Monday, February 29, 2016
Friday, February 26, 2016
Evil Men And Seducers Waxing Worse And Worse!
Volume XXXV
Issue II February 2016
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Phone: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org
Evil Men And Seducers Waxing Worse And Worse!
"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things
which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou
hast learned them; 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."
II Timothy 3:13-15
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth
the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the
people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy."
I Peter 2:9-10
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God."
Romans 12:1-2
In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will
consider the current events of our day and the impact they are having
around the world. Is the world we live in today getting better, or are
conditions on this planet actually growing worse? We often hear notable
figures tell us how wonderful everything is in this modern age. This is
something that President Barack Obama has done on more than one
occasion. Speaking at the United Nations in September 2014, Obama was
quoted as saying, "I often tell young people in the United States that
despite the headlines, this is the best time in human history to be
born, for you are more likely than ever before to be literate, to be
healthy, to be free to pursue your dreams." (1) This sentiment was
recently echoed by United States Secretary of State John Kerry. Speaking
at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2016,
Kerry told his audience, "We are not living in a new normal and we don't
have to. We are not the prisoners of a predetermined future. Change is
occurring in our world for the better and it is occurring faster, moving
faster than ever before." (2) Despite the assertions of Barack Obama
and John Kerry, the real life experience for billions of people around
the globe shows that conditions are not changing for the better. In
fact, we live in a world today where the persecution of Christian people
is at an all time high, while moral values seem to be disappearing, and
even the often praised global economy is on shaky footing.
On January 20, 2016, it was reported by an
organization known as Open Doors that the Christian population in
numerous countries is suffering persecution at an intensity never before
seen in modern history. "The 2016 World Watch List documents an
unprecedented escalation of violence against Christians, making this
past year the most violent and sustained attack on Christian faith in
modern history," said David Curry who is the chief executive officer at
Open Doors. He later went on to say, "The levels of exclusion,
discrimination and violence against Christians is unprecedented,
spreading and intensifying. Christians, longing to stay in their home
countries are being forced to flee for their lives and for their
children's lives." (3) Persecution is most common in Islamic countries
where Christians are the minority. However, communist countries such as
China and North Korea are also hostile to Christianity. It is estimated
that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians are imprisoned and subjected
to hard labor in North Korea. (4)
I have a feeling that those who are enduring such
persecution would likely disagree with John Kerry's belief that "change
is occurring in our world for the better." Indeed, such a notion is
actually contradictory to Scripture. We are warned by the Apostle Paul
in II Timothy 3:13, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving, and being deceived."
The Destruction Of The Family Unit In America!
Life in the United States has changed drastically
since the turn of the century. One of the most significant changes we
have seen is the destruction of the family unit. It is a bit ironic that
homosexual couples have waged such a fierce battle in recent years for
the right to "marry" their same-sex partners while an increasing number
of straight couples are forgoing marriage altogether. As a result, a
high percentage of children born in the United States today are born out
of wedlock. This trend was noted by the New York Times about four years
ago in an article published on February 17, 2012. At the time, the
report noted that more than one half of all births by women under the
age of 30 occurred outside of marriage, a development which the paper
referred to as "the new normal." (5) Recent data published by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, indicates that an
astounding 40.6 percent of all births in the United States now occur out
of wedlock. (6) Amazingly enough, this prevailing tendency does not
appear to be a concern for most Americans. A study conducted by Gallup
in May 2015 found that 61 percent of respondents said it is morally
acceptable to have children outside of marriage. (7)
Of course, this would not be happening if people
adhered to the Biblical standards on intimacy. However, unwed mothers
and broken families are not the only problems. Behavior that has now
become normal in much of the world, including the United States, has led
to an astounding proliferation of sexually transmitted diseases, or
STDs. According to data published by the CDC in October 2014, about 50.5
million men and 59.5 million women in the United States are infected
with an STD. (8) To put things in perspective, the United States Census
Bureau estimates that the entire population of the United States at this
present time is about 322 million people. (9)
Sadly, sin often leads to more sin, and the most
heinous sin of all has become common in the land today. The barbaric
practice of abortion is not only accepted and tolerated in the United
States, it is praised and promoted. Insomuch that American President
Barack Obama issues a statement each year commemorating the United
States Supreme Court's 1973 decision to legalize abortion. On January
22, 2016, Obama issued the following declaration: "Today, we mark the
43rd anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, which
affirmed a woman's freedom to make her own choices about her body and
not intrude on private decisions made between a woman and her doctor. As
we commemorate this day, we also redouble our commitment to protecting
these constitutional rights, including protecting a woman's access to
safe, affordable health care, and her right to reproductive freedom from
efforts to undermine or overturn them. In America, every single one of
us deserve the rights, freedoms, and opportunities to fulfill our
dreams." (10) This decision that Obama chooses to commemorate has
resulted in the loss of over 58 million innocent lives in the United
States. (11)
Amazingly enough, there are abortion specialists in
this country who seem to believe that God smiles down on them as they
slaughter babies. In a recent letter to the editor of the Des Moines
Register in Des Moines, Iowa, medical director for Planned Parenthood of
the Heartland Jill Meadows wrote, "I am an abortion health care
provider, and I am proud of what I do. It's a privilege to be a positive
presence in a person's life at a time when she most deserves care and
compassion." She later went on to write, "Planned Parenthood provides
evidence-based, compassionate, non-judgmental, high quality, affordable
reproductive health care. It is time for people who are anti-abortion to
stop using terror, lies, hate rhetoric, misinformation, and violence
against us. Regardless, we will not be bullied and intimidated into
abandoning the people who depend on us. I will continue to follow my
God-given calling of being an abortion care provider. Our doors will
stay open. No matter what." (12) This woman actually believes that God
has called her to kill babies, and she is not the only one who has this
warped point of view. Another article, written by a young doctor known
as Carolyn Payne states, "Who wants to be an abortion provider? I do.
And I don't have a nose-ring or a tattoo. I'm a 5' foot blonde from Ohio
and my last boyfriend was a pastor. In fact, my Midwest, Christian
upbringing is largely responsible for my belief that providing abortion
services is one of the most meaningful ways I feel I can contribute to
making the world a more fair and equal place for women." Payne later
made the claim that performing her first abortion made her feel good.
"Providing our first MVA (manual vacuum aspiration abortion) was a 'feel
good procedure,' because we had successfully performed an intervention
that changed a woman's life for the better!" (13) Perhaps these women
have never read Matthew 18:14 in which Jesus makes the declaration,
"Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one
of these little ones should perish."
Is The Global Economy In Trouble?
For many of us, memories of the Great Recession of
2008 are still fresh in our minds. After all, 2008 was not so long ago.
In recent years, we have been told that a recovery is in full-swing, and
as such we need not worry about the global economy. However, the year
of 2016 has already seen much economic instability, and prominent
figures are warning that the situation could soon be much worse. One
such figure is William White, who is the chairman of the review
committee at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,
or OECD. Speaking of the current condition of the global economy, Mr.
White was quoted as saying, "The situation is worse than it was in 2007.
Our macroeconomic ammunition to fight downturns is essentially all used
up." He later went on to say, "Debts have continued to build up over
the last eight years and they have reached such levels in every part of
the world that they have become a potent cause for mischief. It will
become obvious in the next recession that many of these debts will never
be serviced or repaid, and this will be uncomfortable for a lot of
people who think they own assets that are worth something." (14)
Meanwhile, elitist billionaire George Soros has warned that the recent
currency devaluation in China could lead to another global financial
crisis. "China has a major adjustment problem. I would say it amounts to
a crisis. When I look at the financial markets there is a serious
challenge which reminds me of the crisis we had in 2008," Soros said.
(15)
The United States is already facing numerous economic
issues. In fact, the United States territory of Puerto Rico has
defaulted on its debts. In a letter dated January 17, 2016, and
addressed to United States House of Representatives speaker Paul Ryan,
United States Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew wrote, "I write to
update you and your colleagues on Puerto Rico's debit crisis. I
appreciate the recent commitment by congressional leadership to produce a
responsible solution for Puerto Rico. In order to assist the 3.5
million Americans living in Puerto Rico, Congress must pass legislation
for the President to sign into law before the end of March. Although
there are many ways this crisis could escalate further, it is clear that
Puerto Rico is already in the midst of an economic collapse." Lew
further went on to write, "Puerto Rico is already in default. It is
shifting funds from one creditor to pay another and has stopped payment
altogether on several of its debts." (16)
I think it is safe to say we all have an appreciation
for lower prices at the gas pump. However, the falling cost of oil has
already wreaked havoc in the United States. According to a report by
CNN, the low cost of oil has caused 42 American companies to file for
bankruptcy since the beginning of 2015. (17) Additionally, an estimated
250,000 people have lost their jobs. (18) The problem could be further
complicated in the coming months now that Western sanctions on the
nation of Iran have been lifted, and Iran has the option to sell its oil
to the world for the first time since 2012.
As is usual for the United States, a large federal
deficit is projected for the year 2016. In fact, the deficit is set to
increase by 24 percent this year to 544 billion dollars. The
Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, estimates that the federal deficit
in the year 2022 will exceed one trillion dollars. (19) Naturally, the
national debt of the United States, has also continued to rise, and is
now on the verge of reaching 19 trillion dollars. (20) At its current
pace, the national debt will reach a mind-boggling 27 trillion dollars
by the year 2025. (21)
We live in a world today that is driven by debt. It is
not a uniquely American problem as there are many countries that have
an enormous amount of debt. In fact, a report published by the World
Economic Forum in July 2015 indicates that the top three most indebted
nations in the world are Japan, Greece, and Italy. (22) Do the countries
of this world ever intend to pay off their debt? I do not believe they
do. A time will come when debt in the United States and other countries
around the world will reach a point where it cannot progress any
further. I believe that when that happens the economies of the world
will collapse, and a new one-world economy will be ushered into
existence. In an effort to entice the masses to accept this economic
structure, we will be told that all previous debt is forgiven. However,
the new system will envelope the entire world in a global, electronic,
and cashless society. Those who refuse to accept this new order of
things will find they are no longer able to buy or sell.
A World United In Conformity!
In last month's issue of The Last Trumpet, I covered
in great detail the plans of the United Nations to unite the entire
world under a system of global governance by the year 2030. Their
agenda, which they call "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,"
is an ambitious plan which includes a global economy, global educational
system, and global healthcare. In January 2016, United Nations Deputy
Secretary-General Jan Eliasson promoted this new agenda. "Fundamental
principles that underpin the new goals are interdependence,
universality, and solidarity. They should be implemented by all segments
of all societies, working together. No one must be left behind. People
who are hardest to reach should be given priority," Eliasson said. He
later went on to say, "We must be ready to think - and to act -
comprehensively and holistically. Every actor, every country, every
international and regional organization has a responsibility to work in
synergy, translating the Agenda into practical realities on the ground."
(23) Quite clearly, he is speaking of a one world government. Not only
that, but it is apparent that the United Nations is expecting every man
woman and child to conform to their specifications as docile and
compliant global citizens. Within the text of the Agenda itself, we find
the following words, "We reaffirm the importance of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other international instruments
relating to human rights and international law. We emphasize the
responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the Charter of the
United Nations, to respect, protect, and promote human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all…" (24) When I read these words, I cannot
help but think of the Scripture we find in Romans 12:2, which declares,
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Note that the Bible specifically
calls for God's people to be non-conformists. In fact, Jesus Christ,
when He was here in bodily form on this earth, was the greatest
non-conformist who ever lived. The Scriptures never instruct the
children of God to unite with the world. In reality, I Peter chapter 2
tells us that we are a "peculiar people."
Incidentally, those who were looking forward to Obama
disappearing from the spotlight after his second presidential term ends
may be in for a disappointment if Obama gets his way. News reports
surfaced in January 2016 which indicate that Barack Obama is covertly
campaigning to succeed Ban Ki-Moon as Secretary-General of the United
Nations. This development raised the ire of Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu who reportedly said, "Wasn't eight years of having
Obama in office enough?" (25)
Meanwhile, Pope Francis has continued his campaign to
unite the religions of the world. Speaking in a video released in
January 2016 for the Feast of Epiphany, Pope Francis is heard to say,
"Most of the planet's inhabitants declare themselves believers. This
should lead to dialogue among religions. We should not stop praying for
it and collaborating with those who think differently." He then went on
to say, "Many think differently, feel differently, seeking God or
meeting God in different ways. In this crowd, in this range of
religions, there is only one certainty that we have for all: we are all
children of God." (26) The video also features a female lama who
expresses her confidence in Buddha, a Jewish rabbi who expresses his
belief in God, a priest who says he believes in Jesus Christ, and a
Muslim who declares his faith in Allah. (27) Amazingly, the Pope's
message directly contradicts the words of Jesus. In John 14:6 Jesus
tells us, "… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me." In John 8:44, Jesus dispels the notion that
every person is a child of God when he tells his opponents, "Ye are of
your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a
murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there
is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for
he is a liar, and the father of it."
According to a report published by the Christian Post
in January 2016, Pope Francis has been invited to visit the Great Mosque
in Rome. In a visit with the Pope, Islamic leaders from the mosque
reportedly told Pope Francis that it was an "honor to meet you and
recognize your moral and spiritual leadership. We are honored to invite
you to the Islamic Cultural Center." In response, Pope Francis told his
guests that it would be "a great pleasure to visit you also, because it
would be a great sign of our brotherhood." (28)
Chaos In Europe!
In recent months, much has been said about the migrant
crisis in Europe. Due in a large part to the civil war in Syria, many
migrants and refugees have left their nation of origin and have made
Europe their new home. In fact, over one million migrants entered Europe
in the year of 2015. Half of them came from Syria. (29) As would be
expected, this sudden increase in population has required an enormous
amount of resources and has put a significant strain on the
infrastructure in European communities. Amazingly enough, the
aforementioned George Soros offered his opinion on the crisis in Europe
and has suggested that the European Union is on the verge of collapse.
"There is plenty to be nervous about. As she (German Chancellor Angela
Merkel) correctly predicted, the EU (European Union) is on the verge of
collapse. The Greek crisis taught the European authorities the art of
muddling through one crisis after another. This practice is popularly
known as kicking the can down the road, although it would be more
accurate to describe it as kicking a ball uphill so that it keeps
rolling back down." Soros then went on to say, "Merkel correctly foresaw
the potential of the migration crisis to destroy the European Union.
What was a prediction has become the reality." (30)
As would be expected, the cultural differences between
the migrants and the Europeans has been a cause for contention
throughout the European Union. Sadly, it has become apparent that many
of the migrants are rather rowdy men who have an extremely low opinion
of women. Such attitudes led to a shocking attack on December 31, 2015.
On this day, over 800 women were assaulted as they were taking part in a
New Year's Eve celebration in Cologne, Germany. (31) The attacks, many
of which were sexual in nature, were perpetrated by men of Arab or North
African appearance. (32) German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed
outrage over the attacks and promised that efforts would be made "to
find the perpetrators as quickly and comprehensively as possible and
punish them, regardless of their origin or background." (33) It is
important to note that attacks such as these are not new. In fact,
similar attacks occurred in Sweden in 2014. "It was a modus operandi
that we had never seen before: large groups of young men who surround
girls and molest them. In the cases where we were able to apprehend
suspects, they were with a foreign background, newly arrived refugees
age 17-20, who had come to Sweden without their families," said
Stockholm city administration official Roger Ticoalu. (34) Needless to
say, tensions are running high in Europe. The perpetrators of these
assaults certainly did not help the cause of migrants seeking to garner
support for their plight.
In closing, the news headlines of today make it very
clear that the world we live in is not changing for the better. I am
certain that we will face many challenges in the days ahead. Yet, we
serve a gracious God who always gives us the strength we need to
overcome the world. In I John 5:4 we read, "For whatsoever is born of
God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith." If you have not yet given your heart to God and
dedicated your life to Him, I urge you to do so now. In so doing, He
will give you the strength you need to endure to the end.
Thank you to all who support this ministry. We could
not do what we do without your help, and we are thankful for each and
every one of you. As always, we are here and ready to pray for your
needs and we invite you to send us your prayer requests. We always give
each request individual attention. We at Last Trumpet Ministries firmly
believe that God hears us when we cry out to Him, and we have seen many
answered prayers over the years. Grace and peace be unto you in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Samuel David Meyer
Acknowledgements
01. Official Speech Transcript, September 24, 2014, By Barack Obama, http://whitehouse.gov.
02. Bloomberg News, January 22, 2016, By Ian Wishart, http://bloomberg.com.
03. Breitbart News, January 20, 2016, By Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D, http://breitbart.com.
04. Ibid.
05. The New York Times, February 17, 2012, By Jason DeParle and Sabrina Tavernise, http://nytimes.com.
06. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 30, 2015, http://cdc.gov.
07. Gallup, May 28, 2015, By Jeffrey M. Jones, http://gallup.com.
08. CBS Local News, October 6, 2014, By CBS Local News, http://atlanta.cbslocal.com.
09. The United States Census Bureau, January 23, 2016, http://census.gov.
10. CNS News, January 22, 2016, By CNS News Staff, http://cnsnews.com.
11. Ibid.
12. Life News, January 15, 2016, By Micaiah Bilger, http://lifenews.com.
13. Life News, December 29, 2015, By Micaiah Bilger, http://lifenews.com.
14. The Telegraph, January 19, 2016, By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, http://telegraph.co.uk.
15. Bloomberg News, January 6, 2016, By Anusha Ondaatjie and Adam Haigh, http://bloomberg.com.
16. Economic Policy Journal, January 17, 2016, Posted by Robert Wenzel, http://economicpolicyjournal.com.
17. CNN, January 18, 2016, By Matt Egan, http://cnn.com.
18. The New York Times, January 22, 2016, By Clifford Krauss, http://nytimes.com.
19. The Washington Times, January 19, 2016, By Stephen Dinan, http://washingtontimes.com.
20. National Review, January 20, 2016, By Michael Tanner, http://nationalreview.com.
21. Ibid.
22. World Economic Forum, July 16, 2015, By Jose Santiago, http://weforum.org.
23. UN News Centre, January 13, 2016, By UN News Centre, http://un.org.
24. Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, By the United Nations, http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org.
25. The Jerusalem Post, January 8, 2016, By Yasser Okbi and Maariv Hashavua, http://jpost.com.
26. Christian News, January 9, 2016, By Heather Clark, http://christiannews.net.
27. Ibid.
28. The Christian Post, January 20, 2016, By Katherine Weber, http://christianpost.com.
29. BBC News, January 22, 2016, By BBC News, http://bbc.com.
30. CNBC, January 21, 2016, By CNBC, http://cnbc.com.
31. The Examiner, January 20, 2016, By Timothy Whiteman, http://examiner.com.
32. The Independent, January 5, 2016, By Doug Bolton, http://independent.co.uk.
33. BBC News, January 5, 2016, By BBC News, http://bbc.com.
34. The Guardian, January 11, 2016, By David Crouch, http://theguardian.com.
To learn more about the history of our ministry and our founder, Pastor David J. Meyer, please visit http://pastormeyer.org.
The Hour of Doom and Desolation of Israel
1Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2Also,
thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An
end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
3Now is the end come
upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee
according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine
abominations.
4And
mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will
recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the
midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
5Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.
6An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.
7The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.
8Now
will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger
upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will
recompense thee for all thine abominations.
9And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth.
10Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.
11Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them.
12The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
13For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.
The Desolation of Israel
14They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
15The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.
16But
they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains
like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his
iniquity.
17All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water.
18They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.
19They
shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be
removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them
in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls,
neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their
iniquity.
20As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.
21And
I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the
wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.
22My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
23Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
24Wherefore
I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their
houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy
places shall be defiled.
25Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
26Mischief
shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall
they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the
priest, and counsel from the ancients.
27The
king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and
the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto
them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them;
and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Daniel and Revelation: the most misunderstood and abused books in all the Bible
Introduction:
Daniel's prophecy was completely fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ
in His virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death on the cross, and His
ascension into heaven where He reigns and judges the world as King of
kings and Lord of lords. The New Testament is the full and complete
explanation of all the prophetic promises of the Old Testament, including the book of Daniel.
Standing as "a covenant of the people," Christ
fulfilled the promise which the people of Israel had pledged, "All that
the Lord hath spoken we will do." This obedient, suffering Servant stood
before God as Israel, to do for Israel – in Israel's name and on
Israel's behalf – that which Israel was utterly unable to do. "Then said
He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, 0 God." Heb. 10:9. He did the will of
God when it was the delight of His heart, His daily meat and drink. He
did the will of God when that will was an exceedingly bitter cup.
Though confronted by apparent failure, defeat and, at
the end, the darkness and blackness of eternal night, He plodded on. He
"became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2:8.
Finally, with the full consciousness that He had drunk the cup of
suffering on behalf of His people and had finished His work, He
addressed His Father, saying, "It is finished." He had kept covenant
faith. In Him Israel had carried out all that the law (the terms of the
covenant) demanded. In His life Israel had kept all the precepts of the
law, and in His death Israel had born all the curses of the law (Gal.
3:10-13). In dying, Christ had fulfilled Israel's promises to God. His
great work accomplished, He rested in Joseph's tomb, waiting for God to
fulfill His side of the covenant.
In raising Christ from the dead and giving Him power
and glory, God fulfilled His covenant promise. To the Jews Paul
positively declared "that what God promised to the fathers (including
Daniel), this He has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus."
Acts 13:32-33, R.S.V. In his great Pentecostal discourse the apostle
Peter declared that God raised Christ from the dead and gave to Him "the
promise of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:33. Just as Jesus gave a life of
obedience to God on behalf of His people, so in His resurrection He
received the promise of the Holy Spirit on behalf of His people. So
Peter declared to Israel,". . . the promise is to you and to your
children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God
calls to Him." Acts 2:39, R.S.V
In Isaiah 42, 44, and 53 the Servant of Yahweh is sometimes called Jacob (the nation of Israel), and other times it is clearly the person of Christ who is referred to. This shows us that Christ, as the suffering Servant, was representing and acting for Israel. Thus, Christ is the Mediator of the covenant. Through Him and in Him Israel fulfilled all her promises to God. All this was completed by Christ's death on the cross.
In Isaiah 42, 44, and 53 the Servant of Yahweh is sometimes called Jacob (the nation of Israel), and other times it is clearly the person of Christ who is referred to. This shows us that Christ, as the suffering Servant, was representing and acting for Israel. Thus, Christ is the Mediator of the covenant. Through Him and in Him Israel fulfilled all her promises to God. All this was completed by Christ's death on the cross.
Also, through Him and in Him God fulfilled all His
promises to Israel. All this was accomplished in Christ's resurrection
from the dead. God's promise to Abraham not only included Jews of
physical descent, for Abraham was plainly told, ". . . in thy Seed
[Christ — Gal. 3:16] shall all the families of the earth be
blessed." Gen. 28:14; cf. 12:3. "...Gentiles ...being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise
...should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His
promise in Christ by the gospel ... " Eph. 2:11-12; 3:6. Thus, Paul
declared to the Corinthians, "…all the promises of God find their “Yes”
in Him." 2 Cor. 1:20, R.S.V. That is to say, when God raised Christ from
the dead, He fulfilled not only His promises to Israel but every
promise which He ever made to the human family since time began. In
Christ He has blessed us with every conceivable blessing (Eph. 1:3).
Unless we can take out our pen and write "Fulfilled" across every one of
the three thousand promises of the Old Testament, we deny “the finished
work of Jesus Christ".
By now it should be very clear that the substance of every promise was Jesus Christ. When God promised Abraham a seed, He was really promising Him Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:16). When He promised peace, wisdom and power, He was really promising Jesus Christ (see Acts 3:25-26).
By now it should be very clear that the substance of every promise was Jesus Christ. When God promised Abraham a seed, He was really promising Him Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:16). When He promised peace, wisdom and power, He was really promising Jesus Christ (see Acts 3:25-26).
Now we can approach our review of the prophecy of Daniel
Daniel 2 was fulfilled by Christ. The "great image" prophetic outline of Daniel 2 refers to the rise and fall of the empires of —Babylon (head of gold), —Medo-Persia (chest of silver), —Greece (torso of bronze), and —Rome (legs of iron with feet and toes of iron and clay) The
"rock" which then strikes the "great image" at its feet was fulfilled
by our Lord Jesus Christ. His kingdom commenced at His baptism in the
Jordan River . He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and
gave Himself as an offering for our sins. After His glorious
resurrection, He ascended into heaven and began to reign on the throne
of David as our Mediator, King, Lawgiver, and High Priest after the
order of Melchisedek. The glory of His now invisible kingdom will be
fully revealed at His coming in the clouds of heaven at the end of the
world. But we must with absolute certainty declare that Christ's kingdom
has been now established and that the Stone cut out without human hands has already struck the great image of a man at its feet. Christ now
reigns over the kingdoms of this world and the full and open disclosure
of His kingdom will be revealed at the last trumpet. Christ alone is worthy to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!!! The "last days" have already arrived in the person of Jesus Christ as Lord and King and Judge.
Daniel 7 was also fulfilled by Christ. The prophetic outline of Daniel 7 refers again to the rise and fall of the empires of — Babylon (the lion), —Medo-Persia (the bear), —Greece (the leopard), —Rome
(the dreadful and terrible ten horned Beast). Rome was this fourth
beast with its ten horns. And then with its "little horn" which "came
up" Rome in conjunction with the rulers of the Israel, the Sanhedrin,
waged spiritual warfare against Christ for the 3 and 1/2 years of His
messianic ministry which ended in the crucifixion of Christ upon the
cross of Calvary. But because of His sinless life and atoning sacrifice on the cross, His glorious
resurrection, and His regal enthronement in heaven as King of Kings,
the Lord Jesus Christ has overcome and defeated all of the Satanic
principalities and powers of this world.
Heb.10:12-13
"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat
down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His
enemies are made His footstool."
Christ's kingdom has cast down all other thrones as
the rightful ruler of the world. The "Son of Man" has been given
"dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and
languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be
destroyed." Christ's judgment of the nations began at His ascension.
(see also: Rev. 4 and Rev. 14) Satan's kingdom in Christ's day was
manifested in the form of the Roman Empire's Herodian rule of the
province of Palestine and Jerusalem. This union of Rome and the
Sanhedrin constituted the "little horn" which made war with Him, but
Jerusalem was eventually "taken away" and totally destroyed in AD 70.
In the proclamation of the gospel to all the world,
every nation, tribe, tongue, and individual is being judged by the
gospel for the verdict of either "life" or "death". The hour of God's
judgment has commenced in the gospel of Christ. The justification of
repentant sinners is by God's unmerited grace alone through faith alone
in the sinless life and atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ, the
sin-bearer for the sins of the world. In God's merciful forgiveness and
acquittal of the repentant believing sinner, the verdict of the final
judgment day is rendered in the present. Today is the day of salvation.
The justified believer who trusts in Christ as his Savior and Lord to
the end will not be ashamed at His coming in power and great glory when
the unbelieving world will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming.
This is the meaning of Daniel 7:9-14 and its complete fulfillment and
New Testament counterpart in Revelation 4:1-6; 5:6-14.
Daniel 7:9-14 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame."As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom (is) the one Which shall not be destroyed.Revelation 4:1-6, 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this." Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.....9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,Revelation 5:6-14 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Daniel 8 was fulfilled by Christ.
The taking away of the "daily sacrifice " by the "little horn" was
fulfilled in the crucifixion of our Lord. Christ is the true "daily",
the eternal sacrifice for sin of which the Old Testament daily
sacrifices for sin were merely a shadow. It was Rome through her
representative, Herod the governor of Palestine, who was the "little
horn" of Daniel 7 and 8.
In Daniel's apocalyptic symbolism, Christ is the
"sanctuary" or temple which was "cast down". He is the "truth" which was
cast to the ground. He is the true "daily", the sin offering, which was
"taken away". The "sanctuary" was "restored" to its rightful state at
Christ's glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven where He now
reigns and judges the nations. (Dan. 8:14 ).
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. 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. 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. 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. 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? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days (eventings and mornings); then shall the sanctuary be cleansed (restored). Daniel 8:9-14
Daniel 9 was fulfilled by Christ.
The "seventy weeks" is a play on the "seventy years" of captivity
spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah. Just as literal Israel would be
restored at the end of the seventy years of captivity, so God's true
spiritual kingdom of Christ would be restored and commence at the end of
"seventy sevens" (70 x 7 = 490) or 490 years.
The decree of Cyrus king of Persia (see: 2 Chron 36:22, Ezra 1:1-9, Isa 45:1-13 Isa 48:13-15) was given
to restore Jerusalem and God's holy temple there after the seventy
years of Babylonish captivity. The commands of Cyrus, Darius, and
Artexerxes to rebuild Jerusalem are found in the book of Ezra. These
commands date from 457 BC. From this date to AD. 34 is exactly 490
years.
Within the last "week" of the seventy weeks, Christ
"finished the transgression", "made an end of sins", made
"reconciliation for iniquity", brought in "everlasting righteousness".
He "sealed up the vision and prophecy", and He was "anointed" as
Messiah. He "confirmed" or ratified the covenant and then He was "cut
of" as He made His atoning substitutionary death on the cross for the
sins of the world. The despicable sin of the Sanhedrin in conjunction
with Rome as the "desolator" against the Messiah would be punished by
the destruction of their city in A.D. 70. The most horrible crime in all
of human history, the true "abomination of desolation", was the
condemnation and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ by His own
covenantal people.
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Daniel 9:24-27
Daniel 10 thru 12 was fulfilled by Christ .
Now regarding the King of the North and the King of the South in Daniel 10-12:
Daniel sets the background for his
prophecy in chapters 2, 7, 8, and 9 as the four kingdoms of Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome which shall rule over the land of Israel
unto the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Daniel 10 Daniel is told that Michael
is battling to defeat the king of Persia so that the kingdom of Greece
shall appear. After Persia is defeated the kingdom of Greece arises. But
Greece will be eventually divided into four parts and one of
these factions is called the "king of the south" and the other surviving
faction is called "the king of the north". This "king of the south"
faction will fight against the "king of the north" faction. These two
remaining factions of the divided empire of Greece fought back and forth
until eventually the southern faction was defeated and the northern
faction emerged as the dominant power which ultimately was absorbed into
the Roman Empire.
It is the fourth empire of Rome (see
Daniel 2) which emerges as the dominant world power and rules the land
of Israel at the time of Christ. It is Imperial Rome which makes war
against the holy covenant and places the "abomination that makes
desolate" and "takes away the daily".
Daniel 11:30......therefore he (the King of the North) 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.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.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 .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.34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.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.36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.38 But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
It is Rome in conjunction with the Jewish
leadership who had "forsaken the holy covenant" (see verse 30) which
conspire together to crucify the Son of God (take away the daily). The
"daily sacrifice" in the temple service prefigured the atoning death of
Christ who was to come into the world to be the true offering for sin
(see Daniel 9:26-27)
So in brief summary, the "king of the
north" represents the power which eventually emerged from Greece and was
absorbed into the Roman Empire which in conjunction with the Jewish
leadership makes war against the holy covenant and crucifies the Lord
Jesus Christ.
The Abomination of Desolation
The murder of the Son of God was mankind's greatest sin in all of
history and this sin is called the "abomination of desolation" and the
"taking away of the daily". It is Christ who fulfilled all the terms
of God's everlasting covenant in the final "week" of the "seventy weeks"
prophecy as Christ was "to finish the transgression, and to make an end
of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in
everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and
to anoint the most Holy." (Daniel 9:24).
It is Christ who in Daniel 12:1 is
called "Michael", "the great prince who stands for the children of thy
people" who at that time"stands up". The phrase "stands up" means for
Him take action and to come into the world as the promised Messiah and
fulfill His mission as Lord and Savior of His people in fulfillment of
His promise in Genesis 3:15 to "crush the Serpent's head". (This
fulfillment of Christ's mission is the entire message of Paul's epistle
to the Hebrews). The great "time of trouble" (Daniel 12:1) began with
the commencement of the Christian era and will end with the second
coming of Christ. (see also: Matt 24).
The entire book of Daniel is thus a
prophecy of the establishment of the "kingdom of God" and this is the
blessed record of the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Daniel has been completely fulfilled in Christ's doing and
dying and ascension into heaven as King of Kings and Lord of Lord. He
reigns in heaven as our Priest/King until He makes all His enemies His
footstool.
These chapters depict in apocalyptic metaphor and
symbolism the great historic struggle to bring about the kingdom of God
against the wishes of the evil kingdoms of this world as they make war
with each other and the "prince of the host", Michael, the ruler
(Hebrew: chief or great prince) of the angels. But in the "last days"
Michael has prevailed and will continue to prevail over His enemies.
Gabriel the angel tells Daniel that at the "time of the end" all these
things will be accomplished. The "time of the end" and the "last
days" began at the incarnation of the Son of God. It is the faithful
remnant Christian church, spiritual Israel, which endures and continues
to endure "a time of trouble such as never before" (see Dan 12, Matt
24).
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 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. 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. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. Daniel 12:1-13 KJV
Daniel's book was sealed up!! Daniel's
book was sealed up until the "time of the end". However, the gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ which is revealed in the proclamation of the New
Testament has completely unsealed the book of Daniel. The "time
of the end" began with the proclamation of the inauguration of the
kingdom of Christ by the angel Gabriel to Zechariah, Elizabeth, and the
virgin Mary. It is Gabriel the angel who ordered the book of Daniel to
be sealed up and it is Gabriel who unsealed the mystery of Daniel's prophecy!
Daniel 8:16 16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.".....26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings which has been told is true; but seal up the vision, for it pertains to many days hence."Daniel 12:4-7 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." 5 Then I Daniel looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And I said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, "How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?" 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven; and I heard him swear by him who lives for ever that it would be for a time, two times, and half a time; and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be accomplished. 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, "O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?" 9 He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But go your way till the end; and you shall rest, and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."Luke 1:5-19 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; 15 for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." 19 And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.Luke 1:26-33 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."
The "knowledge which shall be increased" is the revelation of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ. The
"mystery" of the gospel was fully revealed in Christ. Daniel is told
"blessed is he that waiteth". The "time, two times and a half at time"
period was fulfilled in the three and one half years of our Lord's
ministry from His baptism to His crucifixion and resurrection and
ascendion.
Question: What is symbolized by the
blessing that follows the ascension of Christ within the brief period of
the "1290 days" and the "1335 days"?
Answer: The disciples of Christ waited for the promised blessing of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which was the beginning of the proclamation of the everlasting good news of the kingdom and reign of Christ to both the Jews and the Gentiles to every nation, kindred, tongue and people!! Who will understand the meaning of these mysterious symbols? All of these mysterious numbers have been fulfilled in Christ!!!
Answer: The disciples of Christ waited for the promised blessing of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which was the beginning of the proclamation of the everlasting good news of the kingdom and reign of Christ to both the Jews and the Gentiles to every nation, kindred, tongue and people!! Who will understand the meaning of these mysterious symbols? All of these mysterious numbers have been fulfilled in Christ!!!
Luke 24:44-51 44 Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high." 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven."Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:13
Editor's note: Antiochus Epiphanes
was not and never was a fulfillment of Daniel chapters 7 or 8. This was
the traditional interpretation of the Jews of Christ's day, but they
were completely wrong about the restoration of the temple by the
Maccabees as being the fulfillment of the "restoration of the temple".
The leaders of Israel in the second century B.C. should have humbly
accepted the rule of Palestine by the Greeks. God clearly told them that
four kingdoms would rule over them and that the fourth beast, Rome, would reign over them until the "judgment was rendered in favor of the saints", not the third beast ( Greece ).
It is the fourth beast that committed the
greatest "abomination" in all of human history!! It is the fourth beast
and his "little horn", not the third beast, which cast down the temple
(crucified Christ). It is the fourth beast and his "little horn" which
made war with Christ for exactly 3 and 1/2 years or 1260 days at the end
of which Christ was crucified. The New Testament witness is clear that
Christ's ministry was fulfilled within a 3 and 1/2 year or 1260 day
period. At Christ's resurrection the "temple" was restored (symbolized
in Dan 8:14 as 2300 evening and morning sacrifices or 1150 days), the
judgment was set, and rendered in the favor of the saints, and the
kingdom and the greatness thereof was given to the saints (by faith now but by sight at His second coming).
In His atoning death, burial, and resurrection Christ
pulled down the pillars of Satan's kingdom (symbolized by the great
image of Daniel 2 and the wild beasts of the earth in Daniel 7) and
exposed Satan for the liar and murdered that he was from the
beginning. Christ's everlasting kingdom was established at His
resurrection and the hour of God's judgment of the nations began (Dan 7,
Rev 4, Rev 14). The judgment of the world was initiated at the
anointing of our Lord Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah. His sinless
life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection marked the commencement
of the "last days".
When our Lord cried out "It is finished", the walls of
spiritual "Babylon" came tumbling down as the "everlasting gospel" went
into all the world!! The "sealing" of all who personally repent and
call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ began at Pentecost. when the
apostle Peter cried out,
"The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses......Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:13-21
Rome
is the fourth kingdom. It is symbolized as having ten horns because
Rome was an empire which was composed of many subservient conquered
kingdoms over which Rome placed its own loyal governors. Rome ruled in
the place of the vanquished kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece
mentioned in chapter 2 of Daniel. It is the Roman Empire in conjunction
with the province of Judea ruled by Herod, Pontius Pilot, and
the Sanhedrin (this constitutes the "Little Horn") which "stood up
against the Prince of princes" (Daniel 8). It is Christ who fulfilled
the final "week" of Daniel 9. The "abomination of desolation" was the
crucifixion of our Lord by Rome in conjunction with the rulers of
Jerusalem. That which was "determined upon the desolator" was the
destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. It was Rome which caused the
"sacrifice to cease". Christ, after He "confirmed" the covenant for 3
and 1/2 years, was murdered by the "Little Horn". Rome thereby
desecrated the "temple" and "caused the sacrifices to cease" in
crucifying the Lord. It is Christ who said, "Destroy this temple and in
three days I will raise it up." It is Christ, the "second Adam" who
repaired the breach caused by the "first Adam". It is in Christ that all
of the prophetic promises of God have reached their final "amen"!!
Finally Rome destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. The
desolator standing in the "holy place" spoken of by our Lord in Matt 24
was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies of
Titus in A.D. 70. The Lord thusly identifies Rome, the fourth
kingdom, as being the "desolator" which not only cuts off the Messiah,
but also then destroys the holy city after its rejection of the Messiah.
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) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains....Matthew 24:15-16
I hope this brief explanation of the book of Daniel
will give you some insight as to how to understand its mysterious
symbolism as a shadow and precursor of the full revelation of the
"mystery" of God in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This mystery is
fully disclosed and unveiled in the New Testament gospels of Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John. But Gabriel tells Daniel, "Only those who are wise
will know what it means!!" Daniel 12:10 NLV.
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God : but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. Mark 4:11-12All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.Matthew 13:34Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery , which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Romans 16:25-26Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery , even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 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. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:6-10....he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will , according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. Ephesians 1:6-10Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; Colossians 1:26-27Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 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. 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. 1 Peter 1:10. Continue Reading
Like It was in Noah's day, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. ........Luke 17: 26,27
Before the Flood God sent Noah to warn the world, that the people might be led to repentance, and thus escape the threatened destruction. As the time of Christ's second appearing draws near, the Lord sends His servants with a warning to the world to prepare for that great event. Multitudes have been living in transgression of God's law, and now He in mercy calls them to obey its sacred precepts. All who will put away their sins by repentance toward God and faith in Christ are offered pardon. But many feel that it requires too great a sacrifice to put away sin. Because their life does not harmonize with the pure principles of God's moral government, they reject His warnings and deny the authority of His law.
Of the vast population of the earth before the Flood, only eight souls believed and obeyed God's word through Noah. For a hundred and twenty years the preacher of righteousness warned the world of the coming destruction, but his message was rejected and despised. So it will be now. Before the Lawgiver shall come to punish the disobedient, transgressors are warned to repent, and return to their allegiance; but with the majority these warnings will be in vain. Says the apostle Peter, "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning." 2 Peter 3:3, 4. Do we not hear these very words repeated, not merely by the openly ungodly, but by many who occupy the pulpits of our land? "There is no cause for alarm," they cry. "Before Christ shall come, all the world is to be converted, and righteousness is to reign for a thousand years. Peace, peace! all things continue as they were from the beginning. Let none be disturbed by the exciting message of these alarmists." But this doctrine of the millennium does not harmonize with the teachings of Christ and His apostles. Jesus asked the significant question, "When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8. And, as we have seen, He declares that the state of the world will be as in the days of Noah. Paul warns us that we may look for wickedness to increase as the end draws near: "The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1 Timothy 4:1. The apostle says that "in the last days perilous times shall come." 2 Timothy 3:1. And he gives a startling list of sins that will be found among those who have a form of godliness.
As the time of their probation was closing, the antediluvians gave themselves up to exciting amusements and festivities. Those who possessed influence and power were bent on keeping the minds of the people engrossed with mirth and pleasure, lest any should be impressed by the last solemn warning. Do we not see the same repeated in our day? While God's servants are giving the message that the end of all things is at hand, the world is absorbed in amusements and pleasure seeking. There is a constant round of excitement that causes indifference to God and prevents the people from being impressed by the truths which alone can save them from the coming destruction.
In Noah's day philosophers declared that it was impossible for the world to be destroyed by water; so now there are men of science who endeavor to show that the world cannot be destroyed by fire--that this would be inconsistent with the laws of nature. But the God of nature, the Maker and Controller of her laws, can use the works of His hands to serve His own purpose.
Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 102-104.
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