Burunche’s Blog

For the next several weeks, we will be studying the Book of Ecclesiastes. Here is what Pastor Chuck Swindoll has to say about this book.

Who wrote the book?

The title “Ecclesiastes” comes from a Greek word indicating a person who calls an assembly, so it makes sense that the author identified himself in Ecclesiastes 1:1 by the Hebrew word qoheleth, translated as “Preacher.” Despite leaving only this rather mysterious name to indicate his identity, evidence in the book, along with most Jewish and Christian tradition, suggests that King Solomon authored Ecclesiastes.

The Preacher went on to call himself “the son of David, king in Jerusalem,” one who has increased in “wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me,” and one who has collected many proverbs (Ecclesiastes 1:1, 16; 12:9). Solomon followed David on the throne in Jerusalem as the only Davidic son to rule over all Israel from that city (1:12). He was the wisest man in the world during his time (1 Kings 4:29–30) and wrote most of the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:1; 10:1; 25:1). Therefore, we can safely identify Solomon as the qoheleth of the opening verse.

Where are we?

With Solomon as the author of the book, we know it had to have been written sometime before his death in 931 BC. The content of Ecclesiastes reflects someone looking back on a life that was long on experience but short on lasting rewards. As king, he had the opportunity and resources to pursue the rewards of wisdom, pleasure, and work in and of themselves. Yet the world-weary tone of the writing suggests that late in life, he looked back on his folly with regret, pointing us to a better, simpler life lived in light of God’s direction (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).

Why is Ecclesiastes so important?

Ecclesiastes presents us a naturalistic vision of life—one that sees life through distinctively human eyes—but ultimately recognizes the rule and reign of God in the world. This more humanistic quality has made the book especially popular among younger audiences today, men and women who have seen more than their fair share of pain and instability in life but who still cling to their hope in God.

What’s the big idea?

Ecclesiastes, like much of life, represents a journey from one point to another. Solomon articulated his starting point early in the book: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2), indicating the utter futility and meaninglessness of life as he saw it. Nothing made sense to him because he had already tried any number of remedies—pleasure, work, and intellect—to alleviate his sense of feeling lost in the world.

However, even in the writer’s desperate search for meaning and significance in life, God remained present. For instance, we read that God provides food, drink, and work (2:24); both the sinner and the righteous person live in God’s sight (2:26); God’s deeds are eternal (3:14); and God empowers people to enjoy His provision (5:19). Ultimately, the great truth of Ecclesiastes lies in the acknowledgment of God’s ever-present hand on our lives. Even when injustice and uncertainty threaten to overwhelm us, we can trust Him and follow after Him (12:13–14). 

How do I apply this?

We all desire meaning in life. Often that search takes us along winding, up-and-down paths filled with bursts of satisfaction that shine bright for a time but eventually fade. In one sense, it’s satisfying to see that experience echoed throughout Ecclesiastes. An appreciation for our common humanity emerges from reading its pages. We relate to the journey of Solomon because, for so many of us, it is our own. When we attempt to find meaning in the pursuit of pleasure, the commitment to a job, or through plumbing intellectual depths, we all eventually find in each of these pursuits a dead end.

Ecclesiastes shows us a man who lived through this process and came out on the other side with a wiser, more seasoned perspective. When we’re surrounded by the temptation to proclaim life’s ultimate emptiness, we can find in Ecclesiastes a vision tempered by experience and ultimately seen through divinely colored lenses. Life is destined to remain unsatisfying apart from our recognition of God’s intervention. It only remains to be seen whether or not we will place our trust in His sure and able hands.

Have you struggled with misplaced pursuits in life? Does your life lack the meaning and purpose you desire? Hear the words of Solomon that they might encourage you to place your trust solely in the Lord.

How do I decide which book of the Bible to write about next? God tells me. God knows human hearts and God knows what each of us needs to hear from Him. Rest assured that somewhere in these studies, God wants to speak to you individually and that He wants to give light on the problems you’re facing. As we begin this study, let’s pray for guidance.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, You are the Creator and Sustainer of all of us. We are nothing without You. Please open our eyes so that we might see wonderful things in Your Word and hide Your Word in our hearts, that we might not sin against You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 12 The Time of the End

“At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”

Once more, we are left wondering when these events are going to take place. Clearly, these prophecies speak of the end times, and once more, we can’t be certain where we stand with the end time calendar. But we know that there will be a persecution of the Jews that will dwarf anything that has happened previously, including the Holocaust, during which six million Jews were slaughtered. God knows His people and will rescue them and raise them from the dead, many to everlasting life and many more to “shame and everlasting disgrace.”

But while darkness threatens to envelop the earth, “those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.” Oh, how wonderful! Oh, how magnificent! Oh Lord, may we be found faithful! May we be among those who lead many to righteousness, so that we will “shine like the stars forever!”

Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing on opposite banks of the river. One of them asked the man dressed in linen, who was now standing above the river, “How long will it be until these shocking events are over?”

The man dressed in linen, who was standing above the river, raised both his hands toward heaven and took a solemn oath by the One who lives forever, saying, “It will go on for a time, times, and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened.”

I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, “How will all this finally end, my lord?”

But he said, “Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means.

“From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days. And blessed are those who wait and remain until the end of the 1,335 days!

“As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.”

When Jesus’ disciples begged him to tell them when the end would come, Jesus told them that only the Heavenly Father knew the day and the hour. No matter how many theories are generated, it’s still true that only God the Father knows precisely when the end will come.

But we know one thing: God’s timing is perfect. Acts 2:1 tells us, “When the day of Pentecost had fully come…” God’s timing is split second and when the time has come for the fulfillment of these prophecies, nothing and nobody can delay the sovereign Will of God.

What is left for us to do? We must dare to pursue righteousness just as Daniel did. We must not flinch in the face of attacks or adversity. And we must remain true to God and His Holy Word, even at the cost of our lives. Recently, in parts of West Africa, Christians have been martyred during baptism services and other worship services. Those of us living in safer places must realize that we too can die for our faith, just as Charlie Kirk has done recently.

May God help us to remain true and may we love God more each day than we did the day before!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You, no matter the price. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 11:21-44 “The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not in line for royal succession. He will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue. Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince. With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers. Without warning he will enter the richest areas of the land. Then he will distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich—something his predecessors had never done. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, but this will last for only a short while.”

Guzik explains:  In his place shall arise a vile person: The angel told Daniel that after the brief reign of the former king of the North, the next king would be a vile person. He would not be recognized as royalty, but shall take power by intrigue.

b. In his place: This was fulfilled in the successor of Seleucis III, named Antiochus IV. He did not come to the throne legitimately because it was strongly suspected that he murdered his older brother, the previous king. The other potential heir (the son of Seleucus III) was imprisoned in Rome.

i. He shall come in peaceably: Apart from the murder of his older brother, Antiochus IV didn’t use terror to gain power. He used flattery, smooth promises, and intrigue.

ii. “He flattered Eumenes, king of Pergamus, and Attalus his brother, and got their assistance. He flattered the Romans, and sent ambassadors to court their favour, and pay them the arrears of the tribute. He flattered the Syrians, and gained their concurrence.” (Clarke)

iii. Antiochus IV took the title Epiphanes, meaning illustrious. Others derisively called him Epimanes, meaning madman.

“Then he will stir up his courage and raise a great army against the king of the south. The king of the south will go to battle with a mighty army, but to no avail, for there will be plots against him. His own household will cause his downfall. His army will be swept away, and many will be killed. Seeking nothing but each other’s harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for the end will come at the appointed time.”

Again, Guzik tells us: a. He shall act deceitfully: The angel told Daniel that the new king of the North (the vile person of Daniel 11:21) would attempt a deceitful covenant with the king of the South. This would fail, and there would be a great battle that would not change the balance of power.

b. He shall stir up his power: This was fulfilled when Antiochus Epiphanes carried on the feud between the dynasties but pretended friendship and alliance to catch them off guard. Despite massive efforts and epic battles, Antiochus Epiphanes did not stand, and his army was swept away.

i. The defeat of Antiochus Epiphanes at his second campaign against Egypt was important, because Egypt beat Antiochus with the help of Rome. At the end of it all, Antiochus Epiphanes and his kingdom were under the dominion of Rome.

ii. In a famous battle, the Roman Navy defeated the navy of Antiochus Epiphanes. After the battle, a Roman general drew a circle around Antiochus in the dirt and demanded to know if he would surrender and pay tribute to Rome – and demanded to know before he stepped out of the circle. From that point on there was no doubt: Antiochus Epiphanes took his orders from Rome and was under Roman dominion.

iii. Those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him: This was fulfilled in the treachery against Antiochus IV by his own counselors.

“The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey.

29 “Then at the appointed time he will once again invade the south, but this time the result will be different. 30 For warships from western coastlands[e] will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant.

While returning to his land with great riches: Failing in his invasion of Egypt, Antiochus Epiphanes returned home with only great plunder to soothe his wounded pride.

ii. Ships from Cyprus shall come against him: This was naval assistance from the Romans, who helped the Egyptians turn back Antiochus Epiphanes.

iii. They shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation: Antiochus Epiphanes set up an image of Zeus at the temple altar. He demanded sacrifice to this image, and later desecrated the temple by sacrificing a pig on it. “It was in truth an abomination, which brought a desolate condition to the Temple, for now no one would come to worship at all.” (Wood)

31 “His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration. 32 He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.”  (Some translations read “The people who know their God will be strong and will do exploits.”) When Antiochus Epiphanes turned on Jerusalem, the Jewish people were divided. Some forsook their covenant with God and embraced Greek culture. Those who knew their God made a stand for righteousness in the face of incredible persecution.

33 “Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed. 34 During these persecutions, little help will arrive, and many who join them will not be sincere. 35 And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come.”

36 “The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed, but only until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place. 37 He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god loved by women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all. 38 Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses—a god his ancestors never knew—and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and expensive gifts. 39 Claiming this foreign god’s help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward.”

For many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering: In his attack on Jerusalem Antiochus IV is said to have killed 80,000 Jews, taken 40,000 more as prisoners, and sold another 40,000 as slaves. He also plundered the temple, robbing it of approximately $1 billion by modern calculations.

vi. Until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time: This terror could only last for as long as God had appointed it, and God had a purpose even for such persecution and blasphemy.

a. He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: The angel explained to Daniel that this king would blaspheme God and exalt himself until the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.

b. Above every god: Here we shift from what was fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Selucids to what will be fulfilled in the Antichrist, the final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to the latter days (Daniel 10:14), and Daniel 11:36 begins to look more towards this final world dictator, who is sort of a “last days Antiochus Epiphanes.”

i. We know that everything about this prophecy was not fulfilled during the career of Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus specifically said the real abomination of desolation was still in the future (Matthew 24:15). The Apostle Paul paraphrased Daniel 11:36 in reference to the coming Antichrist: Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

ii. Antiochus Epiphanes is important, but mostly as a historical preview of the Antichrist. This is why so much space is given to describing the career of one evil man – because he prefigures the ultimate evil man. Antiochus Epiphanes is the “trailer” released well before the Antichrist, who is like the “feature.”

c. He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: Antiochus Epiphanes certainly did this in the general sense that all sinners oppose God. Yet he remained loyal to the Greek religious tradition, which revered the entire Olympian pantheon. Antiochus Epiphanes put a statue of Zeus in the temple, not of himself. This statement will be far more precisely fulfilled in the Antichrist, who sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

d. Shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished: Antichrist will do much damage, but he is on a short chain and will only work into God’s plan. God’s purpose will be accomplished.

40 “Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will enter the glorious land of Israel,[h] and many nations will fall, but Moab, Edom, and the best part of Ammon will escape. 42 He will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians will be his servants.

44 “But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate many. 45 He will stop between the glorious holy mountain and the sea and will pitch his royal tents. But while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him.

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.

a. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women: Based on this, some Bible scholars believe that the Antichrist will be of Jewish descent… These things may not be popularly known about the man, but they may be true nonetheless.

i. But many commentators believe that the desire of women refers to Jesus, in that all women desired the honor of bearing the Messiah and understanding “desire” as it is used in Haggai 2:7. Seeing the desire of women as Jesus makes most sense in light of the flow of context.

b. He shall honor a god of fortresses: The Antichrist will take and hold power with military might and the shrewd use of great riches.

3. (40-45) The final conflict.

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.

a. At the time of the end: The angel described to Daniel a confederation of kings coming against this great leader, with a battle in and near the Holy Land.

b. King of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind: Prophetically speaking, a precise identification of peoples mentioned is difficult. The king of the South may be Egypt or represent the Arab community. The king of the North may be the Antichrist’s domain (as the “new Antiochus Epiphanes”) or it may be Russia.

i. The precise points may be cloudy, but the general idea is clear. The end will be marked by great conflict, culminating in the world’s armies gathering in the Promised Land to do final battle.

c. Yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him: In the end there is no hope for the Antichrist or for any of his followers.

Once more, prophecy functions on two levels, the centuries immediately after Daniel and the end times. Where are we on the divine time line? Who knows? For centuries, believers have claimed they were living through the end times, only for more tragedies to occur. The key lesson for us from this chapter comes in 11:32. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.” Some translations read “The people who know their God will be strong and will do exploits.”

The title of these studies is “Dare to be a Daniel!” Throughout Daniel’s life, he continued to pray, to worship, and to remain true to God. Not even growling lions could sway Daniel. Can the same be said of us? In the wake of the murder of Charlie Kirk, many of his enemies have said vicious hateful things. Evil has thrown away its mask and it’s worse than our wildest dreams. Will we stand for God, for truth, for justice, and for the right, or will we falter and fail? May God give us the courage to stand, no matter what!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to stand firm against all attacks, strengthened and emboldened by You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 11:1-20 The Angel Gabriel continues his explanation

 Ever since Daniel recorded these visions, there are critics who have insisted that someone else recorded events after the fact; however, God is perfectly capable of revealing the future to those who are faithful. I fully believe that these visions were given to Daniel. Why did God give these revelations to Daniel? Each of these rulers would threaten the very existence of the Jews and God issuing a warning.

These texts describe very complicated political maneuverings. For an excellent detailed explanation, please see David Guzik’s Enduring Word Bible Commentary. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/daniel-11/

(I have been standing beside Michael to support and strengthen him since the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.) [The Angel Gabriel is still speaking.]

Kings of the South and North “Now then, I will reveal the truth to you. Three more Persian kings will reign, to be succeeded by a fourth, far richer than the others. He will use his wealth to stir up everyone to fight against the kingdom of Greece.” Three more Persian kings did arise, the last one being Xerxes.David Guzik points out, “These visions and insights regarding the future of the Persian and Greek Empires were relevant because each empire attempted to wipe out the people of God at some time.”

i. The Persian Empire tried to wipe out the Jewish people during the reign of Xerxes, through the plot of Haman (as shown in the Book of Esther).

ii. The Greek Empire tried to wipe out the Jewish people during the reign of Antiochus IV, when he attempted to kill every Jew who did not renounce their commitment to God and embrace Greek culture.

“Then a mighty king will rise to power who will rule with great authority and accomplish everything he sets out to do. But at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken apart and divided into four parts. It will not be ruled by the king’s descendants, nor will the kingdom hold the authority it once had. For his empire will be uprooted and given to others.”

Alexander the Great conquered huge territories and died prematurely at the age of 32. Guzik: “This prophecy does not mainly concern Alexander because he did no harm to Jerusalem, though he conquered the general area. The ancient historian Josephus records the interesting arrival of Alexander the Great to Jerusalem, and how he was shown the Book of Daniel by the high priest (whom Alexander had previously seen in a vision). Alexander was so impressed that he spared Jerusalem and granted it religious toleration.”

“The king of the south will increase in power, but one of his own officials will become more powerful than he and will rule his kingdom with great strength.” The kingdom of the north is the Seleucids, based in Syria, while the kingdom of the south is the Ptolemy kingdom of Egypt. The two kingdoms vied back and forth for 130 years with the stronger kingdom controlling the Holy Land.

“Some years later an alliance will be formed between the king of the north and the king of the south. The daughter of the king of the south (Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy II) will be given in marriage to the king of the north (Antiochus II) to secure the alliance, but she will lose her influence over him, and so will her father. She will be abandoned along with her supporters. But when one of her relatives becomes king of the south, (PtolemyIII) he will raise an army and enter the fortress of the king of the north and defeat him. When he returns to Egypt, he will carry back their idols with him, along with priceless articles of gold and silver. For some years afterward he will leave the king of the north alone.”

“Later the king of the north will invade the realm of the king of the south but will soon return to his own land. However, the sons of the king of the north will assemble a mighty army that will advance like a flood and carry the battle as far as the enemy’s fortress.”

“Then, in a rage, the king of the south will rally against the vast forces assembled by the king of the north and will defeat them. After the enemy army is swept away, the king of the south will be filled with pride and will execute many thousands of his enemies. But his success will be short lived.”

“A few years later the king of the north will return with a fully equipped army far greater than before. At that time there will be a general uprising against the king of the south. Violent men among your own people will join them in fulfillment of this vision, but they will not succeed. Then the king of the north will come and lay siege to a fortified city and capture it. The best troops of the south will not be able to stand in the face of the onslaught.”

“The king of the north will march onward unopposed; none will be able to stop him. He will pause in the glorious land of Israel, intent on destroying it. He will make plans to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will form an alliance with the king of the south. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom from within, but his plan will fail.”

“After this, he will turn his attention to the coastland and conquer many cities. But a commander from another land will put an end to his insolence and cause him to retreat in shame. He will take refuge in his own fortresses but will stumble and fall and be seen no more.”

“His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. But after a very brief reign, he will die, though not from anger or in battle.”

Guzik explain: This was fulfilled in the brief reign of Seleucus III, the eldest son of Antiochus III. He sought to tax his dominion (including the glorious kingdom, the Holy Land) to increase revenues. His plan to pillage the Jerusalem temple was set aside when his ambassador had an angelic vision of warning. Within a few days he shall be destroyed: Seleucus III was assassinated, probably by his brother Antiochus IV.

The Ghanaians have a saying that “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled.” In the fights between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids, the Holy Land continually comes under attack. I have deliberately omitted mentioning most of the rulers, feeling that if you really want more information, you can read Mr. Guzik’s extremely detailed discussion.

What we can gain from these verses viewed in the rear-view mirror of history is that God is giving Daniel very specific prophecies about what will happen in the next few centuries in the Middle East. Why does God do this? God is also going to give Daniel end-time prophecies and He wants those coming after Daniel to see how these prophecies have been fulfilled so that they will believe the end-time prophecies as well.

What is important for us is that God sees all, knows all, and remains as the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. Knowing these things, we can trust God to guide us and give us wisdom for the troubled days in which we live.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, You are the Ruler of the Universe and You are the One who orders our lives. Help us to trust You and follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 10:1-21 Daniel’s Vision of a Messenger

10 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia,[536 B.C.] Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.

When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.

On April 23, [On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This date in the book of Daniel can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and can be related accurately to our modern calendar. This event occurred on April 23, 536 B.C.] as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.

Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.

Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”

While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”

Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”

As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.”

How does one become a prophet? There have always been many self-styled prophets; however, the calling to be a prophet is a special one that can only come from God. Although there are some young prophets, many times the gift of prophecy comes more strongly to the elderly who have suffered and experienced loss. The challenge is simple: true prophets become channels of God’s Word, omitting their own opinions. True prophets also pray and seek God’s perfect Will, rather than simply representing their own ideas. When God began giving Daniel the visions that he recorded, Daniel was elderly, having served the Babylonians and then the Medo-Persian Empire for decades.

At the time of this vision, Daniel had been praying and fasting for three weeks. Although he continued to eat, he evidently was taking very simple food, likely bread, water, and vegetables. Although Daniel was undoubtedly bathing, he refused to anoint himself with the fragrant lotions that men of his stature would normally use. How did Daniel know that he needed to pray special prayers and fast? Sometimes the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will come upon us, and we simply know that we must do something, even though we have no explanations. Obedience brings enlightenment. Disobedience leads to futility.

When the angel came to Daniel, the fear of the Lord fell on Daniel’s companions and they fled. Daniel himself fainted and only stood after the angel had touched him, giving him supernatural strength.

Notice what the angel says to Daniel: “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.”  Later, the angel repeats that affirmation by saying, “Don’t be afraid, for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”

“You are very precious to God.” WOW! How many of us believe we are precious to anybody, let alone to God? Most of us believe that we are toilers in obscurity, struggling to make it through our daily routine. If the angel had said nothing more than this simple statement, Daniel would still have been thrilled for the rest of his life. But there’s far more.

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”

Let’s look at this assurance:

1. Daniel’s requests were heard in heaven from the first day when he began to pray for understanding. Many times, we are impatient with God, feeling that when God does not answer as promptly as we wish, it means that God is not listening to us.
2. Daniel’s requests were heard in heaven when he humbled himself.  Why must we humble ourselves before we can hear from God? In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells the story of two men who went to the temple to pray. The pharisee stood in the middle of the temple, reciting his virtues while the tax collector huddled in a corner, beating his breast and begging, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Jesus assured his audience that it was the tax collector who was justified before God and not the pharisee. As long as we are lecturing God, we can’t possibly hear from Him.
3. The angel began coming to Daniel; however, the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed him for three weeks and he required help from the archangel Michael. When we underestimate the evil opposing us, we make a sad mistake. The assassination of Charlie Kirk has unleashed a fire storm of filthy comments from those opposing what Kirk stood for. God has used Kirk’s death to rip the mask off the face of evil, and never again can believers pretend that their critics and opponents are simply misguided individuals who can easily be brought to the light. The war against evil is very real.
4. This vision will be fulfilled in the future, and the spiritual battle will contine.  “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.”

God in His Infinite Wisdom has created Daniel, training Daniel when he was young, and has allowed Daniel to be carried off to Babylon, knowing that eventually the Medo-Persian Empire will succeed the Babylonian Empire. Throughout Daniel’s life, he has persistently and consistently honored God. Now God is favoring Daniel with visions that foreshadow those described in Revelation. At the same time, Daniel’s description of this vision also gives us a glimpse of the reality of spiritual warfare. Tomorrow we will continue to explore the lessons from this vision, but for today, remember that if you want God to reveal things to you, you must humbly and persistently seek Him in prayer.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, You are the One with all the wisdom in the universe while we only posses tiny crumbs. Help us to honor You in everything we say and do. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 9:20-27 Gabriel’s Message about the Anointed One

“I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain. As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.

“A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.

“After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end. The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven,  but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.”

Daniel is confused by his vision and desperately wants enlightenment. God sends the Angel Gabriel to explain things to Daniel. Recently, someone I follow on Facebook reported receiving scathing criticisms from those refusing to believe in angels. When the writer invited readers to submit their personal stories of angelic encounters, the response was overwhelming, proving that as the song says, there ARE angels among us.

One of my angel stories concerns the time I was traveling alone in Charleston, WV. Night was falling and I was on the interstate when I realized I had a flat tire. Pulling off to the side of the road, I was struggling to extract my jack and my spare tire from the trunk of my car when a smiling coal miner suddenly appeared, offering to change my tire for me. Looking back, I realize I never saw his vehicle, but I certainly accepted the help without hesitation. After changing the tire, the man wished me a safe trip and then disappeared as mysteriously as he had come. I am certain God sent an angel to help and protect me, for I could have been attacked as I stood at the side of the road.

While Daniel appears to have accepted Gabriel’s interpretation and to have understood it, ever since Daniel recorded this vision, people have been arguing over the time line. Have these events already happened? Are these events yet to take place? Or is this a vision with a dual interpretation, both an ancient one as well as one that has yet to be fulfilled?

Personally, I favor the dual interpretation. But what is most important is our response. Will we be faithful to God and His Word, or will we cave in to popular thinking? I am writing this study two days after the murder of Charlie Kirk at a university presentation in Utah. By all accounts, Mr. Kirk was articulate, gracious, and indefatigable in his defense of Biblical principles. The murderer had immersed himself in hate-filled media, warping his entire personality. Unfortunately, there are millions of other young people who have been similarly misled. On the other hand, thousands of college students are now wearing tee-shirts proclaiming “We are all Charlie!” Mr. Kirk’s death appears to be galvanizing large numbers of Christians throughout the world to speak out for their faith.

The title of this study series is “Dare to be a Daniel!” Mr. Kirk took up that challenge and did everything he could to fulfill it, despite threats of all kinds. May God help us, so that we will be found faithful, no matter the cost.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. May we be found faithful, no matter the danger. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 9:1-27 Daniel’s Prayer for His People

It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, who became king of the Babylonians. During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the Lord, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.”

“Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you. O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. We have not obeyed the Lord our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice.”

“So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin. You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem. Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth. Therefore, the Lord has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The Lord our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him.”

“O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness. In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn your furious anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.”

“O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary.”

“O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.”

“O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.”

Notice several things: Daniel prayed regularly, at least three times a day and had done so since his youth, even before the Babylonians had brought him to Babylon. It was this habit of prayer that the wicked bureaucrats employed to trap Daniel and manipulate Darius so that he was forced to cast Daniel into the lions’ den. Daniel also was a keen student of the Jewish Scriptures, including the prophet Jeremiah. It was while studying Jeremiah 25:11-13 that Daniel realized that God would punish the land for 70 years and then restore it. Jeremiah 29:10 says, “For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.”

Daniel also knew of Isaiah’s prophecies concerning a leader named Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28-45:4.) Daniel realized that the time was growing short; however, Daniel was also observing the lives of his fellow Jews in Babylon. Daniel assumed that many Jews living outside Babylon were pursuing similarly unholy lives. How could God possibly return these people to Israel if they failed to change and worship Him? The ancestors of these people had lost their land through gross disobedience to God, despite all the specific warnings He had given through Moses and the prophets. As moral degradation in both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms increased, God sent faithful prophets, many of whom were martyred in gruesome ways.

Daniel’s prayers were born out of agony: certainly God was faithful; however, His people were anything but faithful, and many of them had not learned anything through being exiled. Before God could possibly return anyone to Israel, such people would have to truly worship Him. By the time Daniel was praying these prayers, he was elderly and remained an exile. There was nothing to encourage Daniel that God would hear his prayers, let alone honor them; yet, Daniel prayed.

Tomorrow we will see how God sends an angel to help Daniel understand the full force of the prophecies, but for today, let’s look at Daniel’s heart cry on behalf of his nation.

1. Daniel does not sugar coat sin. As a young man, Daniel knew of the horrific pagan practices going on in Judah before he was taken to Babylon. It’s quite possible that Daniel confessed many specific sins to God such as those sacrificing live children to Molech by burning them and those involved in cult prostitution.
2. Daniel acknowledges that God has only done what He said He would do. The punishment is just. God has repeatedly warned the Israelites, only for them to ignore His laws and slaughter the prophets God has sent to warn them.
3. Daniel begs God to forgive, to cleanse, and to restore. 

“O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary.”

“O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.”

“O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.”

What can we learn from Daniel’s prayers? We need to copy Daniel’s concern and his prayer points. Throughout the world, the forces of evil remain active, and those actively opposing evil need all the prayer support we can give them. We should pray for political and religious leaders, for teachers, for those in all walks of life, and also for ourselves.

Notice that Daniel bases his prayers on God’s promises, not on his own righteousness. By ourselves, we are all sinners in need of a savior; however, God has sent Jesus to shed his blood for our sins and save all who will believe in him. But we can pray God’s promises back to Him.

1 Chronicles 7:14 tells us, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

When we humble ourselves, repent from our sins, pray and seek God’s face, God will answer. God doesn’t play favorites; just as God answered Daniel’s prayers, He will also answer ours. May we be persistent and consistent in prayer!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to keep praying, even when things look hopeless. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 8:15-27 The vision is interpreted.

1. (15-19 Gabriel appears to Daniel.

Then it happened, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and was seeking the meaning, that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.” Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright. And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.

a. Between the banks of the Ulai: Daniel was still in the midst of his vision when he saw himself on the shores of this Persian river. He heard someone instruct Gabriel to explain the vision to Daniel.

b. The vision refers to the time of the end: Gabriel assured Daniel that this vision had to do with end times, with the latter time of the indignation.

i. This is a problem for some, because we see that the prophecy of Daniel 8:1-14 was fulfilled in the days of the Medo-Persian and Greek Empires, especially in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. The terms time of the end and latter time of the indignation commonly refer to what we think of as the end times, not events fulfilled more than a 100 years before the birth of Jesus.

ii. The answer is that though this prophecy was fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes, it also has a later fulfillment in the Antichrist, referring to the time of the end. Antiochus Epiphanes is sometimes called the “Antichrist of the Old Testament.” He prefigures the Antichrist of the end times.

iii. Just as Antiochus Epiphanes rose to power with force and intrigue, so will the Antichrist. As he persecuted the Jews, so will the Antichrist. As he stopped sacrifice and desecrated the temple, so will the Antichrist. As he seemed to be a complete success, so will the Antichrist. “From what Antiochus did to Jews in his day, therefore, one may know the general pattern of what the Antichrist will do to them in the future.” (Wood)

iv. “Greece with all its refinement, culture and art, produced the Old Testament Anti-Christ while the so called Christian nations produce the New Testament Anti-Christ.” (Heslop)

c. What shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end: Some see this Antiochus and Antichrist connection, and some do not. Martin Luther wrote, “This chapter in Daniel refers both to Antiochus and Antichrist.” John Calvin wrote, “Hence Luther, indulging his thoughts too freely, refers this passage to the masks of Antichrist.”

2. (20-22) The specific identification of the ram and the male goat of Daniel’s vision.

The ram which you saw, having the two horns; they are the kings of Media and Persia. And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. 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.

a. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king: This was fulfilled in history by Alexander the Great (see comments on Daniel 8:5-8).

b. Four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power: This was fulfilled in history by the four generals who divided Alexander’s Empire between them (see comments on Daniel 8:5-8).

3. (23-26) The rise and fall of the strong little horn.

“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.”

a. In the latter time of their kingdom: The prophecy in this passage reads equally true of both Antiochus and Antichrist. This is an example of a prophetic passage that has both a near and far fulfillment.

b. Having fierce features: Antiochus Epiphanes was known for his cruel brutality. This will also be true of the coming Antichrist.

c. Who understands sinister schemes… through his cunning: Antiochus was known for his flattery and smooth tongue. The coming Antichrist will strike a covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27).

d. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: Antiochus Epiphanes was empowered by Satan and allowed by God. The same will be true of the coming Antichrist.

e. Shall prosper and thrive: Antiochus Epiphanes looked like a total success. The coming Antichrist will look like a complete winner until God topples his reign.

f. He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people: Antiochus Epiphanes not only destroyed his enemies, but also harshly persecuted the people of God. The coming Antichrist will also destroy and persecute.

g. He shall cause deceit to prosper: Both the rule of Antiochus Epiphanes in the past and of the Antichrist in the future are marked by deceit. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).

h. He shall exalt himself in his heart: The coins of Antiochus Epiphanes were inscribed with this title: THEOS EPIPHANIES meaning, “God manifest.” The coming Antichrist will also exalt himself: So that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

i. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes: Though Antiochus Epiphanes hated the people of God and fought against them, it was because he really hated God. The same will be true of the coming Antichrist, who will hate the Jews because he hates God.

j. Broken without human means: History tells us that Antiochus Epiphanes died of disease, not by the hand of man. In a similar way no man will defeat the coming Antichrist, but the hand of Jesus will strike him down (Revelation 19:20).

k. Therefore seal up the vision: Daniel must do this because in his day the vision referred to a period far distant in its ultimate fulfillment. For us, the time is near (Revelation 1:3) and the book is unsealed (Revelation 22:10).

4. (27) Daniel reacts to the vision with physical shock and astonishment.

And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.

a. Fainted and was sick… I was astonished: Daniel probably couldn’t understand why God would allow such a mighty persecutor of His people to come to power and seeming success.

i. “He may well have been puzzled about why Yahweh would permit even this brief time of brutal oppression under the little horn.” (Archer)

b. I went about the king’s business: Daniel didn’t let either spiritual mysteries or physical weakness keep him from doing his duty. This shows us that our interest in prophecy should make us more concerned with our king’s business, not less concerned about it.

i. “He would have counted it a great slur on his religious life if it could have been said that his visions and exercises interfered with his service to the king.” (Meyer)

ii. “Let us not neglect the work of the Lord, though less able to perform it. A sick child’s service is doubly accepted.” (Trapp)

c. No one understood it: It wasn’t because God never wanted this prophecy to be understood. There is no reason for God to reveal something to man that can never be understood. The reason why no one understood it was because the vision was sealed up in light of its ultimate fulfillment in Daniel’s distant future.

i. It is worth repeating: the time is not distant for us in light of Revelation 1:3, and the book of prophecy is not sealed in light of Revelation 22:10.”

One of the problems for many people with Biblical prophecy is the fact that prophecies may function on more than one level. While most of these prophecies have already been fulfilled in Old Testament times, a second Antichrist will also arise to completely fulfill these prophecies.

Realizing that this second Antichrist has yet to become manifest, how should we then live? We must be true to God and His Word and we should seek holiness in everything we do. We do not need to fear but remember that God is the One who has called us, who empowers us, and who will lead us, guide us, and take us to heaven. May we serve Him as faithfully as Daniel did!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives, knowing that You are the One who gives us the strength to do so. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.