2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 265

Sep21

    Day 265—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and ZECHARIAH’S prophecy.

    Day 265 – Zechariah 10 – 14 (Restoration for Judah & Israel now and in the future Messianic Kingdom, Jesus as shepherd and his rejection, Israel’s ultimate salvation, 2nd coming of the LORD)

This section is full of prophetic words for the time it was spoken, the time of Jesus’ first coming & rejection, and the time of His second coming and ultimate rule over restored Israel…all jumbled together in 5 chapters.  Whew!

Zechariah 10. God promises early and later rain to the people, meaning both physical and spiritual rain.  He condemns “household gods” and other means of divination that cause His people to wander like lost sheep looking for the direction HE would supply. His anger is against the false shepherds who led his people into sin. Yet God loves the people and will bring them all back from the distant lands to become strong again.

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Zechariah 11. Next, Zechariah is asked to act as the true shepherd (Jesus) to a wayward sheep, doomed to slaughter (i.e., raised for sacrifice) who will reject him.  Zechariah had two staffs, and when the “sheep” detested him, he refused to be their shepherd anymore. He broke his staffs (as if annulling the covenant with Israel). 

Then, “shepherd” Zechariah is to ask for his wages. He is given “30 pieces of silver.” The LORD then instructs him to throw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter.  (This is such a picture of Jesus being betrayed for the same amount of coin, and then Judas returning the money to the Jewish leaders in the temple, who then bought a “potter’s field” to bury his remains.) (Matthew 27:3-10)

With the “true shepherd” gone, Zechariah is then to play the role of a false shepherd who depicts the Antichrist of Daniel’s 70th week.  Because the future Israel did not choose the Good Shepherd, they will be destroyed by the foolish one, which is what Antichrist tries to do. (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15-22)

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Zechariah 12. The prophet reverts here to the coming Messianic age and the final restoration of Israel. Jerusalem will be like a “cup of staggering” (a huge wine bowl from which all the nations will get drunk.) Then, they will be easily defeated when they come to fight. (The Battle of Armageddon, Ezekiel 38:1-6, 14-16, Daniel 11:30-44, Revelation 9:13-16, 14;20, 16:12-16)  

The leaders will proclaim, “The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God,” possibly speaking of the Jews’ saving faith at that time.

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that when they look on me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weeps bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn Son.”

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Zechariah 13. “On that day, there will be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”

“Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, against the Man who stands next to me, declares the LORD of hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered….”

In the whole land, declares the LORD, two-thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one-third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my Name, and I will answer them. I will say, They are my people, and they will say, The LORD is my God.”  (See Matthew 25:31-46)

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Zechariah 14.   This chapter flashes back to chapters 12 and 13 before Israel’s national conversion.  The Jews will make a pact with a false messiah (the foolish shepherd or Antichrist).   In the middle of that 7-year covenant (Daniel’s 70th week), the Antichrist will break his treaty and require worship of himself alone. When Israel refuses, then comes Armageddon. After the LORD intervenes (His feet standing on the Mount of Olive, splitting it east & west), then comes the complete restoration of Israel.

And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day, the LORD will be one, and His name one.”   “The whole land shall be turned into a (fertile) plain.”    “There shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security.”

“Then everyone who survives of all the nations ( the Gentiles ) that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts.”  Wow.

 

(Tomorrow begins the book of ESTHER, telling of the Jews who did NOT RETURN from exile to Jerusalem.)

 

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 264

Sep20

    Day 264—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and ZECHARIAH’S prophecy.

    Day 264 – Zechariah 5 – 9  (3 visions, Israel’s enemies, the Messiah)

Zechariah 5. Zechariah’s sixth dream/vision is a huge Flying Scroll – 15×30 feet, the same size as the holy place in the temple. It’s written on both sides. The 2nd and 8th commandments are listed, so maybe the scroll was of all the 10 Commandments.

It symbolizes the Word of God that Israel and the entire world have disobeyed and the coming judgment.

The Woman in a Basket is the seventh vision.  The angel shows Zechariah the woman inside the basket, whom he calls “Wickedness,” and quickly covers the basket with the lead top.  Two women with stork-like wings pick up the basket and carry it off.  This pictures the wickedness that permeated Israel and Judah, finally being carried off to Shinar (ancient Babylon’s name and the place of the tower of Babel).  This is the final “great Babylon” of Revelation 17 – 18, which will be destroyed before the Messiah’s kingdom is set up.

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Zechariah 6.  The last dream/vision is of Four Chariots. The chariots represent God’s judgment on the nations that attack Israel. The two mountains are probably Mt. Zion and the Mt of Olives, where the Lord Jesus will return.  The color of the horses pulling the chariots is again similar to the 4 Apocalyptic horses in Revelation 6:1-8.  These chariots envision vengeance on the nations.  When the final judgment is done, God’s spirit of wrath rests.  See also Revelation 19 – 20.

The Crown and the Temple. Although this is not a vision, the crown on Joshua, the high priest, and the coming One (the Branch of David’s line) who will sit on a throne in the temple He will build again, picture the Lord Jesus who will both reign as King and serve as High Priest in the Messianic kingdom on earth.

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Zechariah 7. With the temple now half finished and no obstacles to hinder them, people from Bethel came to the priests in Jerusalem and asked if they should keep mourning the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.  God, through Zechariah, scolds them.  Was your mourning for Me or for yourselves?  Obedience, not ritual, is what is essential. (This reminds me of Samuel’s “To obey is better than sacrifice” to the former King Saul.)  God is interested in HEART attitudes.

God then reminds them how He had called the people repeatedly to justice, kindness, and mercy, not oppressing widows, orphans, and the poor, and not devising evil in their hearts.  But they had refused to listen to Him…so HE refused to listen to them in their hour of distress and scattered them.

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Zechariah 8. God, through Zechariah, is still answering the Bethel delegation.  He loves His people so much. His wrath was caused by His jealousy of them. But now He has returned and will dwell in their midst again, in “the faithful city.”  This also speaks of the remnant of Israel in the coming Messianic Kingdom, where “Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the city’s streets shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”

“I will save my people from the east and west countries and bring them to dwell in Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

“And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things (peace, fruitfulness, produce, dew from heaven). And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing.  Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

Then, to the remnant, God repeats the requirement that He gave formerly of speaking truth and peace with each other, devising no evil or false oaths or other things He hates.

And FINALLY, He answers their question.  “The FASTS shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy, and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Love truth and peace. “

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Zechariah 9. The first of two “oracles.”  Judgment of Israel’s Enemies, The first Coming, and rejection of the King of Zion. (Behold your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  (See Matthew 21, John 12)

Verses 10-17 allude to their king’s SECOND Coming: “His rule shall be from sea to sea.”   “On that day, the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of His people; for like the jewels of a crown, they shall shine on His land. For how great is His goodness and how great His beauty.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 263

Sep19

    Day 263—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and ZECHARIAH’S prophecy.

    Day 263 – Zechariah 1 – 4  (A call to repentance, and five visions)

According to Ezra 5:1 and 6:14, Zechariah and Haggai were prophets to the returned-from-exile Jews to begin (Haggai) and to finish (Zechariah) the rebuilding of the Temple.  Z. reminded them that this is where the Messiah would come, so build it!! Haggai was more scolding, whereas Z was more positive, reassuring them of future blessings. 

Zechariah 1.  Zechariah’s first words were of hope. “Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you.” Don’t be like your fathers who did not listen.  The people took this to heart and repented.

The “Horseman” was the first of five visions/dreams in this section and reassured the Jews of God’s purpose for their future. The man on the red horse is called “the angel of the LORD” and possibly is an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ.  Z. also sees three other horses, possibly referring to Revelation 6:1-8.  These patrol the earth, seeing the nations who had come against Israel, which angered the LORD. But He promises to return to Jerusalem with mercy. “My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.”

The “Horns and Craftsmen” vision is the second in the same night. The angel tells Z. that the four horns he sees are the nations God used to scatter Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.  The four craftsmen were come to terrify those nations and “cast them down.”

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Zechariah 2. The “Man with a Measuring Line” vision was next in that night of dreams. This vision is meant to comfort the returned exiles.  Not only is God measuring Jerusalem to rebuild it in their time, but also a greater Jerusalem in the time of the Messiah’s reign on earth.  And again, woes to the nations who dared to “touch Israel, the apple of His eye.”

And God’s promise of a glorious future time, “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come, and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people.”

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Zechariah 3. The “Joshua as High Priest” vision is the fourth that night and speaks of Israel’s future role as a priestly nation.  Joshua, the high priest, is pictured standing before “the angel of the LORD” in filthy garments (much like the nation of Israel, sinful and unworthy). At his right is Satan, the Adversary, accusing him.  The LORD rebukes Satan, saying Joshua is chosen, a “brand plucked from the fire,” much like Jerusalem. 

Note: God Himself (the angel of the LORD) removes Joshua’s filthy garments and clothes him in pure robes and a priestly turban.  This is also a glorious picture of God’s actions for those who trust in His Son, Jesus the Messiah. Our filthy sin is removed, and Christ’s righteousness clothes us like a robe.

Then, speaking of Jesus, the Messiah, the “Branch,” God says, “I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.”

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Zechariah 4. The “Golden Lampstand”  vision is next.  It’s a huge menorah with a large golden “bowl” for oil, seven branches, and seven lips on each branch.  Behind it are two olive trees feeding oil constantly to the bowl and branches.  “What are these?” asked Z.  “Don’t you know?” asked the Angel.  “No, my, Lord,” said Z. 

And the LORD replies,  “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. What are you, O great mountain?  Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain.”   Here, the LORD, through Z., encourages Zerubbabel to finish the temple building.  And God will give an abundant supply of His Spirit to help. (Spirit is often represented by oil in the Bible.)  God says that, although this temple is smaller and less grand than the previous one, it represents the glorious restoration temple when the Messiah comes to reign. 

And then the LORD tells Z. who the olive trees represent (verse 14). They are the “anointed ones” representing the kingly and priestly offices in Israel, through which God’s blessing will flow. At the time, these were Zerubbabel (descendant of David) and Joshua (descendant of Eleazar).  Together, they foreshadow the Messiah, who is both king and priest, like Melchizedek.  (Psalm 110)

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(Three more dreams that night will follow tomorrow.)

  

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 262

Sep18

    Day 262—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and a look at HAGGAI’s prophecy.

    Day 262 – Haggai 1 – 2  (encouraging & scolding messages to the returned  Jews about rebuilding the temple)

Haggai should be read alongside the first part of Ezra.

Haggai 1.  The people cared for their own houses instead of starting/finishing the temple. In Haggai’s message to Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua (Jeshua in Ezra), they are to tell the people to “build the House of the LORD, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified.”  He tells them that THAT is the reason for all the setbacks. They are putting themselves ahead of their God.

When Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the returned people set their hearts to obey the voice of the Lord, God’s message was, “I am with you.”  And they came and worked on the House of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the 24th day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king. (Scholars say that was August 24, 520 BC.)

Haggai 2.  Haggai then tells the governor and high priest to comfort the old-timers who remember Solomon’s temple compared to the one they are building. He says, “How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?  Yet now be strong, all you people of the land.  Work, for I am with you, according to the covenant I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.”

Then God tells them of a future time when he will shake the nations, and all the treasures of the nations shall come, and He will fill His house with glory.  “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former.  And in this place, I will give peace.”

Then, the LORD and Haggai, the prophet, discuss holy and clean things versus unclean things. God reminds him (and the people) that HE, His glory, His temple, etc., should be first in their hearts. If not, their “unclean hands and heart” would make the temple they are building “unclean” also. But now that their hearts are set to finish the project, they will see the LORD blessing them.

Then Haggai is told to give Zerubbabel a special message from God about a future time. On that day (the day of the Messiah’s triumph), says the LORD of hosts, “I will take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant (a Messianic title), and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you.”

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(NOTE: Zerubbabel is the official representative of the Davidic dynasty and shows the resumption of the messianic line (from his grandfather, King Jehoiachin. See Jeremiah 22:24 with 1 Chronicles 3:17, 19), which was interrupted by the exile. Zerubbabel is in David’s kingly line, both from Joseph’s and Mary’s side. See Matt. 1:12, Luke 3:27, showing both the title and blood lines.)

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 261

Sep17

    Day 261—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history.

    Day 261 – Ezra 4 – 6, Psalm 137  (Lots of push-back from the residents about the temple building.  a wistful song remembering Jerusalem)

Ezra 4. The temple foundation is finished, sacrifices have been started, the people are rejoicing (or weeping).  Then, all of a sudden, opposition to the Temple building project arises from the locals. They have been living in the area for over 70 years…it’s THEIR property now….who are these Jews from Babylon who are taking over “their” land?

It begins with an offer to “help” them build. At first this seems nice. But the Jews remember what happened with they let “non-Jews” invade their plans before.  Nope, no more being “unequally yoked!” We’ve learned our lesson!  But they allowed the opposition discourage them and made them fearful of continuing the building.

The people of the land wrote letters to Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes (rulers after King Cyrus who had originally given the Jews the permission) complaining about them, saying the Jews were rebels and once the building was finished they wouldn’t pay the king tribute or toll. 

One letter was very insistent, urging King Artaxerxes to search the records to see how the Jews resisted and fought them.  It’s why the city was destroyed in the first place.  The king read the letter and started a search of the records, but meanwhile, he sent a decree to Jerusalem that the work cease immediately.  And work on the Temple stopped.

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Ezra 5. Then God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. And with their support, Zerubbabel started up the building project again. The locals protested. “Who said you could build again?”  And they sent another letter to the new King Darius.  “This house of God is being built with huge stones and timber and is prospering.  We asked the names of the builders, but all they said was that they are “the servants of the God of heaven and earth.” They say they got permission from Cyrus to build. Please check this out to see IF they really did.”

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Ezra 6.  It was King Darius who made a thorough search of the stored documents in the house of archives and the scroll WAS found from the first year of Cyrus.  And the good King Darius wrote a biting letter back to the local protestors.

“Keep away.  Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the Jews rebuild it on its site.  MOREOVER… I decree that you shall do everything to assist them.  YOU pay the workers in full and without delay.  And whatever is needed for their offerings, YOU supply… day by day, with out fail.   And….. if you alter this letter in any way, a beam shall be pulled out of your house and impale you on it, and your house shall be made a dunghill.  I, Darius, make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.“

(WHOA!! Yay Darius. Halleluia to the God of heaven and earth. )

And so… the governor and his associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered.  And the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah.  They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. 

And the returned people of Israel, the priests and Levites celebrated the dedication of the house of God with JOY.  Then they celebrated the Passover for the first time back in their land.

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Psalm 137:1-6
"By the waters of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
On the willows there
we hung up our lyres.
For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
"Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

How shall we sing the LORD's song
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget its skill!
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
above my highest joy!"

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 259 & 260

Sep16

    Days 259 & 260—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history, DANIEL’s prophecy, and beginning of EZRA.

NOTE: Sunday and Monday studies are posted on Monday.

    Day 259 – Daniel 10 – 12 (more prophecy of Daniel’s and our future)

The visions, with the angels, battles, the rise & fall of kings & kingdoms, and the final time of the end, are very hard to understand, even for Daniel, who had angels to help him. Several times, he had to be strengthened by the messengers. He says, “I heard, but I did not understand.”  Me too, Daniel!

Daniel 10. Daniel is still staggering from the first set of visions. He is mourning and eating minimally when he sees another angel described with a face like lightning, eyes like flaming torches, arms and legs gleaming like polished bronze, and a voice like the sounds of multitudes. Without strength, Daniel falls to the ground, face down, in deep sleep. Then, a hand touches him and sets him on his hands and knees.  “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you and stand upright, for I have been sent to you.”

The angel continues that from the first day (21 days earlier) that Daniel humbled himself before God, he was heard, and the angel was sent. However, spiritual warfare hindered him until the archangel Michael came to help, and he was released to go to Daniel. 

Again, Daniel became weak, and the angel had to strengthen him.  “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.”  The angel then says he will tell Daniel “what is inscribed in the book of truth,” but then he must return to fight that spiritual battle with Michael (assuring that the king fulfills his purpose in decreeing Israel’s return.)

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Daniel 11.  This prophecy goes from the history of spiritual conflict in Israel to the tribulation when Michael aids in fully delivering Israel (12:1) and looks ahead to the final Antichrist. (whew!)   

Verses 2-35 show the fulfillment of the Persian kingdom (the fourth king is Xerxes or Ahasuerus from the book of Esther) and the reign of Greece (Alexander the Great and 4 generals) through Antiochus Epiphanes. 

The king of the south (the Ptolemies of Egypt) and the king of the north (the Seleucids of Syria) fought for almost 200 years.  Antiochus IV’s armies crisscrossed the holy land in battle with Egypt several times and, on the way murdered Jews, took slaves, and desecrated the temple at one point by sacrificing a pig. (verses 28, 31)  Some Jews who “know their God” (verse 32) stood against him and took action, prevailed for a while, with some help from Rome, and then suffered intense persecution (verses 33-35). 

Verses 36-45 show the fulfillment of God’s prophetic plan of “Daniel’s 70th week” and the transition from Antiochus to Antichrist.  These verses show the character and activities of the Antichrist in the future time of the end.  Verse 45 says, “he shall come to his end, with none to help him” (Rev. 19:20).  (See all of this in Revelation 12, 13, 17, 20, and 21)

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Daniel 12.   Verse 1 flashes back to when the Antichrist rages during the Tribulation years. Again, the Archangel Michael protects Israel.  And there will be deliverance for Daniel’s people, “whose name is written down in the book (of the saved). Of those who have died, some will wake to everlasting life and shine like the brightness of the sky, and some will awake to shame and everlasting contempt.

At that point, Daniel is instructed to “seal the book until the time of the end.”  Then, Daniel saw another vision where a man asked how long it would be until the end. And the angel said that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. (the final 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th week)

When Daniel asks what the outcome will be, he is told to “Go your way, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.”  But he IS told that MANY will be purified.  

“Go your way till the end. And you shall rest (soon die) and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of days.” (The Resurrection)

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(What a faithful, well-loved servant of God, taken as a young teen from his country to live and serve many pagan kings, speaking for God, never wavering, interceding for his people, and finally writing this end times prophecy that rivals The Revelation by John.)

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    Day 260 – Ezra 1 – 3 (The first of 3 waves of exiles returning, genealogies to prove their places and the priesthood)

As there were three waves of deportation FROM Israel, so there are three waves of return TO Jerusalem.  The book of Ezra chronicles the first (with Zerubbabel) and second (with Ezra himself). (Nehemiah later leads the third wave.)

Ezra 1.  In confirmation of Jeremiah’s prophecy and with the LORD stirring his spirit, King Cyrus of Persia proclaimed throughout his kingdom (even put it into writing) that the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem was to be rebuilt.  And whoever of the people of Israel who wanted to should go to rebuild it. He also told the neighbors around the returnees to assist them with silver, gold, goods, beasts, and freewill offerings.  (This kind of reminds me of when the Jews left Egypt.)

So, God stirred up the people, including the heads of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and Levites, to go “up” to Jerusalem to rebuild the house of the LORD, aided by all the goods their neighbors gave them. King Cyrus also brought out all the vessels from the Temple that King Nebuchadnezzar had stolen to be returned, putting the treasurer and the prince of Judah in charge of them.

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Ezra 2. And so Zerubbabel led out the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried captive to Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. The whole three-wave assembly, including the priests and Levites, as well as servants, singers, and those from Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s time and other tribes of Israel (10,777) who also returned (counted from the lists in Ezra 8 and Nehemiah 6), amounted to 50,000. 

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Ezra 3. After the people arrived, they were occupied with their own dwellings.  After that, they turned to build the altar of burnt offerings as per the Law of Moses. They offered burnt offerings to the LORD morning and evening “for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands.”  They kept the Feast of Booths and offered monthly and daily (morning and evening) offerings to the Lord. 

Then they paid masons and carpenters and sent goods to the people of Tyre and Sidon to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea and to Joppa (according to the grant they had from King Cyrus).  The Levites who had returned supervised the work.  And they laid the foundation of the Temple. 

And they sang the songs of Thanksgiving ordered by King David and written by Asaph.  “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.”

The people sang and praised the LORD loudly because the foundation was built, but the old timers who remembered the glory of Solomon’s temple wept in equally loud voices, so no one could distinguish the sounds of joyful shouts from the people’s loud weeping.  “And the sound was heard far away.”

 

 

 

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2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 258

Sep14

    Day 258—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and future visions in DANIEL’S prophecy.

    Day 258 – Daniel 7 – 9 (Beginning of Daniel’s visions)

Daniel 7. Daniel has interpreted dreams for the kings of Babylon. Now, God sends him dreams of his own, which he finds much harder to interpret (as do we). In these dreams, animals usually represent kingdoms, and the animal’s horns represent leaders in those kingdoms.

Daniel talks about two dreams/visions he had in the first three years of Belshazzar’s 20-year reign. First, he saw the great sea (usually representing Gentile nations) being stirred by the four winds. Out of that swirling mass came four fantastic beasts (like those represented in Nebuchadnezzar’s statue dream.

They were a lion with eagle’s wings that became like a man (Babylon), a bear with three ribs in its mouth (Medo-Persia), a leopard with four wings and four heads (Greece), and finally, the fourth beast (Roman Empire), which was more terrifying than all three with huge lion’s teeth and ten “horns.” Three horns were prominent, but one small horn was the most powerful. It had eyes and a mouth like a man and spoke blasphemous words (against God & His dwelling place – Rev. 13:5-6) (the antichrist).

Then Daniel saw a vision of the Ancient of Days (God) with myriads of angels serving Him.  He sat in judgment, and the books were opened. The beasts were seen, destroyed, and burned with fire.  Then another appeared like the Son of Man (Christ). He was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom in which all the peoples, nations, and languages would serve him forever. 

Daniel was so overwhelmed and confused that he asked one of the beings standing there for an interpretation. The being explained the beasts and, particularly, the fourth one, and his defeat by the Ancient of Days. Daniel heard details but he mostly didn’t understand…. except that God and His people “win” in the end.

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Daniel 8.  Two years later, Daniel is given another vision. (Belshazzar is still the Babylonian king.)  He saw himself in the Medio-Persian capital of Susa, about 250 miles from Babylon.  He saw there a ram with two horns (the second one, the more powerful. (Medes & Persians). It charged (conquered) west, north, and south.

As Daniel watched, a male goat with a conspicuous horn (Alexander the Great of Greece) came from the west, struck, killed, and trampled the ram.  The goat became exceedingly “great,” but at the peak of his power, his horn was broken, and four horns (his four generals) replaced him.

Of the four, a little one became great and moved toward “the glorious land” (Israel). This little but massively powerful one (Antiochus Epiphanes, and later the Antichrist, as in chapter 11) took over the sanctuary and made burnt offerings, including one that defiled it. His “reign of terror” is 2,300 days, or 6 1/3  years – the rule of Antiochus until he dies. (After this, Judas Maccabeus led the people to clean the temple. Hanukkah.)

Again, Daniel asks for the interpretation, and another being – Gabriel, this time – explains. “The vision is for the time of the end.” He explains the Medes & Persians, Greece and Alexander, his four generals, and the great one “of boldface who understands riddles.”  (??)  In the dual understanding, Antiochus and Antichrist are combined, the latter even rising against the saints and the Prince of princes.  And he will be killed – but not by human hands. 

Then Gabriel tells Daniel that the number of days is true, but he is to “seal up the vision” because it takes place “many days from now” (still future to us). This all was so awful that Daniel was sick in bed for “some days” (he is an old man by now). Then he got up and did his job, but the vision “appalled him.”

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Daniel 9.  After the Medes take the kingdom of Babylon from King Belshazzar, Daniel realizes (from reading Jeremiah) that the end of Israel’s 70 years of “captivity” is near.  This inspired Daniel to pray. (And it is a great model of prayer for anyone.)  

He worships God first. “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keep covenant (promises) and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.”

He confesses their sin (himself included). “We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants, the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To YOU, O, Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us, open shame….because of the treachery they have committed against you. To us, O, LORD, belongs open shame: to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 

We have rebelled…. not obeyed the voice of the LORD…. transgressed Your law, refusing to obey… we have sinned against him…. bringing upon us a great calamity.  Yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. We have sinned; we have done wickedly.”

(When is the last time I confessed my sin before the Lord like that?)

Then, Daniel requests three things from the LORD.  “Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for YOUR OWN SAKE, O Lord, make your face to shine upon (1) Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 

O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and (2) the city that is called by your name.  For we do not present our pleas before you because of OUR righteousness, but because of YOUR great mercy.

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and (3) your people are called by your name.

And while he was praying…Gabriel came to him in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice (3:00 p.m.). Gabriel tells him that God heard him “at the beginning of his pleas for mercy,” and God wanted Daniel to know “You are greatly loved.” WOW!

Then Gabriel gives Daniel some very specific times and periods of time “….to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity.

“”Seventy weeks (of years)….. From the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem (very soon) to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks (of years)… then 62 weeks when the anointed One will be cut off…. Then the city and sanctuary will be destroyed again….. Then, the desolation…. One week, divided into two parts…..

Scholars have figured this all out: the rebuilding of the temple, the long time before the Messiah comes and is “cut off,” an extended period (the times of the Gentiles, as Jesus said in Luke 21:24?), then 7 years of tribulation, and the final end and triumph of the Prince.

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(Whew!) More of Daniel’s prophesies tomorrow!

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 257

Sep13

    Day 257—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and future visions in DANIEL’S prophecy.

    Day 257 – Daniel 4 – 6 (Daniel serves under 3 kings, the tree stump dream, the handwriting on the wall, and the lion’s den.)

Daniel 4. Nebuchadnezzar’s praise of the God of Heaven from chapter 3 continues here… for a little while. Then he has another ominous dream – a great tree fallen with only the stump remaining. 

Daniel is called again to interpret the dream and is sad about its meaning.  He tells Nebuchadnezzar that HE is that beautiful tree that spreads far and wide, sheltering and giving food to all.  But a “holy one” coming down from heaven will chop it down and leave only the stump, bound with an iron band, for seven years. 

“Sorry, O King, but YOU shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven for seven years…..until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will.”

Daniel begs the king to repent and practice righteousness so that this dream will not happen for a long time.  But alas, 12 months later, we see the uber-proud king strutting on his rooftop proclaiming that all the riches and glory of Babylon were built by HIS OWN MIGHTY POWER and for the glory of  HIS MAJESTY.  And while he spoke… um… he became like an ox and was driven from the city to eat grass in the field, his body – long hair and long nails – wet with the dew of heaven.

Yikes! Talk about a God-inspired severe mental breakdown!

Seven years to the day, old King Nebuchadnezzar “came to his senses.” (What am I doing eating grass in a pasture??? I need a haircut and a manicure! )   He “lifted his eyes to heaven and blessed the Most High, and praised and honored HIM who lives forever.”

At the same time, his reason returned, as did his glory, majesty, and splendor. And he said, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the “King of Heaven” for all His works are right, and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”

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Daniel 5.  Twenty years after Nebuchadnezzar’s death, his son, Belshazzar, is about to meet his Maker, and his kingdom is violently given to the Medes & Persians. 

He is feasting and drinking with a thousand of his lords. In drunken braggadocio, he calls for the splendid gold and silver chalices his father took from the Temple – the House of God – in Jerusalem. “Why aren’t we drinking from them?”  He, his guests, and concubines drank wine and praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

And IMMEDIATELY, the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall plaster, and the king saw them. His pallor changed, his limbs weakened (Can you imagine the goblet slipping from his fingers, wine splashing on him?), and his knees knocked together.  He called for all his magicians to interpret the writing, but they could not.

Then, the Queen (his mother) mentioned a man ‘in whom is the spirit of the Holy gods.’ Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, trusted him because he could interpret dreams and solve problems.  ” Let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”

Daniel is located and brought to the palace. The king said, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles, whom the king my father brought from Judah. I have heard that light, and understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you. I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve problems.  IF YOU WILL READ THIS WRITING AND INTERPRET IT, I will make you Number Three in my kingdom!”

“Keep your gifts, O king,” said Daniel shortly. “But I will read and interpret the writing.”  

But first, Daniel gives a little history of this king’s father, Nebuchadnezzar, how God made him great, how he was prideful, how God made him like an ox, and how God restored his majesty when he humbled himself and acknowledged the God of Heaven.  “But YOU, his son, Belshazzar, have NOT humbled your heart though you knew all this. You have lifted yourself up against the God of heaven. You have praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.  But the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have NOT honored.  And so, this hand was sent.” 

It says, “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.  It means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

That very night, Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom.”

(You don’t mess with the God of heaven or His Holy stuff!)

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Daniel 6. And now, Daniel is serving under a third king, Darius. He is now one of three ‘presidents’ in charge of the 120 satraps (governors).  They all had to report to him.  Soon, they were resentful and jealous of him, “one of the exiles” ruling over them, and they devised a wicked, deceitful plan to get rid of him. The only grounds of complaint against Daniel that they could find (for he was exemplary) was to see it in the law of his God.

They convinced King Darius that he should be honored for a month.  (Darius month!!)   During that month, if anyone asked anything (petitioned) of anyone except the king, he would be thrown into a lion’s den.   The king said that sounded cool and stamped it into law.

The jealous governors camped outside Daniel’s house, and when they saw him open his East-facing window toward Jerusalem, kneel, and pray three times each day, they knew they had him. Wide-eyed, with innocent smiles, they tattled to the king.

Of course, the king was distraught. Daniel was one of his chief men. A “rainmaker.” But, the law of a Mede or Persian could not be changed. (We’ll see this again in Esther.)  And he condemned his ‘fave guy’ to the lion’s den. (BTW, Daniel is about 82 years old by now.)

All night, Darius prayed and fasted for Daniel. (Quite a turnabout.)  Early in the morning, he rushed to the lion’s den.  “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

A tiny wait while he held his breath.

“O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me.” 

Daniel is drawn from the den joyously, and those jealous, sneaky satraps and their wives and children are tossed in. (Does this remind you of the fiery furnace story??)  Having been denied dinner all night, the lions leaped on them before they even hit the bottom of the den. 

Darius then sends a message throughout his kingdom that people are to tremble and fear the God of Daniel. “For He is the living God, enduring forever; His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion shall be to the end.”

And this chapter of Daniel ends with…”So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”

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(Tomorrow, we begin Daniel’s prophetic visions.)

 

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 256

Sep12

    Day 256—We are in the NINETH month of Bible reading, with more of Israel’s history and future visions in DANIEL’S prophecy.

    Day 256 – Daniel 1 – 3 (Daniel & friends in Babylon, prosperity & persecution)

Daniel and his three friends (from noble Jewish families) were taken captive in Nebuchadnezzar’s first of three mass deportations. The boys were probably around 15 years old. Daniel lived there through the entire 70 years of captivity and possibly longer. He rose high in the government of several powerful kings but never turned from the LORD his God. 

Daniel 1.  The Babylonian king instructed Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch in charge of the eunuchs, to prepare some of the wise, good-looking, skilled, well-learned, and courtly young men of the royal and noble Jews to learn the Babylonian ways and language.  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were some of the chosen. They all received Babylonian names and began a rich diet of the king’s food and wine.

Oops! Not kosher!!

These faithful Jewish youth did not want to defile themselves according to Jewish dietary laws and asked Ashpenaz if they could just have veggies and water. Despite his fear that the boys would look skinny before the king and he would lose his head, Ashpenaz gave them 10 days as a test.  After eating vegan for the test, the four boys looked better and were more alert than all the others, so the chief eunuch allowed them to continue to eat kosher.  GOD gave them learning, skill, and wisdom, and to Daniel, He gave understanding in all visions and dreams.  In fact, when Ashpenaz brought them before Nebuchadnezzar at the end of three years, the king found them 10X better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.  

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Daniel 2.  Now, Daniel’s dream skills were to be tested. Nebuchadnezzar had a night of nightmares and the following day, commanded all the Chaldean magicians, enchanters, and sorcerers to come and tell him the meaning of his dream. They arrived and asked the king what he dreamed so they could “concoct” a favorable interpretation.  But no!  The king required them to TELL HIM THE DREAM TOO, which they could not.  “You shall be torn limb from limb and your houses destroyed!!!” shouted the king. After denying “anyone’s” ability to do what the king wanted, he sentenced them all to death.

Fortunately for them, when Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard came to arrest Daniel, he calmly asked what the big rigamarole was. He then made an appointment to see the king and tell him ALL HE WISHED TO KNOW.

Then he asked his three friends to “seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so they might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men.”  That night, God revealed the mystery to Daniel.  “Oh, blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might…”  “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for YOU have given me wisdom and might and have now made known to me what we asked of you.”  

Then, Arioch brought Daniel to the king.

“Can you make the dream and its interpretation known to me?” demanded the King.

“Not me, but the God of Heaven can do it,” answered Daniel.

So, Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar his dream of a giant statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and iron mixed with clay. He shows the king how this image represents the world’s kingdoms, beginning with Babylon as the head of gold.  He also tells the king that a stone will strike the image’s feet, destroy it, and then grow into a mountain that fills the whole earth. This represents how the great God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.

Wow, and double wow! 

The king is flabbergasted, falls on his face, and pays homage to Daniel. “Truly your God is God of Gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries.”  The king gives Daniel all kinds of promotions to top Prefect in Babylon. (At Daniel’s request, the king appoints his three friends to govern the provinces.) 

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Daniel 3.  The king becomes enamored with the statue he dreamed about and that the golden head represents “him.”  He commands an entire image of gold be made – that no doubt looks remarkably like him.  Then he commands ALL people everywhere to bow to this image when he begins to play his favorite tunes on Spotify. They do.  EXCEPT Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (And Daniel, but he’s not in the picture here.)  

Okay, remember those wizards and wise men who were demoted when Daniel revealed the king’s dream?  They are royally aggrieved with the Hebrew youngsters taking over their key spots. So they spy on the three governors and tattle to the king about their now bowing to the statue. 

Nebuchadnezzar is now also “royally” aggrieved and sends for the three.  He thinks that maybe his instructions aren’t clear, so he tells them again. 

“Worship my golden image when the music plays, or you’ll be thrown into the furnace.”  How clear can he get? 

But the three refuse. “Not on your life, er, on our lives, will we bow to another besides our great God of Heaven?  Even if you roast us. Hey, our God may save us!!  But even if not, we won’t bow to a golden image.  WE KNOW why our people are here in Babylon instead of in Judah. Worshiping stupid idols!

Music. Upright boys. King’s fury. Three hurled in. The guards fried on the spot. Four in the furnace. No ropes. Walking around praising God. HUH???  Yep, the king thinks he’s seeing things again. He commands they be drawn out of the furnace. They aren’t scorched or even singed. They don’t smell of smoke. 

Of course, now, Nebuchadnezzar turns his back on the image and worships “the Most High God,” the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego…. because of their witness.  They willingly yielded their bodies to be burned rather than worship any God except their own God, the LORD. 

Nebuchadnezzar made a decree that it was illegal to speak anything against their God, punishable by being torn limb from limb and their houses destroyed. “For there is no other God who is able to rescue in this way.”

(And the three were promoted even higher in the province of Babylon.)

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 255

Sep11

    Day 255—We are in the NINTH month of Bible reading with more of Israel’s history and the prophet JOEL.

    Day 255– Joel 1 – 3 (the Day of the LORD)

It’s not clear where Joel’s prophesy fits in Israel’s history. Some believe as far back as Josiah’s reign. Others to just before the Babylonians attack.  The judgments he writes about in chapters 2-3 could apply to any age.

Joel 1.  This chapter compares an actual devastating locust invasion and a famine in Israel with “the day of the LORD” and as destruction from the Almighty.

It was a time of judgment, and Joel calls the people and spiritual leaders to fasting and repentance. (Wail, lament, mourn, be ashamed, put on sackcloth, consecrate a fast, cry out to the LORD.)  In verse 19, Joel sets the example, “To you, O LORD, I call….”

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Joel 2. In this chapter, Joel seems to predict the coming hoards of Babylon, comparing them to the locusts in chapter one.  “…the day of the LORD is coming; it is near; a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! (like in swarms of locusts) Like blackness, there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people, their likeness has never been seen before…”   “…like a powerful army drawn up for battle.”  

This also can be compared to a FUTURE “day of the LORD.”  “The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The LORD utters his voice before His army, for His camp is exceedingly great; He who executes His word is Powerful.  For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?”

Then, the LORD calls for repentance through His prophet Joel. “Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.“

Then a verse that is worth memorizing, even for OUR time.

     “Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster.”   (See also Psalm 103:8-12)

And after the priests interceded, “Then the LORD had pity on his people.”

Then comes that glorious passage for anyone who has lost much but turned to God….   “I will RESTORE to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God who has dealt wondrously with you.”

Verse 27 reminds me of the end of Ezekiel. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.”

In his sermon on Pentecost, the apostle Peter refers to Joel 2:28-29 as what happened to them when the Holy Spirit came upon them.  “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; YOUR sons and YOUR daughters shall prophesy, YOUR old men shall dream dreams, and YOUR young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.” 

 In Romans 10:13, the apostle Paul quotes Joel 2:32.  “And it shall come to pass that EVERYONE who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

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Joel 3.  This chapter tells about the national restoration of Israel and the judgment on the nations.  Like in Ezekiel, God calls the countries of the world to a valley for a great war in which they will be destroyed. (Joel calls it “the Valley of Jehoshaphat.”)

     “Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD. Let the nations stir themselves up and come to the the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.  Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow for their evil is great.  Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” 

Read also Revelation 14:19-20 about the wrath of God in trampling the grapes in the winepress.) 

And as we read in Ezekiel 47:1 yesterday, Joel 3:18 mentions, “A fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim*.”  (*the north shore of the Dead Sea.)

Joel says, “Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations.”

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We begin reading the book of DANIEL tomorrow.