In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Gabriel told him, “then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yes, also the prince of the covenant. And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yes, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. Yes, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-seven of his book Daniel shared how Gabriel said, “both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief” where we read,
And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table;
but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
The verse reads, “And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table;” Daniel began with the words, “and both these kings’ hearts” or “and both of the royal rulers and leaders’ souls and minds” “shall be to do mischief” which means “will be determined to commit bad behavior, wickedness and evil”, “and they shall speak lies” or “and they, both kings, will utter, declare and proclaim falsehoods, untruths and deceptive words” “at one table” which means “at the same table”. Daniel shared how Gabriel told him that “both” of the royal rulers’ souls and minds would be purposed to commit wickedness and evil, and both of them will utter falsehoods while they are at the same “table”.
The verse continues, “but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.” Daniel added the words, “but it shall not prosper” or “however, nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover it, the committing to do mischief and speaking lies, will in no way or manner exist as successful, advancing and progressing”: “for yet the end” which means “because, since and on this account still the extremity, border and definite amount of time” “shall be at the time appointed” or “will exist until the scheduled and pre-arranged season”. Daniel shared how Gabriel told him the falsehoods and purpose to do wickedly by the “two kings” would not be successful and would only remain for a small amount of time.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how Gabriel told him the “two kings” would purpose within their souls and minds to commit evil and wickedness, and they would utter falsehoods as well. This behavior would not continue, but would remain only until an “appointed time”. After the time of battling, Matthew Henry wrote, “a treaty of peace shall be set on foot, and these two kings shall meet at one council-board, to adjust the articles of peace between them; but they shall neither of them be sincere in it, for they shall, in their pretenses and promises of amity and friendship, lie to one another, for their hearts shall be at the same time to do one another all the mischief they can. And then no marvel that it shall not prosper. The peace shall not last; but the end of it shall be at the time appointed in the divine Providence, and then the war shall break out again, as a sore that is only skinned over.” These prophecies are amazing because God knew these things in advance, and since we have the advantage of hindsight, we see how they were fulfilled. God knows our past, present and future as well, and because we have sinned against Him and those sins lead to death, (See Romans 3:23; 6:23) He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and to be empowered to live in keeping with that truth. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:8) Let all who read these words consider these prophesies and yield themselves to Jesus Christ.
Next time Daniel shares how Gabriel says, “then shall he return into his land with great riches”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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