The Hand in Daniel's Glove

early fifty years ago, an old friend who has now passed on challenged me with regard to the Book of Daniel. He challenged me to study it in the Original. Then he directed me to this verse near the end of the Book—But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the Book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased—Daniel 12:4. This had already taken the attention of some of us who were interested in “end-time” prophecy. We had no problem with taking the verse out of its context and placing our own interpretation on it. We assumed that the running to and fro had reference to increased travel in the latter days. And, we thought the increase in knowledge had to do with the explosion of knowledge in fields of science, etc.

The words run to and fro are from the Hebrew word shut which speaks, more conclusively, of eyes running to an fro, as do the eyes of the Lord in Zech 4:10. When we allow the above Word from the Lord (Daniel 12:4) to remain in its context, it becomes apparent that He was speaking about the eyes of spiritually perceptive people that would run to and fro through the prophetic Word that He was ordering Daniel to keep sealed till the time of the end.

My training, both in a Christian college and in a theological seminary had treated Daniel as though it had only historical significance. Graduating from both schools left me with little understanding. I was left also with very little spiritual desire toward studying Daniel to see what it might, indeed, have to reveal to our generation. All this, while there is much evidence pointing to the probability that we may, indeed, be the generation very near to what the Lord called the time of the end.

However, the challenge to study Daniel took over. We started with the King James Version, believing we could at least become generally aware of Daniel’s Word. It was then the Holy Spirit took over. We started reading the Book, over and over. Our attention was taken particularly with the last six chapters. They contain the four important visions that came to the Prophet while he and others from Judah were held captive in Babylon. That is in present day Iraq.

I began studying Daniel as much as I could in its Original languages. Part of it was in Chaldean, the language of Babylon. Part was in Hebrew, the language of the Jews. Each time we looked over the prophetic words, something more of “prophetic principle” opened. The details and the specifics remained veiled, but we began seeing valuable information that would help make us ready to face whatever furious days await us.

As our eyes ran to and fro through Daniel’s visions, we took note of II Timothy 3:1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. We also took note of what Jesus said in Matthew 24:15—When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand). This passage left us with much yet to understand, but it encouraged us toward studying, to understand, the Book of Daniel.

s our eyes, and hearts, gave attention to what the Lord had revealed to the Prophet in Babylon, we began seeing there will arise on the world scene, near the time of the end, a being with fierce determination to destroy the people of God. While Daniel described this being in varying ways, we came to recognize him as the “anti-Christ.” In whatever way Daniel described him, the emphasis was always on his fierce demeanor.

We soon learned that what Daniel saw in his visions, recorded in the last six chapters of his Book, bears striking parallel with what the Lord Jesus revealed in Matthew 24—and in Mark 13 and Luke 21. Paul also laid out his own corroborating information in II Thessalonians 2. And, of course, there is much that John the Apostle added in The Book of Revelation. We could see that Revelation has its foundation in the visions of Daniel 7 through 12. We were inclined to give most of our attention to Daniel. We did take serious note, however, of Revelation 5:9,10 which is at the beginning of this article.

Besides the very particular prophetic passages from Daniel that will guide us through the time of the end, we also receive from David strong Covenant Words that will enable us to withstand one that he called the wicked one. He is the same one Daniel described in his several ways.

Apart from the Lord Jesus, David was the one prophetic writer who was in Covenant with God. David was a Messianic Covenant man. He was in the lineage of Jesus. We remember that the first and the last testimonies of the New Testament relate David to Jesus. Matthew 1:1 presents Jesus as the Son of David. Revelations 22:16 presents Him as the Root and the Offspring of David. As we see in the next section, David wrote words that became the Words of the Lord Jesus. They are Words for us too as we find our identification with the Lord in His death and resurrection. What Paul lays out in Ephesians relates so amazingly to the saints who will possess the Kingdom.

e take significant interest in a Word that came through David that bore enough weight to withstand even death itself. Of late, there is no Word that has taken greater hold of my heart than what Peter said on the Day of Pentecost as he drew from one of David’s Psalms to explain why the Lord Jesus could not remain bound in death in the tomb. We find this in Acts 2:24,25 as Peter told of Jesus, Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains (the birth pangs) of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it (be kept under the government of it). For (because) David speaketh concerning Him (David spoke for Him), I foresaw the Lord always (I held the Lord vividly present) before my face, for He is on My right hand, that I should not be moved. Peter took this from Psalm 16:8-11, written by David for Jesus.

Why could not the Lord Jesus remain dead? It was because of the power that the Covenant Word from David held over Death. Similar Words from David will reach toward us as they lay out the triumph that will be ours in the final Day. For an example, see this from Psalm 37:10-11—For yet a little while, and the wicked (the wicked one, whom we know as the anti-Christ) shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

While the wicked one is plotting our corruption to render us useless in God’s Kingdom, we can delight ourselves, that is, find the luxury of life, in the abundance of peace. This word peace is from the Hebrew sha’lom which means safety, soundness, perfection, and preservation from injury. It even means restoration from what would seem to be destruction. While the spirit of anti-Christ breathes down our necks, Covenant Words from David will prove themselves more powerful than any device Satan might throw at us.

We will see more of this in this month’s “prayer starters.” It is a matter to be considered as we see what the power released in Christ’s resurrection will mean for us in the time of the end to which Daniel’s visions point.

ach of Daniel’s visions had an unusual conclusion. While it is not our purpose to consider the visions as a whole, we do want to see the end toward which each one moves. We take more notice in the first vision as we see the latter day role of the saints. Even if this season in which we now live is not the time of the end, we learn from Paul in Ephesians that this company of people called saints shall always live with the power of the resurrection ready to work in their behalf—or, let us say, in our behalf.

In my own study, I have just taken note again that Paul makes reference to the saints twelve times in his Epistle to the Ephesians. The number twelve is the number representative of government. While it is to be doubted that Paul counted the precise number of times he would mention saints in Ephesians—by use of the Greek word ha’gios—it is a reminder to us that we are in the earth for the purpose of government, the government of God’s Kingdom.

ecently, as I was meditating on the following statements from Daniel 7, it came to me that Ephesians is the “hand” that fits into the “glove” of Daniel. Each of the following statements, declare that the Saints will rule in God’s Kingdom. Ephesians lays out the qualifications and the source of the power that will enable the saints both to take the Kingdom and to rule in it. It is apparent they will hold their rule under the Headship of Christ Jesus to Whom God has promised the Kingdom in the decree of Psalm 2. See these statements from Daniel.

ith regard to the Word of Daniel being sealed, there are several Statements from Jesus that run parallel with what the Lord spoke to Daniel. One of unusual significance is Mark 13:32-37. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man (no one has any revelation knowledge, or idea), no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father (only God knows the exact time).

Take ye heed (take serious note of what is happening around you), watch (exercise constant vigilance) and pray: for ye know not (you have no idea) when the time (the season) is (when the Son of Man will come). ³⁴For the *Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority (Greek exousi’a, executive power) to his servants (his bond slaves), and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch (and gave military orders to the doorkeeper to be circumspect in his vigilance).

Watch ye therefore (Be circumspect therefore in your vigilance): for ye know not when the master of the house cometh (for you have no idea when the lord of the house is coming), at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning (the first watch of day): Lest coming suddenly (unexpectedly) he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch (be vigilant).

So, while there is no one who can know the exactness to the hour when the Day of the Christ will burst upon us, we are all given charge to be ever watchful. It is here that the visions of Daniel, enhanced by the revelation of Paul in Ephesians, help us. It is also here that Paul’s deep insight and exhortation of II Thessalonians 2 reach deep into our own souls. What a Word for this hour!

It is in II Thessalonians 2 that the most insightful revelation comes as to how that man of sin will make his moves toward taking Christ’s place. He desires both us as individuals as well as the entire Kingdom that has been given by Covenant Promise to Jesus. (Remember the Promise of Psalm 2:7,8.)

All the above-mentioned Scriptures give us insight into our preparatory moves that will make us ready, no matter when the final hour may come upon us.

ur intention has been to move on to what is revealed in Ephesians as it tells of the resurrection power released for the company of people that both Daniel and Paul called saints. The wicked one wants Christ’s Kingdom for himself with such vehement determination that he will stop at nothing in exalting himself against the Lord Jesus. That means his attacks will come against us.

While Daniel’s visions point most directly toward the time of the end, what Paul reveals in Ephesians is vital information that will stand well for us through any frame of time, under any circumstance.

For most Christians, it seems that the next great event on God’s “time table” is what we have come to call the “rapture.” This is not to say that we are the great ones with superior knowledge, but the more we study Scripture—or, in fact, the more the Holy Spirit opens it to us—the greater becomes our conviction that the “rapture” is not next.

If we study Matthew 24:29-31, we find Jesus saying, ²⁹Immediately after the tribulation of those days ... ³⁰...then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven... ³¹And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

When we were going to and fro through the writings of Daniel, we saw the above verses from Matthew. It was then that we began to consider, rather strongly, that before Christ comes again, there will be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be—Matthew 24:21

It is with wisdom that we give ourselves over to the preparation of the Lord in view of the great tribulation that we, in all probability, shall face. If not preparation for the great tribulation, we may well know that the preparation to which we give ourselves will serve us well through any tribulation that may come upon us. Tribulation means pressure.

To see how the power released out of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus reaches us, PLEASE REQUEST the April “prayer starters.” They will lead you through a month of prayerful preparation considering the power made available to us. In that power we can stand. If you do not have it, please request the book, The Dynamics of Christ’s Resurrection. It contains vital information for the saints of the Most High.