Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject: The Prophetic Chapters of Daniel
The Prophetic Chapters of Daniel
Everything Jews, Gentiles, and Christians, need to know about the future is predicted in the Book of Daniel. All is explained in the most minute detail in Daniel's twelve chapter manuscript, penned under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Here is the very good news: The time has finally come. The Book of Daniel is now explainable and understandable. This has not always been true. There are not many commentators on Daniel. But now, the hour has come to unseal the final end-time mysteries of the Book of Daniel.
None of Daniel's prophecies were to be unsealed - until the "time of the end". Imagine, mysteries that no one could unravel for 2500 years are suddenly being presented with clarity under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Let me whet your appetite with an amazing perspective on Daniel. The first 35 verses of the 11th chapter predict 135 different facts. Amazingly, each of these events has occurred and can be documented. If you check them out, you'll discover the passage to be 100 percent accurate. Even secular history documents the most minute points in this passage - right down to the names of people, places, and events.
You will also learn as you move through these pages, that in Daniel 11:40-45, the king of the South (Egypt), the king of the North (Russia), and the kings of the East (the Asian confederacy) are poised to march against the leader of the West (the European Union). What has been sealed for 25 centuries is now a book with its seals removed that can be understood by any person with eyes to see and ears to hear. The message of Daniel is simply this: The clock of history is winding down. The time of the end is approaching. Daniel is a preview of coming attractions. Major prophecies are being unsealed because now is closing time.
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• Chapter one: Wanted: Healthy, Good-Looking Lads. Daniel reaffirms his commitment to the true God. Nebuchadnezzar delights in his choice of Daniel and his three friend.
• Chapter two: A King Dreams and is confused. Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a large metallic image. Daniel's interpretation of the four kingdoms and the times of the Gentiles.
• Chapter three: Unfazed by the Furnace. Nebuchadnezzar enforces universal idolatry. The three Hebrew children are thrown into the furnace when they refuse to bow to the king's image of gold.
• Chapter four: The Testimony of a King and his reason restored: Testimony of Nebuchadnezzar. The dream of Nebuchadnezzar and its interpretation by Daniel. The king's capacity to reason is taken away, only later to be restored.
• Chapter five: Don't Look now but there is something on your Wall. At the feast of Belshazzar the fingers of God wrote on the wall, unreadable by the king's wise men. Daniel refuses to be seduced by the king's various attractive offers and interprets the handwriting on the wall. Babylon falls to the Medes - the prophecy fulfilled that very night, even as Belshazzar's party was in full swing.
• Chapter six: Preferred above Princes. Daniel's favored position under Darius the Medes creates jealously, and they plot to destroy Daniel as he prays fearlessly at his open windows, thanking God and praising Him three time a day. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions. Daniel's deliverance leads to his ultimate prosperity.
• Chapter seven: Events prophesied and fulfilled. Beast, beasts, and more beasts. This is Daniel's vision of the four beasts. The vision of the Son of Man coming in clouds of heaven. The definition of the four beasts and Daniel's explanations.
• Chapter eight: A tale of Two Madmen. Daniel's vision of the ram and goat. The interpretation of the vision. Daniel is devastated physically and psychologically by this vision.
• Chapter nine: God's ultimate program for Israel. Daniel's prophetic prayer is the culmination of a lifetime of prayer; the first 21 verses contain Daniel's prayer, and the final six detail the prophecy of the 70 weeks (7 x 70 years).
• Chapter ten: Visions and Beasts no More. Daniel sees Jesus. Time, place and preparation of Daniel for the vision of Christ glorified and its transforming power on Daniel. The message of an unidentified heavenly messenger provided Daniel with assurance and strength.
• Chapter eleven: History Ends - Prophecy Begins. The vision continues. Antiochus Epiphanes is identified. The man of sin rises to power. The temporary victory of a willful king.
• Chapter twelve: Final Mysteries Unsealed. The Great Tribulation. The resurrection of Old Testament saints and sinners. The sealing of prophecies until the end of the ages. History's final end-time mysteries unsealed.
We read in the second chapter of Daniel the prophecy relating to the entire period of "The times of the Gentiles".
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream that he could not remember and it troubled him. The king called for all the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to tell him what he had dreamed and to interpret the dream for him. When none of his wise men could help, a young Jewish boy named Daniel came to his aid.
Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that he had dreamed of a great image. The image head was of fine gold; its breast and arms were of silver; its belly and thighs were of bronze; its legs were of iron; and its feet were part iron and part clay. The king had seen a stone cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet and the image broke into pieces (Dan 2:31-35).
" This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold" (Dan 2:36-38).
"But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay" (Dan 2:39-43).
"And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure" (Dan 2:44-45).
Daniel identified the image head of fine gold as Babylon which, was to be followed by three world kingdoms with each conquering the previous one. Each of these kingdoms was symbolized by metal. History has shown the accuracy of this prophecy. The silver symbolized the Medo-Persian Empire that followed Babylon; the bronze symbolized the Greek Empire that followed the Medo-Persians Empire and the iron symbolized the Roman Empire that conquered the Greeks. Beginning with the Medo-Persians these world empires are controlled by the descendants of Japheth, Noah's son. We recall that Noah predicted that Japheth would be enlarged by God, and the historical record of world empires shows the infallible accuracy of the prophecies in God's Word.
It is interesting to note the amount of detail that is given about the legs and feet of the image. Daniel says that the iron turned into a mixture of iron and clay which symbolized it would be partly strong and partly weak, History reveals that the great Roman Empire was so strong that it could not be overthrown from outside forces, but it fell from it's own internal decay.
In AD 395, the empire was split apart into the East Roman Empire and the West Roman Empire – symbolized by the two legs of the image. About this time Teutonic tribes of Germany were roaming much of Europe. As the Western Roman power began to weaken these German tribes began to spread throughout the empire and gained control. These German tribes of Angles, Burgundians, Franks, Goths, Jutes, Lombards, Saxons, and Vandals became the forefathers of modern Europe. Not only did Germany absorb the West Roman Empire, but also for many years it was known as "The Holy Roman Empire". The Roman Empire of Iron has been divided but remains today as the Gentile nations of Europe and Middle East. Some are strong as iron and some are weak as clay.
Then Daniel saw a stone, not cut by hands, which smote the image upon its feet of iron and clay, and broke it into pieces. And the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. All the Prophecy relating to the vision has come to pass except the stone destroying the image. We have seen that the image represents the world system of government under the control of the Gentile Nations. Government has manifested itself with three dimensions of control: politically, militarily, and economically. These governments as a whole are under the control of Satan and must be replaced. The stone that will destroy the image will be the second person of the Godhead, The Son of God, The Rock of Ages, Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus came the first time as the Lamb of God to pay for the sins of all men, but he will return the second time as Lord of Lords and Kings of Kings to judge and to destroy evil. " And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever" (Dan 2:44). Jesus told the chief priest and Pharisees that: "Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Matt 22:44).
The prophet Isaiah, who lived approximately 150 years before Daniel and before Babylon rose to power, foresaw the destruction of Babylon and recorded it for us in the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of Isaiah. He foresaw the destruction of two Babylon’s. He saw the first Babylon being destroyed by the Mede-Persians; he saw a second Babylon, the kingdom of Satan, being destroyed later in a more dramatic and catastrophic setting. This second Babylon was a mystery to those who saw the first Babylon fall. We still have not witnessed the predicted destruction, but we find more details about it in New Testament prophecy.
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In the seventh chapter of Daniel, he records a dream he had of four beasts: a lion, a bear, a four-headed leopard, and a terrible beast with ten horns. These four beast cover the “Times of the Gentiles” the same way as Nebuchadnezzar Dream. The vision in chapter two was from man’s point of view. The image looked great from man's point of view. Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed with everything and the fact that he was represented by gold that he created a graven image of it. In chapter seven we see things from God’s point of view and we are horrified by the image and what it represents.
Look at the description of the beast as recorded in the seventh chapter. “Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it. And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh!' After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns” (Daniel 7:2-7).
The lion represents Babylon, the bear represents the Medo-Persians Empire, and the leopard represents the Greek Empire. The four heads represent the division of the kingdom under the four generals of Alexander the Great. The fourth beast is different from the other three and represent the Roman Empire. The terrible beast had ten horns, which represents ten kings or world leaders who will dominate the last days of the Roman Empire just before Jesus returns. The horns represent power.
In Revelation chapter seventeen we read about the beast coming up out of the sea with ten horns. We are beginning to see the book of Daniel tie to the book of Revelations.
Let us read a little further in Daniel. “I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire” (Daniel 7:8-9).
We have two visions before us. The little horn is symbolic of the Antichrist. Then the scene moves to thrones and the “Ancient of Days was seated.” This is the same scene as given to us in Revelation chapter four and five. Compare the “Ancient of Days to Christ as he appeared to John in chapter one of Revelation.
“Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters” (Rev 1:12-15).
Now read some more from Daniel: “A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened. I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:10-14).
These verses read as if they were coming from the book of Revelation. In these verses we again see Jesus coming as King of kings and Lord of lords to destroy Satan’s kingdom and to set up His earthly kingdom.
As we read the gospels, over and over Jesus is referred to as the “Son of Man”. It identified Him as the promised Messiah and the Jewish leaders knew the prophecy. Notice the reference to the clouds. Over and over we read in the New Testament about Jesus coming with the clouds.
In verses fifteen through twenty-eight, Daniel is given the interpretation of the dream and more details are given. Verse twenty-five is very interesting. "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25). The time period “a time and times and half a time” denotes the duration of the little Horn of the Fourth Beast.
Now look at Revelation: “But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent” (Rev 12:14).
The period is one plus two plus a half, which is three and one half years. As we read further in Daniel we will understand the meaning of the time period. It represents the second half of the tribulation when the Antichrist will turn against the Jews and trod down Jerusalem.
NOTE: For a summary of the history of the "Times of the Gentiles" see below at the end of our study of Daniel.
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The events in the eighth chapter occurred two years after the vision in the seventh chapter. Daniel has been writing in chapters 2 through 7 in the Aramaic language. Apparently he wants the citizens of Babylon to read it. In chapter 8 through 12 he writes in the Hebrew because the words of prophecy apply to Gods dealing with Israel.
In this chapter Daniel has another dream and is taken out of the city to the area of Elam by the river of Ulai where he is given a vision of a ram and a he-goat. This vision occurred in the third year of the reign of king Belshazzer, lust before the Medes capture Babylon. However, the visual takes place at Shushan, the capital of the Mede Empire.
“Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great. And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power. And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand. Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven” (Daniel 8:3-8).
The angel Gabriel interprets the dream and tells him that the ram is another symbol of the Media-Persian Empire and the he-goat is a symbol for the Greek Empire. Both of these Empires are future at this time, however the symbolism has a clear picture of Alexander the Great swiftly overrunning the Persian Empire.
“As Daniel continues to look a strange things happens to the he-goat. “And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered” (Daniel 8:9-12).
The little horn has a double view prophecy, as does a lot of prophecy – the first prophecy is a shadow of the second prophecy. In the last chapter we saw the little horn growing out of the horns of the fourth beast, Rome, and we identified it as the Antichrist. In this vision, we have the little horn growing out of the third beast, the Great Empire. How can we understand what appears to be a contradiction of scripture? There is little doubt that the little horn of chapter eight refers to the wicked ruler Antiochus Epiphanes who ruled over Syria during the latter days of the Greek Empire. He desecrated the temple of Jerusalem by offering a pig on the Jewish altar of sacrifice. But Antiochus Epiphanes is a shadow of the Antichrist and he will come out of the Roman Empire during the last days – thus we have a double shadow in prophecy. The Antichrist will also desecrate the temple by making pagan sacrifices in it (see Revelation chapter 13).
Jesus commented on this in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. “Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matt 24: 15-16). Jesus is confirming the prophecy of Daniel and is stating that the prophecy has future application.
Now look at the interpretation of the little horn as given to Daniel by the angel. "As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means. And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future" (Daniel 8:22-36).
Notice the phrase “He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means”. This is a clear statement that men will not overthrow this man, the Antichrist, but he will be defeated by Christ who is call “Prince of princes” and will come as Kings of kings and Lord of lords. Paul writing to the Church at Thessalonica said, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thess. 2:-7-8). As light overcomes darkest so the brightness of Christ will destroy the Antichrist.
Daniel is told to “seal up the vision”. The Apostle John will open it later in the book of Revelation.
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One of the most important and most amazing prophesies in the entire Bible is recorded in the ninth chapter of Daniel. God revealed to Daniel, through the angel Gabriel, the chronological timetable for the completion of His program with the Jews. Gabriel declares that he was sent to give Daniel skill and understanding concerning Israel’s future – a time, foreknown of God, of Israel's tribulations and blessings. The details are so precise, that when viewed with hindsight, they are almost breathtaking.
Dr. J. Vernon McGee introduces the chapter as follows. “This is another one of those remarkable chapters in Scripture. Dr. Phillip Newell evaluates it, ‘The greatest chapter in the book and one of the greatest chapters of the entire Bible.’ The double theme is prayer and prophecy. If one were to choose the ten greatest chapters of the Bible on the subject of prayer, this chapter would be included on any list. The first 21 verses give us the prayer of Daniel, and the final 6 verses give us the very important prophecy of the seventy weeks.”
The late Dr. H.A. Ironside quoting Sir Edward Denny, a noted prophetic student of the last century, called this timetable "The backbone of prophecy". Dr. Ironside goes on to say that if this prophesy be misunderstood, "then an effort will necessarily be made to bend all other prophetic scriptures into accord with that misinterpretation. But if we have a correct understanding of the teaching of this chapter, we can then see readily how all prophecy, without any forcing, falls right into place, and is intimately linked up with this the greatest of all time prophecies" (Ironside, Daniel, pp 155).
Daniel had been greatly disturbed by the visions recorded in chapters seven and eight. He was getting old and he remembered the prophecy of Jeremiah about the length of time that Israel would spend in captivity. The chapter begins as follows, “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans - in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem” (Dan. 9:1-2).
To understand the background for the quoted verses, we need to review what Jeremiah wrote: “This whole land will become a desolate ruin, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years. When the 70 years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation'—[this is] the LORD's declaration—‘the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, and I will make it a ruin forever’” (Jer. 25:11-12). The writer of Second Chronicles adds these words: “to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years” (2 Chr 36:21).
Daniel understood, as did the writer of Second Chronicles that Israel punishment was tied to their failure to celebrate the Sabbath Year as given in the Mosaic law, where Israel was required to let the ground lie fallow every seven years. It would appear that for 490 years (70 times 7) they had violated this Mosaic Law, lust missing seventy Sabbath Years. For this great sin, God said that they would remain in captivity for seventy years – a year for each year they violated the law.
Daniel knew that Israel’s period of captivity was about to be completed because the Babylonians had been conquered by the Medes. He was greatly concerned about their future. With fasting, sackcloth and ashes, Daniel pours out his heart in supplications and confessions to God. He confesses both the sins of Israel and his personal sins. About the time of the evening sacrifice (3:00 P.M) the angel Gabriel appeared to him. “And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, ‘O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision” (Dan. 9:22-23).
Now let us look at Daniel's seventy weeks "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy” (Daniel 9:24).
Scholars often disagree on the interpretation of these verses but most seem to agree that Daniel has reference to a week of years and not a week of days – a period of 490 prophetic years. The Hebrew word "Shabua" meaning seven, has been translated into the English word "week". Thus, Daniel is literally stating a period of seventy sevens or four hundred and ninety periods of time.
Based upon Jewish law and customs, scholars tend to agree that the period of time is years. We will recall that the Mosaic Law required that the Jews keep both a Sabbath based upon days and one based upon years. Therefore, we will assume the time period for these future events is 490 years of 360 days or 176,400 days.
We must also understand that these 490 prophetic years must correspond with and run concurrently with "the times of the Gentiles". The seventy weeks for Israel and "the times of the Gentiles” will both come to an end at the same time. However, we will find that the “seventy weeks” is not a consecutive time period and within these future years the nation, Israel, will be both destroyed and resurrected.
"The times of the Gentiles" began when the Israelites were living in Jerusalem and were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. In the second and seventh chapters of Daniel we looked at this age as it was prophesied. In the second chapter God gave King Nebuchadnazzar a vision of an image with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass and legs and feet of iron and clay. Each of these metals represented a world power that would rule during the age of the Gentiles. We showed how the last of those world powers (Rome) is still dominating world government today. The “seventy weeks of Daniel” must be interpretative in light of "the times of the Gentiles.”
Now let us return to the details of Daniel's seventy weeks. "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined” (Daniel 9:25-26).
Notice that the seventy years are divided into different periods of time. From the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem will be 49 years. History has shown that the decree was issued to Nehemiah (Neh 2:1-8) by Artaxerxes in the twentieth year of his reign to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Artaxerxes was the Mede Pesia king and the date was probably the month of Nisan (March) 445 B.C. Within 49 years or 7 weeks the city was rebuilt, the last of the Old Testament prophets had spoken and God ceased to communicate with his people.
Daniel says that after 7 weeks and 62 weeks or a total of 69 weeks, the Messiah will come and will be cut off. For many years God was silent and then suddenly He began to speak through John the Baptist declaring the kingdom was at hand. But God's chosen people were blind and did not recognize their own Messiah who was introduced to them by John the Baptist. They nailed Him to the cross and He died for the Sins of all. The Jewish Messiah was cut off from His people just as Daniel had prophesied. But it was not the Jews who cut the Messiah off, but the Messiah who cut Himself off from the Jews.
Scholars have calculated the 69 weeks beginning with March 14, 445 B.C. and taking into account leap years as coming to a close on April 6, A.D. 32. It is amazing how close this date corresponds with the date that Jesus died upon the cross. Jesus was crucified by the Roman Empire and almost 40 years later the city of Jerusalem was burned to the ground by the Roman General Titus thus fulfill¬ing Daniel's prophesy. The burning of Jerusalem also brought about complete destruction of the nation Israel.
There remains one week or seven unaccounted years in Daniel's seven weeks. But God had a surprise for His people. He stopped the clock on His program with the Jews and turned to a special “called-out” group that would become “The Church”. For many years, yet to be known, He has revealed Himself through “The Church”. But the day will come when He will turn again to His chosen nation – seven years before He brings "the times of the Gentiles" to a close.
Now let us look at the last week that will last for seven years. “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. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).
After Israel is restored to their land the Gentile nations will triumph in bringing about a world government under a world leader. This New World leader will come from one of the nations, which traces its roots to the old Roman Empire. He will be disguised as a great humanitarian who promises peace, prosperity, and plenty. To the Gentiles, this man will have at last triumphed over the unjust and the evil of the world. Man will realize his destiny and will find his utopia of peace and goodwill upon the earth.
The Jews will also be deceived and will believe that they will have found the promised Messiah. The prince, as Daniel calls him, will enter into a covenant with Israel and promise them peace and security. Finally they will be allowed to rebuild their temple and restore their sacrifices. But Daniel says "in the midst of the week" (three and one half years) the prince will break his covenant and turn against the Jews. These last three and one half year will be a time of great tribulation; more severe than the world has ever known. Daniel called it "transgression of desolations" in chapter eight and Jeremiah called it "a time of Jacob's troubles".
The Apostle John was taken up into heaven in a vision and was allowed to see these catastrophic events which are yet to occur and he recorded his vision in Revelation chapters four through nineteen. Many believe that the great tribulation is a New Testament concept, but careful study shows that it is an Old Testament concept that has been more fully developed in the New Testament. Both the Old and New Testament gives the time period as three and one half years – also given as forty two months, "a time, times, and half a time and 1260 days. The prince (known as the infamous Antichrist) referred to in Daniel 9:26-27 will become the beast of Revelation chapters thirteen, seventeen and nineteen.
NOTE: For more details on the "Seventy Weeks" see below.
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Events in the last three chapters of Daniel are of one vision. They are the most detailed of all the chapters in his book as they foretell the future. Most of this prophecy has been fulfilled but it was prophetic at the time when it was written. It begins in Daniel’s day, and culminates by ushering in the Millennium Kingdom of the last days. It is important to realize that Daniel’s people and God’s people are in view during some of the most difficult days of their persecution – after they have returned to Jerusalem and fall under the reign of the Greeks.
Daniel Chapter Ten Angels of the Nations
Two years have pasted since Cyrus gave permission for a small group of Jews to return to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel. Daniel was given a vision, which he understood. But Daniel was troubled by it. He apparently had retired from government service and was standing by the Tigris River. Daniel was so troubled that he had gone into a fast and deep mourning for three weeks. During this time no meat or wine went into his mouth.
After three weeks, a heavenly being came and stood before Daniel. “I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground” (Daniel 10:5-9).
There are various interpretations for this Heavenly Messenger. Some believe that he is seeing the transfiguration of Christ. There is a very close resemblance to the vision of Christ in Revelation chapter one. Others believe that He is probably an angel. Notice that Daniel fell on the ground and that Daniel is unconscious.
As Daniel lay on the ground an angel touched him and told him to get up and to standup. Some bible scholars believe that the angel is the same heavenly beings that he saw in the above verses. " Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia” (Daniel 10:12-13).
These verses give us insight into the spiritual war that is going on in the unseen world about us. The prince of the kingdom of Persia is a warrior in Satan’s army. He seems to be in charge of the nation of Persia and had more power than the angel sent by God to Daniel. The Archangel, Michael, who had more authority, came to open up the way for the angel to get to Daniel. Adam has given the kingdoms of the earth to Satan and apparently Satan has placed fallen beings over the control of these nations. We don’t realize how serious this spiritual warfare is.
These verses also shed light on how serious the message is. Satan has gone to battle to keep Daniel from receiving the message from God. No wonder so many have tried to assign the writings of Daniel to a later writer. Yet, Jesus affirms the authorship of the book in Matthew chapter 24.
Now the angel tells Daniel why he has come. “Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come” (Daniel 10:14). In chapter eleven we will see that the message has application in the short term (next 300 years) and the long term (over 2000 years). After this Daniel became very weak and a Heavenly Messenger touched him to strengthen him.
“And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me. Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince” (Daniel 10:19-21).
We now see that Satan also has lieutenants over each of the nations, as the heavenly messenger must now fight against the “prince of Greece”.
Last edited by wayne on Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:45 pm; edited 2 times in total
The prophecies of Daniel are progressive in their explanations of detail. We find in this chapter very detail descriptions of the warfare between two warring groups of the Greek Empire. Palestine will become the battleground as these two kings battle over the control of the territory and the Jews are caught in the middle.
We will now look at what the messenger told Daniel. “And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these” (Daniel 11:2-4).
We again see the prophecy stating that the Greeks under Alexander the Great would overthrow the Medo-Persians. After the death of Alexander the kingdom was divided into four territories under Alexander’s four generals. Ptolemy (king of the south) was given Egypt and Seleucus (king of the north) was given Syria. Verses 4 through 20 describe the war over a period of 140 years. Verse 21 introduces us to the tyrant, Antiochus Epiphanes, a king of the north, who came to power in 175 BC.
"And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue” (Daniel 11:21). Antiochus Epiphanes was a type of the Antichrist and he persecuted the Jews in Jerusalem more than anyone had ever persecuted them before and maybe since – only the suffering under the Antichrist will be greater. He came into Jerusalem and desecrated the Jewish temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar.
"And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:31-35).
The “Abomination of Desolation” refers to the desecration of the temple. There are many parallels between Antiochus Epiphanes and what is told us about the Antichrist. Between verse 35 and 36 there is an interval of many centuries. Now the Antichrist is to be introduced.
“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain” (Daniel 11:36-39).
We have more details of the Antichrist in these verses in chapter eleven than we have anywhere else in the Old Testament. Only Revelations gives us more detail.
"At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him” (Daniel 11:40-45).
These verses detail the last days of the reign of the Antichrist as the war of Armageddon begins. The references to “Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon” are the Arab nations. The king of the north is now Russia and the king of the south is the nations of Africa.
This chapter continues with the vision in chapter eleven. When the book was written there probably was not a chapter break. This chapter closes out events of the last days.
This chapter continues with a picture of the great tribulation. “"At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1).
We see the Archangel Michael has come to assist the Jews who are living at this time. With all the persecution of the past it is difficult to understand how the Jews can suffer more during the great tribulation. Jeremiah refers to the time as “Jacob’s trouble”. “Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob's trouble, But he shall be saved out of it. 'For it shall come to pass in that day,' Says the LORD of hosts, 'That I will break his yoke from your neck, And will burst your bonds; Foreigners shall no more enslave them” (Jer 30:7-8).
Both Daniel and Jeremiah see the Jews being delivered out of this terrible persecution. Jesus is coming back to fight their battle. In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus speaks of the same persecution. "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened” (Matt 24:21-22). This helps us understand that the elect are the Jews and not the church. The church will be raptured before this time.
It is interesting that the next verses speak of the resurrection of the dead. It reads as if both the body and the soul sleep but the new testaments makes it clear that the soul does not sleep.
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:2-3).
This resurrection is in two parts although it is not made clear in these verses. The resurrection of Old Testament saints bodies will occur immediately after the Great Tribulation but the unsaved will not be raised until the Great White Throne Judgement which will occur after the 1000 year reign of Christ. The church is not in this resurrection for they will be raptured before the tribulation.
The remaining verses are instructions to Daniel. “"But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4). Daniel is told to seal the book as much more must take place and be revealed before these words can be understood. Jesus shed much light on these words but later He instructed the Apostle John to complete the details in the book of Revelation.
Now the time is given. “And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be? Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days” (Daniel 12:6-11).
Again we see the time “a time, times, and half a time” given – a period of three and one half years – the second half of the last seven years. Again Daniel is told to seal up the book.
“But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days” (Daniel 12:13).
Daniel is going to die and never fully understand all the he has seen but he is promised an inheritance when his body is resurrected.
Last edited by wayne on Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:22 pm; edited 2 times in total
• Seleucid king of the Hellenistic Syrian kingdom
• Reigned from 175 to 164 BC
• Ruled in the Shadow of the Romans
• Occupied Egypt With the Exception of Alexandria in 169 BC
• Brother of Cleopatra I
• A Conqueror With Great Pride
• He had What Might be Called Today the Scientific Spirit – Man Centered - Nature Worship
• Regarded Himself as the Ancient God Baal
• He Aimed to Rid the World of the Annoying Exclusive, "Nonconformist" Religion of the Jewish people
• He Planned to Create One Religion for All
• Desecrated Jewish Temple – Sacrificed Pig on the Altar of the Temple
• Prohibit Circumcision and Abolished the Observance of the Sabbath
• Type of the Antichrist
Last edited by wayne on Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:25 pm; edited 1 time in total
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