Dan 11:28-45  Be ye not troubled – Part 5

[Study Aired June 6, 2024]

Dan 11:28  Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 
Dan 11:29  At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 
Dan 11:30  For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 
Dan 11:31  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 
Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 
Dan 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 
Dan 11:34  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 
Dan 11:35  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. 
Dan 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. 
Dan 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. 
Dan 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. 
Dan 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.
Dan 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. 
Dan 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. 
Dan 11:42  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
Dan 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. 
Dan 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. 
Dan 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. 

This last section we’re going to look at in chapter 11 reveals more historical events, which are spiritual types that point to the spiritual reality of those events being shown in the lives of those who are being judged in this life (1Pe 4:17). We will remain spiritually blinded and lost if we continue to put these verses off onto someone else and not apply them to our own life that must be miraculously convicted of our own self-righteous man of perdition who continues to want to abide on the throne of our hearts and must be kept under subjection as we die daily (Joh 9:41, 1Co 9:26-27, 1Co 15:31).

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Below are a couple of excerpts from the historian I’ve been using that will make it very clear how the religious masses look at prophesy with an outward approach that does not incriminate us personally, as we naturally point to the vileness in others, the classic Adam and Eve approach to dealing with God’s revelation that should be convicting us that there is nothing good within me (Gen 3:11-13, Mar 10:18, Joh 5:30).

Gen 3:11  And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Gen 3:12  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Gen 3:13  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Excerpt pointing to the Antichrist who is thought of as being one specific man:

He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: (Dan 11:36) The angel explained to Daniel that this king would blaspheme God and exalt himself until the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.
Above every god: (Dan 11:36) Here we shift from what was fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Selucids to what will be fulfilled in the Antichrist, the final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to the latter days (Daniel 10:14), and Daniel 11:36 begins to look more towards this final world dictator, who is sort of a “last days Antiochus Epiphanes.” [the author is using the NKJV]

Dan 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. 

In this section of scripture, God’s judgment upon the body of Christ is represented by “the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.”  It is the antiChrist in each one of us that needs to be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming (1Jn 2:18, 1Jn 2:22, 1Jn 4:3, 2Jn 1:7), and what that brightness does is rip the self-righteous veil off our own hearts that cannot see that all of mankind’s violent and sinful history is a declaration of what is naturally within us and unable to be overcome unless the Lord tears down that marred vessel and makes it anew by the brightness of His coming into our heavens (Jer 18:4, 2Th 2:8).

2Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

The world is not antiChrist for not believing that Christ entered into this world in His flesh, because many do believe this, including Muslims. However, it is the height of blasphemy to tell anyone that you are Christ’s body and that He has entered into you as the Son of God (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9, Eph 5:30). Christ is our forerunner as one who was rejected by men for the truth’s sake, and as He is, so are we in this world (Joh 8:58-59, Joh 10:31-36, 1Jn 4:17)

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make 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:

Joh 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Joh 8:59  Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

By God’s grace we will continue to “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward” (2Jn 1:8), not denying the Son who is within us and being blessed to abide in Christ so that we can know the Father as well (1Jn 2:23-24, Joh 14:20-21).

1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also [Mat 10:32-33].
1Jn 2:24  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Christ is in His people cleansing the temple of our beastly nature that wants to hold onto our former belief in free will which could never be driven out of us except it be through His chastening grace upon those few who are being received by God in this age (Joh 2:15-17, Heb 12:6).

Dan 11:28  Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. 
Dan 11:29  At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 
Dan 11:30  For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 
Dan 11:31  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 

We understand that the vile person being talked about here represents Antiochus Epiphanes, who is a type of the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts, and as we saw in the previous verses he was in battle against the king of the south who had a very great army (Dan 11:25-27), and yet he did not prevail, meaning the king of the south. This symbolizes how God purposes for us to overcome and sweep the house clean [Antiochus Epiphanes’ victory], only to then “return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land” which is what he does but in the final analysis we read “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” (Dan 11:45). These events in the life of Antiochus Epiphanes parallel very well with these words of Christ (Mat 12:43-45). This section of Antiochus Epiphanes’ life reminds us that we are that wicked generation who lose our first love, and the last state of our life is worse than the first for a period of time when we come out of Babylon, represented by the dry places where we seek spiritual rest but find none.

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, [victory over king of the south] he walketh through dry places [Isa 3:1], seeking rest, and findeth none.
Mat 12:44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished [“he shall do exploits, and return to his own land“].
Mat 12:45  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation [“yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him“]. 

“At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter” – This verse reminds us that there is an appointed time for all things that God orchestrates for our maturing, and God knows when it is time for us to go into exile and when to come out of it.

“The ships of Chittim shall come against him” – The city of Chittim is mentioned six times in the old covenant in these following verses (Num 24:24, Isa 23:1, Isa 23:12, Jer 2:10, Eze 27:6, Dan 11:30), the number of man, and in particular speak of those who are gentile in spirit, meaning unbelieving. The ships of Tyre and the ships of Chittim represent that period in our life when we were those merchants on the sea plying the waters of Babylon, walking contrary to the Lord (Act 27:4, Lev 26:21), of which must all be destroyed within us.

H3794 kittı̂y    kittı̂yı̂y kit-tee’, kit-tee-ee’   Patrial from an unused name denoting Cyprus (only in the plural); a Kittite or Cypriote; hence an islander in general, that is, the Greeks or Romans on the shores opposite Palestine: – Chittim, Kittim.  Total KJV occurrences: 8

BDB – Definition: Chittim or Kittim = bruisers

Num 24:24   And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. 

Isa 23:1  The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.

Isa 23:12  And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.

Act 27:4  And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 

Lev 26:21  And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate” – Now we come to this section about the abomination of desolation being placed in the temple (1Co 3:16), and it is an abomination in God’s eyes at this point because we think that we stand by our own power, and this is what pollutes the sanctuary of God when we take credit for anything, whether it be good or evil unfolding in our lives.

Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 
Dan 11:33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 
Dan 11:34  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 
Dan 11:35  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. 

As discussed last week, when we are of the mindset to go along to get along and don’t try the spirits whether they are of God, we become one with and subject to that spirit that we coexist with through flatteries (Rom 6:16-18). This is the ecumenical spirit of the churches today that do not obey the voice of Christ but rather let church doctrine trump their thinking in every instance.

Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 

The only way to overcome that spirit is to see through it by the grace of God and so the very next verses of Romans (Rom 6:17-18) explain to us how it is possible that “they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.“

Rom 6:17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 
Rom 6:18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Our old man is going to fall by the sword if we are being dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44, 2Sa 12:10), and the word of God is a flaming sword that turns every way keeping the way of the tree of life (Gen 3:24). That judgment upon us by the sword of God’s word takes our old man into captivity, spoiling us, which is another way of saying we are purged and made white through Christ, “And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.“

Dan 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.

Without God’s spirit within us, we will not see the glorious message of the destruction of the man of sin within us in this verse (Dan 11:36) that tells us the natural status of all the world that has been deceived (2Co 4:4) and how we must prosper in that spirit “till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.” The historian we have been reading concludes, as does the majority of Babylon, that Antiochus must have an end-time fulfillment in some final world dictator who is going to come and wreak havoc. Of course this is great news for Satan as he continues to unknowingly reside in the hearts and minds of humanity who are only looking outside themselves for a supposed man of perdition.

The Antichrist: the end times Antiochus Epiphanes.
(Daniel 11:36) The willful king: a shift to a future fulfillment.

Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.

He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: The angel explained to Daniel that this king would blaspheme God and exalt himself until the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.
Above every god: Here we shift from what was fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Selucids to what will be fulfilled in the Antichrist, the final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to the latter days (Daniel 10:14), and Daniel 11:36 begins to look more towards this final world dictator, who is sort of a “last days Antiochus Epiphanes.”
We know that everything about this prophecy was not fulfilled during the career of Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus specifically said the realabomination of desolation was still in the future (Matthew 24:15). The Apostle Paul paraphrased Daniel 11:36 in reference to the coming Antichrist: Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Antiochus Epiphanes is important, but mostly as a historical preview of the Antichrist. This is why so much space is given to describing the career of one evil man — because he prefigures the ultimate evil man. Antiochus Epiphanes is the “trailer” released well before the Antichrist, who is like the “feature.”
He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: Antiochus Epiphanes certainly did this in the general sense that all sinners oppose God. Yet he remained loyal to the Greek religious tradition, which revered the entire Olympian pantheon. Antiochus Epiphanes put a statue of Zeus in the temple, not of himself. This statement will be far more precisely fulfilled in the Antichrist, who sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished: Antichrist will do much damage, but he is on a short chain and will only work into God’s plan. God’s purpose will be accomplished.

Dan 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. 
Dan 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. 
Dan 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.

We are still talking about the man of perdition within us, and the descriptive words given in these verses define how we lived out our former conversation (Eph 2:3) when we were subject to the god of this world and did not have Him who is within us (1Jn 4:4) overcoming Satan, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ” (1Jn 4:4, Eph 2:4-6). 

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

When we were of our father the devil, we had no regard for God and were without desire for women representing churches. Even if we were in some Babylonian church, our inability to eat his bread and wear his apparel and only want His name (Isa 4:1) is what we are looking at in this verse, “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women.” We also have no regard for the scriptures of old, “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers“, that are able to make us wise unto salvation (2Ti 3:15), because there is only one god and that is ourselves at this point as we put ourselves above all others, “for he shall magnify himself above all.“

The beast gets his power from the dragon (Rev 13:4) so unbeknownst to us in that state of mind where we put ourselves above God, it is all happening as a result of Satan’s spirit that is dominating us at this point in our life. Our subjectivity to Babylon is our worship of the beast who gets his power from Satan making us slaves to sin (Joh 8:34-35) who honor the “God of forces” which should be a small “g”, giving of our wealth, of mind and time and energy, represented by the gold, silver and precious stones, “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.“

Babylon will fall in time, but for now we read of Satan’s empire that provides fleshly strongholds [“many wonderful works“] for the man of perdition who is given increase, like God does to the elect but in the negative sense of keeping people in the bondage of sin via the glory Satan promises, along with power to rule and divide and conquer the land which is our bodies, but all for personal gain. This is the sense of what we’re reading in this verse, “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.“

(Daniel 11:37-39) The character and authority of the “willful king.”

He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women: Based on this, some Bible scholars believe that the Antichrist will be of Jewish descent, and perhaps will also be a homosexual. These things may not be popularly known about the man, but they may be true nonetheless.
But many commentators believe that the desire of womenrefers to Jesus, in that all women desired the honor of bearing the Messiah and understanding “desire” as it is used in Haggai 2:7. Seeing the desire of women as Jesus makes most sense in light of the flow of context.
He shall honor a god of fortresses: The Antichrist will take and hold power with military might and the shrewd use of great riches.

Dan 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.
Dan 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.

These last verses which talk about Antiochus Epiphanes are once again describing the spiritual struggle we must go through with the man of perdition on the throne of our hearts, and we are reminded that, as we near the end of this age, the god of this world will have great wrath (Rev 12:12) and consequently so will evil men wax worse and worse (2Ti 3:11-13). The spiritual struggles within us are typified by this verse, “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” (Mat 24:6-15).

2Ti 3:11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; [process of judgment upon the body of Christ represented by Antioch,  Iconium, and Lystra] what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 
2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 
2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Whoever will escape out the hand of the adversary has already been written, and Satan’s primary target is the elect as the accuser of the brethren so, “He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: (Mat 22:14, Heb 6:4-6,Mat 24:24) but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.” This statement reminds us that there are a few in their flesh who will be saved, and that salvation will be a narrow escape (1Pe 4:18). Who escapes in this life are those who go through a process of judgment in their flesh, typified by these three groups: “Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.“

(Daniel 11:40-45) The final conflict.

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

At the time of the end: The angel described to Daniel a confederation of kings coming against this great leader, with a battle in and near the Holy Land.
King of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind: Prophetically speaking, a precise identification of peoples mentioned is difficult. The king of the Southmay be Egypt or represent the Arab community. The king of the North may be the Antichrist’s domain (as the “new Antiochus Epiphanes”) or it may be Russia.
The precise points may be cloudy, but the general idea is clear. The end will be marked by great conflict, culminating in the world’s armies gathering in the Promised Land to do final battle.

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

Dan 11:42  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
Dan 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. 
Dan 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. 
Dan 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.

These last verses talk about what leads up to the final fall of Babylon, and what becomes very evident at the end of the age is found in Revelation 17:16; “the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.”

Antiochus has power and stretches forth his hand “upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.” This describes the power the beast will have over all the corrupt treasures of Babylon and how it will be, over a course of time, that these judgements [3] will be executed upon the harlot, “the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps“, meaning they will be controlled by the beastly man of sin.

These are the typical events that unfold and set the stage for “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.” Those tidings represent the imminent return of Christ and His Christ that trouble the man of perdition. The east represents where Christ comes from (Mat 24:27), and the north tells us that He is coming with judgment on his mind, which will be executed through the church (Rev 12:5, Rev 2:27).

Mat 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 

Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Now we come to the glorious twelfth chapter of Daniel that points to how Christ will make the bride ready (Rev 21:2) through the strength of God’s power (Joh 17:12, Joh 10:28-29), preparing us to be kings and priests who will be raised incorruptible, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” (1Co 15:52).

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Joh 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Dan 11:5-16 Be ye not troubled – Part 2

[Study Aired May 16, 2024]

Dan 11:1  Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
Dan 11:2  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.
Dan 11:3  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 
Dan 11:4  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.

This section of chapter 11 reminds us that historically both the Persian Empire and the Greek empire tried to destroy the Jewish people, who typify the Israel of God (Gal 6:16, Rom 2:28-29). These attempts at trying to destroy the physical nation of Israel typify for God’s elect the reality of the powers and principalities against which we wrestle in our heavens as God’s children, and how the devil constantly wants to sift us like wheat, but by God’s power we are kept spiritually alive through Christ.

It is by the words of eternal life that contain exceedingly great and precious promises that we are sanctified and washed and given increase from our Father as we grow (1Co 3:7) and become persuaded (Rom 8:38) that we are in fact more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Eph 6:12, Luk 22:31, Rom 8:37).

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The Persian Empire tried to wipe out the Jewish people during the reign of Xerxes, through the plot of Haman (as shown in the Book of Esther).
The Greek Empire tried to wipe out the Jewish people during the reign of Antiochus IV, when he attempted to kill every Jew who did not renounce their commitment to God and embrace Greek culture. (Study Guide for Daniel 11 by David Guzik (blueletterbible.org))

The mighty king that rises up in Daniel 11:3-4 is Alexander the great and he is another type of the self-willed man of perdition that has war in his heart, and opposes Christ (Mat 25:40). The spiritual lesson God is showing us via these evil rulers is that we will have many spiritual battles, much tribulation (Act 14:22) in our own heavens, and it will only be through Christ that we will conquer any and all empires that dominate our heavens at first (2Co 4:15).

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Alexander’s kingdom would not endure and would be divided after his death. There were no descendants who succeeded him, and after his death there were four generals that controlled the Greek Empire, but none of them “according to his will.” This reminds us of the vanity of flesh that cannot inherit the kingdom, as we look at all the conquests of Alexander the great come to nought as others would come in and rule his empire and not in a manner that would have been desirable to him. This is a very parallel situation to king Solomon (Dan 11:3, Ecc 2:17-18). 

Dan 11:3  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

Ecc 2:17  Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 
Ecc 2:18  Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

The next prophecies focus on two of the four inheritors of Alexander’s realm and the dynasties they established. Historically there were four inheritors of Alexander’s realm, however only two are focused on because they were continually fighting over the Promised Land because of its location between the northern and southern kings. 

Those struggles and wars over the promised land typify for us what we read in Romans 7:19-25. These verses in Romans chapter 7 become central to our thinking whenever we read of wars or power struggles in history, where we learn that not every battle is won “but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Pro 24:16), however in the end the war will be won against all the powers and principalities with which we war, through Christ, if that is God’s will for us (Rom 8:37, 1Sa 17:47).

Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

Dan 11:5  And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. 

Below are some historical facts surrounding this fifth verse which demonstrate how God controls who He puts in places of rulership in order to direct the course of history according to the counsel of His own will (Dan 4:17, Eph 1:11). It’s in our former conversation of Ephesians 2:1-3 that the basest of men take residence in our hearts and war ensues as a result, symbolized by the king of the South and the king of the North.

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

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. 

Eph 1:11  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:

History

The king of the South shall become strong: One of the four inheritors of the empire of the mighty kingwould become stronger and greater than the others.
He shall gain power over him and have dominion: This was fulfilled in Ptolemy I of Egypt, who exerted his control over the Holy Land. Soon after the division of Alexander’s Empire, the Ptolemies dominated this region.
Ptolemy I had a prince named Seleucus, who rose to power and took dominion over the region of Syria. He became more powerful than his former Egyptian ruler. The Seleucids are identified with the Kings of the North, and the Ptolemies were the Kings of the South.
The dynasties of the Seleucids and the Ptolemies fought for some 130 years. The stronger of the two always held dominion over the Holy Land.(Study Guide for Daniel 11 by David Guzik (blueletterbible.org))

Dan 11:6  And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.

According to the historical account, “the end of years they shall join themselves together” took 130 years of warring between these two dynasties. What transpired to make this happen is “the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement.“

Below are some historical facts that can help us understand what physically unfolded, and then we can look more closely at what this represents for us spiritually, the natural preceding the spiritual (1Co 15:46). What is very evident is that every part of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar that represents the corrupt history of humanity had vast schisms and weaknesses, each being a little different than the former but all corrupt and divided in the final analysis (Mar 3:24-25). 

Mar 3:24  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Mar 3:25  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

When reading the history of this verse of Daniel it brings to mind this verse, which pertains especially to the end of the ages prior to Christ’s return, but it also has an application for these days we’re reading of as well (2Ti 3:1-4).

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

History

They shall join forces: Joined by a marriage, the kings of the North and South would be allies for a while, but the arrangement would not last.
The daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement: This was fulfilled in the marriage between Antiochus II (of the Seleucids) and Berenice (daughter of Ptolemy II). There was peace for a time because of this marriage, but it was upset when Ptolemy II died.
Shall not retain the power of her authority: Once Ptolemy II died, Antiochus II put away Berenice and took back his former wife, Laodice.
Neither he nor his authority shall stand: Laodice didn’t trust her husband Antiochus II; so she had him poisoned.

iii. She shall be given up, with those who brought her: After the murder of Antiochus II, Laodice had Berenice, her infant son, and her attendants killed.
After this reign of terror, Laodice set her son (Seleucus II) on the throne of the Syrian dominion. (Study Guide for Daniel 11 by David Guzik (blueletterbible.org))

Dan 11:7  But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail: 
Dan 11:8  And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. 
Dan 11:9  So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

The king of the South represents our fleshly life without the judgment of God that comes from the north, and in fact in this story the South dominates the North and takes vengeance for past offenses, which ends up just continuing the cycle of violence. The lesson for God’s people is to love our enemies, resist not evil, and forgive those who have trespassed against us or the unsettled dynasties will continue to rule in our heavens (Mat 5:44, Mat 5:39, Mat 6:14-15). Below is the historical confirmation of more wars and rumors of wars that are perpetuated in Satan’s kingdom as a result of Christ not being present in the hearts of mankind. 

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Mat 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses [cycle of violence will continue in our heavens].

History

Who shall come with an army: The angel told Daniel that a branch of her rootswould come from the South and prevail over the kings of the North.
Deal with them and prevail: This was fulfilled in the person of Ptolemy III, who was the brother of Berenice (the branch of her roots). Avenging the murder of his sister, Ptolemy III invaded Syria and humbled Seleucus II.
He shall continue more years than the king of the North: Ptolemy III lived four years past Seleucus II. (Study Guide for Daniel 11 by David Guzik (blueletterbible.org)

Dan 11:10  But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

The irony in this section of scripture is that the Holy Land is being taken back through war, and as we read the historical account of the battle, it was deemed to be furious. These actions typify for us how in our appointed time we violently took the kingdom by force, even as Babylon still does to this day even while saying, “Lord, Lord” but not doing the things He commands (Mat 11:12-15, Luk 6:46).

Mat 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Mat 11:13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 
Mat 11:14  And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Mat 11:15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

History

His sons shall stir up strife: The sons of the kings of the North would continue the battle. One of the sons would conquer the Holy Land (overwhelm and pass through) which stood as a buffer between the kings of the South and the kings of the North.
Assemble a multitude of great forces: This was fulfilled in Seleucus III and Antiochus III, the two sons of Seleucus II. Both were successful generals, but Seleucus III ruled only a short time and was succeeded by his brother.
In a furious battle, Antiochus III took back the Holy Land from the dominion of the Ptolemies. (Study Guide for Daniel 11 by David Guzik (blueletterbible.org))

Dan 11:11  And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand. 
Dan 11:12  And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

As these wars progress in the book of Daniel, it would be beneficial to answer the question of where all these wars are coming from (Jas 4:1-7), and how are they being instigated from God’s perspective (1Sa 16:14, Eph 1:11), and what the spiritual lesson is for God’s elect today, and eventually all the world. 

Jas 4:1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 
Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 
Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 
Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 
Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

1Sa 16:14  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

This battle of the South against the North goes in favor of the Southern empire who was “moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.“

This overcoming of a great multitude and then after that “when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands” represents the power God gives us even while in Babylon to overcome very physical addictions and bad behaviors. However, as this verse concludes “but he shall not be strengthened by it” telling us that these physical victories of the empire from the South are more akin to what the disciples were so excited over when they realized that they had been given dominion over evil spirits outwardly that were now subject to them (Luk 10:17). Not having the holy spirit within them yet, Christ turned their attention to what would truly strengthen them; that being to have the spirit of God within them to gain dominion over the powers and principalities within themselves against which they would wrestle in this life (Luk 10:18-20). Christ was speaking of things as though they were not (Rom 4:17) when He told His disciples to rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven, which is synonymous with being sealed with the holy spirit of promise (Eph 1:13-14).

Luk 10:17  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 
Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

History

The king of the South shall be moved with rage: The angel told Daniel that the king of the South would attack and meet a great multitudeof soldiers from the king of the North. The king of the North would lose in battle and his multitude would be defeated.
He will not prevail: This was fulfilled when Antiochus III was defeated at the battle of Raphia. Because of that loss he was forced to give back dominion over the Holy Land to Ptolemy IV. (Study Guide for Daniel 11 by David Guzik (blueletterbible.org))

Dan 11:13  For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches. 
Dan 11:14  And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. 
Dan 11:15  So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. 
Dan 11:16  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. 

I can’t guarantee that every part of the historical commentary throughout this study is one hundred percent accurate, but what I can say confidently is that the spiritual lessons we can take from all these battles and power struggles which have unfolded for our spiritual learning today are profitable to us in instructing us in His righteousness (2Ti 3:15-17).

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

This last section we will look at for this study represents for us how evil men will wax worse and worse, “the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches” (2Ti 3:13). Whether the time period for these events is happening as the historians suggest does not mean there is not an aorist, is, was and will be manner in which we can understand what we are reading, always applying what we read primarily inwardly, in the present ‘is’ manner, as this is the only place where the scriptures we are reading can become relevant for our dying daily sojourn in the Lord (Rev 1:3).

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

These verses (Mat 24:12-14, Mat 10:21-23, 2Ti 3:1) correspond with the historical events that were taking place at this time in history. “And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall“, and we are reminded of Christ’s words to “be you not troubled” (Mat 24:5-8), as all these things must happen inwardly in our own heavens, but the end is not yet.

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. [from battle to battle, glory to glory (2Co 3:18)]

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 

Mat 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows [from battle to battle, glory to glory (2Co 3:18)].

History

The king of the North… shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army: The angel told Daniel that the northern dynasty would answer back and defeat the king of the South in an extended siege. This victory would give the king of the North dominion over the Glorious Land.

“The land of ornaments — that is, Judea, which, lying betwixt these two potent princes, was perpetually afflicted, as corn is ground asunder lying betwixt two heavy millstones.” (Trapp)
No one shall stand against him: This was fulfilled when Antiochus III invaded Egypt again, gaining final control over the armies of Ptolemy V and over the Holy Land.

Many shall rise up against the king of the South: Jews living in the Holy Land helped Antiochus III defeat the king of the South. This was because the Jewish people resented the rule of the Egyptian Ptolemies (violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision).

He who comes against him shall do according to his own will… with destruction in his power: The Jewish people of the Glorious Landinitially welcomed Antiochus III as a liberator from Egyptian rule. Their decision to support Antiochus III proved unwise when he turned destruction upon the Glorious Land and its people. (Study Guide for Daniel 11 by David Guzik (blueletterbible.org))

Next week, Lord willing, we will continue to break down more verses and possibly conclude with chapter eleven to bring us to a very hope-filled last chapter in the book of Daniel.

Daniel 8:1-27  A vision appeared unto me

[Study Aired April 18, 2024]

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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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.

In chapter 8 of the book of Daniel we will be given another breakdown of what was discussed in chapter 7 and see the-dream-is-one principle in play once again with these very parallel chapters (Gen 41:25). 

Gen 41:25  And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

In chapter 7 it is in the first year of the reign of Belshazzar that Daniel had visions in his head upon his bed: and he told Nebuchadnezzar the sum of the matters of this dream. The vision Daniel had represents the day of the Lord, the gospel of Jesus Christ that declares all nations will be saved through judgment which will come upon each man in his own order (1Co 15:23). It is in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign, which represents the day of the Lord, that Daniel is given these powerful dreams of “four great beasts [that] came up from the sea, diverse one from another.”

Then in chapter 8, it is in “the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar” that this next vision comes to Daniel, and as the number reveals, it will be a vision that is centered around the process of judgment [3] that must unfold during the day of the Lord to which Daniel is witnessing, without comprehending the spiritual meaning of these very powerful dreams that caused him to faint and be sick for days (Dan 8:27).

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.

————————————————————

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. 
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. 
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. 

What appeared to Daniel at first was the first vision of chapter 7, and so this vision of chapter 8 is  adding to the vision from chapter 7 and was written for the elect’s sake upon whom the ends of the ages are come (1Co 10:11). Daniel cannot stand any more than any other man without God’s spirit abiding in him (Rom 8:9), and chapter 8 points to how we can stand spiritually when we are given to trust in the Lord and stop believing that we contribute anything to our salvation (1Co 10:12). With that miracle of having God’s holy spirit within, we can labor to enter into that rest found in Christ, knowing that He will make a way for us to stand as described in 1 Corinthians 10:13.

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.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The vision that comes to pass finds Daniel “at Shushan^H7800 in the palace, which is in the province of Elam^H5867; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai^H195“, a place that represents Babylon where God is already preparing our hearts to ‘come out of her, my people’ through these visions He sets before us via His word which is a light to our path in this dark world (Psa 119:105, Pro 29:18). 

H7800 shûshan shoo-shan’

The same as H7799 = lily; Shushan, a place in Persia: – Shushan.

Total KJV occurrences: 21

H5867 ‛êylâm    ‛ôlâm ay-lawm’, o-lawm’

Probably from H5956 = to veil, to conceal; hidden, that is, distant; Elam, a son of Shem, and his descendants, with their country; also of six Israelites: – Elam.

Total KJV occurrences: 28

H195 ‘ûlay oo-lah’ee

Of Persian derivation; the Ulai (or Eulaeus), a river of Persia: – Ulai.

[BDB definition = my leaders (mighties)]

Total KJV occurrences: 2

This river Ulai [“my leaders“] does not represent the rivers of living waters God will eventually give to all men, but rather the waters of Babylon that need to be purified with the fiery judgment of God’s word. It is “at Shushan [“lily“] in the palace, which is in the province of Elam [“hidden“ or “veiled“] where we learn in time that there really is no stay of bread or water in Babylon, and so we do immediately lose our first love in this vast wilderness we all must go into at first to later come out of her as God’s people, the Israel of God (Gal 6:16).

It is when God opens our eyes to see the truth, symbolized by this statement, “Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw“, that we then begin to understand the vision of this ram by the river with “the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.” For Daniel, the interpretation will be given in time, but alas never the spiritual inward meaning of what these horns mean, seeing it was not written for his admonition but for the elect’s (1Pe 1:12).

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.

There are two horns, two powers, being spoken of in Babylon with this imagery of a goat by the river. Two horns on the goat represent a witness [2] of Babylon, however the horn that comes up last is the prominent horn of mystery Babylon, the mother of harlots, in this age that has “waxed rich” (Rev 18:3, Rev 17:5). The smaller horn is the small beginnings of the churches of Asia which all forsook Paul in time where the mystery of iniquity was already at work back in that era (2Ti 1:15, 2Th 2:7-8). 

Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

2Ti 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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:

That historical, outward, dispensational view is one way of looking at the horns. However, thinking of these horns inwardly, we are reminded of Christ’s words telling us that we must lose our horn, our ‘power’ in this life (Rev 18:4, Mar 10:21) if we are going to learn to trust solely on the Lord for our salvation. Having our hand and foot cut off symbolizes how we overcome the mystery of iniquity (2Th 2:7), which is our own righteousnesses that takes credit for works that are done with our hands and our feet (Mar 9:43-45, Pro 3:5-8, Isa 64:6, Eze 33:13).

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Mar 10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, [lose that horn, God willing] and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Mar 9:43  And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed [lose that horn, God willing], than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mar 9:44  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mar 9:45  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: [lose that horn, God willing]  it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

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.

Mystery Babylon has become great, “but he did according to his will, and became great“, as another Jesus in name only (Isa 4:1) coming from the east as the true Christ would. However, this counterfeit Christ does the same (Mat 24:27). He pushes toward the west, the north and south and dominates the world scene with the mark of the beast, which is the number of a manG444 (Rev 13:18), so that mankind cannot buy or sell unless they have this number (Rev 16:2). That number represents our being yet in bondage to the powers and principalities of this world, represented by the goat, whose spirit works within mystery Babylon, and to this day tries to take the kingdom by force, pushing westward, northward and southward as we read in Revelation 13:11-2 and Matthew 11:12. Saying, “neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand“, is just another way of saying “who is able to make war with him?” of Revelation 13:4.

Mat 11:12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

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.

The “he goat” that comes from the west represents the powers and principalities we wrestle against in our heavens that “touched not the ground” (Eph 6:12). It comes from the west in the opposite direction of Christ (Mat 24:27), opposing the truth, and this goat “had a notable horn between his eyes” representing the fourth empire (Dan 7:23), the fourth horn of Daniel 7:20, as well as the feet of miry clay and iron of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue in his dream (Dan 2:43), and the fourth interpretation of Daniel’s dream of the most fierce of all the differing beasts (Dan 7:19) that are revealed to be the same composite beast spoken of in Revelation chapter 13. This he goat, as we saw in chapter 7, has power to overtake the “the whole earth” and will prevail against the elect but not overcome them, because the horn [Christ’s power (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9)] that is in the elect is greater than him who is in the world (1Jn 4:4). This “notable horn” is used by the Lord as a spirit sent to try the patience and faith of the saints in this life, and especially at the end of our age in these marred vessels of clay (2Th 1:4, 1Ti 6:11, Jas 1:3, Rev 13:10, Rev 14:12).

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.

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. 

This goat with the notable horn represents the beast that will make war against the harlot church and burn her with fire of Revelation 17:16-18. The goat “ran unto him in the fury of his power” with the intention of taking away the two horns of the ram that represent the ram’s power. The power of the church is taken away at the end of the age, as the beast rules over the harlot being bitterly enraged against her, “and he was moved with choler.” The stamping that this goat with the notable horn does is the same terminology describing the fourth beast or fourth empire in Daniel 7:23 that is also represented by the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream which was mixed part of iron and part of miry clay (Dan 2:43).

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 
Rev 17:17  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

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 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 8:8  Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken;

The he goat represents the fourth empire that waxes great, and in his strength he breaks the great horn of Babylon the great in one hour (Rev 18:2).

Rev 18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

God’s elect are admonished with these following verses of Revelation 18:3-4 as these outward events of the falling of Babylon unfold.

Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 
Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. [her plagues (Rev 17:16-17)]

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.

These next two verses start to describe the attack that the beast will have on the churches of Babylon, and tells us it will “cast down of the host and of the stars“, which stars represent the false ministers, or messengers which are angels that will be brought down “to the ground, and stamped upon them” (Mar 13:25), meaning their supposed salty words have been proven to have no lasting savour and are now being trodden under foot by men (Mat 5:13-14).

Mar 13:25  And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

Mat 5:13  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

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.

These end-time events of Daniel 8:11-12 are expressed in Daniel 7:25 as a changing of times, and represents the abomination of desolation being set up in the temple of God, which is the transgression this goat inflicts upon Mystery Babylon (Mar 13:14). The he goat is a healthy complete beast magnifying itself, “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.” What he does is exalt himself and tear down “the prince of the host” who represents the religious elite at the end of this age. The sanctuary being cast down means that Babylon will no longer have any power or authority as it once had in the earth, and all of these events herald the end of this age and the return of our Lord and Savior (Mat 24:4-51).

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.

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: [Psa 121:1-2]
Mat 24:17  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

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? 

The “transgression of desolation” typifies the abomination of desolation spoken of in Mark 13:14, and the answer to this question of ‘how long’, is answered for us in Revelation 6:10. It is also found in Daniel 7:25 where we’re told how long the saints must endure in order to be saved at the end of this trying and testing time, where we’re told, “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” (Dan 7:25). The inward application of these events has been true for every Christian since Pentecost, however there is an outward end time event as well that we are looking at.

Mar 13:14  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: [Psa 121:1-2]

Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 

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

The numbers in God’s word mean what they mean and not what they say, and “until a time and times and the dividing of time” of Daniel 7:25 is the same as the “two thousand three hundred days” of Daniel 8:14. The three and a half years represents the time of Christ’s ministry within the body of Christ that is accomplished by grace through faith, which is represented by the numbers 2300 days. The 2+3 adding to 5 represents grace. The number two (2) is the witness of Christ’s life within us Who makes it possible for us to go through the process of judgment in this life (1Pe 4:17), represented by the number three (3).

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. 

This man’s voice represents the angels or messengers of God that the elect are to each other. It is by the church that the manifest knowledge of God is made known represented by “the appearance of a man” and “a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision” (Heb 10:24-25).

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.

As was discussed in chapter 7, Daniel is given the physical interpretation of the vision, but not the spiritual inward meaning, which is reserved for those to whom he prophesied, the elect (1Pe 1:12). There is fear associated with not knowing “and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face“, but when God’s spirit enters into the elect, the comforter leads us into all truth (Joh 16:13, Joh 8:31-32). His love is shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5), so that fear is pushed away, and the torment is overcome through Christ (1Jn 4:17-18). The body of Christ prays and helps each other in that regard with our fervent prayers which avail to that end (Jas 5:15-16).

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.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 
1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Jas 5:15  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 
Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

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.

Daniel is like one of the ten virgins being woken from his deep sleep and typifies how we must trim our lamps in order to know what shall be “at the time appointed the end” (Mat 25:7, Eph 4:31).

Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [trimmed their lamps]
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you [the fruit of the spirit produced through a trimmed lamp].

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.

In this section of Daniel, we are being given another rundown of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 2 of the book of Daniel, starting with “The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia” that represents the Medo-Persian empire. Then “the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king“, which represents the Grecian empire whose power and influence upon the world is described this way: “and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.” The last part of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue is represented by the fourth empire which will be the most dominant of all the empires. “Now that being broken (the third empire broken by the forth), whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.” This empire that represents the end of the age for mankind has taken on an evil power that exceeds all the other empires, and so it is expressed “but not in his power“, meaning not as the other empires ruled. This represents the time when God will send forth evil spirits that will be given power to dominate all the kingdoms of this world, making it possible for the sins of the Amorites to reach their fullness (Gen 15:16), “when the transgressors are come to the full” (Rev 16:12-14, Rev 16:15).

Gen 15:16  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. 

Rev 16:12  And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared [this represents Babylon falling]. 
Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. [this represents the spiritual powers that are going to come up against mystery Babylon]
Rev 16:14  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

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 policy^H7922 [man’s wisdom (1Co 2:5)] of this evil time fast approaching us is already being implemented as we speak, being enforced, “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.“

Policy H7922 seh’-kel, say’-kel

From ^H7919; intelligence; by implication success: – discretion knowledge policy prudence sense understanding wisdom wise.

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

There are “three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet”  because there is a process of ungodly judgment [3] that must unfold in order to set the stage just prior to the appearing of Christ and the elect. He destroys many by saying ‘peace and safety’, “and by peace shall destroy many“, “then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1Th 5:3).

The “through his policy” is another way of saying what we read of in Daniel 7:25. 

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 [“through his policy” man’s wisdom (1Co 2:5)]: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time [1260 days].

The fruit of this age is also revealed in this verse (Dan 8:25), where we’re told that the craft which represents the powers and lying wonders of the devil will abound at the end of the age (2Ti 3:1, 2Ti 3:13), empowering the stout, ‘I am a god sitting in the temple of God’, the spirit of the man of perdition who is on the throne of mankind’s heart, who says his ways will bring peace, when in reality they will only bring destruction. Even this is the spirit of this age that is the spirit of antiChrist that “shall also stand up against the Prince of princes” against Christ and His Christ (Mat 10:22, 1Jn 2:18, 1Jn 2:2, 1Jn 4:3, 2Jn 1:7-8).

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 

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. 

Daniel is told that this vision is true, and the vision is all about the new creation which is going to be formed through judgment, a vision that is “of the evening and the morning which was told is true“ just as the creation story that typifies the creation of the new creature formed in Christ “which was told is true.” Like Daniel, who typifies the patience and faith of the saints, the elect must wait patiently for it, “for it shall be for many days“; many days that in reality are a mist from God’s perspective as He, Lord willing, matures us in this life so we can possess our souls patiently and endure to the end (Gen 1:5, Gen 1:8, Gen 1:13, Gen 1:19, Gen 1:23, Gen 1:31, Heb 10:37, Luk 21:19).

Gen 1:5  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 

Gen 1:8  And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 

Gen 1:13  And the evening and the morning were the third day.

Gen 1:19  And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 

Gen 1:23  And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

Gen 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. 

Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

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.

Daniel was astonished at the vision and at the interpretation of the words so much so that he fainted and was sick for a period of time. This typifies for God’s elect how the word is sweet in our mouth but bitter in our bellies causing us to faint and be sick as we can’t rise up and run with horses as Elijah was told he must do (1Ki 18:46). In time he did and in time so did Daniel rise up as a type of the elect who “was astonished at the vision, but none understood it“, typifying how God’s elect are astonished at what God has given us eyes to see and ears to hear what none of the prophets of old understood (Mat 13:17).

1Ki 18:46  And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

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.

DANIEL 12:1-13 For the Words are Sealed and Closed up Till the Time of the End!!

[Study Aired February 28, 2022]

Dan 12:1  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. 
Dan 12:2  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. 
Dan 12:3  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. 
Dan 12:4  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. 
Dan 12:5  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. 
Dan 12:6  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? 
Dan 12:7  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. 
Dan 12:8  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 
Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Dan 12:10  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.
Dan 12:11  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.
Dan 12:12  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
Dan 12:13  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Chapter 12 starts with the statement “At that time shall Michael stand up”. The question is what time is being referred to here? To understand what time is being referred to, we need to go back to chapter 10 of Daniel which is the introduction to the prophecy of both Daniel chapter 11 and 12 regarding what will happen to the elect in the latter days. We, the elect, are the ones of whom the ends of our world are coming.

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.

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.

So, we, the elect, are the ones to whom this prophecy in chapter 12 is applicable.

Dan 12:1  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.

As we indicated in a previous review, the name Michael means “Who is like God?”. It is Jesus who is like God. He is the great prince who stands for the children of His people. The statement “the great prince who stands for the children of thy people” means that Jesus Christ dwells within His people as the word “standeth” means to abide or dwell according to Strong’s Dictionary.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

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:

The coming of Jesus into our lives to dwell in us is herald by His judgment which is the time of trouble mentioned in verse 1.

Mal 3:1  “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:2  But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.
Mal 3:3  He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.
Mal 3:4  Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
Mal 3:5  Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

This time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation is the period of the judgment that we, the elect, must go through to learn righteousness.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Mat 24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 
Mat 24:22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

The time of trouble or judgment begins when we see the abomination of desolation in our temple which is our bodies. This abomination of desolation is that man of sin or the old man occupying the throne of our hearts and minds.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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 statement in verse 1 of Daniel 12 that everyone found written in the Book at that time shall be delivered, is to let us know that it is through judgment that we, the elect, whose names are written in the Book of Life, are saved. It is the elect that must first go through judgment here on earth before the rest of humanity.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

This time of trouble is also described vividly in Isaiah where the Lord destroys His vineyard which represents the elect. God’s way of salvation is through the destruction of the old man through judgment.

Isa 5:1  Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
Isa 5:2  And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
Isa 5:3  And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
Isa 5:4  What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
Isa 5:5  And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
Isa 5:6  And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
Isa 5:7  For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Dan 12:2  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.

This verse is talking about the resurrection from death. As we know in the Book of Revelation, there are two resurrections – the first and the second resurrection. The first resurrection is for God’s elect which will take place just at the time the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. That is the resurrection to everlasting life for the elect.  After a period of a figurative thousand years comes the second resurrection which is the resurrection to shame and everlasting contempt which is the lot of all humanity except the elect.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Dan 12:3  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. 

They that “be wise” are the Lord’s elect. They will shine as the brightness of the firmament. The word “shine” here means to admonish or teach according to Strong. Thus, it is referring to the role of the elect in teaching all humanity to know Christ. This teaching is likened to the brightness of the firmament which means that everyone will come to understand the word of Christ just as the brightness of the firmament is obvious to all. That period is the lake of the fire age when the whole of humanity will come to understand the words of Christ. That is the time that we, the elect, described as desolate in this life, shall give birth to many as all humanity (many) shall turn to righteousness. The righteousness, here being likened to the stars in verse 3, means that all humanity will be clothed in the righteousness of Christ just as we see the stars reflecting the light of the sun which represents Christ.

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 7:12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Rev 7:16  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Rev 7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Dan 12:4  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.

This verse is to let us know that Daniel, representing the prophets of the Old Testament, was not meant to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. What these prophets spoke and saw were all for us, the elect, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
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.

According to verse 4, the time of the end is characterized by an increase in knowledge. The time of the end started with the disciples of Jesus, and it was during their lives that knowledge of the kingdom of Heaven increased as they understood the kingdom’s mysteries. We, His elect, are following in the footsteps of all the Lord’s disciples ahead of us as our eyes are being opened and our ears are hearing!!

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 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

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

Contrary to this exponential increase in the knowledge of the Lord, many shall not be given this privilege of knowing the mysteries of the kingdom of God. The statement in verse 4 of Daniel chapter 12, that many shall run to and fro, is referring to all humanity (except the elect) who will wander throughout the earth but shall not find the truth of the word of Christ.

Amo 8:12  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Dan 12:5  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.

The two other persons Daniel saw who were standing on the opposite sides of the river’s bank are there to let us know that what Daniel saw is firmly established and shall surely come to pass in the life of every elect of every generation.

Gen 41:32  And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

The river here is the water of life or the word of Christ. The two standing on either side of the river shows us a principle that helps us understand the truth of the word of Christ. That is, by two or three witnesses every word is established. This implies that we do not stand on one account of the word of Christ to make a doctrine. We must at least have a second witness to establish a scriptural truth or doctrine.

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.
Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Dan 12:6  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?
Dan 12:7  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.

The man clothed in linen is Christ, and He is the one who is upon the waters of the river. The word “upon” used here can mean “a part of” or “from” or “out of” according to Strong’s Dictionary (H4482). What this means is that Christ is the word.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The question was posed to our Lord Jesus Christ regarding the time that this time of trouble will end in our lives. In verse 7, our Lord provides us with the time frame regarding this time of trouble. He says that this time of trouble will last until the power of the holy people is destroyed. The holy people here refer to the elect, and the power of the holy people is the strength of the beast or the old man within us. The destruction of the old man is the end of this time of trouble, which is signified by a time, times and a half. What we need to understand is that symbolic times do not signify the date or duration of actual times, but rather that the period, whenever it may be and whatever it may be in actual years, is within the knowledge and authority of God to determine. Prophetic days, weeks, months, and years are not a code from which to calculate real time periods, but rather a symbol to stand in place of real time periods which are not for men to know in advance. This is what our Lord says about this matter:

Act 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.

The time, times and half certainly has meaning. The “time” represents a period of trouble in our lives. The “times” signifies the doubling of our trouble. In other words, our trouble is intensified or prolonged. The “half” means the cutting short of our tribulation. Our Lord Jesus told us that the period of tribulation will be cut short for the sake of us, the elect.

Mat 24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Dan 12:8  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

As we indicated in verse 4, Daniel represents the prophets of the Old Testament who were not meant to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. What they spoke and saw was all for us, the elect, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
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.

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.

Dan 12:10  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.

The many here refers to the elect who, through the time of trouble will be purified as they learn righteousness. On the other hand, the wicked will continue to grow worse.

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

The statement that the wicked shall not understand means that it is not given to people of the world and our brothers and sisters in Babylon to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. It is only the few, called and chosen, who are privileged to know these mysteries.

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 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Dan 12:11  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.
Dan 12:12  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

A symbolic period such as the 1,290 days or 1335 days as given in verses 11 and 12 indicates that this is a time or season “which the Father has fixed by his own authority” and it is not for us to know (Acts 1:7). The symbol certainly has meaning, nevertheless it is not a code for date setting. The number 1,290 gives us indication of the period in our lives that through our union with Christ (1 means unity), we come to witness the beast within, sitting in the temple of our hearts and mind (the number 2 stands for a witness) and are judged by  the Lord (9 is the number of God’s judgment) with the brightness of His coming.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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 number of 1335 days also shows us the period of our lives that in union with Christ, we see the chastening grace of the Lord through faith as part of the process of our spiritual completion. Remember that the number 1 stands for union, the number 3 represents the process of spiritual completion through judgment and the number 5 means grace through faith. As verse 12 stated, it is indeed a blessing to go through this process of our spiritual completion through judgment as we come to understand the Lord’s grace through faith. This is what has happened to all the elect who had gone before us – they were perfected through suffering as they put their faith in Him who is able to keep them from falling and to preserve them faultless until that day!! For example, Paul came to realize that God’s grace is sufficient for him in spite of what he was going through!!

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Dan 12:13  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. 

The statement “But go thou thy way till the end be” is to remind us that Daniel, like the Old Testament prophets, was not meant to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven and that they were actually serving us on whom the ends of the world are coming.

1Pe 1:10  Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
1Pe 1:11  inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
1Pe 1:12  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

The statement “Thou shall rest and stand in thy lot at the end of the days” is to let us know the fate of Daniel, who represents the Old Testament prophets, at the end of the days. According to the scriptures, this is the lot of Daniel at the end of the days:

Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

It is through us that Daniel and all the Old Testament prophets shall be made perfect!! What a wonderful plan of the Lord for us, His elect!!

May the Lord who has started this good work in us, surely bring it to completion!! Amen!! This brings us to the end of the review of the Book of Daniel.

In our next study, we shall start reviewing the Book of Exodus!!

Posted February 28, 2022]

Hi Mike,

I hope this email finds you well. I have a question I don’t want to bring anywhere else except to the people at IWWB. I know you always admonish us to focus on the inward kingdom within us, and I do my best not to give too much attention to the affairs of the outward world, but this is just too big for me to ignore.

With the world still in the grips of a deadly pandemic, experts warning us of a possible global economic crisis coming soon, and now with these recent events unfolding in eastern Europe which could possibly lead to a third world war, do you believe we could be witnessing the beginnings of the cataclysm that is spoken of in Matthew 24 which occurs just before Christ makes His visible return to this earth? I can’t recall a time in history when so many large scale events were all happening at the same time all over the earth.

Once again, I know we should be concerned with “the kingdom within” at this time, but I can’t help but feel a little anxious with what is happening outwardly right now. I know we should not “think above what is written” but I would like to hear your thoughts about this. Thank you always for your help and I’ll look forward to your reply.

your brother in Christ,

C____

Hi C____

Thank you for asking for ​my​ ​thoughts on what is happening right now as of February 27th, 2022.

You and I are in complete agreement in thinking that everything is pointing to the ​imminent return of our Lord. However,​ I hope to give you some encouragement and peace of mind even in the face of all the outward turmoil we see in the world around us.

I have been told that people have been predicting the return of Christ since the day He ascended into the heavens:

Act 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Christ’s ascension into the clouds of heaven symbolizes Him entering into His elect who are even called “a great cloud of witnesses… by [whom] He judges the people”:

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Job 36:28  Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
Job 36:29  Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
Job 36:30  Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
Job 36:31  For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

Those who are “in Christ” also have Christ in them:

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Therefore we should not be anxious about His appearing because He is already here protecting us, providing for us and professing us before His Father. That is the very definition of ‘life eternal’:

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

In answer to your question, ​yes, I do indeed expect that Christ’s appearing is imminent​,​ and the scriptures declare that we are all to have ​such a​ mindset:

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

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 [G165​: ​’aion‘, age] are come.

Verse 34 of Matthew 24 makes it clear that our primary application of these words should be inward and spiritual, but verse 34 in no way denies the truth of these words of the apostle Paul:

1Th 4:15  What we tell you now is the Lord’s own message. We who are living now might still be living when the Lord comes again. We who are living at that time will be with the Lord, but not before those people who have already died.
1Th 4:16  The Lord himself will come down from heaven. There will be a loud command. That command will be given with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God. And the people who have died and were in Christ will rise first.
1Th 4:17  After that, we people who are still alive at that time will be gathered up with those people who have died. We will be taken up in the clouds and meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever.
1Th 4:18  So encourage each other with these words. (ERV)

The holy spirit adds to these words this message through the apostle Peter:

2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
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.
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.
2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

So, yes, indeed, men have been expecting the appearing of Christ since the day He ascended, and that should also be our mindset.  Notice, we are told to “be found in Him in peace…” so “be anxious for nothing.”

Php 4:6  Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thankfulness make your requests known to God. (ACV)

We are living in the most exciting times in the history of mankind. This era is far more exciting than “the days that were before the flood” to which these days are likened by Christ.

Continuing on from where we left of in Matthew 24:

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Verse 39 is true both inwardly and outwardly. It is our old man who is being carried away and destroyed in the flood of the Lord’s words, while our new man remains to inherit a kingdom.

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Reading further in Matthew 24:

Mat 24:40  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

These words are not a prophecy that 50% of mankind will be in the first resurrection, rather it is a statement that our old man will be “taken and destroyed” and our new man will remain to “inherit the earth”. It is also an admonition to be expecting the Lord’s appearing all the time.

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts [the “old man” in all of us], made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Psa 37:22  For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

For those of us who are granted to believe these words they are both encouraging and exciting as we wait for the redemption of the purchased possession, which is the first resurrection:

Eph 1:11  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 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

I hope this answers your question concerning my thoughts about the times we are living, and I pray you are as excited and as encouraged as I am.

YbiC, Mike

Greetings Mike,

If the law of circularity is false, then what does the parable of the prodigal son signify?
Secondly, what happens when a person receives Christ considering that man was created in iniquity?

Regards, M____

Hi M____,

Thank you for your questions:
The significance of the story of the prodigal son is that the firstfruits are hated by those who are not firstfruits. In other words, the elder son signifies those who are still in Babylon.
“The first will be last” is the lesson of the the story of the prodigal son. It certainly is not ‘the first shall be first’ as the so called ‘law of circularity’ teaches.
Here is the parable of the prodigal son:

Luk 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
Luk 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
Luk 15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
Luk 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Luk 15:5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Luk 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luk 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
Luk 15:9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Luk 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
Luk 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Luk 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Luk 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Luk 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Luk 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Luk 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luk 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luk 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Luk 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Luk 15:25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
Luk 15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
Luk 15:27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
Luk 15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
Luk 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
Luk 15:30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
Luk 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Luk 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

“You are ever with me” in no way tells us ‘You have always been with me”. That doctrine of circularity, according to these verses, is a lie:

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

According to the so- called “law of circularity”, Paul is lying to us when he tells us that the first man is of the earth. But Paul is not lying, and the spirit of that doctrine of circularity is the lying spirit in the mouths of all who subscribe to that doctrine.
I hope all these verses of scripture give you Biblical eyes to see the Truth of this matter.
If you still have a question, then please feel free to get back to me.
Your second question was:

“Secondly, what happens when a person receives Christ considering that man was created in iniquity?”

The answer to this question is found in 1Pe 4 where we are told that we begin to have fiery trials which begin the judgment and destruction of the first man Adam within us all. From that point on the old Adam in you and me begins to decrease while the new man begins to increase:

Joh 3:30 He [ Christ] must increase, but I must decrease.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Our “fiery trials” are our “judgment” which “begins at us. That “judgment is the keeping of every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God:

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

That judgment is the dying daily, being crucified with Christ, daily, filling up in our flesh what is behind of the afflictions of the Christ, in our bodies for His bodies sake which is the church:

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

All is this is the burning of the first judgment which is lived by all who are blessed to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The first man Adam in all of us has “defiled the temple of God” and will be destroyed by the fire that is the Word of God:

Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

We have got to understand that “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” means that we are all the wood first before we become those who have the fire of God in their mouth:

Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

It means that we are all those who “hurt” God’s witnesses before we become those who have that fire coming from their mouths destroying the old man within us all.
So once again, the Truth is that “All things come alike to all” and there is “one event” to all. That “one event” is this “judgment [ which] begins at the house of God” and tries the works of those who are are destined to be in the blessed and holy first resurrection.

Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

Just realize that this “one event” judgment is a daily dying and a daily presenting of our bodies as a living sacrifice to be crucified with Christ and to fill up what is behind of His afflictions in my flesh for His bodies sake which is the church (Col 1:24) until the day we, along with our Lord, draw our last breath in these vessels of clay.
I hope this has answered your question and that you have a much better understanding of what Christ meant when He old Nicodemus “You must be born again”.

Joh 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

We all “bear the image of the earth” first before we “bear the image of the heavenly”. But we will all do both “each in his own order”.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

All of this is “what happens when a person receives Christ considering that man was created in iniquity.”
Your brother in Christ,

Mike

Video Links

Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
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 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Introduction

When we started these studies in this Revelation of Jesus Christ with the first three verses of chapter one as our guide to unlocking the meaning of the symbols of this revelation of Jesus Christ, I was commanded not to do so by one for whom I had the greatest respect. There was a lot of adversity against the concept of ‘reading, hearing and keeping the things written therein’, as the stated purpose of this revelation of Jesus Christ within those who were given to ‘read, hear and keep’ what is written in this prophecy. It was, and still is, truly “war in the heavens”.

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
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.
Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

This heavenly battle will always be waged against those who dare to replace the doctrines of Preterism or Dispensationalism with the living and powerful and sharp words of Christ, which He plainly states are always “at hand”, will “shortly come to pass” and “shall not pass away”.
Here are those first three verses of Revelation one. Here are the instructions we have followed faithfully in our study of every word of this “revelation of Jesus Christ” within us.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and sign ified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Here we are plainly told that this is a prophecy which has been given by God to Christ to “show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass”. We are not told these things will have no application for the next 2000 years. In fact it is emphasized and reiterated that “the time is at hand”. We are informed that this is a book which has been “signified… by His angel to His servant John”, and then we are told to “Keep the things written therein: for the time is at hand”.
We believe those words, and have handled this entire study with those instructions held close as our guide to our application of every word. Only if we acknowledge that it is we who are to “read, hear and keep the things written therein”, within, and never attempt to make these words, either the good or the evil, to apply to someone else, somewhere else, or at some other time than right now in this life, will the words of this prophecy have any personal benefit for the person who is reading the words of this revelation of Jesus Christ within us. We have acknowledged that the beast, the false prophet and the great red dragon, with all of their weaknesses and false doctrines, are within each of us, and we have acknowledged that we cannot enter into the temple of God in heaven until the seven plagues of the seven angels has been fulfilled in our own lives.
With that same heart and spirit, which has been our guide throughout these studies, we will now examine verses 6-10. We will begin by looking at verses 6 and 7, and comparing those two verses to Rev 1:1-3. Here is Rev 22:6-7:

Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Here again, in the very last chapter of this revelation of Jesus Christ, we are clearly instructed as to how this prophecy is intended to be approached and understood. Let’s read again verse 1-3 of chapter one and take careful note that the very same instructions are given us at the very beginning:

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Revelation one tells us God gave Jesus Christ this revelation to show it to His servants. Revelation one tells us this revelation is “things which must shortly come to pass”. We are told this revelation is signified by His angel. We are told to read, hear and keep the things which are written therein because the time is at hand.
Here in chapter 22 we are reminded of the exact same instructions. We are told “These saying are faithful and true”, but here it is revealed that Christ Himself was “the Lord God of the holy prophets, who sent His angel to show His servants the things that must shortly be done, and it is this same “Lord God of the holy prophets” who declares “Behold I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book”.
So the only real difference between the instructions of the first chapter and the last chapter is that the first chapter informs us that this revelation of Jesus Christ is “signified by His angel”, while the last chapter reaffirms that what is written here is “faithful and true”, which is just another way of saying “My Words shall not pass away” (Mat 24:32-35). In every other way these are the exact same instructions we were given informing us how to approach this prophecy.<.

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.

It is Christ alone who opens our eyes to see the things of the spirit which are written in the Words of this prophecy. The fact that we are told that John twice attempted to worship this angel reveals that we all tend to place too much emphasis upon the messenger, instead of the giver of the message. Nevertheless it is also Christ who “sends His angel” to show these things to us.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

We saw back in chapters 17 and 19 that this angel is “one of the angels which had the seven last plagues”.

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

So whether it is “the judgment of the great whore” or “the bride the Lamb’s wife”, both are revealed to us by “one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues”. This helps us to understand why God wants us to know that “those who speak often one to another… and think upon His name” are just that instrumental in revealing Christ within us

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

It is these seven angels who have the seven vials of the seven last plagues, who are granted to “return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves Him not.”
So once again let us consider who are these seven angels:

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.

So these seven angels are those who are our “fellowservants” who like us, “keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book”, and while we are twice admonished against worshiping the angels which shows us these things, we are also told this concerning those among us who “labor in the Word”.

1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

So as it is with all things, we must strive to be balanced in our regard to “those who labor in the word and doctrine” among us. There are many who give of themselves selflessly working in the Word and doctrine, who really are worthy of “double honor”. It is through their efforts that these things are being shown to many all around the world. For that we highly esteem them, but we want to never place them in the place of our Lord, who is worthy of our worship, and who once again tells us this:

Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

How often do we see those words “at hand” in the New Testament? That phrase just happens to appear 21 times in the New Testament. But this entire phrase “the time is at hand” is found again in verse three of chapter one of this prophecy.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

When we are granted to connect those statements together with phrases like ” things which must shortly come to pass”, and “things which must shortly be done”, both at the beginning and at the end of this prophecy, then the urgency of our calling should begin to become obvious to those who are being called to be chosen and faithful to the end.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

But let us also take note that John is commanded “Seal not the saying of the prophecy of this book…” Now let’s compare these words to the instructions given to Daniel, concerning the prophecies he was given for those of his day:

Dan 12:4 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.

This natural man takes these words to mean natural, physical, scientific knowledge, but to the man of the spirit, this is a promise to his knowledge of ‘the things of the spirit”, and to have his knowledge of “God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent” increased in “the time of the end”.

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

And when is this “time of the end” of which Daniel speaks? Here are those upon whom “the ends of the world are come”.

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.

So the Old Testament prophets were told thattheir prophecies were not even for themselves in this life, and they were told plainly to “shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:”
For whom then were all their prophecies? To whom were they ministering, if not to themselves or the people of their time? Here is the plain scriptural answer to that question:

1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
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.

There were many great works done by Christ through many Old Testament men of God. Nevertheless we are plainly told that God had “something better for us”.

Heb 11:39 And these all [ All the great men of faith of the Old Testament], having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

In our next study, Lord willing, we will cover these verses:

Rev 22:11 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.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Hi, Mike,

Why would the apostle Paul say ‘world without end’ in Eph 3:21?

  ybic,
T____

Hi T____,
Thank you for your question concerning Eph 3:21.

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21 Unto him [ be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

You ask:

Why would the apostle Paul say ‘world without end’ in Eph 3:21?

The answer is that Paul says no such thing as “world without end” because Paul knew fully well that this world will come to its end, and he even speaks of that event:

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.

Peter also speaks of “the end of all things”, and both are speaking of our old man, our old earth and our old heavens.

1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Now here is what Paul really said:

Eph 3:20 Now to Him Who is able to do superexcessively above all that we are requesting or apprehending, according to the power that is operating in us,
Eph 3:21 to Him be the glory in the ecclesia and in Christ Jesus for all the generations of the eon of the eons! Amen! (CLV)

The King James Translators were all Catholic scholars who had no idea what “all the generations of the eon of the eons” meant, and since they all believed in the doctrine of an eternal hell fire, they opted for a blatant mistranslation rather than being true to the Greek Text which was before them. The apostle is speaking of all the generations in which Christ is working to save all men. This is a concept which is totally foreign to the mind which believes that it is in this life only that we have hope in Christ, when the Truth is that is not so.

1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

God simply has not yet set His hand to save all men. But when He does set His hand to save all, then all will certainly be brought to Christ and His Father through the church.

Eph 1:9 making known to us the secret of His will (in accord with His delight, which He purposed in Him)”
Eph 1:10 to have an administration of the complement of the eras, to head up all in the Christ– both that in the heavens and that on the earth”

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [ places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

I hope this helps you to see that the apostle Paul was speaking of this time in which Christ is in the process of bringing His elect to Himself, and through those few elect, called “the Christ” (Eph 1:10), bringing all of mankind to Himself and His Father.

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [ are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, [ are] all things: to whom [ be] glory for ever. Amen.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike>

Mike,

In reading your article on strong delusion, I’m not sure just what “the beast” is. How do we not worship it? Also, do you think we’re in the last days? I think one sign, just before the end, is that the leaders of the world will say that peace is at hand. Do you agree that this is the first sign of the end? I enjoy your articles, but do have a hard time understanding the Bible and all its meanings. Any info you can give me, I’m sure, will help.

Thank you,

A__

Hi A___,

Thank you for reading ‘Strong Delusion,’ and thank you for your question.

Allow me to cut and paste the 2nd paragraph of ‘Strong Delusion:’

The scriptures, as usual, teach just the opposite of this commonly accepted, dispensational application of Biblical prophecy. Here is the scriptural approach to understanding this and all prophecy: (1Jn 2:18) Little children, it is the last time. And just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have risen up, from which we know that it is the last hour. (Rev 1:3) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Now this “man of sin” becomes relevant to me. “It IS the last time.” “Even NOW many antichrists have risen up.” “It IS the last hour.” “THE TIME IS AT HAND.” This is the proper approach to all prophecy. Why did the apostles approach prophecy with this frame of mind? It is because, unlike many modern teachers of God’s Word today, the apostles knew what the purpose of ALL prophecy was:

1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Thinking of prophecy in ‘dispensational’ terms, instead of realizing that he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort (1Co 14:3), is without a doubt, the single greatest obstacle to understanding prophecy. How can we hope to understand anything about prophecy if we don’t even know what prophecy is? ‘Prophecy’ is not ‘foretelling the future!’ Prophecy does ‘foretell the future,’ but ‘foretelling the future’ is not what prophecy is. He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort. That is what ‘prophecy’ is. It is “edification, exhortation and comfort.” All the scriptures concerning the coming of the Messiah were accompanied with exhortations to ‘prepare the way and make straight paths’ (Mat 3:3; Mar 1:2-3; Luk 3:4).

Mat 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

How did John the baptist, “make His paths straight?” It was with this exhortation: (Mat 3:8) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance… A life of repentance and obedience is ‘making His paths straight.’ So the very prophecy of the coming of the Messiah was an exhortation to live a godly life.

And so it is with all the prophecies of scripture. The book of Revelation is primarily an exhortation to cleanse ourselves and repent of losing our first love, listening to those who say they are Jews and are not, having the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, allowing that woman Jezebel to seduce us to commit fornication and to eat things that have been offered to idols, knowing the depths of Satan as we speak, being dead, unwatchful and wearing defiled garments and being naked, miserable and poor and thinking the exact opposite is true. We are to ‘come out of Babylon,’ be ‘caught up to the throne of God,’ measure God’s temple, witness in the streets of that great city wherein our Lord was crucified, and overcome the mark, number, and name of the beast.

We are told in the very first verse of the very first chapter what the entire book of Revelation is.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John…

The book of Revelation is ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him.’ Why does God give ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ’ to Christ? The reason is to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass. The word ‘shortly,’ is from the Greek word ‘tachos,’ meaning swiftly, speedily or, when prefixed with the Greek word ‘en‘ (as it is here), “in haste,” according to Strong’s Concordance.

The question that begs to be answered, and has been asked for centuries, is ‘since it has been so many years after the writing of this prophecy, why are we told that Christ was given this revelation to show His servants things “which must shortly come to pass?”‘

The answer is two- fold. The first part of our answer is that, as we showed from 1Co 14:3, this book of Revelation, consistent with the rest of scripture, is primarily a book of “edification, exhortation and comfort.” The second part of our answer is that, as we pointed out above, the word translated ‘shortly‘ is not even meant to convey the thought of bringing the systems of government of “this present evil age” to a quick conclusion.

It goes without saying that if that were, indeed, what was ‘prophesied,’ then the book of Revelation would stand as the most obvious fraud of all time. But, of course, the book of Revelation is not a fraud. As little understood as it is, it is one of the most often referenced books of scripture, though usually under it’s Greek name, Apocalypse. And it is afforded the respect given to all scripture by most professing Christians.

So, what then is meant by ‘shortly,’ better translated ‘in haste?’ Understanding why the revelation of Jesus Christ is done “in haste,” makes the very purpose of the book much more obvious.

Here is why the Revelation of Jesus Christ must be done “in haste:” … For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away (Jas 4:14). And then there is this from Peter:

1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away…

“All flesh is as grass…” “Your life … is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” That is why the revelation of Jesus is done “in haste.” Now the third verse of the first chapter of the book of Revelation makes perfect sense:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the [ life that appears for a little] time is at hand.

Now that we know why the revelation of Jesus Christ is done “in haste.” The above admonition has an application to every generation! “The time is at hand” in every generation! In every generation “he that hath an ear” had better “hear what the Spirit saith to the [ all seven] churches.”

As hard as it will no doubt be for you to see at first, this is also true for this entire prophecy. You see, this entire book is addressed “to the seven churches” and “to him that hath an ear.” And we are encouraged to keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. “The time is at hand,” for every ‘vapor’ and every ‘grass’ that comes along, generation by generation.

So, you want to know who ‘the beast is?’

… I’m not sure just what “the beast” is. How do we not worship it?

To truly know who ‘the beast,’ is you must first know where he dwells. Once you know where he dwells you can go there and do battle with him, because you now know where he is.

So where is he? Where does he live? We don’t have to guess where this beastly ‘man of sin’ lives. Just like the entire nation of Israel of old after scouting out the land, he has us convinced that we cannot make war with him. And they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? (Rev 13:4). Why would anyone in his right mind worship this beast? Why would he be so successful at convincing everyone that it is futile to ‘make war with the beast?’ How is it that, 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 (Rev 13:16). How is it possible for this beast to succeed so universally while the whole world is watching for him and swearing that they would never submit to worshipping a man? It is not only possible but it already is and always has been an accomplished fact. “The time IS at hand!” “He causeth all… to receive a mark!”

How can I possibly say that? I know where the beast dwells. I know him all to well. And there was a time, not long ago when I, too asked, “Who is able to make war with the beast?”

So where does ‘the beast’ dwell? Let’s let Paul and John reveal that to us. Paul first: He as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God (2Th 2:4). Now John:

Rev 2:13 Thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is.

Now it becomes clear what is meant when we are told:

Rev 13:2 And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

So ‘the beast’ “sitteth in the temple of God,” and he receives his “power and his seat and great authority” from the dragon whose ‘seat’ (Greek – throne) just happens to be in the same place (Rev 2:13).

Now all we have to do to find out who the beast is, is to establish where the temple is of which it can always be said, “the time is at hand.” We are not left to guess. We are told in very emphatic terms where the “temple of God” is of which we can always say “the time is at hand.” The total success of this ‘Dragon empowered beast’ can be attributed to the total darkness the church finds itself in with it’s ‘out there in the future’ dispensationalism, or it’s ‘back there in the past,’ dispensationalism, instead of the super- emphasized “is, was and will be,” “the time is at hand,” “to him that hath an ear,” generation by generation application of prophecy that we are told is for “edification, exhortation and comfort.”

What is “the time is at hand” temple that the beast sits in, demanding our total dedication and worship, assuring us that there is no way to make war with the beast?

Those who cannot receive these very emphatic words of the apostle have done nothing less than materialzed away the very spirit and therefore the power of the Word of God!

Here is that temple and here is that beast: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God [ should be] dwell[ ing] in you? If any man defile [ allow the beast to sit in] the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (1Co 3:16-17). There is only one ‘temple of God.’ And we are told specifically that the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands. (Act 7:48).

I hope that God might manifest [ to you], and that [ you] might see that [ you yourself] are [ your] beast (Ecc 3:18).

I certainly have no doubt who my own worst enemy is.

Mike Vinson

Hello Mike,

I am in a discussion with a young man about the Lord and the evil he thought about the nation of Israel.

Exo 32:7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
Exo 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
Exo 32:10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

I could not explain this well enough to help us see the whole truth of this matter. Can you please help me to explain this correctly?

Your Brother in Christ,
A____

Hi A____,
God creates evil every day. The Bible declares this from Genesis to Revelation. You know all the verses:

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Amo 3:6  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
Eph 1:11  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:
Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14  And 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.

If God really is “working all things after the counsel of His own will, then He is working and thinking of how to work all the evil that is occurring in all the earth all the time.
But God alone is capable of “creating evil” and making good come from evil. No man can do that, and God does not give an accounting to any man for His actions and His plan. Paul deals with this question and answers it head on, but no natural man is going to be satisfied with God’s answer to whether he can create evil and still not be evil. Here is God’s answer to all who confront Him on this question:

Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [ have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [ it], Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

The answer is that no one can resist God’s will, and He is working all things according to the counsel of His own will, and if we don’t like the way He is doing things, then that too, is His work. All of our thoughts, good and evil, are His work via either good or evil spirits, and in the end it will all “work together for good”.

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

According to Rom 7, we can’t even sin of our own volition. We sin because God has a “law of sin” in motion which directs our every move.

Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [ how] to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Who gave and who sustains that “law of sin and death”?

Jas 4:12  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

So God is working every thought and action of all men of all time “after the counsel of His own will”, but He is in the process of “calling light out of darkness” and making good come of evil.

Gen 50:20  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it [ all evil ever committed] unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

God means our evil deeds for good to “bring to pass… to save much people alive”, and in the process convince all flesh of the futility, and the sinfulness, of these bodies of “sinful flesh and blood”.
When it is all said and done, we will all acknowledge that God’s way is really the only way.
As far as Exo 32:14 goes, God already knew very well that He was going to lead Moses to think that He intended to destroy Israel, and He already knew what Moses’ response to that threat would be. That verse is written for our benefit and for our admonition, to let us know how serious God is in dealing with sin.

Exo 32:14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

God tells us that He had all of this planned out in advance:

Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.
Isa 63:17 O Jehovah, why dost thou make us to err from thy ways, and hardenest our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

I hope this is of some help to you.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike