Daniel's Rise and Fall of Empires

Daniel's Rise and Fall of Empires

Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:12 "[And] when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down [many] ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened [by it]."

when he hath taken... Ptolemy IV was initially successful in delaying the invasion of Antiochus.

his heart shall... Even though the multitude was captured, his heart shall be lifted up.

shall cast down... Ptolemy slaughtered many thousands.

He shall not be... Their captor is not strengthened.

Great numbers do not make a great army. Great leadership and great causes, make a great army.

Gideon's army of 300 caused the multitude {so many they were like grasshoppers}, of Amalekites and Midianites to flee.

The size of an army is not important. God's blessing on that army is what is important.

My Sheep Hear My Voice

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

Revelation Chapter 7

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

(Parenthetical, Rev. 7:1-17)

“And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Rev. 7:10).

And cried with a loud voice, saying... a great multitude pleading with the Father.

Salvation to our God... God alone is the author of salvation and the Lamb is the one who purchased it (Rev. 5:8-10; Col. 1:20-22; 2:14-17; 1Co. 6:19-20; 1Pe. 1:18-23).

Salvation is the theme of their worship, and they recognize that it comes solely from Him.

We cannot take credit for our salvation. Our salvation is a free gift through grace. Jesus deserves all the credit. He purchased our salvation with His precious blood. We must praise and worship Jesus for He alone deserves all the credit.

Of course, the triune God (Elohim), sits on the throne.

Daniel's Rise and Fall of Empires

Daniel's Rise and Fall of Empires

Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:11"And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, [even] with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand."

king of the south... Ptolemy Philopater, "Lover of Father" or Tryphon, son of Euergetes, reigned 221-204 B.C. Antiochus the Great of Syria declared war on him about 219 B.C. Philopater defeated Antiochus in the battle of Raphia near Gaza, 217 B.C. He became greatly exalted destroying and oppressing many in his own land especially the Jews (Dan. 11:12). He was not to be strengthened by his victories due to the constant decline of his kingdom brought about by permitting favorites to rule or ruin (Dan. 11:12).

with choler... The word "choler" means bitter. His bitterness caused the king of Egypt to come against the king of Syria.

A great multitude... The army, spoken of as a multitude, was about 75,000. The multitude falls into enemy hands. They were defeated here. Ptolemy IV Philopator (222-203 B.C.) devastated the Syrian army under Antiochus III the Great (223-187 B.C.). Egypt’s advantage would be brief, v.12.

My Sheep Hear My Voice

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

Revelation Chapter 7

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

(Parenthetical, Rev. 7:1-17)

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;” (Rev. 7:9).

The phrase “After this” shows that this company will be entirely different from the above, for the expression in Rev. 7:1 shows the 144,000 to be a subject different from the seals among which it is inserted. These versus portray the second and last company of redeemed saints seen in the book of Revelation, after the picture of the Church and the Old Testament saints with God in heaven, represented by the elders throughout chapters 4-19. These are all martyrs, while the above are a living company only. These are martyred throughout the Week and caught up at the end of the Week, while the above company is protected through the trumpets and caught up to God and His throne in the middle of the Week. This company is not to escape the tribulation as do the living saints in the Church, because they were not saved and ready to escape the tribulation with the Church.

We have seen under the fifth seal that the “souls under the alter” will be slain from the rapture to the fifth seal They were told to rest yet for a “little season until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” This clearly implies that they are to join all other martyrs of the tribulation and that they will make one company.

This company is pictured with “white robes” which, in this book of Revelation, clothe only Christ and redeemed humanity with “white robes.” These martyrs have also “palms in their hands” which is always a sign of rejoicing and victory. They are seen as distinct from the elders, living creatures, angels and all other beings. They come out of “the great tribulation,” or literally, “the tribulation the great,” which refers to the future tribulation. They will receive salvation in the same sense we do today and will be martyrs for the Word of God and the testimony of Christ as well as their own testimony, as was stated of the martyrs of the fifth seal, Rev. 6:9-11. They will all be saved after the rapture, for if they would be “in Christ” at the time of the rapture they will be raptured also. The majority of them will be slain by the Antichrist, Rev. 13:7, 15-18; 15:2-4; 20:4.

While the tribulation period will be a time of judgment, it will also be a time of unprecedented redemption (compare verses 14; 6:9-11; 20:4; Isa. 11:10; Matt. 24:14).

"All nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues": All the earth's people groups.

One comforting truth gleaned from Revelation is that although Antichrist will have power over all peoples and languages, he will not deceive every individual. (verse 9), makes it clear that the preaching of the gospel by the 144,000 Jewish witnesses will reach a multitude that no one can number, from every language, tribe, and people. Therefore, even Satan's control will not keep people from receiving Christ individually.

This is in accord with the way it has been all during the Christian dispensation. Nations and peoples have rejected Christ, but individuals have received Him (according to John 1).

Daniel's Rise and Fall of Empires

Daniel's Rise and Fall of Empires

Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:10 "But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and [one] shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, [even] to his fortress."

his sons shall... The sons of Seleucus II, Seleucus III, (Ceraunus, or Thunderbolt) and Antiochus III, called the Great. Seleucus II did assemble a great multitude of forces to recover his father’s dominions, but was poisoned by two of his own generals after a reign of 2 years. His brother, Antiochus III, was then proclaimed king, so that only one of the sons actually started a war against Egypt. He retook Seleucia and regained Syria. He seemed disposed to invade Egypt, as he came to his fortress, even to the borders of Egypt.

The two sons (Seleucus III and Antiochus III) had sought to restore Syria’s lost prestige by military conquest, the older son by invading Asia Minor and the younger son by attacking Egypt. Egypt had controlled all the territory north to the borders of Syria which included the land of Israel. Antiochus III succeeded in driving the Egyptians back to the southern borders of Israel in his campaign in 219-217.

My Sheep Hear My Voice

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

Revelation Chapter 7

The Two Companies of Redeemed

(Parenthetical, Rev. 7:1-17)

“And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed a hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel” (Rev. 7:4).

And I heard... Just as God reserved 7,000 men to Himself in Elijah’s day, so He is going to reserve 144,000 Jews to Himself in the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel’s 70th week. (Rev. 7:1-8).

all the tribes... The 144,000 are from 12 of the 13 tribes of Israel, not Gentiles. They are not a part of the church, for the church is raptured before this (Rev. 4:1). Nor could they be Jews before the rapture or in any other period outside of the first half of the last 7 years of this age.

John heard the names of 12 tribes with 12,000 from each tribe… sealed and thus protected. The 12 tribes are not “lost” as some contend.

Attempts have been made to identify the 12 tribes here with the church, mostly to avoid the implication that this is literally Israel. The fact that specific tribes were mentioned and specific numbers from each tribe were indicated would seem to remove this from the symbolic and to justify literal interpretation. If God intended these verses to represent Israel literally, He would have used this means. Nowhere else in the Bible do a dozen references to the 12 tribes mean the church. Obviously Israel will be in the Tribulation, and though men do not know the identification of each tribe today, certainly God knows.

You see, the tribes we are about to see listed are all of the nation of Israel. The only way this makes any sense is that this 144,000 is the remnant of physical Israel that God has always had.

"All the tribes of the children of Israel": By sovereign election, God will seal 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, promising His protection while they accomplish their mission.

"You Shall Seek Me and Find Me When You Search For Me with All Your Heart". This is a promise from God Almighty (Deut. 4:29). God has never been without a witness of His salvation on this earth. Since all believers from this present age will have been suddenly and miraculously removed by the event known as the Rapture, new witnesses must be raised up immediately.

"A hundred and forty and four thousand": A missionary corps of redeemed Jews who are instrumental in the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation (verses 9-17). They will be the firstfruits of a new redeemed Israel (Zech. 12:10). Finally, Israel will be the witness nation she refused to be in the Old Testament (Cf. Rom. 11:25-27).

"All the tribes of the children of Israel": By sovereign election, God will seal 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, promising His protection while they accomplish their mission.

"You Shall Seek Me and Find Me When You Search For Me with All Your Heart". This is a promise from God Almighty (Deut. 4:29). God has never been without a witness of His salvation on this earth. Since all believers from this present age will have been suddenly and miraculously removed by the event known as the Rapture, new witnesses must be raised up immediately.

Daniel's Rise and Fall of Empires

Daniel's Rise and Fall of Empires

Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:9 "So the king of the south shall come into [his] kingdom, and shall return into his own land."

come into his kingdom... He comes into the kingdom of Seleucus II. This refers to a second invasion of Syria, but having heard of rebellion in Egypt, Ptolemy III returned there to suppress it. Otherwise, he would have wholly destroyed the kingdom of Syria.

My Sheep Hear My Voice

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Before Jesus was crucified He told the disciples to watch and pray, something so simple, but they let their physical bodies take over and they fell back asleep. In these last hours of time you need to hear His voice. When He tells you something, it is very important, but most ignore my voice or just discuss it and go on with what they were doing. You will see many things start to happen shortly and if you do not hear and obey His voice,... it will mean death for some of you....Jesus has only your best interest in mind. Christ knows you heart, and if you are truly His you will hear His voice. He awakes many of you at 3am on the dot, but most will roll over and go back to sleep. There are a few who will get up and pray. Your day is filled with so many things and Jesus is the last thing many of you give your time to. But Christ needs to talk to you,... to fellowship with you and only when you are still and quite (3am) can you hear Him,... the rest of your day is so busy you do not have time for Him,... but you need to make time, for time is short and the Lord has instructions for you.

Revelation Chapter 7

The Two Companies of Redeemed

(Parenthetical, Rev. 7:1-17)

"Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads" (Rev. 7:3).

Hurt not the earth... These plagues of the earth will be revealed in the next chapter, see Rev_8:7-11.

servants of God... The 144,000 Jews are not servants when the rapture takes place in Rev. 4:1, for all in Christ at that time will be translated (1Th. 4:16; 1Co. 15:23). They will be saved after the rapture in the revival predicted in Act. 2:16-21. They are to be saved and become servants of God by the time they are sealed. This is why they have God’s name written on them (Rev. 7:3; 14:1).

Proof the mark is literal:

1. This is plainly stated in Rev. 7:3; 14:1.

2. It is visible, for direction is given to the first 4 trumpet judgment angels not to execute their judgments until they are sealed in the foreheads (Rev. 7:3; 8:7-12).

3. Special direction is given to the 5th and 6th judgment angels not to hurt the 144,000 (Rev. 9:4).

4. The mark of the beast is literal (Rev. 13:16-18; 14:9; 20:4), so this must be as well (Rev. 14:1).

5. It is the name of God in the forehead (Rev. 7:3; 14:1).

6. Literal names will be branded on the overcomers (Rev. 3:12; 22:4), and this indicates that the name of God on the 144,000 will also be literal (Rev. 14:1).

The seal on their foreheads symbolizes protection and ownership and God’s intention to protect the 12 tribes that are mentioned, much as He protected Noah from the Flood, Israel from the plagues of Egypt, and Rahab and her household in Jericho.

It was common in John's day for masters to seal or brand their slaves on the forehead or the hand to declare ownership. This mark also granted them protection for those who would steal or misuse them. In future days, when the seal of the Antichrist signifies death or life, Satan will have marked his followers, but God's witnesses will be sealed as well, with the name of the Father "in their foreheads".

Yeshua Jesus: King of Righteousness

In the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 14, God provided a foreshadowing of Messiah Yeshua Jesus as the coming righteous Messiah through His first earthly king — Melchizedek, מַלְכִּי־צֶ֙דֶק֙, meaning King of Righteousness, or my King is Righteousness.
The Prophet Jeremiah helped us identify the Messianic King of Righteousness and he gives us a sense of what His kingdom will be like:
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch [a descendant of King David]; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.
“In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness’” (Adonai Tzidkeinu יְהוָ֥ה צִדְקֵֽנוּ) (Jeremiah 23:6).
As our Righteous King, Yeshua Jesus will reign wisely, not judging us by the size of our homes, money in our bank accounts, or how well we dress, as perhaps our coworkers, neighbors, and family do.
No, our King Yeshua Jesus will judge our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7 and Jeremiah 23:5; Isaiah 11:4).
How do we prepare our hearts so they pass King Yeshua Jesus’s judgment?
We do what Yeshua, Yohann (John the Baptist), and the apostles repeatedly told the people to do: "Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15; Matthew 3:2, 4:17; Acts 2:38)

Yeshua Jesus: King of the New Jerusalem

In Genesis 14 we read that Melchizedek was not only the king of Righteousness — He was also the King of Salem (from the Hebrew word shalom or peace).
Salem became the city of Jeru-salem, City of Peace.
Jerusalem today is certainly not the peaceful city its name suggests.
It’s fraught with spiritual and political tensions, not to mention movements to divide up the land among Israel’s enemies. But all of this turmoil is only temporary until Messiah returns.
Yeshua Jesus is not coming back to New York, Sydney, Cape Town, or London. The King of kings, the Righteous Branch from the line of King David will reign in Zion (Psalm 2:6), the New Jerusalem! (Zechariah 14:9,16)
God is going to replace this troubled city and its rulers with a New King of true peace (shalom).
“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. ... And they will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 21:3–5).

Yeshua Jesus: King of Israel

When Yeshua Jesus rode into Jerusalem in fulfillment as a king, just as Zechariah 9:9 prophesied, the people, together with many children, waved palm branches and shouted:
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel” (John 12:13).
His first coming or advent was just a visitation for in His heart He knew the rejection. For they didn’t yet understand that He was about to become the Lamb of God, delivering them from their sins on Passover (purpose of first visitation), nor that the Holy Spirit (Ruach Hakodesh) would be released upon those who believed in Him. The second coming or advent will produce the King in which the kingdom will be established as to their understanding.
Yet, they acknowledged Yeshua as their king!
Waving palm branches in honor of King Yeshua is going to happen again, and not just in Israel!
Imagine what a beautiful scene it will be when “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” comes out of the Great Tribulation and stands before the throne “holding palm branches in their hands,” crying out in a loud voice:
“Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9–10).
We are Blessed to know the King of kings, the Lamb of God who gives us freedom and salvation along with everlasting life!