D24 Godly Mysteries
Contents D24 Godly Mysteries at http://www.discoverylifediy.com/444897577
1. Beyond the Ken of Man; 1a.
The Incarnation a Painful Process; 1b. Salvation forALL Men; 2. The Folklore Meaning of Chinese New Year (CNY); 2 a. What are the origins of Lunar New Year?; 2 a-i. How is Lunar New Year celebrated?
2 a-ii. Gift of Red Packet (Ang Pow;2 b. The Counterfeit of CNY; 2 c. Chinese Worldwide CNY Celebration; 3. Revelation of Mysteries in Bible Prophecies; 3.1 Bible is the Only Guide to God; 3.1 a. The Principles
of Heaven; 3.2 Living in the Time of the End; 3.2 a. Looking to Christ the Central Focus; 3.2 b. World’s History Prophecy in Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream; 3.2 b i) Foretold End Time; 3.2 b.ii)
Why the Unbelief in Bible Prophecy; 3.2 b.iii) Earth’s History Last Scenario; 3.2 c. The Immanence of God; 3.2 c (i). Christ’s Presence in Earth’s History: ( - God Desires to Save All Men;
Reviewing and Editing from Feb 5-7, 2020); 3.2 c (iv). Science Cannot Search Out Divine Secrets; .2c (v) Companion Website Reading (Daniel—An Example of a Sanctified Life); 3.2 c (vi) God’s Will in Saving
the Unconverted;- ( Good Works No Plea for Salvation; Pestilence in Covid-19; Dr Berg Realistic Perspective on Covid-19; Vindication of Daniel’s Diet; Diet and Moderation in Lifestyle);
3.2. c (vii) Biblical Aspects on Eating; Christ Overcome Satan’s First Great Temptation;
3.3 God’s Sovereignty and Judgment;
3.3 a. The Fall of Babylon; 3.3 a(i) Belshazzar Ignored Nebuchadnezzar’s Testimony; 3.3 a (ii) Arrogance and Downfall of Belshazzar; 3.3 a (iii) God’s Presence, Wrath, and Judgment;
Contents ( Continuation from Mar 1, 2020)
4 Epilogue; 4.1 D24 Debrief; 1a. History Repeats Itself; 1b. The Vision of Daniel 7; 1b. (i) Four Unclean Vicious Animals; 1b. (ii) The Little Horn; 1b. (iii) Heavenly Judgment; 1b. (iv) Son of Man; 1b. (v) The Saints of the Most High;1.c. History attests to Prophetic Fulfillment; 1 c (i) Isaiah’s Prophecy of Cyrus Capturing Babylon; 1 c (ii) Jeremiah’s Prophecy of Restoration after Seventy Year Captivity; 4.2 Return of the Exiles; 4.2 (a) The End is The Beginning;
D24 Discovery of Vital Transforming Godly Mysteries
This is a very crucial personal reading discovery that has eternal consequences. The subject is very big and involves more than one journey. This series was spurred by the desire (morning of 23rd Jan 2020) to provide a reading rendering blessing for the Lunar New Year of 25th Jan, 2020. This is exactly one month after the whole world celebrated the faked birth day of Jesus Christ. (See the article written for Xmas holiday reading - 5.9.5 Satan’s Big Imprint: December 2019; Contents (2) posted Dec 24,25,26, 2019 in Wp5.9.4 Satan’s Mark, at http://www.wakeupow.com/440101194)
There are many mysteries in the world that are weird and strange, dwelling into the unsolvable, that challenge and engage adventurous seekers to unravel the mysteries to demystify it. But In all cases it deepens the mystery as they tell of their adventures to conclude that it is a so called “real mystery,” such as, aliens visiting earth in flying saucers. The benefit is net negative, as it diverts their attention into the use of their only limited one life time (given to every one of us to make the right decision in life to gain everlasting life ), and they end up at the end of their life on death bed without the hope of an everlasting life.
The Godly Mysteries we are seeking in this “Ang Pow 2020 Lunar New Year” is a “Blessing of Joy, Peace, Hope and Happiness by knowing the truth about the revelation of Christ on the knowable part of the Transforming Mysteries in getting to know Him, the Master healer of all diseases.” This is the godly spiritual understanding of “Prospermorewasteless” for by wasting less of your time and energy on useless information instead of using this limited finite time in reading and meditating on the word of God. You will grow (prosper more) in understanding the truth and spiritual things, that is, investing in the world to come, the eternal city of God for we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth (Heb11:13-16) )(Mystery unknown to many but to those who believed that it will be realized at the second coming.) Jesus on the night before His death had promised “I go to prepare a place for you. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Jn 14:1-3.
The first reading is about “the Mystery of the Existence of God.” This is a mystery still because no one has seen God face to face. Yet God is real and exists outside of our time and Jesus Christ came as a man, God clothed in human flesh (another greater mystery that will be looked into in the ensuing series)
The first Transforming Godly Mystery is to review an earlier article in Topical Issues – sub-page “Bible Prophecy “ at http://www.wakeupow.com/152909622 (point, press control and click-Listed in the top left hand column). Please read this earlier article (2013) as the primer that will be expanded with deeper insights progressively. This single page posting is rushed to get to you the CNY 2020 blessing by this reading and then your sharing it so that the blessings may be multiplied rather than stagnate and die, forgotten. This is the law of the circle of life. To be continued, posted 24 Jan, 2020 by Tsc at singtsc@yahoo.com
Continuing post on second day of CNY, Jan 27, 2020 to make-up for first day of CNY reading also.
There is a slight change in deferring the insights to Bible Prophecy after making up for the sharing of the first day of CNY, as the first day was spent at the home of my eldest brother (now demised and the gathering of clan is continued by his son.)
To begin with, below is the list of YouTube videos to watch leisurely over the public holiday period in Singapore for the first three days.
The order to watch the Lunar New Year 2020 Blessing:-
1. "Close of Probation" –(advance to 8:56-57:59) by Pastor David Shin, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxQ3U3pht48 ( We have only one life to decide if God exists and He is everlasting and is true.)
2. A Citizen of Heaven – by Pastor David Shin - August 24, 2019 O'Malley Seventh-day Adventist Church https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzaR73cxl78 ( 35:43) (This world is not our home. We are strangers and pilgrims desiring "a bettercountry that is an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city"-Heb 11:16. Pr Shin amplifies on the 144,000 people given in the Bible that will make it to heaven in Rev 7:4-8; 14:1-5)
3. The Holy Spirit - Our Greatest Need – by Pastor David Shin - May 25, 2019 May 28, 2019 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmf5IaKLClI (The third person of the Godhead, the comforter, to assist us while Christ is interceding for sinners in the throne room of heaven after His return to heaven to prepare a place for those who believe in God.)
4. Sabbath, Sanctuary & Our Savior: Brazen Altar – by Pastor David Shin - March 16, 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jAmgW8JV30&t=5s (34:06) (It is over the issue of the Sabbath day of rest that will decide your final decision about the revelation on the mystery of God’s presence.
5. The Three Angels Message by Pr. Stephen Bohr -Sep 6, 2013 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O92zxipBCrI (58:30) ( This is God’s final message to those who are deceived by Satan into worshipping him to seek the truth and return to God.)
6. "The Hour of Gods Judgement" - Pastor Stephen Bohr Aug 13, 2019 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExYJHL_1yVU (Judgment began on October 22, 1844 starting chronologically from Adam and Eve and down to everyone that died the first death and ending finally with the living in the last generation)
7. Climate Change, Is It Real? By Stephen Bohr - May 7, 2017 Autumn Leaves at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=383WORq1O3U (1:19:34) ( Satan thru his chief agent on earth is setting the final stage of enforcing Sunday worship to him using the climate change as the evidence.)
8. "The Seven Thunders" - Pastor Stephen Bohr Jan 3, 2018 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsEPlnCWFVM&list=PLlrBY-NV9yXb56y81kLegBS35OK10wh6j&index=2 ( God raised up the true church movement through the great disappointment test in 1844 to give the three angel’s messages to the world.)
9. The Judgment of the Living-Pastor Bill Hughes, Oct 31, 2018, Truth Triumphant Ministries at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8HzjBzBokI ( The final warning is in the third angel’s message to not receive the mark of the beast which is to accept and obey the Sunday law when it is enforced. Those who would rather die than comply will receive God’s seal and be protected through the time of trouble before their deliverance at Jesus second coming)
10.The Commandments and the Faith of Jesus - Walter Veith Jan 25, 2017 Amazing Discoveries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0869Fpg3dg ( Those that will be sealed must keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.)
11.The Last Words in PowerPoint format( Substantive evidences of God’s true church, in deed, have the messenger of God to prophecy again and have the Spirit of Prophecy (in Ellen White’s writings; amplifications of the Bible.).
12.Read D24 Discovery of Vital Transforming Godly Mysteries.
Please try to watch these videos that will give you the truth and God’s principles in His law that has been revealed about the mysteries of the only One Living and Everlasting God for our belief in order to have eternal life.
1. Beyond the Ken of Man.(1 Tim:3: 16; Colossians 1:26, 27; Romans 16:25; John 1:1-3, 14; 2 Timothy 3:16)—
Great is the mystery of godliness. There are mysteries in the life of Christ that are to be believed, even though they cannot be explained. The finite mind cannot fathom the mystery of godliness (Letter 65, 1905). {7BC 915.2}
1a. The Incarnation a Painful Process (1 Peter 1:11, 12.)
The work of redemption is called a mystery, and it is indeed the mystery by which everlasting righteousness is brought to all who believe.The race in consequence of sin was at enmity with God. Christ, at an infinite cost, by a painful process, mysterious to angels as well as to men, assumed humanity. Hiding His divinity, laying aside His glory, He was born a babe in Bethlehem. In human flesh He lived the law of God, that He might condemn sin in the flesh, and bear witness to heavenly intelligences that the law was ordained to life and to ensure the happiness, peace, and eternal good of all who obey. (This is the CNY 2020 Blessing) But the same infinite sacrifice that is life to those who believe is a testimony of condemnation to the disobedient, speaking death and not life (MS 29, 1899). {7BC 915.3}
1b. Salvation for ALL Men
The portions of the godly mysteries that are revealed in the word of God is for the salvation of all men from eternal death. The truth declared is : “ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”-1 Ti 2:5.
“Adam and Eve were given a probation (Watch Video 1 "Close of Probation" –(advance to 8:56-57:59) by Pastor David Shin, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxQ3U3pht48) in which to return to their allegiance; and in this plan of benevolence all their posterity were embraced. After the fall, Christ became Adam's instructor. He acted in God's stead toward humanity, saving the race from immediate death. He took upon Him the work of mediator between God and man. In the fulness of time He was to be revealed in human form. He was to take His position at the head of humanity by taking the nature but not the sinfulness of man.” {ST, May 29, 1901 par. 11}
God calls for faith in Christ as our atoning sacrifice. His blood is the only remedy for sin. {FLB 102.2}
God is approached through Jesus Christ, the Mediator, the only way through which He forgives sins. God cannot forgive sins at the expense of His justice, His holiness, and His truth. But He does forgive sins and that fully. There are no sins He will not forgive in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the sinner's only hope, and if he rests here in sincere faith, he is sure of pardon and that full and free. There is only one channel and that is accessible to all, and through that channel a rich and abundant forgiveness awaits the penitent, contrite soul and the darkest sins are forgiven. These lessons were taught to the chosen people of God thousands of years ago, and repeated in various symbols and figures, that the work of truth might be riveted in every heart, that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. . . . Justice demanded the sufferings of man; but Christ rendered the sufferings of a God. He needed no atonement of suffering for Himself; all His sufferings were for us; all His merits and holiness were open to fallen man, presented as a gift. {FLB 102.4} (This is the miracle (not explainable by science) that will be manifested at the second coming of Christ which we have to trust by faith in God’s spoken word as the portion of God’s mystery revealed to us.)
Christ calls upon us to lay our sins upon Him, the Sin-Bearer. . . . But if we refuse to let them go, taking the responsibility ourselves, we will be lost. We may fall upon Christ, the living stone, and be broken, but if that Stone falls upon us, it will grind us to powder. {FLB 102.5}
2. The Folklore Meaning of Chinese New Year (CNY) – Pagan Belief of Satanic Invention (https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/articles/chinese-new-year-meaning-history-and-traditions/)
Unlike the fixed new year of the Gregorian calendar on 1 January, the new Lunar New Year (CNY) is celebrated on a variable date somewhere between late January and early February, determined by the appearance of the new moon. In China, where the holiday is also called Spring Festival, the holiday can be traced as far back as the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC). (It is seldom ( spaced over 5-7 years) for the Secular Western Civilization New Year and the Chinese Lunar New Year (CNY) to be celebrated in the first month of the Gregorian Calendar.)
2 a. What are the origins of Lunar New Year?
It’s hard to know how people celebrated during the Shang Dynasty, but it is widely accepted that sacrificial gifts to gods and ancestors were involved (Pagan rituals of all other cultures, invented by Satan and successfully perpetuated since the temptation of Eve at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden ( Gen 3:1-11) The lie about the immortality of the soul is Spiritualism, post modern secular and Christianized contemplative prayer and now mindfulness meditation for all ages.- (See D18 Meditation Web at http://www.discoverylifediy.com/440117487). Similar practices continued through the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC) when the term ‘Nian‘ first appears in historic records. Nian (年獸) is a lion-like beast, but the name also means ‘new year’, and many of the ways in which the new year is now celebrated can be traced back to stories about it.
According to folklore, Nian would rise from the sea each year to devour people and livestock. Fearful of becoming a tasty snack, people used to hide until one man made a life-changing observation: Nian, despite its sharp teeth and hearty appetite, was terrified of loud sounds and the colour red. It is for this reason that fireworks and the colour red feature so heavily in the celebration of Chinese New Year. Lion dances, often featuring loud noises, also mimic how Nian was driven back into the sea.
In the Han Dynasty (202 BC–AD 220), yearly celebrations became fixed to the beginning of the new lunar cycle. Ever since, the holiday has been celebrated according to a 12-moon cycle.
2 a-i. How is Lunar New Year celebrated?
Early celebrations emphasised the importance of family, and the tradition continues today. People give offerings to ancestors and gods, often in the form of food and money. ( Idolatry, an abomination to God.) These offerings are expected to ensure a good new year and might even involve a little bribery.
In some homes, the lips on images of the Kitchen God (灶君) are rubbed with honey before the new year. This is done so he only has sweet things to report to the Jade Emperor (玉皇) – the principal deity – about the family’s behaviour.
Homes and cities are also given a nice scrub and adorned with red lanterns and auspicious floral arrangements and decorations, all of which is meant to scare off Nian and usher in prosperity and good fortune for the new year.
2 a-ii. Gift of Red Packet (Ang Pow)
Children and unmarried adults will enjoy more immediate fortune in the form of red packets filled with money. These red packets (紅包, hóngbāo) are given by parents, elders and employers to ensure safety and comfort in the new year. Denominations vary according to the relationship with the recipient. The practice has even modernised for the 21st century, with WeChat offering an option to purchase and distribute electronic packets.
2 b. The Counterfeit of CNY
It is by knowing the truth from the word of God that counterfeits is to be detected. There are at least six aspects (counterfeit elements) pertaining to the Passover in the deliverance of the Israelites from the bondage to the Pharaoh, in the CNY Counterfeits:
i. Good fortune, good luck, and joy in this temporal life( but without hope of everlasting life – Bible truth in Christ’s sacrifice, death and Atonement;
ii. Chase away Monster Nian- Cleansing and forgiveness of Sin;
iii. Gift of Ang Pow- Christ sacrificial death as our redeemer, the gift of His sinless life through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Rom 3:25,26. “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”- Rom 5:21.
iv. Wearing Red Clothing to chase away Nian and bad luck– instead of the white raiment of Christ righteousness: The white garment is the wedding garment signifying the bond of marriage to Christ as head of the one true church. The colour red is symbolic of the colour of blood for without the shedding of Jesus Blood for our sins there is no atonement and forgiveness of our sin. The reason given for the wearing of red dressing is to divertthe true meaning of red color on the occasion of the celebration;
v. Spring Couplet on the home door jamb and door post – resemblance of the truth in the deliverance in the last day with Christ second coming. Blood of the lamb as sin offering ( confession of sin and transfer to the sanctuary) . “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”- Exodus 12:13;
vi. Chinese Zodiac- The Chinese culture is founded on superstition believing in offering to appease the gods of nature and the supernatural. Great significance is placed in starting right with the celebration of the beginning of their lunar year cycle starting with the new year. Their ancient wise men have devised the Chinese Zodiac to regulate order. The Chinese zodiac, or shengxiao (‘born resembling'), is a repeating cycle of 12 years, with each year being represented by an animal and its reputed attributes. In order, the 12 Chinese horoscope animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 2020 is a year of the Rat, starting from January 25th 2020 and ending on February 11th 2021. In addition, each 12-year zodiac cycle has one of the five elements, producing: Wood Rats, Fire Rats, Earth Rats, Gold (Metal) Rats, and Water Rats. It’s believed that people have different characters and destinies according to their birth year’s zodiac sign and element.( All by chance subscribing to Darwin’s evolution theory to counter the truth of God as our creator- see D2 Darwinism at http://www.discoverylifediy.com/430259250 ) 2020 is an Gold Rat year. This is subscribing to the belief in the ability of man to trust in the system invented by men guided by Satan, which is an abomination to God.
The Spirit of Prophecy has counseled thus:
The magicians of heathen times have their counterpart in the spiritualistic mediums, the clairvoyants, and the fortune-tellers of today. The mystic voices that spoke at Endor and at Ephesus are still by their lying words misleading the children of men. Could the veil be lifted from before our eyes, we should see evil angels employing all their arts to deceive and to destroy. Wherever an influence is exerted to cause men to forget God, there Satan is exercising his bewitching power. When men yield to his influence, ere they are aware the mind is bewildered and the soul polluted. The apostle's admonition to the Ephesian church should be heeded by the people of God today: "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Ephesians 5:11. {AA 290.2}
It is fondly supposed that heathen superstitions have disappeared before the civilization of the twentieth century. But the word of God and the stern testimony of facts declare that sorcery is practiced in this age as verily as in the days of the old-time magicians. The ancient system of magic is, in reality, the same as what is now known as modern spiritualism. Satan is finding access to thousands of minds by presenting himself under the guise of departed friends. . . {CC 343.3} (Many Chinese honour their ancestors as a sign of filial piety. They in turn expect their ancestors to protect them and grant them good fortune ( in place of God)
What about the magical books? What have you been reading? How have you been employing your time? Have you been seeking to study the sacred oracles in order that you may hear the voice of God speaking to you out of His word? The world is deluged with books which sow the seeds of skepticism, infidelity, and atheism, and to a larger or less degree you have been learning your lessons from these books, and they are magical books.They put God out of the mind, and separate the soul from the true Shepherd.” {MYP 276.1}
To be continued tomorrow, posted Jan 27, 2020 (5/5 pg)
Continuation - Jan 28, 2020 (including reviewing and editing earlier portion of article)
2 c. Chinese Worldwide CNY Celebration
https://www.insider.com/chinese-new-years-celebrations-photos-2018-2 shows the extent the Chinese people (largest ethnic race) living all over the world celebrating Chinese Lunar New year (with parades, prayers, and festive displays of lanterns and fireworks and this display is spread over 15 days; e.g. Singapore will be celebration Chingay on, o1 Feb, 2020) without knowing about nature of the festival and ignorantly perpetuating the counterfeit that will bound them to worshipping Satan by default. This is in the same class of fake events as in the celebration of Christmas, with dire destiny consequence, unless people are shown the truth, which is the purpose of this article to call people out of spiritual Babylon.
The whole nation of Republic of China shut down for 7 days and people are rushing to get home for the New Year’s Eve reunion Dinner. It is known now as the largest annual human migration in the world.– (watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFakFlddIg0.). It is no wonder that that the Chinese people in observing the tradition passed down by parents does not know about God unless we as the call of God earnestly share the good news of the everlasting gospel by using the occasion of the festivals (Xmas or CNY) to bring them to the Cross of Christ. The Chinese ethic race make up one-fifth of the world population, as the largest ethnic race. So it is important to look into history and discover how God is working to bring them back to Him. This will be another discovery to be taken up later (tentatively in D25-God in Ancient China) … to be continued tomorrow. Posted 27 Jan, 2020. (7/7 pg)
Continuation - Jan 29, 2020
Only managed
to add remarks concerning the purpose of each of the YouTube clips as the CNY 2020 Blessing. Much searching is needed to compile insights to Bible Prophecy. This should be posted by tomorrow.
Continuation - Jan 30, 2020
3. Revelation of Mysteries in Bible Prophecies
(The compilation is based on passages from Ellen White’s writings and adaptations from Adult Bible School Bible Study Guide, Jan-Mar, 2020 at www.absg.adventist.org; AD Bible Study by Robert Blais at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mj1w9xBgFY and other similar and relevant sources.)
“There is need of a much closer study of the Word of God; especially should Daniel and the Revelation have attention as never before. . . . The light that Daniel received from God was given especially for these last days.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, pp. 112, 113.
The book of Revelation, in connection with the book of Daniel, especially demands study. Let every God-fearing teacher consider how most clearly to comprehend and to present the gospel that our Saviour came in person to make known to His servant John--"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass." Revelation 1:1. None should become discouraged in the study of the Revelation because of its apparently mystical symbols. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not." James 1:5. {Ed 191.2}
"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." Revelation 1:3. {Ed 191.3}
3.1 Bible is the Only Guide to God
“The Bible was designed to be a guide to all who wish to become acquainted with the will of their Maker. God gave to men the sure word of prophecy; angels and even Christ Himself came to make known to Daniel and John the things that must shortly come to pass. Those important matters that concern our salvation were not left involved in mystery. They were not revealed in such a way as to perplex and mislead the honest seeker after truth. Said the Lord by the prophet Habakkuk: ‘Write the vision, and make it plain, . . . that he may run that readeth it.’ Habakkuk 2:2. The word of God is plain to all who study it with a prayerful heart. Every truly honest soul will come to the light of truth. ‘Light is sown for the righteous.’ Psalm 97:11. And no church can advance in holiness unless its members are earnestly seeking for truth as for hid treasure.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 521, 522. “Study the history of Daniel and his fellows. Though living where they were, met on every side by the temptation to indulge self, they honored and glorified God in the daily life. They determined to avoid all evil. They refused to place themselves in the enemy’s path. And with rich blessings God rewarded their steadfast loyalty.” —Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases [No. 224], pp. 169, 170.
When a real love for the Bible is awakened, and the student begins to realize how vast is the field and how precious its treasure, he will desire to seize upon every opportunity for acquainting himself with God's word. Its study will be restricted to no special time or place. And this continuous study is one of the best means of cultivating a love for the Scriptures. Let the student keep his Bible always with him. As you have opportunity, read a text and meditate upon it. While walking the streets, waiting at a railway station, waiting to meet an engagement, improve the opportunity to gain some precious thought from the treasure house of truth. {Ed 191.4}
The great motive powers of the soul are faith, hope, and love; and it is to these that Bible study, rightly pursued, appeals. The outward beauty of the Bible, the beauty of imagery and expression, is but the setting, as it were, for its real treasure--the beauty of holiness. In its record of the men who walked with God, we may catch glimpses of His glory. In the One "altogether lovely" we behold Him, of whom all beauty of earth and heaven is but a dim reflection. "I, if I be lifted up," He said, "will draw all men unto Me." John 12:32. As the student of the Bible beholds the Redeemer, there is awakened in the soul the mysterious power of faith, adoration, and love. Upon the vision of Christ the gaze is fixed, and the beholder grows into the likeness of that which he adores. The words of the apostle Paul become the language of the soul: "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: . . . that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings." Philippians 3:8-10. {Ed 192.1}
3.1 a. The Principles of Heaven
Love must be the principle of action. Love is the underlying principle of God's government in heaven and earth, and it must be the foundation of the Christian's character. This alone can make and keep him steadfast. This alone can enable him to withstand trial and temptation. {COL 49.1}.. If we love Jesus, we shall love to live for Him, to present our thank offerings to Him, to labor for Him. ..We shall sympathize with His longing for the salvation of men. We shall feel the same tender craving for souls that He has felt. {COL 49.3}…This is the religion of Christ. Anything short of it is a deception. No mere theory of truth or profession of discipleship will save any soul. We do not belong to Christ unless we are His wholly. {COL 50.1}..
A knowledge of the truth depends not so much upon strength of intellect as upon pureness of purpose, the simplicity of an earnest, dependent faith. To those who in humility of heart seek for divine guidance, angels of God draw near. The Holy Spirit is given to open to them the rich treasures of the truth. (Important to remember the Holy Spirit is Jesus promise of the comforter on the night before His crucifixion.) {COL 59.3}
The springs of heavenly peace and joy unsealed in the soul by the words of Inspiration will become a mighty river of influence to bless all who come within its reach. Let the youth of today (the Gen Z that will be part of the 144,000), the youth who are growing up with the Bible in their hands, become the recipients and the channels of its life-giving energy, and what streams of blessing would flow forth to the world!--influences of whose power to heal and comfort we can scarcely conceive--rivers of living water, fountains "springing up unto everlasting life." {Ed 192.2}
3.2 Living in the Time of the End
From a worldly perspective, the world still seems in pretty dismal shape and, worse, holds little prospect of improvement. Humans seem just as inclined toward greed, oppression, violence, conquest, exploitation, and self-destruction now as our ancestors were in ages past. Meanwhile, many of our great technological advances, though sometimes serving humanity well, have aided us in our greed, oppression, violence, conquest, exploitation, and self-destruction.
In spite of the apparent hopeless condition of our contemporary world, God is in charge. Hope shines through the pages of Daniel. Christ has been enthroned as our Supreme Commander and High Priest in the heavenly temple. As human history unfolds, God is working to defeat evil and establish His eternal kingdom. As Ellen G. White said, “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us and His teaching in our past history.”—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 31. Therefore, let us study the book of Daniel with faith and understanding.
And yet, amid all this despair and calamity, we have the book of Daniel, a book that’s especially relevant for us who are living in the ayt qatz, “the time of the end” (Dan. 12:9). And that’s because in the sacred pages of Daniel we have powerful, rational, faith-affirming evidence not only for our belief in God but in the Lord Jesus Christ and His death on the cross, as well as the promise of His return and all that His return entails. {This is the experiential proof in the miracle of our own existence that God exist and He is the source of our lives and is omnipresent although we cannot see Him, in order to convince the unbelievers that God is real and is working for our salvation to wrestle us from the bondage to Satan. God said through Jeremiah “ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart ”And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD;”- Jer 29:13,14), and David testified, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”- Ps 34:8.)
3.2 a. Looking to Christ the Central Focus
One of the most important goals of Bible study is to learn about Jesus. After all, the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation
testify of Jesus. There are about two hundred references in the New Testament to the book of Daniel. Proportionately, Daniel is quoted as much as Isaiah and the Psalms, which are the books most quoted, or alluded to, in the New Testament. Most definitely,
Daniel has a lot to say about Jesus. Let us examine six biblical principles that will give us better focus
as we learn about Christ in the book of Daniel. First, Jesus is revealed in the redemptive-historical progression of Daniel. Jesus is the goal to which the history of salvation depicted in the prophecies of Daniel unfolds. So, Jesus is revealed in Daniel, inasmuch as the historical trajectory of God’s dealings
with His people and the world culminate in Jesus. Second, Jesus appears in the pattern of promise-fulfillment conveyed in the prophecies of Daniel. For
example, Jesus is the Son of man and the coming Messiah announced in Daniel 7 and 9, respectively. Third, as we study typology, we learn that God preordained some events
and institutions to foreshadow important aspects of the plan of salvation. Hence, Jesus is revealed in the sanctuary, the priesthood, and the sacrifice
mentioned in the book of Daniel. Fourth, we also can perceive Jesus by analogy in some explicit teachings of the text of Daniel that parallel Jesus’ own experiences. For example, the pressure on Daniel’s friends to “fall down
and worship the gold image” (Dan. 3:5, NKJV) echoes the devil’s tempting Jesus: “And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me’ ” (Matt. 4:9, NKJV). The faithfulness of Daniel’s friends gives us a faint glimpse of the perfect obedience of Jesus to the Father. Fifth, Jesus also appears in the longitudinal themes leading up to Jesus
in the New Testament. For example, the broad theme of salvation points to Jesus as the ultimate Savior of His people. Sixth, the New Testament references to the book of Daniel are another perspective through which we may find Jesus. For example, Revelation 13:1–8 alludes to Daniel 7; in Matthew 26:64 and Mark
14:62, Jesus refers to Daniel 7:13 and applies to Himself the designation “Son of Man.” (See Sidney Greidanus, Preaching Christ From Daniel [Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2012]). The fact that Jesus tells us the need to understand the writing of
Daniel when the religion of the whole world is manifesting blatant unholy activities ( Matt 24:15), testifies that Daniel, indeed. wrote the book in his lifetime, some 2600 years ago and not some other historian very much later after the event (about 400 years
later, as claimed by some scholars),
3.2 b. World’s History Prophecy in Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Prophecies is not prediction but foretelling. This is telling what will happen before it happened not based on your knowledge of the fact of the present but on the facts of the future and is totally accurate. God does not predict, He foretells and that is why prophecy is a 100 % accurate when what was prophesied happens as foretold so that we might believe.
“The prophecy conveyed by Nebuchadnezzar’s dream provides a general prophetic outline and functions as the yardstick with which to approach the more detailed prophecies of Daniel 7, 8, and 11. Also, Daniel 2 is not a conditional prophecy. It is an apocalyptic prophecy: a definitive prediction of what God foresaw and actually would bring to pass in the future. 1. The head of gold represents Babylon (626–539 b.c.). Indeed, no other metal could better represent the power and wealth of the Babylonian Empire than gold. The Bible calls it “the golden city” (Isa. 14:4) and “a golden cup in the Lord’s hand” (Jer. 51:7; compare with Rev. 18:16). The ancient historian Herodotus reports that an abundance of gold embellished the city. 2. The chest and arms of silver stand for Media-Persia (539–331 b.c.). As silver is valued less than gold, the Medo-Persian Empire never attained the splendor of the Babylonian. In addition, silver also was a fitting symbol for the Persians because they used silver in their taxation system. 3. The belly and thighs of bronze symbolize Greece (331–168 b.c.). Ezekiel 27:13 portrays the Greeks as bartering bronze vessels. Greek soldiers were noted for their bronze armor. Their helmets, shields, and battle-axes consisted of brass. Herodotus tells us that Psammetichus I of Egypt saw in invading Greek pirates the fulfillment of an oracle that foretold “men of bronze coming from the sea.” 4. The legs of iron aptly represent Rome (168 b.c.–a.d. 476). As Daniel explained, the iron represented the crushing power of the Roman Empire, which lasted longer than any of the previous kingdoms. Iron was a perfect metal to represent the empire. 5. The feet partly of iron and partly of clay represent a divided Europe (a.d. 476–second coming of Christ). The mixture of iron with clay provides a fitting picture of what happened after the disintegration of the Roman Empire. Although many attempts have been made to unify Europe, ranging from marriage alliances between royal houses to the present European Union, division and disunity have prevailed and, according to this prophecy, will remain so until God establishes the eternal kingdom.
3.2 b i) Foretold End Time
The focus of the dream is on what will happen in the “latter days” (Dan. 2:28). As powerful and rich as they may have been, the metal (and clay) kingdoms are nothing but a prelude to the establishment of the stone kingdom. Whereas to some extent metals and clay can be products of human manufacture, the stone in the dream comes untouched by human hands. In other words, although each of the previous kingdoms eventually comes to an end, the kingdom represented by the stone will last forever. The metaphor of the rock, then, often symbolizes God (for example, Deut. 32:4, 1 Sam. 2:2, Ps. 18:31), and the stone likewise may be a representation of the Messiah (Ps. 118:22; 1 Pet. 2:4, 7). Thus, nothing is more appropriate than the figure of a stone to symbolize the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom. Some argue that the stone kingdom was established during Jesus’ earthly ministry, and that the propagation of the gospel stands as an indication that the kingdom of God has taken over the entire world. Yet, the stone kingdom comes into existence only after the four main kingdoms have fallen and human history has reached the time of the divided kingdoms, represented by the feet and toes of the image. This fact rules out the fulfillment during the first century, because Jesus’ earthly ministry took place during the dominion of Rome, the fourth kingdom. But the stone gives way to a mountain. That is, “the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Dan. 2:35, NKJV). A mountain such as this evokes Mount Zion, the place where the temple stood, the concrete representation of God’s earthly kingdom in the Old Testament times. Interestingly, the stone cut from the mountain becomes a mountain itself. This mountain, which according to the text is already in existence, most likely points to the heavenly Zion, the heavenly sanctuary, whence Christ will come to establish His eternal kingdom. And in the Jerusalem that will come down from heaven (Rev. 21:1–22:5), this kingdom will find its ultimate fulfillment. Daniel 2 has been correct on all the kingdoms so far. Why, then, is it so logical and wise to trust its prophecy about the coming of the final kingdom, God’s eternal one? Why is it so irrational not to believe the prophecy?
3.2 b.ii) Why the Unbelief in Bible Prophecy
It is because of the fact that Ministers and people declared that the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation were incomprehensible mysteries.(This is the work of Satan in attempting to remain as the prince of this world by influencing these ministers to keep the book sealed so that we will not know the revelation of the mysteries that God intended to be made known after 1844.) But Christ directed his disciples to the words of the prophet Daniel concerning events to take place in their time, and said, “Whoso readeth, let him understand.” [Matthew 24:15.] And the assertion that the Revelation is a mystery, not to be understood, is contradicted by the very title of the book: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. . . . 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.” [Revelation 1:1-3.] {GC88 340.3} (as mentioned earlier)
Why, then, this widespread ignorance concerning an important part of Holy Writ? Why this general reluctance to investigate its teachings? It is the result of a studied effort of the prince of darkness to conceal from men that which reveals his deceptions. For this reason, Christ the Revelator, foreseeing the warfare that would be waged against the study of the Revelation, pronounced a blessing upon all who should read, hear, and observe the words of the prophecy. {GC88 342.1}
Consider the circumstances of the Jewish nation when the prophecies of Daniel were given. The Israelites were in captivity, their temple had been destroyed, their temple services suspended. Their religion had centered in the ceremonies of the sacrificial system. They had made the outward forms all-important, while they had lost the spirit of true worship. . . . The Lord wrought to bring the people into captivity, and to suspend the services of the temple, in order that the outward ceremonies might not become the sum total of their religion. . . . The outward glory was removed, that the spiritual might be revealed. . . . {CTr 335.5}
In giving the light to His people, God did not work exclusively through any one class of persons. Daniel was a prince of Judah. Isaiah also was of the royal tribe. David was a shepherd boy, Amos a herdsman, Zechariah a captive from Babylon, Elisha a tiller of the soil. The Lord raised up as representative leaders the prophets and princes, the noble and the lowly, and by inspiration taught them truths to be given to His people.—Letter 57, 1896 (Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, pp. 333-335). {CTr 335.6}
The things revealed to Daniel were afterward complemented by the revelation made to John on the isle of Patmos. These two books should be carefully perused. Twice Daniel inquired, How long shall it be to the end of time? “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. . . . But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” {CTr 334.4}
3.2 b.iii) Earth’s History Last Scenerio
It was the Lion of the tribe of Judah who unsealed the book and gave to John the revelation of what should be in these last days. Daniel stood in his lot to bear his testimony, which was sealed until the time of the end, when the first angel’s message should be proclaimed to our world. These matters are of infinite importance in these last days. . . . The book of Daniel is unsealed in the revelation to John, and it carries us forward to the last scenes of this earth’s history. {CTr 334.5} (See the YouTube sermon - #8 The Seven Thunders)
The case of Daniel reveals to us the fact that the Lord is always ready to hear the prayers of the contrite soul, and when we seek the Lord with all our hearts, He will answer our petitions. Here is revealed where Daniel obtained his skill and understanding; and if we will only ask of God wisdom, we may be blessed with increased ability, and with power from heaven. If we will come to God just as we are, and pray to Him in faith as did Daniel, we shall see of the salvation of God. We need to pray as we never prayed before.—Letter 59, 1896 (Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, pp. 14-16). {CTr 334.6}
There is need of a much closer study of the Word of God; especially should Daniel and the Revelation have attention as never before in the history of our work. We may have less to say in some lines, in regard to the Roman power and the papacy, but we should call attention to what the prophets and apostles have written under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. . . . {CTr 335.2}
Read the book of Daniel. Call up, point by point, the history of the kingdoms there represented. Behold statesmen, councils, powerful armies, and see how God wrought to abase pride and lay human glory in the dust. God alone is represented as great. In the vision of the prophet He is seen casting down one mighty ruler and setting up another. He is revealed as the monarch of the universe, about to set up His everlasting kingdom—the Ancient of days, the living God, the Source of all wisdom, the Ruler of the present, the Revealer of the future. Read and understand how poor, how frail, how short-lived, how erring, how guilty, are mortals. . . . {CTr 335.3}
The light that Daniel received direct from God was given especially for these last days. The visions he saw by the banks of the Ulai and the Hiddekel, the great rivers of Shinar, are now in process of fulfillment, and all the events foretold will soon have come to pass. {CTr 335.4}
To be continued, posted Jan 30, 2020 (15/15 pg)
Jan 31, 2020 Posting
3.2 c. The Immanence of God
Borrowing from Wikipedia: ”The doctrine or theory of immanence holds that the divine encompasses or is manifested in the material world. It is held by some philosophical and metaphysical theories of divine presence. Immanence is usually applied in monotheistic, pantheistic, pandeistic, or panentheistic faiths to suggest that the spiritual world permeates the mundane. It is often contrasted with theories of transcendence, in which the divine is seen to be outside the material world. Major faiths commonly devote significant philosophical efforts to explaining the relationship between immanence and transcendence but do so in different ways….”
Citing the case of the largest Christian Faith:
“According to Christian theology, the transcendent God, who cannot be approached or seen in essence or being, becomes immanent primarily in the God-man Jesus the Christ, who is the incarnate Second Person of the Trinity. In Byzantine Rite theology the immanence of God is expressed as the hypostases or energies of God, who in his essence is incomprehensible and transcendent. In Catholic theology, Christ and the Holy Spirit immanently reveal themselves; God the Father only reveals himself immanently vicariously through the Son and Spirit, and the divine nature, the Godhead is wholly transcendent and unable to be comprehended.”
"We are not able to dwell into the details of each faith other than to allow the truth on this subject to set us free from the counterfeits of Satan who is all out to distort the word of God, the revelation of God that is given in the Bible, an ancient book that has been preserved to be the largest book ever published and sold in the world. It is in knowing the truth in God’s word that Satan’s counterfeits in the various beliefs he has brought about to confuse God’s people, will be detected, i.e. matching the true article against the fakes.)
Living where we are on the prophetic time scale, we also can see that Daniel was correct about all these kingdoms; thus, we have even more reasons to trust Him regarding the only one yet to come: God’s eternal kingdom, after the Second Coming.
The book of Daniel remains a powerful, faith-affirming document, especially for Seventh-day Adventists, who find within its pages texts seminal to our church, especially Daniel 8:14: “And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed’” (NKJV). This text is parallel to Daniel 7:22, 26, 27, which shows that after the great heavenly judgment, given “in favor of the saints of the Most High,” God’s eternal kingdom will be established. In contrast to the fleeting, earthly empires, it will last forever.
This book is titled in the author’s name, Daniel (his biography). His name is very significant for the word Dan in Hebrew means judge and the world El means God. It means God is my judge and the Book has a lot to do with judgment by the sovereign God. It has three important elements: 1) Historical aspects; 2) Biographical aspects: and 3) Prophetical aspect.
1) Historical aspects with dates, places, people, events, and wars that validates the reality of what is written by Daniel and not someone very much later as some scholars wrongly claimed to cast doubt on God’s revelation;
2) Biographical aspects as written by Daniel in his lifetime living in Babylon and is real and therefore the lessons and messages are relevant and concerning very important people, starting with Daniel himself. He is a prophetic type of those who will live at the end time when there will be a spiritual Babylon. We can learn a lot from this man to be well prepared to live in that very difficult time of trouble, persecution of faithful believers of God just prior to the second coming for their deliverance from Satan in this wicked world that will be judged. This is especially so for the youth
(Ellen White wrote: Among the children of Israel who were taken as captives to Babylon at the beginning of the seventy years' captivity, were Christian patriots, young men who were as true as steel to principle, who would not be corrupted by selfishness, who would honor God at the loss of all things. Upon these loyal and true young men the Lord looked with great pleasure. They had to suffer with the guilty, but in the providence of God this captivity was the means of bringing them to the front. Their example of untarnished integrity, while captives in Babylon, shines with heavenly luster. {YI, May 21, 1903 par. 1}. Among those who remained true to God after reaching the land of their captivity, the prophet Daniel and his three companions are illustrious examples of what even youth may become when united with the God of wisdom. A brief account of the life of these four Hebrews is left on record for the encouragement of those who are called upon to endure trial and temptation. {YI, May 21, 1903 par. 2} ( They will be the the last and final generation of this world and it will be they who will be part of the 144,000 that will vindicate that God’s law can be obeyed against the deliberate slander and lie of Satan. We need to know by study with much prayer, every choices that he made to remain true to God is a lesson for us to be well prepared for the end time.)
God is the other person we need to pay very much attention to. This book is testimony of how God deals with humanity, sin and sinners, the righteous-how to blessess and sometimes even intervenes or the need to curse or rebuke. By understanding about the reality of spiritual great controversy we will discern about God, His character, His immanence being omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent as manifested in Daniel’s life and He will also do in our lives;
And yet, alongside the “big-picture,” we see just how close Christ can be to us, individually. From King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel’s deliverance from the lions’ den, the book shows us God’s immanence, or His nearness to us; as Daniel told wicked King Belshazzar, He is the God “who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways” (Dan. 5:23, NKJV).
3) Prophetical aspect, of the apocalyptic type which is sure to eventuate compared with the classical prophecy which is subject to conditions laid down before it will be fulfilled. Daniel’s prophecies belong to the category of apocalyptic prophecy, whereas most of the other Old Testament prophecies belong to the category of classical prophecy. In apocalyptic prophecy God uses mainly dreams and visions to convey His message to the prophet. In apocalyptic prophecy, God shows symbols and imagery beyond the world of human reality, such as hybrid animals or monsters with wings and horns. We also should keep in mind that prophetic time is measured according to the year-day principle. That is, a day in prophecy equals one year in actual historical time. Thus, for example, the prophecy of the 2,300 evenings and mornings should be understood as referring to 2,300 years (Dan. 8:14). Likewise, the prophecy of the 70 weeks should be understood to be 490 years (Dan. 9:24–27).
Apocalyptic prophecy is unconditional and has one single fulfillment. It may have multiple spiritual or homiletic applications, but it points to a single prophetic fulfillment. This fulfillment is a logical consequence of the historicist approach, which sees apocalyptic prophecy as depicting history from the time of the prophet to the end of time (historicism*). Daniel (also Revelation) uses the principle of recapitulation, or repetition. Daniel 2 provides the standard outline of world history from the times of the prophet to the end. Then chapters 7, 8, and 10–12 recapitulate the basic outline of Daniel 2 with the addition of other details and perspectives. As one author put it, Daniel 2 depicts the restoration of the kingdom; Daniel 7, the restoration of the king; Daniel 8, the restoration of the sanctuary; and Daniel 10–12, the restoration of the people. A clear understanding of the principle of recapitulation provides an interpretative control for the study of the various prophetic chains of Daniel, including the challenging prophecy of Daniel 11
(Note: Historicism*- In contrast to preterism and futurism, which conceive fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecies in the past and future, respectively, historicism sees the prophetic fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecies as extending from the time of the prophet to the establishment of God’s kingdom on the earth. As such, historicism is not just one school of prophetic interpretation among others; as a matter of fact, historicism is the approach that coheres better with the biblical text. The following arguments show the validity of historicism. First, historicism is the method suggested by the Bible itself. For example, the prophetic chains of Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 9 are explained from a historicist perspective. The sequence of world empires that culminate in the establishment of God’s kingdom span a time period extending from the Babylonian, or Persian, times to the end of the world. Second, the large time periods and the universal scope of apocalyptic prophecies (1,260, 2,300, 490 years), which span kingdoms and ultimately result in the kingdom of God, can be better explained according to the historicist approach. Third, Jesus understood the future destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70 (Matt. 24:15–20, Luke 21:20–22) as a fulfillment of Daniel 9:26, 27. Paul refers to a number of successive prophetic events to be fulfilled within history before the second coming of Christ (2 Thess. 2:1–12). Fourth, the historicist approach was used by the early Church Fathers and the Reformers. Augustine began a shift in perspective when he equated the kingdom of God with the Christian church and the millennium with the Christian Era. Fifth, the historicist approach is based on the assumption that God works throughout the centuries of human history to bring the plan of salvation to its consummation. There are no gaps in God’s redemptive activities in the scenario depicted in the apocalyptic prophecies.
“Seventh-day Adventists believe that historicism is the right method of prophetic interpretation to be used in the interpretation of the books of Daniel and Revelation. The method is supported by the Scriptures itself and was in use during the early church period. Moreover, they feel that in using this method they are also preserving an important aspect of the Reformers’ work of restoration.”—Don F. Neufeld, ed., Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald, 1995), s.v. “Historicism.”
God reveals the rise and fall of world empires from Daniel’s day to the end of time.
This kind of prophecy rests on God’s foreknowledge and sovereignty and will happen regardless of human choices. Thus apocalyptic literature aims at encouraging God’s people in times
of crisis and persecution by disclosing God’s overarching plans for history. These plans culminate with the deliverance of God’s people, the obliteration of evil, and the establishment of God’s
eternal kingdom.
In short, the book of Daniel, our study for this quarter (study guide available at https://absg.adventist.org/ ), remains what it was when penned thousands of years ago: a powerful revelation of the love and character of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(See and check out Bible Study Part 1 at http://www.discoverylifediy.com/440291557 Goto Lesson 2 Our Day in the Light of Bible Prophecy (No longer online in www.itiswritten.org. This is now available only by enrolment (free) at https://hopelives365biblestudy.com/product/search-for-certainty-2/. In addition to this, take up the weekly Bible Study with Amazing Discoveries (AD) starting with AD Sabbath School #1 From Reading to Understanding Daniel with Robert Blais, Jan 24, 2020. Amazing Discoveries at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mj1w9xBgFY (This weekly Bible Study on the Book of Daniel is highly recommended that consists of 13 weekly studies from Jan to Mar, 2020))
To be continued next week, posted Jan 31, 2020 (pp 19/19)
Feb 2, 2020 Posting
3.2 c (i). Christ’s Presence in Earth’s History
The book of Daniel might appropriately be called a handbook on history and prophecy. Predictive prophecy is a preview of history; history is predictive prophecy passing in review. The element of prediction enables God’s people to see the things of time in the light of eternity, alerts them for effective action at appropriate times, facilitates personal preparation for the final crisis, and provides a firm basis for faith upon fulfillment of the prediction.
The four major lines of prophecy in the book of Daniel set forth in brief outline, against the background of world history, the experiences of God’s people from the days of Daniel down to the close of time. “The curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counterplay of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful, One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will” (PK 500). Each of the four lines of prophecy reaches a climax when “the God of heaven” sets “up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed” (ch. 2:44), when the “Son of man” receives “everlasting dominion” (ch. 7:13, 14), when opposition to the “Prince of princes” is “broken without hand” (ch. 8:25), and when God’s people are delivered forever from their oppressors (ch. 12:1). The prophecies of Daniel thus provide a divinely constructed bridge from the precipice of time to the boundless shores of eternity, a bridge over which those who, like Daniel, purpose in their hearts to love and serve God, may pass by faith from the uncertainty and distress of the present life to the peace and security of life everlasting.
In the study of the Book of Daniel we should always keep in mind that Christ is the center of Daniel as He is the entire Bible and the Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 1 shows, although in a limited and imperfect way, that Daniel’s experience is analogous to that of Christ, who left heaven to live in this sinful world and confront the powers of darkness. Moreover, Daniel and his companions are endowed from above with Christlike wisdom to face the challenges of the Babylonian culture. Chapter 2 describes the figure of the end-time (eschatological) stone to indicate that the kingdom of Christ will eventually replace all the kingdoms of the world. Chapter 3 reveals Christ walking with His faithful servants within a furnace of fire. Chapter 4 shows God removing Nebuchadnezzar from his kingdom for a period of time so that the king could understand that “Heaven rules” (Dan. 4:26, NKJV). The expression “Heaven rules” reminds us that Christ, as “the Son of Man” (Dan. 7:13, NKJV), receives the dominion and the kingdom, as depicted in Daniel 7. Chapter 5 shows the demise of King Belshazzar and the fall of Babylon to the Persians during a night of revelry and debauchery. This foreshadows the defeat of Satan and the obliteration of end-time Babylon by Christ and His angels. Chapter 6 shows the plot against Daniel in ways that resemble the false accusations voiced against Jesus by the chief priests. Moreover, as King Darius unsuccessfully tries to spare Daniel, Pilate unsuccessfully tries to spare Jesus (Matt. 27:17–24). Chapter 7 depicts Christ as the Son of man receiving the kingdom and reigning over His people. Chapter 8 shows Christ as a priest of the heavenly sanctuary. Chapter 9 portrays Christ as the sacrificial victim whose death reconfirms the covenant between God and His people. And chapters 10–12 present Christ as Michael, the Commander in Chief, who fights the forces of evil and victoriously rescues God’s people, even from the power of death.
The book of Daniel not only conveys prophetic information but is profoundly relevant to our personal life today.The three areas of relevance for us are:
1. God stands sovereign over our lives. Even when things go wrong, God stands sovereign and works through the whims of human actions to provide the best for His children. The experience of Daniel in Babylon resembles that of Joseph in Egypt and Esther in Persia. These three young people were captives in foreign countries and under the overwhelming power of pagan nations. To the casual observer they may have seemed weak and God-forsaken. However, the Lord strengthened them and used them in powerful ways. When facing trials, sufferings, and opposition, we can look back to what God did for Daniel, Joseph, and Esther. We can rest assured that the Lord remains our Lord, and He has not abandoned us even amid our trials and temptations.
2. God steers the course of history. At times we feel troubled by a confused and aimless world that is full of sin and violence. But the message of Daniel is that God stands in control. In every single chapter of Daniel, the message is hammered home that God steers the flow of history. As Ellen G. White says: “In the annals of human history the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as dependent on the will and prowess of man. The shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, behind, above, and through all the play and counterplay of human interests and power and passions, the agencies of the allmerciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.”—Education, p. 173. (History is being repeated but in greater intensity, to give us the best possible chance of overcoming Satan’s devices by learning from the mistakes of the past.)
3. God provides a role model for His end-time people. Daniel and his friends serve as role models for life in a society that holds a worldview often at odds with that of the Bible. When pressed to compromise their faith and make concessions to the Babylonian system in areas that would deny their commitment to the Lord, they remain faithful to the Word of God. Their experience of faithfulness and absolute commitment to the Lord provides encouragement when we face opposition and even persecution for the sake of the gospel. At the same time, Daniel shows that it is possible to make a contribution to the state and society and remain committed to the Lord.
To be continued tomorrow, posted Feb 2, 2020 (pp 21/21)
Feb 3, 2020 Posting
3.2 c (ii). God’s Character and Will
God is patient but He is not permissive but He is redemptive. (Gal 6:7). He wishes to save all men (2 Pet 3:9) and has a plan which has been successful executed as an example. This plan is clearly revealed in the open letter from king Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4 so that everyone all over the world would know that He rules over all and that he will do his uttermost to save and convert even the King of Babylon.
“God’s purpose that the greatest kingdom in the world should show forth His praise was now fulfilled. This public proclamation, in which Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the mercy and goodness and authority of God, was the last act of his life recorded in sacred history.”—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 521
Nebuchadnezzar already had encountered at least three opportunities to understand that all his accomplishments should be credited to the Hebrew God. These three encounters gave him opportunities to get acquainted with the true God:
1. He tested the young Hebrews and fouund them 10 times wiser than the other sages of Babylon. ( Dan 1:19-20)
2. Then, after all other experts have failed to remind him of his dream, Daniel reported to him the thoughts of his mind, the dream, and its interpretation. (Dan 2:26-45)
3. Finally, the king recognized the superiority of the God of Daniel (Dan 2:46-49). But surprisingly enough, those previous theology lessons did not prevent Nebuchadnezzar from reverting to idolatry. Why? Most likely, pride. Sinful human beings resist acknowledging the fact that their material and intellectual accomplishments are vanity and are doomed to disappear. We may at times act like little “Nebuchadnezzars” as we pay too much attention to our accomplishments and forget how meaningless they can be in the face of eternity.
God Desires to Save All Men (from pride to humility and true convertion)
(https://absg.adventist.org/assets/public/files/lessons/2020/1Q/TE/PDFs/ETQ120_05.pdf )
But because he did not learn this lesson, God gave him a final lesson to help him understand the difference between pride and humility and to have a glimpse of God’s character.
1. Pride
Daniel 4 records a personal testimony of Nebuchadnezzar. As the narrative unfolds, the king recognizes that pride was the cause of his fall from kingship and proceeds to recount how God acted in order to bring him to humility. At the peak of his accomplishments (about thirty years after the events reported in Daniel 3), the king had a dream of a gigantic tree that provided shelter and sustenance to all creatures of the earth. Next, due to a heavenly decision, the tree was chopped down. Again, only Daniel was able to tell the king the true interpretation. That luxuriant tree represented the king himself in his arrogance. Indeed, trees and vines are depicted elsewhere in Scripture as symbols of arrogant kings and kingdoms that God eventually brings down (Ezek. 17:1–15, Ezek. 19:10–14, Ezek. 31:3–12).
With extreme pastoral sensitivity, Daniel explained that the tree represented the king himself. God would remove him from the throne unless he changed his attitude toward his subjects (Dan. 4:27). Pride, as usual, has repercussions in the social sphere. But the time had come for Nebuchadnezzar to be held accountable for his haughty administrative style. If he wished to escape his dire fate, he had no option but to replace oppression with justice and thus reflect the character of God in the affairs of his kingdom. But the king was not willing to set aside his arrogance and change his ways. A year later, he was reveling in his building accomplishments (Dan. 4:29, 30), which is an irony. After all, “Nebuchadnezzar probably never handled a brick in his life. He had not built Babylon. It had been built by the sweat of the nameless thousands of oppressed slaves, immigrants, and other poor sections of the nation, the kind of teeming multitudes whose labours have built every vaunting civilization of the fallen human race in history.” —Christopher J. H. Wright, Hearing the Message of Daniel, p. 101.
At that very moment, the king was afflicted by a mental disease, possibly a mental disorder known as lycanthropy or zoanthropy in which a person thinks he or she has become an animal and behaves accordingly. For seven years Nebuchadnezzar had to live among the beasts of the field. Thus, the one who thought himself to be a god became less than human. As Scripture says: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18, NKJV).
2. Humility
Nebuchadnezzar learned the lesson God designed for him. After seven years* among the beasts, the king had a radical change of attitude: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven” (Dan. 4:34, NKJV). This look upward signals a shift in Nebuchadnezzar’s mind-set. Formerly, the king used to look down from the height of pride. And as he looked upward, whence all power and wisdom comes, three important things occurred: (1) he was healed from his mental illness) (“my understanding returned to me”); (2) he acknowledged God as the sovereign of the universe; and (3) he was restored to the throne (Dan. 4:34–36). As the king himself stated: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (Dan. 4:37, NKJV). No one more than Nebuchadnezzar could recognize the truth that God puts down “those who walk in pride.”
(Note: But the process of humiliation lasted seven times* ( Dan 4:16); the original word most likely means “years,”* and here must be understood in terms of seven literal years*. These seven years refer to a literal time period during which the king, removed from the throne and humiliated, had to live among the beasts of the field. Therefore, unlike the time periods mentioned in the apocalyptic sections of Daniel, the seven years are not to be interpreted according to the day-year principle. As mentioned earlier, 12 months elapsed between the king’s boasting and his period of being under judgment, which lasted seven times*. So, at the end of the seven years*, the king was restored to the throne. Thus, there is no indication that the time period mentioned in Daniel 4 should be interpreted in any but a literal way.)
It took a terrible judgment from God upon the king to awaken his mind fully to realize that the God of Daniel was the one in charge. Why is it so difficult for a human being to become humble? It is because we are all infected with the desire to be served and praised, which is nothing more than the desire to be treated like God (see Genesis 3). But because we cannot become God, pride produces a sour frustration. Humility, however, brings satisfaction. We always can find someone in need to serve, and in doing so, we experience the joy and fulfillment of serving Christ (see Gary Thomas, “Downward Mobility,” Discipleship Journal, July–August 2005, pp. 34–37).
3. Conversion
A question that often emerges in this connection concerns whether or not the king was truly converted. Although some commentators feel that there is not enough evidence to confirm a genuine conversion, there is enough evidence that points in that direction. As we look at the heart of the king’s confession in Daniel 4:34, 35, four elements stand out:
1. He confesses the sovereignty of God, who establishes a kingdom that is without end. God “does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him,‘What have You done?’ ” (Dan. 4:35, NKJV). There is a hint of the infinite and eternal in Nebuchadnezzar’s words when he states, “His kingdom is from generation to generation” (Dan. 4:34, NKJV).
2. Nebuchadnezzar also confesses the creatureliness of humankind: “All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing” (Dan. 4:35, NKJV). The king no longer recognizes divine power at a merely theoretical level. He confesses that even the greatest of men (and he had been in his own eyes and, arguably, in the eyes of his subjects, the greatest) are nothing before the majestic Lord. Such recognition is always a mark of the subdued heart; the creatureliness of individuals and their dependence on God is evident. Man is not autonomous; he is dependent and creaturely. His true joy is found only when he has come to recognize his true dependence upon the divine.
3. Nebuchadnezzar confesses the truthfulness and righteousness of God, “all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice” (Dan. 4:37, NKJV). God has dealt with him severely, but he acknowledges how true and righteous God’s judgments have been. They were appropriate to his sins.
4. “Finally, he came to recognize that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (compare with Prov. 3:34). His life was a portrayal of the application that Peter made of the following principle: ‘Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time’ (1 Pet. 5:6, NKJV).”—Sinclair B. Ferguson and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Preacher’s Commentary Series, vol. 21 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1988), pp. 96, 97. The pattern of His saving grace always rests upon this precept of humility.
(Additional insights by Ellen White: passages from Prophets and Kings chap 42- “True Greatness” (pp514-521) at https://www.ellenwhite.info/books/bk-pk-43.htm )
Exalted to the pinnacle of worldly honor, and acknowledged even by Inspiration as "a king of kings" (Ezekiel 26:7) (the title for Christ only). Nebuchadnezzar nevertheless at times had ascribed to the favor of Jehovah the glory of his kingdom and the splendor of his reign. Such had been the case after his dream of the great image. His mind had been profoundly influenced by this vision and by the thought that the Babylonian Empire, universal though it was, was finally to fall, and other kingdoms were to bear sway, until at last all earthly powers were to be superseded by a kingdom set up by the God of heaven, which kingdom was never to be destroyed. {PK 514.1}
Nebuchadnezzar's noble conception of God's purpose concerning the nations was lost sight of later in his experience; yet when his proud spirit was humbled before the multitude on the plain of Dura, he once more had acknowledged that God's kingdom is "an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation." An idolater by birth and training, and at the head of an idolatrous people, he had nevertheless an innate sense of justice and right, and God was able to use him as an instrument for the punishment of the rebellious and for the fulfillment of the divine purpose. "The terrible of the nations" (Ezekiel 28:7), it was given Nebuchadnezzar, after years of patient and wearing labor, to conquer Tyre; Egypt also fell a prey to his victorious armies; and as he added nation after nation to the Babylonian realm, he added more and more to his fame as the greatest ruler of the age. {PK 514.2} ( It is a great our great privilege even when we are sinners, to ube used as God’s instrument to accomplish His purpose. Our only danger is the hardening of our hearts when we hear His calling or warning to humble ourselves in repentance and return to God before it is too late.)
It is not surprising that the successful monarch, so ambitious and so proud-spirited, should be tempted to turn aside from the path of humility, which alone leads to true greatness. In the intervals between his wars of conquest he gave much thought to the strengthening and beautifying of his capital, until at length the city of Babylon became the chief glory of his kingdom, "the golden city," "the praise of the whole earth." His passion as a builder, and his signal success in making Babylon one of the wonders of the world, ministered to his pride, until he was in grave danger of spoiling his record as a wise ruler whom God could continue to use as an instrument for the carrying out of the divine purpose. {PK 515.1}
In mercy God gave the king another dream, to warn him of his peril and of the snare that had been laid for his ruin (fourth opportunities). In a vision of the night, Nebuchadnezzar saw a great tree growing in the midst of the earth, its top towering to the heavens and its branches stretching to the ends of the earth. Flocks and herds from the mountains and hills enjoyed shelter beneath its shadow, and the birds of the air built their nests in its boughs. "The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: . . . and all flesh was fed of it." {PK 515.2} Having faithfully interpreted the dream, Daniel urged the proud monarch to repent and turn to God, that by rightdoing he might avert the threatened calamity. "O king," the prophet pleaded, "let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity." {PK 518.2}
For a time the impression of the warning and the counsel of the prophet was strong upon Nebuchadnezzar; but the heart that is not transformed by the grace of God soon loses the impressions of the Holy Spirit. Self-indulgence and ambition had not yet been eradicated from the king's heart, and later on these traits reappeared. Notwithstanding the instruction so graciously given him, and the warnings of past experience, Nebuchadnezzar again allowed himself to be controlled by a spirit of jealousy against the kingdoms that were to follow. His rule, which heretofore had been to a great degree just and merciful, became oppressive. Hardening his heart, he used his God-given talents for self-glorification, exalting himself above the God who had given him life and power. {PK 519.1}
For months the judgment of God lingered. But instead of being led to repentance by this forbearance, the king indulged his pride until he lost confidence in the interpretation of the dream, and jested at his former fears. {PK 519.2} (God is longsuffering and is patient and especially with Nebuchadnezzar because God knows that a truly converted king of his stature will reach out and save many lost souls in his empire.)
A year from the time he had received the warning, Nebuchadnezzar, walking in his palace and thinking with pride of his power as a ruler and of his success as a builder, exclaimed, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" {PK 519.3}
While the proud boast was yet on the king's lips, a voice from heaven announced that God's appointed time of judgment had come. Upon his ears fell the mandate of Jehovah: "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will." {PK 519.4}
In a moment the reason that God had given him was taken away; the judgment that the king thought perfect, the wisdom on which he prided himself, was removed, and the once mighty ruler was a maniac. His hand could no longer sway the scepter. The messages of warning had been unheeded; now, stripped of the power his Creator had given him, and driven from men, Nebuchadnezzar "did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws." {PK 520.1}
For seven years Nebuchadnezzar was an astonishment to all his subjects; for seven years he was humbled before all the world. Then his reason was restored and, looking up in humility to the God of heaven, he recognized the divine hand in his chastisement. In a public proclamation he acknowledged his guilt and the great mercy of God in his restoration. ..{PK 520.2} "At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me." {PK 521.1}
The once proud monarch had become a humble child of God; the tyrannical, overbearing ruler, a wise and compassionate king. He who had defied and blasphemed the God of heaven, now acknowledged the power of the Most High and earnestly sought to promote the fear of Jehovah and the happiness of his subjects. Under the rebuke of Him who is King of kings and Lord of lords, Nebuchadnezzar had learned at last the lesson which all rulers need to learn--that true greatness consists in true goodness. He acknowledged Jehovah as the living God, saying, "I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase." {PK 521.2} )
To be continued tomorrow, posted Feb 3, 2020 (pp 28/28)
Feb 4, 2020 Posting
3.2 c (iii). God’s Sovereignty and Faithfulness
(https://absg.adventist.org/assets/public/files/lessons/2020/1Q/TE/PDFs/ETQ120_02.pdf )
The Conversion of Nebuchadnezzaris the co-working of Danielwith God to save the loss. if we do not appreciate the lesson contained in Dan 1 pertaining to the earlier nurturing by their parents and their daily communion and surrender to God that they were active co-workers with God who was always watching over them for God is omniscient (all knowing, omnipotent- all powerful, and omnipresent-in our midst). Without the faithfulness of God and His sovereignty, the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar and his salvation would be vanity and Daniel’ prophecies for the end time is just a fable,
Daniel and his associates had been trained by their parents to habits of strict temperance. They had been taught that God would hold them accountable for their capabilities, and that they must never dwarf or enfeeble their powers. This education was to Daniel and his companions the means of their preservation amidst the demoralizing influences of the court of Babylon. Strong were the temptations surrounding them in that corrupt and luxurious court, but they remained uncontaminated. No power, no influence, could sway them from the principles they had learned in early life by a study of the word and works of God. {CSA 54.2}
Exercise the Faith of Jesus (Rev 14:12)
Had Daniel so desired, he might have found in his surroundings a plausible excuse for departing from strictly temperate habits. He might have argued that, dependent as he was on the king’s favor and subject to his power, there was no other course for him to pursue than to eat of the king’s food and drink of his wine; for should he adhere to the divine teaching, he would offend the king and probably lose his position and his life. Should he disregard the commandment of the Lord he would retain the favor of the king and secure for himself intellectual advantages and flattering worldly prospects. {CSA 54.3}
But Daniel did not hesitate. The approval of God was dearer to him than the favor of the most powerful earthly potentate—dearer than life itself. He determined to stand firm in his integrity, let the result be what it might. He “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.” And in this resolve he was supported by his three companions. {CSA 54.4}
In reaching this decision, the Hebrew youth did not act presumptuously but in firm reliance upon God. They did not choose to be singular, but they would be so rather than dishonor God. Should they compromise with wrong in this instance by yielding to the pressure of circumstances, their departure from principle would weaken their sense of right and their abhorrence of wrong. The first wrong step would lead to others, until, their connection with Heaven severed, they would be swept away by temptation. {CSA 54.5}
Bible Tells All - Good and Bad
The Bible does not shy away from showing the weaknesses of fallen humanity. From Genesis 3 onward, human sinfulness and its sad results are prominently displayed. At the same time, too, we also see cases of those who show great faithfulness to God, even when faced with powerful incentives to be anything but faithful. And some of the most poignant examples of such faithfulness are seen in the book of Daniel. However, as we study Daniel, let us keep in mind that the true hero of the book is God. We are so used to stories that stress the faithfulness of Daniel and his friends that we may forget to exalt the faithfulness of the One who guided and sustained those four young men as they confronted the power and allure of the Babylonian Empire. To be faithful is enough of a challenge in one’s own land and place, let alone when facing the pressure of a foreign land, culture, and religion. But the human protagonists meet the challenges because, like the apostle Paul, they “know whom [they] have believed” (2 Tim. 1:12), and in Him they trust.
At first glance the book of Daniel begins with a somber note of defeat. Judah has capitulated to Nebuchadnezzar, and the temple vessels have been taken from Jerusalem to the land of Shinar. The word Shinar appears in the Bible in Genesis 11:2 as the location of the Tower of Babel. Shinar is an ominous sign, as it alludes to a project rooted in open defiance of God. But even if the builders of Babel failed in their attempt to reach the heavens, external appearances suggested that Nebuchadnezzar and his gods—located in the land of Shinar—had overpowered the covenant God of Israel. Still, the opening lines of Daniel make it clear that the defeat of Jerusalem is not credited to the superior power of the Babylonian king; rather, it has occurred because “the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his [Nebuchadnezzar’s] hand” (Dan. 1:2, NKJV). Much earlier, God announces that should His people forget Him and break the covenant, He would send them as captives to a foreign land. So, Daniel knows that behind and beyond the military power of Babylon, the God of heaven is leading the march of history. It is this clear view of God’s sovereignty that sustains these young men and gives them strength and courage to face the temptation and pressure of the Babylonian Empire.
As we face the challenges of the twenty-first century, we need to recapture the perception of God that is so vividly reflected in the book of Daniel. According to this book, the God whom we serve not only drives the forces of history through His sovereignty but also mercifully intervenes in the lives of His people to provide them with crucial help in times of need. God is with us always) And as we shall see later, what God did for the Hebrew captives He will do for His people in the end time, regardless of the various attacks on them and their faith.
To be continued tomorrow, posted Feb 4, 2020 (pp 30/30)
Reviewing and Editing from Feb 5-7, 2020
Addition of Pictures in Summary
It is considered expedient to add slideshows to emphasize that the perpetuation of the Chinese New Year celebration all over the world has no basis of truth or meaning other than believing in a fable This is one of Satan’s many devising, planted by Satan into the thoughts of those people who are desirous to be great like Nebuchadnezzar. In this case Satan worked on the wise men of China to cause the Chinese race to be separated from God so that over time they as manifested have forgotten the truth in the spring couplets . The spring couplets to invoke prosperity and peace is to try and spiritualise the truth in the real the event of the Passover in the Old Testament and how the blood of the lamb (pointing forward to Jesus as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world when Jesus died on the cross in His first advent) on lintel and doorposts of the home brought salvation to the individual in that household as the death passed overhead at midnight to kill the first born of those living in Egypt under Pharaoh who hardened his heart in ejecting God’s warning for the tenth time (This was 21/2 times more than Nebuchadnezzar who accepted God at the fourth encounter. This shows the extent of God’s mercy before executing punishment). This very important historical event is posted in earlier articles in Wp5Td1 Moses & Passover at http://www.wakeupow.com/440101189 and Wp5.9 Passover Cross at http://www.wakeupow.com/440101191.
The 5 pictures depicting the celebration of the CNY is added after Jan 29, 2020 posting. Please review them to assess whether you are still doubtful about believing in the word of God for “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. Doubting God's word caused Adam and Eve to be driven out of the Garden of Eden and the consequences of the human race struggling to cope with our fallen nature.
The next set of pictures following depicts the truth regarding the importance of godly mysteries that the wise men (philosophers and scientists) of this world are trying to explain away but in vain as the Book of Daniel exposed the limitations of the wise men of Babylon.
3.2 c (iv). Science Cannot Search Out Divine Secrets
"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever" (Deuteronomy 29:29). Just how God accomplished the work of creation He has never revealed to men; human science cannot search out the secrets of the Most High. His creative power is as incomprehensible as His existence.--PP 113 (1890). {2MCP 742.1}
The Bible Our Guide in Science
We are dependent on the Bible for a knowledge of the early history of our world, of the creation of man, and of his fall. Remove the Word of God, and what can we expect but to be left to fables and conjectures and to that enfeebling of the intellect which is the sure result of entertaining error. {2MCP 742.2}
We need the authentic history of the origin of the earth, of the fall of Lucifer, and of the introduction of sin into the world. Without the Bible, we should be bewildered by false theories. The mind would be subjected to the tyranny of superstition and falsehood. But, having in our possession an authentic history of the beginning of the world, we need not hamper ourselves with human conjectures and unreliable theories. {2MCP 742.3}
The Example of Daniel, the Prophet
Wherever Christians are, they may hold communion with God. And they may enjoy the intelligence of sanctified science. Their minds may be strengthened, even as Daniel's was. God gave him "knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom." Among all the youth examined by Nebuchadnezzar, there "was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm" (Daniel 1:19, 20).--RH, Nov 10, 1904. {2MCP 742.4}
All Truth Consistent With Itself
These persons [who disbelieve the Genesis account] have lost the simplicity of faith. There should be a settled belief in the divine authority of God's Holy Word. The Bible is not to be tested by men's ideas of science. Human knowledge is an unreliable guide. Skeptics who read the Bible for the sake of caviling may, through an imperfect comprehension of either science or revelation, claim to find contradictions between them; but rightly understood, they are in perfect harmony. Moses wrote under the guidance of the Spirit of God, and a correct theory of geology will never claim discoveries that cannot be reconciled with his statements. All truth, whether in nature or in revelation, is consistent with itself in all its manifestations.--PP 114 (1890). {2MCP 743.1}
Some Points to Guard
We need to guard continually against the sophistry in regard to geology and other branches of science falsely so called, which have not one semblance of truth. Theory of Evolution, Theory of Darwin under the personal pupilage of Satan, is true. The theories of great men need to be carefully sifted of the slightest trace of infidel suggestions. One tiny seed sown by teachers in our schools, if received by the students, will raise a harvest of unbelief. The Lord has given all the brilliancy of intellect that man possesses, and it should be devoted to His service.--RH, Mar 1, 1898. (7BC 916.) {2MCP 743.2}
Appreciation of Science Vitalized by God's Spirit
Knowledge is power, but it is a power for good only when united with true piety. It must be vitalized by the Spirit of God in order to serve the noblest purposes. The closer our connection with God, the more fully can we comprehend the value of true science; for the attributes of God, as seen in His created works, can be best appreciated by him who was a knowledge of the Creator of all things, the Author of all truth. Such can make the highest use of knowledge, for when brought under the full control of the Spirit of God, their talents are rendered useful to the fullest extent.--CT 38 (1913). {2MCP 743.3}
Honor Without Exaltation ( Dan 1:17, 20)
Daniel and his three companions had a special work to do. Although greatly honored in this work, they did not become in any way exalted. They were scholars, being skilled in secular as well as religious knowledge; but they had studied science without being corrupted. They were well-balanced because they had yielded themselves to the control of the Holy Spirit. These youth gave to God all the glory of their secular, scientific, and religious endowments. Their learning did not come by chance; they obtained knowledge by the faithful use of their powers; and God gave them skill and understanding. {4BC 1167.7}
True science and Bible religion are in perfect harmony. Let the students in our schools learn all they possibly can. But, as a rule, let them be educated in our own institutions. Be careful how you advise them to go to other schools, where error is taught, in order to complete their education. Do not give them the impression that greater educational advantages are to be obtained by mingling with those who do not seek wisdom from God. The great men of Babylon were willing to be benefited by the instruction that God gave through Daniel, to help the king out of his difficulty by the interpretation of his dream. But they were anxious to mix in their heathen religion with that of the Hebrews. Had Daniel and his fellows consented to such a compromise, they would, in the view of the Babylonians, have been complete as statesmen, fit to be entrusted with the affairs of the kingdom. But the four Hebrews entered into no such arrangement. They were true to God, and God upheld them and honored them. The lesson is for us. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Letter 57, 1896). {4BC 1167.8}
Spirituality and Intellect Grow Together (Dan 1:20)
As in the case of Daniel, in exact proportion as the spiritual character is developed, the intellectual capabilities are increased (RH March 22, 1898). {4BC 1168.1}
,,,To be continued and further refined .. posted Feb 7, 2020 (Pg 33/33)
Continuing on Feb 14, 2020
While alternately attending to another website (the elder brother), by the grace of God, the topic of discussion posted there on Feb 11, 2020 happened to be in alignment with the SDA Adult Sabbath Bible School Bible Study for the Jan-Mar 2020, Lesson 7 (Feb 8-14) “From the Lions’ Den to the Angel’s Den”. This is precisely highlighting Daniel personal experience of deliverance. It is good to be able to have synergy realized in keeping two websites: www.wakeupowcom for the believers and www.discoverylifediy.com catering to the first timer, and trusting on the power of God to reach out to unbelievers to hearing the word of truth. The level of spiritual understanding by the grace and power of God will progressively attain to the same level of maturity as has happened with the to websites sharing the same and very important lessons contained in Daniel.
The add-on posted is 5.9.5.2.1g(vi) Daniel—An Example of a Sanctified Life inCONTENTS (4) Pg 76-82, Posted Feb 11, 2020 , Wp5.95 Satan’s Mark at http://www.wakeupow.com/440101194
Preceding this add-on are two sets of slideshows that attempt to give the panorama view of the inspired writing of Prophet Daniel covering the first six chapters. The second part Dan 7-11 is the revelation from God for us in the last days events that will be fulfilled as history will testify to assure us the certain ending in the kingdom of God as represented by the rock smashing the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Dan 12 tells us even Daniel will not be able to fully understand the future mystery of God and he was told to shut up the final portion of the prophecy until the time of the end.
The life of Daniel is an inspired illustration of what constitutes a sanctified character. It presents a lesson for all, and especially for the young.. This is the present truth for the final generation in the Laodicea Church who will finish the work in the last days to vindicate God’s justice. Sister White wrote:
Dear youth ( addressing the Gen Z, children of the Millennial (Demographer’s cohort born 1980-2000) who will be the final generation in the Laodicea Church to vindicate God’s justice), God calls upon you to do a work which through His grace you can do. "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Stand forth in your God-given manhood and womanhood. Show a purity of tastes, appetite, and habits that bears comparison with Daniel's. God will reward you with calm nerves, a clear brain, an unimpaired judgment, keen perceptions. The youth of today whose principles are firm and unwavering will be blessed with health of body, mind, and soul. {AH 301.3})
The agenda for this week is to remind the faithful children of God, the young and the old, to heed the signs of the times discerned spiritually of the unfolding of current events: There were clamour even from the young for action to prevent climate change and now substantiated with never before bush fire in Australia and followed by the floods; On the top of the various natural disasters is the outbreak of the Novel CoronaVirus in Wuhan, China (Covid-19) that has gone viral infecting many parts of the world and still spreading.This has brought fear to many secular people who do not know about Daniel and Revelation and are not aware of the hope provided in the Bible. Reading these two books as we are now doing is a crash course for the young to brush up on the understanding of the revealed aspect of the mystery of God so that they will in turn seek to know God by finding time to read the word of God. It is knowing the truth that will set us free from fear of the unknown which God will tell His children before it happens (Amos 3:7).
Please proceed to Wp5.95 Satan’s Mark at http://www.wakeupow.com/440101194 as the continuation of D24.
….To be continued.. posted Feb 14, 2020 (Pg 34/35)
Continuation on February 18, 2020
The delayed posting is due to the demise of my seventh sister, Feb 16, Sunday at 2.45pm. This is my third time in being witness to dear ones in knowing of their impending close of probation and being present when they breathed their last breath.
3.2 c (vi) God’s Will in Saving the Unconverted
I am sharing this testimony about the goodness of God and His acts past finding out in giving my sister the breath of life even when she has lost almost all of her intelligence and being physical impaired for almost seven years ((literally a vegetable in the last four years). She was blessed with a devoted husband and daughter to be her caregiver. Although they are not Christians, yet their actions exceeded many professed Christians. It would have been more merciful for God to have taken back the breath, so I pondered and wondered foolishly. The experience on Sunday settied my understanding on the goodness of God to anyone even a non believer (but who has a blood relative (like me, a brother) to intercede for her before her close of probation. In this connection, biblically, the passage of Jeremiah (a contemporary of Daniel) in Jer 29:10-22, provided the understanding in pointing out the purpose in all the revelation of God through the narration by Danielas our living example:
Jer 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. (God has revealed what the last generation living prior to His second advent will have to overcome to return home in heaven as His children. This is what is meant when Ellen White, said that history will be repeated, out of the will of God to give us the best chance and lesson to be prepared in this one life. The seventy years captivity of the Israelites, God’s chosen race, was an enactment, a dress rehearsal for the deliverance of all God’s children at Christ’s second coming. We must recognize our spiritual poverty (Jesus beatitude’s first blessing- Matt 5:3) and in dire need of a savior, because the human race are sinners and prisoners to Satan’s deceptions, the consequence of unbelief by Adam and Eve. God is using the Babylonian empire to prophesy about the temporal nature of human empires preceding the final kingdom of God. This captivity was a rebuke to Israel for apostasy and is packed with symbolism that only the genuine and diligent seeker of the truth will be given understanding into the mysteries of God and at the appointed time.)
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (The expected end for my sister had yet to be decided for she has yet to accept Our Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and unable to do so in her state. God is patient but He is not permissive but He is redemptive. (Gal 6:7) This is possibly the reason God is giving her the chance to decide like Nebuchadnezzar seven years of madness as a wild beast to bring about his final conversion. He became a fervent witness for God the people in Babylon in his last days and also his testimony for all of God’s children to the last days until the second coming. Our living God is faithful and His promise will be fulfilled in His appointed time. Abraham “staggered not at the promise of God (in the birth of Isaac he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb} through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”-Rom 4:19-22. “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”-Rom 4:23-25.)
Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. (She has lost her mental faculty and is unable to pray and call on the Lord unless someone, her close blood relative can intercede and pray for her.)
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jer 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Jer 29:15 Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon; ; (These were the false self proclaimed prophets, the present day equivalent in the false religions.)
Jer 29:16 Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;
Jer 29:17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. ( Covid-19 is the pestilence we are facing and this needs to be discussed next.)
Jer 29:18 And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them: (This concerns God’s wrath when Satan’s cup of iniquity is full is the lesson of history with the fall of Babylon, that will be repeated in the end-time when Michael (Lord Jesus) stands up (Dan 12:1), signifying the general close of probation for the human race. Those that have decided not to accept the redemption by Christ will then be a curse.)
Jer 29:19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD. ( To the unbelievers, please heed the warning from from God while you are alive and before Michael stands up.)
Jer 29:20 Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:
Jer 29:21 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;
Jer 29:22 And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;
Jer 29:23 Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD. ( Jer 19:10-23)
On Feb 16, as I was about to continue with this article, my brother in law called saying that sister was really having great difficulty in breathing. I arrived at her bedside at 1.05pm and found her alone, very pale and not breathing. Kneeling down I prayed asking for a sign that she is still alive and to my surprise she made a heave that is visible in the neck muscle or tendon. By the mercy of God my sister probation was not closed yet. I was again able to ask God for permission to intercede for her for the last time while she is still receiving the breath of life from God. I called her daughter to come over and to bring her father too.
Good Works No Plea for Salvation
This insight from Ellen White is encouraging to me in giving understanding about the work of faith covering Bible verses Luk 17:10; Eph 1:6; 2:8-10; 2 Timy 1:9; Tit 2:14; 3:5; Ja 2:22. “Our acceptance with God is sure only through His beloved Son, and good works are but the result of the working of His sin-pardoning love. They are no credit to us, and we have nothing accorded to us for our good works by which we may claim a part in the salvation of our souls. Salvation is God's free gift to the believer, given to him for Christ's sake alone. (This is the hope that through my intercession for my sister that she may receive salvation.) The troubled soul may find peace through faith in Christ, and his peace will be in proportion to his faith and trust. He cannot present his good works as a plea for the salvation of his soul. {5BC 1122.1}
But are good works of no real value? Is the sinner who commits sin every day with impunity, regarded of God with the same favor as the one who through faith in Christ tries to work in his integrity? The Scripture answers, "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." In His divine arrangement, through His unmerited favor, the Lord has ordained that good works shall be rewarded. We are accepted through Christ's merit alone; and the acts of mercy (simple intercessory prayer in this case), the deeds of charity, which we perform, are the fruits of faith; and they become a blessing to us; for men are to be rewarded according to their works. It is the fragrance of the merit of Christ that makes our good works acceptable to God, and it is grace that enables us to do the works for which He rewards us. Our works in and of themselves have no merit. When we have done all that it is possible for us to do, we are to count ourselves as unprofitable servants. We deserve no thanks from God. We have only done what it was our duty to do, and our works could not have been performed in the strength of our own sinful natures. {5BC 1122.2}
The Lord has bidden us to draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to us; and drawing nigh to Him, we receive the grace by which to do those works which will be rewarded at His hands (RH Jan. 29, 1895). {5BC 1122.3}
On Feb 17, at the wake before the cremation the next day at 9.30am, almost all the close relatives turned up (in spite of Covid-19 outbreak infection fear and advisory about avoiding crowded meeting) in the evening held on the void deck of her home in the HDB flat-block. I was there at 8.20pm. I was very disappointed that my brother in law employed the services of three Buddhist monks in conducting rituals for "departing souls"*. Does this negate my intercession for my sister and the witnessing to my niece and husband of the hope that my sister may have received the benefit of my intercession and be resting in Christ, likened to a deep sleep? Not being able to know, my consolation is in the experience, even if I have erred in my presumption in the interpretation of God’s word, that I have the benefit of the doubt, to be encouraged in exercising my little faith and striving to advance until my prayer for the lost may be answered. I did not turn up at the cremation today as I had originally intended and expected to do so, and spent the time to record this testimony.
(Note: This ritual is vanityfor the “departing soul” had already departed from the body at death, 2:45pm Sunday. The Bible clearly tells us that the breath (spirit) immediately returns to God who gave it –(Job 27:3; Ecc12:7) So Satan’s through false religion*2 is trying to claim the body as a show of his prowess may be too late, if my intercession have been accepted by God, then, she has the hope of resurrection (awakiening from a deep sleep (Jn 11:11-14) at the second coming of Christ- 1 Thes 4:15-16.
By claiming the body without the soul, he is perpetuating his first lie to Eve that she cannot die ( Gen 3: 4,5) Satan, the originator of sin, used the serpent as his instrument. By claim the dead body without the soul he is advancing his propaganda although without one iota of substance. Today, he makes use of the members of the human family who readily teamed with him in the various teaching of human devising planted by Satan through spiritualism, Eastern meditation and hypnotism (mantra and chanting) to cover up the truth of God’s word. Many good innocent people like my brother-in-law opting for a Buddhism burial, does not know about Jesus teaching to “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” -Matt 10:28; and “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”-Matt 16:26,27.
Satan knew he was defeated when Christ died on the cross. “When Christ cried out, "It is finished," all heaven triumphed. The controversy between Christ and Satan in regard to the execution of the plan of salvation was ended. The spirit of Satan and his works had taken deep root in the affections of the children of men. For Satan to have come into power would have been death to the world. The implacable hatred he felt toward the Son of God was revealed in his manner of treating Him while He was in the world. Christ's betrayal, trial, and crucifixion were all planned by the fallen foe. His hatred, carried out in the death of the Son of God, placed Satan where his true diabolical character was revealed to all created intelligences that had not fallen through sin. {5BC 1149.9} (However, not all human beings have yet to know this yet! Apostle Peter explained: ”The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ”But the day of the Lord ( judgment) will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”- 2Pet 3:9,10.)
Note *2 : It is through false theories and traditions ( false religions*2- based on the teachings of men inventions) that Satan gains his power over the human mind. We can see the extent to which he exercises his power by the disloyalty that is in the world. Even the churches that profess to be Christian have turned from the law of Jehovah, and have erected a false standard. Satan has had his hand in all this; for by directing men to false standards, he misshapes the human character, and causes humanity to acknowledge him as supreme. He works counter to the holy law of God, and denies God's jurisdiction. It is at his throne that every evil work finds its starting point and obtains its support.-- Review and Herald, Oct. 22, 1895. {Ev 589.2} )
Pestilence in Covid-19
Jesus clearly answered His disciple that pestilence is among the turbulences in the signs of the End of the Age. But “all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. “ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt 24:3-14. (Covet-19 is to wake us up to the beginning of sorrow (signifying the urgency in preparation for the end of the age) and that instead of panicking over stocking up our food supply and isolating ourselves from the community, we should search for the truth about pestilence and one of the source of information is from the revelation of God, the Bible as the most published literature.)
Let us study the amplification passages from Sister Ellen White, the messenger of God given to God’s true church to expose the work of Satan in the last days. The Covid-19 outbreak is addressed as part of this handiwork that God permitted as a warning of the urgency in getting reading for the second advent of Christ and not be like all the antediluvians that perished in the great flood in the days of Noah, which Jesus had taught His disciples: “But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark.” And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” ( Matt 24: 37-39)
“Through spiritualism, Satan appears as a benefactor of the race, healing the diseases of the people, and professing to present a new and more exalted system of religious faith; but at the same time he works as a destroyer. His temptations are leading multitudes to ruin. Intemperance dethrones reason; sensual indulgence, strife, and bloodshed follow. Satan delights in war, for it excites the worst passions of the soul and then sweeps into eternity its victims steeped in vice and blood. It is his object to incite the nations to war against one another, for he can thus divert the minds of the people from the work of preparation to stand in the day of God. {GC 589.1}
Satan works through the elements also to garner his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature (viruses – Flu, Covid-19), and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows. When he was suffered to afflict Job, how quickly flocks and herds, servants, houses, children, were swept away, one trouble succeeding another as in a moment. It is God that shields His creatures and hedges them in from the power of the destroyer. But the Christian world have shown contempt for the law of Jehovah; and the Lord will do just what He has declared that He would--He will withdraw His blessings from the earth and remove His protecting care from those who are rebelling against His law and teaching and forcing others to do the same. Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard. He will favor and prosper some in order to further his own designs, and he will bring trouble upon others and lead men to believe that it is God who is afflicting them. {GC 589.2}
While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all their maladies (even using men who can perform miracle healing). he will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power. ( Relate this with current events.) He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Destruction will be upon both man and beast. "The earth mourneth and fadeth away," "the haughty people . . . do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." Isaiah 24:4, 5. {GC 589.3}
And then the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are causing these evils. (This will follow after a period of Sunday rest that is even now mildly imposed in some European nations. The Sunday rest for checking climate change is about to be realized.) The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God's commandments is a perpetual reproof to transgressors. It will be declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath; that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced; and that those who present the claims of the fourth commandment, thus destroying reverence for Sunday, are troublers of the people, preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal prosperity. Thus the accusation urged of old against the servant of God will be repeated and upon grounds equally well established: "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim." 1 Kings 18:17, 18. As the wrath of the people shall be excited by false charges, they will pursue a course toward God's ambassadors very similar to that which apostate Israel pursued toward Elijah.” {GC 590.1} (This is the history that will be repeated (see Dan 3: 18 and Rev 13: 16,17. This is as Jesus referred to the condition of the morality in Noah’s day and Lot’s day that will be manifested for the destruction of the world before the second coming of the Son of Man ( Mat 24:37-39; Luk 17:26-30; 2The 1:7,8 ))
“For many months I (EGW) have been troubled as I have seen that some of our brethren whom God has used in his cause are now perplexed over the scientific theology which has come in to lead men away from a true faith in God. Sabbath night, a week ago, after I had been prayerfully studying over these things, I had a vision, in which I was speaking before a large company, where many questions were asked concerning my work and writings. {RH, August 9, 1906 par. 1}
I was directed by a messenger from heaven not to take the burden of picking up and answering all the sayings and doubts that are being put into many minds. "Stand as the messenger of God anywhere, in any place," I was bidden, "and bear the testimony I shall give you. Be free. Bear the testimonies that the Lord has for you to bear in reproof, in rebuke, in the work of encouraging and lifting up the soul; 'teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.'" {RH, August 9, 1906 par. 2} .. "If the Holy Spirit is rejected, all my words will not help to remove, even for the time being, the false representations that have been made, and Satan stands ready to invent more. If the evidence already given is rejected, all other evidence will be useless until there is seen the converting power of God upon minds. If the convincing impressions of the Holy Spirit made in the past will not be accepted as trustworthy evidence, nothing that can be presented hereafter will reach them, because the bewitching guile of Satan has perverted their discernment." {RH, August 9, 1906 par. 4} To those who have been convinced again and again as the Holy Spirit has borne witness, all the words that can now be said can not be as forcible as the impression made by the Holy Spirit of God. {RH, August 9, 1906 par. 5}
The time is at hand when Satan will work miracles to confirm minds in the belief that he is God. All the people of God are now to stand on the platform of truth as it has been given in the third angel's message. All the pleasant pictures, all the miracles wrought, will be presented in order that, if possible, the very elect shall be deceived. The only hope for any one is to hold fast the evidences that have confirmed the truth in righteousness. Let these be proclaimed over and over again, until the close of this earth's history. {RH, August 9, 1906 par. 8}
The perils of the last days are upon us. Devote not precious time in trying to convince those who would change the truth of God into a lie. Proclaim the third angel's message. Bear a straightforward, clear-cut message. {RH, August 9, 1906 par. 9}
Thus I was speaking before a perplexed company just before I called them to take their stand on the right side. If some choose another position, let them alone. Labor for those who have never had the evidence of truth. So long as men hold fast to men, and believe men in the place of the word of God, you can do little to help them. You are working against principalities and powers, as is represented in Ephesians 6:12. {RH, August 9, 1906 par. 10}
We are to revive the truth; to stand in the truth. Whoever is determined to depart from the faith can not be helped by you. All your reasoning will be as idle tales. {RH, August 9, 1906 par. 11}
Take the banner of truth and hold it aloft, higher and still higher. The Lord calls for faithful minutemen. Go into the cities that need the message of a soon-coming Saviour. Thousands of unbelievers in our cities need to hear the last message of warning. {RH, August 9, 1906 par. 12}
It is Satan's plan to produce these variances, to keep our minds on dissensions and unprofitable problems until the last woe shall come upon the world. Time now is too precious to be lost through confusion. Proclaim to the world that Christ is soon coming. {RH, August 9, 1906 par. 13}
Dr Berg Realistic Perspective on Covid-19
(Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_qmjTJ6RLQ (10:52)- Dr. Berg's Opinion on the Coronavirus Feb 11, 2020.)
Covid-19 is a mutated virus that attacks the lung. It is a parasite*1 as it cannot reproduce without hijacking a living cell, the DNA machinery of the cell, by turning on a copy machine and starts reproducing like crazy. It might be like the Flu virus that lives on glucose and thus can be controlled by Ketone, the opposite fuel of glucose fat, beneficial to support a healthy immune system. So by fasting (abstinence and moderation in diet) the body is in autophagy to grow cells for the immune system. Two* historical pandemics were the Bubonic* (Black) plague in 1840 (associated with nutritional deficiencies, lack of plant food and vitamin D from the Sun to activate Vitamin D Receptors in white blood cell that modulates the immune system) Many viruses and even bacteria are able to block vitamin D receptor. So infection depends on Vitamin D level, stress level and strength of the immune system. Then the Spanish flu in 1918 killing 50 million worldwide after World War I (without consumption of canned and preserved refined foods without much nutrients instead of fresh foods). Wrong treatment with Aspirin causes bleeding in the lung resulting in drowning by the blood. Dr Berg provided statistics to show that death resulting from this virus at this early stage is not the worst killer as the news make it out especially with the control measures that has been enforced based on past experiences with SARS epidemic in 2013 and advances in medicine, public heath and technology. The stress caused by this panic play a part in adding to the death rate from car accidents and heart attacks. In addition it is the amount of junk foods, the amount of sugar and the amount of refined food available in supermarkets which set people up for having a weak immune system. The estimated fatality rate for Covid-19 is about 2%. Death from other causes are by far very much worse.
(Correction on Bubonic* Plague historical occurances(Wikipedia): There were three pandemics associated with the Bubonic plague. The first recorded epidemic affected the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) and was named the Plague of Justinian after emperor Justinian I, who was infected but survived through extensive treatment. The pandemic resulted in the deaths of an estimated 25 million (6th century outbreak) to 50 million people (two centuries of recurrence). The second pandemic occurred in the Late Middle Ages (1340–1400) Europe experienced the most deadly disease outbreak in history when the Black Death, the infamous pandemic of bubonic plague, hit in 1347, killing a third of the European human population. Some historians believe that society subsequently became more violent as the mass mortality rate cheapened life and thus increased warfare, crime, popular revolt, waves of flagellants, and persecution.[31] The Black Death originated in Central Asia and spread from Italy and then throughout other European countries. The plague resurfaced for a third time in the mid-19th century. Like the two previous outbreaks, this one also originated in Eastern Asia, most likely in Yunnan Province of China, where there are several natural plague foci] The initial outbreaks occurred in the second half of the eighteenth century. The disease remained localized in Southwest China for several years before spreading.- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubonic_plague#First_pandemic)
(Note: Covid-19 is a parasite*1 which is so small that it cannot be seen by the naked eye. The deadly nature of the parasite*1. a devise of Satan, is in the many errors he attached on the tree of truth:
Error Draws Its Life From Truth.--Satan has wrought with deceiving power, bringing in a multiplicity of errors that obscure the truth. Error cannot stand alone, and would soon become extinct if it did not fasten itself like a parasite upon the tree of truth. Error draws its life from the truth of God. The traditions of men, like floating germs, attach themselves to the truth of God, and men regard them as a part of the truth. Through false doctrines, Satan gains a foothold, and captivates the minds of men, causing them to hold theories that have no foundation in truth. Men boldly teach for doctrines the commandments of men; and as traditions pass on, from age to age, they acquire a power over human mind. But age does not make error truth, neither does its burdensome weight cause the plant of truth to become a parasite. The tree of truth bears its own genuine fruit, showing its true origin and nature. The parasite of error also bears its own fruit, and makes manifest that its character is diverse from the plant of heavenly origin. {Ev 589.1}
It is through false theories and traditions ( false religions*2) that Satan gains his power over the human mind. We can see the extent to which he exercises his power by the disloyalty that is in the world. Even the churches that profess to be Christian have turned from the law of Jehovah, and have erected a false standard. Satan has had his hand in all this; for by directing men to false standards, he misshapes the human character, and causes humanity to acknowledge him as supreme. He works counter to the holy law of God, and denies God's jurisdiction. It is at his throne that every evil work finds its starting point and obtains its support.-- Review and Herald, Oct. 22, 1895. {Ev 589.2}
Vindication of Daniel’s Diet
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjkzfeJz66o (18:10) – “Can we eat to starve cancer?” by William Li Apr 9, 2014. )
The speaker at this TED talk shared his works on one possible way to cure cancer. He observed that diets accounted for 30-35 percent of environmentally caused cancers. His research shows diets in plants and produce from the soil are naturally ant-angiogenic that could boost the body’s defence system and beat back those blood vessels that are feeding cancers, i.e. eat to starve cancer. He discovered that the natural produces from the ground (created on the third day of creation- Gen 1:10-13 have naturally-occurring inhibitors of angiogenesis (eg. Red grapes inhibits abnormal angiogenesis by 60%, and evidence from study on “Men who consume 2-3 servings of cooked tomatoes per week have a reduced risk for developing prostate cancer by 40-50%.”- Dr Lorelei Mucci, Harvard School of Public Health ) He also links obesity, adipose tissue fat, as highly antigenesis dependent and like a tumor fat grows when blood vessels grow. Similarly by cutting off its blood supply the fat will shrink.
To be continued, posted Feb 18, 2020 ((Pg 35/43)
Diet and Moderation in Lifestyle (Posted on Feb 21, 2020)
We need to control our body and our action. The most challenging situation is in our diet- obesity, an increasing worldwide issue that will soon become the leading cause of death. Therefore when it comes to food choice, think and choose temperately. Eat enough to sustain your physical needs and choose nutrient rich foods. Other products that stimulate our senses are nicotine, caffeine and depressants like alcohol. Drinking of alcohol even for supposedly beneficial in small amount can become a habit and addictive. Habitual drinking is clearly a health hazard and total abstinence is a better choice. Practice temperance in your reliance on technology- time spent on mobile phone and playing computer games. Spend more time with your friends and family. Engage in a real conversation without a TV blaring in the background.
The true key in a temperate lifestyle lies in our minds. We need to learn to safeguard our thoughts and carefully monitor our emotions if your type gives rise to anger easily take a deep breath and learn the power of forgiveness. Be humble and control your bragging. Be more compassionate and empathise rather than judgmental. Think of your mind as the springboard for all your actions. ( A passage from an earlier article, D6 Best Health Plan at http://www.discoverylifediy.com/430332456 that is worth reading.)
3.2. c (vii) Biblical Aspects on Eating
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ”For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. “ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”- Gen 3:4-6.
Christ never planted the seeds of death in the system. Satan planted these seeds when he tempted Adam to eat of the tree of knowledge which meant disobedience to God. Not one noxious plant was placed in the Lord's great garden, but after Adam and Eve sinned, poisonous herbs sprang up. In the parable of the sower the question was asked the master, "Didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?" The master answered, "An enemy hath done this" (Matthew 13:27, 28). All tares are sown by the evil one. Every noxious herb is of his sowing, and by his ingenious methods of amalgamation he has corrupted the earth with tares. {2SM 288.2}
Adam listened to the words of the tempter, and yielding to his insinuations, fell into sin. Why was not the death penalty at once enforced in his case?--Because a ransom was found. God's only begotten Son volunteered to take the sin of man upon himself, and to make an atonement for the fallen race. There could have been no pardon for sin had this atonement not been made. Had God pardoned Adam's sin without an atonement, sin would have been immortalized, and would have been perpetuated with a boldness that would have been without restraint ..{RH, April 23, 1901 par. 9}
With Christ, as with the holy pair in Eden, appetite was the ground of the first great temptation. Just where the ruin began, the work of our redemption must begin. As by the indulgence of appetite Adam fell, so by the denial of appetite Christ must overcome. "And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." {DA 117.3}
Christ Overcome Satan’s First Great Temptation
From the time of Adam to that of Christ, self-indulgence had increased the power of the appetites and passions, until they had almost unlimited control. Thus men had become debased and diseased, and of themselves it was impossible for them to overcome. In man's behalf, Christ conquered by enduring the severest test. For our sake He exercised a self-control stronger than hunger or death. And in this first victory were involved other issues that enter into all our conflicts with the powers of darkness. {DA 117.4}
Satan left the field as a conquered foe (after failing to tempt Jesus). Our Saviour passed over the ground and was victor. He was fainting on the field of battle. There was no bosom to cradle His head, and no hand to pass over His brow. Angels came and ministered unto Him. Just such help we may claim. Christ saw it was impossible for man to overcome in his own behalf. He came to bring moral power to man. This is our only hope. {Te 286.2}
We see the importance of overcoming appetite. Christ overcame, and we may obtain the victory as Christ did. He passed over the ground, and there is victory for man. What has He done for the human family? He has elevated man in the scale of moral value. We may become conquerors through our Sufficiency (Christ’s righteousness). There is hope for the most hopeless, in Christ. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." There we have the rich promises of God. What did Christ come here for? To represent the Father. What a heart of love and sympathy! He came to bring eternal life, to break every band. When God gave His Son, He gave all heaven. He could give no more. {Te 286.3}
Esau Sold Birthright (Eternity) for Food
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: . . . And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. . . . And he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Genesis 25:30-34. {CTr 85.1}
There is too much yielding to desire and inclination for present enjoyment. There is not that earnest soul hunger for spiritual strength and heavenly wisdom. Temptations are yielded to, the appetite is gratified, and there is a separation from God. . . .You remember the case of Esau. He passed the crisis of his life without knowing it. What he regarded as a matter worthy of scarcely a thought was the act that revealed the prevailing traits of his character. It showed his choice, showed his true estimate of that which was sacred and which should have been sacredly cherished. He sold his birthright for a small indulgence to meet his present wants, and this determined the after course of his life. To Esau, a morsel of meat was more than the service of his Master.—Letter 5, 1877. {CTr 85.2}
Oh, that the people of God would consider that by one wrong action on their part a blot is made in the history and experience that nothing but the blood of Christ can wash away. Every action of the life should be carefully considered, for it is sending forth to the world, as from an open fountain, streams of blessing or streams of evil. Let those who know their Bibles live the life of Christ. All should consider that they are doing work that will be as lasting as eternity. . . . {CTr 85.3}
No one in our world can do a selfish act but that they are in danger of selling their birthright for a mess of pottage. Let them remember that Esau was controlled by his desires; appetite and inclination ruled the man, and he sold his soul for the gratification of appetite. Are there any doing this who know the present truth? . . . {CTr 85.4}
“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.” How many whose names are registered on the church books will, for the sake of some selfish advantage, sacrifice integrity and risk the consequences. In order to gratify their own carnal desires, they will walk unguarded into Satan’s snares. For selfish influences they sell their peace, they sell their souls. {CTr 85.5}
After his desire was gratified, Esau regretted what he had done. “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” May the Lord grant that everyone who has named the name of Christ shall depart from all iniquity!—Letter 47, 1894. {CTr 85.6}
The Diet in Awaiting Christ's Coming
Among those who are waiting for the second coming of the Lord (very soon and quickly when it happens, for the time is at hand), meat eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to form a part of their diet. We should ever keep this end in view and endeavour to work steadily toward it. I cannot think that in the practice of flesh eating we are in harmony with the light which God has been pleased to give us. {CG 383.2}
Again and again I have been shown that God is bringing His people back to His original design, that is, not to subsist on the flesh of dead animals. He would have us teach people a better way. . . . If meat is discarded, if the taste is not educated in that direction, if a liking for fruits and grains is encouraged, it will soon be as God in the beginning designed it should be. No meat will be used by His people. {CG 383.3}
To be continued, posted Feb 21&23, 2020 ((Pg 43/50)
Contents (Posted Feb 25, 2020)
3.3 God’s Sovereignty and Judgment; 3.3 a. The Fall of Babylon; 3.3 a(i) Belshazzar Ignored Nebuchadnezzar’s Testimony; 3.3 a (ii) Arrogance and Downfall of Belshazzar; 3.3 a (iii) God’s Presence, Wrath, and Judgment;
3.3 God’s Sovereignty and Judgment
“And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:21, NKJV).
This verse spoken by Daniel as God’s faithful servant is the present truth that the living God rules in the affairs of the world as sovereign of the universe He created. This is the all important counsel to leaders (political and religious) in all ages who strive to be great, to make their nation great. (See Wp5.9.3 Deception, par 5.9.3.1.3.2 Striving for Greatness in Politics and Religion- 1 Make the World Greta Again; 2. Global Religious and Moral Leader; 3. Make America Great Again; 4. China as Contender for Economic Supremacy; at http://www.wakeupow.com/440101193 )
Every human being, from the great to the small, must acknowledge the significant aspect of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is the assurance that we can entrust our lives to God. God is the true source of wisdom and power. The dream must be understood in connection with the prayer of Daniel. Daniel’s prayer is the focal point of this chapter and gives the most important theological statement about God’s wisdom and power (Dan. 2:20–22). He answered the prayer of Daniel and revealed the mystery of the dream to the prophet who wrote it down. Only a man of the 6th century B.C., well versed in the Babylonian affairs could have provided some of the historical facts found in the book. Relatively recent archaeological finds have once more brought these facts to light, Most importantly, Jesus Christ mentions Daniel as the author (Matt 24:15). (No part of the Bible is of greater value than are its biographies. These biographies differ from all others in that they are absolutely true to life (eye witness accounts). It is impossible for any finite mind to interpret rightly, in all things, the workings of another. None but He who reads the heart, who discerns the secret springs of motive and action, can with absolute truth delineate character, or give a faithful picture of a human life. In God's word alone is found such delineation. {Ed 146.1}) We can thus worship and serve this God with confidence using the Bible as the true standard of truth.
Being omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, He knows the end from the beginning, God traces out the history of the world, the rise and fall of world empires, that will end with the everlasting kingdom of God, a great mystery to the human race. He orchestrates the dream that Nebuchadnezzar cannot remember to expose his Chaldean wise men as false prophets. The Babylonians, despite all their training and “scholarly publications” on dream interpretation, proved themselves unable to access the only source of knowledge capable of solving that mystery. But, Daniel knows of a God who can reveal both the content and the interpretation of the dream. Daniel and his three companions asks God in prayer to reveal the mystery concerning this secret, so that they might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon” (Dan. 2:17–19).
“Nebuchadnezzar felt that he could accept this interpretation as a divine revelation; for to Daniel had been revealed every detail of the dream. The solemn truths conveyed by the interpretation of this vision of the night (Daniel’s vision in the night is the same type of visions given also Ellen White) made a deep impression on the sovereign's mind, and in humility and awe he "fell upon his face, and worshiped," saying, "Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret." {YI, September 8, 1903 par. 6}
Daniel's exposition of this dream resulted in the king's conferring honor and dignity upon him and his companions. "The king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king." "The gate of the king" was a place where justice was dispensed. Daniel's three companions were made counselors, judges, and rulers in the land. These men were not puffed up with vanity, but they saw and rejoiced that God was recognized above all earthly potentates, and that his kingdom was extolled above all earthly kingdoms. {YI, September 8, 1903 par. 7}
The Lord was working in the Babylonian kingdom, and communicating light to the four Hebrew youth, in order that he might represent his work before the idolatrous nation. He would reveal that he had power over the kingdoms of the world,--power to enthrone and to dethrone kings. The King over all kings was communicating great truths to the Babylonian monarch, and awakening in his mind a realization of his responsibility to God. Nebuchadnezzar saw clearly the difference between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the most learned men of his kingdom. “ {YI, September 8, 1903 par. 8}
The events of the future, reaching down to the end of time, were opened before the king of Babylon, in order that he might have light on this important subject. The record of the dream and its interpretation was traced by the prophetic pen, in order that the rulers of the kingdoms that should succeed Babylon might have the same light.
3.3 a. The Fall of Babylon
Daniel 5 stands in close parallel with Daniel 4. Both chapters portray in graphic terms God’s sovereignty over the kingdoms of the world. In Daniel 4, God took away the power from Nebuchadnezzar for a limited period of time. In Daniel 5, God removes the power from Belshazzar and brings the Babylonian kingdom to its end.
Jesus had repeatedly told His disciples “And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe." (Jn 13:9;14:29;16:4)
“We must cherish and cultivate the faith of which prophets and apostles have testified--the faith that lays hold on the promises of God and waits for deliverance in His appointed time and way. The sure word of prophecy will meet its final fulfillment in the glorious advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as King of kings and Lord of lords. . . . With the prophet who endeavored to encourage Judah in a time of unparalleled apostasy, let us confidently declare, "The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him." Let us ever hold in remembrance the cheering message, "The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come." “ {CC 242.5}
The events narrated in Daniel 5 took place in 539 B.C., on the night Babylon fell before the Medo-Persian army. Here occurs the transition from gold to silver, predicted in Daniel 2 (603 B.C, Nebuchadnezzar’s second regnal year), more than 60 years earlier. In Daniel 5, the Word of God gives us a powerful example of human hubris (even to the polytheistic Greeks, hubris referred to extreme pride, especially pride and ambition so great that they offend the gods and lead to one's downfall) that ends in a stunning and dramatic way. Though one could say that it takes Nebuchadnezzar a long time to learn his lesson, at least he learned it. His grandson, Belshazzar, does not.
Nebuchadnezzar seizes the vessels from the Jerusalem temple, but he places them in the house of his god, which shows that at least he respects their sacred status. But Belshazzar turns the sacred vessels into drinking utensils in a most profane way.
3.3 a(i) Belshazzar Ignored Nebuchadnezzar’s Testimony
While drinking from the sacred vessels, Belshazzar’s lords “praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone” (Dan. 5:4, NKJV). It is worth noticing that six materials are mentioned. The Babylonians used the sexagesimal system (a system based on the number 60) in contrast to the decimal system used today (based on the number 10). Thus, the six categories of gods represent the totality of the Babylonian deities and, therefore, the fullness of the Babylonian religious system. Interestingly enough, the order of the materials follows the order of the components of the dream statue of Nebuchadnezzar, except that wood replaces the clay. As in the dream, stone appears last; although here it designates the material composition of idols, stone also evokes God’s judgment upon worldly empires (see Dan. 2:44, 45), which Babylon symbolizes. This feast serves as an apt representation of end-time Babylon as seen in the book of Revelation. Like Belshazzar, the woman in endtime Babylon holds a golden cup and offers polluted drink to the nations. In other words, by means of false doctrines and a distorted worship system, modern Babylon lures the world into evil (Rev. 17:4–6), oblivious to the judgment that will soon fall upon her. One day judgment will come. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. ”So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”-Heb 9:27,28.
In using the temple vessels in a palace orgy, Belshazzar desecrates them. Such an act of desecration* is tantamount not only to a challenge of God but an attack on God Himself. Thus, Belshazzar fills up the cup of his iniquities, acting in ways similar to the little horn (see Daniel 8), which attacked the foundations of God’s sanctuary. By removing dominion from Belshazzar, God prefigures what He will accomplish against the enemies of His people in the very last days.
(Note: Act of Desecration*- Esau’s Profanity Prefigures Belshazzar
Esau had lightly valued the blessing while it seemed within his reach, but he desired to possess it now that it was gone from him forever. All the strength of his impulsive, passionate nature was aroused, and his grief and rage were terrible. He cried with an exceeding bitter cry, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!" "Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?" But the promise given was not to be recalled. The birthright which he had so carelessly bartered he could not now regain. "For one morsel of meat," for a momentary gratification of appetite that had never been restrained, Esau sold his inheritance; but when he saw his folly, it was too late to recover the blessing. "He found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Hebrews 12:16, 17. Esau was not shut out from the privilege of seeking God's favor by repentance, but he could find no means of recovering the birthright. His grief did not spring from conviction of sin; he did not desire to be reconciled to God. He sorrowed because of the results of his sin, but not for the sin itself. {PP 181.2}
Because of his indifference to the divine blessings and requirements, Esau is called in Scripture "a profane person." Verse 16. He represents those who lightly value the redemption purchased for them by Christ, and are ready to sacrifice their heirship to heaven for the perishable things of earth. Multitudes live for the present, with no thought or care for the future. Like Esau they cry, "Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die." 1 Corinthians 15:32. They are controlled by inclination; and rather than practice self-denial, they will forgo the most valuable considerations. If one must be relinquished, the gratification of a depraved appetite or the heavenly blessings promised only to the self-denying and God-fearing, the claims of appetite prevail, and God and heaven are virtually despised. How many, even of professed Christians, cling to indulgences that are injurious to health and that benumb the sensibilities of the soul. When the duty is presented of cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, they are offended. They see that they cannot retain these hurtful gratifications and yet secure heaven, and they conclude that since the way to eternal life is so strait, they will no longer walk therein. {PP 181.3}
Multitudes are selling their birthright for sensual indulgence. Health is sacrificed, the mental faculties are enfeebled, and heaven is forfeited; and all for a mere temporary pleasure--an indulgence at once both weakening and debasing in its character. As Esau awoke to see the folly of his rash exchange when it was too late to recover his loss, so it will be in the day of God with those who have bartered their heirship to heaven for selfish gratifications. {PP 182.1}
Babylon, shattered and broken at last, passed away because in prosperity its rulers had regarded themselves as independent of God, and had ascribed the glory of their kingdom to human achievement. The Medo-Persian realm (the next kingdom) the was visited by the wrath of Heaven also because in it God’s law had been trampled underfoot. The fear of the Lord had found no place in the hearts of the vast majority of the people. Wickedness, blasphemy, and corruption prevailed. The kingdoms that followed were even more base and corrupt; and these sank lower and still lower in the scale of moral worth.—Prophets and Kings, pp. 501, 502.)
3.3 a (ii) Arrogance and Downfall of Belshazzar
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”-Pro 8:13
God through Daniel is graphically demonstrating the downfall of Babylon, the greatest earthly kingdom ever, by Belshazzar in his foolish decisions of denying God in his life. He typifies the arrogance of the human powers in their rebellion against God in this world that can never succeed with the ultimate end of eternal death just as physical Babylon is no more in existence.
The last night of Babylon was marked by a great celebration (prior to its fall). Xenophon and Herodotus indicate that the Babylonians were observing a regular festival in spite of the fact that the Medes and Persians were getting ready to attack against Babylon (Dan. 5:29–31), Obviously, Belshazzar felt secure within the city, which was surrounded by a wall twenty-five feet in width and a height of at least forty feet. Inside the city there were abundant water and food supplies to withstand many years of siege. So, Belshazzar harbored no fear of an invasion any time soon. The feast conveyed a sense of normalcy to the city’s inhabitants in spite of the enemies gathering outside the city walls (the same with the antediluvians before the great flood in Noah’s day). At the height of the celebration, Belshazzar praised the gods “of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone” (Dan. 5:23, ESV) but not the living God. Apparently, he forgot what God had done through Daniel to teach Nebuchadnezzar. However, Belshazzar’s very act of desecration indicates that he may not have been completely oblivious of the living God. By seizing the sacred vessels of the Jerusalem temple to be used as drinking cups in that blasphemous celebration, the Babylonian king demonstrated that he not only refused to honor the God of the Hebrews, but he also exerted willful contempt against Him. (This is the last act of filling up the cup of God’s wrath.) By profaning the temple vessels, the king was expressing his most outrageous contempt for the reality those objects represented; namely, the worship of the true God. Such objects, though in exile, remained holy, and Belshazzar should have treated them with utmost respect. Isaiah demanded purity from the exiles who would carry the sacred vessels back to Jerusalem (Isa. 52:11, 12). Nebuchadnezzar apparently understood the status of the temple objects when he placed them in the temple of his god. As opposed to his predecessor, Belshazzar showed no respect for the temple vessels. By defiling them in his orgiastic celebration, he challenged God Himself.
Belshazzar’s profanation of the sacred vessels stands as another episode in the long conflict between Babylon and Jerusalem, depicted in the Scriptures. The term Babylon appears for the first time in Genesis 11 (spelled as Babel in most translations), when a company of rebellious individuals begin constructing a tower intended to reach to the heavens. Thenceforth, a conflict between God and Babylon as a representation of the forces that oppose God and His truth emerges time and again in the Scriptures. When the armies of Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah and razed. Jerusalem and the temple, it appeared that Babylon had won. Belshazzar appears intent on reconfirming such appearances by defiling the vessels of God’s temple. In praising his gods and defiling the temple vessels, the Babylonian king intended to make a public demonstration of contempt toward the God of the Jews.
This act of profanation points to the eschatological attacks of the little horn and the king of the north against God’s people and God’s heavenly temple, as depicted in the prophetic section of Daniel. Subsequently, the book of Revelation provides a broader picture of the conflict between Babylon and Jerusalem, which culminates in the annihilation of Babylon and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom from the New Jerusalem. (This will have to be the topic of discovery in another discovery,)
3.3 a (iii) God’s Presence, Wrath, and Judgment
“Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. ” By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. “ By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.” –Pro 8:14-16
"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirit" (Proverbs 16:2).
Daniel through visions in the night interpreted two dreams of Nebuchadnezzar, with the second concerning his punishment for being arrogant over his great achievement in making Babylon as the wonder of the world. The unseen watcher ( God’s presence) gave him seven years living as a beast to know, as his fourth chance, that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
God’s Presence
The same Watcher who came to Daniel was an uninvited guest at Belshazzar's sacrilegious feast. This monarch had everything to flatter his pride and indulge his passions. He was a great king, presiding over what was then the greatest kingdom on earth. His provinces were cultivated by captives, and his capital was enriched by the spoil of nations. He held the life and property of his subjects in his hand. To those who ministered to his pride and vanity, he was indulgent; they were his chosen favorites; but if at any moment they crossed his will, he was at once a cruel tyrant. His anger blazed forth against them without restraint. {YI, May 19, 1898 par. 3} ( Has any leader reached (or about to) this level of tyranny yet?)
Admitted to a share in kingly authority at fifteen years of age, Belshazzar gloried in his power, and lifted up his heart against the God of heaven. .(Belshazzar, coregent with his father, Nabonidus, was made in charge of Babylon, when Nabonidus went to Lebanon, and then to Tema (c.5552 B.C.)) He despised the One who is above all rulers, the General of all the armies of heaven. "Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand." (Dan 5:1) On this occasion there was music and dancing and wine-drinking. The profane orgies of royal mirth were attended by men of genius and education. Decorated women with their enchantments, were among the revelers. {YI, May 19, 1898 par. 4}
God’s Wrath
Exalted by wine and blinded by delusion, the king himself took the lead in the riotous blasphemy ( Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the unforgivable last act.- Matt 12:11). Reason no longer controlled him; his lower impulses and passions were in the ascendency. His kingdom was strong and apparently invincible, and he would show that he thought nothing too sacred for his hands to handle and profane. To show his contempt for sacred things, he desecrated the holy vessels taken from the temple of the Lord at its destruction. {YI, May 19, 1898 par. 5}
A Watcher, who was unrecognized, but whose presence was a power of condemnation, looked on this scene of profanation. Soon the unseen and uninvited Guest made his presence felt. At the moment when the sacrilegious revelry was at its height, a bloodless hand came forth, and wrote words of doom on the wall of the banqueting hall. Burning words followed the movements of the hand. "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin," was written in letters of flame. Few were the characters traced by that hand on the wall facing the king, but they showed that the power of God was there. {YI, May 19, 1898 par. 6}
Belshazzar was afraid. His conscience was awakened. The fear and suspicion that always follow the course of the guilty seized him. When God makes men fear, they can not hide the intensity of their terror. Alarm seized the great men of the kingdom. Their blasphemous disrespect of sacred things was changed in a moment. A frantic terror overcame all self-control. {YI, May 19, 1898 par. 7}
Belshazzar had been given many opportunities for knowing and doing the will of God. He had seen his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar banished from the society of men. He had seen the intellect in which the proud monarch gloried taken away by the One who gave it. He had seen the king driven from his kingdom, and made the companion of the beasts of the field. But Belshazzar's love of amusement and self-glorification effaced the lessons he should never have forgotten; and he committed sins similar to those that brought signal judgments on Nebuchadnezzar. He wasted the opportunities graciously granted him, neglecting to use the opportunities within his reach for becoming acquainted with truth. "What must I do to be saved?" was a question that the great but foolish king passed by indifferently. {YI, May 19, 1898 par. 8}
This is the danger of heedless, reckless youth today. The hand of God will awaken the sinner as it did Belshazzar, but with many it will be too late to repent. {YI, May 19, 1898 par. 9}
In vain the king tried to read the burning letters. He had found a power too strong for him. He could not read the writing. "The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof." In vain the king offered honor and promotion. Heavenly wisdom can not be bought and sold. "Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonished." Mrs. E. G. White. {YI, May 19, 1898 par. 11}
God’s Judgment
At a divinely chosen moment in the lustful revelry, mysterious writing suddenly appears on the wall of the banquet room. The king immediately perceives the gravity of the situation. Although he could not read the writing, he felt it was an ominous pronouncement of impending doom. Once more the magicians and professionals of the palace failed to produce an interpretation that satisfied the king. It was only at the suggestion of the queen mother that the king requested that Daniel be brought to his presence. Some scholars identify this woman with Nitocris, daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, wife of Nabonidus and mother of Belshazzar. ( However, Ellen White said it was the queen of Belshazzar's grandfather.)
One may wonder why Daniel was ignored up to that point. In this regard, we should bear in mind that Daniel had served until the third year of Belshazzar (Dan. 8:1, 27). Therefore, the old prophet was not any stranger to the king. On the basis of Belshazzar’s overall attitude and behavior, it appears that this king may have relegated Daniel to the margins for political (religious) expediency.
In his appearance before the king, the old prophet no longer used deferential language as in former addresses to Nebuchadnezzar. After making clear that he rejected the rewards the king promised to whoever interpreted the writing, Daniel spoke to the king in the most severe terms. Above all, Daniel faulted Belshazzar for not learning from the experience of Nebuchadnezzar, particularly when the latter was expelled from the throne for a period of seven years (Daniel 4). Thus, Belshazzar should have known better: “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this” (Dan. 5:22, NKJV). Therefore, the writing on the wall meant judgment for Belshazzar and Babylon: MENE, MENE (“counted”), TEKEL (“weighed”), UPHARSIN (“and divided,”) (Dan. 5:25). (This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." {YI, May 26, 1898 par. 4} ) Ellen G. White says that those letters “gleamed like fire,” and that the king and others seemed to be “arraigned before the judgment bar of the eternal God, whose power they had just defied.”—Prophets and teachers comments 82 83 Kings, p. 524. The sentence was given, the Babylonian king and kingdom were doomed. In spite of the unfavorable interpretation, the king kept his word, rewarded Daniel, and made him third ruler in the Babylonian empire, even if only for a few hours.
(This was the last feast of boasting held by the Chaldean king; for he who bears long with man's perversity had passed the irrevocable sentence. Belshazzar had greatly dishonored the One who had exalted him as king, and his probation was taken from him. {YI, May 26, 1898 par. 6}) On that same night, the enemy diverted the river Euphrates—which ran through the city—to a marsh, and with the level of the water lowered, the soldiers entered Babylon underneath the city wall through the riverbed. While the king and his nobles were at the height of their revelry Cyrus and his soldiers stood under the walls of the palace. "In that night," the record says, "was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom." {YI, May 26, 1898 par. 6}. Belshazzar was killed, and mighty Babylon fell before the Medes and Persians, in October 539 B.C. His father, King Nabonidus, has left the city already, surrendering himself later to the new rulers. Thus, the greatest empire humanity has ever known to this point comes to an end. Babylon, the head of gold, is no more. Babylon was buried forever. However, arrogent Saddam Hussein tried to rebuild it and failed - see the outcome at https://www.unusualtraveler.com/visiting-the-ruins-of-babylon/
Could the curtain be rolled back before the youth (leaders and great men without knowledge of Daniel included) who have never given their hearts to God, with others who are Christians in name, but who are unrenewed in heart and unsanctified in temper, they would see that God's eye is ever upon them, and they would feel as disturbed as did the king of Babylon. They would realize that in every place, at every hour in the day, there is a holy Watcher, who balances every account, whose eye takes in the whole situation, whether it is one of fidelity, or one of disloyalty and deception. {YI, May 26, 1898 par. 7}
We are never alone. We have a Companion, whether we choose him or not. Remember, young men and young women, that wherever you are, whatever you are doing, God is there. To your every word and action you have a witness,--the holy, sin-hating God. Nothing that is said or done or thought can escape his infinite eye. Your words may not be heard by human ears, but they are heard by the Ruler of the universe. He reads the inward anger of the soul when the will is crossed. He hears the expression of profanity. In the deepest darkness and solitude he is there. No one can deceive God; none can escape from their accountability to him. {YI, May 26, 1898 par. 8}
The fall of historical Babylon—as the gold gave way to silver—symbolizes the final defeat of the spiritual end-time Babylon, as hinted at in the prophetic chapters of Daniel. In Revelation, the fall of the end-time Babylon is connected with the sixth plague, which results in the drying up of the Euphrates to prepare the way for the kings from the east (Rev. 16:12). In the end, the victorious city (Babylon) is defeated, and the defeated city (Jerusalem) is established.
… to be continued; Posted on Feb 25, 2020 (Pg 51/60)
Contents ( Continuation from Mar 1-8, 2020,)
4 Epilogue; 4.1 D24 Debrief; 1a. History Repeats Itself; 1b. The Vision of Daniel 7; 1b. (i) Four Unclean Vicious Animals; 1b. (ii) The Little Horn; 1b. (iii) Heavenly Judgment; 1b. (iv) Son of Man; 1b. (v) The Saints of the Most High; 1.c. History attests to Prophetic Fulfillment; 1 c (i) Isaiah’s Prophecy of Cyrus Capturing Babylon; 1 c (ii) Jeremiah’s Prophecy of Restoration after Seventy Year Captivity; 4.2 Return of the Exiles; 4.2 (a) The End is The Beginning;
4 Epilogue
D24 Discovery of godly mysteries is now covered (over 7 weeks) in understanding Daniel’s historical narrative (Dan 1-6). The historical part, however, contains a prophecy (Dan 2) closely related in theme to the prophecies found in Dan 7-12. It is fitting to finish D24 by outlining the future outcome of the judgment described prophetically in Dan 7. The prophetic section will revert back to the companion website (www.wakeupow.com) for continuation to cover what the last days generation must learn in order to be finishing the work in preparation for the second coming of Christ as the King of kings in the everlasting kingdom of God,
4.1 D24 Debrief
The Historical section narrates God’s dealing with one nation, Babylon, and its role in the divine plan. Anyone who has no inkling of the existence of God (being separated from God, a result of Satan’s incessant deceptions and temptations) will be able to see the omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence of God’s sovereignty if they have a sincere desire to seek the truth. This section is God’s plan in having history to repeat itself to enable the end-time generation to learn from past mistakes and to return to God. God so loved the world that he sent His Son whose mission is to save souls that are lost before probation closes. ( Jn 3:6; Luk 15)
1a. History Repeats Itself
Ellen White explains: “In mercy God repeats his past dealings. He has given us a record of his dealings in the past. This we need to study carefully; for history is repeating itself. We are more accountable than were those whose experience is recorded in the Old Testament; for their mistakes, and the results of those mistakes, have been chronicled for our benefit. The danger-signal has been lifted to keep us off forbidden ground, and we should be warned not to do as they did, lest a worse punishment come upon us. The blessings given to those of past generations who obeyed God are recorded that we may be encouraged to walk circumspectly, in faith and obedience. The judgments brought against wrong-doers are delineated that we may fear and tremble before God. This Scripture biography (Like Daniel’s biography) is a great blessing. This precious instruction, the experience of ages, is bequeathed to us. {RH, April 20, 1897 par. 14}
‘It is time well employed to search the Scriptures; "for in them ye think ye have eternal life." And Jesus declares. "They are they which testify of me." By the work of the Holy Spirit the truth is riveted in the mind and printed in the heart of the diligent, God-fearing student. And not only is he blessed by this kind of labor; the souls to whom he communicates truth, and for whom he must one day give an account, are also greatly blessed. Those who make God their counselor reap the most precious harvest as they gather the golden grains of truth from his word; for the heavenly Instructor is close by their side. He who obtains his qualification for the ministry in this way will be entitled to the blessing promised to him who turns many to righteousness.” {SW, September 12, 1905 par. 10}
Through the history of Babylon in Daniel’s biography is illustrated God’s dealing with all nations. Like Babylon each successive world power portrayed in the prophetic portion has an opportunity to know the divine will and cooperate with it, and each was measured by its fulfillment of the divine purpose. Thus each nation’s rise and fall in Dan 7-12 is to be understood in terms of the principles set forth in the historical portion as they relate to Babylon. This unified the book and illuminates the role played by each nation.
The history of nations speaks to us today. To every nation and to every individual God has assigned a place in His great plan. Today men and nations are being tested by the plummet in the hand of Him who makes no mistake. All are by their own choice deciding their destiny, and God is overruling all for the accomplishment of His purposes. {PK 536.2}
Today the signs of the times declare that we are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Everything in our world is in agitation. Before our eyes is fulfilling the Saviour's prophecy of the events to precede His coming: "Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. . . . Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." Matthew 24:6, 7. {PK 536.4}
The present is a time of overwhelming interest to all living. Rulers and statesmen, men who occupy positions of trust and authority, thinking men and women of all classes, have their attention fixed upon the events taking place about us. They are watching the relations that exist among the nations. They observe the intensity that is taking possession of every earthly element, and they recognize that something great and decisive is about to take place--that the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis. {PK 537.1}
The Bible, and the Bible only, gives a correct view of these things. Here are revealed the great final scenes in the history of our world, events that already are casting their shadows before, the sound of their approach causing the earth to tremble and men's hearts to fail them for fear. {PK 537.2}
"Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof; . . . because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate." Isaiah 24:1-6. {PK 537.3)
1b. The Vision of Daniel 7 (https://absg.adventist.org/assets/public/files/lessons/2020/1Q/TE/PDFs/ETQ120_08.pdf)
The vision of Daniel 7, the second of four visions, parallels the dream in Daniel 2. But Daniel 7 expands on what was revealed in Daniel 2. First, the vision occurs at night and portrays the sea agitated by the four winds. Darkness and water evoke creation, but here creation appears to be somehow distorted or under attack. Second, the animals in the vision are unclean and hybrid, which represents a violation of the created order. Third, the animals are portrayed as exerting dominion; thus, it appears that the dominion God gave to Adam in the garden has been usurped by these powers. Fourth, with the coming of the Son of man, God’s dominion is restored to those to whom it properly belongs. What Adam lost in the garden, the Son of man recovers in the heavenly judgment. The above description gives a panoramic view of the biblical imagery that runs in the background of this highly symbolic vision. Fortunately, some of the crucial details of the vision are explained by the angel; so, we can understand the main contours of this amazing prophecy.
There are four main elements in the prophetic vision, stated in symbolism, that needs to be interpreted and understood according to passages from other parts of Scriptures. “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ” For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”- 2Pet 1:20,21. For example: the “four great beasts” (Dan 7:3) are clarified in “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.”- Dan 7:17.
1b. (i) Four Unclean Vicious Animals
Each animal shown to Daniel corresponds to a section of the statue shown to Nebuchadnezzar, but now more details about each kingdom are given. How interesting that the creatures, symbolizing pagan nations, are all unclean beasts. Also, except for the fourth beast, Daniel describes the animals as resembling some known creatures. So, the animals are not arbitrary symbols, inasmuch as each one bears some characteristics or points to some aspect of the kingdom it represents.
1. Lion: A lion is a most fitting representation of Babylon. Winged lions decorated palace walls and other works of Babylonian art. The lion depicted in the vision eventually has its wings pulled off, is made to stand upright like a man, and receives a human heart. This process symbolizes the Babylonian Empire under its kings.
2. Bear: The bear represents the Medo-Persian Empire. The fact that it is raised up on one side indicates the superiority of the Persians over the Medes. The three ribs between its teeth stand for the three main conquests of the Medo-Persian Empire: Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt.
3. Leopard: The swift leopard represents the Greek Empire established by Alexander the Great. The four wings make this beast even swifter, an apt representation of Alexander, who in a few years brought the entire known world under his dominion.
4. The dreadful and terrible animal: Whereas the previous entities only resemble the animals mentioned, this one is an entity unto itself. That is, the first ones are depicted as “like” a lion or “like” a bear, but this one is not depicted like anything. This multi-horned beast also appears far more cruel and rapacious than the previous ones. As such, it is a fitting representation of pagan Rome, which conquered, ruled, and trampled the world with its feet.
1b. (ii) The Little Horn
The little horn grows out of, and among, the other horns of the terrible animal (Dan 7:8) that represents the Roman Empire (Dan 7:8). Indeed, it uproots three of the ten kingdoms that grow out of pagan Rome (had great iron teeth- Dan 7:7.19,24). The little-horn power is an extension of pagan Rome and thus shares essential characteristics of the former empire. It usurps the prerogatives of Christ, persecutes God’s people (Dan 7:19,21), supposes to change God’s law(Dan 7:25), speaks against God (“a mouth speaking great things”-Dan 7:8,11,20) , and acts as it pleases for three and a half times (which is 1,260 calendar years). (Dan 7:25) These activities indicate that this entity holds both political and religious power, which fits with the papacy. History shows that the conversion of the emperor Constantine, the official recognition of Sunday as a day of worship, the fall of Rome to barbarians, and the foundation of Constantinople in the East were important factors that favored the rise of the papacy. With the demise of the pagan western Roman Empire, the bishop of Rome filled the power vacuum that was created in Rome with the transfer of the capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople. With the decree of emperor Justinian in A.D. 533, made effective only in A.D. 538, declaring the pope the head of all the churches, the door was open for the papacy to implement its rule. Now the bishop of Rome held not only religious authority but also political power. The popes soon began to call themselves pontifex and adopted other customs and laws of the pagan Roman Empire. By means of alliances with temporal powers, the persecuted church became the persecutor. Through the Crusades and the Inquisition, the Roman church inflicted tremendous pain on many who wanted to remain faithful to biblical teachings. So, already during the Middle Ages the pope came to be identified with the Antichrist (Matthew 24; 2 Thess. 2:3, 4; Rev. 13:1–10). In 1798, Napoleon put the pope in prison, bringing to an end the 1,260 years of papal rulership.
1b. (iii) Heavenly Judgment
The heavenly court scene of Daniel 7:9–14 depicts the central event of the chapter. The books; the Ancient of Days on the throne; and the Son of man, surrounded by heavenly clouds (Dan. 7:13) as He comes into the presence of the Ancient of Days, portray a scene of judgment in heaven. Judgment in the Scriptures conveys both condemnation and vindication. For the little horn, however, the judgment means condemnation and will lead to the horn’s eventual obliteration (Dan 7:26). But for the saints, who have been persecuted by the little horn, the judgment means vindication, salvation, and restoration (Dan 7:27). As their names are examined in the heavenly judgment, they are declared innocent. They are vindicated and eventually receive the kingdom. A few aspects of this judgment bear mentioning. First, we should note that this judgment begins after the little horn rises to power and concludes before the saints are rewarded, and the little horn is punished. So, this judgment has been properly designated as the investigative judgment. Ellen G. White mentions the following books in connection with this judgment: (1) the book of life, containing the names of those who have accepted the service of God; (2) the book of remembrance, a record of the good deeds of the saints; and (3) a record of sins (The Great Controversy, pp. 480, 481). For the sake of justice and transparency to all those involved in and affected by the final decision, God must conduct an investigation so that no one could cast doubt upon the rightness of the final decision. Second, because this judgment has a cosmic scope and, according to the prophetic chronology, is taking place right now (since October 22, 1844) some have wondered whether God could begin the judgment of the living any time soon. Such concern prevents full enjoyment of the Christian life. (We should bear in mind that the judgment of the living will take place after all the dead in Christ are judged starting with Adam and Eve, Then judgment of the living commences with those “in the house of God” -1Pet 4:17 ( Watch “The Judgment of the Living”-Pastor Bill Hughes, Oct 31, 2018, Truth Triumphant Ministries at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8HzjBzBokI ( The final warning is in the third angel’s message to not receive the mark of the beast which is to accept and obey the Sunday law when it is enforced. Those who would rather die than comply will receive God’s seal and be protected through the time of trouble before their deliverance at Jesus second coming)) Most importantly, we must not fear the judgment because the “Son of Man” is our representative in the heavenly tribunal. Thus, rather than condemnation, the heavenly judgment will bring us vindication and deliverance.
1b. (iv) Son of Man
The designation “Son of Man” (bar ’enash in Aramaic) links this heavenly being with some important theological and historical realities. First, the Son of man points back to Adam, the father of the human race. Adam was put in charge of the creation and was commanded to exert dominion. So, in contrast to Adam, who exerted temporary dominion—and the kings of the world, who ruled for a time—the Son of man receives an everlasting kingdom. Thus, the Son of man regains what Adam lost. Second, the designation Son of man suggests that He shares common ground with humanity. This expression can be used to designate a human being (Ezek. 2:1). Because in Daniel 7 this figure is clearly a heavenly being, the title Son of man points to His bond with humankind. From the broad context of the Scriptures, we can infer that the Son of man not only represents His people in the heavenly tribunal, but He also can identify with them because He partakes of their human nature (Heb. 2:14, Heb. 4:15). We also should note that the Son of man of Daniel 7 must be identified with the Prince of the Host (Dan. 8:11), the “man clothed in linen” (Dan. 10:5), and Michael (Dan. 10:13, Dan. 12:1). To conclude, the Son of man of Daniel 7 is clearly the Messiah Jesus Christ, who comes to the presence of God the Father as a representative of the saints (1 John 2:1) on the antitypical day of atonement. This connection will become clearer in the study of Daniel 8.
1b. (v) The Saints of the Most High
This group is the object of the little horn’s persecution and is described as “the saints” (Dan. 7:21), “the saints of the most High” (Dan. 7:18, 22, 25), and as “the people of the saints of the most High” (Dan. 7:27) as they receive the kingdom. They also are referred to as “holy people” in Daniel 8:24 in the context of the little horn’s attacks against them; and in Daniel 12:7 in a context of persecution. Such designations of God’s people as saints/ holy ones echo Exodus 19:6, where God calls Israel to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Thus, the saints of the Most High “are to be identified with God’s faithful followers who constitute His remnant people, who are His chosen ones, set apart from the rest of the nations, persecuted by the power opposing God, but keeping the covenant faith and maintaining their trust and confidence in God from whom they finally receive an everlasting kingdom.” —Gerhard F. Hasel, “The Identity of ‘The Saints of the Most High’ in Daniel 7,” Biblica 56, no. 2 (1975): p. 192. Revelation 12–14 depicts the followers of Christ and shows how they remain faithful during the last crisis. John says that “the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:17, NKJV). Because of the close relationship between the “testimony of Jesus” and prophecy (Rev. 19:10, Rev. 22:9), “Seventh-day Adventists thus interpret the passage and believe that the ‘remnant’ will be distinguished by the manifestation of the gift of prophecy in their midst. The ‘testimony of Jesus Christ,’ they believe, is the witness of Jesus in their midst through the medium of the prophetic gift.”—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 812.
…To be continue (pg 61-67)
1.c. History attests to Prophetic Fulfillment
From the rise and fall of nations as made plain in the books of Daniel and the Revelation, we need to learn how worthless is mere outward and worldly glory. Babylon, with all its power and magnificence, the like of which our world has never since beheld,--power and magnificence which to the people of that day seemed so stable and enduring,--how completely has it passed away! As "the flower of the grass," it has perished. James 1:10. So perished the Medo-Persian kingdom, and the kingdoms of Grecia and Rome. And so perishes all that has not God for its foundation. Only that which is bound up with His purpose, and expresses His character, can endure. His principles are the only steadfast things our world knows. {PK 548.1}
A careful study of the working out of God's purpose in the history of nations and in the revelation of things to come, will help us to estimate at their true value things seen and things unseen, and to learn what is the true aim of life. Thus, viewing the things of time in the light of eternity, we may, like Daniel and his fellows, live for that which is true and noble and enduring. And learning in this life the principles of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, that blessed kingdom which is to endure forever and ever, we may be prepared at His coming to enter with Him into its possession. {PK 548.2}
1 c (i) Isaiah’s Prophecy of Cyrus Capturing Babylon
The advent of the army of Cyrus before the walls of Babylon was to the Jews a sign that their deliverance from captivity was drawing nigh. More than a century before the birth of Cyrus, Inspiration had mentioned him by name, and had caused a record to be made of the actual work he should do in taking the city of Babylon unawares, and in preparing the way for the release of the children of the captivity. Through Isaiah the word had been spoken: {PK 551.1}
"Thus saith the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; . . . to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel." Isaiah 45:1-3. {PK 551.2}
In the unexpected entry of the army of the Persian conqueror into the heart of the Babylonian capital by way of the channel of the river whose waters had been turned aside, and through the inner gates that in careless security had been left open and unprotected, the Jews had abundant evidence of the literal fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the sudden overthrow of their oppressors. And this should have been to them an unmistakable sign that God was shaping the affairs of nations in their behalf; for inseparably linked with the prophecy outlining the manner of Babylon's capture and fall were the words: {PK 552.1}
"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." "I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build My city, and he shall let go My captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts." Isaiah 44:28; 45:13. {PK 552.2}
1 c (ii) Jeremiah’s Prophecy of Restoration after Seventy Year Captivity
Nor were these the only prophecies upon which the exiles had opportunity to base their hope of speedy deliverance. The writings of Jeremiah were within their reach, and in these was plainly set forth the length of time that should elapse before the restoration of Israel from Babylon. "When seventy years are accomplished," the Lord had foretold through His messenger, "I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations." Jeremiah 25:12. Favor would be shown the remnant of Judah, in answer to fervent prayer. "I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive." Jeremiah 29:14. {PK 552.3}
Often had Daniel and his companions gone over these and similar prophecies outlining God's purpose for His people. And now, as the rapid course of events betokened the mighty hand of God at work among the nations, Daniel gave special thought to the promises made to Israel. His faith in the prophetic word led him to enter into experiences foretold by the sacred writers. "After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon," the Lord had declared, "I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return. . . . I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." Verses 10-13. {PK 553.1} (The prophetic section of Daniel will be taken up in the companion website as in concerns the final generation in their preparation for the second coming of Christ.)
4.2 Return of the Exiles
The historical narrative of Daniel is then picked up with the account of Ezra and Nehemiah on the postexilic Jewry ( Esther is the other historical book covering the Jews living during part of the reign of the Persian king Ahasuerus (486-465 B,C,)). However they do not record the history of the people of God in unbroken sequence, but only certain parts of it because only those facts that are relevant to the religious life of Israel are given.
The book of Ezra recounts the efforts of the exiles who returned from Babylon being freed from captivity in fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah ( Isa 44:26- 45:3) and Jeremiahto rebuild the temple and restore the nation of Israel (Jer 25:11, 29:10).They provide source material by which other prophecies, those of Dan 8 &9 can securely be anchored to the facts of history. The first group returned in 536 BC under the leadership of Zerubbabel, assigned as the governor over the region with Joshua, the high priest. Proper worship and ceremonies associated with the temple were then restored in Jerusalem.
Ezra came in 457BC with another group in 457 BC. He was a very knowledgeable and adept scribe and was commissioned by King Artaxerxes I to teach the statutes of the Mosaic Law to the people in Israel. The third group under Nehemiah came in 444 BC.
The book of Ezra tells of the first two groups. Long periods of of time are not covered, however, because only those facts that are relevant to the religious life of Israel are given. Although all who desired to return were free to do so, many chose to remain in Babylon. As a result, Babylon became an important center for Jewish learning until the city’s decline near the end of the fourth century BC. It is commonly acknowledged that Ezra wrote the book around 440 BC and Chronicles 1 &2 (outlining the record of the people of God from Creation to the Persian period) written later in about 400 BC. Nehemiah wrote his book in ca. 430 BC. ( from par 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2 The Post-exile Pioneer Reformers of Jerusalem- See Wp5.9.3. Revive& Reform at http://www.wakeupow.com/440101192 -Contents (2) – Add-on Aug 7, 19 – Pg 120-141 par 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2 The Post-exile Pioneer Reformers of Jerusalem; .9.3.1.2.3.2.2.1 Rebuilding the Temple amidst Obstacles; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.1.1 Overcoming the Obstacles; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.1.1.1 Foundation Completion brought Some Lamentation; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.1.1.2 Interruptions from the Samaritans ( Ez 4:1-24); 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.2 Revival and Reformation by Ezra; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.2.1 Intermarriage with Heathens; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.2.1.1 Prayer of Humiliation and Contrition; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.2.1.2 Reform with Conviction and Repentance; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.2.1.3 The Lesson for End-time R&R; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.2.1.3.1 God’s Final Repeated Call for R&R; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.2.2 Organised Gathering on Climate Change; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.2.2.1 Be Prepared to Stand Alone in Final Persecution; to be continued …
Contents (2) Add-on 12/8/2019 pp142-162:Par 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3 R&R Wrought by Nehemiah; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.1 Nehemiah Desires to Restore Jerusalem; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.1.1 Prevailing Prayer; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.1.2 Prudence and Forethought; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.2 Nehemiah Secures the Co-operation of the People; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.2.1 Night of Preparation; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.2.2 "Zealous of Good Works."; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.2.3 Precious Truth; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.3 Efforts to Hinder Nehemiah's Work; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.3.1 Disaffection Among the Unbelieving; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.3.2 Courageous Perseverance; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.3.3 Nehemiah Rebukes Extortion; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.3.4 Integrity in Business Affairs; ..to be continued:
Contents (2) Add-on from 18/9/2019 pp163-196- Par 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.3.5 Heathen Plots Against Nehemiah; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.3.5.1 Heathen Plots.--No. 2; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.3.6 The People Instructed in the Law of God; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.3.6.1 Observing the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.3.6.2 Solemn Fast; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.4 The Sabbath Reformation Under Nehemiah; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.4.1 The Sacredness of God's Law; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.4.2 Nehemiah Separates Israel From Idolaters; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5 The Need of True Reformers; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1 The Church May Appear as About to Fall; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.1 Decision Must be Made; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.2 Impending Final Contention; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.3 Reformation Must Accompany Revival; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.3.1 We Must Put Away All Strife and Dissension; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.3.2 Love One Another; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.3.3 Total Surrender Required; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.3.3.1 Clearing the Way for the Latter Rain; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.3.3.1.1 Become Active Laborers in Christ's Service; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.3.3.1.2 "Keep the Vessel Clean and Right Side Up"; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.3.3.2 Not All Will Receive the Latter Rain; 5.9.3.1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.4 We Are in the Day of Atonement; Wp5.9.3. Revive& Reform par 1.2.3.2.2.3.5.1.4.1 The Church to Arise and Repent; )
4.2 (a) The End is The Beginning
It is therefore appropriate to end D24 on this note and for those of you who wants to know more to join the www.wakeupow.com readers. However, the end is only finite in this world but God’s children are not of this world and are temporarily in this world only. The end is only the beginning, what remains is for the seekers of the reality of God to selectively list out the revealed part of godly mysteries in D24 and the lessons for application in the last days of this earth’s history.
To assist you in this vital endeavour, D24a will follow as a subpage on discovering the greatest mystery that “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”- Gen 1, of which we are the real actors. Have you ever considered the simple statement in the Bible to be that mystery? This will be revealed through the inspired writing of Ellen White.
End of D24 posted Mar 8, 2020 ( pp 61-71)
Post Script:
The continuation of the Book of Daniel is continued in CONTENTS (5) Pg 83-105 Posted Mar 16, 2020 at Wp5.9.4/5 Satan’s Mark- http://www.wakeupow.com/440101194 .
Then in Wp5.9.6 Covid-19 Pandemic 2020 at http://www.wakeupow.com/440101195 for :
Contents (1) posted Mar 29, 2020 pp 1-15 5.9.6 Pestilence in the Last Days;
Contents-2 5.9.6.3 Victory over Sin- Assurance in Daniel’s Fourth Vision;
Contents 3 5.9.6.3.2 Epilogue – Assurance of End-time Deliverance;
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