"Those who are wise among the people will give understanding to many..."

“'The great God has told the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation certain.' Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell down, paid homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present an offering of incense to him. The king said to Daniel, 'Your God is indeed God of gods, Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery. Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.”(Daniel 2:45b-48)

Daniel had told the king not only the interpretation of his dream but the dream itself. It was clear evidence that there was a God in heaven who knew all things. While Daniel clearly witnessed to this, the king still became somewhat confused. The prophetic words Daniel spoke somehow drew the king not only to God who is the revealer of all mysteries, but also to Daniel.

God's purposes were served for the king and for Daniel in ways they would not have if Daniel would not have been able to reveal the dream to the king. The king acknowledged God as a result and Daniel's life was spared and set on the course that would bring about God's purposes. However, the prophetic gifts somehow had an unintended impact of drawing the king also to Daniel who he fell down and played homage to. The king was left somewhat confused.

This is demonstrated by the king then turning around and creating a gold statue to worship. The King then sent out an order to all that when they heard the worship music, they were to fall down and worship the gold statue King Nebuchadnezzar set up. Whoever did not fall down and worship, was to be thrown into a blazing fiery furnace (Daniel 3:4-6).

As Shadrach, Meschack and Abednego refused to worship the statue, they were thrown into the fire tied up. God set them free in the fire and eventually they were pulled out. The king was so beside himself by seeing this unexplainable miracle that he called them back out and began to praise God.

While the king could see that Shadrach, Meschack and Abednego were servants of God, he could clearly see this time that it was God and not them to be worshiped. He wrote to all people to tell them about the miracles and wonders that God did and how mighty were his works (Dan 4:1-3).

Later, Daniel was set up to be thrown in the lions den by the administrators and satraps who were jealous of him. They tricked the king into issuing a decree to throw anyone in the lions den who prayed to anyone other than the king for 30 days. Daniel in his consistent faithfulness to God, continued to pray three times a day and was thrown in the lions den.

One article writes about this, “What kind of faith does it take to serve God when the cost is high? Daniel faced shrewd, jealous, powerful colleagues who were determined to get rid of him. Yet Daniel continued to serve God. He steadfastly exalted God only, not giving into fear or striking out in pride by using his power and position. Where are you trusting God to show Himself strong on your behalf?” [1]

As a result of Daniel's faithfulness under trial and in immense difficulty, King Darius turned to God for help. The king fasted and prayed all night for Daniel. And when he found that Daniel was safe, he issued an decree that everyone within his royal dominion must worship and fear God.

Darius proclaimed,
“For He is the living God,

and He endures forever;

His kingdom will never be destroyed,

and His dominion has no end.

He rescues and delivers;

He performs signs and wonders

in the heavens and on the earth,

for He has rescued Daniel

from the power of the lions.”

(Dan 6:26-27)

Just as with Shadrach, Meschack and Abednego, it was the faithfulness of Daniel evidenced by his trust under pressure, and the clear workings of God in their midst as a result that drew the king to know God for himself.

Prophesy does not necessarily have this same impact. It makes God evident but could potentially also be a distraction or draw people towards us as well as God. It could also create a dependance as someone looks to receive a 'word' rather than getting into the Word for themselves.

For me, when I first came to the Lord, prophetic words from someone trusted were a source of seeing God working in my life. They were an encouragement and sometimes affirmed things I needed to hear. But it was actually the lifestyle of a 'Daniel' in my life that really changed me and stirred me to follow God. By seeing how passionately she pursued God for herself and the kind of relationship she had with Him as a result, I became stirred to want to know God the way she did.

One of my friends sent an email newsletter today noting that Daniel was an example of a consecrated life. She notes, “He separated himself unto God and lived differently than others. He positioned his heart after God and prayed three times a day. He fasted. He sought after God when no one was watching. His life was marked by miraculous deliverances (lion's den, fiery furnace), visions and dreams, and God's favor. His life was alive to God's purposes. He and John the Baptist led a consecrated life that challenged and overflowed throughout the generations.” [2]

Their consecrated lifestyles has a powerful impact. It is in living a life of faithfulness to God and being fully alive to his purposes, that God shines the brightest through us. And faithfulness in trials and tribulations is where God can be greatest seen.

My friend also writes in her email newsletter that she believes we are in the most intense time of human history. And as pressures mount, that God wants us to walk consecrated to him and overflowing in the greatest spiritual empowerment (anointing) the world has ever seen. [3]

Daniel prophesies about an 'appointed time' where one who is evil and in power will “rage against the holy covenant and take action.” (Dan 11:30b). He says about this “king of the North in Daniel 11:31-35, “His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation. With flatter he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action. Those who are wise among the people will give understanding to many, they they will die by the sword and flame, and be captured and plundered for a time. When defeated, they will be helped by some, but many others will join them insincerely. Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and cleansed until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.”

This speaks of a powerful time where tribulations are high, but just as in the days of Daniel, those who trust in their God will be overflowing with divine empowerment to be strong and take action. While the tribulations may at times feel like a fiery furnace, the fruit of faithfulness (continually turning to God), just like it did with Daniel, will result in purification and others being able to see God through our faithfulness.

We know that this prophesy about an 'appointed time' is most likely related to end times for a few reasons. First, Jesus spoke that this time had not yet come. He says in Matthew 24:15-16, “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."

In Mark 13:14 it reads, “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."

Mike Bickle notes, “Some say that this was fulfilled in 70AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. However, the Romans did not 'set' and idol or anything else in the holy place in 70 AD; rather, they tore down the holy place and burned it with fire.” [4]

We also know this 'appointed time' is related to end times because the scripture verse goes on to speak of it occurring until the 'time of the end.' In addition, Daniel later asks how long until the end of these extraordinary things he is hearing and seeing in visions and what will be the outcome? Micheal the great prince responds to him, “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand. From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days. The one who waits for and reaches 1,335 days is blessed.”

These 1290 days is thirty days past 3.5 years, referred to by some as the period of the greatest tribulation. According to some sources, the number of days 1260 (3.5 years) + 1290 (3.5years + 30 days) is the number of days between Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement over a 7 year period. [7]

This seven year period is referred to by Daniel as the 70^th week in Daniel 9:24-27. Gabriel spoke to Daniel,

“Seventy weeks are decreed

about your people and your holy city-

to bring the rebellion to an end,

to put a stop to sin, to wipe away inequity,

to bring in everlasting righteousness,

to seal up vision and prophecy,

and to anoint the most holy place.

Know and understand this:

From the issuing of the decree

to restore and rebuild Jerusalem

until Messiah the Prince

will be seven weeks and 62 weeks.

It will be rebuild with a plaza and a moat,

but in difficult times.

After those 62 weeks

the Messiah will be cut off

and will have nothing.

The people of the coming prince

will destroy the city and the sanctuary.

The end will come with a flood,

and until the end there will be war;

desolations are decreed.

He will make a firm covenant

with many for one week.

But in the middle of the week

he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering.

And the abomination of desolations

will be on a wing of the temple

until the decreed destruction

is poured out on the desolator.”

Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, “Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God's sanctuary, publicizing that he himself is God.”

So what is this “abomination of desolation?” Abominations speak of worship of idols. Over and over in the Bible, God speaks of abominations as idols set up to worship. In Deuteronomy 29:17 the Lord speaks, “And ye have seen their abominations [detestable images], and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them...”

“Desolation” is the state or fruit that comes from worshiping an abomination [idol]. In some translations, it says the “abomination that maketh [one] desolate.” It is the Hebrew word, shamem, Strongs #8074. According to one source, it “often expresses the idea of to “devastate” or “ravage”: “I will destroy her vines” (Hos. 2:12). What one sees sometimes is so horrible that it “horrifies” or “appalls”: “Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth [i.e., be speechless]” (Job 21:5).” [5]

This 'abomination of desolation' is stated over and over, is standing where it ought not be – in the sanctuary of God. Right in the middle of the holy place, is an abomination to God bringing desolation to the people. The result of this is that the 'daily (tamid, continual) sacrifice' is abolished.

Going back to Paul's words in 2 Thes. 2:3-4, “Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God's sanctuary, publicizing that he himself is God.”

The word apostasy here is the Greek word apostasia, which can be translated rebellion. Commentary notes, “It caries the idea of defection or departure from true religion, it probably refers to the widespread religious defection from worship of the true God that will intensify during the Day of the Lord through the workings of the man of lawlessness and Satan (vv. 3-9).” [6]

In the latter days, many will fall away as a result of the idolatry that is in the midst of the holy place – right in God's sanctuary. The people will be led astray and defect from true worship of God as a result.

The 'abomination of desolation' that people worship will probably not be this grotesque thing that sits in the middle of the sanctuary and people look on and led astray by some sort of osmosis. More than likely, this religious defection from true worship will be very subtle and hard to spot.

Paul writes to the Corinthians at the time they were being led astray to warn them because they couldn't see it. In 2 Corinthians 11:14 he says about the leaders they were inviting in to minister to them, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”

This brings me back to a dream I had some time ago, here it is -

I went to this town where things were pretty evil in the town.   People were shooting each other.  Saw one car back up and get out as they realized what town they were in because of all the evil.  

In the midst of this place was this large and powerful organization - a huge church.   Think it was actually several churches conglomerated that had unity.   The church claimed to be helping people but they really were not (in my dream they were really a nuclear power plant that was emanating radiation to the people and causing them unseen and continual harm).  

They didn't care for the poor but they caused them more damage (in my dream they were hitting them with two by fours to get them in line for a period of time).  But some of the poor went along with them / this way of dealing with them thinking they were helping and were grateful about it. 

There was a false humility by giving the leaders a lower title but it was really all about power underneath.   Their power was immense.  I was with a small group of people on the other side of the table (this was my church leaders in my dream) and we were absolutely appalled.   We were not going along with the whole thing at all.   

It was sad what they were feeding the people - it was wholesome and relevant - what the people could connect with (like the Brady Bunch) but it lacked any transformation power.   I was amazed at how immense this place was.   The people in charge wanted us to come over to their side and join them.  I was not willing as I could see the difference in the real deal in those I was sitting with compared to the show they were putting on.  But at the same time, I seemed to be embracing some things to an extent on my way out the door (I was hugging the Brady Bunch family and welcoming them as they went to preach).

Lord, I think I can see where in my own life having a desire for prophesy to bless others may have hidden hooks of wanting to draw people to me in the sense of being valued and appreciated. Forgive me for this. Help us to be more like Daniel in his faithfulness in all situations. And protect us from pride, power, prestige, position and/or possessions as a source of life. As the world's love grows more cold and churches look to be relevant rather than faithful, let our love for you burn all the brighter as we point people back to you with the kind of lives we live.