Daniel 8:23 And in the latter time" ...... "when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 26 "Wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
This prophecy of Daniel, given by the inspiration of God, describes a Religio-political system of government that sets itself in opposition to the God of heaven, and is run by a spiritual leader, who as the passage states, understands "Dark sentences". According to the Bible, a person who understands dark sentences is one who understands the interaction of spiritual and natural laws and can therefore use that knowledge in a beneficial or destructive manner. It also refers to sayings in the Bible that are not readily apparent to the casual, surface reader, but which must be discerned spiritually. David made reference to some of these "Dark" sentences when he described the history of the children of Israel, beginning with the patriarchs of old, continuing with their experiences in the land of Egypt, and on to their sojourn in the land of Canaan. Some of these dark sayings are given so that the diligent student of the Bible could trace with accuracy, the cause of the successes and failures of those who have gone before. Let's read:
Psalms 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
The Religio-political leader spoken of in our passage for today is one who understands the ramifications of obedience, or disobedience to the laws of God, and therefore has deliberately chosen a path that is diabolically opposed to the kingdom of God, and the principles for which it stands. The work of this spiritual leader is carried on with such deliberate and protracted efforts that not even the most intellectual secular scholars are able to fully understand his work and his purposes, for he has concocted a potent but dangerous blend of love and lawlessness that effectively puts a veil over the eyes of even the most intelligent in the secular world. In addition to this he has even made inroads into the protestant world, and many bishops and clergymen, and evangelicals, who consider themselves wise and well informed, are currently drinking of his potent drafts, without knowing what is really taking place.
One of the by-products of the governance of this Religio-political leader is that he causes craft and businesses to prosper, through the many holidays and attractions that have been introduced over the years to the masses, and the products that go along with the consequent celebrations. For instance, businesses make the most amount of money during the Christmas season, and during Easter, when the sale of related items skyrocket to astronomical proportions. Furthermore, the recent healing of the long-standing rift between Cuba and The United States of America is not the direct work of the U.S, but is rather largely credited to the efforts of the current pope Francis, working behind the scenes.
For these and other scriptural reasons, the next year, 2015, will bring very dramatic changes to the world in general, and we are going to see the gradual dissolution or destabilization of nations that stand in the way of the new world order, which is being introduced under cover of darkness. In addition to this we are going to see oil prices rebound, the stock market will continue to climb in a general upward trajectory, and many protestant and evangelical institutions and organizations will capitulate to the increasing momentum of love and lawlessness. Let's read:
Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
But there will also be an increase of deadly natural disasters, including very deadly hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes across the globe, since the violation of the laws of God bring natural consequences that affect the earth, the sea, and the atmosphere in very negative ways. This fact is not understood as it ought to be, and therefore many of the calamities that have afflicted us in recent generations have been attributed to global warming and other natural factors, when in fact their occurrence can be traced in many cases to the violation of the laws of God. The violation of the marriage institution in particular is one such example, and the results will be seen in ways that will cause us to think twice, since this deduction is made, not from a mere whimsical view of current events, but is rather solely based on what the word of God explicitly states. Sin does indeed pay wages, and carries with it very negative consequences, and the Bible clearly says that God is not mocked, for whatsoever a we sow, that's exactly what we are going to reap. Let's read:
Isaiah 24:2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. 3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. 4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. 5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
Leviticus 18:20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. 22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. 26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: 27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) 28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.
As earth's probation gradually draws to its close, it is imperative that we take heed to the word of God, and not be led astray by the scientific theories of mortal man, for in many cases, such deductions are made to the exclusion of the much more potent spiritual laws which govern the universe. Let us therefore be wise, and live according to what is written, so that when we see these things come to pass, we may look up, knowing that our redemption draws near. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that encourages us to hold fast the profession of our faith, so that when Christ comes to claim His own, we will be found on the right side of eternity. Let's read:
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!