Ishtar Gate of Babylon, Daniel lived with. Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
Daniel 7
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed.
Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
9 “As I looked,
Thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.
21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast,
there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which shall be different from all the kingdoms,
and it shall devour the whole earth,
and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
24 As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them;
he shall be different from the former ones,
and shall put down three kings.
25 He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
27 And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Who would Parallel Daniel? Appealing to all except those seeking power promoting themselves with other gods.
Joseph is found in History. Egyptian History.
The name of the city Jacob-El was recorded for the first time in Thutmose’s III era.
Thutmose III actually created Egypt’s wealth. Thutmose III possessed the archetypal qualities of a great ruler. A brilliant general who never lost a battle, he also excelled as an administrator and statesman. 1479 – 1425 BC
Yahweh was also recorded for the first time during Thutmose III.
Ramses II spent Egypt’s wealth on massive building projects where as Thutmose III actually created Egypt’s wealth.
During this time period, according to Egyptian historical documentation, Israel was not a recorded as a name, the people were recorded as hyksos.
On a statue of Amenhotep III (monotheistic Pharoah) at Kom el Hetan is Amenhotep’s funeral statue and on the base of the statue is Joseph-el. Joseph of God.
Egyptian Topographical Lists of Cities and Records
Names | Tuthmosis III (1481 BC) | Amenhotep II (1440) | Amenhotep III (1386) | Seti I (1291) | Ramses II (1275) |
Jacob-El | yes | yes | |||
Joseph-El | yes | yes | |||
Asher | yes | yes | yes | ||
Yahweh | yes | yes | |||
Shasu | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
Hapiru | yes | yes |
See ANET, 242-3.
- In Ramses II's topographical list (ca.1275 BC) the place-name "Jacob-El" (#9) appears again (ANET 1969, 242; Simons 1937). The first appearance was in Thutmose III's list. This means that this city of Jacob has been around for two hundred years. Another interesting name that was found is yhw which is "Yahweh" in Hebrew (Horn 1953, 201; Giveon 1964, 244).
- It seems abundantly clear from all these topographical lists concerning Canaan that the Hebrews were in Canaan at this time, but they did not use the name "Israel" until there league of tribes was well formed by the time of Merneptah.
- On a statue-base of Amenhotep III at Kom el Hetan which is the funerary temple of Amenhotep III there is a topographical list with the place-name Yspir (Series a:1; Kitchen 1965, 2). This is the same name translated "Joseph-El" in Thutmose III's Topographical list (ANET 1969, 242). After Yspir in both lists the place-name Rkd appears (Series a:2 in Amenhotep III's list, and #79 in Thutmose III's list; Simons 1937, 112). Rkd is the same place-name as Ruhizzi in the El Amarna letters (EA 53:36, 56; EA 5426; EA 56:26; EA 191:2; Rainey 1982, 354). The ruler of Ruhizzi is Arsawuya who seems to be located in northern Palestine or southern Syria (EA 53:36, 56; Moran, 125)
Isaiah was perfectly understood. The Messiah would be King of Kings and the theologians knocked on the door of King Herod to see the Messiah.
We won't understand all things. God has not given us to interpret His Plan. My opinion from Luke 1 is our God has tied the end of the earth with the supernova of the sun. The falling of the skies and the red moon.
Luke 1
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Peace is to be preferred. An honest peace with freedom.
How shall we interpret this? The Bible repeats and repeats only to assure us with God all things are possible. Jesus told us there would be wars and rumors of wars. Men would always point to the return of Jesus.
And just as Daniel is similar to Joseph, Daniel 7 of 500 B.C. points to Hebrews 1. A day to God, Peter tells us, is thousands of years. Jesus tells us what Daniel tells us.
Hebrews 1
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways,
God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,
whom he appointed the heir of all things,
through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God
and the exact imprint of his nature,
and he upholds the universe b
y the word of his power.
After making purification for sins,
he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Why was Daniel employed, with all of his many God given talents,
to see this battle? To speak of Battles of the Most High?
Daniel was in a unique position having seen his secondary nation - Israel taken in recent history and destroyed by the Assyrians. Daniel had lived seeing Judah reduced to puppet state and destroyed by a fake uncle king, who refused to be a proper puppet king in his own arrogance, echoing the faithlessness of the people. 3 Times Judah was rounded up and finally finished in fire. Daniel walked 1,000 miles through tough terrain, and was a slave raised up in a foreign nation as emissary.
Daniel was shown all of this because he would relate it with emotion to the readers of millenniums. We would understand Daniel found the violence terrifying. And we would see God is in charge and there is hope. Daniel was picked correctly by a God of profound understanding. Daniel's heart felt experience is living in these descriptions. God chose Daniel to relate as a slave, an emissary of God, chosen as we are God's Beloved. God chose Daniel's heart to relate the Truth of God's Word.
And will we worry about the end of the world?
We will not.
God is in control.
We should have more Joy of the Lord. We read so many dire things we can do nothing about.
We can do something important. Love.
Pray.
We can do something powerful. Be Grateful.
Find, hold, believe, celebrate Good News. Today, 2/3rd's of all college educated people have marriages that last to death. Families see vows taken and upheld.
We seem to believe the world is going to have a massive riot sometime soon. And we forget to celebrate the peace we know. And expect.
We have a small chance of violence. When it strikes, it's like lightning and terrible. We have forgotten to believe in the stability of our lives as a Gift of God.
If we can pray for the people we love and mostly have confidence for them, why can't we pray for strangers and expect God is going to help? And as we continue to pray, God is going to give us an opportunity - not to fall and fail, but to have the ability and the talent to help.
God wants His Beloved to help each other and not feel like failures and unable.
God does the heavy lifting in life. With God our burdens are light.
God says when we cannot help - He will.
I know a very recent story in my life of a Minister of God. Someone who did like we all do - set their child on a path of college and career. This Minister fasted when the college year and semester began and prayed for the Light of Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit to protect all the students and comfort the Professors. Praying simply for the miraculous. The child believed in Jesus until more and more friends pressed in. The now adult child decided to sell Drugs. A contact point was made, the Drugs would be delivered. The Minister's adult child was pleased to have extra funds. And as the Narcotics were to be delivered, the contact showed up with 2 Policemen in Uniform. Angels really. The Minister's child went into another room and wept. Life would become very bad. The contact slipped into the room, handed the Drugs over and said the police had not caught on. And left. The would be drug dealer would not sell Drugs. The Minister's child realized how far this cared for person had fallen. And for years, the Minister was not informed and did not know how many prayers are answered and go undisclosed.
God is so Good.
Our Ancient of Days
is not on a Throne far away
waiting for someday far away, to help us.
Our Abba is not waiting on events down the path
to draw up His Power.
This is Our God. Our Mighty Father.
He LIVES.
He REIGNS.
Our ABBA Loves You. Loves me.
Blessed be the Living Name of God. Our Father.
Blessed be Wonderful Jesus.
Our Heavenly Father is not held apart by space and time.
Our Father is Ancient of Days takes His Seat;
His Holy Spirit dwells in the Faithful.
His Word is Living and Active.
For the Word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword,
Our God pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.
Our Father and His Powerful Word is able
to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight;
everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
We know our Father has Clothing was white as snow,
and the Hair of His Head like pure wool
Our Father's throne has fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
Living.
A stream of fire issued
and came out from before Him
Thousand thousands served Abba,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before Him.
As Gabriel stands before our God. Our Father.
He is able and willing
God of Love
God of Encouragement.
And His Will will Prevail.
Jesus our Christ. The Only Son of our God.
He is the Radiance of the Glory of God
and the exact imprint of His Nature,
and He upholds the universe by the Word of His Power.
After making purification for sins,
he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High
His Court will sit in the judgment,
and
the books are opened.
Our God is the Alpha and the Omega.
Creator of All
Even the darkness is not dark to You;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with You.
For You formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are Your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
In Your Book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
Blessed be our wonderful Jesus Christ.
This is where our cares are held.
He cares for us. Tenderly.
Thank God. Our Father. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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