Participants: Stephen Bohr
Series Code: 12POP
Program Code: 12POP000017
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00:46 All right. Welcome back to the Pillars of Prophecy
00:49 Spring Camp Meeting here in southern Illinois 00:52 at Three Angels Broadcasting Network. 00:55 Folks, you all have been through a lot of meetings 00:57 the last few days, haven't you? 00:59 Amen. Have you learned anything? 01:01 Yes! All right, now what are we supposed to do? 01:03 Go and tell. Go and tell... What? Right? 01:07 What has happened to us. What Jesus has done for us. 01:10 "Go ye into all the world. " 01:11 So now... you can take that food in. Now you've got to go 01:14 share with everyone else. 01:16 Those of you at home: thank you for staying with us. 01:18 I know I can tell you this: 01:20 Satan is very upset with everything that's been going on. 01:23 We have had technical problems that many of you aren't aware of 01:26 here from a number of the networks that the picture's 01:31 been freezing up. It's been not... I mean, this is 01:34 probably - and as long as I can remember - 01:37 I'm not sure, there's been 20-some hours worth of 01:39 technical problems in getting some of the programming 01:42 or not. But the devil still loses because everything's 01:46 recorded that's great. And we're going to be replaying 01:48 these programs over and over again. 01:50 Amen. And so that makes us more determined than ever 01:53 "Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. " 01:57 Right? Amen. And so what we're going to do 02:00 this is for a closing number... I was supposed to sing tonight 02:05 but I have something much better than that. 02:07 Since this is the last service and we have Speaker/Director 02:12 of Secrets Unsealed... of course, Bro. Stephen Bohr. 02:16 I knew Stephen... Actually... I only went to academy 02:19 one year back in '67/'68. 02:22 I knew Stephen Bohr then. 02:24 And later he came to West Frankfort and pastored 02:26 here for a year or so. 02:27 And I hadn't seen him in many years, but God has used this 02:30 man to literally minister to people around the world. 02:34 And right after the music that we have... 02:37 it's a special music... will be Stephen Bohr. 02:39 And Pastor Stephen Bohr... and then right before he comes 02:42 we have Reggie and Ladye Love Smith. 02:44 And last night when they sang I've Just Seen Jesus 02:48 it just gave me chill bumps. 02:49 Maybe it was Thursday night or last night. 02:51 What an incredible song! So I've asked them if they would 02:54 come in a sing this song tonight. So a special request. 02:57 And we love you all. Thank you for being here 03:00 and spending the weekend with us. 03:02 And we look forward to this. 03:04 And I know your dad's going to want to watch this, too. Right? 03:07 His favorite song: I've Just Seen Jesus. 03:26 We just knew He was dead... 03:30 "It is finished! " He said 03:33 and we watched as His life 03:37 ebbed away. 03:40 Then we all stood around 03:44 till the guards took Him down. 03:48 Joseph begged for His body 03:52 that day. 03:56 It was late afternoon 04:00 when we got to the tomb, 04:03 wrapped His body, 04:05 and sealed up the grave. 04:10 So I know how you feel... 04:14 His death was so real. 04:18 But please listen 04:20 and hear what I say: 04:26 "I've just seen 04:30 Jesus! 04:35 I tell you 04:38 He's alive. 04:42 I've just seen 04:44 Jesus, 04:47 our precious Lord, 04:52 alive! " 04:56 And I knew - 04:59 yes, I knew - 05:00 He really saw me 05:05 too. 05:09 As if - till now - 05:14 I never lived. 05:21 All that I've done before 05:27 won't matter 05:30 anymore. 05:34 I've just seen 05:37 Jesus 05:41 and I'll never 05:46 be the same 05:48 again. 06:01 It was His voice she first heard... 06:05 those kind, gentle words... 06:09 asking what was her reason for those tears. 06:15 And I sobbed in despair: 06:19 "My Lord is not there. " 06:22 He said: "Child, it is I 06:26 I am here! " 06:31 I've just seen 06:36 Jesus! 06:41 I tell you: 06:44 "He's alive! " 06:48 I've just seen Jesus, 06:54 our precious Lord, 06:58 alive! 07:02 And I knew - 07:06 yes, I knew - 07:07 He really saw me, too. 07:12 He really saw me, too. 07:16 As if until then 07:20 I never lived. 07:27 All that I've done before 07:33 won't matter 07:36 anymore. 07:41 I've just seen 07:44 Jesus... 07:48 Well I've just seen Jesus! 07:53 I've just seen Jesus! 07:58 And all I've ever 08:03 done before 08:07 won't matter anymore... 08:14 I've just seen Jesus 08:18 and I'll never be 08:22 the same 08:24 again. 08:30 I've just seen 08:33 Jesus! 08:41 Amen! 08:55 It's been a long day 08:59 but it's been a blessed day. Amen! 09:05 High Sabbath... that's right. 09:08 What I want to do in the time that we have 09:11 in the conclusion of our series on Daniel 09:13 is to try and bring everything together that we've studied. 09:19 However, before we do we would like to have a word 09:22 of prayer, so please bow with me as we pray. 09:27 Father, this has truly been a high day. 09:30 We have felt Your presence. 09:32 We have heard Your voice. 09:34 We have been inspired by studying once again 09:40 these great prophecies from Your Holy Word. 09:44 We ask, Father, as we open Your Word 09:47 and try and get a picture of how everything fits together 09:53 that Your Holy Spirit will give us clarity of thought. 09:56 It's somewhat complex... but give us understanding. 10:01 I thank you, Lord, for the privilege of approaching You 10:04 in prayer and I know that You have heard 10:07 because I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen. 10:11 Amen. 10:13 A careful examination of the book of Daniel 10:17 reveals that the book of Daniel 10:22 is actually composed of two books. 10:26 You know, sometimes the book of Daniel has been divided 10:29 into the historical section and the prophetic section. 10:33 The problem with that way of dividing the book of Daniel 10:36 is that in the historical section 10:39 is Daniel 2 which is a prophecy. 10:43 And so it doesn't exactly fit that way. 10:47 Others have spoken of four prophetic outlines in Daniel. 10:50 Daniel 2, Daniel 7, Daniel 8 and 9, Daniel 11 and 12. 10:55 But that also leaves many chapters that are not included 10:59 in the structure. 11:01 It's far better for us to take a look at how God 11:05 had Daniel structure this book. 11:08 The book of Daniel - as I mentioned - is actually 11:11 one book that is composed of two books. 11:16 The two books are Daniel 1 through 7 11:20 and the second book is Daniel 8 through 12. 11:24 The first seven chapters are very closely linked 11:29 and the last chapters - chapters 8 through 12- 11:33 are also very closely linked. 11:36 They have a central theme. 11:38 Now just let me mention some things about 11:42 Daniel chapters 2 through 7. 11:44 We'll pass up Daniel 1 because that's the introduction 11:47 to both parts of the book of Daniel. 11:51 But in Daniel 2 through 7 we have what is called 11:54 a chiastic structure. 11:57 And I want you to imagine a candelabrum... 12:02 a seven-branched candlestick. 12:04 You'll notice that Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 are on the same branch 12:09 of the candlestick 12:11 because Daniel 2 deals with four metals 12:14 and Daniel 7 deals with four beasts. 12:16 They're closely intertwined and related. 12:20 On the next branch of the candlestick you have 12:23 Daniel 3 and Daniel 6. 12:26 Very intimately related. 12:28 Both deal with persecution by the civil power 12:32 instigated by the religious power 12:35 and God's people having to go through a severe crisis 12:39 because of keeping God's commandments and worship. 12:43 On the last branch of the candlestick we have 12:46 Daniel 4 and 5. 12:48 These chapters also are very closely connected. 12:52 They deal with arrogant kings. 12:55 Daniel 4 deals with the fall of arrogant king Nebuchadnezzar 13:00 and Daniel chapter 5 deals with the fall of arrogant 13:04 king Belshazzar and the kingdom of Babylon. 13:08 And so Daniel 2 through 7 passing up Daniel 1 13:12 which is the introduction are very closely intertwined 13:17 and interconnected. 13:20 Now Daniel chapter 8 through chapter 12 are also 13:24 very, very closely linked. I'd like to invite you 13:29 to turn with me in your Bibles to Daniel chapter 7. 13:34 And I just want to review the sequence of powers 13:37 that we have in Daniel chapter 7 13:39 because there's the last part of the events of Daniel 7 13:43 which are really the intro- duction to Daniel 8 through 12. 13:48 Now I'm going to go through this quickly because time is short. 13:51 You know that in Daniel 7 we have Babylon then Medo-Persia 13:56 then Greece then the Roman Empire. 13:59 The Roman Empire is divided into ten kingdoms. 14:03 Then among those ten kingdoms rises the little horn. 14:07 And the little horn which represents the Roman Catholic 14:10 papacy rules for 1,260 years 14:15 which takes us to the year 1798 AD. 14:20 Now I want you to notice the event that takes place 14:23 immediately after the year 1798. 14:27 Daniel 7 and verses 9 and 10. 14:31 Remember? We have the timeframe 14:33 because we've already noticed in this prophecy 14:36 that the little horn rules 1,260 years 14:41 which end in 1798 AD. 14:44 So this next event takes place after 1798 AD. 14:47 It says in Daniel chapter 7 and verse 9 and verse 10: 14:52 "I watched till thrones were put in place 14:55 and the Ancient of Days was seated. " 14:58 So He wasn't seated there before. 15:00 "His garment was white as snow 15:03 and the hair of His head was like pure wool. 15:05 His throne was a fiery flame; its wheels of burning fire. 15:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. 15:15 A thousand thousands ministered to Him. 15:18 Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. 15:22 The court was seated and the books were opened. " 15:27 Where is this event taking place? 15:29 It's taking place in heaven obviously. 15:32 That's where the angels are surrounding the throne 15:35 where God the Father sits. 15:36 And so you notice that the judgment begins 15:39 sometime after 1798 AD 15:42 because this is the next event in the sequence. 15:45 And then I want you to notice verses 13 and 14. 15:49 "I was watching in the night visions 15:53 and behold, one like the Son of Man 15:56 coming with the clouds of heaven. " 15:59 The Millerites interpreted this as the second coming. 16:01 They did not read real carefully what the text said 16:06 because it continues saying: "I was watching in the night 16:09 vision and behold, one like the Son of Man 16:11 coming with the clouds of heaven. He came 16:15 to the Ancient of Days. " Where was the Ancient of Days? 16:18 In heaven. We pray: "Our Father which art in heaven. " 16:23 He was seated on His throne in heaven to begin the judgment. 16:27 And so clearly here it says that the Son of Man 16:31 comes to the Ancient of Days and then it continues saying: 16:34 "And they... " that is, the angels... "brought Him 16:37 near before Him. " And then verse 14 tells us 16:41 what the conclusion of the whole matter is: 16:43 why Jesus came there to where the Ancient of Days was. 16:48 Verse 14: "Then to Him was given dominion and glory 16:54 and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages 16:58 should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion 17:02 which shall not pass away and His kingdom 17:05 the one which shall not be destroyed. " 17:09 Now if you read this passage carefully you discover 17:12 that the judgment is composed of two stages. 17:16 The first stage takes place in heaven 17:20 where the Son of Man goes to the Ancient of Days 17:23 where the Father sat to begin the judgment. 17:26 And then in verse 14 it says that after the judgment 17:31 the kingdom is given to Jesus Christ. 17:34 So first of all there is an investigative stage of the books 17:38 and secondly there is the executive stage 17:41 where God's people receive the reward based on what is 17:45 contained in the books. 17:47 Now go with me to Daniel chapter 12 and verse 4. 17:50 Daniel chapter 12 and verse 4. 17:53 What I want us to remember 17:56 which is crucially important to understand how the book 17:59 of Daniel is organized is that in Daniel 7 18:02 verses 9 and 10 and 13 and 14 18:05 you have a pre-Advent investigative stage of the 18:09 judgment in heaven when the Father sits and the Son of Man 18:12 comes to where the Father is seated. 18:15 Now notice Daniel chapter 12 and verse 4: 18:19 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book... " 18:27 Now notice the next word: 18:29 "until the time of the end. " 18:32 Was the book going to be sealed forever? 18:34 No. It was going to be sealed only until when? 18:39 There's a time limit: "until the time of the end. " 18:42 And then it says: "Many shall run to and fro... " 18:47 When will they do that? 18:48 At the time of the end. 18:51 "Many will run to and fro and knowledge... " 18:54 Knowledge of what? 18:56 Knowledge of what is contained in the book that was sealed 19:00 which is now unsealed. "Knowledge shall be... " What? 19:04 "increased. " You know, sometimes I think 19:07 that we have misused this text 19:10 and we emphasize that it means, you know, that you're going to 19:13 have a lot of nuclear weapons and rockets 19:16 and electric toothbrushes and things like that. 19:20 An increase in scientific knowledge. 19:23 But really, in its context this is speaking about 19:27 the book that contains Daniel 8 through 12. 19:31 That's what I want to show you: that it deals with 19:33 Daniel 8 through 12. That is the book that was sealed 19:36 until the time of the end. 19:39 In other words, it was sealed until 1798 AD. 19:42 After 1798 AD the book would be unsealed 19:46 and knowledge of the contents of the book, 19:49 Daniel 8 through 12, would be increased. 19:54 I'm going to try and give you six reasons 19:56 why the book that was sealed is actually Daniel 8 through 12. 20:01 We've already dealt with Daniel 1 through 7. 20:04 That's a unit within itself. 20:06 But there are six reason... I don't know if we'll have 20:08 the time. I'll give you as many reasons as we can. 20:11 The first reason why the book that was sealed until the time 20:16 of the end is not the totality of the book of Daniel 20:19 is by looking at the languages in which Daniel was written. 20:25 Are you aware of the fact that Daniel chapter 1 20:28 was written in Hebrew? That's the introduction to 20:30 the whole book... so we'll put that aside. 20:32 But then from Daniel 2 to Daniel 7 20:36 the book is written in Aramaic, 20:39 also called Chaldean. 20:42 But Daniel chapter 8 through 12 is written in Hebrew... 20:46 which means that the languages themselves indicate that 20:51 we are really dealing with two books within one book: 20:56 Daniel 2 through 7 in Aramaic 20:59 and Daniel 8 through 12 in Hebrew. 21:03 Two different languages; two different sections of the book 21:06 of Daniel. Furthermore, the book that was sealed 21:11 until the time of the end - Daniel chapter 8 through 12 21:15 I believe - is not the totality of the book of Daniel. 21:19 And you say: "Why isn't the book that was sealed 21:21 all of the book of Daniel? " 21:23 It's very simple. Much of Daniel 1 through 7 21:27 could be understood before the time of the end. 21:30 In fact, allow me to read you a statement by a church father 21:34 by the name of Hippolochus. 21:36 He lived in the third century AD 21:39 and he almost sounds like an Adventist. 21:42 He's comparing Daniel 2 and Daniel 7. 21:45 It's a rather lengthy quotation 21:47 but I'm going to read it so that you can see that 21:49 Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 was pretty well understood 21:52 before the time of the end. 21:54 But there's one thing that was not understood. 21:56 This is what he says: 21:58 "In speaking of a lioness from the sea 22:01 Daniel meant the rising of the kingdom of Babylon 22:05 and that this was the golden head of the image. 22:08 Then after the lioness he sees a second beast like a bear 22:13 which signified the Persians 22:15 for after the Babylonians the Persians obtained the power. 22:18 And in saying that it had three ribs in its mouth 22:21 he pointed to the three nations: Persians, Medes, and Babylonians 22:24 which were expressed in the image by the silver 22:27 after the gold. Then comes a third beast... 22:29 a leopard... which means the Greeks. 22:31 For after the Persians Alexander of Macedon 22:34 had the power when Darius was overthrown 22:37 which was also indicated by the brass in the image. 22:40 And in saying that the beast had four wings of a fowl 22:43 and four heads he showed most clearly how the kingdom of 22:46 Alexander was parted into four divisions. 22:49 For in speaking of four heads he meant the four kings 22:53 that arose out of it. For Alexander, when dying, 22:56 divided his kingdom into four parts. " 22:58 Then he says: "The fourth beast was dreadful and terrible. 23:02 It had iron teeth and claws of brass. 23:04 Who, then, are meant by this but the Romans 23:08 whose kingdom - the kingdom that still stands - 23:11 is expressed by the iron" for says he: 23:14 "its legs are of iron. " 23:16 Uh, was he pretty clear on Daniel 2 and Daniel 7? 23:18 Oh absolutely! He sounds like an Adventist. 23:21 Isn't that right? 23:24 Now you say: "But he doesn't say anything 23:26 about the little horn. " 23:28 Well, there's another quotation that I want to read you, 23:31 also from Hippolochus 23:33 where he actually addresses the little horn 23:36 and the setting up of the everlasting kingdom. 23:39 And there's one thing that you're going to notice 23:40 that is missing that he did not understand. 23:43 This is what he says: 23:45 "Let us look at what is before us more carefully 23:49 and scan it as it were with open eyes. 23:53 The golden head of the image is identical with the lioness 23:57 by which the Babylonians were represented. 24:00 The golden shoulders and arms of silver 24:02 are the same with the bear by which the Persians and Medes 24:06 are meant. The belly and thighs of brass 24:09 are the leopard by which the Greeks - who ruled from 24:12 Alexander onwards - are intended. 24:14 The legs of iron are the dreadful and terrible beast 24:17 by which the Romans - who hold the empire now - are meant. 24:21 The toes of clay and iron are the ten horns which are to be. " 24:27 Because he's writing in the third century. 24:29 Rome has not been divided yet but he's understanding this. 24:32 And then he says: "The other... the one other little horn 24:37 springing up in their midst is the antichrist. " 24:40 Does he have it straight? Yes! 24:43 But now notice the one thing that he does not understand 24:46 fully. He says: "The stone that smites the image 24:51 and breaks it in pieces and that fills the whole earth 24:54 is Christ... who comes from heaven and brings judgment 24:58 on the world. " What did he not understand? 25:02 That the judgment is not when Jesus comes to bring judgment 25:05 on the world. The judgment takes place where? 25:09 The judgment takes place in heaven 25:11 before Jesus returns to take over the kingdoms of the world. 25:15 So he understood everything in Daniel 2, 25:18 everything in Daniel 7, but he understood the kingdom 25:21 and Jesus' coming in power and glory to take over the kingdoms 25:25 of the world. 25:28 Incidentally, there were portions of Daniel 8 through 12 25:31 that could be understood before the time of the end. 25:34 The events that led up to the judgment 25:36 could be understood before the time of the judgment came. 25:40 For example, do you think the prophecy of the 70 weeks 25:44 could be understood before the time of the end? 25:46 Absolutely! They were fulfilled before the time of the end. 25:49 You know, there was a church father that entertained 25:52 a conversation with a pagan philosopher by the name of 25:56 Porphyry. And basically Porphyry said to this 25:59 church father: 'You know, the book of Daniel could not have 26:02 been written by Daniel in the 6th century BC. 26:06 It's impossible. " And the church father says: 26:08 "Why not? " He says: "Because in Daniel 11 26:11 the history of Greece and Rome is so precise 26:15 and exact to history that no one could have 26:17 predicted it beforehand. " 26:19 So even Porphyry - the pagan philosopher - admitted 26:23 that much of Daniel 11 could be understood 26:26 before the time of the end. 26:28 So the book that was sealed until the time of the end 26:31 could not be the totality of Daniel 26:33 because there was much in Daniel 1 through 7 26:36 except for the judgment aspect 26:38 which was understood before the time of the end. 26:41 Let me give you the third reason. 26:43 You say: "What are the first two? " 26:46 First one is the language. 26:48 The second is that many portions of Daniel 1 through 7 26:52 except the judgment could be understood before the time 26:54 of the end. Reason number three: 26:56 The Spirit of Prophecy clearly states 27:00 that the book that was sealed is only a portion of Daniel. 27:05 How did Ellen White know this? 27:07 I suppose you might say it was a lucky guess? 27:10 No way! 27:12 You see, I've read commentaries on the book of Daniel 27:15 and most of the commentaries say "the book that was sealed 27:17 till the time of the end was the book of Daniel. " 27:19 Ellen White is more precise. 27:21 She says the book that was sealed was a portion of Daniel. 27:24 Allow me to read you just a couple of statements 27:26 where she makes that very clear. 27:29 This statement is from Acts of the Apostles page 585. 27:33 She says: "In the Revelation all the books of the Bible 27:37 meet and end. 27:38 Here is the complement of the book of Daniel. 27:41 One is a prophecy; the other a revelation. " 27:45 Now listen carefully: 27:47 "The book that was sealed is not the revelation 27:50 but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel 27:54 relating to the last days. " 27:56 What is a portion? It is a part. 27:59 And which part is sealed? 28:01 The one that has to do with what? 28:03 With the last days. She continues saying: 28:05 "But that portion of the prophecy of Daniel 28:08 relating to the last days the angel commanded 28:11 'But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words 28:14 and seal the book... even to the time of the end. ' " 28:18 In another statement, Great Controversy page 355, 28:22 Ellen White states this. And by the way, Ellen White 28:25 is going to explain that there were some aspects 28:28 even of Daniel 8 through 12 28:30 which could be understood before the time of the end 28:32 that were not sealed. 28:34 The events that led up to the judgment could be understood 28:37 but the judgment aspect could not. 28:39 In other words, the reason for the events that lead up 28:42 to the judgment is to give us a frame of reference 28:45 for the beginning of the judgment. 28:46 Notice what she says: 28:48 "The message of salvation has been preached in all ages 28:51 but this message... " She's talking about the first 28:53 angel's message - the hour of His judgment is come... 28:56 She says: "But this message is a part of the gospel 28:59 which could be proclaimed only in the last days 29:03 for only then would it be true that the hour of His judgment 29:07 had come. " You see, you couldn't preach the hour of His 29:10 judgment has come" unless the hour of His judgment had come. 29:13 She continues saying... listen carefully: 29:16 "But prophecies present a succession of events... " 29:20 That's historicism. "They present a succession of 29:22 events leading down to the opening of the judgment. " 29:26 Can we understand the succession of events? 29:28 We certainly can. Before the time of the end 29:31 many understood them. So she says: 29:33 "The prophecies present a succession of events 29:35 leading down to the opening of the judgment. 29:38 This is especially true of the book of Daniel. " 29:40 Now listen carefully: "But that part of his prophecy... " 29:45 What is a part? 29:48 A part, right? 29:51 "But that part of his prophecy which related to the last days 29:56 Daniel was bidden to close up and seal 30:00 till the time of the end. Not till we reach this time 30:04 could a message concerning the judgment be proclaimed 30:07 based on the fulfillment of these prophecies. 30:10 But at the time of the end" says the prophet 30:13 "many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase. " 30:19 Are you understanding so far? 30:22 Now, let's give a fourth reason. 30:25 This is the most important of all. 30:27 When you study the internal content of Daniel 8 through 12 30:33 you find that all of these chapters are intimately 30:37 connected. They're weaved together. 30:42 They cannot be understood independently 30:44 one from the other. 30:46 In other words, as you examine the evidence 30:48 itself within the Bible text 30:51 you're going to discover that these chapters 30:54 have a central theme. 30:56 And that central theme is what takes place in 1844: 31:02 the beginning of the Investigative Judgment 31:04 in heaven. That is the central theme that links 31:08 every single one of those chapters: Daniel 8 through 12. 31:12 In other words, every chapter has something to do 31:14 with that particular theme. 31:17 Now let's take a look at each chapter and see how each chapter 31:21 presents this central theme of the judgment. 31:24 Let's begin with chapter 12... chapter 8. 31:28 Chapter 8 of Daniel gives us the historical framework 31:32 of when the judgment is going to begin. 31:36 I'll just review. I appreciate so much 31:39 that all the other have prepared the way for this presentation. 31:42 So this is just going to be review. 31:45 In Daniel chapter 8 you have a ram. 31:48 The ram has two horns 31:50 and the largest horn comes out last. 31:54 What does the ram represent? 31:57 The ram represents the Medes and Persians. 31:59 And by the way, the Medes were actually the power 32:04 that at first governed. But then Persia came up 32:09 and became much more predominant and powerful 32:11 than the Medes. This can be proven historically. 32:15 So you have the ram. The ram has two horns 32:18 which represents Medo-Persia. 32:20 Notice that Daniel 8 does not begin with Babylon. 32:22 It begins with Medo-Persia. 32:23 Secondly then you have a he-goat. 32:26 What does the he-goat represent? 32:28 It represents Greece and it has a notable horn. 32:31 What does the notable horn represent? 32:33 It represents Alexander the Great... the first king. 32:36 Then the notable horn is broken. 32:38 In other words, Alexander no longer rules 32:41 and four horns come out. 32:43 What do the four horns represent? 32:46 They represent the 4 divisions of Alexander's empire. 32:51 So we move from Medo-Persia to the first king of Greece 32:56 to the four kingdoms that came from the kingdom of Alexander. 33:01 And then you have a little horn... 33:03 a little horn that first of all has a secular stage 33:07 because basically it's conquering geographically. 33:10 But then this little horn morphs and it becomes 33:13 a religious little horn 33:15 that takes away the daily from the Prince of the host. 33:18 He tramples on the saints. 33:20 He tramples on the sanctuary 33:22 and he sets up the abomination of desolation. 33:24 From a mere secular power the little horn has morphed 33:28 into a religious system that uses the state to persecute. 33:32 And then, immediately after the period of dominion 33:36 of the little horn, when it gets involved with 33:40 Christ's ministry in heaven then you have the beginning 33:44 of the Investigative Judgment. "Unto 2300 days 33:48 and the sanctuary shall be cleansed. " 33:53 Now there are two differences 33:55 between Daniel 2 and 7 and Daniel 8. 33:59 There are actually four, but I'm only going to cover two. 34:02 The first difference is that whereas Daniel 2 and 7 34:06 begin with Babylon, in Daniel 8 it begins with Medo-Persia. 34:12 And usually the argument is: "Well the reason why 34:15 is because Babylon is about to pass from history. " 34:17 But really Babylon would not pass from history 34:19 for another 12 years according to the date that is given. 34:22 There's another reason why Babylon is not mentioned 34:26 in the prophecy of Daniel 8... 34:27 why it begins with Medo-Persia instead of with Babylon. 34:32 The second thing that is not mentioned there 34:35 in Daniel chapter 8 is the everlasting kingdom. 34:38 In Daniel 2 the vision concludes with the stone 34:42 hitting the feet of the image and Jesus setting up 34:44 His everlasting kingdom. 34:46 In Daniel chapter 7 after the judgment 34:48 the kingdom is given to Christ and He reigns forever and ever. 34:52 In other words, Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 34:54 end with the setting up of the everlasting kingdom. 34:56 However, Daniel chapter 8 34:58 does not end with the everlasting kingdom. 35:01 It is incomplete. 35:03 It simply ends with the work of the little horn 35:06 and with the conclusion of the 2300 days 35:09 when the cleansing of the sanctuary will begin. 35:12 And so you say: "Why doesn't it begin with Babylon 35:15 and why don't you have the idea of the setting up 35:18 of the everlasting kingdom? " 35:21 Well, in order to answer these questions 35:23 we have to go to the following chapter to see how it's related 35:29 to Daniel chapter 8. 35:30 Let me ask you: does Daniel 8 give you a starting point 35:34 for the 2300 days when the sanctuary will be cleansed? 35:37 Does Daniel 8 give you a date when the 2300 days begin 35:42 after which the sanctuary will be cleansed? 35:44 No. It simply says: "Until 2300 days 35:49 and the sanctuary will be... " What? 35:51 "the sanctuary will be cleansed. " 35:52 But it does not give you a starting point 35:55 when you begin the 2300 days. 35:58 So where would you expect to find the starting point 36:01 for the 2300-day prophecy? 36:03 You would expect to find it where? 36:05 In the very next chapter. 36:07 And what do we have in the next chapter? 36:09 "From the going forth of the word to restore and build 36:14 Jerusalem... " Do we have a specific historical date 36:17 for that event? We most certainly do. 36:20 Is Daniel 9 connected to Daniel chapter 8? 36:23 It most certainly is because it gives us 36:25 the starting point of the 2300 days 36:28 that are mentioned in chapter 8. Are you following me or not? 36:31 So Daniel 9... the purpose of Daniel 9- besides 36:34 giving us the story of the Messiah and His baptism 36:37 and the death on the cross and the final rejection 36:39 of the Jewish theocracy there's another purpose 36:42 and that is to give us a beginning reference point 36:45 when the 2300 days will begin and when they will end 36:50 and the Investigative Judgment will begin. 36:53 Now we know the reason why Babylon isn't mentioned. 36:55 Because the 2300 days don't begin in the kingdom of Babylon, 36:59 they begin during the period of Medo-Persia. 37:03 Are you following me? 37:05 If... if in Daniel 8 they begin with Babylon 37:08 and then mention 2300 days, it would have given the 37:11 impression that the 2300 days would begin during the kingdom 37:14 of what? Of Babylon. 37:16 But the 2300 days begin with Artaxerxes 37:19 who was the ruler of Medo-Persia. 37:21 Now we know the reason why there is no mention of Babylon 37:26 in this prophecy. 37:28 So is Daniel 8 related to Daniel 9? 37:32 They're very closely linked. 37:34 Daniel 8 gives you the time period; Daniel 9 gives you 37:37 the date when the time period begins. 37:39 Now you say: "What about Daniel 10? " 37:41 Nothing was said here on Daniel 10. 37:44 Powerful chapter... tremendous chapter. 37:48 Let me ask you: did certain decrees 37:52 have to be made by Persian kings in order for the 37:56 2300-day prophecy to begin its fulfillment? 37:59 For the seventy weeks to begin on time was it necessary 38:03 for Persian kings to give decrees that would take God's 38:07 people back to their land to rebuild their temple, 38:10 to rebuilt their walls, to rebuild their city, 38:13 and to re-establish the religious system? 38:16 Was that indispensible? Absolutely. 38:18 Did the devil know that? 38:20 He most certainly did. 38:22 You see if the Jews did not return, the temple, the city, 38:26 and the walls would not be rebuilt, 38:28 a functioning theocracy would not be established, 38:32 the 70-week prophecy would not begin. 38:35 Therefore the prophecy of the 2300 days would not begin 38:39 to be fulfilled on time. 38:41 God's timeline would be frustrated. 38:45 Now you say: "How does that relate to Daniel chapter 10? " 38:49 When you go to the end of the chapter 38:51 you're going to find that there's a battle going on. 38:54 The prince of Persia is... by the way... is a symbol of Satan. 39:00 He is working upon the minds of the Persian kings. 39:04 What do you suppose he's trying to do to the Persian kings? 39:08 What is he trying to convince them to do? 39:10 To not give the what? The decrees. 39:14 And this can be proved historically. 39:15 You know, Cyrus gave the decree for God's people to return 39:19 in the year 536 BC when the 70-year prophecy 39:22 of Jeremiah came to an end. 39:23 But do you know that the Samaritans who were in the land 39:28 complained so much to the king that Cambyses 39:32 suspended the permission to rebuild the temple. 39:35 What was happening there? 39:36 Who do you suppose was working on the mind of Cambyses? 39:40 Oh, have you ever read that the wall of the city 39:44 would be rebuilt in "troublous times? " 39:46 Have you ever noticed that the ones who were in the land 39:50 fought tooth and nail for the rebuilding of the walls, 39:54 for the rebuilding of the temple, 39:55 for the rebuilding of the city. 39:57 They fought against this. Why? 40:00 Because there was a power from behind who was trying 40:03 to influence the Persian kings not to give the decrees 40:07 which would lead the 70 weeks to begin on time 40:10 and the 2300 days to begin on time. Are you following me? 40:14 And the good news is that at the end of the chapter 40:17 Gabriel is struggling. He really can't prevail. 40:21 And so the Bible says that Michael comes 40:24 and Michael along with Gabriel work upon the minds 40:29 of the Persian kings. And as a result 40:31 the decrees are given on time. 40:33 In fact, after Michael finishes His struggle with the Persian 40:36 kings He said: "Now I have to leave and I have to continue 40:40 struggling with the kings of Persia. " 40:42 So let me ask you: is Daniel chapter 10 40:45 intimately related to Daniel chapter 9 and Daniel chapter 8? 40:49 They are intimately related. 40:51 The theme is the 2300-day prophecy. 40:54 The prophecy is introduced in Daniel 8. 40:57 Daniel 9 gives the starting date. 40:59 Daniel 10 gives us the tremendous battle 41:02 for these decrees to be given so that the 2300 days 41:06 could begin on time. 41:10 You say: "Now what about Daniel 11? " 41:15 Do you know that the last vision in Daniel 41:20 was chapter 8? 41:23 No, there were the apparitions of heavenly beings 41:26 in Daniel chapter 10, but the last vision 41:30 in the book of Daniel was Daniel chapter 8. 41:34 Everything that happens after Daniel chapter 8 41:36 is an explanation of Daniel 8. 41:39 Because Daniel got sick... You remember he got sick 41:43 at the end of chapter 8? 41:44 Gabriel could not finish the explanation, so Gabriel comes 41:48 back in chapter 9. And he says in chapter 9: 41:50 "Now I'm going to give you the starting date. " 41:52 And then in chapter 10 he says: "Now I'm going to tell you 41:54 about the battle that took place for these decrees to be 41:57 given and how Michael and Gabriel prevailed 42:00 on the minds of the kings of Persia. " 42:03 But you'll notice that in Daniel 8 42:06 the explanation of the vision was incomplete 42:09 because Daniel got sick. 42:10 So in Daniel 11... listen carefully... 42:13 in Daniel 11 what is happening is that Gabriel is going to 42:16 tell Daniel - no new vision in Daniel 11 by the way - 42:19 it's the same vision as Daniel 8. 42:21 It's an explanation of Daniel 8. 42:23 Gabriel says: "Now I'm coming back and I'm going to start 42:26 where I started in Daniel 8. 42:28 And what I'm going to do this time: I'm going to begin 42:31 where I began in Daniel 8 with Medo-Persia. 42:34 I'm going to carry you through all of the powers that will rule 42:38 in history but this time instead of ending in 1844 42:42 I'm going to take you all the way to the close of probation 42:46 and the setting up of Christ's everlasting kingdom. " 42:49 Are you understanding me? 42:51 And so where does he begin in Daniel chapter 11? 42:54 I was blessed by Pastor Rafferty's presentation 42:57 on Daniel 11. I mean to get through that material 43:00 in such a clear, succinct way 43:03 you know that it's easily understandable 43:06 was a tremendous task fulfilled. 43:09 Because it's not an easy prophecy to explain. 43:12 And I'm thankful because I don't have to do a lot of explaining. 43:18 Where does Daniel 11 begin? 43:20 I'm just going to give you a synthesis. 43:22 You can read it... it begins with Persia. 43:25 "Three kings will yet rise in Persia" 43:28 it says in verse 2. 43:30 What is the next power that's mentioned in Daniel chapter 11? 43:33 Greece. Is its first king mentioned? 43:37 Absolutely. Does it say that after the first king falls 43:41 that there are going to be four kingdoms from this king's 43:43 kingdom? Is this parallel to Daniel 8? 43:45 It most certainly is. It's beginning with the same 43:48 kingdom; it's going through the same events. 43:50 And then, as Pastor Rafferty showed us 43:53 it continues with pagan Rome. 43:57 Primarily in verses 20 and 21 of chapter 11 44:01 you're dealing with pagan Rome. 44:04 And then beginning in verse 30 all the way through verse 39 44:08 you have papal Rome, the period of dominion of the little horn 44:13 or the beast or the man of sin 44:15 as he's called in different places of scripture. 44:18 So basically what you've done: you've started with Medo-Persia. 44:21 You've continued with Greece with its first king... 44:24 the division into four kingdoms. 44:26 Then you've gone to pagan Rome. 44:28 Then you've gone to papal Rome during the 1,260 years. 44:33 But in chapter 11 Gabriel is going to say: 44:36 "I'm going to take you far beyond where I took you 44:38 in Daniel 8. " You see, in Daniel 8 he basically 44:42 tells Daniel: "2300 days and the sanctuary will be cleansed. " 44:46 In other words, the judgment will begin. 44:48 But in Daniel chapter 11 and 12 he's going to say: 44:52 "I'm going to take you not only to where the judgment begins 44:55 I'm going to take you to where the judgment ends 44:57 and the setting up of the everlasting kingdom. " 45:00 And so we find in Daniel chapter 11 and verse 40 45:06 the king of the South rising against the king of the North. 45:08 The king of the South is Egypt... atheism... 45:11 in the French Revolution that arose against the king 45:14 of the North which is the papacy and gave it its deadly wound. 45:17 It means to gore. It's the same idea that is used 45:19 in Daniel chapter 8 where the ram is pushing with his horns 45:24 and he's attacking with his horns. 45:26 In other words, at the time of the end 45:27 the secular power would arise against this religious power 45:31 that governed for 1,260 years. 45:34 But then what would happen? 45:36 The king of the North would recover his power. 45:38 And you read starting in verse 40... the last part of 45:41 verse 40... through verse 45 45:44 it says that the king of the North would basically 45:46 overwhelm the world. 45:48 It would flood the world; it would conquer everything 45:51 in its path except for a small remnant. 45:55 In fact, it says in Daniel 11 verse 44 45:59 that the king of the North would go out to destroy many... 46:03 to destroy God's people. 46:05 And then when he's at the point of destroying God's people 46:09 we have Daniel 12 verse 1: "At that time Michael shall 46:14 stand up. " Do you know what event is being marked there? 46:19 It is the close of the Investigative Judgment. 46:23 So Daniel 8 and 9 give you the date for the beginning 46:27 of the judgment BUT in Daniel chapter 12 and verse 1 46:31 it takes you to the conclusion of that judgment. 46:34 And you know, somebody said to me once: 46:36 "Well you know, how do you know 46:38 that Jesus is going to change, you know, His priestly garments 46:42 into His kingly garments like Ellen White says? " 46:45 Because that's what it means. The standing up of Michael 46:48 basically means that He's not going to function as high priest 46:51 any more. He's going to change His garments and He's going to 46:54 garb Himself with the garments of a king. 46:57 So somebody facetiously... an Adventist who obviously 47:00 didn't believe much in the Spirit of Prophecy said: 47:02 "Where does Ellen White get that idea? " 47:03 And in my regular, diplomatic way 47:09 I said: "If you use just a small percentage of that gray matter 47:13 that God has given you you would be able to figure out 47:16 for yourself. " He says: "How's that? " 47:18 I said: "Well let me ask you a series of questions. " 47:20 I said: "What is Jesus doing in heaven now? 47:23 What is His job in heaven? " 47:25 "Oh, " he says, "well He's High Priest. " 47:26 I said: "Well then how is He garbed if He's High Priest? " 47:30 Says: "Well, He must be garbed as a high priest. " 47:33 So I said: "Very good... two for two. " 47:36 I said: "Now let me ask you: 47:38 when Jesus returns in power and glory 47:40 how is He clothed? " 47:43 Now He's thinking. 47:46 He says: "Well I suppose that He's going to come like 47:50 Revelation 19 says that He's going to come clothed as 47:53 King of Kings and Lord of Lords. " 47:55 So I said: "Well if He's coming clothed as King of Kings 47:58 and Lord of Lords He must have changed. " 48:04 Does that make sense? Yes. 48:06 So Daniel chapter 12 and verse 1 speaks about the moment 48:09 when the Investigative Judgment closes. 48:11 Is there going to be a terrible time of trouble after the 48:14 Investigative Judgment closes? Absolutely! 48:17 Because it says: "Michael shall stand up. " 48:19 He's going to defend His people. 48:21 And then it says: "There will be a time of trouble such as 48:23 never was since there was a nation. " 48:26 The time of trouble will take place after the close 48:28 of probation. Are God's people going to go through that period? 48:32 Yes, because the good news is it says at the end of that verse 48:37 that "Your people will be... " What? 48:40 "delivered... every one who is found written in the book. " 48:43 Delivered from whom? 48:45 Delivered from the persecutions of the king of the North 48:48 that wants to wipe them out. 48:49 The same power that persecuted during the 1,260 years 48:53 will be the power that will persecute at the end of time. 48:57 And then if you read Daniel chapter 12 verses 2 and 3 49:00 it speaks about the everlasting kingdom 49:03 which was not in Daniel chapter 8 because 49:07 the explanation was suspended. And so now in verses 2 and 3 49:11 it speaks about God's people inheriting the kingdom 49:14 and shining as stars in God's kingdom forever and ever. 49:19 Let me ask you: is Daniel chapter 11 related 49:22 to Daniel chapter 8? Is Daniel 9 related to Daniel 8? 49:27 Is Daniel 10 related to Daniel 8? 49:29 What is the central theme of Daniel 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12? 49:35 The central theme is what? The Investigative Judgment. 49:39 When it begins in Daniel 8 and 9 49:42 and when it ends in Daniel chapter 12 and verse 1. 49:47 Are you following me? Yes. 49:49 Reason number five... we're on a roll. 49:55 Revelation chapter 10. This is a topic for another Camp Meeting 49:58 but I'll just synthesize. 50:01 In Revelation chapter 10 a mighty angel descends from 50:04 heaven and in his hand he has a little book... open. 50:10 Translations don't reflect really what it says. 50:13 The tense of the verb is "he came down from heaven 50:16 with a little book having been opened. " 50:19 Which means that before this it must have been closed. 50:24 What is the only book in scripture that was ever closed 50:26 to be opened later? Daniel 12 and verse 4. 50:31 In other words, Revelation chapter 10 gives us the moment 50:36 in the time of the end when this book is unsealed. 50:39 Are you following me? 50:41 And this mighty angel descends from heaven 50:44 and the interesting thing is he raises his hand 50:49 and... I'm skipping several things... and he swears 50:52 by the Creator that time will be no longer. 50:57 Why does he say "time will be... " You know, 50:59 modern versions translate "there will no longer be 51:01 any delay. " That's not a version; that's a perversion. 51:07 It's the word chronos, and the versions of the Bible 51:12 translate time in every other reference 51:15 but in this one they put delay. 51:17 What time is being referred to here by the angel? 51:20 When the angel says - by the way, this is the 6th trumpet - 51:22 Would that be the time of the end? The sixth trumpet? 51:25 Absolutely. The time of the end/ the 6th trumpet. 51:28 There's only one more. And the 7th trumpet is when 51:30 Jesus takes over His kingdom interestingly enough. 51:34 So chapter 10 must be describing 51:36 the Investigative Judgment under the 6th trumpet 51:39 before Jesus takes over His kingdom in the moment of 51:42 the 7th trumpet. Why would he say: "Time is no longer? " 51:45 To what time was the angel referring when he said 51:47 that time will be no longer? 51:49 He is referring to the prophecy of the 2300 days. 51:53 He's saying: "The 2300-day prophecy is now fulfilled 51:56 and therefore there's no more prophetic time. " 52:01 Prophetic time has come to an end. 52:02 It's a direct link between Revelation chapter 10 52:06 and Daniel chapter 8. 52:09 The time prophecy in Daniel chapter 8 is the 2300 days. 52:13 In 1844 the angel swears "Time will be no longer 52:16 because the time prophecy has been fulfilled. " 52:21 Have you ever noticed that in Revelation chapter 10 52:23 that you also have the Great Disappointment in connection 52:26 with this? John is told to eat the book. 52:32 What book is it? 52:34 All of Daniel? No. Which one? 52:37 The portion that has to do with what? 52:40 With the judgment. So it's the judgment message 52:43 that is being assimilated by John. 52:47 And what happens when he assimilates the judgment hour 52:49 message? Ah, it's sweet. 52:53 Was that the experience of the Millerites? 52:55 Oh, it was so sweet. Ellen White says it was the 52:57 happiest day of her... the happiest year of her life. 53:00 The one that led to 1844. 53:03 Was the judgment hour message a sweet message? 53:06 Yes it was. Because they believed that the judgment 53:08 would be Jesus Christ coming to bring judgment upon the world. 53:13 But what happened in the aftermath? 53:15 It became bitter in the stomach. 53:17 The judgment hour message - which is the theme of the book - 53:20 became what? It became bitter! 53:24 Does that describe the experience of the Advent 53:26 movement? Did William Miller preach the 2300 days? 53:32 Was that the central message of his? Yes. 53:35 Was it about the book? Absolutely! 53:37 Was it a sweet experience? Yes. 53:39 Did it become bitter? Absolutely! 53:42 And then you notice that John is told 53:45 "You must prophesy again. " 53:48 You know you can't do something again unless you've done it 53:51 once before. 53:54 Did the Millerites bring forth a message from this book? 53:57 Did they totally understand the message from this book? 54:00 No, they were wrong about the event but they were right 54:03 about the timing. 54:05 So the angel says: "Now you must go and you must prophesy 54:08 again to the nations, to the tongues, and to the peoples 54:11 and explain to them the true meaning... 54:13 the true meaning of this text. " 54:15 By the way, do you know where the prophesying again is 54:18 in the book of Revelation? 54:19 Revelation 14 verse 7: "I saw another angel flying 54:22 in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel 54:25 to preach to those who dwell on the earth: 54:26 to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people 54:28 saying with a loud voice 'Fear God and give glory to Him 54:31 for the hour of His judgment has come. ' " 54:36 Is that a pre-Advent judgment? 54:38 Does that take place before the second coming? 54:40 Does it take place in heaven? 54:42 Yes. You say: "How do we know that? " 54:44 It's very simple. 54:45 See all we have to do is think when we read. 54:49 Don't just read... think. 54:51 Ask the text questions. 54:53 Let me ask you: does the judgment take place while the 54:55 everlasting gospel is being preached? 54:58 The first angel's message says it's an angel. 55:01 He's preaching the everlasting gospel. And the angel says: 55:03 "the hour of His judgment has come. " 55:04 So does the judgment take place while the gospel is being 55:06 preached? Yes. So the judgment has to take place before 55:10 the second coming of Christ. Amen. 55:11 And if it takes place before the second coming of Christ 55:14 it must take place where? 55:16 It must take place in heaven. 55:21 And then the same angel tells John 55:25 "Arise and measure the temple and those who worship therein. " 55:31 Do you know what the act of measuring is? 55:36 Matthew chapter 7 verses 1 and 2 55:38 says that measuring is the act of judging. 55:43 So what happens after the disappointment? 55:46 After the angel says: "Time will be no longer? " 55:49 After the disappointment over the little book 55:51 after the angels says: "You must prophesy and explain 55:54 things again" then he is given the message that needs to be 55:58 proclaimed: the message that the measuring of the temple 56:02 is now to begin. 56:04 And what is the measuring of the temple? 56:06 The measuring the temple is the process of the 56:10 Investigative Judgment. 56:12 Do we have ample reason to believe that the book 56:15 that was sealed till the time of the end 56:18 was the book within the book? 56:20 Absolutely. The book that contains the 2300-day prophecy. 56:24 Now we have one minute left. 56:25 Let me give you the six reasons quickly. 56:27 And this will be some homework because we won't be able to 56:30 finish it. Look up in the book of Daniel the word understand. 56:36 See, Daniel didn't understand 56:39 and so an order comes to Gabriel in Daniel 8 verse 16 56:42 where Gabriel is told: "Make Daniel understand. " 56:45 In 8:17 Gabriel now says: "Daniel understands. " 56:48 In 8:27 Daniel says: "I didn't understand. " 56:51 In 9:1-2 Daniel is trying to understand the 70-year prophecy 56:55 as it relates to the 2300 days. 56:57 In 9:23 Gabriel tells Daniel: "Understand the vision. " 57:01 In Daniel 10 verse 1 after he explains the vision 57:04 Daniel says: "I understood. " 57:09 And then in Daniel chapter 10 verses 11, 12, and 13 57:12 it says Gabriel comes to help him understand even more. 57:16 And in Daniel 12 verse 12 it says: 57:17 "The wise shall understand. " 57:20 The word understand links together all these chapters. 57:23 Don't we have a marvelous message as a church? 57:26 We don't have to be embarrassed. 57:27 We have the truth of the Word. |
Revised 2014-12-17