Hello Friends!
Welcome back to our Encouraging Concepts Bible study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book of Daniel painted as a panoramic landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago… “The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 8: Verses 15-19)
15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be – Daniel 8:15-19
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: The angel “Gabriel” is the heavenly interpreter of this ENTIRE vivid “vision” verbalized. This PROPHETIC picture of the emerging “end times” should be CAREFULLY studied in its appropriate context. WHY? Because it powerfully points to a FUTURE fulfillment and “Gabriel” himself had told “Daniel” that the “vision” indeed has an ETERNALLY important “meaning” for the “time of the end” as prescribed – Angelic Assistance!
The Vision VINDICATED!
As it “came to pass” we find this victorious “vision” was indeed so SPECIAL that our great “God” had to intently interpret it for “Daniel” Himself:
And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man – Daniel 8:15
And as this vehement “vision” was unfolding before him, “Daniel” was seriously STRUGGLING within himself for the “meaning” of it all. In fact, his assessment of the situation with an “I, even I” response rightly resonates a heralded HUMILITY of heart. And no doubt after having a personal PROPHETIC vicarious “vision” just TWO years earlier and after having intensely “interpreted“ a sensational SERIES of the “king Nebuchadnezzar’s” demanding “dreams” in kind, he was fervently trying to FIT the prompted pieces of this promised puzzle together IN his mind. However, without the blessed BENEFIT of some 2,600 years of fulfilled human HISTORY in his hindsight such as “we” have TODAY, it was no doubt very DIFFICULT to do indeed. And our loving “Lord” already KNOWS this to be the case. Therefore, as “Daniel” had solemnly “sought” an appropriate ANSWER to it all, an angelic majestic messenger in the “appearance of a man” was thus – Sovereignly SENT!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: The ONLY time our great “God” vehemently VEILS the true “meaning” of certain spiritual “things” of a SUPERNATURAL nature from His whole of humanity is when He uniquely casts “unto” the DARKENED maniacal “minds” of the “natural man” held in a WILLFUL act of ultimate unbelief unashamed:
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned – 1 Corinthians 2:10-14
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
To such spiritually lauded “lost” people, the satanic gaudy “god of this world” has belligerently “blinded the minds” of absolutely ALL to whom will NOT boldly “believe” in the great “glorious gospel of Christ” openly offered to them. However, to His OWN sincere “children” of choice, He willingly WANTS to rightly “reveal” the mandated “meaning” unto them. WHY? Because for ALL of “us” in kind, the Sovereign sweet “Spirit of God“ says He SUPERNATURALLY surely “shines” the luminous “light” of His tremendous TRUTH upon “our” hungry hearts. And that “Holy Ghost” power indeed INSTILLS within our “spirit” a grandiose “glorious” and granted – Great CONFIDENCE!
Although the “Holy Spirit” was NOT yet permanently indwelling the true “believers” of the Old Testament era, indeed “angels” were SENT by the glorious “God of heaven” as the insightful interpreters many “times” and here is definitely ONE of those excellent examples:
And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision – Daniel 8:16
FASCINATING! And now a majestic “man's voice” is wholly HEARD from far above the scanted SKY booming “between” the boisterous “banks of Ulai” as it courageously had “called” unto the great “Gabriel” to mindfully “make” the deeply DEVOTED man named “Daniel” to universally “understand” this vestige “vision” volleyed on display – God DISPATCHES Angels!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Indeed “Gabriel” is a very fascinating and quite unique arch “angel” to behold! WHY? Because he is “God’s” official messenger of whom PROCLAIMS absolutely all of the BIG Biblical announcements. In the New Testament he comes to “Zacharias” in kind:
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth… And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings – Luke 1:8-14 & 19
And this SAME angel named “Gabriel” adamantly addresses the young “virgin” maiden named “Mary” of whom would BECOME the wholly humble maiden “mother” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” incarnate:
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end – Luke 1:26-33
Then AGAIN we will find “Gabriel” confidently conversing with “Daniel” in a later discourse within chapter 9 of our “study” series:
Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding – Daniel 9:21-22
It is no doubt a very IMPORTANT assignment appointed from “God” Himself whenever the amazing “angel” in the “appearance of a man” named “Gabriel” aptly APPEARS on the scene – Sovereignly SENT!
The “End” ANTICIPATED!
And “so” as “Daniel” sees himself in this vivid “vision” of the “end time” scenario, “Gabriel” arrives ALONGSIDE of him. And as a right result, exactly WHAT was “Daniel’s” immediate reaction as such?
So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision – Daniel 8:17
It is quite NORMAL for mere mortals to have this kind of a radical REACTION by being “afraid” in the presence of a Sovereignly sent SUPERNATURAL being! In fact, such “fearful” incidents can be found throughout the spectacular “scriptures” themselves:
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts – Isaiah 6:5
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes – Job 42:6
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last – Revelation 1:17
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy – Revelation 19:10
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things – Revelation 22:8
In the presence of heavenly “holiness” from the SUPERNATURAL realm, there is an overpowering sense of our “sinfulness” in heart. However, in this instance there was NO concern of a coming CONDEMNATION on behalf of “Daniel” for any particular personal “sin” surrendered in his life. Rather, the angel “Gabriel” granted a mighty MESSAGE of eager encouragement ensued. Therefore, “Gabriel” had desired that “Daniel” should ultimately “understand” this validated “vision” as it shall PROPHETICALLY take place at the “time of the end” just as the Holy “scriptures” themselves – Pointedly PROMISE!
And “now” while “Gabriel” was still “speaking” these THEOLOGICALLY thought-provoking “things” thoroughly, “Daniel” departed into a destined “deep sleep” as he FAINTED flat upon his “face” fully:
Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright – Daniel 8:18
Thus, by such RESPONSE to this incredible incident, “Daniel” poignantly – Passed OUT!
Beloved, this is the righteous RESPONSE of an extreme emotional excitement to the point of an ABNORMAL loss of consciousness contained. And “our” reactions should be the same. WHY? Because when “we” have a “Word” from “God” given through His wonderful “Word” it should cause each of “us” the kind of exhilarating JOY that soundly says “thus sayeth the Lord” completely! And if “we” can sordidly “study” the eternal “Word of God” with flippancy of heart and mind in kind, the PROPHETIC point has been – Pathetically MISSED!
The “End” APPOINTED!
Then “Gabriel” had tactfully “touched” the troubled “Daniel” and soundly “set” him in an “upright” position as this COVETED conversation continued its course:
And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be – Daniel 8:19
“And” this appointed apt “angel” was to mainly “make” the magnificent man “Daniel” to keenly “know” of just “what” will EXACTLY become in the “last end of the indignation” of Almighty “God” Himself upon “Israel” at His trying “time appointed” due to their SERIOUS self-centered “sin” and despicable “disobedience” directed towards Him. And as a righteous RESULT of His intense “indignation” there is a clear – CHASTENING Coming!
PROPHETIC PROMISE: There are THREE different expressions of which the “angel” aptly named “Gabriel” uses to denote the “time” of the fierce fulfillment concerning this vast “vision” foretold PROPHECY within this challenging chapter:
ONE: "The time of the end" ~ (8:17)
TWO: ”The last end of the indignation" ~ (8:19)
THREE::"The latter time of their kingdom" ~ (8:23)
During the climatic CLOSE of those dire “days” of doom and insolent “indignation” through their subsequent “time” of sordid SCATTERING abroad realized in the year 70 A.D. proper, an insolent INVASION from the “north” would commence. And at that tumultuous time” yet another caustic “king of the north” also known as "the Assyrian" will do his willful work of wicked WOE upon our “God’s” great and “glorious land” of insolent “Israel” in full…
That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders – Isaiah 14:25
The lethargic “land of Israel” will yet AGAIN undergo the horrors of a deep DEVASTATION by the Greek Empire in which will be frightfully fomented through an “Assyrian” known as the aggressive – Antiochus Epiphanes!
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
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Shane K. Morin <><
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