Understanding Prophecy and Vindicating God's Law

Daniel 10:20-21

20 Then said he, Know you why I come to you? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, see, the prince of Grecia shall come.

21 But I will show you that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holds with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

Daniel 11

1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

2 And now will I show you the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.

3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

4 And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

5 And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.

7 But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:

8 And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.

9 So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.

10 But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

11 And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.

12 And when he has taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

13 For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.

14 And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of your people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.

15 So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.

16 But he that comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.

17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.

18 After this shall he turn his face to the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn on him.

19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

20 Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.

21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflowed from before him, and shall be broken; yes, also the prince of the covenant.

23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.

24 He shall enter peaceably even on the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yes, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.

25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.

26 Yes, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.

27 And both of these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.

28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.

29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.

30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.

31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.

32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall join to them with flatteries.

35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

38 But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

42 He shall stretch forth his hand also on the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.

44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Daniel 10:20-21 and Daniel 11 reveal the hidden spiritual conflicts behind world history, showing how heavenly agencies like Gabriel and Michael work to counteract evil influences in earthly governments to protect God's people and fulfill His purposes.

The Spiritual Conflict in Daniel 10:20-21 🛡️

The concluding verses of Daniel 10 provide a glimpse into the intense struggle between the forces of good and evil in the courts of earthly power Daniel 10:13PK 571.1.

• The Prince of Persia: The "prince of Persia" refers to a powerful evil angel who controlled the king of Persia, leading him to resist the work of God just as Pharaoh had done in the past11MR 99.2+1.

• Gabriel's Mission: The angel Gabriel wrestled with these powers of darkness for twenty-one days to counteract the influence of Satan on the mind of CyrusSS 294.2+1.

• Michael Your Prince: When the resistance became too great, Michael—who is Christ Himself—came to Gabriel's aid to secure the victory and hold the powers of evil in checkSS 294.2+2.

• Transition to Greece: Gabriel informed Daniel that after his work in Persia was finished, the "prince of Grecia" would come, signaling the transition of world dominion to the next prophetic empireBEST June 8, 1896, page 171.6+2.

• The Scripture of Truth: Gabriel’s purpose was to reveal what is "noted in the scripture of truth," which contains the true record of history as seen from God's perspectiveSDP 159.3+2.

The Prophetic Chain of Daniel 11 ⛓️

Daniel 11 provides a literal and detailed explanation of the visions previously given to Daniel, following a straight line from the time of the Persian kings to the end of the world and the resurrectionESH 17.1+1.

• The Kings of Persia: Gabriel identified that there would be four more kings in Persia after Cyrus, with the fourth king, Xerxes, being far richer and stirring up all nations against Greece Daniel 11:2BEST June 8, 1896, page 171.7.

• The Rise of Alexander: A "mighty king," Alexander the Great, stood up to rule with great dominion, but his kingdom was suddenly broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven among his four generals Daniel 11:3-4APEC 76.1+1.

• North and South Conflicts: The chapter describes centuries of conflict between the "king of the north" (Syria) and the "king of the south" (Egypt), including the rise of the "robbers of thy people" to establish the vision Daniel 11:5-15HBS 238.10+1.

• The Prince of the Covenant: The prophecy points forward to the "vile person" (Rome) and the breaking of the "prince of the covenant," which was fulfilled when Christ was crucified during the Roman era Daniel 11:21-22SDP 201.1+1.

• The Abomination of Desolation: It details the power that would pollute the sanctuary, take away the daily, and place the abomination that makes desolate, leading into a long period of persecution against those who understand Daniel 11:31-35LJL 42.1+1.

• The Time of the End: The final portion of the chapter focuses on the "time of the end" starting in 1798, marked by an increase in knowledge and leading up to the final standing up of Michael Daniel 11:40+1EVRR321+1.

Key Takeaway ✨

The book of Daniel is a "last-day book" written specifically to teach God's people in the final generation that heavenly agencies are actively communing with the earthly to reveal the certain outcome of history23LtMs, Ms 129, 1908, par. 16+1. Understanding these prophecies is essential to avoid being misled by the "nonsensical ideas" and "shoddy material" of unprepared teachers1MR 62.3+1. 📖

It is a pleasure to share with you how to address those who may misunderstand the beauty and perpetuity of God's holy law. Dealing with critics requires a heart full of the sympathy and tenderness of Christ, who never reviled those who reviled Him 1 Peter 2:22-23. 🕊️

Understanding the Heart of the Law ❤️

The most important point to establish is that the law of God is not a cold set of rules, but a transcript of His own character. It is founded on the eternal principle of love, which has existed as long as God Himself has existed.

• The Foundation of Love: All the law and the prophets hang upon two great principles: love for God and love for our neighbor. These are the ruling principles of God’s government Matthew 22:37-40.

• The Law Existed Before Sinai: Sin is defined as the transgression of the law 1 John 3:4. Since sin existed before Mount Sinai—such as with Cain 1 John 3:11-12 or the angels who sinned 2 Peter 2:4—the law must have existed then as well. Abraham is specifically noted for keeping God's commandments and laws long before the Exodus Genesis 26:5.

• The Law is Spiritual: The law is not a "vile" or "yoke of bondage" when understood correctly; it is holy, just, and good Romans 7:12.

Distinguishing Between the Moral and Ceremonial Law ⚖️

Many critics become confused because they do not distinguish between the "Royal Law" and the "handwriting of ordinances."

• The Abolished Ordinances: Christ abolished in His flesh the "law of commandments contained in ordinances" Ephesians 2:15. These were the Jewish feasts and sacrificial systems that were a shadow of things to come Colossians 2:14-17.

• The Permanent Royal Law: In contrast, the "Royal Law" (the Ten Commandments) remains in full force. To offend in one point of this law is to be guilty of all James 2:8-11.

• The Sabbath is Not an Ordinance: The Sabbath was made for man at Creation, not just for a specific church or nation Mark 2:27. It is embodied in the heart of the moral law Exodus 20:8-11 and was kept by the followers of Jesus even after His crucifixion Luke 23:54-56.

How to Respond to Accusations 🛡️

When someone claims your view is "distorted" or "Judaizing," remember that truth often arouses resistance.

• Follow Christ's Example: Jesus was also accused of transgressing the law by the Pharisees Matthew 9:11. He did not answer with harshness but pointed to the truth of His Father's commandments John 15:10.

• Vindicate the Law through Faith: We do not make void the law through faith; instead, we establish it Romans 3:31.

• A Call to Holy Living: Our best defense is a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. Those who love God's law have great peace, and nothing shall offend them Psalm 119:165.

Bible Study Summary Table 📖

Concept	Bible Reference	Key Takeaway
Definition of Sin	1 John 3:4	Sin cannot exist without a law to transgress.
Christ's Example	1 Peter 2:22	He did no sin and perfectly kept the law.
Persistence of the Law	Matthew 5:17-18	Not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law.
The New Covenant	Hebrews 8:10	God writes His laws in our hearts and minds.
The Final Generation	Revelation 14:12	God's people are identified by keeping His commandments.

Always remember that the work of a true witness is like a refiner, seeking to purge away the dross of error while carefully preserving the "gold" of truth. Let your words be "clean words," full of sympathy and love, even when you must offer a "sharp rebuke" to error Titus 1:9. 🌟