King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Sunday, September 15, 2024
Chapters: Daniel Chapters 6-8
Message: Get Behind The Saviour
Hello My Friend,
I have had so many distractions today trying to get into God’s Word that I just knew that God was showing me something pretty serious today. Sometimes I feel like a complete failure when it comes to being a Christian, I will never understand why God watches over and protects me so much when I fail Him, but He reminded me of why He does, [1 John 2:1-5 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.]
The Gospel of Christ, when fully understood and received, sets the heart against sin, and stops the allowed practice of it once the sin becomes known to them. At the same time it gives blessed relief to the wounded consciences of those whom have sinned that they are not condemned if they do sin. Salvation, is not a means to justify sin, but it is a means to God’s grace, which finds a way to escape the sin, [1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.]
Daniel, is now very old, yet he was still respected and able to perform his duties as the kings third in command in Babylon. His success and ability was all contributed to his continued faithfulness to God and the people knew that too. As we continue in the reading of Daniel we learn that Darius is now the king of Babylon and was so impressed with Daniel that he was going to give him a promotion, but the other officials were not too happy about that.
[Daniel 6:1-4 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.]
[because an excellent spirit was in him;] Those who are faithful to God conduct themselves in a manner that professes their faith in Him even if they do not speak of God, and yet they have no problem professing that their success comes from God. Nevertheless, that only makes the wicked more determined to find something they can use to discredit them, even if they have to make something up. Well, these men knew that there was nothing they could accuse Daniel of any wrong doing so they came up with a plan to use his faithfulness to God against him.
[Daniel 6:7-10 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.]
[whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days] Seriously, what king of a law is that? Well, if they cannot discredit the Christians in any matter pertaining to their duties, they will try to show that the observance of their religious worship is dangerous to the state. Why was the king so quick to sign the decree? I do not think that he had time to think about it because they pressed him rather quickly about it, but what was done was done and now they had proof that Daniel broke the law that very day.
[Daniel 6:12-14 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.]
[when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself,] When Darius discovered that his beloved Daniel was guilty of breaking that ridiculous law he not only knew that he had not thought the law through before he signed it, he also realized that he would be responsible for an innocent man’s death. At this point, Darius had no other choice but to follow through with what the law stated, and that was to cast Daniel in the lions den.
[Daniel 6:16-18 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.]
[Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.] Darius, was no fool, he knew that God was with Daniel and that no matter what happened that his faith in God would see him through. The world may not worship God, but they know who does and are smart enough to know not to mess with those who do, [Matthew 18:4-6 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.]
To get a picture of what Daniel was up against, this was literally a den filled with viscous lions literally used for punishment and sport, even getting near one of these lions would be dangerous let alone an entire cave of them. While the king could not sleep all that night, Daniel had no problem sleeping, in fact, the next morning Darius ran to the lions den only to discover that the lions never touched Daniel.
[Daniel 6:20-23 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.]
[no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.] So, the question often comes up as to why God intervenes in some instances where faithful Christians lives are in danger, but allows others to get hurt or die in their faith. There are some instances that only faith can bring us to understand that God’s ways and thoughts are much higher than our own. What I can tell you and have witnessed myself is that God does intervene more that we think and His angels are everywhere protecting His faithful. Jesus, said it this way, [Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.]
We must realize that as long as we belong to Christ we are always going to be enemies with the wicked, but one way or another God will deliver us and He will also get His vengeance on those who attempt to destroy our testimonies. Daniel, was not only released from the lions den, Darius, took things a step further when he had the men and their families that conspired against Daniel thrown into the lions den.
[Daniel 6:24-26 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.]
[them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them,] So, why were their families punished as well? My guess is that they were contributors. It could have also been that they were trying to discredit the miracle by talking people into believing that the lions had already been fed. Well, that theory proved wrong when the lions not only tore their flesh apart, but broke their bones into pieces.
[every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:] Darius, figured it out, there is only one living God, and He is not only Daniel’s God, but God to all who believe in Him and live by faith in Him, [Romans 10:12-13 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.]
Now, we discover that Daniel had some dreams of his own, which actually took place when Belshazzar reigned, just before it got taken over by the Medes and Persians. Daniel’s, dream was so wild and vivid that when he woke up he wrote it down, and what he saw was four beasts that looked strange to him.
[Daniel 7:1-5 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. 5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.]
[And four great beasts came up from the sea,] The four beasts actually represent four world empires, Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, and Rome at different eras from the time of Babylon to the kingdom of Christ. Yes, I said the Kingdom of Christ, this is something that will take place at four different eras of time, beginning with Babylon and ending when Christ reigns as king, which had already started after Belshazzar was killed, [Matthew 16:27-28 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. 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.]
[The first was like a lion,] This was the Chaldeans. The eagle’s wings, represented their ruling over many countries and soared to an enormous height in a very short time. The wings were plucked, which indicated its ability for widespread conquests, which actually took place when Nebuchadnezzar was turned into an animal for seven years. [a second, like to a bear,] This represents the Medes and Persians, who came into Babylon as a fierce, ravenous creature. [three ribs in the mouth] The three ribs represent the Babylonians that revolted and were killed as a result. Now, Daniel, goes on to describe the other two beasts that he saw.
[Daniel 7:6-8 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 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.]
[like a leopard,] The leopard represents the Grecian’s who would come in under Alexander the Great. The four wings represent their swiftness and the four heads his chief commanders who divided the empire into four parts. [behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible,] This beast, also described by John in the Book of Revelation, represents the Roman empire. [it had ten horns.] The ten horns are ten kings of the European kingdoms at some point, some of these have already succeeded, and some have yet to succeed, [Revelation 13:1-2 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.]
Do you see how John’s vision is almost exact to Daniel’s? The Tribulation is not something that we just learned about in the New Testament, this was planned the second sin stepped upon the earth. Now, Daniel’s vision also describes something else that John also saw, and if you need a mental picture of what God looks like, well, here it is, God Himself, along with thousands upon thousands of saints ministering to Him as well as tens of thousands of thousands waiting to judged by the Judge Himself, Jesus Christ.
[Daniel 7:9-11 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.]
[the judgment was set, and the books were opened.] Of course, this is none other than Jesus Himself, and this is actually going to take place after the thousand year reign, and His saints are carried out of the earth to await the new heaven and earth while the unbelievers actually resurrect and get judged along with those who somehow survived the Tribulation, [Revelation 20:12-13 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.]
This is where the lost will get judged for every single thing they did, including the times when they rejected Christ. I know that the Books of Revelation, Ezekiel, and Daniel can be a little overwhelming, but the more I read and actually study them, the clearer they become, although some things will never be understood until we see Jesus. Now, Daniel still greatly disturbed by the vision of the fourth beast, receives a visitor to explain it.
[Daniel 7:15-18,23 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 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.]
[shall devour the whole earth,] The reason why the fourth beast was so dreadful was because this will take place prior to Christ returning, and he is none other than the Antichrist or beast as we know him to be, [Daniel 7:25-27 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.]
[to consume and to destroy it unto the end.] Acting solely by the power of Satan, he will bring evil in this world like we have never seen before, taking vengeance on Christ’s saints, and although he will prosper for a season, Christ, will utterly destroy him in the end, and Satan too, [Revelation 20:9-10 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.]
Now, if Daniel thought that that dream was rather disturbing, that was nothing compared to what God had shown him three years later, still while Belshazzar reigned, which he found even more disturbing.
[Daniel 8:3-5,9,11 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. 5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.]
[a ram which had two horns:] This represents the Medes and Persia once again, the higher horn is Persia which had arose at last. [he goat had a notable horn between his eyes.] This represents the Grecian empire, this was when Alexander the great was powerful, until he was broken to pieces, for he, his mother, son, brother, and all his kindred were destroyed. [a little horn,] This was Antiochus Epiphanes of Egypt, where he besieged and took many places in the south. [toward the pleasant land.] This land is Judea, because of the temple and people of God in it.
[he magnified himself even to the prince of the host,] This is actually talking about a second beast from Revelation, who is the false prophet, and he will come shortly after the Antichrist, and cause havoc on the world. When these two beasts are on the earth it will nearly be impossible to get saved and those who do will be to their death, and this is what Revelation refers to as the multitudes who were saved and died during that time, [Revelation 15:2-3 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.]
We do not know the hour in which all this will take place, but I can tell you right now, there are many false prophets here already, and the Antichrist is lurking about, just waiting for the signal from his master, who is Satan. There are actually two visions going on here at the same time, the conquest of the Media and Persia, and the tribulation, in which the Antichrist and false prophet overtake the earth. Now, disturbed by this, God sends the angel, Gabriel to help him understand the dream, and this was the interpretation.
[Daniel 8:19-21,24-25 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. 20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 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.]
[he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes;] Satan, has been trying to stop Jesus since He came to earth in the flesh, he thought that He stood up to Him when He hung on the cross and died, and for three days I am sure he was laughing hysterically, but that was until He arose from the dead. Now, his time is coming when he will get cast into hell and the lake of fire, with all the rest who rejected God, [Revelation 20:10,15 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Daniel 8:25 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.]
Today’s Prayer: God, I thank You for the gift of eternal life when I put my faith and trust in Your Son, Jesus Christ, to save me from my sin, the second death, and hell. Jesus, thank You for giving Your life as a sacrifice to save us, not by any merits which we have done, but by our faith and acceptance of You alone. It can be hard and quite heartbreaking to see all the judgments taking place today as we near the day of Your return, but as long as long as we stick close to you we can endure it all. Lord, lead us and guide us, keep us reminded that the things we do for You are not to keep our salvation, but to bring others to You so they too can see You and be saved. Let our ears be open to the sound of the trump as You call Your saints to join You in Your kingdom. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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