SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/8/2013 12:29 PM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-2 Daniel
the Prophet
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Daniel
8:15-19, 26-27
Message of the
verses: We continue in today’s SD to
look at the eight chapter of the book of Daniel.
Requesting the meaning of the vision (Daniel 8:15-19): “When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, "Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision." 17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end." 18 Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright. 19 He said, "Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.”
We have seen in the past visions that Daniel had no need
of a person to help explain the vision to him, but this is not the case for
this vision and the ones that we will look at in the future. We see that God has sent one of His angels to
speak to Daniel and so it is a good time to talk a little bit about angels. There are only three angels named in all of
Scripture, Gabriel is the one mentioned here and he is also the one who comes
to see Zechariah in order to announce the birth of John the Baptist. We also see Gabriel come to Mary to announce
the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and so we can be sure that Gabriel is a
very important person who works for God, as his name means “man of God.” Michael is another angel that is named in
Scripture and his name means “Who is like God.”
Michael is assigned to care for the nation of Israel and he is mentioned
in Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; and Revelations 12:7. There is one more angel mentioned in
Scripture and his name is Lucifer, and we know that this is none other than
Satan. Lucifer was his name when he was
created, but after he fell he is known as Satan, the prince of darkness.
I want to copy a note from the John MacArthur Study Bible
which I believe will help us understand more about the prophecy seen in the
verses from above. We will begin by
looking at this note with the words “Frightened and fell” from verse seventeen
and then look at the words “time of the end.”
“Loss of consciousness is a common reaction to heavenly visitations (cf.
Ezekiel 1; Isaiah 6; Revelations 1). Time
of the end. This term likely has a
double sense of fulfillment. First, the
‘end’ (as v. 19), or ‘latter period’ (vv. 19, 23), and ‘appointed time’ (v. 19)
refer to time late in the specific span that the historical prophecy has in
view. That time is the period defined by
the empires in these verses, Persia (Ram) and Greece (Goat), when the Grecian
sector will be divided into 4 parts (v. 8). One of these, the Syrian under
Seleucus will eventually lead to Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 BC) as the
‘little horn’ meant in v.9, who persecutes the people of Israel (v.10) and
defies God (v.11). Cf. 11:21-35. Secondly, this ‘little horn’ in v. 9, the
Antichrist in the last days at the time of the eschatological fulfillment, sees
Antiochus as a pattern of
the Antichrist, who in many ways will be like him, though far greater in
power, and will exercise his career in the end of the age just before Christ’s
return.”
Let us look at the word “indignation” for a minute here, for that word also comes up in Daniel 11:36 ‘”Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.” John MacArthur has the following to say about this word from his sermon on Daniel chapter eight: “Now, indignation refers to God’s anger toward Israel God’s indignation over their sin. God’s indignation over their disobedience. And as a result of their disobedience and sin, God is indignant with His people. And, as a result of His indignancy, there is a chastening periods. In Daniel 11, look at verse 36 for a minute. And here it refers to antichrist, called the willful king or king who shall do according to his will. And it says in verse 36, ‘The king shall do according to his will; and shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper…the antichrist will speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper… the antichrist will flourish…till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done.’
“In
other words, the antichrist will last until God’s indignation over his
disobedient people is finally finished.
So, the angel says to Daniel, ‘Your vision is a vision of the end, and a
vision of the last end of the indignation.’
Again I say that’s why I believe the vision of chapter 8 must stretch to
encompass the antichrist who is involved in the last of God’s indignation
against His people as He chastens and purifies them.
“You see, beloved, it is not until the Tribulation, which is another name for the indignation, it is not until the Great Tribulation that ‘The nation Israel will look on Him… as Zachariah says…whom they have pierced and begin to morn for Him as an only Son.’ It’s not till then. It’s not till then Romans 11, ‘And so all Israel shall be saved will come to pass.’”
I am not positive as to why Warren Wiersbe included
verses 26-27 in this section, but I will copy and paste those two verses
here: “26 "The vision of the evenings and mornings
Which has been told is true; But keep the vision secret, For it pertains to
many days in the future." 27 Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for
days. Then I got up again and carried on the king’s business; but I was
astounded at the vision, and there was none to explain it.” Daniel uses the term “I, Daniel” a number of
times in this section and it seems like this shows his humility, for I am sure
that it was hard for him to believe that the Lord would use him to receive all
the visions and prophecies that he did receive.
We know that this message is true and that it will come to pass, for
much of it has already come to pass.
We will begin to look at Cyrus, King of Persia in our
next SD.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: Reading and understanding
the Word of God should be a humbling experience for all of us, for we truly
have insight into the heart and mind of God, and we are also privileged into
knowing what the future holds.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust the Lord to give me the right words to
put into my Spiritual Diaries that will bring honor and glory to Him.
Memory verses for the
week: 2 Peter 1:1-7
1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus
Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, but the
righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has
granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true
knowledge of Him who called us by His glory own and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His
precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of
the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this reason also, applying all
diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence,
knowledge 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control,
perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness,
brotherly kindness, and in brotherly kindness, love.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “Their money” (Genesis 42:35).
Today’s Bible
Question: “How did the Galatians receive
Paul at first?”
Answer in our next SD.
10/8/2013 1:45 PM
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