Comments for October 24

20:10-11 Whilst Israel did not vex Ammon, Moab and Edom when they travelled to the land of Canaan now we see their hatred of Israel showing itself. The conflict between different elements of the seed of Abraham has a really long history and never have we seen in the history of these nations a desire to share the land. So, we might ask, why would such a solution work today?

In v.23 and 36 Daniel speaks in the plural of himself, saying us/we. Who else is he referring to? In the context of v.36 and what he has said to Nebuchadnezzar before, it would seem to be Daniel and God, but in v.23 that is not the case as he is saying that God has made the kings matter known to us. Were there others around that were with Daniel that we are not told of? Were his friends there?

2:21 The 'times and seasons' are events which are in God's, not man's control. Thus even though the nation of Israel had been taken captive by the Babylonians and the temple had been destroyed God was still in control of events. This must have been a great comfort to those who understood these things.

v.5,6 - Along with many other things, one of the things we are shown here is the change in Nebuchadnezzar, who eventually turned and worshipped God. Here is the man of extremes - the man corrupted with power - the man whom no other man could gainsay. This is the man that God humbled

2:1 This is the same time as Jeremiah 36:9 - see Daniel 1:1

LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS

What staggers me when looking at this prophecy in Daniel is that we are living in the last days of man's domination on the earth. According to this overview of world history - no matter what variations of interpretation we take - it puts us into the time of the feet and toes of iron and clay. Following this time in history there is no more opportunity for men to rule the world. The next item on the agenda is the stone that crushes the feet of the image and then grinds the whole thing to powder. The stone then grows and becomes a huge mountain that fills the whole earth.. It will be a completely new order of things for the world. It will be a kingdom set up in righteousness that will fill the whole world.

But the point is this: We are living in the last days before Jesus returns to set up this kingdom. We probably haven't got a lifetime to think about it - it could happen any day. Are you ready for him?

I have always understood the plural spoken of was of Daniel's three friends. He told them (17) of the thing, so that they (18) would seek the assistance of their God. I can see your point in v36 of we being God, but I would still think that it was Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

2:35 That 'no place was found for them' is developed (Revelation 20:11) indicating that the final fulfilment of Daniel 2 is the time when the kingdom is established.

2:34 When Daniel spoke of the stone which "brake them to pieces" he uses language which Jesus uses in Matt 21:44 when speaking to the leaders of his day about the end of those who rejected the "stone".

V.16 It appears that Daniel did not go in, in person, but by the mediation of one who had access to the king. Daniel's first direct interview appears to have been recorded in Dan 2:25

V.4 Most of the Old Testament is written in Hebrew, but this portion of scripture is recorded in Syriac.  Syriac is alternatively known as Chaldean or Aramaic (which has several regional forms). 

Aramaic became the language of business and diplomacy in the Near East. It was the court language of the Persian Empire. It was still the common language during Jesus' time. For example, Jesus demonstrated this when He exclaimed the opening words of Ps 22 in Aramaic: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (Mark 15:34).

V.13 The authorities did not distinguish between wise men, and lumped Daniel and his companions with everyone else to be killed.  Daniel set about making a distinction which ultimately won him honour. 

Are we considered Christians like everyone else, or do we make a point of being distinct?  If we do not, we shall be lumped together with the rest, destined for destruction.  If we do, by witnessing the Truth both in doctrine and walk, then we, like Daniel, will be ultimately honoured.  The king who will honour us will be the Lord Jesus when He returns to earth. 

PRAY TOGETHER
 
It was a time of urgency.  Daniel knew that God had the answers Nebuchadnezzar had asked for, so it was time to ask God to reveal those answers.  Daniel could have gone into his room alone and prayed to his God for the solution that was needed, but instead he called his friends and asked them to pray with him.  "Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." (Dan 2:14)  Their prayer was answered that very night.
 
Daniel decided not to pray alone.  Of course God hears our individual prayers - even Daniel, as he prayed at a later time, was heard and answered even though he prayed alone - but there is special power in the combined prayers of a group.  Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt 18:20)  Again, even if we are alone he is with us, but there is something special about fellowship and prayer together..
 
So instead of trying to go it alone when we pray, let's follow Daniel's example and call our friends so that they can pray with us.  There is power in prayer and especially when we can unite with others as we give thanks and make requests to God.

V.46 We may be sure that Daniel, who refused to compromise those things that he believed and stood for (1:8) , he did not give up prayer when his life was at stake (6:28), and disclaimed all personal merit in the matter of the dream (V.30), attributing all glory to God (V.45), did not compromise on that occasion when an oblation and sweet odours (divine honors Ezra 6:10) were ordered to be offered him, that is his God, in the intent of a pagan king. 

The dream of Nebuchadnezzar is sometimes thought of as outlining the four world empires – but surely there have been far more than four? What about the Indian, Chinese, British etc?  Surely the answer is that these four empires controlled the Middle East when Israel was a nation.  What the rest of the world got up to is of little importance.  One Brother used to say that there was a large time gap at the ankle stage of the image, while Israel was out of it’s land. From AD70 until the early 1900’s the Jews were dispersed. But then on their return the “feet” stage began. So today with Israel there, the strong and weak nations have been pulling in different directions, and will do until Christ returns – then a REAL world empire!

2 Chapter 1 sets the scene. Chapters 2-5 form the first part of the prophecies. The king’s view of world affairs.

2:10-11 The response of the magicians, like the response of the magicians in Egypt - Exo 8:19 - is an open admission that there is a God who can do things that they, with their trickery, could not.

2:9 till the time be changed Until a new state of things arrive...either by my ceasing to trouble myself about the dream, or could it have been that Nebuchadnezzar was troubled by suspecting the Chaldeans of plotting against him, to overthrow him, by setting up this dream?

The metals of Daniel's image are interesting.  They comprise:

- Head of gold

- Chest and arms of silver

- Belly and thighs of bronze

- Legs of iron

Technically, the density of metal is measured by the product of grams multiplied by centimetres to the negative cubed root.

The densities of the metals in the image are:

Gold - 19.3

Silver - 10.49

Bronze - 8.75 (bronze is an alloy usually made from 88% copper and 12% tin. The density of copper is 8.96, and that of tin is 7.265).

Iron - 7.86

Notice the diminishing values of densities in descending order.  What this tells us is that the image is top-heavy.  It stands on feet, whose mixture of iron and clay presents the least dense and stable of all the components of the image.  Thus, the stone hitting the feet of the image has no trouble in bringing down the top-heavy statue.

Christ (the stone) will have no trouble in bringing down all opposing earthly authorities (represented by the four empires) when He returns to earth.  He will then set up His kingdom which will never be destroyed (v.44).

2:16 The king had already told the Babylonian astrologers that they could not be told the dream because they wanted to ‘buy the time’ –2:8 – and yet Daniel asks for time. The difference being that Daniel wanted the time to pray to God with his companions whereas the Babylonian astrologers wanted the dream so they could invent an interpretation.

In the 4^th.Century AD, the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. He convoked the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. This Council determined that God was a Trinity.

All who did not believe in the Trinity were called heretics. Thus, there was created a sharp division between those who held to apostolic beliefs, and those of the militant camp of Constantine. This division has lasted right through to the present day. Through Constantine, Imperial Rome was transformed to Ecclesiastical Rome (the Catholic Church).

In the 11^th.Century AD, the Catholic Church broke into two parts: Roman Catholic; and Eastern Orthodox. These two sections are represented by the two iron legs of Daniel’s image. The feet are a mixture of iron and clay. Clay is symbolic of humanity, and here represents nations.

Different toes represent different nations. But, these nations are partly iron. That means, this collection of nations is influenced by ecclesiastical Rome. In the end times, this group of nations will form Catholic Europe. It will be hostile towards Jesus and try to destroy Him.

But, Jesus (the stone) will destroy them. In doing so, all nations will become subject to the Lord, who will grow together with His saints, to fill the whole earth. Then, the peaceful Kingdom period will begin.

2:44 That the kingdom that is to be set up "shall never be destroyed" is a refrain which runs through the prophecy – see 6:26, 7:14 and is contrasted with the end of ‘raiser of taxes’ – 11:20 who will be destroyed.

Dan 2:44  First Principles>Kingdom of God>To be Everlasting and world-wide
The Kingdom of God will be a visible, irresistible and everlasting dominion to be established on earth in the place of all existing kingdoms for the purpose of subjecting, blessing and perfecting the world.
Dan 2:44, Dan 7:13,14,27, Psa 2:8,9, Hag 2:22, Zech 14:9, Rev 11:15, Rev 19:11-15
First Principles>Kingdom of God> Go to Gen 12:1 to see more details about the Kingdom of God.

Christ's future kingdom on earth will triumphantly replace the succession of earthly world powers - Dan 2:44-45;Luke 1:32-33;1Cor 15:24;2Pet 1:10-11;Rev 11:15.

Vs.48,49 Daniel was the highest official in the palace and the chief confidant of the king. Daniel’s companions were trusted administrators of the Province of Babylon only. For the rest of the Babylonian Empire, Daniel and his companions had no power.

Usually when thinking about this chapter we might go straight to the prophecy in the latter half. But that's a shame. If we study the first 30 verses of this chapter we can learn for ourselves how to petition God in communal prayer like Daniel did (v17). How to thank God when we have received what we asked for (v20-23). And how to make sure we acknowledge God as the source when others want to congratulate us (27-30).

2:5 In saying that he could not remember the dream we maybe have an indication that Nebuchadnezzar did not trust the astrologers especially when we see his comment (verse :8). The fact that he allowed Daniel ‘time’ (verse :16) seems to indicate that Nebuchadnezzar is more favourably disposed towards a belief in Yahweh.

2:32   The metals of the image are the same as the metals specifically mentioned in Josh 6:19 that were not to be taken out of Jericho.  They represent the things of the kingdoms of men.

Dan 2:2

“Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams.”

The Pagan Chaldean astrologers replied to King Nebuchadnezzar that, “There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter…” (verse 10). They were right!

When Daniel, the servant of the living God, was summoned to the king, he replied, “but there is a God (Elah) in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days” (Dan 2:28). What a contrast in their replies to the king! Daniel refused to resort to, or implicate himself with any forms of fortune telling. The prophet Daniel was then given a comprehensive account of world history up to and including our crisis shattered Century with unmistakable indications to the imminent catastrophic end of this Age.

What does Scripture have to say? “…. Let now the astrologers, the stargazer, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame…” (Isa 47:13-14). Should believers really be inquiring "of the dead on behalf of the living” (Isa 8:19)?

2:12   Kill the messenger is often the irrational reaction when the message is not liked. Killing the astrologers would not solve the king’s problems. However God has the solution – and uses faithful men who would not compromise their position. God had prepared them just for this time. Do we consider our faithfulness could be eventually used by God for His purpose?

a couple of them - Dan 2:31-45.

2:37   This is the first time that Nebuchadnezzar was told that God was in control and   set up kings as He saw fit. It becomes a recurring theme.  Dan 4:17 is the beginning of a number of times that this point is made in that chapter.

1. Dan 2:1 - the dream-image was in the 2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign as sole ruler (he co-reigned with his father previously).

2. Dan 2:2,27 - "magicians"<2748> or <2749>, "astrologers"<825> or <826>, "sorcerers"<3784>, "Chaldeans"<3778>, "wise"<2445>, "soothsayers"<1505> - six classes of people were asked about the dream.

3. Dan 2:5 - Nebuchadnezzar remembered the dream but demanded the Chaldeans tell him the dream so he could be assured of their honesty (Dan 2:4,8,9,10,24,26,36,46) as to the interpretation.

4. Dan 2:16 - the depth of Daniel's faith and trusting in God prior to having the dream and its interpretation revealed.

5. Dan 2:17-23 - Daniel tells his three friends; all four pray to God; God reveals the dream and its interpretation to Daniel; Daniel praises God.

6. Dan 2:22 - to those who seek God in truth, He will reveal the secret of His purpose.

7. Dan 2:28 - full credit given to God who revealeth secrets, what shall happen in the latter days, the contents of the  dream, and the interpretation of the dream.

8. Dan 2:34 - the stone cut out by no human hand represents Christ but the stone evolves into a mountain which is the Messianic kingdom (Isa 8:14;28:16;Dan 2:34-35,44-45;Matt 21:42-44;Rom 9:33;1Pet 2:4-8) - the great king to rule in Jerusalem (Matt 5:35).

9. Dan 2:35 - "broken to pieces together together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them" - the judgment of Armageddon is likened to the threshing of the nations (Mic 4:11-13;Joel 3:12-14;Rev 16:16;Psa 1:4) - In Rev.16:16 the word "Armageddon"<717>  may mean mountain or hill of Megiddo but there is no such place mentioned in the Old Testament though there is a Valley of Megiddo (2Chron 35:22;Zech 12:11); another possibility for "Armageddon" suggested by Dr. John Thomas is "Arma" may signify "a heap of sheaves" while "ge" may signify "a valley" while "don" may signify "judgment", thus when put together could read something like "heaps of sheaves in a valley of judgment".
10. Dan 2:35 - "and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth" - mountains represent empires (Jer 51:25;Isa 2:2) but this Messianic empire would be after Armageddon (Psa 72:8,11;Dan 2:44;Mic 4:8;Zech 14:9;Rev 11:15).

11. Dan 2:38 - Babylon's glory would last 70 years (Jer 25:11;Dan 5:22,27-31 circa 606BC - 536BC); a later image of Babylon (Dan 7:4).

12. Dan 2:39 - next was the Medo-Persian empire (circa 536BC - 334BC) which was inferior to Babylon from a king's viewpoint as the king was restricted by law (Dan 6:12-16); later images of the Medo-Persian empire (Dan 7:5;8:1-7,20).

13. Dan 2:39 - next was the Grecian-Macedonian empire of Alexander the Great that conquered the known world (circa 334BC - 67BC); Greece or "Javan"(<3120> Eze 27:13) were known as "the brazen coated Greeks"; later images of the Grecian-Macedonian empire which was divided into four parts after the death of Alexander the Great (Dan 7:6;8:5-8,21-22).

14. Dan 2:40 - next was the Roman empire (circa 67BC - 476AD); later images of the Roman empire (Dan 7:7;8:9-12).

15. Dan 2:46;Jer 36:23-26 - contrasting between the Gentile king Nebuchadnezzar who was prostrate and king Jehoiakim of Judah who rejected God's Word.

16. Dan 2:48 - Daniel typed Christ.

17. Dan 2:49;3:12 - envy was created.

Dan 2:1    The future that God has in place for man does cause “trouble” to the godless men. We see this on two more occasions – Dan 4:5, 5:9– where on being shown things to come Babylonian leaders were troubled. 

2:8   Whilst the Chaldean astrologers wanted to know the dream to interpret it Dan 2:16 – just asked for time. He was not troubled that he did not know the dream but wanted time to speak to God.

THE CREDITS GO TO...

Daniel's attitude is amazing. In many ways Daniel was the hero of the moment when Nebuchadnezzar had his dream and didn't know what it meant. When he heard of Nebuchadnezzar's dilemma, he could have gone home all by himself and asked God for the answer, but instead he called his friends to pray with him.

When he appeared in front of king Nebuchadnezzar to reveal and interpret the dream, he gave the credit to God. After Daniel had revealed the dream, he did not say, "Now I will interpret it for you." Instead he said,"Now WE will interpret it to the king." (Dan 2:36).

As Daniel offered to help the king, he requested that Nebuchadnezzar save the lives of the wise men, not just his own and those of his friends.

And as he was rewarded, he also made sure that those who had helped him in prayer were also rewarded.

Throughout the whole process, there was never a time when Daniel took glory for himself. Pride is not an easy thing to push aside. But if we want to be people of God, like Daniel was,  it is one of the first things we need to do. Life does not revolve around us. We are those who must rely on the strength of God and the blessings he gives us.

So let's take the focus off ourselves and grow humility in extra large proportions just like Daniel.

2:1 whereas Daniel interpreted the dream in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign Daniel was instructed for three years – Dan 1:5.  So Daniel interpreted the dream before he had completed his “training”. In fact it would appear that he did not appear with the other astrologers when they were summoned – Dan 2:2 – and he seemed unaware of the king’s decree –Dan 2:15. So it would appear that Daniel’s appearance before Nebuchadnezzar was at the instigation of Arioch, rather than because Daniel was a fully qualified astrologer. The significance of this is clear. Daniel did not need Chaldean education to interpret dreams. As he himself said – Dan 2:28

2:45        Daniel speaks of God as “the great God” a phrase used – Ezra 5:8 – when a letter is sent to Darius whose kingdom of Persia is actually mentioned as the chest and arms or silver in the explanation of the dream.

2:45    The language and idea of “without hands” is picked up and used to show certain things were “of God” – 2Cor 5:1, Col 2:11, Heb 9:11

2:25  Daniel’s experience here, in response to a king’s dream, matches that of Joseph before Pharaoh – Gen 41:14

TO ANSWER THE ANSWER

I don't know whether it is just a translation or whether this is the word the Hebrew actually implies, but I love the way the ESV puts this. Daniel and his friends had asked for God to reveal the king's dreams to them. God did as they asked, and through that, Daniel and his friends were able to save the lives of the wise men of Babylon. So this is what we read:

"The the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, 'Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.'" (Dan 2:19-20).

Daniel answered. God had answered Daniel's prayer, and Daniel had answered the answer with praise.

We all ask God for things. It is perfectly natural and God likes us to do so, but do we answer him when he answers us? Do we, like Daniel, answer our God with praise? Do we answer him with a "Thank you"?

Let's remember that the conversation doesn't end with the first ask and answer. We can and should carry it on. Let's be like Daniel and answer God when he answers us.

2:17 When we have an issue that we need to pray abut do we tell our fellow believers so that they might also pray about the problem.

2:20-23 Nebuchadnezzar was angry and in haste to destroy the magicians. However when Daniel was given the dream and the interpretation he did not go in haste back to the king. Rather he took time to pray to his God in thankfulness.  Do we always remember to pray to God when we have had an answer to prayer or do we just move on to the next thing in our lives?

Nebuchadnezzar’s nightmare image is of a series of kingdoms, led by monarchs.  This dream is not about nations.

Daniel gave the interpretation:

He said to Nebuchadnezzar: ³⁷ Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

A king of kings is an emperor, and hence the word empire.

More kings would follow: ³⁹ And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.⁴⁰ And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron:

Most Bible students accept that historically there were 4 empires. These empires dominated where the Jews lived (v,38. wheresoever the “children of men” dwell). Babylonian armies destroyed Solomon’s Temple, Daniel and his friends, and many other Jews, were captives in Babylon at the time of the dream. The Jews returned to Judea under the Medo-Persian empire, and were then ruled by the Greeks.

They were then cruelly treated by the Romans.  The second Temple was destroyed in AD 70, and a million Jews were killed or enslaved. After the Bar Kokhba revolt in AD 132 the Jews who survived the massacre were deported from the land, and Jerusalem became a Roman city. The Jews were scattered throughout the empire, and would mainly live in this region for the next 2 millennia. Horrific persecutions included exile from more countries, the Spanish Inquisition, pogroms in Russia, Ukraine, and eastern Europe, and worst of all the Holocaust in Europe.

The emperors of these empires were successively called Zar (Nebuchadnez-zar Heb,), Shah, Basileus or Kaisar, Caesar, and later Kaiser and Tsar.

The Caesars of Rome had an eagle as their personal symbol.  This was the “king of the birds”. This symbol existed through the division of the Roman empire, when the royal court moved from Rome to New Rome, Byzantium, (later called Constantinople, and now Istanbul). The western empire became the Holy Roman Empire in the 9^th century, with Charlemagne as the emperor in Germany. The eastern, Byzantine empire, which continued for 1,000 years, had a series of emperors, in dynasties, The Palaeologus dynasty were Greeks, and they added an extra head to their eagle. The double-headed eagle became the imperial emblem in the 12^th century, When Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 the royal throne was taken to Rome with the royal children. The surviving princess took the throne as part of her dowry when she moved to Moscow to marry the leading Russian Prince, Ivan III in 1472. Ivan now decided that he was the successor to the Roman caesars, and took the double headed eagle as his symbol. Moscow became known as the Third Rome.

After the fall of Constantinople the Habsburg emperors in western Europe decided that they were the successors to Rome, and they added another head to their eagle.

There were 2 parallel Roman empires for the next 400 years, each claiming succession to Rome.  They both ended in 1918. These were the solid metallic iron Roman legs.

Both empires were defeated by the Russian revolution, and World War I. The countries where these empires had been were then ruled by republican governments, who were communists, fascists, socialists, Nazis, etc. Most used a single headed Roman eagle, as the republic was the Roman form of government before the caesars started. The feet are iron mixed with clay. This is “people power”, and the Jews suffered the Holocaust in this time.

The toes of the image are kings (v.44), They are also iron mixed with clay, so they will be constitutional monarchs, from the royal families that ended in 1918.  The ten kings are the same as the 10 horns on Daniel’s fourth beast. Five will come from what were western Europe’s monarchies, and 5 from the Byzantine empire’s monarchies, including Russia.

These monarchies will exist when the divinely created stone smashes the image on the feet. That stone will be ruled by the final King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. At present most of the monarchies are awaiting restoration, so restitution of monarchies in countries like Russia and Austria will signal that the end of the nightmare of the kingdoms of men is about to come. 

2:3 Whilst Nebuchadnezzar simply thought he had a dream in reality God gave him the dream. It is as if even though it appears that Yahweh had been vanquished by Babylon we see that he is still at work behind the scenes, so to speak. The dream could only be interpreted by the man that God appointed.

It might look as if God is not at work in our day. We cannot see Him physically. However He is still at work and we can have confidence that His will, in time, will become very clear. Like Daniel and his friends we just need to keep the confidence that He is in charge of world affairs.

Dan 2:21

“… he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.”

On September 8, 2022, it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II after a 70-year reign over the UK and other commonwealth nations like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, etc., had died, and her son, Prince Charles, became King Charles III. He is now King over the UK, and the other commonwealth nations. From a worldly point of view this timing could not have been worse for the general population, and I will explain why, but from a prophetic point of view, we will witness the escalating end of this Age.

Klaus Schwab, the Executive Economic Chairman of the World Economic Forum, utilized the Covid pandemic to move forward with the New World Order Agenda. “The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has offered countries an opportunity to build recovery plans that will change current trends and also change consumption and production patterns towards achieving a more sustainable future.” This quote actually comes from Prince Charles of Wales, now King Charles III! With Klaus Schwab, King Charles III urged moving forward, “in war-like footing,” their agenda for a New World Order. While the implementation of “a more sustainable future” sounds good, it will come at a great price, one of them subtly hinted at in a speech given and may be heard on the YouTube video below, that being population reduction to achieve their sustainable goals. At the COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, between October-November 2021, then Prince Charles, said the following: “We also know that many countries that are burdened by growing levels of debt simply cannot afford to go green. Here we need a vast military style campaign to marshall the strength of the global private sector.” There will be a complete transformation of life as we knew it: one global religion, one global digital currency, one global government and it will proceed quickly. (Underlines mine)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuTzaCd_Suo/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaY0M3bDjT8/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaY0M3bDjT8/

The Royal Family Channel on YouTube, under the title, “First Glimpse of the New King as Charles departs Scotland,” this short video ends with the English Christmas carol, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive her King.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtCG1R3kIqY/ !

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Reset/

King Charles III’s father, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is quoted as once having said, “In the event that I am reincarnated, I would like to return as a deadly virus, to contribute something to solving overpopulation."

https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/prince-philip-quote-about-reincarnating-as-a-deadly-virus-to-solve-overpopulation-resurfaces/articleshow/81992882.cms/

“THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2Tim 3:1). This is a very emphatic statement! Perilous, # <5467>, chalepos, “… dangerous… fierce.” The only other place this word is used is in Matt 8:28, where two “demon” possessed Gergesenes are described as, “exceeding fierce” [people], # <5467>, chalepos! This gives us a better understanding of what Paul was really telling Timothy - that in the last days exceeding fierce times shall come; sadly, though, he was also speaking of many within (2Tim 3:2-7! A God-less world has no form of Godliness.

Humanity will be facing the severest time of testing ever experienced. The old-world order must be destroyed before God ushers in His new-world order; Jesus will crush the old-world order to powder (Dan 2:34; Matt 21:44). The powers of the heavens shall be shaken, and men’s hearts will fail them for fear of what is coming to pass (Luke 21:26).  We further read in Luke 21:27, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Jesus is coming with his saints, the cloud of witnesses! We have no need to fear, we ought not to fear! What we must do is to, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36; Rev 14:4,5). Yahweh’s mercy endures forever, He shall redeem us from our enemies. (Psa 136).

2  We should remember that Daniel, as a young man in Jerusalem, would have been well aware of the prophet Jeremiah and his earlier prophecies. As a faithful servant of God he would have already learnt about the captivity in Babylon.

2:46 It is difficult to appreciate the significance of Nebuchadnezzar’s reaction – to fall down on his face before Daniel. However we should appreciate that Nebuchadnezzar’s reaction and honouring Daniel was short lived.  We should appreciate that it was his own pride which got in the way of his willingness to submit to Yahweh. In this there is a lesson for us. Our pride can get in the way of total submission to our heavenly Father.

21 v. 14 - Jesus' appearances to the selected believers after the resurrection were tiny snapshots of time. It clearly was not the case that he walked around freely as he had done before and we are just told of small amounts of what happened. It seems he was not around at all except on these special occasions.

20:15 We might think it quite natural that Mary would think that Jesus was the gardener in the garden. However there is a beautiful parallel and contrast with the first Adam. Adam was given the job of tending Eden. He was indeed the gardener.

21:9 The mention of a 'fire of coals' echoes John 18:18 when Peter denied Jesus. This encounter which has a threefold questioning of Jesus was the route through which Peter's recovery was achieved. By contrast there was no recovery for Judas. By now he had hung himself. Denial is forgivable. Betrayal was the behaviour of a man who did not appreciate the true character of his lord and God. Consequently there was no place for repentance.

20:7 There is a contrast with the coming of Lazarus out of the tomb (John 11:44). Jesus was not bound in the graveclothes because, unlike Lazarus, he had conquered death - death no more had dominion over him. This was not true of Lazarus.

21:14 In telling us that this was 'the third time' that Jesus had been seen by the disciples we are being reminded of Deuteronomy 17:6. We know that there were many appearances of Jesus to the disciples (Acts 1:3) so unless the majority took place after these three here mentioned we have to conclude that John's selectivity is to make the point of the fact that Jesus' resurrection is attested to by (two or) three witnesses.

20:8  John - 'That other disciple' 'saw and believed' Thomas says that he will not believe unless he sees (20:25). These two comments are taken up by Jesus ( 20:29) when speaking to Thomas.

21:12 Jesus 'shewed himself alive after his passion ... being seen of them forty days' (Acts 1:3) so why were the disciples frightened to ask 'Who art thou'?

20:.25,27 We must place the words of Thomas and those of Jesus next to each other, in order to see how precisely, and fully the demands of Thomas are met.

For every demand of Thomas, there is a command of Christ.

20:16 That Mary called Jesus Rabboni  underscores the fact that the common speech of Jews at this time was Aramaic and not Hebrew.

20:28 Thomas is not claiming that Jesus is God as some suppose.  He is witnessing the Son of God who had been immortalised and had been in the presence of His Father in heaven.  As such, Jesus had the Father truly manifest in Him and bore His Name.  Jesus and God were still separate persons but truly bound in the same Spirit.  All true followers of Christ will attain the same status of having God manifest in them, and will also bear His Name (1Cor 15:28; Rev 22:3,4).

21:15-19 - Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him and Peter replies three times yes that he loves him. The first two times Jesus uses the agapeo (25) form of deep love and Peter responds with the phileo (5368) form of friendship love. The third time Jesus uses the phileo (5368) form of friendship love and a grieved Peter responds with the phileo (5368) form of friendship love. After each asking of love Jesus says to feed my sheep. Matt 26:33-35 - Peter had said he would never deny Christ. Peter was likely grieving over his three time denial as Christ noted the contrast in asking the degree of his love three times particularly with the last time asking if Peter even loved (5368) him as a friend. But Christ reassures Peter that he would become stronger spiritually even to the extent of glorifying God in a death of crucifixion. 

20:29 We are amongst those spoken of by Jesus in this verse – we have not seen but still believe. We should remember the wonderful blessing that God will shower on those who not having seen still believe.

21:25 In saying that there were more things that could be written John is reflecting, it seems, on Psa 40:5. The miracles are not simply evidences of Jesus’ Messiaship. They are some of God’s ‘wonderful works’

FEED THE FLOCK
 
Three questions, three answers, and three replies. '"Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my Lambs."' (John 21:15) Each of the three times this dialogue was  repeated, the phrasing was a little different but the essence of it was very similar.
Jesus: "Do you love me?"
Peter: "Yes I do."
Jesus: "Feed my Lambs, Care for my sheep, Feed my sheep"
 
Can we ask ourselves the questions Jesus asked Peter? Do we love Jesus more than these? (More than our livelihood, the activities or the people in our lives?) Do we truly love him? Do we love him like a brother? I hope that our answers, like Peter's, are all positive answers: "Yes, you know I love you." If this is the case and we do love him, then it follows that we must also take note of his instruction and put it into practice in our lives as Peter did in his. We must care for and feed the flock of Jesus.
 
Jesus' flock is made up of his people - those who follow him. We can care for them by meeting their needs, helping, giving, praying, serving and loving. And we can feed them by our encouragement, discussion and by opening the word of God together. So let us, if we love the Lord, make sure we care for and feed his flock.

20:11 Mary has already been at the tomb – John 20:1 – and had ran back to the home where Peter and John were. She had run back to the tomb, by now a bit out of breath. Peter and John, not surprisingly, had arrived at the tomb before her. By the time she arrived both Peter and John had left. So even though Mary had set off to go back to the tomb with Peter and John she was there alone.

21:1 It is only John who refers to the sea of Galilee as the sea of Tiberias – John 6:1,23 and here. The previous occasion also involved feedings – the feeding of the 5,000. Here Jesus feeds the disciples and then tells Peter to feed the brethren when he is converted

20:7 The chief priests tried to deny the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead. They bribed the soldiers to say that the disciples stole Jesus dead body (Matt 28:12,13). However, the evidence made them out to be liars. Who would strip off the corpse’s clothes and fold them into different piles, when kidnapping a body?

20:17 Mary’s natural reaction, upon seeing Jesus, would be to grab hold of him in joy. However Jesus had other things for her to do – go and tell my disciples. Mary’s mind must have been full of all sorts of ideas but that Jesus was going to leave again would doubtless have been the last thing on her mind, though doubtless she did not grasp fully the implications of what she was experiencing!

21:8 The little detail that the disciples came ‘in a little ship’ tells us that they had been using a larger ship to fish and that the disciples on the shore also had a ship so that they could work with two boats to bring in the net. In this little detail we learn something about the way in which fishermen fished on Galilee.

LOVE FEEDS SHEEP

Peter and Jesus had a discussion about love. Three times Jesus asked the question, "Do you love me?" The first two times Jesus asked the question, the word he used for love was Agape, a love of absolute devotion, a choice to love, a love that continues far above feelings. But when Peter replied he used the word Phileo which is the love one has for a brother or a family member, a fondness. And the third time Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, he also used the word Phileo. No wonder Peter was hurt.

I wonder how we would go being asked the same questions? Are we really prepared to go all out Agape for Jesus? Are we prepared to give up everything for him? Are we prepared to be totally selfless while we live for Jesus? But whether our answer is "Yes," or whether, like Peter, we are unsure of how devoted we could really be and answer "You know that I am fond of you," Jesus' request of Peter and of us is still the same.

If we love Jesus at all then he wants us to "Feed my lambs." (John 21:15) "Take care of my sheep." (v.16) And to "Feed my sheep." (v.17) 

Our love of Jesus must be shown to others who love Jesus, to our fellow believers, to those who are seeking Jesus. Let us show the love that we would show to Jesus in practical ways for the well being, and spiritual well being of all those who are also following Jesus.

20:5,7 The emphasis on ‘linen clothes’ teaches us that Jesus had put off the linen clothes Lev 16:23 having finished his work of making atonement for the people.

20:2    Mary’s suspicion that the body had been taken was quite reasonable, from her perspective. She did not believe that Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day. Jesus was buried in a rich Jewish leader’s tomb so she might have expected that it would soon be removed from there.

20:31   The reason given for the recording of miracles (signs) in John’s gospel – to show that Jesus was Christ the son of God – has been attested to twice already – John 6:69, 11:27  - highlighting the thematic nature of the point that John is demonstrating.

John 20:17 Why could not Mary touch Jesus?

I have come across many theories of this :-

1/ To touch a dead body led to defilment on the sabbah? Sabbath was over Matt 28:1.

2/ Jesus was not yet immortal and needed to ascend to his father? I cannot accept a mortal body would ascend to his father after all Yahweh cannot look upon flesh.

The word Ascend occurs 81 times in scripture but only in Eph 4:8-10 do we find the word ascend talking of nature. Therefore its highly likely the Lord was already immortal as 12 hours had passed since he left the tomb.

The words "touch me not" have a meaning of do not cling to me. Jesus was simply telling Mary "dont cling to me Mary i am not going anywhere just yet"

John 20:4 We see grave clothes on floor, Lazerus took his grave clothes out of the grave (mortality) Christ left them behind for he was made imortal.

Zech 3:1 We see some similarities with v4. 

Joshua had filthy garments so did Christ (his filthy nature).

Joshua changed his filthy garments so did christ when he put on immortality, he also put on clean preistly garments for he was now a great high priest of the order of Melchizedek (immortal).

This may lead us back to Jesus comments to Mary "touch me not for i have not yet ascended to my father" when a priest was consecrated he made a wave/sheaf offering,

And until a wave offering of the firstfruits had been made a gathering of the harvest could not be a gathering in of the harvest. So Jesus needed to present a wave offering before God (himself) before the gathering of firstfruits could be made.

Jesus therefore said according to N.E.B "do not cling to me for i have not yet ascended to my father, (wave offering hasnt been made) for i have not yet ascended to my father. But go to my brotehrs and tell them i am ascending to my father and your father" (the wave offering being made before the holy place)

See Offerings, feasts and sanctuary F.E Mitchell.

21:12   Beside the sea of Galilee, after Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples had been convinced by what they had seen after his resurrection that he was indeed the Christ. So the record here tells us that they did not ask ‘Whoa art thou?’ not because they were not sure or were surprised to see him. In fact they had seen him a number of times after his resurrection by this time. Rather we are told that they did not ask ‘Who art thou?’ to contrast with the people who asked the same question in John 8:25

The scripture that cannot be broken

"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." John 20:9

The word of God, otherwise called the scripture, is whole and cannot be broken. It is the foundation of the confidence we have in the resurrection of the dead, without which we would be without hope. If the scripture wasn't there, or couldn't be relied upon, we'd be left with stories passed on by word of mouth, and we all know how these stories can change over time.

So in order for the scripture to give Jesus confidence to approach death on the cross, it had to be reliable, and it had to contain promises about the resurrection that couldn't be broken. Regarding confidence in the scripture, here is what he said himself:

"the scripture cannot be broken" John 10:35

Jesus knew that if the scripture said something, it would come to pass, it was whole, and could not be broken. So if as verse 9 said, the scripture told how Jesus must rise again from the dead, then it had to come to pass no matter what. What scripture is it referring to? I think we find it in Isaiah:

"Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." Isa 26:19

Here we have the scripture that cannot be broken. A promise to Jesus that he would rise from the dead. Notice how exactly it describes the occasion of Jesus's resurrection, for it even describes the other saints who rose at the same time as Jesus "together with my dead body shall they arise":

"And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." Matt 27:52-53

and notice how well the next verse in Isaiah describes the tomb in which Jesus would be laid:

"Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast." Isa 26:20
 

which is echoed in John 20 when we see the grave was a sepulchre (cave with a stone used as a door) rather than just a hole in the ground.

20:22 Jesus breathing on the disciples after his resurrection is like the way that God breathed life into Adam – Gen 2:7

KEEP ON MEETING TOGETHER

It seemed like all hope had been lost. Jesus their Messiah, had been crucified and buried, and it seemed, his body stolen. Everything had fallen apart. Everything they had lived for over the past three years had crumbled into a smouldering heap around them. Jesus was their reason to live, their motivation, their purpose in life, and with his death it had all gone.

Yet despite their lives falling apart with the death of Jesus, the disciples still continued to meet together. "On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews..." (John 20:19). They needed each other. Though all that had tied them together had seemingly fallen apart, they still met together to encourage, support and gain strength from each other.

There may come times in our lives when we find everything in our lives seems to have fallen apart. But like the disciples, we need to keep meeting together. It is only together that we will gain the strength we need to keep our faith strong, and to keep on with what needs to be kept on.

So, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching." (Heb 10:25).

20:25   Thomas was like those who came to Jesus seeking signs – John 4:46-48 – Just like the nobleman Thomas did believe the sign. In this they both contrast the Jewish leaders who did not believe despite the signs – including the resurrection of Jesus.

John 21:15-17

A reader writes:  “…. I appreciate your thorough and thought-provoking points which takes me to "agape" and "philio". They were the theme of yesterday's exhortation. I am very interested in your thoughts and opinions...”
My reply: Agape love is the very nature of God, for God is love (1John 4:7-12,16). Agape is what it does for us, not of how we feel. God so loved us (agape) that He gave His Son for us. Christ so loved (agape) us that he gave his life for us. Agape love is a deliberate choice. For this reason we are to love (agape) our enemies (cf. Exo 23:1-5; Matt 5:44).  It has nothing to do with how we feel about them, but everything to do with how we act toward them (cf. Mark 12:31).
Phileo love is to have an interest in someone, like a friend. It refers to a strong liking, or a strong friendship. In the English language, we don’t have these distinctions. Phileo is to have a strong, personal connection between friends. This is why we do not phileo love our enemies, but agape love them. We cannot phileo love our enemies!
The reader’s response: “… passing along my son’s thoughts…”

His reply: “I don't agree with her response. For example, God "phileo" Jesus (John 5:20), Jesus "phileo" Lazarus (John 11:3,36), the Father "phileo" us (John 16:27), Jesus "phileo" his 'favourite' disciple (John 20:2), etc.

I think arguing that 'phileo' is a lesser love (strong liking, strong friendship) is wrong and I think it's the same that xxx was arguing against in his exhortation – that phileo love shouldn't be looked on as something less powerful than agape love and considering how it's used in the verses above, I would agree.

My response to this: Thank you for passing along your son's thoughts. The two words may seem fairly synonymous, I accept that, but the fact remains that there is still a difference, and I will show why.

It is true that there is a strong friendship, phileo, or platonic love between God and Christ and Christ and his disciples. But, this does not negate the fact that a higher love exists. Phileo love can trigger a higher love, and we see this in relationships between a man and woman who started off as friends, but later their friendship deepened into marriage.
Agape love, on the other hand, is more than a feeling; it is also an act of the will. It conveys the idea of what God wants us to be; what God wants us to do. In the Greek, they have four different words for love, why, if they all mean the same? Because, they don't. In English, unfortunately, we have just one word.
In the 1984 NIV edition, Jesus uses the phrase, "truly love me?" (John 21:15-17). Peter was asked if he agape loved Christ twice. Modern scholars concluded that there is no meaningful difference between phileo and agape, and so the "truly" was dropped in the 2011 version of the NIV, and all of Christ's questions became phileo thou me! The change came for the very reasons your son cites! Nonetheless, we can still deduce a deeper meaning from Scripture than what appears in the 2011 NIV translation, commentaries and concordances.
Peter had a strong friendship with Christ, he phileo loved Christ, and Christ knew that, but what Christ wanted from Peter was that sacrificial kind of love that only agape can give, a love that would truly make him one with his Lord, and be betrothed to him. This is what Christ was looking for, but Peter hadn't reached the agape stage yet. Phileo caused him to deny the Lord when he feared for his life; agape love caused him in the end to lay down his life for the Lord!

Just think about it. If I were to ask you, "Do you love me" and you answered, "Yes, I care greatly for you," or, "I am very fond of you," you have just inserted another synonym for love other than the specific word I used. This would immediately arouse my suspicion, would it not? Why did you use a different word? It leaves me with an uncertain answer, a vague answer, an evasive answer. While it may be interpreted as synonymous, it is still different, and it is sad that these so called "scholars" who do not know the Truth take away from the Word, because they have no understanding of the beauty behind them and thus lead others to wrong conclusions.

20:10    In saying that they – Peter and John – went to “their own home” is a little indication that they had a house in Jerusalem, even though they were from Galilee. A possible indication that their fishing business in Galilee brought them to Jerusalem regularly on business.

20:2   It was still dark when Mary visited the tomb –  20:1 – Son one presumes it was still, if not dark, very early in the morning by the time Peter and John ran to the sepulchre. She possibly had to arouse the household where they were staying.

20:10  The seeming casual comment that they went to their own home doubtless hides an emotional turmoil in the minds of Peter and John. What else could they do? They had no explanation for what they saw. Just sorrow and confusion.

20:16 Rabboni is a longer form of the word Rabbi. Whit it is not clear why Mary used the longer form it is suggested that it carries more respect than the shorter form – Rabbi.

20:11-16 try to visualise the scene.  Try to enter into the emotions of Mary. All hope was lost – it seemed – and then her risen lord appears to her. 

20:9 Doubtless the disciples “knew” what the scriptures said. The problem was that they did not understand what the words they read meant, some of the words at least, they did not understand because of pre-conceived ideas about Messiah.

We must be extremely careful that we do not allow our prejudiced minds to cloud our understanding of what scripture is telling us.

21:7 Peter’s desire to be with Jesus is in marked contrast with his reaction – Luke 5:8 – when there was an earlier great catch of fish.  He had “grown” in appreciation of who Jesus was as well as appreciating his own needs.