Apocalyptic Hope

Part One Daniel Ch. 1-- 6 ......... Part Three Daniel Ch. 10-12

Daniel part two ... Short notations on Daniel Chapter 7-- 9.
Much of the Book of Daniel is still a mystery. Only the Holy Spirit can enlighten and reveal more of the truth to those who seek with all their heart.

There are many website-LINKS for further study listed at:
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/linkspg2.html under "Bible Resources" on the Book of Daniel.

In Daniel Chapters 1--6, Daniel interpreted the dreams and messages of others.
In Daniel 7--12, Daniel receives his own visions, which the angel helps to interpret.

AUDIO David Guzik http://enduringword.com/daniel_audio.htm

For studies in the Book of Revelation please see www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/rev.html

7. AUDIO David Guzik http://enduringword.com/daniel_audio.htm
Text: Daniel Chapter Seven

During the reign of Belshazzar ( see Daniel Chapter 5), Daniel receives a vision of 4 beasts arising out of the sea ( of chaos).

The four beasts represent 4 different empires; the 4 represented by the statue of Daniel Chapter 2.
However, it is our understanding that prophecy has many levels of interpretation. For instance Matthew 24 can be interpreted as the Roman takeover of Israel in 70 A.D.
Yet common sense tells us that there is much more to Matthew 24 then that. We know that there is a latter-day interpretation of those events, in a much more emphatic revelation.

Well, the same applies to much of the prophecies in Daniel Chapter 7 --12. Much of it applies to historical events that have already taken place. And yet , there is so much more to come.

Why do you suppose that God allows a two-tiered system to prevail in prophecy passages ? Well we think that this testifies to God's absolute accuracy in prophesying of future events. His past record is His resume. If God is 100 % accurate in past history, then for sure He is 100 % accurate in the telling of future events yet to take place. You can count on it, as if it already happened.
No other so-called "religion" has a Prophet like Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Jesus fulfilled many prophecies concerning Himself, mainly dying on the cross of crucifixion for our sins .... Isaiah 51 + 53, Psalm 22 + 69 and other passages. No one else died such a horrific death on our behalf..... only the Just One for the unjust.

Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled all the Messianic prophecies
http://web.archive.org/web/19990503164626/http://www.yeshuatyisrael.com/moshiach.htm

In Daniel 7, the prophet sees 4 beasts rise up out of the sea of chaos. We will deal with only the fourth beast which, to us, represents the Roman Revived Empire ( coming out of the Western European Nations) and is headed by the world leader of global policy.

"I saw a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth:
It devoured and break in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it:
And it was diverse (different) from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns
(10 kings of strength and power).

Here we see coming up out from among the ten kings of the EU a different horn
(a person of influence from a powerful country different from the EU ).
At his rising, three of the previous horns ( kings ) were plucked up by the roots
( subdued, overcome, controlled).
This final horn is a man with eyes ( controls ultimate surveillance technology ) and he has a mouth speaking great things ( the "one voice" of global policy ).

By his feet ( his governance of the 10 toes ) he stamps the residue ( rest of the world's
kingdoms).
7: 23 " and [ the fourth kingdom ] shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces"

When it says that he has a mouth of iron teeth, we take that to mean that he speaks with final dictatorial authority. As for his having eyes, that represents to us his leadership over total surveillance systems by satellite ( GPS, LEO etc., computer centric-networking, cameras installed everywhere). Through the tyranny of technology and the militarized police state, all opposition will be dealt with. To resist is futile.

7:19 "He had nails of brass" ( meaning his fingers deployed instruments for warring ) Psalm 144:1
7:20 "His look was more stout than his fellows" ( his stature commanded fear )

7:21 "the same horn made war with the saints ( Believers in Jesus Christ) and prevailed against them." Rev. 12:17; Rev. 2:10; Rev. 13:7 + 10
7:25 "And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High."
God allows this man ability over Believers, and their death will be a testimony for all time of the absolute corruption within secular government apart from God.

7:25 " and ( he shall ) think to change times and laws ( see below )

Will this man and his one world governance last long ? No. Daniel sees on out to the end of the
kingdom when" their thrones were cast down".
Daniel sees the Ancient of Days ( God the Father ) sit in His throne, meaning that God has executed
the last move on the Armageddon chessboard and He has put down all opposition.
And God's throne glowed like fiery flame, "and his wheels as burning fire".

Judgement has now come.

The voice of the great words of the horn speaks for his own defense. All of his rationalizations and
justifications fall to the ground.

7:26 "But the judgement shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it
unto the end."

7:11 "I beheld even till the beast (antichrist ) was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the
burning flame."

This man--- promising peace and prosperity , yet delivering death and destruction--- has a
"kingdom" of only 42 months in duration.... hardly the millennium of a golden age he had once
envisioned.

"And behold, one like the Son of man ( Jesus) came with the clouds of heaven and came to the
Ancient of Days ( the Father ), and they brought Him near before Him.
And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him ( the whole world). Psalm 2 ; Psalm 110
His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Daniel 2:44
"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Dan. 4:3; 4:34; Dan. 6:26.

The saints reign and rule with Jesus of Nazareth.
"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him ( Jesus) Rev. 5:10; Rev. 20:6; Rev. 22:5.

* * * * *
In verse 7:25 it refers to the one voice changing times and laws. This will accommodate political correctness and revisionism. For now, "Common Era" is used by modernists. I suspect the coming change will go even farther.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Era
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=73101

7:4 Could the lion be England and the eagle the U.S. ?
7:5 Could the bear be Russia ? (also, China is oftentimes symbolized by a Panda Bear)
7:6 Could the 4-headed leopard be Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Syria ? (nuke parts)
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/jan2005/mjm13-5.htm

Nukes: Egypt, Syria and Iran
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/531273.html

Egypt's Nuclear Program ( see Ezekiel 29 )
VIENNA, Austria - The U.N. atomic watchdog agency [ IAEA ] has found evidence of secret nuclear experiments in Egypt that could be used in weapons programs, diplomats said Tuesday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&e=4&u=/ap/20050104/ap_on_re_mi_ea/nuclear_agency_egypt


What we learn from this Chapter is the fact that Beast Governments are overwhelming and that bad overtakes the good FOR A SEASON. This is called "God's strange work" and also "the mystery of iniquity". But none of this separates us from the love of God in Jesus. God will have the final victory. Until then, we trust God.

8. AUDIO David Guzik http://enduringword.com/daniel_audio.htm
Text: Daniel Chapter Eight -- A king of fierce countenance
Daniel writes down the vision from Shushan ( in modern day Iran )

The interpretation of Daniel Eight begins with verse 20 ( showing past history) , and verse 23 which pertains to the latter days... our present timeframe....now.

As before, we will deal with this "king of fierce countenance" more than with past history. Yet, to get a complete picture of this fierce and final king, we must draw upon earlier verses, since all dictatorships have character traits in common.
"The thing that hath been it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9
Dictatorships have been around since time immemorial.

8:10 "And it ( beast's military complex ) waxed great, even to the host of heaven
[ army of the skies ] ; and it cast down some of the host [ armaments, missiles etc.] and of the
stars [ satellites ] to the ground, and stamped upon them."
Possible interpretation : Star Wars ( SDI ) has the capability of knocking out satellite systems of
other nations, permanently.

"Hosts" of heaven means "armies" of heaven. The "arms" that are in the heavens are satellite military systems ( the militarization of space). Knocking out an opponent's satellite system gives one a winning advantage.
We must keep in mind that Jesus is the Lord God "Sabaoth.... the Lord of the heavenly armies".
His hosts of angels are far more capable of expressing God's power than any satellite system.

8:11 " Yeah, he ( the leader of world policy, beast, antichrist, fierce king ) magnified himself even to the prince of the host. "
Satan is the prince of the host . He is "the prince of the power of the air" Ephesians 2:2 .
Satan has one third of the angels under his command Rev. 12 : 4. They are called "fallen angels"
This could possibly mean that the fierce king boasts of his abilities to express
Satan's ALLOWED powers; so much so that Satan gives this fierce king "his power, his seat and great authority " Rev. 13:2.

"and by him (the fierce king) the daily sacrifice was taken away ( daily killings from the Intafada OR it could mean ending temple sacrifices in the Jerusalem Synagogue ...time will tell).

"And the place of his ( Satan's ) sanctuary was cast down. Satan is cast down to earth at the time of the Great Tribulation Rev. 12: 9, 10

This is also the time that TRUTH is cast down ( Isaiah 59:14; Jeremiah 7:28;
2 Thessalonians 2:10--12)

8:12 "And an host ( army ) was given him ( fierce king) against the daily sacrifice
( warring factions in Israel ) by reason of the transgression."
Possible meaning: foreign forces act as a protectorate over Israel from her enemies. Yet this is deceptive.
"And it cast down truth to the ground"; and it practiced and prospered"
The deception takes over and foreigners rule the land.

We do not understand the meaning of "2,300" days. We will leave that for now, until the Lord gives understanding. For now that is a "dark sentence"... it is a mystery needing enlightenment.

Because the fierce king is actuating Bible prophecy ( performing God's allowed will without realizing it), he will understand dark sentences ( Dan. 8:23 )... meaning that he will know the times given for latter events, for he will propel them into motion being under his father, satan
( John 8:44).

God's children are given revelation into "dark sentences", as the Holy Ghost leads. Some have the gift of prophecy ( giving utterances of the Holy Ghost) and can share them with the Body of Christ as the revelations are given. Most likely the 144,000 will have complete understanding for the meaning of the 2,300 days ( see Daniel 8:26, 27) .

At any rate, Scripture tells us that the fierce king is given power and might ( military strength); but he is only the front-man. Satan is the real power behind the fierce king ( Dan. 8:24).
Yet we must keep in mind that Jesus is the Highest power, exponentially and immeasurably more powerful than Satan.
( Hebrews 1 ; Colossians 1: 16, 17 ; Isaiah 14:12 ; Ezekiel 28:18; Rev. 20)

Jesus is Lord of lords and Prince of princes, King of kings and very God of gods.
He is the Prince of the kings of the earth. Rev. 1:5; Rev. 19:16; Deuteronomy 10:17

God is going to allow evil to have its' full day. Man will not believe that he cannot govern apart from God unless all of history is allowed its' fruition of evil. This end time government must prove once and for all how depraved the heart of man really is ( Jeremiah 17:9 ) and how much our hearts need to be governed by God.

8:24 "And he ( fierce king) shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people."

Abaddon is another name for Satan which means "destroyer" ( also "Apollyon" means "destroyer").
Jesus came to give life and that more abundantly. John 10:10.
Satan---and Satan's man the Beast---come to give death and that more abundantly
( John 10:10 and John 8:44 ).
The Great Tribulation will be a time-period that excels all mass murders through out all of history. Matthew 24:21. Death will reign supreme under this fierce king during the last 42 months of this age.
Rev. 6:8.

Yet God comforts us with these words : " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth" Rev. 14:13; Lamentations 4:9
Yes, even the good and the Godly and the holy people will be allowed to die under this mass-murderer......that they may "obtain a better resurrection." Hebrews11:35
( Rev. Chapters 2:10 and Rev. 13:7).

This fierce king will be against Christians, Jews and God ( the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost ); he will be against any and all truth, righteousness, morality, the commandments, and the Bible.
( and all literature, websites, radio and TV pertaining to such; all Godly media ) Amos 8:11.
He will be against women, marriage, nurturing home-life, culture and traditions.
He will be against reason and logic and common sense.
And most of all, he will be against mercy.

8:25 "And through his ( fierce king's ) policy ( political exploits) also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand ."
( prosperity in business and corporations as they ally with government ( fascism), ecommerce, the 666 Mark of the Beast )

Besides the usual meaning of "craft", there is another spiritual-meaning and that is: witch craft, deviousness, and demon worship Rev.13:4.

"And he ( the fierce king ) shall magnify himself in his heart ( vain, conceited, egotistical), and by
( a false) peace shall destroy many. 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Daniel 11:21

"He ( the fierce king) shall also stand up against the PRINCE of princes (Jesus ) ;
but he ( the fierce king) shall be broken without hand ( Rev. 19:20 and Dan. 7:11)

Lesson learned from this chapter : No one can stand against God and win
The saints who are killed by this fierce king will reign victorious with Yeshua H'Mashiach, our Lord Jesus... the Anointed and Sent and the Holy One of Israel, Blessed be His Name..

*************************
SouthWest Radio Church interpretation, 1983 "Exploring the Book of Daniel" ...

2 horns of a ram : Darius and Cyrus of the Medio-Persian Empire
Goat: Greece... great horn = Alexander the Great
4 other horns = Cassander ( Macedonia and Greece)
Lysimachus ( Asia Minor, Thrace, Bithynia )
Seleucus ( Syria and Babylonia)
Ptolemy ( Egypt and North Africa)

9. AUDIO David Guzik http://enduringword.com/daniel_audio.htm
Text: Daniel Chapter Nine

The time frame for this vision is under King Darius the Mede. Darius will not be God's chosen man for the return of Jews to their homeland. Instead, the next king, Cyrus, will be given that special role in history.
Daniel Chapter Nine begins with Daniel making confession to God with a humble and contrite heart "We have sinned against Thee" ( Psalm 51).

Daniel had finished reading Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the return of the Jews to Israel after 70 years ( Jeremiah 25:11, 12 and Jeremiah 29:10 ) and Daniel realizes that the time will soon be at hand. Rather than take for granted the coming deliverance, Daniel repents in true humility---not only for his own sins, but also for the sins of the nation. Daniel fasts, prays and wore sack cloth and ashes.
This is a good passage to read on Yom Kippur, a day of national repentance.

Daniel repents of the fact that all of God's people have forsaken His precepts ( commands),
not having hearkened unto prophecy.
Even today amongst the Body of Christ, there are so many interpretations of each and every line of prophecy that there remains "confusion of faces'. We are a people not totally enlightened, though having understanding in part ( 1 Corinthians 13:9 ).
"Quench not the Spirit, Despise not prophesyings". 1 Thessalonians 5:19, 20

In 2005, there are so many conflicting views of the end-times on the Believer's websites that one wonders if we are as Samuel wrote in 1 Samuel 3:1-3...
"And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision....
.the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD"

"We have sinned against Thee " Dan. 9:8. Each has gone his own way ( Isaiah 53)
..... not listening to the Voice of God ( the Holy Ghost within); not obeying God.

Daniel pleads with God to look favorably once again upon His people , upon Jerusalem and upon the Temple ( not yet rebuilt ). Daniel asks that this favor be granted, not because of the people, but for the Lord's sake...to honor His name, His land and His people.

In the end, Daniel can only plead for mercy before the throne of God.
"O Lord hear, O Lord forgive; O Lord hearken and do ;

Daniel was making this prayer around 4:00 in the late afternoon " the time of the "evening oblation".
( Vespers ). The same time that Adam walked with God for his daily conversations.

It is at this time that the angel Gabriel appears to him and tells the prophet that he has come to explain the depths of prophecy and also to tell Daniel that he is loved by God.
" For thou art greatly beloved" Daniel 9:23.

God's love is poured out abundantly toward those who give Him their full attention and focus in life.
Jesus mentions the prophet Daniel specifically by name in Matthew 24:15, paying him the highest honor with those words.

God's love is impartial . ( Acts 10:34,35 ) He poured out His life's blood for all to come to repentance.
Greater love than this no man hath than to lay His life down for each and every single one of us individually. Jesus poured out His love to the dregs for each one of us personally.
Yet the Lord acknowledges and receives into His greater relationship those who take the time to make the time for fellowship with God. God relishes the sincere heart, the true intent of amended ways. Our ardent genuiness, transparency and humble zeal evoke waves of Love from above.

"The greatest of these is love" 1 Corinthians 13.
The question isn't how much God loves us in comparison to another ( John 21: 20-22),
the question is :
do we love the Lord with our WHOLE heart . That's what matters. Love begets love.
Deep love begets deep love. What you give, is returned unto you.

The angel Gabriel then shares with Daniel the First Coming of Jesus. Yeshua will be cut-off because "He came unto His own and His own received Him not" John 1:11.

The angel Gabriel tells Daniel that 70 "weeks" are given as a timetable for sealing up the prophecies concerning the nation of Israel. Each "week" is a bundle ( shabuah) of 7 years.
The bundles of years are divided into three segments.

A.
69 weeks http://www.corp.direct.ca/trinity/king.html by Chuck Missler
( rebuilding of the Second Temple until the Crucifixion)

Then there is a gap of 2,000 years

There remains now only one prophetic "week" left to be fulfilled.
The LAST "WEEK" is divided into two segments. Half of that week has already been fulfilled.

B.
3 1/2 years Camp David Peace Accords March 26, 1979 to Sept. 26, 1982
( Lebanon conflict ; Israel - US military cooperation.)
Please see www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/addendum.html for details.

We are now within a gap of 22 1/2 years ( Sept. 26, 1982 to March 26, 2005 ) so far
There remains only 3 1/2 years left to be fulfilled

C.
3 1/2 years of Great Tribulation yet to come

Daniel 9:27
" And he (antichrist) shall confirm the covenant ( political and military dealings with Israel ) with many for one week" ( seven years, divided into two segments of 3 and 1/2 years each; non-consecutive)

"And in the midst of the week ( near the end of the gap-time between the segments )

he ( antichrist ) shall cause the sacrifice ( intafada killings and / or temple ritual sacrifices)

and the oblation ( monetary gifts, grants, aid ) to cease.

And for the overspreading of abominations (continuance of military overthrow and domination)

he shall make it desolate ( no Biblically righteous Jews left in all of Jerusalem )

even until the consummation ( final conclusion)

and that determined ( by God ) shall be poured upon the desolate".

(God will wipe out all the opposition to Him.) Psalm 2: Rev. 19; Jude 14, 15

Matthew 24: 17 ...The Abomination of Desolation
24 hour camera on the Western Wall

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the Holy Place ( foreign forces on the Temple Mount)
-- whoso readeth let him understand --

Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them which give suck in those days !

But pray ye that your flight be not in winter, neither on the Sabbath day:

For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. ( unprecedented horror ) " Matthew 24:17--21

These days are upon us now. May we all be watching current events, holding in mind how they apply to the Scriptures.

"In the day of trouble I will deliver thee" -- Psalm 50:15 ( all those who call upon His name)

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him."
Nahum 1:6
__________

In the next chapters 10--12 ( part three) , we will see Daniel seeking God with his whole heart for more answers.
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/dan3.html

Salvation www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/sal.html

Bible www.blueletterbible.org