Daniel
The entire book of Daniel is an end-time book. Daniel is the old testament book of Revelation in many ways. A ton of insight is available regarding the antichrist, and what makes him tick. Many have questions about the antichrist...does he know who he is? could he choose to not be the antichrist? Does satan take over his body? (The answer to that one is no!). The Bible answers all these questions with clarity.
The antichrist is the second person of an unholy trinity. He is a man. Actually, he is the most appealing world leader the earth has ever seen. He is the humanistic messiah that Israel was holding out for. This is why she rejected Jesus. Jesus came to free first the hearts of His people...riding on a donkey....and then will return to take possession of every kingdom on earth...riding a white horse. Israel didn't want to wait for all that. They wanted someone to free them from their Roman oppressors. When Jesus wouldn't do it, they rejected him and actually accused him of fomenting rebellion against Rome. Talk about irony.
The antichrist will promise to save Israel from her arab neighbors...her current oppressors. Jews are looking for the messiah to come and help them rebuild the temple. That is exactly what Daniel was told the antichrist...the humanistic messiah...would do after the real Messiah...Jesus...was "cut off":
Daniel 9:26-27 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince (antichrist...the earthly ruler) who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (Jerusalem and the sanctuary...the temple...were destroyed less than 40 years after Jesus was crucified).
(Then there is a break of time until the "end"...the last week of Daniel, or the last seven years) The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he (antichrist...little "h" he) shall confirm a covenant (this is very important language) with many for one week (seven years); But in the middle of the week (1,260 days after the covenant is "confirmed") He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering (this means the temple...destroyed in verse 26...is rebuilt). And on the wing (riding) of abominations (a detestable image of the antichrist himself standing in the holy place of the new temple) shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
Israel wants an earthly king one last time, and that is what they will get...just like when they got the first picture of antichrist...Saul:
I Samuel 8:6-9 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord . And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”
Israel is supposed to hold out their loyalty to God alone...but they want a human messiah...someone who, with physical force, will make the earth better for them. What they want is death, even though they don't realize it. There is only one man who is capable of handling absolute power...it is Jesus, the One who held all power as God and set it down for love:
Philippians 2:6-7 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Right now the whole earth wants a man to set things right. We won't repent and pray and expect the world to really change...we think a new policy, or law, or program to keep us fed is the answer...it isn't. The more we consolidate power on a few...the more that power will turn on people. The Bible says there is man coming...I believe he is already well-established on planet earth, that the world will see as a messiah, but inside His heart, he will become a vicious beast. Right now, he thinks he is God's gift to humanity...but there is coming a day when he will be given the mind of an animal. That will be an awful day for the earth.
The day that the antichrist is given the mind of an animal is the day that he "confirms the covenant." Most people will not know this day, because antichrist will confirm the covenant in his heart. They will see the fruit.
The day antichrist, in his heart, decides to play God to Israel for 7 years...to protect her as if she where his child...that is the day that he chooses to step into the role of God. On that day pride will overtake him. On that day he will experience the same thing Nebuchadnezzar did as a sign and a wonder.
The story of Nebuchadnezzar getting the mind of a beast for 7 years is supposed to instruct us about the antichrist. There are many parallels between Nebuchadnezzar and the antichrist. Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of Babylon...the second global superpower to mess with Israel (the first was Egypt...with Pharoah being like antichrist to Israel). Antichrist will be the leader of the end-time "harlot Babylon"...the last global superpower to mess with Israel. HB is described as the wealthiest, most luxurious, and most corrupt nation to ever come about.
This is what it will be like when the antichrist becomes the antichrist:
Daniel 4:9-25. “I said to him (Daniel), ‘Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too great for you to solve. Now tell me what my dream means. “‘While I was lying in my bed, this is what I dreamed. I saw a large tree in the middle of the earth. The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree. “‘Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. The messenger shouted, “Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Chase the wild animals from its shade and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Now let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the wild animals among the plants of the field. For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human. For this has been decreed by the messengers ; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people.”
“‘Belteshazzar, that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for none of the wise men of my kingdom can do so. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’ “Upon hearing this, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was overcome for a time, frightened by the meaning of the dream. Then the king said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, don’t be alarmed by the dream and what it means.’
“Belteshazzar replied, ‘I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you! The tree you saw was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. It had fresh green leaves and was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. That tree, Your Majesty, is you. For you have grown strong and great; your greatness reaches up to heaven, and your rule to the ends of the earth. “‘Then you saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, “Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven. Let him live with the animals of the field for seven periods of time.” “‘This is what the dream means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to my lord the king. You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.
That is exactly what happened:
Daniel 4:28-32 “But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ “While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’
When Nebuchadnezzar refused to lay down his pride, there came a day he was given over to it. Everyone gets what they want. Right now, there is a man who refuses to lay down his pride. He has determined in his heart to play God to Israel. He will be given what he wants, and when he is given over to his own delusion, he will become the beast.
The antichrist is the second person of an unholy trinity. He is a man. Actually, he is the most appealing world leader the earth has ever seen. He is the humanistic messiah that Israel was holding out for. This is why she rejected Jesus. Jesus came to free first the hearts of His people...riding on a donkey....and then will return to take possession of every kingdom on earth...riding a white horse. Israel didn't want to wait for all that. They wanted someone to free them from their Roman oppressors. When Jesus wouldn't do it, they rejected him and actually accused him of fomenting rebellion against Rome. Talk about irony.
The antichrist will promise to save Israel from her arab neighbors...her current oppressors. Jews are looking for the messiah to come and help them rebuild the temple. That is exactly what Daniel was told the antichrist...the humanistic messiah...would do after the real Messiah...Jesus...was "cut off":
Daniel 9:26-27 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince (antichrist...the earthly ruler) who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary (Jerusalem and the sanctuary...the temple...were destroyed less than 40 years after Jesus was crucified).
(Then there is a break of time until the "end"...the last week of Daniel, or the last seven years) The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he (antichrist...little "h" he) shall confirm a covenant (this is very important language) with many for one week (seven years); But in the middle of the week (1,260 days after the covenant is "confirmed") He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering (this means the temple...destroyed in verse 26...is rebuilt). And on the wing (riding) of abominations (a detestable image of the antichrist himself standing in the holy place of the new temple) shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
Israel wants an earthly king one last time, and that is what they will get...just like when they got the first picture of antichrist...Saul:
I Samuel 8:6-9 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord . And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”
Israel is supposed to hold out their loyalty to God alone...but they want a human messiah...someone who, with physical force, will make the earth better for them. What they want is death, even though they don't realize it. There is only one man who is capable of handling absolute power...it is Jesus, the One who held all power as God and set it down for love:
Philippians 2:6-7 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Right now the whole earth wants a man to set things right. We won't repent and pray and expect the world to really change...we think a new policy, or law, or program to keep us fed is the answer...it isn't. The more we consolidate power on a few...the more that power will turn on people. The Bible says there is man coming...I believe he is already well-established on planet earth, that the world will see as a messiah, but inside His heart, he will become a vicious beast. Right now, he thinks he is God's gift to humanity...but there is coming a day when he will be given the mind of an animal. That will be an awful day for the earth.
The day that the antichrist is given the mind of an animal is the day that he "confirms the covenant." Most people will not know this day, because antichrist will confirm the covenant in his heart. They will see the fruit.
The day antichrist, in his heart, decides to play God to Israel for 7 years...to protect her as if she where his child...that is the day that he chooses to step into the role of God. On that day pride will overtake him. On that day he will experience the same thing Nebuchadnezzar did as a sign and a wonder.
The story of Nebuchadnezzar getting the mind of a beast for 7 years is supposed to instruct us about the antichrist. There are many parallels between Nebuchadnezzar and the antichrist. Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of Babylon...the second global superpower to mess with Israel (the first was Egypt...with Pharoah being like antichrist to Israel). Antichrist will be the leader of the end-time "harlot Babylon"...the last global superpower to mess with Israel. HB is described as the wealthiest, most luxurious, and most corrupt nation to ever come about.
This is what it will be like when the antichrist becomes the antichrist:
Daniel 4:9-25. “I said to him (Daniel), ‘Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too great for you to solve. Now tell me what my dream means. “‘While I was lying in my bed, this is what I dreamed. I saw a large tree in the middle of the earth. The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree. “‘Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. The messenger shouted, “Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Chase the wild animals from its shade and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Now let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the wild animals among the plants of the field. For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human. For this has been decreed by the messengers ; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people.”
“‘Belteshazzar, that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for none of the wise men of my kingdom can do so. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’ “Upon hearing this, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was overcome for a time, frightened by the meaning of the dream. Then the king said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, don’t be alarmed by the dream and what it means.’
“Belteshazzar replied, ‘I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you! The tree you saw was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. It had fresh green leaves and was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. That tree, Your Majesty, is you. For you have grown strong and great; your greatness reaches up to heaven, and your rule to the ends of the earth. “‘Then you saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, “Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven. Let him live with the animals of the field for seven periods of time.” “‘This is what the dream means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to my lord the king. You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.
That is exactly what happened:
Daniel 4:28-32 “But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ “While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’
When Nebuchadnezzar refused to lay down his pride, there came a day he was given over to it. Everyone gets what they want. Right now, there is a man who refuses to lay down his pride. He has determined in his heart to play God to Israel. He will be given what he wants, and when he is given over to his own delusion, he will become the beast.
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