Prayers and Angels, Daniel 10

It’s about 536 BC.

Imagine you’re Daniel.

As a teen you were captured and castrated and hauled hundreds of miles to Babylon.

From reading the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah, and from dreams and visions and angelic visits, you knew that the captivity would end after 70 years. (Isaiah 44:28, Jeremiah 29:10, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-3).

It’s been 70 years.

Just as prophesied Cyrus issued a decree and set the captives free, even funded the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.

You’re about 85. God’s been with you and promoted you to one of the highest leaders of the land.

So, due to age and position, you figure you can do more for God and country, by staying where you’re at. But your heart and prayers are ever with your people and Jerusalem.

It’s been about three years since you had a visit from the angel Gabriel. He gave you a 70 Week Prophecy that spans from the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the Messiah and beyond.

Well, the ink is barely dry on the Cyrus decree. Was that it? Has the 70 week clock begun?

How did it go again? There will be seven weeks, then sixty-two weeks, then the Messiah will come...

But then...

The Messiah will be cut off? Executed? But not for Himself ?

What does that mean?

Then another prince? The sanctuary and city, destroyed? A covenant with many for a week? The abomination of desolation?

What does all that mean? Are my people walking back into a trap?  

Oh God! I need more information!

That’s where Daniel 10 begins.

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

Clarification:

Only God knows why KJV and NKJV say: “but the appointed time was long”

Original text has two words, which, by definition, reads: Great; mass of people organized for war.

The NIV: “Its message was true, and it concerned a great war.” 

Most others are similar saying something like: Its message was true, and it concerned a great conflict. 

So, to paraphrase the verse says:

In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was given a true message concerning a great war and he understood the vision.

Divine Timing.

In the third year of Cyrus...

God lives outside time but has certain hard stops on our clock.

Jesus repeatedly said, His time or His hour had not yet come. John 2:4, 7:6, 30, 8:20.

 Until His hour had come, then John 13:1, reads: "Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world". 

There’s a reason the Lord points to the clock. In the third year of Cyrus tells us it’s been seventy years since Nebuchadnezzar took Judah captive about 605 BC.

Which means the time had come for the captives to go free according to prophecies recorded in Isaiah 44:28, Jeremiah 29:10, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-3.

Lord, help us to walk in step with Your Divine Timing.

 ² In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.

Folks discuss why he was mourning.

We’ve already addressed how Daniel may have struggled with the timing of the seventy year exile and the seventy-week prophecy.

Additionally, Scripture interprets Scripture, and we just read in verse one that he was given a true message about a great war.

Then, to top it off, in verse 16 we read, “because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me.”

 ³ I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Daniel wasn’t depressed. He was not simply too bummed out to eat. That would be a waste of time and of no value.

He was grieved in spirit and so he was fasting and praying.

How do we know?

An angel tells us in verses 12-13. “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days.”

He saw something so he said something, to God.

He saw trouble coming, a great war, a conflict, and so he went to war, spiritual warfare, in prayer.

He didn’t wait for all hell to break loose, for everything to come undone.

He was productive and proactive and loaded up and went full force into the first step for winning in spiritual warfare:

PREPRAYER.

At the first sign something was off, Daniel went to God.

Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 16:3. Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.

Matthew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 26:41. Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Philippians 4:6-7. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

James 1:5. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

What else did Danny do?

FAST.

Daniel may not have been on a total fast, but had no pleasant food, no meat or wine and did not anoint himself. (Does that mean he didn’t take a bath?).

In spiritual warfare, the first battle we must win is our own.

Fasting is a fast way to victory over our flesh.

Controlling appetite is serious business.

Adam ate, opening the gate for the curse on all mankind.

Noah drank, resulting in a curse upon his son, Ham.

Esau ate away his birthright.

Esther, fasted three days, won the favor of the king and saved the Jews from slaughter. 

Luke 4:1, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness but returned in the Power of the Spirit after fasting forty days and nights. Luke 14:4.

Daniel and the boys refused the king’s meat and drink, and God blessed them with wisdom and knowledge and understanding and favor.

Preprayer, get your flesh under control and...

PRAY THROUGH.

Daniel prayed until the answer came.

Matthew 26:41. Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Galatians 6:9. Weary not in well doing, for in due season you shall reap if you faint not. If you don’t quit, you win.

This time, it was 21 days. Last time (chapter 9) the answer came swiftly, right away, the same day.

Whether it be twenty-one seconds or twenty-one days or years.  

Keep praying.

Your prayer is heard immediately however the answer may be delayed.

Always remember, the answer is His answer.

If you’re trying to control the answer, to be your answer, you may never see the answer.

Fastest way to answered prayer is: “Not my will but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

⁴ Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,  ⁵ I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! ⁶ His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

Compare those words to Revelation 1:13-15, when Jesus appeared to John.

¹³ and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; ¹⁵ His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

The similarities between the two cause many (including me) to believe what Daniel saw by the riverside was a Christophany. Jesus preincarnate.  

Then, add to that Jeremiah 29:10a speaking of the Babylonian exile. “After seventy years are completed, I will come to you...”

⁷ And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 

If the Creator of the Universe chose to show up right here, right now, we’d all fall to our knees and our faces.

Some in the Presence of the Lord fear and want to draw near. Others fear and flee. It depends on the condition of their heart.  Adam & Eve walked with God in the cool of the day, until they sinned, then they hid.

Daniel was seeking, fasting, praying, and his eyes were opened.

Whereas the others did not see, they only felt terror and ran to hide.

There may be angelic beings right where you are right now. If the Lord willed they could appear right before your very eyes.

⁸ Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength.

Did you notice that’s the second time Daniel said, alone.

We all stand or fall alone before the Lord. We cannot blame anyone for our sins and failures and we cannot be propped up or ride on anyone else’s successes.

No strength remained in me, said Daniel.

We have no strength of our own, if we have any, it is from the Lord.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13.

By His Grace, if we give Him our lives, He becomes our strength, our righteousness, and we never stand alone.

 ⁹ Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

I heard the sound of His words...

There is no escaping the Word of the Lord. His Word has gone out to all the earth. Every morning, every evening the heavens declare His glory. Psalm 19:1-4.

Even in our deep sleep He speaks.

We choose to accept or reject, but we cannot deny His Voice was heard.

Daniel passed out, fainted. Face planted in the dirt.

¹⁰ Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 

Notice it says “a hand” not His hand.

So?

Well, it matters if we believe Jesus was the One he saw and heard by the riverside.

But now this must be an angel.

Why?

Well, skip ahead to verse thirteen and notice it says, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

Jesus would need no help fighting the princes of Persia, or all the host of hell.

Also notice the hand touched Daniel.

The touch helped raise him up. Remember, he was face planted and passed out, but with a touch he was on his hands and knees.

We see the angelic touch three times in this conversation.

Verse 16, he touched Daniel’s lips to help him regain his composure and speak.

Verse 18, his touch gave Daniel strength.

It’s not so strange. Sometimes all a person needs is a touch, a hug, and they are lifted, encouraged, and strengthened.

God set that up, and taught angels how it works.

Now watch the care, compassion, empathy of the angel.

¹¹ And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

O Daniel, man greatly beloved. Those same kind words were spoken the last time an angel appeared. Daniel 9:23.

Those same words are spoken to you. You are greatly beloved.

I have now been sent to you. Angels are ministering spirits for those who inherit salvation. Hebrews 1:4.

Angels are ministers, messengers, they are never to be prayed to or worshipped.

¹² Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 

PRAYER

The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. James 5:16.

From the first day. When you set your heart, to understand, (to stand under) to humbly come before the Lord, your prayers are heard right away.  

I have come because of your words.  Daniel’s prayer deployed the angel.

Your prayers may activate angels. But remember they are servants of God. Not you. Do not try to command them, or call them, or activate them.

¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Angelic beings (good and bad) have territories. Persia, Israel, Greece (vs. 20)

They have a hierarchy. Michael, chief prince, Archangel, of Israel.  The demonic prince and kings of Persia.

There is an invisible battle that influences the visible.

Your prayers influence both. 

Ephesians 6:12-13. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Daniel was 85, a eunich, yet a powerful Prayer Warrior. He fasted and prayed and the answer was dispatched right away, but delayed by spiritual warfare, by the prince of the kingdom of Persia.

Delayed but not defeated. Was it because Daniel continued to pray? Did the power of prayer strengthen the good angel, weaken the bad, until Daniel's prayer prevailed?

When you pray, you’re heard right away, but the answer may be delayed.

 Keep praying!

Your prayers may determine the outcome.

The timing of the delay may be due to:

1)    Spiritual warfare.

2)    God’s Divine timing.

3)    You might not be ready.

¹⁴ Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

Many days to come for Daniel.

For us, it appears we’re at the threshold.

Lord, we pray for spiritual discernment to understand the times in which we live.

¹⁵ When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 

Perhaps memories of the great conflict came flooding back.

¹⁶ And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. ¹⁷ For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.”

The angelic touch helped him to regain his composure and speak.

The word “lord” small “l” is as if saying respectfully, “sir”.

First the vision of the coming war, the great conflict, and now you sir, leave a battle just to talk to me, a servant. I’m overwhelmed, my lord.

¹⁸ Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.

And one more angelic hug, for strength.

 ¹⁹ And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”

Lord, we need some angels deployed to speak these words to the men of our nation,

“O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”

So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

Strengthened by word and deed.

Encouragement with a simple touch and a kind word can do much.

Daniel 10:20-21.

New Living Translation

²⁰ He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. ²¹ Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.

How to win spiritual warfare.

Peace through Strength.

Philippians 4:6-7. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

There is nothing stronger than the Prince of Peace guarding your peace.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us Your heart, Your compassion, Your love, through Godly examples of men and angels. Help us to learn and do likewise. Lord please stir up a passion in us to pray, to preprayer, to pray through, so Your will is done in our lives, and all those You’ve given us, so none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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Meet Melchizedek, Hebrews 7,

It’s the stuff love stories, and movies are made of.

Danielle, told it to me like this:

“My dad’s mom Grandma Pat had a summer lot in Waseca. We would go stay out there every summer with her for a week or two at a time.

“Mark and I were talking when we first met and he says, ‘You know your name is very uncommon.’ I said, ‘I know! I am sure you have never met another Danielle.’

“He said ‘Yes, I absolutely have, and I’ll never forget it. I was 11 years old, and she was 9 years old. My family and I took a weeklong vacation up to Waseca and their campgrounds and there was a girl with long blonde hair on the monkey bars. I went to go talk to her and play on the monkey bars too and asked her what her name was. I will never forget it; her name was Danielle. And she was staying with her grandma.’”

“I said ‘MARK! That was me!! I remember talking to a boy and he asked my name and he was with his entire family in a camper.’ 

“He said ‘No way, there’s no way we met years ago. She had long blonde hair and a red tank top on.’

“I initially thought that was creepy him remembering what I wore. But I so happen to have pictures from that summer (the very little photos I had because my mom threw most of them all away, but I remember the Tommy Hilfiger tank top he was referring to) so I went to my tote and pulled out the pictures.

“He says ‘THATS THE GIRL!!!’

I said….. ‘Yeaaaaa, that is me!’’’

That’s the story of my niece Danielle and Marky.

And the story of us and Melchizedek.

He briefly appeared to Abraham in (Genesis 14:18-20). That’s the only appearance we see in Scripture. The other mentions of Melchizedek are in reference to this appearance.  

After this appearance He disappeared for a thousand years, then, the Lord through David, mentioned Melchizedek in Psalm 110:4.

Then, just like that, He was gone again for another thousand years.

Until today, He reappears. This time, not just a passing glance, but the center of attention.

Welcome to Hebrews 7.

Meet Melchizedek.

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” ³ without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

Melchizedek

 (מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק‎)

• Melech (מֶלֶךְ): Hebrew for "king".
• Tzedek (צֶדֶק): Hebrew for "righteousness" or "justice". 

Who is this Melchizedek?

People have three different schools of thought:

1.    Shem (son of Noah). Rabbi Ismael (135 BC) claimed he was Shem who lived to be 600 years old and was alive at same time as Abraham.

2.    Type of Christ (A person who typified, was an example of Christ). Like, Isaac. Joseph. Joshua.

3.    Christophany, Jesus Christ in human form, pre-incarnate.

The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible, so let’s see what the Bible says about Melchizedek.

Using the three verses we just read we see that He is:

1.    King of Righteousness

2.    King of Salem (Jerusalem) which is King of Peace

3.    Priest of the Most High God

4.    Not Born. Without father, mother, genealogy

5.    Eternal. No beginning or ending of life

6.    Like Son of God (the word “made” is not in original text).

7.    Remains Priest forever

Those seven are straight from our text.

We’re about to see that they agree with the rest of Scripture regarding Melchizedek. When interpreting Scripture, it’s important to remember. When the plain sense of the Word makes sense, seek no other sense, lest you fall into nonsense.

Ten times, Melchizedek is mentioned in the original text of the Bible.

Twice in the Old Testament. Eight in the New.

Ten, represents, Completeness, Divine Order.

Ø Genesis 14:18-20 (first appearance).

Ø Psalm 110:4

Ø Hebrews 5:6, 10, 6:20, 7:1, 10, 11, 15, 17.

Ø (Note: KJV & NKJV and a few others, add, “According to the order of Melchizedek” in 7:21. However not included in most ancient texts.)

First Appearance. Genesis 14:18-20.

¹⁸ Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. ¹⁹ And he blessed him and said:

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
²⁰ And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

And he gave him a tithe of all.

Would you make your first appearance at the end of a bloody slaughter, if you were the King of Peace?

That’s what Melchizedek did. He showed up as Abraham and 318 of his fighting men returned from slaughtering four kings and their armies.

Why’d Abe do that?

Well, Abe’s nephew, Lotta-Trouble-Lot moved in with the wicked crowd of Sodom, and whenever you play with fire, you’re going to get burned.

Lot and the whole lot of Sodom were taken captive. Abraham rode to the rescue, slaughtered the captors, and freed the captives.

On the way home with all the people and the plunder, the kings of Sodom and surrounding areas came out to greet Abraham.

So did Melchizedek.

Abraham ignored five kings to bow and pay tithes to the One Melchizedek.

Melchizedek brought out bread and wine.

Melchizedek, King of Righteousness, Priest of the Most High, King of Peace, blessed Abraham for going to war, for setting captives free, for not allowing the enemy to steal, kill and destroy. The lesser is blessed of the better. Hebrews 7:7.

Melchizedek served bread and wine. Like the Son of God, Jesus Christ, broke the bread and said, this is My body broken for you, and He took the wine and said this is My blood shed for You. He too went to war, to set the captives free, to stop the enemy from stealing, killing and destroying.

Second, brief mention. Psalm 110:4.

The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

This Messianic Psalm, only seven verses long, depicts the defeat of His enemies, and ruling eternally, and right in the middle it points to Melchizedek as Priest forever.

Then, that’s all the Old Testament has to say about Melchizedek.

Another thousand years go by until...   

The Grand Finale, Hebrews 5:6, 10, 6:20, 7:1, 10-11, 15, 17.

Hebrews 5:6
⁶ As He also says in another place:
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek”

Hebrews 5:10
¹⁰ called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

Hebrews 6:20
²⁰ where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:1
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

Hebrews 7:10-11
¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
¹¹ Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

Hebrews 7:15
¹⁵ And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest

Hebrews 7:17
¹⁷ For He testifies:

“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

That’s it.

Now we’ve read every mention of Melchizedek in the Bible.

Notice the New Testament points to the Old, explaining it, giving it Flesh and Life, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Every mention portrays Power and Peace through Strength, forever.

God intentionally intervenes.

When Abraham was battle worn and weary, He showed up and brought out bread and wine.

When Abraham was sorely tested about sacrificing his son, He showed up and provided a sacrificial ram.

He shows up when you’re battle worn and weary, when you’re sorely tried and tested.

He brings out the bread and wine.

He provided the Sacrificial Lamb.

His Body, His Blood, strengthens, delivers, sets free, forever.  

One day, you’ll look back and see there was much more going on than just random meetings at the monkey bars.

The King of Righteousness, the King of Peace, the Priest of the Most High God, was there all along.

Divine connections to get your attention, make your acquaintance.

I pray it turns out for you and Him, like it has for Danielle and Marky.

About a thousand years (or so it seems) after their first meeting, they met again.

I’ll let Danielle tell you the rest:  

We met at Clear Lake Open Bible Church Camp when Tom (stepdad) was preaching there for the week, and I was singing. Mark was basically forced by his bigger cousin to go and bribed him with a case of beer and weed. So, he went to church camp thinking he was going to party, then heard me warming up singing in the chapel by myself to music and he came in and sat in the back of the church and listened for forty-five minutes while all his friends were playing basketball. I thought he was some creepy boy sitting in the back of the church. But he said I had the voice of an angel and brought him to tears and he had to sit and listen to my entire warm up.

Today, Marky and Danielle have been married for decades, have a beautiful twenty one year old daughter and are well on their way to living happily ever after.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, we love You. Thank You for showing up in our lives. We welcome You, always; not just in the hard times when we’re in trouble. Please help us recognize You, always see You, hear You, never ignore You. Use us to show others Your Presence, and lead them to You.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen. 

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

Daniel’s Seventy-Week Prophecy, Daniel 9:20-27

God unveiled a seventy-week clock, ticking quickly to the end of the age.

But, with only one week remaining He stopped the clock, allowing you, time to get on board.

In a moment, any moment, everything is about to change, like that watershed moment when a woman's water breaks.

Are you ready?

Just as sixty-nine of the seventy weeks have already been fulfilled, to the day, to the letter, so will be, the soon coming seventieth week.

Are you ready?

²⁰ Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, ²¹ yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 

While Daniel was praying, confessing, God was hearing and sending an answer by an angel.

When you pray, your prayers are heard immediately.

This time for Daniel, the answer came swiftly.

However, sometimes the answer may take time.

In the next chapter Daniel fasted and prayed earnestly for three full weeks and then, an angel came with the answer, saying he’d been dispatched immediately but was delayed by the prince of the kingdom of Persia.

When you pray, know and understand, that you are heard, and that the answer is on the way, even if delayed.

 Keep praying.

Spiritual warfare may cause a delay.

The answer may await God’s Divine timing.

The answer may await you being ready. You may be trying to control the answer, to be your answer. Whereas the Only Answer is His answer. Until you let go of trying to control the answer, and yield to His answer, you may never see the answer.

Speaking of Divine Timing. Notice when Gabe got there. At the time of the evening offering. But at that time there was no evening offering. The temple had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar around 586 BC. Daniel was in Babylon, a pagan culture that didn’t follow Jewish tradition.

It appears, Daniel prayed, in remembrance of the evening offering. Like we take Communion in remembrance of Christ.

Perhaps without even knowing, Daniel was doing Communion in advance, in a sense. A foreshadowed honor of The Ultimate Evening Offering, when the Lamb of God would be slain at the evening sacrifice about 618 years later.

²² And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill (insight, wisdom) to understand. ²³ At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:

Daniel, and you, are greatly beloved. Not just beloved but greatly beloved. God didn’t just love the world, He sooooo loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. John 3:16.

Notice, twice Gabriel told him to understand, and he will say it again.

The Lord wants us to understand. (If you will, just say out loud right now, “The Lord wants me to understand.”)

Understanding Scripture is different than any other book, it must be Spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14.

It’s not just for the intelligent learned scholars, but open for everyone, even, especially, a child.

To understand, the Bible, we must stand under. Be subject to, subservient to, yielded to, obedient to, whatever the Word of the Lord teaches.

Some say God works in mysterious ways, however, those words are not in the Bible.

Granted, His thoughts are above ours His ways beyond ours.

SIDENOTE: When I wrote that I thought about Isaiah 55:9-11.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰ “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

As I wrote that and read that, it started to rain.

So, I took a picture out the rainy window.

And it occurred to me, walking with Jesus is an ongoing, awe inspiring, conversation, for those who listen.

Somehow in the conversation, He gives understanding.

So, even though His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, He comes to us, loves us, longs to be known to us.

He says to us, “Come let us reason together...” Isaiah 1:18.

Proverbs 2:26. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

James 1:5. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 4:7. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Proverbs 9:10. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

At first, this prophecy may seem difficult to understand, but if we let Him, if we stand under, be yielded to whatever the Word of the Lord teaches, in a few moments, the Lord will give understanding.  

²⁴ “Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy.

²⁵ “Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times.

²⁶ “And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

²⁷ Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.”

Okay, that’s the vision. Crystal clear, right?

No?

Okay, let’s look a little closer, a little slower.

Daniel 9:24, Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city...

Notice the seventy weeks are all about Israel “your people and for your holy city.”

Remember, in the first half of Daniel we read about the rise and fall of gentile nations, and the original text was written in the gentile language, Aramaic.

As the focus shifted to Israel the original text switched from Aramaic to the Jewish language, Hebrew.

Seventy weeks are decreed for your nation.

During which time six things will be accomplished:

to finish the transgression,
to make an end of sins,
to make reconciliation for iniquity,

The first three point to Jesus’ 1^st coming.

To deal with our:

Transgression (outward on purpose rebellious sin),

Sin nature, missing the mark, falling short.

Iniquity, our inward sin; our deceitful heart.

With His sinless Life, blameless death, victorious resurrection Jesus paid the price in full. Tetelestai!

The next three...

...to bring in everlasting righteousness,
to seal up vision and prophecy,
and to anoint the Most Holy. (place).

The last three, point to Jesus’ 2^nd coming.

To set up His millennial Kingdom in Jerusalem and beyond.

An old familiar Scripture reflects this well:

Isaiah 9:6-7

⁶ For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;

Merry Christmas. The Child was born. The Son was given.

But the prophecy doesn’t stop there.

 And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,

Bring in everlasting righteousness.

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

Anoint the Most Holy Place.

From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Seal up vision and prophecy, forever and ever, amen.

Daniel 9:25
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.

Know therefore and understand. Daniel is commanded (and so are we) to be active listeners, pay attention, take note, understand. 

Weeks, is the Hebrew word, shabua, from sheva, meaning seven.

So, it literally reads, there shall be 7 sevens and 62 sevens. 

In context, “weeks” refers to years.

7 x 7 = 49 years.

62 x 7 = 434 years.

49 + 434 = 483 years.

Why did Gabriel split it up like that? Why didn’t he simply say, there’ll be 69 weeks?

Or better yet, why didn’t he just say, “From the command to rebuild Jerusalem to Messiah will be 483 years.”?

Because there’s a HIStorical landmark at the 49 year mark. 

From the book of Nehemiah and HIStory, we know that from the command to rebuild and restore Jerusalem, it took 49 years (seven, sevens) to complete the work.

Okay, then, from the completion of the rebuild to the Messiah it was another 434 years. (sixty-two, sevens).

So, when was the command?

Great question.

Thanks to the book: The Coming Prince by Sir Robert Anderson, who was the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department in Scotland Yard, and the highest ranking officer on the Jack the Ripper case. He was Knighted by Queen Victoria in 1896, as Companion of the Order of the Bath. In 1901, Knighted Commander of the Order of the Bath by King Edward VII.

He painstakingly investigated the dates and details and calculated the exact days counting leap years and such using the calendars of that day.

He found multiple similar commands, however only one fit exactly to the prophecy given by Gabriel, including the street (interior square) and the wall (moat, exterior protection).  

The command was made by the Persian king Artaxerxes on March 14, 445 BC.  

He sent Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem (Neh. 2:1-8).

From that decree, 483 years to the day, (173,880 days) Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as Messiah, as King, coming in peace. (In the future, to bring an end to the Tribulation, in Revelation 19, He will ride in on a white horse, as King of kings and Lord of lords, not in peace but for the battle of Armageddon. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves).

As He rode in on the donkey the crowds hailed Him Messiah and King shouting:

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

This powerful fulfillment of prophecy is recorded in all four gospels and in the Old Testament too. (Zechariah 9:9–13; Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19).

Matthew mentions the 500 plus year old prophecy from Zechariah 9:9:

Matthew 21:4-5
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

⁵ “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.”

This is one of the most celebrated, undeniable proof prophecies in HIStory. It’s celebrated around the world, every year. We call it Palm Sunday.

There’s more to the story than a donkey ride.

On that very day about 1,400 years prior, as slaves in Egypt, each household of Israel chose a spotless male lamb for the very first Passover. Exodus 12:3,6,7, 12-14.

Year after year at Passover, families, and lambs, would stream into Jerusalem by the thousands. To commemorate when the blood of the lamb, the spotless, blameless, innocent, Passover lamb, delivered the children of Israel from bondage, and death.

According to Flavius Josephus, the Jewish historian, one Passover, 256,000 lambs were slain. One lamb per household of about ten people, on average.

This is important: To make sure the lambs were spotless, without blemish, the priests would examine, and accept or reject, them as worthy of being the Passover lamb.   

Now, on this day, the day when the Passover lamb is chosen, on this very day, Jesus presents Himself as, The Spotless, Blameless, Innocent Lamb of God, to deliver the world from the bondage of sin and death.

From that moment to this, all mankind has a decision to make; you and I have a decision to make, accept Him, or reject Him.

At first glance, it appeared, The Lamb of God, was accepted.

The people cried: “Hosanna! But all they really wanted was a quick fix. Save us now from the Romans! The same is done today. Save me now from this mess I’m in, and I’ll serve You tomorrow.

The leaders, the priests, the ones who should’ve known Him, rejected Him.

Within the week the crowds turned against Him, the mob mocked Him and shouted, Crucify Him!

Which brings us back to Daniel’s seventy-week prophecy.

Daniel 9:26a
And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself...

After the sixty-two weeks. There’s a pause on the clock.

Cut off means, He was executed.

Not for Himself... means He was killed for me and you...

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:5-6

Jesus knew what they’d do and paused the clock after 69 weeks were fulfilled.

He also paused His ride into Jerusalem and wept (sobbed right out loud) knowing they’d soon be destroyed because they did not recognize the time of His visitation. Luke 19:44.

²⁶...And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

As Jesus sobbed over Jerusalem He prophesied of its demise.

In 70 AD Roman soldiers flooded into the city. The historian Josephus reported around 1.1 million Jewish deaths and 97,000 captives during the siege.

They destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, leaving not one stone upon the other, just as Jesus had said as He wept over the city.

Daniel 9:27
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.

Then...

On God’s clock we sit between Daniel 9:26-27; between Israel’s 69 and 70^th week.

We’re at the very threshold of, “Then...” when the clock starts again. The end of the Church age, and the beginning of Israel’s 70^th week.

Then... restarts Israel’s 70-week clock that’s been on pause for about 2,000 years.

In a moment, any moment, everything is about to change, like that watershed moment when a woman's water breaks.

Are you ready?

Just as 69 of the weeks have already been fulfilled to the day, to the letter, so shall be the soon coming 70^th week.

Are you ready?

Then, is in our near future.

Verse 27 refers to a time you do not want to be here. The seven-year tribulation period is Daniel's seventieth week.

The antichrist will craft a seven-year peace pact that appears to include rebuilding the Jewish temple and reinstating the religious sacrifice and offering system.

That seven year covenant will trigger the start of the seventieth week.

In the middle of the week (3.5 years into the 7-year covenant) his fangs will flare, he’ll break the peace pact, and all hell will break loose. he’ll claim to be God, will do what the Bible calls the abomination of desolation; set up an image in the temple and demand worship.

The antichrist will deceive the world with lying signs and wonders, such as fire from the sky. Will cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Revelation 13:13-18.

Looking at the signs, it appears the 70^th week is about to begin.

What signs?

All the technology is in place to force everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive the vax, I mean, the mark.

In Daniel and Revelation, the Lord repeatedly points to a 10-nation coalition that will side with the antichrist. (Daniel 2, 7, Revelation 13, 17).

So, you can be sure and certain that there will be a ten-nation coalition that will be led by the antichrist.

We just read that Daniel’s seventieth week begins with a seven-year covenant (peace agreement).

We see today in living color, ten world leaders, meeting for the purpose of reaching a peace agreement. Will they emerge with a seven-year covenant?

NOTE: I’m not saying these are the ten-nation coalition.  

I am saying the world is falling into place EXACTLY as this 2,600 year old prophecy predicted.

Pay attention to how easy it is for the Bible to suddenly appear in living color on our TV screen. And pay even closer attention to how easily our hearts can ignore it, brush it off, count it as nothing.

Another major prophecy rising on the horizon is the Ezekiel 38-39 war. It takes place near the starting gate of Daniel’s 70^th week. Russia, Iran, Turkey, Sudan, Libya and others will attack Israel.

This is taking shape by the minute as we speak.

No nation will stand with Israel. But God will protect her with an earthquake, torrential rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone. Ezekiel 38:18-23. So, all the world will know that God is the defender of Israel.

NOTE THE TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE

Only one week (seven years) remain in Daniel’s Seventy Week Prophecy; the seven-year Tribulation.

Israel is seventy-seven years old from rebirth in 1948.

In seven years, it will be 2,000 years from when Jesus took that donkey ride.

Is this where the seven-year Tribulation fits?

After 6,000 years of HIStory are we at the threshold of the thousand-year Sabbath rest? 

We don’t know for sure, but we surely see the signs.

We do know that the battle between good and evil will rage until the consummation, which is determined; until the battle of Armageddon.

Then, Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, will bring it to an end. Revelation 19:19-21.

There is a happy ending for those who choose Him.

Like the boy in the store picking out a puppy. He pointed at the one wagging his tail like crazy, and said, “I choose the one with the happy ending.”

There is a happily ever after, for those who accept Him, not reject Him, who choose today to hear His Voice, harden not their hearts and surrender to the Winner, Christ Jesus.

There is an end. 

It’s coming faster than you think.

Are you ready?

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, we choose You. We submit to You, bow to Your Authority. We invite You to search our hearts and convict us of any way that prevents us from hearing You. Please heal our transgressions, our sins, our iniquities, draw us to You to live for You, honoring You today and always. Lord, please speak to us and through us. Help us to be salt and light, soul winners and disciple makers, so that we and all those You’ve given us will hear You say, “Well done.”

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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