Fri.’s Devo - The End-Time Visions of Daniel

Read: Daniel 9:1-11:1; 1 John 2:18-3:6; Psalm 121:1-8; Provers 28:27-28 Darius the Mede took over Babylon the night God wrote on the wall telling King Belteshazzar that his kingdom was finished. Today’s reading took place during Darius’ first year. Daniel had been reading from the words of Jeremiah and saw that Jerusalem was to lie desolate for 70 years. He began fasting and put on burlap and ashes. He repented for himself and all the people of Israel. They had gotten just what God had warned they would if they turned against him. Daniel called upon God’s faithful mercies and begged God to turn his anger away from Jerusalem. Gabriel came to Daniel to give him a message. He explained that the moment he began praying, God gave a command which was to tell Daniel that future of the world. Daniel refers to 70 years and 70 weeks. The 70 weeks began 457 B.C., at the return of Ezra to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. This started 81 years after Daniel received the prophecy. The 70 years began in 606 B.C. when Jerusalem fell to Babylon. Almost a millennium would pass until the Messiah would be killed and it would appear that he accomplished nothing. A type of Antichrist would rise up to destroy the city and its Temple. Israel would be at war and full of miseries till the end. The Antichrist will make a treaty with God’s people for 7 years but will break his covenant half way through the seven years and set up set up sacrilegious objects in the Temple that cause desecration. Cyrus came to rule after Darius. During his third year, Daniel had another vision. Daniel had been fasting for three weeks when it came. He saw Jesus transform before him in all his glory. The men with Daniel all ran to hide they were so afraid. Daniel stood silent. When he saw Jesus he fell to his face to the ground. An angel helped him to his feet and he was told to stand. Gabriel explained that he had been sent the first day Daniel began to pray but had been hindered by the prince of Persia. Michael had to help him so he could escape to come tell Daniel his answer. Jesus touched Daniel and he felt strength come into his body. He told him that he would have to fight the spirit prince of Persia and then the spirit prince of Greece. Michael, which was Israel’s spirit prince would help him. Micael had been assigned to help Darius because Darius housed God’s people. John explained that many antichrists have been on the earth. He knew that the end had come because many people had left the church because they never really belong to the Body of Christ. But those who knew the truth would stay. They knew the difference between truth and lies. John laid out the truth so simply: The Holy Spirit leads us into truth and is our teacher and the guardian of our soul. We must believe in both the Son and the Father to have eternal life. We are God’s children but the world doesn’t understand this. Sin is contrary to the law of God. Jesus took our sins away so we no longer continue in sin if we know who God is. Lord, thank you for your new covenant of grace and power. Thank you for your world plan. We say, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!”