Participants: Ty Gibson & James Rafferty
Series Code: DBOTB
Program Code: DBOTB000001B
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00:01 Welcome back friends to our continuing
00:03 study of The Book of Daniel. 00:04 In this first program, 00:06 we are giving an overview of the Book of Daniel 00:08 preparatory to study in each Chapter one after another. 00:12 James, in the first segment, 00:14 we looked at Chapters one through six of Daniel 00:17 and now in the second segment 00:19 we are going to do an overview 00:20 of Chapter seven through twelve. 00:23 And we are hitting prophecy here Ty. 00:25 We are hitting prophecy big time. 00:26 The first segment had a couple of prophecies, 00:28 the image in Daniel Chapter two, 00:30 the tree in Daniel Chapter 4. 00:33 But here, we have 00:35 from the beginning to end of Daniel seven. 00:37 We have prophecy in so detail, yeah, 00:40 and so symbolic that even Daniel himself 00:43 in verse 15 of Daniel 7 says, 00:45 "I was grieved in my spirit and my body 00:47 and the visions of my head troubled me, 00:49 I had a hard time figuring this out. 00:51 And so what happens here in Daniel 7 00:53 is he gets angelic help. 00:56 You know, when we have troubles 00:57 and we have difficulties 00:58 and we acknowledge them to the Lord. 01:00 We tell God about our troubles 01:01 and we earnestly seek Him with all our hearts, 01:04 you know, what happens? 01:05 He answers those prayers, He comes to our aid friends, 01:08 He gives us relief, He gives us instructions, 01:10 He sends messengers, 01:11 He earnestly allows us, excuse me, 01:15 He earnestly comes to us 01:17 and minister to us through His word, 01:20 that's why we are studying the Bible, 01:22 that's why getting in the word of God 01:23 and that's why praying to God is so important, 01:25 because God wants to help us with our greatest burdens 01:28 and needs in areas where human beings cannot help us. 01:31 In Daniel Chapter 7, 01:34 we have a prophecy that delineates the primary powers 01:39 from the time of Daniel to the time of the end symbolize 01:42 this time in Chapter 7 by a series of animals or beasts, 01:46 whereas in Chapter 2, 01:48 Nebuchadnezzar's dream revealed world history 01:50 in advance through an image having 01:52 different kinds of metals gold, silver, bronze, iron. 01:57 Now, we have a lion, a bear, 01:59 a leopard and a terrible beast, 02:02 a dragon like beast, a nondescript beast 02:04 and Daniel receives the interpretation 02:07 of these powers with increased focus 02:10 on the end time portion of the prophecy that God 02:14 is revealing to him and we are going to get into that 02:17 of course in greater detail 02:18 as we unpack the whole Book of Daniel. 02:20 But then Chapter 8 of Daniel 02:23 continues on with another vision. 02:25 Yes Ty, that's what we see here in Daniel Chapter 8. 02:28 We see another prophetic vision. 02:30 In fact what we're finding here is a pattern, 02:32 we have Daniel 2, 02:33 this four different metals representing four kingdoms. 02:36 We have Daniel 7, 02:37 these four beasts representing four kingdoms. 02:39 Then we have Daniel 8, 02:40 another repeat here and in a sense a repeat 02:43 and enlarge which is the principle of Bible prophecy, 02:47 repeat and enlarge. 02:48 What is happening in Daniel 8, 02:50 is Daniel is receiving another vision of kingdoms, 02:53 we have a Ram, we have a He Goat, 02:55 these represents the kingdoms of Medo-Persia 02:57 and the kingdoms of Greece. Right. 02:59 These are two of the same kingdoms 03:00 that are represented in the previous visions, 03:02 but now we are given more detail. 03:04 We also have the little horn again in Daniel 8, 03:07 more detail is given about this little horn power. 03:09 The same vision repeated and enlarged upon, 03:12 repeated and enlarged upon. And then again, 03:15 we have Daniel responding in the same way, 03:17 Daniel says, you know, I don't understand, 03:19 it's hard for me to understand 03:21 and immediately a voice comes 03:23 in verses 15 and 16 and says, 03:25 "Make this man to understand the vision." 03:28 And friends I really want to emphasize 03:30 this Ty to our viewers friends, 03:32 its important for us to recognize 03:33 that saying that prophecy is too complicated, 03:36 too difficult, too hard to understand 03:38 is not what God is wanting for us. 03:40 He has promised to give us insight and wisdom. 03:43 He has promised to send Gabriel 03:45 and angels and messengers to interpret, 03:47 to understand the vision. 03:48 It's when we look at man 03:50 and we trust in his interpretation 03:51 we go astray, 03:53 but as long as we turn to God with all our hearts 03:54 and ask for His help, 03:56 ask for understanding from the Bible, 03:58 then it is that we can comprehend this truths. 04:00 James is here in Chapter 8 of Daniel, 04:02 that will begin to get a sense 04:04 that the prophecies of Daniel 04:06 are especially for those living 04:07 at the end time segment of human history, 04:10 because we notice here James in Chapter 8 in verse 17, 04:14 that Daniel is told that the visions 04:16 referred to the time of the end. 04:19 So Daniel does not understand all the ratifications 04:23 and details of the prophecies that he is receiving. 04:25 He understands some of that, 04:27 but he sure doesn't understand 04:28 those major portions that are specifically 04:31 for those living at the end of time. 04:33 So in Chapter 8 at the conclusion, 04:36 he fainted, he was sick for a number of days, 04:38 he is astonished at the vision 04:40 and then Chapter 9 opens with Daniel entering into prayer. 04:45 Really good point, 04:46 now Chapter 9 is an incredible 04:48 combination of Christian experience of relationship 04:53 which is the first half of the book primarily 04:55 as we mention End of Prophecy. 04:57 You've got the first part of this primarily 05:00 focusing on Daniel's Christian experience. 05:02 Daniel experience as a believer, 05:04 yes, Daniel experiences as a follower of God 05:07 and so these first verses are exemplifying 05:10 what its like to be meek 05:12 and humble and yet obedient to God. 05:14 His attitude is not an attitude 05:16 of self-righteousness, 05:17 it's not an attitude of I am better than them. 05:19 Daniel is in Babylon, 05:21 because of the sins of his nation, 05:22 because they have been unfaithful to God. 05:24 There is no real indication that Daniel 05:27 as an individual has been unfaithful to God, 05:29 and yet Daniel's attitude 05:31 when he prays to God is we had sin, 05:33 its kind of this corporate attitude of, 05:35 you know, its not them and us, 05:37 but I am including myself with my nation. 05:40 I am not seeing that myself 05:42 is better than them in other words. 05:44 And is this humility, 05:45 is this attitude that teaches us 05:48 how to have a proper relationship with God 05:50 and a proper relationship with other people around us 05:53 especially with people 05:54 who may not be as obedient to God 05:57 or followers of God like we are. 06:00 Our attitude friends to our people 06:02 who may not be as strong in their faith as we are, 06:05 is to be an attitude of humility, 06:07 attitude of love and attitude of in session 06:09 and an attitude that is winning them to the Lord. 06:12 I think that Daniel's attitude 06:14 here in prayer is just so genuine, 06:17 James, he literally feels his own unworthiness, 06:22 his own sinfulness. 06:24 He knows that he is on a par with his people 06:27 and that he has not exalted above them. 06:29 But then the last part of Chapter 9, 06:32 I think is the heart of the book. 06:34 This is the mountaintop of the book of Daniel, 06:36 because here we begin to see the Messiah 06:39 that is prophesied of and I think the best 06:43 verse in the book James, 06:45 yeah, the best verse in the book. 06:46 Sir Isaac Newton said that this is the foundation 06:49 stone of Christianity. 06:51 And in verse 26 you have a summation, 06:53 not only of this Chapter, 06:55 not only of the book of Daniel, 06:56 but of the whole message of the Bible 06:59 and this summation basically in verse 26 is that 07:03 "After threescore and two weeks 07:06 shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself." 07:08 I love that not for himself which begs the question. 07:11 If Jesus didn't give His life at the cross for Himself, 07:16 if the sacrifice wasn't for Himself, 07:18 who was it for? 07:20 And the obvious answer as the Gospel 07:22 unfolds is that Jesus, 07:24 the Messiah laid down His life for us, 07:27 for the whole human race. 07:28 That is in fact the Gospel in a nutshell right there, 07:34 Jesus gave His life, but not for Himself. 07:36 You know what so profound 07:37 and so powerful about this, Ty? 07:38 And I really want to emphasize 07:40 this point for our viewers is that prophecy 07:43 is not so much about prediction 07:45 and doomsday and sensationalism. 07:48 Prophecy is about the cross, 07:49 prophecy is about Jesus Christ, 07:51 prophecy is about salvation friends, 07:53 prophecy is to direct us to Jesus. 07:56 There is a very interesting verse 07:57 that brings this out in the New Testament. 08:00 Its in John, Jesus there speaking in John Chapter 13, 08:04 and the context of it is the prophecy of sort, 08:06 it's a very short prophecy, 08:09 I mean its not a huge prophecy, 08:12 its actually one that's very restricted 08:14 at speaking of Judas 08:17 and the fact that Judas was going to betray Jesus 08:19 and Jesus was summarizing 08:21 that prophecy in relation to Judas 08:23 and he says in verse 19, 08:24 "Now I tell you before it come to pass" 08:27 and that is what prophecy is? 08:29 It's a prediction, it's a foretelling, 08:31 its Jesus telling us before it comes to pass, 08:33 so when it has come to pass, 08:35 you might believe that I am He. 08:37 The whole point of prophecy 08:38 is to reveal to us ahead of time, 08:40 not so that we'll understand the event necessarily, 08:43 because we have no choice, 08:44 but to understand the event. 08:45 But the purpose of prophecy friends is that 08:48 we would seen His predictions take place in history, 08:52 we would come to believe in Jesus Christ 08:54 as our Lord and Savior. 08:55 As Chapter 10 of Daniel unfolds James, 08:58 we have perhaps the clearest revelation 09:02 in all our scripture of the very real spiritual warfare 09:06 that goes on behind the scenes in all of our lives. 09:10 Daniel has entered into prayer, 09:13 he desires understanding of the prophecies 09:16 that he has been receiving 09:17 and he is overcome with the sense of desire to know 09:23 what these prophecies mean, 09:25 so much so that he enters 09:27 into a three week period of prayer and fasting. 09:30 And as Daniel in Chapter 10 is praying and fasting, 09:34 finally after three weeks 09:36 the angel Gabriel appears to Daniel 09:40 and tells Daniel that the reason 09:43 why there has been this delayed 09:45 answer to his prayers, 09:46 because he has been engaged in a conflict 09:51 with the prince of Persia behind the scenes. 09:53 Daniel is not aware any of this, 09:55 he is just been praying, 09:56 God please give me understanding. 09:59 Gabriel appears and says from the moment 10:00 you began praying, 10:02 from the day you began praying, 10:03 I was sent forth to answer your prayer, 10:04 but these three weeks have passed, 10:06 because I have been in a battle Daniel, 10:08 trying to break through to you 10:10 and it literally took, Michael, 10:12 your prince to join his strength to mine 10:16 in order to breakthrough to speak with you right now 10:18 and give you understanding. 10:19 You know, Ty, we've got to admit that Daniel Chapter 10 10:22 at least in my mind, 10:24 it used to be one of the lighter chapters of prophecy, 10:26 one that wasn't significant to me, 10:28 but here is where the nutrients 10:30 are for the Christian experience. 10:31 Here is a Chapter that's filled 10:34 with lessons that are practical 10:35 and powerful in understanding the Great Controversy 10:38 and understanding what its like to be go 10:41 through the sanctification experience, 10:43 to see more of Jesus 10:44 and then more of yourself in contrast 10:46 and how God use us when we see that contrast 10:49 and how God loves us in spite of who we are. 10:52 When we get to Chapter 10 friends, 10:53 you're going to be amazed 10:55 and blessed to understand 10:57 how much God loves us in spite of ourselves. 10:59 Amen. Now Chapter 11 of Daniel is just so detailed 11:04 and it's so packed with information 11:06 that sometimes people get bogged 11:08 down in all those details. 11:10 But the real issue in Chapter 11 of Daniel, James, 11:14 is to bring us to a concentrated focus on 11:17 the New Covenant in Chapter 11 in verse 22, 11:20 Jesus is referred to as the Prince of the Covenant 11:24 specifically referring to the New Covenant. 11:26 And then this power is revealed at the end time 11:29 of human history that is using its influence, 11:33 its energy, its power to wedge war 11:37 against the fulfillment of the New Covenant, 11:40 that's really the essence 11:41 of what's taking place in Chapter 11 11:43 is this Great Controversy between good and evil 11:46 centering on the New Covenant. 11:49 You are right, Ty, 11:50 and getting bogged down, its so true. 11:52 In fact, I wouldn't surprise 11:53 if we get bogged down as we go through Daniel 11 11:55 as much as we studied it, 11:56 there is just so much here 11:58 and there is no way we're going to cover it all. 12:00 We want to encourage you friends, lbm.org. 12:03 You can go there and get outlines on Daniel. 12:05 It will give you a lot more information. 12:07 Prophecy is still unfolding 12:09 and there is so much here 12:11 that we don't fully understand yet. 12:12 But one thing is certain, 12:14 God has an accurate knowledge of our earthly history. 12:18 He knows what's going to take place before it happens 12:22 and if you cannot trust the economic 12:25 advisors to predict the future. 12:27 If you cannot trust the leaders 12:29 of our countries to predict the future, 12:31 you can certainly trust that God can predict 12:34 and knows the future that your future is in good hands 12:37 when you place your heart in your hands in Gods care. 12:41 Now, James, when we come to Chapter 12 12:42 the final chapter of the Book of Daniel, 12:45 basically what we have here is Jesus standing up 12:49 to deliver his people at the end of time, 12:51 after the time of trouble 12:53 such as never was since there was a nation. 12:55 There is a clear indication that Daniel's book 12:57 has been sealed 12:58 and will be preserved 13:00 to be understood at the end of time. 13:02 Absolutely, Daniel Chapter 12 13:04 in essence is a summation of all the prophecies, 13:07 a promise of deliverance, a warning to those 13:11 who would turn away from God 13:13 and then instruction on how Daniel's book 13:15 is going to understood in the very end of time, 13:17 that's our time. 13:18 And we're praying that you will be blessed 13:20 as you join us to understand 13:21 this beautiful messages from God to us. |
Revised 2022-10-24