Bible Backgrounds with Meredith
Daniel Chapters 10-12
Chapter 10 happens in the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia and Daniel, who is approximately 80 years old, has been given a revelation. This is also his final vision, and according to verse 14 we know it had not yet happened.
Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.
Cyrus has allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and it is not exactly clear as to why, but Daniel stays in Babylonia.
After Daniel received the revelation, he was given a vision to make clear the message.
The vision had Daniel mourn for three weeks. During this time he ate no choice meat or wine and no lotions.
Verses 4-6 spell out where Daniel was and what he saw. Look at the detail in these verses and then reference them to Revelation
His eyes are like blazing fire,Revelation 19:12After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple Revelation 15:6 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters Revelation 1:15
There were others standing with him (vs 7) but they didn’t see anything because of such terror that overwhelmed them, they fled.
The heavenly messenger, starting in verse 12 tells Daniel to not be afraid. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.
When I read that I couldn’t help but ask, do I first of all ask for understanding with the right heart? And the bigger question: do I humble myself before the Lord?
Daniel still bowed to the ground and speechless, I had to ask myself: Am I ever speechless before God?
The heavenly messenger goes on to tell Daniel to not be afraid because he was highly esteemed. He also tells Daniel, “Peace! Be strong now; be strong!”
As we enter the end times, we need to have a peace as well that we do know how the story ends, but we also will need to be strong to endure the end times.
This Messenger tells Daniel that he had come to share what was written in the Book of Truth: The recordings of all past, present and future as dictated by God, who is in control of all.
Chapter 10 ends giving us the time frame associated with Daniel 5; In the first year of Darius the Mede. I took my stand, to support and to protect him (Chapters 5-6). You need to remember that this is also the time when Daniel and the Lions Den took place. Do you remember why Daniel was sent to the lions? Praying to God!
In chapter 6 it tells you why they were upset and wanted to get rid of Daniel. Finally the men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against the man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of His God”.
This got me to thinking, if there was a law that said I couldn’t pray to God, would anyone be there to arrest me? Do they even know by the way I live my life that God’s laws are important to me?
Chapter 11 picks right up with in great detail of the kings who will rise to power and what they will do. According to modern history a majority of Chapter 11 has now happened even though some of it sounds like it should be in the end times.
We can learn something though for today especially in verse 29-35
“At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.”
These verses happened in 168-167 BC, when Antiochus IV invaded the south. He retreated and plundered Jerusalem. Desecrated the temple and stopped the Jews’ daily sacrifice. He then defiled the temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar. Now even though “those he won over” has also happened, don’t forget that that same tactic is used by satan today. We still live in a world who is vying for power and to become god.
Remember that satan’s biggest lie is a half truth. We need to know the scripture and what the truth is so that when it is illegal to preach we will know God’s Truth. We will be able to stand firm in the Truth and lead others to the Truth.
Daniel 11: 36-39, again even though it is said to be fulfilled with Antiochus IV Epiphanes, or even Titus the Roman general, it is also thought to be talking about the Antichrist.
“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.”
As we end our study in Daniel it is said that starting in verse 40 of chapter 11 to the end of Chapter 12, we are talking Antichrist, end times.
The hope for Christians in this time is standing on the truth that Christ wins. But we can’t be naive because it says,
There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
In other words, we haven’t seen anything yet. We thought all the senseless murders, hatred and rioting is bad, just wait. We thought seeing innocent people being gunned down for no other reason than because, just wait.
We have heard the saying you reap what you sow? Well being a disobedient people group will have its consequences and double digit inflation and gas creeping toward the 6, 7 or even the 10 dollar mark won’t even compare.
As we finish Daniel, don’t wait! Make sure that your life reflects Jesus every day. Daniel lived out Romans 12:1-2 without ever knowing there was a man named Jesus let alone Paul.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
