September 17: Daniel 10-12

September 17, Daniel 10-12

Daniel continued…

Daniel 10 Daniel received a word from the Lord during the reign of King Cyrus. There was great conflict at the time. Daniel had been mourning for 3 weeks and eating very little. He looked up and saw a man in linens with a glowing face and eyes like flaming torches. There were some guys with him who couldn't see what was happening but could sense it and they got scared and ran for the hills, leaving Daniel. When Daniel saw this man he became weak and afraid and fell to the ground. A hand touched Daniel and sat Daniel on his trembling knees. The man told him to not be afraid. It has been seen that Daniel has set his heart to understand and humble himself before God. God has heard his prayers and this angel has come because of his prayers. He was battling the Prince of Persia in the spiritual world for 21 days and Michael one of the other angels came to help him so that he could get to Daniel. The reason this angel came was to help Daniel understand what is going to happen in the days to come. When Daniel heard this he became mute and all of his strengths had left him. This is what the angel told him, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” Be courageous and have no fear! The angel wanted to tell him what was going to happen and then the angel had to get back to the battle that Michael was fighting for them. 

Daniel 11 This is a chapter about future prophecy and some of the prophecies have already been fulfilled. This was written in 539 BC - this is significant because this is the year that it was decreed that the Jews could return home. 

Many kings will rise and fall and there will be many battles. Many followers of God will fall away and the true followers will become more wise and fight to the end. 

The end of the chapter, focuses on the Anti-Christ who will make a covenant and then break it. This Anti-Christ will also exalt himself above all gods, including Yahweh. This act will set him apart and reveal to all that he is the Anti-Christ. And he will succeed until the judgment of the end. And the Lord will take him out, when the Lord declares that it is finished. 

Daniel 12 What does the time at the end look like? There will be trouble like has never been before. Gods people will be delivered at the end. The Lord will take out the evil men that stand against God, and He will take out the Anti-Christ. At that time, the Lord will send His angels who obey Him, to help gather all the people who are then raised with Jesus. At that time, the dead will be raised and the whole world will be judged. 

Daniel asks how long until all this happens, and the Lord answers in a riddle. Stating, “Time, Times, and a half of a Time.” And then states that the only clue that He will give will be when the sacrifice is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, it will come all to a close at the end of 1,335 days, which is a little more than 3 and a half years. Which is the ‘end of days’. So what does that mean? Scholars think that it means, when the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem and the Anti-Christ puts an idol in it or sits himself as king in the Temple of God, you have 1,335 days before Jesus comes back and judges the world. 

To sum it all up: 

• I really like how Daniel isn't afraid to say how he was very fearful in the presence of the holy. I see that is incredible reverence to God and humility. In our culture, Men are supposed to be without emotion and “tough" - but a godly man shakes and trembles in the presence of the holy without fear or hesitation. 
• I love how God allows us to have a little glimpse into spiritual battles that go on around us. I do not think that we realize, but the battles are fierce.
• Be watching for these and other events in Jerusalem…!