WHAT SHALL BEFALL THY PEOPLE
Daniel 10:10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
This is a most amazing occurrence. The Lord God has sent his angel, strengthened by the mighty Michael to reveal to the Prophet Daniel that which shall occur for hundreds of years. He shall reveal to him everything in providence from Babylon all the way up to the coming of Messiah, who shall make an end of transgression and fulfill all this vision. Amazing! Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Various kingdoms with their wars and political efforts to gain supremacy are listed out in chapter eleven. Cleopatra is shown in Daniel 11:17. The wars between Egypt, listed as “the king of the south,” and Syria, listed as “the king of the north,” are detailed in that same chapter. He has already been shown the four Gentile world kingdoms. These were listed out in chapter seven of Daniel.
The Chaldeans were shown as the lion, the Medes and Persians as a bear. The Greeks revealed as a leopard. Alexander the Great is shown in Daniel 8:21 as “the great horn” of “the rough goat” of “Grecia.” And then the Romans are shown, so terrible as not to have any beast to represent them. They are just shown as “dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly.” Even Julius Caesar is revealed in Daniel 7:8 as, “another little horn.”
But we must understand why all this accurate history of the world is being revealed in such detail. There are two reasons. The first is to show that the Lord God is the only true and living God! For no other of the ‘gods’ worshipped by man can reveal these things! They are but dumb idols. This is one thing that only the true God can do!
Isaiah 44:7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. 8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. 9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
Isaiah 45:20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. 21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
And the second reason all this is given is to reveal to the true peoples of God that although God has ordained these things to be, he is going to use them to keep them free from worldliness, and to be constantly living by faith. He will make all these things work together for their good. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
He has harnessed the world and it’s powers for them. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. And even though these things occur, he, having all power over all things, and sending them to conquer the world by the gospel, shall forever be with them, throughout all ages! Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Our Lord Jesus gave us perfect example, for he informed the Roman representative, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: (John 19:11) 1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
And in the calling of Saul of Tarsus the Lord did not say, “I will show him how great things he must PREACH for me!” He said, “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
We sing, “The way of the cross leads home.” But the Harlot church has brain-washed us into thinking that just means Jesus had to have a cross so we could go to heaven! But that’s not what the Lord Christ stated. Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
“Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free? No! There’s a cross for everyone, And there’s a cross for me.”
Therefore we clearly see that the Lord God is the only God; that he has ordained all things according to the council of his own will; that he has even come in his Humanity and overcome the world for us; that what he has overcome, we must endure; and that they who endure shall be rewarded with the reception of Christ’s glory!
Consider therefore these verses: Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
To receive all these glorious rewards we must have “overcome” the world! And there has been but one grace given us whereby every single believer in every age, out of every nation has overcome the world! It is the gift of faith within the spiritually born believer! 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Every soul, whether they could read or write; whether they had ever seen a Bible; whether they were blatant sinners before; whether they were raised in a “Christian environment” or not, when the Holy Spirit quickened them to spiritual life in Christ, forming Christ within their lost souls, were everyone granted overcoming faith. Therefore not one of them shall be lost! John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Therefore whether it was or a Philistine giant; or an Egyptian Pharaoh, or a Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar, or a Persian Darius, or a Greek Alexander, or a Roman Caesar, or a German tyrant, or a Russian Czar, or an American politician, Christ is reigning over them all! Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
And every believer in all these conditions has Christ’s peace, by Christ’s faith, to guide and keep them safely throughout the ages! John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. For his peace surpasses all understandings. And they do understand just how terrible Satan rages at them through these worldly tyrants, but the peace granted them still holds! Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
For after the Lord God has used these worldly tyrants to chastise and purge his people he shall then turn to those who willingly afflicted the church, bringing greater punishment upon these for doing so. And he shall be just in doing so, for these afflicters did not do so for the glory of God. They did so for their own pleasure and advancement! Judas was essential in the crucifixion of God’s Holy Lamb! But he is justly in hell as he didn’t betray Christ in order to bring in God’s salvation. He did so for the money!
God used the Assyrians as a chastising rod to correct Israel. But then God punished them for doing so! Isaiah 10:5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
But how can God justly punish them? Because they didn’t do it for God’s glory! Isaiah 10:7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. 11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? 12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. 13 For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:
Therefore the Lord also comforts those whom he has most justly and severely chastened. Isaiah 10:20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. 24 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. 25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Pastor Gene Breed
February 07, 2020