Outremer I
Page 42
Son of man in Daniel 7:13 Luke 19:10; Luke 21:27 Jesus Christ
Ram in Daniel 8:3 Daniel 8:20 Media-Persia
He goat in Daniel 8:5 Daniel 8:21 Greece
Prince of the Host in Daniel 8:11 Daniel 9:25, 10:13, 12:1; Isaiah 9:6 Jesus Christ
Transgression in Daniel 8:12 1 John 3:4 Sin is the transgression, or breaking, of God’s law
Transgression or abomination of desolation Daniel 11:31, 32 Open rebellion against God, His word, and His law—the Ten Commandments
2,300 prophetic days in Daniel 8:14 Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34 2,300 literal years
Seventy weeks in Daniel 9:24 Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34 490 literal years
Messiah the Prince in Daniel 9:25 Matthew 1:21 Jesus Christ
The covenant in Daniel 9:27 Matthew 26:28 God’s plan of salvation through the blood of Christ
The prince of the kingdom of Persia in Daniel 10:13 John 12:31 The prince of this world, or Satan
King of the South in Daniel 11:5 Exodus 5:2 Spiritual Egypt, anti-God powers, atheistic powers
King of the North in Daniel 11:7 Revelation 14:8, 9; 18:1-5 Spiritual Babylon, or false religious powers which, under the guise of religion, deceive with false teachings
Tidings from the east in Daniel 11:44 Matthew 24:27 The message of Christ’s return soon
“But do these dates not stretch into the future…or have I read this wrong?” Gabirol asked.
“They do indeed stretch to the future. To the time of Aquarius. The prophetic book of Daniel was written not just for our time, but more specifically for the generations that span our passing from the age of Pisces, the fish, which we are presently in until we transit into the next age, the age of Aquarius, the spiritual age!” the old man explained.
“But why then? Why not now?” Gabirol immediately asked, confused.
“If you take the biblical reasons, because the angel Gabriel specifically told Daniel to ‘seal up’ these prophecies until the ‘time of the end’ (Daniel 12:4), Daniel specifically outlines in vivid detail world events now unfolding before our eyes and what will unfold. His predictions, covering twenty-five hundred years of history, clearly outline world events from the prophet’s time, some six hundred years before Christ, to ours and beyond. But his message and, more importantly, his hidden predictions have to be safeguarded and carried across time intact. As future generations near the close of this age of Pisces, Daniel’s predictions become more detailed. They provide ‘inside information’ on the plans of those forces and powers that would see good fail and evil triumph. They reveal the last-day delusions those forces will use to deceive the world’s population. But, Daniel’s prophecies also reveal how to thrive in the tough times ahead. The days ahead will be difficult. A crisis of unimagined fury will break upon our world. That is why it is so vital that teachings like his, and others, are safeguarded,” the old man continued to explain whilst looking at the reactions on the faces of the others. “But what Daniel tells us in the simplest terms, is how people in those times ahead can not only survive, but thrive. Daniel was a hostage in a foreign land, subjected to the pressures of mind manipulation, yet he triumphed. He overcame insurmountable odds. Our future generations can too…so long as they know they can and are shown how to.”
“So are you telling us we must read the Book of Daniel to learn some secrets that will not benefit us in our times?” Simon asked.
“No that is not what I am saying. The Book of Daniel is just but one part but if you, us, we people now…if we do not keep these books alive and as they are written, as is our responsibility, then we condemn all of our future generations to a fate worse than death. Dramatic words you may think, but one that is true. But as I shall reveal, those end times will have a direct bearing upon each of you sat at this table this very night. And know, that of all the books in the Old Testament, it is the only book which Jesus specifically urges His last-day people to study. The Book of Daniel can be divided into two parts, stories and prophecies. The stories reveal how to be ready for earth’s final days. The prophecies reveal when these last-day events will occur. Those of you who have read it will know that it opens with a major conflict in the Middle East (Daniel 1:1). A war between Judah and Babylon. In 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, led a vicious attack on Jerusalem. Those two cities represented two ways of life, two ideologies, two philosophies. Babylon was the centre of rebellion against the so-called true God. It stood for apostasy or a counterfeit system of religion based on idol worship in opposition to the law of God. Jerusalem, the city of Daniel, stood for loyalty, fidelity and faithfulness. It represented worship of the true God and obedience to His law. In the first verse of Daniel’s book, this struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil is introduced. The great controversy between good and evil which began in heaven (Revelation 12:7-9) continues on earth. The Hebrew young men whom Nebuchadnezzar took captive as explained in Daniel 1:4 were smart, good-looking and quick learners. Nebuchadnezzar tried to change these hostages by changing their Hebrew identities. (1:6,7). He did this by giving them Babylonian god names. In this way, he hoped to destroy their identity. But Daniel purposed in his heart not to be defiled by the king’s food or strong drink. The word ‘purpose’ means ‘to determine’ or ‘decide.’ The governing power within our mind is our will. When we choose to do right, God supplies the moral power to carry out our choices. His Holy Spirit guides us to make the choice, and as we make it, He gives us the power to carry it out. Daniel’s faith led him to conclude that God would honour his choice. He knew that God would never disappoint him. As a consequence, Daniel appeared stronger and healthier, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom and they were chosen to serve the king. Daniel’s faithfulness to God brought him God’s blessing. When we make decisions that are morally right, when we do right because it is right, we too can expect the abundant blessings of a loving, heavenly Father. We may experience trials. Daniel did! We may experience disappointments. Daniel did! But we can be certain of ultimate triumph at last. God turns our defeats into victories. He turns our scars into stars to shine for His glory forever. In the trials of life we can truly trust Him. So all things testify of him: understanding symbolism in the scriptures teaches you how to understand what God is, or more correctly, what the force is that is God when stripped of all its written phraseology and rhetoric,” the old man explained.[8]
“But what you have just said sounds just like any sermon we hear at church. Is it not just preaching again, what you say?” asked the Genoese sailor tapping his finger upon the parchment sheet Gabirol was still trying to study.
“My words may have just sounded like a sermon. But next time you hear a sermon, try and listen to what is really being said for many simply miss much of the impact and meaning of the books within the Bible. Many of the people, items, and events in them were used as symbols to portray perspectives or truths about life. Each book will became much richer to you when you begin to explore its full depth of symbolic meaning,” the old man answered.
“How so?” asked the Hospitaller, rubbing his chin.
“Because symbols are a vital tool in communication. In fact, all our forms of communication are made up of symbols, figures, words, sounds, gestures, which of themselves have no meaning but stand for something that does have meaning. Now whoever contrived the ancient symbols, whether truly enlightened souls of antiquity or the Lord himself, and however you perceive that force to be, was and is the Master Teacher, and knew the value of symbols. That is why they are used to teach the most important truths in the gospels, including Jesus’s mission as Saviour. His parables, for example, illustrate how symbolism can be used effectively. They illustrate the fact that symbols are not always easily recognised or understood. Too many people assume that when Christ taught in parables, the symbolism he used was clearly understood. The truth is, his disciples were often confused by his parables, asking later in private for an explanation. It was only after Christ identified ea
ch symbol and explained its significance that the disciples began to understand the richness of his teachings. He explained that he used parables both to clarify truth and to keep it hidden. That is, to those who really desired to know it for the right reasons, the key to the symbol was given and they understood truth more clearly; but to others, for various reasons, the meaning of the symbol escaped them and they remained in darkness. Read Luke 8:9-10. If you open your hearts and minds, you will all see things you’ve never seen before. That is why Jesus during his ministry often said, after giving one of his parables, ‘He that hath ears to hear, let him hear’ (Matthew 11:15). Another key to understanding symbols is to recognise the kinds of symbols that prophets all across the ancient world and within the great holy books have used to express truth. Scriptural references are made to similitudes, types, shadows, and patterns of heavenly things. The Old Testament is particularly rich in symbolism, being a record of God’s dealings with men from the beginning of earth time, and contains many witnesses that can often be sensed and found in the use of certain imagery. It must be stressed that the real purpose of any symbol in the written word is to enlarge our understanding and to help us see relationships more clearly. It is meant to strengthen the impact of the truth. Symbols can, of course, be misleading. Interpretations can be wrong, or the symbol itself misunderstood. However, in dealing with scriptural symbols, we have been given a guide. As an example, in the Bible it is proclaimed that ‘all things bear record of me’ (Moses 6:63). Symbolism, once understood, opens doors to hitherto unsuspected knowledge, but it should be generally self-discovered. All we need is an awareness of the presence of symbolism, a desire to comprehend it, a willingness to study, and perhaps a few examples to get us started. Then, as we study symbols, that inherent and instinctive knowing, some call it the Holy Ghost, or divine inspiration, will help us discover what meaning each symbol has for us. Let me briefly explain just a few of which I am sure you know of already. The Wilderness. The scriptures make a great deal of the wilderness. Adam and Eve were cast out into the wilderness; Israelite groups wandered in the wilderness, were tempted in the wilderness, worshipped false images in the wilderness, and were fed and watered in the wilderness; while throughout, prophets cried repentance out of wildernesses. These events are history, but they are also similitudes. They illuminate the reality of man’s mortal experience as a true wilderness. We can grasp more dearly the concept of mortality as a wilderness when we contrast it to the Garden of Eden. The garden was the epitome of flourishing growth. But its special luxuriance was both physical and spiritual. Though abundant in fruit and beauty, its real lushness came from the presence of God. And the true barrenness of mortality comes from the absence of God, with only intermittent blessings sent by his unseen power. When we comprehend mortality as a spiritual wilderness, we are in a better position to understand the messages that God, or some higher entity, is trying to give us through his prophets. For example, as we read of the Israelites worshipping false gods in their wilderness, we are less inclined to judge the Israelites and more inclined to wonder about the idols we may worship in our own wilderness. We are not as puzzled about the apparent futility of ancient prophets crying out in a wilderness where no one would hear. We are more anxious to make certain that our ears are sensitive to the prophets crying in our own wilderness, where again very few will hear.”
The old man paused for few short moments. Everyone was still listening closely. This impressed him and he continued. “It is apparent that in the scriptures Babylon, a city that really did exist historically, is also a symbol. The warning given through Jeremiah to ‘flee out of the midst of Babylon’ (Jer. 51:6) before destruction was brought upon the wicked of that city sets a pattern for our day. The Book of Revelation also prophesies the fall of a great Babylon in the latter days (Rev. 14:8 and Rev. 18:21). Why, of all cities, does Babylon deserve the distinction of symbolising wickedness? Because Babylon was anciently associated with acts that aroused God’s displeasure. For the beginning of Babylon was Babel. After the attempted construction of the Tower of Babel, the unity of mankind was severed; many tongues arose, and communication among men became as ‘babble’. But was this dispersion of the people the point at which the proliferation of false philosophies also fully began? After all, Babel marks the time when confusion once more came upon the earth after the cleansing of the Flood, and only a select few remained knowledgeable of God’s word from then on. To the Lord, the source of truth, he who comprehends all language, would not these false philosophies, which have multiplied and spread confusion, be the true ‘babble’? If this is true, then to be called out of Babylon, or Babel, is to be called back to the original and pure truth, away from philosophies that lead to faulty judgement and therefore to evil. According to prophecies, Babylon, the multiplication of confusion and false philosophies, will indeed suffer a great fall, and unity of correct knowledge will finally return. And water, perhaps one of the greatest symbols, is used many times in the scriptures just like the apple and serpent symbols I have previously mentioned. But understanding the full impact of the symbol of water requires some reflection on our part. It is only when we envision life as wilderness and water as the most vital element in sustaining life that we really sense the power of the image. How can the desert ‘blossom as a rose’ unless water is brought to its parched and thirsty expanse? Notice our rose connection there again? It is no wonder then that water is used to symbolise our dependence upon God for both a physical and spiritual life. In fact, wells of water, as symbols of spiritual nourishment, are established early in many ancient and sacred scriptures. Water is also symbolic for spirit. Hence why, when our future generations enter the ‘Age of Aquarius’, the water carrier, it is symbolically the spiritual age. Please also note that Jacob, a forerunner and type of Christ, is portrayed as a bridegroom seeking his bride from among his own brethren as detailed in Gen. 29. We learn later that Christ is the ultimate bridegroom, his church the ultimate bride. The eventual union of bride and bridegroom begins when Jacob rolls away the stone that covers the mouth of the well and so brings water to the sheep of his brethren. As the account continues, Jacob earns his bride by caring for the sheep for seven years. Significantly, his eventual inheritance of sheep consists of the lame and spotted. But note carefully the seven, as numbers are another hidden code within sacred scriptures. Although all these elements in Jacob’s life can be thought of as similitudes that teach of Christ, the most repetitive and clear is that pertaining to the well. Is it simply by chance that centuries later Christ appears at a well identified with Jacob? After asking for a drink from a woman at the well, Christ teaches, ‘If thou knewest …who it is that saith to thee, Give me drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water’. And in reply to the question ‘Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well?’ he answers, ‘The water that I shall give…shall be…a well of water springing up into everlasting life’ (John 4:6-14). Just as water preserves life and makes it possible, so Christ’s atonement makes possible our eternal life. Symbolically, the Saviour becomes a well of living water to us, preserving our everlasting life and makes it possible to live the kind of life he prepares for us.
“And finally for now, lest I bore you all utterly, stones. From earliest times, stones have been employed in symbolic use in various ways to testify of Christ and his earthly work. Anciently, offerings to God were made on altars built of stones ‘not hewn’ as in uncut by tools or human hands. Read Exodus 20:25. Jacob, after an encounter with the Lord at Bethel where eternal promises were made, set up a stone for a pillar, signifying the presence of the Lord in that place (Gen. 28:10-22). Daniel saw the Kingdom of God as a stone ‘cut out without hands’ that ‘became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth’ (Dan. 2:34-35). Under Mosaic Law, stones symbolised judgement and justice, stoning being the means by which those who committed the most serious crimes were put to death. Interestingly, stones were also of ceremonial importance as symbols of
judgement in the tabernacle and temple. It was commanded that the priest, a type of Christ, the true High Priest, when he ‘goeth in before the Lord’, should wear a breastplate set with twelve precious stones. The breastplate was called the ‘breastplate of judgement’ and the priest was to wear it that he might ‘bear the judgement of the children of Israel upon his heart’. (Ex. 28:30).”
“Sorry, are they the same breastplate things you mentioned at the very start of this tale? You know, as found on those dead big people in the underground tomb beneath Solomon’s old temple?” Simon interrupted.
“Yes…the very same. But what I have just explained is as taught and spoken from the Bible direct. But later I shall tell you what it truly means behind the veil,” the old man answered.
“Yes, if we ever get to that point if he keeps interrupting,” Sarah said shaking her head at Simon. Stephan half laughed.
“Well, I shall try and hurry and keep this brief, for I know only too well how much of a chore it can be to be preached to. But I will say that the use of precious stones to symbolise an atoning for the judgement of sins assumes greater implications when we consider Christ’s mortal mission. As our Saviour, Jesus would remove the judgement against all who would acknowledge his atoning act and accept his command to ‘go, and sin no more’. In other words, Christ, the precious ‘living stone’ (1 Pet. 2:4), the ‘head stone of the corner’ of Israel (Ps. 118:22 and Matt. 21:42) would ‘bear the judgement of Israel upon his heart’. Gabirol, I would urge you to write that part down for that sentence plays a very important part in our story later and what it truly means and represents. For you must understand that the Jesus as you are taught is far more mysterious than you can imagine. We, or those of us who have been blessed, though some would say cursed even, to know and understand the true symbolism behind Jesus the Christ, would rather prefer to refer to him and his ministry as the ‘Jesus Initiative,” the old man smiled.