Day 259: Daniel 7-9

(The previous post covered the conclusion of Part I of the Book of Daniel, interactions with the kings. Next we will begin Part II: Prophecy. The first six chapters of the Book of Daniel documented Daniel's interactions with the first three heathen kings over the Israelites. The final six chapters of the Book of Daniel documented visions and prophecy experienced by Daniel.)

(This post includes three critical prophecies. This is one of the three most complicated posts on this blog. Please take your time and read this post multiple times if necessary.)

Daniel 7
¹ In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.

(This first verse placed the events of this chapter between Daniel 4 and 5. Remember, the first four chapters of the Book of Daniel documented the growth of Nebuchadnezzar. The first heathen king over the Israelites became a believer, which appeared to affect the spiritual realm over the land. We also saw in Daniel 5, God immediately judged Belshazzar once he acted apart from the understanding and experience he saw with Nebuchadnezzar. During the time before Belshazzar's rejection of God, Daniel had a dream and he wrote it down.)

² Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of heaven brake forth upon the great sea.
³ And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

(The "four great beasts" were kings and their kingdoms. We will see this in Daniel 7:17.)

⁴ The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a man; and a man's heart was given to it.

(The Lion was Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon.)

⁵ And, behold, another beast, a second, like to a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

(The Bear was Medo-Persia and the Three Ribs were Babylon-Lydia-Egypt.)

⁶ After this I beheld, and, lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon its back four wings of a bird; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

(The Leopard was Alexander the Great and Greece.)

⁷ After this I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, a fourth beast, terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

(The Fourth Beast with Ten Horns was Rome.)

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.

(The little horn was the Antichrist. Notice, this vision occurred during the Dispensation of the Law, the 5th dispensation. We live during the Dispensation of Grace, the 6th dispensation. We will see in Daniel 9, the Dispensation of the Law comes back after our dispensation is over. During the time of the Dispensation of the Law, prophecy covering chronology focused on the Dispensation of the Law and the events immediately following the completion of the 5th dispensation: the Millennium and eternity. This occurred in other places in the Old Testament. For example, in Isaiah 61 the prophecy that began that chapter covered events that occurred before Jesus' death and events that will occur immediately after Jesus' physical return to earth, in the same sentence. In Luke 4:21, Jesus read the first portion of this sentence and declared that portion had been completed in the hearing of those He spoke to. Our dispensation occurred within Isaiah 61:2. In this chapter, our dispensation took place between Daniel 7:7 and Daniel 7:8.)

⁹ I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire.

(God's throne was/is like a fiery flame. This referred to God the Father. Notice, wheels were mentioned just like in the Book of Ezekiel.)

¹⁰ A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

(Judgment: the books were opened. This spoke of the events after the Millennial Reign: Final Judgment. That was the chronological end of this vision. Next, Daniel looked at events that occurred earlier chronologically...)

¹¹ I beheld at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.
¹² And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

(A season was a dispensation, a time was a year. These verses showed there would be a dispensation before the Antichrist came to power. Notice, the events of this dispensation were not specified, just that it would exist. The year referred to the power heathen leaders would have during the first year of the Tribulation, which they would give to the Antichrist. So, these verses returned us to the events immediately preceding Christ's return at the end of the Tribulation at the battle of Armageddon.)

¹³ I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

(The one like a "son of man" was Christ. In this verse, the "ancient of days" was God the Father.)

¹⁴ And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

(After the battle of Armageddon, Jesus' Millennial Reign will begin. The end of Daniel's vision was the Kingdom of God/Jesus.)

¹⁵ As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

(Daniel was grieved and troubled because of the vision. The events that occurred prior to our dispensation were troubling.)

¹⁶ I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

(Daniel asked for the interpretation, he wanted the why. An angel gave Daniel the interpretation...)

¹⁷ These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth.

(Interpretation of the four kings. Again, our dispensation occurs between the third and fourth king, yet they were seen during the Dispensation of the Law as seamless.)

¹⁸ But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

(Interpretation of the Kingdom of God/Jesus, the end of the vision that occurred after the Dispensation of the Law is completed. However, Daniel appeared to know there was something different about the fourth beast...)

¹⁹ Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;
²⁰ and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.

(The Antichrist and the ten kings: Revelation 13. The horns were "the rest of the beasts" from verse 12.)

²¹ I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
²² until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

(In this verse, the "ancient of days" applied to Jesus Christ. This referred to the end of the Tribulation: the battle of Armageddon. Again, Daniel returned chronologically to the events of the Tribulation, the last seven years of the Dispensation of the Law...)

²³ Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
²⁴ And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.
²⁵ And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.

(The Antichrist will speak against God and will persecute the saints for 3 1/2 years.
-A time = 1 year.
-A times = 2 years.
-1/2 a time = 1/2 year.
This will be the last half of the seven year Tribulation.)

²⁶ But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

(Again, the angel told Daniel that God and His believers win.)

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 is 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 much troubled me, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

(Daniel's thoughts troubled him to the point that his face (countenance) changed but he kept the matter in his heart. From this chapter, we learned the following about end times prophecy:
There would be four great world leaders culminating in the fourth beast who will torment God's people for three and a half years before God permanently defeats evil and establishes His Kingdom. This fourth beast will get power from ten smaller world leaders (beasts). There would be a dispensation that occurred before the completion of the Dispensation of the Law.)




Daniel 8

(Chapter 8 was written by Daniel in first person.)

¹ In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me, Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.
² And I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in Shushan the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.

(Daniel was in the capital of Persia (Shushan Palace), the same setting for the Book of Esther. This prophecy also occurred during Belshazzar's reign prior to his rejection of God in Daniel 5.)

³ Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

(The two horns were Darius (first) and Cyrus (last and higher). At the time of this vision, none of this had happened yet. Darius was Esther's son. Cyrus was her grandson who gave the decree to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple in Ezra 1.)

⁴ I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no beasts could stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.

(The Ram was Medo-Persia. In the previous chapter, this was the second beast: the bear.)

⁵ And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

(The He-Goat was Alexander the Great. In the previous chapter, this was the third beast: the leopard.)

⁶ And he came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran upon him in the fury of his power.
⁷ And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground, and trampled upon him; and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
⁸ And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of heaven.

(When Alexander died, his kingdom was divided into four parts.)

⁹ And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land.

(The little horn in this verse was Antiochus Epiphanes. The glorious land was Israel. An apocryphal (hidden) book, 2 Maccabees, documented this history of Alexander and Antiochus Epiphanes.)

¹⁰ And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them.
¹¹ Yea, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and it took away from him the continual burnt-offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
¹² And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt-offering through transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered.

(God's house was no longer used as God's house. It was turned into a gymnasium according to 2 Maccabees.)

¹³ Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt-offering, and the transgression that maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

(Notice, Daniel heard an angel ask a question of another angel. This question concerned how long between the re-estabishment of the temple being used for its proper purpose (offerings) and the transgression that makes desolate.)

¹⁴ And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
¹⁵ And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

(Daniel was told the answer was 2300 days: six and a third years. Next, Daniel sought understanding, the why.)

¹⁶ And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

(One of the angels told the other angel to give the understanding, the why. The angel's name was Gabriel. Notice, his name ended in -el...for Elohim.)

¹⁷ So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was affrighted, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongeth to the time of the end.
¹⁸ Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.

(Amazing things happen when people get touched by an angel. Gabriel stated the vision referred to the time of the end, to the time of the completion of the Dispensation of the Law...events associated with the Tribulation.)

¹⁹ And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongeth to the appointed time of the end.

(Verses 20-22: earthly kings.)

²⁰ The ram which thou sawest, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.
²¹ And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
²² And as for that which was broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.

(Like in the previous chapter (vision), there was a HUGE TIME GAP between verses 22 and 23. Some people believe these verses have already been fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes. However, the following verses did not occur with Antiochus Epiphanes...)

²³ And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
²⁴ And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do his pleasure; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people.
²⁵ And through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

(Verses 23-25 concerned the Antichrist. He will have understanding of dark sentences. His power will not be his own (Satan). By peace ("in their security") he will destroy many. The Antichrist will bring peace for the first half (3 1/2 years) of the Tribulation. Then when everyone relaxes, he will actively destroy during the second half (3 1/2 years) of the Tribulation, like we saw in Daniel 7:25. Also, Ezekiel 28 stated that sin was found in Satan as an effect of "much traffic." Clearly, one of Satan's tools is to use the economy, whether it is spiritual or physical.)

²⁶ And the vision of the evenings and mornings which hath been told is true: but shut thou up the vision; for it belongeth to many days to come.

(It appeared the 2300 days applied to the time near the Tribulation, however, the explanation was closed up to be revealed at a later date.)

²⁷ And I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king's business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.

(Daniel fainted and was sick, and none understood it at that time. Again, the explanation for the 2300 days appeared to be saved for a later date. Taking these last two visions together, here was what we have learned about end times prophecy:
There will be four great world leaders (beasts) culminating in the fourth world leader who will bring peace for 3 1/2 years which will cause people to relax. During this time, the world's economy will prosper. Then, after 2300 days of offerings being given in the temple, this fourth world leader will commit a transgression that makes desolate in the temple and torment God's people for 3 1/2 years before God permanently defeats evil and establishes His Kingdom, seven years total. This fourth beast will get power from ten smaller world leaders (beasts). There would be a dispensation that occurred before the completion of the Dispensation of the Law.)




Daniel 9
¹ In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,

(The Medes took over Babylon. The events of this chapter took place after Daniel 5. According to the commentary for the Book of Esther, we know that Darius was the son of Ahaseurus and Esther. The next sentence showed the events of this chapter happened in the first year of Darius' reign over the Chaldeans. Whether Daniel had been put in the lion's den yet (Daniel 6) was not known.)

² in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years whereof the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.

(Daniel understood by the books (Doctrine) the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the seventy years: Jeremiah 25:11-12, and 29:10. "Understood by the books" was the cause of everything in this chapter. Daniel had his Doctrine right. Realize, Israel would have been in captivity over sixty years by this time, so Daniel could have been trying to figure out the year it would end.)

³ And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
⁴ And I prayed unto Jehovah my God, and made confession, and said, Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments,

(**Prayer Structure Review**: Every prayer in the Bible that God answered followed this four-step structure:
1) Recognize the prayer is to God.
2) Build faith through referencing something God has done either through understanding or experience.
3) Reference Justice.
4) Make a request.)

(In verse 4, Daniel began to pray. Daniel recognized God (1st step) and built his faith (2nd step)...)

⁵ we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from thy precepts and from thine ordinances;
⁶ neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, that spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

(Daniel referenced Justice (3rd step) but...Israel was on the wrong side of Justice. How would Israel being on the negative side of Justice help Daniel get his request?)

⁷ O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
⁸ O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
⁹ To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him;
¹⁰ neither have we obeyed the voice of Jehovah our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

(Daniel was using causality to prove that Israel was getting what it deserved, that Justice was already being equaled out. How could Daniel request anything?)

¹¹ Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even turning aside, that they should not obey thy voice: therefore hath the curse been poured out upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against him.

(Daniel stated all Israel deserved the curse they were experiencing.)

¹² And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil; for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
¹³ As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet have we not entreated the favor of Jehovah our God, that we should turn from our iniquities, and have discernment in thy truth.

(Daniel referenced God's Word. Daniel had great understanding of God's Word.)

¹⁴ Therefore hath Jehovah watched over the evil, and brought it upon us; for Jehovah our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth, and we have not obeyed his voice.

(Short term evil from God brought long term creation. Every event against the Israelites that Daniel had mentioned, God did in response to Justice.)

¹⁵ And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

(Daniel referenced God's Word to build faith, again. Daniel had continually shown God that Israel was on the wrong side of Justice. What could Daniel possibly ask for if Israel had zero to negative spiritual value?)

¹⁶ O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, let thine anger and thy wrath, I pray thee, be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are round about us.

(THE REQUEST: God turn His anger and wrath away from Jerusalem!
Why? Jerusalem was becoming a reproach to all the people outside of the Israelites because of the sins of the Israelites' fathers.

Remember, the purpose of the Dispensation of the Law (5th dispensation) was for God to reach the world through His Law, and the Israelites were supposed to be the example. Daniel was telling God the benefit to God for ceasing from His anger and wrath. Daniel was telling God to use His value to reach the people outside of Israel. Now we see why Daniel was praying this prayer backwards as it related to the 3rd step and the 4th step: Daniel was praying IN GOD'S PLACE. Without Daniel's prayer, God would have continued to bring His anger and wrath until Justice had been equaled out. Now we see that Daniel's prayer was requesting that God not equal out Justice completely for God's benefit...that God retain this value to be equaled out later.)

¹⁷ Now therefore, O our God, hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.

(Daniel asked God to reverse the desolation "for the Lord's sake.")

¹⁸ O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies' sake.

(Daniel asked God to hear and see how His city had been destroyed and to fix it for God's great mercies' sake, in order to reach the people outside of Israel.)

¹⁹ O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God, because thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

(Daniel asked God to forgive and carry out this request for God's own sake. Daniel's prayer ended. He requested that God retain His value for God's benefit, to reach the people outside of Israel: the Gentiles.)

²⁰ And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Jehovah my God for the holy mountain of my God;

(Daniel received an answer from Gabriel while he was still praying. Daniel definitely prayed well.)

²¹ yea, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

(Gabriel again touched Daniel. This was a supernatural event.)

²² And he instructed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee wisdom and understanding.

(Daniel was blessed with wisdom and understanding in response to his prayer.)

²³ At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment went forth, and I am come to tell thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.

(Gabriel came forth at the beginning of the prayer. The response to this prayer was the greatest prophecy in the Bible (verses 24-27)…)

²⁴ Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.

(A "week" was a period of seven years.
-Seventy weeks = 490 years.
Daniel was told that Israel was being given 490 years to complete their dispensation, and bring in the Millennial Reign of the Messiah. This verse was focused on the Jews and Jerusalem (Dispensation of the Law). Notice, this list has still not been completed.)

²⁵ Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the anointed one, the prince, shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troublous times.

(The commandment to restore and build Jerusalem (which would be given by Cyrus according to Ezra 1) would begin the 490 years. Notice, there would be 483 years between the command and the Anointed One, the Christ. Notice also the temple was not being used for offerings. In Daniel 8, Daniel was told the offerings would cease in the temple. So, temple worship would need to be restored in order for it to be ceased, and the temple used for a gymnasium. Here, God specifically stated a commandment to rebuild the temple would be given.)

²⁶ And after the threescore and two weeks shall the anointed one be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined.

(Daniel gave a time period for the Messiah!!!)

(This was an example of "complex prophecy."
-"Simple prophecy" was when God knew the causes that existed and simply stated the naturally resulting effects.
-"Complex prophecy" was when the causes that existed would eventually result in God having value through Justice and God stated His future decision of how He would respond to that value.

Notice, God did not state when the command would be given to build the temple. The causes were not in place well enough for God to specify a year. However, God knew the causes were in place for that command to eventually be given. In fact, God retaining value (according to Daniel's prayer) could have been used to make this commandment happen. God also knew that God removing His wrath and anger would result in Israel doing more sin (to the point of eventually turning the temple into a gymnasium) which would allow God to respond through Justice to the point of having Jesus be born and die according to God's timing...and eventually be able to respond through Justice to have a seven-year period of Tribulation that He could cut short with the battle of Armageddon. Every prophecy in the Bible was either simple prophecy or complex prophecy. It was important to know which type the prophecy was.)

²⁷ And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and upon the wing of abominations shall come one that maketh desolate; and even unto the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out upon the desolate.

(The "one week" was the "70th Week": the seven-year Tribulation. Notice, in between the time of the Christ and the "70th Week," there was another dispensation. The purpose of this dispensation was for God to directly reach out to the people outside of Israel: Dispensation of Grace, our current dispensation. Daniel prayed that God would cease His wrath and anger in order to reach the people outside of Israel. Gabriel's response to Daniel's prayer was to explain the circumstances of the 6th dispensation: the Dispensation of Grace in which God directly reaches out to people outside of Israel via the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within the individual...as well as the Holy Spirit being on all flesh.)

(Taking these last three chapters together, here was what we have learned about end times prophecy:
There will be four great world leaders (beasts) culminating in the fourth world leader who will bring peace for 3 1/2 years which will cause people to relax. During this time, the world's economy will prosper. Then, after 2300 days of offerings being given in the temple, this fourth world leader will commit a transgression that makes desolate in the temple and torment God's people for 3 1/2 years before God permanently defeats evil and establishes His Kingdom...seven years total. This fourth world leader will get power from ten smaller world leaders (beasts). There would be a dispensation that occurred before the seven-year period that brought about the completion of the Dispensation of the Law. The purpose of the 6th dispensation was for God to directly reach out to people outside of Israel. From the time the command to rebuild the temple would be given, the people of Israel had 490 years to complete their dispensation. There would be 483 years between the time of the command to rebuild the temple and the death of the Messiah. Then after the 6th dispensation, the final seven years (known as the "70th Week") would bring the completion of the 5th dispensation. This "70th Week" was the same seven-year period mentioned in conjunction with the fourth beast.)

(Again, this post contained a lot of critical and complex prophetic information concerning the end times. Please take the time to reread this information if necessary. Also, please feel free to reach out to me with questions through the comments section below. Any discussion about Biblical end times prophecy ought to begin with these three chapters. If these three chapters are not understood, the rest of the references to end times prophecy in the Bible will only bring confusion.)

Day 260