The Mission of THE ANGEL OF THE LORD.

But then I felt a hand touch me, and as I trembled I was raised to my hands and knees. HE said, "Daniel, you are greatly loved. Pay close attention to the words that I AM about to speak to you. Stand up now, for I have been sent to you." And when HE said this to me, I stood up trembling.

       Then HE continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you resolved to gain understanding and to humble yourself before GOD, your prayer was heard. It is because of your resolve that I have come to you. The prince of the kingdom of Persia thwarted ME for twenty-one days, but finally Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help ME. I left him there to confront the prince of the kingdom of Persia, and I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the final days. For there is yet a further vision for those days."

       While HE was speaking these words to me, I prostrated myself on the ground and was speechless. Then someone who looked like a man touched my lips. I opened my mouth and said to the person standing before me, "My LORD, anguish has overcome me at this vision, and I no longer have any further strength. How can I, my LORD's servant, speak to YOU now that I have no strength left in me and my breath fails me?"

       THE ONE who looked like a man touched me again and strengthened me, saying, "Do not be afraid, greatly beloved. You have been specially chosen. Peace be with you. Have courage and be strong." As HE spoke to me, I once again felt strong, and I said, "Speak, my LORD, for YOU have strengthened me."

       Then HE asked, "Do you know why I have come to you? I must first return to fight against the king of Persia, and when I have overcome him, the prince of Greece will appear. But I have been delegated to tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth. There is no one to lend ME support except Michael, your prince.

       "As for ME, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I came forth to support and strengthen him.

DANIEL: CHAPTER 10, VERSES 10 - 21 & CHAPTER 11, VERSES 1

Early Struggles between Seleucids and Ptolemies.

       "Now I shall tell you the truth about these things. Three more kings shall arise in Persia. Then a fourth will appear who will be far richer than all of them, and when he has enhanced his power through his wealth, he will mobilize the entire empire against the kingdom of Greece.

       "Then a powerful king shall arise who will govern a vast empire and do whatever he pleases. But as his power continues to increase, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out to the four winds of heaven. However, it will not be inherited by his descendants, nor will it be ruled in the same fashion, for his kingdom will be uprooted and pass to others rather than to his descendants.

       "The king of the south shall grow strong, but one of his princes shall grow even stronger and rule an empire greater than his. After some years the two will enter into an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north. However, she will not be able to retain her power, and his offspring will not endure. She will be handed over, along with her attendants and her child and her husband.

       "Later on, a descendant from her line will arise to take her place. He shall penetrate the defenses of the king of the north, enter his stronghold, and succeed in conquering them. He will even carry away into Egypt, as spoils of war, their gods, with their molten images and precious vessels of silver and gold. For several years he will refrain from attacking the king of the north.

       "After that, the latter will invade the kingdom of the king of the south but then return to his own country. However, his sons will prepare for war and assemble a great army that will sweep forth like a flood and advance as far as the enemy's fortress.

       "The king of the south will then become enraged and set out to engage in battle with the king of the north. The latter will muster an immense army that will suffer a crushing defeat and be carried off. The heart of the king of the south shall be exalted, and he shall slaughter tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail. For the king of the north will once again raise another army, even larger than before, and finally, after some years, he will advance with a huge force and a great abundance of supplies.

       "During those times many will take up arms against the king of the south. However, those among your own people who are lawless will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but they will fail. Then the king of the north will come and erect siege-works and capture the well-fortified city. The army of the south will not be able to withstand him, and not even the elite forces will be strong enough to resist.

       "The invader will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to withstand him. He will establish a stronghold in the glorious land, and it shall fall completely into his power. He will set his mind on conquering the entire kingdom and will make a treaty with the king of the south. Further, he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but this will not succeed or be to his advantage.

       "Next he will focus his attention on the coastlands and capture many of them, but a commander will put a stop to his outrageous conduct and turn his insolence back upon him. He shall then turn back to the strongholds of his own land, but he will stumble and fall, never to be seen again. His successor shall send forth a tax collector throughout the glorious kingdom, but within a short time this king will also be overthrown and meet his end, although not in anger or in battle.

DANIEL: CHAPTER 11, VERSES 2 - 20

Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

       "His place shall be taken by a despicable creature upon whom the royal insignia shall not be conferred. Rather, he will come forth without any warning and seize the kingdom through stealth and fraud. A powerful army shall be completely routed and crushed by him. Both it and the prince of the covenant will be destroyed.

       "After he enters into an alliance, he will act deceitfully, and by treacherous means he will rise to power with only a few supporters. Without advance warning he will invade the most prosperous provinces and do what his fathers or his grandfathers had never done, lavishing plunder, spoil, and riches among them, yet all the while devising plans against their strongholds, but only for a time.

       "He shall arouse his strength and courage to lead a great army against the kingdom of the south. Meanwhile the king of the south will wage war with a much greater and more powerful army, but he will not succeed because of the plots devised against him. Even those who shared his food will seek to destroy him. His army will be swept away, and many will be slain in battle.

       "The two kings, their hearts bent on evil though seated at the same table, will exchange lies, but they will not succeed, because the end will not take place until the appointed time. Then the king of the north will return to his land with great riches, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will devise his future plans and return to his own land.

       "At the appointed time he shall return again to the south, but this time the outcome will not be as it was before. For ships of the Kittim shall come against him, and he will lose heart and withdraw. As he retreats he will vent his fury and direct his energy against the holy covenant, and he will once again show his favor to those who forsake that holy covenant.

       "Armed forces of his shall obey his command to desecrate the sanctuary, abolish the daily sacrifice, and install the abomination that causes desolation. He will seduce by his deceit those who break the covenant, but those people who are loyal to their GOD will stand firm and take action.

       "Wise leaders of the nation shall instruct many, although for a time they will fall by the sword and fire or suffer captivity and exile. When they fall, they will receive a little help, but many will have ulterior motives in offering support. Some of the wise leaders will stumble so that they may be tested, refined, and purified, until the end time, which is still appointed to come.

       "The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and considering himself to be greater than any god. He will utter monstrous blasphemies against the GOD of gods, and he will prosper until the period of divine wrath is completed, for what has been determined must be fulfilled. He shall have no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the god beloved by women or for any other god, for he shall consider himself greater than all.

       "Instead of these, he will honor the god of fortresses, a god unknown to his ancestors. This god he shall honor with gold and silver, precious stones and costly gifts. He will assign the people of a foreign god to defend the fortresses, and he will confer great honors on those whom he favors by appointing them as rulers over many people and distributing land to them as a reward.

DANIEL: CHAPTER 11, VERSES 21 - 39

The End Time.

       "When the time comes for the end, the king of the south will prepare to attack the king of the north, but the latter will overwhelm him with chariots and cavalry and a large fleet. He will invade countries and sweep over them like a flood. He will invade the beautiful land, and many countries will fall, but Edom and Moab and the leaders of the Ammonites will escape from his power.

       "He will extend his power over many countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. He will seize control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians will be subject to him.

       "However, reports from the east and the north shall be a cause of alarm to him, and he will set out in great fury to bring ruin and total destruction to many. He will pitch the tents of the royal pavilion between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with no one to help him.

       "At that time there shall arise

          Michael, the great prince,

          the guardian of your people.

       Then there will be a period

          that will be unsurpassed in distress

          since nations first came into existence.

       At that time your own people will be spared,

          everyone whose names are found written in the book.

       "Many of those shall awake

          who sleep in the dust of the earth.

       Some shall gain everlasting life;

          others will earn shame and everlasting disgrace.

       However, the wise will shine

          like the brightness of the heavens,

       and those who lead many to righteousness

          will be as bright as the stars forever and ever.

       As for you, Daniel,

          keep these words secret,

          and seal the book until the time of the end.

       Many shall fall away,

          and evils shall increase."

DANIEL: CHAPTER 11, VERSES 40 - 45 & CHAPTER 12, VERSES 1 - 4

Daniel's Final Revelation.

I, Daniel, then looked and saw two others standing, one on the bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was upstream, "How long shall it be until these incredible events take place?"

       The man robed in linen who was upstream raised both his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, "It will be for a year, for two years, and half a year, and then all these things will cease when the power of the destroyer of the holy people will come to an end."

       I heard what was said but I did not understand, so I asked, "My LORD, what will be the outcome of all these things?" HE replied, "Go on your way, Daniel, for these words are to be kept secret and remain sealed until the end time.

       "Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will persist in their evil ways. From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the appalling abomination is set up, one thousand two hundred and ninety days will elapse.

       "Blessed is the man who perseveres and attains one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. But you, go on your way and rest. Then you will rise for your reward at the end of the ages."

DANIEL: CHAPTER 12, VERSES 5 - 13

Attempted Seduction of the Virtuous Susanna.

Dwelling in Babylon was a man whose name was Joakim. He had married the daughter of Hilkiah, named Susanna, a GOD-fearing woman of remarkable beauty. Her parents were devout Jews who had raised their daughter according to the law of Moses. Joakim was a wealthy individual, and adjoining his home was a lovely garden. He was visited frequently by the Jews because they greatly respected him above everyone else.

       During that year there were appointed two elders of the people to serve as judges. In their regard THE LORD had said, "Wickedness has arisen in Babylon through the elders designated to govern the people in the role of judges." Those two elders were often present at Joakim's house, and people would come to them there for a hearing of their legal cases.

       The people would depart at midday, and then Susanna would stroll through her husband's garden. Each day the two elders would see her as she was entering the garden, and walking around, and they began to lust for her. They ignored the light of reason, averting their eyes from heaven and forsaking their duty to act justly. Although overcome with passion for her, they did not admit this failing to each other, for they were ashamed to reveal the lust they harbored to seduce her. Day by day they waited eagerly to catch a glimpse of her.

       One day they said to each other, "Let us return to our homes. It is time for lunch." So they parted and headed off, but both then returned. When they encountered each other and asked the reason, they admitted their lustful desires. From that time they plotted to find an opportunity to surprise her when she was alone.

       While they were waiting for a favorable opportunity, Susanna entered the garden for her usual stroll, accompanied by two maids; and inasmuch as it was quite warm, she decided to bathe there. No one else was present, aside from the two elders who were watching her from their concealed hiding place. She instructed the maids, "Bring me some oil and soap and then shut the garden doors so that I may bathe." The maids followed her instructions: they closed the doors and left the garden by a side entrance to obtain what she had requested them to bring, unaware of the presence of the elders who remained in hiding.

       No sooner had the maids departed than the two elders sprang up and ran over to Susanna. "Look," they pleaded with her, "the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us. We are burning with desire for you; consent and give yourself to us. Should you refuse, we shall swear under oath that you were here with a young man in the garden, and that this was the reason why you sent the maids away."

       Susanna then cried out in anguish, "No matter what I decide, I am trapped. If I yield, it means death for me. If I refuse, I cannot evade your hands. But I choose not to succumb to your evil desire. I much prefer to remain innocent and fall into your power than to commit a sin against GOD's law."

       Then Susanna began to scream, and the two elders shouted against her, as one of them ran to open the garden doors. On hearing the noisy uproar in the garden, the people in the house rushed in through the side entrance to see what was happening. When the elders told their story, the servants were stunned, for no such allegation had ever been raised against Susanna.

DANIEL: CHAPTER 13, VERSES 27

Susanna Falsely Accused and Condemned to Death.

The next day the townspeople assembled at the home of Susanna's husband Joakim. The two elders also were present, determined to pursue their wicked plot to have Susanna condemned to death. In the presence of the people they ordered, "Bring before us Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim." When she was summoned, she came, accompanied by her parents and children and all her relatives. Possessed of a delicate grace and beauty, Susanna was veiled; the wicked elders ordered her veil to be removed so that they could further sate themselves with her loveliness. All of her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.

       The two elders stood up in the midst of all present and placed their hands on her head, while the tearful Susanna looked up to heaven, for she placed her complete trust in THE LORD. The elders then testified, "We were walking by ourselves in the garden when this woman entered with two maids. After shutting the garden doors, she sent the maids away. Then a young man who had been hiding in the garden went over to her, and they lay together. From the corner of the garden where we were, we observed the crime taking place, and we ran toward them. We surprised them lying together, but we were unable to subdue the man because he was much too strong for us. He flung open the doors and escaped. However, we did seize this woman, but when we demanded that she reveal the identity of the young man, she refused to tell us. We testify to this." Since they were elders and judges of the people, those who were assembled there accepted their testimony and condemned her to death.

       However, Susanna cried out in a loud voice, "O ETERNAL GOD, no secret is hidden from you, and you are aware in advance of everything that will happen. You know that these elders have perjured themselves in their testimony against me. And now I am condemned to die, even though I bear no guilt in regard to any of their wicked charges against me." And THE LORD heard her cry.

DANIEL: CHAPTER 13, VERSES 28 - 44

Susanna Rescued and Acquitted.

As Susanna was being led off to the place of execution, GOD stirred up the holy spirit of a young man named Daniel, inspiring him to shout out in protest, "I will bear no responsibility for the death of this woman."

       On hearing this, all the people turned toward him and asked, "What do you mean by that?" Standing in their midst, he replied: "Are you complete fools, O Israelites, in condemning a daughter of Israel without making a thorough investigation to determine the truth? Reopen the inquiry, for they have testified falsely in her regard."

       All the people hurried back, and the remaining elders said to Daniel, "Come and sit with us and explain your thoughts, since GOD has given you the wisdom of an elder." He replied, "Separate these two men and keep them far apart from one another while I question them."

       After they had been separated, Daniel summoned one of them and said, "You have grown ever more wicked with age. Behold, the sins you committed in the past are coming to the light: pronouncing unjust sentences, condemning innocent people, and acquitting those who were guilty, although THE LORD has said, 'You must not put an innocent and righteous person to death.' Now, then, if you really saw this woman, tell me under what tree you observed her and the young man lying together." He replied, "Under a mastic tree." Daniel replied, "Excellent. That lie will cost you your head, for the angel of GOD has already received the sentence from GOD and will cut you in two."

       Placing that elder off to the side, Daniel then commanded the other one to be brought forward. "Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah," Daniel said to him, "beauty has seduced you and lust has perverted your heart. This is the manner in which you have been treating the daughters of Israel, and because of their terror they gave in to you. However, here is a daughter of Judah who would not put up with your iniquity. Now, then, tell me under what tree you discovered them lying with each other." He replied, "Under an oak tree." "Indeed," said Daniel. "That lie will also cost you your life. The angel of GOD is waiting with a sword to split you in two and to destroy both of you."

       Then the entire assembly gave forth a great shout of thanksgiving and blessed GOD, who saves those who hope in HIM. And they rose up against the two elders whom Daniel had convicted on the basis of their own perjured testimony and inflicted on them the identical penalty that they in their wickedness had intended to inflict on their neighbor. In accordance with the law of Moses, they put them to death. Thus an innocent life was spared that day.

       Hilkiah and his wife praised GOD for their daughter Susanna, as did her husband Joakim and all her relatives, inasmuch as she had been declared innocent of a shameful deed. And from that day forward Daniel was held in the highest esteem among the people.

DANIEL: CHAPTER 13, VERSES 45 - 64

A God without Life.

After King Astyages was laid to rest with his ancestors, Cyrus the Persian succeeded him as king. Daniel was a close associate of the king and the most highly respected of all his friends.

       The Babylonians had an idol called Bel, and every day they provided it with an offering of twelve bushels of the finest flour, forty sheep, and six measures of wine. Even the king revered this idol and went each day to worship it. But Daniel adored only his own GOD.

       So the king asked him, "Why do you refuse to adore Bel?" Daniel replied: "Because I do not worship idols that were fashioned by human hands. I worship only THE LIVING GOD who created heaven and earth and has dominion over all living creatures."

       The king persisted: "Do you not believe that Bel is a living god? Can you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?" Laughing, Daniel said, "Do not be deceived, O king. This idol of yours is composed of nothing but clay inside and bronze outside. It has never eaten or drunk anything."

       On hearing these words the king became infuriated. He summoned the priests of Bel and said to them, "If you do not tell me who is consuming these provisions, you shall die. However, if you can prove that it is Bel who is eating and drinking them, then Daniel shall be put to death for his blasphemy against Bel." Daniel said to the king, "Let it be as you say."

       Now there were seventy priests of Bel, in addition to their wives and children. The king, accompanied by Daniel, entered the temple of Bel, and the priests of Bel said to him, "We will now take our leave. We ask you, O king, to set out the food yourself and the wine you have prepared. Then lock the door and seal it with your signet ring. When you return in the morning, if you do not discover that Bel has consumed all of it, order us to be put to death. If such is not the case, then Daniel must die for his blasphemy in making false charges against us." They were not worried about the outcome because beneath the table they had constructed a secret entrance through which they always used to come in and consume all the provisions.

       After the priests had departed and the king had set out the food for Bel, Daniel ordered his servants to bring some ashes and to scatter them throughout the temple, in the presence of the king. They then all went outside, sealed the locked door with the royal signet ring, and departed. The priests, as was their custom, came by night with their wives and children, and they ate and drank everything.

       Early the next morning the king rose and came with Daniel. The king asked, "Are the seals unbroken Daniel?" "They are unbroken, O king," he replied. As soon as the door was opened, the king looked at the table and cried out, "Great are you, O Bel. There is no deceit in you." But Daniel laughed as he restrained the king from entering.

       "Look at the floor," he said, "and take note whose footprints these are." The king replied, "I see the footprints of men, women, and children."

       Enraged, the king ordered the priests to be arrested together with their wives and children. They showed him the secret door through which they used to enter to consume the provisions on the table. The king ordered them to be put to death, and he handed over Bel to Daniel, who destroyed both the idol and its temple.

DANIEL: CHAPTER 14, VERSES 1 - 22

Daniel Slays the Dragon | Again among the Lions.

The Babylonians also worshiped a huge dragon. The king said to Daniel, "You surely cannot deny that this is a living god. Therefore, I command you to adore it." Daniel replied, "I adore only THE LORD, my GOD, for HE is THE LIVING GOD. If you give me permission, O king, I shall kill this dragon without using either sword or club." "I grant you permission," said the king.

       Then Daniel gathered some pitch, fat, and hair. He boiled them together and formed the mixture into cakes, which he placed into the mouth of the dragon. When the dragon swallowed them, he burst open. Daniel said, "Behold what you have been worshiping."

       When the Babylonians learned about this, they became enraged and turned their anger against the king. "The king has become a Jew," they said. "He has destroyed Bel, slain the dragon, and put the priests to death." Therefore, they went to the king and demanded, "Hand Daniel over to us, or else we shall slay you and your family." Faced with this violent threat, the king was compelled to turn over Daniel to them.

       They threw Daniel into the den of lions, and, he was left there for six days. In that den there were seven lions, and each day two human carcasses and two sheep had usually been fed to them. Now, however, they were given nothing, to ensure that they would devour Daniel.

       In Judea at that time, there was the prophet Habakkuk. Having prepared a stew and mixed it in a bowl with some bread, he was on his way to take it to the reapers in the field. The angel of THE LORD instructed him, "Take the meal you have prepared to Daniel who is in Babylon in the lions' den." Habakkuk replied, "Sir, I have never been to Babylon, and I do not have any idea where the den is." Thereupon the angel of THE LORD grasped him by the crown of his head and, carrying him by his hair, with the speed of the wind, set him down in Babylon above the den.

       Habakkuk shouted, "Daniel, Daniel, take the food that GOD has sent to you." Daniel said, "YOU have remembered me, O GOD. YOU have not abandoned those who love YOU." He then got up and began to eat. Meanwhile the angel of THE LORD immediately carried Habakkuk back to his own country.

       On the seventh day the king came to weep for Daniel. When he arrived at the den and looked in, he saw Daniel sitting there. The king cried aloud, "YOU are great, O LORD, THE GOD of Daniel, and there is no other god but YOU." He then had Daniel lifted out of the den and ordered those who had plotted Daniel's destruction to be thrown into it. Those individuals were devoured before his eyes in an instant.

DANIEL: CHAPTER 14, VERSES 23 - 42