As we progress in our human history, as we have being seeing and will continue to see, Bible Believing Christianity facing more and more hardships because the world of materialism, secularism and sadly, modern democracy will do everything it can to “can” Bible Believing Christianity … and they will do this with the assistance of communists, socialists and any religion that supports their stand against Christianity. I received and forwarded a short video clip from a TV news platform today to some people. The thrust of the report was that in Sweden a politician, in dealing with his topic referred to and quoted a Bible verse. There are those opposed to the Bible who have taken this person to court and the penalty could be two years imprisonment. This is not a communist, Islamic, Buddhist or Hindu state … this is a western country that was impacted by the reformation. Good friends in the UK have told me that you are not permitted to talk Christianity in schools. In our country, state schools have banned the Bible and prayer. True Christianity … Christianity that believes the Bible, loves the Bible and follows the Bible will come under extreme pressure, even in our country, as the twenty-second century progresses. Although we won’t get there today in our “Dare to be a Daniel” Daily Notes:
Da 2:10 but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand.
The wicked have the capacity as they are led by their master, the devil, to devise evil against God’s Church and because that can’t understand the Gospel Message of the Lord Jesus, they will continue in their depravity! Now as we pick up chapter 12:5, we find that although the prophetic revelation about the future has been delivered … there is more information, first from Daniel, then from two “others” and lastly from the Divine messenger.
1) Although still in vision, Daniel observes two other standing on either side of the river.
Da 12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.
It is a new scene … two others are present apart from the “Glorious One” … the Divine Messenger. The two others as stated are on either side of the Tigris River. It is important for us to consider our surroundings as we meditate upon God’s Word. If we don’t we will not be observant like Daniel was. Too many of us read and mediate on the Bible and leave the Word there without seeing the application of that Scripture to our surroundings, circumstances and environments.
2) The Divine Messenger is addressed by one of the others present.
Da 12:6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”
The speaker’s identity is not provided but it must have been one of the two angels. The one addressed is the Divine Messenger. He alone was visible to Daniel until verse 5. Notice He is above the waters. The complete text does not say this is the Messenger of the Lord as in the Pre-incarnate Christ, but being above the water is a sign of superiority … for He is indeed superior to angels. (See Hebrews chapter 1). The astonishing things are the context of the prophecy of chapter 11:40-12:3. Note the question is not how long these things will last but how long before they are fulfilled. That is, how long before the “king of the North” (who symbolizes the antichrist), will come and the King of Glory (Jesus Christ) comes to judge the world and bring all things to an end. One commentator is extremely observant. He points out that the word “river” in the original is “stream”. Normally the “stream” referred to the Nile. In this case it was the Tigris because Daniel was far from Egypt. He was in Babylon. Remember Israel are about to be delivered completely from exile. This commentator suggests and I support his theory … that as God once stood over the Nile River (stream) to deliver His people from the world power who so mistreated them … now, the Messenger of the Lord (God the Son) is standing over the Tigris River (symbolically the Nile – stream), ready to deliver His people from the ruthless world power known as Babylon. O how we the people of God ought to long for Jesus to return and stand over this world, judging and delivering His people unto everlasting life in His presence!
3) The Divine Messenger delivers an oath. That is the meaning of the word “swear” in verse 7.
Da 12:7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
The sight is nothing short of majestic! The two angels are present to witness this oath for that was the requirement of the Law. Normally when an oath was taken, like today, only one hand is raised. Here we see the Divine Messenger raising both hands to indicate the solemnity and the credibility of the oath! There He is with both hands raised, looking upwards towards heaven and Daniel hears Him taking the oath (swearing) in the name of “Him who lives forever!” His oath is in the name of the One, True, Living, God … the Creator God. We read in:
Dt 32:40 I lift my hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever.
There God is saying He swears by Himself. He takes the oath in His own name. We know God is Triune, but in Trinity He is One. Here in Daniel, the Divine Messenger is God the Son swearing in the name of God the Father. In other words, in Daniel God is taking and oath in His own name! Due to the complexity of the rest of verse 7, we will leave it for tomorrow … but for today …
(a) Observation. Think about the intention of your Daily Devotions. That is God’s Word to You. How will you apply it?
(b) Superiority. Think about how superior our Lord is … far superior to our boss, our mayor, our premier, our president, church leaders and angels. Awesomely He is Almighty God!
(c) Deliverance. Think about your forth coming deliverance from this world of sin and wickedness. One day soon you and I will be elevated to glory!
(d) Oath. Think of God’s promise to you.
Heb 7:20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever.’” 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Glorious Lord, thank You for the confidence You enable us to have in Your Precious Word. Amen.