The Biblical Book of Daniel with verse-by-verse commentary by reincarnate Daniel himself

 

This is a general copy of the Old Testament book of Daniel, with my own commentary, verse by verse, as published in my book available at the book order page. It is largely based on the New Revised Standard Version due to its ease in reading. While the author took great care in accuracy, there is bound to be a couple minor typing errors, and if so, they are minor.

Biblical Book of Daniel and commentary

 

Summary of the book of Daniel

The Old Testament book of Daniel is the only major apocalyptic book in the Old Testament occurring and written during the time of Babylonian captivity, roughly 605 B.C. to 535 B.C., in what was a disastrous period for the Israelite nation, all prophesied earlier by prophets such as Jeremiah, Isaiah and Moses. Due to the sinning condition of that nation with respect to the covenant given almost a millennium earlier, God decreed that the nation and city of Jerusalem would be under siege by foreign nations and destroyed for 70 years.

The main themes to the book are the visions, prophecies, and stories contained therein that revolve around God's sovereignty over the ruling of nations, as opposed to man in power acting alone. It deals with man, politics, Daniel's faith and courage, humility and wisdom in the face of an idolatrous nation, and perseverance in the face of religious oppression and idolatry. It tends to deal with the end-times, or the "end of days," which, as you will see, deal mostly with centuries and a succession of world powers leading up to the arrival of the Messiah about 500 years later.

Daniel is fascinating owing not only to the accuracy of prophetic visions received and thereafter fulfilled but also to the seemingly impossible supernatural events. Due to suspicions by scholars, there naturally have been many attempts to discredit this book as a fraud, something written after the fact, around 164 B.C. during the time of the Maccabee revolt. There are also some who see problems with the dates of the reign of various kings given, but I will not deal with these now, for they involve much tedious and lengthy, scholarly-type discussion. There are other portions of Daniel not included in current canonical versions of the Bible, such as Bel the Dragon and Susanna. These for the time will not be discussed, though important.

Well, it is Daniel himself who has returned to say that indeed it was genuinely written by Daniel in the time of Babylon, and he has returned to make sense of all confusion. You will notice that Daniel of old speaks of himself in the third person, as does Daniel of the 21st century. The reason is the disdain for the concept of "I" as many refer to themselves, for an angel sees himself as part of a greater whole. All the other qualities of Daniel of Old have become embodied in his 21st century incarnation as well: wisdom of the gods (angels), courage, loyalty, resolute firmness and faith in God in the face of adversity, and under supernatural guidance and protection.

The prophetic portions are written in layers and form a symbiotic relationship with John's Revelation of the New Testament, as well as many other Biblical prophecies; these will be discussed, however briefly. The main focus of the Final Book of Daniel shall deal not so much with history, which virtually all of the prophetic portions involve, as with the present, therefore commentary dealing with fulfilled prophecy and historical references will be kept to a minimum. My comments are in brackets.

Chapters 1 through 6 tend to deal with the life of Daniel and companions in the pagan society of Babylon. The narrative traces how Daniel of Old, a Jewish captive taken in his teenage years to serve under King Nebuchadnezzar in a pagan society, progressed through the ranks of the royal palace serving under many kings until the Mede/Persian rule around 538 B.C. It includes visions, the fiery furnace, the lions' den, the writing on the wall, and devious plots by idolaters and power-mad kings.

Chapters 7 through 12 deal mostly with prophetic visions of future history. The following shall include a general summary of most verses, what they mean, and how they may relate to his present incarnation. Many of such visions were delivered by angels, and some in dreams, and deal with symbology and military conflicts, transferring of powers from major world civilizations leading to the end of the age, and the coming of the Messiah more than 500 years later.

Although this commentary is coming from Daniel himself, it is important to note that some meaning has been lost through the ravages of history and various translations. Daniel will therefore give only brief exegesis on general content, without nitpicking into literalistic, minute details. This version is a combination of the English New Revised Standard Version and King James Version, designed to give basic essence to scriptural meaning.

The scene of the first chapter starts off with Daniel and companions kidnapped by a fiery king of Babylon who first stormed Jerusalem around 605 B.C., taking some of the royal family with him, carting them off to Babylon to serve the king there, after being trained to learn the language and literature of the culture, later to be selected to serve in the royal court.

DANIEL

Four Young Israelites at the Babylonian Court

1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods. Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king's palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

[The above occurred about 605 B.C., and Judah was thereafter under the political control of Babylon. The king took some of the temple treasures back with him on a preliminary raid on Jerusalem and kidnapped some of the nobility, including me, Daniel, in the previous incarnation, in order to serve the king and administrative affairs of Babylon. Judah's king was killed at the time. This was the first of three raids; the second occurred in 597 B.C., the last in 586 B.C., which was the ultimate downfall of Jerusalem, and the temple was destroyed. Seventy years later Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem, allowing many of the captives and dispersed Jews to return, about 536 B.C. This event was unprecedented for the Judaic nation, and many times was prophesied to occur by many of the prophets, including Moses, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. The fall of Jerusalem was a result of the people's rebellious nature toward the covenant God gave them. The Chaldeans were a nomadic Semitic tribe who gradually gained power for centuries in the region and took great influence over the affairs and culture of Babylon with their own brand of religion involving sorcery, magic, and astrology.]

The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king's court. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

[Under the training to be received, they ordered me (Daniel) to sacrifice to other gods for the food to be eaten while under training, and also pig's meat, which was forbidden to be eaten under the kosher food laws established under the Torah I was then submitted to. The king changed our Jewish names to others based on pagan gods. This was a three-year education experience in preparation for royal duties; Daniel and his companions were already educated, but had to be trained in the Aramaic (Chaldean) language of Babylon and taught various forms of wisdom, some of which involved idolatry and practices unbecoming to the Judaic faith.]

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master. The palace master said to Daniel, "I am afraid of lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king." Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: "Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe." So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was observed they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.

[Daniel had courage and faith, as he does now, and rebelled against the order to eat swine and sacrifice to the pagan gods as practiced in Babylonia, therefore issuing a protest to the guard in charge. As the guard would be in danger should he allow this, Daniel gave a test for him: To feed only the bare minimum as a vegetarian diet and observe the result after ten days. The result was that God treated them with favor, keeping them in excellent health, despite deprivation. In a karmic sense, this is probably why Daniel started off as a "drunkard and a glutton" in his present incarnation: to make up for past extremes and deprivations, although Daniel does now fast for the sake of God since the awakening. I am no longer subject to the strict Kosher food laws of the Torah, and am permitted to eat ham or bacon, although avoid it due to its unhealthy constitution. Skill in dreams and visions was very important to these ancient cultures, and Daniel received many of the divine variety, as he has in the present incarnation, due to his faith in God, enabling him to receive favor and respect.]

At the end of the days that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of King Nebuchadnezzar, and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king's court. In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.

[After three years of education, Daniel and his companions were tested in the presence of the king, and due to our faith in God, divine wisdom and intelligence received, were exalted beyond all others; we were blessed with knowledge and insight far exceeding that of contemporaries and wise men. Daniel of the present has also been gifted by God with such wisdom and insight, especially after the 1991 NDE, and later angelification, with exceedingly high wisdom and intelligence. Daniel remained in administrative service in various positions within the palace of Babylon for many decades, until the reign of the Medo-Persian Empire under King Cyrus, around 538 B.C.]

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

2 In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed such dreams that his spirit was troubled and sleep left him. So the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, "I have had such a dream that my spirit is troubled by the desire to understand it." The Chaldeans said to the king (in Aramaic), "O king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will reveal the interpretation."

[From this point on Daniel writes in the form of Imperial Aramaic learned during the three-year schooling process. This form of language continued for many centuries, until the time of Christ. It was common in those times to address kings with the phrase "O king, live forever." A furious Nebuchadnezzar then demands all the wise men and sorcerers to tell him the impossible interpretation of the disturbing dream he witnessed, but they first wished to know the dream, for they did not know.]

The king answered the Chaldeans, "This is a public decree: if you do not tell me both the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you tell me the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation." They answered a second time, "Let the king first tell his servants the dream, then we can give its interpretation." The king answered, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you have seen that I have firmly decreed: if you do not tell me the dream, there is but one verdict for you. You have agreed to speak lying and misleading words to me until things take a turn. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know you can give me its interpretation." The Chaldeans answered the king, "There is no one on earth who can reveal what the king demands! In fact no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king is asking is too difficult, and no one can reveal it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals."

[Again the Chaldeans demanded of Nebuchadnezzar to first tell them his dream, but because of the irrationally impossible demands of the king, they could not tell, and he refused to tell them, power-hungry and despotic as he was, expecting them to somehow know not only the interpretation, but the dream itself. The Chaldeans (and many modern-day fundamentalist Christians) did not believe the gods dwelt with mortals, yet Daniel soon came to the rescue, and as you will see, is "endowed with the spirit of the holy gods," which means angel. The Chaldeans hoped that by stalling, the king would change his mind about this threatening decree, until conceding that they could not reveal it. The king then became furious and proceeded to make good on his promise of the destruction of all the wise men.]

Because of this the king flew into a violent rage and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. The decree was issued, and the wise men were about to be executed; and they looked for Daniel and his companions, to execute them. Then Daniel responded with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the king's chief executioner, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon; he asked Arioch, the royal official, "Why is the decree of the king so urgent?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. So Daniel went in and requested that the king give him time and he would tell the king the interpretation.

[Nobody was able to reveal the king's dream, so, in irrational anger, Nebuchadnezzar wished to kill all the wise men, and issued a prompt order to execute everyone, so they started rounding up all the wise men to be executed. But Daniel was elsewhere at the time; upon finding out about this decree, though perplexed at the nature of the decree, he requested the king through Arioch to wait and made a confident assertion that the dream would be revealed to him by God through prayer and faith, but this required some time.]

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

Then Daniel went to his home and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions with the rest of the wise men of Babylon might not perish. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

[In a manner similar to mass prayer for revelation from readers by 21st century readers, Daniel of Old summoned his friends to join in a mass prayer to God to reveal the mystery of revelation, and God responded. The outcome was a revealing dream of the king's dream, and Daniel was thankful.]

Daniel said: "Blessed be the name of God from age to age, for wisdom and power are His. He changes time and seasons, deposes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him. To You, O God of my ancestors, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and power, and have now revealed to me what we asked of You, for You have revealed to us what the king ordered."

[Even in his present incarnation Daniel has expressed such profound appreciation to God for such answers, wisdom and power received. God knows all, and can reveal such wisdom to His messenger-servants, the prophets. God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient – God is all, and One, in sovereign control of everything: the seasons, nations, kings. For those who seek wisdom and understanding, by the mercy and grace of God, will receive it if they ask. The answer of the dream was given so that God may be glorified through Daniel.]

Daniel Interprets the Dream

Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will give the king the interpretation." Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him: "I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who can tell the king the interpretation."

[Arioch tries to take credit for finding someone who can interpret the dream, even though it is Daniel who approached Arioch.]

The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to tell me the dream and its interpretation?" Daniel answered the king, "No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has disclosed to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen at the end of days."

[Before revealing the dream and its interpretation, Daniel reminds Nebuchadnezzar of the impossible demands placed upon the wise men, but rightfully gives credit to God for revealing this demand through Daniel. The next verses regarding the dream then deal with a succession of future world empires leading up to the time of Christ.]

"Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed were these: To you, O king, as you lay in bed, came thoughts of what would be hereafter, and the Revealer of mysteries disclosed to you what is to be. But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me because of any wisdom that I have more than any other living being, but in order that the interpretation may be known to the king and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.

[As now, Daniel does not give credit to his wisdom exceeding other humans in degree, whether it be now or then, but to the power of God. Daniel then goes on to describe Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and what it symbolized.]

"You were looking, O king, and lo! there was a great statue. This statue was huge, its brilliance extraordinary; it was standing before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of that statue was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.

[The Babylonians worshiped images, and this statue was a representation of kingdoms to come "in the latter days." In decreasing levels of "value" according to metallic power, we start with the head of gold, descending to the feet, the foundation of brittle clay. The head of gold symbolized then magnificent Babylon, as strong and powerful as it was at the time, the chest and arms of silver represented the dual Mede and Persian (two arms) civilization that followed after 538 B.C. – divided, the middle and thighs of bronze represented the civilization of Greece after 331 B.C., and the feet of part clay and iron represented Rome, the final empire to reign over the Judaic nation.]

As you looked on, a stone was cut out, not by human hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, and the gold, were all broken in pieces and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

[Within 500 years or so, the stone – Jesus, and the spiritual kingdom of heaven thereafter set up through the church – smashed the last foundation of the statue, all these kingdoms, bringing them to an end (but the process took longer), without a trace to be found; the stone was the Christian church that followed in replacement, a great mountain filling the whole earth.]

"This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation. You, O king, the king of kings – to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the might, and the glory, into whose hand he has given human beings, wherever they live, the wild animals of the field, and the birds of the air, and whom he has established as ruler over them all – you are the head of gold.

[Daniel acknowledges the power God gave to Nebuchadnezzar, and power therefore given over all aspects of human endeavors, and proclaims he is the head of gold, or Babylon, who was given great power as the leader of the greatest civilization then existing.]

"After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over the whole earth.

[History makes clear this is the Mede and Persian Empire (arms and chest of silver) that followed within a generation or two, with Cyrus making an alliance with Darius of Persia. Daniel lived to see this event. The third world-empire/kingdom of bronze to rule over the whole earth was Greece, under the militaristic escapades of Alexander the Great.]

"And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron; just as iron crushes and smashes everything, it shall crush and shatter all these. As you saw the feet and toes partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but some of the strength of iron shall be in it, as you saw the iron mixed with the clay. As the toes of the feet were part iron and part clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so will they mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.

[Moving from the head down to the final kingdom, here represented by the clay and iron feet, this kingdom was in fact Rome, strong as iron, smashing everything, crushing all previous kingdoms. But in fact it was at the core brittle, mixed with clay. It did not hold forever, and eventually crumbled into various nations of Europe, at least retaining some of the strength of iron; it has continually remained divided as is apparent from the many historical wars. The ten toes can symbolize either ten major segments or provinces of Rome existing at the time of Christ, or ten emperors. What became of its legacy? It was replaced by the everlasting spiritual Kingdom of Heaven set up by Jesus as the king.]

"And in the days of those kings the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever; just as you saw that a stone was cut from the mountain not by hands, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has informed the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation trustworthy."

[Contrary to most Jewish contemporaries at the time with their expectations of the Messiah, and even now despite the wishes or beliefs of many Christians, this was in fact not a physical, earthly kingdom to be established, but was in fact a spiritual kingdom. Jesus, the Messiah in fact set up this kingdom "in those days," and had read Daniel's writings concerning this matter. He discerned its proper meaning when frequently discussing the "kingdom of heaven" to be established: a spiritual, heavenly kingdom, which cannot be destroyed. This began with the Church, which began by politically taking over Rome; and it shall stand forever, as no earthly kingdom can. Also, the "kingdom of God is already here, but you do not see it ... The kingdom of God is within you." This is demonstrated in modern NDEs: the kingdom was long ago established in the after-life realms.]

Daniel and His Friends Promoted

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that a grain offering and incense be offered to him. The king said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is God of gods and lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery!" Then the king promoted Daniel, gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.

[I never wished to be worshiped, but the king did so, and made payment in several forms, then thanked God that Daniel worshiped the God over gods, the One capable of revealing mysteries of the dark. Daniel was then promoted to conduct the economic and political affairs of Babylon, but with the help of his friends. Because of this, God allowed Daniel and companions to be promoted in the kingdom. This began a long career in the office conducting affairs over Babylon, but Daniel remained in the presence of the king, leaving much business to his three companions.]

The Golden Image

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue whose height was sixty cubits and whose width was six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent for the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to assemble and come to the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; the heralds proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into the furnace of blazing fire." Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

[This was almost two decades after the previous chapter, and involved more demands of pagan idolatry; everyone was suddenly under a command by the king, Nebuchadnezzar, to fall down and worship an inanimate object, a statue, at the sound of a chorus of instruments. In this culture we were subject to many adversarial forms of religious oppression. We were then ordered to worship this large statue, based on the likeness of King Nebuchadnezzar, under the threat of destruction by being cast into the fiery furnace. This "casting into a fire" metaphor was symbolically used by many of the New Testament, such as the "lake of fire" mentioned in John's Revelation.]

Accordingly, at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble shall fall down and worship the golden statue, and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs over the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O king. They do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue you have set up."

[Again, the Chaldeans, in religious conspiracy, under the irrational rage of King Nebuchadnezzar and his command to worship the gods of metal, stone and wood, assault the beliefs in One God of the Jews, many of whom had been taken captive years earlier, by bringing to light Daniel's companions' refusal to worship anything other than the Most High.]

Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the golden statue I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?"

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up."

[Arrogant as ever, Nebuchadnezzar became furious that these men would not serve or worship the statue or his gods, and therefore threatened them, but they persisted and unrelentingly stuck to their faith in the Most High God, willing to sacrifice their lives with immense devotion, and were rewarded with supernatural protection.]

The Fiery Furnace

Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace heated up seven times more than customary, and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. So the men were bound, still wearing their tunics, their trousers, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. Because the king's command was so urgent and the furnace was so overheated, the raging flames killed the men who lifted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.

[There exists another portion of Daniel inserted here which has not been canonized within the current Bible, but involves a lengthy prayer these three men said with an angel in the midst of the fire. The supernatural protection they were granted caused the flames to leap out of the overheated furnace and killed the soldiers who bound and threw these three men into the fire.]

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in amazement. He asked his counselors, "Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king." He replied, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god."

[During this supernatural episode, an angel came and protected Daniel's three companions, as a result of their faith, in the midst of the fiery furnace into which they had been cast.]

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their tunics were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them. Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king's command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god but their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that utters blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way." Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

[Nebuchadnezzar finally came to his senses, realizing he threw three men, servants of the Most High God, into a blazing fire, but they placed their trust in God and therefore escaped harm. Some have speculated that this angel was Michael. Some have even suggested this was Daniel, who, in angel form, detached from his body to help his companions. It very well could have been ...Some say it was Metatron. Nebuchadnezzar then made a decree acknowledging the power of God and those that worship Him alone, acknowledged sovereignty of the Almighty and respected God.]

Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream

4 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that live throughout the earth: May you have abundant prosperity! The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me I am pleased to recount. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his sovereignty is from generation to generation.

[Nebuchadnezzar finally recognizes the power of God over his life and kingdom, but not for long.]

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living at ease in my home and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that frightened me; my fantasies in bed and the visions of my head terrified me. So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, in order that they may tell me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not tell me its interpretation. At last Daniel came before me – he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods – and I told him the dream: "O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Hear the dream that I saw; tell me its interpretation.

[Again, all the magicians and Chaldeans could not tell the king his dream or interpretation thereof, then along came Daniel, endowed with the spirit of the holy gods (angels) who was wise and understood all. No mystery was too difficult for him, for his power of wisdom came from God, as it does now in the present incarnation. Notice that the above portion was written by the king, but under the guidance of Daniel, hence the third-person method of writing.]

"Upon my bed this is what I saw; there was a tree at the center of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew great and strong, its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the ends of the whole earth. Its foliage was beautiful, its fruit abundant, and it provided food for all. The animals of the field found shade under it, the birds of the air nested in its branches, and from it all living things were fed.

"I continued looking, in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and there was a holy watcher, coming down from heaven. He cried aloud and said: 'Cut down the tree and chop off its branches, strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from beneath it and the birds from its branches. But leave its stump and roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be bathed in the dew of heaven, and let his lot be with the animals of the field in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a human, and let the mind of an animal be given to him. And let seven times pass over him. The sentence is rendered by decree of the watchers, in order that all who live may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of mortals; he gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of human beings.'

"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are unable to tell me the interpretation. You are able, however, for you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods."

[After describing his story, the king asked Daniel to interpret the dream. Indeed Daniel has been endowed with the "spirit of the holy gods," as acknowledged by the king, then as well as now, and the God-given wisdom enabled Daniel to proceed to tell the king the interpretation of its symbology.]

Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

Then Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was severely distressed for a while. His thoughts terrified him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or the interpretation terrify you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, may this dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies!

[The dream was terrifying because it dealt with the king's future downfall, something his enemies would certainly enjoy; the next explanation follows.]

The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, so that its top reached to heaven and was visible to the end of the whole earth, whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and which provided food for all, under which animals of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air had nests – it is you, O king! You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has increased and reaches to heaven, and your sovereignty to the ends of the earth.

[King Nebuchadnezzar was given by God sovereignty over nations, and all living things, with great riches of a prosperous nation to feed all, and was at the height of power, but a dire judgment by God would soon be decreed by a holy watcher, much to the chagrin of King Nebuchadnezzar.]

And whereas the king saw a holy watcher coming down from heaven and saying 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; and let him be bathed with the dew of heaven, and let his lot be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him' – this is the interpretation, O king, and it is a decree from the Most High that has come upon the lord my king: You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the wild animals. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, you shall be bathed with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and gives it to whom he will. As it was commanded to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be re-established for you from the time that you learn that heaven is sovereign. Therefore, O king, may my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged."

[King Nebuchadnezzar had then been ruling over what was then the most powerful and prosperous civilization on earth, but this success soon led to iniquitous behavior, pride and arrogance, and Daniel counseled him to repent with righteousness, so that his kingdom and power may persist, for God rewards those who live by guidance of the ways of the spirit, and gives punishment to those who do not. The holy watcher was an angel who came to pass judgment. The stump and roots with a band of iron and bronze were the promise of Nebuchadnezzar's return to power after his tree has been cut down and humbled and he realized that God has ultimate sovereignty over mortals, no matter how powerful they become. If he did not humble himself, he would face seven years of living in the wilderness as a madman.]

Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king said, "Is this not magnificent Babylon, which I have built as royal capital by my mighty power and for my glorious majesty?" While the words were still in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven: "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: The kingdom has departed from you! You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. you shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom He wills." Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew long as eagles' feathers and his nails became like birds' claws.

[Despite Daniel's warnings originating from his dream, King Nebuchadnezzar let power and arrogance go to his head, taking all the credit for the magnificence he ruled over and failing to acknowledge the sovereignty of God over the kingdoms of mortals. An angel – holy watcher – then pronounced the sentence upon the king: a seven-year bout of insanity which involved behaving like an animal and outcast in the wilderness apart from human society, until acknowledging the power of God.]

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

When that period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to Heaven, and my reason returned to me. I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored the One who lives forever. For His sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does what he wills with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can stay His hand or say to Him, "What are You doing?"

At that time my reason returned to me; and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and my lords sought me out, I was re-established over my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are truth, and his ways are justice; and he is able to abase those who walk in pride.

[Finally after seven years of madness King Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses, recognizing the omnipotence of God and his errant ways of pride. After realizing this, he was given by God even more power and dominion in his kingdom, corresponding to the roots and stump of iron and bronze.]

Belshazzar's Feast

5 King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.

Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. So they brought in the vessels of gold and silver that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

[This was around 539 B.C., at which time Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, was co-ruler under a different king (who was absent most of the time). During the drunken festivities and erroneous celebration, discarding all respect for the Most High, he abused the treasures taken from the Jewish Temple, ransacked years earlier under King Nebuchadnezzar, and proudly worshiped the material riches, the wealth of the mortal realm, all of which pass away, rot, or change in form, and are vanity. At this time the armies of the Medes and Persians had surrounded the city of Babylon, but they thought they were safe, deeming the city's walls impenetrable.]

The Writing on the Wall

Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lamp stand. The king was watching the hand as it wrote. Then the king's face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and his knees locked together. The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners; and the king said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me its interpretation shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and rank third in the kingdom."

[Terrified at the meaning of this phenomenon, Belshazzar called out for the wise men and other sorcerers, but because they did not have God on their side, they were dumbfounded. Confused at the meaning of the ominous apparition, the wise men who were called in could not tell its meaning.]

Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king the interpretation. Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified and his face turned pale, and his lords were perplexed.

[The "writing on the wall" has since become a metaphor for an obvious sign which everyone should heed ... Belshazzar did not, for the end of his kingly reign was only hours away. Seeking the meaning of this frightening phenomenon, he called out for the wise men to issue interpretation with promise of reward, including a kingship rank next to him.]

The queen, when she heard this discussion of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall. The queen said, "O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts terrify you or your face grow pale. There is a man in your kingdom who is endowed with the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners, because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, who the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation."

[The queen, knowing of Daniel's past fame in dream interpretation, wisdom, enlightenment and knowing the spirit of a holy angel dwelt with him, requested of the king to summon Daniel to determine the meaning. Daniel had been out of circulation for some time from ruling the province of Babylon; therefore, Belshazzar had never heard of him.]

The Writing on the Wall Interpreted

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "So you are Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard of you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that enlightenment, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and tell me its interpretation, but they were not able to give the interpretation of the matter. But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and tell me its interpretation, you shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around your neck, and rank third in the kingdom."

[After Daniel was located, and brought in the presence of Belshazzar, it was then requested, with a reward of great status, that if he could give the interpretation to the vision, which all the magicians, enchanters and sorcerers were incapable of providing, he would thereafter rank third in the kingdom, behind Belshazzar, but Daniel refused this reward, for he knew that the gifts were ill-gotten from a corrupt king who was disrespecting the temple treasures.]

Then Daniel answered in the presence of the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, or give your rewards to someone else! Nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and let him know the interpretation. O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar kingship, greatness, glory, and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed those he wanted to kill, kept alive those he wanted to keep alive, honored those he wanted to honor, and degraded those he wanted to degrade. But when his heart was lifted up so that his spirit was hardened so that he acted proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was stripped from him. He was driven from human society, and his mind was made like that of an animal. His dwelling was with the wild asses, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and sets over it whomever he will. And you, Belshazzar his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this! You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven! The vessels of his temple have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know; but the God in whose power is your very breath, and to whom belong all your ways, you have not honored.

[Daniel rebuked Belshazzar for profaning the holy treasures taken from Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar years earlier, reminded him of the sovereignty of God and the consequences of pride and abuse of power, and how he would soon be punished as a consequence. His mind had not been set on God, but on earthly pleasures, vanity and idolatry under a false sense of security, not acknowledging respect of the Most High. Daniel told him to keep the rewards offered, for they would not be of value, since his kingdom would be destroyed that very night.]

"So from His presence the hand was sent and this writing was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given over to the Medes and Persians."

[The supernatural hand that wrote the inscription on the wall, terrifying Belshazzar, was interpreted by Daniel, moved by the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of Babylon was now decreed by God to come to an end, Belshazzar was judged unworthy of its leadership, and Babylon was about to be taken by storm by the Mede and Persian armies.]

Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed in purple, a chain of gold placed around his neck, and a proclamation was made concerning him that he should rank third in the kingdom.

That very night Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

[Hoping that he could somehow prolong his reign, Belshazzar futilely anointed Daniel with rulership, with a gold chain around the neck. Meanwhile, the immense fortresses of Babylon were breached by the Mede-Persian armies under the command of Cyrus (in conjunction with Darius, his uncle – a coalition tied by marriage), who had been preparing for two weeks, entering the city with little resistance by damming the river which flowed beneath it, enabling soldiers to enter under the walls, killing the guards, lowering the drawbridges and allowing the rest of the army to enter. Once reaching the royal palace, they immediately killed Belshazzar, ending the civilization of Babylon. Despite the refusal of Daniel to accept the gifts, the king still gave them.]

The Plot against Daniel

6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom, and over them three presidents, including Daniel; to these the satraps gave account, so that the king may suffer no loss. Soon Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom. So the presidents and the satraps tried to find complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him. The men said, "We shall not find any grounds for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God."

[At this time a new civilization under a new king and government was being established by the Mede-Persian Empire, and one of the first jobs entailed appointing sectorial leadership in the form of leaders and presidents. Daniel had been demonstrating great ability in handling past Babylonian affairs (and Darius was also influenced by Belshazzar's last command that he would rank high in the kingdom), and Daniel was therefore given position of president, one out of three. Because of the exceptional wisdom and ability Daniel possessed, given by God, others became jealous, particularly since he was a Jewish exile. They conspiratorially searched for reasons to get him fired, but because of his loyalty, incorruption and faithfulness with respect to the kingdom, they could find none. Therefore, knowing he was a Jew, they sought to dispose of him through conspiratorial means. This begins a famous chapter dealing with the lion's den. King Darius lived only two years after this initial conquest and episode, to be succeeded by Cyrus of Persia.]

So the presidents and satraps conspired and came to the king and said, "O King Darius, live forever! All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever prays to anyone, divine or human, for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked." Therefore King Darius signed the document and interdict.

[The conspirators managed to issue an ordinance to the unknowing king in order to entrap Daniel, and for Daniel to be disposed of by being cast into a den of lions to be eaten. To ensure their success, they reminded the king that once signed, the ordinance could not be changed. Daniel's faithfulness in God would again be challenged, and God's ability to deliver demonstrated.]

Daniel in the Lion's Den

Although Daniel knew the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open towards Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously. The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God. Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, "O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human, within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions?" The king answered, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." Then they responded to the king, "Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three time a day."

[In rebellion against the absurd ordinance, Daniel showed his faith in God by continuing to pray to God as usual, even in the sight of the antagonistic conspirators, who naturally then approached the king with the accusation and charges of Daniel's perceived disobedience, emphasizing the identity of Judaic exile. Daniel exercises the same diligence in prayer, but has now attained a state of near continual prayer.]

When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every attempt to rescue him. Then the conspirators came to the king and said to him, "Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed." Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!" A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing may be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

[Darius was now in distress about what he had done – allowing the conspirators to prevail and send an innocent Daniel to the lions by abusing the king and the immutable laws of the Medes and Persians. He followed through on the command but mourned, wishing Daniel to be saved from the power of the lions. Little did they know the supernatural power granted to an embodied angel of God, then, as is also the case in present-day Daniel. Although this is the only such lion's den story mentioned in the Christian Bible, there was at least one other time where Daniel was thrown into the dens, once for a week straight.]

Daniel Saved from the Lions

Then, at daybreak, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?" Daniel then said to the king, "O king, live forever! My God has sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong." Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. The king gave a command, and those who accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions – they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

[Darius, desiring to save Daniel and distressed all night long at the predicament, rushed to the den, hoping that God had saved him. Indeed, God demonstrated power to those who have faith by sending an angel to help protect against the ferocity of the lions' hunger. Daniel had done nothing wrong in the view of God, or Darius, and this faith and trust were divinely rewarded. Realizing then the deception of the conspirators against the king and Daniel, he immediately ordered them to be cast into the den of lions; because of the culture of the time, the household – wives and children – were considered as "one" with the man, so they also were thrown to the lions. They were not under God's protection as Daniel had been; therefore they were immediately devoured with powerful jaws of large feline variety, breaking all their bones into smithereens. What a way to go.]

Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language throughout the whole world: "May you have abundant prosperity! I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions." So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and of Cyrus the Persian.

[Acknowledging the miracle he observed, Darius, amazed at such supernatural signs, proclaimed to all nations the power, sovereignty and dominion of God, and urged that we should all respect the Most High, Who endures forever and rules everlasting over all kingdoms. Cyrus, around 538 B.C., issued a decree enabling the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the city and temple. By that time Daniel was very old, but still managed to return to witness the end of Judaic desecration (Nehemiah 10:6, Ezra 8:2). The king had read the prophecy of Isaiah which names him specifically as the one who would be the shepherd of the Jews, allowing them to return to their homeland.]

Visions of the Four Beasts

7 In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed.

[Now the book of Daniel takes a turn, with remaining chapters dealing with prophetic aspects of future world events. It should be noted that Daniel's book is written in layers, and is not chronological in order, and that some chapters have significant relationship to others, and are symbiotic. Chapters 2 and 7 are supplementary in that they deal with roughly the same topic, given in different ways at different times; chapter two near the beginning of Daniel's career under Nebuchadnezzar, and chapter 7 several decades later under Belshazzar. This is termed backtracking; chapter 5 chronologically takes place after chapters 7 and 8. What follows in this chapter is symbolic dreams based on beasts and animals representing kings and nations to come, from the perspective of the times of Daniel. Because Daniel was administrator over affairs of Babylon for much of his life, many of the visions he had dealt with world politics, kings and conquests of nations. Additionally, because this was an apocalyptic time for the Judaic nation and faith, the prophecies are likewise apocalyptic for the future, all understandable considering Daniel's circumstances. Most of these dealt with times leading to the era of Christ, leaving very, very little for our time, for it is largely history.]

Then he wrote down the dream: I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts came out of the sea, different from one another.

[Daniel witnessed symbolic beasts representing four kingdoms (world powers) to come from Babylon to the era of Christ. Writing down such important dreams is significant, for it is easy to forget them otherwise.]

The first was like a lion and had eagle's wings. Then, as I watched, its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a human being; and a human mind was given to it.

[This first beast was Babylon, for the lion once represented this nation, and the mind may be considered Nebuchadnezzar. This is the head of gold mentioned in the statue of Daniel 2]

Another beast appeared, a second one, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, had three tusks in its mouth and was told, "Arise, devour many bodies!"

[The above represents the two-sided Mede/Persian empire, and the three tusks may represent the conquests of Babylon, Lydia and Egypt. This corresponds to the chest and arms of silver in the statue of chapter 2.]

After this, as I watched, another appeared, like a leopard. The beast had four wings of a bird on its back and four heads; and dominion was given to it.

[This was the world dominion and civilization of Greece, headed by Alexander the Great, starting around 331 B.C. and subsequent conquests. The kingdom was thereafter divided into four parts.]

After this in the visions by night a fourth beast came, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth and was devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that preceded it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, when another horn appeared, a little one coming up among them; to make room for it, three of the earlier horns were plucked up by the roots. There were eyes like human eyes in this horn, and a mouth speaking arrogantly.

[This fourth and final kingdom of the age was the Roman Empire, with the symbology of strengthened iron that trampled into pieces the remains of all the preceding empires/beasts. It grew very powerful and lasted longer than all others it replaced. The ten horns represented the ten divisions or provinces existing at the time of Christ. The "little horn" to come from this empire – contrary to what many presently believe, or called the "Antichrist," – was in fact the emperor Nero, who spoke arrogantly and persecuted Christians just before A.D. 70. Then Daniel saw the outcome of the end of the age.]

Judgment before the Ancient of Days

As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient of Days took his throne; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

[This is often referred to as the "Judgment," but this is actually not the Most High God, but the first human to attain god-like status and dominion, ascending in angelification to the celestial realms, and he achieved this many thousands of years ago. This was actually the judgment at the end of that age, around the time of Christ, similar to another we will face at the close of the present age. There is such a judgment at the end of every age by the Ancient(s) of Days, whose presence and glory is overwhelming as described above.]

I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

[This "beast" against the ways of God was Nero of Rome, and the historical record and congruence of other scriptures such as John's Revelation indicate this occurred almost two millennia ago; the beast/devil/dragon/serpent "cast into the fiery furnace of blazing fire and sulfur." The other beasts' dominion, or remnants of the other world powers – Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece – were "taken away" but remained to issue some influence on culture for some time after, even to this day.]

As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

[This is undoubtedly Christ who came in the 'clouds of heaven' (as revealed in Near-Death Experiences) and then was presented before the Ancient of Days. He was then given authority, dominion, kingship; and then he established the everlasting "kingdom of God/heaven" at the beginning of the age of Pisces, which was in fact established in spiritual form, unlike earthly kingdoms that pass away, through the advent and manifestation of Jesus Christ in the first Century A.D. "My kingdom is not of this earth," said Jesus before being crucified. It is a spiritual kingdom that cannot be destroyed or pass away, already long since established as spoken to the disciples: "There are some standing here who will not perish until they see the Son of Man coming in his glory." (NT) He became the Light seen in NDEs. "The heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."]

Daniel's Visions Interpreted

As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: "As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever – forever and ever."

[Naturally this vision disturbed and confused Daniel, so he asked one of the many angels present to tell him the meaning, and it was disclosed. The four beasts/world powers were in order: Babylon, Mede/Persians, Greece, Rome, then the everlasting kingdom to be set up for the saints of the Most High: the Christian church in the material realm, and the spiritual kingdom which cannot be seen, but has been present now for almost 2000 years. However, this does not necessarily refer to "Christians only," for anyone – Jew, Muslim, etc. – who is willing to become a holy one of the Most High – one of the saints and angels – is permitted to possess the kingdom and reign over all. "The meek shall inherit the earth ... Those who humble themselves will be exalted ... The kingdom of God is within you."]

Then I desired the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped what was left with its feet; and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and concerning the other horn, which came up and to make room for which three of them fell out--the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that seemed greater than the others. As I looked, this horn made war with the holy ones and was prevailing over them, until the Ancient of Days came; then judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time arrived when the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom.

This is what he said: "As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth that shall be different from all the other kingdoms; it shall devour the whole earth, and trample in down, and break it to pieces.

[In the description of the fourth beast, it describes the fearsome power of Rome during the height of its power, how it trampled over all of the Middle East and Europe. Nero was making war on (or persecuting) the Christians.]

"As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them. This one shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.

[This is the feet of clay and iron mentioned in Daniel, chapter two, which ultimately crumbled. These are generally believed to be ten Roman emperors beginning with Christ's birth, and the one arising after them, with the arrogant words, as Nero, here described:]

"He shall speak words against the Most High, shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and shall attempt to change the sacred seasons and the law; and they shall be given into his power for a time, times, and a half time. Then the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and totally destroyed.

[Nero was blasphemous against God, and emperors were considered divine. He persecuted Christians and Jews and began the apocalyptic 3.5-year Great Tribulation period of A.D. 66-70 where Jerusalem and Israel were completely destroyed. However, many Christians who listened to Jesus' warning to head for the hills when they saw armies surrounding Jerusalem (the desolating sacrilege) managed to escape and avoid the resulting carnage. After the heavenly great White Throne Judgment in the presence of the Ancient of Days, the court decreed the taking away of the dominion of Nero (he committed suicide) and the future demise of Rome.]

"The kingship and dominion and the greatest of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them." Here the account ends. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly terrified me, and my face turned pale; but I kept the matter in my mind.

[Christianity's dominion ultimately spread through the empire, and became the official religion, the Roman Catholic Church. However, the real "greatest kingdom under the whole heavens" was not the church itself, but the established spiritual kingdom behind it, which cannot be seen. It is being ruled behind the scenes by the holy people, those willing to be transformed into angels through becoming the Way, ruled by the King, Christ. "The meek shall inherit the earth." Those who find God within are the ones who attain the kingdom, and become angelic gods of the Most High. Those who conquer self have conquered the world. Only a spiritual kingdom could be everlasting and not be destroyed, for anything material must pass away. This may also be perceived as what lies beyond the Second Coming and shift into a higher dimension: the merging of heaven and earth at zero point.]

Vision of a Ram and a Goat

8 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me at first. In the vision I was looking and saw myself in Susa the capital, in the province of Elam, and I was by the river Ulai. I looked up and saw a ram standing by the river. It had two horns. Both horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one came up second. I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. All beasts were powerless to withstand it, and no one could be rescued from its power; it did as it pleased and became strong.

[This was about 541 B.C. under the reign of King Belshazzar, under reign of Nabonius, who was actually the real king. Chapter 8 generally deals with events future to Daniel, involving more symbology, the succession of world empires from Medo-Persia to that of Greece and the exploits of Alexander the Great, followed by the exploits of Antiochus and the Maccabee revolt from 168 to 164 B.C. The Ram is the first empire discussed here, and the longer horn was Cyrus of Persia, who ruled for 20 years, and the first horn Darius the Mede, who first conquered Babylon, and ruled only 2 years. As the kingdom grew strong and invaded much of the region, no other nation was strong enough to resist its power, so the empire did as it pleased for the next 200 years. This tends to be the average length of nations before they collapse or transform.]

As I was watching, a male goat appeared from the west, coming across the face of the whole earth without the ground. The goat had a horn between its eyes. It came toward the ram with the two horns that I had seen standing beside the river, and it ran with savage force. I saw it approaching the ram. It was enraged against it and struck the ram, breaking its two horns. The ram did not have the power to withstand it; it threw the ram down to the ground and trampled upon it, and there was no one who could rescue the ram from its power. Then the male goat grew exceedingly great; but at the height of its power, the great horn was broken, and in its place there came up four prominent horns toward the four winds of heaven.

[This shaggy goat to the west was Greece. It suddenly grew very strong in the mid-300s B.C., and its first target to conquer was the Medo-Persian Empire to the east, the two horns that were broken. The horn between the eyes which grew very great was the well-known Alexander the Great. The symbol of the ram corresponded to the zodiac sign of Aries – symbolic of that age – just as the sign of the fish is symbolic of the age of Pisces, chosen at a time when astrology was popular. The goat is symbolic of Capricorn. After Alexander discovered he had no more nations to conquer, he was broken, and in his place came four others to lead Greece after him, leading four parts of the empire. These were his generals: Cassander, who ruled Greece and Macedon; Lysimachus who ruled Asia Minor; Seleucus, who ruled Syria and Babylonia; and Ptolemy, who ruled over Egypt and Palestine.]

Out of one of them came another horn, a little one, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the beautiful land.

[Out of one of these horns (generals) came another horn as a descendant, who would rule over Greece and become strong, and toward Israel. This was Antiochus Epiphanes, a descendant of clan of the general Seleucus, who usurped the throne in 175 B.C.]

It grew as high as the host of heaven. It threw down to the earth some of the host and some of the stars, and trampled on them. He even exalted himself as high as the prince of the host; it took the regular burnt offering away from him and overthrew the place of his sanctuary.

[Antiochus grew very strong, was blasphemous and persecuted the Jews tremendously. Here are some of the atrocities he committed within the next ten years: He outlawed observance of the Sabbath; he outlawed circumcision (a standard Jewish practice under Mosaic law); he outlawed the Judaic religion itself, replacing it with Greek worship; he outlawed reading of any Scriptures and burned all Scriptures he could find; sacked Jerusalem with armies, forced idol worship and set up a statue of Zeus on the altar of the temple, sacrificed a pig on the altar (overthrowing the sanctuary and stopping the daily sacrifice/burnt offering), and even claimed he was God in the flesh. On coins he minted was inscribed: "Antiochus Theos Epiphanes -- God has made himself manifest," a blasphemy akin to his exaltation as "high as the prince of the host."]

Because of the wickedness, the host was given over to it together with the regular burnt offering; it cast truth to the ground, and kept prospering at what it did. Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one that spoke, "For how long is this vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and the host to be trampled?" And he answered him, "For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state."

[Daniel hears two angels speaking to one another, and this deals with the period of time in which Antiochus desecrated the temple. 2300 days is 6.5 years. This was a very detailed number, and accurate, for from the time Antiochus started persecuting the Jews, until the reconsecration of the temple, exactly 2300 days passed until the sanctuary was restored back to the Jews and the daily burnt offerings restarted. Antiochus first entered Jerusalem in 170 B.C. and began persecutions, but waited until 167 B.C. to stop the daily sacrifices (the transgression that makes desolate) and set up the idolatrous statue of Zeus and pig sacrifice, a period of three years. Exactly three and a half years later things were "restored to its rightful state," which occurred in 164 B.C. and the host – Antiochus – was trampled. This period of time is mentioned several times in Daniel (and Revelation) and is mentioned as 42 months, or 1260 days, and time, times, and a half time.]

Gabriel Interprets the Vision

Then I, Daniel, tried to understand it. Then someone appeared standing before me, having the appearance of a man, and I heard a human voice by the Ulai, calling, "Gabriel, help this man understand the vision." So he came near where I stood, and when he came, I became frightened and fell prostrate. But he said to me, "Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end."

[While Daniel was considering the vision, an angel suddenly appeared before him, and another angel pleaded to Gabriel to give him the interpretation. The divine glory of an angel of God terrified Daniel, so he fell to the ground. Contrary to what many believe, this vision is not for the end of days nor the end of the world. The phrases "time of the end," and, "end of days" can refer to different times, depending to the vision being disclosed. For this particular vision, it involves an "end" which came at 164 B.C. That is, "the end of the days" mentioned in Daniel 12:13 is the only passage which involves this modern era, the end of the age, which is not the same time as the "end of the days" discussed here. At other times it can also refer to the end of the age that culminated at the time of Christ and 70 A.D., such as the "end of days" in Daniel, chapter 2. This can sometimes seem obscure and vague, so the differentiations shall be made.]

As he was speaking to me, I fell into a trance, face to the ground; then he touched me and set me on my feet. He said, "Listen, and I will tell you what will take place in the period of wrath; for it refers to the appointed time of the end.

[Gabriel's radiance was too powerful for a human to withstand, so Daniel fell flat on his face. He then told me the purpose of this vision, and that it dealt with a later time, and this appointed period of wrath comprised the events leading up to and before 164 B.C.]

As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. The male goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn between its eyes is the first king. As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power.

[This has already been mentioned; the great horn of the goat was Alexander the Great of Greece. The four nations arose from the four generals that came after Alexander, and they had less power than he. Gabriel further expands on how Antiochus arises from one of these kings "at the end of their rule."]

At the end of their rule, when the transgressions have reached their full measure, a king of bold countenance shall arise, skilled in intrigue. He shall grow strong in power, shall cause fearful destruction, and shall succeed in what he does. He shall destroy the powerful and the people of the holy ones. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind shall be great. Without warning he shall destroy many and shall even rise up against the Prince of princes. But he shall be broken, and not by human hands.

The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true. As for you, seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now." So I, Daniel, was overcome and was sick for some days; then I arose and went about the king's business. But I was dismayed by the vision and did not understand it.

[This means that at the end of the rule of the four kings, the end of days for the four kings of the house of the original four generals who reigned over Greece since the days of Alexander the Great, there would arise the wretched Antiochus, the bold king who came from the house of Seleucus. He was bold, powerful, and aggressive, crushed the power of the Jews for 3.5 years – the 2300 days – with fearful destruction, succeeded at what he did, and is said to have killed 100,000 Jews and forced more into slavery. He exalted himself as God. Antiochus was then trampled underfoot and broken. Gabriel reminds Daniel that the 2300-day period means just that, and is literal, and to write down and seal the vision, for it involves some centuries into the future. The vision obviously disturbed Daniel and caused illness for several days, and because this was an event in the far distant future, its meaning could not be understood.]

Daniel's Prayer for the People

9 In the first year of Darius son of Xeres, by birth a Mede, who became king over the realm of the Chaldeans – in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, specified by word of the LORD to the prophet Jeremiah, must be fulfilled for the devastation of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

[The first year of Darius, who was the first ruler of the newly-established Medo-Persian Empire, was just after the conquest of Babylon around 538 B.C. This is about the same time as the lions' den experience in chapter 6. At this time Daniel was quite old, about 80, and was nearing the end of the 70 years of Judaic devastation that was prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer. 1:1-13). Of course, the book of Jeremiah consists of plenty of warnings to the Jews to repent and change their ways, or suffer the consequences. Chapter 9 consists of two sections: Daniel's prayer to God to confess sins of his people and inquire for God's forgiveness and for an answer, which was given by the angel Gabriel, concerning the important seventy-week prophecy about Christ and the end of the age. Because the prayer portion is self-explanatory, more emphasis will be placed on the answer received. Because the prayer deals with the shame and sinfulness of the Jews, God then answered by giving His plans for the nation and how sin is to be dealt with.]

Then I turned to the Lord God, to seek an answer by prayer and supplication with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying,

"Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love with those who love You and keep your commandments, we have sinned and done wrong, acted wickedly and rebelled, turned aside from your commandments and ordinances. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

"Righteousness is on your side, O Lord, but open shame, as at this day, falls upon us, the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands into which You have driven them, because of the treachery they have committed against you. Open shame, O Lord, falls on us, our kings, our officials, and our ancestors, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following His laws, which He set before us by His servants, the prophets.

"All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. So the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against You. He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our rulers, by bringing a calamity so great that what has been done against Jerusalem has never been done under the whole heaven. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us. We did not entreat the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and reflecting on Your fidelity. So the Lord kept watch over this calamity until He brought it upon us. Indeed, the Lord our God is right in all that He has done; for we have disobeyed His voice.

"And now, O Lord our God, Who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made Your name renowned to this day – we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord, in view of all Your righteous acts, let your anger and wrath, we pray, turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because of our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have been a disgrace among all our neighbors. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, and for Your own sake, Lord, let Your face shine upon Your desolated sanctuary. Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear. Open Your eyes and look at our desolation and the city that bears Your name. We do not present our supplication before You on the ground of our righteousness, but on the ground of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord listen and act and do not delay! For your own sake, O my God, because Your city and Your people bear Your name!"

The Seventy Weeks

While I was speaking and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God on behalf of the holy mountain of my God – while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen before in a vision, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. He came and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come out to give you wisdom and understanding. At the beginning of your supplications a word went out, and I have come to declare it, for you are greatly beloved, so consider the word and understand the vision:

[Although Gabriel is an angel, Daniel called him a man, probably because Daniel knew he himself was an angel as well, as is the case with 21st century Daniel. He came in swift flight to give Daniel wisdom and insight, as a response to the prayer to God, and the word spread through the heavens, due to the faith and devotion exhibited by His servant. I often say such prayer even now.]

"Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city: to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy one. Know therefore and understand: from the time that the word went out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the time of the anointed prince, there shall be seven weeks; and for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with streets and a moat, but in a troubled time. After the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and have nothing, and the troops of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. He shall make a covenant with many for one week, and for half the week he shall make sacrifice and offering cease; and in their place shall be an abomination that desolates, until the decreed end is poured out upon the desolater."

[For an in-depth inquiry on Daniel's seventy-week prophecy, see the prior discussion in Chapter 2 in this section, for it is unnecessary to be too repetitive, but let us go through it briefly, verse by verse.

"Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city: to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy one."

This means 490 years have been decreed by God for Jews and Jerusalem to end sin and transgressions (desolation) of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation before everlasting righteousness (reconciliation of iniquity) would arrive (kingdom of Heaven/God, within you) with the anointed one, the Messiah, and seal and fulfill the vision and prophecy. That occurred with Jesus, and the 490 years ended by A.D. 33 with the first Christian martyr, Stephen.

Now we continue,

"Know therefore and understand: from the time that the word went out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the time of the anointed prince, there shall be seven weeks; and for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with streets and moat, and a wall, but in a troubled time."

From that the time of the decree of Cyrus (which had already happened at the time of this vision), which enabled the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem, until the arrival of Christ about 490 years later during the A.D. 27 baptism, there will first be 483 years, during which time Jerusalem will be rebuilt in rough times with streets, moat and a wall. These decrees to do so all followed within a century as documented by Ezra and others.

"After the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and have nothing, and the troops of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary."

In other words, after 483 years from the Cyrus decree, the anointed one, Jesus, would be cut off – crucified – and have nothing.

"Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed."

Jerusalem would be destroyed with a flood of armies, and it is decreed to remain desolate from the point of the crucifixion – the dispensation of grace – until finally destroyed. That occurred with the flood of armies of Roman origin before A.D. 70. Jesus knew this would happen to his generation and correctly prophesied so in Matthew 24. The prince was Titus (under Nero) who came in the years before A.D. 70 and destroyed the nation of Israel, and the temple. Its end came through the armies (flood) that trampled on the city. Christ mentions this prophecy in Matthew 24:15-16:

"So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand) then those in Judea must flee to the mountains."

The wars and desolations that continued until the end took place in A.D. 66-70 and are prophesied at length in Daniel 8:1-27.

"He shall make a covenant with many for one week, and for half the week he shall make sacrifice and offering cease; and in their place shall be an abomination that desolates, until the decreed end is poured out upon the desolater." (Daniel 9:24-27)

The one making the covenant here is not the prince (or "Antichrist" as some would say, rebuilding the temple with a new Jewish covenant) but Jesus Himself. This covenant was the forgiveness of sins for all men, and the proclamation of universal salvation for all men, so they would no longer need to sacrifice animals on altars, thereby ushering in the New Covenant which lasted for two millennia, an era that is now closing. So by going to the cross and saying "It is finished!" the following were fulfilled in dates that are considered standard by scholars, and which Daniel will translate into easier-to-understand language.

The anointed one/Messiah/Christ (all the same by definition) – Jesus – would make a New Covenant with the Jewish people, which occurred starting in A.D. 27 and continued after the crucifixion with the apostles and disciples, ending in the death of Stephen in A.D. 33. He was "cut off during half the week," in A.D. 30. By doing so, He stopped the routine Jewish animal sacrifices subscribed under Mosaic Law as sin offering, symbolically taking away the need to do so, for such action never took sin away in the first place. The last sentence concerning the "abomination that desolates" seems obscure and difficult, but means that Jerusalem and temple would be desolate afterwards for many generations. That, in brief, is Daniel's 70-weeks prophecy.]

Conflict of Nations and Heavenly Powers

10 In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. The word was true, and it concerned a great conflict. He understood the word, having received understanding in the vision.

[The next three chapters are mostly related, and somewhat chronological, chapter 10 consisting of an introduction to the meat of the details of the great conflict(s) contained in chapter 11, and chapter 12 being the postscript of such. Daniel was an expert in dreams and therefore understood the meaning. This vision was received around 534 B.C. under King Cyrus of Persia and involves insight into the heavenly battles of angels who have insight over the kingdom of mortals in terms of guidance and protection according to the will of the Creator and the Plan for earth.]

At that time I, Daniel, had been mourning for three weeks. I had eaten no rich food, no meat or wine had entered my mouth, and I had not anointed myself at all, for the full three weeks.

[This was a partial fast and humbling of self beginning about April first of that year, which is the first day of the Jewish calendar, lasting three weeks, which resulted in a profound angelic visitation.]

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris), I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the roar of a multitude. I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; the people who were with me did not see the vision, though a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled and hid themselves. So I was alone to see this great vision. My strength left me, and my complexion grew deathly pale, and I retained no strength. Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a trance, face to the ground.

[This is a highly-ranked, angelic being remarkably similar to the vision of Christ John saw in Revelation 1. This would be in preincarnate form. This occurred about April 24th, roughly the same day 21st century Daniel saw Christ in bodily form while praying for divine revelation on April 23, 2000, after the 1999 awakening. The overpowering glory of the Being's essence caused Daniel to collapse as though dead, and although the others present with him could not see with their spiritual eyes, it caused them to flee in fright.]

But then a hand touched me and roused me to my hands and knees. He said to me, "Daniel, greatly beloved, pay attention to words that I am going to speak to you. Stand on your feet, for now I have been sent to you." So while he was speaking this word to me, I stood up trembling. He said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me twenty-one days. So Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia, and have come to help you understand what is to happen to your people at the end of days. For there is a further vision for those days."

[As a result of Daniel's three-week prayer, God answered by sending the highest messenger, and furthermore, the power such a spiritual being has on a mortal, requiring him to be helped up, is emphasized. Insight is given into the heavenly battles between angels overseeing great powers. The Messenger then explains to Daniel that the vision of God's plan about to be revealed involves the "end of the days," again the term which can denote different epochs in history; in this case, for much of chapter 11 that follows, it is a further, complementary vision with a series of world conflicts leading first to the desolation of the temple by 167 B.C. by Antiochus, as a filling in of details to previous visions, as well as some things to expect at the end of the age, leading to the time of Christ.]

While he was speaking these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. Then one in human form touched my lips, and I opened my mouth to speak, and said to the one who stood before me, "My lord, because of the vision such pains have come upon me that I retain no strength. How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For I am shaking, no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me."

[Again, because of the divine glory Daniel experienced, it was very difficult and painful even to breathe. That was something I, too, experienced during the vision of the Second Coming. I simply collapsed.]

Again one in human form touched me and strengthened me. He said, "Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and courageous!" When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me." Then he said. "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I am through with him, the prince of Greece will come. But I am to tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth. There is no one who contends with me against these princes except Michael, your prince.

[After being strengthened by what was another angel present, the Being then goes on to inform Daniel what is inscribed as God's plan as decreed in the celestial books of truth. He then gives insight into what may be termed heavenly battles overseeing earthly kings and empires. Michael is obviously one of the highest warrior princes with dominion over many kingdoms. It is given that Greece, which did not come to power for 200 years afterwards, would be the next target of battle for this Being. Angels are given dominion over the kingdoms of mortals]

11 As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to support and strengthen him. Now I will announce the truth to you. Three more kings shall arise in Persia. The fourth shall be far richer than all of them, and when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.

[Now the meat of the vision is given, and with impressive detail, but it mostly involves history to us, but future at the time it was written, in the 500s B.C. This chapter explains so much accurately described, fulfilled prophecy that it has caused many critics to dismiss it as a fraud written four centuries later. This is a denial of power and the sovereignty and omnipotence of God to accurately reveal the future through His servants involving plans for the world. It in fact was given during the time of Babylon, and Daniel was the author of the book. The angelic Being was given dominion to strengthen Darius so that he may conquer Babylon to fulfill the previous prophecies by Jeremiah and other prophets. Three more kings, according to this prophecy by God, were to arise after Cyrus of Persia; the next was Cambyses from 530 to 532 B.C., followed by Gaumata in 522 B.C., followed by Darius I Hystaspes from 521 to 486 B.C. The fourth who would be very rich and strong, then stir up the kingdom of Greece, was Xerxes from 486 to 465 B.C. He invaded Greece from 481 through 479 B.C. with a vast army that numbered nearly one million soldiers, and hundreds of ships. However, as the prophecy indicates, his kingdom was uprooted and broken and given over to others, as he suffered humiliating defeat in 479 B.C.]

"Then a warrior king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and take action as he pleases. And while still rising in power, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted and go to others besides these.

[After quite some time – many years – a king was to arise with such power as to be unstoppable, but at the height of power, the kingdom would be divided in four portions, but eventually would pass into the hands of other leaders. This king was Alexander the Great of Greece, who in 331 B.C. swiftly conquered Persia, and no nation of the region escaped from his power and dominion. After his death from malaria, the kingdom was divided into four sections or dynasties, ruled by four of Alexander's generals, which would persist in descendant lineage for many years to come.]

"Then the king of the south shall grow strong, but one of his officers shall grow stronger than he and shall rule a realm stronger than his own realm.

[It should be noted that whenever "king of the north" or south or east is mentioned, it is always in relation to the relative location of Israel. The king of the south was Ptolemy, who ruled the Egyptian quarter of the Greek empire, and he grew very strong. However, Seleucus, who ruled the Syrian portion, fled to Egypt for a time to seek help from Ptolemy, who then returned to retake the Syrian section, and became so successful he grew stronger than Ptolemy.]

"After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to ratify the agreement. But she shall not retain her power, and his offspring shall not endure. She shall be given up, she and her attendants and her child and the one who supported her.

[In moving forward some 50 years with a new cast of characters, the north and south kingdoms (Egypt and Syria) would become allies, and the daughter of Egypt would go to Syria to formalize the agreement. The alliance failed, because the daughter, Bernice, offspring of Ptolemy Philadelphus (reign, 285 to 246 B.C.), lost her power, as did her father. Shortly before Ptolemy died, Seleucid king Antiochus II Theos (reign, 262 to 246 B.C.) married the daughter after his divorce with Laodice. However, they eventually divorced. The alliance was a dismal failure. Bernice was eventually murdered by Laodice through assassins.]

"In those days a branch from her roots shall arise in her place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall take action against them and prevail. Even their gods, with their idols and with their precious vessels of silver and gold, he shall carry off to Egypt as spoils of war. For some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north; then the latter shall invade the realm of the king of the south, but will return to his own land.

[After Bernice's father died, his son Ptolemy Euergetes of Egypt (king of the south, 246 to 221 B.C.) took over the reign, and with revenge attacked the Seleucid Syria (the north), kidnapping the wife Laodice of Antiochus II Theos and killing her. In this campaign, it is said Ptolemy raided the treasures of Syria and brought back many riches of gold, silver and idols to Egypt, and for some time left Syria alone. But the prophecy indicates Syria would come to attack Egypt and fail, as did happen when the king Callinicus attacked Egypt, but lost the battle, returning home humiliated.]

"His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall advance like a flood and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress. Moved with rage, the king of the south shall go out and do battle against the king of the north, who shall muster a great multitude, which shall, however, be defeated by his enemy. When the multitude has been carried off, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall overthrow tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, larger than the former, and at the end of the times years he shall advance with a great army and abundant supplies.

[The sons of the south, Egypt, would again return with a vast army to attack the northern kingdom, but would be defeated. The son of Ptolemy Euergetes (south, Egypt) was the corrupt Ptolemy Philopater (reign, 221 to 204 B.C). To the north, Antiochus III mustered up forces that passed through Palestine to Egypt, but, after a wearisome peace negotiation and lull between the two kings, the Egyptian king Ptolemy Euergetes gathered up a large army, and in rage, attacked Syria. Although Ptolemy succeeded in these escapades, and overthrew many thousands, he failed to capture the whole Syrian kingdom due to pride in his swift advance; he then signed a peace treaty with Syria and returned home to receive accolades from his people. Over the next 14 years, the king of the north, of Syria, built up an army greater than before, with much supplies, enriched his nation, and now seeing that Ptolemy had died, succeeded by his five-year-old son Epiphanes, immediately took the opportunity to attack the south, Egypt. He succeeded in Egypt and was joined with the Jews in this rebellion against the crowning of a five-year-old as king, but they failed, as the following verse implies.]

"In those times many shall rise against the king of the south. The lawless among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail. Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks, and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, not even his picked troops, for there shall be no strength to resist.

[The king of the north, Syria, came and besieged the fortified city of Sidon, and the soldiers were starved out. At this time Egypt was weak and had appealed for aid from the then fast-growing Roman Empire. This included Palestine as part of the spoils and hardships of battle, which included "Daniel's own people," the Jews. These prophecies all affected Israel in one way or another, for it was always in the crossfire of northern and southern empires.]

"But the invader shall take actions as he pleases, and no one shall withstand him. He shall take a position in the beautiful land, and all of it shall be in his power. He shall set his mind to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of peace and perform them. In order to destroy the kingdom, he shall give him a woman in marriage; but it shall not succeed or be to his advantage.

[The north, Syria, was now unstoppable against the south. But to be in fair terms, a peace treaty was formed involving a woman in marriage, but it did not fare with success.]

"Afterward he shall return to the coastlands, and shall capture many. But a commander shall put an end to his insolence; indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him. Then he shall turn back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.

[By this time, c. 190 B.C., Rome was now becoming a frightening power to be dealt with. Syrian Antiochus III the Great had stormed the coastlands, invading Greece, but then was driven out by the Roman armies. He was driven back to the east by his insolence. He was eventually killed indirectly due to heavy taxes placed upon him in the peace treaty signed with Rome: He tried seizing the tax money a few months later, stumbled and fell.]

"Then shall arise in his place one who shall send a tax collector for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he shall be broken, though not in anger or in battle.

[The agreement of paying taxes to the Roman Empire for the next 12 years was very difficult because the people were generally impoverished, so Antiochus' successor, Seleucus Philopater, was poisoned, because in attempting to raise revenue, he confiscated gold and silver vessels of the Jewish temple (a bad thing to do!)]

"In his place shall arise a contemptible person on whom the royal majesty had not been conferred; he shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom through intrigue.

[The contemptible person that arose afterwards was the infamous Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus III the Great. He became the next king of the north. This was a devious, cunning and deceitful character who was not rightful to inherit the throne, for royal lineage suggested for it to be Demetrius. Through cunning means he became powerful, and in the future he would become a nemesis to the Jews and profane the temple. He ruled from 175 B.C. through 164 B.C., which is one of many of the "time of the end" periods mentioned in Daniel, but not the ultimate end of the days, which is now.]

"Armies shall be utterly swept away and broken before him, and the prince of the covenant as well. And after an alliance is made with him, he shall act deceitfully and become strong, although his support is small.

[Antiochus – now we are talking of the infamous one hereafter – undertook various military escapades in the region, and his reputation and support among others and among his kin was weak.]

"Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province and do what none of his predecessors had ever done, lavishing plunder, spoil, and wealth on them. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time.

[A short time later, when Egypt felt secure, Antiochus attacked and plundered it.]

"He shall stir up his power and determination against the king of the south with a great army, and the king of the south shall wage war with a much greater and stronger army. But he shall not succeed, for plots shall be devised against him by those who eat of the royal rations. They shall break him, his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall slain. The two kings, their minds bent on evil, shall sit at one table and exchange lies. But it shall not succeed, for there remains an end at the time appointed. He shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. He shall work his own will and return to his own land.

[Egypt, which was then ruled by Ptolomy Physcon, fought back but was defeated due largely to desertion by soldiers to Antiochus. Afterward, Egypt built up a large military force and returned to fight, to a significant degree over the ownership of Palestine. Ptolemy and Antiochus sat down and lied to one another. Antiochus eventually returned to Syria with great plunder and riches, but on the way back did some nasty things, such as killing 40,000 Jews. His heart was set against the holy covenant of the Jews. There is, according to the prophecy, an interval until the appointed time of the end which, in view of history, shortly comes to pass.]

"At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but this time it shall not be as it was before. For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall lose heart and withdraw.

[Antiochus would return at an appointed time and again invade Egypt, but unlike before, he would not succeed, for they were prepared this time, as the ships of Kittim came upon him, and he would return to Syria after this military failure with his tail between his legs.]

"He shall be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay heed to those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces sent by him shall occupy and profane the temple and the fortress. They shall abolish the regular burnt offering and set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with intrigue those who violate the covenant; but the people who are loyal to their God shall stand firm and take action. The wise among the people shall give understanding to many; for some days, however, they shall fall by sword and flame, and suffer captivity and plunder. When they fall victim, they shall receive a little help, and many shall join them insincerely. Some of the wise shall fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for there is still an interval until the time appointed.

[Antiochus, now enraged that his plan to invade Egypt failed, with great anger took fiery action against the Jews and the holy covenant they lived by. Many thousands were murdered and many more sold into slavery. The regular burnt offering was abolished and an idolatrous statue of Zeus was set up in the temple, along with pig sacrifices, a Jewish abomination. The Jews suffered greatly during this time of 168 to 164 B.C. This is the "abomination that makes desolate," but there was also another that occurred about two centuries later, in A.D. 70, which does not revolve around this particular prophecy. The wise people giving instruction to many were the Jews and holy people telling everyone to stand firm despite this persecution, but some would fall victim and die, and in the zeal they displayed to their God, would become angels and made white and reincarnate for the judgment at the end of the age. This was the Maccabean revolt of 167 to 164 B.C. where many were massacred by sword, flame and plunder during this horrendous 3.5-year tribulation period. Over the next two decades, the Jews again re-established control over their nation amidst much struggle. The abomination that desolates was what Antiochus did to the temple in the second century B.C., but it is extremely important to now move to the future, because this prophecy in chapter 11 now moves to another future time; there is now another abomination that desolates about two centuries later at the time of Christ; because there "is an interval until the time appointed." It may seem as though this deals with the same time, but it does not; as a reminder, Daniel uses the phrase, "time of the end" in a vague way to mean not one particular era in history, but a general metaphor for the vision at hand. The next portions are now dealing with conflict of heavenly powers as demonstrated in chapter 11. When reading the following, replace "king" with angel "overseeing nations," or perhaps a spirit continually reincarnating as an antagonistic leader which some would call the "Antichrist," as the one (beast) to be "given over to be burned with fire."]

"The king shall act as he pleases. He shall exalt himself and consider himself greater than any god, and shall speak horrendous things against the God of gods. He shall prosper until the period of wrath is completed, for what is determined shall be done.

[Antiochus indeed acted as he pleased, and exalted himself as though he were God himself and said many blasphemous things. He also maintained this power over the Jews until this 3.5-year period of wrath was finished, for God had decreed this vengeance, as it is written in the book of truth. This reincarnating king may also be Nero, who prospered until the period of wrath against Israel was accomplished when it was completely destroyed in A.D. 70 by Roman armies. Nero persecuted both Christians and Jews, and exalted himself as God, for emperors were considered divine.]

"He shall pay no respect to the gods of his ancestors, or the one beloved by women; he shall pay no respect to any other god, for he shall consider himself greater than all. He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these; a god whom his ancestors did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall make more wealthy, and shall appoint them as rulers over many, and shall distribute the land for a price.

[Both Antiochus and Nero did all of the above, although perhaps not to the degree all presume. Nero and Titus would be the "gods of the fortresses," as could be Antiochus.]

The Time of the End

"At the time of the end the king of the south shall attack him. But the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horseman, and with many ships. He shall advance against countries and pass through like a flood. He shall come into the beautiful land, and tens of thousands shall fall victim, but Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites shall escape from his power. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the riches of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Cushites (or Nubians) shall follow in his train. But reports from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to bring ruin and complete destruction to many. He shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with no one to help him.

[This actually can apply to both Nero and Antiochus, for they both conducted similar affairs. Nero came to his end with no one to help him by committing suicide. Tens of thousands fell victim under both Nero and Antiochus. The battle of Armageddon involved such armies with tents between the sea and the holy mountain. Antiochus committed great destruction with fury as he returned to Syria from Egypt.]

The Resurrection of the Dead

12 "At that time Michael [Archangel], the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone found written in the book [of life]. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

[Although it is tempting to presume this deals with our time, it effectively does not. This deals with the Great Tribulation that inflicted my people, the Jews, in the 3.5-year period from A.D. 66 to 70. As Jesus mentions in the Matthew 24 Olivet discourse, this period that came upon the Jews was truly the greatest anguish that ever came or ever will come upon Israel and its neighbors, insofar as all those nations, such as Babylon, the Medo-Persian Empire, Greece and Rome were forever destroyed. (Modern Israel is not the same nation, only by name.) The Jews were then delivered at the White Throne Judgment in front of the Ancient of Days, or resurrected at that time – the end of the age, and nation – and awoke to life or condemnation.]

"Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."

[The secret Daniel has sealed more than two millennia ago has now been revealed to your eyes as you are reading this. While the above may seem to apply to ancient history, it also involves our time, you and me. Those willing to change can indeed shine like the brightness of the sky as holy angels. Now, at the real and final “end,” when obviously many are running to and fro, when knowledge has dramatically increased, pay heed to why you must purify yourself ...]

"Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others [angels] appeared, one standing on this bank of the stream and one on the other. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was upstream, "How long shall it be until the end of these wonders?" The man clothed in linen, raised his right hand and his left hand towards heaven. And I heard him swear by the one who lives forever and ever that it would be for a time, times, and a half time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end, all these things would be accomplished.

[It was 3.5 years from 168 to 164 B.C. when these things were accomplished, but it was also the same time frame from A.D. 66-70 when the shattering of the holy people (Jews) was accomplished with the complete destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.]

"I heard but could not understand; so I said, "My lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?" He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are to remain secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. From the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that desolates is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days. Happy are those who persevere and attain the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days. But you, go your way to the end, and rest; you shall rise for your reward at the end of the days."

[Daniel then asks of the Angel for the outcome of these marvelous events, but is told they must remain secret until the "time of the end." You have been reading the word of Daniel at his return, and now know the secrets: The vast bulk of Biblical prophecy has been fulfilled, and what has not is the coming of the Son of Man/Day of the Lord, and the potential for the wise to be transformed into incarnate angels/sons of God by cleansing, purifying and conquering self. The wicked will not understand. These 1335-day and 1290-day periods are slightly more than 3.5 years. The regular burnt offering was taken away in A.D. 66 and the abomination that desolated was the Roman armies under Titus; those that persevered through these persecutions through A.D. 70 – those that fled Jerusalem beforehand – were happy indeed. Daniel was told to rest at the end of his life, for he then was around 90 years old, and would eventually return for his reward at another age to receive his allotted inheritance and glory, and indeed he has, with the transformation and promotion as a reincarnated holy angel, resurrected in the 21st century. You have just finished reading the story of his return, and we are at the “end of the days” of another age, the age of the Church, and of aquarius.]