Daniel 9:2

December 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.” (Daniel 9:2)

Here, Daniel is referencing Jeremiah 25:11-12, “This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the Lord, making the land an everlasting waste.”

1. Daniel viewed Jeremiah as a prophet. 
2. Daniel believed Jeremiah heard from the Lord. 
3. Daniel used Jeremiah’s writing to make sense of his own circumstances. 

Lord, help me to follow Daniel’s lead in trusting your word and using it to make sense of my life circumstances. Amen.

Filed Under: Daniel, devotional thoughts, Jeremiah, Old Testament, Prophecy

Daniel 8:21-25

December 14, 2025 by Leave a Comment

The first thing I noticed is that we went back in time. Chapters 7-8 happened before chapters 5-6. I should have noticed this yesterday! It’s funny how I see different things on different days. 

If you are like me and have trouble understanding these visions, you are also like Daniel, who said, “And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.” (27‬)

“And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king.22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. 23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.” (Daniel 8:21-25) 

This vision has information that is helpful for interpretation. The single horn is Greece, which is broken and replaced by four smaller horns. From these four, one will be stronger. 

Starting with the one horn, we can see Alexander the Great, whose kingdom was divided into four smaller kingdoms upon his untimely death in 323 BC. Ultimately, Antiochus IV (Seleucid empire) rose above the other three. He named himself Antiochus Epiphanes (Epiphany in English). An epiphany is an appearance of a divine or supernatural being. Notice what Daniel wrote about this person: “in his own mind he shall become great.” That description certainly fits a person who thinks he is the appearance of a divine or supernatural being when he is not. 

The timing of our reading is crazy: Hannukkah starts tonight. This is a holiday that Jews celebrate the rededication of the temple after they defeated Antiochus’s army in 164 BC.

Father, please help me see how your word references the world we live in and is applicable to everyday life. Amen.

Filed Under: Daniel, devotional thoughts, Old Testament, Prophecy

Daniel 7:13-14

December 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)

The Ancient of Days has always been understood to be God, or the Father, if one believes in the Trinity. So, we have one who is like a son of man who approaches the father and is given an eternal kingdom. Additionally, all peoples, nations, and languages will serve him. 

Daniel clearly has a vision of Jesus. 

Father, help me to recognize more of the OT connections to Jesus. Amen.

Filed Under: Daniel, devotional thoughts, New Testament, Old Testament, Prophecy

Ezekiel 47:9

December 5, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.” (Ezekiel 47:9)

This is a cool image. Water will flow eastward from below the temple, eventually making its way to the Dead Sea. Currently, people can float on the Dead Sea because of the high mineral content. When Ezekiel 47 is fulfilled, people will not float so easily because it will no longer be the “Dead Sea.” It will be alive! The water will be fresh and filled with living creatures. Waterfront property will suddenly be valuable, not for security but for fishing! Changes are coming, and the source is what is happening in the temple. (I believe Jesus will be sitting in this temple).

Father, help me realize you influence everything for life. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Old Testament, Prophecy, Restoring Israel

Ezekiel 45:10

December 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“You shall have just balances, a just ephah, and a just bath.” (Ezekiel 45:10)

Having accurate scales is important to the Lord in biblical days (Proverbs 11:1) and in the future.

This chapter talks about sacrifices, which is a bit confusing to me since Jesus fulfilled the law. Even if I don’t completely understand what the Bible is talking about, I’m going to receive by faith. I assume that at some point in the future, God will clarify it. If not, I’m okay, too.

What these chapters seem to be describing is a future time when Christ is present, but offerings are made. The best I can understand is that this is during the millennium when Christ will reign on earth for 1000 years. These sacrifices are memorial, similar to the Lord’s Supper today.

Father, help me understand your word. But, please help me trust your word even when I don’t understand it. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Old Testament, Prophecy
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