Daniel Chapter 8

Daniel Chapter 8

The Persian & Greek Empires

The High Priest Jedua showed Alexander this prophetic Daniel chapter 8, written 200 years earlier, which caused him to spare Jerusalem, convinced it spoke of him.

Daniel Chapter 8:  This is part of the image, only Persia and Greece

http://www.khouse.org/articles/1995/80/


(Daniel 8:1 [KJV])
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.

• The time is when they are still in Babylon.

(Daniel 8:2 [KJV])
And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

• Shushan is in Persia, the capital of the Medo-Persian Empire, Daniel would not even be there, just dreaming and having a vision of and about it.  
• He was probably there in spirit, like John in Revelation
• Babylon is still somewhat prominent, because the timing is before chapter 5
• This is the home of Esther, throughout the book, most chapters (1-9) refer to it
• It is the city of Nehemiah
• The Code of Hammurabi was found here. It reads like the O.T. laws
• "Persian kingdom appeared as a ram with clean feet and sharp pointed horns. Also, whenever the Persians went into battle, the Persian king stood at the head of his army wearing the head of a ram on his head instead of a crown."
• Elam is the place of the Persian Empire, previously named Elam

(Genesis 10:22 [KJV])
The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

(Genesis 14:1 [KJV])
And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

(Genesis 14:9 [KJV])
With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

(Nehemiah 1:1 [KJV])
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

(Daniel 8:3 [KJV])
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.

• A ram which had two horns” will be identified later as Media-Persia (see v. 20).
• In the Zodiac, Aries the Ram is representative of Persia 
• The Persian King also wore a Ram's Headress instead of a Royal Diadem (Crown of Jewels)
• "Came up last" is referring to Cyrus the Persian who was king of the Medes and Persians after Darius the Mede.
• "but one was higher than the other" Under him and his successors Persia was a much more powerful kingdom than ever was under the Medes, so the Medo-Persian Empire eventually became the Persian Empire because the Persians were stronger
• Xerxes was the last King around the time of Esther-unpredictable
• 480 B.C.: Attacked Greece with 300,000 people-men, women, children-got his clock cleaned
• Called the Battle of Thermopylae
• Then attacked with 300 ships, lost them all in a storm
• When he heard of that, he went down to the sea and beat the waves with his belt!
• Why the Greeks hated Persians

(Daniel 8:4 [KJV])
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.

• Not to the East because he is from the East
• Chapter 7 it was the Bear, now it is the Ram, which is Cyrus of the Persian Empire
• The Persian Empire was very, very powerful

(Daniel 8:5 [KJV])
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.

Alexander III of Macedon (July 20th-21st, 356 B.C.– June 10th/11th, 323 B.C.)  Reigned from 332-323 B.C.

• This unicorned He Goat is Greece
• That horn is Alexander the Great Greek Leader, who was actually a Macedonian (a state in Northern Greece, only about twice the size of Massachusettes)
• Father: Phillip II of Macedon
• Mother: Olympias-rumored to have had her husband Phillip II assassinated so Alexander could reign.
• She spread the rumor also that he was the result of her intercourse with a snake.  
• Took only six years for him to conquer the Persians.
• Started conquering at 20, died at 32-33
• 30 years old, made it to India (Punjab)
• Wanted New World Order, as a ruthless dictator and a visionary
• With only 35,000 men, against the million man army of the Persians, he prevailed and was then known as "Alexander the Great".
• This was over many battles, concluding with the Battle of Thermopylae
• Aristotle taught him until the age of sixteen
• Alexander was undefeated in all of his battles and wars
• He had a tactic in war of extremely rapid movement, getting on, taking control, defeating the enemy
• Alexandria in Egypt named after him, as well as other places
• Military leaders still teach some of his war tactics and military strategies
• Alexander spent only twelve years on his conquests, Napolean, three times as long
• According to historian Diodorus, Alexander was asked on his deathbed to whom he would bequeath or had bequeathed his kingdom; his short and instant reply was "tôi kratistôi", meaning "to the strongest"
• Died young, in a drunken stupor, walking outside in the cold, got pneumonia, strong, young like verse 8 says
• Dies in Babylon at 32-33, 323 B.C. in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II, in Babylon,with nothing left to conquer
• Like all evil dictators, Alexander the Great Shed the blood of millions to exalt himself, whereas...
• Jesus Christ shed His own Blood Himself to exalt millions of us.

(Daniel 8:6 [KJV])
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.

• Rams are larger, more powerful
• Running into it is necessary, plus perfect aim!
• Ram=Persia=Aries in Zodiac
• Capricorn=Goat=Greece in Zodiac (Caper=Goat + Cornu=Horn)
• One Horned Goat=Macedonia, near Greece, not Greece

Alexander versus Persia:

• May 334 B.C.-crosses Hellespont River with only 30,000 troops
• November 333 B.C. (1.5 years later) engages Persia again at the Battle of Issus
• October 331 B.C., defeats Persia finally at Arbella, a place near Ninevah (Syria)
• That is three years to defeat a mighty Empire
• In Six Years, he conquered everything he could.

Daniel 11 Covers the empires after this, for and in the 400 silent years

(Daniel 8:7 [KJV])
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.

• Alexander was known for having a fast army, quick decisions
• This was not typical for army movements to move fast, so it is a surprise
• His army was much smaller (35,000 Greek soldiers to Xerxes 1,000,000 Persian man army)
• This was small groups as in and out guerrilla-type warfare

(Daniel 8:8 [KJV])
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.

• Nothing breaks the horn, so he was not killed or conquered
• Alexandria Egypt is his capital city-name founded by him after he conquered Egypt.
• Went to Afghanistan, married a woman and had a child
• He thought that a Macedonian man in his army, Cleitus, who had saved his life in battle, was looking at his wife, so he stabbed him in the back while they were drunk at a huge gala in the palace
• The quarrel was also about re-arranging generals for troops and Cleitus did not like the change.
• This made Alexander lose lots of face with his army, but he re-mustered them again to take India.
• Alexander is at his peak, aged 32-33 (when he was strong) he died of a fever after a drinking bout
• When dying on his deathbed, he was asked what to do with his empire, he said, "Give it to the strong"
• All three empires (Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greek, all died in a drunken stupor
• Four Generals divide up empire :
• 321 B.C. Ptolemy conquers Egypt (the south), North Africa, parts of Asia Minor, Syrian areas
• In 317 B.C. Cassander too over by assumption as the head of Macedon and takes over Greece (Macedonia, Europe  the west). Brother-in-law to Alexander
• In 311 B.C. Seleucus took over Babylon and Syria, all of the way to India (the east).
• In 306 B.C. Antigonus declared himself king of Asia Minor (the north). He was slain in battle in 301 B.C. and was succeeded by Lysimachus. Today this is mostly Turkey.

(Daniel 8:9 [KJV])
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.

• Not the anti-Christ, one of the four generals, Seleucid
• Seleucid empire wanted to take Israel (the "Pleasant Land")
• Antiochus IV, Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the Great, (175 B.C.-164 B.C.) in 170 B.C. put image of Zeus/Jupiter, sacrificed a pig and boiled it in wine
• Called himself "Theos Epiphanes"  or "God manifested"
• Also called himself "Antiochus Epiphanes", "The Illustrious One"
• The Jews called him "Antiochus Epimanes", "The Madman"
• He was a Seleucid family member
• Start of the Maccabean revolt, intense anti-Semitism, intense hatred for the Jews
• Demanded to be worshipped, statue of himself in Temple
• 40,000 Jews killed in one day because they refused to worship him
• Perhaps a million more Jews killed in coming months
• Scrolls, books, Bibles, burned at his command
• Butchered pig on altar in Temple, smeared blood all over everywhere
• Made the High Priest and other priests to drink the blood
• This is all well documented history, from any good encyclopedia, etc.

(Daniel 8:10 [KJV])
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.

• This is the Son of Antiochus IV, or Antiochus the Great, part of Syrian, Seleucid Dynasty 175-164 B.C.
• He was considered worse than Hitler and, by some, is called "Caesar Nero"
• He does what the anti-Christ will do
• The Capitals of the Empire
• Seleucia on the Tigris (305–240 BC)
• Antioch (240–64 BC)

(Daniel 8:11 [KJV])
Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

• He (Antiochus Epiphanes) sent letters to the Jews, recorded in 1 Maccabees 1:41-50
• Maccabees is not Scripture, but Jewish history
• He outlawed Judaism
  
  41: Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,
  42: And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.
  43: Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.
  44: For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,
  45: And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:
  46: And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:
  47: Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts:
  48: That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:
  49: To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.
  50: And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.

(Daniel 8:12 [KJV])
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.

• This was a God-allowed persecution of Israel by the Pagans

(Daniel 8:13 [KJV])
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?

• This is Antiochus Epiphanes still
• The "transgression of desolation"  is the "abomination of desolation"

(Daniel 8:14 [KJV])
And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

• Seventh Day Adventism came from this verse precisely as a "Day-Year interpretation"
• Christ's return was said to be in 1843, after 2,300 YEARS (not days)
• William Miller (very sincere), his followers, Ellen G. White, came up with this theory and calculated it out
• 70,000 went up to a mountain in white robes for Christ's return
• Said it was recalculated, said it happened spiritually in the heavens
• "Sanctuary that shall be cleansed" was claimed to be the earth
• Mattathias a man refused to follow Antiochus and was killed.  
• He had five sons, one of which was called Judas, who was called Maccabeus
•  This was the Maccabeean Revolt.
• ROUGHLY 6-7 years, landing around the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, meaning that this was fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes, and ended with Judas Maccabees revolt
• Literal Temple in Jerusalem was literally cleansed and rededicated then
• Channukah comes from this, they had a "Festival of Lights"
• Judas Maccabean revolt, revolted, repelled, overthrew Antiochus Epiphanes
• No oil but for one day for lamps, prayed, eight days
• Feast of Dedication, Feast of Lights, Channukah 
• This was 2,300 days exactly to fulfill the prophecy

(Daniel 8:15 [KJV])
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.

• "Appearance of a man", but apparently not a man.

(Revelation 21:17)
And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.(Daniel 8:16 [KJV])
And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

• The first introduction to Gabriel in the Bible

(Daniel 8:17 [KJV])
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.

• This fulfillment is double, and the anti-Christ is typified here.
• "This is the time of the end", so Antiochus is a picture of the anti-Christ
• The other little horn at the end of the Gentiles is THE anti-Christ

(Daniel 8:18 [KJV])
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.

• Humility leads to being lifted up

(1 Peter 5:6 [KJV])
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

(Daniel 8:19-21 [KJV])
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.
The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

• Alexander the Great being the horn
• The Goat is Greece, the Aegean Sea means "Sea of the Goat"
• His son was Augus, "Son of the Goat"
• Alexander shown this saw that he was the goat.
• In some way this will be related to the anti-Christ kingdom

(Daniel 8:22 [KJV])
Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

• All would be of lesser power than Alexander the Great, none would be able to take over all of it or even conquer more.
• This four were the  four who fought over his kingdom
• But this, not being in his power, is the anti-Christ 
• Lysimachus, Cassander,Ptolemy, and Seleucus--divide the empire after his death just as the passages indicated.²

• Ptolemy I Soter conquered Egypt, declaring himself to be Pharoah. The Ptolemaic dynasty of rule lasted until 30 B.C.
• Antipater assumed the government of Macedonia but died soon after. His son Cassander eventually became king (305 B.C.).
• Seleucus took over Babylon, Persia, Mesopotamia and adjacent areas. He was founder of the Seleucid Empire.
• Lysimachus ruled over Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon. 

(Daniel 8:23-25 [KJV])
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. 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.  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.

• This is a world leader
• Time when the transgressors come to the full
• His method of destruction of the Holy people, etc.
• Crafty
• Mighty but not by his own power (Revelation 17)
• This is total deceit, trickery, false miracles, etc.
• EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE
• This is the anti-Christ
• False miracles
• False peace
• Stand up to Jesus (Revelation 13)
• Destroyed by Jesus Himself, no human intervention
• This is the White to the Red horse of the apocolypse
• Will solve economic problems, Middle East problems, religious problems

• THE FIRST HOLOCAUST IN GERMANY UNDER HITLER DESTROYED ONE THIRD OF ALL JEWS
• THE LAST HOLOCAUST UNDER THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL DESTROY TWO THIRDS OF ALL JEWS

THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
(Matthew 24:15 [KJV])
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:)

(Mark 13:14 [KJV])
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:

DESTRUCTION BY PEACE
(Revelation 6:4 [KJV])
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

(1 Thessalonians 5:3 [KJV])
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

(Jeremiah 6:14 [KJV])
They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

(Daniel 8:26 [KJV])
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.

• This past history whch was under Antiochus Epiphanes was to be repeated, in the future, only much, much worse.

(Daniel 8:27 [KJV])
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.

• All Prophecies in Chapter 8 were fulfilled within 200 years. 
• The second, double fulfillment is future and very soon
• To view Revelation on earth in the flesh is sickening, what will happen then and there.

The chapter has a double fulfillment.  One was Antiochus Epiphanes, the last, the very last, fulfillment is the anti-Christ.  The end is without our help, without an army, without a war, and finally certain, and certainly final.  The enemy is crushed by the Word of God.  Many days for Daniel is now our time, the Last Days.

Daniel Chapter 6

Babylon:

• Babylon is called "the city of man", or "the city of the devil"
  
• Jerusalem is city of God
  
• Babylon is alluded to in Christ's genealogy three times
  
• Spoken of more than 300 times in the Bible
  
• Nimrod's capital, first dictator, perhaps the last dictator
  
• Mystery Babylon will be around in Revelation
  
• Conquered here without a battle
  
• Never to be inhabited again, building, materials never used
  
  
• All false worship and the occultic mystery religions started at Babel, in Babylon
  

Darius: THE SKEPTICS

• "Darius the Mede only exists in the Bible!  He has never been found to be real!  The Bible is in error!"
• Darius the Mede, the word "Darius" is possibly an honorable title name, meaning "holder of the scepter" and was used after this for five more Persian  leaders.  (less likely)
• In the secular world, Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:31) is considered a fictional character
• It could just be a name, Darius (less likely)
• It could be used for Cyrus or his son unclear)
• He died shortly after taking over
• Most likely, he was appointed:
  

(Daniel 9:1)
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

Daniel:  THE MAN

• In the Hebrews 11 Hall of Fame
• Never spoken bad of, like Joseph
• One of very few prophets not actually rejected by the Jews and martyred for his prophecies
• Kidnapped as a teen, brought into Babylon, then rises to become great leader, maybe took care of Nebuchadnezzar for his seven year animal exile (Talmud)
• 83 years old here, 66 years in public service

(Daniel 6:1)
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

• Could be 120 officers, not necessarily 120 areas to rule
• It is pleasing to have people in charge for order

(Daniel 6:2)
And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

• Daniel was over all three presidents
• One job, it seems, was protection..........from the presidents?  OR others? Or both? 
• Another was protection from stealing, embezzlement, which is common in dictatorships where the populace is kept poor and downtrodden 
• You only get this job if you are trustworthy. Period.

(Daniel 6:3)
Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

• Leadership, integrity, character, etc.
• The covetousness was over his future promotion
• Favor with both God and man is rare
• An old Jewish  man in charge of a pagan kingdom

(1 Samuel 2:26) 
And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.  

(Luke 2:52) 
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

(Daniel 6:4)
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

• Leadership, integrity, character, faultless, etc......leads to ENVY
• 120 people could find fault or error in him
• No fault was found, but David was called a man after God's own heart!

(1 Samuel 13:14) 
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.  

(1 Peter 5:8) 
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

(Daniel 6:5)
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

• These are not just your average 120 people
• They are leaders
• They have envy and hatred towards Daniel
• They therefore have motives and desires to remove Daniel 
• They knew he WOULD keep that Law of God, and BREAK any law against God, 100%

(Daniel 6:6)
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

• There is the "Live forever" again, and means what it says to them, "eternal life", divinity of kings, the divine right of kings, starts in Genesis 6
  
• Many with this same attitude here towards Daniel will come together to attack Jesus Christ hundreds of years later

(Psalms 2:2) 
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens  shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

(Daniel 6:7)
All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

• This starts with, "All the.....".
• Compulsion into any religion which is not of God is a snare and a trap, with attached strings
• Why thirty days?
• Does this sort of religion sound familiar today?
• This is a tremendous play on the pride and ego of Darius, 
• Nebuchadnezzar/Babylonians, he was above the law as a despotic dictatorial ruler
• Darius/Persians, culturally and politically bound by the law, not above it. He could not even change a law
• This is proof that, if God is not your supplier, then you will turn to man and a system of man for provision-God or government
• We see this here today happening, where God was rejected, so man relies on redistribution of wealth and the government for his well being
• Do an image search for "babylonian lion wall"

(Daniel 6:8-9)
Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

• This confirms the above and will trap Daniel and the Jews who worship God
• No mention of Daniel being a future victim here, out of both "spite and sleight"
• Basically, ENTRAPMENT

(Daniel 6:10)
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

• His usual day, like any other day
• Jerusalem 200 miles west, in rubble
• Kneeled upon his knees
• Three times a day

TOWARDS JERUSALEM 

(1 Kings 8:44) 
If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name: 

(2 Chronicles 6:20-21) 
That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place. Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.

KNEELED ON HIS KNEES  
(Luke 22:41) (Jesus) 
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 

(Acts 7:60) (Stephen) 
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

(Acts 9:40) (Peter) 
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

(Daniel 6:11)
Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

• Caught in the very act of talking to God!
• This was his routine, and this law was not about to interrupt his commitment to God

(Daniel 6:12)
Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

• The entire purpose of the decree was not to get people to pray to Darius or to the gods of Persia, but to catch Daniel in something they knew he would do anyways-pray to God.
• This is a set of modern day lawyers who want the fine print taken care of, and are here to make sure it is signed, sealed so they can execute Daniel

(Daniel 6:13)
Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

• When people want someone else harmed out of covetousness, they will say anything to anyone, true or not.  
• These men could care less about the king and the fact that Daniel is going against the king. 
• It is about Daniel being punished, not the king or the gods

(Daniel 6:14)
Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

• The King is not displeased with the attorneys, not displeased with Daniel, just HIMSELF
• Again, Persian law was binding law
• The king signed that law
• The king could not "unsign" that law
• The king never thought about the consequences to Daniel or whether Daniel would obey the decree one bit
• He saw he was trapped by his own people/advisers
• He went to other lawyers to find a way out, in order to get Daniel freed from the lions

(Daniel 6:15)
Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

• There is no indication of a trial but, if Daniel were asked about this, he would have refused to pray to anyone else as it is, given the chance, so either way he would have gone into the lion's den
• This again confirms that the laws were binding. Period. Even the king could not go back on this

(Daniel 6:16)
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

• "Here is hoping your God will come through"?
• "I know your God will deliver you"?
• "I know your God and I know that your God will deliver you"?
• One thing he knows is that Daniel serves his God continually-can people say that of us?
• The ONE bad thing that they could say is a virtue before God-prayer to God, thrice daily

(Daniel 6:17)
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

• If the decree was binding, so was the sentence for disobeying it, officially
• It was also officially sealed by many. 
• The others sealing it meant that even the KING HIMSELF could not open it
• What more certainty that Daniel would be eaten than no one, not even the king, can save him?

(Matthew 27:64) 
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

(Daniel 6:18)
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

• Darius obviously had the idea that Daniel might not make it through the night
• Darius also had the idea that he inadvertently was duped and was responsible if anything happened to Daniel
• Daniel probably fell asleep or spoke with the LORD all night long

(Daniel 6:19)
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

• If the lions did not get Daniel overnight, apparently he was to be let out immediately
• Apparently also, if he was alive, he was innocent and his accusers were guilty

(Daniel 6:20)
And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

• Our God is alive, not a dead god of stone, hay, gold, silver, iron
• "Servant of the living God" is a good title
• Because we serve a living God, we are alive
• Because God is the God of the living, when HE speaks of those departed, He is also ensuring and reminding us that that they are still very much alive (Exodus 3:6)

(John 1:4) 
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. nbsp;

(1 Peter 1:3-5) 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  

(Matthew 22:32) 
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 

(Mark 12:27) 
He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. 

(Luke 20:38) 
For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. 

(Exodus 3:6) 
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

(Daniel 6:21)
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

• There is that phrase again

(Daniel 6:22)
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I   done no hurt.

• Daniel was perfect before God, and this was an illustration of salvation
• Daniel also went along, not wanting any harm to the king, and took the consequences, grace or death, willingly
• Many were martyred then and are martyred today; it is up to God to allow or disallow
• Either way, we are to praise God

DANIEL, HALL OF FAME

(Hebrews 11:33) 
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

PAUL, SAVED FROM LIONS

(2 Timothy 4:17)
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

GOD USING BEASTS TO DESTROY HIS ENEMIES

(Revelation 6:8)
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

A ROARING LION<

(Revelation 13:2)
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

(Daniel 6:23)
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

• This says something both for Darius and Daniel
• Daniel was respected as a man, if not for his religion
• Darius respected and honored Daniel
• It is likely that, had Darius thought that Daniel would have been the one to be thrown into the lion's den, he would not have ever signed the decree

(Daniel 6:24)
And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery  of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

• The skeptic likes to claim that these are old, not-hungry lions.  
• This is about 120 people (v.1) and their families, so these lions were hungry and voracious!
• Archaeology confirms the Persians had these lions's dens
• There is an old saying for false witnesses, in Assyrian that stands for slander, "To eat the pieces of a man"
• As was said earlier, apparently also, if he was alive, he was innocent and his accusers were guilty
• The lion and the false accuser both are behind this plot, and always is in the spiritual realm
• This is not to say that the flesh is incapable and needs no assistance-it is just the enemy is always ready, waiting and able to assist
• God is bigger than any false accuser or roaring lion
• The device by Haman to destroy the Jews was also used on himself in the end

(Esther 8:7) 
Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

(Revelation 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.  

(1 Peter 5:8)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

(1 John 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.

(Daniel 6:25)
Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

• This also would be binding
• Because Daniel was not interested in vengeance, but rather peace, he would never falsely or otherwise accuse

(Daniel 6:26)
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall  not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

• Did Darius get saved? Like Nebuchadnezzar?

(Daniel 6:27)
He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

• Darius recognizes the protection and provision of God Himself

(Daniel 6:28)
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

• Cyrus the Great-legendary leader, quality  1971 Iran, 2,500th anniversary of Cyrus
• Cyrus established the Medo-Persian empire, he is part Median, part Persian.
• Herodatus says he was responsible for lowering  the Euphrates to a man's thigh to conquer Babylon.  
• Daniel gives him a scroll of Isaiah (which was written 150 years earlier) with his name.   
• Herodatus said also that they city was intact. 
• Alexander visited here and was greeted after conquering the Medes and was welcomed. He made Babylon his capital city and lived there.

(Isaiah 44:28) 
That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. (Isaiah  45:1) Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; 

THE MAGI: 

(Jeremiah 39:3)
And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.

 (Jeremiah 39:13)
So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes;

Rab-Mag=Chief of the Magi, an appointment for Daniel

This was a hereditary for Persians, not for a Jew to hold.

Daniel Chapter 12

One of the misconceptions that Christians  have they get from so-called "scholars".  Context in the Bible is everything to any passage.  Cultural context is also often part of that. However, when it comes to prophecy, not so much at all sometimes.  In other words, the prophets themselves and their culture can be completely irrelevant to the prophecy and Daniel shows this.  The fact that he himself did not understand the dreams and did not always have all of it explained to him means his cultural context was not part of the dream.

Chapters 10-12 are of the same vision



(Daniel 12:1 [KJV])
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.

• Michael stands for Israel
• This is the same as Revelation in every way
• This is the two resurrections, separated by 1,000 years in Revelation 
• This is about the future event for Daniel and us, the Great Tribulation
• There are around 100,000,000 angels plus (Revelation 5:11) of various ranks, types (Cherubims, etc.)

MICHAEL
(Revelation 12:7 [KJV])
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

JACOB'S TROUBLE
(Jeremiah 30:7 [KJV])
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

JACOB'S TROUBLE
(Matthew 24:21 [KJV])
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

(Mark 13:19 [KJV])
For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

(Deuteronomy 4:30-31 [KJV])
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;  (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
 
(Jeremiah 30:7 [KJV])
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

(Ezekiel 20:34-38 [KJV])
And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:  And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.


(Ezekiel 22:18-22 [KJV])
Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.  Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.  As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.



(Zechariah 13:8-9 [KJV])
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

• One third of all Israel was killed in the Holocaust
• This is two thirds killed, one third spared!

ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED 
(Romans 11:26 [KJV])
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

(2 Corinthians 3:16 [KJV])
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

(Isaiah 59:20 [KJV])
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

(Daniel 7:18 [KJV])
But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

(Zechariah 12:10 [KJV])
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.


(Zechariah 13:8-9 [KJV])
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

(Jeremiah 30:7 [KJV])
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

(Jeremiah 30:11 [KJV])
For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
 
THE BOOK OF LIFE
(Revelation 3:5 [KJV])
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

(Revelation 20:12 [KJV])
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

(Revelation 21:27 [KJV])
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

(Psalms 69:28 [KJV])
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

(Malachi 3:16 [KJV])
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.

(Daniel 12:2 [KJV])
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 is the glorified body for us, versus the physical body resurrection ready for punishment, for the unbelievers
• We came from dust, at death we return to the dust, but for judgment sake or for eternal life we are resurrected from that dust
• These do not have to happen (and do not) at the same time, these two resurrections

DUST
(Genesis 3:19 [KJV])
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

RESURRECTION
(Revelation 20:5 [KJV])
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

(Revelation 20:13-15 [KJV])
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

(2 Corinthians 5:10 [KJV])
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

(John 5:28-29 [KJV])
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

(Daniel 12:3 [KJV])
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.

• The wisdom is from God to believers
• At this time, we all will shine like this with the Glory of God

(Matthew 5:16 [KJV])
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

(Matthew 13:43 [KJV])
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

(Proverbs 11:30 [KJV])
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.


(Daniel 12:4 [KJV])
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 is high speed, high stress, high technology living, only possible today
• The knowledge of prophecy, specifically in Daniel, and the Bible itself are also very much increased in these days
• This would be because of what we literally see with our eyes in this exciting time we live in
• Daniel is sealed; Revelation is UNsealed
• 1960-1970 doubled the amount of information
• Today, imagine how fast it is doubling
• Sending a color video across the world with a handheld device, through the air
• Watch something on the other side of the world live.

(Daniel 12:5 [KJV])
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 man in chapter 10 is now joined by two others

(Daniel 10:5 [KJV])
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: 

(Daniel 12:6 [KJV])
And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

• Daniel does not have the book of Revelation, and wants to know the when here
• He further does not know exactly when this is all going to pass, since it probably seems so impossible in his day

(Daniel 12:7 [KJV])
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.

• Both hands up to Heaven=worship
• This oath is ironclad, solid, guaranteed, so that you can live by it
• This time, times and half a time is three and a half years
• Israel is believed to finally have been broken, humbled, and turned to the LORD because of the Great Tribulation

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

• Daniel is asking how on earth all of this is going to possibly happen, perhaps again because his understanding of the vision is limited
• He does not get a direct answer, and it is now sealed until our days as we are seeing it all come to pass.

(Daniel 12:10 [KJV])
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.

• This is for sure today, and a very accurate description of current events
• Many wise in the church will see this all coming to pass and understand
• This scenario is the perfect spiritual atmosphere for the anti-Christ to walk into and deceive so many

(1 Corinthians 2:14 [KJV])
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.
 
(Revelation 1:3 [KJV])
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.


(Daniel 12:11 [KJV])
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.

• This is 1,260 days + 30 = 1,290 days: Thirty for SOMETHING (Judgment before the Millenial Kingdom?)
• We do not know nor will we ever know......NO ONE KNOWS!

(Daniel 12:12 [KJV])
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

• 1,335 days now is 75 extra days to the last half of the Tribulation
• There is no other explanation for this addition; no one knows to know what this is (it is sealed)
• Whatever it is, there is a blessing for making to make it this far
• It is probably the separation period on earth
• "Blessed is he that waiteth"; Come, ye blessed of my Father,

(Matthew 25:32-34 [KJV])
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
(Matthew 25:41 [KJV])
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

(Daniel 12:13 [KJV])
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 is told he will die not long after this, forget the fulfillment, he will not see it
• He will be risen after the Great Tribultion, before the Millenial Kingdom

Daniel  /  Revelation Summary of the anti-CHRIST

(Daniel 8:25 [KJV])
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.

HE SHALL CAUSE CRAFT TO PROSPER IN HIS HAND
(Revelation 13:17 [KJV])
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

HE SHALL MAGNIFY HIMSELF IN HIS HEART
(Revelation 13:5 [KJV])
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

FALSE PEACE
(Revelation 6:2-4 [KJV])
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

STAND AGAINST THE PRINCE OF PRINCES
(Revelation 13:6 [KJV])
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Daniel Chapter 11

The Prophet Daniel - Chapter 11-BETWEEN THE TESTAMENTS: THE NON-SILENT YEARS

1. Daniel deported, as a teenager
2. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
3. The Fiery Furnace
4. Nebuchadnezzar's Pride Aramaic
5. The Fall of Babylon
6. Daniel in the Lions Den
7. The Four Beasts
8. The Ram and the He Goat
9. The Seventy Weeks Messianic Prophecy
10. The Dark Side/Spiritual Battle
11. The “400 Non-Silent Years”foretold in detail
12. The End of All Things

CHAPTER 11

• Verses 1-8 are Alexander the Great
  
  • Verses 1-2 recap the Persian Empire
  • Verses 3-4 Recap the Greek Empire
  • Verses 3-4 Recap the Greek Empire

• Verses 9-14 are Antiochus Epiphanes
• Verses 20-22 are the Interpretation of verses 1-7
• Verses 23-25 are a Shadow of the anti-Christ
• Verses 5-36 the strife between Seleucid and Ptolemaic Empires, Israel between them
• Verses 36-39 are about the Powerful King exercising his own sellf-will-it fits the character and behavior of both Antiochus Epiphanes and the anti-Christ
• Verses 40-45 are about Armageddon

(Daniel 11:1 [KJV])
Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

• This is the angel, speaking here
• He is strengthening Darius the Mede, not Daniel (Chapter 10 end)
• He is merely speaking TO Daniel

Prophecy Given B.C. 534	Fulfillment
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. (Verse 2.)	See Ezra iv. 5-24. The three kings were : Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes and Darius. Known in history as Cambyses, Pseudo Smerdis and Darius Hystaspis (not Darius the Mede). The fourth one was Xerxes, who, as history tells us was immensely rich. The invasion of Greece took place in 480 B. C.
And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. (Verse 3.)	The successors of Xerxes are not mentioned. The mighty king in this verse is the notable horn seen by Daniel on the he-goat in chapter viii, Alexander the Great. 335 B. C
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. (Verse 4.) 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. (Verse 5.)	His kingdom was plucked up for others besides those of his own family. Arideus, his brother, was made king in Macedonia; Olympias, Alexander's mother, killed him, and poisoned Alexander's two sons, Hercules and Alexander. Thus was his family rooted out by its own hands. See what decaying perishing things worldly pomp and possessions are, and the powers by which they are got. Never was the vanity of the world and its greatest things shown more evidently than in the story of Alexander. All is vanity and vexation of spirit. Asia and Greece are not followed but Syria and Egypt become prominent, because the King of the North from Syria, and the King of the South, Egypt, were to come in touch with the Jews. The holy land became involved with both. The King of the South was Ptolemy Lagus. One of his princes was Seleucus Nicator. He established a great dominion, which extended to the Indus.
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. (Verse 6.)	Here is another gap. This verse takes us to 250 B. C. The two who make an alliance are the Kings of the North (Syrian division of the Grecian Empire) and of the South (Egypt). This alliance was eflFected by the marriage of the daughter of the King of the South, the Egyptian Princess Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy H., to Antiochus Theos, the King of the North. The agreement was that Antiochus had to divorce his wife and make any child of Bernice his heir in the kingdom. The agreement ended in calamity. When Ptolemy died Antiochus Theos in 247 called back his former wife. Berenice and her young son were poisoned and the first wife's son, Callinicus, was put on the throne as Seleucus II.
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. (Verse 7.)	The one out of her roots (Berenice, who had been murdered) was her own brother, Ptolemy Euergetes, who avenged her death. He conquered Syria. He dealt against Seleucus II, King of the North and slew the wife of Antiochus Theos, who had Berenice poisoned. He seized the fortress, the port of Antioch.
And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. (Verse 8.)	Ptolemy Euergetes did exactly as predicted. He returned with 4000 talents of gold and 40,000 talents of silver and 2500 idols and idolatrous vessels. Many of these Cambyses had taken to Persia.
So the King of the South shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. (Verse 9.) (Literal translation) : " and the same (King of the North) shall come into the realm of the King of the South, but shall return into his own land."	In 240 B. C. Seleucus Callinicus the King of the North invaded Egypt. He had to return defeated. His fleet perished in a storm.  500,000 reduced to 10,000.
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. (Verse 10.)	The sons of Seleucus Callinicus were Seleucus III and Antiochus the Great. Seleucus (Ceraunos) III began war against Egyptian Provinces in Asia Minor. He was unsuccessful. The other son Antioch III invaded Egypt and passed through because Ptolemy Philopater did not oppose him. B. C. 219 Antiochus continued his warfare and took the fortress Gaza.
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. (Verse 11.)	In 217 B. C. Ptolemy aroused himself and fought Antiochus the Great with an immense army. He defeated Antiochus. The multitude was given into the hands of Ptolemy Philopater The name Ptolemy or Ptolemaeus comes from the Greek Ptolemaios, which means warlike.
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. (Verse 12.)(Literal: "And the multitude shall rise up and his courage increase.")	The people of Egypt rose up and the weakling Ptolemy became courageous. His victory is again referred to. It was won at Raphia. He might have pressed his victory. But he did not make use of it but gave himself up to a licentious life. Thus " he was not strengthened by it"
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. (Verse 13.)	About 14 years later 203 B. C Antiochus assembled a great army, greater than the army which was defeated at Raphia and turned against Egypt. Ptolemy Philopatcr had died and left an infant son Ptolemy Epiphancs.
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 (Verse 14.)	Antiochus had for his ally Phillip, King of Macedon. Also in Egypt many rebels stood up. And then there were, as we read in Josephus, wicked Jews, who helped Antiochus. These "robbers of thy people" established the vision. They helped along the very things which had been predicted, as to trials for them.
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. (Verse 15.)	All this was fulfilled in the severe struggles, which followed.
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. (Verse 16.)	The invasion of the glorious land by Antiochus followed. He subjected the whole land unto himself. He also was well disposed towards the Jews because they sided with Antiochus the Great against Ptolemy Epiphanes.
He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and an agreement shall be made with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him. (Verse 17.)	This brings us to the years 198-195 B. C. Antiochus aimed to get full possession of Egypt. An agreement was made. In this treaty between Antiochus and Ptolemy Epiphanes, Cleopatra, daughter of Antiochus was espoused to Ptolemy. Why is Cleopatro called " daughter of women?" Because she was very young and was under the care of her mother and grandmother. The treaty failed.
After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many : but a prince (literally: Captain) for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turned upon him. (Verse 18.)	A few years later Antiochus conquered isles on the coast of Asia Minor. The captain predicted is Scipio Asiaticus. Antiochus had reproached the Romans by his acts and he was defeated. This defeat took place at Magnesia 190 B. C.
Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. (Verse 19.)	Antiochus returns to his own land. He came to a miserable end trying to plunder the temple of Belus in Elymais.
Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom : but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. (Verse 20.)	This is Seleucus Philopater b. c 187-176. He was known as a raiser of taxes. He had an evil reputation with the Jews because he was such an exactor among them. His tax-collector Heliodorus poisoned him and so he was slain " neither; in anger, nor in battle."
And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. (Verse 21.)	This vile person is none other than Antiochus Epiphanes. He had no claim on royal dignities being only a younger son of Antiochus the Great. He seized royal honors by trickery and with flatteries. He is the little horn of Chapter viii.
And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. (Verse 22.)	He was successful in defeating his enemies. The prince of the covenant may mean his nephew Ptolemy Philometor. He also vanquished Philometor's generals.
And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. (Verse 23.)	He feigned friendship to young Ptolemy but worked deceitfully. To allay suspicion he came against Egypt with a small force but took Egypt as far as Memphis.
He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his father's fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. (Verse 24.)	He took possession of the fertile places in Egypt under the pretense of peace. He took Pelusium and laid siege to the fortified places Naucratis and Alexandria
And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the King of the South with a great army; and the King of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. (Verse 25.)	This King of the South is Ptolemy Physcon, who was made king after Philometor had fallen into the hands of Antiochus. He had a great army but did not succeed because treason had broken out in his own camp.
Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down • slain. (Verse 26.)	Additional actions of Antiochus and warfare, in which he was successful, followed.
And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. (Verse 27.)	The two kings are Antiochus Epiphanes and his associate Philometor. They made an alliance against Ptolemy Euergetes II also called Physcon. But they spoke lies against each other and did not succeed in their plans.
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. (Verse 28.)	In 168 B. C. he returned from his expedition and had great riches. Then he marched through Judea and did his awful deeds. A report had come to his ears that the Jewish people had reported him dead. In the first and second book of the Maccabees we read of his atrocities. Then he retired to Antioch.
At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. (Verse 29.)	He made still another attempt against the south. However he had not the former success.
For the ships of Chittira 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. (Verse 30.)	The ships of Chittim are the Roman fleet. When within a few miles of Alexandria he heard that ships had arrived. He went to salute them. They delivered to him the letters of the senate, in which he was commanded, on pain of the displeasure of the Roman people, to put an end to the war against his nephews. Antiochus said, "he would go and consult his friends;" on which Popilius, one of the legates, took his staff, and instantly drew a circle round Antiochus on the sand, where he stood; and commanded him not to pass that circle, till he had given a definite answer. As a grieved and defeated man he returned and then he fell upon Judea once more to commit additional wickedness. Apostate Jews sided with him.
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. (Verse 31.)	This brings us to the climax of the horrors under Antiochus Epiphanes. The previous record of it is contained in Chapter viii. He sent Apollonius with over 20,000 men to destroy Jerusalem. Multitudes were slain and women and children led away as captives. He issued a command that all people must conform to the idolatry of Greece. A wicked Grecian was sent to enforce the word of Antiochus. All sacrifices ceased and the God-given ceremonials of Judaism came to an end. The temple was polluted by the sacrifices of swine's flesh. The temple was dedicated to Jupiter Olympius. Thus the prediction was fulfilled.
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. 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. Now when they shall fall they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 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. (Verses 32-35)	These verses describe the condition among the Jewish people. There were two classes. Those who do wickedly against the covenant, the apostate and those who know God, a faithful remnant. The apostates sided with the enemy and the people who know God were strong. This has reference to the noble Maccabees. There was also suffering and persecution,

THE FUTURE LEADER

(Daniel 11:36 [KJV])
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.

• This is no normal powerful leader, and the same M.O. for the anti-CHrist throughout the Bible about him.

(Daniel 11:37 [KJV])
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.

• The God of his fathers:  A JEW?
• A Sodomite?
• Whatever he is,

(Daniel 11:38 [KJV])
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.

• Who is the man honoring?

(Daniel 11:39 [KJV])
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.

• This is dividing Israel/Jerusalem

(Daniel 11:40 [KJV])
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.

• The "time of the end" is not in any way the "End of time"
• Egypt is the south?
• Syria is the north?
• Battletank in Israel called the horseman

(Daniel 11:41 [KJV])
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.

• The area is Jordan who has a peace treaty with Israel, and needs her water
• Petra is in Jordan, in case Israel needs to escape there
• This is the refuge for the supernatural protection for Israel

(Daniel 11:42-43 [KJV])
He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.

• Egypt will fall to the anti-Christ, and her ancient riches of gold, pyramids, etc. will be under his control

(Daniel 11:44 [KJV])
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.

• This is the kings of the east, which number hundrds of millions of a standing man army, specifically China

(Revelation 16:12 [KJV])
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.

(Daniel 11:45 [KJV])
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 is the Second Coming to Israel for the Messiah, from where He will reign
• He returns to the Mount of Olives

(Psalms 48:2 [KJV])
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

(Matthew 5:35 [KJV])
Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

(Acts 1:11-12 [KJV])
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.  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

Daniel Chapter 10

Daniel Chapter 10

INTRODUCTION:  Chapters 10-12 are probably all one vision, and it is about Israel in the immediate future relative to Daniel last/latter days, as a double prophecy, with the little horn and the little horn of the last days.  Much has already been fulfilled, and much is still future to be fulfilled.

(Daniel 10:1 [KJV])

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

• Daniel is in his late 80s-early 90s by this time
• This is a retired Daniel, and this is about four years after the Daniel 9 visions
• Cyrus had made the decree to return to the land, but two years had passed and only a handful had done so

33 B.C.: how long Daniel lived after this is not certain; very probably he died quickly after, since he must be in a very advanced age; for the third year of Cyrus being the seventy third of his captivity, as Dean Prideaux {z} observes; and if he was eighteen years of age, as that learned man thinks is the least that can be supposed at the time of his carrying into Babylon, he must have been in the ninety first year of his age at this time; or if he was but fifteen years of age at that time, which is the opinion of Aben Ezra on Da 1:4, he must be in the third year of Cyrus eighty eight years of age.

CYRUS OF PERSIA

(2 Chronicles 36:22 [KJV])
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

(Ezra 1:1-2 [KJV])
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

(Ezra 6:14 [KJV])
And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

(Daniel 10:2-3 [KJV])
In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.  I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

• Daniel is in mourning
• This has to be some revelation!
• This is a full out fast to determine the will of God

(Daniel 10:4 [KJV])
And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

• This is probably (though not definitive) the Tigris River, post-Flood 
• He started on the third of the month, to the twenty fourth day of the month

(Daniel 10:5 [KJV])
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

• He has fasted and prayed for twenty one days straight.  He is ready to hear from God
• Girt with gold, as a direct messenger from the throne of the King Himself (Revelation 1:13)

LOINS GIRDED WITH GOLD
(Jeremiah 10:9 [KJV])
Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

(Exodus 12:11 [KJV])
And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.

(Ephesians 6:14 [KJV])
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

(Revelation 1:13 [KJV])
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

(Daniel 10:6 [KJV])
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

• Who is this man sent from? Who does he resemble, exactly?

(Revelation 1:13-15 [KJV])
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.   His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

(Daniel 10:7 [KJV])
And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

• The same happened to Paul when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus 
• The same happened to the Israelites when Moses saw God on the mountain
• They shook with fear and ran away.  This was a frightful angelic appearance

(Exodus 19:16 [KJV])
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

(Exodus 20:18 [KJV])
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

(Acts 9:7 [KJV])
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

(Daniel 10:8 [KJV])
Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

• It was so awesome that the effect was on Daniel as well
• His face was no longer handsome, but ugly from fright
• Weakness set in as well, from everything before this time, to the angelic appearance
• Fasting
• Prayer
•  No anointing himself with oil
• The appearance of Gabriel
• Even his friends running off

(Daniel 10:9 [KJV])
Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

• Perhaps fainting, sheer shock, the sight of the angel, humility, and utter weakness and exhaustion combined to take down Daniel to his face.

(Daniel 10:10 [KJV])
And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

• The angel Gabriel is not God, but certainly representing Him 
• This seems to be a worshipful, fearing position

(Matthew 23:12 [KJV])
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

(James 4:10 [KJV])
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
(1 Peter 5:6 [KJV])
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

(Daniel 10:11 [KJV])
And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

• Being old is one thing
• Being old and having this vision is devastating to the body and mind and heart

(Daniel 10:12 [KJV])
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

• Our prayers are held back, not because of our timing in the prayer, or how fervent, how often, we pray. 
• They can be held back by God for His timing purposes, and HE allows spiritual battles to occur on big answers

(Daniel 10:13 [KJV])
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

• Devilish realms are divided into military-like levels of power 
• Most likely very powerful princes rule over large kingdoms and areas
• We do not always understand these things in the spiritual realm, as the angels often do not understand out realm (they desire to look into them)
• We can wrestle against them, and so can the angels who are much more powerful than we are

WE DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE SPIRITUAL REALM
(Romans 8:38 [KJV])
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

(Ephesians 6:12 [KJV])
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.



(Colossians 1:16 [KJV])
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

(Colossians 2:15 [KJV])
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

THE ANGELS DO NOT UNDERSTAND OUR REALM
(1 Peter 1:12 [KJV])
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.
(Daniel 10:14 [KJV])
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.

• This is not an immediate fulfillment at all for Daniel's times

(Daniel 10:15 [KJV])
And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

• Right back down to the ground he just got right up from!  Is this a huge and disturbing vision or what?

(Daniel 10:16 [KJV])
And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

• One of the purposes of angelic visits, known or unknown, seen or unseen, is to strengthen believers
• They appear on earth to us as men, not as some sort of weird creature like some may be in Heaven.
•  The angels, for instance, who appeared to Abraham before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah were as men, so much so that the sodomites wanted to have relations with them

(Genesis 18:2 [KJV])
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

(Genesis 19:5 [KJV])
And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
(Daniel 10:17-18 [KJV])
For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,

• Daniel has a lot to say about what he saw, and is unable to find the strength to express himself because of his weakness
• In addition to this, he is humbled and realizes that he, as dust, is speaking to God's representative and, therefore, to God as a mere mortal man
• Again, this was apparently some vision he saw!
• Add to that an angel coming to strengthen him, and he is weaker still from the experiences
• Is this where the name of the show "Touched By An Angel" came from?
• When we reach out and touch other Christians in any way, it strengthensthe body, but them specifically, primarily

(Habakkuk 3:16-19 [KJV])
When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
(Daniel 10:19 [KJV])
And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

• Daniel has the title of "O man greatly beloved" 
• In addition to a personal touch, the words we speak can either tear down or build up, as is taught throughout Scripture

(Proverbs 12:18 [KJV])
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.(Daniel 10:20 [KJV])
Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

• A question to Daniel, who is now stronger..........it appears the angel Gabriel is unsure if Daniel is ready to hear the interpretation yet.
  

(Daniel 10:21 [KJV])
But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. 

• The Word of God is called "The Scripture of Truth" 
• This battle was fought with only Gabriel and Michael
• Michael is his prince, at his service to do battle for him
• The same is for us as well.