Two-Edged Sword Ministries
"Ogre" versus "Thlipsis"
Daniel 9 reveals startling information regarding time-frames that were set by God, 600 years before Jesus was crucified. It is essential for one to cover and grasp the prophecies in Daniel 9, prior to and understanding the more complex book of Revelation.
By reading Daniel 9, we uncover the following:
By reading Daniel 9, we uncover the following:
According to Strongs’ exhaustive concordance, we learn that the original Greek word for trials or suffering can either be “ Thlipsis” – suffering or “ Orge “ which means Gods’ wrath.
"Thlipsis" refers to suffering or persecution (strongs number 2347)
The word "Orge", on the other hand, means violent, passionate, divine anger or a period of wrath.
According to th scriptures, as born again Christians, we are not to suffer the wrath of God. During the first 3 ½ years, according to Revelation, the first period is trial or suffering, but the last 3 ½ years is actually the wrath of God.
"Thlipsis" refers to suffering or persecution (strongs number 2347)
The word "Orge", on the other hand, means violent, passionate, divine anger or a period of wrath.
According to th scriptures, as born again Christians, we are not to suffer the wrath of God. During the first 3 ½ years, according to Revelation, the first period is trial or suffering, but the last 3 ½ years is actually the wrath of God.
A time period for Jesus to be crucified, failing which he could not be the Messiah.
A period of terrible suffering as referred to in the book of Revelation, known by many names. Although as Christians, we know it as the Tribulation.
Important prophecies relating to the rise of the Antichrist and his role in the the last before Jesus' return.
Daniel 9 is a complex prophecy that requires lots of references, both to world history and multiple Bible references. It is strongly suggested that you read Daniel 9 before continuing any further. You will be faced with questions at various stages, to ensure that you grasp the various prophetic concepts and terms before we dig deeper.
Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah had previously prophesied that:
as a result of Israel's' disobedience to God,
the use of idol worship; and
the general rebellion that took place against God,
Jerusalem would become a desolate wasteland at the hands of the Babylonian Kingdoms.
The day finally came, when King Nebecudnezzar of Babylon attacked Israel and in 605BC many members of the royal Jewish family were taken back to Babylon as captives. However, Jerusalem and many Jewish people, survived the onslaught. Daniel one, confers with history and provides details of how Daniel arrived in Babylon and his purpose as a prophet. Over a number of years the Jews rebelled against this Babylonian King. Finally, King Nebecudnezzar had enough of the rebellion and in 586BC destroyed both Jerusalem and the temple, taking all the treasures and Jews back to Babylon. Exactly what the previous prophets had forewarned had now been fulfilled.
The day finally came, when King Nebecudnezzar of Babylon attacked Israel and in 605BC many members of the royal Jewish family were taken back to Babylon as captives. However, Jerusalem and many Jewish people, survived the onslaught. Daniel one, confers with history and provides details of how Daniel arrived in Babylon and his purpose as a prophet. Over a number of years the Jews rebelled against this Babylonian King. Finally, King Nebecudnezzar had enough of the rebellion and in 586BC destroyed both Jerusalem and the temple, taking all the treasures and Jews back to Babylon. Exactly what the previous prophets had forewarned had now been fulfilled.
Babylon was the 3rd world kingdom to rule the world after the Egyptian and Assyrian Empires. King Nebecudnezzar's father, Nabopolasser, took to the throne in 626BC which then became known as the Neo-Babylonian dynasty. Under his reign, the Assyrian empire was destroyed making Babylon the next and 3rd superpower or empire to rule the inhabited world. King Nebecudnezzar was the greatest king that Babylon had and in fact even today he is considered one of the greatest and most powerful men of all time.
As with all empires of the world, it's power base was slowly eroded by poor rulers that took the throne and governed the lands harshly. It's reign ended in approx. 539BC, when the Persian Empire together with the Medes, joined their forces and launched a surprise attack against Babylon whilst a lot of its' army were away conquering new lands. When large parts of the Babylonian army returned, they were so displeased with their own kingdom, that very few members offered any resistance.
The Medes and Persians were united under one monarchy lead by King Cyrus and it became known as the 4th world empire to rule the world - the Medo-Persian Empire.
As with all empires of the world, it's power base was slowly eroded by poor rulers that took the throne and governed the lands harshly. It's reign ended in approx. 539BC, when the Persian Empire together with the Medes, joined their forces and launched a surprise attack against Babylon whilst a lot of its' army were away conquering new lands. When large parts of the Babylonian army returned, they were so displeased with their own kingdom, that very few members offered any resistance.
The Medes and Persians were united under one monarchy lead by King Cyrus and it became known as the 4th world empire to rule the world - the Medo-Persian Empire.
Daniel 9:2 helps us identify when this prophecy took place:
It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, who became King of the Babylonians. During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, was studying the writings of the prophets. I learned from the word of the LORD, as recorded by Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for 70 years. [Daniel 9:2 NLT]
So now we know during which period this vision occurred. The first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, allows us to identify the time-frame historically. Darius, was the 1st Persian King appointed by King Cyrus of Persia. We know that Daniel was initially taken captive and the Jews scattered at the hands of King Nebecudnezzar of Babylon, but by the time Daniel had this vision, Babylons' reign had come to an end. Darius the Mede commenced his reign in 538BC, therefore placing this vision in 538BC.
We can see from the above scripture, that Daniel was examining the scriptures of the prophet Jeremiah when he read that according to Jeremiah, Jerusalem and the Jews will lie desolate for seventy years before they are re-united to God. (These scriptures can be found in Jeremiah 25:9-12). Sixty seven years had passed since Jerusalem was initially attacked and all the royal members of the Jewish families were taken back to Babylon along with Daniel in 605bc, when Daniel became perturbed at how the Jewish people had accepted the Babylonian cultures and were not turning back to God, asking for forgiveness.
The way Daniel saw it, according to the prophet Jeremiah, there were 3 to 4 more years of captivity remaining and he could not understand why the Jewish people were so stubborn and how God would bring about the restoration, especially as there was no repentance on the part of the Jews. Seeking answers to this dilemma Daniel had fasted and was praying. The next 17 verse's detail the intercessory prayer that Daniel offered up to God on behalf of Israel. This prayer is one of the few examples we have of how the prophets prayed to God.
Daniel 9:20-23 explains what happened when Daniel had finished his prayer, at the time of the evening sacrifice.
We can see from the above scripture, that Daniel was examining the scriptures of the prophet Jeremiah when he read that according to Jeremiah, Jerusalem and the Jews will lie desolate for seventy years before they are re-united to God. (These scriptures can be found in Jeremiah 25:9-12). Sixty seven years had passed since Jerusalem was initially attacked and all the royal members of the Jewish families were taken back to Babylon along with Daniel in 605bc, when Daniel became perturbed at how the Jewish people had accepted the Babylonian cultures and were not turning back to God, asking for forgiveness.
The way Daniel saw it, according to the prophet Jeremiah, there were 3 to 4 more years of captivity remaining and he could not understand why the Jewish people were so stubborn and how God would bring about the restoration, especially as there was no repentance on the part of the Jews. Seeking answers to this dilemma Daniel had fasted and was praying. The next 17 verse's detail the intercessory prayer that Daniel offered up to God on behalf of Israel. This prayer is one of the few examples we have of how the prophets prayed to God.
Daniel 9:20-23 explains what happened when Daniel had finished his prayer, at the time of the evening sacrifice.
I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sins of my people, pleading with the LORD my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain. As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, "Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. I am here to tell you what it was, for God loves you very much. Now listen, so you can understand the meaning of your vision. [Daniel 9:20-23 NLT]
Lets stop here for just 1 second. Most prophets spoke to God through prayer and received Revelation or wisdom via visions that were subsequently interpreted, but this was not the case here. God had sent his Archangel Gabriel, to help Daniel understand these 70 years of desolation and the vision. God wants us to understand this prophecy, otherwise he would not have told his prophets to write it down.
Two-Edged Sword Ministries - South Africa
Copyright © May 2003 [ T.E.S. Ministries ]
All rights reserved.
First revision, November 2006 [2.0]
Second Revision: March, 2009 [3.0]
All rights reserved.
First revision, November 2006 [2.0]
Second Revision: March, 2009 [3.0]
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189, United States of America. all rights reserved. [4]