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Daniel 10:1-12:13; Ezra 4:24-5:1; Haggai 1:1-15<\/strong><\/span> Daniel chapter 10 is fascinating as Daniel interacts with angels, including Gabriel \u2013 and we hear about Michael the Archangel and his work.\u00a0 \u00a0If you are interested in learning more about \u201cangelology\u201d \u2013 yes, a real word apparently \u2013 check out <\/span>this link on angelology<\/span> at bible.org.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Chapter 10 verses 12 & 13 are worth considering: \u201c\u201dDon\u2019t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This is encouraging to me that our prayers are heard in heaven.\u00a0 What is maybe discouraging is that our answers or help needed for our prayers can be blocked by fallen angels \/ demons, as we see in these verses.\u00a0 The spirit prince of Persia being a demon of some sort blocking the angel from getting to Daniel to answer his prayer.\u00a0 A good book that I would recommend to dive more into what this spiritual realm and the spiritual battles between angels might be like is <\/span>\u201cThis Present Darkness\u201d by Frank Peretti<\/span>.\u00a0 It is a powerful read.<\/span><\/p>\n Daniel chapter 11 today is phenomenal when you realize that these prophecies were made in 537 B.C. and covered events for about 300 or so more years following that date.\u00a0 Essentially, we are getting a history lesson in this chapter \u2013 in advance of the history unfolding!\u00a0 This chapter really made me realize how \u201cin control\u201d God really is of everything.\u00a0 Which is actually very comforting for me, and hopefully is for you.\u00a0 I look at it this way \u2013 if God knows what is going to be transpiring hundreds of years in advance \u2013 if not thousands and millions of years in advance \u2013 why are we worrying about what\u2019s going to happen tomorrow?\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Or why are we fretting over what happened yesterday?\u00a0 A quote I heard many years ago and occasionally bubbles back up into my mind is this: \u201cLet go.\u00a0 And Let God.\u201d\u00a0 Let go, and let God.\u00a0 Meaning \u2013 let go of your worries and fears about yesterday or tomorrow and let God take the reins.\u00a0 He\u2019s got the reins anyway\u2026 so why fret & fuss over our worries and fears?\u00a0 Somehow the sweep of this prophecy seemed to make me realize that we often worry too much about really insignificant stuff\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n There is a lot going on in this chapter \u2013 I\u2019ll point out a couple of highlights.\u00a0 Verse 3 & 4 discuss Alexander the Great (336 \u2013 323 B.C.): \u201cThen a mighty king will rise to power who will rule a vast kingdom and accomplish everything he sets out to do. But at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken apart and divided into four parts.\u201d<\/em> Many of the remaining verses then dive into kings of the line of Ptolemy in the south kingdom, or Egypt , and kings of the line of Seleucus\/Anttiochus in the north kingdom, or Syria.\u00a0 Verse 31 covers 168 B.C. when an altar to the pagan god Zeus Olympius is set up in the Temple in Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes: \u201cHis army will take over the Temple fortress, polluting the sanctuary, putting a stop to the daily sacrifices, and setting up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration.\u201d <\/em>Tell you what \u2013 there is so much going on in this chapter, <\/span>I recommend jumping over to bible.org at this link<\/span> to read up more on what\u2019s happening.\u00a0 It really is fascinating stuff.\u00a0 Below is a coin from 175 to 164 B.C. with Antiochus Epiphanes image upon it:<\/span><\/p>\n Today we finish the book of Daniel!\u00a0 What an amazing read this book has been for me this year.\u00a0 I have been blessed by it.\u00a0 I hope you have too.\u00a0 It is always interesting to dive into prophecies and angels and such.\u00a0 I have to admit that I don\u2019t think about these types of things too often in my day to day life.\u00a0 However, I know they are real.\u00a0 And as I read the book of Daniel I am reminded of God\u2019s amazing story and where it is ultimately leading.\u00a0 Below is an image of Satan being bound by Michael the archangel, from the John Brown Bible circa 1816:<\/span><\/p>\n In Daniel chapter 11 verse 36 onwards we are looking at verses prophesying about the anti-christ and end times.\u00a0 The verses just prior to 36, in yesterday\u2019s readings, referred to Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 B.C., but we are looking at the future here in today\u2019s verses in chapter 11.\u00a0 To get some more context on these verses today, check out <\/span>2 Thessalonians 2:3-4<\/span> and <\/span>Revelation 13:5-8<\/span>.\u00a0 A portion of verse 36 does stand out to me today: \u201cFor what has been determined will surely take place.\u201d<\/em> Do you believe these prophecies in Daniel have been determined?\u00a0 Do you believe they will surely take place?<\/span><\/p>\n Daniel chapter 12 is called \u201cThe Time of the End\u201d or \u201cThe End Times\u201d in many Bible descriptors.\u00a0 However, over at bible.org Bob Deffinbaugh calls this chapter \u201cThe Hope of Heaven\u201d.\u00a0 I like that!\u00a0 Here\u2019s an excerpt from Bob\u2019s essay: \u201cDaniel 12 is the crowning chapter of this prophecy, as well as its conclusion. It takes the believer to the high-water mark of Christian hope\u2014the assurance of the resurrection of the dead. Let us listen and learn, and gain hope and comfort.\u201d\u00a0 Check out Mr. Deffinbaugh\u2019s full essay on Daniel chapter 12 <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 2 stands out in Daniel chapter 12: \u201cMany of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.\u201d<\/em> This is one of the first clear mentions of a resurrection in the Old Testament.\u00a0 The phrase \u201ceverlasting life\u201d appears only here in the Old Testament!\u00a0 Pretty fascinating.\u00a0 Seems like this chapter is in some ways bridging Old Testament \/ Old Covenant theology to New Testament \/ New Covenant.\u00a0 Do you believe that after death some will rise to everlasting life?\u00a0 And some to everlasting contempt?\u00a0 Below is the famous fresco titled \u201cThe Last Judgment\u201d by Michelangelo, which is at the Sistine Chapel in Rome:<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings reminded me of Mercy Me\u2019s great song \u201cHere I Am:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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