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Not All Speak With Tongues – Parts 4 & 5

[Study Aired May 17, 2026]

Hi C____,

You did not at all offend me. I, too, am at a disadvantage, when communicating by email. It is hard to determine one’s ‘tone of voice’ in an email.

When I ask a direct question, please don’t take it as anything but that. I am just trying to learn what you are thinking and why you believe as you do. I have learned a lot from those who are willing to take the time to tell me why they see the scriptures as they do.

As a matter of fact, I was ‘edified’ by what you had to say about Isaiah 28. All those who are still controlled by ‘the first Adam’ and are opposed to ‘Christ in you’ are indeed ‘foolish buffoons.’

Whether immature Christian, Islamic or total heathen, they are all acting as “evil men.” This is exactly what God uses to punish His own rebellious children.

Isa 10:5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
Isa 10:6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

Isa 10:11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
Isa 10:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

These verses tell me that God always has and always will use the heathen to punish His own hypocritical people.

Here it is this same message from King David’s perspective:

Psa 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Psa 17:14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world…

These 21st century ‘Crusades’ and foreign wars that we have embarked upon are only “the beginnings of sorrows.”

Isa 10:23 The Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

Isa 34:2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.

Mar 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

As the Lord’s ambassadors we are to see all of these prophecies as being fulfilled inwardly and in our heavens first and foremost. If we fail to do so we will be as spiritually blind as the rest of the world. The weight of the scriptures are directed toward ‘the beast within,’ not some man in a temple made with stones over in the middle east:

Ecc 3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

The word ‘places’ is in brackets to indicate that it is not in the Greek. The word ‘high’ is emboldened because it is translated from G2032, ‘epouranios’ meaning ‘the heavens’ where our battle is at this very moment taking place as our heavens are being purified:

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens [G3772: ‘uronos’, heavens] should be purified with these; but the heavenly things [G2032: ‘epouranios’, heavens of our hearts and minds] themselves with better sacrifices than these.

“The heavenly things themselves” of Hebrews 9:23 is translated from the same word translated ‘high places’ in Ephesian 6:12.

This is just some ‘food for thought.’ I appreciate your fellowship.

Mike

November 24, 2003

Hi P__,

Thanks for reading the web page. Thanks especially for your question. You ask:

No, there is no such distinction ‘in scripture.’

Yes, I am aware of this distinction in the minds of those who believe in ‘unknown tongues.’ I notice that you have not used the phrase, ‘unknown tongues,’ and I don’t know how you personally feel about this subject. If we are interested in The Truth, then our ‘feelings’ become secondary and irrelevant. I am going to approach this question as I do every question I receive and answer with only one criteria; what saith the scripture?

“Some teach that there are two types of tongues; a quiet, personal prayer language and another to edify the church aloud.” I ask simply, where is the scripture for this teaching? I know very well how it is deduced, because I was raised an interdenominational Pentecostal. I spoke in ‘unknown’ tongues with the others in my church. Our ‘tongues’ were as good as anyone’s. I was as sincere at that time as I am presently in my desire to know the mind of God and to let Christ live His life in me. I love those who believe in ‘unknown tongues’ and appreciate the sincere desire to please God that many of these brothers have. Having said that, I am compelled to add that I was not, however, as informed of The Truth at that time as I am 40 years later. At that time I also believed in ‘free moral agency’ and another Satanic doctrine, the doctrine of an eternal burning hell for immortal souls.

Simply by the grace of God I have been shown in the scriptures that Adam, as he came from the hand of the Creator, was totally unfit for eternal life in the kingdom of God and had not yet ‘put on immortality.’

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Eze 18:4… the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

I now reject the teaching of an immortal flesh and blood Adam, or an inherent immortal soul. These are “Idols of the heart” given to the masses who come to Christ by the Lord Himself:

Eze 14:7  For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
Eze 14:8  And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
Eze 14:10  And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

I have been shown that instead of ‘free will’ the scriptures teach, “it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Rom 9:16), “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:13). “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Eph 1:11)

I now reject the teachings of free will and of free moral agency and my “all things” box is growing bigger every day. A doctrine which teaches that man has a will which is free from any influence by God is an “Idol of the heart.” This is what the Bible actually teaches about whose will is being done in this earth:

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. [1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved…]
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man [when a thought begins to be formed in our mind], and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Instead of eternal burning hell, I have been shown that God (1Ti 2:4) … will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1Ti 4:10) For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially [not exclusively] of those that believe. (2Pe 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (1Jn 2:2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours [believers] only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

I now reject the teaching of eternal hell fire or eternal death. They are both “idols of the heart.”

Likewise when I saw that…

1Co 14:2… he that speaketh in a tongue [a foreign language, when there is no one there to interpret] speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth [speaks in ‘plain English’] speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4 He that speaketh in an [foreign] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church [and what is the point of this statement?].
1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with [foreign] tongues, but rather that ye prophesied[speak in a language everyone understands]: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
1Co 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you [anyone who speaks in ‘unknown tongues’ care to answer this question of Paul’s], except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1Co 14:7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? [Does this sound as if Paul is talking about ‘unknown tongues’ understood as unknown to any culture on earth?]
1Co1 4:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound [unknown tongues], who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1Co 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood[here is the force of this entire chapter], how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

1Co 14:3… he that prophesieth [speaks in ‘plain English’] speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

So I repeat:

1Co 14:4 He that speaketh in an [foreign] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

At that point I decided to: (1Co 14:1) Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

I was shown that even though Paul could, (1Co 14:18) … speak with tongues more than ye all:

1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [foreign] tongue.

How many people who claim to have the gift of tongues have that scriptural attitude?

Finally, I was shown the purpose for tongues. I now know that:

1Co 14:21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. [So the ‘tongues under discussion are, “men of other tongues.”]
1Co 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe [not ‘the initial evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost’], but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe [this is the “language… to edify the church aloud,” as you put it.]

Now that I know the function of ‘tongues,’ I understand how the ‘tongues’ spoken on the day of Pentecost were used by the ‘Holy Ghost.’ They were for a sign to them [the Jews] that believed not. What tongues were they speaking? We don’t have to guess. We are told specifically:

Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

So the 120 on whom the ‘Holy Ghost’ came on the day of Pentecost, did not understand what they were saying, but they were speaking in one of the above listed ‘tongues.’ No one ever spoke in an “unknown… tongue of angels.” The reason we have this phrase in scripture is to distinguish it from human languages. In the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [foreign] tongue [even a foreign ‘tongues of angels’].

1Co 14:2… he that speaketh in a tongue [a foreign language, when there is no one there to interpret] speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. [This is not a word of praise, it is a reprimand. The solution to this infantile behavior of verse two, which simply “edifieth himself,” is verses 3-5.]
1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth [speaks in ‘plain English’] speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co14:4 He that speaketh in an [foreign] tongue edifieth himself [when no one understands him]; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church [and what is the point of this statement?].
1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with [foreign] tongues, but rather that ye prophesied [speak in a language everyone understands]: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying [as well as the person or persons for whom it is “a sign.”]

Once this scriptural purpose for ‘tongues,’ as a “sign to them that believe not,” is understood and believed in, the false doctrine of ‘unknown tongues’ falls away. The ‘unbeliever’ may be a called-out saint, such as Peter at the house of the Gentile Roman centurion, Cornelius. Still, “tongues were for a sign to them that believed not.” It took a duplication of the exact event that occurred on Pentecost to convince Peter and all of the Jewish apostles, that God was no longer bound by physical descent in His dealings with mankind.

This was but one of the many (Joh 16:12) “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” that Christ had referred to on the night before His apprehension by those of the ‘church’ of His day.

Part of the problem involved here is that very few people notice that we are given the scriptural definition of ‘prophecy’ here. How is prophecy defined? (1Co 14:3) He that prophesieth speaketh [speaks in ‘plain English’] unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Now since (2Ti 3:16) All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: “All scripture” is therefore prophecy. ‘Doctrine’ is certainly ‘edification,’ and ‘instruction in righteousness,’ is certainly ‘exhortation.’ For what purpose? To prove that we have ‘the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost?’ Is this the purpose for anything given to us? No! Such phraseology is without scriptural basis whatsoever. Though it may not always be pointed out in the context, such as Acts 19:

Act 19:1  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Act 19:4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7 And all the men were about twelve.
Act 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

We are assured that the purpose for tongues, even here, is “for a sign to them that believed not.” God is not into edifying the flesh. Paul exhorts us, “rather seek to prophecy” for this purpose: (2Ti 3:17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Notice that immediately after these disciples receive the gift of tongues, he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

As with Peter, and as with the Jews at Pentecost, these disciples receiving the gift of languages was “for a sign to them which believe not.” The Jews of the synagogue were as obstinate as the Jews at Jerusalem. They were as attached to their privileged position as ‘descendants of Abraham’ as was Peter, while he napped on the roof of the home of Simon the tanner.

“John’s baptism” knew nothing of “dying daily” to the things of the flesh. John’s baptism knew nothing of “Christ in you the hope of glory”:

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

There is one other point that needs to be brought out in this 14th chapter of I Corinthians.

1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

This verse does not say, ‘Speak first and wait to see if someone can interpret.’ Paul says it is incumbent upon the person with the gift of tongues to use his gift wisely, as “a sign to them that believe not.” He was to “keep silence in the church” if he had not first determined whether someone was present who was capable of interpreting this particular tongue.

1Co 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1Co 14:30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
1Co 14:31 For ye may all prophesy [even an interpreted language was to edify] one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

In summary, Paul gives us his understanding of the place and comparative importance of tongues:

1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [foreign] tongue.
1Co 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

If only this were the attitude of us all, we would all “in understanding be men” at least on this one subject.

Again, I do not disdain those who are more concerned with the gift of tongues than with the gift of prophecy. It was only yesterday that I was just such a person. However, yes, to answer your question, “When that which is mature is come, that which is in part shall be done away.” Here it is:

1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [We have just been shown how tongues stack up to prophecy].
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [Why interpret something no one on earth understands in the first place? That is “a sign” to no one.]
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

In closing, let me point out that, in Peter’s case at Cornelius’ house, he said:

Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; [In this case Peter and the Jews with him were the unbelievers]

What God had “given them… even as he did unto us,” was real languages which served “as a sign to them which believed not.” Paul was not discussing “tongues of angels” in 1 Corinthians 14. He certainly was not discussing what is passed off as ‘unknown tongues’ in the ‘charismatic’ world of today. The apostles and all who spoke in tongues anywhere in the New Testament, had ‘the real thing.’ It was so powerful that it served as a “sign to them that believed not.” Take it from someone with personal experience, ‘unknown tongues,’ often serve the exact opposite purpose and drive away many who are honestly seeking to know The Truth. The statement of belief of many denominations is: ‘We believe that the gift of unknown tongues is the initial evidence of the gift of the holy spirit’.

I hope I haven’t offended you. That is certainly not my intent. But I have discovered that many who have experienced ‘speaking in unknown tongues’ find it difficult to admit that they have been believing in, and partaking of, a counterfeit. I myself had just such a struggle. It was a real relief to get to where I did not feel superior to those who had “not yet been baptized with the Holy Ghost, as evidenced by unknown tongues.”

I hope this has been of some help to you.

Your brother in Christ, Mike

]]> Daniel – Dan 8:15-27  Gabriel, Make This Man to Understand the Vision https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/daniel-dan-815-27-gabriel-make-this-man-to-understand-the-vision/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=daniel-dan-815-27-gabriel-make-this-man-to-understand-the-vision Mon, 24 Jan 2022 22:57:44 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=25128

Dan 8:15-27  Gabriel, Make This Man to Understand the Vision

[Study Aired January 24, 2022]

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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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 first part of Daniel Chapter 8 deals with the vision Daniel had about a ram and a he-goat. The ram represents the Lord’s elect, and the he-goat is the devil who exercises his influence through the beast within us. This beast within was given to overcome us (ram) at a certain stage in our walk with Christ.

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. 

Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Daniel, representing the elect, was told that this desecration of our body, which is the temple of God, will last for a period of 2,300 days before our temple is cleansed. This period of 2,300 days for the desecration of the temple is mentioned only here in Daniel. We must therefore understand that it is the sum of our Lord’s words that gives us direction, therefore we cannot put so much premium on the number of days indicated here so as to develop a doctrine on it. As we indicated in the previous review, in the sight of the Lord or in the spirit, a day or a thousand years are the same.

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

So, whether it is 2300 days or 1150 days as indicated by the fact that the sacrifice is carried out twice in a day, is irrelevant. It is the numbers themselves that are significant. The 2300 days shows us that this period of the domination of the beast within, only stops when Christ comes in to judge us or cleanse our temple as we become witnesses to the fullness of our flesh (our spiritual depravity).

Dan 8:14  And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Today’s study focuses on the interpretation of the vision of the ram and the he-goat as given to Daniel.

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. 

Gabriel means ‘man of God’. This man who appeared before Daniel in the vision is also Christ, and since Christ is sending us, we are now playing the role of Gabriel. So, Gabriel also stands for the elect who are messengers of the Lord.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

The man’s voice between the banks of the river Ulai is the voice of the Lord or the words of the Lord. Between the banks of Ulai is the river Ulai.  Ulai stands for leaders or mighty. The mighty or the leaders are the elect. The Ulai river therefore symbolizes the word of God given to the elect. As we indicated in the previous review, this river is what every joint supplies, which is the word of God. This word of God is what makes us understand what is taking place within the elect. This river is the same as the one proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The Lamb is Christ, and as Christ has sent us with His words, this river of life is also proceeding from the elect.

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

In verse 2, Christ is telling the elect, represented by Gabriel, that our role is to make the body of Christ understand the word of God by every joint supplied. This role is emphasized in the Book of Acts of the Apostles when, in the midst of spreading the gospel in Samaria, the Lord took Philip from there and sent him to the desert to meet the Ethiopian eunuch. Let’s listen to what transpired when Philip met the Ethiopian eunuch:

Act 8:5  And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.
Act 8:6  And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did. 

Act 8:26  But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert. 
Act 8:27  And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship; 
Act 8:28  and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 
Act 8:29  And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 
Act 8:30  And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 
Act 8:31  And he said, How can I, except someone shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. 
Act 8:32  Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:
Act 8:33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth. 
Act 8:34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other? 
Act 8:35  And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus. 

Without Philip, who signifies the elect, it was impossible for the Ethiopian eunuch to understand the mysteries concerning the kingdom of heaven. The Ethiopian eunuch himself admitted that he could not understand the word of the Lord unless somebody explains to him. We must humble ourselves to receive from our brothers and sisters the word of truth which is able to give us an inheritance. Paul’s blindness when the Lord appeared to him is to remind us of our spiritual poverty where we could not understand the words of Christ. The Lord specifically called Ananias, just as the Lord commanded Gabriel, to open Paul’s eyes to see the mysteries of the kingdom. Today, our Lord is calling us from the river of the mighty (the word of the Lord) to perform the same role as Gabriel, Philip and Ananias!!

Act 9:8  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 
Act 9:9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 
Act 9:10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 
Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 
Act 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 
Act 9:13  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 
Act 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 
Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 
Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

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. 

The fact that Daniel fell on his face is to assure us that this man Gabriel is Christ. The same reaction happened to John in Patmos during the revelation of Christ to Him.

Rev 1:17  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

As indicated earlier, as Christ has sent us, we represent Gabriel. However, we, the Lord’s messengers, are admonished never to accept any worship from those to whom we minister. Only Christ who deserves our worship.

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 

The angel saying that the vision is meant for the end of time is to let us know that Daniel, just like the prophets of the Old Testament, was not meant to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven in his time.

Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

We, the elect, are at the time of the end, and therefore, we are made to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 

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. 

While the angel was talking to Daniel, he was in a deep sleep until the angel touched him and set him upright. The deep sleep here refers to the fact that we were spiritually dead when Christ came to us with His word which woke us up to the reality of our spiritual poverty.  We were just like Lazarus, who was dead for four days. The four days signify the whole period of his life before Christ came to him. When Christ came to him with the brightness of His coming, Lazarus was set free from the shackles of grave clothes and the napkin that bound his face.

Joh 11:38  Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Joh 11:39  Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 
Joh 11:40  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 
Joh 11:41  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 
Joh 11:42  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 
Joh 11:43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 
Joh 11:44  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. 

The grave clothes represent our self-righteousness which binds us from being able to walk in righteousness before Christ. The napkin which covered Lazarus’ face signifies our false doctrines which prevent us from seeing Christ through the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

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. 

A simplified rendition of this verse is given as follows:

Dan 8:19  and said: Listen, and I will tell you what will happen at the end of time, when God has chosen to show his anger. (CEV)

The Lord’s coming to us with the brightness of His coming is to bring us to recognize our sinful state – that is, to realize the beast within us. As we accept our spiritual depravity, we come to understand, through the word of the Lord, that we must experience His indignation or wrath upon our old man (beast) within to destroy it.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The period when we experience the wrath of the Lord upon our old man within is the time of the end of our world.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Eze 21:31  And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.

Isa 30:30  And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

Isa 34:2  For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.

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. 

As stated in the previous reviews of Daniel, the prophets of the Old Testament, including Daniel, were not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. This is only given to the Lord’s elect. This means that the interpretation of Daniel’s vision given to him by the angel pertains to the “was” part of the “is, was and will be” of the scriptures. That is, Daniel was given to know the outward interpretation of the vision as it relates to his time. We, however, focus on the “is” part of the word of the Lord while also paying attention to the “was and will be” aspect of the word of the Lord.

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

God gave Daniel a foresight of the destruction of other kingdoms, which in their day was as powerful as that of Babylon. The ram with two horns was the second empire of Media and Persia which succeeded Babylon. In the vision, Daniel saw this ram overcome by a he-goat. This he-goat was Alexander the Great from Greece who conquered the empire of Media and Persia. Later, after Alexander’s death, his four generals, who are signified by the four which stood up for it after the horn was broken, divided up his conquests.

The Lord revealed all these to Daniel so that Daniel would understand that the Lord reigns in the affairs of men and that it is he who sets up kingdoms of this world and gives to whosoever He wills.

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.

However, we, His elect, are blessed to understand the spiritual reality of the words of our Lord. As we discussed in the first part of Daniel chapter 8, the vision of Daniel applies specifically to us as follows:

The Lord’s elect represents the ram by the riverside carrying the two horns. Ram’s horns were used as trumpets in the olden days, and the trumpet stands for the voice of the Lord.

Jos 6:4  And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
Jos 6:5  And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. 

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 

What this means is that we start our walk with Christ based on the law, and when the law has finished its work by bringing us to know that we are the worst sinners, we are then given to understand the spirit of the word.  At the start of this chapter, we are told that this vision of Daniel is a witness to the first one which means that the dream is one!! This he-goat is therefore the same as the beast in chapter 7 although it has a different description.

The great horn being broken in verse 22 and being replaced by four notable horns is the same as the beast receiving a mortal wound and later getting healed. This mortal wound in Revelation 13:3 is the same as the destruction of the great horn.  This wound being healed is the same as the appearance of four notable ones in place of the broken great horn. The four horns mean the whole of the strength of the beast.

Rev 13:3  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.
Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

In verse 8, we are given additional information that the four notable horns that appeared are toward the four winds of heaven.  This means that the Lord uses the whole of the strength (horns) of the beast or the evil one as part of His spiritual resources to effectuate His purpose of making His elect holy and blameless before Him in this life. He also uses His spiritual resources to rule in the affairs of this world. For example, the Lord used the four winds to scatter His enemies and also to give life to the whole of mankind.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Jer 49:36  And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.

Eze 37:9  Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
Eze 37:10  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

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. 

This king of fierce countenance is this little horn in verse 9 of Daniel chapter 8 which waxed great and cast down some of the host and the stars to the ground and stamped on them.

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. 

Rev 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.  

This little horn is the same as the beast within since both play the same role of overcoming the saints, which is stated in verse 24 as destroying the mighty and the holy people.

Dan 7:21  I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them (the Lord’s two witnesses), and shall overcome them, and kill them. 

In verse 24, it is stated that the beast’s power shall be mighty but not of his own. The beast within us poses a formidable opposition to the things of Christ and receives its power from the devil.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

Again in verse 24, the beast is described as being able to destroy wonderfully and shall prosper and practice. This means that the beast shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does. Earlier in verse 11 of Daniel chapter 8, we are given insight into the destructive nature of this beast within.

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. 

He takes away our daily sacrifice and casts down the place of our Lord’s sanctuary within us. As we indicated in the previous review, the altar is where our sacrifices are offered to the Lord. Within us, this altar is our heart and mind with our body as the sacrifice. This is because with our hearts we offer a sacrifice of praise to the Lord, and with our bodies we present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord. The place of our Lord’s sanctuary is our body. The casting down of the place of sanctuary relates to us not being able to offer our bodies as a dwelling place for God.

Psa 9:1  To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Succeeding in all that the beast does is to make us aware that everything the beast does is all part of the plan of the Lord. Nothing that the Lord has not planned will prosper.

Isa 14:24  The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:  

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. 

A simpler version of this verse is as follows:

Dan 8:25  By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.

The cunning nature of the evil one is his ability to transform as an angel of light. Through this cunning means, the devil represented by the beast, has been able to deceive the whole world including the Lord’s elect at some point in our walk with the Lord.

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

By peace shall the evil one destroy many means that it is by our false sense of security that we are destroyed by the devil.  This false sense of security includes thinking that we are spiritually rich when we are miserable, poor, blind and naked.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

The false sense of security also includes the works of our hands and the riches of this world. These very things which we treasure as our security is what is used by the devil to destroy us. Our only security is being in Christ!!

Ecc 2:11  Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

The statement in verse 25 that the beast shall be broken without hands is to let us know that the defeat of the beast is the work of the Lord, not man. We do not contribute in any way to the destruction of the beast within. What destroys the beast is the spirit which is the word of the Lord as revealed to Zerubbabel as follows:

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 
Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. 

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

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 fact that Daniel was instructed to shut up the vision as the reality of the vision is a long way off is to make us aware that Daniel, together with all the Old Testament prophets, was not meant to understand all that he and they saw through visions and spoke about.

In verse 27, it was stated that Daniel fainted and ‘was sick certain days’. According to Strong’s dictionary, ‘fainted’ in verse 27 means to continue or to exist. The word ‘sick’ can also mean to grieve. This suggests that Daniel continued to grieve over the fact that he did not understand the vision during his lifetime. However, Daniel, like the other prophets, was assured that the visions and the words of the Lord were not meant for himself but to us they did minister. We have a more sure word of prophecy which is like a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and our Lord Jesus Christ establishes His kingdom within us.

1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 
1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 
1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

May the Lord grant us the grace to receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to ensure our salvation.

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Amen!!

  

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