13.2-  Brief overview of Daniel Chapter 7

The bible shows in this chapter a depiction of the rise, decline and fall of Satan's kingdom, but also the rise and eternal glory of God's kingdom.

In a nutshell, the whole world history is here being described, from Daniel's time until the end time, culminating in eternity. God's spirit (the four winds) drives this all. He himself brings the nations (the great sea) into uproar and calls on the world powers (the four large animals) to the judgment over their wickedness and rebellion against Him. This big Day of Judgment will mean the restoration of God's Kingship, and that of his people, which includes all the twelve tribes of Israel.  See Revelation 7 verse 1-12: “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so that no wind should blow on the earth or the sea or against any tree. And I saw another angel coming up from the east with the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels to whom God had given the power to damage the earth and the sea.   The angel said, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until we mark the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.” And I was told that the number of those who were marked with God's seal on their foreheads was 144,000. They were from the twelve tribes of Israel, twelve thousand from each tribe: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph, and Benjamin.

After this I looked, and there was an enormous crowd—no one could count all the people! They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood in front of the throne and of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.  They called out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!”  All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downward in front of the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!”

¡What a promise and comfort to God's people! 

13.0- Additional notes.

13.1- General note

This "Revelation to Daniel" we should read together with the "Revelation to John."

Together they give us a more clear understanding of the time we live in namely: “the End Times”, in which we now find ourselves.

After Daniel, - and especially during the last centuries -, many people (including Pablo, already in the first century) have thought that the "time of the end of the world", and / or the return of Christ was near. Until 1948 all of them had made their calculations and predictions without realizing that the Bible clearly says that Jesus will return amongst his people and He will descend on the Mount of Olives.. See Zechariah 14: 1-4: “The day when the Lord will sit in judgment is near. Then Jerusalem will be looted, (This indicates that the people of Israel must have returned to Jerusalem) and the loot will be divided up before your eyes. The Lord will bring all the nations together to make war on Jerusalem. The city will be taken, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half of the people will go into exile, but the rest of them will not be taken away from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. At that time he will stand on the Mount of Olives, to the east of Jerusalem. Then the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west by a large valley. Half of the mountain will move northward and half of it southward”…. We know that, - since the siege of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD -, the Israelites possessed their country again for the first time in 1948, when the state of Israel was officially recognized internationally. By not having returned the Israelites in their promised land before this date, the time of the second coming of Jesus Christ could not be until after 1948. And more precisely after 1967, when the Israelites conquered Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives became part of its territory.

12.5 - Discussion of Daniel 12, verse 11-13

>>> Verses 11 and 12: The timescale about the 1260 days is as, for example, given in Daniel 7 verse 25: “He will try to change their religious laws and festivals, and God's people will be under his power for three and a half years”= 1260 days.

We arrive at “1290 days” taking the time without offering and 30 days for the restoration of worship; this is 1260 + 30= 1290 days. The restoration of worship will take time, see Ezequiel 39 verse 7:

 “I will make sure that my people Israel know my holy name, and I will not let my name be disgraced any more. Then the nations will know that I, the Lord, am the holy God of Israel”. The 30 days represent this restoration time.

1335 days is 1260 days + 75 days for purification of the land. See Ezequiel 39 verse 12: “It will take the Israelites seven months to bury all the corpses and make the land clean again”. … Also the return and reunification of Judah with the ten tribes of Israel will need time before the full and complete worshipping can start again.  See Ezequiel 37: 15-28, where it talks about Judah and Israel in One Kingdom: “…...“Mortal man,” he said, “take a wooden stick and write on it the words, ‘The kingdom of Judah.’ Then take another stick and write on it the words, ‘The kingdom of Israel……”.

Also see Zechariah 10 verses 6-10: “…….I will call my people and gather them together….” And in addition see Zechariah 14: 8-21.

At the end of verse 12 of Daniel 12 it says that we have to remain faithful until the 1,335 days are over. See also Matthew 25 verses

1-13, where we read about the Parable of the Ten Young Women: “……Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour”. 

>>> Verse 13: This verse mentions that at the end Daniel will die, but he will rise again. This rest of Daniel is only for his body, but not for his Spirit, because for the Lord we all are alive. See Luke 20 verse 38: “He is the God of the living, not of the dead, for to him all are alive”. 

12.4 - Discussion of Daniel 12, verse 5-10

>>> Verses 5 and 6: This situation is similar to the one described in Genesis 18 verses 1 and 2 where we read: “The Lord appeared to Abraham at the sacred trees of Mamre. As Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day,   he looked up and saw three men standing there. As soon as he saw them, he ran out to meet them”. Also here in Genesis we see three men, one of them being the Lord Himself. In the vision of Daniel there is also the appearance of the Angel, (the Lord Himself?), with the two men standing by a river, one on each bank. Daniel and Abraham have many things in common: namely their tremendous faith and their intercession for others in their prayers; Daniel for his people Israel and Abraham pleading for Sodom and for Lot.

>>> Verse 7: For a discussion of the three and a half years, when the persecution of God's people ends, see under chapter 8.3 of this blog and its discussion of Daniel 9, verse 27.  At the end of those three and a half years, also the total of the seventy “yearweeks” of Daniel 9 verse 24 will be ended.

>>> Verses 8 and 9: In verse 8 we read that Daniel asks: “But, sir, how will it all end”.  The question: “how will it all end”, is not answered, see under verse 4: The book was to be closed.  However Daniel receives the promise that he will be there at the end of time and receive his reward. 

>>> Verse 10: In this verse it says that many people will be purified. It is because through all this, God acts causing purification, also in today’s Israel. See John 15 verse 3: “You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you”: Purification through suffering.  But those who fear God will see the Lord’s hand in all of this and receive strength. See Matthew 5 verse 8: “Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God!” and Mathew 24 verse 13: “But whoever holds out to the end will be saved”.  Also 1 John 3 verse 3: “Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure, just as Christ is pure”. 

12.3 - Discussion of Daniel 12, verse 3 and 4

>>> Verse 3: This verse begins to say that the wise leaders will shine with all the brightness of the sky. The question here is: Who is wise, who is intelligent?  We read in Proverbs 1 verse 7; “To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord.  Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn”. This means that, to be wise or to have knowledge, you must first fear the Lord. The same we read in Proverbs 9 verse 10: “To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding”. Also see Proverbs 15:33, Psalms 111:10, Psalms 112: 1….. ¡ What a consolation for simple people like us!...

Such “simple”,- wise -, people will “shine like stars lighting up the sky”, it says in Philippians2 verse 15: “… so that you may be innocent and pure as God's perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky”.  Very similar words as the words used in this verse 3 of Daniel 12: “The wise leaders will shine with all the brightness of the sky” 

>>> Verse 4: It says in this verse: “close the book and put a seal on it until the end of the world”. In other words, it was hidden for Israel at that time, because it reached too far and it was to be hidden until the end comes …see verses 8 and 9. For us counts however Revelation 20 verse10, where it says: “And he said to me, do not keep the prophetic words of this book a secret, because the time is near when all this will happen”. We live in that time now: the end times. Therefore “many will study and the understanding will increase”. 

12.2 - Discussion of Daniel 12, verse 2 

>>> Verse 2: In this verse it says: “…..Many of those who have already died will live again: some will enjoy eternal life, and some will suffer eternal disgrace”.  The first resurrection and the second death, are being seen here as one event, while there are a thousand years between them, (See Revelation 20 verses 4-6, 14, and 15: “Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been executed because they had proclaimed the truth that Jesus revealed and the word of God……... They came to life and ruled as kings with Christ for a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first raising of the dead. Happy and greatly blessed are those who are included in this first raising of the dead. The second death has no power over them; they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they will rule with him for a thousand years….  Then death and the world of the dead were thrown into the lake of fire. - This lake of fire is the second death.-  Those who did not have their name written in the book of the living were thrown into the lake of fire”). 

John 5 verse 24 says that the believers will not enter in the judgment. We read there: “I am telling you the truth: those who hear my words and believe in him who sent me have eternal life. They will not be judged, but have already passed from death to life”. It is because they already have “the Life”, and will “appear with Jesus”. See Colossians 3 verse 4: “Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory”. These are the “many” mentioned in the first word of verse 2. Hence: not all, only who have believed in Him.

12.1 - Discussion of Daniel 12, verse 1

>>>Verse1: This chapter starts in verse 1 by saying: “At that time the great angel Michael, who guards your people, will appear”. An explanation of the words: "At that time" and what happens at that moment is as follows:

A) - It is the time when the Antichrist breaks the peace pact.

B) - The time when the antichrist installs himself on Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

C) -The time when the angel Michael throws Satan and his angels on the earth…, see Revelation 12 versiculos7-9: “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer.  The huge dragon was thrown out—that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth and all his angels with him”.

D) -The moment when the “awful horror” will appear at a holy place in Israel.  See Matthew 24 verse15: “You will see ‘The Awful Horror’ of which the prophet Daniel spoke. It will be standing in the holy place”.

Also: 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 4:” He will oppose every so-called god or object of worship and will put himself above them all. He will even go in and sit down in God's Temple and claim to be God”. And revelations 13 verse 6: “It began to curse God, his name, the place where he lives, and all those who live in heaven“.

E) -The time when the great suffering of Israel starts, see Matthew 24 verse 21 and 22: “For the trouble at that time will be far more terrible than any there has ever been, from the beginning of the world to this very day. Nor will there ever be anything like it again. But God has already reduced the number of days; had he not done so, nobody would survive. For the sake of his chosen people, God will reduce the days”. This is the period of three and a half years, mentioned before. 

F) -The moment of the escape of Daniel's people: “those that are written in the book of the living”. See Exodus 32 verse. 32, Luke 10 verse 20, Revelation 3 verse 5: “Those who win the victory will be clothed like this in white, and I will not remove their names from the book of the living. In the presence of my Father and of his angels I will declare openly that they belong to me”. Revelation 13 verse 8, Revelation 20 verse 12 and 15: ” And I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, and then another book was opened, the book of the living….. Those who did not have their name written in the book of the living were thrown into the lake of fire”.  Many more places in the bible refer to these events. Verse 1 also mentions: “….Michael, who guards your people…..”. These are the people that are saved because they have believed in Jesus Christ as their savior, and this of course counts also for us. 

12.0- Daniel 12, 1-13, The time of the End

In Daniel 12 verses 1 – 13 we read:

“1The angel wearing linen clothes said, “At that time the great angel Michael, who guards your people, will appear. Then there will be a time of troubles, the worst since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, all the people of your nation whose names are written in God's book will be saved.  2 Many of those who have already died will live again: some will enjoy eternal life, and some will suffer eternal disgrace. 3The wise leaders will shine with all the brightness of the sky. And those who have taught many people to do what is right will shine like the stars forever.”

4 He said to me, “And now, Daniel, close the book and put a seal on it until the end of the world. Meanwhile, many people will waste their efforts trying to understand what is happening.” 

5 Then I saw two men standing by a river, one on each bank. 6 One of them asked the angel who was standing further upstream, “How long will it be until these amazing events come to an end?”

7 The angel raised both hands toward the sky and made a solemn promise in the name of the Eternal God. I heard him say, “It will be three and a half years. When the persecution of God's people ends, all these things will have happened.”

8 I heard what he said, but I did not understand it. So I asked, “But, sir, how will it all end?”

9 He answered, “You must go now, Daniel, because these words are to be kept secret and hidden until the end comes. 10 Many people will be purified. Those who are wicked will not understand but will go on being wicked; only those who are wise will understand.

11 “From the time the daily sacrifices are stopped, that is, from the time of The Awful Horror, 1,290 days will pass. 12 Happy are those who remain faithful until 1,335 days are over!

13 “And you, Daniel, be faithful to the end. Then you will die, but you will rise to receive your reward at the end of time.”

11.4b - Discussion of Daniel 11, verse 41- 45

>>> Verse 41: In the middle of the last “Yearweek”, the antichrist will conquer Israel and break the peace pact. See Daniel 9 verse 27: “That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Awful Horror will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him”. At the end of this verse it says: “But the countries of Edom, Moab, and what is left of Ammon will escape”. The fact that these countries escape is logical, because the antichrist is the seed of Esau, which is part those countries.

>>> Verses 42 and 43: “all those countries”… We see here the vastness of his power. Libya and Ethiopia apparently go with Egypt. These ties are there also at this moment.

>>> Verse 44: Here we see that Ezequiel 38 and 39 (where the big battles from the North and from the orient are described), would fit in very well, when it says that: “news that comes from the east and the north will frighten him”. He will oblige (or convince) these powers from the East and the North to unite with him to gather the nations for the final battle at Armageddon. See Revelation 16 verses 12-16: “Then the spirits brought the kings together in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon……. “. 

>>> Verse 45: The antichrist will have his “headquarters” in Jerusalem and “the mountain on which the Temple stands”: Mount Moriah. But his end will be in Israel, with “no one there to help him”. This is because God will fight for Israel. See Revelation 19 verse 20: “The beast (antichrist) was taken prisoner, together with the false prophet who had performed miracles in his presence. …..The beast and the false prophet were both thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur”.  The end battle is being described in Joel 3 verses 1-15: “….…..The nations must get ready and come to the Valley of Judgment. There I, the Lord, will sit to judge all the surrounding nations……” And also Zechariah 14 verses 3-7, and Revelation 19 verses 11-21.  

11.3b - Discussion of Daniel 11, verse 37- 40

>>> Verse 37: The words used here that “The king will ignore the god his ancestors served”, indicates that he is a descendant of Abraham and Isaac. Further on it says: “and also the god that women love”. This is a clear indication of worship to the many “queens of heaven” such as: Astarte - Phoenician, Isis - Egypt, Ishtar – Assyrian, Aphrodite –Greek and Diana – Ephesian, and Ashtoreth – Sidon. And also Venus, the roman goddess, whose functions encompassed love, beauty, sex, fertility and prosperity. …. And what about Maria?

See Jeremiah 44 verses 15 – 19: “…….and all…….., including the Israelites who lived in southern Egypt—a large crowd in all—said to me,………We will offer sacrifices to our goddess, the Queen of Heaven, and we will pour out wine offerings to her………….  ever since we stopped sacrificing to the Queen of Heaven and stopped pouring out wine offerings to her, we have had nothing,………..”

And in 1 Kings 11 verse 5: “He (Solomon) worshiped Astarte, the goddess of Sidon”.

>>> Verse 38: “He will honor the god who protects fortresses”, in other words, he is warlike and capable to sacrifice everything for this purpose.  This we recognize also in the present world powers.

>>> Verse 39: This “foreign god” is the god of the wars. He will make himself acceptable through bribes. 

>>> Verse 40. Again there will be war between the antichrist (Great-Syria) and Egypt, with the most probable result that, - apart from conquering Egypt - , he will also conquer Greece and Turkey. The result is the recovery of the Greek-Macedonian Empire. See Daniel 8 verses 8-12: “Out of one of these four horns grew a little horn, whose power extended toward the south and the east and toward the Promised Land.   It grew strong enough to attack the army of heaven, the stars themselves, and it threw some of them to the ground and trampled on them. It even defied the Prince of the heavenly army, stopped the daily sacrifices offered to him, and ruined the Temple………”  In reality this is the beginning of the great tribulation, but also the beginning of the end of the power of the antichrist. 

11.2b - Discussion of Daniel 11, verse 36

>>> Verse 36: This concerns thus the last “Syrian king” of the end times: The small horn. See Daniel 7 verse 8: “While I was staring at the horns, I saw a little horn coming up among the others. It tore out three of the horns that were already there. This horn had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting proudly”. And also Daniel 8: 9, 23, Daniel 9: 27 and Revelation 13 verses 5 and 6: “The beast was allowed to make proud claims which were insulting to God, and it was permitted to have authority for forty-two months. It began to curse God, his name, the place where he lives, and all those who live in heaven”.  It also concerns that what will happen to Israel at that time (during this last Syrian king): See Daniel 10 verse 14:

“I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the future. This is a vision about the future”.

This king that “boasts that he is greater than any god”, is the antichrist. He can be recognized because of:

a) His ties with Syria.

b) Has the appearance of a Jew… otherwise he would not be acceptable to the Jews. He is however an Esau-Jew. (idumae=Edom, refer to Herod, the Idumaean. The “king of the Jews”, who tries to kill the real King of the Jews. …. Exactly like Haman, the Agagite, also of the lineage of Esau).

c) Could very well be a renegade Christian, see 1John 2 verses 18 and 19: “My children, the end is near! You were told that the Enemy of Christ would come; and now many enemies of Christ have already appeared, and so we know that the end is near. These people really did not belong to our fellowship, and that is why they left us….. “. Many Syrian “Christians” are very anti-Jew. 

d) His pride. He will feel himself “superior even to the Supreme God”, it says in this verse. 

11.1b - Discussion of Daniel 11, verse 35

>>> Verse 35: In this verse it is said that “Purification will continue until the end”. From these words on, the vision speaks exclusively about the antichrist. This is clear because Antiochus Epiphanes is already dead, and verse 36 speaks about the (new) “king of Syria”.   And as precise as the prophesies were fulfilled in the past, also these prophecies will be fulfilled in the future.  The “purification” concerns the tribulation time, during three and a half years, for the Jews as well as for the ten tribes of Israel. Many out of those ten tribes have been converted by this time in the “Desert of the Nations”, without knowing their identity. … See about this Ezequiel 20 verses 35-37, 41, and 42: “I will bring you into the ‘Desert of the Nations,’ and there I will condemn you to your face. I will now condemn you just as I condemned your ancestors in the Sinai Desert,” says the Sovereign Lord…...I will take firm control of you and make you obey my covenant….. After I bring you out of the countries where you have been scattered and gather you together, I will accept the sacrifices that you burn, and the nations will see that I am holy. When I bring you back to Israel, the land that I promised I would give to your ancestors, then you will know that I am the Lord”.  And also in Leviticus 26 verses 33, 44, and 45:” After I destroy your towns and ruin your land with war, I'll scatter you among the nations…… No matter what you have done, I am still the Lord your God, and I will never completely reject you or become absolutely disgusted with you there in the land of your enemies. 45 While nations watched, I rescued your ancestors from Egypt so that I would be their God. Yes, I am your Lord, and I will never forget our agreement”. Furthermore in Jeremiah 31 verses 2-11, and Amos 9 verse 9: “I will give the command and shake the people of Israel like grain in a sieve. I will shake them among the nations to remove all who are worthless”, and1 Peter 1 verse 1: “To God's chosen (Israel) people who live as refugees scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia”.

11.0b- The evil king of Syria, second part:

          (Related to the Antichrist)

In Daniel 11 verses 35 through 45 we read:

35 Some of those wise leaders will be killed, but as a result of this the people will be purified. This will continue until the end comes, the time that God has set.

36 “The king of Syria will do as he pleases. He will boast that he is greater than any god, superior even to the Supreme God. He will be able to do this until the time when God punishes him. God will do exactly what he has planned. 37 The king will ignore the god his ancestors served, and also the god that women love. In fact, he will ignore every god, because he will think he is greater than any of them. 38 Instead, he will honor the god who protects fortresses. He will offer gold, silver, jewels, and other rich gifts to a god his ancestors never worshiped. 39 To defend his fortresses, he will use people who worship a foreign god. He will give great honor to those who accept him as ruler, put them into high offices, and give them land as a reward. 

40 “When the king of Syria's final hour has almost come, the king of Egypt will attack him, and the king of Syria will fight back with all his power, using chariots, horses, and many ships. He will invade many countries, like the waters of a flood. 41 He will even invade the Promised Land and kill tens of thousands, but the countries of Edom, Moab, and what is left of Ammon will escape. 42 When he invades all those countries, even Egypt will not be spared. 43 He will take away Egypt's hidden treasures of gold and silver and its other prized possessions. He will conquer Libya and Ethiopia.

44 Then news that comes from the east and the north will frighten him, and he will fight furiously, killing many people. 45 He will even set up his huge royal tents between the sea and the mountain on which the Temple stands. But he will die, with no one there to help him.”

11.3a - Discussion of Daniel 11, verses 30- 34

>>> Verse 30: The Romans obliged Antiochus to retreat from Egypt. He first wanted to consult with his allies, but the Roman delegation put a circle in the sand around him and told him not to step out of the circle without an answer. Antiochus conceded, while he was only at a distance of 10 kilometer from Alexandria. He was so angry about this, that he, on his way back, entered in Jerusalem, and killed 40 000 Jews. (This is why it says in this verse: “Then he will turn back in a rage and try to destroy the religion of God's people”). Many others he took with him in slavery.  Also, many unfaithful Jews helped him to defame the temple. (See also verse 32 of this chapter).

>>> Verse 31: Antiochus sent messengers with a decree to Jerusalem and all the towns of Judea, ordering the people to follow customs that were foreign to the country. He ordered them not to offer any more of the habitual offerings in the Temple, and commanded them to treat Sabbaths and festivals as ordinary work days. He had his soldiers slaughter a swine and with this he desecrated the altar and also he entered the holiest places of the temple. Here we see the preparation of the scenery for “The Awful Horror”, such as will occur later again. See Matthew 24 verse 15: “You will see ‘The Awful Horror’ of which the prophet Daniel spoke. It will be standing in the holy place.” And 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 4: “He will oppose every so-called god or object of worship and will put himself above them all. He will even go in and sit down in God's Temple and claim to be God”. And again in Daniel 8:11, Daniel 9:27, and Daniel 12: 11.

>>> Verse 32: This verse is a promise to us when it says: “he will win the support of those who have already abandoned their religion,

but those who follow God will fight back  ”. In other words: Those who remain close to God He will give strength to “fight back”. … It concerns here the Maccabees.

>>> Verse 33: The “Wise leaders” mentioned here are those who witness the truth to others, “sharing their wisdom”. But also the suffering will increase. They will “be killed in battle”.  This is also as it will be at the end times. 

>>> Verse 34: The “little help” mentioned in this verse comes from a revival movement that took place in the Jewish communion of the Maccabees. They fought against pagan blemishes.  However there were also hypocrites among them who went with them for selfish reasons as it says at the end of this verse: “even though many who join them will do so for selfish reasons”. 

11.2a - Discussion of Daniel 11, verses 24- 29

>>> Verse 24: Again, by using trickery, such as “nobody had ever done before him”, namely: he, Antiochus,  scattered coins amongst the people. In this way he made himself more popular.

He conquered Syria, Palestine and Phoenicia. Also he started a war with Egypt.

>>> Verses 25 and 26: He conquered Egypt under Ptolemy V, and put him in prison. He then proclaimed himself king of Egypt (171 BC -167BC.) For this he used corrupt practices and subornation of functionaries of Ptolemy.

>>> Verse 27: Antiochus Epiphanes and Ptolemy VI Filometer, (uncle and nephew), both plot and deceive each other, but the plans of both of them end up without results. This is because what it says at the end of this verse: “because the time for it has not yet come”. In other words: God entangled their thoughts, because He alone defines at what time things will occur, especially with reference to the “End Times”.

>>> Verse28: Antiochus returns to Syria, with the treasures he had captured in Egypt. In Judea there is great joy because of the rumor that Antiochus had died in the battle. Jason had returned before, to expel Menelaus. Antiochus on his part revenged himself because of the joy of the people over his supposed death. He caused a bloodbath and robbed the temple. 

>>> Verse 29: Antiochus invaded Egypt again but this time without success. 

11.1a- Discussion of Daniel 11, verses 21-23

>>> Verse 21:  The king of Syria mentioned in this verse was Antiochus IV Epiphanes, an evil man. He was king from 175 BC-163BC.

The verses 21 through 34 of Daniel 11 give a prefiguration of the “last Syrian King”. This last Syrian King is described hereafter in Daniel 11 verses 35 through 45, and is the same as the antichrist. We will find in this part of Daniel, - (the verses 21 through 34) - , many features that are characteristic of the antichrist.

Antiochus IV came unexpectedly and seized power by deceit.

He deceived his brother Demetrius who was in Rome as a hostage. At that moment Antiochus IV took the throne by trickery.

In history it is known that he flattered the people, and put them on his side that way.  He even sang street songs with the people of Syria…. This is also how the Antichrist, later on, will gain the sympathy of the people. See 2 Thessalonians 2 verses 9-11: “The Wicked One will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false miracles and wonders, 10 and use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved. 11 And so God sends the power of error to work in them so that they believe what is false”.

>>> verse 22: With “God's High Priest” is meant the faithful priest Onias III who was removed from his post and his unfaithful brother, Jason, was put in his place.

>>> Verse 23: Antiochus also ruptures the alliance with Jason, because of the still worse Menelaus, who took his place.

Antiochus, who was in Rome at that time for paying taxes, had only a little amount of followers when he returned from Rome. This is what is meant by: “even though he rules only a small nation”, at the end of verse 23. However with the help of the king of Pergamum, he came back on the throne. ……. We can foresee that also the Antichrist will have in the beginning only a little amount of people following him. And, he also, will surely obtain more power by making various alliances and through trickery. 

11.0a- The evil king of Syria, first part:

          (Related to Antiochus IV Epiphanes)

In Daniel 11 verses 21 through 34 we read:

“21 The angel went on to explain: “The next king of Syria will be an evil man who has no right to be king, but he will come unexpectedly and seize power by trickery. 22 Anyone who opposes him, even God's High Priest, will be swept away and wiped out. 23 By making treaties, he will deceive other nations, and he will grow stronger and stronger, even though he rules only a small nation. 24 He will invade a wealthy province without warning and will do things that none of his ancestors ever did. Then he will divide among his followers the goods and property he has captured in war. He will make plans to attack fortresses, but his time will soon run out.

25 “He will boldly raise a large army to attack the king of Egypt, who will prepare to fight back with a huge and powerful army. But the king of Egypt will be deceived and will not be successful. 26 His closest advisers will ruin him. Many of his soldiers will be killed, and his army will be wiped out. 27 Then the two kings will sit down to eat at the same table, but their motives will be evil, and they will lie to each other. They will not get what they want, because the time for it has not yet come. 28 The king of Syria will return home with all the loot he has captured, determined to destroy the religion of God's people. He will do as he pleases and then return to his own land.

29 “Later on he will invade Egypt again, but this time things will turn out differently. 30 The Romans will come in ships and oppose him, and he will be frightened. 

“Then he will turn back in a rage and try to destroy the religion of God's people. He will follow the advice of those who have abandoned that religion. 31 Some of his soldiers will make the Temple ritually unclean. They will stop the daily sacrifices and set up The Awful Horror. 

32 By deceit the king will win the support of those who have already abandoned their religion, but those who follow God will fight back. 33 Wise leaders of the people will share their wisdom with many others. But for a while some of them will be killed in battle or be burned to death, and some will be robbed and made prisoners. 34 While the killing is going on, God's people will receive a little help, even though many who join them will do so for selfish reasons.

10. 3- Discussion of Daniel 11 verses 17-20

>>> Verse 17: In 193 BC, a false alliance was prepared from the side of Antiochus. He “buys” Egypt from Ptolemy using his daughter Cleopatra as “exchange object”. However Antiochus was defrauded, because instead of helping her father, Cleopatra helped her husband Ptolemy to her own advantage. So is the deceiver deceived, (Note: This Cleopatra is not the one who was married to Marco Antonio and died in 30 BC.)

>>> Verses 18 and 19: The king of Syria conquered a large number of islands in the Mediterranean Sea, such as Rhode and Samos, from Greece. The “foreign leader”, mentioned in this verse, was the Roman consul Scipio. He defeated him and “put an end to his arrogance” it says in this verse.   We see this occurring, because after this defeat, the king was no more capable of any more actions.

>>> verse20: The “another king”, mentioned in this verse was his son Seleucus IV Philopater (ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, who reigned from 187 BC to 175 BC). He also robbed the temple of Jerusalem. The taxes were paid to Rome. 

Seleucus IV was poisoned by Heliodorus, (the extortionist), who plundered the temple and wanted to be king himself. The fact that he was poisoned confirms what it says at the end of verse 20: “that king will be killed, but not publicly and not in battle”. This is an example where we see how precise the visions of Daniel are being fulfilled. 

10.2- Discussion of Daniel 11 verses 7-16

>>> In General, we see in these verses a time of suffering, battles, persecution and other distress. Many would ask: ¿Where is God?

It is the time of the rise of unbelief, atheism and revolution against God. Therefore, God is not mentioned in this chapter except once, in verse 32, where his name is used to show how it should be: “but those who follow God will fight back”.

 >>> Verses 7 and 8: The brother of Berenice, Ptolemy III, attacks Syria to revenge his sister. He conquered the eastern provinces in the year 246 BC.

>>> Verse 9: After this it is Seleucis II who attacks Egypt. He is however obliged to return to his own country, because of troubles there.

>>> Verses 10-14: Continued battles between Egypt and Syria, (284 BC.–175BC.), especially about the possession of Palestine.

>>> Verse 11: This concerns Ptolemy IV Philopator , son of Ptolemy III Euergetes I and Berenice II. He was king of Egypt from 221BC - 205 BC.  During his reign began the decline of the Ptolemaic Empire.

>>> Verse 13: He was defeated by Antiochus III, “the great” in 198 BC. Antiochus III reined from 223BC-187BC.

>>> Verse 14: The king of Egypt was Ptolemy V, also called Epiphanes. Some apostate Jews took the side of Ptolemy against Antiochus, but others took the other side. … From this we learn that believers should not take part- or support, any of the “Babylonian” world powers, which are fighting each other, see John 18 verse 36:”Jesus answered, “My kingdom doesn't belong to this world”. 

>>> Verses 15 and 16: The king of Syria, Antiochus the Great fought against Ptolemy V of Egypt. He was thereby helped by a number of Jews (see verse 14). This was because he privileged the Jews by helping them to return from exile. Nevertheless all of this was deceiving, because as it says in verse 16: “He will stand in the Promised Land and have it completely in his power”. 

10.1- Discussion of Daniel 11 verses 2-6

>>>: In general we see in this chapter a series of facts, - (called: “The truth”, see Daniel 10 verse 1: “The message was true but extremely hard to understand”) - , which shows God’s plan of salvation, through much struggle. Described is that what still has to occur, from this moment in the year 534 BC on. The style used here is as if it were the “newspaper of the future”... For us, who live 2500 years later, it is recognizable in accurate fulfillments of that what is given in the following verses: 

--Verses 2-20, Talks about the Persian and Greek kingdoms. … With the Greek Kingdoms split in the Syrian/Seleucid Empire in the North, and the Egyptian/Ptolemaic Empire in the south.

--Verses21-35, Narrates the time of the Syrian/Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, from 175BC-164BC. He is the prefiguration of the antichrist.

--Verses 35-45, Speaks about the antichrist, who puts himself in the place of God. He will be for us the sign for the end times. This is the main significance for us in this prophecy, in which history repeats itself. The end for him will be as said in verse 45 of this chapter: “But he will die, with no one there to help him”.

The miracle of this chapter is the exact fulfillment in history of its prophecies.

>>> Verses 2- 4: The fourth Persian king referred to here is Xerxes I, who reigned from 485 BC until 464 BC. His Predecessor was Darius I and his Successor Artaxerxes I.  He initially conquered the Greek in 480 BC. The battles with the Greek nation lasted for approximately 150 years until Alexander the Great Appears.  He conquers the Persians in 332 BC. (See Daniel 8 verses 5-8).  The Greek empire is split into four nations after the death of Alexander the Great. (See Daniel 8 verses 8 and 9, with the discussion given there).

>>> Verse 5: “The king of Egypt” was the king of the south, who became strong, but was some time later exceeded by Seleucis I, who founded the Seleucid Empire. The Seleucid Empire remained in existence until 65 BC, when Syria became a Roman province.

Syria, from the north, also called the Seleucids, and Egypt, from the south, also called the Ptolemy’s, fought against each other over the Promised Land until 250 BC. (See verse 16 of this chapter). 

>>> Verse 6: In 250 BC, Berenice the daughter of Ptolemy II married Antiochus II. Both were murdered by Laodice, the former wife of Antiochus II, who had rejected her. 

10.0- The Kingdoms of Egypt and Syria

In Daniel 11 verses 2 through 20 we read:

“The angel said, “Three more kings will rule over Persia, followed by a fourth, who will be richer than all the others. At the height of his power and wealth he will challenge the kingdom of Greece. 

3 “Then a heroic king will appear. He will rule over a huge empire and do whatever he wants. 4 But at the height of his power his empire will break up and be divided into four parts. Kings not descended from him will rule in his place, but they will not have the power that he had.

5 The king of Egypt will be strong. One of his generals, however, will be even stronger and rule a greater kingdom. 6 After a number of years the king of Egypt will make an alliance with the king of Syria and give him his daughter in marriage. But the alliance will not last, and she, her husband, her child, and the servants who went with her will all be killed. 7 Soon afterward one of her relatives will become king. He will attack the army of the king of Syria, enter their fortress, and defeat them. 8 He will carry back to Egypt the images of their gods and the articles of gold and silver dedicated to those gods. After several years of peace 9 the king of Syria will invade Egypt, but he will be forced to retreat.

10 “The sons of the king of Syria will prepare for war and gather a large army. One of them will sweep on like a flood and attack an enemy fortress. 11 In his anger the king of Egypt will go to war against the king of Syria and capture his huge army. 12 He will be proud of his victory and of the many soldiers he has killed, but he will not continue to be victorious.

13 “The king of Syria will go back and gather a larger army than he had before. When the proper time comes, he will return with a large, well-equipped army. 14 Then many people will rebel against the king of Egypt. And some violent people from your nation, Daniel, will rebel because of a vision they have seen, but they will be defeated. 15 So the king of Syria will lay siege to a fortified city and capture it. The soldiers of Egypt will not continue to fight; even the best of them will not have enough strength. 16 The Syrian invader will do with them as he pleases, without opposition. He will stand in the Promised Land and have it completely in his power.

17 “The king of Syria will plan an expedition, using his whole army. Then, in order to destroy his enemy's kingdom, he will make an alliance with him and offer him his daughter in marriage; but his plan will not succeed. 18 After that he will attack the nations by the sea and conquer many of them. But a foreign leader will defeat him and put an end to his arrogance; indeed he will turn the arrogance of Syria's king back on him.  19 The king will return to the fortresses of his own land, but he will be defeated, and that will be the end of him.

20 “He will be followed by another king, who will send an officer to oppress the people with taxes in order to increase the wealth of his kingdom. In a short time that king will be killed, but not publicly and not in battle”. 

9.3- Discussion of Daniel 10 verses 14-21

>>> Verse 14: It says in this verse that God sent His angel to “make Daniel understand what will happen to his people in the future” God wants that his children understand what will happen to them at the end of times (see also Hebrews 1 verse 1: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets”, and Daniel 9 verse 23: “He loves you, and so I have come to tell you the answer. Now pay attention while I explain the vision”). God does this so that we will not live in fear, but look forward to the day of His return, see 2 Peter 3 verses 11-14: “……But we wait for what God has promised: new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will be at home. And so, my friends, as you wait for that Day, do your best to be pure and faultless in God's sight and to be at peace with him”.

>>> Verses 15-17: This vision and these words, - this participation in God’s Plan -, is too much for a mortal being as Daniel, and also for us. It is too wonderful, but at the same time too impressive, and therefore it takes all our strength away.

>>> Verses 18, 19: Nevertheless, the Lord wants to involve his children in what happens. Therefore It says: “Once more he took hold of me”. For that purpose He gives them power: He touches them again and again. (3 times: in verses 10, 16 and 18). In this contact there is purification and power. See Matthew 9 verses 20 and 21: “A woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will get well”. 

>>> Verses 20, 21: The “….the guardian angel of Persia…” is an angel in the service of Satan, against which the Lord fights for the purpose of the salvation of the creation. He does this persistently. Also we ought to be prepared for this during our prayers, See Ephesians 6 verse 18: “Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people”. 

9.2- Discussion of Daniel 10 verses 7-13 

>>> Verses 7-9: The words, “I was the only one” in verse 7, and “I was left there alone”, in verse 8, show that only God’s beloved (See verse 11), are being affected, although they can’t assimilate it themselves. The unspiritual human flees with great fear. See also rev.1 verse 17: “When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, “Don't be afraid! I am the first and the last”.  And also 1 Cor. 2 verse14:” Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them, and they seem to be nonsense, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis”. And again in Acts 9 verse 7: “The men who were traveling with Saul had stopped, not saying a word; they heard the voice but could not see anyone”.

>>> Verses 10-12: Only when Jesus Himself raises us up again, can we stand straight in front of Him.

And, like in verse 12, also to us He wants to come in answer to our prayers. See John 14 verse 26: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you”. And also see John 15 verse 26: “The Helper will come—the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father. I will send him to you from the Father, and he will speak about me”.  And John 16 verse 13: “When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all the truth”.

>>> Verse 13: Note that it says that the angel, prince of the kingdom of Persia, opposed him. …. But with the prayer of a righteous person, there is no devilish power that can withstand God’s word and revelation. Also not by the evil god of this world, which was represented by Persia at that time, See 2 Cor. 4verse 4: “They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them….”. Also now we see that the powers of prosperity and materialism (Babylon), occultism (New Age), “Rome” with its ism’s, unbelief and uncleanliness try to obstruct God’s kingdom. 

9.1- Discussion of Daniel 10 verse 1-6

>>> Verse 1: we are in the year 534 BC. Cyrus is the son of Esther (the cousin of Mordecai of the book of Esther). It says here that the message was true but extremely hard to understand. Daniel knew that the message came from God, and therefore was the truth. See John 17 verse 17: “Dedicate them to yourself by means of the truth; your word is truth”. The only place where we can really find the truth is in the bible.

>>> Verses 2 and 3: Daniel suffered because of the coming misery of his people. He was “mourning” it says in verse 2. Persistently, he searches for God’s plan for the salvation of Israel, (see verse 12).

>>> Verses 4-6: And this effort is in accordance with God’s will. It is in effect, participation in God’s plan and action. This He proves to Daniel by revealing Himself to him. See also Revelation 1 verses 12-15: “I turned around to see who was talking to me, and I saw seven gold lampstands,   and among them there was what looked like a human being, wearing a robe that reached to his feet, and a gold band around his chest.     His hair was white as wool, or as snow, and his eyes blazed like fire; his feet shone like brass that has been refined and polished, and his voice sounded like a roaring waterfall”.  This appearance of Revelation 1 is the same as the one explained here in verses 5 and 6 of Daniel 10. And again we find much similarity of this in the Vision of the “One Who Has Been Living Forever” of Daniel 7 verse 9, where we read that “His clothes were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire. It is clear that in all these cases, the Lord Himself appeared in a vision. This occurs in many other instances mentioned in the bible. For example also in Genesis 15 verse 1: “After this, Abram had a vision and heard the Lord say to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I will shield you from danger and give you a great reward”…. Only in this participating unity with Him will we be shielded from danger and be able to obtain insight in the techniques of the powers of misperception and fraud, such as humanism, New Age, apostate world church, false religions, and many other movements and powers that do not come from God. 

9.0- Daniel's Vision by the Tigris River

In Daniel 10 and Daniel 11 verse 1 we read:

1 In the third year that Cyrus was emperor of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who is also called Belteshazzar. The message was true but extremely hard to understand.  It was explained to him in a vision.

2 At that time I was mourning for three weeks. 3 I did not eat any rich food or any meat, drink any wine, or comb my hair until the three weeks were past. 

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month of the year I was standing on the bank of the mighty Tigris River. 5 I looked up and saw someone who was wearing linen clothes and a belt of fine gold.

6 His body shone like a jewel. His face was as bright as a flash of lightning, and his eyes blazed like fire. His arms and legs shone like polished bronze, and his voice sounded like the roar of a great crowd.

7 I was the only one who saw the vision. Those who were with me did not see anything, but they were terrified and ran and hid. 8 I was left there alone, watching this amazing vision. I had no strength left, and my face was so changed that no one could have recognized me. 9 When I heard his voice, I fell to the ground unconscious and lay there face downward. 10 Then a hand took hold of me and raised me to my hands and knees; I was still trembling.

11 The angel said to me, “Daniel, God loves you. Stand up and listen carefully to what I am going to say. I have been sent to you.” When he had said this, I stood up, still trembling.

12 Then he said, “Daniel, don't be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer.   13 The angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me, because I had been left there alone in Persia. 14 I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the future. This is a vision about the future.”

15 When he said this, I stared at the ground, speechless. 16 Then the angel, who looked like a human being, reached out and touched my lips. I said to him, “Sir, this vision makes me so weak that I can't stop trembling. 17 I am like a slave standing before his master. How can I talk to you? I have no strength or breath left in me.”

18 Once more he took hold of me, and I felt stronger. 19 He said, “God loves you, so don't let anything worry you or frighten you.”

When he had said this, I felt even stronger and said, “Sir, tell me what you have to say. You have made me feel better.”

20-21 He said, “Do you know why I came to you? It is to reveal to you what is written in the book of Truth

Now I have to go back and fight the guardian angel of Persia. After that the guardian angel of Greece will appear. There is no one to help me except Michael, Israel's guardian angel.

He is responsible for helping and defending me.

8.3- Discussion of Daniel 9, verse 27

<<< Verse 27: Suddenly appears here “the ruler”, which is the antichrist. The jump Daniel makes here to the end of times is also the division between the 69 “yearweeks” and the seventieth “yearweek”.

The reason for this long time span is because it concerns here the restoration of all of Israel. See verse 7 of this chapter: “This is true of all of us who live in Judea and in Jerusalem and of all the Israelites whom you scattered in countries near and far because they were unfaithful to you”. This period of time between the 69 “yearweeks” and the seventieth “yearweek” is called in the bible: “The time of the gentiles”. See also Luke 21 verse 24 where we see that a fixed time is set for the heathen to attack Jerusalem: “Some will be killed by the sword, and others will be taken as prisoners to all countries; and the heathen will trample over Jerusalem until their time is up” And also Revelations 11 verse 2:”But do not measure the outer courts, because they have been given to the heathen, who will trample on the Holy City for forty-two months”. ….These 42 months are those of the “Great Tribulation”, which will start immediately after the antichrist breaks the peace pact he had set up, including with Israel. 

This firm pact is the treacherous pact the antichrist will have at the beginning of the last “yearweek”, or 7 years.

In the midst of this, by God fixed period of 7 years, he will show his real nature and bring great evil to Israel by destruction and also ending the daily offering. See also Daniel 8 verse 11: “It even defied the Prince of the heavenly army, stopped the daily sacrifices offered to him, and ruined the Temple”. And also Dan. 11verse 31: “Some of his soldiers will make the Temple ritually unclean. They will stop the daily sacrifices and set up The Awful Horror”, and Matt. 24 verse 15: “You will see ‘The Awful Horror’ of which the prophet Daniel spoke. It will be standing in the holy place”, ….. and more verses such as in 2Thess. 2: 3 and 4, Rev. 13: 3 and 4 and 12-15, Rev. 16: 2, and Daniel 12: 11.

The antichrist will continue his awful destruction and devastation for the time God has prepared for him. After this time of great tribulation, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will return. See Matthew24 verse 29-31: “Soon after the trouble of those days, the sun will grow dark, the moon will no longer shine, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers in space will be driven from their courses.  Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky; and all the peoples of earth will weep as they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. The great trumpet will sound, and he will send out his angels to the four corners of the earth, and they will gather his chosen people from one end of the world to the other”.  ….. This will mean the end of the seventh week, or last seven years, as seen by Daniel in his vision. 

8.2- Discussion of Daniel 9, verses 25 and 26

>>>Verse 25: Basically, at the time from 536-457 B.C., the Israelites were a group of people with no real government, city, or well defined country. It wasn't until Artaxerxes came to the throne in 464 B.C., that we actually see them starting to rebuild the city. The time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem occurred in approximately 457 BC. See Nehemiah 2 verse 1-8, where we read:  “One day four months later, when Emperor Artaxerxes was dining, I took the wine to him. He had never seen me look sad before, so he asked, “Why are you looking so sad…………...“What is it that you want?” …… and then I said to the emperor, “……..  let me go to the land of Judah, to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I can rebuild the city.” The emperor, with the empress sitting at his side, approved my request…………….. I asked also for a letter to the keeper of the royal forests, instructing him to supply me with timber for the gates of the fort that guards the Temple, for the city walls, and for the house I was to live in. The emperor gave me all I asked for, because God was with me”. The rebuilding of the city took 49 years. The restoration is finished in approximately 408 BC, 49 years later. (-457 + 49= - 408).    

62 “yearweeks” later (=434 years in reality,-> 62 times 7= 434), Jesus Christ arrives as Messiah in the year 27 AD, approximately.

During all of the years that Jerusalem existed, until the arrival of the Messiah, the Jews have been suffering under the Persians, the Greek, the Seleucids, The Ptolemy’s, the Maccabees, the Romans, such that this has been “a time of troubles” as is mentioned at the end of this verse.

>>> Verse 26: The 69 “yearweeks” bring us at the time of Jesus’ death on the cross.  This is the time mentioned in this verse saying that :  God's chosen leader, (the Messiah), will be killed unjustly”, and there is nothing that can be said against Him.

See John 15 verse 25: “This, however, was bound to happen so that what is written in their Law may come true: They hated me for no reason at all.” And also Isaiah 53 verse 5: “But because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did” 

The destruction of Jerusalem took place in 70 AC., however not without God’s permission, See Romans 8 verse 20: For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope……” This is the hope for the New Jerusalem. 

8.1- Discussion of Daniel 9, verses 20-24

>>> Verses 20-23: From the moment that Daniel began to plead with God, He already answered him. God wants to be prayed to. See Ephesians 6 verse 18: “Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people”.

In the beginning of verse 20 it says: “I (Daniel) went on praying”….  Our prayers are as “gold bowls filled with incense”, to His honor. See Rev. 5 verse 8: “As he did so, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people”. See also Rev. 8 verses 3 and 4: “Another angel, who had a gold incense container, came and stood at the altar. He was given a lot of incense to add to the prayers of all God's people and to offer it on the gold altar that stands before the throne. The smoke of the burning incense went up with the prayers of God's people from the hands of the angel standing before God”

Verse 21 says that it was the “time for the evening sacrifice to be offered”. God always acts at the time of - (and on the basis of) - the evening sacrifice. This of course speaks of Golgotha, where Jesus died towards the evening. See also 1 Kings 18 verse 29: “They kept on ranting and raving until the middle of the afternoon; but no answer came, not a sound was heard”. Only after that, in the evening, Elijah set about repairing the altar of the Lord.

>>> Verse 24: The 70 years, about which Daniel prayed in verse 2, and where it says that he “was studying the sacred books and thinking about the seventy years that Jerusalem would be in ruins “, are now being explained by Gabriel. It is important to understand the relation between verse 2 and verses 24 – 27: Because, as the 70 years of exile relate to the 490 years of iniquity (not celebrated Sabbath rests), these 70 years also speak about the coming 490 years- (70 “sevens” of yearweeks)- , in which all the iniquities are being reconciled. These iniquities include those of the whole nation of Israel, and not only the Jews. In this verse it says: “Sin will be forgiven and eternal justice established”. This is prophecy of the time when all sin will be ended and the eternal kingdom of the Messiah is being installed. 

8.0- Gabriel Explains the Prophecy

In Daniel 9 verses 20 through 27 we read:

20 I went on praying, confessing my sins and the sins of my people Israel and pleading with the Lord my God to restore his holy Temple.   21 While I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came flying down to where I was. It was the time for the evening sacrifice to be offered. 22 He explained, “Daniel, I have come here to help you understand the prophecy. 23 When you began to plead with God, he answered you. He loves you, and so I have come to tell you the answer. Now pay attention while I explain the vision. 

24 “Seven times seventy years is the length of time God has set for freeing your people and your holy city from sin and evil. Sin will be forgiven and eternal justice established, so that the vision and the prophecy will come true, and the holy Temple will be rededicated.

25 Note this and understand it: From the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until God's chosen leader comes, seven times seven years will pass. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, and will stand for seven times sixty-two years, but this will be a time of troubles. 26 And at the end of that time God's chosen leader will be killed unjustly.  The city and the Temple will be destroyed by the invading army of a powerful ruler. The end will come like a flood, bringing the war and destruction which God has prepared. 27 That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Awful Horror will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him.”