Secrets of the Bible

To clear out something: This critique is against some writings of the Bible, which according my opinion blaspheme God. IS NOT against the people of Israel. I am a friend not an enemy of people of Israel!

THE PROPHECIES OF DANIEL

(But as for you Daniel conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of the time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.) Daniel 12,4

So let's see the prophecies of Daniel that mostly concern our modern world.

As I Believe. According the writings, it was the third year of king Jehoiakim when the Babylonians by their king Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judea, and while at those times almost everything was understood as God's acts, they wrote that the Lord gave Jerusalem into his hands, along with some of the vessels of the house of God, and he brought them to the land of Shinar. The invasion of the Babylonians at 587 B C put also an end to the previously powerful and "glorified" state of David, and especially of Solomon. It started to reexist as an independent state in 1948 after about 2500 years. But, unfortunately, it hasn't had peace yet, and rather there will be not any permanent peace until the end.

Some scholars "believe" the whole book of Daniel was written around 165 B C during the oppression of king Antiochus the Epiphanes, who, for some political intentions, to become "epiphanes", by imposing to the Jews the Greek civilization, he converted the temple into a Jupiter's one, building an altar in the temple, prohibiting the Jews to worship God.

As a result the anger of Maccabees was motivated, who resisted bravely and repeatedly defeated his army conquering Jerusalem and of course the temple. In 142 B.C was won some independence, but relatively soon was lost again when the Romans conquered their land. The Maccabees were a revolutionary army with Judah Maccabee their leader, who was a son of the priest Mattathias Maccabee from whom took their name.

They said (some scholars) the book was written in purpose to "encourage the desperate Jews" who were fighting against the oppression of Antiochus, and, of course, we don't expect anything better from atheist scholars. What it seems correct, is, at that time they tried to interpret the prophecies of Daniel, and very reasonably to do so, while some prophecies had been fulfilled at that time, such as the conquering of their country by Alexander, and also they identified the abomination of desolation, with the sacrifice in the temple by Antiochus.

It seems also rather clearly that yes, they attached some of their interpretations in the book of Daniel, I don't know when, before or after the profanation of the temple. Beside the chapters 2 to 6, which obviously do not belong to Daniel, the alien hands appear rather clearly in the chapters 10 and 11 as well. But even so there is nothing that can be found in the book to encourage rebellions. It is understandable that after Antiochus a big uproar took place in relation to the prophecies, and there must have been discussions that impressed a lot, mainly when identified the abomination with the profanation of the temple. So some of another races that didn't believe the writings of the Prophets, and because they hated the Jews, imagine that all the words about the prophecies were made up.

Well, all these words belong of course to those people who had no faith, speaking confusing and in vain indeed, while the prophecies are locked and no one could interpret them. They speak symbolic language about the world's conditions and dominations of far away time. So, it was impossible for the priests not only to write the prophecies or interpret them, but not even to suspect what they meant.

Even if we accept that some prophecies had been written after the facts, as for example the ram by two horns that symbolized the Medes and Persians domination, and the male goat by one horn that symbolized Alexander's Empire, but then, what can we say about the other dominations, which are symbolized by the lion, the bear, the leopard and the other terrible beast? Not the priests or anyone else would possible know their meanings. For instance, the symbol bear dominated 2000 years after Daniel, and also the leopard, and the terrible and last beast as well! So it would be impossible even to suspect!

In chapter 8 the prophecy speaks very clearly about the two empires that were about to rule after the Babylonians. Daniel wrote.

We read Daniel chapter 8:

In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king, a vision appeared to me, Daniel subsequent to the one, which appeared to me previously. And I look in the vision and it came about while I was looking that I was in the capital of Susa, which is in the province of Elam. Then I lifted my gaze and I looked, and behold, a ram, which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, with the longer one coming up last. I saw the ram butting westward and northward and southward, and no other beasts could stand before him, nor was there anyone to rescue from his power; but he did as he pleased and magnified himself. While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. And he came up to the ram that had the two horns, which seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath.

And I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power. Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly, but as soon as he was mighty the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven. And out of one of them came forth a rather small horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east and toward the beautiful land. And it grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down. It even magnified itself to be equal with the commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was thrown down.

And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper. Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the particular one who was speaking, how long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled? And he said to me, for 2300 days evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored. And it came about when I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it, and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man. And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, Gabriel, give this man to understand of the vision. So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the last times.

Now while he was talking with me, I sank into deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright. And he said, behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period to the appointed time of the end. The ram, which you saw with the two horns, represents the kings of Media and Persia. And the shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. And the broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms, which will arise from his nation although not with his power.

And in the latter period of their rule when the transgressors have run their course, a king will arise, insolent and skilled in intrigue. And his power will be mighty, but not by his own power. And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree, and prosper and perform his will. He will destroy mighty men and the holy people, and through his shrewdness. He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence, and he will magnify himself in his heart. And he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, but he will be broken without human agency. And the vision of the evenings and mornings, which has been told, is true; but keep the vision secret, for it pertains to many days in the future.

As I Believe. So, Gabriel himself interpreted the symbols of the ram and goat, showing the beginning of these prophecies. The first part concerning the empires of Medians and Persians, and the empire of Alexander, and the second part the Roman Empire, which abolished the kingdoms belonged Alexander's empire. Alexander was the most powerful and the first non-corrupted king. After his death, his empire became fragmented and one of them belonged to the Seleucids, caused a lot of sufferings and distresses to the people of Israel. Mainly Antiochus the Epiphanes caused hard depression to the people of Israel, by prohibiting to worship God, and doing their religious duties as well.

So the prophecy says; he grew up and thrower on earth part of the stars and stepped on them. The stars, according to my understanding, symbolize divine/spiritual lights, and as the Seleucids were trying to abolish the Law and the faith to God, and somewhere they manage to do it, so they used to put the divine stars on the earth, which until that time were people of Israel inheritance . The "holy people" here refer to the people of Israel, while they were the only people who worshipped God, and were against the other religious beliefs. So the Seleucids and mainly Antiochus used to throw down the truth of God that was taught by the Law and by the Prophets. He used to insult and was fighting against God's truth and wanted to abolish it.

At the verses 11 and 12 of the 8th, is written.

"It even magnified itself to be not to be equal with (there are some problems in English translation) but to be against the commander of the host; and it removed the (not the regular sacrifice, but (the correct is, the Everlasting Sacrifice was removed from the commander of the host) from him, and the place of his sanctuary was thrown down. And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn (to him) along ("with the regular sacrifice", wrong. (After the Everlasting Sacrifice); and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper."

The prophecy refers in general to the prince of destruction, (the symbolic reptile) and about his domination on the world, which at that time was relative exceeded. So the prophecy certainly here mentions about after the Seleucids, and it means he, the prince of this world, (the Devil), with the Roman kings as his servants, and also means the denial of the Hebrews to believe to the Lord and to His Everlasting Sacrifice.

The Israel as nation, as "commander of the host", of Israel, rejected the Lord, and because of this transgression, the Israel was destroyed, not from God of course, but from the prince of this world, who got more authorities and threw down the truth, and while the Devil was justified by the rejection, so he got more authorities over the Israel. He, the Devil destroyed the people of Israel in their area, because the Everlasting Sacrifice was removed from the Israel as nation.

Meaning the Israel as nation, as commander of the host did not believe to the Lord Christ, and so the Israel rejected the Everlasting Sacrifice, and by doing so, they justified the domination of Satan. They gave more and stronger rights to the Devil over the nation of Israel. Jerusalem and the temple had been destroyed at 70 AD, 37 years after the Everlasting Sacrifice, after the Crucifixion of the Lord. And indeed, there is no pen and language to describe the terrible sufferings and disasters of Israel through out the history and until now, because the Devil never play games, and has no mercy for no one. And as we realize the very long road of sufferings goes on, and rather will continue until the end of the days.

At the verses 13 and 14 of the 8th we read.

How long will be the vision about the regular (not regular sacrifice, but Everlasting Sacrifice) sacrifice applies, while the transgression causes horror, (not horror but desolation/ruins) so as to allow both the holy place (not the holy place, but the sanctuary) and the crowd to be trampled? And he said to me, for 2300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place (the sanctuary) will be properly purified.

The Everlasting Sacrifice is the Crucifixion of the Lord, and by this Sacrifice will be cleansed the sanctuary, not the sanctuary of the temple, and not the holy place. The prophecy means, the Crucifixion of the Lord (the Everlasting Sacrifice) provides the possibility to cleanse the unholy, which unholy is our sins. The prophecy here speaks about the people, not about holy places and temples.

The prophecy also says; the transgression that causes desolation, and asks; will the sanctuary and the crowd be delivered to the trampled?

The transgression that causes desolation, meaning, the transgression of the Law, causes the unholy, which provokes curses, and so the transgrassion, which is against God, it justifies the enemy. In another words, the evil acts, people's evil acts, call, meet the enemy, opens the door to the Devil, give him rights, and so the reptile has then authority to act and desolate.(As usually happen). Thus the delivering of the divine lights and of the holy people to be trampled. The prophecy speaks here of concrete matters, and of course the transgression continues until the end of times, in which the wrath will bring the End. But by the Everlasting Sacrifice there is possibility for the people to be cleansed and become holy.

Those 2300 nights and days, less than 7 years, started from the baptism of John the Baptist until the Crucifixion of the Lord. The prophecy says in 2300 days and nights the sanctuary will be cleansed. So, without any doubt it means the duration from John the Baptist who called people to repent and be baptised, and the purification of the sanctuary was completed by the Crucifixion of our Lord. There is no other Everlasting, (not regular), Sacrifice, it is only the Crucifixion of the Lord.

As I Believe. Let see further.

When the Angel said to Daniel, understand son of man the vision is for the last times, he certainly meant until the Crucifixion of the Lord. He didn't meant here the End of the World, but in verse 19 the Angel said; I will make you understand what will happen at the end of the wrath, because in a definite time will be the end. Here speaks about the End of the World, and the Angel said to Daniel, he will make him understand, meaning he will make him understand by other visions and interpretations what will precede before the End.

We all know about the persecutions against the Christians, the terrible crimes and suffering, the destruction of Jerusalem and temple, the wars, revolutions and desolations, the suffering of Israel, and then their scattering in the whole world. We know about the corrupted emperors and other rich rulers, who also corrupted the public of Roman Empire. That corruption remains as one of the terrible part of the human's history. But worsen is coming. The Second World War, also, has so many terrible things to tell us, which if would see them by our eyes, we might "get old" in a few hours. And as we realize, the agitations and corruption goes further and deeper affecting the whole world and all the social levels. We notice that Daniel informs us, before he had this vision, he saw another one, which took place in the first year of king Belshazzar. We will see this vision later.

In chapter 9 we read that Daniel saw another vision. It was the time, when the Persians and Medes ruled in those areas, and the king was Darius. Then Daniel understood the meaning of the prophecy that was revealed to the Prophet Jeremiah. The prophecy was about the 70 years of desolation of Jerusalem. The prophecy of Jeremiah that is written in the book of Chronicles 2, chapter 36: 20, 21, it says:

And those who had escaped from the sword were carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him until the rule of the kingdom of Persia. That is what is written in the historic book, and Jeremiah himself said; all the days of its desolation it kept Sabbath until seventy years were complete.

As I Believe. According to my understanding, (maybe I make a mistake) these 70 years started from the Birth of our Lord until the destruction of Jerusalem and temple. After His Crucifixion, started more problems and revolutions of the Jews against the Romans, involving a lot of killings. The historian Josephus who was a Pharisee and priest transfers a lot of information about the wars of the Jews against the Romans. Josephus himself was enforced from the circumstances to participate in the wars, while he had no other choice, but later on he stood in the side of Romans and Tito.

According to his written words, he tried unsuccessfully to avert his compatriots to revolt, and contrary to his will was enforced by the circumstances to participate in the revolution. He was a man of opportunity who never missed chance of burning incense to Romans for easily understood reasons. I say this, so we might understand why he avoided to write about the Lord Christ and Christians. He avoided to write any thing for or against because it seems he understood that the Lord is the Messiah, but also he was afraid to take a place that would bring him in a risky opposition against the Romans, who persecuted the Christians. So it was better to keep silent...

To better understand: after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D, Tito allowed him to take from his country whatever he wanted. Josephus asked to take only some books, and also asked to liberate his brother and some others who were in prison. He went to Rome with Tito, and was welcomed by the emperor! They gave him home to live inside the palace, the right to become Roman citizen, gave him pension, and offered a large land for his own in Judea! So, that is why he didn't write much about the Lord and the Christians. Of course he wrote some "good words" about the Lord, he also wrote very positive about John the Baptist, and maybe he wrote about them just before the end of his life for atonement. Well, that is what I believe, but others insist they are additions, who knows...

After revolutions and wars, Jerusalem was destroyed and most of the Jews were scattered in all the four corners of the earth, as Moses prophesied it. As for the temple, no stone left upon a stone, as Lord said, because it seems that the thieves were trying to find hidden treasures in every corner of the temple. The only thing remained standing is the Wailing Wall, and the plunders, which they used to "offer" to God, became again plunders and passed in the hands of the various predators of the earth. Still they are around, maybe in different form, because no one would consume them. And the Wailing Wall remained there as puzzle, as a symbol, a reminder of the old temple. It remained as a memory of the symbolic earth, which with many other memories, helps the symbolic woman, and swallows the wily river of the dragon.

At the same site in which the Romans built a temple to Jupiter, there is now raised another temple that reminds the tower of confusion of the ancient rich rulers of the people of Israel, who in their ignorance and mainly in their cunning interests used to mix up gods with God, and interpreted their sins and crimes as God's will!! And yet we hear paranoiacs and other charlatans talking about "holy wars". They didn't stop making people fanatical; telling them that when they kill the unfaithful they obey to God's "orders". But let me say it once more; if God wants to destroy the unfaithful and the corrupted, God is the Master of life, and has the right and a lot of ways to do it, but He will never ever ask something like this from people. They don't want to comprehend that the Supreme Mind never adapts Himself, never cooperates with felons and their foolishness. They didn't understand yet, that the temple of God on earth is the souls of the pious and faithful to God people, not the buildings.

So these 70 years are those years, which started from the Birth of our Lord until the destruction of Jerusalem.

Let us see now the continuation of Daniel's prophecies in chapter 9. At the chapter 9 we read from verse 20 to 27. It was the first year of Darius 521 or 520 BC, when Daniel had another vision.

(Now while I was speaking and praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me the time of the evening offering. And he gave me instructions and talked me, and said, o Daniel I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision. Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place. (Not the most holy place, but, to anoint the Saint of saints is the correct.)

So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Christ the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will built again, the plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then after sixty-two weeks Christ (the Messiah) will be cut off but not by him, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; (deluge) even to the end there will be wars; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he, (not he will put a stop, but in the middle of the week, the Everlasting Sacrifice and offering (not grain) will stop) will put a stop to sacrifice and offerings; and the abomination of desolation will stand on the wing of the Holy (the abomination of desolation will stand on the wing of the Holy is the correct, not on the wing of abomination) and until the end of the time he will bring destruction.)

As I Believe. Here it is very clearly that the week is not the known part of the year, it is a seven, and every seven means seven years. In this case, one day means one year. This is also the one key that God gives us, so we may decipher the puzzle of the creation of man. (See the 10 Tribal leaders.) Let us see the prophecy.

From the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be build again with a plaza and moat, even in times of distress. So the time from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the crucifixion of the Lord contains 7 and 62 sevens, and all together are 483 years. Namely 483 years before the Crucifixion of the Lord, they started to rebuild Jerusalem. But, because this period is divided in two parts, (7 & 62) then the rebuilding of the temple may have started before the 483.

The time when it is mentioned that Daniel saw the Angel Gabriel, was the time of the Persians and Medes that ruled, to whom the king was Darius the first, and as it is written it was his first year as king, after Cyrus, therefore it was about 521 B C. According to history the Babylonians invaded Judea and destroyed Jerusalem as well as the temple in 587 B C, and then the king Cyrus conquered the Babylonians in 543 B. C. The Persians later allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem, who then started to rebuild the city and the temple. The duration of the rebuilding was 7 sevens, meaning 49 years. Daniel saw the vision with Angel Gabriel on 521 B C, or rather the 520 B C, and 70 years later or less than 70 years, they started rebuild the temple and Jerusalem.

The prophecy says, it will build again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. It means the rebuilding of the temple by Herod, and so speaks about two rebuilding until the Lord. The second one was in time of distress, while the first one (49 years) there was distress as we read in the book of Nehemiah, but rather not that much, while the Persians had give freedom. More worries started by Antiochus the Epiphanes, but after him they had again a relative independence, while the Maccabees defeated Antiochus and conquered the city. Then Romans came and the terrible Herod who caused again worries and distress. So the prophecy speaks about two rebuilding.

In 400 B C, or rather 401, Jerusalem became again the holy city, and the priests found themselves to be rulers of Jerusalem by the support of various alien kings, until 168 B C, when Antiochus the Epiphanes converted the temple into Jupiter's temple. After the Seleucids Jerusalem and all the entire country was conquered by the Romans in 68 B C, who, some time after, stole the treasury of the temple, and then put the terrible Herod as king of Judea, and of course under their control. So, Herod started rebuilding the city and the temple after 37 B C.

Therefore we have (7 sevens) 49 years duration for the rebuilding of Jerusalem, plus (62 sevens) 434 years until the Crucifixion of the Lord, and all together are 483 years. The Lord was crucified at the age of 33 years. So 401 plus 33 we have 434 years, plus 49 for the rebuilding we have 483. Now while the Lord was crucified at the age of 33 years, the 401 years started of course before He was born, and from that time Jerusalem became again the holy city. So, the counting of the 62 sevens, namely the 401 years, started from that time. The history says, Jerusalem became again the holy city in 400 B C, but this is rather mistaken, the correct year seems to be 401. But if the 400 is correct, then there is one year mistaken. I believe the correct year is the 401.

Now the 7 sevens and the 62 sevens were finished by the Crucifixion of the Lord, so there remains one more 7, namely another 7 years. We must comprehend that the messages of the prophecies are written in cryptography, and we must look very careful to understand what they mean. The prophecy speaks its secret language, and says; 70 weeks have been given to finish the transgression. The question is; which transgression would be finished? Did the transgression of the Law finish? Not of course. The transgression of the Law still goes on.

The prophecy says, to make an end of sin, to make atonement of iniquity and to bring everlasting righteousness. Well, what those suppose to mean? Did perhaps the sin finish, did the atonement of injustice finish, or did we see anywhere everlasting righteousness? Not of course. Every one who lives until the end of the time will make transgression of the Law, and so everyone until the end will need to have atonement of his injustice and of his sin. Therefore, the atonement didn't finish yet, and it will continue to exist until the end for many new people who come in the world.

To bring everlasting justice, meaning everywhere has to experience absolute justice. Where and when did we see true justice? So the prophecy means that the true and everlasting justice will come when the Saint of saints (Lord Christ) will be anointed, meaning when the Lord rules everywhere. Well, the English Bible in some parts is wrongly translated. Writing; "to anoint the most holy place", Which holy place? It is really shocking! The English translation is correct in most parts, but when it comes to some "key words", these words are wrong. And because of the wrong words, there is no way to interpret the prophecies while change the whole meaning.

So when the Saint of saints, the Lord Christ will be anointed, then the transgression of the Law will stop, and will be everlasting justice. The prophecy also says; to seal up vision and prophecy, and this is a reference to the prophecies that were about to be written after the Lord, It is the book of Revelation that is sealed vision and prophecy. Let us watch further the prophecy. After the Messiah is cut off, the people of the prince will come. Who is the prince? The prince of the people who will destroy is the devil, and he is the prince of destruction.

The prophecy also says; until the end of the war desolations are determined. Again there is a wrong translation. The English Bible says; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. The Greek says; until the end of the war, desolations are determined. The wrong words change the meaning.

As I believe, the prophecy mention mostly about the war against the domination of the Lord, part of which is all the other wars as well. This war against God has never stopped, two thousand years didn't stop. And it will be wilder and harder especially in the last years, in which the state of the enemy will go down, and Lord's absolute domination will dominate forever. Nevertheless, it is also a reference to the current war against Israel that started after the reestablishment of Israel state 1948. We also have here a non stopping terrible war, by a lot of hatred, terrible hatred, which unfortunately will not be over until the end of the days. And as it is written; desolations are determined, unfortunately.

The prophecy also says; he will destroy the city and the sanctuary, and its end will come by flood.

Of course the prophecy here means also about the destruction of Jerusalem (70 A D) but the end of Jerusalem didn't come. The end of Jerusalem, as it is written, will come by flood, but not exactly a flood of water, or at least not only, but by flood of corruption, hatred, agitations, and by a "modern" war, nuclear war. And as we see, there is no peace, and certainly there will be no permanent peace in Jerusalem until the end. Before the end and at the last 7 years will appear the abomination of desolation as messiah, he will make wars and also he will appear as a peacemaker. He will be the representative of the Beast and Devil.

So after the 7 and 62 sevens, which were finished by the Crucifixion of the Lord, the continuation of the war against the Domination of the Lord goes on with desolations and ruins; it will end up in the end of the last 7 years. The last 7 years is the last week; it is the last 7 out of the 70 sevens. At that time the domination of the enemy will be destroyed, and so the transgressions of the Law will finish, the sins will be over, and the atonement of all the faithful people will be over as well, and then the everlasting justice will prevail; the domination of the Saint of saints will be forever.

Let see some other parts. The prophecy says, after the 7 and 62 sevens the Messiah will cut off. As everyone knows the rulers of the Israel crucified the Messiah, and therefore rejected Him. As we see the rejection goes on, and it will continue until the time of the end. We will see this well in the interpretation of the book of Revelation. The prophecy also says, in the middle of the week the Sacrifice and the offering will be stopped. It doesn't mean the abomination of desolation will offer sacrifices during the last week, (well, it is also possible) but as we will see better at chapter 12, it means, according to my belief, if it is not mistaken, in the last 1290 days, the Everlasting Sacrifice for some reasons, it will stop offering atonement for sins, and those 1290 days will start after the end of the first half of the week.

The prophecy also says, the abomination of desolation will make peace with many for one week, (he will appear as peacemaker), and in the middle of the week, he will stand at the wing of the Holy. In another words, he will not appear from the beginning of the week as messiah, but he will appear as messiah after the end of the half week, in which the testimony of the two Witnesses will be over, and then the Antichrist will pretend to be the messiah, meaning he will try to stand at the position of the Holy, and the Holy is the true Messiah.

Let us see closely the abomination of desolation.

Obviously, at the time of Antiochus Epiphanes they used to interpret the prophecy about the abomination, as a reference to the profanation of the temple, while Antiochus had converted the temple into a Jupiter's one. He built an altar in the temple and sacrificed to Jupiter. So they thought that the prophecy refers to the profanation as the abomination. But this is incorrect, the prophecies don't mean about temples. When it says, the abomination will stand in the wing of the Holy, it doesn't mean some wing of the temple. Let see again in here the difference between the Greek and English version. The English says; and on the wing of abomination will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed is poured out the one who makes desolate.

The Greek says; and on the wing of the Holy, the abomination of desolation will stand, and until the end of the time, he will have his time for desolations.

So when the prophecy says, the wing of the Holy means the Messiah, the Lord Christ is the Holy, the Messiah. The abomination will appear as messiah that is: he will try to stand on the wing of the Holy, will stand at the place of the Messiah, pretending as if he was the Messiah, but first he will appear as peace-maker in a lot of agitations, and in terrible conditions of corruption. God's temple on earth is the souls of the faithful people, not the buildings, which of course are useful and must be clean, and without serving national interests or social classes or serving trade intentions, but they are not God's houses. The Branch doesn't build lifeless temples and cold buildings, builds God's temple, which is the human soul.

Let us see now the prophecies with the four beasts. The historian says, it was the first year of king Balthazar when Daniel saw a dream and visions upon his head; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it.

(Daniel spoke and said; I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human heart also was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three sides were in its mouth between its teeth, and thus they said to it, arise, devour much flesh.

After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, domination was given to it. After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man, and mouth uttering great boasts. I kept looking until thrones set up, and the Ancient of the days took His seat. His vesture was like white snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames; its wheels were a burning fire. Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him. The court sat and the books were opened.

Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words, which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts their domination was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointment period of time. I kept looking in the night visions and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of days. And was presented before Him, and to Him was given domination, glory and kingdom, that all the peoples nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His domination is an everlasting domination, which will not pass away, and His kingdom is one, which will not be destroyed. As for me, Daniel my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.

I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things. These great beasts, which are four in numbers, are four kings who will arise from the earth. But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come. Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze and which devoured crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet, and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates.

I kept looking and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them, until the Ancient of the days came, and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. Thus he said; the fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and it will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from all previous ones, and he will subdue three kings. And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intent to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hands times and half a time. But the court will sit for judgment and his domination will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominations will serve and abbey Him. At this point the revelation ended, as for me Daniel my thoughts were greatly alarming me, and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.

As I Believe. Before we go further we should look at something else. We can easily notice that chapter 12 is the continuation of the chapter 10. I would rather say that a part of the chapter 10 and the chapter 12 are the continuation of chapter 9. It seems the chapter 11 does not belong to Daniel, and rather it is a posterior addition. In chapter 10 the Angel speaks to Daniel and the Angel was dressed in linen dress, and we find again the same Angel who was dressed in linen in the chapter 12, but the chapter 12 is not connected logical with chapter 11. Let us see first chapter 10 and how is connected with the chapter 12.

The chapter 10 starts with the introductory words, which mentions that Daniel saw a vision when the king was Cyrus, but certainly it was not on Cyrus at the time, and of course these introductory words are not belonging to Daniel. It seems clearly that the vision of Daniel, which is written in chapter 10, which is connected with the chapter 12, is a part of the vision, which Daniel saw when king was Darius, and not Cyrus, and it is written in chapter 9. Rather we would say that a part of chapter 10 and the whole chapter 11 are posterior additions, and rather are some attempts of interpretations by which they were trying to understand Daniel's prophecies in the time of Antiochus or after Antiochus.

The additions is very obvious if we also watch careful the beginning of the chapter 11, which writes about the vision of Daniel in the time of Darius, and suddenly, and without connection continues without saying who was speaking to Daniel. The words also in the continuation of the chapter 11, after verse 2, they look like modified repeating of those which are written in chapter 8, from the verse 20 and after. So it seems clearly, a part of the chapter 10 and the whole 11 are posterior additions, and they have nothing to do with the real prophecies. It is also obvious that these words don't match with the air and the spirit of the other prophecies. Whoever reads careful the chapters 10 and 11 and compares them with the chapters 7, 8, 9 and 12, will understand better. The previous chapters also, from one to six are not worthy of credit. Especially in the chapter 2, and the others as well, the foreign hands appear rather clearly. They wrote that God gave to Nebuchadnezzar the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory, etc.

We read the verse 44 of chapter 2.

And in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.

As I Believe. These words reflect clearly the dream of the Israel high priests and other officials who misunderstood the prophecies and messages of the Lord. There are a lot of other words as well, which are not matching with God. Well, there is no doubt, certainly there was some words that been said about some Daniel's interpretations on some dreams of Nebuchadnezzar, and interpreted the written words at the wall of Belshazzar as well, but it is rather sure that have been falsified from the posterior writers. Personally I believe, that the chapters, which indeed are belonging to Daniel, by the meaning he wrote them, are, the chapters, 7, 8, 9, part of the 10, and the 12^th chapter.

Let see now some verses from the chapter 10, verse 2 and after.

In those days I Daniel had been mourning for three entire weeks, I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all, until the entire three weeks were completed. And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river that is the Tigris I lifted my eyes and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of uphaz.

Now let see how it is connected with the chapter 12.

Well, it seems that some words are missing, which rather are mixed up with the other chapters, but it is very obvious that the reference to the Archangel Michael, which also (not the Archangel Michael) appears in the chapter 10, we find it again in chapter 12, and without any doubt it is a part of Daniel's prophecies.

The last verse of chapter 10 writes;

However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth, yet there is one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael the prince.

And in the chapter 12 continues.

On that time Michael the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. But as for you Daniel conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of the time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase. Then I Daniel looked and behold, two others were standing one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river. And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. As for me I heard but could not understand; so I said, my lord what will be the outcome of these events? And he said, go your way Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end of the time.

Many will be purged, purified and refined; but the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. And from the time that the Everlasting Sacrifice (not the regular sacrifice) will be taken away and the abomination of desolation will set up there will be 1290 days, how blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1335 days.

As I Believe. We will see the Archangel Michael in the book of Revelation, who will come on earth to tend the nations with the metal stick. Let see some words from verse 11 that speak about the Everlasting Sacrifice. The prophecy says: from the time that the Everlasting Sacrifice will be taken away, and the abomination of desolation will stand, there will be 1290 days, and blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1335 days.

As we saw and in the chapter 9, the Angel means the second part of the last seven, (42 months) and also another one month (43 months or 1290 days), and another 7 months, which all together are about 30 months or 1335 days. (Would be for time, which means time until the last week, in times, meaning the two parts of the week, and half a time, half time, some more time after the end of the week.) It is unknown what conditions will prevail on those last months, but the prophecy says very clearly that at that period will be taken away the Everlasting Sacrifice. The Everlasting Sacrifice, which is the Crucifixion of the Lord, offers to the people forgiveness and atonement. But, as I believe, if I don't make a mistake, this atonement will cease to exist at the time of 1290 days.

Let see now the other interpretations of these prophecies.

Daniel said he was looking in his visions at night and the four winds of the heaven were stirring up the great sea. As it is known at those years the people of east Mediterranean didn't know any other bigger sea than the Mediterranean Sea. As we know especially from the book of Revelation, the sea in the prophecies symbolizes people, nations and languages. But with the great sea, it means the nations around Mediterranean that "gave birth' to the four beasts, which were created from the whole world, but the centre was the countries of Europe, of the Balkans and of the countries of east Mediterranean.

As I Believe. The 4 winds of the sky, constitute the whole complex of devil and human activities with interests, the unbridled ambitions, passions and hate, the endless wars and the shedding of blood for wealth, the impiety and unfaithfulness to God, and the 4 beasts were born from all these powers together, and born in Mediterranean. The lion, the bear, the leopard and the terrible beast symbolize these beasts, which the fourth one, is not like any other previous one. It is the same beast mentioned in the book of Revelation that appears as two ones but identical. So the 4 winds that brought agitation, are the whole world, from East, West, North and South, but the centre that gave birth to the beasts is Europe and the countries of Middle East, while there was the main centre of the great enemy's order of battles and mutual slaughters.

(The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until the wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on feet like a man; and a human heart was given to it.)

As I Believe. The lion symbolizes the Roman Empire, which ruled on most countries of Europe, and also the countries of the Middle East, inner Asia, and North Africa. During Constantine the "great", the Empire was divided into two parts, on East and West, and these two parts are symbolized by two wings, and as Daniel was looking at it until the wings were plucked, because about one thousand years after Constantine, the Ottomans conquered one part which was the Byzantine Empire, and Christianity was spread throughout the other countries who were under Roman Empire.

(And then I saw a second beast, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three sides were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus said to it; Arise and devour much flesh.) Daniel: 7: 5.

As I Believe. The bear symbolizes the Ottoman Empire, exactly as Daniel saw it. It was raised on one side and had three sides in its mouth. Obviously, the Ottoman Empire conquered more on the north area, while in Africa it conquered only the coast, and it had three sides; one Middle East, one off the coast of North Africa, and one the Balkans. This is very easy for anyone to verify, looking the map of the former Ottoman Empire, thought it was impossible for the priests and the Jews of 165 B C not even to suspect. And after, some wise scholars had the courage to say that the prophecies were written at the time of Antiochus!

(After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.)

As I Believe. The leopard symbolizes the domination of England, of France, of Germany, and Spain and others by their domination in Europe, the countries of the Middle East, and the colonies around the world. The beast had the wings of a bird, meaning it was "flying" away from the centre, "flying" to colonies! The leopard with the 4 heads means also the four forms of governing, as the imperial, the colonial, the royal and general the "theocratic". The heads mean ways and forms of dominations. As leopard in its various colours and shapes, symbolize also the contradictive inner conditions with the "good" masters and the "bad", naked, homeless, and miserable poor, the corrupted aristocracy, the religious darkness and the corruption of the church of the Middle Age, the discovery of America, and the creation of the New World, which almost started with the domination of the bear.

It says, it was given dominion, but it doesn't mean of course that God gave them dominion. The prince of this world, who is the prince of destruction gave them dominion. God never causes wars and sufferings. The devil said to our Lord, if You worship me, I will give you all the kingdoms of the earth, --namely the kingdoms of earth are somewhere obeying to devil?and Lord answered him; it is written that you will worship only God your Lord. All those beasts were created by the people who enslave themselves to the devil. This evil ruler accompany with the people (because of cunning interests) gave birth to the beasts, and also gave birth to the other horrible beast, the astonishing one of the metal teeth and copper nails.

This beast is the most developed capitalist economic system that rules by big deeds and promising words, ruling by dictatorships at some areas, and fickle democracies in others. It legalizes and consecrates the exploitation as God's Will, and many other interesting things, which people are obligated from the circumstances to accept and listen, and all these systematically cause confusion in relation with faith, and so it drives many people away from God, and this is exactly the main intention of the devil. To drive people away from God, the next, is to destroy them. That is why the prophecy says; the one horn said a lot of great and impressing things. The description of the beast is completed in the book of Revelation, and so we will see there its heads and horns.

(After this I kept looking in the night vision, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth uttering great boasts. I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of days took His seat.)

As I Believe. This economic beast started to demonstrate a great and promising face of a better life before the 20^th century. But while it became more powerful and developed its terrible war machine, it caused a storm of wars, the two horrible wars, and other wars in the same century and used its terrible teeth and nails pitilessly by causing unimagined sufferings, desolations, and ruins of millions of people. It continually threatens by wars anyone who doesn't submit in its demands, and its domination goes on until the end of the last "week".

The one horn had the eyes and mouth of a man and it spoke about great things. Well, it says and does good deeds as well, but as we hear it open its mouth to blaspheme God, it fights against the faith by using various methods, and because it says and does great things, and appears as promising and good, it deceives a lot of people, turning them against God, or convince them to go away from God. And this is the worst of all, while God is our life! That is why the prophecy says, the horn said great and impressing things. It was very promising, it impresses a lot of people by too many good stuff and facilities or apparently good stuff by further intention to make them go away from God.

(And he will speak out against the Most High, and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alternations in times and in law, and they will be given to his hand for a time, times, and half a time.) Daniel, 7, 25

As I Believe. And indeed we see the economic beast in our time, which eliminates God's laws, and unfeigned fights against the faith deceiving a lot of people. It seems also that in the future he will try to change the chronological data, as we say now 2003 years after Christ, and that is why the prophecy says, "he will intend to change times and laws".

(Many will be purged and refined; but the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.) Daniel. 12: 10.

As I Believe. Whatever we say about this economic beast is not enough. The profit! This thirstiness for more profit and more wealth has no fence and barriers, it stands like autonomous power above human's will. The profit is the lever and implacable law that moves the capital, which moves the world, which dominates on the world. This is the beast that rules merciless all the nations and leaves nothing standing to its passing. The great technology, great production, development, knowledge, coexist with the great poverty, the great desperation and great confusion. An unbelievable great economy that is also based on drugs; a great part of the world's capitalist economy is based on drugs, beside the unemployment, prostitution, slavery, many idols, the abolition of God's law, unfaithfulness, blasphemies and insults against God, etc, constitute levers or emanations of this economic beast. Many materialist scientists and intellectuals stay on the side of the beast developing the weapons of horror, and those people by serving their bosses, they make-believe they speak about justice and about human rights; they also speak about truth and light, but against the Truth, and against the Light.

The Prophet says;

(I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of days took His seat. And the court sat, and the books were opened.)

As I Believe. The Ancient of Days sat on His throne! A symbolic representation and some secret words, which if we put in correct order, we can "hear" the secret language of the Creator. The Ancient of the days sat on His throne! It is the seventh day of His rest; it will come after the end of the 6^th day of creation. The 6^th day hasn't finished yet, and therefore the 7^th day hasn't come either. When it comes, it will be His absolute domination, which is beyond time, and it will come after the end of the human's and devil's period. And as we see in the prophecies, the seventh day will come after the crushing of the fourth beast, and there is no other one.

(I kept looking in the night visions. And behold, One like a Son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven, and He came up to the Ancient of days.)

As I Believe. He came up to the Ancient of the days, meaning the Lord came at the end of the days of creation; He came on the 7^th day of Victorious God's rest, which is God's absolute domination. Glorious is the Highest Creator, we worship and glorify the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.