him. God always answers prayer even though it always comes in God’s time. But the urgency of the situation, God responds quickly and sends Gabriel to speak understanding to the Prophet, Daniel.

But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

The Prince of the Persian Kingdom resisted Gabriel for 21 days. How can a prince of Persia resist an angel? The only logical answer is that that prince is an agent of Satan – a demon who is the guardian demon of Persia so to speak. The Bible teaches that Satan rules as King in the Kingdom of Darkness (Matthew 12:24-30) and that his kingdom consists of principalities, powers, and rulers of this dark world (Ephesians 6:12). Satan in Ephesians 2:2 is the Prince of the powers of the air and the God of this world (age). This is why Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world when he tempted Jesus. But in the end, Jesus would not submit to Satan. So Satan has an organized kingdom where he has agents counteracting the plans of God. He sent the prince of Persia to stop Gabriel from delivering the message to Daniel until Michael the Archangel came to help Gabriel.

Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

Gabriel now has come to Daniel to explain to him what will happen concerning Daniel’s people in the future. This is Daniel 11 where the vision concerning Israel’s future is going to be told to him.

While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.

While Gabriel was speaking, Daniel bowed his face toward the ground and was speechless.

Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, "I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless.

Gabriel touched Daniel’s lips and he began to speak. He reveals that he was overcome with anguish because of the vision and is helpless. Daniel says my lord with a lower case lord so the man has to be Gabriel who was accompanied by the Lord of Glory just like Daniel 8.

How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe."

Daniel reveals that he can’t talk for he is overcome and weak because of the sight of Gabriel and the man he is with. His strength is gone and he can hardly breathe.

Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.

Again Gabriel touched Daniel and gave him strength.

"Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."

Gabriel reassures Daniel to be strong and to not be afraid. When Gabriel comforted Daniel, he was strengthened and told him to speak. Once again Gabriel says that Daniel is highly esteemed.

So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;

Gabriel asks Daniel if he knows why he came to him. Soon Gabriel will return to fight against the Prince (demon) of Persia but the Prince of Greece will come soon also proving that the time is soon coming that Greece is going to be the next Empire.

but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.

Before Gabriel does this, he will tell Daniel what is written in the Book of Truth. It is worthwhile to note that Daniel 10 – 12 are the same vision. The Book of Truth is Daniel 11, which foretell some events of the future of Greece and the End-Times. It is a pre-written history of the Kings of the North and the kings of the South. We also learn that Michael is the guardian angel of the nation of Israel. He is the one who supports Gabriel and helps him when he has trouble fighting against them – the Princes of Persia and Greece who will probably gang up on Gabriel in the future but Michael will support him and help him. They are co-workers against the satanic powers.

Daniel 11

And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)

It was through this co-operation of Michael and Gabriel that the fall of Babylon was brought about in the first year of Darius the Mede who conquered Babylon in Daniel 5.

"Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will appear in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

The three kings that will appear in Persia are Ahasuerus (Cambyses), Artaxerxes (Pseudo-Smerdis), and Darius (Darius Hystaspes) (Ezra 4:1-24). The fourth king is Xerxes (Esther’s husband) and used his vast riches to put vast armies into the field. In 480 BC, he invaded Greece but he didn’t conquer it.

Then a mighty king will appear, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.

The mighty king is Alexander the Great. The mighty king is the notable horn in Daniel 8, which was broken off. Alexander did as he pleased, ruled with great power, and conquered the world.

After he has appeared, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.

When Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was divided into four. His generals who were not related to him divided his kingdom. Alexander’s family never succeeded him and within fifteen years, his family was extinct. Scripture was true because history proves it.

"The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.

This prophecy focuses on THE KING OF THE NORTH AND THE KING OF THE SOUTH. The south was Egypt and the King of the South was Ptolemy Soter. One of his commanders was Seleucus Nicator and he became the ruler of Syria. He was stronger than Ptolemy and ruled his kingdom with great power.

After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be handed over, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.

There was peace between Syria and Egypt and they became allies. The daughter of the king of the South (Ptolemy Philadelphus who succeeded Ptolemy Soter) is Berenice who married Antiochus Theus (Theus succeeded his father Antiochus Soter who succeeded Seleucus Nicator) so that they (Syria and Egypt) would make the alliance through this marriage. Before this there was war between the two kingdoms for Ptolemy Philadelphus’ half-brother Magas married a daughter of Antiochus Soter. Then Magas induced Soter to declare war on Egypt. Theus succeeded his father and continued to have war against Egypt before the marriage – alliance was made. This marriage was allowed on the condition that Antiochus Theus declare his previous marriage with Laodice void and her two sons illegitimate. SHE WILL NOT RETAIN HER POWER refers to the fact that her father Ptolemy Philadelphus died and her husband put her away and took back his former wife, Laodice. He and his power will not last refer to the fact that Laodice will poison Antiochus Theus, her husband. Laodice will set her son, Seleucus Callinicus as king. She would have him assassinate Berenice (she will be handed over), her child (royal escort who is the heir to the throne), and those who supported Berenice.

"One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious.

Berenice’s brother (one from her family line), Ptolemy Euergetus, will avenge her death. He is now the king of Egypt having succeeded Ptolemy Philadelphus. He invaded Syria (he will attack the forces of the king of the North) and the fortress city of Seleucia (and enter his fortress). He put Laodice to death. He was victorious even though he did not conquer Syria (he would have done it but there was an insurrection in Egypt so he had to hasten back).

He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone.

Ptolemy Euergetus did not return to Egypt empty-handed for he took their gods, metal images, valuable articles of silver and gold back with him to Egypt. It was this accomplishment that the Egyptian Priests called him Euergetus (meaning Benefactor) for he returned the gods that were stolen from Egypt by Ahasuerus, king of Persia, which then ended up in Syria, and now the BENEFACTOR brought them back to Egypt. For some years he (Ptolemy Euergetus) will leave the king of the north (Seleucus Callinicus) alone. The NKJV states that the king of the south (Ptolemy) will outlive the king of the North (Seleucus) by a few years.

Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.

Seleucus Callinicus would attempt to recover the stolen items but will retreat to his country.

His sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army, which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress.

The King of the North’s sons is Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus (Magnus the Great). Seleucus Ceraunus succeeded his father and assembled a large army. But he proved to be a weak prince unable to discipline his army. After two – three years of reigning Syria, he was poisoned by two of his generals. His brother, Antiochus the Great who with his brother assembled the large army, succeeded his brother. Syria is preparing for war. Which will sweep on like an irresistible flood and carry the battle as far as his fortress refers to in 218 BC, Antiochus the Great seized Tyre and Ptolemais, overflowed and passed through Palestine (now Israel), and marched against the fortress of the king of the South, Gaza.

"Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated.

The king of the South is now Ptolemy Philopater who succeeded the BENEFACTOR (Ptolemy Euergetes). He was in a rage for Antiochus the Great marched against Gaza. He assembled a great army and defeated Antiochus the Great near Gaza at Raphia in 217 BC.

When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant.

The king of the South, Ptolemy Philopater defeated Antiochus the Great and then went back to Egypt feeling pride. He slaughtered thousands in the battle but he will not remain triumphant.

For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

After this battle in verses 12-13, there was thirteen years of peace between the two kingdoms. During this time, Antiochus the Great will strengthen himself by making a larger army than his first one and fully equip his forces.

"In those times many will rise against the king of the South. The violent men among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success.

Many will rise against the king of the South refers to alliances between Philip, king of Macedonia who entered into an alliance with Antiochus the Great against Ptolemy. Wicked Jews (violent men among your people) will rebel and seek the favor of Antiochus the Great but he will crush them (without success).

Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand.

Antiochus the Great will capture the fortified city of Sidon and though the armies of the king of the South will try to relieve the city, even their best troops will not succeed. To get to Egypt, Antiochus the Great had to conquer the GLORIOUS LAND – Palestine.

The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.

Antiochus the Great will do as he pleases and no one will stand against him (compare verse 15 with 16). I said earlier, to get to Egypt, Antiochus the Great had to conquer the GLORIOUS LAND – Palestine. So he took possession of Palestine and will have the power to destroy it (or conquer it, which he did).

He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him.

Antiochus the Great had plans to conquer Egypt with the might of his entire kingdom but decided to make peace instead for Egypt was seeking the help of the Romans who were rising in power. So he had to be diplomatic with Egypt. He would give his daughter Cleopatra (not the famous Cleopatra) to marry the infant king of Egypt, Ptolemy Epiphanes who was only seven years old. Cleopatra was young herself for she was still under the care of her mother and nurse. He did this so she can help him overthrow the kingdom but the plans will not work for Cleopatra will side with her husband.

Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back upon him.

Antiochus the Great will turn his sight to the Romans. He sent out 300 vessels and assailed the coasts and isles of Asia Minor (Turkey today). He was defeated at Magnesia in 190 BC. The commander in this prophecy is Scipio Asiaticus.

After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more.

Rome imposed a tribute (1000 talents) of Antiochus’ land west of the Taurus. Antiochus needed to raise money to pay the tribute so he attempted to plunder the Temple of Jupiter at Elymais by night. He was slain with his soldiers by the insurrection by Elymais’ inhabitants.

"His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

His successor is Seleucus Philopater, his son. He was hard-pressed for money for he needed to pay off Rome’s Tribute so he sent his tax collector, Heliodorus to Jerusalem to confiscate the treasures of the Temple. Within a few years, Seleucus Philopater was poisoned so he was destroyed not in anger or in battle.

"He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue.

ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES will succeed him. He was his brother and the son of Antiochus the Great. He was not given the honor of royalty refers to the fact that he was not the rightful heir for his nephew, Demetrius was the rightful heir. He with the help of King Eumenes of Pergamum and his brother Attalus will invade Syria by flatteries.

Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed.

His enemies will be swept away and the prince of the covenant will be destroyed. The prince is High Priest Onias III, who was assassinated.

After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power.

He will break the alliance he had with Eumenes and Attalus and persuade the Romans to recognize him and that he had a small following. But he will rise to power with only a few people while deceitfully tricking the Romans.

When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses--but only for a time.

Antiochus will invade Egypt and successfully take Memphis, Naucratis, and Pelusium. He will not take Alexandria. He will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did – successfully take part of Egypt. He plundered Egypt and distributed the spoils to his followers. He will plot the overthrow of Alexandria.

"With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him.

Antiochus will send a large army to go against the king of the South, Ptolemy Philometer, Cleopatra’s son. An equally large army of Egypt met Antiochus’ army but Ptolemy’s army will fall because of plots against him by his own men.

Those who eat from the king's provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle.

Ptolemy fell into the hands of Antiochus for those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him. Antiochus will defeat his army and many will die in battle. Ptolemy’s brother Physcon will succeed him.

The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.

The two kings are Antiochus and Ptolemy. They will sit at the same table and try and make peace but will actually conspire against each other. Ptolemy will conspire with his brother, Physcon and form a joint sovereignty and was received into Alexandria. They both will declare war on Syria.

The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.

Antiochus will return to Syria with the spoils of war. He heard rumors going around that Antiochus himself died. Jason the High Priest was to blame for he was deprived of his high priestly office and attacked Jerusalem to recover his office by force. Angered by the praise of the Jews over this false rumor, Antiochus went into Jerusalem and killed 40,000 of its inhabitants, sold many as slaves, carrying off treasure from the Temple worth 1800 talents and then marched off to Antioch in his own country Syria.

"At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before.

In 168 BC, Antiochus led his troops to Egypt again in order to defeat the TWO BROTHERS. He did not have the same success as before for they went to Rome for help.

Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

Ships of the Roman fleet came and Antiochus was meet by Popilius Laenas who had a document signed by the Roman Senate to leave Egypt alone and be content with his own kingdom. Antiochus accepted and retreated and took his anger out on the Jews by his massacres, persecutions, and pollutions of the Temple.

"His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

He will repair the walls and towers of the City of David and garrisoned them with soldiers. He commanded that all his subjects should have one religion and one law. This was called the Hellenization of Judah This way they will be united. The Temple was profaned by putting an idol over the Alter of Jehovah and sacrificed pigs under the idol. This is the abomination that causes desolation not the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION! Antiochus later went into Persia and gaining many victories there. He retreated to Babylon and died a natural death in 164 BC at Tabae.

With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.

The people who know their God are Mattathias, a priest and his sons known as the Maccabees who from 166 BC – 47 BC sought to restore the life of Israel. After that Herod the Great and the Herod family ruled Judea with the Romans.

"Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.

Compare this verse with Luke 21:24. This refers to the Jews being scattered throughout the centuries for the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. Note that the Jews have fallen but not exterminated.

When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.

The Jews will receive a little help and even have Israel attain nationhood by the United Nations in 1948.

Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

In the End-Times many wise Jews will be deceived (stumble) but they will be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end. The Tribulation’s main job is to purify a holy remnant of Israel that turn to Christ and that will be his in the Millennium. Verses 32-33 talk about the period between Antiochus Epiphanes and the Messiah, Jesus. Verses 33-35 talk about the Gap between Messiah the Prince and the Time of the End (Tribulation).

"The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.

Verses 36-45 talk about the Antichrist. The Antichrist will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods refers to the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION where the Antichrist will proclaim himself to be GOD ALMIGHTY. He will be successful until the time of wrath (the Tribulation) is completed.

He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.

Some people say that he will be a Jew for in some translations it says he will have no regard for the God of his fathers. He could be a Jew even though other people have objections about this theory. How could any Jew accept a Messiah that is not a Jew? I have more confidence saying that the False Prophet will be a Jew rather than the Antichrist being a Jew. The one desired by women is referring to Jewish women’s desire to be the mother of the Messiah. The Antichrist will ignore this desire for he will not regard the Son of God, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Other people say that women refer to pious women training their children to honor the God of their fathers. This could be true for the Antichrist for he will not allow anyone to be honored or worshipped except him. Other people believe that the Antichrist will not seek sexual intercourse with women. That’s highly improbable for the man of sin will take part in sexual immorality that will be rampant in the Tribulation. He will exalt himself over every god by saying that he is GOD ALMIGHTY when the Abomination of Desolation occurs.

Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.

The only god that he will honor is SATAN who offered him the kingdoms of the world in Revelation 13:2.

He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.

The mightiest fortresses are the cities of the Ten Federated Kingdoms. He will attack and seize them and shall garrison them with Imperial troops to maintain peace and concord. He will do this with the help of Satan (a foreign god) and he will honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers and divide the land for a profit.

"At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.

The king of the South is Egypt, which will be one of the Ten-Federated Kingdoms. He will probably be one of the three horns that fall (Daniel 7:20). The king of the North is the Antichrist and will punish Egypt and defeat him swiftly as well as other countries.

He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand.

He will invade Israel and many countries will fall. It is worthy to note that Edom, Moab and Ammon will escape from the Antichrist’s grasp for this is the place where God will protect the woman (Israel) according to Revelation 12.

He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape.

He will extend his power over many countries. In fact he will be the ruler of the ONE-WORLD GOVERNMENT. Egypt will not escape for it will be his.

He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission.

The Antichrist will gain all the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, Libya, and the Nubians (Ethiopia) who are in submission to the Antichrist.

But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many.

The events in verses 40-45 take place in the GREAT TRIBULATION. Many nations will grow tired of the Antichrist’s iron rule so they will seek to attack him. The east is Asia and the prominent countries in Asia are China and Japan who will probably form an alliance with Russia (the north). Reports of this alliance will alarm the Antichrist. This is the same time where in the sixth vial where the three frog spirits will gather the armies of the earth for battle. The Antichrist will seek the help of the European nations and the United States to help him defeat the insubordinate east and north nations. They will all gather for battle against each other.

He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

He will assemble his armies in Armageddon and that is where he will come to his end. When the nations are going to fight each other, they see Christ in the air with his Church and they turn their battle to the Lord and they unite to fight him on the white horse whose name is faithful and true. The Antichrist will come to his end. No one will help him for the moment Christ speaks the word, all of the armies are dead and left for the birds to eat. This is what the Bible calls THE WINEPRESS OF THE NATIONS. The Antichrist after will be put alive in the Lake of Fire.

Daniel 12

"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered.

Michael, the Archangel is the great prince that protects Israel. This event is referring to Revelation 12 where the Dragon (Satan) will be cast out of heaven. After this there will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of time for Satan will indwell the Antichrist then he will go and start his reign of terror. The time of distress is the GREAT TRIBIULATION. Those are delivered are the godly Remnant of Israel, which hides in the wilderness.

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

This verse is referring to a National Resurrection of Israel. There are righteous Jews and unrighteous Jews. The righteous Jews will inherit the kingdom and stay in Israel while the unrighteous will awake to everlasting contempt and shame.

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

The wise (Jewish Remnant) will shine like the brightness of the havens and those who lead many to righteousness (144,000 and Tribulation Saints) like the stars forever.

But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."

Daniel was told to seal up the book in contrast to John who was told not to seal the book. The Book of Daniel is a sealed book but not to the Christian believer. There will be a time where Jews will run to the book of Daniel and their knowledge of it will increase. Many refers to the Jews (compare with Daniel 9:27 – the many in 9:27 is Jews also). Knowledge shall be increased not only refers to increased knowledge of the apocalyptic scripture but of technology today. The twentieth century has wrought numerous inventions that changed our lives like television, computers, radios, airplanes, cars, and much more. From transportation to appliances, our world is in a technological revolution. Unfortunately Satan knows this and will use technology to his advantage (i.e. THE MARK OF THE BEAST).

Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.

Daniel looked and saw two other angels on opposite sides of the banks of the River Tigris.

One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"

One of them asked the man in linen (remember the man Daniel saw in Daniel 10 who is the Son of Man) how long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled? It is also worthy to note that the man in linen is standing above the waters of the river as if either floating over the waters or walking on them.

The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."

The man in linen said a time, times and half a time, which is three-and-a half years. He also says when the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed. This means when the Antichrist has scattered the Holy Remnant of Israel, this things will be completed.

I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?

Daniel did not understand so he asked the man in linen what will the outcome of this be?

He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.

He replied to Daniel that he goes his way for the words are closed and sealed until the time of the end when knowledge shall be increased.

Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

The righteous ones of Israel will be purified made spotless and refined. The wicked are those who don’t heed the message of the 144,000 but turn to the Antichrist. The wicked will not understand but the wise will (the faithful remnant of Israel).

"From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

This scripture talks about thirty days after the Tribulation. Within these 30 days, the Judgment of the Nations will commence and end.

Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

This scripture talks about an additional 45 days after the 30 days, which is after the 1260 days (THE GREAT TRIBULATION).

"As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."

After this the Old Testament Saints will resurrect and the Tribulation Saints also. This is after the 1335 days. They will receive their inheritance – the kingdom.

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