Word of God

 

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The Book of Ezra 1:6

 

6 And all they that were about them, strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with substance and with cattle, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.

Brethren:

God can, where he pleases, incline the hearts of strangers to be kind to his people, and make those to strengthen their hands that have weakened them. The earth helped the woman. Besides what was willingly offered by the Jews themselves who staid behind, from a principle of love to God and his house, much was offered, as one may say, unwillingly by the Babylonians, who were influenced to do it by a divine power on their minds of which they themselves could give no account. How this proclamation was seconded by Cyrus himself. To give proof of the sincerity of his affection to the house of God, he not only released the people of God, but restored the vessels of the temple.

Now let us observe:

1. How careful Providence was of the vessels of the temple, that they were not lost, melted down, or so mixed with other vessels that they could not be known, but that they were all now forthcoming. Such care God has of the living vessels of mercy, vessels of honour, of whom it is said (See 2 Timothy 2:19-20), that the Lord knows those that are his, and they shall none of them perish.

2. Though they had been put into an idol’s temple, and probably used in the service of idols, yet they were given back, to be used for God. God will recover his own; and the spoil of the strong man armed shall be converted to the use of the conqueror.

3. Judah had a prince, even in captivity. Sheshbazzar, supposed to be the same with Zerubbabel, is here called prince of Judah; the Chaldeans called him Sheshbazzar, which signifies joy in tribulation; but among his own people he went by the name of Zerubbabel—a stranger in Babylon; so he looked upon himself, and considered Jerusalem his home, though, as Josephus says, he was captain of the life-guard to the king of Babylon. He took care of the affairs of the Jews, and had some authority over them, probably from the death of Jehoiachin, or Jeconiah, who made him his heir, he being of the house of David.

4. To him the sacred vessels were numbered out, and he took care for their safe conveyance to Jerusalem, v. 11. It would encourage them to build the temple that they had so much rich furniture ready to put into it when it was built. Though God’s ordinances, like the vessels of the sanctuary, may be corrupted and profaned they shall, in due time, be restored to their primitive use and intention; for not one jot or tittle of divine institution shall fall to the ground. (See Matthew 5:18)

5) Make note herein as well, that the keyword is “willingly”, that is to say given with a joyful heart, and without malice, nor begrudgingly or forcibly coerced into handing over by any powerful authority. 

 

Word of God

 

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The Book of Daniel 12:4

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal (See Isaiah 8:16; Revelation 22:10) the book till the end of the time: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Brethren:

As such, so we read that Daniel must now shut up the words and seal the book because the time would be long ere these things would be accomplished: and it was some comfort that the Jewish nation, though, in the infancy of their return from Babylon, while they were few and weak, they met with obstructions in their work, were not persecuted for their religion till a long time after, when they had grown to some strength and maturity. He must seal the book because it would not be understood, and therefore would not be regarded, till the things contained in it were accomplished; but he must keep it safely, as a treasure of great value, laid up for the ages to come, to whom it would be of great service; for many shall then run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Then this hidden treasure shall be opened, and many shall search into it, and dig for the knowledge of it, as for silver. They shall run to and fro, to enquire out copies of it, shall collate them, and see that they be true and authentic. They shall read it over and over, shall meditate upon it, and run it over in their minds; discurrent—they shall discourse of it, and talk it over among themselves, and compare notes about it, if by any means they may sift out the meaning of it; and thus knowledge shall be increased. By consulting this prophecy on this occasion they shall be led to search other scriptures, which shall contribute much to their advancement in useful knowledge; for then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord, (See Hosea. 6:3)

Those that would have their knowledge increased must take pains, must not sit still in slothfulness and bare wishes but run to and fro, must make use of all the means of knowledge and improve all opportunities of getting their mistakes rectified, their doubts resolved, and their acquaintance with the things of God improved, to know more and to know better what they do know. And let us here see reason to hope that: First those things of God which are now dark and obscure will hereafter be made clear, and easy to be understood. Truth is the daughter of time. Scripture prophecies will be expounded by the accomplishment of them; therefore they are given, and for that explication they are reserved. Therefore they are told us before, that, when they do come to pass, we may believe. Secondly, those things of God which are despised and neglected, and thrown by as useless, shall be brought into reputation, shall be found to be of great service, and be brought into request; for divine revelation, however slighted for a time, shall be magnified and made honorable, and, above all, in the judgment of the great day, when the books shall be opened, and that book among the rest.

Therefore, towards the end of the time appointed, many persons will be stirred up to inquire into these things delivered in this book, and will spare no pains or cost to get knowledge of them; will read and study the Scriptures, and meditate on them; compare one passage with another; spiritual things with spiritual, in order to obtain the mind of Christ; will peruse carefully the writings of such who have gone before them, who have attempted anything of this kind; and will go far and near to converse with persons that have any understanding of such things: and by such means, with the blessing of God upon them, the knowledge of this book of prophecy will be increased; and things will appear plainer the nearer the accomplishment of them is; and especially when accomplished, when prophecy and facts can be compared together: and not only this kind of knowledge, but knowledge of all spiritual things, of all evangelic truths and doctrines, will be abundantly enlarged at this time; and the earth will be filled and covered with it, as the sea with its waters; (See Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14)

 

Word of God

 

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The Book of Daniel 12:2

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth, shall awake, some to everlasting life (See Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15), and some to shame and perpetual contempt. (See Isaiah 66:24; Romans 9:21)

Brethren:

Many of those who sleep in the dust, both Jews and Gentiles, shall be awakened by it to take upon them a profession of religion, and shall rise out of their heathenism or Judaism; but, since there will be always a mixture of hypocrites with true saints, it is but some of those who are raised to life to whom the gospel is a savour of life unto life, but others will be raised by it to shame and contempt, to whom the gospel of Christ will be a savour of death unto death, and Christ himself set for their fall. The net of the gospel encloses both good and bad. But, 3. It must be meant of the general resurrection at the last day: The multitude of those that sleep in the dust shall awake, that is, all, which shall be a great many. Or, Of those that sleep in the dust many shall arise to life and many to shame. The Jews themselves understand this of the resurrection of the dead at the end of time; and Christ seems to have an eye to it when he speaks of the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation (See John 5:29); and upon this the Jews are said by St. Paul to expect a resurrection of the dead both of the just and of the unjust.

And nothing could come in more seasonably here, for, under persecution, some basely betrayed their religion, others bravely adhered to it. Now it would be a trouble to them that, when the storm was over, they could neither reward the one nor punish the other; this therefore would be a satisfaction to them, that they would both be recompensed according to their works in the resurrection. And the apostle, speaking of those that suffered martyrdom, tells us that though they were tortured yet they accepted not deliverance, because they hoped to obtain this better resurrection, (See Hebrews 11:35)

There shall be a glorious reward conferred on those who, in the day of trouble and distress, being themselves wise, did instruct many. Such were taken particular notice of in the prophecy of the persecution, that they should do eminent service, and yet should fall by the sword and by flame; now, if there were not another life after this, they would be of all men most miserable, and therefore we are here assured that they shall be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.

As death is oftentimes compared to "sleep", in which the senses are bound up, and the body is in a state of inactivity; (See John 11:11; 1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:14 ), so the resurrection from the dead is expressed by awaking out of sleep, when the body shall rise fresh and vigorous, in full health and strength, as a man out of a comfortable sleep; see ( See Psalms 17:15; Isaiah 26:19 ) . The word "many" is used, either because, as all will not sleep, so all will not be awaked; there will be some that will be alive and awake at Christ's coming, ( See 1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:17 ) , or, as it signifies, a multitude, and so here the innumerable multitude of the dead, who are afterwards distributively considered; and indeed the word is sometimes used for "all"; see (See Romans 5:15, 19 )

Some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt:

This is to say that the enjoyment of everlasting life and happiness with Christ in the world to come; a phrase often used in the New Testament, though never before in the Old; expressive of that felicity and bliss which the saints enjoy in heaven after this life is over, first in the separate state of the soul, and then, at the resurrection, in soul and body, and of the everlasting continuance of it; they that shall enjoy this are those that are written in the Lamb's book of life, or are ordained unto eternal life; who are redeemed by the blood of Christ, regenerated by his Spirit and grace, justified by his righteousness, adopted into the family of God, are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; these are the dead in Christ, which rise first. Then [shall arise] the wicked, who lived in a course of sin in this world, without any remorse or shame; but, when they shall rise from the dead, they will rise with all their sins upon them, and with a full conviction of them in their consciences; and will be ashamed of them, and to appear before God the Judge of all; and will be had in contempt by the Lord, by elect angels, and all good men; and this reproach shall never be wiped off. Our Lord seems manifestly to have respect to this passage, when he speaks of men coming out of their graves at the last day, "some unto the resurrection of life, and others unto the resurrection of damnation" and upon these words it may well be thought the Apostle Paul grounded his faith of the resurrection of the dead, both just and unjust, and though the resurrection of both is spoken of here and elsewhere together, yet it will be at distinct periods of time; the resurrection of the just at the beginning of the thousand years, and that of the wicked at the end of them, (See Revelation 20:5-6) , between which will be the intermediate state of the saints dwelling with Christ on earth; where they will be favoured with his presence, and the rewards of his grace, to which the following verse has respect.

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The Book of Daniel 12:1

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince, which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there began to be a nation unto that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.

Brethren:

It is usual with the prophets, when they foretell the grievances of the church, to furnish it at the same time with proper antidotes, a remedy for every malady. And no relief is so sovereign, of such general application, so easily accommodated to every case, and of such powerful efficacy, as those that are fetched from Christ and the future state; thence the comforts here are fetched. Jesus Christ shall appear his church’s patron and protector: At that time, when the persecution is at the hottest, Michael shall stand up, The angel had told Daniel what a firm friend Michael was to the church. He all along showed this friendship in the upper world; the angels knew it; but now Michael shall stand up in his providence, and work deliverance for the Jews, when he sees that their power is gone, ( See Deuteronomy. 32:3 ). Christ is that great prince, for he is the prince of the kings of the earth, ( See Revelation1:5 ). And, if he stand up for his church, who can be against it? But this is not all: At that time (that is, soon after) Michael shall stand up for the working out of our eternal salvation; the Son of God shall be incarnate, shall be manifested to destroy the works of the devil. Christ stood for the children of our people when he was made sin and a curse for them, stood in their stead as a sacrifice, bore the cure for them, to bear it from them. He stands for them in the intercession he ever lives to make within the veil, stands up for them, and stands their friend. And after the destruction of antichrist, Christ shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, shall appear for the complete redemption of all his

These shall be delivered not only from the then present outward troubles, not only from their present captivity and afflictions, but from their spiritual evils; from the bondage of sin, and the captivity of Satan; their disbelief of the Messiah; their confidence in their own righteousness, and attachment to the traditions of their fathers; they shall be turned from their transgressions, and return to the Lord their God, and David their King, and shall be truly converted, and spiritually and eternally saved, ( See Romans 11:25 Romans 26 ) . Every one that shall be found written in the book; in the book of life, as Jacchiades; in the book of God's eternal purposes and decrees, concerning the salvation of his people by Christ; for it is according to these that God saves and calls men, whether Jews or Gentiles, ( See 2 Timothy 1:9 ) ( See Philippians 4:3 ) ( See Hebrews 12:23 ) ( See Revelation 20:12 Revelation 20:15 ) ( 21:27 ) .

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The Book of Daniel 9:18

18 O my God, incline thine ear and hear: open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city whereupon thy Name is called: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our own righteousness, but for thy great tender mercies.

Brethren:

We do not present our supplications before thee with hope to speed for our righteousness, as if we were worthy to receive thy favour for any good in us, or done by us, or could demand any thing as a debt; we cannot insist upon our own justification, no, though we were more righteous than we are; nay, though we knew nothing amiss of ourselves, yet are we not thereby justified, nor would we answer, but we would make supplication to our Judge. Moses had told Israel long before that, whatever God did for them, it was not for their righteousness. Likewise Ezekiel had of late told them that their return out of Babylon would be not for their sakes. Whenever we come to God for mercy we must lay aside all conceit of, and confidence in, our own righteousness. They take their encouragement in prayer from God only, as knowing that his reasons of mercy are fetched from within himself, and therefore from him we must borrow all our pleas for mercy, and so give honour to him when we are suing for grace and mercy from him.

Not pleading their good works and righteous actions, and the merits of them, which had none in them, and were no other than as filthy rags, and could not recommend them to God, or be used as a plea and argument to obtain any good thing from him; but throwing themselves upon the abundant grace and mercy of God in Christ, mercy they pleaded, and not merit; and made mention of the righteousness of Christ, and not their own; as all good men, who are truly sensible of themselves, and of the grace of God, will do.

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God
Matthew 4:4

 The Book of Daniel 9:13

13 All this plague is come upon us, as it is written in the Law of Moses (See  Deuteronomy 28): yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand thy truth.

Brethren:

Following upon yesterday’s post of meditation we have before us today’s scripture reinforcing it. First, let us understand that God’s word is truth, and wisdom, therefore departure from it leads to all divers of troubles, misfortunes and if continued to a point wherein God looks not with providence and blessings upon us, but instead withdraws His hand and allows us to wallow in our own doings and iniquities.

Penitents should again and again accuse and reproach themselves till they find their hearts thoroughly broken. All Israel have transgressed thy law. It is Israel, God’s professing people, who have known better, and from whom better is expected—Israel, God’s peculiar people, whom he has surrounded with his favours; not here and there one, but it is all Israel, the generality of them, the body of the people, that have transgressed by departing and getting out of the way, that they might not hear, and so might not obey, thy voice. This disobedience is that which all true penitents do most sensibly charge upon themselves: We obeyed not his voice, and we have sinned, we have done wickedly. Those that would find mercy must thus confess their sins (See 1 John 1:9).  Here is a self-abasing acknowledgment of the righteousness of God in all the judgments that were brought upon them; and it is evermore the way of true penitents thus to justify God, that he may be clear when he judges, and the sinner may bear all the blame.

As such we read of Daniel in this chapter praying and admitting:

1. That he acknowledges that it was sin that plunged them in all these troubles. Israel is dispersed through all the countries about, and so weakened, impoverished, and exposed. God’s hand has driven them hither and thither, some near, where they are known and therefore the more ashamed, others afar off, where they are not known and therefore the more abandoned, and it is because of their trespass that they have trespassed; they mingled themselves with the nations that they might be debauched by them, and now God mingles them with the nations that they might be stripped by them.

 2. He owns the righteousness of God in it, that he had done them no wrong in all he had brought upon them, but had dealt with them as they deserved: "O Lord! righteousness belongs to thee; we have no fault to find with thy providence, no exceptions to make against thy judgments, for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he does, even in the sore calamities we are now under, for we obeyed not the words of his mouth, and therefore justly feel the weight of his hand.” (See Lamentations 1:18). He takes notice of the fulfilling of the scripture in what was brought upon them. In very faithfulness he afflicted them; for it was according to the word which he had spoken. The curse is poured upon us and the oath, that is, the curse that was ratified by an oath in the law of Moses.

3. Likewise this further justifies God in their troubles, that he did but inflict the penalty of the law, which he had given them fair notice of. It was necessary for the preserving of the honour of God’s veracity, and saving his government from contempt, that the threatenings of his word should be accomplished, otherwise they look but as bugbears, nay, they seem not at all frightful. Therefore he has confirmed his words which spoke against us because we broke his laws, and against our judges that judged us because they did not according to the duty of their place punish the breach of God’s laws. He told them many a time that if they did not execute justice, as terrors to evil-workers, he must and would take the work into his own hands; and now he has confirmed what he said by bringing upon us a great evil, in which the princes and judges themselves deeply shared. Note, It contributes very much to our profiting by the judgments of God’s hand to observe how exactly they agree with the judgments of his mouth.

4. He aggravates the calamities they were in, lest they should seem, having been long used to them, to make light of them, and so to lose the benefit of the chastening of the Lord by despising it. "It is not some of the common troubles of life that we are complaining of, but that which has in it some special marks of divine displeasure; for under the whole heaven has not been done as has been done upon Jerusalem,’’ It is in Jeremiah’s lamentation in the name of the church, Was ever sorrow like unto my sorrow? which must suppose another similar question, that is to say was ever sin like unto my sin?

5. Finally in the end he puts shame upon the whole nation, from the highest to the lowest; and if they will say Amen to his prayer, as it was fit they should if they would come in for a share in the benefit of it, they must all put their hand upon their mouth, and their mouth in the dust: "To us belongs confusion of faces as at this day  we lie under the shame of the punishment of our iniquity, for shame is our due.’’ If Israel had retained their character, and had continued a holy people, they would have been high above all nations in praise, and mane, and honour (See Deuteronomy 26:19 ); but now that they have sinned and done wickedly confusion and disgrace belong to them, to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the inhabitants both of the country and of the city, for they have been all alike guilty before God; it belongs to all Israel, both to the two tribes, that are near, by the rivers of Babylon, and to the ten tribes, that are afar off, in the land of Assyria. "Confusion belongs not only to the common people of our land, but to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, who should have set a better example, and have used their authority and influence for the checking of the threatening torrent of vice profaneness

Yet here is the good news; the errand upon which afflictions are sent is to bring men to turn from their iniquities and to understand God’s truth; so Elihu had explained them,(See Job. 36:10) . God by them opens men’s ears to discipline and commands that they return from iniquity. And if men were brought rightly to understand God’s truth, and to submit to the power and authority of it, they would turn from the error of their ways. Now the first step towards this is to make our prayer before the Lord our God, that the affliction may be sanctified before it is removed, and that the grace of God may go along with the providence of God, to make it answer the end. Those who in their affliction make not their prayer to God, who cry not when he binds them, are not likely to turn from iniquity or to understand his truth.

Meditation One

“When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.” - Isaiah 1:15

“Then they will call on me but I will not answer, The will seek me diligently but they will not find me” - Proverbs 1:28

Brethren:

A few days ago while in meditation, prayer and conversation with our Lord, it was impressed upon me the above scriptures. During this alone time, my thoughts were on how we as a nation had turned from being obedient to our Creator, and have fallen so far away from our first and foremost duty to Him, that is to worship Him.

In The Book of Proverbs Chapter one, scripture goes on to say the reasoning behind God's turning away from us. It is we that have not sought Him. We have abandoned all knowledge and wisdom as given to us by Him. Likewise, when He has sought to correct us we have not heeded His correction but instead have rebelled against it. As a result He has allowed to now wallow in the misery of our own making.

The blood on our hands comes from many areas. We have not preached the Gospel, and have not warned others of the coming judgment (See Daniel 7:9-10, 26). We have failed as watchmen, and therefore those that we should have, could have reached is on our heads (See Ezekiel 3:17, 33:7-9). We take the lives of others without mercy or cause, and then justify our actions with excuses. The life of the unborn has been sacrificed to god of self convenience.

Yet there is hope (See Proverbs 1:33; Job 4:4) And that hope lies not in this world but in that which is yet to come. For what gain ( See Matthew 16:26) we in this world if we hope to save what is considered sinful by our Creator? So, if as the Apostle Paul wrote that the wages of sin is death, then it must be considered, that the wages of righteousness is life. Now we know that our own best efforts at righteousness cannot save us, for if it were so, then there would have been need for Christ to redeem us for if we lived fully by the law, then the law would have brought righteousness. But we are incapable of living as such, so the need for Savior became needed. And what a Savior He is indeed! For not only does He redeem us from all sins, and unrighteousness, but His sacrifice also imputes (See Romans 4:24) His righteousness to us, thereby meeting the righteous requirements of God the Father.

Brethren:

Yesterday afternoon, while meditating on God’s word, it was impressed upon my mind that it is true that the wages of sin is death. Since that is a truth, then it must therefore conversely be also true that the wages of righteousness must need be life. Henceforth, let us seek the latter wages diligently by faith and works. Faith in the kingdom to come, and works in the kingdom in which we now find ourselves living.

 

 

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

 The Book of Daniel 7:27

27 And the kingdom, and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the holy people of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all powers shall serve and obey him.

Brethren:

Christ’s kingdom is not of this world (See Matthew 12:32;  John 8:23), as such this intimates the spiritual dominion of the saints over their own lusts and corruption, their victories over Satan and his temptations, and the triumphs of the martyrs over death and its terrors. It likewise promises that the gospel kingdom shall be set up, a kingdom of grace, the privileges and comforts of which now, under the heavens, shall be the earnest and first-fruits of the kingdom of glory in the heavens.

The saints rule by the Spirit’s ruling in them (and this is the victory overcoming the world, even their faith) and by making the kingdoms of this world to become Christ’s kingdom. But the full accomplishment of this will be in the everlasting happiness of the saints, the kingdom that cannot be moved, which we, according to his promise, look for (that is the greatness of the kingdom), the crown of glory that fades not away—that is the everlasting kingdom. See what an emphasis is laid upon this fact. The saints shall possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever; and the reason is because he whose saints they are is the Most High and his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.  He is so, and therefore theirs shall be so. Because I live, you shall live also, (See John 14:19).  His kingdom is theirs; they reckon themselves exalted in his exaltation, and desire no greater honour and satisfaction to themselves than that all dominions should serve and obey him, as they shall do: They shall either be brought into subjection to his golden scepter or brought to destruction by his iron rod.

This spiritual reign of Christ, which will take place in a more glorious manner at the destruction of antichrist, will continue until the Millennium, or the personal reign of Christ, begins; and after that will be the ultimate glory, in which Christ and his people will reign to all eternity.

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

 The Book of Daniel 7:25-26

25 And shall speak words against the most High, and shall consume the Saints of the most High, and think that he may change times and laws, and they shall be given into his hand until a time, and times, and the dividing of time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion to consume and destroy it unto the end.

Brethren:

To this his interpreter answers (note previous verse 23) that this fourth beast is a fourth kingdom, that shall devour the whole earth, or (as it may be read) the whole land. That the ten horns are ten kings, and the little horn is another king that shall subdue three kings, and shall be very abusive to God and his people, shall act very impiously towards God. He shall speak great words against the Most High, setting him, and his authority and justice, at defiance and very imperiously towards the people of God. He shall wear out the saints of the Most High; he will not cut them off at once, but wear them out by long oppressions and a constant course of hardships put upon them, ruining their estates and weakening their families. The design of Satan has been to wear out the saints of the Most High, that they may be no more in remembrance; but the attempt is vain, for while the world stands God will have a church in it. He shall think to change times and laws, to abolish all the ordinances and institutions of religion, and to bring every body to say and do just as he would have them. He shall trample upon laws and customs, human and divine. Diruit, aedificut, mutat quadrata rotundis—He pulls down, he builds, he changes square into round, as if he meant to alter even the ordinances of heaven themselves. And in these daring attempts he shall for a time prosper and have success; they shall be given into his hand until time, times, and half a time (that is, for three years and a half), that famous prophetical measure of time which we meet with in the Revelation, which is sometimes called forty-two months(See Revelation 11:2 13:5) , sometimes 1260 days (See Revelation 11:3), which come all to one. But at the end of that time the judgment shall sit and take away his dominion.

Now brethren and friends alike take note that the judgment shall sit and the Judge shall take the bench, and all things be prepared for the arraignment, trial, condemnation, and punishment, of the little horn or antichrist, when the above time is up; God the Father, the Ancient of days, and Christ, said to be like the Son of man, brought near to him, shall sit as Judges, attended by the holy angels and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. That is either the angels, or rather more likely the saints of the most High; particularly the Christian princes, into whose hearts God will put it to hate the whore, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire; so that there shall be an utter end of antichrist; he shall be stripped of all his power and authority; his destruction will be inevitable and irrecoverable; he shall never come out of it; it shall continue to the end of the world, to the end of time.

 

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The Book of Daniel 7:14

14 And he gave him dominion, and honor, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall never be taken away: and his dominion shall never be destroyed.

Brethren:

When he went to be glorified with his Father he had a power given him over all flesh, (See John 17:2, 5). With the prospect of this Daniel and his friends are here comforted, that not only the dominion of the church’s enemies shall be taken away, but the church’s head and best friend shall have the dominion given him; to him every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. (See Philippians 2:9-10). To him are given glory and a kingdom, and they are given by him who has an unquestionable right to give them, which, some think with an eye to these words, our Savior teaches us to acknowledge in the close of the Lord’s prayer, For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory(See Matthew 6:13). It is here foretold that the kingdom of the exalted Redeemer shall be,

(1.) A uersal kingdom, the only uersal monarchy, whatever others have pretended to, or aimed at: All people, nations, and languages, shall fear him, and be under his jurisdiction, either as his willing subjects or as his conquered captives, to be either ruled or overruled by him. One way or other, the kingdoms of the world shall all become his kingdoms.

 

(2.) An everlasting kingdom. His dominion shall not pass away to any successor, much less to any invader, and his kingdom is that which shall bot be destroyed. Even the gates of hell (See Matthew 16:18), or the infernal powers and policies, shall not prevail against it. The church shall continue militant to the end of time, and triumphant to the endless ages of eternity.

(3) Henceforth all embrace his Gospel, submit to his ordinances serve and worship him in every religious duty; every people, of all nations, and of every language under heaven; which will be the case when the everlasting Gospel will be preached to them all with success. It shall never have an end, as the rest of the monarchies, signified by the four beasts, have had, or will have (See Psalms 14:6; Isaiah 9:7). It shall not pass away; or be removed from one to another, nor “corrupted" that is to say abolished and brought to nothing like the monarchies of mankind.

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

 The Book of Daniel 7:13

13 As I beheld in visions by night, behold, one like the son of man came in the clouds of heaven, and approached unto the Ancient of days, and they brought him before him.

Brethren:

In this vision there is much more of pure gospel.

1. The Messiah is here called the Son of man—one like unto the Son of man; for he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, was found in fashion as a man. I saw one like unto the Son of man, one exactly agreeing with the idea formed in the divine counsels of him that in the fulness of time was to be the Mediator (See 1 Timothy 2:5) between God and man. He is like unto the son of man, but is indeed the Son of God. Our Savior seems plainly to refer to this vision when he says (See John. 5:27) that the Father has therefore given him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of man, and because he is the person whom Daniel saw in vision, to whom a kingdom and dominion were to be given.

2. He is said to come with the clouds of heaven. Some refer this to his incarnation; he descended in the clouds of heaven, came into the world unseen, as the glory of the Lord took possession of the temple in a cloud. The empires of the world were beasts that rose out of the sea; but Christ’s kingdom is from above: he is the Lord from heaven. Others think it is rather to be referred to his ascension; when he returned to the Father the eye of his disciples followed him, till a cloud received him out of their sight, (See Acts. 1:9). He made that cloud his chariot, wherein he rode triumphantly to the upper world. He comes swiftly, irresistibly, and comes in state, for he comes with the clouds of heaven.

3. He is here represented as having a mighty interest in Heaven. When the cloud received him out of the sight of his disciples, it is worth while to enquire (as the sons of the prophets concerning Elijah in a like case) whither it carried him, where it lodged him; and here we are told, abundantly to our satisfaction, that he came to the Ancient of days; for he ascended to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God (See John. 20:17); from him he came forth, and to him he returns, to be glorified with him, and to sit down at his right hand. It was with a great deal of pleasure that he said, Now I go to him that sent me. But was he welcome? Yes, not doubt, he was, for they brought him near before him; he was introduced into his Father’s presence, with the attendance and adorations of all the angels of God, (See Hebrews 1:6). God caused him to draw near and approach to him, as an advocate and undertaker for us (See Jeremiah 30:21), that we through him might be made nigh. By this solemn near approach which he made to the Ancient of days it appears that the Father accepted the sacrifice he offered, and the satisfaction he made, and was entirely well pleased with all he had done. He was brought near, as our high priest, who for us enters within the veil, and as our forerunner,  as He is here represented as having a mighty influence upon this earth.

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

 The Book of Daniel 7:10 

10 A fiery stream issued, and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand thousands stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books opened.

Brethren:

Many of the New-Testament predictions of the judgment to come have a plain allusion to this vision, especially St John’s vision of it, (See Revelation 20:11-12). 

(1.) The Judge is the Ancient of days himself, God the Father, the glory of whose presence is here described. He is called the Ancient of days, because he is God from everlasting to everlasting. Among men we reckon that with the ancient is wisdom, and days shall speak; shall not all flesh then be silent before him who is the Ancient of days? The glory of the Judge is here set forth by his garment, which was white as snow, denoting his splendor and purity in all the administrations of his justice; and the hair of his head clean and white, as the pure wool, that, as the white and hoary head, he may appear venerable. 

(2.) The throne is very formidable. It is like the fiery flame, dreadful to the wicked that shall be summoned before it. And the throne being movable upon wheels, or at least the chariot in which he rode the circuit, the wheels thereof are as burning fire, to devour the adversaries; for our God is a consuming fire, and with him are everlasting burnings, (See Isaiah. 33:14). This is enlarged upon, v. 10. As to all his faithful friends there proceeds out of the throne of God and the Lamb a pure river of water of life (See Revelation. 22:1 ), so to all his implacable enemies there issues and comes forth from his throne a fiery stream, a stream of brimstone (See Isaiah. 30:33 ), a fire that shall devour before him. He is a swift witness, and his word a word upon the wheels. 

(3.) The attendants are numerous and very splendid. The Shechinah is always attended with angels. Thousand thousands minister to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him. It is his glory that he has such attendants, but much more his glory that he neither needs them nor can be benefited by them. See how numerous the heavenly hosts are (there are thousands of angels), and how obsequious they are—they stand before God, ready to go on his errands and to take the first intimation of his will and pleasure. They will particularly be employed as ministers of his justice in the last judgment day, when the Son of man shall come, and all the holy angels with him. Enoch prophesied that the Lord should come with his holy myriads. 

(4.) The process is fair and unexceptionable: The judgment is set, publicly and openly, that all may have recourse to it; and the books are opened. As in courts of judgment among men the proceedings are in writing and upon record, which is laid open when the cause comes to a hearing, the examination of witnesses is produced, and affidavits are read, to clear the matter of fact, and the statute and common-law books are consulted to find out what is the law, so, in the judgment of the great day, the equity of the sentence will be as incontestably evident as if there were books opened to justify it. That the proud and cruel enemies of the church of God will certainly be reckoned with and brought down in due time.

And so we read:

A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him

Or, "a river of fire” which denotes the copious judgments of God, the abundance of them; the full flow of his wrath, and the fierceness of it; and also its rapidity, which cannot be resisted and stopped: thousand thousands ministered unto him; attended upon him, waiting his orders, and ready to execute them; an innumerable company of angels, (See Psalms 103:20-21) : and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; to be judged by him; the numerous inhabitants of the several monarchies, with their kings; particularly all the anti-Christian states, and the worshipers of the beast, whom the whole world went after, (See Revelation 13:3, 8,  Revelation 14:10-11).

The judgment was set

That is, the court was set; the Judge was upon the bench, and all his assessors and apparitors about him, and that ministered to him. 

The books were opened

Both to take the trial in writing, and to produce evidence against the criminals; the book of God's purposes and decrees concerning these beasts; the book of prophecies relating to them; the book of God's remembrance, and of their own consciences, with respect to the evils committed by them; and the book of records, statutes, and laws made in such cases; even the book of the Scriptures, which contains the revelation of the will of God. In some things there is a likeness between this and the last and future judgment, and in other things a disagreement; the Judge in both is a divine Person, the eternal God, omniscient, omnipotent, holy, just, and true, which is absolutely necessary for carrying on such a process; none but God over all is equal to such a work: in the last judgment, as in this, there will be thrones; the throne of God and of the Lamb, particularly a great white throne, a symbol of purity, justice, and equity, on which the Judge himself will sit, and execute judgment, from whose presence the earth and heaven will flee away; and besides, there will be other thrones for the martyrs of Jesus, and true professors of his name, to sit upon as spectators, witnesses, and approvers of the solemn procedure, and shall reign with Christ a thousand years: likewise the number of the persons judged, as here, will be very great, even innumerable; all, both small and great, as to age or dignity, will stand before the Judge, to be judged by him, and receive their sentence from him; and there will be books for that purpose, as here, even the same, and particularly the book of life, in which, if a man's name is not written, he will be cast into the lake of fire; (See  Revelation 20:4, 11; Revelation 20:12, 15) , but in other things they differ; here the Judge is God the Father, the first Person in the Trinity, called the Ancient of days, distinguished from Christ, said to be like the Son of man; whereas the last and future judgment will be committed to the Son of God, the second Person, who is ordained Judge of quick and dead; and who will come a second time to judge the world in righteousness; and, though the description of the Ancient of days will agree well enough with him, he having the same glorious perfections his Father has, which qualify him for a Judge;  (See Revelation 1:14) , yet it is certain not he, but his divine Father, is intended: nor in the account of the future judgment is there any mention of "a fiery stream" issuing forth before him, as here, for the burning of the body of the beast; unless the lake of fire may be thought to answer to it, into which will be cast all such who have no part in the Lamb, nor a name in his book of life: however, the accounts of both are very awful and striking; and this may be considered as a type, example, presage, and pledge, of the future judgment; this will be at the beginning of the spiritual reign of Christ, when antichrist will be destroyed with the breath of his mouth, and the brightness of his coming; the judgment of the saints will be at the beginning of his personal reign, even of the quick and dead, those that will be found alive, and those that will be raised from the dead, at his appearing and kingdom; and the judgment of the wicked will be at the close of it, or at the end of the Millennium;  (See Revelation 20:5-6, 12).

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

 The Book of Daniel 6:27 

27 He rescueth and delivereth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth: who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

Brethren:

 He delivers his faithful servants from trouble and rescues them out of trouble.(See Psalm 46:1). He works signs and wonders, quite above the utmost power of nature to effect, both in heaven and on earth, by which it appears that he is sovereign Lord of both.  He has given a fresh proof of all this in delivering his servant Daniel from the power of the lions. This miracle, and that of the delivering of the three children, were wrought in the eyes of the world, were seen, published, and attested by two of the greatest monarchs that ever were, and were illustrious confirmations of the first principles of religion, abstracted from the narrow scheme of Judaism, effectual confutations of all the errors of heathenism, and very proper preparations for pure Christianity.  He puts honor upon Daniel. So this Daniel prospered. See how God brought to him good out of evil.(See Psalm 27:2). This bold stroke which his enemies made at his life was a happy occasion of taking them off, and their children too, who otherwise would still have stood in the way of his preferment, and have been upon all occasions vexatious to him; and now he prospered more than ever, was more in favor with his prince and in reputation with the people, which gave him a great opportunity of doing good to his brethren(See Psalm 3:3, 7). 

So as he did the three companions of Daniel from the fiery furnace, and now Daniel himself from the lions' den: and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth; which are out of the common course of nature, and not according to the laws of it; such as hindering the natural force of fire from burning, as in the case of the three children; and stopping the mouths of lions from devouring Daniel as follows: who hath delivered(See Psalm 23:4-6),  Daniel from the power of the lions; or "from the hand" of them; from their destroying paws, and devouring jaws; which was nothing less than a miracle, and a proof of the divine omnipotence and of his power of doing wonders.

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

 The Book of Daniel 6:4 

4 Wherefore the rulers and governors sought an occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom: but they could find none occasion nor fault: for he was so faithful that there was no blame nor fault (See 1 Peter 2:13-15, 3:15-17; Titus 3:1-2) found in him.

Brethren:

We must take notice of it, to the glory of God, that, though Daniel was now very old,  yet he was as able as ever for business both in body and mind, and that he who had continued faithful to his religion through all the temptations of the foregoing reigns in a new government was as much respected as ever. He kept in by being an oak, not by being a willow, by a constancy in virtue, not by a pliableness to vice. Such honesty is the best policy, for it secures a reputation; and those who thus honour God he will honour. What a good man he was, and an excellent spirit was in him. Likewise he was faithful to every trust, dealt fairly between the sovereign and the subject, and took care that neither should be wronged, so that there was no error, or fault, to be found in him. He was not only not chargeable with any treachery or dishonesty, but not even with any mistake or indiscretion. He never made any blunder, nor had any occasion to plead inadvertency or forgetfulness for his excuse. This is recorded for an example to all that are in places of public trust to approve themselves both careful and conscientious, that they may be free, not only from fault, but from error, not only from crime, but from mistake. What ill-will was borne him, both for his greatness and for his goodness. The presidents and princes envied him because he was advanced above them, and probably hated him because he had a watchful eye upon them and took care they should not wrong the government to enrich themselves.  See here then that the cause of envy, is every thing that is good. Therefore the effects of envy is everything that is bad. Solomon complains of it as a vexation that for every right work a man is envied of his neighbor (See Ecclesiastes 4:4), that the better a man is the worse he is thought of by his rivals. 

So, we come to crossroads in our lives. Should we, brethren conduct ourselves in the ways of the world, or in the ways of God? Surely, the latter should be more preferable. For who can find fault in an honest and god fearing man? His ways are the ways of the Lord. To act in all things in the ways of righteousness and honesty as best as our abilities may carry us.  In this we remain blameless before all men. 

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

 The Book of Daniel 5:23 

23 But hast lifted thyself up against the Lord of heaven, and they have brought the vessels of his House before thee, and thou and thy princes, thy wives and thy concubines have drunk wine in them, and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood and stone, which neither see, neither hear, nor understand: and the God in whose hand thy breath is and all thy ways, him hast thou not glorified.

Brethren:

We have in this chapter, the riotous, idolatrous, sacrilegious feast which Belshazzar made, in which he filled up the measure of his iniquity, and the alarm given him in the midst of his jollity by a hand-writing on the wall, which none of his wise men could read or tell him the meaning of  the interpretation of the mystical characters by Daniel, who was at length brought in to him, and dealt plainly with him, and showed him his doom written. Finally we read of the immediate accomplishment of the interpretation in the slaying of the king and seizing of the kingdom.

"Thou hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven, hast swelled with rage against him, and taken up arms against his crown and dignity, in this particular instance, that thou hast profaned the vessels of his house, and made the utensils of his sanctuary instruments of thy iniquity, and, in an actual designed contempt of him, hast praised the gods of silver and gold, which see not, nor hear, nor know anything, as if they were to be preferred before the God that sees, and hears, and knows every thing.’’ Sinners that are resolved to go on in sin are well enough pleased with gods that neither see, nor hear, nor know, for then they may sin securely; but they will find, to their confusion, that though those are the gods they choose those are not the gods they must be judged by, but one to whom all things are naked and open. That he had not answered the end of his creation and maintenance: The God in whose hand thy breath (See Job 34:14-15) is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified. This is a general charge, which stands good against us all; let us consider how we shall answer it.

Therefore observe:

[1.] Our dependence upon God as our creator, preserver, benefactor, owner, and ruler; not only from his hand our breath was at first, but in his hand our breath is still; it is he that holds our souls in life, and, if he take away our breath, we die. Our times being in his hand, so is our breath, by which our times are measured. In him we live, and move, and have our being; we live by him, live upon him, and cannot live without him. The way of man is not in himself, not at his own command, at his own disposal, but his are all our ways (See Psalm 17:5, 23:3); for our hearts are in his hand, and so are the hearts of all men, even of kings, who seem to act most as free-agents. 

 [2.] Our duty to God, in consideration of this dependence; we ought to glorify him, to devote ourselves to his honour and employ ourselves in his service, to make it our care to please him and our business to praise him. (See Exodus 20:2-4)

[3.] Our default in this duty, notwithstanding that dependence; we have not done it; for we have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (See Romans 3:23). This is the indictment against Belshazzar; there needs no proof, it is made good by the notorious evidence of the fact, and his own conscience cannot but plead guilty to it.

Therefore by not by owning him as the only true God; ascribing all he was and had unto him, and giving due worship, adoration, and honour to him; but, on the contrary, setting up his idol gods above him, and treating him, and everything belonging to him, with ignominy and contempt, resulting in the losing of all things that had been bestowed upon him, including his life. 

Take heed then brethren, for such is the fate (See Hebrews 10:29) that place themselves in such positions. Take caution to not put yourselves above that of our Creator, but instead humble yourselves before Him. The sense herein may be,‭ ‬that he that does not use the talent,‭ ‬or exercise the gift bestowed on him,‭ ‬but lays it up in a napkin,‭ ‬which is all one as if he had it not,‭ ‬even the gift itself shall be taken away from him‭; ‬and as others receive no benefit by it,‭ ‬he shall receive no honour from it.‭ ‬This would also apply to all blessings bestowed upon us by God.‭ ‬Use them well,‭ ‬and wisely.‭