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Passage: Daniel 10-12

On Friday, September 27, 2013, Yujin wrote,

There is an enormous amount of prophetic detail in these chapters. Many have gone to great lengths to parse every verse and connect it with its historical fulfillment. Here is one that treats this matter a bit more comprehensively than others, albeit without any historical footnotes: Daniel 11 - Prophecy Fulfilled

I want to key in on this one observation. Did you notice that Michael was said to be Daniel's prince (cf. Daniel 10:21)? How awesome is that! What is more, Gabriel appears to be the messenger that delivers prophetic revelations to Daniel (cf. Daniel 8:16; 9:21). Michael is called an "archangel" (i.e. "an angel of high position," cf. Jude 1:9 of Michael), and Gabriel, who announced the birth of the Messiah and communicated the final revelation to the apostle John, likely had a similar designation. How would you like two archangels of God to be your protectors?! 

What is more, to have an angel of the caliber of Gabriel repeatedly referring to you as a "man of high esteem" (Daniel 9:23; 10:11, 19), what honor is that!

Friends, Paul reminds us,

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:10-12).

Therefore, let us not be so caught up with defending our turf against one another. Let us not get so offended by each other's actions or intentions. Remember, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood." There is an unseen spiritual battle being fought all around us. Our participation in this battle is not with worldly weapons but with weapons like faith, hope, obedience, patience, and love. With these weapons we will prevail, for they are in keeping with God's will and His Word. Our business-like strategems and politics are not what strengthens our cause. Regardless of what others do, we must do what is right by our God!


Passage: Daniel 10-12

On Thursday, September 27, 2012, Yujin wrote,

"Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands  guard  over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace  and  everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. (Daniel 12:1-3, 10 NASB)

Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is  the book  of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:6, 12, 15 NASB)

I believe what Daniel wrote in the 6th century B.C. coincides with what John would write at the end of the 1st century A.D. Although about six hundred years separate them, they were both looking forward to the time of the end when God will separate believers from unbelievers. Those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be raised to everlasting life and everyone else to everlasting death in the Lake of Fire.

It is this prospect that should cause us all to both rejoice and tremble, because in this final judgment we see God's amazing grace, wherein He gives eternal life to the undeserving chosen, as well as His infinite holiness, wherein the many are given what they justly deserve on account of their sin and rejection of God. Our hope is in the former, because we believe that God has written our names in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world according to His grace and on the basis of what Christ did for us on the cross. 

After these amazing prophetic revelations, Daniel is told to continue to live as he has been doing till the day he dies, and God gives him the assurance that he will rise again to obtain the inheritance prepared for him "at the end of the age."

But as for you, go  your way  to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age." (Daniel 12:13 NASB)

This sounds very much like the expectation Paul had as he was coming to the end of his life:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8 NASB)

Friends, there is not a thousand and one things that God demands from us. He simply asks us to faithfully live out the lives we have been given. He does not ask us to build a business empire, a model family, or even to save the world. In Micah we read, 

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 NASB)

We are simply called to live justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. It is we ourselves that make our Christian lives complicated and filled with innumerable distractions. As Jesus also taught,

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 NASB)

Friends, let us daily learn to focus our lives like a laser beam on simply trusting and obeying our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everything else is but a detail or a distraction. 


Passage: Daniel 10-12

On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, Stephen wrote,

"There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered."

 Rejoice today no matter what is happening in your lives because your names are written in the Book! Everything around you, whether it is favorable or not, will pass away but the zeal of the Lord for your salvation will endure forever. I pray for transformation in your lives, which is a radical change, not just the nonconformity to this world. Since we know that the Lord purifies us from sin, let us live our lives in the light of eternity and the truth that comes from above to us!


Passage: Daniel 10-12

On Tuesday, September 27, 2011, Yujin wrote,

Friends, Daniel 10-12 contain the final prophetic vision of Daniel. And it is a douzy! Here he has a climactic vision of the glorified Christ, and he is given a visiion of battles in the heavenly realm between angels and demons that have charge over regions and kingdoms on the earth. He is also given a vision of the end times.

Chapter 10 is an amazing chapter in giving us an unveiling of heavenly activities, which find their fulfillment on earth. We get a glimpse of arduous struggle between the angels of God and fallen angels, and as one or the other prevails, so goes the rulers and people of the region that the angel represents. Yet through it all, whether heavenly struggles or earthly ones, there is an affirmation of the sovereign decrees of God, which govern and direct all the affairs of men and of angels.

I encourage you to read this commentary by Dr. Bob Deffinbaugh to get a better perspective of this chapter: Lifting the Veil (Daniel 10:1-21). Let us remember also the words of Paul in Ephesians 6:12,

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.