November, 8 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE FOUR PARALLEL VISIONS OF DANIEL AND WHAT EACH EMPHASiZES
“The book of Daniel gives a demonstration of the principles according to which God’s WISDOM, POWER, and AUTHORITY operate through the HISTORY OF NATIONS for the eventual accomplishment of the divine purpose.
“God exalted Babylon that it might fulfill’ His ‘purpose’ (Ed 175). IT HAD ITS PERIOD OF TEST [as a nation/empire]; it failed, its glory faded, its power departed, and its place was occupied by another [Medo-Persia] (Ed 177). see on ch. 4:17).
All four visions of the book of Daniel are concerned with the struggle between the forces of good and evil [part of the great controversy between Christ and Satan] on this earth from the time of Daniel to the establishment of the eternal kingdom of Christ [the kingdom of glory]. Inasmuch as Satan uses the POWERS OF EARTH in his effort to thwart God’s plan and to destroy God’s people, these [4] visions introduce THOSE POWERS through which he [Satan] has been most active!
“The FIRST VISION (ch. 2) deals primarily with POLITICAL changes. It’s primary objective was to reveal to Nebuchadnezzar his role as ruler of Babylon, ‘to make known to him ‘what should come to pass hereafter’ (v. 29).
“As if to supplement the first vision, the SECOND (ch. 7) emphasizes the EXPERIENCE of God’s people DURING the sovereignty of the powers mentioned in the FIRST VISION, and forecasts the ultimate victory of the [commandment-keeping] saints and God’s JUDGMENT upon their enemies (see vs. 14, 18, 26, 27).
“The THIRD VISION (chs. 8; 9), supplementing the second, emphasizes Satan’s ATTEMPTS to do away with the religion and people of Christ.[This is what we are facing very soon in the fulfillment of Revelation 13, starting in America!].
“The FOURTH VISION (chs. 10-12) SUMMARIZES the preceding visions and covers the ground with MORE DETAIL than any of the others. It AMPLIFIES the subject of the second vision and that of the third vision.
“The focus of the emphasis is on ‘what shall befall Thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is yet for many days’ (ch. 10:14), and the ‘time appointed was long’ (v.1). The narrative outline of history covered in ch. 11: 2-39 leads up to ‘the latter days’ (ch. 10:14) and the events of ‘the time of the end’ (ch. 11:40).” – Ibid, pp. 752, 753.
The “time of the end” here is not the end of time but the year 1798, the year in which the Dark Ages that started in 538 A.D., came to the end with the capture of Pope Pius Vi by Gen. Berthier, commander of Napoleon’s French Republican army. Pope Pius died in France the following year, “wounding as to death one of the heads of the beast.”’ See on Rev. 13. More tomorrow, God willing. Bless all, NMF