|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Psalm 27, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom
shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh,
they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall
not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One
thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in
the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his
pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up
upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about
me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing,
yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice:
have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my
heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from
me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not,
neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake
me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a
plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine
enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out
cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in
the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall
strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
The words that the man in white linen spoke must have been an encouragement to Daniel. Even though there was a time of trouble coming, his people would be delivered. God always provides a way of escape in a time of trouble.
Seventy weeks were determined on Daniel's people Israel. The city, wall, and temple would be rebuilt in troublous times. Messiah would come, but after three and one-half weeks he would be cut off and have nothing. Then the city would be destroyed again.
Four kingdoms would rule the world. Daniel had lived through the first and saw the beginning of the second but there would be two more that would rule their nation. Then another kingdom would rise and a prince would make a firm covenant with his people for one week; however, in the middle of the week he would stop the daily sacrifices and offerings and set up the abomination of desolation. Until the end of days wars and desolations were determined.
At the end of days, the Ancient of Days will come and the Son of Man will appear. The kingdom will be given into His hand and the people of the saints will rule with Him. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and of His kingdom there will be no end. All the kingdoms that were in the earth before Him will be destroyed and the 'prince to come' will be destroyed and cast into a lake of fire.
Daniel desperately wanted to know when all these things would come to an end. All the visions and all the interpretations were signs, warnings, and indications of the time of the end. Indications to watch and to pray because we do not know the day or the hour.
*Revelation 10:1-7, "And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."
*Daniel 12:4-10, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand."
As we step into the last chapter of the book of Daniel the words seem to bring a conclusion that has no finality. Daniel was a man who was greatly beloved by God, yet the words which were spoken gave him no understanding. "It shall be for a time, times, and an half; and he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished."
To Daniel the words of the man in white linen were a mystery. A mystery that was hidden throughout the ages. This mystery is the the gospel of Jesus Christ that will be spread throughout the whole earth. The age of grace. *Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is 'the power of God' unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
For two-thousand years the age of grace, or the church age, has moved throughout the earth preaching the word and spreading the gospel of truth. The gospel of Christ is 'the power of God.' *Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
The gospel, 'good news,' euaggelizo in Greek, is defined as, to bring good news, to announce glad tidings, of the joyful tidings of God's kindness, in particular, of the Messianic blessings, in the NT used especially of the glad tidings of the coming kingdom of God, and of the salvation to be obtained in it through Christ, and of what relates to this salvation; glad tidings are brought to one, one has glad tidings proclaimed to him, to proclaim glad tidings, instruct (men) concerning the things that pertain to salvation.
The Old Testament saints were to spread the 'good news' through the works of the Law, revealing the righteousness of God to all those nations around them. Through the daily sacrifices and the yearly feasts they taught each new generation about the Messiah. However, they disobeyed God's command and chose to serve the gods of those nations that God Himself rejected.
The 'good news' is not a new thing but something that has continuously been taught throughout the ages. *Galatians 3:8, "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." Because of Israel's disobedience to the commandments of God, God closed their eyes and put them to sleep. In their blindness the nation of Israel could not understand 'the signs of the times.' They rejected the Messiah when He came to the earth because they could not understand God's plan.
In the fullness of time God sent His only begotten Son, born of a virgin, conceived of the Holy Ghost. As revealed in the Old Testament prophesies, Messiah came to His own and His own rejected Him. Not believing that God could reveal Himself in the form of a man they crucified their Messiah. Accusing Him of blasphemy they cut Him off, cast Him out, and left Him with nothing; no inheritance among their nation. *Numbers 15:29-31, "Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him." Treating Him as an outcast they rejected the truth of God.
*Hebrews 2:7-18, "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."
But God raised Him from the dead and after forty-days He ascended into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God with all things put under His feet. However, all things have not yet been destroyed.
When He returns then death will be destroyed and cast into the burning lake, 'at the time of the end.'
*Revelation 12:7-11, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
The word of the Lord is sure and it is true. What He has declared that will He perform. His word will not return to Him void. He has promised the nation of Israel a deliverer, a Messiah. That God Himself will redeem them from all their enemies, and the greatest enemy is the serpent of old called Satan and the devil.
In their darkness and in their unbelief the Jews do not believe in an enemy such as this. The word Satan, sawtaw in Hebrew, means adversary. They do not believe this is a specific entity but that good and evil resides in us all. They believe the evil within us is the adversary spoken of in the Garden of Eden.
The words spoken by the man in white linen clearly indicate someone would come in the appearance of all that is evil. *Daniel 12:11, "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. "
*Revelation 12:12-17, "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
The accuser of the brethren will be cast down to earth and they will overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. God has promised to save Israel out of 'the time of Jacob's trouble' (Jeremiah 30:7). God has prepared a place in the wilderness for a time, and times, and half a time; three and one-half years. *Daniel 12:12, "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
God always provides a way of escape in every situation we encounter. For two-thousand years the gospel has been preached in the earth. Reaching the farthest isles and the remotest nation. It has been written in nearly every language available and what has not been written has been spoken in the ears of those who would listen.
During the last three and one-half years of the 'seventh week' of Daniel nine, the dragon will make war with the remnant of Israel's seed. This seed are those of the nation of Israel remaining in Jerusalem which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. *Daniel 11:29, "And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits."
The days grow shorter and shorter as the time of Jacob's trouble approaches. God is not slack concerning His promises. II Peter 3:9-10, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
*Matthew 24:36-51, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."
"But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
*Mark 13:32-37, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."
*Luke 21:34-36, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."
The time of repentance is now because we do not know the day nor the hour when the Son of man will come. Standing fast and holding onto the truth. Running the race that is set before us. Reaching for the prize of the high calling of God. Watch, pray, and wait.
Jesus told His disciples to 'watch.' Be on guard, don't be caught up with
the cares of this world and carried away
by the flood of unbelief. Be 'ready,' wait on the Lord unless the thief comes and steals the truth and destroys you.
Be 'alert,' stay awake, keep the zeal that you have for the Lord as wise and
faithful servants unless you forget your first love. Take 'heed,' be attentive
and listen unless you are ensnared by the deception that will come when the
antichrist rules the earth. *Ephesians 5:14-21, "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that
sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then
that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time,
because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what
the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be
filled with the Spirit Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always
for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
The 'little horn' in Daniel chapter seven will emerge. In the middle of the
week, when the seventh angel sounds, the mystery of God will be finished.
*Revelation 13:1-9, "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. 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. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear."
Two-thousand years ago Messiah, Jesus Christ, came into the earth declaring the 'kingdom of God' was among them. Jesus walked among them, a light shining in the darkness, but those in darkness did not comprehend. They were looking for a deliverer that would bring 'good news' of the kingdom of heaven. *Isaiah 40:9-11, "O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
During the first three and one-half years of the final week of Daniel's seventy week period Israel will once again look for a deliverer, a Messiah. With great signs and wonders a man will rise out of the earth and deceive many. *Revelation 13:11-18, "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."
This man will bring with him 'glad tidings' preaching that Messiah has come. *Matthew 24:23-25, "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 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. Behold, I have told you before."
At the time when the 'seventh angel' with gold trumpet prepares to sound several major events will take place.
*Revelation 11, "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will."
"And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them."
"And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly."
"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."
The beast will ascend to the greatest power in the earth. The 'woman,' Israel, will flee to the wilderness. The prophets of God will be resurrected and ascend into heaven. The one-hundred, forty-four thousand of the nation of Israel will be raptured. And the third woe will begin.
*Matthew 24:29-31, "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: 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. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
*Mark 13:24-27, "But in those days, after that tribulation,
the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven
shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great
power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect
from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part
of heaven."
*Luke 21:25-28, "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the
stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the
waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things
which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power
and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up
your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
We do not know the day nor the hour but we are given a word of warning, to watch and pray. Daniel was given the signs, the warnings, and the indications. The promise is to wait.
*Ezekiel 44:1-3, "Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same."
Wait, stand fast, hold on to the things which you have. The man in white linen gave Daniel a promise. The promise of deliverance. *Daniel 12:1, "...and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."
*Malachi 3:16-18, "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."
At the 'time of the end' all things will be fulfilled as promised by the prophets.
*Isaiah 59:11-21, "We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence. So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever."
God's word never returns to Him void. It accomplishes what He intends for it to do. God has promised that He will redeem Israel, and thus all Israel shall be saved. *Romans 11:25-29, "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."
*Revelation 19:11-16, "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
When Jesus Christ returns He will put down all rule and authority casting the antichrist, the abomination of desolation, and his false prophet into the lake of fire. *Daniel 11:45, "And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him."
When all seems lost in this earth. When all is destroyed, scattered, and forsaken, then lift up your heads, for your redemption is near.
*Revelation 20:1-5, "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection."
*Daniel 12:2-4, "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
The man in white linen gave Daniel an interpretation that had been a promise to the nation of Israel and to man since the beginning of time. The kingdom of God would be restored and those who sleep in the dust of the earth will be resurrected. "Blessed is he that waits and arrives at the thousand, three-hundred, thirty fifth day. But, you Daniel, go your way until the end. You will rest and stand in your portion at the end of the days."
God Himself will set up a kingdom that will have no end. All of their enemies will be destroyed and they will live in the land promised to Abraham forever. *Isaiah 27:1-6, "In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit."
*Daniel 7:9-10, "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. 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."
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. 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 was given a promise. The disciples were given a promise. The nation of Israel was given a promise. We are given a promise that there will be a day when every one in this earth will be resurrected. Some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt.
Death and hell will be destroyed and cast into a lake of fire. "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."
*Ezekiel 40:1-4, "In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel."
*Revelation 21, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
"And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass."
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. He planted a garden in the east, in Eden. There he put man and woman walking and talking with them in the garden. Because man chose to disobey the voice of God and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God told them not to eat of, God and man became separated. Man became naked and ashamed, hiding himself from God.
From the foundations of the world God had a plan. He gave man a choice and man chose death rather than life. But because of the love and mercy of God He promised man that from the seed of the woman One would come and bruise the head of the serpent that crept into the garden and caused man to transgress, sin against his God. Throughout the ages God has given man a choice. That choice is to choose between good and evil, life and death. He has told man to choose life.
God found a man who chose to follow His word. A man who He could call His friend, Abraham. He called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldeans. God made a covenant with Abraham promising him a land and a seed that would be as great in number as the stars in the sky and the sands of the sea. Through Abraham's seed, Isaac, would come the promise of a nation. That nation came through his son Jacob whom God called Israel.
After four-hundred years of bondage God sent Israel a deliverer named Moses through whom God established His covenant with the nation of Israel. A covenant established through the blood of a lamb. God brought the nation of Israel to the promised land but because they chose to disobey the voice of God they could not enter in. For forty years they wandered in the wilderness with no place to rest the soles of their feet. Then God chose a man named Joshua who declared, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord," to bring Israel into the land promised by God to Abraham.
Through David's son, Solomon, God chose who would build His temple. A temple designed by the word of God built in the city of Jerusalem. A place where God could rest His feet once again and place His Spirit, His glory. But because Israel transgressed the covenant with their God and chose to follow the gods of the nations God had rejected He sent them into captivity. He removed His glory from Jerusalem and departed leaving them naked and ashamed. After seventy-years were accomplished God restored the nation of Israel to their land; however, Israel continued to transgress the covenant of their God.
In the fullness of time God sent His only begotten Son into the world. Born of a virgin, conceived of the Holy Ghost. For three and one-half years He went throughout the nation of Israel declaring the 'kingdom of God.' Israel rejected their God once again and crucified the Son of man. For two-thousand years the nation of Israel has been shut up in the bondage of blindness waiting for a redeemer, a Messiah.
Because of God's love for the world, He sent His only begotten Son into the world so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. All who believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, was crucified, died, and buried for their sins and that God raised Him again to life everlasting. Through Jesus Christ God established a new covenant with the nation of Israel and with the world. A New Covenant through the blood of the Lamb. The blood of Jesus Christ, a covering of righteousness so man would no longer be naked and ashamed to stand before his God. A place to put His glory, in each individual that believes in Him.
Jesus Christ, our Messiah, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for the world until the time of His return. A day and hour no one knows except our Father Who is in heaven. A day when He will return as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. God has given Him a kingdom and of that kingdom there is no end.
All those who receive and believe the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ have been given a promise. A promise that they will be saved from the wrath to come upon this earth and will rule and reign with Him when He returns to redeem the whole nation of Israel. A promise that before the time of Jacob's trouble they will leave this earth and all the wrath that will come upon it. This promise is for both the Jews and the Gentiles who believe in Him before that time.
From the beginning God has chosen a place where He could walk among men. A place where He could rest the soles of His feet. A place where He could rule and reign throughout all eternity. The garden of God, the new Jerusalem descending as a bride adorned for her husband.
For two-thousand years Jesus has been preparing a place for all those who believe in Him. Moment by moment preparing new chambers, new rooms because, "In my father's house there are many mansions." The vision which Ezekiel saw as the man measured the temple and all that was around it. *Ezekiel 48:35, "It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there." Chambers for both the Jews and the Gentiles.
The time when God will once again live among men. The 'kingdom of God'
reestablished in the earth forever.
*Revelation 22:17, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
God has a place prepared for all who believe in Him. A place where He has chosen to place His name forever, Jerusalem. A place to rest the soles of His feet. God has a place prepared for you but that promise also contains a warning, *Revelation 22:12-15, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."
Every son of man will be judged according to their works whether
they are good or evil. Those who died before Messiah came but believed the
gospel as spoken by the prophets, they are written in God's book of remembrance. For those who know Jesus Christ at His coming their works
will be revealed as righteous. Covered by the blood of the Lamb. All their sins
are blotted out and all things are new.
They are written in the Lamb's book of life.
All those who have rejected the truth will be judged according to their works.
Murderers, idolaters, strangers, sorcerers, those who make war, and all who love
and form lies will be rejected and thrown into the lake of fire. They will find
no rest for the soles of their feet but will live in eternal repentance.
Trust in the Lord call upon His name. There is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved. That name is Jesus. He can cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He can give you a peace that passes all understanding. Peace, His peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior pray asking Him to come into your heart, changing you, and wiping away all your past mistakes. Knowing that God is faithful to forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all your unrighteousness. *Romans 10:8-10, "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
*Romans 5:1-10, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
*Ecclesiastes 12:12-14, "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
Oh, greatly beloved, we have come to the end of our study and 'the time of the end.' You have run the race and reached for the prize of the high calling of God. Now you go into all the world preaching the gospel of truth. Being called of God follow Jesus commandments, "If you love Me do My commandments."
Just as Daniel was called of God and given great wisdom and understanding of visions you too have been given this great truth. You have been given a gift and favor with God among men. Be diligent and don't grow weary of well doing. The time grows short but the plan of God will not stop. Until 'the time of the end' when His angel will declare, "There is time no longer," the plan of God will continue.
The books have been sealed until the 'time of the end' but the truth of God remains forever in this earth. It will never pass away. All things will pass away but His word will still remain. It continues throughout the ages and throughout all eternity. Eternity is now and forever. It began and will continue in the Everlasting God, El Olam, and from everlasting unto everlasting He is God.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, has come. He was crucified, died, and buried for our sins. God raised Him from the dead giving us the promise of eternal life. Life everlasting with Him. He is our God and we are His people. Now go into all the world preaching the gospel of truth, being wise, and bring as many to righteousness as you can. "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
