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The Book of Daniel eCourse The Book of Daniel Lessons eCourse {13 lessons: 325 points} The King James Version (KJV) is mostly used in these lessons. Click here to access the KJV online. We have restored in the Scriptures quoted the Names of the Father and Son, as they were originally written by the inspired authors of the Bible. Click here to download the Restored Names Version (RNV) of Scripture. -WLC Team Note: The pagan titles, God and god(s), have been replaced throughout these lessons with the Hebrew - Eloah/eloah, Elohim/elohim, and El/el. Lesson #1 {25 points} Introduction Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #2 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 1 Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #3 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 2 Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #4 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 3 Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #5 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 4 Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #6 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 5 Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #7 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 6 Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #8 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 7 Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online)
Lesson #9 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 8 Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #10 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 9 Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #11 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 10 Lesson Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #12 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 11: Overview Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #13 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 11: The "Willful King" Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #14 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 11: The "King of the South" Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #15 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 11: The "King of the North" Lesson Quiz (offline/online) Lesson #16 {25 points} Daniel Chapter 11: The end is near! Lesson Quiz (offline/online)
The Book of Daniel Lessons 1. Introduction Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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The book of Daniel is special. Doubters have attacked it more than any book in the Bible, because it gives more details in predicting the future than any other book. They fear that if they admit that Daniel wrote the book in the sixth century B.C., then they must admit that there is an Eloah who controls the universe and they owe Him obedience. So the attacks are most heated. Many aspects of Daniel have been questioned, but over the years most of the questions have been adequately answered. About the only point of doubt that remains is the historical identity of the king Darius. The book of Daniel is written in Hebrew and Aramaic, the court language of Babylon. Most of the prophetic portions are in Hebrew, and most of the narrative portions are in Aramaic. The book of Daniel falls into these two parts: narrative and prophetic. The narrative portions, relating to the experiences of Daniel, his three friends, and to some extent the Hebrew captives in Babylon, reveal wonderful principles on how to live a life of faith in a world antagonistic to faith in the Eloah of the Bible. Some of these principles are to separate oneself from worldly customs of eating and drinking, maintain regular and fervent prayer, avoid even the suggestion of idolatry, seek the will of Yahuwah and keep His commandments, and keep faith focused on the Messiah. The prophetic portions of the book outline world events from the time of Daniel to the second coming of Christ. These events are situated within the framework of four empires: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome. History has proven Daniel’s prediction to be correct. These four kingdoms are represented in the statue of various metals in Daniel 2 and in the beasts of Daniel 7. Babylon had passed by the time Daniel 8 gave the representations of the three last empires in the form of the he-goat, the ram, and the little horn. Daniel 11 describes these three last kingdoms in literal terms, beginning with Medo-Persia, following with Grecia, and then again ending with Rome. Rome is the special focus of earthly empires, the one to be destroyed by the final intervention of Yahuwah. It is divided into the first empire, the pagan one, and the second empire, the period of Papal Rome to extend as a persecuting power until the time of the end in 1798. The beginning of the 1260 years (Daniel 7:25) is found in what was essentially the death decree for Sabbath-keeping by Justinian, who recognized the Papacy in 533 and 538 A.D. The period extends to General Berthier’s taking of the pope prisoner in 1798. Daniel not only focuses on Rome, he focuses also on the work of the Messiah. Daniel 9 is the only passage in the Bible that describes in detail beforehand the date and the work of the Messiah. His work is to cleanse the sanctuary (Daniel 8:14) at the end of 2300 years. That time begins at the going forth of the decree to rebuild in 457 B.C., goes on to the rebuilding in 408 B.C., centers on the anointing of the Messiah in 27 A.D., his death in 31 A.D., the extension of the Gospel to the Gentiles in 34 A.D. and finally the work of heavenly Atonement beginning in 1844. But the most amazing detail refers to the very end, when Michael or Yahushua shall stand up. Just as the 1260 years was initiated by persecution of Sabbath-keepers, so at the end of time there will be a time of trouble
such as never seen (Daniel 12:1). It will be the time of the loud cry of warning to the world, lasting a literal three years and a part of a year (Daniel 12:7). During the last 30 days of those 1290 literal days, the seven last plagues will fall (Revelation 16). The 1290 days will begin with the persecution of Sabbath-keepers and a national and worldwide Sunday law culminating in a death decree, similar to Justinian’s activity at the beginning of the 1260 years. The 1335 days extend to the coming of Christ, with 45 days intervening from the deliverance from the death decree. All of these exciting events are predicted in detail in the last verses of this amazing book. Now is the time to find out how to survive the coming crisis and be among those who meet Christ in joy in his glory. Daniel 2
Daniel 7
Daniel 2:38
Daniel 7:4
Daniel 8
Daniel 11
(Babylon Ending)
(Babylon Disappeared)
Daniel 8:3
Daniel 11:1-2
Two-horned ram: Medo-Persia (8:20)
Medo-Persia
Head of gold: Babylon Winged lion: Babylon Daniel 2:39 Daniel 7:5 Breast of silver: Bear: Medo-Persia Medo-Persia Daniel 2:39
Daniel 7:6
Four-winged leopard: Thighs of brass: Grecia Grecia Daniel 2:40 Legs of iron: Rome Daniel 2:41 Feet of iron and clay: the divided empire under papal Rome Daniel 2:44 Kingdom of Yahuwah
Daniel 8:5-8 He-goat with a notable horn: Grecia (8:21)
Daniel 7:7
Daniel 8:9
A dreadful beast: pagan Rome
A little horn: a fierce king (9:23)
Daniel 7:8
Grecia
Daniel 11:14-23 Pagan Rome
Daniel 8:11-12 Daniel 11:24-45
A little horn: papal Rome
Abomination of desolation: papal Rome
Daniel 7:13
Daniel 8:14
Eternal kingdom of the Son of man
Daniel 11:3-13
Papal Rome Daniel 12:1
Michael shall stand Cleansing of the up: Second Coming Sanctuary of Yahushua
The Book of Daniel Lessons 1. Introduction Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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QUIZ 1. Why have doubters attacked the book of Daniel more than any other book of the Bible? o
It has the most detailed prophecies in the Bible
o
It was written by a heathen king
It was written partly in Aramaic and not entirely in Hebrew 2. What do we learn from the narrative portions of Daniel? o o
How to interpret dreams
o
How to make wine
o
How to live a life of faith in a world antagonistic towards the Eloah of the Bible
How to end the captivity and return to Jerusalem 3. What are the most important things to remember while living in a sinful world? o o
That our sins are atoned by Yahushua's death on the cross
o
That the New Testament does away with the old
o
That the law is nailed to the cross
To avoid worldly diet and drinking, idolatry, seek Yahuwah’s will by regular prayer, keep Yahuwah’s commandments and faith in Yahushua 4. What four world empires are illustrated by the image of Daniel 2? o
o
Egypt, Assyria, China, India
o
Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, pagan and papal Rome
o
France, England, the USA, Russia
Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain 5. What comes after the last world empire? o o
The second coming of Yahushua
o
A thousand years of peace on earth
o
Wars and rumors of wars
o A balm in Gilead 6. What four world empires are illustrated by the beasts of Daniel 7? o
Egypt, Assyria, China, India
o
Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, pagan and papal Rome
o
France, England, the USA, Russia
o
Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain
7. What three world empires are illustrated by the he-goat, ram, and little horn of Daniel 8? o
Assyria, China, India
o
Medo-Persia, Grecia, pagan and papal Rome
o
England, the USA, Russia
Italy, Japan, Spain 8. What three world empires are described literally in Daniel 11 o o
Assyria, China, India
o
Medo-Persia, Grecia, pagan and papal Rome
o
England, the USA, Russia
Italy, Japan, Spain 9. When does the time, times and half a time of Daniel 7:25 end? o o
1798
o
538
o
31 A.D.
o 27 A.D. 10. Who was the great persecutor of Sabbath-keepers in the sixth century? o
Nebuchadnezzar
o
Emperor Justinian
o
Alexander the Great
Nero 11. What acts of the Messiah are mentioned in Daniel 8 and 9? o o
The decree and rebuilding of the temple, his anointing, death, extension of the Gospel to the Gentiles, and intercessory atonement for sin in the heavenly sanctuary
o
His act of creation
o
His being in the form of Yahuwah
o His blessing of the pope 12. When does the period of 2300 days begin and end? o
In the decade of 160s B.C. under Antiochus Epiphanes
o
From 457 B.C. to 1844 A.D.
o
From Adam to Noah
From Tiberias to Diocletian 13. How will the beginning of the coming time of trouble be like the beginning of the 1260 years? o o
There will be persecution of Sabbath-keepers
o
There will be a better economy
o
There will be a new world order with a benevolent government
o
There will be no hope
14. What will happen during the last thirty days of the 1290 days? o
Yahushua will reign in glory on the earth
o
The Mahdi will return and bring justice to the world
o
The seven last plagues will fall on the world
The pope will work miracles and relieve the suffering of humankind 15. What will happen at the end of the 1335 days? o o
The pope will repeal the Sunday laws and keep the Sabbath
o
The new world order will solve all economic problems
o
The president of the USA will be a woman
Yahushua will come again in glory 16. What are the main themes of the book of Daniel o o
Trust and obedience, the evils of the Papacy, the cleansing of the sanctuary, the second coming of Yahushua
o
Faith, hope, and charity
o
Dream interpretation, herbalism, out of the body experiences
o
The apostles’ creed
The Book of Daniel Lessons 2. Daniel Chapter 1 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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(Dan 1:1) In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. (Dan 1:2) And the Sovereign gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of Elohim: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his eloah; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his eloah. Jeremiah 25:1 places the invasion in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. This does not mean that the Bible is wrong. Sieges take months, and the beginning of a siege is often in one year, and the end of it in another. The third and fourth years of Jehoiakim correspond to B.C.E. 606-605, and there is no such event known to historians. For this reason, some people say the book of Daniel is in error. Liberal theory: Daniel 1:1-2 is really describing the siege of Jerusalem in 597 during the twelfth year of Jehoiakim and the first year of Jehoiachin, and this corresponds to 2Kings 24, Daniel 5:1-5, and 2Chronicles 36. Nebuchadnezzar was not yet king in 606, the third year of Jehoiakim, and the Egyptians still ruled. Jeremiah 36:9 refers to Jehoiakim in Jerusalem in his fifth year, two years later. Babylonian records show Judah to have become a vassal state in 603, while Jehoiakim is still king, but there is no record of a siege at the time. By taking Daniel seriously as a historical source, none of this is a problem. It only becomes a problem when Daniel is doubted from the beginning as a source. Daniel reports a siege otherwise unknown in historical sources. That siege resulted in taking captives and some temple furnishings, but leaving the city, temple, and king intact. Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho at the Battle of Carchemish, inheriting the throne from his father Nabonidus during the campaign. He would thus have had time to complete the siege in 605. A rebellion on the part of Jehoiakim in 601 would have led to the greater depredation in 597, the one known from other historical sources. (Dan 1:3) And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; (Dan 1:4) Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. The meaning of the name Ashpenaz is uncertain. He was chief of the courtiers, as the word does not necessarily refer to eunuchs, despite being so translated. The language and ethnic group to which the word Chaldeans refers is also uncertain. Because the word is used in Daniel 2:2 to refer to astrologers, some people say this shows the book of Daniel to be wrong. They think the word Chaldean was not used in that way until long after the time of Nebuchadnezzar. But the word obviously means an ethnic group here. (Dan 1:5) And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
According to Plato Persian boys were trained for the royal court starting at the age of 14. Xenophon notes that they were taken into the court to serve at the age of seventeen. So the three years of training are typical of the time and place. (Dan 1:6) Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: (Dan 1:7) Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. The names of the Hebrew youths have meaning: Daniel means El will judge. Belteshazzar contains the name of the chief deity of the Babylonians, Bel. Hananiah means Yahuwah is gracious. Mishael means who is what El is? Azariah means Yahuwah helps. His new name was Abednego, which means Servant of Nebo, the secondmost revered deity of Babylon. Part of their education was to separate them from their faith by changing their names. (Dan 1:8) But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Dan 1:9) Now Elohim had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. (Dan 1:10) And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my master the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. The defilement referred to here would appear to be that of the prohibited kinds of meat mentioned in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, but the avoidance of wine suggests something more than that. Ellen White does not focus on the issue of kashrut or ritually clean meat at all in commenting on this text. Rather, she makes the claim that these young men had formerly enjoyed a meat-free and luxury-free diet. ”As Daniel and his fellows were brought to the test, they placed themselves fully on the side of righteousness and truth. They did not move capriciously, but intelligently. They decided that as flesh-meat had not composed their diet in the past, it should not come into their diet in the future, and as wine had been prohibited to all who should engage in the service of [Yahuwah], they determined that they would not partake of it. The fate of the sons of Aaron had been presented before them, and they knew that the use of wine would confuse their senses, that the indulgence of appetite would be-cloud their powers of discernment. These particulars were placed on record in the history of the children of Israel as a warning to every youth to avoid all customs and practises and indulgences that would in any way dishonor [Yahuwah].” SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, page 1166-1167. Vegetarianism or vegan diet is implied in only a few Bible texts, such as Genesis 1:29 and 3:18. These are pivotal texts, however, as they can be seen to represent the original ideal. Some later Jewish sects did have a vegetarian practice, among them the Essenes and the Therapeutae in Egypt. While these are several centuries later than Daniel, they demonstrate that such ideals did exist in Israel and Ellen White's remarks do not conflict with the witness of history.
The prohibition of wine refers to the nazirite vow, but also to the priestly service as well, as stated in Lev 10:9. ”Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations.” While a certain amount of wine was tolerated among the people of ancient times, drunkenness was punished with death. Under the new covenant, all are priests and kings, as as priests serving in the temple of the Holy Spirit, which the human body is, complete abstenence from wine is important. But Leviticus 10:9 also implies that those who follow Yahushua into the service of the Most Holy Place in heaven, will also set aside intoxicating substances as being unfit for the sanctuary service in which we participate by our prayers. (Dan 1:11) Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, (Dan 1:12) Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. The traditional staple of the area for centuries past has been lentils and barley bread, and the word pulse here probably refers to that primarily. We should nevertheless consider that a variety of vegetables both cooked and fresh is consistent with this expression. What is certain is that a meatless, alcohol-free diet is meant. (Dan 1:13) Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. (Dan 1:14) So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. (Dan 1:15) And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. (Dan 1:16) Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. (Dan 1:17) As for these four children, Elohim gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. (Dan 1:18) Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. (Dan 1:19) And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. (Dan 1:20) And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. (Dan 1:21) And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
The Book of Daniel Lessons 2. Daniel Chapter 1 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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QUIZ 1. When did the events in the book of Daniel start according to Daniel 1:1? o
In B.C.E. 597
o
In the third year of king Jehoiakim
o
At the death of Jeremiah
At the birth of Daniel 2. When was the siege of Jerusalem accomplished according to Jeremiah 25:1? o o
In B.C.E. 597
o
On the birthday of king Nebuchadnezzar
o
In the fourth year of king Jehoiakim
o In B.C.E 4 3. What date was the fourth year of Jehoiakim? o
1844
o
1792
o
B.C.E. 605
B.C.E. 538 4. What king besieged Jerusalem in Daniel 1? o o
Pharaoh Necho
o
Nebuchadnezzar
o
Nabodidus
Jehoiakim 5. What did the besieging king take away from Jerusalem in Daniel 1:2? o o
All the king's wives
o
Tons of Jaffa oranges
o
Temple treasures
o All of the king's horses 6. To what country did he take booty from Jerusalem? o
To Rome
o
To Egypt
o
To Syria
o
To Shinar
7. Where did he put the booty? o
In his palace
o
In the house of his deity
o
In the state treasury
In the bank 8. Who was Ashpenaz? o o
The chief functionary of Nebuchadnezzar
o
The son of Pharaoh
o
A eunuch of Jehoiakim
An Israelite 9. What was Ashpenaz commanded to do? o o
Prepare Nebuchadnezzar's meals
o
Gather a group of healthy, intelligent captives from Judah for the king\'s service
o
Join the army
o Write books in the Chaldean language. 10. What were the captives supposed to learn? o
The science and literature of the Chaldeans
o
How to take care of the hanging gardens of Babylon
o
How to regulate the Euphrates River that passed through Babylon
How to interpret dreams 11. What did the Hebrew names of the youths indicate? o o
That they were born in Judah
o
That they worshipped Yahuwah, the true Eloah
o
That their parents were wealthy
That it was prophesied from their birth that they would be captives in Babylon 12. What does the name Daniel mean? o o
El is judge
o
Yahuwah will provide
o
El is the father of Baal
o Green pastures 13. What does the name Hananiah mean? o
Yahuwah is eternal
o
Yahuwah is gracious
o
Honey from the rock
Horn of plenty 14. What does the name Mishael mean? o
o
My shawl
o
Who is what El is?
o
The sent of Yahuwah
o Running streams 15. What does the name Azariah mean? o
As a right man
o
Cherry-eater
o
A faithful father
Yahuwah helps 16. What are the names of the two foremost deities of Babylon? o o
Baal and Ashtoreth
o
Molech and El
o
Bel and Nebo
Isis and Horus 17. What did Daniel purpose in his heart? o o
That he would have the best time possible in the royal training school
o
That he would eat plenty of rich foods, cake and wine with the other boys
o
That he would not defile himself
o That he would learn the Chaldean language faster than anyone else 18. What defiling things were offered to the boys? o
Rich meats and wines
o
Danish pastries
o
Rice and kebab
Pork pies 19. What did the prince of the eunuchs fear? o o
That Daniel and his friends would run away
o
That Daniel and his friends would not look as healthy as the others if they ate simple food
o
That the king would find out he was selling pies on the black market
That Daniel's diet would be too expensive 20. What was the original ideal diet according to Genesis 1 and 3? o o
Kosher meat
o
All moving things
o
Everything as long as you give thanks
o Fresh fruits and vegetables 21. What is one reason we should follow Daniel's example and not drink alcohol? o
It tastes bad.
o
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
o
It is of some health benefit, but not much.
It is not as good as the alcohol in Daniel's day. 22. Whom did the prince of the eunuchs set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah? o o
Jochabed
o
Melzar
o
Jeremiah
o Rechab 23. How did Daniel express his determination not to defile himself? o
He told Melzar point blank that he would not eat or drink the king\'s provisions
o
He begged Melzar to let them have a different diet
o
He politely asked Melzar to give them a ten-day trial
He asked for kosher wine at meals 24. What did Daniel ask for food and drink? o o
Fruit juices and a variety of dishes
o
Vegetables and water
o
Non-alcoholic wine and textured vegetable protein
Pizza and coke 25. What was the result of the test? o o
It was too short to be significant
o
Daniel and his friends seemed healthier than the other young men
o
Daniel and his friends lost weight on such a simple diet
o Yahuwah showed that He expects His followers to eat meat at least once in forty days 26. What did Melzar do after the test? o
He forced Daniel and his friends to eat the king\'s meat and drink wine
o
He praised them for their new recipes
o
He told the king about his discoveries
He took away the royal provision and gave them vegetables 27. How did their diet affect their studies in the Babylonian court? o o
Yahuwah gave them knowledge and wisdom
o
Yahuwah punished them for their disrespectful behaviour and ingratitude to the king
o
The other young men were much better, because alcohol is helpful to mental culture
Red meat is necessary to successful study, so they failed. 28. What special capacity did Yahuwah give Daniel? o o
Excellence in mathematics
o
The ability to interpret dreams
o
New theories of how life evolved on earth
Superhuman strength to defend himself against lions 29. How many of the students matched Daniel and his friends at the end of their course of study? o o
All of them
o
Most of them
o
None of them
o The Arabs, because they too were descendants of Abraham 30. How did Daniel and his three friends do on their final examinations? o
They were twice as good as the others
o
They were ten times better than the others
o
They were worse than the others, because the language was foreign to them
They were the same as the others 31. What is the most important lesson of this chapter? o o
To collaborate with the invaders of your country to get a high position
o
To be obedient to Yahuwah in every circumstance, not even compromising in pure diet
o
To study hard and get a degree
o
To follow protocol when making applications to the government
The Book of Daniel Lessons 3. Daniel Chapter 2 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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(Dan 2:1) And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. There is some confusion in dating here. Three years have already passed in chapter one, yet this is stated to be the second year of the reign. A similar problem arose in regard to the difference in dating between Daniel and Jeremiah earlier. The explanation here is that the Jewish count included the two years when Nebuchadnezzar reigned conjointly with his father, Nabopolassar. This verse gives the Chaldean reckoning as the second year, which is the fourth year by the Jewish reckoning. (Dan 2:2) Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. (Dan 2:3) And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. The various functionaries are referred to by names revealing the means they used to divine secrets and the future. Astrologers predicted the future on the basis of observing the stars. The sorcerers probably indicate pretended consultation of the dead. But there were many occult sciences in Babylon. (Dan 2:4) Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. (Dan 2:5) The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. (Dan 2:6) But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. (Dan 2:7) They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. (Dan 2:8) The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. (Dan 2:9) But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
(Dan 2:10) The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, master, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. (Dan 2:11) And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except eloah, whose dwelling is not with flesh. (Dan 2:12) For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. (Dan 2:13) And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. Just as today, the occult medium shrewdly tries to gain sufficient information about his subject in order to pretend secret knowledge. The king is rational enough to see through the claim: if their science can reveal the future, then surely it can reveal the contents of a dream in the recent past. His subjects vainly point out that the demand is unreasonable. It is no more unreasonable than their claims. However, when his anger triggers the death decree, he becomes clearly cruel, but the situation sets the stage for divine intervention. (Dan 2:14) Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: (Dan 2:15) He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. (Dan 2:16) Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. (Dan 2:17) Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: (Dan 2:18) That they would desire mercies of the Eloah of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. After the failed attempt of the astrologers, Daniel and his friends try their hand. What is amazing is that so many people today rely on magic, consultation of the dead, and astrology, when these methods were proven false already so long ago. (Dan 2:19) Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the Eloah of heaven. (Dan 2:20) Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of Eloah for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
(Dan 2:21) And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: (Dan 2:22) He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (Dan 2:23) I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou Eloah of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. It is remarkable here that Yahuwah uses the means of a night vision to give His message. The book of Daniel is fundamental in establishing the true faith. Before, the faith of Israel was attached to a particular political system. With the book of Daniel, the faith is established under the conditions of a world empire. Since that time, we have lived in a world of empires. So the book of Daniel is fundamentally paradigmatic, showing the basis of faith under the very conditions in which we live. One strand of true faith is the recognition of valid night visions. This became the hallmark of true faith beginning with Daniel and extending to the close of the events predicted in that book. (Dan 2:24) Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. Daniel begs the monarch for the lives of the dishonest imposters. True faith is non-violent, and does not make a distinction between righteous and wicked, but attempts to minimize despotic behaviour at every opportunity. The principle is absolute adherence to divine law, which permits co-operation and submission to established authority only to that extent. True faith is not to be aligned with imperial government. The theocratic system ended with the last king of Judah. After that, the faithful have a new paradigm of behaviour, the paradigm of Daniel. (Dan 2:25) Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. (Dan 2:26) The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? (Dan 2:27) Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; (Dan 2:28) But there is an Eloah in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; (Dan 2:29) As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
(Dan 2:30) But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. Here again is a contrast between imperial, court behaviour, in which everyone flatters himself to the sovereign, and the behaviour of true faith. Daniel does not pretend to have special abilities. His attitude is in strong contrast with all of the occult imposters. The same contrast should be found today in the behaviour of the faithful toward representatives of government. Ingratiating behavior must be avoided, and absolute loyalty to the kingdom of Yahuwah exhibited. Any contact with goverment is an opportunity to give Yahuwah the glory that men normally take to themselves. (Dan 2:31) Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. (Dan 2:32) This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, (Dan 2:33) His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. (Dan 2:34) Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. (Dan 2:35) Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Dan 2:36) This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. At this point the description of the dream ends, and the interpretation begins. The book of Daniel contains several visions, and each time the same format is found: vision first, interpretation second. This is important as we attempt to find the meaning of the visions and dreams. We must consult the interpretive section of the text before drawing conclusions. (Dan 2:37) Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the Eloah of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. (Dan 2:38) And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. (Dan 2:39) And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. (Dan 2:40) And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
(Dan 2:41) And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. (Dan 2:42) And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. (Dan 2:43) And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (Dan 2:44) And in the days of these kings shall the Eloah 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 for ever. (Dan 2:45) Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great Eloah hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. Several important pieces of information arise from the interpretation of the dream. First of all, the sovereign is told that his power comes from Yahuwah. He has no power of his own, but only that which Yahuwah gives him. This is the basic piece of information that every believers must convey to those in power, if he comes in contact with them. Instead of flattering them, they must politely, and within protocol, be given to understand that the power they pretend to wield is mere pretense. Yahuwah is in control. The details of the dream are in an image made of metals of decreasing worth, representing four world empires, of which the first is Babylon. The other three are not identified at this point, but later visions and the course of history will identify them with precision. Not only are we given to understand that there are four world empires beginning with Babylon, but that each succeeding empire is to be inferior in value to the preceding. History has fulfilled the prediction of this dream in the world empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and pagan and papal Rome. Most importantly, the fifth empire, the kingdom of Yahuwah, is predicted to come and destroy all human empires, after which the unending kingdom of Yahuwah will be set up on earth. (Dan 2:46) Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. (Dan 2:47) The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your Eloah is the Eloah of eloah, and a dominator of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. This text shows that worship in the Bible does not always imply deity or divinity. Daniel accepted worship, that is bowing to him in prostration. He even accepted offerings and incense. But he did not for a moment imply to anyone that he was divine.
(Dan 2:48) Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. (Dan 2:49) Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. Although Daniel two identifies only the first world empire, that of Babylon, history has shown the prediction to be correct, that three world empires would follow Babylon, and after that the world would be divided into kingdoms of iron and clay, weak and strong. These are the Medo-Persian empire (538 to 331 B.C.), the Grecian empire (331-168 B.C.), and the Roman empire (168 B.C. to 457 A.D.).
The Book of Daniel Lessons 3. Daniel Chapter 2 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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QUIZ 1. In what year of his reign did Nebuchadnezzar have his famous dream? o
In the first year.
o
In the second year.
o
In the fifth year.
In the sixth year. 2. The dream of Nebuchadnezzar o o
gave him great joy
o
troubled him
o
made him sleep late
o made him rich 3. What did Babylonian magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans do? o
They fasted and prayed for the king's health.
o
They kept guard over the palace.
o
They used occult means to tell the future and find out secrets.
They cooked the king's meals. 4. Astrologers o o
falsely foretell the future by pretending to read the stars.
o
Tell the truth about the future by calculating the movements of the stars.
o
Have many stars in their crowns.
Help the Pope all they can. 5. A spirit medium o o
functions as a holy servant of Yahuwah
o
shrewdly pretends to have secret knowledge
o
can accurately foretell the future by communicating with the dead
o is needed by every government 6. When the Chaldeans said that no man could reveal the secret the king demanded, they were o
lying
o
pretending to know something they did not
o
telling the truth
o
in the pay of another king
7. When Nebuchadnezzar threatened to kill all the occult functionaries, he was being o
unreasonable
o
cruel
o
traditional
helpful 8. What made Daniel think he could interpret the king's dream? o o
He was used to seeing secrets in dreams.
o
He was good at interpreting secrets.
o
He was a vegetarian.
He knew Yahuwah could help him if he prayed to Yahuwah for help. 9. How did Daniel's three friends help him? o o
They polished his sword.
o
They kept watch at the door and windows while he prayed.
o
They joined him in prayer.
o They collected the money needed to have a mass. 10. Astrology has been proven since the time of the Babylonian empire to be o
false and unreliable
o
helpful in some circumstances
o
the most essential guide for governments
scientifically sound 11. Daniel got the answer to the secret o o
by searching Babylonian archives
o
by a night vision from Yahuwah
o
by consulting with his friends
by a drug-induced trance 12. Yahuwah used the night vision to reveal messages to His prophets o o
only in the case of Daniel
o
in the case of all Biblical prophets up to and including John the Revelator
o
especially in the first century
throughout the history of His people living under the world empires, but especially as a sign to his people in the last days 13. Daniel began his prayer with the words o
o
blessed be the name of Yahuwah for ever and ever
o
dear Yahushua
o
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost
o
our Father, which art in heaven
14. What is the most important message of this chapter? o
That human kingdoms succeed one another throughout history
o
That Daniel had supernatural powers
o
That the history of the world as well as its future is in Yahuwah’s hands and not men’s
That the second person of the Trinity is mentioned already in the Old Testament 15. What world empires came after the Babylonian empire? o o
Egyptian, British, and French
o
Russian, American, Islamic
o
Medo-Persian, Grecian, Roman
o
Indus Valley, Chinese, Japanese
The Book of Daniel Lessons 4. Daniel Chapter 3 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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(Dan 3:1) Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. The subject of Daniel three is the golden image. It is clear that Nebuchadnezzar considered the dream of chapter 2 a warning that required magical intervention. For him, the most important message of the dream was that his kingdom was coming to an end at some point and another empire was going to take its place. He was grateful to Daniel for giving him the information he needed to perform the proper magic to counteract the dream. Instead of an image of several metals representing a succession of empires, Nebuchadnezzar made an image to take its place, one made entirely of gold to represent the endless character of the Babylonian empire. Magical thought suggested that this would allay the effects of the dream and prevent the failure of the empire. (Dan 3:2) Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. (Dan 3:3) Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Magic works best when you add something practical to it. Nebuchadnezzar knew his politics and his powers. He reinforced the authority of his kingdom by requiring all of the people who wielded power to reaffirm their submission to it. Empires fall not only from outside attack but from dissention within. The king did all he could to tighten internal loyalty and strengthen the empire. (Dan 3:4) Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, (Dan 3:5) That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: (Dan 3:6) And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (Dan 3:7) Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Nebuchadnezzar did not leave the loyalty of his subordinates to chance. The power of music was well-known and highly developed in Babylon. Even as late as the Medieval Arabs, the specific use of different kinds of music and different intervals to make overpowering difference tones is well described in the literature of the period. In Western music it is known that a piercing tone can shatter a crystal glass. But even more powerful
things can be done with music. The expression ”symphonia” used in verse five is taken from Greek into Aramaic. It is the word from which our symphony also comes. But it means sounding together. By playing two specific tones together a much lower and more powerful difference tone could be produced, which would force the crowd to fall down in prostration. (Suggested Reading: Technological Tools Of The Beast And The False Prophet) (Dan 3:8) Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. (Dan 3:9) They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. (Dan 3:10) Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: (Dan 3:11) And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (Dan 3:12) There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy eloah, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. The ability of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego to remain standing during the powerful blast of the difference tone was not short of miraculous. This should have been a sign to those around them of divine providence. But instead, they hardened their hearts and complained to the king. (Dan 3:13) Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. (Dan 3:14) Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my eloah, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? (Dan 3:15) Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that Eloah that shall deliver you out of my hands? It may seem strange that Nebuchadnezzar was not impressed with the fact that the three men were able to remain standing. The reason is no doubt that Nebuchadnezzar had gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to counteract the warning given in the dream of Daniel 2. The action of the three had spoiled the effect of the magic he was trying to work to save his empire. Given the importance of the situation, he was not predisposed to be impressed by anything. Furthermore, the rebellion against the deities of Babylon could instigate a political rebellion as well. So the matter was serious and had to be nipped in the bud. (Dan 3:16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
(Dan 3:17) If it be so, our Eloah whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. (Dan 3:18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy eloah, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Yahuwah has already given the three evidence of divine intervention in providing them with the strength to remain standing in defiance of the command and before the blast of the difference tone. The response of the three faithful is courteous, but respectful. They do not recognize the authority of the king to command their worship. This is a principle of behavior valid today as well. (Dan 3:19) Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. (Dan 3:20) And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. The predictable result of disobedience to imperial commands is to suffer the consequences. The fact that Yahuwah has intervened on occasion is no guage that He will always do so. Many have lost their lives as martyrs, giving a faithful witness to their loyalty to Yahuwah. (Dan 3:21) Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. (Dan 3:22) Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Dan 3:23) And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. The death of the officers goes to emphasize the reality of the burning fire of the furnace and what its effect must normally be on human beings. (Dan 3:24) Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. (Dan 3:25) He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of Eloah. This is the first text in the Bible to use the term Son of Eloah. It is the only text in the Hebrew Scriptures to use it. It is not clear whether we should understand Yahuwah to have inspired the king, despite his unbelief, to make this acknowledgement, or whether we should see it as an expression of heathen faith. Nevertheless, the term Son of Eloah is used specifically in the New Testament to refer, as a technical term, to the Messiah.
(Dan 3:26) Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high Eloah, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. (Dan 3:27) And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. The miraculous intervention of Yahuwah was obvious to all, and all were forced to acknowledge it. (Dan 3:28) Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the Eloah of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any Eloah, except their Eloah. (Dan 3:29) Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the Eloah of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other Eloah that can deliver after this sort. (Dan 3:30) Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. Interestingly, the imperial reaction to Yahuwah's miracle is merely to affirm imperial power. The king makes a law forcing the worship of Yahuwah. Religion of force is not acceptable to Yahuwah, especially in the context of imperial oppression. Yet the story shows how Yahuwah's providence overcomes all human rebellion, even turning wicked actions finally to further the kingdom of Yahuwah. Yahuwah's sovereignty cannot in the end be overcome, and everything must in the end go to support it.
The Book of Daniel Lessons 4. Daniel Chapter 3 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
Go To Lesson #4
QUIZ 1. How did Nebuchadnezzar react to his dream in Daniel 2? o o o
He built an image just like the one he saw in his dream to commemorate it. He built an image all of gold, to represent an everlasting Babylon, which should never pass away. He started studying science.
o He became more superstitious than before. 2. Nebuchadnezzar's golden image was an act of o
faith and trust in Yahuwah's prediction of the future
o
an act of magic to attempt to overcome Yahuwah's prediction of the future
o
an act of humility, since he recognized Yahuwah's power and wanted to commemorate it
an act of pride, so that people would gather around him and show him reverence. 3. Why did Nebuchadnezzar summon the princes, governors, captains, judges, and other rulers? o o
He wanted them to see what a nice image he had made.
o
He wanted to consolidate the power of his empire.
o
He wanted them to contribute to the expense of making the golden image.
He wanted them to get exercise by bowing before the image. 4. The people fell down to worship the image because o o
they believed in idols, especially when they were made of gold, which is indestructible
o
they loved the king and wanted to obey him
o
they were tired of standing and wanted to stretch themselves
o the blast of the music forced them to kneel down 5. The king acted because o o o
he noticed the three Hebrews did not worship the image; he planned beforehand to get at the Hebrews, and that\'s why he made the image in the first place; his mother told him to do something about the Hebrews;
certain Chaldeans accused the Jews out of jealousy. 6. Why did the king not stop to think that Yahuwah was intervening, when he realized that the three had miraculously resisted the command to fall in worship? o
o
Because he did not realize how powerful the music was.
o
Because he had so much at stake to save the empire.
o
Because his courtiers ridiculed the idea that Yahuwah could do anything.
Because it was spring and he was not quite himself. 7. Why did the three faithful not answer the king carefully? o o
They had already decided to obey Yahuwah no matter what.
o
They were sure that Yahuwah would save them.
o
They thought they could serve the deities of Babylon in other ways.
o They thought the golden image was a good idea. 8. Because the king was so angry, he o
cancelled the ceremony;
o
he went into hiding;
o
he forgave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego;
he had the furnace heated seven times hotter. 9. The three faithful were thrown into the furnace o o
naked so they would burn faster
o
shackled with chains on hands and feet
o
one at a time, to see what would happen
tied up, with all of their clothes on 10. The ones who threw them into the furnace o o
were killed by the blaze;
o
were protected with shields;
o
wore asbestos suits;
o rebelled against the king and so were executed. 11. The three faithful o
caught fire immediately and burned to death;
o
fell down bound in the flames;
o
took a coffee-break;
had a last meal before being executed. 12. What did the king see? o o
Four men loose, walking about safely in the fire
o
A crowd of angels
o
The three men turned to birds
The three men burned to death 13. What did the fourth man look like to the king? o o
His brother
o
The Jewish king
o
The Son of Eloah
A foreigner 14. The one like the Son of Eloah had the form of o o
a dove
o
a man
o
a woman
a terrible beast with horns 15. What did the king call the three faithful? o o
Faithful servants of the king
o
Servants of the most high Eloah
o
Jewish courtiers
o Titled landowners 16. What did the king tell the three men to do? o
Go home and have a rest.
o
Go to the temple and worship Bel.
o
Go and tell every one what happened to them.
Come out of the furnace and stand before him. 17. Which of the following is NOT true? o o
The fire had no power on their bodies.
o
Their hair was not singed.
o
Only their clothing was burned.
There was no smell of fire on them. 18. What did the king say? o o
Blessed be the Eloah of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
o
The deities of Babylon have failed me.
o
I was wrong to try to work magic against Yahuwah's prophecy.
o Babylon shall remain for ever. 19. Whom did the king say Yahuwah had sent to save them? o
A foreign army he could not resist
o
A still, small voice
o
Yahuwah's angel
The king's dead father 20. How did the king change his laws? o o
He stopped using force in regard to religion.
o
He decreed that no one may speak against the Eloah of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
o
He decreed that the priests of all other deities should have their houses made a dunghill.
o
He began to worship Yahuwah, the true Eloah, only from then on.
21. What does this chapter teach us about the power of music? o
That music is neutral in itself and can be used for good or bad.
o
That music is just a matter of taste
o
That music is powerful and will lead into idolatry, if it is the sort of music to do so
That only hymns should be sung or listened to 22. What is the most important lesson in this chapter? o o o
To avoid trouble by conforming to the predominant faith around us To ignore and avoid the heathen music and worship of the Babylonian-style churches around us
o
To be careful of fire
o
To stand up to the king
The Book of Daniel Lessons 5. Daniel Chapter 4 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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(Dan 4:1) Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. (Dan 4:2) I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the most high Eloah hath wrought toward me. (Dan 4:3) How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. Nebuchadnezzar expresses awareness of the everlasting kingdom of Yahuwah, and that shows that he understood and accepted the lesson of chapter three, that his kingdom would end, and eventually there would be no kingdom on earth but that of Yahuwah. The lesson of the fiery furnace was an impressive one, but men are likely to fail to take the lesson or to forget it quickly. (Dan 4:4) I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: (Dan 4:5) I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. (Dan 4:6) Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. (Dan 4:7) Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. (Dan 4:8) But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my eloah, and in whom is the spirit of the holy eloah[s]: and before him I told the dream, saying, While Nebuchadnezzar recognizes the power of Daniel’s Eloah, he does not relinquish idolatry. He still attributes Daniel’s skill to the “spirit of the holy eloah[s].” This ecumenical approach is typical of societies in which many peoples and cultures are gathered together. Babylon is an apt representative of the world today. (Dan 4:9) O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy eloah[s] is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. (Dan 4:10) Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. (Dan 4:11) The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
(Dan 4:12) The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. (Dan 4:13) I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; (Dan 4:14) He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: (Dan 4:15) Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: (Dan 4:16) Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. (Dan 4:17) This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Dan 4:18) This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy eloah[s] is in thee. A whole system of symbolism was known to the Babylonian specialists. The reason they were unable to interpret the dream of Daniel 2 as well as the dream here, is simply because the symbolism differed from their system of interpretation. Their books of dream interpretation did not contain the relevant symbols. Reliance on dreams is a heathen practice. But Yahuwah took advantage of this heathen practice to warn the king on these two occasions. At the same time Yahuwah was glorified, and shown to be above the heathen art, which was unable to interpret the dream. The same thing happened to Joseph in Egypt. There is a difference between astrological and dream prediction and true prophecy. Yahuwah uses dreams as well as visions to reveal His will to prophets. But that is a very different thing from the heathen practice of fearing ordinary dreams and engaging in the art of interpreting them. (Dan 4:19) Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My master, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. (Dan 4:20) The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; (Dan 4:21) Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
(Dan 4:22) It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. (Dan 4:23) And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; Babylonian, but especially Persian, mythology was rife with complex degrees of angels of various kinds. Some have suggested that the Jewish concept of angels developed under that influence. That may be true in regard to Jewish folklore, but where the Bible is concerned, the most we can say is that it may give more detailed precision in regard to celestial beings when the people were faced with Babylonian and Persian ideas. The figure of the watcher is found in non-canonical literature of the inter-testamental period, such as the books of Enoch and Jubilees. (Dan 4:24) This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my master the king: (Dan 4:25) That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (Dan 4:26) And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. (Dan 4:27) Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. Astrologers and interpreters of dreams generally flattered their patrons. Also, they considered that a favorable interpretation acted as a stimulus to produce success. An unfavorable interpretation could actually cause catastrophe. So Daniel’s response to the king was extremely brave. He gave the message of Yahuwah, rather than the message that culture and custom predicated. While most of us do not stand before kings, we stand before the world, either conforming to worldly expectations or bravely bearing the message of Yahuwah. (Dan 4:28) All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. (Dan 4:29) At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. (Dan 4:30) The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? (Dan 4:31) While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
(Dan 4:32) And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (Dan 4:33) The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. Nebuchadnezzar did not keep in mind the lesson he had learned from the dream of the image and from his aborted attempt to make his kingdom eternal through use of magic in building the golden image. His heart is lifted up with pride, the very sin that inspired him to hope for an eternal kingdom. By so doing, he set himself up as a rival deity, and Yahuwah intervened to humble him. (Dan 4:34) And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: (Dan 4:35) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (Dan 4:36) At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my nobles sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. (Dan 4:37) Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. It is easy to criticize Nebuchadnezzar for not learning his lesson well the first time, and having to go through an even stronger trial. But most people never learn the lesson of faith and obedience.
The Book of Daniel Lessons 5. Daniel Chapter 4 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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QUIZ 1. Why did Nebuchadnezzar make a proclamation to all people? o
He wanted to get them to honor and obey him
o
He wanted to tell them about the signs and wonders of Yahuwah
o
He wanted attention
He hoped to become famous 2. Had Nebuchadnezzar forsaken polytheism and idolatry after his experience with the golden image? o o
Yes, after that he only believed in the Yahuwah, the Eloah of Israel
o
No, after that he believed in both Yahuwah and idols
o
No, he just believed in idols
o Yes, he became an atheist 3. How did Yahuwah communicate with Nebuchadnezzar? o
Through the things of nature
o
Through a dream that his astrologers interpreted for him
o
Through a dream that Daniel interpreted for him
Through a dream that he understood for himself 4. Who spoke to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream? o o
Yahuwah Himself
o
Yahushua
o
A watcher and holy one
a prophet 5. What did Nebuchadnezzar see in his dream o o
A great tree that was cut down
o
An eagle flying high
o
An open book
o Visions of the end of the world 6. What happened to the tree? o
It grew and flourished forever
o
It bore twelve kinds of fruit
o
It was cut down for the length of seven times
o
It was struck by lightning
7. Whom did the tree represent? o
Daniel
o
Belshazzar
o
Jeremiah
Nebuchadnezzar 8. What judgment did Daniel say would fall on Nebuchadnezzar? o o
He would die
o
He would be driven out to live with the wild beasts and eat grass for seven years
o
He would lose his gold and jewels to invaders
He would drown in the Euphrates River 9. How long elapsed before the judgment fell? o o
Two months
o
Eight months
o
Ten months
o One year 10. What instigated the judgment? o
Nebuchadnezzar’s worship of false deities
o
Nebuchadnezzar’s eating unclean meat
o
Nebuchadnezzar’s expressions of pride
It came suddenly in Yahuwah’s own time 11. At the end of Nebuchadnezzar’s crisis, he o o
was still rebellious against Yahuwah
o
repented and lived ever after in true faith
o
had a better understanding of the life of animals
always longed to be with horses and cows 12. Nebuchadnezzar o o
lost all his wealth permanently
o
received his kingdom and wealth again when he got back his reason
o
failed to give Yahuwah the glory at the end of his life
o was a typical unbeliever 13. What is the most important lesson of this chapter? o
Everyone will believe when his right moment comes
o
We should obey Yahuwah lest a worse thing happen to us
o
Yahuwah will lead us in the path of faith and obedience if we trust in Him
o
Grass is a good diet for up to seven years
The Book of Daniel Lessons 6. Daniel Chapter 5 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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(Dan 5:1) Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his princes, and drank wine before the thousand. (Dan 5:2) Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. (Dan 5:3) Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of Eloah which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. (Dan 5:4) They drank wine, and praised the eloah of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. The faith of Belshazzar and his princes is in stark contrast to that of Daniel. This is symbolized in the fact that Daniel refused to drink wine at his peril. Belshazzar defiled the temple vessels with wine. Wine has both good and bad symbolism in the Bible, but two symbols are especially relevant here: the wine of the false doctrine of Babylon (Jeremiah 51:7; Revelation 14:8), and the wine of the wrath of Yahuwah (Revelation 16:19). Belshazzar intended to make several statements by this action. First of all, he wanted to show that Babylon had conquered Jerusalem and Yahuwah, the Eloah of Jerusalem. Secondly, he wanted to defile and subject the Eloah of Jerusalem. Finally, he wanted to incorporate the captive Eloah of Jerusalem within the pantheon of the false deities of Babylonian worship, and so affirm his rule over that land. Belshazzar’s actions were a public affront against the honor of Yahuwah. (Dan 5:5) In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. (Dan 5:6) Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. (Dan 5:7) The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Dan 5:8) Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. Yahuwah immediately responded to the affront of Belshazzar. He wrote out the judgement against the king for his blasphemy and defilement. The ways of Yahuwah are varied and always appropriate to the situation. The silent apparition stopped the revelers in their tracks better than any peal of thunder. There are only two
passages in the Old Testament in reference to Yahuwah writing with His own hand. The first is the tables of stone upon which the Ten Commandments were written and the second is this remarkable passage. (Dan 5:9) Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his princes were astonied. (Dan 5:10) Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his princes, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: (Dan 5:11) There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy eloah[s]; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of eloah[s], was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; (Dan 5:12) Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. The queen here is generally considered to be the queen mother, that is the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar. Belshazzer is the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. The Bible often uses the term father for any male ancestor in the direct line. (Dan 5:13) Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? (Dan 5:14) I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of eloah[s] is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. (Dan 5:15) And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing: (Dan 5:16) And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. Daniel, knowing the arrival of the Persians to be at hand, was hardly attracted by the offers of honor. Such could only put him in a compromised position before the new rulers. (Dan 5:17) Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
(Dan 5:18) O thou king, the most high Eloah gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: (Dan 5:19) And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. (Dan 5:20) But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: (Dan 5:21) And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high Eloah ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. (Dan 5:22) And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; (Dan 5:23) But hast lifted up thyself against the Master of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy princes, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the eloah of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the Eloah in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: (Dan 5:24) Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. (Dan 5:25) And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. The sin of Belshazzar was great. Nebuchadnezzar had placed the sacred vessels from Jerusalem in honored storage, not to be defiled. The act of Beshazzar in defiling them could only arouse the superstitious fears of the people, that the king was bringing the judgments of the Eloah of Israel down upon them. In fact, their superstitious fears turned out to coincide with the real judgments of Yahuwah, the true Eloah. Belshazzar’s blasphemy called forth the immediate response from Yahuwah. (Dan 5:26) This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; Eloah hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. (Dan 5:27) TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. (Dan 5:28) PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Dan 5:29) Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Dan 5:30) In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. (Dan 5:31) And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
The words were not unknown to the revelers. They could read them, but they could only tremble in fear before their ominous, ambiguous meaning. Daniel merely expanded upon them by inspiration. The cryptic mene or numbered, tekel or weighed, and Peres or Persians, was expanded into the message that Yahuwah has numbered the kingdom and finished it, weighed the king in the balances and found him wanting, and divided the kingdom and given it to the Medes and Persians. The figure of the balance in judgment was widely known in ancient times, from Egypt in the southwest to Persia in the northeast of Babylon. This fact meant that Belshazzar and his courtiers could not doubt Daniel’s interpretation.
The Book of Daniel Lessons 6. Daniel Chapter 5 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
Go To Lesson #6
QUIZ 1. Belshazzar offered his guests o
milk and honey
o
unfermented grape juice
o
wine
coca-cola 2. Belshazzar and his guests drank from o o
new crystalware
o
clay pots
o
German beer mugs
o the golden vessels from the temple in Jerusalem 3. As Belshazzar and his guests drank o
they praised eloahs of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone
o
they praised the true Eloah of heaven
o
they toasted the king
they toasted Daniel for having lived so long 4. Belshazzar’s action o o
dishonored the false deities of Babylon
o
honored Yahuwah, the true Eloah of heaven
o
blasphemed Yahuwah, the true Eloah of heaven
helped to convert many of his princess to the worship of Yahuwah 5. Wine represents o o
health and well-being
o
riches and power
o
happiness and joy
o
the false doctrines of Babylon and the wrath of Yahuwah
6. Yahuwah o
immediately responded to Belshazzar’s actions
o
left Belshazzar to face his guilt on the day of judgment
o
praised Belshazzar for using the temple vessels
o
communicated His will through astrology
7. The writing on the wall made Belshazzar o
happy
o
ready to believe in Yahuwah's sovereignty
o
troubled and afraid
get sober quickly from his drunk 8. The king’s wise men o o
could read most of the languages in the world
o
were happy to interpret the writing on the wall
o
performed scientific experiments to determine the nature of the writing
could not understand what was written on the wall 9. What did the queen say to Belshazzar? o o
That the writing was impossible to interpret
o
Not to worry, because Daniel could read it and say what it meant
o
That the words were Chinese ideograms
o That the writing was old-fashioned writing from the time of Nebuchadnezzar 10. After all his years in Babylon, Daniel o
had the spirit of heathen deities in him to help him interpret things
o
still lived under the rule of the spirit of Yahuwah
o
had learned enough languages to read any message
was a particular friend of the queen 11. Belshazzar thought Daniel could interpret the message because he believed that o o
the Eloah of Israel helped him
o
the Canaanite and Philistine deities were more powerful than the deities of Babylon
o
the Babylonian deities gave Daniel the spirit of understanding
vegetarianism made his mind clearer 12. What reward did Belshazzar promise Daniel? o o
That he should be the third ruler of the kingdom
o
That he could marry the queen
o
That he could return to Jerusalem
o That he would build a temple to Yahuwah in Jerusalem 13. How did Daniel like the rewards Belshazzar promised? o
He was happy to accept them.
o
He wanted them to share with his companions
o
He loved the king all the more for his generosity
He did not care about them and said the king could give them to someone else 14. What did Daniel remind Belshazzar of? o
o
The judgments that fell on Nebuchadnezzar
o
How much greater the Persians were than the Babylonians
o
That Jerusalem was still lying desolate
o That Yahuwah would take care of His people 15. How did Nebuchadnezzar relate to Yahuwah’s judgment? o
He remained proud and haughty
o
He humbled himself
o
He sacrificed to false deities
He gave the royal children a larger allowance 16. How had Belshazzar related to his father’s experience? o o
He wrote it down in a book
o
He was proud of his father’s accomplishments
o
He forgot all about it
He remembered what happened, but did not humble himself as his father had 17. Why did the message appear on the wall? o o
Because Belshazzar defiled the temple vessels and did not acknowledge Yahuwah
o
Because Yahuwah had prophesied it would happen at that time
o
Because Yahuwah wanted to honor Daniel
o Because Belshazzar was a good man and Yahuwah wanted to speak to him 18. What did the message say? o
Thou art the head of gold
o
Jerusalem will be rebuilt in your reign
o
Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin
Put your house in order, for you will soon enter heaven 19. What did the message mean? o o
Yahuwah has put an end to your kingdom, you are judged and found guilty, and the kingdom is divided among the Medes and Persians
o
The kingdom of Babylon would continue to exist until the second coming of Yahushua
o
That Belshazzar would live forever
o Yahuwah is sovereign over all 20. What did Belshazzar do to Daniel? o
He put him in prison, and that saved his life
o
He gave him the golden vessels from the temple
o
He gave him a new house
o
He gave him a scarlet robe, a gold necklace, and proclaimed him the third ruler of the kingdom
21. When did Belshazzar die? o
After three years
o
He never died, but Yahuwah took him alive to heaven
o
That very night
At a very great age 22. Who reigned in Belshazzar’s stead? o o
Darius the Median
o
Cyrus the great
o
Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel 23. What is the most important lesson of this chapter? o o
That faithful service to the king will be rewarded
o
That Yahuwah sets a limit on pride and blasphemy and will eventually intervene
o
That feasting at night is bad for your health
o
That hallucinations result from drinking wine
The Book of Daniel Lessons 7. Daniel Chapter 6 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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(Dan 6:1) It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; (Dan 6:2) And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. (Dan 6:3) Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. (Dan 6:4) Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Cyrus the Great instituted a system of government with presidents and princes as reflected in the situation under Darius the Mede described in this chapter. There has been a great deal of discussion about the identity of Darius, and the lack of historical documents about him is the most important factor in doubt cast on the authenticity of the book of Daniel. But the description of this government system is so accurate, down to the detail of how one prince is played against another in a divide and rule policy, that in reality this passage rather proves than disproves the authenticity of the book of Daniel. (Dan 6:5) Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his Eloah. (Dan 6:6) Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. (Dan 6:7) All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any eloah or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. (Dan 6:8) Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. (Dan 6:9) Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. Jealousy, conniving, manipulation and flattery are the natural results of the Medo-Persian ruling policy, but this all worked together to the benefit of the king, when he was wise enough to see through his courtiers. This time the king was deceived by the princes. From the point of view of Persian policy, his mistake was not to keep the princes divided against one another.
(Dan 6:10) Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his Eloah, as he did aforetime. The practice of formal prayer in prostration was so important at that time that Daniel risked his life to continue it. The fact that the temple lay in ruins meant that most of the earlier ritual had to be abandoned. Formal prayer in prostration took its place, and that is doubtless why it was so important. (Dan 6:11) Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his Eloah. (Dan 6:12) Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any eloah or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. (Dan 6:13) Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. (Dan 6:14) Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. The practice of praying three times a day is mentioned in Psalm 55:17. “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” The verse seems to require that prayer be spoken aloud on those occasions. The practice of praying toward the temple is also known in Psalm 5:7. “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.” This must have been especially precious, since it was all that was left when the youths were taken captive. They could no longer participate in the temple worship, but they could pray in the direction of the ruined temple three times a day. Those prayers for them were the temple. It is no wonder that they clung to them even at the threat on their very lives. (Dan 6:15) Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. (Dan 6:16) Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy Eloah whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. (Dan 6:17) And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his princes; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. (Dan 6:18) Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Daniel reveals the extent of the importance of music. It was not only used to enforce heathen worship, but also for its therapeutic effect. Entertainment music is rather a modern thing, and clouds for us the fact that music is a powerful tool for good or for evil. (Dan 6:19) Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. (Dan 6:20) And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living Eloah, is thy Eloah, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? (Dan 6:21) Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. (Dan 6:22) My Eloah hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. (Dan 6:23) Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his Eloah. Daniel claimed that an angel had saved him. Doubtless his enemies scoffed at the idea and tried to say that he escaped by natural causes, either that he was adept at handling wild animals or that the lions were not hungry. (Dan 6:24) And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. (Dan 6:25) Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. (Dan 6:26) I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the Eloah of Daniel: for he is the living Eloah, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. (Dan 6:27) He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. (Dan 6:28) So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. The destruction of Daniel’s enemies served to reinforce the fact that Daniel had been preserved miraculously. It was not merely an act of vindictiveness on Daniel’s part or on the part of the king. It was Yahuwah's plan to show His glory and power, and to strike down heathenism.
The Book of Daniel Lessons 7. Daniel Chapter 6 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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QUIZ 1. How many princes did Darius set over the kingdom? o
50, one for each state
o
120
o
12 to represent the disciples of Christ
22 elders 2. How many presidents did Darius set over the princes? o o
12 to represent the twelve tribes of Israel
o
3
o
2
o 7 3. Whom did Darius set over the three presidents? o
Belshazzar, the former king
o
Nebuchadnezzar
o
Daniel
Abednego 4. Why was Daniel preferred? o o
He was older than the others
o
He worshiped the Eloah of Israel
o
He had three friends
There was an excellent spirit in him 5. Why could the presidents and princes find no fault with Daniel? o o
He was faithful
o
He was Jewish
o
He had a Babylonian education
o He was helpful 6. In what area did the princes and presidents hope to find something to accuse Daniel? o
In his faith and religion
o
In his knowledge of Medo-Persian law
o
In his honesty
o
In the way he treated his relatives
7. To whom did the princes and presidents go to speak? o
To the mother of the king
o
To the rival king of the Greeks
o
To Darius the king
To Pharaoh 8. What did the princes and presidents ask the king to sign o o
Daniel’s death sentence
o
The deed to Daniel’s house
o
A letter of recommendation for each of them
A law that no one could worship anyone but the king for 30 days 9. In which direction did Daniel pray? o o
Towards Mecca
o
Towards Jerusalem
o
Towards the east
o Towards the great temple in Babylon 10. How many times a day did Daniel pray? o
1
o
3
o
7
5 11. In what position did Daniel pray? o o
He stood with his hands raised
o
He sat in his pew
o
He bowed with his face to the ground
He knelt on his knees 12. What did the spies find Daniel doing? o o
Eating pork
o
Praying to Yahuwah, his Eloah
o
Obeying the king
o Sleeping on the job 13. What did the princes and presidents demand of the king? o
That he throw Daniel in a den of lions
o
That he forgive Daniel for praying to Yahuwah
o
That he annul the law
That he help them find other ways to destroy Daniel 14. How did Darius react to their demands? o
o
He was happy to follow the law of the land
o
He ignored their demands
o
He was disappointed in himself and tried to save Daniel
o He gave Daniel the right to defend himself 15. What did they do with Daniel? o
They gave him a scarlet robe and a chain of gold
o
They threw him in the den of lions
o
They gave him an award, a little golden image in honor of his service
They gave him citizenship 16. What did the king say to Daniel? o o
I’m sorry
o
You should have obeyed the law
o
The princes are right, because they are in the majority
Your Eloah will save you 17. Why did they put a stone over the den and seal it with the royal seal? o o
So curious passers-by could not see Daniel
o
So the lions could not get out
o
So the king could not change his mind and take Daniel out of the den
o So invading armies could not rescue Daniel 18. How did the king pass the night? o
sleeplessly fasting
o
sleeping in his own bed
o
listening to music
feasting and drinking 19. What did the king do early the next morning? o o
He had a good breakfast
o
He had an early morning ride on his favorite horse
o
He forgot about Daniel
He went to the lions’ den quickly to see how Daniel was 20. What happened to Daniel and the lions? o o
An angel came and protected him from the lions
o
He was eaten up by the lions immediately
o
He was a lion trainer and got them to obey him
o He made pets of the lions 21. What did the king do when he found Daniel alive? o
He had him executed
o
He had him taken up out of the lions’ den
o
He immediately told his mother
He invited Daniel for a day at the palace 22. What did the king do to the princes and their families who had tried to destroy Daniel? o o
He thanked them for their service
o
He removed them from office
o
He gave each one a costly robe and a golden necklace
o He had them executed 23. What did the king decree? o
That people should not worship him any longer
o
That everyone should recognize that the Eloah of Israel is the true Eloah
o
That people should have freedom of religion
That Islam is the religion of the Persian empire 24. What is the most important lesson of this chapter? o o
That we should pray to Yahuwah every day no matter what
o
That we should follow the religion of the country in which we live
o
That we should look up to government officials
o
That we need a king to put things in order
The Book of Daniel Lessons 8. Daniel Chapter 7 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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(Dan 7:1) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. The book of Daniel is divided into two parts, the narratives and the prophecies. The narratives are in chapters 1-6, and the prophecies are in chapters 7-12. The narratives are in chronological order, taking us from Daniel’s youth to his old age. The prophecies beginning in chapter seven start a new time-schedule, beginning in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign, that is, before the narrative of chapter five. (Dan 7:2) Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. (Dan 7:3) And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. Scripture must be interpreted literally, except when the text warrants a symbolic interpretation. Verse 17 states this vision to be symbolic. The beast represent four kings, that is, the same four kingdoms of Nebuchadnezzar’s image in chapter 2. (Dan 7:4) The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. Daniel is still living under the kingdom of Babylon, which was represented by the head of gold. It is clear that Babylon is the lion. (Dan 7:5) And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. Daniel 2 does not identify the second kingdom, the one to follow Babylon, but chapter 6 does. The bear represents the kingdom of Medo-Persia, which followed Babylon. Just as the arms of the image in chapter 2, and the two horns of the ram in chapter 8, represent the two divisions of the kingdom, the Medes and the Persians, the bear raising itself on one side represents the two sides of the kingdom. The ribs and the eating of flesh graphically refers to the fate of the provinces of Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt before the onslaught of the Persians. Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians in 538 B.C. and the kingdom of Medo-Persia continued to the battle of Arbela in 331 B.C. (Dan 7:6) After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. The rise of Alexander is represented by the leopard. It is identified with the rough goat or Grecia in Daniel 8:21. The swiftness of his conquest by the wings, and the four heads the division of Alexander’s Grecian kingdom into four parts under Alexander’s four generals Cassander, Ptolemy, Seleucus, and Lysimachus. The division of the kingdom was complete by 301 B.C.
(Dan 7:6) After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. The first kingdom is identified in Daniel 2 as Babylon. The second and third kingdoms are identified in Daniel 8 as Medo-Persia and Grecia. That is how we know what these first three beasts are. The fourth kingdom, however, is not identified by name in the text of the book of Daniel. We have to identify it by its time, place, and characteristics. (Dan 7:7) After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. This kingdom arises after the depredations of the Grecian kingdom. It corresponds to the legs of iron in the image of Daniel 2. The next world empire to rule the city of Jerusalem was the Roman empire, which came to have influence in Palestine from the year 161 BC, after conquering Macedonia in the year 168. (Dan 7:8) I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. The correspondence between this beast and the legs of iron in Daniel two is also reflected in the ten toes of the one and the ten horns of the other. But here we have the additional information that another horn comes up to replace three of the horns. It is remarkable that the Papacy, that is, Papal Rome, plucked up the three kingdoms of the Heruli, the Ostrogoths, and the Vandals, in order to take its place of power on earth. The Papacy ruled uninterrupted, despite some weak moments and a flight or two from Rome, until 1798, when General Berthier took the Pope prisoner and put an end to papal rule until papal political power was restored by the Lateran Accords in 1929. (Dan 7:9) I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. (Dan 7:10) A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. Soon after the end of the long period of papal rule, the prophecies were fulfilled that referred to the beginning of the work of investigative judgment in the heavenly sanctuary. This work of judgment is graphically described in these verses. (Dan 7:11) I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. (Dan 7:12) As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
(Dan 7:13) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (Dan 7:14) And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Dan 7:15) I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. More details are given here concerning the beast and its destruction, and the time when the kingdom of Yahuwah will supplant all the kingdoms of men. But Daniel is still troubled. The following verses will show that he is troubled about the nature of the little horn and when these things will take place, and how long they will last. (Dan 7:16) I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. (Dan 7:17) These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. (Dan 7:18) But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. When Daniel asks for an interpretation of the beasts, he is given to understand that the four beasts are four kings or kingdoms corresponding to those of the image in Daniel 2. In the same way, the four empires will eventually fall before the kingdom of Yahuwah. (Dan 7:19) Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; (Dan 7:20) And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. (Dan 7:21) I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; (Dan 7:22) Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Daniel learns that the horn is a religious power, and in this way differs somewhat from the powers that preceded it. Furthermore, it is to be a persecuting power which will prevail against the saints for a time. However, after that a time will come with the judgment will be given to the saints and they will possess the kingdom. The time when the saints will judge the horn is described in Revelation 20, after they are taken up to
Christ at his second appearing, and before the descent of the holy city described in Revelation 21, when wickedness will receive its eternal punishment. (Dan 7:23) Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. (Dan 7:24) And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. (Dan 7:25) And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Two additional pieces of information are given here beyond the opposition to Yahuwah and His saints. The horn will pretend to change times and laws, and it will prevail against the saints for a specific length of time: a time plus two times (the original word is a dual form, not a plural), and the dividing of time, that is, half a time. We say already in Daniel 5 that a time is a year. So the period of papal domination is predicted to be three and a half prophetic years, or 1260 prophetic days, that is, 1260 literal years. The date of the beginning of this period is established in Daniel 11. The Papacy intended to change times and laws. It has removed the commandment against the worship of images from its catechisms, and divided the final commandment into two in order to preserve the number 10. So it has changed laws. It has replaced His calendar for finding His holy days, with her own calendar and her own holy days. Click here for more information on this point. (Dan 7:26) But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. (Dan 7:27) 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. (Dan 7:28) Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. The judgment begins with the Investigative Judgment in heaven as described above, and continues for a thousand years after the coming of Christ. At the end of the thousand years, the wicked are destroyed and the saints receive the reward of eternal life.
The Book of Daniel Lessons 8. Daniel Chapter 7 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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QUIZ 1. How is the vision of beasts in Daniel 7 similar to the dream of an image in Daniel 2? o
The parts of the image and the various beasts represent the same successive earthly kingdoms.
o
The same people are found in both chapters
o
The same person dreamed about the image as saw the beasts in vision
The dream and the vision took place in Syria 2. What kingdom is represented by the head of gold and the winged lion? o o
Egypt
o
India
o
Babylon
Palestine 3. What kingdom is represented by the arms and breast of silver and the bear? o o
Arabia
o
Medo-Persia
o
Thrace
o Afganistan 4. What kingdom is represented by the thigh and belly of brass and the four-headed leopard? o
Crete
o
Jerusalem
o
Libya
Grecia 5. When did Babylon fall to the Medo-Persians? o o
In 605 B.C.
o
In 538 B.C.
o
In 27 A.D.
In 1844 6. When did Medo-Persia fall to Alexander? o o
At the battle of Arbela in 331 B.C.
o
In the same year that Daniel died
o
In 168 B.C.
o
In 34 A.D.
7. By what year had the division of Grecia into four kingdoms been accomplished? o
356 B.C.
o
301 B.C.
o
27 A.D.
31 A.D. 8. What world empire arose after Grecia? o o
Ethiopia
o
Babylon
o
Rome
France 9. What three kingdoms did Papal Rome pluck up? o o
France, Italy, and Spain
o
Egypt, Ethiopia, and Libya
o
Turkey, Syria, and Iraq
o The Heruli, Ostrogoths, and Vandals 10. What happened in 1798? o
General Berthier took the pope prisoner, leading to the loss of the political power of the Papacy
o
The Papacy became a world power
o
Napoleon recognized the value of Roman Catholic doctrine
The Papacy celebrated a thousand years of missions 11. What happened in 1929? o o
The Papacy fell to Mussolini
o
The Papacy became a kingdom again, by the Lateran Accords.
o
Daniel’s prophecy was fulfilled with the fall of the stock market in New York
o The true ekklesia of Yahuwah was established on earth 12. What happened about the time the Papacy was losing its political power? o
They signed the Lateran Agreement out of weakness
o
The investigative judgment began in the heavenly sanctuary
o
The second coming of Christ took place in 1844, but it was spiritual
The world entered the millennium, a thousand years of peace on earth 13. How long did the Papacy have dominion? o o
1260 days
o
1260 years
o
100 years
o
1000 years
14. How did the Papacy seek to change laws? o
It suppressed the second commandment forbidding images, and divided the tenth commandment forbidding covetousness
o
It established the law of Christ, which is to love one’s neighbour as oneself
o
It reinstated the Old Testament sacrifices in the mass
It brought Roman law into the church in 538 A.D. 15. How did the Papacy seek to changes times? o o
It moved the day of Christmas to December 25
o
It supported the quartodeciman calculation of Easter
o
It suppressed the Sabbath and set up Sunday worship in its place
o It adopted the rabbinical calendar of Hilel II 16. What is the most important lesson of Daniel 7? o o
That the Papacy is the predicted ruler of this earth, and we should submit to it That the Papacy is a false system of faith, and we should look to Yahuwah in heaven and obey His laws on earth
o
That the Papacy represents Yahuwah on earth
o
That it doesn’t matter what you believe or do, Yahuwah will save you in the end
The Book of Daniel Lessons 9. Daniel Chapter 8 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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(Dan 8:1) In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. Chronologically speaking, this vision takes place after that reported in chapter 7, and both of them take place during the reign of Belshazzar, thus placing the chapter in time before Daniel 5. (Dan 8:2) And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. Shushan in the province of Elam may seem enigmatic. According to Isaiah 21:2, the province was allied to the Medes. But Jeremiah 49:39 shows that it had been taken over by Babylon, and it was linked to Babylon when this vision took place. Apparently Daniel was there on the king’s business. (Dan 8:3) Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. (Dan 8:4) I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. The ram is identified in verse 20 as the kingdoms of Media and Persia, thus associating it with the second beast of Daniel 7. By this time Babylon was so close to the end of its power that it is no longer mentioned in revelation. The two horns aptly represent the association of Media and Persia as one empire. (Dan 8:5) And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. (Dan 8:6) And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. (Dan 8:7) And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. The rough goat is identified in verse 21 as Grecia. It thus corresponds to the four-headed leopard of chapter seven. The notable horn here is an apt representation of Alexander the great, and the prediction describes his conquest accurately. (Dan 8:8) Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
At the death of Alexander, his brother Philip Aridaeus was declared king. Along with Alexanders infant sons, Alexander Aegus and Hercules, the empire continued for a time, but at length the boys were murdered. At that time, the four principle generals, who had dispersed into the four quarters of the empire to serve as governers, each assumed the title of king. These were Cassander in Greece and its surroundings, Lysimachus in Asia Minor, Seleucus in Syria and Babylon, and Ptolemy in Egypt. (Dan 8:9) And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. (Dan 8:10) And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. (Dan 8:11) Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. (Dan 8:12) And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered. The greatest problem of interpreting Daniel lies in identifying the little horn. All other powers are identified by name: Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. History shows that Rome is the great empire that came after Greece, and it would be natural to assume that the little horn of Daniel 8 corresponds to the legs of iron in Daniel 2 and the terrible beast in Daniel 7. The structural argument, that Rome fits the slot, is a strong one. Near the end of the first century A.D. Josephus, a Jewish collaborator with the Roman empire, interpreted the little horn to be Antiochus Epiphanes, a minor Seleucid king who desecrated the temple in Jerusalem about 160 years before Yahushua. His motive was to deflect negative statements in the Scriptures from his friends the Romans. During the Protestant Reformation, when the reformers aims heavy accusations against Rome relying on these and other passages, Josephus’ interpretation again served to deflect accusations against Rome. These unworthy motivations underlie the present scholarly understanding that Antiochus is meant by the little horn. Antiochus was simply the eighth of 26 Syrian kings. If the little horn is one of these kings, it should be the greatest, not one of the feeblest. The little horn was “exceeding great” that is greater than Persia, which was just great (Esther 1:1) and Grecia, which is called very great. The little horn was to stand up against the Prince of princes, an expression that must refer to the Messiah, who certainly did not live during the time of Antiochus, but later. How did Rome come out of one of the four horns? In 168 B.C. Rome moved on the east and conquered Macedonia, and by the authority of having so done, it became connected with the Jews by the Jewish League in 161 B. C. The prophecy accurately indicates the path by which Rome was introduced into the area of Jerusalem. Rome waxed great toward the south, making Egypt a province in 30 B.C. It waxed great toward the east, making Syria a province in 65 B.C. Rome waxed great toward the pleasant land, that is Judea, and made it a province in 63 B. C. It eventually destroyed the city and the temple, and scattered the Jews throughout the earth.
(Dan 8:13) Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? (Dan 8:14) And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. These two verses are a different subject. The world empires are discussed in verses 1-12. These verses refer to the time of the cleansing of the sanctuary. Verse 13 speaks of the end of the earthly sanctuary, and verse 14 draws the attention to the heavenly sanctuary, at a time when the earthly sanctuary no longer exists. These verses become clear only in Daniel 9. But the explanation of verses 1-12 is found in the second half of Daniel 8, as follows. (Dan 8:15) And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. (Dan 8:16) And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. (Dan 8:17) So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. Daniel fell on his face in prostration out of fear. This is why the angel did not chide him, as the angel did twice in the book of Revelation, when John fell down in prostration of worship. (Dan 8:18) Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. The deep sleep is mentioned several times in connection with revelation. This seems to correspond to the concept of a trance in modern language. Ellen White at times showed the same characteristics as Daniel. (Dan 8:19) And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. (Dan 8:20) The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. (Dan 8:21) And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. (Dan 8:22) Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. The interpretation in regard to Medo-Persia and Grecia is clear, even to the degree of power of the four kingdoms into which Alexander’s empire split.
(Dan 8:23) And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. (Dan 8:24) And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. (Dan 8:25) And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. The Roman power is predicted to attack the Messiah, the Prince of princes. (Dan 8:26) And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. (Dan 8:27) And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it. The interpretation in regard to the cleansing of the sanctuary, that is, the end of the 2300 days, made Daniel ill. This was because of the extreme length of time involved. Looking forward to more than 2000 years was more than Daniel could take.
The Book of Daniel Lessons 9. Daniel Chapter 8 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
Go To Lesson #9
QUIZ 1. When did Daniel see the vision of Daniel 8? o
In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar
o
In the fifth year of Darius
o
In the third year of Belshazzar
o In the year Yahushua was born 2. Where was Daniel when he saw the vision of Daniel 8? o
In the palace of Babylon
o
In Jerusalem
o
In Egypt
In the palace in Shushan in the province of Elam 3. What kingdom did the ram with two horns represent? o o
Babylon
o
Medo-Persia
o
Grecia
Rome 4. What kingdom did the he-goat with the notable horn represent? o o
Babylon
o
Medo-Persia
o
Grecia
Rome 5. Whom did the notable horn represent? o o
Nebuchadnezzar
o
Belshazzar
o
Cyrus the Great
Alexander 6. What did the four horns represent? o o
The four kingdoms into which Alexander’s empire split after the death of his two children
o
The four winds of heaven
o
The four corners of the earth
o The four Gospels 7. What did the little horn represent?
o
Antiochus Epiphanes
o
Pagan, then papal Rome
o
Syria
o Egypt 8. How do we know that the little horn does not represent Antiochus? o
Because the little horn attacks the Messiah, who was born more than 160 years after Antiochus died
o
Because Antiochus lived in Syria
o
Because Antiochus was a great man, so he could not be represented by a little horn
Because Antiochus loved the Jews 9. How did Rome move on the east? o o
It conquered Macedonia in B.C. 168
o
It built Hadrian’s Wall
o
It built aquaducts in an east-west direction
o It made Egypt a province in B.C. 30 10. How did Rome move on the south? o
It conquered Macedonia in B.C. 168
o
It built Hadrian’s Wall
o
It built aquaducts in an east-west direction
It made Egypt a province in B.C. 30 11. He ‘by peace shall destroy many’ refers to o o
the Pax Romana
o
Islam
o
the rise of the United States
the role of the United Nations 12. When would the sanctuary be cleansed? o o
After 2300 prophetic days or literal years
o
As soon as the temple was rebuilt
o
At the death of Yahushua
o At the stoning of Stephen 13. How do we know that the 2300 evenings and mornings refer to a long time of many centuries? o
Because Daniel wrote a long time ago
o
Because the Roman Catholic church says so
o
Because all Protestant commentaries before the year 1800 said so
Because Gabriel said so in Daniel 8:26 14. When did the cleansing of the sanctuary begin? o
o
In 1798
o
In 168 B.C.
o
In 1844
o In 1967 15. Why did Daniel faint and become sick? o
Because he ate the king’s meat and drank his wine
o
Because the end of the 2300 days was such a long time to wait
o
Because he had a heatstroke during the vision
Because it was overwhelming to see the angel Gabriel 16. How was Daniel’s vision in this chapter like some of Ellen White’s visions? o o
He spoke with an angel in a trance
o
He had the ability to fly
o
He got his material by copying from other people’s books
He lived a long time ago 17. What is the most important lesson of Daniel 8? o o
That the Grecian empire arose after the Persian
o
That after the dominion of the Papacy, the cleansing of the sanctuary would begin in 1844
o
That Antiochus Epiphanes was a bad man
o
That prophets see angels in trances
The Book of Daniel Lessons 1 10. Daniel Chapter 9 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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(Dan 9:1) In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; (Dan 9:2) In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of Yahuwah came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Daniel did not just wait for visions to tell him Yahuwah's will. He studied the Scriptures carefully to know the times. This text is an affirmation of the fact that the Bible predicts future events in specific years, not just giving us spiritual instruction and generalities. Daniel knew when the time of desolation should end by reading the Bible. This experience of Daniel encourages us to do the same. (Dan 9:3) And I set my face unto the Sovereign Elohoim, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: (Dan 9:4) And I prayed unto Yahuwah my Eloah, and made my confession, and said, O Sovereign, the great and dreadful El, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; Daniel recognizes the duty of humankind as expressed in the Decalogue: we are to love Yahuwah and keep His commandments. Revelation 14:12 expresses this in another way: to keep the commandments of Yahuwah and have the faith of Yahushua. (Dan 9:5) We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: (Dan 9:6) Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. Sin is defined as rebellion that departs from keeping the commandments, and that refuses to listen to the prophets. Sin is not some nebulous, ambiguous spiritual state of mind, but rebellion expressed in these two specific actions. (Dan 9:7) O Sovereign, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. (Dan 9:8) O Sovereign, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
Sin results in confusion, destruction and catastrophe. (Dan 9:9) To the Sovereign our Eloah belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; (Dan 9:10) Neither have we obeyed the voice of Yahuwah our Eloah, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. (Dan 9:11) Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of Elohim, because we have sinned against him. (Dan 9:12) And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. (Dan 9:13) As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before Yahuwah our Eloah, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. Catastrophe is an opportunity to turn from sin and understand the truth. There is much catastrophe in the world today. It is an opportunity to turn from rebellion against Yahuwah, obey His commandments, and understand the truth, that we are standing before the closing scenes of earth’s history. (Dan 9:14) Therefore hath Yahuwah watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for Yahuwah our Eloah is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. (Dan 9:15) And now, O Sovereign our Eloah, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. (Dan 9:16) O Sovereign, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. (Dan 9:17) Now therefore, O our Eloah, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Sovereign's sake. Daniel prays for the people and the sanctuary. Everything to follow will be in answer to that prayer. From the book of Daniel we will find what is to happen to the people and the sanctuary, and when. (Dan 9:18) O my Eloah, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. (Dan 9:19) O Sovereign, hear; O Sovereign, forgive; O Sovereign, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my Eloah: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
Yahuwah forgives by His great mercy, and not for our righteousness. That is an eternal principle of the eternal Gospel. It is not something new discovered by Paul or Luther, but the way of salvation made known from the beginning of time. There is only one covenant, the eternal covenant of the mercy of Yahuwah. By the same token, there is one abiding law of Yahuwah that does not change. It is found in the Decalogue, the very law that the Papacy has tried to change and suppress. (Dan 9:20) And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahuwah my Eloah for the holy mountain of my Eloah; (Dan 9:21) Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. (Dan 9:22) And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. (Dan 9:23) At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. The “man” Gabriel was the angel sent to explain the vision to Daniel. The vision that needed explaining was the vision of Daniel 8. There were two things mentioned in the vision that were unclear. The first was the identity of the little horn. The angel does not name the empire it represents, and so Daniel could not know it. It was in the future. The second thing was the timing of the restoration of the people and the cleansing of the sanctuary, the beginning and ending of the 2300 evenings and mornings in Daniel 8:14. Gabriel is about to explain these things to Daniel. (Dan 9:24) Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Gabriel begins to explain the 2300 by referring to seventy weeks that are determined or cut off from the beginning of that period. Seventy weeks make up the first 490 days of the 2300. During that time the Jewish people will be given a time of grace, the city will stand, and during that time transgression and sin (offerings) will be brought to an end and reconciliation to bring in everlasting righteousness will be accomplished, and the sanctuary or most holy would be anointed. In ancient times a prophetic day was nearly always interpreted as a year. This is true both in ancient Jewish and early Christian thought. But the proof is in the pudding: The fact is that the year for a day principle fits the fulfillment of prophecy throughout history, and therefore ought to be considered valid. While modern people may reject it and speculate on the future, the past history of the world is seen now to correspond to the years represented by the days and weeks of prophetic time. (Dan 9:25) Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
The seventy weeks or 490 days as well as the 2300 will begin from the going forth of the decree to restore and build Jerusalem. The going forth of the command to rebuild started with the decree of Cyrus in 536 (Ezra 1:14), was affirmed by Darius in 519 (Ezra 6:1-12), and became effective in the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus to Ezra in 457 (Ezra 7). The year 457 is thus the point of departure for counting the seventy weeks and the 2300 days, that is the 490 years of the first segment of the 2300 years. From 457 to Messiah the Prince there are seven weeks and sixty two weeks, that is, 69 weeks or 483 years. That brings us up to 27 A.D. which is the year of the anointing or baptizing of Yahushua. The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt during the seven weeks, that is, during the 49 years beginning from 457 B.C. Thus, in 408 B.C. the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple was completed. There is one week left over of the 70. It begins in 27 A.D. with the anointing of the Messiah and ends in 34 A.D. (Dan 9:26) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Gabriel here describes the things that should take place after 27 A.D. when the seven weeks and 62 weeks came to an end. After that time the Messiah would be cut off, and a prince would come to destroy the city and sanctuary. The king that cut off the Messiah in 31 A.D. and destroyed the city and sanctuary in 70 A.D. was the Roman emperor. But those dates are not yet mentioned. (Dan 9:27) And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Here Gabriel describes the seventieth week, which begins in 27 A.D. The middle of the week is the year 31 A.D. That is the year in which the Messiah was cut off by Rome. By offering himself for sin, Yahushua caused the sacrifice and oblation to come to an end. He thus prepared the temple for its destruction by removing from it the divinely appointed sacrificial system that pointed toward him as sin offering and priestly intercessor for humankind. At the end of the week, the time of grace for the Jewish nation came to an end. The sanhedrin, the highest ruling institution in the Jewish nation, itself confirmed the rejection of Yahushua by their sentencing of Stephen to death in 34 A.D. Daniel 9 reports a vision that came soon upon the vision of chapter 8. It came to explain the long time period that worried Daniel so much that he fell ill. That was the 2300 prophetic days or literal years. Daniel 9 gives the date of the starting point of the 2300 days, which is 457 B.C. The end of the period is 1844, and that is when the cleansing of the sanctuary begins. There is a beautiful chain of promise in Daniel 8 and 9. The five great acts of salvation in the history of the earth are mentioned, giving precise dates for them. These are: the going forth of the command to rebuild the city and the temple in 457 B.C.; the rebuilding of the city and temple in 408 B.C.; the anointing of Messiah in 27 A.D.; the cutting off of Messiah in 31 A.D.; the Gospel extended to the Gentiles in 34 A.D.; and the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 A.D.
There is a gap in time here, before the vision of chapters ten and eleven. The reason for this is explained in the vision.
The Book of Daniel Lessons 10. Daniel Chapter 9 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
Go To Lesson #10
QUIZ 1. Why did Daniel pray so earnestly? o
He was sorry that the Jews were such great sinners
o
He was ill to think that the cleansing of the sanctuary was so far in the future
o
He was afraid he would never have another vision
o He always prayed earnestly 2. What is the duty of humankind? o
To build great empires to rule the earth
o
To be obedient to their government
o
To keep the commandments of Yahuwah
To fulfill each one his own potential 3. How does Yahuwah forgive sin? o o
By His grace and mercy
o
By accepting human works
o
By accepting animal and human sacrifices and burnt offerings
By accepting pilgrimages and adoration of saintly relicts 4. What began at the going forth of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem? o o
The start of a new era
o
The reign of Cyrus the Great
o
The power of the Persian empire to punish Ethiopian rebellion
The 70 weeks and the 2300 days 5. In what year did the decree to rebuild go forth? o o
In 457 B.C.
o
In 408 B.C.
o
In 27 A.D.
In 31 A.D. 6. In what year were the walls and the temple rebuilt? o o
In 457 B.C.
o
In 408 B.C.
o
In 27 A.D.
o In 31 A.D. 7. In what year was the Messiah anointed?
o
In 457 B.C.
o
In 408 B.C.
o
In 27 A.D.
o In 31 A.D. 8. In what year was the Messiah cut off? o
In 457 B.C.
o
In 408 B.C.
o
In 27 A.D.
In 31 A.D. 9. What can we learn from the fact that the major dates of the history of salvation are predicted so precisely in the book of Daniel? o
o
That astrology is accurate
o
That there are still prophets today
o
That we can trust Yahuwah to carry out the plan of salvation
o That World War II fulfilled the prophecies of Daniel 9 10. Of what does Daniel give us a good example in this chapter? o
Of prayer of repentance
o
Of good eating habits
o
Not to use alcoholic drinks
How to submit to earthly rulers 11. What is the most important lesson of Daniel 9? o o
That Yahuwah revealed the very year in which the temple would be rebuilt, the Messiah anointed and cut off, the Gospel expanded to include the Gentiles, and the beginning of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, so Yahuwah’s time-table is accurate and trust-worthy
o
That we can trust Yahuwah to take vengeance on those who offend us
o
That the Papacy is predicted in Scripture
o
That Daniel was the greatest of prophets
The Book of Daniel Lessons 11. Daniel Chapter 10 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
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(Dan 10:1) In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. (Dan 10:2) In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. (Dan 10:3) I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. (Dan 10:4) And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; (Dan 10:5) Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: (Dan 10:6) His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. (Dan 10:7) And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. It is interesting that Daniel’s vision here is similar to that of Paul on the Damascus road. Those standing by were afraid, but they did not see or hear the vision. Yahuwah works in similar ways with many prophets. (Dan 10:8) Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Ellen White also experienced the lack of strength on some occasions. On others, she was able to accomplish feats of strength she could not under normal circumstances. (Dan 10:9) Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. (Dan 10:10) And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. (Dan 10:11) And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
(Dan 10:12) Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy Eloah, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. (Dan 10:13) But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. The battle is a real one, set in real places among real individuals. It is not a spiritual battle in the sense that it takes place only in the mind as a figment of imagination. The text introduces the archangel Michael, that is, the head of the heavenly hosts. This figure is not an angel, but the person of the Word of Yahuwah which became incarnate in Yahushua as the Messiah. (Dan 10:14) Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. (Dan 10:15) And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. Losing the capacity to speak is experienced by various prophets, including Zechariah the father of John and Ellen White. (Dan 10:16) And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my Master, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. (Dan 10:17) For how can the servant of this my master talk with this my master? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. Ellen White was often in a state of vision where she did not breathe, just as Daniel. (Dan 10:18) Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, (Dan 10:19) And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my master speak; for thou hast strengthened me. (Dan 10:20) Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. (Dan 10:21) But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. The Son of Yahuwah or Word of Yahuwah holds the secrets of heaven that angels may not know. Gabriel in this case shared that knowledge and brought it to Daniel. This experience prepared Daniel to receive the detailed, literal predictions of chapter 11.
The Book of Daniel Lessons 11. Daniel Chapter 10 Lesson Go to Lessons Index
Go To Lesson #11
QUIZ 1. How was the state of Daniel during vision in Daniel 10 like Ellen White’s experience? o
They both lived a long time ago
o
They both on occasion were not able to speak or breathe
o
They both likes the songs of the angels
o They both wrote in Hebrew 2. Who helped Gabriel with the kings of Persia? o
Enoch
o
Elijah
o
Moses
Michael 3. What does the word archangel mean? o o
Head of the host of angels
o
An angel who is more important than the others
o
An angel for ordinary days rather than holidays
An angel that wears a bigger crown than other angels 4. Who was Michael the archangel? o o
The brother of Gabriel
o
The highest angel in rank
o
The incarnate Word of Yahuwah
A special friend of Daniel 5. What is the most important lesson of Daniel 10? o o
That angels are sometimes delayed
o
It introduces Michael the archangel, that is, the pre-incarnate Yahushua.
o
That angels do not know everything
o
That Michael and Gabriel have secrets
Daniel Chapter 11: Overview The Heavenly Father wants none to be taken unawares. In His infinite love and wisdom, He has provided very clear prophetic markers by which all can know where we are in the stream of history.
The Future Written In The Past Students of prophecy have always known that the books of Daniel and Revelation are Heaven’s gift to the final generation, revealing the future from the dusty realms of the distant past. Now, however, new light has revealed that the prophecies contained in Daniel 11 are not future incidents but, rather, are events that have already occurred! The night is far past. The dawn approaches, but multitudes sleep on completely oblivious to the fact that the world is ending and probation, for some, could be closing in the next few months. Daniel 11 has confused many Bible students. It is full of references to a mysterious “King of the North” and an equally baffling “King of the South” who seem to be in a long-running war, each pushing at the other. While most of the chapter has been understood to have occurred in the past, verses 40 to 45 in particular have typically been viewed as events still to unfold in the future. Satan has encouraged this interpretation in the hopes of catching the world off-guard. The truth is, verses 40 to 45 have already occurred and there are not two kings mentioned in Daniel 11, but three: 1. The King of the North 2. The King of the South 3. The “willful” King
The understanding of these symbols constitutes an alarming wake up call to every person living on earth. Before proceeding to identify them, it is worthwhile to take a moment to read over the applicable verses: 36
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37
Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 38
But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 39
Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. 40
And at the time of the end shall the King of the South push at him: and the King of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
41
He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42
He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44
But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 45
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:36-45, KJV) WLC is convinced that the identity of these three powers is of great significance to those living on earth at this time. Knowing who they are reveals where we are in the stream of history.
The King of the North is the Ottoman Empire. The King of the South is Egypt. The Willful King is Napoleon/France.
The end of the world, the closing up of time as we know it, is not just a point in time. It is also a process. During this process, a number of things have to occur. The King of the North, the King of the South and the Willful King were all powers, raised up by Yahuwah, to do an appointed work, at an appointed time.
The Willful King
More than any other contemporary power, atheistic France regarded not the desire of women: “The French Revolution is perhaps the most central symbol of the modern social and cultural paradigm that swept aside church and aristocracy in the name of the right of the people to govern themselves rather than submit to the will of monarchs and bishops. The modern French state advanced the idea of the citizen with rights to self-determination regardless of origin or trait. Religion was dethroned from its hegemonic position, deprived of the tools to enforce its will on everyone, and privatized to the realm of personal belief… “This liberal democratic revolution also initiated the disestablishment of sexual orthodoxy, permitting greater individual freedom, and extracting the state from the regulation of homosexuality. “With the advent of the Napoleonic legal code, sodomy disappeared from criminal law, and as Napoleon swept through Europe evicting the mainstays of the old order, he left new nationbuilders in his wake who founded legal systems without the category of sodomy. The modern world … broke the medieval link between homosexuality and criminality in the early nineteenth century.”
There can be no doubt whatsoever that the Willful King who exalted and magnified himself above every god, who honored the God of forces and “a god whom his fathers (http://law.jrank.org/pages/1336/Homosexualityknew not,” the king who regarded “not the desire of Crime-Modernity.html) women,” is none other than Napoleon Bonaparte and the country of France. A careful, verse by verse exposition of the identifying hallmarks that link the Willful King to Napoleon and France is beyond the scope of this article. However, suffice it to say that Napoleon was raised up by Yahuwah to act an important part in closing events.
On February 10, 1798, General Louis-Alexandre Berthier, acting on Napoleon’s orders, marched into Rome. Pope Pius VI had been hostile to the ever increasingly atheistic French. When he refused to submit to French authority, General Berthier took him prisoner on February 20 and hustled him out of the city under cover of darkness. The aging pontiff was moved from place to place until he finally died in exile the following year. Taking the pope prisoner was an incredibly audacious act, one unheard of and completely unprecedented up to that time. Kings had trembled at the displeasure of popes. It was a long fall from the days when Pope Gregory VII kept the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV, kneeling in the snow for three days before granting him forgiveness. Henry IV had called the pope a “false monk” and a usurper—an action, for which, the pope retaliated by telling Henry’s subjects that they did not have to obey him.4 Napoleon did more than sling words. He actually took the pope prisoner. Napoleon’s daring move marked the end of 1260 years of papal domination. Daniel had prophesied of this long time when the persecuting power of the papacy would hold sway, stating: “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” (Daniel 7:25, KJV) John the Revelator had predicted the ending to this long time span, declaring: And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. (Revelation 13:1 & 3, KJV) The declarations of Yahuwah are as firm as His throne. His purposes cannot be hastened nor delayed. At the right time, Heaven freed France from its papal oppressors and raised up Napoleon Bonaparte to be the needed change agent. Taking the pope prisoner inflicted the deadly wound on the papacy. It brought to an end 1260 years of papal dominance and began, as a process, the time of the end.
King of the South Pushes At France If there were any doubt as to the identity of the Willful King being Napoleon/France, this interpretation is confirmed by the Franco-Egyptian War. This serves additionally to identify the King of the South as Egypt, for the actions of Egypt against France perfectly fulfill the prophecy of Daniel: And at the time of the end shall the King of the South push at him [the Willful King]: and the King of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:40-45, KJV) Again, a text-by-text analysis of this passage is beyond the scope of this article. However, Egypt did indeed “push at” France and in the very year specified in the prophecy as being “at the time of the end”! Egypt, under the rule of the Mamluks, had virtually destroyed French trade with Egypt. It was to rectify this situation, and probably with the intent to make Egypt a French colony, that Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798 – the very year that began the “time of the end”! Egypt’s destruction of her trade with France was not a huge offense. Egypt merely “pushed at” France. France’s response, however, set off a long chain of reactions with some very unintended consequences.
Reaping The Whirlwind And at the time of the end shall the King of the South push at him [the Willful King]: and the King of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind… (Daniel 11:40, KJV) Napoleon had assumed that the Ottoman Empire would be grateful at best, neutral at worst, for the French overthrow of the Mamluks who themselves had previously fought against Ottoman rule. France had traditionally been allied with the Ottoman Empire, and at least for the moment there was no intention of disrupting this. The French plan relied heavily on the Ottomans staying at least neutral, counting on their hostility to the Mamluks … overweighing their anger at the French invasion of what was still officially an Ottoman province.5
This arguably naïve assumption on the part of the French was proven false when, on August 1, 1798, British admiral, Horatio Nelson, destroyed the French fleet. Any real chance that the Ottoman Empire would accept the French conquest ended after Nelson destroyed the French fleet at the battle of the Nile (1 August). British diplomacy at Istanbul was now able to steer the Empire towards outright opposition, and on 9 September 1798 the Ottoman Empire declared war on France … Napoleon now had to face the real danger of invasion by land and by sea. Two Ottoman armies were to be involved in the invasion. The army of Damascus was to advance through Syria and Palestine and attack Egypt across the Sinai. Another army, to be formed on Rhodes, would, with protection from the Royal Navy, land near the Nile. The French would be surrounded and outnumbered.6 This was a complete fulfillment of Daniel 11:40-45 as the Ottoman Empire/King of the Napoleon's fleet was virtually annihilated by the British at the Battle North, in its attempt to drive out the French, of the Nile. Only two French ships escaped, leaving Napoleon’s forces did indeed enter the “glorious land”. Many stranded in Egypt and cut off from all supplies. The battle cost the countries were overthrown and Egypt ended British 200 lives while the French lost 1,700, with an additional 3,000 up paying a tribute to the Ottoman Empire, in captured. Image by George Arnald. accordance with the sure word of prophecy which had declared: “the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt.” (Daniel 11:42-43, KJV) Russia and Persia, from the north and east of the Ottoman Empire, began annexing parts of the Ottoman Empire bordering their territories. This enraged the Ottoman Empire, which reacted with great anger, eventually leading to the genocide of the Armenian Christians under suspicion that they had aided Russia. According to the International Association of Genocide Scholars, “More than a million7 Armenians were exterminated through direct killing, starvation, torture, and forced death marches.”8 According to the sure word of Yahuwah, the Ottoman Empire as the King of the North, did indeed “go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.” (Daniel 11:44, KJV)
None Shall Help Him And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45, KJV)
Shortly before the King of the North/Ottoman Empire came to his end, he did indeed “plant the tabernacles of his palace” in Palestine by moving part of his seat of government there. The strength of the governors depended not only on their personal skills, but also on the authority given them by the central government in Istanbul... In the late nineteenth century, during the reign of Abdülhamid II, governors were appointed from among the palace secretaries of the Sultan, including Ekrem Bey, Governor of Jerusalem from 1906 and 1908. Later at the beginning of the twentieth century, governors were appointed by the Young Turks among Turkish officials.9 Only a few years later, the King of the North came to his end, and none helped him. Just as Napoleon was the sword of Yahuwah to give a deadly wound to the papacy, Mustafa Kemal was raised up by Yahuwah to give Islam a deadly wound. Kemal was a war hero in the Turkish War of Independence, driving the British, French and Greeks from Turkey. Kemal used his popularity to establish the Republic of Turkey. “The natural choice [for first president] was Mustafa Kemal, the hero of the War of Independence, who now took on the title of ‘Atatürk’, meaning ‘Father of the Turks’.”10 Kemal was a brilliant strategist and a skilled statesman. He wanted to modernize Turkey and he saw the best way to do this was by divorcing her from the Islamic religion that had been an integral part of the Ottoman Empire. Atatürk [Kemal] and his associates started to publicly question the value of religion and held the view religion was not compatible with modern science and secularism was imperative for modernity. Thus Ataturk regime began step by step to implement the Kemalist ideology with a radical reformation of the Turkish society withthe aim of modernizing Turkey from the remnants of its Ottoman past.11
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Father of the Turks, 1881-1938
One of the first things Kemal did was to abolish the Ottoman sultanate and transform the caliphate into a mere figurehead. The caliphate had existed since the death of the Prophet Mohammed and was revered as a religious authority by Muslims in many different countries. Within a year and a half of eliminating the sultanate, Kemal and the Grand National Assembly abolished the caliphate as well. The incredible reforms initiated by Kemal were very far-reaching and were completely unprecedented. No Muslims, in a Muslim country, had ever brought about such reforms.
The constitution of the Republic of Turkey was changed so that Islam was no longer the state religion.
Shariah law was replaced with European legal codes. The traditional garb of religious leaders was outlawed. Turbans and fezzes were outlawed for men, while western-style hats were encouraged. Women’s hijabs were ridiculed and banned from all public buildings. The solar Gregorian calendar replaced the lunar Islamic calendar. Arabic script was replaced with Latin letters. This kept the younger generations unable to read many records, and thus, ignorant of their true history. It also made it impossible to read the Qu’ran in the original language. Religious schools were closed. The government seized over 70,000 mosques and restricted the building of new ones. The confiscated mosques were converted to museums or were used for secular purposes. The Ministry of National Education oversaw all religious instruction. Sufi (a sect of Islam) monasteries, meeting houses and lodges were confiscated. Their rituals and meetings were outlawed. The government appointed muftis and imams and kept oversight of them. The Arabic word for God, “Allah,” was replaced with the Turkish equivalent: “Tanri.” The Muslim call to prayer was banned in Arabic. Henceforth, it must be made in Turkish. The weekend no longer included Friday, the traditional Islamic day for prayers. Instead, the weekend followed the European example of having Saturday and Sunday for days off work.
Rebellion to the secular agenda was quashed promptly and brutally, the Seyh Sait rebellion alone cost almost 30,000 lives. All of these reforms worked together to effectively erase Islam from the lives of the everyday Turks. Despite the best efforts of religious-minded Turks … to preserve their heritage, language, and religion, the government’s pressure to adopt secular ideas was too much. For over 80 years, Turkish government remained vehemently secular. Attempts to bring back Islamic values into government have been met with resistance by the military, which views itself as the protector of Atatürk’s secularism.12 Like the papacy before it, the Ottoman Empire (and Islam in general) had received a deadly wound at the very time prophesied in Daniel. The King of the North had come to his end and none helped him.
The Time Of Trouble There were no chapter breaks when Daniel wrote his prophecies. Daniel 12:1 immediately followed Daniel 11:45 in the original manuscripts. It is of staggering import: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1, emphasis supplied.)
At what time? When the King of the North came to his end. At that time, the time of trouble began! Nineteen twenty-two was an extremely important and significant year in the stream of prophetic history. In 1922, the Ottoman Empire, with its influence over all of Islam, was ended. The King of the North had come to his end with none to help. In that very same year, Pope Pius XI ascended the papal throne. Almost to the very day, seven years (or one sabbatical cycle) later, Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI signed the Lateran Treaty, which For the first time in history, a pope became king with the signing of the “recognized papal sovereignty over the Lateran Treaty. Vatican City…and secured full independence for the pope…[The treaty] gave the city of Rome a special character as the ‘centre of the Catholic world and place of pilgrimage.’ ”13 For the first time in history, the pope himself became a “king.” He held independent political dominion over Vatican City and could send and receive ambassadors from the various governments of the world. Thus at the very time the King of the North came to his end, the time of trouble began when the “deadly wound” (given the papacy by France) was healed. This is extremely important because this signified that the count of the eight kings spoken of in Revelation 17:10-11, had begun. There can be no doubt that the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1922, dovetailing with the start of the count of the eight kings, represents the perfect fulfillment of Daniel 11:45. The time of the end began in 1798 when the papacy received a deadly wound. The time of trouble began in 1922, when the first of the eight kings ascended the papal throne, preparatory to the deadly wound being healed. The focus given the “seven last plagues,” spoken of in Revelation 16, has led to a generalized assumption that the period when the plagues are falling is The [Official] Time Of Trouble. And that will be a most horrible time. However, during that time, after probation has closed, Yahuwah’s people will be preserved and none of the righteous will lose their lives.
The time of trouble spoken of in Daniel 12:1 is much broader. While it does include the seven last plagues, it also encompasses time since 1922. More people have lost their lives during the 20th century than at any other time period in history. “The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I, was around 40 million. There were 20 million deaths and 21 million wounded.”14 Twentyone million wounded had far more devastation back then when medical science was not as advanced, than such injuries would have today. And this was but the precursor to the time of trouble! When compared to the devastation of World War II, this is but a fraction of lives lost or shattered. “World War II killed more people, destroyed more property, disrupted more lives, and probably had more farreaching consequences than any other war in history.”15 Estimates for the total casualties of World War II, Most suggest that some 60 million people died in the world war II, including about 20 million soldiers and 40 million civilians. Many civilians died because of disease, starvation, massacres, bombing and deliberate genocide. The Soviet Union lost around 27 million people during the war, almost half of all World War II deaths. One of every four Soviet citizens was killed or wounded in that war.16 The devastation wrought on the human race during the 20th century is unprecedented in world history.
World War I veterans, desperate for help, would turn to sculptors to create facial prostheses for missing eyes, noses, even jaws.
Never before in history have we had two such devastating wars within 100 years, yet these two wars occurred within 30 years of each other. Since World War II and even before it there has been one war after another. Between the two world wars, we had the Russian Civil war, costing up to 9 million lives, and before that the Mexican Revolution in 1911 which killed 2 million. In 1950 the Korean War killed 3 million, 500 thousand. Then we had Vietnam with 6 million, 20 thousand. The second Sudanese War from 1983 to 2005 costing 2 million. The Iran-Iraq war of 1980 to1988 with 2 million. The second Congo War of 1998 to 2003 with 5 million 400 thousand. The war on terror itself has claimed more than 4 million lives. When you add the figures together the total is 146 million, 920 thousand. This makes the last 100 years the deadliest century in history, just from the warfare and there were many more conflicts during this time that we didn’t even mention! To put these numbers in perspective consider that the …19th century saw about 82 million deaths from warfare, 60 million of these were from the Taiping rebellion in China in the 1860’s. Also consider that the Crusades
which covered a span of 200 hundred years killed up to 9 million and the Mongol invasions lasted for 300 years and killed up to 60 million.17 But these statistics reveal only part of the story: deaths due to war. Stalin’s terror famine in the Ukraine, Holodomor, an artificially created disaster18, claimed over 17 million lives in 1932-1933 alone. The Great Famine of China, which took place from 1958-61, is one of the greatest tragedies of recorded history, killing between 14 and 40 million people. The typical estimate is generally placed around 30 million people. To compare this number with other major human death tolls, World War II may have killed 80 million people in total. But while these people were starving, information about the famine was greatly suppressed and what did get out about the harvest figures was manipulated.19
The 1932-1933 fa ine in the raine, nown today as olodo or rainian , "Extermination by hunger" or "Hunger-extermination"), was a planned genocide of Europe’s “bread bas et.” There was no actual shortage of grain. Rather, the grain was locked away in granaries and purposefully kept from the people.
And these are but two of many famines the world has seen since 1922. Hundreds of millions have died due to disease since the time of trouble began and, despite medical advances, the diseases are getting more virulent and harder to treat. So-called “natural disasters” have claimed the lives of hundreds of million more. The suffering experienced boggles the mind. The new norm is record breaking extremes: in heat, in drought, in cold, in hurricane strength, in perciptation. And the list goes on and on and on. There were only 78 natural disasters reported in 1978 as opposed to 348 in 2004. And in the years since then, the numbers have skyrocketed, as have the deaths from these events.
Truly, the years since 1922 have been “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to [this] same time.” The immense suffering of th st the 20 and early 21 centuries were forecast in the prophecies of Daniel. These tragedies will only increase in the near future as the world gears up for the close of probation, followed by the pouring out of the seven last plagues. It is during this time of trouble that Michael stands up.
Michael Stands Up And at that time shall Michael stand up … and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time… (Daniel 12:1)
The act of Michael standing is a most solemn event. It signifies that probation is about to close for all of humanity. Probation closed for the Israelite nation when, at Stephen’s trial, they finally and fully rejected the Saviour: When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of Yahuwah, and Yahushua standing on the right hand of Yah, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of Yahuwah. (Acts 7:54-56, KJV) Yahushua stands when probation closes. It is a judicial act signifying that the door of mercy has closed.
The Eighth Pope Pope Francis I is the eighth and final pope foretold in Revelation 17. He is an old man. He has already lived longer than the average man. It is during his reign that Michael will stand, signaling the close of probation. This means that it is during his few remaining years, the final events foretold in Scripture will take place. Yahushua will stand for His people. His ministration in the Most Holy Place will end, probation for the human race will close, the seven last plagues will be poured out on the lost, and the Saviour will return in triumph and glory. Probation closes first for the elect: those who will give the loud cry, taking the last invitation to the world, the 144,000. They have had the most light. Thus, their probation closes first. Prophecy is generally understood only at the time of its fulfillment. The fact that the world has been in the time of trouble since 1922, the fact that even now the eighth and final king sits on "Peter’s throne," declares that the time for Michael to stand and probation to close is now! Within just a few months, the probation for the elect will be closing. It is time for every sincere believer to search his or her heart, make a full surrender to Yahushua, and lay aside “every weight and the sin that so easily doth beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1, KJV) Now is the most solemn time in which to be living. There are very few events left to be fulfilled before Yahushua is seen in the clouds of glory. There are but a few short months to the brink of disaster and the final events that will trigger the end. The time for character perfection is almost over. None can delay or
The advanced age of Pope Francis, the eighth and last king, is an urgent, blaring testimony to how soon these events will take place.
postpone a preparation but at the most dangerous risk to their soul. Every sin and defect must be overcome through faith in Him who has already conquered all. Everything is now in place. All that is left is for the fall of the Seven Trumpets foretold in Revelation 8-9. These begin with a horrific earthquake. The trumpets follow in quick succession. Once begun, there will be no respite until the end. The Fifth Trumpet, which is so terrible Scripture refers to it as the First Woe, will catapult Pope Francis to be the head of the New World Order, as foretold in Revelation 17:12-14. The satanic delusions of alien invasion during this time will be dreadful and only those who are grounded upon the Word of Yah will be able to stand, unshaken, for the truth. When Pope Francis has been elevated to world leader, he will wage the fiercest war ever seen against Yahuwah and His law-abiding followers. The false Sabbath will be enforced and the true Sabbath will be outlawed throughout the countries of the world. The stage is set. All the players are in place. The only thing standing between the masses and the final test is the sounding of the trumpets. The warning markers of prophesy declare that time is ending. All who love Yahuwah will surrender fully to Him to be cleansed of every defilement. All will make self-sacrificing efforts to win the lost to Him. The end is here! Yahushua is on His way!
Get ready! Get ready! Get ready!
1
n/a n/a n/a 4 http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/henry4-to-g7a.asp 5 http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_french_egypt.html 6 Ibid. 7 Some estimates go as high as 1.5 million Armenian Christians slaughtered by the Turks. 8 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/armenian-genocide-what-happened-how-many-people-died-and-why-is-it-still-causing-debate-10196281.html 9 Roberto Mazza, Jerusalem from the Ottomans to the British, p. 21. 10 http://lostislamichistory.com/how-ataturk-made-turkey-secular/ 11 https://1muslimnation.wordpress.com/2006/11/12/islam-to-secularism-how-kemal-ataturk-reformed-ottoman-turkey/ , emphasis supplied. 12 http://lostislamichistory.com/how-ataturk-made-turkey-secular/ 13 https://www.britannica.com/event/Lateran-Treaty 14 http://www.centre-robert-schuman.org/userfiles/files/REPERES%20%E2%80%93%20module%201-1-1%20%20explanatory%20notes%20%E2%80%93%20World%20War%20I%20casualties%20%E2%80%93%20EN.pdf 15 World Book Encyclopedia, ed. 1991, Vol. 21, p. 470. 16 http://worldwar2-database.blogspot.com/2010/10/world-war-ii-casualties.html 17 http://www.inlightofprophecyfulfilled.org/studies/pdf/articles/KON/KON_Part5.pdf, emphasis supplied. 18 http://holodomorct.org/Holodomor-FamineGenocideinUkraine1932-193312-12.pdf 19 https://sites.google.com/site/starvingtheworld/hunger-facts-of-the-past 2 3
Daniel Chapter 11: Overview (QUIZ) 1. How many kings are mentioned in Daniel 11? o
1
o
2
o
3
o
4
o 5 2. ''And the king shall do according to _______________; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god...'' (Daniel 11:36) o
his will
o
the words of the prophets
o
the Commandments
o the custom of his fathers 3. ''And at the time of the end shall the _______(1)_______ push at him: and the _______(2)_______ shall come against him like a whirlwind...'' (Daniel 11:40) o
(1) King of the North; (2) King of the South
o
(1) King of the South; (2) King of the North
o
(1) King of the South; (2) Willful King
o (1) Willful King; (2) King of the North 4. The Kings of Daniel 11: (3 answers) o
The Stubborn King
o
The King of the North
o
The King of Arabia
o
The King of the South
o
The Willful King
o
The King of Salem
o
The King of Kings 5. Which of the following statements are true? (3 answers) o
The King of Salem is Napoleon/France.
o
The King of the North is Egypt.
o
The King of the South is the Ottoman Empire.
o
The King of the North is the Ottoman Empire.
o
The King of the South is Egypt.
o
The Stubborn King is Egypt.
o
The King of Arabia is Napoleon/France.
o
The Willful King is Napoleon/France.
o
The King of Kings is a reference to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
o
The Willful King is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. 6. The Stubborn King: o
is mentioned nowhere in Daniel 11.
o
honored ''a god whom his fathers knew not.''
o
is synonymous with the King of the North.
o is synonymous with the King of the South. 7. The King of Salem: o
is mentioned nowhere in Daniel 11.
o
regarded ''not the desire of women.''
o
is synonymous with the King of the North.
o is synonymous with the King of the South. 8. The Willful King: (3 answers) o
is mentioned nowhere in Daniel 11.
o
regarded ''not the desire of women.''
o
is synonymous with the King of the North.
o
is synonymous with the King of the South.
o
ordered one of his general's to take the pope captive.
o
honored ''a god whom his fathers knew not.''
o
is mentioned nowhere in Scripture.
o
is mentioned only in extra-Biblical sources. 9. The King of the South: o
pushed at the Willful King.
o
pushed at the Stubborn King.
o
pushed at the King of Salem.
o
pushed at the King of the North.
o is mentioned nowhere in Daniel 11. 10. The King of the North: o
came against the King of the South ''like a whirlwind.''
o
came against the King of Salem ''like a whirlwind.''
o
came against the Willful King ''like a whirlwind.''
o
came against the Stubborn King ''like a whirlwind.''
o none of the above 11. The King of the North: o
planted ''the tabernacles of his palace'' in Rome by moving part of his seat of government there.
o
planted ''the tabernacles of his palace'' in Palestine by moving part of his seat of government there.
o
planted ''the tabernacles of his palace'' in Egypt by moving part of his seat of government there.
o
planted ''the tabernacles of his palace'' in Cush by moving part of his seat of government there.
o
none of the above 12. When the King of the North came to an end, none helped him. o
True
o False 13. Daniel recorded his prophecies with chapter breaks. o
True
o
False 14. Daniel separated the final verse of chapter 11 from the first verse of chapter 12 with a chapter break. o
True
o False 15. ''And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be ____________, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time . . .'' (Daniel 12:1) o
a time of complacency
o
a time of ecumenism
o
a time of sorrow
o
a time of rejoicing
o
a time of trouble 16. According to Daniel 12:1, who will be delivered? o
everyone that faithfully attends a church
o
everyone that gives to charity
o
everyone that obeys their pastor/minister
o every one that shall be found written in the book 17. The devastation wrought on the human race during the 20th century is unprecedented in world history. o
True
o
False 18. The act of Michael standing is a most solemn event. It signifies that... o
everyone alive will be saved.
o
probation is about to close for all of humanity.
o
a world war is about to start.
o
a secret rapture is imminent.
o
the churches of the world will soon be united. 19. Pope Francis I is the eighth and final pope foretold in Revelation 17. o
True
o
False
20. The stage is set. All the players are in place. The only thing standing between the masses and the final test is the ____________. o
battle of the Daniel 11 Kings
o
unification of Palestine
o
rebuilding of the temple
o
sounding of the trumpets
Daniel Chapter 11: The "Willful King" “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. “But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. “Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him [the Willful King described in the preceding verses]: and the king of the north shall come against him [the Willful King] like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he [the King of the North] shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” (Daniel 11:36-40, KJV) Daniel 11 is filled with descriptions of a long-running antagonism between someone or something referred to as the King of the North, and another entity called the King of the South. Many Bible students have assumed that these are the only two warring factions spoken of in the chapter. Careful study of the entire chapter, however, reveals a third party. To keep the various players straight, we shall refer to this third opponent as the “Willful King.” The identifying hallmarks listed by Daniel reveal the Willful King to be revolutionary France before and under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte. DANIEL 11:36 “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.” ACCORDING TO HIS WILL The phrase claiming the king shall “do according to his will” is used three times in Daniel 11. The first use is found in verse 3: “And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.” This refers to Alexander the Great. The second time it is used is in verse 16 to refer to Julius Caesar: “But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.” Both Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were conquering political powers. They both exerted dominance over opposing political powers. To be consistent, when the Willful King acts “according to his will” he must, likewise, be a dominant power that changed the political landscape. This is precisely what France did.
EXALT AND MAGNIFY HIMSELF ABOVE EVERY GOD
France executed its king and demolished its monarchy, which had long persecuted its citizens under the influence of the papacy. The new government, the French Republic, did indeed exalt itself and magnify itself above every god. For the first time, atheism became a dominant influence among all classes and scholars directly trace this to the social and religious upheaval following the French Revolution. The French Revolution (1789-94) would dramatically transform the power relationship between belief and unbelief in Europe: whereas before atheism had been 'high brow', discussed in the cafes and salons of Paris, henceforth it would set itself down among the people. A strident unbelief became a real political factor in public life, as the anticlerical 'dechristianisation' period following the revolution would demonstrate. The impact of the French Revolution in inspiring people to put the irreligious ideas of the Enlightenment into practice would extend beyond France to other European countries, and to the American colonies …1 The French Revolution took atheism to the masses. The far reaching effects of atheism in the world today can be traced back to when France, the Willful King, exalted himself and magnified himself above every god, speaking against Yahuwah by denying His existence. DANIEL 11:37 “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.” REGARDS NOT THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS At the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789, Roman Catholicism was the state religion. The Willful King, however, showed no regard for the “God of his fathers.” In October 1793, public worship was forbidden and over the next few months all visible signs of Christianity were removed, a policy pursued with particular enthusiasm by revolutionary armies eager to seek revenge on the institution that harboured so many counter-revolutionaries. Church bells were pulled down and melted, ostensibly to help the war effort, crosses were taken from churches and cemeteries, and statues, relics and works of art were seized and sometimes destroyed. … On 23 November 1793, churches were closed, to be converted into warehouses, manufacturing works or even stables. Streets and other public places bearing the names of saints were given new, often Republican-themed names, and time itself was recast to further repudiate France’s Christian past.2 REGARDS NOT ANY GOD The Roman Catholic Church has always declared that the sign of her authority is the act of changing the day of worship from Sabbath to Sunday. The Willful King was well aware of this and went so far as to create an entire new calendar to distance itself from Christianity. The calendar of the French Republic had 10-day weeks, so “Sunday” did not even exist in the Willful King’s new method of timekeeping. Pierre Sylvain Maréchal, the first one to suggest a change of calendar, declared: “the calendar of the French Republic . . . must not resemble in any respect the official annuals of the apostolic and Roman Church.”3
“The French calendar reform was an attempt to de-Christianize the calendar, in keeping with the Revolution’s stated goal of promoting Reason as opposed to Religion.”4 France’s complete and total shunning of its Christian heritage proves that it was indeed the Willful King that regarded not the God of his fathers. France is the only nation in the world concerning which the authentic record survives, that as a nation she lifted her hand in open rebellion against the Author of the universe. Plenty of blasphemers, plenty of infidels, there have been, and still continue to be, in England, Germany, Spain, and elsewhere; but France stands apart in the world’s history as the single state which, by the decree of her Legislative Assembly, pronounced that there was no God, and of which the entire population of the capital, and a vast majority elsewhere, women as well as men, danced and sang with joy in accepting the announcement.5 REGARDS NOT THE DESIRE OF WOMEN France’s rejection of Christianity led to another act that also identifies it as the Willful King who regarded not “the desire of women.” Some Bible students have suggested that this phrase refers to celibate Catholic priests. The news headlines alone of recent years disprove any claim to priestly purity. Furthermore, every few years, yet another headline repeats the story of cloistered nuns giving birth, lending credence to the many rumors of baby skeletons being found buried near convents as well as other documented cases of hundreds of skeletons found near homes for unwed mothers run by Catholic nuns. Clearly, Catholic priests do not have a monopoly on sexual purity simply because they have taken vows of celibacy. Therefore, to regard not “the desire of women” could not refer to the Roman Catholic Church. A clue as to how to interpret this phrase is found in Romans: “Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” (Romans1:27, NKJV) Here, again, France meets this identifying characteristic. Before the French Revolution, sodomy had been a capital crime under royal legislation. The penalty was burning at the stake. … The National Constituent Assembly abolished the law against sodomy when it revised French criminal law in 1791 and got rid of a variety of offenses inspired by religion, including blasphemy; … ‘the Revolutionary and Napoleonic period was a time of relative freedom’ and opened the modern era of legal toleration for homosexuality in Europe. Napoleonic conquests imposed the principles of Napoleon’s Penal Code (including the decriminalization of homosexuality) on many other parts of Europe….6 France became known for its licentiousness. For the first time in a Christian nation, homosexuality was made legal. It is perhaps not surprising, then, that this liberal democratic revolution also initiated the disestablishment of sexual orthodoxy, permitting greater individual freedom, and extracting the state from the regulation of homosexuality. With the advent of the Napoleonic legal code, sodomy disappeared from criminal law, and as Napoleon swept through Europe evicting the mainstays of the old order, he left new nation-builders in his wake who founded legal systems without the category of sodomy.7
Truly, France as the Willful King regarded not the desire of women.
Daniel 11:38 “But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.” HE SHALL HONOR THE GOD OF FORCES Napoleon’s name has come down through history synonymous with that of Alexander the Great, Hitler, and other power-hungry conquerors. In fact, his very name has been used to designate the military conflicts in which he embroiled France. “The Napoleonic Wars were a series of conflicts fought between France under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte and a number of European nations between 1799 and 1815.”8 When a by-stander commented: “We will win because God is on our side,” Napoleon famously and arrogantly declared: “God is on the side of the big battalions.” France, as foretold, honored the “God of forces.” A GOD HIS FATHERS KNEW NOT France also famously honored “a god whom his fathers knew not.” Historians have proven that the saints of the Roman Catholic Church are simply Greek and Roman gods, renamed with Christian names. “Since converts from paganism were reluctant to part with their ‘gods’- unless they could find some satisfactory counterpart in Christianity – the gods and goddesses were renamed and called ‘saints’.”9 The “titles” used by the heathen were also transferred to Christianity. The “Queen of Heaven” appellation widely applied to Mary was actually first used centuries earlier for the wicked queen, Semerimus, as well as other heathen goddesses.
When France rejected Roman Catholicism, it rejected not only Yahuwah, but the Catholic saints/gods that had been known for generations. “The world for the first time heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and assuming the right to govern one of the finest of the European nations, uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man’s soul receives, and renounce unanimously the belief and worship of a Deity.”10 Instead, France exalted a goddess. An actress was carried in procession to the Cathedral de Notre-Dame where she was crowned the Goddess of Reason. Notre-Dame itself was renamed the “Temple to the Goddess Reason.”11 In every particular of this verse, France fulfills the description of the Willful King.
HONORING WITH GOLD, SILVER & PRECIOUS THINGS Napoleon, like every conquering power before and after, enriched France at the expense of the nations he defeated. The Louvre Museum in Paris is known around the world for its collection of art and cultural artifacts. Following the French Revolution, the government nationalized the Louvre, an old palace, as a place in which to “gather monuments of the sciences and arts.” Two years later, the government opened the Museum Central des Arts. But it was under Napoleon that the Louvre came into it’s own as a collection of gold, silver, precious stones and pleasant things. 1798-1815: The future Emperor Napoleon I "enriches" the collections at the Louvre through spoils acquired during his conquests abroad, and particularly from Italy. The museum is renamed the Musée Napoleon in 1803 and a bust of the emperor is placed over the entrance. In 1806, the Emperor's architects Percier and Fontaine build a small "Arc de Triomphe" on the central pavilion of the Tuileries in celebration of France's military conquests. The arch originally includes four antique bronze horses that had been taken from St Mark's Basilica in Italy; these are restored to Italy in 1815 when the First Empire falls. During this period, the Louvre is also significantly expanded to include many of the wings still present today, including the Cour Carré and the Grande Galerie.12 The French Revolution virtually bankrupted France. However, “the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum to display the nation's masterpieces.”13 The significance of this is found in the fact that one of the primary contributing factors of the French Revolution was resentment of the Roman Catholic Church and it’s wealth, which “formed a visible reminder of the Church’s dominance in French society.”14
Opposition to the Roman Catholic Church was integral among the causes of the French Revolution, and this anti-clericalism solidified into official government policy in 1792 after the First French Republic was declared. Most of the dechristianisation of France was motivated by political and economic concerns, but philosophical alternatives to the Church developed gradually as well.15 As the revolutionaries gained power, they nationalized all Church property. On 2 November 1789, France’s new National Assembly, known as the Constituent Assembly, passed a decree that placed all Church property ‘at the disposition of the nation’. Talleyrand, the bishop of Autun and one of the few clerics to support the measure, argued that all Church property rightfully belonged to the nation and that its return, by helping to bring about a better society, should therefore be viewed as a ‘religious act’.16 It was a pendulum swing away from Christianity that began the “de-Christianization of France.” This backlash culminated, as previously stated, in the suppression of Christianity and the crowning of the Goddess of Reason. Further, a “Cult of Reason” was briefly established. “Its goal was the perfection of mankind through the attainment of Truth and Liberty, and its guiding principle to this goal was the exercise of the human faculty of Reason.”17 When the Louvre first opened, the artwork was primarily items that had been confiscated from the Catholic Church and the royal family or stolen from aristocratic families that had fled France. Napoleon’s conquests enriched France’s coffers as he raped the European continent of its treasures. The museum and the principles of France had a symbiotic relationship, each benefiting the other. The wealth of the nation’s former oppressors, now on display before the public, who collectively “owned” it, underscored France’s arrogant belief in her superiority under the reign of Reason, as compared to the poverty suffered by the masses when ruled by Catholic monarchs.
Louvre. By King of Hearts - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10714459
Thus, the “gold, and silver, and precious stones, and pleasant things” was used to promote and promulgate the Revolutionary concepts of humanism and atheism. It was a propaganda campaign to convince the population that Reason was superior to the Christian God. DANIEL 11:39 “Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.” DIVIDING THE LAND FOR GAIN The word “thus” means: “In the way just indicated.” So this verse summarizes the deeds of the Willful King. But then it goes on to add one more identifying characteristic: the Willful King shall “divide the land for gain. This is exactly what happened in France. The French Revolution had a devastating impact on the economy. Inflation skyrocketed. Silverware was melted down to mint coins. A number of measures were tried to stabilize the economy with varying degrees of success. This verse foretells in particular the sale of confiscated land:
The Assembly aimed its economic policies at freeing capitalistic enterprise. It assured payment to middle-class bondholders of government issues and financed this policy by sale of lands, confiscated from the church and from nobles who had fled the country. It sold to middle-class speculators much of this new public land; very little was ever acquired by peasants.18 In this, as in every other particular of the prophecy, France is proven to be the Willful King. DANIEL 11:40 “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him [the Willful King]: and the king of the north shall come against him [the Willful King] like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he [the King of the North] shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” PUSHING AT THE WILLFUL KING Verse 40 reveals both the King of the North and the King of the South ganging up on a third player: the Willful King described in the preceding verses. This confirms the identity of France as the Willful King. The King of the South (Egypt) “pushed at” France when the ruling party disrupted Egypt’s trade with France. Historians point to this disruption of trade as a primary motivating factor behind France’s military response. “One of the triggers of the French invasion was the virtual destruction of French trade with Egypt by the 1790s.”19 At the very time prophesied, in 1798, Napoleon invaded Egypt.
THE KING OF THE NORTH RESPONDS LIKE A WHIRLWIND France’s use of force to respond to Egypt’s “pushing” had very far-reaching, unintended consequences. Egypt at the time was ruled by the Mamluks which had rebelled against overrule by the Ottoman Empire. France had assumed the Ottoman Empire would tolerate French presence in what had become a thorn in the side of the Ottoman Empire. France had traditionally been allied with the Ottoman Empire, and at least for the moment there was no intention of disrupting this. The French plan relied heavily on the Ottomans staying at least neutral, counting on their hostility to the Mamluks … overweighing their anger at the French invasion of what was still officially an Ottoman province.20 This military action by the Willful King/France in turn, led to the King of the North (the Ottoman Empire) entering into the countries just as Daniel had foretold over 2,000 years before. Ultimately, in a complicated chain of events, it was also responsible in part for the Armenian Genocide21 (1915-1918). Little is known of this atrocity today, but various sources claim anywhere from 275,000 to 750,000 Assyrian Christians lost their lives due to “ethnic cleansing” by the Ottoman Empire. Nor was this the only genocide perpetrated by the King of the
North. The Willful King’s invasion of Egypt can be established as the starting point for tensions that culminated in both the Armenian Genocide22 (1915-1918) and the Greek Genocide23 (1914-1923). Up to 3 million Christians lost their lives in these two horrific crimes against humanity. (To read an explanation of the King of the North’s actions, click here.) FRANCE IS THE WILLFUL KING! There is not the slightest doubt that France fits every particular given in prophecy to identify the Willful King. Divine foresight gave the information to Daniel to record and preserve it for the final generation. This understanding is of tremendous significance to everyone living today, because the final verses of Daniel 11, properly understood, reveal that the close of probation is very, very soon. Possibly, just months away for the elect, who have been given much light.
1
http://www.mmfase.com/18th-century.html http://www.historytoday.com/ gemma-betros/french-revolution-and-catholic-church , emphasis supplied. 3 George B. Andrews, “Making the Revolutionary Calendar,” American Historical Review, 36, (1931), p. 525. 4 http://4angelspublications.com/articles/French_Calendar_ Reform.pdf 5 Blackwood’s Magazine, November 1870, emphasis supplied. 6 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Jean_Jacques_R%C3%A9gis_de_Cambac%C3%A9r%C3%A8s, emphasis supplied. 7 http://law.jrank.org/pages/1336/Homosexuality-Crime-Modernity.html, emphasis supplied. 8 http://www.historyofwar.org/ articles/wars_napoleonic.html 9 Ralph Edward Woodrow, Babylon Mystery Religion: Ancient & Modern. 10 Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, Vol. 1, p. 124. 11 http://www.napoleon.org/en/magazine/places/cathedral-of-notre-dame-in-paris/ 12 http://goparis.about.com/od/parismuseums/a/louvre-museum-history.htm, emphasis supplied. 13 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre 14 http://www.historytoday.com/ gemma-betros/french-revolution-and-catholic-church 15 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_Reason, emphasis supplied. 16 Ibid. 17 Ibid. 18 http://history-world.org/french_revolution1.htm 19 http://www.historyofwar.org/ articles/wars_french_egypt.html 20 http://www.historyofwar.org/ articles/wars_french_egypt. html 21 http://i-cias.com/e.o/ assyrian_gc.htm 22 http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-1915-armenian- genocide-history-causes.html 23 https://www.causes.com/causes/ 539208-demand/updates/596106-the-greek-pontian-genocide-by- turks-19may-1919 2
Daniel Chapter 11: The "Willful King" (QUIZ) 1. The Willful King is: o
Napoleon/France
o
Pope Francis
o
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
o
Egypt 2. Regarding the Willful King, Scripture declared that he would: (3 answers) o
serve the pope
o
do according to his will
o
do according to the will of Yahuwah
o
exalt himself
o
exalt Yahuwah
o
magnify himself above every god
o
destroy Jerusalem 3. France acted according to its own will when it... o o o
promoted its king to head of the church. executed its king and demolished its monarchy (which had long persecuted its citizens under the influence of the papacy). refused to pay taxes to other countries.
o
executed the king and elevated the pope to kingship status. 4. The French Republic magnified itself above every god when... o
Napoleon briefly assumed the role of the Roman Pontiff.
o
Napoleon declared that we was the Christ following the French Revolution.
o
Catholicism became the official religion of the country following the French Revolution.
o
atheism became a dominant influence among all classes following the French Revolution. 5. France showed no regard for the God of his fathers when... o
Protestantism was supplanted with Catholicism.
o
public worship was forbidden and all visible signs of Christianity were removed.
o
the king began to be worshipped.
o public worship was carried out in houses formerly dedicated to promoting Atheism. 6. France regarded not any god when it... (2 answers) o
set fire to Vatican City
o
exiled all protestants
o
by the decree of her Legislative Assembly, pronounced that there was no God.
o
by the decree of her Legislative Assembly, pronounced that the King was to be worshipped.
o created an entirely new calendar to distance itself from what it perceived as Christianity. 7. France regarded not the desire of women when...
o
the National Constituent Assembly abolished the right to marry and opened the modern era of legal toleration for homosexuality in Europe.
o
the National Constituent Assembly abolished the law against sodomy and opened the modern era of legal toleration for homosexuality in Europe.
o
the National Constituent Assembly abolished women's right to vote and opened the modern era of legal discrimination against women and minorities. 8. France honored the god of forces when... o
Napoleon used the might of his military conquests to establish his dominion.
o
Napoleon used his political ties to establish his dominion.
o
Napoleon used his relationship to European royalty to establish his dominion.
o
Napoleon quoted Scripture to justify his military conquests. 9. France honored a god his father know not when... o
it exalted the pope.
o
it exalted the ''queen of heaven.''
o
it exalted the ''the goddess of reason.''
o
it exalted Napoleon as a god. 10. Daniel prophesied that the Willful King would honor this false deity (number 9) ''with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.'' (Daniel 11:38) This was fulfilled when... o
under Napoleon, the Louvre Museum became a collection of spoils (gold, silver, precious stones, etc.) acquired during his conquests.
o
under Napoleon, a golden idol was erected for the people to worship.
o
under the pope's influence, France decorated her alters with gold and silver.
o France's neighboring countries paid tribute with gold, silver, and precious stones. 11. The French Revolution made France exceedingly rich. o
True
o
False 12. One of the primary contributing factors of the French Revolution was resentment of the Roman Catholic Church and its wealth. o
True
o
False 13. the Louvre Museum first opened, the artwork was primarily items that had been confiscated from the Catholic Church and the royal family or stolen from aristocratic families that had fled France. o
True
o
False 14. Daniel prophesied that the Willful King would ''divide the land for gain.'' (Daniel 11:39) This was fulfilled when... o
France divided its land equally among the citizens.
o
France divided its land equally among its newly appointed leadership.
o
France divided its land equally among 10 generals.
o
France sold the lands confiscated from the church and from nobles who had fled the country. 15. Daniel prophesied that the King of the North would ''push'' at the Willful King. (Daniel 11:40) o
True
o False 16. Daniel prophesied that the King of the South would ''push'' at the Willful King. (Daniel 11:40) o
True
o
False 17. 17 - The King of the _____(1)_____ ''pushed'' at France when the ruling party disrupted their _____(2)_____. o
(1) North; (2) trade
o
(1) South; (2) trade
o
(1) North; (2) military conquests
o (1) South; (2) military conquests 18. The King of the North is Egypt. o
True
o
False 19. The King of the South is Egypt. o
True
o False 20. The King of the North is the Ottoman Empire. o
True
o
False 21. The King of the South is the Ottoman Empire. o
True
o False 22. Daniel prophesied that the King of the North would come against the Willful King ''like a whirlwind'' (Daniel 11:40). This came to pass exactly as predicted when... o
the Ottoman Empire swiftly attacked France following France's retaliation against Egypt's ''pushing.''
o
Egypt swiftly attacked France following France's retaliation against the Ottoman Empire's ''pushing.''
o
the Ottoman Empire swiftly attacked France for refusing to help conquer Egypt.
o Egypt swiftly attacked France for refusing to help defend against the Ottoman Empire. 23. France fits every particular given in prophecy to identify the Willful King. o
True
o
False
Daniel Chapter 11: The "King of the South" Bible students have long been mystified and frustrated over the meaning of Daniel 11, despite its lack of symbols. The references to a puzzling “King of the North” and an equally baffling “King of the South” have led to a variety of explanations suggesting who they might be. Identifying these kings is the key to unlocking the meaning of this chapter. Daniel 11 does have a key, though, and that key is geography.
Geography is the Key Daniel was always and ever, in his heart of hearts, an Israelite. Scripture records that he opened his window and prayed toward Jerusalem three times a day. As a very old man, decades after he had been taken from his homeland, he still referred to it as “the glorious land.” The “King of the North” and the “King of the South” repeatedly referenced in Daniel 11, are to be understood in relation to the land of Israel. What or who was south of Israel? The answer is easy and never changes. Egypt was south of Israel. What or who was north of Israel? The land directly north of Israel was Syria. However, what causes confusion to many people is that the political power controlling that geographical area changed over time. Therefore, the King of the North is whichever political entity controlled Syria at any given time. Once this is understood, Daniel 11 can be compared with history and the prophecy becomes clear.
Alexander the Great Prophecy is simply history written in advance. In Daniel 11’s prophecy, the angel jumps right in: “And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.” (Daniel 11:2-3, KJV) From Daniel’s time, there were to be four more kings ruling the Persian Empire, with the last one, the richest of all. He would be notable for stirring up trouble with Greece. History confirms that the fourth Persian king from the time the prophecy was given was Xerxes I, the son of Darius Hystaspes. He was an exceedingly wealthy monarch and he used that wealth to fight against the Greeks. While he won a victory at the Battle of Thermopylæ, he was defeated at the Battle of Salamis. Ultimately, all Xerxes I managed to do was to “stir up all against the realm of Grecia” in accordance with the sure word of prophecy. The next verse pinpoints Alexander the Great and lays the foundation for identifying the King of the North and the King of the South: “And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.” (Daniel 11:4, KJV) Alexander the Great was only 32 years old when he died. Although his wife was pregnant at the time, he had no other living heirs. His vast empire was divided among his four generals. These, in turn, fought amongst themselves to gain still more territory and power.
Broadly speaking, following is a listing of the generals and the territories they took.
Lysimachus was given Thrace to govern. He ended up adding “the greater part of Asia Minor to his European possessions.”1 Cassander seized control of Macedonia and most of Greece. Seleucus was initially given Babylon. Ptolemy received Egypt, Libya and Arabia.
Alexander the Great's vast empire was divided between his four generals after his death. For a period of time, some of Alexander’s empire was controlled by Antigones, a regent who tried to reunify the empire. This region, however, was eventually lost to the four generals. The four-part division of the empire was followed by various wars and battles over the next 20 years. Most of these squabbles were among the three generals to the north, east and west of Israel: Lysimachus, Cassander, and Seleucus. Lysimachus conquered Cassander’s territory, only to have Seleucus annex everything from Lysimachus. Ultimately, only Seleucus to the north, and Ptolemy to the south, remained of the original four divisions.
Ptolemy I Sotor Ptolemy proved to be the ablest of Alexander’s four generals. “Ptolemy, who distinguished himself as a cautious and trustworthy troop commander under Alexander, also proved to be a politician of unusual diplomatic and strategic ability in the long series of struggles over the throne that broke out after Alexander’s death in 323.”2 In fact, it was Ptolemy who recognized the impossibility of maintaining the unity of Alexander’s empire. It was at his suggestion that the empire was divided between the four generals.
Ptolemy was able to evaluate the chaotic international situation of this post-Alexandrian era, which was characterized by constantly renewed wars with shifting alliances and coalitions, in realistic political terms. Adhering to a basically defensive foreign policy, he secured Egypt against external enemies and expanded it by means of directly controlled foreign possessions and hegemonic administrations. He did not, however, neglect to devote attention to the internal organization of the country and to provide for a successor.3 Despite the fact that Ptolemy had been one of the generals under Alexander who had conquered Egypt, his wise leadership made him accepted by the Egyptians who elevated him to god-status after his death. Egypt became the mighty King of the South under this former general. The powerful Ptolemaic Dynasty he established, “reigned longer than any other dynasty established on the soil of the Alexandrian empire and only succumbed to the Romans in 30 BC.”4 Even after Egypt came under the control of Rome, that area remained the King of the South because it was south of Palestine.
Pushing at the Willful King There is not the slightest doubt that Egypt is the King of the South. The first part of Daniel 11 is a clear, straightforward recital of historical events foretold before they occurred. They trace with supernatural accuracy the actions of the King of the South, Egypt, down through the centuries. Every single verse is proven by historical documentation. The entire thrust of this prophecy is to pinpoint when probation closes. The intervening verses allow the modern Bible student to know for a surety that the King of the South is Egypt as proven by history. The climax of the King of the South’s actions occurs near the end of Daniel 11 and is, in fact, the last time the King of the South is mentioned: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him.” (Daniel 11:40, KJV) Over the centuries, various outside rulers, just as in the other areas of Alexander’s empire, had conquered Egypt. The Mamluk Dynasty took control in 1250. The Mamluks were slave soldiers that became very powerful during the Middle Ages. They cast out of the Middle East the last of the European crusaders and drove the Mongols from Syria and Palestine. This earned the gratitude of all Muslims who saw the Mamluks as saviors of their religion and culture. To consolidate their position in the Islamic world, the Mamluks revived the caliphate, which the Mongols had destroyed in 1258, and installed a caliph under their surveillance in Cairo. Their patronage of the rulers of the holy cities of Arabia, Mecca and Medina, served the same purpose. Spectacular success in war and diplomacy
was underpinned economically by the Mamluks’ support of industries and crafts as well as by their restoration of Egypt as the principal trade and transit route between the Orient and the Mediterranean.5 The Ottoman Empire took control of Egypt in the early 1500s. By the 1790s, however, the Mamluks had taken back much of their previous power, even though Egypt was still, technically, considered part of the Ottoman Empire. Although the Mamluks had originally been responsible for establishing the principle trade route that connected the Orient with Europe, the last years of Mamluk rule were filled with internal fighting that disrupted the trade route. “The last years of Mamluk rule were disastrous for Egypt. The constant infighting combined with the outrageous taxes, ruined Egypt’s trade. One of the triggers of the French invasion was the virtual destruction of French trade with Egypt by the 1790s.”6 As demonstrated elsewhere, France was the “willful king” described in Daniel 11:36-40. The disruption of Egyptian trade with France was the King of the South (Egypt) “pushing at” the Willful King (France). It wasn’t open warfare. It was simply pushing at France. In 1798, France invaded Egypt—the very year in which the “time of the end” began! The original French plan was undoubtedly to seize Egypt as a colony. The French expected the Egyptian population, suffering under the Mamluks, to welcome them as liberators, while the Ottomans would at least tolerate the French as the price for expelling their overly independent subjects. Egypt was to benefit from the developments made possible by the revolution, her government modernised, new institutions created and old ones cast aside, just as had happened in France. The role of the Ottomans was always tricky. France had traditionally been allied with the Ottoman Empire, and at least for the moment there was no intention of disrupting this. The French plan relied heavily on the Ottomans staying at least neutral, counting on their hostility to the Mamluks (demonstrated in 1786) overweighing their anger at the French invasion of what was still officially an Ottoman province.7 The plan went horribly wrong.
Like A Whirlwind And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (Daniel 11:40, KJV)
The British, in their on-going efforts to curtail French ambitions, chased the French to the Mediterranean. On August 1, 1798, British admiral, Horatio Nelson, found the French fleet moored at Alexandria, Egypt. “The battle of the Nile was one of the most crushing naval victories ever seen. No British ships were lost, while only two of the thirteen French ships of the line escaped. Napoleon was now cut off from France.”8 Any real chance that the Ottoman Empire would accept the French conquest ended after Nelson destroyed the French fleet at the battle of the Nile (1 August). British diplomacy at Istanbul was now able to steer the The British presence in Egypt following France’s invasion, pro pted a Empire towards outright opposition, realignment of international alliances that influenced the King of the North’s and on 9 September 1798 the Ottoman overwhelming response and led, ultimately, to the loss of millions of lives. Empire declared war on France (early (Image: http://www.woodenwalls.co.uk/NileBattle.jpg) in 1799 Russia joined with Britain and Turkey, forming the Second Coalition. Napoleon now had to face the real danger of invasion by land and by sea. Two Ottoman armies were to be involved in the invasion. The army of Damascus was to advance through Syria and Palestine and attack Egypt across the Sinai. Another army, to be formed on Rhodes, would, with protection from the Royal Navy, land near the Nile. The French would be surrounded and outnumbered.9 The Ottoman response completely obliterated French plans and assumptions of easy conquest. As a result of the Willful King’s invasion of Egypt, new, different alliances were formed. “The French expedition eventually drew [Ottoman Sultan] Selim into alliances with Great Britain and Russia, through which the French were driven out.”10 In this new, political environment Russia and Persia began annexing lands traditionally belonging to the Ottoman Empire. This, in turn, fostered extreme resentment among the Ottoman Turks and was in large part responsible for the horrific genocides perpetrated by the Turks against the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Christians during and following World War I.
Time No More The close of probation is the most solemn event since Calvary. At that time, everyone will have made his or her decision, for eternal life, or shame and eternal death. Among the closing words of Scripture is recorded a description of that event, with the solemn warning of how closely it comes before the Second Coming of Yahushua: Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:10-12, KJV) There can be no delay in preparation. Probation will be closing very soon, but it closes first for those who have had the most light. If you wish to have the joy of taking the loud cry to the world, prayerfully search your heart. Are you clinging to any known sins? Have you rejected any advanced light, which is the latter rain, graciously given to get you ready for the close of probation? Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye must have a greater preparation than ye now have, for the day of Yahuwah cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Sacrifice all to Yahuwah11. Lay all upon His altar—self, property, and all, a living sacrifice. It will take all to enter glory. Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where no thief can approach or rust corrupt. Ye must be partakers of Yahushua’s sufferings here if ye would be partakers with Him of His glory hereafter.12
The close of probation is the most solemn event since Calvary. At that time, everyone will have made his or her decision, for eternal life, or shame and eternal death.
The work of salvation is not child’s play, to be taken hold of at will and let alone at pleasure. It is the steady purpose, the untiring effort, that will gain the victory at last. It is he who endureth to the end that shall be saved. It is they who patiently continue in well-doing that shall have eternal life and the immortal reward.13 Now is the day of salvation. Make the conscious decision to follow truth wherever it leads. Surrender fully to the Saviour and He will get you ready.
1
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lysimachus https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ptolemy-I-Soter Ibid. 4 Ibid. 5 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mamluk, emphasis supplied. 6 http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_french_egypt.html 7 Ibid. 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid. 10 https://www.britannica.com/place/Ottoman-Empire/The-decline-of-the-Ottoman-Empire-1566-1807#ref482150 11 Sacred names have been supplied in this quote in place of pagan titles. 12 E. G. White, The Faith I Live By, p. 359. 13 E. G. White, Our Father Cares, p. 88. 2 3
Daniel Chapter 11: The "King of the South" (QUIZ) 1. The King of the South is: o
Napoleon/France
o
Pope Francis
o
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
o
Egypt 2. Daniel was: o
an Israelite
o
a Roman
o
a Babylonian
o an Egyptian 3. Daniel referred to Israel as: o
''the motherland''
o
''the glorious land''
o
''the splendid land''
o
''the promised land'' 4. Which of the following is south of Israel? o
Turkey
o
Syria
o
Egypt
o Iraq 5. Prophecy... o
can only be deciphered by trained scholars.
o
is a guess at what will happen in the future.
o
is irrelevant in today's society.
o is history written in advance. 6. Alexander the Great's kingdom was divided into how many territories following his death? o
1
o
2
o
3
o
4
o 5 7. Which of the following generals received the southern portion of Alexander the Great's kingdom following his death? o
Lysimachus
o
Cassander
o
Seleucus
o
Ptolemy
o Copernicus 8. Egypt became the mighty ____________ under this former general (#7). o
King of the North
o
King of the South
o
King of the East
o King of the West 9. The Lysimachus Dynasty reigned longer than any other dynasty established on the soil of the Alexandrian empire. o
True
o
False 10. The Cassander Dynasty reigned longer than any other dynasty established on the soil of the Alexandrian empire. o
True
o
False 11. The Copernicus Dynasty reigned longer than any other dynasty established on the soil of the Alexandrian empire. o
True
o False 12. The Ptolemaic Dynasty reigned longer than any other dynasty established on the soil of the Alexandrian empire. o
True
o False 13. The last recorded act of the King of the South in Daniel 11 is: o
pushing at the Willful King
o
pushing at the King of the North
o
saving Rome from the Vandals
o
bankrupting its government 14. France [the Willful King] invaded Egypt after French trade with Egypt was destroyed by: o
the Heruli
o
the Malmuks (who were then ruling Egypt)
o
the Ottoman Empire
o Seleucus 15. In what year did France [the Willful King] invade Egypt? o
1790
o
1798
o
1844
o
1901 16. Egypt was still, technically, considered part of the Ottoman Empire at this time (#15)?
o
True
o False 17. What did this invasion signify according to the prophetic timeline (#15)? o
the ''time of trouble''
o
the ''time of the end''
o
the cleansing of the sanctuary
o that probation has closed 18. How did the Ottoman Empire react to France's invasion of Egypt? o
They rejoiced in the French victory.
o
They were indifferent to France's invasion.
o
They came against France like a whirlwind and obliterated French plans of easy conquest.
o
They joined France in the attack. 19. At the close of probation, how much time will remain for the living to make a decision for eternal life? o
3.5 years
o
7 years
o
NONE
o No one knows. 20. ____________ is the day of salvation. Surrender fully to the Saviour and He will get you ready. o
TODAY
o
Tomorrow
o
Next Week
o
Next Year
Daniel Chapter 11: The "King of the North" Christians studying Daniel 11 have long needed a code to decipher this chapter. The key to unlocking the meaning of this all-important prophecy is, as mentioned in previous lessons, geography. The activities described in the prophecy must always be understood in relation to the location of Israel. The “King of the South” refers to Egypt because that is the country south of Israel. The “King of the North” refers to the various political powers that controlled the area north of Israel. When Alexander the Great’s empire was divided after his death, the area directly north of Israel was first controlled by Seleucus, and later by the Roman Empire. Daniel 11 describes the break up of Alexander’s empire and then traces the historical movements of the nations that controlled these geographical locations. The climax occurs at the very end of the chapter in verses 40 to 45: And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:40-45, KJV1) This passage is extremely important to everyone alive today. It pinpoints when the close of probation will occur! This portentous event is linked to the time of the end and the time of trouble. A careful study of Daniel 11 reveals that the “time of the end” began in 1798 and the “time of trouble” began in 1922. This means that probation will close very, very soon, possibly within months for 144,000–those who will take the last warning message to the world. The infinite wisdom and foreknowledge of Yahuwah is demonstrated when Scripture is compared with history. The King of the North referenced in Daniel 11:40-45 is the Ottoman Empire. This is proven by the fact that every single particular of the prophecy was fulfilled in history.
Yeni Cami and Eminönü Bazaar, Constantinople, Turkey (Ottoman Empire) ca. 1895 By - trialsanderrors - Yeni Cami and Eminönü bazaar, Constantinople, Turkey, ca. 1895, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11168385
DANIEL 11:40 “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” AT THE TIME OF THE END SHALL THE KING OF THE SOUTH PUSH AT HIM
The “time of the end” began in 1798, as explained in other articles on WLC. The “willful” King described in Daniel 11:36-39, was France/Napoleon Bonaparte. Egypt, under the rule of the Mamluks, disrupted France’s trade with Egypt. This was the King of the South “pushing” at the Willful King. It was not open warfare. Egypt only “pushed at” the Willful King. France responded by invading Egypt. At this time, Egypt was part of the Ottoman Empire. France had been long-time allies of the Ottoman Empire and assumed they would tolerate French presence in Egypt in exchange
for French assistance getting the unruly Mamluks under control. This assumption was a costly, and arrogant, mistake. T E KING OF T E NORT
S ALL COME AGAINST
IM LIKE A W IRLWIND…
One of the reasons France invaded Egypt was to “strike a blow at British trade by cutting off Great Britain's route to India.”2 It was not just to reestablish French trade with the Far East. It was also to disrupt British trade. The British responded with force. Late in the day on August 1, 1798, Admiral Horatio Nelson literally stumbled upon the French fleet at Alexandria, Egypt, after spending months searching the Mediterranean for it. The French forces assumed the British wouldn’t start a battle just as the sun was setting. It was another costly assumption because the British immediately leaped into action. The battle virtually obliterated the French fleet with no loss of ships to the British. This is important to understand because it was this victory by the British that resulted in the King of the North, the Ottoman Empire, coming like a whirlwind against the invading French forces.
Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson by Lemuel Francis Abbott. 1800. National Maritime Museum. Visible on his cocked hat is the aigrette presented by the Ottoman Sultan as a reward for the victory at the Nile
“The French invasion of Egypt had a major [and long lasting] impact on the Ottoman State.”3 Up until this time France had been allies with the Ottoman Empire. However, the British victory at the Battle of the Nile placed Great Britain in the more powerful, and thus more influential, position.
“British diplomacy at Istanbul was now able to steer the Empire towards outright opposition, and on 9 September 1798 the Ottoman Empire declared war on France (early in 1799 Russia joined with Britain and Turkey, forming the Second Coalition).”4 WITH CHARIOTS, AND WITH HORSEMEN ...
After his devastating losses in Egypt, Napoleon was not prepared to quit his ambitious plans for the Middle East. In late February 1799, Napoleon left Egypt, marching north to Syria. At Acre, he encountered the Turks (Ottomans). The Ottomans, now allied with the British, were supported by a group of British sailors, led by Sir Sidney Smith. Napoleon promptly laid siege to the city. Just ten days later, word reached Napoleon of the approach of the mighty Turkish army. “It consisted of about thirty thousand troops, twelve thousand of whom were the fiercest and best-trained horsemen in the world.
Napoleon had but eight thousand effective men with which to encounter the well trained army of Europeans and Turks within the walls of Acre and the numerous host rushing to its rescue.”5 An historian’s account of the encounter bears a striking resemblance to Daniel’s prophetic description: It was early in the morning of the 16th of April. The unclouded sun was just rising over the hills of Palestine and revealed to [the French] the whole embattled Turkish host spread out before him. The eye was dazzled with the magnificent spectacle, as proud banners and plumes, and gaudy turbans and glittering steel, and all the barbaric martial pomp of the East, were reflected by the rays of the brilliant morning. Twelve thousand horsemen, decorated with the most gorgeous trappings of military show, and mounted on the fleetest Arabian chargers, were prancing and curveting in all directions ... The French, too proud and self-confident to retreat before any superiority in numbers, had barely time to form themselves into one of Napoleon’s impregnable squares, when the whole cavalcade of horsemen, with gleaming sabers and hideous yells, and like the sweep of the wind, came rushing down upon them. Every man in the French squares knew that his life depended upon his immobility, and each one stood, shoulder to shoulder with his comrades.6 AND WIT
MANY S IPS …
Although Turkey has never been known as a seafaring nation, the prophecy clearly states that “many ships” would be involved in the King of the North’s explosive response. The French fleet had been virtually destroyed the year before at the Battle of the Nile. These “many ships” came from a new alliance, formed as a result of the aggressive military action of the Willful King, France. Russia, although a long-time enemy of the Ottoman Empire, allied with the Turks to fight Napoleon. As unusual as it seems, Russia, the avowed enemy of Turkey, united with them in defense against Napoleon. The Russian fleet was sent with the small Turkish fleet to the harbor of St. Jean D’Acre and they were joined there by two British squadrons. The total number of ships reaching more than thirty.7 Napoleon’s aggressive actions had roused the slumbering giant that was the Ottoman Empire. AND HE SHALL ENTER INTO THE COUNTRIES, AND SHALL OVERFLOW AND PASS OVER
The word8 here translated “countries” has a broader meaning than simply “nations.” It can also refer to fields, ground, or a wilderness. Basically, it conveys the idea of a region. The King of the North/Ottoman Empire, entered many areas it had previously conquered. It overflowed them and passed through them as it responded to the threat of the Willful King, France. DANIEL 11:41 “He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.” HE SHALL ENTER ALSO INTO THE GLORIOUS LAND
The now awakened Turks/King of the North chased Napoleon and his forces south. The “glorious land” here referenced is the same as that referred to in Daniel 11:16. It is Palestine. Napoleon was driven out of Syria, clear
down through Palestine into Egypt. There, he abandoned his efforts to monopolize a trade route to India and returned to Europe. MANY COUNTRIES SHALL BE OVERTHROWN
In this phrase, “countries” is a supplied word. The original Hebrew simply states: “Many shall be overthrown.” With the aid of the British, the Turks/King of the North again brought Egypt under its control. These military actions were very costly in terms of loss of human life. When Napoleon was driven back into Egypt, the enemy had killed over 1,000 of his men. Six hundred were dead from the plague and 1800 were wounded. The British, again aiding their new allies, transported the Ottoman forces to Egypt in their ships. There, at the first Battle of Abukir in 1799, French forces won the victory in Egypt. However, it was the beginning of the end for French presence in Egypt. The battle cost the lives of an additional 1,000 French soldiers, but the cost to the Ottomans was even higher. An estimated 8,000 Turkish troops were killed. In accordance with the sure word of prophecy, many were overthrown when the King of the North came like a whirlwind against the Willful King, France. THESE SHALL ESCAPE OUT OF HIS HAND, EVEN EDOM, AND MOAB, AND THE CHIEF OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON
The lands here described lay predominantly east of the Jordan River. “The land of Edom was in the desert regions east and south of Israel. Many of the descendants of the these nations spread out into Saudi Arabia.”9 In his efforts to drive Napoleon out of the Middle East, the King of the North/Ottoman Empire focused his attention where French forces were located. This was west of the Jordan. Therefore, all the lands east of the Jordan “escaped out of his hand” in the drive south. DANIEL 11:42 “He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.” Once roused to battle, the Ottoman Empire was ruthless in once again bringing under control those areas it had previously conquered. Unlike the practice of Western forces, the Turks’ habit was not to take prisoners. They tortured and killed any French soldiers they found, wounded or not. They likewise killed anyone suspected of sympathizing with the French and it was in this that the “land of Egypt [did] not escape.” A travel journal, written in the 19th century, alludes to the treatment of the Egyptians by the Ottomans, stating: “Read of the atrocities attributed by Sir Robert Wilson to the French, and you will imagine that the only object of our interference was the domestic happiness of the invaded people. Yet, strange to say, the Arabs speak of the French with respect, and of their expulsion with regret.”10 As has often been said, the victors write the history books and this case was no different. Had the French been as bad to the Egyptians as claimed, the Arabs living there would not have regretted their expulsion. DANIEL 11:43 “But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”
POWER OVER THE TREASURES OF GOLD AND OF SILVER, AND … ALL T E PRECIO S T INGS OF EGYPT
Muhammad Ali was sent to Egypt by the Ottomans in their fight to drive out the French. He was the second in command of an Albanian regiment. “With great political skill, he managed by 1805 to be named the wālī, the Ottoman sultan’s viceroy in Egypt, with the rank of pasha.”11 Once in power, “Muhammad Ali executed one of the greatest land grabes [sic.] in history. He confiscated the feudal farms of the Mameluk grandees and stripped Cairo’s religious institutions of their 600,000 prime acres of landholdings. Thus decapitating Cairo’s medieval order and Egypt was now the viceroy’s private plantation.”12 Muhammad Ali may be credited with establishing the modern Egyptian state, but it was not done peaceably. In fact, it could be argued that the actions of this appointee of the King of the North were part of what was predicted in Daniel’s prophecy when the angel declared, “The land of Egypt shall not escape.” Muḥammad ʿAlī put an end to Egypt’s traditional society. He eliminated the Mamlūks, the former ruling oligarchy, expropriated the old landholding classes, turned the religious class into pensioners of the government, restricted the activities of the native merchant and artisan groups, neutralized the Bedouins, and crushed all movements of rebellion among the peasants.13
Muhammad Ali Pasha was the conduit through which the King of the North had access to the wealth of Egypt.
At this time, Egypt was still a province of the Ottoman Empire. Muhammad Ali levied ruinously high taxes on the populace, impoverishing them. Some of this money he sent as a tribute to the Ottoman sultan. Thus, he made the “treasures of gold and of silver” along with “all the precious things of Egypt” available to the King of the North. THE LIBYANS AND THE ETHIOPIANS SHALL BE AT HIS STEPS
LIBYANS:The northern coast of Africa was brought under the control of the Ottoman Empire early on. Later, in 1711, Libya became largely autonomous when Ahmed Karamanli, a cavalry officer, staged a coup. He murdered the Ottoman governor and established the Karamanli dynasty, although he continued to pay a token tribute to the Ottoman Empire. This region remained largely independent until 1832. At that time, the Ottoman sultan sent in troops to restore order following the abdication of the ruler.
ETHIOPIANS: The geography that makes up the modern country of Ethiopia was never part of the Ottoman Empire. However, this word as translated in the King James Bible does not refer to the modern country known as “Ethiopia.” Rather, it comes from the word “Cushite” which was translated into Latin as “Æthiops.” World War I provided Turkey with the diversion, and the excuse it had been wanting, to obliterate the Armenians living within their borders. “Waves of Persecution followed one another down through the centuries, some more severe than others. … By the dawn of the twentieth century Armenia as an entity had long ceased to exist. The territory … had been carved into three principle sections. The western part, including Mount Ararat, belonged to the Turkish Empire; the northern part along the Caucasus mountains became one of the republics under Russian rule; the eastern part bordering the Caspian Sea had long been under Persian control. The people, like many other national groups, became dispersed; but unlike others, they largely maintained their identity.” (Marie Egitkhanoff, Terror by Night and Day, An Armenian Girl’s Story, p. 6.)
The Egyptian priest Manetho (c. 300 BC) listed Egypt’s Kushite (25th) dynasty, calling it the “Aethiopian dynasty”. Moreover, when the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek (c. 200 BC), the Hebrew appellation “Kush, Kushite” became in Greek “Aethiopia, Aethiopians”, appearing as “Ethiopia, Ethiopians” in the English King James Version.14 This area, therefore, anciently referred to the land bordering on the south of Egypt. The Libyans and the Ethiopians were perfectly described when said to be at the steps of the King of the North. DANIEL 11:44 “But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.” The King of the North is inarguably the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, “tidings out of the east and out of the north” would be news coming from the east and north of the Ottoman Empire, not the east and north of Palestine. NORTH: One of the unexpected results of the Willful King/France’s invasion of Egypt, was the alliance of the Ottoman Empire with her neighbor to the north, Russia. The two had been at war for centuries. Literally. The RussoTurkish wars spanned five centuries and are among the longest lasting disputes in the history of Europe. During these conflicts, the Ottoman Empire steadily lost land to the Russian Empire. EAST: Persia lay east of the Ottoman Empire. From 1804-1813, Persia and Russia were at war. “The Persian Army outnumbered the Russian forces in Transcaucasia several times over but was significantly inferior in the art of war, military training, and organization.”15 Persia lost the war and land to Russia. Another war followed in 1826-1828. Again, Russia won.
“As a result of the Russo-Persian wars, Russia annexed northern Azerbaijan and eastern Armenia. The Russian victories freed the peoples of Transcaucasia from the yoke of the Persian feudal lords, and these peoples actively supported the Russian forces during the wars.”16 Russia, annexing land from Persia, thus partially encircled the Ottoman Empire, bringing pressure to bear from the north and the east. This was the news out of the north and the east that alarmed the King of the North. A detailed listing of the tensions between the Ottoman Empire and Russia would be too long for the present article. However, some of the tensions were due to religious differences as the vast majority of Ottomans were Muslim while the Russians were Christian. When the czar ordered the Muslims expelled from the North
Caucasus, it resulted in a genocide that cost the lives of 1.5 million Muslims. Any survivors fled southward to the Ottoman Empire. This is not unimportant history. These actions can be directly traced back to the King of the South (Egypt) “pushing at” the Willful King (France) and the overwhelming reaction of the King of the North (Ottoman Empire) in response. During and directly following World War I, the Turks were responsible for the Armenian Genocide, the Greek Genocide and the Assyrian Genocide in which upwards of 3 million Christians lost their lives due to suspicion that, as Christians, they were sympathetic to Russia. What horrible consequences resulted from the King of the South pushing at the Willful King! Only Yahuwah knows the total number of lives destroyed and the immense suffering endured when the King of the North went “forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.” DANIEL 11:45 “And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” In this verse, the record of history again confirms the accuracy of prophetic utterance. The Jews, and later the Khazars, had long wanted to gain control of Palestine. In 1897, the Zionist Organization (later, the World Zionist Organization) held the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. During this three-day conference, the possibility was discussed of having Jerusalem as the capital of some future Jewish state. But Jerusalem and Palestine itself were still under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
Sultan Abdul Hamid II fulfilled prophecy when he sent officials to govern Jerusalem directly.
Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and Caliph of the Ottoman Caliphate, responded in a way that perfectly fulfills this text. He sent officials from his own palace to govern the province around Jerusalem. He wanted to retain control of this part of his empire and felt that having Ottoman officials stationed there in Jerusalem would enable him to keep abreast of any attempts by foreign governments to seize the area. The Sultan’s concerns were well founded. World War I was on the horizon. The tensions leading up to the “war to end all wars” were already in process. But very few people know that one of the primary motives driving England’s policy during World War I was the establishment of a homeland for “Jews.”
…The British did not even propose to go through the motions of consulting the indigenous people in the country. As the author of the notorious Balfour Declaration, Arthur Balfour, said to Lord Curzon: “The Four Great Powers are committed to Zionism. And Zionism, be it right or wrong, good or bad, is rooted in age-long traditions, in present needs, in future hopes, of far profounder import than the desires and prejudices of the Arabs who inhabit that ancient land.” … What followed was a systematic effort to undermine self-governance and self-rule, through pliant regimes and, in the case of Palestine, outright denial of the inhabitants’ right to a free and independent country. … Ironically, one of Britain’s assertions for legitimising its policy at the time was to point to its high mindedness; that it was freeing Arabs from the yoke of foreign Ottoman rule.17 Germany had actually won the war and presented England with a fair offer of peace. Had England accepted the peace offered by Germany, millions of lives would have been saved. Instead, something entirely different happened. The international Jewish bankers are what happened. The Zionist Jews funding the war effort wanted Palestine, which at that time was part of the Ottoman Empire. The only way to give Palestine to the Jews was to take it from the Ottomans. In exchange for the United States entering the war, the British promised Palestine to the Jews for a homeland. It was a diabolical deal and one that Great Britain had no right to promise. Yet, that is just what happened under the Balfour Agreement.18
Balfour visits Jerusalem British politician Lord Arthur Balfour (1848 - 1930) points out a feature of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to Governor Sir Ronald Storrs during a visit to Jerusalem, 9th April 1925. The city's Arab residents were on strike as a protest against the Balfour
Declaration supporting plans for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Arthur James Balfour was the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary. He was well aware of the unethical nature of the British agenda to take Palestine from the Turks. In a letter to Lord Curzon, written in 1919, he admitted: “…In Palestine we do not propose even to go through the form of consulting the wishes of the present inhabitants of the country….The Four Great Powers are committed to Zionism. And Zionism, be it right or wrong, good or bad, is rooted in age-long traditions, in present needs, in future hopes, of far profounder import than the desires and prejudices of the 700,000 Arabs who now inhabit that ancient land …”19 The British and various Zionists agitating for a Jewish homeland in Palestine made contradictory promises. With the support of the Rothschild dynasty, they promised a homeland to Jews while at the same time they made promises to the local Arab populace that they had no intention of keeping.
“TABERNACLES”
Throughout the greater part of the 19th century, a number of Bible scholars suggested the Ottoman Empire was the King of the North. As the King of the North, they predicted the Ottoman Empire would transfer its headquarters to Jerusalem. When the Ottoman Empire dissolved following World War I without this ever happening, many assumed their interpretation was incorrect. This assumption, however, is based on a misunderstanding of the word “tabernacles.” When correctly understood, it is clearly seen that the King of the North is the Ottoman Empire and he did indeed do just what the prophecy foretold. He planted “the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain.” In other words, the Ottoman Sultan established his political presence between the Jordan River, which was to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea that lay to the west.
The Ottoman Empire was not conquered by foreign powers. It simply ceased to exist. Europeans at the time were well aware of the incongruity of what was happening in the once-feared empire. The Literary Digest of 1919 reported on the presence of envoys from the Ottoman Empire at the Council of Ten, but not as participants, stating: “If shades can laugh, the spirits of Peter the Hermit, Louis IX, and Richard the Lion-Hearted may have joined in an outburst of sardonic mirth the other day when the empire that ten crusades failed for three centuries to vanquish, sent its Grand Vizier to Paris, and a delegation of Turkish notables along with him. On their way to and from the sessions of the Council of Ten of the Peace Conference … they were required to enter and depart through different doors from those used by the members. As the Charleston Evening Post remarks: ‘These smooth-speaking gentlemen from the Golden Horn were not envoys of an empire, for it is not yet quite determined whether Turkey is to be considered as still having a national entity.’ They visited Paris simply as experts from whom the Council of Ten might obtain information regarding Turkish affairs.”
The word “tabernacle” comes from the Hebrew word, ohel. It means: “a tent…covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, a tent.”20 The Children of Israel tabernacled in the wilderness. It is the same word used repeatedly throughout the books of Moses to describe both the tent of meeting and the sanctuary. A tabernacle is a temporary dwelling place. It is a tent! It was for this very reason that David yearned to build a permanent dwelling place for Yahuwah.
The Sultan did not need to move the seat of his government to Jerusalem in order to fulfill Daniel 11:45. He fulfilled it when he deliberately moved part of his government to Jerusalem to meet the growing threat of Zionist bankers expansionism. It was not a permanent establishment but a temporary one. A “tabernacle of his palace.”
HE SHALL COME TO HIS END AND NONE SHALL HELP HIM
The mighty Ottoman Empire, the feared scourge of the Crusaders, came to its end, not with a bang, but withering away into nothingness. Czar Nicholas I of Russia referred to the Ottoman Empire as a “sick man,” stating: Turkey seems to be falling to pieces, the fall will be a great misfortune. It is very important that England and Russia should come to a perfectly good understanding ... and that neither should take any decisive step of which the other is not apprized … We have a sick man on our hands, a man gravely ill, it will be a great misfortune if one of these days he slips through our hands, especially before the necessary arrangements are made.21 The name caught on quickly and soon people from newspapermen to Bible scholars focused on the failing might of the once great Ottoman Empire referring to it as the “sick man of Europe.” For many years, Great Britain and France helped prop up the Ottoman Empire in an attempt to keep Russia from annexing it and expanding still more. Eventually, though, troubles in Europe diverted attention and finances away from the “sick man.” The King of the North had moved the “tabernacles of his palace” to Jerusalem because he feared foreign powers would annex this area of the Ottoman Empire. This is exactly what happened. Following World War I, the victorious Allied powers divided the spoils of war amongst themselves and Palestine was given into the control of the British Empire. The Ottoman Empire lost territory following World War I but, ultimately, it was not conquered by some other nation. It came to its end internally. Mustafa Kemal, a Turkish military officer, abolished the Ottoman sultanate and, later, the caliphate, establishing the modern Republic of Turkey. Fully 99% of Turks are Muslims, and yet, intriguingly, Turkey is not officially a Muslim nation. Kemal modernized Turkey by secularizing it. He was given the name Atatürk (“Father of the Turks”) in recognition of the vast, sweeping changes he brought to the country. He ensured that the Turkish government would in the future be completely separate from Islam. He laid a foundation of laws that make it impossible for the Ottoman Empire and the caliphate to ever be revived. He “established a new Mustafa Kemal Atatürk civil code, based on European precedents. And he drew up a constitution that expressly severed all connection with Islamic [Sharia] law.”22 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gave the Ottoman Empire (and Islam) a deadly wound from which it has never—and from which it will never—recover. The King of the North had come to his end and none helped him.
TURKEY TODAY Turkey has fulfilled its destined role in prophecy. Some people are still looking for further developments in the former Ottoman Empire. However, there is nothing more to be fulfilled in the prophecy of Daniel 11. The King of the North came to his end in 1922 after the European powers that had been backing him withdrew their support.
The entire build up of Daniel 11 was for one purpose and one purpose only: to identify for the final generation when probation will close! Just as the “time of the end” began in 1798, the “time of trouble” began in 1922. Anything more that occurs in Turkey falls within the parameters of the time of trouble. Daniel 11 is finished. It’s over! Nothing more is to be fulfilled. We are now living in the time of Daniel 12:1. This is a most solemn realization. The angel told Daniel: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:1-3)
Wake up! This is the time in which we are now living! Probation will be closing soon! There is but a single event standing between that solemn event and us: the sounding of the trumpets. Trumpets sound to announce or warn, and that is what these trumpets do. They are given to draw attention to the close of probation. They will be the worst scourges to ever fall on mankind up to that time. Their purpose is to awaken souls because what comes after the close of probation, the seven last plagues, will be so bad that, if Yahuwah did not preserve His children through it, there would be no life left. Infinite mercy wants every soul awake, aware, and capable of making intelligent decisions. The trumpets are what will draw the attention of every person living on the face of the earth to the truths they need to know to get ready for the close of probation and the Second Coming. Now, in these closing moments, make a full surrender to Yahuwah. Search your heart. Lay aside every impediment and, with full assurance of faith, grasp the promised salvation. His hand is reaching out, longing to grasp yours and pull you to safety. Won’t you reach out to the best friend you will ever have?
1
All Scripture is taken from the King James Version of the Bible. http://www.expertsmind.com/library/french-invasion-and-occupation-of-egypt-in-1798-5235506.aspx 3 Güven Dinç, “The Ports of Cyprus and the French Invasion of Egypt (1798-1801),”Mediterranean Studies, Vol. 24, No. 1 (2016). 4 http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_french_egypt.html 5 John Stevens C. Abbott, The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte, pp. 102-103. 6 Ibid., emphasis supplied. 7 http://www.inlightofprophecyfulfilled.org/studies/pdf/articles/KON/KON_Part3.pdf , p. 3. 2
8
Erets, (#776), Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. http://www.inlightofprophecyfulfilled.org/studies/pdf/articles/KON/KON_Part3.pdf, p. 5. 10 Richard R. Madden, Travels in Turkey, Egypt, Nubia and Palestine in 1824, 1825, 1826 & 1827, p. 173, emphasis supplied. 11 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad-Ali-pasha-and-viceroy-of-Egypt 12 http://egyptianagriculture.com/muhammad_ali.html 13 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad-Ali-pasha-and-viceroy-of-Egypt 14 http://murakushsociety.org/index.php/2016/09/23/dictionary-defines-the-hebrew-term-cushite-as-moor-inenglish/ 15 http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Russo-Persian+Wars+of+the+19th+Century 16 Ibid., emphasis supplied. 17 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20141114-world-war-one-and-palestine-does-the-connection-stillmatter/, emphasis supplied. 18 Click here for more information on the Balfour Agreement and the events leading up to it. 19 http://www.balfourproject.org/a-few-quotes/ 20 See Strong’s Concordance, #168. 21 Harold Temperley, England and the Near East, p. 272. 22 http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23810527, emphasis supplied. 9
Daniel Chapter 11: The "King of the North" (QUIZ) 1. The ''King of the North'' refers to the various political powers that controlled the area north or ____________. o
Rome
o
Turkey
o
Israel
o Iran 2. When Alexander the Great’s empire was divided after his death... (2 answers) o o o
the area directly north of Israel was first controlled by Seleucus, and later by the Roman Empire. the area south of Israel (e.g. Egypt) was controlled by Ptolemy. the area directly north of Iran was first controlled by Seleucus, and later by the Roman Empire.
o
the area south of Saudi Arabia (e.g. Yemen) was controlled by Ptolemy. 3. The King of the North referenced in Daniel 11:40-45 is: o
Napoleon/France
o
Pope Francis
o
The Ottoman Empire
o Egypt 4. A careful study of Daniel 11 reveals that the ''time of the end'' began in: o
1798
o
1844
o
1912
o
1922
o
The ''time of the end'' has not yet begun. 5. A careful study of Daniel 11 reveals that the ''time of trouble'' began in: o
1798
o
1844
o
1912
o
1922
o
The ''time of trouble'' has not yet begun. 6. According to Daniel 11:40, the King of the North would come against the Willful King with: (3 answers) o
many archers
o
chariots
o
the authority of Rome
o
many men of war
o
horsemen
o many ships 7. The Ottoman (Turkish) army that came against Napoleon/France included: o
twelve thousand of the fiercest and best-trained archers in the world
o
twelve thousand of the fiercest and best-trained horsemen in the world
o
five thousand of the fiercest and best-trained archers in the world
o twelve thousand of the fiercest and best-trained army generals in the world 8. A Russian fleet of ships and two British squadrons joined the Ottoman army in their battle against Napoleon/France. o
True
o
False 9. According to Daniel 11:40, the King of the North would ''enter into the countries . . . overflow and pass over.'' How was this aspect of the prophecy fulfilled? o
The Ottoman Empire, when moving against France, passed over/through many of the areas it had previously conquered.
o
The Ottoman Empire, when moving against France, conquered many new countries.
o
The Ottoman Empire, when moving against France, looted many of the surrounding countries.
o The Ottoman Empire, when moving against France, enlarged the borders of its empire. 10. According to Daniel 11:41... o
the King of the North would enter also into Russia
o
the King of the North would enter also into Babylon
o the King of the North would enter also into the glorious land 11. How was this aspect of the prophecy fulfilled (#10)? o
The Ottoman army set up a temporary capital in Babylon.
o
The Ottoman army drove Napoleon through Russia into what is now Kazakhstan.
o The Ottoman army drove Napoleon through the ''glorious land'' (Palestine) into Egypt. 12. In accordance with Daniel 11:41, many were ''overthrown'' when the King of the North (Ottoman Empire) came like a whirlwind against the Willful King (France). o
True. Many lives were lost in these battles.
o False. Very few lives were lost in these battles. 13. In accordance with Daniel 11:41, ''Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon'' were not harmed by the King of the North. o
True. These lands are predominantly east of the Jordan River and were not harmed because they did not contain French forces.
o
False. These lands were conquered along with France and its allies. 14. According to Daniel 11:42, ''He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of ____________ shall not escape.'' o
Sodom
o
Babylon
o
Jerusalem
o Egypt 15. This prophecy (#14) was fulfilled when... o
the Ottoman Empire ruthlessly attacked Babylon for refusing to take sides in the war.
o
the Ottoman Empire ruthlessly attacked Sodom for refusing to take sides in the war.
o
the Ottoman Empire ruthlessly attacked Jerusalem and set up a second capital outside of the gates.
o
the Ottoman Empire ruthlessly brought under control those areas it had previously conquered (e.g. Egypt). 16. In Daniel 11:43, it was prophesied that the King of the North would ''have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt.'' This was fulfilled when... o
Muhammad Ali levied ruinously high taxes on the Egyptians and sent some of this money as a tribute to the Ottoman sultan.
o
Napoleon levied ruinously high taxes on the Egyptians and sent some of this money as a tribute to the Ottoman sultan.
o
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk levied ruinously high taxes on the Egyptians and sent some of this money as a tribute to the Ottoman sultan. 17. In Daniel 11:44, it was prophesied that ''tidings out of the east and out of the north'' would trouble the King of the North. This was fulfilled when... o
Russia and Persia joined forces and attacked the Ottoman Empire from the north and the east.
o
Russia, annexing land from Persia, partially encircled the Ottoman Empire, bringing pressure to bear from the north and the east.
o
Romania, annexing land from Persia, partially encircled the Ottoman Empire, bringing pressure to bear from the north and the east. 18. In Daniel 11:44, it was prophesied that, as a consequence (#17), the King of the North would ''go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.'' This was fulfilled when... o
the Turks instigated the Armenian Genocide, the Greek Genocide and the Assyrian Genocide in which upwards of 1 million Christians lost their lives.
o
the Turks instigated the Armenian Genocide, the Greek Genocide and the Assyrian Genocide in which upwards of 2 million Christians lost their lives.
o
the Turks instigated the Armenian Genocide, the Greek Genocide and the Assyrian Genocide in which upwards of 3 million Christians lost their lives. 19. In Daniel 11:45, it was prophesied that the King of the North would ''plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain.'' This was fulfilled when... o
the Ottoman Sultan made Jerusalem the capital of the empire.
o
the Ottoman army temporarily setup tents by the Mediterranean sea.
o
the Ottoman Sultan erected a statue west of the Dead Sea, memorizing his victory against France and her allies.
o
the Ottoman Sultan established his political presence between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
20. In Daniel 11:45, it was prophesied that when the King of the North came to his end, none would help him. This was fulfilled when... o
Mustafa Kemal modernized Turkey by secularizing it, giving the Ottoman Empire (and Islam) a deadly wound from which it will never recover.
o
Sultan Abdul Hamid II modernized Turkey by secularizing it, giving the Ottoman Empire (and Islam) a deadly wound from which it will never recover.
o
Russia single-handedly defeated the Ottoman Empire, leaving it (and Islam) with a deadly wound from which it will never recover.
o
Persia, through trade restrictions, brought down the Ottoman Empire, leaving it (and Islam) with a deadly wound from which it will never recover. 21. The entire build up of Daniel 11 was for one purpose and one purpose only: o
to illustrate the dangers of Islam
o
to identify for the final generation when probation will close
o
to identify the antichrist power that will enforce the mark of the beast
o
to make clear that the Ottoman Empire, with Islam at the helm, will rise again 22. How much of Daniel 11 remains to be fulfilled? o
None
o
about 25%
o
about 50%
o
about 75%
o
100%
Daniel Chapter 12: The end is near! Sadly, many Christians today are making an egregious error by declaring finished and complete one of the most important timelines in Scripture. Consequently, they will be unprepared and taken by surprise when the final moments unfold.
Pinpointing the end Yahuwah has always wanted everyone to be saved. He wants none to be caught unawares by the end of the world. Prophecy is His gift to the final generation so that all may know when the Saviour is near. Yahushua told His disciples: Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 24:32-33, KJV) The prophecy of Daniel 11 is very important because it identifies the King of the North as the Ottoman Empire, the King of the South as Egypt, and the “Willful” King as France. These, in turn, reveal that the “time of the end” began in 1798 and the “time of trouble” began in 1922.
We are now living in the Time of Trouble! The end is very, very close. But the book of Daniel does not end there. There is still one more chapter. Daniel 11 lays the foundation for Daniel 12, which gives the believers today crucial knowledge of final events so that none need be caught unaware.
“At that ti e …” “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:1-3, KJV)
Daniel 12:1 is the climax toward which all of Daniel 11 has been building. At the time identified in verse one, Michael1 “stands up.” His people are facing a time of trouble such as the world has never seen and He is not going to take it sitting down. Verses two and three are a summation describing the conclusion of the great controversy that has been waging between good and evil for thousands of years. Some will continue to rebel and their lot will be shame and everlasting contempt. Others will choose salvation and shine as the stars forever and ever.
“But when is the end?” “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. “Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. “And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” (Daniel 12:4-6, KJV) Like anyone, Daniel wanted to know what would happen in the future, but the prophecies given were not for his day. Still, he could not help but want to know more. When, in vision, he saw two beings stand on either bank of the Hiddekel River, he immediately asked for more information. It is reasonable to assume that the beings he saw were Gabriel (who had been previously commissioned to teach the aged prophet) and Michael, the “man clothed in linen.” In the King James Version, the word “one” is supplied in verse six. It could just as easily have been translated, “And I said to the man …” Daniel had been shown the full sweep of time from his day clear down to the Second Coming. But the most important question of all still remained unanswered: When is this all going to happen and when does it end?
Michael responds “And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:7-9, KJV) Michael/Yahushua understood the yearning in the heart of Daniel for full and complete understanding. He was not going to play word games with the prophet. He answered the question: everything would be finished after a time, times and a half.
This may seem confusing, but it was an honest answer to a straightforward question. Daniel asked, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” And Yahushua told him: A time, times, and half a time, or three and a half years. This is important information. Earth’s history would climax in a three and a half year time period. The one piece of information missing from Yahushua’s answer, however, was when the three and a half years would start. Daniel wanted to know that, too, and pressed for more understanding, but the knowledge was not for him. He was gently told that the prophecy would not be understood until the time of the end. That time is now! As the prophecies of Daniel 11 reveal, the “time of the end” began in 1798. The sincere seeker for truth can now understand this prophecy.
Prerequisite for receiving light “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:10, KJV)
“Those who cling to old customs and hoary errors have lost sight of the fact that light is ever increasing upon the path of all who follow [Yahushua]; truth is constantly unfolding to the people of [Yah]. We must be continually advancing if we are following our Leader. It is when we walk in the light that shines upon us, obeying the truth that is open to our understanding, that we receive greater light. We cannot be excusable in accepting only the light which our fathers had one hundred years ago. If our God-fearing fathers had seen what we see, and heard what we hear, they would have accepted the light, and walked in it. If we desire to imitate their faithfulness, we must receive the truths open to us, as they received those presented to them; we must do as they would have done, had they lived in our day.”
The soul is purified as it embraces advancing light. This is the entire purpose of the promised Latter Rain. It is the responsibility of every child of Yah to actively seek out truth and accept every ray of light from Heaven. There has been a veritable explosion of light since 1798, and the rays of light continue to shine. With every ray of light received, still more can be E. G. White, Historical Sketches, p. 197. discerned and grasped. At no point this side of Heaven will anyone be able to claim he or she has arrived at All Truth.
Many have gratefully accepted more light, but sadly still more have turned their backs on it and angrily denounced the advanced truths of the feasts, the lunar Sabbath, the true shape of the earth, and much more. It is those who turn their back on advancing light, those who cling stubbornly to the dim light given our fathers that will not understand the truths contained in Daniel 12. Yahushua promised Daniel that those who accepted advancing light would understand the prophecy, but warned “none of the wicked shall understand.” The wicked here referenced are not worldlings. Worldly people do not care about the Bible, and they certainly give no thought to the prophecies of Daniel. Therefore, the “wicked” spoken of are professed followers of Yahushua, those who choose to cling to error. Advanced light will never be given those who stubbornly reject it. Therefore, a correct understanding of Daniel 12 is reserved solely for those who humbly accept advancing truth.
Timeline to the end!
“And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” (Daniel 12:11, KJV) Here is the answer to Daniel’s question! In His sermon on the mount, Yahushua asked, “What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?” (Matthew 7:9-10, KJV) Daniel had asked a question and, even though he did not understand the answer, an answer was still given. The word “sacrifice” in the above text is a supplied word. The word “daily” comes from tamiyd and means, “continually: regularly … Both ideas – regularity and continuousness – are present in the word.”2 During the long centuries of spiritual darkness when rays of light were few, many Christians assumed that the “continual” here spoken of was referring to the daily sacrifices offered to Yah under the old covenant. However, advancing light has revealed a deeper meaning. The continuous without interruption refers to time itself and the method by which it is calculated, the moon. The unchangeable nature of the moon was used as an example when Yahuwah was declaring the enduring nature of His promises to David: “Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.” (Psalms 89:35-37, KJV) The Sabbath, being established at Creation, is to be calculated by the calendar established at Creation: the lunisolar calendar. Obedience to the divine commands purifies and sanctifies the soul. Disobedience desolates it. When the continual is taken away, the abomination that desolates the soul is established. This was witnessed when, in the fourth century, Constantine I enforced the use of the pagan calendar, rejecting the Biblical method of time-keeping. The Dark Ages that followed were the direct result of this abomination that truly desolated the soul. This action will be witnessed again in the near future when a universal Sunday law will be enforced upon pain of death. Revelation 13 reveals the final conflict will be over worship: “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. “And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. “And he … deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:11-17, KJV) The world is on the verge of catastrophe. These horrendous events will burst upon multitudes as an overwhelming surprise. The very next thing to happen is the sounding of the Trumpets as described in Revelation 8 and 9. It is under the fifth trumpet, also known as the first woe, that the abomination of desolation will be established. When demons in the form of extraterrestrials over run the earth, the pope will be exalted to be earth’s representative. It will only be logical for him to be given leadership of the new, one world religion. In this new position of ultimate power he will, at that time, impose a universal Sunday law. All who choose to honor the Creator by worshipping Him on His holy seventh-day Sabbath, calculated by the luni-solar calendar He established at Creation, are already facing hardship when trying to get time off work. The difficulties they face now, however, are nothing to compare to what lies ahead. When the might of the state is combined with the decree of the church to establish a universal law imposing a false worship day on pain of death, then the continuous without interruption will have effectively been taken away and the abomination that desolates will be established. This law does not even have to enforce Sunday only. True believers who seek accommodation for their worship by the luni-solar calendar will be viewed as agitators and troublers of the people. Conformity to societal norms will be desired by the masses when the existence of all is threatened with alien invasion. Allowance could easily be made for Jews and Saturday-sabbatarians who worship on the seventh day of the pagan/papal Gregorian calendar. But no such allowance will be made for those who stand loyal to the Creator and want to worship Him on His method of time-keeping, the luni-solar calendar of Creation. The abomination of desolation will be established when a false calendar and a false day of worship are imposed by law. This is the event that starts the final countdown. Yahushua told Daniel that there would be 1,290 days following this event.
The three and a half years between the Universal Sunday Law and the close of probation will be a time of intense persecution for Yahuwah’s people. But Yahuwah will give the divine strength and wisdo .
None will be able to refute their arguments in favor of the lunar Sabbath. The attention of the people will thus be brought to these all-important issues. None will remain ignorant of what is at stake.
The Loud Cry Yah’s faithful will not be silent in this time of emergency. They will unite with the three angels of Revelation 14, and warn the world of the dire consequences of conforming to the dictates of the man of sin and the presumption of worshipping Yahuwah on a false day of worship. Fearful is the issue to which the world is to be brought. The powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of [Yahuwah], will decree that all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” shall conform to the customs of the church by the observance of the false sabbath. All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of [Yahuwah] enjoining the Creator’s rest-day demands obedience, and threatens wrath against all who transgress its precepts. With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whoever shall trample upon [Yahuwah’s] law to obey a human enactment, receives the mark of the beast; he accepts the sign of allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead of [Yahuwah]. The warning from Heaven is, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of [Yah] which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.” … The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty; for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve [Yahuwah] and those who serve him not. While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the State, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to [Yah], the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to [Yahuwah’s] law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of [Yahuwah].3 Persecution will increase during this time. It is necessary, however, to draw the attention of the world to the issue at hand. As the controversy extends into new fields, and the minds of the people are called to [Yahuwah’s] downtrodden law, Satan is astir. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light, lest it should shine upon their flocks. By every means at their command they will endeavor to suppress the discussion of these vital questions. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment-keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducements to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is, “Show us from the Word of [Yah] our error,“—the same plea that was made by Luther under similar circumstances. Those who are arraigned before the courts make a strong vindication of the truth, and some who hear them are led to take their stand to keep all the commandments of [Yah]. Thus light will be brought before thousands who otherwise would know nothing of these truths.
… As the defenders of truth refuse to honor the Sunday-sabbath, some of them will be thrust into prison, some will be exiled, some will be treated as slaves. To human wisdom, all this now seems impossible; but as the restraining Spirit of [Yah] shall be withdrawn from men, and they shall be under the control of Satan, who hates the divine precepts, there will be strange developments. The heart can be very cruel when [Yahuwah’s] fear and love are removed. As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position, and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbath-keepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them. In this time of persecution the faith of [Yahuwah’s] servants will be tried. They have faithfully given the warning, looking to [Yahuwah] and to his Word alone. [Yah’s] Spirit, moving upon their hearts, has constrained them to speak. … [Yahuwah] put the truth into their hearts, and they could not forbear to proclaim it.4 All of this transpires during the 1,260 days (or three and a half years) foretold in Daniel 12:7. Yahushua told Daniel, “When he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished,” and it will be. Three and a half years after a universal Sunday law has been decreed, probation will close. And then will come the seven last plagues. Daniel 12:7 gives a timeline of 1,260 days. Verse 11 gives a timeline of 1,290 days. That is a difference of one month: 1,290 days -1,260 days 30 days The month following the close of probation will be the “great” time of trouble. It is called “great” not because of its length, but because it is during this 30-day time period that the “wrath of Yahuwah … is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation” (Revelation 14:10, KJV) on those who persist in defiance and rebellion against the divine law. During this time, Yahuwah’s faithful will be sheltered by divine protection. They have trusted in the Almighty and shall abide safely under His wings. For the wicked, the seven last plagues will be the worst judgments to ever fall on mankind in the history of the earth. In fact, they will be so severe that if they were drawn out longer than 30 days, there would be no life left.
The "great" time of trouble when the 7 last plagues are being poured out will last only 30 days or there would be no life left. But Yahuwah does not want all life cut off. He wants some of the wicked to remain to see the reward of the righteous.
The saints glorified! “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” (Daniel 12:12, KJV) Precious promise! When the seventh plague falls, it is over. Yahuwah and His people have triumphed! The difference between the 1,290 days and the 1,335 days, is 45 days. It is during this time that those who have honored Yahuwah by staying faithful to Him in the face of imminent death will be honored. The Revelator foretold this blessed event. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:9 & 10, KJV) During the 45-day time period, the wicked that have so vigorously persecuted Yahuwah’s children will come and worship at the feet of the faithful. They will be honored in Heaven but Yahuwah wants them to be honored on earth as well. They have stood faithfully before the whole world, upholding the honor of Yahuwah and the divine law. They have not surrendered their wills to evil men inspired by demons. In the face of death, they have faithfully given earth’s final warning and many who would otherwise have been lost have been saved through their self-sacrificing efforts. It is Yahuwah’s pleasure that they receive a foretaste of the glory that will be theirs in Heaven.
By the time probation closes, Yah's people will know that the Second Coming is only two and a half months away. This will encourage them to stand firm through Jacob's Time of Trouble while the plagues are being poured out and their execution appears imminent.
The end of days “But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:13, KJV) Daniel is now standing in his lot. The prophecies given 2,500 years ago are now being fulfilled. Soon—sooner than you can imagine—the Saviour will return to take His faithful, waiting children home. But before that time, the world must be warned. Daniel 12 must be interpreted as taking place after 1922. The final battle is over worship and only those who remain loyal to the Creator will, in the end, be saved. Thus saith [Yahuwah], Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. …
Thus saith [Yahuwah] unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give … an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to [Yahuwah], to serve him, and to love the name of [Yahuwah], to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:1-2, 4-7, KJV)
Putting the 1260-day time period solely in the past destroys the warning Yahuwah intends Daniel 12 to be.
Those who insist that the timelines of Daniel 12 were fulfilled over 1,260 years during the Dark Ages are clinging to erroneous interpretations. By refusing to advance with the light, they are as deceitful as guard dogs that refuse to sound an alarm when danger is near. It has the effect of pacifying the awakened mind, soothing it back to sleep with the assurance that the Second Coming may be near, but certainly is not imminent. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. (Isaiah 56:10-12, KJV) The Day of Yahuwah is here now! We are now living in the Time of Trouble. Very few events yet remain between now and when Yahushua will appear in the clouds of Heaven. Now is the time to seek Yahuwah, learn of Him, and embrace the precious rays of divine truth shining with ever increasing brilliance from the eternal throne.
1
The name “Michael” asks a question: Who is like El? The life of Michael answers the question, revealing the character of Yahuwah Himself. Michael is the name for the preincarnate Saviour, Yahushua. 2 The New Strong’s Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words, #8548. 3 Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 604-605. 4 Ibid., pp. 607-608.
Daniel Chapter 12: The end is near! (QUIZ) 1. The Willful King is: o
Egypt
o
Rome
o
Napoleon/France
o
The Ottoman Empire 2. The King of the North is: o
Egypt
o
Rome
o
Napoleon/France
o The Ottoman Empire 3. The King of the South is: o
Egypt
o
Rome
o
Napoleon/France
o The Ottoman Empire 4. The ''Time of the End" began in: o
1798
o
1844
o
1912
o
1922 5. The ''Time of Trouble'' began in: o
1798
o
1844
o
1912
o 1922 6. It is the responsibility of every child of Yahuwah to... o
faithfully attend a church.
o
obey their pastor without hesitation.
o
abide by the doctrines put forth by the pope.
o
actively seek out truth and accept every ray of light from Heaven. 7. At no point this side of Heaven will anyone be able to claim he or she has arrived at All Truth. o
True
o False 8. According to Daniel 12:10, who will understand the prophecies pertaining to the end? o
the wise (those who embrace Heaven's advancing light)
o
the wicked (those who refuse light and cling to error)
o
no one
o
none of the above 9. According to Daniel 12:10, who will NOT understand the prophecies pertaining to the end? o
the wise (those who embrace Heaven's advancing light)
o
the wicked (those who refuse light and cling to error)
o
no one
o none of the above 10. The Sabbath, being established at Creation, is to be calculated by: o
the modern Roman Gregorian Calendar
o
the Calendar established at Creation
o
whatever calendar society is using
o none of the above 11. In the near future, a universal ____________ will be enforced upon pain of death. o
microchip
o
curfew
o
Sunday law
o
none of the above 12. The sounding of the Trumpets of Revelation: o
is imminent
o
has already happened
o
will happen in the far distant future
o none of the above 13. It is under____________ that the abomination of desolation will be established. o
the first trumpet
o
the third trumpet
o
the fifth trumpet
o
the seventh trumpet
o
none of the above 14. The abomination of desolation will be established when... o
the United States enforces everyone in the world to receive a microchip in the hand or forehead.
o
a false calendar and a false day of worship are imposed by law.
o
the third temple is rebuilt.
o
the third temple is destroyed.
o none of the above 15. When demons posing as aliens overrun the earth, ____________ will be exalted as earth’s representative.
o
the pope
o
the U.S. president
o
the Turkish ambassador
o none of the above 16. There will be ____________ between the Universal Sunday Law and the close of probation. o
45 days
o
3.5 years
o
7 years
o 10 years 17. This will be a time of ____________ for Yahuwah’s people (#16). o
relative ease
o
intense persecution
o
peace and relaxation
o
indifference 18. Those who trample upon Yahuwah’s law to obey a human enactment will receive: o
the Seal of Yahuwah
o the Mark of the Beast 19. Those who choose to be obedient to Yahuwah (and His Commandments) at all cost and wholly submit to His divine authority will receive: o
the Seal of Yahuwah
o the Mark of the Beast 20. The ''great'' time of trouble (when the 7 last plagues are being poured) out will last: o
30 days
o
45 days
o
3.5 years
o
7 years 21. The Glorification of the Saints on earth will last: o
30 days
o
45 days
o
3.5 years
o
7 years 22. The Glorification of the Saints on earth will precede the 7 last plagues. o
True
o False 23. The Glorification of the Saints on earth will follow the 7 last plagues. o o
True
False 24. The 1,260 days (3.5 years) of Daniel 12 is:
o
past
o future 25. We are now living in the Time of Trouble. o
True
o
False 26. Very few events yet remain between now and when Yahushua will appear in the clouds of Heaven. o
True
o False 27. ____________ is the time to seek Yahuwah, learn of Him, and embrace the precious rays of divine truth shining with ever increasing brilliance from the eternal throne. o
NOW!
o
Tomorrow
o
Next week
o
Next year
