Understanding The Tribulation

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King James Bible Study[Mark 8:34  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.]

Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Chapters: Daniel 7-9
Message: Understanding The Tribulation

Hello My Friend,

I really did not know where these chapters were taking me as most of the time I would talk about dreams and how God sometimes speaks to us in our dreams. There are so many people who believe that God does not speak to us today as He did the prophets or those He walked with, and that He only speaks to us through His Word. Well, let me tell you, anyone who tells you that you need to read the Bible to know that there is something going on that we have never seen before in all the world, since perhaps before the flood. There are things that we do not understand at all, but He has already given us everything we need to know concerning Christ’s return and what is to come before and after that.

[Matthew 24:21,24,29-30  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.]

The resurrection, the day in which every sleeping saint will wake up in their graves, and join Jesus as He reigns here on earth, along with those which are yet alive [I Thessalonians 4:16-17], is not something we will truly understand until we see it happening. The Tribulation itself is definitely not something that we will truly understand, but that is why He gave us a description and even a few explanations as to what will take place prior to Christs return. Sometimes you can read the Bible as one of those novels where the plot is not given until after you read about what led up to it. As we continue reading through Daniel, bear with me, there is a lot to cover in these few chapters we discover that he had some dreams of his own, that took place when Nebuchadnezzar’s son, 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 it was shared with all of us.

[Daniel 7:2-4  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.]

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 time, beginning with Babylon, which had already started after Belshazzar was killed. The first beast [a lion], was the Chaldeans. The eagle’s wings, which are swift, 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 during Nebuchadnezzar’s privation of the throne when he was deranged. The man’s heart indicates that they would lose their lion like courage, and become cowardly. This actually reminds me of America as it too became a powerful nation in such a short amount of time, but it has also become cowardly, and I fear what is going to happen if things continue.

Now, the second beast [a bear], represents the Medes and Persians, who came into Babylon as a fierce, ravenous creature. On one side was the Medes, who first arose as Cyrus came to assist Babylon against the Assyrians. The three ribs represent the Babylonians that revolted and were killed as a result. Rebellion nor ignorance saves no one, in fact, it will send you straight to hell quicker than acknowledging who Christ is, [2 Peter 2:21-22  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.]

And now, the other two beasts are described, [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.]

[a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl;] 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. Now, the fourth beast, this one was not even described at all, just recognized as something dreadful, [a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly;] This beast, also described by John in the Book of Revelation and represents the Roman empire. 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 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 the rejected Christ. Now, as Daniel continues to describe the dream, he also sees what will come of the other beasts and who will survive the judgment, [Daniel 7:12-13  As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 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.  14  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.]

I know that the Books of Revelation, Ezekiel, and Daniel can be a little confusing, but the more I read and actually study them, the clearer they become, although some things will never be revealed until we see Jesus. Now, Daniel was greatly confused by the fourth beast, but there was someone else in the dream, and angel.

[Daniel 7:23-26  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.]

[to consume and to destroy it unto the end.] 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. 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 8:3,5,7,9  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.  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.  7  And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 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.]

[a ram which had two horns:] This represents the Medes and Persia once again, the higher horn is Persia which had arose at last. Then Cyrus, came in and became more powerful than that of the Medes, even though they were a smaller empire. Now, the he goat, 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. situated; to the east, Babylon and Syria; to the south, Egypt; to the north, Asia the less; to the west, Greece. [a little horn,] This was Antiochus Epiphanes. of Egypt, where he besieged and took many places in the south. The pleasant land is Judea, so called 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 three days later when He arose from the dead. The clearest prophecy concerning Jesus, and the exact time in which He will be crucified in the Old Testament is give as Daniel begins to pray out to God when he discovered the Scriptures said regarding their captivity.

[Daniel 9:24-26  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.]

[and to make reconciliation for iniquity] The seventy weeks in this case means one day for a year, or four hundred and ninety years to be exact. At the end of sixty-nine weeks one sacrifice would be offered by one man, making full atonement for sin, bringing righteousness and eternal life to every believer. The order to restore Jerusalem came in 446 BC, adding the four hundred and sixty-nine years would brings us to thirty years over the birth of Christ. When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He was thirty years old, it lasted three and a half years, bringing us to 34 AD, which was the time of Christ’s death. The last week of years will be fulfilled during the tribulation, after which Christ will appear suddenly in the clouds to set up His eternal kingdom, [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.]

Jesus Christ Magnified: [Daniel 7:13-14  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.  14  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. 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, 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 are we saved. 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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