Daniel 11-12  This final vision given to Daniel continues to be revealed to him.. far past his lifetime and ours.. to the final days.  Kings and kingdoms will war against each other.. with Israel in the midst of it all. Some of these prophecies have already been fulfilled.. but some are yet to be.. 

There are several verses that stand out to me.. that help us to have courage in the face of all of this.

11:27  "As for both kings, their hearts will be intent on evil, and they will speak lies to each other at the same table; but it will not succeed, for the end is still to come at the appointed time."  What an encouragement !  No matter what happens.. the future is aligned to God's time table! Those intent on evil will "not succeed" in the end!

11:32-33 "And by smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.  And those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder, for many days."  There will be men and women of God who will take courage and act in the face of persecution and death.  May we also be men and women of God who stand firm no matter what we face in the days ahead.. 

v35 "And some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge, and make them pure, until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time."  All of this that has happened.. and that which will happen.. is for this eternal purpose.. the sanctification of God's chosen ones. 

12: 1-3 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. and many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.  And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." 

v10 "Many will be purged, purified and refined; but the wicked will act wickedly, and not of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand."

Father in heaven, we are so thankful that the times are in Your hands and that Your purposes will be completed as You will.  Our prayer is that of the Apostle Paul:  "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." ( I Thes. 5:23)  We do not know the day or the hour of His coming.. we do not know what our future holds.. but we know You and pray that You will hold us close. Purge, refine, and make us pure, Lord.  Give us strength and courage to stand firm no matter what we must face. And most of all Lord, we pray, may many more have their names written in the book of life so that they too may be rescued and given everlasting life.  We ask these things in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Daniel 9:20-10  Gabriel came to Daniel again.   As Daniel prayed the Lord sent Gabriel to bring an answer.  Daniel was praying for the promised restoration of Israel. The answer is quite mysterious.. "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place." ( v24)  Then he talks about the Messiah.. seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.. and then the Messiah being cut off...  and it is all beyond me. 

Then in chapter 10 Daniel is given another vision and is visited by " a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult." (v5-6)  This vision caused Daniel to fall on his face and pass out.  "Then behold a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.."  We are told that this "man" had spent 21 days fighting with the "prince of the kingdom of Persia", but was helped by Michael, " one of the chief princes".   He touched Daniel and restored strength to his body and gave him one message, "O man of high esteem; do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!" 

As I thought about this passage and the difficult visions, my prayer was, " Lord, may I hear Your heart!"  I do not understand much of this.. the weeks and the angels..  but this I understand.. there is a heavenly battle being waged over the nations.. and the Lord wants us to be aware of this.  He wants us to know that He has the future.. of Daniel.. of Israel.. of the whole earth and every one of us.. in His Hands.  He calls us to faith.. faith that takes courage so we can be courageous. 

We  can face the future.. always a mystery to us.. with the understanding that our Lord is in control.. that He will win every battle and that no force or power.. not even those supernatural beings who oppose Him... can stand. 

Father, we can trust in Your greatness, Your faithfulness, and Your Sovereignty.  Things may not look great for our nation at this time, but there is One who can and will overcome the darkness!  Jesus Christ is King forever and will be exalted in all the earth!  May that day come soon.. and may we be ready.. doing all that we can.. with courage.. to stand firm, resist evil, and keep praying.  Your Word is our sword and faith is our shield. We put on the helmet of salvation.. for You are our help and You cover us with Your grace and mercy.  We take up the Truth as our belt and Righteousness as our breastplate. We put on the shoes of peace.. ready to stand.. to follow.. and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who need this great salvation that only You can provide.  Fill us Spirit of God and use us as You will. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

 Daniel 9:1-19  As Daniel read the words of Jeremiah he saw the promise.. " I, Daniel observed in the books the number of years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolation of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years."

Daniel immediately began praying.. "so I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes."  ( v3)  Daniel prayed for himself and for his people. He confessed the sins of the nation.. " we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly, and rebelled, even turning aside from Thy commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to Thy servants the prophets, who spoke in Thy name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land." 

This is a mighty prayer! What would happen in America if all the Christians began to pray like this for our country?

Daniel looks to the righteousness of God and confesses the "open shame" of his people.  Then, he appeals to the true character and heart of God.. "To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness."  Daniel looks back at the words of Moses and acknowledges that everything that God said he would do.. He did.  He acted righteously and justly.. bringing the consequences for sin upon Israel even as He had warned them that He would if they did not keep the covenant that they had made with Him. 

In the same way, Daniel appeals to the promise that God would restore the people of Israel when they turned back to Him.. "O Lord, in accordance with all Thy righteous acts, let now Thy anger and wrath turn away from Thy city Jerusalem, Thy holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Thy people have become a reproach to all those around us." 

Listen to Daniel's supplication, "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For thine own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name." (v19)

This prayer reveals so much of Daniel's heart.  He was so humble and yet so wise. He was told so many mysterious things about the future.. but his heart was tender and he just sought the Lord in every circumstance. He carried a deep burden for his people and his prayers reached beyond his own needs. 

Father in heaven, we pray for compassion and forgiveness for our land and people.. we need Your righteousness and justice in this land.  Bring hearts back to Yourself. May the Spirit of God bring conviction of sin and wickedness and rebellion and may  people everywhere repent and give their hearts over to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith and in truth.  O Lord hear! O Lord forgive! O Lord listen and take action! We have no other hope except in You! Pour out Your Spirit upon us now, we pray.. in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Daniel 8  Once again Daniel was given a vision of the future that was more than he could understand and that terrified him.  This time the future kingdoms are revealed as animals... The first was a ram which had 2 horns.. one larger than the other. We learn that this represents the Medes and the Persians.  Then a male goat comes from the west and overcomes the ram. This represents Alexander the great and the Greek empire. After Alexander's untimely death the kingdom is divided into 4 sections, represented by the 4 horns. One of these, the "rather small horn".. becomes greater and targets Israel.  This is believed to represent Antiochus IV Epiphanes.  Antiochus desecrated Jerusalem, offered unclean sacrifices in the Temple and commanded the Jews to eat unclean food.. swine's flesh. 

Daniel is told that there would be 2,300 evenings and mornings until the temple would be restored. This could represent 2,300 days.. or it talking about the sacrifices offered morning and evenings...it would be half that. So, either 3 or 6 years.  Either way, it was fulfilled when Judas Maccabeus restored the Temple in 164 BC.  

So, why was this vision given to Daniel? And what are we meant to learn from it now?  The Bible knowledge Commentary suggests that Antiochus is a foreshadowing of the Antichrist. As Antiochus came against Israel, so will the Antichrist.  The first opposed the One True God and defiled the Temple. The second will oppose the Lord Jesus Christ and will be terminated by His divine judgement.  Just as we see the literal fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy for Israel in those days.. we will see the literal fulfillment of this final opposition against our God and the final judgement against Satan and his minions. 

Perhaps Daniel was simply meant to record these visions just to keep them for future reference.  It took a lot out of him.. we are told that he was "exhausted and sick for days".  This vision happened while Belshazzar was the acting king.. and we know that Daniel confronted Belshazzar a few years later when the writing on the wall incident occurred.  Daniel's attitude, character, and inner strength and calmness..never changed in his life time.. even in his old age. He did not fear Belshazzar or any king.. for he knew that their time would come and another kingdom would come.. ultimately the Kingdom of God.. and in this truth he rested.  Daniel never made it back to Israel during his lifetime.. but he had no worries about that.. for he knew a much better kingdom was coming and he would be there forever!

Father in heaven,  let Your kingdom come! Keep our eyes fixed on You and our hearts faithful .. as we rest in Your Truth. Thank You that Christ Jesus our King is coming again. May it be soon. Amen. 

 Daniel 7  Beginning with this chapter .. Daniel records his dreams and visions.  Mysterious and sometimes terrifying.. Daniel gives us a unique glimpse into God's plans for this world.  We are told that this first vision occurred during Belshazzar's first year. 

Daniel describes a great storm.. winds coming from all directions and stirring up the sea.  Out of this chaos comes four "great beasts".  The first is like a lion with wings.  Its wings are plucked and he stands up like a man with a "human mind". The second beast looks like a bear with three ribs in its mouth. The third one looked like a leopard.. with wings.. and with 4 heads. 

The fourth beast was the most terrifying to Daniel. It was extremely strong with iron teeth. "It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet."  This beast had 10 horns at first, but three were pulled out and 1 large, horrible horn replaced it. This horn had eyes and a mouth full of boasts.... 

Until.. the "Ancient of Days" came and took His seat on His throne..  It was then that the trial began.. "the court sat, and the books were opened."  The first thing that He does is to judge the boastful beast, which was slain and its body destroyed and "given to the burning fire." 

It is then that Daniel is given a wonderful gift.. "I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven, One like a Son of Man was coming.. "  Daniel gets to see Jesus in His glory.. receiving "dominion, glory and a kingdom". A kingdom that "will not pass away.. which will not be destroyed". 

Daniel is also given an interpretation of his vision. These are things to come, he is told. The fourth beast will wage war with the Lord's saints.. and he will overpower them.. but the "Ancient of Days" will come and pass judgement "in favor of the saints of the Highest One.. " 

There is coming a day.. Hallelujah!.. when the books will be opened and he who wages war against the saints will be overcome forever! "Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom; and all the dominions will serve and obey Him." 

Father in heaven, You are the Ancient of Days who sits on the throne and Who judges righteously.  You will give dominion to the Blessed King and to His saints.  We look forward to  that great day, anticipating the wonder of such a glorious day!  We may not understand the visions of Daniel any better than he did.. but we are thankful for this.. that You will deliver us and  that You will bring us into Your everlasting Kingdom, because Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, did come and will come again!  Hallelujah! what a Savior.  All glory and honor belongs to You. Amen. 

 Daniel 6  Many years had passed since Daniel was brought to Babylon. He is no longer a young man when Darius appointed him to be a commissioner in the kingdom... probably in his 80's.. However, he was still recognized as one who "possessed an extraordinary spirit".  He was highly respected by the king and completely disliked by the other commissioners and satraps. 

We know this story well.  The commissioners and satraps formed a group to discredit Daniel. When they could find no corruption or negligence in his work.. they created a trap for him by bringing a petition before the king that would punish anyone who worshipped any other god besides the king for thirty days. They knew Daniel well enough that they knew he would still serve his God.. Daniel knew what would happen.. and he continued to openly worship the Lord anyway!

What the others meant for evil.. the Lord used for good!  Daniel survived the night in the lion's den.. the king recognized that the God of Daniel was the "living God"! He made a decree that all men in his kingdom should "fear and tremble" before the Lord. Who knows how many lives were changed because of this decree!

And.. those who had come against Daniel ended up in the lion's den themselves.. along with their wives and children. 

Daniel is a great example of a faithful heart. From his early years.. well into his old age.. the testimony of his life was known... that he constantly served his God.  Daniel refused to defile himself.. he refused to stop worshipping God.. and he refused to be intimidated by mere men.  In everything, Daniel trusted God. 

Father in heaven, may we have this kind of faithfulness.. to worship and obey.. to trust in You no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. May we be known as men and women who "constantly serve" You, the Living God, whose kingdom endures forever. Thank You for being the God who delivers and rescues us.. who does the impossible.. and who never changes!  We may not be facing a lion's den.. but we know that there are times when the world will want to trap us and do evil towards us who belong to Jesus.  Deliver Your children from those who want to harm them, Lord God. In so many places in this world Christians are in the same kind of danger that Daniel faced.. and we ask that Your Spirit will be upon them and that they will remain faithful.. no matter what.  We ask this in the powerful name of Jesus our Redeemer and King. Amen. 

 Daniel 5  23 years after Nebuchadnezzar ruled, we find Belshazzar has taken his place on the throne of Babylon.  We meet him on the worst night of his life.. 

Belshazzar held a great feast for a "thousand of his nobles.. "  They were drinking much wine and Belshazzar thought it would be a great idea to use the "gold and silver vessels" that came from the temple in Jerusalem.  Holy vessels.. that Nebuchadnezzar had taken many years before.  So they brought in these vessels and everyone drank from them while praising the "gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone."  In other words.. they praised everything except the One True God. 

"Suddenly the fingers of a man's hand emerged and began writing opposite the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace.. "   This brought Belshazzar out of his drunkenness.. and scared him half to death!  He called for the wise men.. but none were able to read the message.  

It was the queen.. perhaps the mother or grandmother of Belshazzar.. who came in and told him about Daniel.. "There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight, and wisdom.. were found in him."  So Daniel was called in. 

Now Daniel didn't care about the king's gifts or a promise of a position of power.. but he had a message fro Belshazzar.. when Nebuchadnezzar had behaved "arrogantly" God had humbled him, making him like an animal in the fields.. until "he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes. Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this, but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven;..."

He had dared to take the holy vessels that belonged to the worship of God and used them to praise the idols of silver and gold.. "which do not see, hear, or understand. But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and your ways, you have not glorified." 

The words on the wall were "Mene; Mene; Tekel; Upharsin"   Numbered.. Weighed.. Divided.  Belshazzar was judged by the God of heaven and "found deficient".  His kingdom was about to end... and that very night  he was killed and "Darius the Mede received the kingdom." 

Father in heaven, You are God.. in whose hand is our life.. our breath.. our ways.. You are the Most High God and there is no other! We thank You for granting to us spiritual wisdom and understanding..  that we might know You and worship only You. The world around us is still acting like Belshazzar.. arrogant, and exalting themselves.. they do not know that every breath they breathe is in Your hand and that You see their hearts and will be their judge.  We do not want to be found wanting.. deficient.. lost.. and we are thankful that You have made a way for us to be saved.. through Jesus Christ, Your Son.  Let the good news of Jesus be our message to a world that is just one breath away from eternal judgement. May we, Your people, be filled with Your Spirit to share this message of truth with those around us.  In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.