Daniel Once More
Daniel Once More
By Dennis Huebshman
Over the past four years, we saw a President of the U.S. that was very in tune with the Israeli people. He recognized Jerusalem as their rightful capital, and the Golan Heights as their property. I cannot remember any incidents from our President where he disrespected them. (any emphasis mine)
We have a reminder from Genesis 12:3, about a covenant that God made with Abraham about the Jewish people; “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you, I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
This is a permanent forever covenant from the Lord God Jehovah, creator of the heavens and the earth. Just because the Jewish people have been “disciplined” throughout the ages does not take this covenant away. God promised they would be returned after being disbursed all around the globe.
Amos 9:14-15; “I will restore the fortunes of My people, Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine; and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. (15) I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them, says the Lord your God.”
Ezekiel 36:24; “I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land.”
Jeremiah 30:3; “For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of My people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord; and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.”
Prior to May 14, 1948, the Jewish people had not possessed the land of Israel as a nation for about 2000 years. No other nation on earth has ever come back after such a long period of time. Samuel Clements (Mark Twain) visited the Holy Land in 1867, and he made comments about how desolate it was. From the declaration on May 14, 1948 that Israel was once again a sovereign nation, they have thrived; and not only do they drink their own wine and eat their own produce, but they also export both to other lands.
President Harry Truman was the first leader from another country to recognize Israel as a nation. Presidents from Truman and through Trump have acted toward Israel in various ways. They have gone from being politically decent to downright antagonistic. Some have treated the Jewish nation as if they are not allowed to call the land their own; and some have even called them trespassers. Our current leadership in congress are prone to this latter frame of mind. They do not take seriously the warning from God in Genesis 12:3.
Thing is, for anyone who is the least bit observant, and who believes the word of God, we have seen prophecy unfold over the past 72 years that could only be called miraculous. The moment Israel declared their sovereignty, they were attacked by nations from all sides. They prevailed, although greatly outnumbered and outgunned. Only Divine intervention could explain how this was possible. They have been attacked several times since then, and have continued to survive each time, and gaining ground with each win. They continue to survive terrorist attacks in various forms that take place almost daily.
Israel ranks 10th in the world in percentage of millionaires, and their military presence ranks 8th most powerful. The worldwide Jewish population is approximately 8 million people. The number of people making “Aliyah” (the act of going up toward Jerusalem) by moving to Israel is increasing, and lately it has increased by 50% according to the Jerusalem Post. It’s exactly as the bible has said it would be in the last days.
One sad note to all of this, God’s chosen people worldwide that are Messianic (accept Jesus as Messiah), only make up about 1% to 2 % of their total population. (source; Jews for Judaism) By the end of the 7-year tribulation, 100% will know Jesus as their true Messiah, although only about 1/3 of their total population will survive it. (Zechariah 13:8)
One person in Jewish history that would have had reason to be demoralized and turn against the Lord was Daniel. He and numerous other youths were taken from Jerusalem to Babylon, which was near modern day Baghdad, Iraq. Yet, instead of being totally in fear or a state of panic, Daniel relied on the Lord for his every need, all his life
There is a song by Phillip Bliss (1836-1876) called, “Are Your Windows Open Toward Jerusalem”. It references the “fiery furnace” faced by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, as well as the lion’s den Daniel spent a peaceful night in. It’s sometimes hard to picture that these individuals were taken to Babylon when they were probably in their early teenage years, yet they did not give up on the Father. We see Daniel’s loyalty all the way through to his final years, and through the reign of several foreign kings. Though he respected their positions, he never allowed them to come between himself and the Lord.
Please consider these words:
1.) Do you see the Hebrew captive kneeling; at morning, noon and night to pray? In his chamber he remembers Zion; though in exile far away.
Ref) Are your windows open toward Jerusalem; though as captives here a “little while” we stay? For the coming of the King in His glory; are you watching day by day?
2.) Do not fear to tread the fiery furnace; nor shrink the lion’s den to share; For the God of Daniel will deliver. He will send His angel there.
3.) Children of the living God, take courage; your great deliverance sweetly sing; set your faces to the hill of Zion; thence to hail our coming King!
Because of his love of God, and loyalty to the kings he served, Daniel was given a glimpse of what our end days would be like. Jesus Himself quoted from Daniel’s scrolls about the “Abomination that makes desolate” in Matthew 24:15. Though we are to pray for all our leaders, if their words and actions go against God, we must honor God’s word over them. (Acts 4:19)
John’s Revelation of Jesus Christ includes Daniel’s prophecy; and completes the scenario of the end of this earth as we know it. Just as Jesus and others said, we’re seeing a turning away from anything that pertains to Jesus. Many people don’t even try to hide their disrespect for the Lord. Satan worship is out in the open, and gaining popularity. We’re on the “Eve of Destruction”, yet people are ignoring their forever home with Jesus for the “pleasures” of this earth.
“All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved” is given in at least three bible verses; Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13. God didn’t put words out there just to take up space on pages. His words are true and He cannot lie. (Titus 1:2) When He says something once, He means it; when something is repeated, we need to take special heed of that.
Romans 10:9-13 gives us the pathway to forgiveness and eternal life with Jesus. God will force no one, but will accept everyone who truly repents and asks Jesus to be their Savior. There are no works or monetary price we can pay for this Salvation – Jesus paid it all!
Daniel was a great example. We know that only Jesus led a perfect sinless life on earth, but God made sure Daniel was honored for his steadfast loyalty. None of us are perfect, nor will we be as long as we’re in these human bodies with our sin-nature mindset. However, once with Jesus, we will be transformed into forever immortal bodies, and be as He is. No more temptation or sin – ever!
Today would not be too soon to call on Jesus to be your Savior. His coming to “Rapture” His true believers off this earth to keep us from going through the wrath could be any day now. Just witnessing all the signs that are given, we need to know that our departure is imminent. After the call, all who are left on this earth will go through the worst 7-year period of time this world has ever seen.
This is the most important decision you will ever make. Choose wisely; choose today; Choose Jesus!
Maranatha!