A people without understanding will come to ruin!

Hosea 4:11-19

My people consult a wooden idol, and a diviner’s rod speaks to them. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God. They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. 

a people without understanding will come to ruin!

Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty.

Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone! Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution; their rulers dearly love shameful ways. A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

Pagan religion with sexual degradation and the breakdown of law and order in society. The priest, who failed to make God's laws known and feathered their own nests into the bargain, and the men of Israel are responsible for what has happened. God holds them accountable.

Why?

God's people turn away from the Lord and consult a wooden idol, and a diviner's rod speaks to them. These people without understanding will come to ruin.

If people continue their bad behavior, their sacrifices will bring them shame. But many people still living in the darkness, they don't know what they are doing.

How?

May the wisdom of the Lord be with me, and the Holy Spirit reminds me keep walking on the right way of the Lord!

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge

Hosea 4:1-10

Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away. 

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

“But let no one bring a charge, let no one accuse another for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. The more priests there were, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful.

And it will be: Like people, like priests. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.

They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not flourish, because they have deserted the Lord to give themselves to prostitution; 

From now on there is no further mention of Hosea's family. But the experience is there, and it colors the rest of the book. Real faith in God finds expression in loving obedience, and delight in his laws. The prostitution of Isreal's religion led to literal prostitution.

Why?

The Lord said to Israelites through Hosea what their sins have done. And the consequence is coming. 

Israelites reject their Lord, who brought them from slaves and grace and food. But turned to the other gods, they like the prostitutes, so they eat but do not have enough.

People are destroyed from lack of knowledge. This is the real reason for many people. The real knowledge is from knowing the Lord. And obey the word of the Lord.

--------------

v.1 bring against you, v4  But let no one bring a charge 爭辯。神讓人來爭辯，其實人沒有立場來爭辯。

切勿將講台變舞台，講台變炮台，這就是得罪神！

---------------

How?

God is righteousness, no one is righteous in the world. Peoples have no right to complain about their life and their destination. 

Go, show your love to your wife again

Hosea 3:1-5

The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes. 

So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.”

For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.

Gomer, now seemingly the slave of another man, is bought back and put on probation. Again, Hosea's action and his continuing love provide an object lesson. For a while, Israel too will be deprived of the things they counted on - their king and their religious emblems - but in time they will turn back to God.

A lethek of barley: about 10 bushels (about 330 liters)

Why?

The Lord asked Hosea to buy her wife back, she seemed the slave of another man. It means the Lord will bring his people back to Him. It cost God to pay for his people.

It is the people of Israelites who owe to the Lord, but God still forgives their sins and loves them again. So as Hosea loves his wife again.

The isolation period like the period of Israelites have no king or price, no sacrifice or sacred stone, and no ephod of household gods. Let Israelites be calm down with anything disturbing.

How?

God has an everlasting love for his people, so we should have to love for our neighbors.

I will betroth you to me forever; In that day I will respond

Hosea 2;14-23

“In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked. In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety.

I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.

“In that day I will respond,” declares the Lord—“I will respond to the skies, and they will respond to the earth; and the earth will respond to the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, and they will respond to Jezreel.

Jezreel: God plants

I will plant her for myself in the land;  I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’;   and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”

In the infinitely tender language of love, God speaks of a better future, a new covenant protecting his people from all danger, a people betrothed and faithful to him.

Why?

In that day, the relationship between the Lord and Israelites changed from master to husband. For God's love endure forever.

Betroth you is the Lord let his people belong to Him. 

Respond from the Lord, then to the skies, to the earth, to the grain to Jezreel. It is the Lord who gives us food and very good achievement. 

--------------------

恢復神與人的關係：神從責備轉為安慰人。曠野指的是不會受到干擾的地方，原來人想要的，尋求的，神都再給他。亞割谷：原代表被罪打敗的地方，現在成為有盼望的地方。

從新立約：親密關係要長久，要立約。再聘，再舉行一次婚禮，聘是要付代價，用仁義、公平、慈愛、憐憫為代價。

互相告白：天地萬物再次為人效力，為跟隨主的人預備。當神對我們說：你是我的民，人對神說你是我的神。人與神彼此擁有對方。

--------------------

How?

Remember it is the Lord who gives us all I need, even my strength and wisdom and effort are the grace of the Lord.

I will not show my love to her children, because they are the children of adultery

Hosea 2:2-13

Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adulterous look from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.

I will not show my love to her children, because they are the children of adultery.

She said, ‘I will go after my lovers,  who give me my food and my water,  my wool and my linen, my olive oil and my drink.’ Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.

I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals; she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot,” declares the Lord.

Hosea's voice, pleading with his unfaithful wife, becomes one with the voice of God addressing Israel. The people are worshipping Baal, the Canaanite fertility god, thinking he is the one who gives good crips and plentiful harvests; when all the time it is God. They will be punished.

Why?

The Lord told his people you are the children of adultery, they forgot the Lord gives what they needed, but they turn away from the Lord and burn incense to the Baals. It is like adultery, betraying her husband.

----------------

爭辯: 法庭用語，表達神想用愛，孩子們的親情來挽回。人犯罪才要穿衣服，所以剝去衣服，就是使罪顯露出來。

餅、水、羊毛、麻、油、酒，神並不阻止我們享受，最大問題是不知道這是神給的，反而以為是情夫給的。神用戶圍堵方法，使她找不到。愈有能力的人愈以為是自己努力、聰明才智、技謀才得到的。更可怕是拋夫棄子來求取自己想要的。得到很多卻享受不到，享受也不滿足。

為什麼不知道以色列的收穫是神給的?以色列是遊牧民族，當時迦南人，已經有發達農業，因此以色列人接受這些文明後，運他們的宗教、文化也學了。也就是隨從世界的潮流。如果現在我們追隨世界潮流，潮流本來是中性的，但是我們如何運用更重要。以色列人認為潮流中一切都是對的。求神給我們智慧，讓我們可以使用潮流使用在對的事，用在神喜悅有事上。例如因為疫情大家用視訊，人們用在與神無關的地方，我們可以用來傳福音，聚會。

----------------

How?

Do I forget the mercy of the Lord? Do I turn to this world? May the Holy Spirit remind me and let my heart always focus on Jesus Christ.

Like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord

Hosea 1:01-2:1

The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash[a] king of Israel.

When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.”

 “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.

God instructs Hosea to marry Gomer, a woman God knows will prove unfaithful. This seems to be the meaning of verse 2, which reads, literally, 'Marry a woman of harlotry (whoredom).' 'Harlotry' is Hosea has a double meaning, describing both illicit sexual relations and religious acts of unfaithfulness.

Three children are born, and each is given a name which speaks God's message to Israel: "Jezreel"(standing for bloodshed and punishment, 'Unloved' and 'Not my people'. Through the prophet, God is giving his people a last opportunity to repent before judgment breaks on the land. Yet punished will be blessed. 'Not my people' will become God's own again. 'Unloved' will once more be loved.

Why?

To be a prophet of the Lord have to give up all your own idea and own mind. obey the word of the Lord completely.

God gives the name of Hosea's children to remind the sins of the Israelites and Judah. 

God gave punishment to his people, but God is giving his people the opportunity to repent before judgment breaks on the land.

---------------

先知要順服神的旨意，去承受一個要註定破碎的家庭，而且永遠無法恢復的，長久存在，面對別人指指點點。神要何西阿娶淫婦來體會神對以色列人背叛神的感受。

愛有多深，神受到的傷害就有多大！

後面兩個孩子都沒有寫為他生的，後兩個可能和其他人生的，卻要何西阿養育，給他們取名都很難聽。每天被人叫時就被岐視，傷害，在提醒北國、南國，從小人格受到極大的扭曲，他們的心受到多大傷害，正如人離開了主，從小沒有人照顧、憐憫！

何西阿承受一輩子的苦，所以由他來傳講神的話，更能夠體會神的痛，說的更貼切。我們自己經過患難後，更能夠體會、安慰在苦難中的人。

---------------

How?

The feeling of Hosea expresses the heart and mind of the Lord is so sad to his people.

None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand

Daniel 12:5-13

“How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?

I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.

“It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”

He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 

Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.

All evil will be done away. But as for times, those are in God's hand. Not even Daniel understands this so a cautious approach to these matters may still be the wisest course!

Why?

The time is in hands of the Lord, and many things are sealed until the time of the end. 

What we should do is, same as Daniel, go our way till the end. We will rest if we are the right person before the Lord will rise to receive our allotted inheritance. If not, there is another side of the destination.

None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. Who is the wise man? Those are knowing the Lord and obeying God's command, getting away from this world.

----------------

那時指的是末日的復活。所有人都要復活，信的人復活得永生，不信的人復活被審判。

啟示錄的小角是敵基督。智慧人指的是末日堅持到底的基督徒。

預言說出又要隱藏，預言不是為了滿足人的好奇心。神提出預言，藉先知書主要是要勸人悔改，提醒人謹慎警醒、禱告、彼此相愛。

經文字句讓我們讀了，但是啟示沒有告訴我們，我們讀了卻解不開的。

天使指示我們及但以理的就是等候。在主裏謹慎、警醒。

1,290 days，1,335 days 為了了解這些知識增長了，生命是否增長?而且這仍然是不確定的。

----------------

How?

Trust in the Lord and be a servant of the Lord forever!

Everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered

Daniel 12:1-4

At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.

Daniel is the first Old Testament book to speak explicitly of the resurrection of individual people. When that day comes, and all the terrible troubles are past, those who have shown themselves wise by their faithful obedience to God will rise to shine like stars forever.

Why?

In the time of the end, there is a time of distress. And it is the time of resurrection, everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered. This is the target or the hope of every Christian.

Actual knowledge is knowing the Lord and obeying God's word.

How?

May more people's name could be found in the book in heaven, which is chosen by the Lord and our faith.

 

Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him

Daniel 11:36-45

The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 

Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.

He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

Do not describe actual events at the end of Antiochus' life. They may refer to the end of Syrian domination, at the hands of Rome, the new king from the north. Or they may anticipate events at the end of time which the sufferings of God's people under Antiochus foreshadow. This then leads into chapter 12.

Why?

Man always traces the name and power and wealth. But when he will be satisfied, never satisfied. This is the destination of many people.

Let honor the holy name of the Lord be my goal in my life. Live out the value God has given to me. And give honor to the Lord for all I can do is the mercy and grace from the Lord!

-------------

自高自大，不顧，出現兩次！

聖山中設立宮殿，自以為大。安提阿古四世，用花言巧語得國，行詭詐，趁人不備之時行事，用錢收買人心，用騙與誘惑的方法。正如今天世界的手法。也是撒旦的手法。神用愛來得人。雖然安提阿古四世如此不可一世，一些小國仍然無法控制，仍然有東方、北方的國家來擾亂。

結局到了，結局時無人幫助！

-------------

How?

Humble me and love my family, my staff, my friends, and my neighbors.

But only for a time

Daniel 11:21-35

He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue...He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time.

 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.

“Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The 'exactor of tribute was his son Seleucus IV, who was shortly succeeded by his brother Antiochus IV, the persecutor of the Jews, Verses 21-24 aptly portray his character and policies. Through the treachery of Ptolemy's own men, Antiochus briefly gained control of Egypt in 173. On his return, he attacked Jerusalem and slaughtered 80,000 Jews. The next time he attacked Egypt he was thwarted by the Roman fleet. He turned on Jerusalem again and desecrated the Temple. He was aided and abetted by some Jews, but others refused to compromise their faith, though they died for it. Juda Maccabacus instigated a successful revolt, so helping the faithful.

Why?

All of history is under the limit of time. Limited by time, like the life of man is limited.

God is the Lord, who knows the way of the Lord and understands the mind of the Lord.

How?

Give honor to the Lord and trust in Jesus Christ is my Savior, this is the best way for all mankind.

Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:1-20

Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.

The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last.

Then the king of the South will march out in a rage and fight against the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be defeated. When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant. For the king of the North will muster another army, larger than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a huge army fully equipped.

This chapter presents a detailed account of the struggle that took place in the Persian and Greek periods. Those who believe that the book was written after these events naturally do not consider this chapter to be a real prophecy. The intention would still be to declare that God has full knowledge and control of all history.

There are to be three more Persian kings(Cambyses, Gaumata, and Darius I), followed by a fourth(Xerxes). Xerxes invaded Greece but was defeated at Salamis in 480BC. The power then passed to Greece. Verse 5 refers to Egypt and to Ptolemy's one-time general, Seleucus, who became 'king of the north'- the powerful king of Syria and the east. Fifty years later the daughter of Ptolemy II married Antiochus II of Syria. But she was divorced and murdered, and her brother avenged her by attacking Syria. Verses 9-13 reflect the struggles between the two powers at end of the 3rd century BC. The Hews then joined forces with Antiochus III of Syria to defeat Egypt. They gained their freedom from Egypt, and Antiochus made a marriage alliance with Ptolemy V. Antiochus invaded Asia Minor and Greece but was defeated by the Romans at Magnesia in 190BC.

Why?

God has full knowledge and control of all history.

How?

Give praise to the Lord, for God is the Lord of history in our universal.

First I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth

Daniel 10:10-21

A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. 

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days...Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.

I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe. Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”

So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.

He is given insight into the continual battle raging in the spiritual realm between those protecting God's people and those bent on their destruction. Michael is the special guardian angel of the Jewish people. The 'princes' in this chapter are patron angels of the various nations.

Why?

Daniel prayed for the matter of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, so God sent the angel to Daniel to tell him what will happen in the future and it is written in the Book of Truth.

Daniel is a blessed and chosen one who has the spirit of the Lord, and he may know in the fight in heaven and in the world.

Daniel set his mind to gain understanding and humble himself before God, so God sent the angel to tell him about the future.

-------------

路上雖然有攔阻，有爭戰，但是仍然不能阻擋天使長來告訴但以理，神迫切希望回應但以理的禱告。波斯王後面的邪靈，因為仇敵強勢所以派天使長來。我們禱告時好像看不見禱告的結果時，神的回應已經下達，只是中途有爭戰。魔鬼最怕我們讀了神的話，明白神的旨意。聖靈的寶劍就是神的話，是我們屬靈軍裝中唯一可以攻擊的武器。

我們領受神的道之前，要先有神的恩典，否則我們無法聽懂，前提要有願做的心，願意站起來！

--------------

How?

What I am searching for? But be humble myself before the Lord, obey for what the Lord gives to me the way and the word.

I was left alone, gazing at this great vision

Daniel 10:1-9

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. 

I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips, and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.  So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

After a long fast, Daniel receives an awe-inspiring vision of a glorious figure: very like John's vision of Christ in Revelation. 

Why?

Daniel was the chosen one, so he can see the vision. God let Daniel see it and write it down, so more people will understand the vision and plan of the Lord. God has the plan and his way to this world.

10,11,12章描述最後一個異象，包括1)未來事情的反應，2)未來的內容，3)未來的結語也是全書的結語。波斯末期到希臘時代4個王，特別是北部的王會壓迫基督徒。但以理已經禁食三個禮拜。地上的爭戰，天上也在屬靈的爭戰相對應。但以理參與了天上的事情。

關心神的事且願意付代價的人才能參與天上的事，但以理三週不是沒有吃東西而是沒有吃美食，沒有喝酒，沒有抹油或說沒有洗澡，投入在未來的預言中。禁食禱告是關心神的事，以致都不關心自己的事！

我們看見大異象，是逃跑，還是順服，以致全身無力，因為我們是不公義，不聖潔，我們在神面前站立不住。神沒有讓我們看見祂，因為神憐憫我們。

How?

Fear the Lord and honor the great name of the Lord. We are little, but if permitted by the Lord we can witness of the Lord. 

The seventy "Sevens"

Daniel 9:18-27

While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:

“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.

He saw the answer to his prayer that same year, but Israel's troubles were not over. God now shows Daniel something of what lies ahead.

Verses 24-27 are very difficult, and numerous interpretations have been suggested. God has ordained a period of 70x7 in which the salvation of his people will be completed. For the Jews, the number seven itself symbolized completeness and perfection. It may therefore be best to take the numbers symbolically, through the period of time between the decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem and the beginning of Jesus' ministry comes very close to the 7 +62 weeks = 483 days, standing for the same number of years. This is the total reached if we take the figures literally though there is more than one possible starting point, and even the end date is not absolutely fixed. Verse 26 seems to point to the death and rejection of Christ and the destruction of the Temple which followed in AD 70- with a wider reference at the end. But the subject of verse 27 is not at all clear. 'He' is taken by some to be the Messiah, by others to be the destroying prince of the previous verse.

Why?

This is the angle said to Daniel about the vision he saw in visions.

One day is one year, so there are 490 years, and the Holy Place will be destroyed. Here means Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

God's way and the time of the Lord we can't fully understand, and we don't have to know. What we have to do is obey God's word and be faithful to the Lord. 

Response who am I before Jesus when we pray to the Lord with all my heart.

------

這段是聖經中最難解的經文之一，因為我們能夠了解的太少了。

但以理為自己和本國的民認罪，關心神的國，神的名。當但以理開始禱告時，神讓天使加百列來告訴但以理。特別將神救恩計劃的藍圖。70個7包括下列的事

完成救恩計劃即止住罪過，除淨罪惡、贖盡罪孽。

引進永義：彰顯永義：基督再來

封住異象和預言：耶穌再來，預言、異象已經成就，所以就不再有了。

膏至聖者： 耶穌基督掌權。

為了神的百姓、為神國的人民。神不僅只是復興聖所，神關心永恆！

69個7：受膏者，是指耶穌基督。重建聖殿到耶穌來臨

最後一個7：耶穌基督死而復活，聖城重建又被提多將軍拆毀，教會建立直到末世的教會時期。

基督使祭祀與供獻止息。教會時間中間有敵基督出現，可憎行毀壞最後要被除去。

---------

How?

Pray to the Lord with all my heart, my mind and my strength.

We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy

Daniel 9:1-17

I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.

The Date is 538/ Babylon has virtually ruled Judah since the Battle of Carchemish in 605. The 70 years of captivity spoken of by Jeremiah is almost up. Daniel pleads with God for the return of his people to their homeland. He is completely one with his people, sharing the blame for sin and his request rests solely on God's mercy.

Why?

Daniel knew what will happen to his people and his kingdom in Judah, so he felt sad about the sins of his people. So Daniel prayed for Judah, and his people, and confessed the sins of Israel. 

Daniel prayed honestly for the prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

Yes, we are not righteous, but because of the great mercy of the Lord, so we can stand here and read and listen to the word of the Lord.

-----------

我們對於一件神已經預定發生的事是否會像但以理一樣披麻蒙灰，禁食禱告?我們抱著什麼樣的態度在面對呢，抓住神的應許祈求，但是一副神欠我們，一定要給我們的樣子，但以理全部是認罪的禱告！主詞是我們。歸回的應許完全是神的恩典，不是人佩得的。

但以理在乎的是神的聖所。求神不要再對耶路撒冷不管，主的名受羞愧，關心神的名，為神榮耀的緣故，復興耶路撒冷！沒有強調趕快回國！

-----------

How?

I am a sinner either because the love of the Lord comes upon me so I can be one of the Christian. May my heart and my mind be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and shines the light of Jesus to the people around me.

 

I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding

Daniel 8:11-27

Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. 

Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord’s people?”

He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”

He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.

I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

The little horn, in this chapter, refers to Antiochus IV, who ruled Syria from 175-164 BC. Verses 9-14 vividly depict the atrocities of his reign, which resulted in the Jewish Maccabean revolt.

The end: this usually refers to the winding up of history, and God's final judgment. But vers 26 relates the vision to the distant future, and 19 to the period when the suffering will be over. The Buble writers often seem to step clear of time and view contemporary and future events as one aspect of the total, final events of the end.

Why?

The angle gave the interpretation of the vision. The 2300 days are sealed, for the Lord doesn't like to let people know what will happen to us. God's way is beyond our way. so what we should know is written in this Bible and obeying God's way is the best way to be a blessing.

The rebellion is full of this world and arrogance is everywhere around our life. Keep my heart humble and clear to the Lord.

How?

May my heart and my mind focus on the Lord and understand that the mysterious is belong to the Lord. Praise to the Lord for my life today!

The ram and the he-goat

Daniel 8:1-10

In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me. In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal. I looked up, and there before me was a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal, and the horns were long. One of the horns was longer than the other but grew up later. I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great.

As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground. It came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and charged at it in great rage. I saw it attack the ram furiously, striking the ram and shattering its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against it; the goat knocked it to the ground and trampled on it, and none could rescue the ram from its power. The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.

At this point, the text reverts from Aramaic to Hebrew. The second vision focuses on the second and third empires. The two-honed ram which symbolizes Medo-Persia will be superseded by the swift-footed goat - Alexander's Greek Empire. Alexander himself is the 'great horn'. The 'four horns' are the kingdoms into which his empire was divided.

Why?

The kingdoms of the world were strong and great almost no one can overcome them, but there is another one to grow up and overcome the previous one. This is the generation changing. There is no one kingdom that could stay forever. Only the kingdom of the Lord stands forever.

It did as it pleased and became great. This is the most stronger man like to do in this world. The Lord is my stronghold and my shield only.

How?

Don't put our hope on this world, but focus on Jesus Christ. Everything will pass away in this world.