INTERPRETATION DANIEL 7: 15 - 28

INTERPRETATION  DANIEL 7: 15 - 28

   (15) "I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.  (16) I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this.

   "So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:  (17) 'The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.  (18) But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever--yes, for ever and ever.'

   (19) "Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast,
which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws--the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.  20) I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell--the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.  21) As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22) until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

   (23) "He gave me this explanation:  'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth.  It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.  (24) The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom.  After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.  (25) He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws.  The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.

   (26) "'But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.  (27) Then sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High.  His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.'

   (28) "This is the end of the matter.  I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself."  (NIV)  

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY 





   The coming of Jesus Christ ushered in the kingdom of God, and all believers are its citizens, so, the "saints of the Most High" are the true believers, the true Israel, the people ruled by the Messiah.  Although God may allow persecution to continue for a while, the destiny of His followers is to possess the kingdom and be with Him forever.

MY THOUGHTS

   When Daniel was troubled, he asked God for wisdom.  God comforted Daniel.  He does the same today.  If we seek wisdom, it will be revealed to us.  When we are troubled, we, who are called by His name, are comforted.

   I am beginning to try to see things from God's eyes.  I have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, so I am no longer seen by God as a monster.  I am cleansed by The Blood. 

   How about you, dear friend?  If your soul were demanded of you today, would you be celebrating with my Jesus forever or would you be separated from His love for eternity?  Please visit our "Path to Salvation" page here:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

You are welcome to leave a comment with your thoughts and to share this post on your favorite social media.  If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray for us.  Thank you.

You are invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.

SUPER STORM SANDY--A COMMENTARY

SUPER STORM SANDY--A COMMENTARY

 

 

   I am sure you are asking what Super Storm Sandy is doing on my Bible reading blog.  Well, I'm glad you asked.  I have been meditating on prayer and just how it works.  We are taught to "pray without ceasing" and "in everything with prayer and thanksgiving" and "where two or more come together in prayer...".  But just how does prayer work?  Which ones get attention?  Which ones are "before the throne as a sweet aroma"?

   It came to me today, as I was reading a post on facebook from a family member, pouring her heart out about the state of affairs of our families.  Let me just say right here that I am bothered with people posting "prayers" on facebook like facebook is a god.

   So, here is my thought:  We just had the first anniversary of Super Storm Sandy.  The hurricane was classified as a "post tropical cyclone" when she made landfall.
            



 

   Maybe we should form "committees" to pray about specific problems we have on our hearts.  Imagine the prayers of the committees as the hurricane as it grows and gathers strength.  Imagine that even if some of our prayer warriors in these committees get weary or distracted and our prayers are downgraded to "post tropical" when they slammed the coast of our great nation.  Even though Super Storm Sandy was downgraded, she brought a lot of force when she made landfall.

   There are many in the United States who claim to be Christians.  If we harnessed the power of every Christian's prayers, maybe we could reclaim our nation, our states, our communities, and our families for Christ.

 

What are your thoughts?

 

You are also invited to visit with Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.    

JUDGMENT DANIEL 7: 9 - 13

JUDGMENT    DANIEL 7: 9 - 13

   (9)  As I looked,

          "thrones were set in place,

             and the Ancient of Days took His seat.

          His clothing was as white as snow;

             the hair of his head was white like wool.

          His throne was flaming with fire,

             and its wheels were all ablaze.

          (10)  A river of fire was flowing,

             coming out from before Him.

          Thousands upon thousands attended Him;

             ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.

          The court was seated,

             and the books were opened.

   (11) "Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.  I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.  (12) (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

   (13) "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven.  He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.  (14) He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped Him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY

   This judgment scene is in the end times.  The Ancient of Days is God, who assigns power to kingdoms and who will judge those kingdoms in the end.  We will all stand before The Judge one day to give account of how we used our lives. The slaying of the beast represents the fall of Rome.  While this beast was destroyed, the other beasts were allowed to live for a period of time.

   The "One like a Son of Man" is the Messiah. 

MY THOUGHTS

   With time coming to an end for the Gentiles, we must work ever harder to ensure our family and friends are saved and going to forever be with The Father.  We need to "gather while the harvest is plentiful."  So, the question for you is this:  What are you doing about Jesus?  Are you rejecting Him or have you accepted His incredible gift of eternal salvation?  This is the most important decision of your entire life!  For more, please click here:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

You are encouraged to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

Also, if this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray for us as we share The Good News of Jesus Christ; and share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you.

 

You are also invited to visit with Oma at 

http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com and http://omaslife.blogspot.com. 

DANIEL'S DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS DANIEL 7: 1 - 8

DANIEL'S DREAM OF FOUR BEASTS

DANIEL 7:  1 - 8

   In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed.  He wrote down the substance of his dream.

   (2) Daniel said: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea.  (3) Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

   (4) "The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle.  I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.

   (5) "And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear.  It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth.  It was told, 'Get up and eat your fill of flesh!"

   (6) :After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked  a leopard.  And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird.  This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

   (7) "After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast--terrifying and frightening and very powerful.  It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.  It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

   (8) "While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it.  This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.   (NIV)

 

H.A. IRONSIDE'S COMMENTARY

   Dr. Ironside  tells us that chapter 7  covers practically the same ground as chapter 2  with one difference:  the first six chapters is told from a human viewpoint; chapter 7 from God's viewpoint.  Here is a quote from Dr Ironside's Commentary of the Book of Daniel:

   "If you read history as viewed simply by the natural man, you will find that a great deal of space is given to congratulating humanity upon their marvelous exploits; and one would suppose that we have now almost reached perfection, so far as human government or political economy is concerned.  Civilization and the progress of the race are presumably at the zenith of their glory.  

   But if one reads history in the light of Holy Scripture, with the Spirit of God illuminating the page, it gives one a very different impression indeed.  We then begin to realize that the things that are most highly esteemed among men are abominations in the sight of God; and, concerning the great ones of the earth who wield power over the nations, we are reminded of what is written in Psalm 49: 12,  'Man being in honor abideth not; he is like the beasts that perish."

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY

   Chronically, this chapter takes place before chapter 5.  At this time, Belshazzar had just been given a position of authority and Daniel was probably in his late 60's.

   The lion with an eagle's wings represents Babylon with her swift conquests.  The bear that ravaged the lion is Medo-Persia.  The three ribs its mouth represents the conquests of three major enemies.  The leopard is Greece.  Its wings show the swiftness of Alexander the Great's campaign as he conquered much of the civilized world in four years. (That is already 219 years from when Belshazzar was given the position of authority.)  The leopard's four heads are the four divisions of the Greek empire after Alexander's death.

   The fourth beast points to both Rome and the end times.  God is illustrating the final end of all worldly kingdoms in contrast to His eternal Kingdom.  Bible scholars believe that the horns correspond to the kings who will reign shortly before God sets up His everlasting Kingdom.  These ten kings still had not come to power when the Apostle John recorded his vision in the book of Revelations.  The little horn is a future human ruler or the antichrist.  (2 Thessalonians 2: 3,4)

You are encouraged to leave your thoughts in a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

Also, if this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray for us as we share The Gospel, and share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you.

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com  and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY 1 TIMOTHY 5: 1 - 8

TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY

1 TIMOTHY 5: 1 - 8

 

    Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father.  Treat younger men as brothers, (2) older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

   (3) Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.  (4) But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.  (5) The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.  (6) But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.  (7) Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.  (8) If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION BIBLE STUDY COMMENTARY

   The Apostle Paul said Christian families were to be as self-supporting as possible.  He insisted that children and grandchildren take care of the widows in their families.  The church has always had to balance financial responsibility with generosity.  It only makes sense for church members to work as hard as they can and to be as independent as possible, so they can adequately care for themselves and for less fortunate members.  When church members are both responsible and generous, everyone's needs will be met.

   The responsibility for caring for the helpless naturally falls first on their families, the people whose lives are most closely linked with theirs.  Paul stresses the importance of families caring for the needs of widows, and not leaving it for the church.  The church should support those who have no families and should also help the elderly, young, disabled, ill, or poverty-stricken with their emotional and spiritual needs.

MY THOUGHTS

   This is just a good time to remember that God expects you to care for your own families, and to do it with respect.  First your families, then your church.  There is also something else that is expected of you:  respect.  Respect yourself enough to be self-supporting if you are able bodied.  Do not expect anyone else to support you. If someone else is supporting you and you are able to work, then YOU are robbing God when they re-direct their tithes for your support.

   This reminds me of the time when Jesus was talking to the Pharisees. (Matthew 15: 2 - 6) They were asking Jesus why His disciples were breaking the law of the elders by not washing before they ate.  Jesus asked them why THEY were breaking God's law:

   (4) "For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'  (5) But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' (6) he is not to 'honor his father' with it.  Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition."

   Jesus confirmed that you take care of your family FIRST.  It is always nice to be able to take care of both your family AND your church.

What are your thoughts?

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com  and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.

DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN DANIEL 6:16 - 28

DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN

DANIEL 6: 16 - 28

   (16) So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den.  The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"

   (17) A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed.  (18) Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him.  And he could not sleep.

   ( 19) At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den.  (20) When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"

   (21) Daniel answered, "O king, live forever!  (22) My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.  They have not  hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight.  Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."

   (23) The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den.  And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

   (24) At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children.  And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

   (25) Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land:

        "May you prosper greatly!

   (26) I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

        "For He is The Living God

                and He endures forever;

         His kingdom will not be destroyed,

                His dominion will never end.

         (27) He rescues and He saves;

                He performs signs and wonders

                in the heavens and on the earth.

         He has rescued Daniel

                from the power of the lions."

   (28) So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.      (NIV)

 LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY

   Even unbelievers witnessed Daniel's consistency.  By his continual service, Daniel had demonstrated his faithful devotion to God.  What can unbelievers determine about your life?

   The man or woman who trusts in God and obeys His will is untouchable until God takes him or her.  To trust God is to have immeasurable peace.  God, who delivered Daniel, will deliver you.  Do you trust him with your life?  

   Be faithful to God so He can use you to make an impact on others.  

H.A. IRONSIDE COMMENTARY

   Dr. Ironside teaches us that this chapter of Daniel points to another event that is drawing near, when we will have one who will magnify himself above all that is called God and is worshiped, so that he shall sit in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.  He will make a decree that prayer and worship shall be addressed to him alone.  Details will be revealed in chapter 11.

    He stresses that God's word has distinctly foretold the re-gathering of the Jews to Palestine, though at first in unbelief, and that out of the whole company a remnant will be taken up in grace and turned to the Lord.  The mass will own the claims of the wilful one, who will pose as their Messiah, while the remnant will be distinguished by their unyielding opposition to his decrees, and therefore, as in the case of Daniel in this chapter, will be called upon to pass through a period of severe testing, designated in both Testaments as the tribulation.  But out of it all they shall eventually emerge in triumph, through the power of God, and they shall see visited upon their enemies the desolation and destruction which they had thought to visit upon this faithful remnant.
   Dr. Ironside speaks of the return of the Jews to Israel referenced in Isaiah chapter 11.  This chapter tells of the return of the Jew the second time.  The first time was when they came up from the dominions of Cyrus and Artaxerxes, in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.  He further references chapter 8 of  Isaiah for the "how" they will be returned.   The 13th chapter of Jeremiah corroborates the word of Isaiah.  
   Chapter 24 of Isaiah reveals a fuller description of the "time of Jacob's trouble", the great tribulation, when the remnant Jews will be tried and tested as Daniel in the lions' den.  The first thirteen verses picture the land of Palestine as it will be in those days of distress.  Then, notice verse 13:  "when thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.  They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea."  Here is the remnant distinguished from the mass; instead of being overwhelmed with despair because of their sorrows when cast, as it were, into the lions' den, they lift up their voices in song, like Daniel glorifying the God of heaven.

   Dr. Ironside points to the destruction of Jerusalem in Luke 21 "...and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled".  (verse 20, 24) Jerusalem's rehabilitation awaits, then, the falling of the Stone upon the feet of the Gentile image; for that will conclude the Gentile Times.  As long as the Jew is not master in Palestine the Times of the Gentiles are running on.  But the fullness of the Gentiles, as the context in this chapter makes clear, is an expression referring to spiritual  blessing, not national nor temporal.  This fullness will have come in when the message of the gospel has accomplished the purpose for which it was given, and God has completed His present work of taking out from among the Gentiles a people for His name.  In other words, the fullness of the Gentiles and the rapture of the Church are coincidental.
    At the fullness of the Gentiles and the close of the Times of the Gentiles there will be a time period, in which the great bulk of prophecy will have its fulfilment.  This is the period designated in Daniel "the Time of the End."  The chart below will make clear its proper position.  The line running across the chart beneath the parenthetic portion, which represents the present age, sets forth the fullness of the Gentiles.  The line below, immediately above the inscription concerning the kingdom, represents the close of the Times of the Gentiles.  Between these two lines we have the Time of the End; and it is then that the conversion and testing of the Remnant will take place.

MY THOUGHTS

   It looks like King Darius was fasting when he discovered that he had targeted God's representative for death.  He may not have labeled his time of despondency as fasting, but when we have a troubling issue that we take before God, sometimes we don't eat or seek entertainment.  I wonder if the king might have prayed to Daniel's God.

What about you?  Do you trust God as your Heavenly Father Who loves you and cares for you as a cherished child?  You can.  To learn how, click here:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

You are welcome to leave a comment with your thoughts.  No comment is published until it has been reviewed.  Also, if this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray for us and share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you.


You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com  and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.

KING DARIUS' DECREE DANIEL 6: 1-15

KING DARIUS'  DECREE

   It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, (2) with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel.  The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.  (3) Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.  (4) At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so.  They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.  (5) Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God."

   (6) So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said:  "O King Darius, live forever! (7) The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. (8) Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."  (9) So King Darius put the decree in writing.

   (10) Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.  Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.  (11) Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.  (12) So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree:  "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?"

   The king answered, "The decree stands--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."

   (13) Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing.  He still prays three times a day."  (14) When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

   (15) Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY

   By this time, Daniel was in his 80's and was one of Darius's top three administrators.  He had gained the respect of Darius by working more efficiently and more capably than all the rest.  One of the best ways to influence non-Christians is to work diligently and responsibly.  How well do you represent God to your employer and fellow employees?

   Daniel made enemies at work by doing a good job.  The jealous officials couldn't find anything about Daniel's life to criticize, so they attacked his religion.  If you face jealous critics because of your faith, be glad they're criticizing that part of your life--perhaps they had to focus on your religion as a last resort!  Respond by continuing to believe and live as you should.  Then remember that God is in control,  fighting this battle for you.

   Daniel stood alone.  Although he knew about the law against praying to anyone except the king, he continued to pray three times a day as he always had.  Hiding his daily prayers would have been futile because surely the conspirators would have caught him at something else during the month.  Also, hiding would have demonstrated that he was afraid of the other government officials.  Daniel continued to pray because he could not look to the king for the guidance and strength that he needed during this difficult time.  Only God could provide what he really needed.

MY THOUGHTS

   The last time the Hebrews were in a difficult situation, Daniel was absent.  This time, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are not mentioned.  The Holy Bible is really a Book about Jesus, so we do not always get all the details to fill in the blanks.  We also know that satraps appointed by the king were normally members of the royal family or Persian nobility, and held their position indefinitely.  We know that there were three administrators over the satraps, including Daniel, who was a foreigner.

   All of his life, as we understand it, Daniel had been faithful to his God.  How many people do you know who pray three times a day?  How many do you know who reads The Bible every day?  every week?  every month?  regularly?  at all?  How does one have a relationship with anyone if they never hear from them?

   It is my purpose for this blog to give you a chance to understand my God and have a close relationship with Him......"If not Him, who?"  If you have never accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, please visit our "Path to Salvation" page by clicking here:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html..  Please do not wait.  No one is promised tomorrow.

What are your thoughts?  You are welcome to leave a comment.

You are also invited to visit with Oma at http://omaspolitics.blospot.com and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.