Skill to Understand

Daniel 9:20-23 (NKJV) 20 Now while I [was] speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I [was] speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed [me,] and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell [you,] for you [are] greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:

Consider verse 23. Verse 23 says, “You are greatly beloved!”

In the first nineteen verses, Daniel repents and confesses his sins and the sins of his people, Israel. It is essential to note that God loves us even when we sin. Just as crucial is the truth that sin has consequences, even though God loves us. God does not zap us with lightning, but in a metaphorical sense, our sin does!

Consider also verse 23 when it says, “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out.” Daniel prayed for a while. We do not know how long, but in Daniel 9:3, Daniel says:

Daniel 9:3 (NKJV) Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Fasting, sackcloth, and ashes suggest a time extending at least a few days. What could have delayed the answer? Is God somehow limited? No, God is not limited. He entrusted the message to His messenger, Gabriel, and we know from this verse and Daniel 10:13 that Gabriel can be delayed.

God grants understanding through His Holy Spirit, and His written word, the Bible, imparts many truths. However, there are times when we need support from others to help us connect these truths. The Bible tells us that God has provided pastors and teachers for the Church. Teaching is a crucial part of our learning and spiritual growth. This is just one of several reasons why attending church is essential for Christians.

During Daniel's time, no one was available to teach him, and no one alive understood what was being revealed to him. Therefore, God sent Gabriel to explain these things to Daniel. 

Consider verse 22. Daniel says:

Daniel 9:22 (NKJV) And he informed [me,] and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.

In verse 22, Daniel states, “And he informed me and talked with me.” The details of what Gabriel taught Daniel are revealed in the remainder of Daniel 9. The fact that Gabriel and Daniel “talked” indicates that Gabriel took some time to instruct Daniel. They talked!

God revealed a vision to Daniel, but did not explain it Himself. Despite Daniel being greatly loved, God sent Gabriel to provide the explanation. This approach is generally followed, with a few exceptions. To understand this principle, we can look at an incident in Moses's life while he was leading the Israelites in the wilderness, which is recorded in Numbers 12.

Numbers 12:1-8 (NKJV) 1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard [it.] 3 (Now the man Moses [was] very humble, more than all men who [were] on the face of the earth.) 4 Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. 5 Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood [in] the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. 6 Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, [I], the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; He [is] faithful in all My house. 8 I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

In verse 6, God says, “If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.” This is how God made Himself known to Daniel — in a vision.

In verses 7 and 8, God says, “Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the LORD.” 

While Moses was on the mountain of the LORD for 40 days and nights, God taught and explained various things to him. They talked! When Moses came down from the mountain, his face shone so brightly that people could not look at him. I am not aware of any Scriptures that mention this happening to anyone else, unless one wants to point out that Jesus’s glory was revealed during the Mount of Transfiguration.

Moses remains a significant figure, and we still have his writings. Jesus is Lord, and He has provided us with the written word, the Holy Spirit, and pastors and teachers. Therefore, it is unlikely that He will send Gabriel again in our day. The last mention of Gabriel speaking to anyone in the Bible is when he tells Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God.

Not all pastors and teachers are reliable, honest, or devoted to the Lord. Therefore, it is essential to compare their teachings with what the Bible says. Faithfulness to doctrine is the reason churches have doctrinal statements.

It’s essential that everything I teach aligns with the Scriptures. Any doctrine that deviates from the Bible should be dismissed, regardless of who presents it—be it me or anyone else. I urge you to exercise caution with quick, one-verse interpretations; true biblical truths are woven throughout multiple passages and must harmonize with the entirety of Scripture.

The truth that Gabriel teaches Daniel is a theme found throughout the entire Bible. Without understanding the meaning of this vision, we cannot grasp what God is doing in the world and why events are unfolding as they are today. The insights Gabriel imparts to Daniel are available to all of us because Daniel wrote them down.

If you desire understanding, 1) ask God for understanding and trust that His Holy Spirit will guide you; 2) search the Scriptures; and 3) ask a teacher you trust to help you.

I urge you to do all three.

Lesson on Repentance

 Lesson on Repentance

Daniel’s Prayer 

Daniel 9:1-19 

Daniel chapter 9 is one of the most formative chapters in the entire Bible. It holds a key to understanding biblical prophecy—especially the book of Revelation. At the time Daniel wrote this chapter, he was seeking the Lord about the future of Israel. As he prayed and read the Scriptures, he experienced deep repentance. Chapter 9 is his prayer of repentance for himself and his nation. 

Israel ignored God’s commands on many occasions. They did this even after clear warnings in Deuteronomy and the Old Testament. God didn’t give His commands to ruin anyone’s fun or to set up impossible rules. He gave them to protect His people and to ensure their prosperity. And yet, Israel rebelled—again and again.

In our series, “A Trip Through Time,” we’ve explored key themes. These themes have shaped my understanding of how God interacts with Israel. One was the Sabbath, and the other was learning and growing. Both have a lot to say about how we walk with God.

As we continue our series, “A Trip Through Time,” we will look at Daniel chapter 9. This chapter puts the subject of repentance front and center. This chapter reveals how God interacted with Israel in the past. It also offers insights into His future plans for them.

Let's read Daniel 9:1–19 together. As we go through it, I'll share thoughts on repentance. These lessons matter for our walk with God today.

Daniel 9:1-23 (NKJV) 1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans-- 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years [specified] by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 

[Daniel declared, "I understood by the books," emphasizing that his pursuit of knowledge was extensive. By choosing the term "books" instead of "Bible," "Scripture," or "Moses," he highlights that his study has included everything he could find. Additionally, his reference to Jeremiah reveals his quest to grasp the intricacies of prophecy. This leads us to a powerful moment of reflection—Daniel’s heartfelt prayer of repentance as he confronts the profound truths unveiled in his studies.]

3Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

 [Fasting, wearing sackcloth, and covering oneself in ashes are powerful acts of deep sorrow. In Jeremiah 8:6, God speaks of repentance and says, “No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’” Repentance is rethinking and realizing we have been wrong so that our gut-level reaction is “What have I done!” Repentance is not penance. Penance is something we do—punishing ourselves. Daniel was not punishing himself when he fasted, wore ashes and sackcloth, He was overcome with grief. He was not trying to earn God’s favor. He was sad, extremely sad. Consider this—Verse one says it was the first year of King Darius. From this, we know that by now Daniel is an old man. All of his life he has been an exalted man, an advisor to kings. And now, in his old age, he realizes he has been wrong his whole life. The sackcloth and ashes and the words of his prayer reflect Daniel saying, “What have I done, what have I done, what have I done? I have been wrong these 80 years!] 

4And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 

[These words reflect Daniel’s understanding of God’s character. This understanding goes beyond fleeting emotions; it demonstrates a depth of self-awareness and his ability to confront his own feelings, such as anger over the destruction of his people and city, as well as his years spent as a slave to his enemies. Are you honest enough to face your anger toward God, your disappointment with Him? Until we face these things we do not see God as great, loving, and One who keeps His covenant.]

5 “we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. 6 “Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. 

[God granted Daniel wisdom greater than any of his peers. He made the choice to eat only kosher foods in the Babylonian royal palace and God blessed Him for this. Daniel prayed three times a day and God saved him from being eaten by lions. But now in the words of his prayer we see that Daniel was thinking the Jews were suffering because they were righteous. His great sorrow is realizing he has been wrong. He and his people were suffering because they had refused to listen to God.  Daniel recognized that God had been reaching out to His people through prophets and teachers for many hundred of years. (I say teachers because Daniel says “precepts.”) God is reaching out to you, yet again today. Do these words strike a cord with you? Does your spirit burn within you? That is not me. It is the Spirit of God asking you to come home to Him.]

7 “OLord, righteousness [belongs] to You, but to us shame of face, as [it is] this day--to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You. 8 “O Lord, to us [belongs] shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 “To the Lord our God [belong] mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. 10 “We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. 11 “Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. 12 “And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 “As [it is] written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; 

[Daniel recognizes that God is just and fair in His actions. God established a covenant with Israel and communicated with them continuously. He warned Israel repeatedly through His covenant and through His prophets, but they refused to listen.]

13 “As [it is] written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. 

[The root of this catastrophic failure lies in a single oversight: “We have not prayed before the LORD our God to turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth.” God makes it clear that there is truly only one reason anyone faces condemnation: the choice to reject His gift of salvation. Jesus has already paid the price for every sin. According to John 3:18, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” This powerful truth emphasizes the importance of accepting the gift offered to us.]

14 “Therefore the LORD has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the LORD our God [is] righteousin all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. 15 “And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as [it is] this day--we have sinned, we have done wickedly! 16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people [are] a reproach to all [those] around us. 

[Daniel is pleading for compassion. He doesn't make excuses or try to downplay anyone’s actions; instead, he acknowledges Israel's accountability. We must come the same way. If your heart is not at that place, only an appeal to God for mercy will make any difference.]

17 “Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your faceto shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 “O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.

[Do you see these words “righteous deeds?” This is Daniel’s repentance(re-thinking). He and his people had been thinking they presented their supplications because of their righteous deeds.]

19 “O Lord,hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

[Daniel earnestly seeks the restoration of his people and city, not because they have earned it, but purely because of God's inherent nature. God is overflowing with love and mercy, ready to save anyone who sincerely reaches out to Him.]

20 Nowwhile I [was] speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I [was] speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed [me,] and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell [you,] for you [are] greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:

[The moment we turn our hearts toward God, He responds with open arms. When we seek wisdom and understanding, He generously grants it to us. The Psalms teach us that the Lord shares His secrets with those who fear Him. 

Psalms 25:14 (NKJV) The secret of the LORD [is] with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.

The Bible assures us that He reveals His ways, guiding us on our journey. As the angel conveyed to Daniel, he comes to impart the skill to truly understand. The Holy Spirit is sent to us by God’s Son, Jesus, and He empowers us and gives us understanding. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding as you read God’s word!]

John 14:26 (NKJV) “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 

1 John 2:27 (NKJV) But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyoneteach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Are wars a sign that the Tribulation is near?

 Are wars a sign that the Tribulation is near?

Every century since the time of Christ has been marked by war, civil conflict, or invasions in various parts of the world. True global peace has never been a reality, but this is precisely how God said it would be.

Five centuries before the birth of Jesus, the angel Gabriel revealed to Daniel that wars and the accompanying sufferings are destined to continue until the very end.

Daniel 9:26 (NLT) “After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end.

As Gabriel pointed out, wars have persisted throughout history. Jesus reassured us that we should not let news of conflicts trouble us, for these wars—and natural disasters—are not signs of the end.

Matthew 24:6 (NKJV) “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Here’s a compelling timeline that clearly illustrates that from the time of Jesus in the 1st century AD to the present day, there has consistently been war or violent conflict occurring somewhere in the world. For each century, I've highlighted several notable examples to emphasize this ongoing reality. Again, God told us it would be this way.

1st Century (0–100 AD)

• Jewish-Roman Wars: The First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 AD), including the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD.
• Roman military campaigns: Ongoing conquests and suppressions of rebellions throughout the Roman Empire.

2nd Century (100–200 AD)

• Roman-Parthian Wars: Conflict between the Roman Empire and the Parthian Empire (e.g., Trajan’s campaign in 114–117 AD).
• Bar Kokhba Revolt: Jewish rebellion against Rome (132–136 AD).

3rd Century (200–300 AD)

• Crisis of the Third Century: A period of military anarchy, civil wars, and foreign invasions within the Roman Empire.
• Roman–Persian Wars: Ongoing conflict with the Sassanid Empire.

4th Century (300–400 AD)

• Gothic Wars: Conflicts between the Roman Empire and various Gothic tribes.
• Constantinian and civil wars: Struggles over imperial succession.

5th Century (400–500 AD)

• Fall of the Western Roman Empire: Invasions by Huns, Vandals, and Visigoths.
• Battle of the Catalaunian Plains (451 AD): Romans and Visigoths vs. Huns.

6th Century (500–600 AD)

• Byzantine–Sassanian Wars: Long-standing conflict in the Middle East.
• Gothic War (535–554 AD): Byzantines reconquer parts of Italy from the Ostrogoths.

7th Century (600–700 AD)

• Early Islamic Conquests: Rapid expansion of Islamic caliphates through war.
• Byzantine–Arab Wars: Ongoing military conflict with the expanding Arab Empire.

8th Century (700–800 AD)

• Franco-Arab Conflicts: Battle of Tours (732 AD), where Charles Martel halted Muslim expansion in Western Europe.
• Internal Caliphate conflicts: Civil wars within Islamic realms (e.g., Abbasid Revolution).

9th Century (800–900 AD)

• Viking Raids: Widespread Viking invasions and warfare in Europe.
• Tang Dynasty Conflicts: Internal rebellions and border wars in China.

10th Century (900–1000 AD)

• Byzantine–Arab Wars continue.
• European Feudal Warfare: Local lords and kings waging frequent small-scale wars.

11th Century (1000–1100 AD)

• Norman Conquests: Including the conquest of England (1066 AD).
• Seljuk-Byzantine Wars.
• First Crusade (1096–1099 AD): Christians vs. Muslims over the Holy Land.

12th Century (1100–1200 AD)

• Second and Third Crusades.
• Feudal Conflicts in Europe and Muslim unity under Saladin.

13th Century (1200–1300 AD)

• Mongol Conquests: Devastating wars from China to Europe.
• Crusades continue.

14th Century (1300–1400 AD)

• Hundred Years’ War (begins 1337).
• Mongol conflicts continue.
• Ottoman Expansion begins in earnest.

15th Century (1400–1500 AD)

• Fall of Constantinople (1453 AD) by the Ottomans.
• Wars of the Roses in England.

16th Century (1500–1600 AD)

• European Wars of Religion (e.g., Protestant Reformation conflicts).
• Ottoman–Habsburg Wars.

17th Century (1600–1700 AD)

• Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648): One of the deadliest European conflicts.
• English Civil War (1642–1651).
• Mughal-Sikh and Mughal-Maratha Wars in India.

18th Century (1700–1800 AD)

• War of Spanish Succession, Seven Years’ War, American Revolution.
• Colonial Wars in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

19th Century (1800–1900 AD)

• Napoleonic Wars, U.S. Civil War, Franco-Prussian War.
• Colonial Conquests and indigenous resistance worldwide.

20th Century (1900–2000 AD)

• World Wars I & II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Cold War Conflicts.
• Rwandan Genocide, Balkan Wars, Israel-Arab Conflicts.

21st Century (2000–present)

• War on Terror: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria.
• Russian Invasions: Georgia (2008), Ukraine (2014, 2022–).
• Civil wars: Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia (Tigray conflict), Myanmar.

God revealed important details to Daniel. One thing we should expect is a seven-year treaty with Israel. When we see that, we will know that the Tribulation is upon us. (Those who have asked Jesus to save them will be gone shortly before or after this treaty is signed.)

Daniel 9:27 (NKJV) “Then he {the antichrist} shall confirm a covenant with many for one week.”