formed. “Then the presidents and princes sough t to find occasion against Daniel.” (Dan. 6:4.) Of course they tried. They used his religion to set their trap, with the very same result as always when men are fools enough to try to trip the Lord’s faithful chil dren. (See I Peter 3: 12, 13; Deut. 9:3.) Remember there is always ac cess to God through Christ. We may speak to Him not just three times a day but whenever we like. The envy of these men no doubt was due to Daniel’s ability and his Jewish blood. This spirit of “Anti- Semitism” is the fulfillment of God’s prophecies that the Jews would be hated. It continues rampant today. Daniel’s conduct in face of danger was quite deliberate. He knew he had to deny his religion or be prepared to die for it. There was nothing differ ent in his actions. He prayed as was his custom. His example would influ ence the other Jews. By drawing at tention to himself, he might reduce the danger for others. Daniel’s faith during this ordeal was glorious and just what we would expect from a man ripened in years with God. The officials knew that the King would not lift a finger against Daniel, so they had to trap the king. What was their bait? Notice the subtle ap peal to the king’s pride. Notice that Daniel prayed with thanksgiving. (Read Dan. 6:10; Phil. 4:6, 7.) When Daniel found out that the writing was signed, he did not fall down in terror and agony but he praised God. “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 3715). It was during the reign of Cyrus that the decree was sent out for the captives to return and build the walls of Jerusalem. (Read Ezra 1:2-4.) Daniel, now nearly ninety years old, was too old to return. No doubt he was needed among the exiles in Baby lon. Daniel had outlived all the friends and companions of his youth. Now he saw the Jews gathering in the streets of Babylon and the aged man watched the last caravan leave
the west gate of the city to return to Jerusalem. Daniel was concerned about his people. We will see how he was comforted in his perplexity. (Dan. 10 .) In Daniel 11 we find the vision which concerns the near future of the kingdom in which Daniel was so great a personage. Three kings were yet to come in the Medo-Persian empire. Then Alexander, the mighty king of Greece, would appear. (See Daniel 11:2, 3.) His empire would be di vided among his four generals as had already been predicted. The course of affairs is followed down to Antiochus Epiphanes, the “little horn” of Dan. 8. His desecration of the sanctuary is again mentioned. (Dan. 12:11.) Beginning with Dan. 11:36 we see the description of the final “little horn” of Dan. 7. The great tribulation follows. How is it described in Dan. 12:1? This is a time of unparalleled trouble. Our Lord spoke of it in Matt. 24:21. What does He say? Mention is made of two re su rre c tio n s . (Read Dan. 12:2.) These two will be one thousand years apart. (See Rev. 20:1-6.) The first is the resurrection of the saints at Christ’s coming to life everlasting. This is followed by one thousand years, called the millennium. Then the resurrection of the wicked to shame everlasting. “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Dan. 12.2.) Those now that “turn many to righteousness” are given significant rewards, show ing us the necessity of diligence in soul-winning during our wait for Christ’s return. (See Dan. 12:3.) * * * A smile is a gentle curved line which sets a lot of things straight. * * . * Average is what most of us usually think we are smarter than. * * * Life may be a grindstone, however, whether it grinds a man down or polishes him depends upon the kind of stuff he is made of. 34
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