Daniel Extremity 9 Part 3

Reflections and Connections

In this last section of study of Daniel 9 we will both be recounting some of the key points of the chapter and also some deeper concerns that the word of God makes us aware of. The driving force behind the chapter is based upon Daniel's recognition of the times he is living in and his concerns for the future of his people (the Hebrew people). In part 1 we discover Daniel's observances based upon his faith in God and knowledge in scriptures and prophets which he demonstrates throughout. His attention then becomes the future and he pens his remarkable prayer. In part 2 we discover God's affections for Daniel through revelation of his concerns by sending Gabriel to answer his prayer. It is in both his prayer and the answer that we will make the connections that God allows us to understand.

Mat 24:10-15 KJV

(10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

(11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

(12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

(13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

(14) 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.

(15) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

1Ti 4:12-16 KJV

(12) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

(13) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

(14) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

(15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

(16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

2Ti 2:14-16 KJV

(14) Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

(15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(16) But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Dan 9:1-2 KJV

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

(2) In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

Jer 25:11-12 KJV

(11) And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

(12) And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that 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.

We explored in part 2 the symbolic connection of the time frames regarding sabbath weeks, the lack of honoring the rest of the land and the personal freedoms of the people. The pattern of history ranging from the crossing of the Jordan until the 4^th year of Solomon according to the Bible was 480 years. The number of years from the completion of the temple to the decree to rebuild it (the temple) another 480 years.

Then we are given a precise look at prophetic history for another 483 years in response to Daniel's prayer. A message delivered by Gabriel. It's amazing how in the day and age we are living in some people still want to put a barrier between the 2 testaments. Yes it's true this ministry preaches on that subject a lot. Why shouldn't we when we have Jesus addressing the prophets directly and by name. In this instance of course being Daniel found where else? In the signs of the end of the age.

In some of our earlier looks at the last day resurrection of the nation of Israel we noted that the declaration of the nation was announced 14 May, 1948. The 6 day war which ended with a decisive victory for Israel was fought between 5 June and 10 June 1967. Notice the proximity to a period of 19 years between the declaration and the capture of Jerusalem. The decree to build the temple given by Cyrus came approximately 536bc. As we looked into the situation in part 2 we discovered that the enemies of Israel at that time managed to delay the construction. Most historical accounts show the temple being completed in 516bc. Construction began 480 years after the completion of Solomon's temple and with the delay it took approximately 19 years to complete. So we have a definite pattern in prophecy on 2 separate occasions in Jewish history. Now for one more little fact before we move into some more astounding facts. Abraham the father of the multitudes was born 1,948 years after creation. Some scholars dispute this but if we go strictly by the numbers given in scripture we come to the year 1948. The same year as the nation he fathered was reborn in the Gregorian year 1948.

In an earlier part of this study a reference was made concerning a very interesting verse found in Daniel's prayer. The verse we will look at in word study is verse 11. However we will list verses 10-12 to set the mood for what is going to be said.

Dan 9:10-12 KJV
(10) Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
(11) Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
(12) And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

Now keep the verse Daniel 9:11 in close regard.

With that thought in mind please reconsider the following passage we placed in the beginning of our present study.

1Ti 4:12-16 KJV

(12) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

(13) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

(14) Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

(15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

(16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

The passage from Daniel combined with this one from 1 Timothy provides an incredible relationship between Daniel 9:11 and the date 9/11/2001. If you are an American and you are not familiar with that date in history make yourself aware of it. When reading the passage from Daniel as with all prophetic words of the Bible reasons are given for the things which happen perceived good or bad. Another very important passage we need to remind ourselves of is found in Romans.

Rom 3:22-26 KJV

(22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

(23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

(24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

(25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

(26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Dan 9:11 KJV

(11) Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

Please take a very close look at the Hebrew word for curse

H423

אלה 'âlâh

aw-law'

From H422; an imprecation: - curse, cursing, execration, oath, swearing.

H422

אלה 'âlâh

aw-law'

A primitive root; properly to adjure, that is, (usually in a bad sense) imprecate: - adjure, curse, swear.

Do you notice anything particularly interesting about this word?

It just happens to be pronounced and almost spelled exactly the same as the Arabic god Allah. As a matter of fact there is only 1 letter variance in the spelling. The pronunciation is the same. However the words and gods involved here are totally different. Liberal Christianity and philosophy would use a phrase something like “it's just another name for God”. If this is the case then someone please explain to the world why 1 God has a Son who dies on a cross for the sins of the world. Then explain to the world why the Arabic god or any other does not. There are approximately 13 different words used in the OT for the word curse found in 81 different verses of scripture (KJV). Is it not interesting that out of these 13 different words Daniel uses this particular word. This word only appears in 8 locations in the OT and in the future we will study these thoroughly and they are also very interesting places to find the word alah.

In the profound nature of the usage of this word in Hebrew in Daniel 9:11 we have to consider what happened to America on September 11^th 2001 or 9/11/2001. America was attacked by a religious element of the world which in following the fundamental teachings of the Quran are set to kill “infidels” who think God has a son. These so called “fanatics” worship a god called Allah who was chosen by the prophet Mohammed from an engraving of the moon at the site of the Mecca. This is why you see a crescent or full moon symbol attached to the tops of the mosques of the world. Just so we don't upset the politically correct people of the world below are 4 different passages taken from an English version of the Quran concerning the Islamic teachings concerning Jesus or in the Arabic Isa. Now take into a consideration a false god named Allah shares the name for curse in the OT.

(1) Verily! This is the true narrative [about the story of 'Îsa (Jesus)], and La ilaha illallah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the One and the Only True god, Who has neither a wife nor a son). And indeed, Allah is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. (  سورة آل عمران  , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #62) (Arabic, Transliteration, Urdu, Yusuf Ali, Shakir, Picthal, Mohsin Khan, French, Spanish, Indonesian, Melayu, German, Bosnian, Russian)

(2) They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] to worship none but One Ilah (god - Allah) La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) . Praise and glory be to Him (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)." (  سورة التوبة  , At-Taubah, Chapter #9, Verse #31)(Arabic, Transliteration, Urdu, Yusuf Ali, Shakir, Picthal, Mohsin Khan, French, Spanish, Indonesian, Melayu, German, Bosnian, Russian)

(3) And those who invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse - and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.
(  سورة الفرقان  , Al-Furqan, Chapter #25, Verse #68)
(Arabic, Transliteration, Urdu, Yusuf Ali, Shakir, Picthal, Mohsin Khan, French, Spanish, Indonesian, Melayu, German, Bosnian, Russian)

(4) Then the sects differed [i.e. the Christians about 'Îsa (Jesus) عليه السلام], so woe unto the disbelievers [those who gave false witness by saying that 'Îsa (Jesus) is the son of Allah] from the Meeting of a great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection, when they will be thrown in the blazing Fire) .
( سورة مريم , Maryam, Chapter , Verse #37) (Arabic, Transliteration, Urdu, Yusuf Ali, Shakir, Picthal, Mohsin Khan, French, Spanish, Indonesian, Melayu, German, Bosnian, Russian)

According to Islamic teaching we who are Christians and proclaim salvation through the miracles, the blood and the resurrection of Jesus are unbelievers. More importantly if we proclaim Jesus to be the 1 and only Son of God we are also living in unbelief. So do not let anyone who teaches God has many names or there are many ways to God get inside of your beliefs. You can decide for yourself how you feel about this choice of words in the Hebrew. If you feel that all scripture is inspired by God, then this passage of Daniel 9:11 should very much come alive to the believer in the spirit.

2Ti 3:12-17 KJV

(12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

(13) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

(14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

(15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

(16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

(17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Luk 12:8-10 KJV

(8) Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

(9) But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

(10) And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

1Jn 2:22-26 KJV

(22) Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

(23) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

(24) Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

(25) And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

(26) These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

1Co 14:30-33 KJV

(30) If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

(31) For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

(32) And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

(33) For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Dan 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse(H423) is poured(H5413) upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

We also have an interesting choice of wording in the method which the curse is delivered. It is very similar for Jerusalem and the United States.

H5413

נתך nâthak

naw-thak'

A primitive root; to flow forth (literally or figuratively); by implication to liquefy: - drop, gather (together), melt, pour (forth, out).

Just as Jerusalem was burned by fire by both the Babylonians and the Romans the World Trade Centers fell as a result of the extreme heat and the infrastructure melting. Many skeptics try and paint a picture of conspiracy over this fact. It never ceases to amaze how someone can determine how 15-20000 gallons of jet fuel could not burn hot enough to do this. One might suggest that maybe these so called knowledgeable skeptics douse themselves with 20000 gallons of jet fuel and ignite it and see how well their frames handle the heat. Please read the following verses from Isaiah 30 and think about the world we live in today.

Isa 30:17 KJV

(17) One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

Isa 30:25-30 KJV

(25) And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

(26) Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

(27) Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:

(28) And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

(29) Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.

(30) And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

Now we can consider some more prophetic links Daniel 9 provides to future events.

Dan 9:24-27 KJV

(24) Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

(25) Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

(26) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

(27) And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

In part 2 we took a traditional look at the sabbath weeks and jubilee year as it related to the commands of God and how they were not honored by the people. We briefly explored how these weeks of years were applied to the history of Israel after the Babylonian captivity and the connections to the coming of Jesus and His crucifixion. Hopefully our indulgence into the math of all this did not run you off. It is important to the prophecy given by Gabriel. We basically hit upon the first 69 of the 70 weeks. Where does this leave us? Well it leaves us with 1 final week of 7 years. This final week is recognized by 2 different descriptions. The first ½ or 42 months known as the tribulation and the final ½ or 42 months as the great tribulation. 

Many believe that the rebuilding of the temple which is usually referred to as Ezekiel's Temple will in large part result in the 7 year peace treaty that will be violated in the midst. In Ezekiel chapters 40-47 in the approximate year 572bc at the time of Passover God begins a lengthy vision of a future temple that would be built. As we briefly mentioned in part 2 this temple may very well be built in response to a 7 year peace treaty which this coming prince of the future will bring about. This is all in a flow of prophetic happenings which we first began to deal with in brief in Daniel 7. This prince is no other than the little horn rising up against the people of God and the Messiah. We also know this individual as the antichrist. 

Dan 7:20-28 KJV

(20) And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

(21) I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

(22) Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

(23) Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

(24) And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

(25) And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

(26) But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

(27) And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

(28) Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

This time frame in verse 25 equals a 3 ½ period of time in which this individual will take control of the world's governmental, religious and economic situations. In order to better put this into perspective we must look forward to the book of Revelation. First let's take a look in word study considering this prince Gabriel reveals to Daniel.

Dan 9:26 KJV

(26) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

H5057

נגד נגיד nâgı̂yd nâgid

naw-gheed', naw-gheed'

From H5046; a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstract plural), honorable themes: - captain, chief, excellent thing, (chief) governor, leader, noble, prince, (chief) ruler.

We can see by the explanation given here and what we have studied about this so far and understand the world will be subjugated to a leader. This leader will probably be some kind of combination of all three forms of leadership listed in this definition. These 3 being civil, military and religious. It was in chapter 8 we began to discover what this individual would act like and do.

Dan 8:23-25 KJV

(23) And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

(24) And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

(25) And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

We referenced the historical version of this prophecy fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes. We explored how his character would be a foreshadow of the coming antichrist. We know that the future temple will be built and daily sacrifices will be made again. According to Daniel 9:27 the antichrist will put an end to the sacrifice.

Dan 9:27 KJV

(27) And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

In addition to this he will sit in the temple and declare to the world that he is god.

2Th 2:1-5 KJV

(1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

(2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

(4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

(5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

This was not accomplished when the Romans destroyed the temple. Therefore Paul was referring us to a future event that will take place. After all John is credited with penning the book of Revelation in 95ad. This would be 25 years after the Romans destroyed the temple. Now we can take a look back for just a moment to chapters 2 and 7.

Dan 2:41-44 KJV

(41) And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

(42) And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

(43) And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

(44) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Dan 7:7-11 KJV

(7) After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

(8) I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

(9) I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

(10) A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

(11) I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

Dan 7:20-22 KJV

(20) And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

(21) I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

(22) Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

We connected the 10 toes of chapter 2 as being the 10 horns of chapter 7. They are representative of the 10 eastern and western nations that would arise after the fall of Rome. They come back into play in Revelation 17.

Rev 17:1-3 KJV

(1) And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

(2) With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

(3) So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

Rev 17:8-14 KJV

(8) The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

(9) And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

(10) And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

(11) And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

(12) And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

(13) These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

(14) These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

This bond of the 10 nations to the beast is the fulfillment of Daniel and his prophecies. We can summarize this hopefully into an understandable set of circumstances. In Daniel 2 we are given the vision of the 4 great earthly kingdoms which would arise after the Babylonian empire. We explored the rise of the Medes and Persians, the Greeks an Rome. Daniel also saw the basis for the 4^th and final empire to come together arising out of the Roman empire in his distant future. As we have observed before the other 2 empires were Egypt and Assyria. Many understand (including myself) these are the 7 kingdoms of the earth which the Lord defeats in His glory.

Dan 2:44-45 KJV

(44) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

(45) Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

We are at a point in history in which nations most of the world would consider unstable in their foundations of government are obtaining nuclear weapons. Perhaps none more dangerous with their intentions than the nation of Iran. Iran also happens to be of the 7 empires of biblical prophecy. There are a couple of things that should be considered as definite possibilities at the very least. One of these being Israel will not put up with the threats of Iran forever. Once Iran obtains their nuclear weapons capability if they have not already there will almost have to be a major peace accord drawn up unless we see this situation break into an all out war in the middle east. We can consider these aspects of the prophecies as we move forward. The most important thing to do is keep our eyes and thoughts focused on the Lord. Jesus provides us with the very fundamental way in which we do this in the times we are living in. Through our weapons of faith such as reading and praying we can gain better understanding of the times we are living in just as Daniel has demonstrated to us so far in the study of his book.

Mat 24:42-51 KJV

(42) Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

(43) But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

(44) Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

(45) Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

(46) Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

(47) Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

(48) But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

(49) And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

(50) The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

(51) And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

As always Thank You and God Bless