Lesson 6

Confidence in the Crisis

Go toTOP

When our will conflicts with God's will--and we choose His will instead of our own--our commitment to Him deepens. Christian character is developed when our faith is tested. God often allows us to experience temptations to enable us to grow.

Throughout his life, Daniel faced significant temptations. As he met these temptations through the power of God, his faith grew. The story of Daniel in the lions' den is a familiar one, but it contains vital lessons of courage for end-time Christians.

Intrigue in the Palace: Questions 1-3

Question 1. What influential position did Daniel have in the Medo-Persian Empire? Daniel 6:1-3.

God richly blessed Daniel's faithfulness. His diplomatic service spanned seventy years. He served under numerous kings in two different empires. Daniel's life illustrates the biblical principle, "Those who honor Me I will honor" (1 Samuel 2:30, NKJV).

Daniel's colleagues coveted his position. Their jealousy led to lying, and lying led to the willingness to murder Daniel.

Question 2. What was the only area of Daniel's life which these evil plotters thought they might use to trap him? Daniel 6:5.

Jealous of Daniel's position, these Medo-Persian statesmen resorted to a conspiracy of lies. Their greed led them to be willing to put Daniel to death. Cherished in the heart, sin puts down it's roots and produces ugly fruit.

Question 3. Where did Daniel's final test lie? Daniel 6:7.

Daniel's final test revolved around the question of true and false worship. It centered in the counterfeit versus the genuine.

Daniel's Unyielding Faith: Questions 4-10

Question 4. Although Daniel knew the decree was signed, how did he respond? Daniel 6:10.

Prayer was Daniel's constant source of strength for maintaining an intimate relationship with God. It was vital. Prayer is the Christian's lifeline to heaven.

Question 5. When Daniel was cast into the lions' den, what statement did Darius make, indicating he, too, had confidence in Daniel's God? Daniel 6:16.

Darius violated his own conscience; he knew that he was condemning an innocent man. Filled with guilt, he spent a restless, sleepless night in the palace. Unresolved guilt creates anxiety and dis-ease. The consciousness of doing right brings a sense of calm in the midst of life's storms. Daniel was at peace in the lions' den, while Darius was filled with stress in his palace.

Arriving at the lions' den in the early-morning hours, the king discovered that Daniel had been miraculously delivered.

Question 6. To whom did Daniel pay tribute for his deliverance? Daniel 6:22.

Question 7. What provisions does God make for us during our times of greatest temptation? 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Question 8. How did Paul testify of God's power to keep him faithful while he was imprisoned in Rome? Philippians 4:13.

The devil's power to overwhelm us is greater than our ability to resist. Left alone, we are powerless. But strengthened by God's power, we will be victorious.

Question 9. What tribute did Darius, the heathen king, pay to Daniel's God? Daniel 6:26, 27.

The word, "steadfast," means "reliable," "trustworthy," "one who can be counted upon." God never lets us down. When the lions of temptation roar in our ears, He is there to shut their mouths. When the evil one attempts to destroy us, He is there to deliver us.

The ultimate, final deliverance will occur at the second coming of Christ.

Question 10. How does the apostle John describe this final deliverance? Revelation 19:11-19.

Pictured as a mighty conqueror streaming down the corridor of the sky, and as a general leading the armies of heaven, Jesus is revealed as our mighty Deliverer. He is "faithful and true." He keeps His word. In the last moments of time, He delivers His children. Daniel longed for that ultimate deliverance. He foresaw the day that all evil would be finally destroyed and God's kingdom would reign forever.

God specializes in the impossible. He delights in deliverance. The same God who promises to deliver this planet from the dominion of evil, promises to deliver you from Satan's evil clutches today. The same God who will restore this planet to its original purpose, desires to restore your life today. You can praise God today as the mighty Deliverer.

Lesson 7

Kingdoms in Collision

Go toTOP

In Daniel 7, the prophet outlines the rise and fall of kingdoms. These kingdoms battle for world dominion. Armies fight for this earth's throne. Potential leaders aspire to earthly greatness. Kings and emperors wage war. The stakes are high; the rulership of this world hangs in the balance. Finally, a religious-political superpower arises. This power demands the total allegiance of its subjects. God's faithful people, who refuse to give this allegiance, are cruelly persecuted. The superpower changes God's law, this power sets up its own standard of right. The destiny of the world trembles in the balance.

Then the scene switches from earth to heaven. The Almighty declares that He is the rightful ruler of all the world's kingdoms. He pronounces judgment upon the would-be usurpers of the throne. The kingdoms of the world are His. He created our planet, and He redeemed it. "All peoples, nations, and languages" (Daniel 7:14, NKJV) serve and praise Him forever.

Understanding Bible Prophecy: Questions 1-4

Question 1. What scene does Daniel describe in his dream? What did he see? What did his vision contain? Daniel 7:1�3.

NOTE: Bible prophecy contains a variety of symbolic representations. Each of these symbols is explained clearly in Scripture.

• A beast represents a kingdom (Daniel 7:17, 23).

• Winds represent strife, war, or conflict (Jeremiah 49:36, 37).

• Water represents multitudes, peoples, and nations (Revelation 17:15).

Question 2. What four beasts did Daniel see in his vision? Daniel 7:4, 5, 6, 7.

A lion, the first beast, is a fitting symbol of Babylon. The Old Testament prophets called Babylon a lion. A lion with eagle's wings was a prominent symbol on Babylonian coins and on Babylon's walls. The lion--the king of beasts--and an eagle--the chief of birds--aptly describes the powerful rule of Babylon from 605 to 539 B.C.

The fierceness of the Medo-Persian soldiers is depicted in the bear of verse 5. When the Medes and Persians overthrew Babylon, they also conquered Lydia and Egypt. The three ribs in the bear's mouth represent these three nations--Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt. Medo-Persia ruled the Middle East from 539 to 331 B.C.

The leopard is an appropriate symbol of Alexander the Great's empire, Greece. The Greek king conquered with the swiftness of a leopard flying with eagle's wings. Why does this leopard have four heads? When Alexander died in a drunken stupor at age thirty-three, his four generals--Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy--divided up the empire. Bible prophecy is incredibly accurate. The Greeks ruled from 331 to 168 B.C.

The Roman empire, "as strong as iron," conquered the world in 168 B.C. by defeating the Greeks at the Battle of Pynda. Under the Caesars, the mighty Roman Empire ruled from 168 B.C. to 351 A.D.

NOTE: The image of Daniel 2 contains four metals--gold, silver, brass, and iron. There are four beasts in chapter 7--a lion, bear, leopard, and a dragon. Just as the four metals represent the four successive world kingdoms beginning with Babylon in Daniel's day and passing to Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, so the four beasts represent the same four kingdoms. You might wonder why God uses metals in chapter 2 and beasts in chapter 7. In the symbolism of the metals in chapter 2, God illustrates that no power on earth can endure. The metals are transitory, but His kingdom--the rock cut out without hands--is permanent.

In the fierceness of the four beasts in Daniel 7, God describes the vicious conflicts of political kingdoms as they vie for world control.

Question 3. How many horns did the fourth beast have? Daniel 7:7.

In Daniel 2, the iron legs, representing the Roman Empire, ended in ten toes, depicting the divisions of Rome. In Daniel 7, the fourth beast has ten horns, depicting the same ten divisions of Rome. Rome was not conquered by a fifth world power. It was divided--overrun by barbarian tribes from the north as it decayed from within from 351 to 476 A.D.

Question 4. What new power arose in Daniel 7:8?

Identifying Characteristics of the Little Horn: Questions 5-13

Question 5. Where did the little horn rise? Daniel 7:8.

Since the little horn rose among the ten horns, it must rise in western Europe, out of the pagan Roman Empire.

Question 6. Did the little horn rise before, or after, the division of the Roman Empire? Read Daniel 7:8 and then check the appropriate box.

If the little horn rose among the ten divisions of Rome, it had to rise after Rome was divided, or sometime after 476 A.D.

Question 7. How did the prophet Daniel describe the eyes of this power? Daniel 7:8.

In the Bible, eyes are a symbol of wisdom or understanding (Ephesians 1:18). This earthly power, rising in the early centuries A.D., had human wisdom or understanding--the eyes of a man, not God.

Question 8. How did Daniel compare this little horn to the first ten horns? Daniel 7:24.

The divisions of Rome were predominantly political powers. This new power is different, therefore it must not be a political power. It must be a religious power.

Question 9. What three characteristics of this power did Daniel describe in verse 25?

This amazing prophecy predicts that a religious-political system would rise out of the old Roman Empire in the early centuries A.D. Based on human wisdom, church councils and man-made decrees, it would attempt to change the very law of God. The Bible predicted that the early church would enter into a period of apostasy.

Question 10. What warning did the apostle Paul give early Christians? Acts 20:28-31.

Question 11. How did the apostle describe this apostasy in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4?

Question 12. What did Daniel declare would happen to truth? Daniel 8:12.

Question 13. How long would this power reign supreme? Daniel 7:25.

This period of a time, times, and half a time, is also mentioned in Revelation 12:14. According to Revelation 12:6, this time period equals 1,260 prophetic days.

Another way to calculate this period is this way.

In the Bible,

In Bible prophecy, one prophetic day equals one literal year (see Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6). The little horn, or church-state power, would reign supreme for 1,260 years, or throughout the centuries of the Dark Ages. This Roman power--the Medieval church--would substitute human tradition for God's Word, man's law for God's law, and penances and indulgences prescribed by the church for the forgiveness and repentance prescribed by God. Many faithful Christians, who refused to yield to this church-state union, would be persecuted.

Understanding Bible Prophecy: Questions 14-15

Question 14. What is God's answer to the battle for the throne on earth? Daniel 7:9, 10.

In a magnificent judgment scene in heaven, God sets all things right. Wicked rulers are condemned. Counterfeit systems are exposed. God's name, alone, is exalted.

Question 15. What phrases did Daniel use to tell us that God's kingdom is permanent? Daniel 7:14, 27.

God's kingdom is eternal--it lasts forever. Human kingdoms rise and fall, but God's kingdom remains forever. Political leaders may attempt to destroy it, but it endures. Counterfeit religious leaders may betray sacred purposes, but it remains. James Russell Lowell put this truth in verse:

"Truth forever on the scaffold.
Wrong forever on the throne.
Yet that scaffold sways the future
and beyond the dim unknown,
standing still within the shadows
God keeps watch above His own."

The kingdom of God opposed, oppressed, thwarted on every side, and attacked by the enemy will finally, fully, completely triumph.

Lesson 8

Cleansed at Last

Go toTOP

The prophecies of Daniel outline history in advance. They cover the same time periods from different perspectives; they go over the same ground again. In Daniel 7, God's kingdom is under attack. Ruthless earthly rulers attempt to seize world dominion. A religious-political power--a strange combination of church and state--establishes its authority as supreme. God's law, the foundation of His government, is changed by this new, would-be world leader. Human traditions are substituted for Bible truth. Church councils replace Scripture as the ultimate authority in religious matters. An earthly religious power seeks to establish the kingdom of God on earth based on its own grand design.

In Daniel 8, God makes His final move to set all things right. He takes charge. Truth, cast to the ground, is restored. In earnest, heart-felt prayer, God's people confess their sins. They repent of their rebellion against His purposes. They are forgiven by His grace, transformed by His love, and renewed by His power. Kneeling before His heavenly throne, they seek Him. They surrender everything. The call of God's final judgment inspires them to a deeper spiritual experience. The drumbeat of eternity motivates them to be ready. Heaven's final appeal comes from the very throne of God in heaven's most sacred place--the sanctuary.

The Vision of the Ram and the He-Goat: Questions 1-5

Question 1. Daniel's vision in chapter 8 is similar to which earlier vision the prophet received? Daniel 8:1.

We studied Daniel's earlier vision in chapter 7. It concludes with a magnificent scene at God's throne. Millions of angels gather to participate in heaven's final judgment. The vision in Daniel 8--like the one at the first, (verse 1)--also focuses on heaven's final judgment. It also directs our attention to the sanctuary.

Question 2. What two symbolic animals does Daniel describe in chapter 8? Daniel 8:3-9

Both the ram and the he-goat were sanctuary animals. They were especially used in the services on the last day of the Jewish year--the Day of Atonement. These symbolic animals point forward to the final end of sin. They speak to us of a day when the universe will be clean and the human race will be at one with God again.

Question 3. What kingdom does the ram represent? Daniel 8:20.

The Medes and Persians ruled from 539 to 331 B.C. Under Cyrus the Great, the Persian Empire became the dominant of the two powers, fulfilling the prophecy that the higher of the ram's two horns would come up last (see verse 3).

Question 4. What kingdom does the he-goat represent? Daniel 8:21.

Question 5. Who does the large horn between its eyes describe? Daniel 8:21

Alexander the Great, the first king of Greece, aptly fits each detail of this prophecy. When he died at thirty-three years of age, his four generals divided the kingdom among themselves.

The Growth of the Little Horn: Questions 6-7

Question 6. How does Daniel describe the he-goat power which succeeds Greece? Daniel 8:9.

This little-horn power grows in two directions. It moves geographically, attacking all armies in its path. This power grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land (Palestine). Pagan Rome defeated Greece and rapidly expanded its empire throughout the Mediterranean region. Rome became the single most feared power in the world.

Yet the power described here is not content with merely a political empire. Rome's political phase gives way to its religious phase. It reaches up to heaven itself to challenge the very government of God.

Question 7. How high does the little-horn power attempt to exalt himself? Daniel 8:11.

"The Prince of the Host" is another name for Jesus Christ. This earthly religious power claims equality with the Lord of heaven Himself--the place of God's sanctuary "was cast down." Earthly priests substitute their authority for that of Jesus, our heavenly High Priest.

Our True High Priest: Questions 8-13

Question 8. Where is our true High Priest now? Hebrews 9:24.

Question 9. Where is God's true sanctuary now? Hebrews 8:1, 2.

Any system which rivets our attention on earthly priests in ornate, elaborate, human temples is directing our attention in the wrong direction. Heaven's invitation is to direct our attention above to the true sanctuary where our real High Priest lives for us. The little-horn power cast to the ground the truth about Jesus as our real High Priest in heaven's sanctuary (see Daniel 8:12).

Question 10. What question is asked in Daniel 8:13?

Question 11. What answer is given in Daniel 8:14?

Question 12. How long is a prophetic day in the Bible? Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6.

In Scripture, a day means a day. But when the symbolic language of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation are used, one prophetic day equals a literal year. Thus the 2,300 days are 2,300 literal years.

Question 13. To what general period of time does the vision of the 2,300 years refer? Daniel 8:17, 26.

The 2,300-year prophecy is the longest time prophecy in the Bible. It takes us down to the time of the end. We must wait until our next chapter, Daniel 9, to understand the real significance of this prophecy. In chapter 9, we will discover its beginning and ending points.

Heaven's True Sacrifice and Sanctuary: Questions 14-15

Question 14. The Bible describes two sanctuaries--one on earth, built by Moses, and the other established in heaven by God. What specific instructions did God give Moses? Exodus 25:8.

Everything about the earthly sanctuary represented Jesus.

• The lamb, dying in the court, represented Jesus as our dying sacrifice.

• The priest, ministering in the Holy Place, represented Jesus, our Priest in heaven's sanctuary, offering forgiveness, mercy, and power for a new life.

• The high priest entering the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary and standing before God's law in the presence of God on the day of the cleansing of the sanctuary, represented Jesus our High Priest and His final work of judgment to do away with sin forever.

Question 15. What is God's goal on this final Day of Atonement, this time of cleansing the sanctuary from sin? Hebrews 9:22, 23; Leviticus 16:30.

God's final goal is to purify or cleanse the universe from sin. Some individuals will be cleansed by fire. They cling to their sin. They fail to surrender their sin. Hardened in rebellion against God, they refuse to yield to His Lordship. In the presence of a Holy God, sin is combustible material. Our God is a consuming fire to sin wherever it is found (Hebrews 12:29). The fiery presence of God consumes sinners at the glorious brightness of His return.

Other individuals will be cleansed by blood. Today He invites us to come to Him. Today He invites us to accept His mercy. Today He desires to forgive our sins. Today He desires to change our lives. Today He longs for us to respond to the love that flows from an old rugged cross where the Saviour of the world, with blood-stained hands, is stretched out on a cross for us.

In light of the fact that we are living in the final moments of earth's history, would you like to respond to His gracious invitation to give your whole life to Him?

Lesson 9

Always on Time!

Go toTOP

God's purposes are always on time. Although His plans, at times, might seem delayed, they will be fulfilled at the precise moment He wills. The prophecies of the Bible reveal God's grand design. Nations rise and fall on time. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, was born on time (Galatians 4:4). As we will study in our lesson today, God's final judgment, which decides the destiny of the entire human race, will occur on time. In the great timetable of heaven, Christ will come again on time. Although no human being knows the day or hour of Christ's coming (see Matthew 24:36), our loving, heavenly Father knows the time of His return (see Acts 1:7), and He will come again precisely on time.

This assurance gives us confidence. History is not composed of random occurrences. God stands behind all earthly events--even those which seem to make no sense at all--guiding all history to one glorious event, the second coming of Jesus Christ.

This does not mean that God actively causes despotic, ruthless, bloodthirsty, tyrannical rulers to kill millions. Never! It does mean that in spite of their horrible actions which are motivated by Satan himself, God is still in charge. Ultimately, His purpose will be accomplished. Finally, His plans will be complete.

Our lesson today is a graphic illustration that the purposes and plans of God know no haste or delay. What He does, He does on time. He is never late. This should give us great confidence.

Never Late! Questions 1-5

Question 1. How long did the prophet Jeremiah declare the Jews would be in captivity? Daniel 9:2.

As a student of prophecy, Daniel understood that according to Jeremiah's prophecy, Israel would face seventy years of captivity. This period began in 606 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem. In the first year of Darius (539 B.C.) the captivity was coming to an end. Daniel longed for the deliverance of his people.

Question 2. How did Daniel address God in his magnificent prayer? Daniel 9:4.

God is the keeper of the covenant--the One who is trustworthy. He fulfills His purposes.

Question 3. What acknowledgement did Daniel openly make? Daniel 9:5.

Question 4. What qualities does God graciously exhibit continually? Daniel 9:9.

Question 5. As Daniel earnestly sought God for the deliverance of his people, who appeared in answer to his prayer? Daniel 9:21.

You will recall that, in our previous chapter, the angel Gabriel was commissioned to make Daniel "understand the vision" (Daniel 8:16). Unfortunately, Daniel fainted before a full explanation was made (verse 27). When chapter 8 ended, Gabriel had not accomplished his God-ordained mission. The portion of the vision applying to the time of the end (verse 17) was still a mystery to Daniel. Here, in chapter 9, Gabriel returns to answer the prayer Daniel prayed in the first part of chapter 9 and to explain the unexplained portion of chapter 8--the 2,300 days applying especially to the time of the end.

The Vision of the 2,300 Days Explained: Questions 6-9

Question 6. What specific instruction did the angel Gabriel give to Daniel? Daniel 9:23.

Daniel was instructed by Gabriel to "consider the matter" and "understand the vision." We might ask, "What matter? What vision?" The answer is obvious. Gabriel is talking about the vision of the previous chapter that Daniel didn't understand when the chapter ended--the vision of the 2,300 years. "What matter?" The cleansing of the sanctuary in earth's final judgment at the end of time. Gabriel's explanation does two things:

1. It explains the unexplained portion of the vision of chapter 8.
2. It answers Daniel's prayer in chapter 9.

Question 7. How long a period of probation or testing would God give Daniel's people, the Jews? Daniel 9:24.

In the Hebrew language, the word "determined" means "cut off from." The seventy weeks applying to Daniel's people were "cut off from" the 2,300 days (or literal years), taking us down to the general time period known as the "time of the end."

Question 8. What does a day symbolize in Bible prophecy? Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6.

If one prophetic day equals one literal year, seventy weeks equals 70 x 7 days or 490 prophetic days or 490 literal years. Placing these events on a time line, they would look like this:

Question 9. When does this prophecy begin? Daniel 9:25.

The entire prophecy begins with the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem. This decree was passed by the Persian king, Artaxerxes, in 457 B.C. You can read about it in Ezra 7:13-28. This decree, one of three decrees which allowed the nation of Israel to return from captivity to their homeland, is significant because it not only allowed them to take their possessions with them, it also gave them the right to worship, re-establishing Israel as a worshiping community.

Christ--The Center of Prophecy: Questions 10-17

Question 10. Who is the main character in this prophecy? Daniel 9:26.

The central theme of this prophecy is Jesus Christ. The prophecy carefully chronicles events in the life of Christ years before they happened. The word, "Messiah," means "the anointed one." Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost at His baptism (see Matthew 3:16; Acts 10:37, 38).

Question 11. According to this prophecy, how many prophetic weeks would there be from the time the command was issued to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince would come? Daniel 9:25.

Sixty-nine prophetic weeks equal 7 x 69, or 483, prophetic days or 483 literal years.

NOTE: If we move forward on the time line 483 years from 457 A.D., we proceed to 27 A.D. (since there is no zero year). Precisely in 27 A.D., Jesus Christ was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit as the prophecy foretold (see Luke 3:21-22). Jesus is the Messiah. He is not a counterfeit. He came on time. He was baptized on time. And as we shall now see, He was crucified on time.

Question 12. What event does Daniel's prophecy predict would occur next? Daniel 9:26.

The Messiah, Jesus, was to be cut off or crucified. He was to be killed, but not for Himself. He died for us.

Question 13. When does the Bible predict Christ would be crucified? Daniel 9:27.

In the middle of the last prophetic week of our prophecy, Christ would be crucified. The sixty-nine prophetic weeks, or 483 years, came to an end in 27 A.D. One additional prophetic week, or seven additional years, brings us to 34 A.D. Since Artaxerxes' decree was issued in the fall of 457 B.C., we now come to the fall of 34 A.D.

If Christ, the Messiah, was to be "cut off" or crucified in the middle of this last week--or half way through the last seven-year period--He must be crucified three and a half years from 27 A.D. The following chart helps to clarify the year.

Three and one-half years from the fall of 27 A.D. takes us precisely to the spring of 31 A.D. Daniel's prophecy has been fulfilled exactly! Christ was crucified on time in the spring of the year on the exact day of the Passover. Jesus, our Passover, was crucified for us. He died for us. He shed His blood for us. He provided mercy and forgiveness for us. God's mercy for the Jewish race lingered still. For three and a half more years, He appealed to His people. In the fall of 34 A.D., the apostle Stephen made his final appeal for the Jewish nation to repent. The Jewish leaders not only rejected the appeal, they stoned Stephen. At the death of Stephen, the gospel went to the Gentiles. Individual Jews can still be saved, but now God works through a new "Israel"--the Christian church. The church, the body of Christ, is also His bride. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood of New Testament believers (1 Peter 2:9).

The first portion of our prophecy, the 490 years, applies to the first coming of Christ. It reveals a loving Saviour who came on time.

Question 14. How long is the total prophecy? Daniel 8:14.

If the first 490 years of the 2,300 years comes to an end in 34 A.D., this leaves 1,810 years remaining. From 34 A.D., 1,810 years takes us to the year 1844 A.D.

In 1844, God's great prophetic time clock struck the hour. Since 1844, we have been living in the judgment hour. We are living at the end of time. The destiny of the entire human race is soon to be settled.

Question 15. What solemn, awesome announcement does God make in Revelation 14:7?

Question 16. What will Christ give when He comes? Revelation 22:12.

Since Christ gives each person his or her reward when He comes (see Matthew 16:27, 28), there must be a judgment prior to His coming to determine what reward each person is to receive. This is the most exciting time in human history! Heaven's final judgment is now in progress.

Question 17. What gracious invitation does Jesus give us in these last hours of earth's history? Revelation 22:17.

Go toTOP

Have you ever wondered why God does not always answer your prayers immediately? Have you ever prayed only to feel that your prayer ascended no higher than the ceiling? Sometimes we have all felt like the proverbial well-digger who seemed to always come up dry.

Our lesson today takes us behind the scenes. It reveals a titanic conflict between good and evil. Although we sincerely seek God for answers to our prayers, there are powerful Satanic forces working in opposition to God. At times, these forces prevent immediate answers. Good and evil angels wage war in the supernatural battle of light and darkness, good and evil, truth and error.

Prayer unleashes God's power so that He is able to work in our behalf in new ways. Prayer opens new doors of opportunity for God to move. Since He respects our freedom of choice, prayer enables Him to step into our lives. Prayer gives God the permission to do what He was longing to do all the time. Even when we do not see anything significant occurring, God is still at work to solve the problem. When there are apparently no answers, God is still working out a solution. Even though His purposes are opposed, they will never be defeated. Daniel's experience is "Exhibit A" of a God who is listening. His silence indicates only that He is already at work to solve the problem. When we kneel before His throne, without a doubt, He is listening.

Without a Doubt: Questions 1-4

Question 1. As chapter 10 opens, what brought Daniel deep concern and serious perplexity? Daniel 10:1.

Daniel was deeply concerned because his people were still in captivity. The Medes and Persians had ascended the throne three years earlier. The prophecy of the Jews's seventy-year captivity was coming to a close. Daniel was perplexed. When would his people be set free?

Question 2. What did Daniel do for three full weeks? Daniel 10:3, 4.

Question 3. Who appeared to Daniel in his perplexity? Compare Daniel 10:5, 6 with Revelation 1:13-15.

A careful comparison of the descriptions given in these two passages of Scripture identifies the individual pictured in them as the same being. The "man" of dazzling brightness in Daniel 10 is clearly Jesus Christ. Jesus is so concerned about His children that at times He comes Himself to answer their prayers.

Question 4. What happened to Daniel when He experienced the overwhelming presence of Christ? Daniel 10:8, 9.

Daniel could not endure the glorious presence of Christ. He lost his strength and fell into a deep sleep. In mercy, our Lord sent the angel Gabriel to answer Daniel's prayer.

Beloved of Heaven: Questions 5-8

Question 5. How did the angel address Daniel? Daniel 10:11.

This expression, "greatly beloved," is one of the most endearing in all Scripture. God uses it regularly to address His friend Daniel (see Daniel 10:11, 19 and Daniel 9:23). God's children are greatly beloved of heaven. We are more than skin covering bones. We are much more than enlarged protein molecules--products of blind chance. We are created in the image of God and greatly beloved by our heavenly Father.

Question 6. When were Daniel's prayers heard? Daniel 10:12.

Question 7. If God heard Daniel's prayers the first day he prayed, why was there no apparent answer? Daniel 10:13.

Question 8. Who are the "prince of this world" and the "prince of the power of the air"? John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2, 3.

When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26). At the Fall, they lost this dominion. Adam was no longer earth's prince, and Eve was no longer a princess. They became servants, or slaves, of the one they had obeyed (Romans 6:16). Satan usurped their position. He now became the "prince of this world." As such, he is referred to as "the prince of the kingdom of Persia."

Daniel prayed that God would impress the mind of Cyrus to free the captive Israelites. The "prince of Persia," Satan, imprisoned Cyrus' mind in darkness. As Daniel prayed, good and evil angels battled for control of the king's mind for twenty-one days. There are similar battles being waged for the minds of men and women today.

Michael--The Mighty Conqueror: Questions 9-11

Question 9. Who alone can defeat Satan? Who came to help Gabriel in his struggle against the prince of evil? Daniel 10:13.

There is a great deal of misunderstanding in the Christian world on the identity of Michael. Just who is this Michael? What does His name mean? The name, "Michael," means, "one who is like God." Michael is mentioned only five times in the Bible. Besides Daniel 10:13, 21, the other references to Michael are found in:

• Revelation 12:7-9--Michael commands the angels and has the authority to cast Satan out of heaven.

• Jude 9--Michael has the authority to raise Moses from the dead.

• Daniel 12:1, 2--Michael delivers His people in the time of trouble and has the power to resurrect the dead.

These verses clearly reveal that Michael is one of the many names of Jesus. Jesus is the Lamb, the Lion, the Rock of Ages, the Lily of the Valley, the Rose of Sharon, the Door, the Way, the Truth and the Life. When Scripture uses the term, "Michael," to refer to Jesus, it reveals Christ as the "Mighty Conqueror." Don't let the expression, "Michael the Archangel," (Jude 9) confuse you. The word, "archangel," means the "commander and chief" or the "head" of the angels. Jesus is not an angel. He is the divine Son of God. He never had a beginning and will never have an ending (Revelation 1:8). He is eternal (John 8:58). He participated with His Father in this world's creation (John 1:1-3). He existed before the angels and created them (Hebrews 1:3, 4).

Question 10. Who will attend Jesus when He returns with the glory of the Father in dazzling brightness? Matthew 16:27.

Question 11. What event occurs when Jesus triumphantly returns in glory? 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.

As the Commander and Chief of the angels, Jesus breaks through the sky with the voice of "the archangel." The righteous dead are resurrected. The righteous living, along with the righteous dead, are changed into glorious, immortal beings. Together, they ascend into the heavens to meet their triumphant Lord.

Daniel is a symbol, or type, of God's people at the end time. His longing for the deliverance of Israel from pagan captivity is a symbol of God's people at end time, longing for their final deliverance from this world of sin.

No problem is too hard for God. There is no difficulty too great for Him to unravel. There is no heartache too complicated for Him to heal. Today you may be experiencing unusual inner pain. You may be emotionally torn apart. Your life may be devastated. Your wounds may seem incurable. Open your heart to Jesus. Tell Him about all those hurts. He specializes in healing broken hearts. He is a master at building palaces out of the shambles of our lives. Why not bow your head just now and invite Him to be your Healer?

Lesson 11

Still in His Hands

Go toTOP

The evening news constantly reminds us that we live in a world that is out of control. Ethnic violence erupts daily, engulfing millions in war. Tribal conflicts shatter the peace in other regions. The age-old hostilities in the Middle East still smolder just beneath the surface. From a human point of view, there is one word which summarizes the future--uncertainty. It's as if we were on a Boeing 757, uncertain of who the pilot is and where we are going. For tens of thousands, the future is extremely cloudy.

Our chapter today--Daniel 11--repeats the great truths of Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 9. It then enlarges upon these earlier chapters, giving us repeated assurance that God has not abandoned this planet in rebellion. He is still in control. This world is still in His hands. The future is certain. Our destination is sure. Our Pilot is taking us home!

The Purpose of Prophecy: Question 1

Question 1. According to Jesus, what is one of the basic purposes of Bible prophecy? John 14:29.

As we see Bible prophecy fulfilled, our confidence in God increases, and our belief in the Bible as God's Word is strengthened. Fulfilled prophecy is one of God's ways of reminding us that He is still in control of history.

The Rise and Fall of Empires: Questions 2-6

Question 2. What two nations are mentioned in Daniel 11:2?

Question 3. How many famous kings would reign in Persia? Daniel 11:2.

Amazingly enough, there were four extremely important Persian kings during this period of history. Their names were:

• Cambyses--530 to 522 B.C.

• False Smerdis--522 B.C.

• Darius I--522 to 486 B.C.

• Ahasuerus--484 B.C.

Question 4. How does Daniel 11:3 describe the Greek king who would overthrow Medo-Persia?

Alexander the Great, the mighty Grecian king, conquered the world at thirty-two years of age by uniting a relatively small band of Greek patriots. Advancing toward Asia, Alexander's small army crossed the Hellespont. It was powerful enough to completely conquer the Persian Empire. Yet in the infancy of Alexander's brilliant military career, he died prematurely at the age of thirty-three. His kingdom, as so aptly described in verse 4, "was broken and divided into the four winds."

After Alexander's death, his four generals divided the empire. Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy ruled in his place. The King of the South--Ptolemy--ruled over the land of Egypt. The Egyptians became extremely powerful. They continually battled with the King of the North--the Roman power.

Question 5. Read Daniel 11:20. Who is the raiser of taxes described in this passage? (See Luke 2:1.)

Augustus Caesar was known as the great raiser of taxes in ancient Rome. It was during the days of Augustus that the decree was passed that all the world should be taxed. Everyone was commanded to return to his own city to be included in the census for tax purposes. Mary and Joseph made the arduous journey of just under one hundred miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where the Christ-child was born.

Question 6. After ruling for a short time, Augustus Caesar died. How does Daniel describe the character of the ruler who would follow Augustus? Daniel 11:21.

Tiberius Caesar followed Augustus Caesar on the throne. He was one of the vilest rulers ever to ascend the Roman throne. Corruption, bribery, extortion and murder were all part of his political strategy.

The Coming of the Messiah: Questions 7-8

Question 7. What title is Jesus given in Daniel 11:22?

Jesus Christ laid down His life to ratify the everlasting covenant with His own shed blood. His blood speaks in eloquent terms that our sins can be forgiven. Through the blood of Christ, we pass from death to life. He died the death that was ours so we could live the life that was His. As an innocent Man, He suffered for us who were guilty. He was righteous; we are unrighteous. He was holy; we are sinful. By faith, we receive His cleansing. Through Him, we become sons and daughters of God. All that He suffered, we should have suffered. Through the blood of the everlasting covenant, we are redeemed from the curse of death (see Hebrews 13:20; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:23; 6:23).

Question 8. To what specific time period do all of Daniel's prophecies point? Daniel 11:27; 12:8, 9.

The prophecies of Daniel graphically describe the rise and fall of empires. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome rose one after the other. After the demise of the pagan Roman Empire, a church-state union grew out of Rome. During the Middle Ages from 588 to 1798 A.D., the medieval church persecuted those who did not accept its teachings.

The Christ of the Sanctuary: Question 9

Question 9. What would the medieval church do to God's sanctuary? Daniel 11:31. (See also Daniel 8:11-13.)

The sanctuary on earth, which Moses built, was a scale model of the great original sanctuary in heaven. The sacrifices of animals pointed forward to the blood-stained sacrifice of Christ. The ministry of the priests represented Jesus, our Representative, our Mediator, in heaven above. The sanctuary in heaven should be the center of our attention. There Jesus, our High Priest, personally applies the benefits of the cross to our case.

"Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24).

In the days of the medieval church, large, pompous, ornate, splendid church buildings with earthly priests and earthly emblems, became substitutes for the true sacrifice of Christ on the cross and His true priesthood in heaven. The sanctuary in heaven is polluted when attention is diverted from it to an earthly imitation.

God's People Persecuted: Questions 10-11

Question 10. What trials did God's true people experience during the Middle Ages? Daniel 11:33, 34.

Question 11. Whose will does this political-religious power seek, and whom does it exalt? Daniel 11:36.

Committed Christians: Questions 12-13

Question 12. Whose will did Jesus continually seek? Matthew 26:39; John 8:29.

The authentic Christian daily surrenders his will to the will of God. Jesus reigns supreme on the throne of the heart. The heart longing of every real Christian is to discover God's will and to do it.

Question 13. What two kings do battle at the time of the end? Daniel 11:40.

The terms, "King of the North," and, "King of the South," are symbolic figures in the book of Daniel. We might ask, "North or south of what?" In the Old Testament, Jerusalem was the dwelling place of God. The temple manifested His glorious presence. The terms, "north," or, "south," were always in reference to God's capital city, Jerusalem.

The King of the South represents Egypt. The Egyptians challenged the true God with words of utter defiance--"Who is the Lord?" (Exodus 5:2). In a sense, the term, "King of the South," represents all such rebellious, defiant, atheistic powers down through the ages. Every earthly political power which has persecuted Christians, avowing secular humanism and atheism, is represented in the symbolism of the King of the South.

The King of the North represents the false religious powers north of Jerusalem--first Babylon, then Rome. These two religious-political powers counterfeited God's truth and substituted human commands for God's law. The word of the king, or religious leader, became supreme. The King of the North represents false religion.

In the conflict between the King of the North and the King of the South, false religion and atheism battle for world supremacy. Just before the coming of Jesus, atheism crumbles. Totalitarian governments collapse. Countries once closed to the gospel open rapidly. With the demise of communism and unprecedented openings for the gospel, the prophecy of Daniel 11 is being fulfilled. The next event in the prophecy is the rise of false religion in a great counterfeit religious revival based on human commands rather than God's Word.

A Glorious Ending: Questions 14-15

Question 14. When false religion combines with the state in a mighty false religious revival, what will trouble this movement? Daniel 11:44.


The term, "tidings," or a message from the East, speaks of deliverance. When Israel was in Babylonian captivity, Cyrus, the king of the east, delivered her. In Revelation 19, Jesus, the King of kings, descends to deliver His children.

Question 15. How does King Jesus describe both the direction and the glory of His return to deliver His children? Matthew 24:27.

In the final moments of time, the King of the North, symbolizing Satan's final attempt to unite church and state, attempts to plant His banner, or sign, between the sea (the masses of humanity, see Revelation 17:15) and the glorious Holy Mountain (God's dwelling place, or church). Just as Nebuchadnezzar counterfeited the image of Daniel 2, compelling the entire kingdom to worship a false god, so a counterfeit political-religious leader in the last days establishes a counterfeit sign in opposition to God's law. He places human tradition and the commandments of men above the commands of God. Yet his fate is certain. His ultimate destiny is determined. As political leaders before him utterly collapsed, so this religious-political kingdom collapses as well. He "comes to his end and none shall help him" (Daniel 11:45).

God is still in control. He is our true Redeemer. He is our true Saviour. He is our true Lawgiver, and He is our true King. His love endures forever. He still holds the world in His hands. No power on earth or in hell can wrest this world from His hands. Only He is worthy of our supreme homage, our highest praise, and our adoring worship.