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            The chapter begins with Daniel acknowledging the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet that the deflation of Jerusalem would last 70 years. Daniel than began to pray to the Lord and fasted, showing all humility and pleaded that God would look with favor on His desolate sanctuary. 

            Daniel begins his prayer first by admitting all the sin they are all guilty of and owning the lack of faithfulness they all have had. He then acknowledges that because of the sin brought on by all of Israel, they have received the curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses. Despite all of this, they had not sought the favor of God by turning away from their sins and instead seek Gods truth. Even though Jerusalem was in the wrong, Daniel still asked God to forgive them and show His mercy, because He is a God of mercy and righteousness. 

            We will never be deserving of Gods grace, we will never be righteous on our own merits for His favor. But He loves us and shows us His grace and love anyway. He loves us so much that he covers us in His righteousness even though we don’t deserve it. If a child asked their parent for a blanket, would they tell them no they can freeze instead? God is our father, the creator of love, He loves us more than we could ever love someone, so if we as human beings would give a cold child a blanket when they ask for it, how much more would He do? Daniel knew God was loving and forgiving that’s why we felt comfortable enough to ask God for forgiveness even though all of Israel didn’t deserve it. He didn’t let shame or guilt separate himself from God. We can learn from this, no matter what we are guilty of, we can always go to God, He will welcome us with love and forgiveness. 

            God sent Gabriel to give Daniel a message after hearing his plea. Gabriel told Daniel that seventy 7s were decreed for his people and their holy city to finish transgression to put an end to sin and to atone for wickedness to bring in ever lasting righteousness. This will seal up vision and prophecy and anoint the Most Holy Place. 

            Gabriel then tells Daniel of the prophecy of 70 weeks. In Hebrew, weeks is used as a measure of 7, typically in days but can also be a measure of 7 years.  Daniels learns that from the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the appointed one there will be seven ‘sevens’ and sixty-two ‘sevens’. The seventy weeks are divided into three parts. Seven weeks (49 years) until the city and its walls are rebuilt. Sixty-nine weeks (7 plus 62 ) (per enduring word bible study) 483 years from the decree, until the Messiah appears. A final 70th week to complete the prophecy, the appointed one will be put to death. The people of the ruler will then destroy the city and the sanctuary, the end will come like a flood and a war will continue. He will confirm a covenant for many and put an end to sacrifice and offering.  

            This prophecy has led many to Christ. 

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            This chapter begins with another vision Daniel is given. While Daniel was having the vision he was trying to understand it, a man before him then told Gabriel to interpret this dream for him. Gabriel then begins to explain that this vision is about the end of time. Daniel was in a deep sleep with his face to the ground when he was raised up to his feet to hear the meaning of the vision. The two horned ram represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. Four horns replace a broken horn represents four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power. 

            In the later part of their reign a fierce looking king will arise, when all the rebels have become completely wicked. He will become very strong but not by his power, he will cause much devastation and succeed in whatever he does, he will destroy the mighty  and holy people. He will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes, but he will be destroyed however not by human power. Daniel is then told to seal up this vision for it concerns the distant future. 

            Daniel was appalled by the vision and exhausted after seeing it, he said it was beyond understanding. There are things that our flesh can’t fathom, but sense Jesus died on the cross and God blessed us with the Holy Spirit we can pray in tongues so that our spirit can understand. When things seem too much to bare or too much to understand, pray in tongues and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you what you are needing. Daniel couldn’t do this sense it was before Jesus’ time, so he was instead worn out and exhausted for several days. When we don’t understand something seek God to show us, ask the Holy Spirit to intercede on your behalf and help you understand. 

            This vision is about the end times, which is very hard to fathom. Pray that God will show you what you need to know on this subject and to give you peace with it. 

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            This chapter is about Daniel having a vision in his dream, and it goes along with what Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed.  The four beasts are mentioned in the beginning of his dream which is what Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed of, the four empires. It then goes to prophecy over the Messiah and Gods kingdom. The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth, but the Holy people of the most High will receive The kingdom and posesse it forever. 

            Daniel was troubled by this dream and kept seeking meaning of every detail of it. When we receive a message from God its important to really absorb it in. We may not be meant to understand all of it right away but as we understand more of it a new revelation can take place. Some people have visions while they are awake,  some have visions in their sleep. Some may not even realize the dream they had could have been a message from God. God made us all uniquely different, so the way he may communicate with one of us can be different than the next. If one has a hard time quieting their minds when awake, then God may tell you messages in your sleep when your mind is more quiet. Try and be aware of how God gives messages to you, and if you are unsure, pray over it. We wouldnt want messages from God going unnoticed! 

Have a very Merry Christmas! And God bless! 

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            Daniel was now one of Darius’s top three administrators. Everyone Daniel worked with didn't believe in God, and it showed in their work, Daniel was shining brighter than his competition because he had God working with him. This made the others jealous and made enemies for Daniel at work. We can learn from this, when you work with God and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you, your work will stand out too. And when you stand out, it can be a side effect having coworkers get jealous or upset, but remember to give all glory to God and maybe it will help them want to seek God, so they too can thrive and live that blessed life.

            The other administrators tried to find something to get Daniel in trouble for so he would be kicked off the hierarchy and they would take over his spot as top administrator. But there was nothing to find him at fault with, he worked honestly, hard and with good morales the way God would want him too. So, they attacked his religion, because that was the other thing that set him apart, they attacked his worship of God. So the other administrators made a decree, that no one may worship or pray to any god or man for thirty days except for their king, and king Darius agreed.

            When Daniel got home, knowing the decree had been signed, he went to his bedroom and with the window open for all of Jerusalem to see, he got on his knees and prayed to God as he normally would. He didn't allow anything to come between him and God. The administrators found Daniel praying and went straight to the king with it. The king didn't want to punish Daniel for this, he saw the power of Daniels God and didn't want to go against that but his administrators were pressing hard for him to punish Daniel for breaking the decree. Instead of standing up to his administrators, he told Daniel that His God would deliver him and agreed to have Daniel sent to the lions den. The king fasted all night and didn't sleep, waiting for morning to arise to see if God delivered Daniel from the lions. When he found Daniel he was alive, God sent an angel to close the lions mouths so that they would not hurt him, the king excitedly demanded that Daniel be removed from the lions den.

            Because Daniel believed in God, he was delivered from the lions den. We must strive to have faith like Daniel, in every circumstance we face, strive for faith like Daniels when he was in the lions den. The administrators and their families were punished and all thrown in to the lions den, and King Darius made a new decree, that everyone must tremble and fear Daniels God. Daniel was put in a tough place, to make a decision to walk away from God for thirty days or keep near to God and be put to death.  It would have been less scary to not pray where others can see you and wait the thirty days, but his love and honor for God was too strong to be put in the corner. This bold and braveness is something every christian can have if they seek God. Then Daniel was fearless in the lions den, he had no doubt and knew God would deliver him. Every christian can have this faith and fearlessness too, if we actively seek God.

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