||END TIME SERIES Part Ten►Daniel 10 WARFARE: Physical Opposition (Daniel 10:1-9 & Ezra Chapters 1-6).

►Saturday, Feb 22, 2014||END TIME SERIES Part Ten►Daniel 10

WARFARE: Physical Opposition (Daniel 10:1-9 & Ezra Chapters 1-6).

When Medo-Persia, led by Cyrus (Persian) & his uncle Darius (Medes), defeated Babylon, it was exactly Israel's 70yrs in exile, just as Prophet Jeremiah said (Jeremiah 25:12; 29:10). Many years earlier, Prophet Isaiah had prophesied that Israel would be ReBuilt & the name of the king who was to DECREE for the ReBuilding was even given; 'Cyrus' (Isaiah 44:26-28; 45:13).

To fulfill prophecies, God moved the heart of Cyrus in his 1st year as king to DECREE that the Jew must go to Jerusalem to Rebuilding the city & its Temple (Ezra 1:1; 2 Chronicles 36:22-22), just as God used United Nation to declare Israel a state in 1948 (NB: God can use both good & bad people/organisation to fulfill a purpose). More Jews went back to Jerusalem to rebuild (Ezra 1,2&3), but they met Physical & Spiritual Oppositions (We'll see the Spiritual Opposition in Message 2).

Physical Opposition:
When Sheshbazzar had led the Jews to lay the foundation, enemies came to help them in Rebuilding (False Unity). Zerubbabel, Jeshua & other Jews resisted. The enemies' leader wrote to Artaxerxes, against the Jews; to stop them from rebuilding, else they/Israelites would be nuisance; because they did same before their destruction. The king was convinced if the Jews rebuilt, they would not pay toll, tribute & custom; which would reduce his revenue. So asked the enemies to go & stop the Jews from Rebuilding (Ezra 4).

In Ezra 5, God raised Prophets Haggai & Zechariah to prophesy to the Jews to Resuming Rebuilding. Governor Tatnai asked who had commanded them to Resume Rebuilding & they replied The Most High God, who sent them to exile in Babylon, was the same ONE who had brought them back to Rebuild, via a Decree given by Cyrus in his 1st year. So the governor wrote to then king Darius, to search the books (of history) if what the Jews said was true or not.

In Ezra 6, King Darius asked people to search & they found out not only did Cyrus Decree the return of the Jews & rebuild of the Temple; he also gave in detail how it was to be Rebuilt - exactly as God had shown him. Darius had no option than Decreeing that Tatnai should allow the Jews to Rebuild & anyone who resisted, a timber be pulled down from his house, set it up, be hanged on it; and his house be made a dunghill. They finished Rebuilding on the 3rd month of Adar, which was in the 6th year of the reign of Darius & they dedicated it to God, amidst joy. They began to observe other Jewish rites/festivals.

Daniel 10:1-4: In between the Starting & Completion of Rebuilding in Jerusalem, some events were taking place elsewhere in Medo-Persian Kingdom, where Daniel was still serving. Daniel Chapter Ten recorded one of such events. What was Daniel still doin in exile? Interceding for the Jews back home so they could Complete the ReBuilding; for he had learned there was an embargo placed on the Jews, preventing them from Continuing the Rebuilding. Daniel Declared 3-Week or 21-Day Prayer, Fasting & Mourning in the 3rd year of King Cyrus. Daniel was more concerned abt Rebuilding of God's Holy City (Jerusalem) & His Dwelling Place (the Temple) than his private comfort or his return from exile. Are U more concerned about How to make your Body a Temple of Christ & to share the Salvation Message with the Lost world than becoming materially rich? Think about it carefully. Now, exactly in the four & twentieth day of the 1st month, Daniel was by the side of great river Hiddekel when he had a vision. He was about 90yrs.

Daniel 10:5-9 describes how all those who were with him fled & hid due to earthquake & he was left alone to see the vision, describing a Certain Man (The Messiah/Jesus Christ of Nazareth) who appeared to him. Anytime Christ Jesus, God or His angel appeared to servants of God, they couldn't stand. It happened to Isaiah, John the Revelator, Paul etc. This tells us that, no matter how holy a person appears, his holiness is like a filthy rag before God. It is Only the Imputed Holiness & Righteousness of Christ Jesus on us through His atonement on the Cross, which we receive Freely through salvation, that can make us Holy; Our Personal Works CAN NEVER. Daniel 10:10-11 talk about Angel Gabriel, whom God sent to talk & show Daniel a message.

God willing, we shall look at Warfare: Spiritual Opposition tomorrow, Sunday February 23, 2014.

--Samuel Kwasi Forkuo
ALL GLORY TO GOD

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